Time Won't Erase

by Stacey Wilk

  “Hey, it’s okay.” She placed a hand on his face. Her touch lessened his pain.

  “If Jett hadn’t come in, I would’ve killed him.” He was as certain of that as he was of sitting on the couch with Calista. He was also disgusted with himself.

  “No, you wouldn’t have. That’s not who you are. I know you.”

  “How can you be so sure when I’m not sure?”

  “Gage, you might be a lot of things, like a control freak pain in the ass, but you aren’t a killer.” She flopped against the back of the sofa with a wave of her hand.

  A laugh broke open in his throat. He leaned back on the cushions beside her and stared at the ceiling. He reached for her hand, and she laced her fingers through his. His lungs worked again.

  “I’m going to have to apologize to him.” He needed to do that a lot lately.

  “Yes.”

  “Why are you here so early? I should’ve asked you that sooner.” He straightened and met her gaze. He really looked at her for the first time since she arrived.

  Dark half circles draped under her eyes like a saddle blanket. Her hair was pulled back but hung in pieces around her face. She unhooked her hand from his and played with her beaded bracelet.

  “My father threw me out.” Her bottom lip trembled, and she worked it under her teeth.

  “He’s gone too far this time. I’ll talk to him.” He started to get up, but her hand on his thigh stopped him. “Babe, I’ll take care of your father. He can’t throw you out. Was he drunk?”

  “I don’t know if he had been drinking. Maybe, but it doesn’t matter. He’s made his point. He doesn’t love me. Not the way I want him to. I can’t stay in this small town. As long as he hangs on to the past with two tight fists, there isn’t any place for me in his life. I don’t want to live there anymore.”

  “What about us?” He’d just gotten her back, and now she was leaving again. He couldn’t let that happen.

  “I was hoping I could stay here for a couple of days. I’m working at the pub tonight still and tomorrow night. Then Kennedy comes back to work. After that, maybe we could try the long-distance thing?”

  “After all the years we missed out on, I don’t want two hours between us. How are we going to spend time together?”

  “It doesn’t have to be forever. Just until I figure out my next move. My lease is up in a few months. I can bartend and teach yoga anywhere. Maybe I can move to Missoula. That’s not as far.”

  “If you leave town, I’m leaving too.” The words hung in the air. He tasted them for a second to see if they felt sour on his tongue.

  “Gage, get real. You’re the sheriff.”

  “Not anymore.”

  “You’re just upset right now. When things calm down a little, you’ll want to go back to work. It’s in your blood. This town is in your blood. You can’t leave here. You can’t leave Izzi, and she shouldn’t move. She needs her family and stability. Our time will come.”

  “There aren’t any guarantees, and you know that. I won’t waste another minute without you. If you tell me you don’t want me, that’s one thing. But if you’re willing to be by my side, then I want to be together. For everyone to see.”

  “I do want you, but we have a lot of things to work out. We’ve both been through so much recently.”

  “You’re pushing me away.”

  “No.” She sat back.

  “Yes, damn it. You are. Again. Just say it this time. Look me in the eye, and tell me you don’t love me, and I’ll walk you straight to your car and never bother you. But you’re going to say it. You’re not getting off easy again.” He pushed off the couch and picked up the broken picture frame. Everything in his life was like this glass covering the photo. He wanted to get to the place where the picture was, but he didn’t know how to anymore.

  He had played by the rules. He’d promised his father’s memory he would take care of his brothers, and he failed. He had tried to make a good and honest life with Calista, but life laughed at his plans. He’d tried to do right by Izzi’s mother when he hadn’t really loved her enough to spend his life with her, and she left him to care for their child alone, only concerned about her own feelings. He followed the law to the letter, and the residents of his town took that law in their own hands, and now he lost Phyllis. Playing by the rules didn’t pay off. Kace was right about that.

