Make You Feel My Love: A Small Town Romantic Suspense (Wishing For A Hero Book 1)

by Kait Nolan

  Judd scowled. “I guarantee I could have come up with something to make them disperse.”

  Turning into him, she lifted her hands to frame his face. “You can’t keep using your position as chief to shield me, as if you’re my own personal private security. It’ll come back to bite you in the ass, and you can’t afford that if you really want to keep this job.”

  “It was a personal attack on you. How can you expect me to just stand by and let it happen?”

  “Because measured against arson and vandalism, a picket line by a bunch of holier-than-thou pearl clutchers is nothing. Hurting my feelings is not a crime.”

  “It is in my book.”

  Rising to her toes, she kissed him. “You’re sweet. And if we have a prayer of being ready when everybody gets here, we’ve got to divide and conquer. Go get the picnic table and seating sorted and prep the grill, while I get started on the food. I’ll bring out all the stuff to set the table once I’ve got the potatoes on to boil for the potato salad. What did you do with the outdoor table cloth and containers I bought you?”

  “Closet under the stairs.”

  “’K. Take Boudreaux, otherwise he’ll be laid out right where I need to be standing in hopes I drop something.”

  Ever hopeful, the dog leaned against her legs, rubbing his head against her in adoration. Laughing, she kissed his ears and shooed them both out of the kitchen.

  As soon as the pair of them were out of sight, Autumn let the easy mask drop. She was more rattled about the protesters than she’d let on. Mitzi was furious. Shocker. There was only so much the library director was going to take before Autumn was just flat on the budgetary chopping block. Beyond that, there’d been a steady stream of people coming into the library to ask what it was all about. They were making her the center of attention again, somewhere she absolutely hated to be. Too many eyes looking, judging. Too many people whispering behind her back. Except, instead of being the daughter of the town zealot, now she was being judged for her own alleged misdeeds. It wasn’t everybody. It wasn’t even a majority. But it was enough when they were actively hitting on her biggest fear as an author. This was exactly why she’d chosen to write under a pen name. But a pseudonym was apparently the equivalent of paper armor and whatever false sense of security it had provided had been ripped away.

  No help for it now. What’s done is done. The truth is out.

  Probably she needed to do something to spin that truth so that it was her version that got bandied about, but that would take more thought and consideration. For now, she had food for the small army of Hamiltons about to descend. That brought its own worry as she scrubbed and chunked potatoes.

  She didn’t know what to expect out of this family dinner. Had the family heard about them yet? She and Judd had decided it was news best delivered in person, but he’d told her about Mama Pearl’s announcement. Someone had likely spilled the beans by now.

  Autumn didn’t know how they’d feel about it. The Hamiltons loved her. And certainly they all knew how she felt about Judd. Patty would be beside herself with excitement. But it was one thing to know that she and Judd were together. It was entirely another for the family to know they’d been…together. Autumn was pretty sure that there was a blinking neon sign hanging above both their heads. Their body language toward each other had changed. She wasn’t a prude, wasn’t embarrassed or ashamed, but the whole situation was a little awkward.

  Looking out the kitchen window, she spotted Judd down by the water hurling a stick for Boudreaux. The dog lumbered after it, galumphing into the water like a self-contained herd of elephants. The sight made her smile, and she decided that it didn’t matter. Finally having Judd as hers was worth absolutely any price.

  On the stove, the potatoes had come to a boil. Reducing the heat, she put a top on the pot and went in search of the rest of the picnic supplies. Judd had rolled his eyes in affectionate forbearance when she’d showed up with a table cloth and assorted decorative caddies as a gift when he’d bought this monstrosity of a house. Matching buckets for utensils and drinks were not manly and certainly didn’t get hauled out for poker night. But he’d kept it all, as he’d kept everything she’d given him over the years, even if he did keep it well out of sight when it wasn’t being used.

