скачать книгу бесплатно
“I can’t believe it’s been ten years,” she said. “It’s taken me so long to find you.” Silence. She forced her lips into a smile. “You’re a hard man to track down.”
“That’s the way I wanted it.”
She dropped her pseudo-grin. Okay. Things weren’t going quite as well as she’d hoped. Not only had she forgotten how much Dillon disliked surprises, but she’d also forgotten how bullheaded he could be.
She glanced toward the kitchen, not surprised to see the cop watching them from the doorway. “Is there somewhere we could go to talk?” she asked Dillon.
“I’m working,” he said flatly.
“Dillon, please—”
“No. I’m not interested in anything you have to say. You shouldn’t have come.”
She willed back tears. She kept her voice low and fought the urge to turn and run away from the hatred in his eyes. “I just want a chance to talk to you, to apologize—”
“I don’t care what you want. Not anymore.” He met her eyes. “I want to be left alone. To forget everything that happened.”
Though it hurt—God did it hurt—Kelsey forced herself to ask, “Does that include me, too?”
“Yeah,” he said after a long moment. “It does.”
It was like being punched in the gut. She was shocked to find she was still standing, still on her feet and able to breathe when all she wanted to do was slide to the floor and cry. “Please, I—”
“No.” He pinched the bridge of his nose before letting his hand drop. “Look, I don’t blame you or hold you responsible for what happened, but the past is over. And I want it to stay that way.”
“It doesn’t have to be over. We can work through this. Start again.”
He shook his head and turned to leave.
She reached out, her fingers grazing his hand. “Dillon, wait. We could—”
He whirled around and grabbed her by the upper arms. She gasped as he raised her onto her toes. “Damn it, Kelsey.” He shook her once. Though it was the barest of movements, it made her stomach turn. “Don’t you get it? I’m through with you.”
“Is there a problem, Ward?”
Kelsey shut her eyes at the sound of the cop’s commanding voice. When she opened them again, the cop was standing behind Dillon, his expression downright frigid.
Dillon dropped her arms and stepped back. “No problem, Chief Martin. Kelsey was just leaving.”
She pressed her lips together. “You want me gone? Fine. But we aren’t done yet.”
Kelsey spun on her heel and stormed out into the bright sunshine. Crossing the paved parking lot, she passed a run-down pickup truck, a snazzy red SUV and the cop’s car—a black-and-white Jeep. When she reached her ancient gray hatchback, she bowed her head and inhaled shakily. She rubbed her hands over her arms where Dillon’s fingers had been, unsure if she was shivering because of the cool October breeze or Dillon’s anger.
“You okay?”
She stiffened. “Fine.” She swiveled to face the cop. “Don’t tell me I’m breaking some sort of city ordinance by standing in one spot too long.”
He studied her silently and she could’ve sworn he looked…concerned. For her.
“I wanted to see if you were okay,” he said. “All part of the job.”
The job. Of course. What, had she honestly thought he’d been worried for her? Ha. Fat chance. “Well, thanks. I guess.”
When he didn’t say anything else, she turned back to her car, pulled her key out of her front pocket and inserted it into the lock with an unsteady hand. The urge to escape, to run away, almost overwhelmed her. Had her pulse racing, her palms sweating. She didn’t want to stay, didn’t want to face her mistakes or her brother’s disgust.
But she couldn’t run. Not this time. She wouldn’t give up. No matter what Dillon said or how many times he pushed her away, she wasn’t going anywhere until she got what she came for.
It wouldn’t be easy, she’d known that much before she’d left New York. What she hadn’t taken into account was how much it would hurt to look into Dillon’s eyes and realize the truth—he hadn’t forgiven her. For putting him in the position where he’d had to take a man’s life to save hers. And for abandoning him.
How could she ever forgive herself?
CHAPTER TWO
JACK COULDN’T HELP BUT WONDER what was going on in Kelsey’s head. He’d only been in her company less than twenty minutes but he already knew she was a puzzle.
He always did like solving puzzles.
Hell, the biggest mystery at the moment though was why he had followed her out here in the first place. Sure, he’d told her he was just doing his job, and after seeing Ward manhandle her, that was partly true. But he was also there because, to be honest, he didn’t like the vulnerability he’d seen in her any more than he’d liked the sight of that SOB grabbing her.
