by Jenna Jacob
He sat quietly, pondering Joe’s words for several long minutes. Slowly, a smile tugged the corners of Sky’s mouth. “You’re right,” he declared, slapping his hand on the table. “Goddammit, you’re right.”
“I know I am.” Joe grinned, then started to laugh. “Don’t blow your chance at happiness like I did. Go back and claim that girl. That’s what you should do. I know sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees. You’ve got to prune those sons of bitches back in order to see the beauty of the sun.”
Sky felt the walls, chains, and darkness he’d kept locked inside him crumble, melt, and evaporate on the wings of hope. He turned and narrowed his eyes at Joe. “What about you? When are you going to prune back the limbs and go after Gran?”
“I already have,” Joe preened with a sly grin. “I’m picking her up tomorrow afternoon and taking her to a fancy restaurant in Des Moines for dinner. I also booked the penthouse suite at one of those ritzy, five-star hotels. There’ll be a bottle of champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, and a half a dozen red roses waiting for her when we arrive. She may not need fancy things, but that isn’t stopping me from wanting to give them to her.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Sometimes the hardest part isn’t letting go but rather starting over.
-Nicole Sobon
Katie sat curled in a back booth of Sharp’s, struggling not to cry. A parade of officers and paramedics filed in and out of the diner while Thomas’s curses, screams, and threats echoed in her ears. It was all nothing more than the ticking of a clock to her. She was too busy focusing on Sky. Fixating over the blood that soaked his shirt and the anger rolling off him as he’d hurled a chair against the wall.
Guilt pumped through her veins and oozed from her pores. She’d done that to him. Driven the most loving man on the planet completely and irrevocably over the edge. And now…he was gone. Poof. Vanished. Sky had taken one last look at her—his eyes brimmed in hate—then turned and run out the door. He hadn’t come back to check on her or take her away from this fucking nightmare. But she hadn’t honestly expected him to.
This craptastrophy was all her fault. She’d brought lunatics and death to Connor…practically dropped them on Sky’s doorstep, as if she were entitled to his protection…his care…his love. Jesus, hadn’t she screwed his life over enough already?
Yes. And he’s finally had his fill of you.
Every blissful, glorious minute she’d spent with him was now just a memory. He hadn’t said a word. Christ, he didn’t have to. His cold, angry stare had said it all…he’d had enough, and had wiped his hands of her once and for all. He’d snuffed out the spark of love he’d brought to life inside her. It was over, and like always…Katie had no one to blame but herself.
Still, she couldn’t stop aching to feel his strong, capable body meshed with hers or his lips and tongue kissing her senseless. If only she could go back in time. She would have pulled the trigger and blown Doug’s brains out, breaking this unholy chain of events.
Yes, but you’d be locked up in some women’s prison forced to be Big Bertha’s bitch.
At the moment, she wasn’t sure which was worse…her shattering heart or being Bertha’s bitch. Both were crushing.
“Here, honey. Drink this,” Grace coaxed as she set a mug of potent, amber liquid in front of Katie.
“What is it?”
“Brandy. It’s supposed to be for cooking, but…” Grace issued a nervous chortle. “This place is about as far from a classy French restaurant as you can get. Drink up…you deserve it.” Katie took a sip as Grace shook her head. “God, you amaze me. You were so brave.”
“That was all an act. I was scared to death. You were the amazing one, Grace. I never knew you were such a good actress.” Katie forced a smile.
“Trust me. I was just as scared as you were.” Grace nibbled her bottom lip as she stared toward the front of the diner. “I have a feeling we’re not going to be open for dinner tonight. I bet the cops will be here for a long time. I wish one in particular might want to stay the whole night.” A pink blush colored her cheeks.
Katie dug deep and smiled. “You’ve got it bad…but what the hell. Go for it. Live. Don’t let Mitchell dictate your future. He’s not worth it.”
“No. He’s not. Thanks, Katie.” Grace jerked her chin, straightened her spine, and walked away.
Katie sipped the brandy as tears burned the backs of her eyes. Instead of the alcohol fortifying her, it seemed to be melting her resolve. She shoved the mug away and swallowed tightly.
