“Hold still,” he ordered, trying his best not to laugh. He reached out to grab her by the arms. It was the only way to keep her in place when it was clear she wasn’t listening.
“Is it still on me?” she repeated, voice pitching high.
Caleb did a cursory look at her chest and stomach, actively trying not to scan too closely, before turning her around.
His stomach dropped.
Thoughts of spiders and lace bras and lost glasses were blanketed by a wide puckering of skin.
A scar.
The one that Dupree Slater had given her.
Caleb had seen his fair share of gunshot wounds and scars during his career with law enforcement, but this one was different. Angry. The scar looked angry. Violent, even. Just like the man who had left it.
It made him angry in turn.
During his lifetime, Caleb had learned to stop asking the motive of why some people did what they did. But right now, feeling the warmth of Alyssa against his hands and staring at her bare skin, he couldn’t help asking that question.
Why would someone do anything to hurt this woman?
“Well?” Alyssa asked, voice still raised. It dislodged his anger. Though he had no doubt there would be a dark aftertaste for a while in its wake. “I’m still blind here.”
“There’s nothing on you,” he answered. Even to his ears his voice had gone cold. He tried to adjust it to something lighter. “I think your new dance moves shook it free.”
Alyssa stopped her panicked routine and let out a deep, shuddering breath. She turned back to face him.
“I felt it drop on me and then just saw this blur against my shirt,” she said, shaking her head. The movement once again shook the rest of her. Caleb made sure to keep his eyes above her chest. “I can’t handle spiders.”
Another shudder racked her body.
He lowered his hands from her arms. And tried to ignore how pink her lips still looked.
Caleb cleared his throat.
“Not that I’m complaining about the view—” he started. He didn’t have to finish the statement. He couldn’t help smiling as Alyssa finally realized what she’d done. Her arms slapped across her chest in a flash. A blush that put all the other blushes of the day to shame ran across her face in an instant.
“Oh my God,” she breathed.
Caleb averted his gaze completely, already turning, when something caught his eye.
“Well, look at that.” He walked a few feet away to an overturned box, one of a handful of casualties of Alyssa’s panicked dance. “Too bad a spider couldn’t have fallen on you sooner.” He bent over and picked up her glasses. There was no telling where they’d been before she started flailing around.
“Thank goodness!” She shied as far away from him as she could while still grabbing the black frames from him. Once they were back to their rightful place, she tightened her arms around herself. She didn’t meet his gaze as she looked around the immediate area. “Now, how about my shirt?”
Caleb laughed.
He was about to give her the news that it was no longer in the attic when the ladder leading to the hallway beneath them creaked under someone’s weight.
This time Alyssa met his stare.
One emotion was written clearly across her face.
Fear.
Chapter Eight
One moment Alyssa was standing next to the deputy and in the next he was in front of her, gun out and raised.
It happened so fast that she temporarily forgot her lapse in sanity that had led to her stripping off her shirt and then demanding the man take a look at her. That embarrassment was sucked straight out as another long creak sounded on the steps. Someone was definitely climbing up.
The deputy squared his shoulders, tightened his stance and waited.
A dark bald head popped into view, followed by a truly alarmed face.
“Robbie!”
Alyssa reached out and grabbed the deputy’s shoulder.
“He’s a friend,” she hurried, but he was already lowering his gun.
Robbie’s eyes were wide as he looked between them. The deputy holstered his gun and took a step back, blocking Robbie’s view of her bare skin. Still, they all knew he’d seen enough to know she wasn’t wearing her shirt.
A fact the man already knew, given that he was holding it in his hands.
“Do you always walk around unannounced, Mr. Rickman?” Caleb asked, tone dry.
“We knocked and when no one answered we got worried,” he defended. “We used the spare key Alyssa gave us.”
Eleanor’s voice floated up, but Alyssa couldn’t make it out. Maybe it was the mortification that was setting in.
“Could you throw me that?” she cut in, motioning to the shirt.
“I guess it’s not my business to ask why it was down here?” Robbie tossed it over. Caleb caught it and passed it back without looking. Alyssa hurriedly put it back on.
“There was a spider,” the deputy deadpanned.
Robbie held up a hand.
“Say no more,” he said. “If she’s anything like Eleanor when she sees a lizard, then you’re lucky to be alive, son.” Caleb’s demeanor loosened. He snorted. “Okay, well, unless you kids are busy, we brought some food over for supper. And by some food I mean a lot of food.”
On cue Alyssa’s stomach growled.
Caleb thrust his thumb back at her. “I think that’s her answer.”
Robbie smiled. “What about you? We brought more than enough.”
Alyssa couldn’t see the man’s expression but was surprised when he nodded so quickly.
“If that’s okay with you, that is?” Caleb turned toward her and waited.
From one moment to the next, the deputy had shifted his demeanor. Blunt to compassionate to detached and empathetic to humorous and, now, polite. He was a hard man to pin down, that was for sure. However, Alyssa couldn’t deny she felt a connection. Or maybe she just wanted one.
