Dane walked beside her, holding her hand. All along the sidewalk, artists had areas with their work laid out for people to purchase. Aimee took her time, admiring the use of colors and textures and talking with the artists themselves.
They wandered into a gallery where the walls were covered with photographs and paintings all of the Tahoe area.
“Hello there. I’m Adele. How can I help you today?” An older woman with a flowing skirt and cardigan sweater approached them. Glasses sat atop her nose, a cord of beads connected to them.
“We’re wandering the art festival today and noticed the beautiful pieces you have in here. Are they all local artists?” Aimee asked.
“Yes ma’am, they are.”
“She’s an artist as well,” Dane said pointing to Aimee.
Aimee’s cheeks flushed red as he winked in her direction.
“Oh that’s wonderful! I would love to see some of your work.”
Aimee took her backpack off her shoulder and set it on a nearby table. “I just happen to have my sketch book with me.”
“Of course you do.” The woman smiled. “I should know better. All the artists and writers I know are never without their sketchpads or writing tablets.”
Aimee handed the woman her book and watched as Adele flipped through her pages with tender care. She appreciated the woman’s reverence with something so special to her.
“These are marvelous.”
Aimee shrugged. “They’re not my best work, that’s for sure. Just what I see as I go about the day.”
“Well, I would love to see your best work then. You have incredible talent. Tourists love buying art from local artists. The locals do, too, for that matter.” She handed the book back to Aimee. “If you ever want to sell your work here, let me know.”
Aimee smiled and nodded, speechless.
She and Dane looked through the gallery and, after a good-bye to Adele and a switching of business cards, headed back out to the sidewalk.
“I can’t believe it!” Aimee said when they were out of earshot of the gallery.
“Can’t believe what?” Dane had a hold of her hand again.
“An actual art gallery owner wants to sell my art.”
“Why does that surprise you?”
He had the nerve to look as if he really didn’t get it.
“What? I don’t get it. Your stuff is really good, Aimee.”
How he read her mind like that was uncanny.
“I mean it. You underestimate your talent.”
Her face flushed, from his compliments as well as how he was looking at her. His blue eyes glimmered, and the dimpled smile was in full force. It was like a tractor beam, sucking her in. Unable to resist, she stood on tiptoes and kissed him.
He wrapped an arm around her and kissed back, his tilted Stetson blocking them from passersby. Well, sort of. But she didn’t care. She loved this man and was fine with the world knowing.
She pulled back and sighed. “Thank you, Dane. This day has been amazing.”
“You deserve every day to be like this, Sunshine.”
She grinned from ear to ear at the nickname.
“And now it’s time for my next step in my ‘Win over Aimee plan.’” He took her hand, leading her down the sidewalk.
“You have a plan to win me over?” Her heart melted in her chest. Could she love the man more?
He winked at her. “Sweetheart, I always have a plan.”
***
Aimee leaned against Dane, his arm wrapped around her shoulders.
“This is unreal!”
They sat on a bench inside the gondola, facing the lake. It meant they rode up the mountain backwards, but it was the perfect way to really see the grandeur of it all. He found himself looking at Aimee more though, enjoyed watching her experience the view for the first time.
Everything in life was an adventure to her. Each new experience something to cherish and soak in. Always on guard himself, he could learn a thing or two from her. At first he had thought her too trusting. But that wasn’t true. Yes, she had a glass-is-half-full view of life and a hopeful spirit towards people, but she saw the best in things, and that was something he admired. Something he wanted to do more.
Her soft lips on his cheek brought him from his thoughts. He looked down into the circles of jade that stared up at him..
“Thank you, Dane. This is amazing.”
He shook his head. “You get to me, Aimee Jansenn. That’s for sure.”
She slapped his chest playfully. “That doesn’t sound like a good thing.”
He laughed and pulled her close, her head tucked under his chin. Her body snuggled in next to him. Perfect. Right where she belonged.
“It’s a good thing. I promise you.” He kissed the top of her head, soaking in the blessed scent of strawberries. “When I was a little boy, my mom would say that to me.”
“Don’t most moms say that their kids get to them?” She giggled.
“Not like that. She’d hold my face in her hands and say, ‘You get to me, sweet boy. You crawl right into my heart and fill it up.’”
Aimee looked up at him. “I love that.”
He lifted her chin and kissed her softly. “And I love you. You’ve crawled right into my heart and filled it up, Sunshine. You get to me.”
***
They rode the gondola up the mountain and back down, stopping in the middle at an overlook to take pictures for Aimee to sketch later. When they reached the bottom, Dane offered ice cream and Aimee agreed whole-heartedly.
She licked her ice cream cone and admired a painting propped up at an art vendor’s table. The coolness on her tongue, mixed with chocolate, added to the ideal experience of the day. Looking away from the painting in search of Dane, she stopped midlick. Across the street a man ducked into a store. Before he did, she saw his face. But it couldn’t be. There was no way.
“Did you find something you like?” Dane came up behind her.
She jumped, her ice cream hitting the concrete with a plop.