  Opening the door, she flipped the light switch inside. Nothing. Apparently the bulb had blown. Retrieving a new one from the laundry room, she ducked into the closet, reaching up to the angled ceiling for the bulb.

  The door slammed behind her.

  The bulb tumbled from her fingers, crashing to the hardwood floor as she whirled, heart in her throat, to reach for the knob.

  It wouldn’t turn.

  “No. No no.” She jiggled the knob. Still, nothing.

  Desperate to stay calm, she looked down at the thin ribbon of light below the door and saw the twin shadows of legs.

  The relief came hard and fast. “Judd! Something’s wrong with the door. I’m locked in.”

  When he didn’t reply, her blood ran cold. Judd would never leave her in here. He’d be working to reassure her and to take the door off its hinges if he had to. He’d never just stand there, cold and silent. That purview was her father’s.

  He was here. In the house. In their home.

  In the dark, the walls began to close in and childhood nightmares woke and stretched to life. Hours locked away in the tiny, dark closet, where the air had been close and humid. Jebediah’s version of solitary confinement, when he felt she needed time to reflect on the nature of her sins. No food. No water. No contact.

  Panic crawled up her throat and she pounded at the door. “Let me out! Let me out right now!”

  She didn’t care if she was giving him what he wanted. She couldn’t see, couldn’t breathe. She had to get out. Had to get to light. Sobbing, she threw herself against the door, over and over. It shuddered with every strike but didn’t budge.

  “Let me out! Let me out!” The words came out in a wheeze as her lungs seized up.

  She was going to pass out, going to—

  The door was yanked open.

  Autumn careened out, almost hitting her knees before strong, familiar arms wrapped around her.

  “Autumn! What the…?”

  “He was here.” Pressing her face into Judd’s throat, she shook and tried to find enough air to speak. “He locked me in.”

  Judd pulled back, eyes fierce. “Did you see him?”

  “No. No. Just the shadow of someone standing outside the closet.” More scalding tears spilled over. “He was in the house. You were right outside, and he was in the house.”

  The back door opened. Judd spun, putting himself between her and whatever was coming. But it was his brothers and parents spilling into the kitchen across the hall. The laughter seemed entirely surreal, when panic still flickered in her blood.

  “Mom, take Autumn. The rest of you, come with me.”

  The good humored ribbing stopped as if he’d flipped a switch with his serious cop voice. They all piled into the hall.

  “What on earth? Oh, honey.” Patty drew Autumn into her embrace.

  “What’s going on?” Owen demanded.

  Judd’s expression was grim. “We’re going on a manhunt.”

  “I don’t think we’re gonna find anything, son.”

  Judd clenched his jaw, hating to agree with his father on this, but there’d been no sign of anyone. He was still batting a big, fat goose egg on this entire investigation. Meanwhile, this son of a bitch was rapidly eroding whatever sense of safety Autumn had.

  He dragged a hand over his head, down the back of his neck. “How can I even face her?”

  Leo shook his head. “She’s not going to blame you for this.”

  “I promised I’d keep her safe. I swore no one would get to her. And this bastard just waltzed right into our damned house while I was fifty yards away. He locked her in the fucking closet, Dad. Jesus, the look on her face when I opened the door.” Ashen, terrified. He shook his head, a
s if that would wipe away the image seared into his brain. “I never saw her right after one of Jebediah’s confinements. She told me about it some. I thought I understood how bad it was. But I didn’t have a clue. Not really. And this was just a few minutes.”

  Eli clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re doing the best you can, man.”

  “Yeah, well, my best isn’t good enough.” And Judd didn’t know what the hell to do with that.

  He hadn’t figured it out by the time they made it back to the house. As they trooped inside, Autumn turned from the sink and the potatoes she’d just dumped into a colander. She’d washed her face, the only sign of her recent tears a faint puffiness around her eyes. If he hadn’t seen it himself, he wouldn’t have known she’d been hysterical twenty minutes ago. How the hell could she pack it away like this?

