Jamie (14 page)

“Yeah?”

“Staying with Joe so often isn't such a good idea. He's a newlywed after all, and their house is already full with the four of them.”

Scott went still. “You're not going to visit anymore?”

“I didn't mean that!” She gave him a small push. “Don't go putting words in my mouth.”

Perplexed, Scott said, “Sorry.”

“I meant that when I visit, maybe I shouldn't stay with Joe.”

Rife with visible tension, Scott said, “You aren't here long enough or often enough to warrant getting your own place.”

That summed up the problem in a nutshell. Alyx was happiest when in Visitation, near Scott—and that made her feel vulnerable. Never before had her happiness depended on a man. She'd spent years playing the field, going her own way, doing her own thing.

But lately, the urge to nest had churned inside her. She wanted to settle down, to belong. She wanted to be with Scott ... on a permanent basis.

A solution seemed obvious to her. “I could be.”

Dark shadows masked Scott's expression. “What does that mean, Alyx?”

“Well, you know web design is pretty much a mobile business. Have computer, can travel.” Her smile felt forced, so she let it go. “The thing is, I just finished a really big job. So I have an extra influx of cash. And with the fees from all the permanent sites I maintain now, I could easily finance a move and set myself up down here.”

“When are you planning to do this?”

Alyx studied Scott's expression and decided he didn't look worried about the forced proximity. “In a week or so. I'm hanging out till this stuff gets settled with Jamie, then I'll go home and close up my apartment there, pack up, and ...” She shrugged. “Move here.”

It was so quiet Alyx could hear the crickets chirping in the woods. Gravel crunched under her restless feet. She crossed her arms, uncrossed them.

Blast the man, she did not like being left on pins and needles. “Well?”

Still inscrutable, Scott asked, “You find a place to stay yet?”

“No. I haven't even really looked.” Why the hell was she so nervous? She could have faced the stupid bear without being so jumpy. Of course, she didn't love the bear. “But I'm sure I can find something. ”

Scott tucked a fist under her chin, tipped her face up, then rubbed her bottom lip with his thumb. He seemed undecided, then determined. “My house is big enough for two.”

Her heart soared, then took a dizzying turn around her stomach, making her jittery and jubilant enough to float. So he hadn't exactly proposed, so what? Living together would lead to all kinds of new commitments, she was sure of it. All she had to do was show him how great it'd be.

It wasn't easy, but Alyx kept her voice blase. “That could work, I suppose.”

A brief flash of relief showed on his face.

“I've never lived with anyone before. Alyx bobbed her eyebrows. “It sounds ... lascivious. And
fun.”

The relief disappeared behind a blank mask. Scott hesitated, then abruptly stepped around her. “It's getting late. If you want to get behind the wheel, I'll give you a push.”

The thought of kicking him in his very sexy butt appealed, but Alyx stifled the urge. How could he be so unaffected by such a life-altering decision? Sure, she'd acted blase, but that's because she was crazy nuts in love with him and didn't want to throw her heart at his feet without knowing how he felt. But they'd be
living
together. Didn't that mean anything to him?

Miffed, Alyx waltzed past him to the driver's side door. “What are you going to tell Joe about me staying with you?”

Scott stiffened, opened his mouth—and headlights flashed in the distance. Surprised that anyone else was on the long, lonely road that time of night, Alyx shielded her eyes and stared, but Scott said, “Get in your car and lock the doors.”

“Why? Who is it?”

“I don't know. And until I find out, I want you inside.” He was beside her in an instant, and somehow, though she resisted, Alyx found herself back in the car.

“Hey! I can take care of myself, Scott. I don't—”

“Lock the doors.” When she only frowned at him, he growled,
“Alyx . . . ,
” in a warning tone.

“This is dumb,” she complained through the closed car, but obediently pushed the power-lock button.

Scott said, “Thank you,” before moving to stand by his cruiser.