Devin ambled up to the table. “Hey, Katie. I checked with Tuck, and he said it would be okay if I drove you home. He’ll meet you back at Gran’s place later tonight after he gets the prisoner processed in Des Moines.”
She nodded. She didn’t give a shit what happened to Thomas, as long as he was locked up somewhere far, far away.
“Is Sky out there?” Katie already knew the answer, but she couldn’t stop the question from rolling off her tongue.
“Ah, no. He…um, he just needs to work some things out, Katie. That’s all. It’ll all be fine,” Devin stammered. “Come on, we’ll go out the back. My squad car’s parked in the alley.”
Numbly, Katie followed him outside and into the car. She wanted to know if Sky had said anything to Devin. They were friends, after all. But she bit her lips together to keep from asking any more questions…afraid of what the answers might be.
Pulling to the mouth of the alley, Devin stopped and looked both ways. “Oh, hell,” he groaned. Katie peered past him to see an old woman walking down the sidewalk wearing nothing but a bath towel.
“What in the world…is that Lettie Buford?” she asked, shocked to see one of Gran’s long-time friends wandering around and barely dressed.
Devin nodded as he raised a microphone to his mouth. “Dispatch.”
“Go ahead, Devin,” a woman’s voice answered through a roar of static.
“Call Silas. Let him know I found Lettie and that I’ll be bringing her home in a couple of minutes.”
“Ten four,” the woman replied.
“Why is she wearing a bath towel?” Katie asked.
“She’s got Alzheimer’s. Silas doesn’t want to put her in the nursing home. She manages to slip past him a couple times a week.” Devin shut off the vehicle and opened the door. “Give me a minute or two…maybe three. Sometimes it gets a little tricky coaxing her into the car.”
“Let me know if I can help,” Katie offered.
“Thanks. I will.”
She watched as Devin nonchalantly strolled toward Lettie. The car door hung open, and it was easy for her to hear him ask the old woman what she was doing in a bath towel.
A scowl drew her brows together as she looked down at her attire. “Bath towel? You need to buy yourself some glasses, boy,” Lettie scolded as she brushed her frail fingers over the towel. “I’m wearing my Sunday best. Don’t I look beautiful?”
“My mistake, Miss Lettie,” Devin replied, looking duly chastised. “You look stunning. Where are you going today? You know, it’s mighty hot out here. Can I give you a ride someplace?”
“Why, yes. It is getting rather warm, isn’t it? I’m looking for Silas. I wanted to show him my new dress.”
“He’s back at the house waiting for you, darlin’.”
“No, he’s not!” Lettie declared defiantly. “Some other man is there…an old one. He smiles and talks to me. Why, he even fixes my food and tucks me into bed, but that’s not Silas. My Silas is young and virile and has crow-black hair. That old fart in my house is all wrinkled and has a mop of gray hair. I keep telling him to leave, but he won’t.”
A lump formed in Katie’s throat. The tears she’d been struggling to keep at bay suddenly slipped down her cheeks. She was truly grateful that Gran remained mentally sharp as a tack. It broke her heart to see how the disease had stolen Lettie from Silas.
“Why don’t we go to your place. I’ll have a talk with him,” Devin suggested.
“I’d like that. Yes. Yes. I think once that old fart sees I brought the law with me, he’ll hightail it out of my house, toot-sweet. I’m telling you, sonny, that squatter’s got to go,” Lettie asserted with a clipped jerk of her thumb.
“I’ll do my best, ma’am,” he replied on a heavy exhale.
Devin gently cupped Lettie’s elbow and led her to the car. As he helped her settle into the backseat, her towel came undone and fell open. Devin’s cheeks turned red, and he quickly averted his gaze. A look of panic danced in his eyes and his hand jerked. The man clearly didn’t know if he should attempt to cover her up or leave her exposed.
Quickly joining Lettie in the backseat, Katie secured the towel around the woman’s emaciated body. If Lettie had been in her right mind, she would have been mortified. Thankfully, she lacked comprehension that she had been buck naked in the back of a patrol car.