  Anticipating her unasked question, Judd jumped straight in. “We didn’t find anything.”

  Her hands twisted the kitchen towel she held, and there were the remnants of the anxiety and fear. Those hands trembled, the knuckles white with their grip.

  Bracing himself for what came next, he stepped forward, catching her hands in his. “I understand if you don’t feel safe here anymore.”

  “I’m all right, Judd.”

  But he felt the tremor that made it a lie. Unable to stop himself, he cupped her cheek. “He locked you in.”

  “And you got me out.”

  That wasn’t the point. No one should have been able to get to her here in the first place. He’d been careless. Foolish. That stopped now. “Tell me where you still feel safe. I’ll figure out a way to make it so.”

  “With you. Always with you.” She reached up, mirroring his touch. “I can handle this—all of this—because I know you’ll do whatever it takes to get me out. You always have. So I’m not going anywhere.”

  Relief that she didn’t want to move out hit hard and fast. On its heels came guilt that she was the one comforting him when she’d just been freshly traumatized. He didn’t feel worthy of her faith in him, but selfishly, he’d take it.

  Brushing a kiss over her lips, he pulled her closer. “I don’t deserve you.”

  Her smile was sweet. “We can agree to disagree. But you have me either way.”

  A watery “Oh!” came from somewhere near the table, and Judd abruptly remembered his entire family was in the room.

  “So, uh, I’m guessing you and Mary Alice broke up?” Eli asked.

  Leo nudged him in the ribs with an elbow. “I told you I heard something about it earlier.”

  “The rumors have been wrong before.”

  “Not this time.” Might as well set that straight himself. “I finally got my head out of my ass.”

  His mom shot her hands into the air. “Hallelujah! Finally.”

  Insulted, Judd gave her a flat stare. “Gee, thanks.”

  “I’m sorry, son, but you’re the slowest mover in the history of slow movers. This has been sitting in front of you your whole life.”

  Autumn tipped up to kiss his cheek and whispered, “Told you.”

  As soon as she stepped back, Patty grabbed her hands, leading her into a brief little dance. “When do I get to hit number seven on my speed dial?”

  Autumn threw back her head and laughed, an impossibly light, happy sound considering the grave situation they’d just been discussing. Judd was struck again by how damned beautiful she was, inside and out. Maybe that was partly how the Universe was balancing things out.

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself. Judd’s still catching up.”

  “Who is number seven on your speed dial and what am I catching up on?”

  Autumn just grinned. “Don’t worry about it.”

  Oh, like that didn’t make his curiosity ten times greater?

  His brothers simultaneously ambushed him with thumps on either shoulder.

  “What was that for?”

  “Took you long enough,” Leo said.

  “Moron,” Eli muttered.

  Judd rolled his eyes and grabbed them both in a headlock, one under each arm. “Happy birthday, dweebs.”

  He grunted as they punched him in the ribs, struggling to escape, but he was still bigger and better trained.

  “Boys,” his father’s warning tone rang out, and they all straightened.

  Eli angled his head. “Dude, is that a bite mark on your neck?”

  Autumn’s head whipped around, her eyes wide, cheeks going pink. “I did not—”

  His brother laughed. “Made you look.”

  She goosed him in the ribs. “You are an ass, little brother.”

  “You love me.”

  “I do. And because it’s your birthday, I won’t even steal your cake for that remark.”

  “Speaking of, we should probably relocate inside for the festivities, under the circumstances.” He could put off dealing with additional security until after dinner, at least.

  “No, we’re going to eat out by the lake like we originally planned,” Autumn insisted.

  “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”

  “No, I’ve been thinking about it. Whoever’s doing this wants to scare me. And yeah, okay he got some screams out of me. But I’m not going to let him win by hiding inside and cowering. I need some normal. So I want to put all this away, at least for a little while, and have a lakeside picnic just like we planned. It’s an act of defiance, even if he’s probably long gone and not still watching.”