She slid him a sideway glance. “Quit looking at me like that.”
She sure was prickly. Come to think of it, prickliness and defensiveness were two of Ward’s more irritating traits as well. Guess there was a family resemblance after all.
“How am I looking at you?” He hoped it wasn’t with anything other than professional interest. He hadn’t given himself away, had he?
She faced him, her pretty green eyes flashing. “With pity.”
“I don’t pity you.” Though he hadn’t liked how she’d clearly lost her confidence and spirit when Ward had stepped into the room. “I don’t think Ward’s worth it.”
“Not worth what?”
Not worth the tears he’d seen in her eyes or the dejection in her expression.
“Not worth getting so upset over,” he said. “I’ve seen Ward’s kind before. You’re better off without him.”
Her mouth opened. Then shut. She shook her head. “You don’t know Dillon or me. And I don’t need, or want, your opinion.”
He probably deserved her curt tone. Even it he’d only been trying to help. But if she wanted to waste her time with the likes of Dillon Ward, it was no concern of his.
“I apologize if I was out of line,” he said, unable to keep the stiffness out of his voice. With a slight nod, he put on his sunglasses, turned and walked away.
He wasn’t going to apologize for distrusting Dillon Ward. Of course, it was true that Ward had managed to stay out of trouble since being released from federal prison, but Jack wasn’t about to let his guard down. Especially while Ward was working for Allie.
“Hey, wait a minute,” Kelsey called, exasperation clear in her voice.
Jack stopped by his Jeep and slowly turned around. She was still at her car, her arms crossed at her chest, her mouth turned down at the corners.
“Was there something you needed?” he asked when she remained silent.
Her frown deepened and she sighed heavily which, for some crazy reason, made him want to smile. He must really be losing it.
The sun picked up the copper highlights in her spiky hair as she trudged across the parking lot toward him. “I need directions to a place to spend the night.”
“Planning on staying in our fair town long?”
“Don’t worry, Sheriff. I’ll be gone in the morning.”
He wasn’t worried. Much. “Depending on what you’re looking for—”
“Just a clean bed and bit of privacy.”
“You might like the B and B over by the lake. The Bee Hive.”
She snorted. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Afraid not.” He opened the Jeep’s door, pulled out his citation book and ripped out a ticket. After scribbling directions on the back, he handed her the paper. “It’s clean and not too far from here.”
She hesitated a moment before taking it, careful not to touch him.
“Thanks,” she said, avoiding his eyes. Jack leaned back against his car as he watched her march away. She climbed behind the wheel of an older model gray compact and took off like a redheaded bat out of hell.
He blew out a breath, climbed into his Jeep and told himself he was glad Kelsey was leaving in the morning. Though there might have been a small spark of attraction between them, it was only temporary and superficial. Not that he minded superficial when it came to sex, but even if Kelsey did stay in town, he’d keep his distance from her.
The last thing he needed, he thought as he started the ignition, was to get tangled up with Dillon Ward’s sister.
KELSEY STAGGERED INTO HER ROOM, turned the lock on the door handle, crossed the small space and fell facedown onto the plush bed. The room was sparsely furnished but clean. There didn’t seem to be many other options in town. At least not many she could afford. Which Chief Martin had obviously figured out or else he wouldn’t have suggested this place.
She sighed. It was one thing to be down and out. It was another to be obvious about it. Not that she cared what he thought of her. He was just another guy in uniform.
She turned her head to the left and wrinkled her nose. Oh, all right—the cop was gorgeous. In a law-abiding sort of way. And yeah, there had been a moment when she’d felt a definite…connection. Not one of those eyes-locked-across-a-crowded-room moments or anything. More like an awareness. And she was pretty certain he’d felt it, too.
And that he hadn’t liked it any more than she did.
She yawned widely and shut her eyes. It was barely 5:00 p.m. and she was already bone weary, which was so unlike her. For the past three years she’d tended bar during peak hours so she was used to being up late. But the emotional roller coaster she’d been riding since discovering her brother was alive and well—and living a few short hours away from her—left her exhausted.