Another flourish of heat began to make its ascent upward as she shared a look with the handsome man. She managed to nod.
“You helped me find my glasses,” she pointed out, avoiding bringing up any part of the fake bomb while Robbie was within earshot. Once she had begun to normalize, Alyssa had called him and his wife to let them know what happened. Carpenter might have been a small town, but not everyone had seen the live news story when they were trying to get her out of the car. The Rickmans had been upset but promised to give her space. But now, standing in an awkward position with the deputy, she was almost thankful that their idea of “space” was waiting until supper to come over with food. “Of course you can stay and eat, Deputy.”
“Why don’t you call me Caleb?” he said, voice filling with a hint of grit. “I think we’ve both earned that, wouldn’t you say?”
Alyssa felt the burn in her cheeks now. And she hated herself for it. She’d only met the man that morning and now here she was, wanting to know him.
In more ways than one.
* * *
ELEANOR DIDN’T HOLD BACK.
“Sweetie, if you keep that up you’ll end up suffocating her,” Robbie pointed out. “I’m pretty sure she needs to breathe.”
Caleb watched as the older woman kept her arms tightly around Alyssa before finally relenting. He started to take a seat when Robbie stopped him.
“You might as well go ahead and let her get at you before you get comfortable,” he warned, pointing to his wife.
Caleb raised his eyebrow.
“I didn’t do anything,” he tried, but apparently Mrs. Rickman wasn’t having any of that. She detached from Alyssa and was on him within seconds. For a tall, slender woman she had a surprisingly viselike grip. It reminded Caleb of his mother. Which made him instantly like
the woman more.
“You stood by our girl.” Her brown eyes locked on his after she pulled away. “Don’t sell yourself short for that,” she scolded.
Caleb nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
Eleanor smiled and then turned her attention to the dining room table. It was long and narrow but in no way looked prepared to hold the spread that the Rickmans had brought over. Robbie caught his eye and shrugged.
“We Southerners are big on comforting each other with food,” he explained. “Some people like flowers, some like presents, we like overgenerous portions of mashed potatoes and gravy.”
Alyssa motioned to a glass container half covered in aluminum foil.
“Which can be found in this particular dish,” she said with a laugh.
Caleb didn’t miss the smile that sprang up on Eleanor’s face at the sound. It was clear Robbie and his wife cared about Alyssa. It was also clear that she was fond of them too. Helping Robbie during the robbery had made a stranger into a friend.
And now here Caleb was, getting hugged and fed by strangers while trying to protect another.
Don’t get attached, he reminded himself. His stomach growled in response.
“Here, let me suggest this.” Alyssa took a seat next to him and opened a plastic container with obvious glee. Eleanor handed out plates before taking her own seat opposite them and next to her husband. They started to talk among themselves as Alyssa continued. “This is Eleanor’s famous green bean casserole. If you’re as hungry as I am, then this should hit the spot just right.” She leaned closer to him and lowered her voice to a whisper. Caleb caught the scent of citrus off her wet hair. “But make sure you save room. I spied a few slices of homemade apple pie in the kitchen. And you definitely don’t want to miss that.”
Alyssa gave him a coy smile.
His inner voice chanting out his one rule quieted.
The food was good, but with Robbie and Eleanor the company was better. It wasn’t long before Caleb found out just how likable the couple was.
And just how polite they remained.
No one brought up the fake bomb or the trial or asked personal questions. Instead they talked about sports, the weather, and their suggestions on how to make Alyssa’s house less like a puzzle and more of a home. On that particular topic Caleb kept his opinions down to nodding to the couple’s suggestions. He didn’t want to intrude more than he already was doing.
It wasn’t until the pie was eaten—apple, as Alyssa had promised—that the conversation took a turn. Surprisingly, it was Alyssa who drove it there.
“So, no one has called me to update me on the trial,” she started. “But last I was told, a lawyer is supposed to contact me today or tomorrow about it.” Her stare found Robbie’s. “Do you know why?”
Robbie put down his fork. His face pinched.
“Last I heard, they were talking about having you sit out the trial,” he said. “At least as a witness.”
Alyssa bristled at his side.
“Sit it out?” she exclaimed. “Why?”
“The trauma of what happened. Some think you’re too emotional or might make the jury more sympathetic toward you and your testimony.”
“Too emotional?” Alyssa nearly yelled. “Why? Because someone played a dumb prank on me or because I’m a woman?”
Robbie held up his hands in defense.
“That’s only what I heard from Ted,” he said. “I don’t agree with it and I don’t even know if it’s what’s supposed to happen. I’m assuming we’ll all find out tomorrow when they announce what time the trial is rescheduled for.”
“Is Ted the lawyer?” Caleb butted in. Again he wished he’d researched the case and trial more after being assigned to the courthouse.
“Ted worked at the bank,” Eleanor answered. “He was there when...” She cut herself off and glanced at her husband. Caleb felt stupid for not realizing earlier that what had happened at the bank had affected her just as much as the other two. She’d nearly lost her husband.
