by J. L. Drake
Threading a gold-leaf earring through my earlobe, I shrugged off the uncomfortable feeling that came with John. I had really hoped that we were connecting, but now he was once again incredibly guarded around me.
I grabbed my purse, headed downstairs, and checked my watch. Dell had mentioned he was heading into town today, and I was hoping I could hitch a ride with him.
“Morning, Sloane,” Daniel greeted me as he came in from outside. “Where are you off to?”
“Town, actually. I need to get out and thought I’d like to see what Redstone is all about.”
“Dell has just loaded some packages into the trunk if you’d like to go with him.”
“Yes, I would. Thanks.”
As I turned to leave, he spoke again. “I don’t need to remind you of the—”
“House rules?” Mia piped up from behind me. “You have my word, Daniel, that she knows the consequences.”
“Of course.” He smiled warmly. “It’s just a habit.”
“It’s a good one,” I agreed. “I promise.”
Mia pulled her hair into a ponytail as she joined me.
“Thanks, Mia. I appreciate the trust.”
“No problem. Enjoy yourself today.” She gave me a hug.
I found Dell closing the trunk and asked to go along, and he assured me he would be glad to have some company.
“Three checkpoints,” Dell explained as he held up an ID to a guard who scanned it before he waved us through. “In and out, we document everyone. The only time they don’t is when the chopper comes in to pick up Blackstone for a mission. That’s the one exception.” I nodded as he continued to explain a few more things.
Once we got to the open road then into the town, I felt better. I was excited to see what they had for stores and food.
“If you need anything mailed, there’s a UPS.” Dell pulled into a free spot. “I’m warning you, the chick who works there is insane, and I highly recommend that you don’t share you know Cole, Mike, or John.”
“Why?”
“Just ask Savi.”
“Ah, she’s jealous?”
“Understatement.”
“Okay, so, avoid the UPS. Got it.” I pulled my purse onto my lap.
“I’ll be a few hours, but if you need more time, Daniel will be coming back in town tonight, so he can drive you back if you want. You have my number, so just stay in touch.”
“Will do.”
Redstone was beautiful, and as I walked along the street, the most amazing smell of coffee drifted to my nose. I headed that way on autopilot. After a quick trip inside, coffee in hand, I window shopped for hours. I found the softest white sweater and matching Ugg boots. From there, I played around in a few Christmas stores and found my mother a sweet little ornament. It wasn’t until my stomach begged me to stop that I realized I was hungry. Hmm. I whirled around and backtracked to a restaurant I’d spotted earlier.
“Good evening, and welcome to Zack’s,” a young man greeted me as I stepped inside. “Table for…?” He waited for me to finish for him.
“One, please.”
I swore I saw his excitement.
“This is one of the best seats in the house. Zack, the owner, will be over to explain the menu to you. Can I get you something to drink?”
“A glass of Cab, please. Thank you.”
“Adam.” He pointed to himself.
“Sloane.”
After he left, I pulled off my coat and removed an iPad mini from my purse. I fired it up and waited for my email to open. Thirty-two new emails waited to be answered. I scrolled through the ones that weren’t important.
“You must be Sloane. I’m Zack.” A nice-looking man in a black apron smiled down at me. “I was wondering when you were going to stop by.”
“You were?” I was confused.
“Are Savannah or Abigail with you?”
Oh, he must be friend of theirs.
“No, they’re at home.”
“I see. Will there be anyone joining you?”
“No, just me.”
He looked puzzled before he pulled out the seat across from me and sat.
“Well, in that case, welcome. Do you mind if I explain the menu to you?”
“That would be nice.” I smiled at his ease and listened as he warmed up to explaining all his restaurant had to offer. In the end, I couldn’t choose, and he was delighted to make the choices for me.
He rose and called out my order to someone in the back then turned back to me. “Will your father be joining you at some point during your stay?”
My stomach twisted. How did he know my father?
“Ah…” I stumbled. “Not that I’m aware of.”
“If he does, please let me know. I have a bottle of Oban with his name on it.”
“Will do,” I whispered as he hurried away to speak to someone else. How strange was that conversation?
My phone pulled me from my confusion, and without looking at the caller ID, I answered.
“Sloane Harlow.”
“Are you avoiding me on purpose?”
My eyes shut as my annoyance took over. My ex…
“No, Grant, something just came up.”
“So I heard.” His tone dripped in sarcasm. “Well, I need you back in the city by Friday.”
“That won’t be happening.”
“You promised you’d be free.”
I shook my head. He never listened to me; he only barked out orders. Sometimes I wondered what he really saw in me. He often treated me like more of a client than someone he recently dated.
“I’m not even in Washington, Grant.” I tried to even out my breathing.
“So, your father was telling the truth. You are working on a case in North Dakota.” Seriously? I was going to kill my father. “Or is it that you’re still mad at me?”
“I am still mad at you.”
“Come on, baby, you know it was a misunderstanding.”
“That’s not how I remember it.”
“She is a colleague—”
“Colleagues don’t spend the night.”
“We were working late, and we fell asleep.”
