Three months earlier. Jacey lie motionless a moment as she gasped to catch her breath. The killer approached her. She slowly rolled onto her side and attempted to stand. He aimed the gun at her head. Jacey stared at him from where she knelt. Her eyes remained fixed on the gun he held.
“Goodbye, Jacey,” he said simply.
Maxwell grabbed Jacey from behind and shielded her in his arms. The killer’s finger tightened on the trigger.
“Haven’t you forgotten something?” came Asher’s all too familiar voice from behind him.
The killer’s eyes widened. Maxwell and Jacey looked up from their huddled position on the ground. The killer spun to face the man standing behind him while aiming his gun. Konrad Asher plunged the long dagger into the killer’s throat and straight through the back of his neck. The killer’s eyes widened as blood flowed from his mouth. The gun fired in his hand, shooting Asher at close range. Asher was thrown backward and forcibly struck the side of the building. His eyes rolled back, and he slid down the wall.
“No!” Jacey screamed.
Present day. Jacey drew a deep, shaken breath as she slowly opened her eyes and looked back at the article. It seemed like a long time ago, yet it was only three months since that day. As she returned the article to the box, she noticed several framed photos of Katie on the bottom. Their placement in the box surprised Jacey. Before Asher had left on his trip, Jacey was certain she’d seen the same photos on display in the formal living room and in the jungle he called a sunroom. Jacey studied the framed photos a moment longer then returned them to the box and pushed it back into the closet. She sat back on her feet and sighed. If she intended to make it home before the woods were pitch black, she’d need to leave immediately, but she didn’t want to leave. Sitting on the floor in Asher’s bedroom somehow comforted her. The feeling was hard to explain. She still needed to find something for dinner, and she was certain Asher’s cupboards were nearly bare. Jacey finally stood while toying with what she should do next.
She looked at the neatly hanging dress shirts in the closet. She gently touched one of Asher’s shirts, hesitated, and uncertainly leaned in to smell it. She could smell the faint trace of Asher’s familiar aftershave. Not that he doused himself in aftershave, but it was a scent she was able to detect quite easily even from a distance. She nearly clung to his shirt, placed her nose to the collar, and shut her eyes. With Asher gone for more than four days, it felt as if she’d lost a limb. Functioning without him was difficult at times. Although, functioning with him was sometimes a challenge as well. She needed a friend right now, and it was too late to return to the museum and join Professor. She was suddenly very tired and not the least bit hungry anymore.
Chapter Ten
Jacey slept within Asher’s bed beneath the covers while cuddling the extra pillow. She squirmed slightly from the nightmare she was reliving. A gunshot echoed from within her dream followed by her screams, which woke her from her sleep. Jacey gasped softly and jerked beneath the covers. She looked around with some disorientation, uncertain what had brought her out of her nightmare, and then remembered where she was. She looked at the bedside clock and groaned. It was only midnight. She attempted to relax and again nuzzled Asher’s pillow, which had faint traces of the same aftershave as the shirt from the closet she chose to sleep in. The smell was comforting. She needed comforting right now.
As she felt herself slowly drift back to sleep, she swore she heard a clunk from within the house. Jacey mechanically sat up in bed while gasping softly, the alarm showing on her face. She listened a moment. It was possible it was just her imagination. She then heard the distinctive sound of a floorboard creaking within the living room. Jacey reached between the headboard and mattress and removed a revolver handgun. She quietly sprang from the bed and approached the partially open bedroom door. She stood to the side and listened a moment longer then heard someone moving within the hallway. Jacey flattened her back against the wall to the side of the door and held the gun close to her chest. Someone appeared in the darkness within the doorway and gently pushed the door open.
