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She laid her cheek against his heartbeat. Like Stone, it was steady and strong.
“I like a man who keeps his promises,” she said softly.
He held her close, cherishing the trust, as well as the love, that she’d given.
“I hate to kiss and run, but Jack’s waiting for me out in the car. We’re on our way to Hal Stuart’s office, and then out to run down some more leads.”
Jessica ran her hand along the front of his jacket, and when she felt the bulge of his shoulder holster, she gave it a comforting pat.
“Call me.” There was more question than request in her words.
Stone grinned. “No way, honey. When I ‘reach out and touch someone,’ I want to do it the old-fashioned way. I’ll see you tonight.”
He left her standing in the hall, which was right where Sheila Biggers found her.
“There you are. I’ve been looking all over. Do you still want to do lunch? I’m starving.”
Jessica’s heart was lighter as she followed Dolby’s administrative assistant out the door.
And the days crawled toward the end of the week.
* * *
It was Friday afternoon, less than thirty minutes to quitting time, and none too soon for Jessica. Nowadays, she lived for the nights and Stone’s arrival at her house. While nothing more had been spoken between them with regards to their future or lack thereof, Jessica was holding on tight to the bits and pieces of himself that Stone was willing to share. And every time she thought of his ex-wife, she fought an urge to curse. That woman had done a number on him he couldn’t seem to forget.
Tonight, though, the routine was going to change. Stone was going to cook, and at his apartment. She wasn’t sure whether it meant he was tired of pretending her cooking was great, or if he was just being the gentleman and paying her back for all the meals he’d scrounged at her house during the week. All she had to do was drop the monthly reports by Mr. Dolby’s office and she was through for the day.
Her steps were hurried as she started down the hall. Her hand was on the doorknob to Dolby’s office when the door suddenly swung inward and a woman started out.
“Oh, Jessica! I didn’t see you there.”
Jessica grinned at the tall, dark-haired woman. “That’s because the door was closed.”
Nina Lindstrom managed a smile. And Jessica returned it easily. She and Nina had known each other for years.
“I see you haven’t lost your sense of humor,” Nina said.
“That’s about all that’s still where it belongs,” Jessica muttered, more to herself than to Nina, and followed the other woman into the hall.
Nina glanced at her friend, and Jessica could tell that she was wondering how much of what she’d heard was true, and how much of it was just gossip.
“So, how have you really been?” Nina asked. “I heard you were a victim of our famous storm.”
“That’s a kind way of putting it,” Jessica said. “But, enough about me. How are you doing?”
Nina’s shoulders drooped. “Not so good,” she said. “The diner has closed for repairs, and it’s pretty common knowledge that the Olsens aren’t going to open it back up.”
Jessica frowned. She knew Nina’s life had been tough since her husband’s death, but losing her job as a waitress at the Olsens’ diner would hit her hard.
“How are the kids?”
Nina smiled, although her voice sounded a bit shaky. “Exactly how you would expect three kids under the age of nine to be. Rowdy and loud.”
“Were you applying for a job?” Jessica asked.
Nina nodded. “But there aren’t any openings, and I need something now.” She shook her head and looked away, unwilling to let on how desperate she really was.
“Maybe something will turn up,” Jessica said.
“I don’t know. Grand Springs is in such an uproar over the mayor’s death, and businesses aren’t doing so well right now.” Then Nina put on a brave face and smiled. “If you hear of something, will you let me know?”
“Of course,” Jessica said, and touched Nina’s arm in what was meant to be a comforting way.
But at the moment of contact, everything changed. Images flashed in and out of her mind, like slides on a screen. One after the other, in rapid succession without any explanations in between. And with each one she saw, her impression grew that Nina Lindstrom would soon experience a drastic change of pace.
Nina tensed. “Jessica, are you all right?”
Jessica jerked, blinked, and then took a deep breath as her hand dropped to her side. She looked up at Nina with an angelic smile on her face.
“Don’t worry. I have a really good feeling that something is going to turn up…and soon.”
Nina sighed. “I hope you’re right. I could use some good luck for a change.”