I felt my anger rise to the surface. “Grant, there is so much more than just what happened with her.”
“Like what? It’s no secret I’m an ass, but I love you, and I know you love me too.”
I mouthed a “thank you” to Adam as he set my dinner down.
“I’m your arm candy when you need someone to puff up your ego.”
“Is that such a bad thing for you to do for me?”
“No, if you returned the favor once in a while, maybe, but you don’t. You know that deal was mine. I worked hard on that client, and you took it from me.”
“That’s what you’re pissed about?” He laughed like I was crazy for thinking that was a big deal. “Sloane, look what you just landed, one of the biggest mob cases of the decade. Mind you, I know you lost, but still, you got the job.”
Holy Christ! Jab number three hundred.
“Grant, we are too different. You really need to find someone who is more what you need.”
“We’re perfect for each other. You know it, I know it, and your parents know it.”
“Just because my parents like you doesn’t mean we’re a good fit.”
“I want to see you.”
“No.” I went to hang up when something plowed through my memory. “By the way, did someone call you looking for my new number?”
“One of your field runners called about two weeks ago. Why?”
Oh, my God, Grant!
“Because that wasn’t one of my runners, that was a client who I’d very much like to not hear from ever again.”
“Sorry,” he muttered sarcastically. He hated to be proven wrong. “But, Sloane, seriously, I need you—”
I hung up the phone and rubbed my forehead. I wished I known how vain Grant was before he burrowed his way into my life and my father’s. He reminded me of an alley cat I’d fed a
nd now he wouldn’t leave no matter how many times I sprayed him with the hose.
“Everything okay?” I heard Zack ask.
“Not even a little,” I muttered with my head in my hands.
“Well, my mother always said a hot meal and a sweet dessert helps the heart heal faster.”
“How did you…”
He stepped closer. “Call it intuition.” He smiled knowingly.
After he left, I dove into the amazing fig and prosciutto pizzettes, and if I had been totally alone, I would have licked the plate. My glass was never empty, and once my dinner was finished and I’d settled back in my chair, a lovely glass plate of tiramisu was placed in front of me. I took the first taste, and before I knew it, I had eaten the whole thing. It was to die for.
Zack refused my money, and in spite of my protests, he sent me on my way. He said family was everything and that I was family. How could a complete stranger be so kind?
I sent a quick text off to Dell and headed for the door. Just as I was about to step outside, I saw an older woman with her shoulders hunched over sitting on the side of the room. She looked beyond finished. When she sniffed, I pulled out my package of tissues and handed them to her.
“Oh,” her bloodshot eyes found mine, “thank you, dear.”
“Of course.” She went to hand the package back to me, but I shook my head. “I have more.”
She dried her eyes, took a deep breath, and brushed her sandy blonde hair off her shoulders. “I never knew a person could cry this much.”
I could tell she needed someone to talk to, but I knew Dell would arrive any minute, and I needed to go.
“I hope your evening gets better.” I sent her the best warm smile I had in me, and that seemed to help her a little, because she matched it with an attempt at a smile and a nod.
I hurried up the street to where I had agreed to meet Dell. The wind whipped my hair and blocked my view as I placed my bags in the giant trunk then tugged the handle and hopped onto the warm leather seat.
“Thanks, Dell, for getting here so—” Oh! My hand went to my chest as John waited for me to buckle up. “Sorry. I thought Dell was coming for me.”
Tripper’s big wet tongue licked the side of my head. “Hey, boy!”
“Back,” John ordered, and he obeyed. “He called and said he needed to get back to the house, and as I was on my way into town, I offered to swing by and grab you.”
“I hope I didn’t put anyone out by staying so late.”
“Nope, you’re good.” He pulled away from the curb. “Did you have fun?”
“I did.” I tried to warm my frozen hands in the air vents. “I met Zack and Adam—who, by the way, is quite the little charmer.”
“So I hear.” He smirked behind his hand.
“I don’t think I have ever had such a great meal before.”
“Zack’s our town gem. Best food and the best bar for miles.”
“I believe it.” I started to say more, but his phone rang through the car, and his mood suddenly shifted to serious.
He switched off the speaker phone and pushed it through to his earpiece. “Hey.”
When I felt I could, I looked over at him and noticed his jaw was clenched. I could just barely hear a man’s voice on the other end. His hands tightened on the wheel, and he mouthed a curse word.
“I’ll come,” he said quickly and ended the call. Before I could ask what was going on, he pulled a U-turn, and we headed in the opposite direction.
“I need to deal with something before we can head back to the house. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to come along for the ride. It shouldn’t take that long.”
“That’s okay.” I wasn’t really sure I wanted to know what made him this stressed, so I remained quiet. When we pulled onto a side road, I noticed his grip on the steering wheel was literally turning his knuckles white. A big red house sat on top of a hill with a matching red barn a few yards away. It was a huge piece of property and looked to be some type of farm, although I couldn’t tell what they grew because of how dark it was. Lights shone on the lower half of the house, and it looked as though a man was pacing behind a curtain.