  Calista eased the picture out of his hands and placed it on the table. He held his breath for what was about to come. She was going to say goodbye for good. She had just said as much not two minutes ago. At least this time she would look him in the eye and be honest. He wanted that much.

  “I love you. I always have. I—”

  He intercepted her last words with his kiss. He didn’t care about the rest. She said she loved him. That was all he needed to hear.

  He cupped the back of her head to deepen the kiss. She opened her mouth and let him in. His blood roared like the rapids. His other hand went under her shirt to feel her soft skin against his fingers.

  She tangled her hands in his hair. He wanted her hands on his body to squelch some of the fire. He couldn’t wait. Those three simple words broke the dam holding him together. He yanked her shirt over her head, tossed it aside, and eased her hair free from the holder.

  “I want to see it spill over your shoulders.”

  She fanned her hair out so it floated down in a brown cascade. He wrapped the ends around his fingers.

  He took her mouth again because he needed to keep tasting her. The living room wasn’t the place he wanted to make love to her. He doubted Izzi would return or anyone would show up now, but he wanted to shut the door and lock it on the world.

  He scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom.

  “Gage, I can walk.” Her laughter ended the kiss.

  “I love the sound of my name on your lips. You have a way of making it sexy.” He eased her down on the bed. She belonged with him in this space. It was as if this cabin had been waiting for her to join him.

  “You are sexy all by yourself.” She held her arms out to him.

  He lay down beside her and kissed her again. His heart galloped as she fumbled with the buttons of his dress shirt. He would help her, but he wanted to touch her instead. He ran his hand over her breast. The black lace scratched at his skin. He reached around and unhooked it because he wanted nothing between them. She arched into his touch and moaned. He might not be able to make it to the end. She was wreaking havoc on his stamina.

  She shoved his shirt from his shoulders, and he shrugged out of it.

  “This too.” She tugged at the bottom of his undershirt.

  Reluctantly, he slid far enough away to do as she asked. Her hands explored his chest, setting his skin on fire, a fire that could burn down a forest. He left a trail of wet kisses on her neck and shoulder. She tasted like summertime.

  Her hands continued to run lines down his front and over the erection pressing against his zipper. The heat was too much. He stood and removed his pants. She smiled up at him, and his heart bounced off his ribs.

  “I love the sight of you in your boxer briefs.” She slid off her shorts and invited him back into her arms.

  The only place he wanted to be was wrapped up in her. She was the only one who could patch up the hole in his chest enough he could stand the dull ache left behind. Their families would have to get on board. He wanted this woman beside him every day. She couldn’t leave Backwater just yet. Or he would leave with her.

  Her hand gripped him and stroked. His head spun. He didn’t need to think about anything except them in his bed. He tested her readiness because he wanted her and couldn’t wait. She moaned again and moved her hips to the pace he set. His chest filled with pride. She trusted him to share herself in this way.

  “Are you ready?” He positioned himself between her legs.

  “Oh yes.”

  He entered her, and white light flashed behind his eyes. He pushed up on his forearms and let his mind go blank and ju
st feel her hands on his ass and her legs around his waist. Her teeth nipped at the skin below his collarbone. A frenzy coiled inside him. He drove into her, searching for the release, but he held off to wait for her.

  “Gage.”

  His name on her lips brought his gaze to hers. She laced her fingers in his hair and smiled.

  “Yeah?”

  “I need you.”

  Her body shuddered with her orgasm. Her muscles flexed around him, and that was all he needed for his heart to tumble along with the sweet explosive release only she could give him.

  He gathered her to him as his breath slowed. “I’m all yours.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Calista closed her eyes and relished in her body’s satisfied vibrations. Her head rested against Gage’s chest, where she could listen to his rapid heartbeat slowing down like a love song. She tangled her legs around his strong ones. She’d never be able to rid her soul of him now. How were they going to work through the sticky web their lives had become? She could have him forever, but she had to give up her father. He would never forgive her for packing up Ava’s stuff, and he certainly wouldn’t forgive her for loving Gage. She couldn’t help who she loved. She didn’t want to fight it anymore. Gage was the only good thing left in her life, flaws and all. Because he had them.