Too bad their reunion hadn’t gone as smoothly as she would’ve liked.
She rolled onto her side and stared at the sky-blue wall. The color reminded her of the cop’s eyes so she turned onto her back, absently picking at the bedspread.
She’d shocked Dillon by showing up unannounced, but she’d been scared he’d take off if he knew she’d found him. She couldn’t take the chance of losing him again. Once Dillon calmed down, he’d listen to her. Her hand fisted in the bedspread. He had to.
She’d been a senior in high school the last time she saw him. She’d ditched class and taken a bus to the Toledo Correctional Institute where Dillon was serving his sentence for manslaughter. He’d been so distant, so cold. As if she’d meant little more to him than a stranger would.
She had no one to blame for the distance between them but herself. Because he’d had to save her, Dillon spent close to five years locked up.
Dillon told her he didn’t want her to visit or write him again. She’d let him push her away, had allowed her pain—and her guilt—to keep her away.
Even then, she never gave up on him. She’d found an attorney willing to take his case, one who’d been able to get his sentence reduced. But by the time she’d gotten up the courage to face him again, Dillon had disappeared from Ohio and her life.
She hadn’t come this far—literally and figuratively—to give in now. She wanted her brother back in her life. Wanted to prove she wasn’t the same impulsive troublemaker she’d been. Mostly, she wanted a connection to the only person who’d ever believed in her. Who’d ever loved her. And, by God, that’s exactly what she would get.
Whether Dillon liked it or not.
“BUY ME A DRINK, SAILOR?”
Jack glanced up. “Not in this lifetime.”
“Pinching pennies?” Seth Valentine sat on the bar stool next to Jack. “No wonder you never get laid.”
“(a) You’re not my type,” Jack said over the classic Aerosmith song playing on The Summit’s jukebox. “And (b) I’ve had sex plenty of times without your half-assed advice.”
“I’m not talking about your solo sessions. Only the times another warm body was involved. And barn animals don’t count.”
“You’re a riot,” Jack told his closest friend. The bartender, a heavily made-up brunette with a silver hoop in her left eyebrow, took Seth’s beer order and scurried off. “What are you doing here? The NYPD now giving detectives weekends off?”
Seth scooped a handful of bar nuts from the bowl in front of them. Tossed some into his mouth and shook the ones left in his hand. “Came up for my mom’s birthday tomorrow.”
“She still pissed about Mother’s Day?”
“She threatened to sell her house and move in with me if I miss her birthday, and I have to get her a decent gift.”
Having known Mrs. Valentine since he was in kindergarten, Jack knew she didn’t issue empty threats. “Guess that six-month membership to Weight Watchers wasn’t such a hot idea.”
“Hey, she’s always moaning about losing twenty pounds. How was I to know it would set her off?” Seth nodded his thanks when his draft was placed in front of him. “What about you?” he asked, wiping his hand on his jeans before picking up his beer. “Where’s Emma?”
“She’s spending the weekend with her grandparents.”
Ever since his wife died in a car accident four years ago, Emma spent one weekend a month with Nicole’s parents in New Jersey—Jack wanted his daughter to stay connected to both sides of her family.
Seth, in the act of raising his beer, stopped suddenly and whistled under his breath. “Hello. Look what just walked in.”
Jack followed his friend’s line of sight. His stomach did one slow roll.
Conversation quieted as every eye in the bar zeroed in on Kelsey. With her tight jeans and spiky red hair, she begged attention. She’d changed into a long-sleeved, purple T-shirt and, as she strode into the room, her small breasts bounced beneath the fabric.
He couldn’t help but enjoy the sight.
“I’d kill to see those legs in a skirt,” Seth said in an undertone. “A really short skirt with a pair of three-inch heels. And those have got to be the perkiest pair of—”
“Shut up,” Jack murmured as Kelsey drew near. Her eyes locked on his for a moment as she passed him by. He turned and watched her perch on a stool at the far end of the bar before tearing his gaze away.
“What?” he asked, noticing Seth smirking at him.
“Anything you want to tell me?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll just ask. Who is she?” Jack finished his soda and set the glass on the bar. “Why so interested? She’s not exactly your type.”