While her heart was pounding, she watched in horror as a man entered the bedroom. Jacey gently cocked the gun’s hammer back while attempting to make as little noise as possible, but the distinctive sound echoed through the room. The man suddenly turned for her and knocked the gun from her hand, his quick reflexes startling her. Without hesitation or forethought, Jacey kicked for his groin. He blocked her kick, but she was already taking a swing and punched him in the face, dazing him. She immediately kicked for his side. To her surprise, he caught her ankle and tossed her off her feet. Jacey roughly struck the floor, but she didn’t have time to consider the pain surging through her body. She saw the intruder lunge for the discarded gun, although how he saw it in the dim lighting was a mystery.
Jacey knew she couldn’t let him get the gun. With her foot, she swept his legs out from under him. He crashed to the floor alongside her. As Jacey scrambled to her hands and knees, the man recovered and started getting up. There was little time to act if she wanted to get the slip on her attacker. Jacey boldly tackled him back to the floor, straddled his waist, and attempted to punch him. He caught her wrist mid swing and flipped her roughly onto her back, now positioning himself on top of her. She attempted to punch him with her free left hand. He caught her left wrist and pinned both her wrists to the floor just above her head, trapping her. Jacey breathed heavily and struggled against the man on top of her, pinning her to the floor in a compromising position.
“Jacey,” came the calm, familiar voice. “What are you doing in my bedroom?”
Jacey suddenly stopped struggling and stared at the man above her in the darkness as he pinned her to the floor. It was then she realized the familiar scent was stronger than it had been from the shirt she wore.
“Asher?” she gasped softly with surprise.
An overwhelming flood of emotions shot through her entire body as her heart pounded with a mixture of relief and excitement to her best friend’s presence. She wasn’t sure why, but she suddenly felt like crying. Asher released her wrists, took her hands as he moved off her, and pulled her up with him while he stood. He released her hands and turned on the light. As the room brightened nearly blinding her, she stared helplessly at Asher, almost afraid to believe he was actually home. Konrad Asher was a distinguished looking man in his early forties with a slight silver to his light brown hair. What stuck out most about Asher was his hypnotic blue eyes. Far from muscular, he was built moderately athletic. Despite his build, he was stronger than most gave him credit. If anyone asked Jacey’s opinion, Asher’s mind was his greatest asset. He didn’t seem physically intimidating, but he had an unsettling way of staring that created fear in most. Jacey never really understood it. She found his blue eyes captivating and not the least bit intimidating.
Asher casually glanced over her, raised a tiny smirk, and gently dabbed the bleeding cut on his lip. “Did anyone ever tell you, you hit like a man?”
As she stared at him now standing before her, her emotions took over. Jacey threw her arms around his neck and jumped into his arms, attempting to hold back pent up emotions from her harrowing ordeal at Jeannette’s house. Asher returned the embrace, almost as if he knew it wasn’t an ‘I’m so glad to see you’ hug.
“Oh, Asher,” she gasped softly while burying her face into his shirt collar. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
“Yes, I noticed by the warm reception I’d received,” he lightly teased.
Jacey felt her body tremble, causing her to pull away quickly before he noticed. Every emotion from her exhausting day wanted to surface, but she was determined to keep them concealed. She didn’t know why she was reluctant to share her trauma with him. She stared at him a moment then covered her emotions by forcing a warm smile and kissing him quickly on the lips. She pulled back and grinned despite her urge to cry on his shoulder.
“Better?” she joked softly while stifling her sniff.
&nb
sp; Asher chuckled and hugged her again, almost as if he wouldn’t let her go. She actually hoped he wouldn’t.
“Much better.” Asher then pulled away and suspiciously glanced around the room. He looked back at her almost demandingly and raised a curious brow. “You wouldn’t be hiding Dr. Maxwell from me, would you?”
She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to laugh or cry at the comment. “No, he’s not here,” she playfully replied. “You know better.”
Asher picked up the discarded gun then eyed her while indicating the revolver.
“Where did you find this?”
Jacey casually shrugged. “In the hidden holster strapped between your mattress and headboard.”
Asher shook his head, approached the bed, and replaced the gun to its rightful hiding spot.
“You’re a little too clever for your own good,” he muttered while leaning over the bed.
