“I have to call the police, Ellery,” Granger said as he unfolded his arms and stood up straight.
Fear and panic raced through her body so hard she physically shook. “No!” Ellery cried.
“I’m sorry,” Granger said, walking from the room, but leaving the door open.
“Please, they’ll kill me!”
“Who will kill you?” Granger asked, stopping at the door and turning around.
“I don’t know,” Ellery admitted as tears began to stream down her face. “I just know I can’t go back there. Someone wants me dead.”
“Then the police will protect you. I’ll be right back.”
Ellery clung to Gavin as he tried to soothe her. “Kord, there has to be something you can do,” Gavin almost begged the deputy.
“I’m sorry, Gavin. But this isn’t my call. She’s wanted for questioning.”
* * *
Granger strode back in five minutes later as he talked on his cell phone. Ellery looked up and saw that his jaw was tight, and he was staring right at her. He lifted his finger to his lips to indicate they needed to be quiet and then put the phone on speaker before gently setting it on the table.
“So, you believe the suspect hit the victim over the head with a blunt object? Is that what he died of?”
“I can’t confirm that, Sheriff Fox, but I can’t deny it either, if you get my drift. That woman is dangerous. Orders are coming down that she’s armed, and if you see her, it’s shoot to kill if necessary.”
Gavin slipped his hand over her mouth right when Ellery would have gasped.
“So, have you seen her?”
Ellery held her breath as she waited for Granger to answer the question.
“No, sir. I called to get more information because I thought I’d seen her, but like you told me a moment ago, this St. John woman has a small tan birthmark on the back of her calf and I’m looking at this woman in my custody right now and she doesn’t have it.” Ellery’s hand subconsciously moved down her leg to cover the small tan mark on the back of her calf. “Sounds like you got your hands full down there. It takes someone important to get that kind of pressure put on you.”
“You got that right,” the police officer snorted. “Thanks for checking in, Fox. Let me know if you see our girl.”
“Will do,” Granger said, keeping his eyes locked on Ellery as he hung up. Everyone sat quietly for a moment. Ellery held her breath waiting for Granger to arrest her. “Well, it appears you’ve gotten yourself into one hell of a mess, Miss St. John.”
“Please, don’t send me back.”
“I won’t. It’s too much of a coincidence that Mark was killed with what sounds like the same weapon someone hit you with, and you were both found in the water. What you missed of the conversation was a discussion where I learned there were no other suspects. They want you and only you for this crime. The problem is there is no evidence, besides your car being at Mark’s house, to link you to the crime.”
“It doesn’t sound like they want to arrest her. It sounds like they are hoping she’ll run, and they’ll be able to shoot,” Gavin said as Kord nodded in agreement.
“Miss St. John, I believe you’re being set up, and I’m wondering why.” Granger crossed his arms over his chest again.
“I am too.” Ellery sighed with frustration. The answer was in her head. She just needed to figure out how to unlock it.
9
Gavin held open the sheriff’s office door for Ellery as she walked outside, lost in thought. The humidity enveloped them like a hot wet blanket as they quietly walked down the street toward his car. Gavin wanted to say something supportive, but finding out someone had wanted to kill her made for awkward conversation. However, in the end, he didn’t need to say anything.
Ellery walked close to him, her shoulder bumping his before she casually laid her head there for a brief moment. In that one second, Gavin felt his heart race and her body relax. He looked at her as they walked slowly down the sidewalk. Did he dare touch her? His body cried for the contact, but his mind told him not to push it. In the end, he held his breath and wrapped his arm around her waist. His hand sat lightly on the curve of her hip as they walked.
Gavin waited for Ellery to move away or tell him not to touch her like a boyfriend would, but instead, she leaned into him. The side of her body pressed against his, and they walked in silence the rest of the way to his car.
“I don’t know where to go,” Ellery finally said as she stood next to his car. She was staring at it as if the car would answer her.