A sporty Porsche in some dark color that Alyx couldn't identify drew close, slowed, and finally stopped. The engine continued to purr, but the tinted driver's window lowered and a beautiful woman with pale blond hair leaned out to smile at Scott.

Alyx narrowed her eyes, studied the woman, and realized that she'd seen her earlier in town while doing errands for her brother.

“Well, hello there,” Blondie cooed. “Just what I need—a man of authority.”

Smiling like a sap, Scott approached the car. “Deputy Scott Royal, at your service. What can I do for you, ma'am?”

Gritting her teeth, Alyx lowered the window enough to hear their every word.

“For starters, you can call me Becky.”

Scott grinned. “All right, Becky. What's the problem?”

“I got into Visitation yesterday for a nice long vacation. But today I had errands to run and they took longer than I'd expected. Now that it's dark ... I'm not sure I'm heading in the right direction. Everything looks different at night, doesn't it? Especially in the rain.”

Bracing one hand on the roof of her car, Scott leaned closer. Still smiling, he remarked, “I hope our lousy weather won't ruin your trip.”

The woman gave him an
eat-you-up
once-over, and Alyx had to fight the urge to explode from her car.

“Actually, my vacation is looking better and better by the minute.”

Scott laughed, and Alyx decided enough was enough. She threw open her door and climbed out of the car. “Scott?” Her voice sounded girly shrill, and she nearly choked. She would not make an ass out of herself just because a bleached bimbo in a nice ride could fool Scott with her sugary tone.

Alyx cleared her throat, and in something closer to a baritone, demanded, “Are we leaving or what? ”

The woman took in Alyx's wind-tangled hair, her dirty jeans, and blinked. “I'm sorry,” she said, turning back to Scott, “I'm holding you up.”

“Not at all. Helping lost ladies is part of the job description.” Scott didn't even glance at Alyx, which made her want to rip that silly grin right off his handsome face.

He showered the hussy with his most engaging manner while straightening and pointing down the road. “You're headed the right way. A few more miles, you'll see a sharp bend in the road. You'll go downhill a little and to the left. You can't miss it.”

“Thank you so much.” Becky hesitated. “When I saw two cars here, I thought maybe I was closer to town than I recalled. I mean, this is a deserted road, isn't it?”

“Nothing but trees and more trees.”

“So ... you're just assisting”—the blonde's gaze swung toward Alyx again, then dismissed her—“yet another lady in distress?”

“It's this damn rain combined with the winding roads. There've been more mishaps today than we usually see in a year.” He rapped the roof of her car. “So you be careful driving now, you hear?”

“You have my word.” Becky reached out and touched his arm. “I'll see you around town?”

Tapping his badge, Scott said, “You won't be able to avoid me.”

The woman released him, gave a three-finger wave and another sickly sweet “Thank you,” and finally, the Porsche drove away.

Hands on his hips, Scott stood on the side of the roadway and watched until the car disappeared out of sight. He had a very speculative look in his eyes.

Infuriated, Alyx stomped through puddles and squishy mud until she got close enough, and then slugged him in the biceps.

“Ow.
”Jumping as if a snake had bit him, Scott scowled down at her. He flexed his arm. “What the hell was that for?”

Alyx was not a woman prone to the silent treatment. When irritated, she vented. “You were flirting with her!”

His expression turned impassive. “Of course I wasn't. ”

The dismissive tone irritated Alyx even more. “Scott Royal, we
just
agreed to live together.”

“So?” He said it like a taunt, confusing Alyx. Especially when he added, “It's not like we're getting married or anything.” The question hung in the air, and Scott prodded, “Right?”

First hurt, then angry, Alyx sucked in a breath. “We have a relationship,” she said, almost choking on the words, “which means you have no business coming on to other women.”

Appearing oh-so-calm, Scott claimed, “It's called being polite, Alyx. You could have tried it instead of screeching at me in front of her.”

Alyx punched him again, this time in the ribs. “That was
not
mere politeness, you . . . you ...”