  “Babe, you hungry?” He stroked her back and sent shivers along her skin.

  “Not if it means I have to get up from this bed.” But she was going to have to leave soon. She had her shift at Kennedy’s in an hour.

  “About that.”

  She moved to see his face. His eyes were closed. “Do you regret what we just did? Because you seemed pretty into it a minute ago.”

  He looked right at her. “Are you kidding me? I can breathe when I’m next to you. My life makes some sense when we’re together. I only meant you can spend the night tonight, but I don’t know if it’s a good idea if you move in here just yet. Because of Izzi.”

  “I’ll stay tonight because I want to wake up in your arms, but I would never do anything that could hurt Izzi.”

  He turned to her. His smile was all over his face. “Then we’ll have to talk about making this more permanent.”

  Panic pierced her heart. “After tomorrow, I’m leaving town. I can’t stay here now. We’re doing the long-distance thing, remember? Please don’t fight me on this.”

  “I can’t stay in town without you. It doesn’t feel right anymore.”

  She flopped back. It was nice to imagine for a second a life with Gage that shut out everyone else. “You can’t leave. Your family and the town need you.”

  “The only person I owe is Izzi.”

  She propped up on an elbow and brushed his hair away from his face. “You’re a man of honor. You’d be gone five minutes and want to be back here. I love that about you. You can’t go.”

  He grabbed her hand and kissed her fingers. His soft lips sent shivers over her skin. She could toss this whole conversation aside and get lost in making love.

  “I have to clean up some of my mess. I have to set a good example for Izzi. But after that, I could get away for a little while. Maybe the rest of the summer. I could come with you, if you want. Izzi can stay with my mom and brother as long as I’m back before the school year starts.”

  She did want him with her, but she couldn’t allow him to leave town now. Not after what had just happened. He was hurt, but in time he’d see where he belonged. And she belonged with him.

  “If I walk away, the B and B won’t get fixed up. My dad will run the business straight into the ground. Even though he told me he hated me, I should try and stay, shouldn’t I?” Staying for Gage might be the right thing to do, but the idea of staying to finish the B and B made her stomach clench. There had to be a way to fix up the B and B without living there.

  “I’m probably not the right person to ask for advice at the moment.” He gathered her to him. “When we’re like this, the noise in my head quiets down. You don’t have to stay after how your dad treated you. He isn’t ready to change. Forcing him to move on isn’t a fight you can win. I don’t want to say this out loud, but we’ll do the long-distance thing for now.”

  Her heart soared. Selfishly. The B and B would have to wait until she could work things without her dad. She just wasn’t ready to tackle that after today. “You mean that? You’ll try the long-distance thing with me?”

  “I love you, Calista. I only want you to be happy. We’ll work through all our baggage, and then we’ll live in the same town again.”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Anything.”

  “Are you really going to apologize to Justin?”

  “For nearly beating the shit out of him? Yes. But I still think he knows something.”

  She sat up and gathered the sheets around her. “I was afraid you’d say that.”

  He pushed up on his elbow. “Hey, don’t pull away from me.”

  “Gage, you have to let this go and find another suspect.”

  “I’ve already let it go. I quit, remember?”

  “You aren’t going to quit.” She swung her legs over the bed. She’d steal a quick shower before she went to work. Her stomach growled as if to remind her she hadn’t eaten in hours. Okay, she’d also grab a bite before her shift began. The real world always had a way of sneaking in on the moments she hoped would help her forget about her problems.

  He followed her out of the bed. She tried not to take in his long, lean body, but she failed. His muscles rippled under the dark skin that she loved so much. He was her opposite, and yet he was still the other piece of her that fit so perfectly.