“You’ll stay here, with me. I’ll keep you safe.” Gavin had never felt this primal urge to protect before but it was there, along with some other primal feelings.
“You don’t even know me. Why put yourself in danger?” Ellery asked as he opened the door for her.
“Because I want to know you,” Gavin said simply. A ghost of a smile came over her face as she watched him walk around the car and get in.
“I want to get to know you too.”
In that moment, Gavin felt as if he were the luckiest man in the world. He turned and smiled at her before making his way back to his house. “Tomorrow we’ll go shopping. I don’t think it’s a good idea to go back to your condo.”
“I agree. Right now just the thought of going back to Charleston chills me to the bone.”
Gavin opened the door to the house, and she stepped through and froze. Gavin walked into her back, not expecting her to stop so quickly, sending Ellery stumbling forward a couple steps. Gavin’s hands grabbed her to help steady her as he heard a woman speak.
“So you do have a girlfriend?”
“Harper. What are you doing here?” Gavin asked his sister, who stood in the small mudroom with her arms crossed over her chest and a glare in her eyes.
“I was here this morning, and you failed to mention you had a woman staying here. Then Tinsley called to say how wonderful your new girlfriend was. You’ve never hidden a woman from me before, so the only conclusion I can reach is that she’s a no-good gold digger, and you knew I’d call her out on it.”
Gavin felt Ellery tense in front of him as he put his hand on her shoulder and glared at his very over-protective younger sister. He was supposed to be the protective bigger brother, but so far, Harper had run off way more girlfriends than he had boyfriends.
“It’s sad that’s how your mind works,” Ellery said softly but with steel to her voice. “You think the worst of people before you look for the joy they can bring.”
“I do not,” Harper protested but then stopped when she saw Gavin nod. “I’m looking out for my brother. My brother who is too kind-hearted for his own good.”
“Really, Harp, you treat me as if I’m completely incapable of dating,” Gavin said with a roll of his eyes. “When it’s you with the horrid track record.”
“Me? At least I know the guys I date are bad and will be short term. You think the best of everyone and they weasel their way into your life. Gavin, buy me a new dress. Gavin, buy me jewelry. Gavin, buy me—”
“I get it,” Gavin said coldly. He didn’t like to think of himself as better than anyone else, but he was very successful. Where his cousin Ryker wore his success as a shield deflecting anyone he deemed not worth his time, Gavin had gone in the opposite direction and tried to show everyone he was the same old Gavin who’d biked around town as a kid. It just happened to lead to some women wanting his money, even if it was nothing compared to Ryker’s wealth. But he was still considered a big catch. The town’s only doctor held some prestige, and some women wanted that more than they wanted him.
“So,” Harper said, staring daggers at Ellery, “what do you want?”
“To not die,” Ellery answered.
Gavin squeezed her shoulder again and pulled her against him. “I won’t let you die.”
Harper’s face fell. “Oh my gosh! You’re dying? I’m so sorry. I thought you were using my brother like so many of the women here have done.”
&
nbsp; “I’m not dying. Someone is trying to kill me, and your brother saved me.”
Harper’s mouth fell open in surprise as she looked to Gavin to see if it were true. Gavin nodded and Harper rushed forward. “We won’t let anyone hurt you, right Gavin?”
Gavin rolled his eyes as Harper threw her arms around Ellery, pushing him out of the way. “Who is trying to kill you? How did Gavin save you? You know, wait a second. The family should be here so you don’t have to repeat it.”
“Harp—” Gavin warned, but it was too late. Harper had already sent the first text. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Then vibrate again and again and again.
“They’ll be here in thirty minutes. Tinsley is bringing dessert. Ridge is bringing whiskey. Wade said he has some beer he can bring. Oh, and Trent is bringing chips and dip,” Harper said as she read the texts.
“Harper. We’re not dating,” Gavin hissed. His sister looked up at them and then shrugged.
“I like her then. It’s rare to find a woman who isn’t auditioning for the role of wife. But if you’re not dating now, you will be. I see that look at the bar every night.”