Chapter Ten
Jessica stopped in front of the door to Stone’s second-floor apartment, giving herself a final check before ringing the bell. Her dress was new, and although she felt a bit self-conscious in the flowing, old-fashioned style, it gave her courage the boost it needed. This thing that was between her and Stone was so powerful, and so unexpectedly sweet, she was afraid to trust it could last.
The aroma of burning charcoal and cooking food drifted into the hall. It was all the impetus she needed to let herself be known. With her hand poised to knock, the door suddenly opened, and Stone swept her into his arms and into the room before she could blink.
“How did you know I was there?” Jessica gasped.
“Honey, I’m forever psychic where you’re concerned.” And then he laughed and kissed her hello before putting her down. “And I was standing on the balcony when I saw you come through the courtyard.”
She grinned. “You cheated.”
“All’s fair in love and war.”
A little ill at ease at being here with him, instead of on familiar ground, she ran a nervous hand over her hair and then smoothed the front of her dress.
Stone watched her with open admiration, letting himself absorb the fact that she was in his home.
“You look beautiful,” he said softly, fingering the gauzy fabric of her dress. “The blue matches your eyes.”
Jessica blushed, but was determined not to let him get ahead of her tonight. “You look pretty good yourself. And you smell good, too. What is it called? Eau de smoke?”
He laughed and pulled her close, nuzzling at a spot beneath her ear. “Damn, but you’re sassy tonight.”
Jessica wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning into his strength and smiling with satisfaction. Food was on the grill. She was in Stone’s arms. What more could a sane woman want? And then the thought slipped. Dare she assume she fell under the category of sane?
Stone’s heart was melting by degrees. This crazy tousled-haired woman was making him nuts. Once more, he nuzzled against the curve of her neck, then bit, not hard enough to hurt, just making his mark on her.
“Ow,” she muttered, and slapped him lightly on the arm. “If you’re that hungry, then I suggest you finish cooking our food. I’m not on the menu tonight.”
Stone circled the jut of her breast with the tip of his finger, grinning when she blushed a shade of hot virgin pink.
“Not even for dessert?”
To Jessie’s credit, she met his gaze without flinching. “I’ll let you know later,” she drawled, then pointed toward the patio door behind them. “Is that supposed to be smoking?”
Stone spun, took one look at the white clouds billowing out from beneath the hood of the cooker, and bolted.
“Obviously not,” Jessica said to herself, and followed him outside.
“Everything’s fine,” Stone said, and handed her a plate. “Here, hold this.”
Jessica took the plate and then stood and watched him work as several minutes passed. But when he made no move to put anything on it, she couldn’t stand the suspense any longer.
Stone was poking a fork in the steaks with studied intent when she spoke.
“Stone?”
“Hmm?”
“Why am I holding this plate?”
He looked up and grinned. “I didn’t want our food to burn, and I figured you would need something to hold to keep your hands off of me.”
Stunned by the audacity of the man, all she could do was sputter. He laughed aloud and took the plate she was holding, setting it on a nearby table.
“You have real staying power, Jessie Leigh. I’d just come to the conclusion that you would have held it all night.”
She arched an eyebrow and leaned against the railing in her sexiest pose. “There are some things I might do all night, but holding platters isn’t one of them.”
This time, she had the pleasure of seeing him dumbstruck. Finally, he turned back to his cooking, shaking his head and muttering something beneath his breath about needing his head examined.
Pleased that she’d gotten in the last word, she turned and gazed out across the courtyard and to the pool beyond. The apartment complex was a grouping of four separate buildings, but they shared the spacious area in between.
Flowering shrubs bordered the base of the buildings, while pebbled walkways linked them together in a maze of winding paths. Tables with colorful umbrellas dotted the grassy areas between the paths, and just beyond, the sparkling blue waters of the pool beckoned.
A couple walked hand in hand toward the building directly opposite, and as they opened the door to enter, a small boy, who appeared no more than three years old, darted out between them, making a break for the outside like a puppy gone wild.