Turning, she stared at Katie. The fog of confusion cleared from the old woman’s eyes, and they sparkled, bright and sharply focused. “Well, Maria Grant, don’t you look pretty today. It’s so good to see you, honey,” Lettie exclaimed as she cupped a thin, soft hand over Katie’s and smiled.
Katie leaned up as Devin started the car. “She thinks I’m my mother,” she softly whispered. He turned and gave a sad nod before pulling out onto the street.
“I’m doing good, Lettie. How are you?”
“Oh, right as rain, honey. Right as rain.” A surreptitious smile lit up her face. “I saw that handsome husband of yours in Sharp’s yesterday. Lord above, Sonny was walking on air. That man is proud as punch that you’ve got a bun in the oven.” She reached over and patted Katie’s stomach.
“Oh, yes. Yes, we’re both just thrilled,” Katie replied, trying not to spoil the woman’s joy.
“When are you due, honey?”
“Sometime around April twenty-fourth or so.” Katie used her own birthdate…it wasn’t a lie.
“Oh, a spring baby. How wonderful.”
Lettie clapped her hands as Devin pulled to the curb and stopped. He helped the old woman out of the car, thankfully without another towel mishap. Silas smiled at his wife before turning an embarrassed expression Devin and Katie’s way.
“I left her in the bedroom for two seconds to go answer the phone,” Silas explained. “When I turned around, she was gone again.”
“No worries. You’re doing a fine job. We’ll help you keep an eye on her.”
“Thank you, Devin. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you always finding her and bringing her home.” Silas wrapped a protective arm around Lettie and began leading her toward their house.
“I thought you were going to talk to this old coot,” she called to Devin over her shoulder.
“I’ll be back later with a warrant,” Devin replied with a wink.
“Good. I don’t want Silas finding this strange old man in our house. It would break his heart.”
“I am Silas, honey,” her husband replied.
“You’re a liar!” Lettie yelled.
Once they were on the road again, Katie turned to Devin. “She wanders away twice a week?”
“Sometimes more.” He shrugged. “Silas won’t lock her inside. He’s afraid he won’t be able to get her out if there’s a fire.”
“Why doesn’t he just hire a live-in nurse?”
Devin looked at her as if she’d grown two heads. “They’re on a fixed income. The cost would be… Well, he might as well wish on a star.”
Katie fell silent as she plotted a way to help the old couple. As soon as Devin turned down the gravel road, she saw Sky’s truck still parked in his drive. But there was no sign of him outside. It was just as well. Katie knew she wouldn’t be able to handle seeing his searing, seething stare a second time.
As Devin stopped the patrol car, Katie bounded out, tossing a quick thank you over her shoulder as she raced toward the house. Before the screen door had time to slam shut behind her, Gran had rushed into the foyer and clutched Katie to her chest.
“Thank god you’re all right, Katie-girl. Joe told us you were fine and that Thomas had been arrested, but…” She shook her head as if driving away her fears. “I needed to see you and hug you before I could calm my frazzled nerves.”
And didn’t that make her feel like shit? She’d put Gran in just as much danger, if not more, as Sky and his family. She wanted to drown in the warmth and affection Gran offered, but Katie’s skin crawled with guilt, and she slowly pulled away.
“I’m fine, Gran. Honestly.”
A flash of suspicion flickered in the woman’s smoky blue eyes. And in that instant, Katie felt like a child caught in a lie.
“You’ve been on an emotional roller coaster ride from hell, honey. Of course you’re not fine. You need time to process all that’s happened. What can I do for you, Katie-girl? How can I make it better?”
The unconditional love and nurturing was all it took for the dam to burst. Katie shook her head, unable to speak as tears filled her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. Gran enveloped her in those same familiar arms that had rocked Katie as a child. Holding her with the same love and affection, she sobbed.
She’d cried more tears in the past few days than she’d cried in years. Katie didn’t know how to don a mask of bravery anymore, nor did she want to. She only wanted to feel safe again…in Sky’s arms and couldn’t help asking.