“Uh-oh. Looks like I need to spring for another cone.”
Dane came around in front of her, blocking her view of the store the man had gone into.
“Hey. Are you okay? I’m sorry I scared you.”
She shook her head. “No. No. It’s okay.”
He put his hands on her shoulders and ducked to look into her eyes. “Aimee. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing. Something spooked you.”
“It’s just… I saw across the street. This man that looked like. No. That can’t be right.”
“Looked like who, Aimee?”
“He looked like Damien Marcos.”
Chapter 22
Dane told Aimee to go back to the gallery and chat with Adele. In there she’d be safe. Marcos wouldn’t make a move as long as Aimee was engaged in conversation with someone. Another witness was the last thing he needed.
Aimee did as he asked, and he bolted across the street to the store she said Marcos ducked into. There was no sign of him, but Dane expected as much. Marcos was slippery and not a rookie. If it was really him, then he’d know Dane was protecting Aimee, and he’d act accordingly.
His heart pounded as he headed back to the gallery to get Aimee. They needed to get back to the ranch and get back now.
She was talking with Adele, a pleasant smile on her face, but he knew better. She was freaked. And understandably so. They made eye contact when he entered the gallery, and her shoulders relaxed. That was a good sign.
He wasn’t relaxed at all. Every fiber in his being was on alert. He loved Aimee and protecting her was all he could focus on now.
He approached the two women and put his arm around Aimee. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but we need to get going.”
“Of course.” Aimee turned her attention to Adele. “Thank you again for your time and for your interest in my work.” She shook the woman’s hand. “I’ll be in touch.”
“I hope so. You two have a lovely day.”
They made it to Dane’s truck without any sign of Marcos. As Dane drove towards home, he wound through the streets, using an obscure route to be sure they weren’t followed.
Aimee didn’t say a word the entire drive back to the ranch. Not a good sign. Aimee quiet was bad. He wanted back the chatty woman in the gondola, eyes bright with wonder.
He took her hand in his. She trembled.
Man, he loved this woman. He wanted to hunt down Marcos and tear him apart with his bare hands.
“I’ll call Torie when we get back, okay?”
She nodded.
They drove through the entrance to the 4S and Keith met them on horseback. Dane had texted him, letting him know the situation. He looked at Dane, nodded, then rode behind them up to the main house.
Dane parked his truck and helped Aimee out of the passenger side. She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“I’m okay, Dane. Really. It probably wasn’t him anyway.”
“I don’t want to take any chances.”
She nodded, which surprised him. He was ready for a fight. For her to keep blowing it off like it was nothing. But she didn’t. She was more freaked than he originally thought.
Dane got Aimee settled inside with his mom. The two women chatted in the great room, both with mugs of coffee in hand. Aimee was curled up in one corner of the sofa, her feet tucked under her. She smiled at something his mom said. Dane took the opportunity to sneak outside and call Torie from the porch. He didn’t want Aimee to hear their conversation and upset her more. She was better now that they were back at the ranch, his mother’s presence calming as usual.
Torie picked up after one ring.
“Hey, Dane. I was just gonna call you.”
That was a bad sign.
“Aimee and I were in town at an art festival and she thinks she saw Marcos. Please tell me you were calling to say you have him and she’s wrong.”
Torie took a deep breath in and out. Dane’s gut clenched. “I’m afraid not. Unfortunately, she may be dead on.”
The hair on Dane’s neck stood on end. “Are you telling me he IS here?”
“I’m not sure exactly, but that’s my best guess. We found the apartment he was living in and it was…interesting.”
“Torie. Please just tell me what you found.”
“He’s been watching Aimee, that’s for sure. Pictures of her were scattered around his place. But that’s not all.”
Dane felt sick. “What else?”
“There were pictures of you guys together. Surfing, at dinner… He knows you two are connected.”
Dane ran a hand through his hair and paced the porch.
“I have no clue how he found you up there, but I’m gonna go with, yeah, that was probably him today.”
Dane swore. He didn’t do it often, but the situation certainly merited it. “So you were calling me because you have a plan, right?”
“Something like that, yes. I’ve alerted the local authorities and they’re more than willing to be involved. I’m packing right now and heading up there. I’ll explain then.”
“Okay. She’ll be safe here, I promise.”
“I believe you. I’ll see you soon.”
Dane ended the call and stopped at the edge of the porch. His blood pumped through his veins, his heart racing. Marcos was here.
“You wanna fill me in?”
Dane had sensed his brother there before he spoke. Keith came up the porch steps and stood, feet apart, arms crossed over his chest. Geez, the man was a beast. Just having him near made Dane relax. His family would protect Aimee. It’s why he brought her here. The reality of the situation was tough to swallow though.
“Aimee saw Marcos at the art festival.” A shiver ran up Dane’s spine. He’d been too lost in the bliss of the day with Aimee to notice anyone following them.
“I know what you’re thinking. Stop berating yourself. You had no idea he’d find you here.”
Dane nodded. Of course Keith understood. A decorated Marine, he knew what it meant to be focused on a task and how personal emotions could distract.