* * *
“What look?” Ellery asked as conflicting feelings raced through her. Right now she was a little hurt at Gavin’s pissed off declaration they weren’t dating, yet relieved to have support during this time. She definitely felt something for Gavin, but right then wasn’t the time to act on it.
“Lust,” Harper said, reaching for her hand. “What can I do to help you?”
Ellery was afraid she was going to have whiplash from the one-eighty Harper just pulled. First she was practically threatening Ellery, then just like that, Harper was her friend. She had thought about what a catch Gavin was, and she couldn’t deny Harper’s statement. She was feeling lust for Gavin, but she didn’t want to be just another woman wanting something from him.
“Actually, there is,” Ellery said as Harper pulled her along into the living room.
“What is it?” Harper asked, sitting down on the loveseat with Ellery, which forced Gavin to take a seat across from them. Ellery didn’t know why he looked so annoyed. After all, he did just tell Harper they weren’t dating.
“I need clothes, and I can’t go back to my house and get them because someone is trying to kill me.”
Harper eyed her up and down. “I don’t think my clothes will fit, but my friend has a whole ton of stuff she gave me to take to the abused women’s shelter in the next town. It’s in my car. Why don’t you look through it and see if any fit. Then when this bad person is caught and you’re no longer in danger, I’ll donate the clothes.”
“Thank you. Do you think your friend will mind?” Ellery hoped not. Harper’s body was straighter. It was clear she was strong from lifting kegs and cases of liquor. Her arms were sculpted, her breasts were probably a full B cup while Ellery’s were a size larger, but the main difference was Harper’s narrow waist.
“Not at all. She wanted them to help someone in need, and you fit the bill. I’ll go get them. Try not to make out while I’m gone.”
“Harper,” Gavin groaned, but the first thing Ellery thought of when Harper left was just that. What would his lips feel like if he was kissing instead of performing CPR? Every time his hand touched her, she felt her skin heat underneath his touch. “I’m sorry about my sister. She’s a bit blunt. It’s how she keeps everyone in line at the bar each night.”
“It’s sweet that she worries about you.”
“I worry about her. She’s constantly having a date or two with these men who are no good for her. And the one time I have a woman at my house she dares accuse me—”
“Of dating,” Ellery said, not wanting to hear herself talked about as if she were a bad influence.
Gavin grinned as he moved from his chair to the couch. “I thought we already had a date. The police interrogation was awfully romantic.”
Ellery blushed. “You’re right, you did say it was a date.”
“And if I wanted a second date?” Gavin asked as his voice lowered.
“I’d say yes,” Ellery whispered back as the front door opened.
“Seriously? You two are practically going at it on the couch,” Harper said with a roll of her eyes. “Wade’s pulling up now.”
“Sitting on the couch together isn’t going at it,” Gavin said with a roll of his own eyes as he adjusted his pants when Harper wasn’t looking.
“Whatever. You want to and that’s what matters. Anyway, here are the clothes, Ellery. Do you think they’ll fit?”
Ellery reached into the bag and pulled out some cute southern boutique styled clothes in sizes ten and twelve. “They should be perfect,” she said, holding up a cute blousy top and a swirly floral print skirt that would hit her mid thigh. “Thank you so much.”
“No problem,” Harper told her as the front door opened and a tall man with dark brown hair and forest green eyes walked in. His hair was shorn short against his head, and his shoulders looked as if he’d have to turn them to get into the door. He was tall and broad shouldered with a muscled chest that tapered down to a flat stomach. “Wade, this is Ellery, Gavin’s possible girlfriend. Someone’s trying to kill her.”
Wade raised one eyebrow in question as he looked to Gavin and then Ellery. He held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Nice to meet you too. You look exhausted.”
Wade shoved his six-pack of beer into Gavin’s hands and mustered up a smile. “I’m in the Coast Guard and just got off after twenty-four hours straight of rescues. Are you the injured woman Gavin called me about?”