“You weren’t supposed to be home for another four days,” she remarked while studying him. “What happened?”
Asher casually straightened and turned from the mussed bed then looked at her. “You found your co-worker murdered and had a run-in with her killer,” he remarked matter-of-fact. “Naturally I’d be on the next plane home.” He looked into her eyes as he gently placed his hand on her shoulder. His look was serious yet tender. “Are you okay?”
Jacey avoided looking at him as she slowly approached the bed and collapsed onto the edge. Somehow, she feared if she looked at him that she’d start crying.
“A few unpleasant memories suddenly came back to haunt me,” she replied softly, feeling his eyes upon her.
“I know that feeling all too well.”
She lifted her head and met his gaze. “I’m sorry, Asher. I shouldn’t have brought it up--”
“Of course you should,” he interrupted firmly. “Don’t apologize.” He hesitated while staring at her. “Katie died a long time ago. I’ve licked my wounds, and they have healed. It’s you I’m worried about.”
“You don’t need to worry about me,” she replied then offered a tiny smile. “I’m surviving just fine in denial.”
Asher didn’t appear humored by her joke. He joined Jacey on the edge of the bed and studied her. “I stopped by your house and then went to the museum,” he informed her then appeared curious. “Why didn’t you stay with Professor?”
“I thought I’d be more comfortable here.”
“Apparently so,” he remarked. “Even I didn’t expect to find you here.”
The realization that he’d caught her sleeping in his bed had then hit her. She became concerned by how it must have looked. The last thing she wanted was to disrespect Katie’s memory by sleeping in her bed.
“You don’t mind, do you?”
Asher chuckled softly and patted her hand. “Of course not, darling. You’re welcome to anything I have,” he announced almost cheerfully. “I’m just curious as to why you didn’t go to the museum. Professor said you wouldn’t go with him.”
Jacey hesitated then reluctantly answered. “Maxwell was getting in after midnight, and I wasn’t in the mood to deal with him,” she replied gently.
Asher seemed surprised then curious. “Our Dr. Maxwell not treating you right?”
Although it sounded like an innocent question, Jacey knew Asher actually meant, ‘if he hurt you, I’ll kill him’.
“It’s not like that,” she quickly informed him before he could come to his own conclusions. “Actually, he asked me to marry him.”
Asher stared at her a moment in silence. His expression was hard to read, but she supposed he was having a difficult time reading hers too.
“Shall I hold off on the champagne toast?”
Jacey drew a deep breath and stared at Asher. “He got a job offer in Denver.”
Asher stared at her a long, uncomfortable moment. She could swear she heard his world shatter. He shifted alongside her, patted her leg, and attempted a weak smile.
“I see,” he replied gently then put up a brave front. “You know I’ll support whatever decision you make.”
“I’m not going,” she replied a little too quickly.
Asher exhaled and attempted not to smile at her response. He fidgeted slightly and avoided looking her in the eyes.
“I hope your decision isn’t on my account.”
“I’m not ready to move off to Denver and leave my family and friends behind,” she informed him. “Besides, I’ve been having doubts about my relationship with Maxwell. He’s just, well, been so ambitious lately. He moved to Stony Ridge to escape high society and now he’s doing anything he can to return to it. He’s changing into the very people I try to avoid.”
Jacey looked down and appeared distant while in her own thoughts. Asher studied her a moment then squeezed her hand, returning her to reality.
“Something else?” he asked.
She feared looking at him but reluctantly met his gaze. “He could’ve come home early when he found out what happened tonight, but he didn’t.” She groaned softly and raked her fingers through her mussed hair. “I know it’s unfair of me. That party was important to his career, but--”
Asher smiled gently, lifted her hand, and gently kissed it. She stared at him and wondered how he was always able to make her feel better without ever solving her problems.
“Perhaps you need to talk with Dr. Maxwell about how you feel,” he informed her then raised his brow. “We men tend to have poor judgment when it comes to sensitivity.”