Scott flinched, but he also laughed, and Alyx wanted to throttle him. He had more mood swings than a menopausal woman. She drew back her fist, and Scott caught her hands, deftly pinning them behind her back.

Unwilling to actually hurt him, she gave a half-hearted struggle. “Let me go.”

“No.” In one quick move, he snugged her up close so that her hips fit tight to his and her upper body arched awkwardly, pressing her breasts forward. Giving her a warm smile while studying her chest, Scott murmured, “Settle down, Alyx.”

Her eyes nearly crossed. “How dare you—”

Cutting her off in mid-tirade, Scott kissed her. She opened her mouth to complain—and his tongue licked in, first teasing, then boldly claiming, and her toes curled in her wet boots. Warmth spread, heating her from the inside out.

Wow, she did love Scott's mouth. The fight went right out of her.

Against her lips, Scott whispered, “I wasn't flirting, honey, I swear. Why would I even want to when I've got you close at hand?”

Too muddled to think straight, Alyx just listened.

“Strangers make me curious, that's all. And what better way to get to know a stranger than to play along?”

Blinking fast to regain her wits, Alyx asked, “What do you mean?”

He nuzzled her neck. “I guess I'm the cautious sort. Comes with the job.” Then he raised his head, all intent and annoyed again. “Which is why I asked you to stay in the car. This time it was a woman alone, but it could just as easily have been someone dangerous. ”

Alyx studied him. “So you don't think one woman can be a threat?”

“I didn't ...” He wisely chose to retrench. “I don't know. I don't think
she's
a threat.”

“Hmm. I saw her in town earlier today. All primped up and dressed nice, just standing around, sort of checking things out.”

Scott grinned. “Ah. Very suspicious.”

New fury surfaced. “I don't like her.” And before he could accuse her of jealousy, Alyx added, “I don't trust her, either.”

“Why?”

“Because she's too slick. She's exactly the type of woman a man would never suspect.”

Scratching his ear, Scott asked, “Suspect her of what, exactly?”

“I don't know.”

He fought a smile. “Alyx, honey, you're overreacting. I didn't see any prison tattoos. No bulging muscles. Hell, she appears to be a slight woman.”

“She's as tall as me. And she probably weighs close to the same.” Alyx pushed forward another step. “You don't think I can be lethal?”

Scott barely stifled his laugh. “This is ridiculous. She didn't make any threats. All she did was ask for directions.”

Alyx snorted. “Right. Because the rain confused her.”

“Don't sneer.” Gripping her shoulders, Scott bent to look her in the eyes. “We should be talking about you, not Becky. You didn't stay in the car like I asked you to.”

“Why should I? You just said she wasn't dangerous.”

“True. But she could have had someone with her, a drunk or abusive boyfriend.”

“It wouldn't have mattered.” Alyx lifted her chin. “There's no way I'd sit idle if you were in danger. ”

Back to being irritated, Scott growled, “Alyx—”

“I'm not made that way.” She knotted her hands in his shirt and tried to shake him, hoping he'd understand. “I'm not helpless, and I'm not a coward. ”

“I never said you were a coward.”

“Then don't treat me like one.” And Alyx shook him again for an entirely different reason. “Besides, I think a drunk would have been preferable to that hussy anyway. Did you see how she looked at you? If she tries that again, I'll show her what a woman can do. I'll show her that I don't need rippling muscle to—”

Scott cut off that awful threat with another hard smooch. “I do love how fiery you get, babe.” He nuzzled his nose against hers. “Let's save it for when we're alone—preferably with a bed close by.”

And Alyx, wearing her own sappy smile, said, “Okay.”

 

 

Jamie didn't go down the mountain. He went up. Not so far that he couldn't see his cabin and the lights shining from it, but far enough away that he wouldn't, couldn't, touch Faith.

He knew the path by rote; too many times, he'd wandered the mountain just because he had nothing else to do. Jamie felt at peace among the tall trees and wild animals.