“He was also supposed to testify after Alyssa,” Robbie jumped in. “They thought it would be more powerful for her to start off, considering she saw the whole thing and was hurt.”
That surprised Caleb.
“Wait, so you aren’t just a witness,” he said. “You’re the first.”
Alyssa nodded, visibly trying to calm down.
“I was, but if someone’s already talking to Ted, then it might be him now.” There was anger behind her words. It was powerful, potent.
Caleb understood it.
And wanted to help it lessen.
“From what I know of what happened, even if you aren’t able to testify, there’s still a pretty cut-and-dry case against Dupree and Anna,” he pointed out. “And regardless of your presence on the stand, what happened to you will still be told. Probably several times depending on what’s asked of each witness.”
Alyssa took a deep breath.
“I guess you’re right,” she said. “I just—I want them to rot in prison for the rest of their lives.”
Caleb fought the urge to reach out and touch her. There wasn’t much space between them as it was. It would be easy to take her hand, balled on her lap, and let her know he was there. That he was on her side. That he knew anger and how it could destroy. But he didn’t.
“In my experience, people like them get what they deserve,” he said instead. “Plus, I may be new, but what I know of the law enforcement in this town, and the sheriff for that matter, is they do their best to make sure justice is served.”
A small smile pulled up the corners of Alyssa’s lips. She nodded.
The conversation veered back into a more comforting area as they took their plates to the kitchen and cleaned up. Caleb checked the clock several times, wondering what his next play would be. Since he had been requested by Alyssa for guard duty for the day and night, Captain Jones had put Dante in his place for guard duty at the courthouse the next morning. A move that had surprised Caleb.
Captain Jones was a desk jockey and a stickler at that. Unlike Dante, he and the rest of the department hadn’t shown him any special treatment. He didn’t blame them, but he’d been ready to ask for it anyway.
Until Alyssa had spoken to the captain before he’d had the chance. It was against protocol, he was sure, yet the captain had obliged.
Why? he had wondered.
But now, looking at Robbie—alive and well, thanks to the woman—he could make a guess. Small towns left no room for heroics to go unnoticed. Even the sheriff’s department respected what she’d done at the bank.
It made the growing foreign feeling of needing to protect her that much greater.
“It was good to meet you, Caleb,” Eleanor said as they all filed out onto the porch. She wrapped him in a hug before he could prepare himself for it. “We’re going to do this soon, so don’t think we won’t see each other again.”
Caleb laughed. “You keep feeding me apple pie like that and I’ll have dinner with you anytime.”
Eleanor beamed and turned to say goodbye to Alyssa while her husband clapped him on the back.
“Thanks again for everything,” Robbie said. They shook hands, but the man didn’t let go right away. Instead he spoke in a whisper so the women couldn’t overhear. “She’s a special woman and deserves nothing but the best. You keep a good eye on her, okay?”
Caleb was quick to nod. “Yes, sir.”
“Good.” Robbie gave one final pump. “And maybe next time there’s a ‘spider’ you two could put a sock on the door or something.” Robbie gave him a wink and a hoot of laughter before turning to his wife and taking her hand. “It’s time to go, my dear,” he sang. “Wave goodbye to the young’uns!”
“I can’t wave goodbye to myself,” she teased.
Robbie hoot
ed again and the two walked to the car, caught in their own bubble of mirth.
Watching them, Caleb felt an odd twinge of emotion. Regret? Desire? Grief?
He didn’t know. However, it put more weight on his current situation, standing next to Alyssa on her front porch.
“What did he say to you?” she asked, an eyebrow rising. “You’re grinning.”
Caleb shrugged.
“You know, just a little of this and that,” he hedged. “Men talk.”
She snorted. “Men talk?”
“You wouldn’t understand.” He felt the grin widen. It had been a long time since he’d had a good home-cooked meal. It had been even longer since he’d had even better company to share it with.
One look at Alyssa, baby blues focused solely on him, and Caleb thought he should tell her that. And thank her.
And ask when they could do it again.
Alyssa bit back a yawn.
“I’m exhausted,” she said, eyes watering at the effort. Caleb ignored how that disappointed him.
“Which is my cue to get back to work,” he said, already walking down the steps. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“Wait, Caleb.”
He should keep walking. He should go to the car and sit in it until the morning. He should ignore the pull he felt toward a woman he barely knew.
“If you’re going to sit up in the driveway all night anyways, why don’t you at least do it inside the house?”
Caleb turned and watched a new blush blossom across her cheeks. She scrambled to finish her thought. “I mean, I have a guest room and even a really great couch in the living room. It doesn’t make sense for you to be scrunched up in a car for hours. Believe me, that’s no fun.”
Caleb hesitated.
He met those bright blue eyes head-on.
“You don’t know me,” he finally said.
However, Alyssa didn’t hesitate. “I know enough.” She gave him a smile. It was kind. “Please, let me do something nice for you.”
He should have argued. He should have declined. He should have done a lot of things, but what he ended up doing was nodding.
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