She stared at him a moment then drew a deep breath. “You didn’t seem to have any trouble flying halfway across the country to get back here.”
There was an awkward silence as he stared at her. He inhaled deeply while staring into her eyes. His look was frighteningly serious.
“I lost everything I loved once,” he gently informed her, which she was well aware. “Dr. Maxwell and I have a different set of priorities.”
She understood him loud and clear. Jacey smiled warmly, clung to his arm, and rested her head on his shoulder.
“I somehow knew you’d come back,” she announced softly. As she clung to his arm, she almost wished she could crawl inside him and hide forever.
“Getting damned predictable in my old age,” he announced with a chuckle while patting her hand on his arm. “I’ll need to work on that.”
Asher patted her leg then stood, despite her attempt to keep hold of his arm. She almost wished she held on tighter, so he couldn’t pull away. He turned to face her where she remained sitting on his bed.
“Why don’t you get some sleep,” he suggested. “You must be exhausted. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
He pulled the cover back for her and patted the bed. Jacey quickly stood and smiled gently at his charm.
“It’s your bed,” she reminded him. “I’ll sleep in the guestroom.”
“Nonsense. That mattress is far too lumpy for you,” he announced firmly. “Don’t bother arguing with me. You know you’ll never win.”
Jacey had to smile then climbed under the covers and nuzzled the pillow. Asher pulled the covers up to her waist then leaned over her and kissed her gently on the cheek. He straightened and appeared humored.
“Out of a dozen clean shirts in my closet, you pick the only dirty one,” he teased then laughed. “That shirt reeks of me.”
She turned her head, sniffed the collar, and then looked back at him while smiling knowingly. “You’re right; it does.”
Asher chuckled softly. “Your sense of smell needs some fine tuning,” he teased. “Good night, darling.”
She watched him cross the room and turn off the light. Despite near darkness, she watched his silhouette leave the room. She didn’t want him to leave. Would it have been wrong to ask him to stay and hold her while she slept? She stared at the partially open door for the longest time and pondered the answer.
Chapter Eleven
Seven o’clock the following morning, Jacey wearily padded into the kitchen still in her borrowed shirt. To her su
rprise, she found Asher mixing pancake batter in a large bowl. She eyed him suspiciously while running her fingers through her excessively mussed hair. He looked shower fresh and in a set of clean clothes. She was surprised he had been able to slip past her while she slept to take a shower without waking her.
“You’re up early,” she announced while watching him at the counter.
He glanced at her and smiled. “I could say the same about you.”
“Well, some of us have a thirty minute ride ahead of us before even considering showering and changing for a full day of work.”
“I’d think you’d be taking the day off,” he remarked sarcastically. “Although I’m not surprised you’re not.”
“Can I assume your assumption has something to do with my clothes disappearing?”
“I was doing a load of laundry this morning anyway,” he replied then grinned. “Yours were a little horsy smelling.”
So not only had he slipped past her while she slept, showered, and dressed, he also made off with her dirty clothes. She wasn’t winning any awards for being aware of her surroundings. Jacey glared at him and shook her head.
“How do you propose I ride back home?” she suddenly asked. “The woods are secluded, but I certainly can’t ride in only your shirt and my underwear.”
Jacey wouldn’t admit it to him, but the thought of trotting her horse all the way home without wearing a bra sounded almost agonizing.
“No need to worry,” he informed her. “I had a contingency plan in case you intended to go into work today.” He grinned proudly. “You catch a shower and wash that Asher reek off yourself while I find something snob friendly from Katie’s closet for you to wear to work. Afterwards, I’ll finish making breakfast for us.”
She stared at him with bewilderment or possibly disbelief. He was losing his touch or at least not thinking.
“Asher, I have to take my horse home and care for the rest of my herd,” she informed him. “I can’t ride in work clothes. I’ll stink by the time I get to work. I have enough women looking down their noses at me already. I don’t need to smell all horsy on top of that.”
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