“All I want is for Aimee to be safe.”
“Okay. So who was that on the phone?”
“That was Torie. She’s SDPD and Aimee’s roommate. She was following the situation down there, and they found Marcos’s place. It was full of photos of Aimee. Aimee and me. He figured out our connection and either followed us here or tracked us down.” Dane shook his head.
“Again, stop with the self -blame. I know you. You made sure you weren’t followed. He must’ve tracked you some other way.”
“I thought I took every precaution.”
Keith shrugged. “Sometimes that isn’t enough.”
Dane looked at his brother. A flicker of pain flashed in his eyes but then was gone. He didn’t talk about his time in the service much, and Dane never pushed. He could only imagine the things his brother had been through, the things he had seen.
“So does this Torie have a plan?”
“Yeah. She’s headed up here now. Said she’d let us in on it when she arrived.”
Keith nodded then headed down the porch steps. “Okay. Let me know when she arrives. I’ll finish my work around here but will also cruise the perimeter on horseback as well. I’ve told Dad. He’s prepared as well. He went into town for some supplies but won’t be long.”
“Thanks. I’ll stay here with Mom and Aimee.”
Keith agreed then disappeared inside the barn.
***
Dinner that night was quieter than the night before. Aimee tried to be social but the fear that gripped her was exhausting. It wasn’t in her nature to be so tense, but she kept seeing Marcos’s face in her mind. Colt and Ellie chatted, for her sake she knew, but Keith was quiet. Not that the man was a talker by any means, but he was more intense than normal. And that was really saying something. Dane sat next to her, his presence soothing.
He’d told her earlier than Torie was on her way. Told her it was probably Marcos she saw across the street from the art festival. Although it made her more anxious, she appreciated his honesty with her and the he wasn’t coddling her like a child by keeping her in the dark.
Even though Torie’s coming to the 4S meant Marcos was there and things were about to go from bad to worse, she missed her friend and looked forward to her arrival.
“Would you like some more mashed potatoes, dear?”
Ellie held a bowl of creamy goodness up to Aimee’s face. How did the woman know what her favorite comfort food was? She smiled and took another serving. If there ever was a time for comfort it was now, calories and carbs be damned.
Dane smiled and took the bowl as she offered it to him as well. “Thanks, Mom. This meal is amazing as always.”
“Thanks, darlin’.”
“I’ve got Keith’s old room ready for your friend, Torie.” Ellie said to Aimee. “I’m pleased she agreed to stay with us.”
Ellie knew exactly what was going on and why Torie was staying, but something in the Southern charm and normalness of what she said made Aimee feel better. She had a sneaking suspicion Ellie knew it too. This woman was no rookie, and Aimee admired the heck out her poise and grace under fire.
After dinner they sipped warm drinks by the fire and talked a bit. Ellie read a book and Aimee listened to the men discuss a Palomino Quarter Horse they were buying. It was being delivered the next day. There was a sense of rightness to the scene, but the way Dane and his dad and brother sat, ears perked to the outside and shoulders not quite relaxed, gave an underlying tension in the room.
Dane kept his hand on her knee the entire time. She leaned on his shoulder. When she couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer, he said nothing, but simply wrapped an arm around her and walked her to her room.
With a soft kiss and a promise to watch over things while she slept, he said good night and left. In comfy pajama pants and a T-shirt, she snuggled into the cover
s and let tears fall. The release of tension was welcome. Sometimes a girl just had to cry things out. That’s what her mother had told her and her sisters growing up. Sound advice, for sure.
Aimee blew her nose with a tissue from the nightstand and looked out the window. Although she’d been sleepy in the family room with Dane and his family, she was wide awake now.
She tapped on the Bible app on her phone. Reading about God’s promises and protection always calmed her when sleep wouldn’t come. Her eyes began to droop again so she turned off her phone and the lamp. Tucked into the covers, she prayed. Specific words wouldn’t come so she simply said, “Jesus, please.” With that mantra in her head, she nodded off, a peace that passes understanding filling her.
***
Aimee woke the next morning to her phone vibrating on the nightstand. She looked at the screen and smiled.
“Hey Torie.”
“Hey yourself. How you holdin’ up, kiddo?”
“I’m fine.”
“Man, I hate that word.”
Aimee laughed. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too, friend. How are you really?”
“Freaked. But praying. That always helps.” Aimee sat up in bed, curled her feet under her, and settled the phone to her ear. “Are you here yet?”
“Yes. Well, I’m in Tahoe. I drove in late last night, so I crashed at a motel in town. I wanted to go by the police station this morning, check in there.”
“It sounds like you have a plan.”
There was a shuffling sound in the background. “Yeah. Well. I do. But I’m afraid it won’t be a popular one.”
Aimee’s heart sped up. “Okaaaaay. I’m not sure how to take that.”
“Look. I don’t want you to worry. I’ve gotta get going, but I’ll be out to Dane’s parents’ place in about an hour. We’ll talk then.”
Get to Me Page 16