  Judd didn’t like it. But he understood her need to assert herself and take back control. “Okay.”

  Because they all wanted to give her what she asked, they slid into the easy rhythm of family, razzing each other as the potato salad was finished and burger patties were made. With some juggling and a great deal more ribbing, they trooped outside carting dishes and food. Bringing up the rear with a bucket of utensils, Judd caught sight of his mother’s phone on the kitchen table. With a glance after his family, he snatched it up and pulled up her contacts. Swiping over to favorites, he scanned down to the seventh number.

  Reverend Paul Prescott.

  His mother had the preacher on speed dial?

  Judd let the implications of that sink in. Then he texted himself the contact. They’d see who needed to catch up.

  Chapter 15

  Autumn eyed Nash Brewer’s full police uniform. “Are you sure you don’t want to change first?”

  As one of Wishful PD’s reserve officers, he’d been her shadow during business hours the last couple of days. But he’d done so in plainclothes, under the auspices of working on some genealogy research. Today he’d shown up in full cop mode, duty belt and all. Hadn’t she reminded him that today was the Thursday afternoon book club at the senior center? She was a little concerned he’d get mobbed by a bunch of enthusiastic blue hairs.

  Nash’s easy smile widened. “Nah. I’m perfectly comfortable.”

  “That totally wasn’t why I asked. Never let it be said that I didn’t try to save you from having your ass pinched.”

  His brow shot up in question. “Beg your pardon?”

  “You’re an attractive guy in a cop uniform. Chances are we’ll have to work hard to convince them you’re not a stripper. These ladies can be mercenary.”

  Some of Nash’s amusement faded. “I mean, I’ve heard about the Casserole Patrol. You can’t live here more than a couple of months and not hear rumblings, but I’ve never had any real interaction with them.”

  “Then you, sir, are in for an education.” Resigned to his fate, she started the two block walk.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to drive?”

  “I could use the fresh air.” She’d gotten little enough of it since the cookout. Judd had beefed up his security system, and they’d begun keeping all the doors locked and the alarm set even when they were home. It made for a bit of a production when the dog needed to go out, but it was the best they could do under the circumstances.

  All had been quiet since the invasion. Autumn didn’t trust
it. It was the longest stretch they’d gone without escalation, which didn’t make sense. Where was the harassment? The steady stream of actions designed to leave her off balance? Then again, wasn’t she off balance simply by the waiting?

  “Thanks for helping out as my bodyguard this week. I know it’s not exactly a dream posting.”

  “Beats traffic duty. And babysitting crotchety retired police chiefs.”

  “How is Chief Curry?”

  “Grumpy, and sadder than he’s willing to admit that Rowan had to head back to Houston. He really wanted to talk her into coming onto the force here.”

  Something in his tone had Autumn’s interest piquing. “Oh yeah? He does?”

  Nash just gave her the side eye. “Yes he does, Miss Matchmaker.”

  “But you wouldn’t mind if she did either.”

  “Rowan and I are friends. We enjoy hanging out on the occasions she comes to visit her uncle. That’s it.”

  Autumn hummed a noncommittal noise. She knew interest when she heard it. But she’d let it go for now. No reason to torture the poor man before the Casserole Patrol got ahold of him.

  As soon as they stepped inside the senior center, a cheer went up.

  “There’s our girl!” Maudie Bell Ramsey crossed the room, as fast as her orthopedic shoes could carry her, and wrapped Autumn in a hug scented with Chantilly and peppermint.

  “Oh, and look! She brought us a surprise!” Miss Betty looked Nash up and down with approval.

  “Not that kind of surprise, Miss Betty. Nash is just…” What was he “just”?

  “I’m just here to check out the book club. My grandma is coming in for a long visit, and I thought it might be something she’d enjoy.”

  Nice cover.

  Looks of disappointment swept through the assembled group. “Well, he’s still nice to look at,” Miss Betty declared.