  “I did something stupid today. The town would have a right to ask for my resignation. I’m just giving it to them first. I can’t walk into that department and not see Phyllis. And I don’t trust myself right now to do the right thing where the robberies are concerned. I need time to figure things out.” He wrapped his arms around her, and she went willingly.

  She understood he was knocked sideways. He’d been through a lot, and she was throwing more at him by asking him to accept Justin wasn’t involved. He’d have to figure that out for himself as she’d have to figure out what to do about her father. Maybe she could stay in town a little longer. “Does your family have a room up at the main house I could rent?”

  He kissed the top of her head. “I know one of the guest cottages isn’t being rented right now because Jett wanted to fix up a few things. You could stay there. It’s closer to my place. I can sneak over after Izzi goes to bed each night.”

  “At least through the Fourth. I want to be in town for the anniversary and visit with Ava that day. After that, we’ll see what happens and where I land.”

  “Knowing we’re going to be apart is too much reality. Take your shower. I’ll make you something to eat before you go to work.” He shoved his legs into his briefs.

  She sashayed away, hoping his gaze stayed glued to her butt. “Unless you want to join me.”

  And he did just that.

  ****

  Gage sent a text to his mother to check on Izzi.

  —She’s sleeping. You went too far today. She’s very upset.—

  —I’ll take care of it.—

  Because that’s what he did even when he didn’t want to. He sent another text to Calista telling her the front door was unlocked and to come in when she got back from work. He’d wait up for her. And if she wasn’t too tired, maybe they could pick up where they’d left off in the shower.

  He replayed the image of her standing under the showerhead as water ran over her body. She stole his breath at every turn. He hoped they’d make it this time, but the odds were against them.

  He slid the picture of him and his brothers out of the broken frame and tossed the glass. His heart swelled with the love and pride he had for his family. Where would he be today without Kace, Jett, and Lock? He’d have to find a way to make up for his mistakes on the trail.

  The smile on Ajay
’s face in the picture hid all the hurt he’d caused with his antics. He’d been pulled over in another town not two months before for speeding and arrested for having enough pot and paraphernalia on him to sell. His mother had begged him to get Ajay and straighten it out. She hadn’t wanted Ajay to end up in jail. He hadn’t either, but maybe a few nights behind bars would have done him some good.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you the way you needed me to be,” he said to the picture and hoped wherever Ajay was he could hear him.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket. Calista’s name popped up on the screen.

  “Hey, babe. Are you on a break?”

  “Gage, I need you to come here right away. My father is drunk and starting a fight. He won’t leave.” She had to yell into the phone over the loud music and voices filling up the space in the background.

  “Did you call Barry? He’s on duty.” Because he certainly wasn’t. Barry could handle a drunk Andy Hartman. He could send Barry a text and tell him to arrest Andy if Barry wasn’t entirely sure what to do with the disorderly man.

  “I don’t want Barry to handle him. I need you. Please.” The pleading in her voice hit him in the gut.

  He would do anything for her. Except believe her where Justin Crow was concerned. He let out a long breath. “I’ll be right there.”

  ****

  Gage pushed through the door of Kennedy’s Pub and was met with the thumping of the band playing, glasses clinking, and the booming voice of Andy Hartman rising above the crowd.

  Calista swiped the glass from her father and shoved her finger in the other bartender’s face, Jimmy Collins. Jimmy hung his head and took the glass. She smacked the bar in front of her father and pointed to the door.

  She met his gaze at that moment, and relief filled her eyes. Andy turned to see what had caught her attention and scowled.

  Feelings are mutual right now.

  She wiped her hands on a towel and ran around the bar to meet him.

  “What’s he doing?” He leaned down to yell in her ear and to get a whiff of her spicy scent that sent shivers over his skin.

  She put a hand on his shoulder to pull him closer. Her lips brushed his ear. “Besides yelling at everyone who comes near him and telling them life isn’t worth living sober when your daughter’s been murdered by the sheriff’s brother?”