“Have…have you seen S—Sky?” she sobbed.
“No. He and Joe went for a drive a little bit ago, honey.”
“J—Joe?” Katie hiccupped.
Gran nodded and caressed her soft fingers over Katie’s cheeks, wiping away her tears. “Sky was outside, and Joe said he was pretty shaken up, but that you were all right and that they’d arrested Thomas. Joe decided to take Sky someplace and talk about what happened and why he was so riled up.”
“It’s me… I’m the one who got him so upset.” She sniffed. “I— Oh, God. I—I don’t know how to fix this.”
Confusion wrinkled Gran’s face. “What are you talking about, child? You’ve not done a thing. He’s upset because he’s had a hell of a fright…we all have. Try to calm down, honey. As soon as Joe brings Sky back, you two sit down and work this out. It’s all going to be fine. You’ll see.”
Katie knew her grandmother meant well, but the woman simply didn’t understand. Willing her tears away, Katie issued a conciliatory nod.
“I’m going to go take a shower,” she announced. “Dealing with Thomas…I need to scrub this oily film off me.”
“You do that, sweetheart. Come back down when you’re done. I’ll have a cup of tea waiting for you.” Gran cupped Katie’s cheek and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
“I love you, Gran.”
“I love you, too, Katie-girl. All your nightmares are over now.”
When she looked up, Katie saw Reed standing in the doorway of the family room.
“You’ve been through hell, honey,” he softly stated with a look of sadness. “When you’re rested and ready, we need to sit down and discuss some things.”
“Are they happy things?” Katie asked hopefully.
Reed smiled. “I think they are, yes.”
“He’s been on that cell phone all afternoon,” Gran clucked as she looked at Reed with pride. “He’s a mover and a shaker, Katie-girl. You’re damn lucky to have him on your side.”
“I’ve known that for years,” she agreed. “I’ll be down in a bit.”
She sank to the bottom of the shower. As the hot water sluiced over her skin, she felt the shell of bravery she’d worn confronting Thomas spill down the drain. Raw and exposed, she hugged her knees to her chest. She needed to find a way to restore her skin. She couldn’t go back, but she could damn well move forward. She had to if she was going to survive. Somehow she needed to find a way to plant a seed of courage, let it grow and blossom within her again. But her soul felt brittle and dry. The hole in her heart felt deeper than the Grand Canyon. The self-pity pulsing through her veins
began to piss her off.
No more tears. Dammit. You have to dig deep. You can do this…one foot in front of the other and never give up, she inwardly scolded as she stood and began scrubbing roughly at her flesh.
Suddenly, the shower door opened. Katie started to yelp, but before the sound had fully escaped her mouth, Sky brought his lips down on hers in a desperate kiss that curled her toes. Tracing his tongue over the seam of her lips, she opened for him. Clutching his sturdy shoulders, Katie held on tightly…never wanting to let him go as she disintegrated at the taste of his tongue.
“I’m so sorry, Sky,” she gasped as he dragged his lips down the column of her throat.
“You’re sorry? For what?” he asked, cupping her breasts, then nipping at the tips of her beaded nipples.
“I… Oh, god, that feels good. I—I shouldn’t have dragged you into the middle of all my crap… Ah, yes,” she gasped as he sank his teeth into her tender flesh and tugged hard on the peak. “Do that again,” she moaned. “I had no right to…mmm, yes…to put you and your family in danger.”
“There’s only one place that’s dangerous for me, and that’s right here. Feeling your tight, sexy body is lethal.”
Inching his lips and tongue up and down her body, Sky settled on his knees. Skimming his warm, wide hands up her thighs, he raised his head and looked into her eyes. Katie reached down and threaded her fingers through his thick hair, lost in his dark, shimmering eyes.
“You don’t owe me an apology, Katie. Protecting you is like breathing. I’ll always do whatever it takes to keep you safe. I thought…you were afraid of me.”
Though it was hard to concentrate with his hands caressing her flesh, Katie heard and felt the angst in his voice. “Afraid of you? I’ve never been afraid of you. Why on earth would you—”