“I was injured, and I am a woman, so that’s a strong possibility.”
“This is her,” Gavin said, walking back into the living room after putting the beer in the fridge.
“Interesting.”
“What’s interesting is the fact that you bailed on poker night.”
Ellery looked toward the door and saw a man about an inch shorter than Wade with eyes the same color green as a field of grass. He was in worn jeans and his chocolate brown hair was shoved back from his lightly stubbled face.
“Trent, this is Ellery. Ellery, our cousin Trent,” Harper called out as she grabbed the chips and dip from him and set them on the coffee table. “Trent makes furniture. Like this table.” Harper held out her hands as if she were a hand model.
“It’s beautiful. You made this?” Ellery asked.
Trent shook her hand and nodded. “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, Ellery. What’s this about being in trouble?”
“Wait until Ryker gets his ass over here.” Harper turned to Ellery once again, clearly loving her role as organizer. “I saw him pulling up.”
Ellery turned and smiled at Tinsley, who walked in carrying a plate of cookies. Her long hair was pulled into a ponytail, and she’d changed into coral shorts and a white T-shirt. Where Harper was tall, around five foot eight, and strong, Tinsley was petite and curvy. Not saying she wasn’t strong, but unlike Harper’s athletic body, Tinsley’s was softer in an elegant way. Everything about Tinsley from her soft voice to her dancing eyes made you want to hug her.
“Tinsley!” Ellery said happily as she jumped up and did just that. Wade snagged the cookies, and Ellery hugged the little artist. “It’s good to see you again.”
“But not under these circumstances. I thought everything was going well and you two were a happy new couple, but to hear you’re in danger?” Tinsley put her hand to her heart. “I can’t stand it. Not after what happened to sweet Edie.”
“Who’s Edie?” Ellery asked as she and Tinsley sat down.
“She’s a friend of the family,” Tinsley explained. “Her husband was killed on a mission. He was a SEAL. And then the person who killed the whole team kidnapped her to get to her brother, the lone survivor who could tell the world what really happened. They stole her from my house. I still have nightmares, and I know Edie does too.”
Ellery’s heart dropped. Someone came to Shadows
Landing and kidnapped a friend of theirs. Was Ellery putting them in the same situation?
“What is so damn important that I had to speed from Charleston to get here?” A deep voice rumbled through her chest. Ellery turned around and would have been shocked if she hadn’t already seen pictures of Ryker Faulkner in local magazines. His ice green eyes pierced her as his six foot four inch muscled body strode predatorily into the house. His hair was such a dark brown it could have been the same black as his suit. His face was etched into a frown, even though the angles of his face were sexy enough to have angels leaping from heaven to have a chance with him.
“Ryker, meet Ellery—” Gavin started but was cut off by his cousin.
“St. John. Yes, I know,” Ryker said, his eyes seeming to see inside of her. Ellery gave an involuntary shiver.
“You know me?”
“You were in the Charleston Social, promoting some exhibit this past month for the Mimi Hollis Gallery. Look, if you’re here for money, you have to go through the application process like everyone else.”
Ellery’s eyes went from wide to narrow. He thought she’d pull something like this just to get some money for the gallery? “Bless your heart, you sure are a conceited jerk. My momma taught me better manners than that, but obviously yours did not. Someone is trying to kill me, and Harper sent out the text before we could stop her since she thinks Gavin and I are dating, which we aren’t. Well, unless you count a meal that was cut short by a sheriff’s interrogation as a date, and if you count CPR as a first kiss.”
Ellery’s hands were on her hips, and she was in a full tizzy as she refused to back down from Charleston’s most influential up-and-comer. She was taken aback when instead of a cutting remark, Ryker grinned. It wasn’t a full smile, but the change completely transformed him from uptight and controlled to panty melting. His whole face softened, and it was then she realized there was a whole lot more to Ryker Faulkner than the controlled demeanor he presented.
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