John parked and turned to look at me. “You could stay here, but I don’t like to leave you alone out here, so I think you should come in.”
“It’s okay. I’m fine here.” I really didn’t mind, but the look on his face had me quickly open the door to follow him toward the house. Tripper trotted along on my heels. We walked up the stairs to the house, and he hesitated at the door.
“I’m sorry you have to see this.”
He opened the door and let me walk in first, and I spotted the woman on the couch in tears and a man in the corner looking like he was about to break down.
John hurried over to the woman and sat next to her, while Tripper followed cautiously. She started to panic when she saw the big fur ball, but John reminded her that she’d met Tripper before and that he’d been around for a while now.
“Ellie,” he said calmly, “what’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to get into the car.”
“Hey, it’s okay.” He rubbed her back. “You don’t even have to go until tomorrow.”
Her breathing picked up, and her panic rose to the surface. Her words were slightly delayed, and I could see it took an effort for her to get them out. “I don’t want to die.”
“You won’t,” he assured her. “Just like last time, you didn’t die then, right?” John glanced over his shoulder at me, and I looked away when I saw the rawness inside him. I took it he didn’t share this side of himself with many people.
“Pops,” he called to the man in the corner, “I want you to meet Sloane. She’s a friend of mine. Could you maybe get her something warm to drink?”
The older man’s lifeless eyes found mine, and a small flicker of something flashed across his face. He stepped in front of me and put a hand on my shoulder.
“Hi, Sloane,” he said quietly. “Can I make you some coffee?”
I didn’t want any, but I could tell John needed me to be anywhere but here where he was.
“That sounds good, thank you.”
“Oliver.” He smiled warmly.
The kitchen was modern but had a lovely farmhouse feel to it. A chicken with jacked-up eyes stared at me from a shelf. It was creepy but funny as hell. I tried to hide my smile, but he must have caught it in the reflection of the window.
“That’s Hennie.” He filled the pot with water as he stood with his back to me. “John gave us that when he was thirteen. We were horrified at first, thinking the kid just bought us a thoughtful gift and we’d have to pretend we liked it, but after a few days, we caught him moving the ugly thing around the house just to tease the heck out of us.” He let out a small chuckle, but it was soon weighed down by the sounds from the other room. “John was always good at making us laugh.”
It didn’t go unnoticed that he spoke in past tense.
“It’s pretty comical looking,” I added just to fill the silence.
“Mm,” he grunted in agreement. Oliver moved about the kitchen until the coffee was finished. He handed me a large mug and motioned for me to follow him out onto the wrap-around patio. It was cold, but I knew he wanted me out of earshot.
“How do you know my son?” He handed me a warm wool blanket from a box that sat next to the porch swing, and I happily snuggled into it.
“I know his boss in Washington.” I sipped the warm coffee and let its heat spread through my insides.
“What brought you to Montana?”
I sighed and decided the man deserved the truth.
“I’m a criminal defense attorney, and my last clients were pretty shady and forgot to provide me some rather important information that was later brought to light, and we lost the case. They were pretty unhappy with me for losing and started to give me some trouble. Frank—you know Frank, right?” He nodded. “Well, he’s a family friend, and he thought it would be best if I got out o
f town for a while.”
“It is pretty serious?”
“I suppose so.” I shrugged. I was used to having clients upset when the evidence didn’t work in their favor. “Honestly, I’m not really afraid of them. I didn’t really care that I lost because I think a part of me wished something would come to light and sink them.”
“That bad of guys, huh?”
I pressed my lips together and nodded. Henry’s son always had a way of speaking about what happened like he was telling the weather, emotionless. He wasn’t sorry for anything he did; he was just sorry he was sloppy and got caught. “They’re ruthless.”
He leaned over the railing and let out a deep sigh. “It’s a good thing you’re here, then.”
“Yeah, my father certainly thinks so.” I watched a dark cloud move in front of the moon and dull its shine.
“What do your parents do?”
I downed a little more coffee just to stay warm. Oliver seemed easy to talk to. He asked questions and seemed generally interested in me.
“They both work in the Army.” I kept it vague.
He nodded and stood straight again when he heard a car coming up the driveway. A lady stepped out with three plastic bags, and I strained to see who it was.
“That’s John’s mother, Kelly.” Oliver filled in my unasked question. “She went out for dinner.”
I suddenly felt like I was in the way. I really wished Dell had picked me up. Kelly walked up the stairs, and when she spotted me with her husband, she stopped short.
Oh, shit. She was the lady who had been crying at Zack’s.
“Kelly, this is John’s friend Sloane.”
I reached out and pretended like we hadn’t met earlier. “Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Black.”
She shook her head free of the trance she seemed to be stuck in. “Please call me Kelly.” Her worried face swung over to Oliver’s. “Everything okay?”
“Just a little misunderstanding, but John’s inside.”
“Okay.” Stress outlined every wrinkle on her face. “Are you hungry, Sloane?”
“No, thank you. I’m fine.”
I felt my phone go off in my purse. I fished it free and saw it was an unknown number.
“I’m sorry, but would you mind if I took this?”