Jessica grinned as the child rolled and tumbled around on the grass, jumping and hopping and waving his arms. Even though she was high above him, she could see that he was talking to himself. As the moments passed, she kept expecting a parent to join him. Although the courtyard itself was enclosed, there were far too many hazards awaiting a toddler alone.
When he darted toward their building, she leaned over the balcony, somehow convinced that she must keep him in sight.
Stone was taking up the last of the steaks and happened to look up as she leaned. Almost dropping the platter, he grabbed her arm half in jest, half in earnest.
“Easy, honey. You’ve already had one nasty bump on your head. You don’t want to fall from up here.”
“Stone, look.” She pointed to the toddler who was dawdling toward the fenced-in area around the pool.
He followed her direction and frowned. He’d seen the child and the mother before, but had no idea who they were, or where they lived. And while he was debating with himself about what he should do, Jessica suddenly gasped.
“He’s going to fall in the pool.”
Stone looked again. The child had turned away from the fence and was digging under some shrubs with a stick.
“No, honey. Look, he’s playing by that bush.”
She wrapped her arms around herself and started to shake. “No, no, no. Not there,” she moaned.
In that instant, Stone realized what was happening. Jessica was seeing something that had yet to happen. Without looking back, he bolted through his apartment and out of the door, running down the stairs as if his life, and not the child’s, depended on it.
When the door slammed behind Stone, Jessica jerked in shock, realizing he was gone. She gripped the balcony rail until her knuckles turned white. And even though she knew Stone must be on his way to the rescue, she feared it would not be in time. Already the child had made his way through an unlocked gate and was circling the pool with absent fascination.
When he drew back and tossed his stick in the water, she unconsciously reached out, wanting to stop the inevitable and knowing it was an impossible feat.
The stick hit the water with a splash, and the child shrieked with delight. But when it began to float out toward the middle of the pool, Jessica saw a frown creasing the little boy’s forehead. She held her breath, counting the seconds between the time the child leaned over, and when he tumbled headfirst into the deep end of the pool. At that point, her scream pierced the silence, and then she ran for the phone.
Jessica’s scream was the first thing Stone heard as he burst out of the building. All he could think was, Don’t let me be too late.
The child didn’t even float, and was already sinking when Stone hit the water headfirst. Down, down, he dove, reaching out, stretching his arm to lengthen his grasp. And when he caught fabric—and then the tiny, limp arm—he encircled it fiercely, locking his fingers in a grip that only death would have freed, and began swimming up toward the lights dancing on the water above.
He broke the surface of the water with the child held high in his arms. Afraid to take time to look down, he made for the edge of the pool with the child in tow, and as he reached the side, the child was torn from his grasp.
Breathless and shaking, he pulled himself out of the pool just as Jessica initiated the first sequences of CPR. Her hands were shaking and her face was ghost white, but she wasn’t missing a beat. It was just what Stone needed in order to catch his breath before he could help.
“Did you call 911?”
She nodded and continued to work.
Moments later, when he could breathe without gasping, Stone crawled to his knees and bent to the child.
“I’m okay,” he said quickly, taking over the motions from Jessie without breaking the rhythm. Already the sound of sirens could be heard in the distance, and then soon, another, much sweeter sound came. The sound of a child choking, then coughing, then crying.
Jessica dropped to her knees and covered her face with her hands, knowing if she never did another important thing during her lifetime, this would be enough to carry her through.
Suddenly, paramedics burst on the scene. When they got to the child, Stone gladly relinquished his role of rescuer and leaned back on his knees, still shaking from an onslaught of emotions.
And even as Stone was drawing in deep draughts of much-needed air into his lungs, the little boy was breathing on his own and asking for his mother.
Stone groaned beneath his breath as he got up. He would like to have a talk with her himself. What the hell kind of a woman would let a toddler out unattended in a place like this?
Someone touched his shoulder and he turned. It was Jessica. He grabbed her hand, and in that moment, the connection they had was as strong as when they made love.
“My God, Jessie.” For the moment, it was all he could say.
“Mommy. Want my mommy,” the child cried.
