Jamie (24 page)

Deciding to reciprocate, Alyx said, “About Becky—”

Grim, Scott interrupted her. “I don't want you involved, Alyx. From what Jamie said, this Delayna person could be very dangerous. And who knows? Maybe Becky is working with her. If you notice anything or anyone that doesn't look right to you, I expect you to call me.”

He hadn't given her a chance to explain about Becky. “Of course I would, but—”

His eyes narrowed. “Just like you were going to tell me about the kids shoplifting? ”

Inside, Alyx winced, but she kept her composure and spilled the truth. “Actually ... I wasn't going to say anything about
that.”

Scott went livid. “Yeah, I figured as much.”

Alyx reached out a hand to grab his upper arm. “Listen, Scott, I could have lied to you and said I planned to tell you. But I don't ever want to lie to you. I want us to trust each other.”
In everything.

“Trust?” His laugh was hard and mean and lacking in any humor. “Right. So where's your trust for me, Alyx?”

Her mouth fell open. “I trust you completely!”

“Yeah, that's obvious in the way you hide things from me.”

“I don't.”

“What about visiting Jamie?”

Sighing, Alyx twisted closer to face him. “Jamie is a good friend. I care about him. That's why I want to—”

Scott interrupted her again. “And shoplifting kids? What justification would you have
not
to tell me about them?”

“I know you, Scott. If I'd told you about the boys, you'd feel obligated by law to go after them. They're dumb kids, doing a dumb thing. But they might not be really
bad,
ya know?”

Scott didn't look convinced.

“I think they were just showing off for girls,” Alyx explained. “But if they had agreed to come in and apologize to Mr. Peterson, and to pay for what they took, if I told them how close they'd gotten to serious trouble, maybe even gaining a criminal record, that might have been enough to set them back on the straight and narrow. That might have taught them a lesson that would affect the rest of their lives.”

“And if it didn't?”

Alyx drew a calming breath. “If not, you could always get involved. But I didn't want it to go that far if it didn't have to.”

“So you planned to confront them alone?”

She didn't like the way he said that, as if it indicated a lack of intelligence or something. “They're only teenage boys, Scott, maybe sixteen or so. Not grown men.”

The contempt on Scott's face seared her. “Teenagers, Alyx? I know a lot of sixteen-year-old boys who would outweigh you, outmuscle you, and outrun you. Especially when there's more than one. At that age, they're more like wild animals than rational humans.”

“Oh, for crying out loud.” Alyx couldn't credit such a ridiculous comparison. Then again, she well remembered her brother at that age....

Scott's teeth locked. “It's a period of raging testosterone, when guys feel the need to assert themselves. They're more confrontational, more aggressive.” His voice rose in tandem with his anger. “They're boys on the verge of being men, and they're out to prove it. What the hell makes you think they'd welcome your interference with politeness?” And then in a growl, “What makes you think you could handle them on your own?”

And that, Alyx thought, seemed to be Scott's biggest complaint. Not that she might have let kids get away with trouble, but that she might have endangered herself rather than go to him.

In direct contrast to his mood, she kept her tone low and controlled. “I was going to see them in a public place, where it'd be safe. I recognized the car they drove, so I know they hang out at the lake a lot. Odds are they were going there when they left the drugstore. They all wore trunks, and the girls had on bikini tops.”

“I don't believe this.”

“Come on, Scott. I would have been fine. I promise. ”

Deflated, Scott rubbed his face. Alyx thought he looked tired as well as enraged, and that worried her.

“So tell me, Alyx. What makes you think I wouldn't have been just as sensitive to the situation as you would be?”

Alyx drew a blank. “I don't know.”

“There you go. You don't know, but you automatically assume you're better able to handle it. Never mind the years I've been in law enforcement. Never mind my experience.”

Guilt assailed Alyx, but Scott didn't give her a chance to apologize.

“Have you seen me tossing kids in jail? Have you seen me overreacting to situations?”

Cautiously, Alyx said, “No.”

“You're right that I would have gone after them. And if they didn't have any priors—which isn't something you could check, by the way—then I probably would have done exactly as you suggested. I also would've notified their parents, so they could get involved. Parents deserve to know what their kids are doing. More than any law official, more than any meddling citizen”—he looked at Alyx, leaving no doubt whom he considered the meddling citizen to be—“parents can influence their kids.”

“You're right, Scott, and I'm sorry.” Feeling burdened by more than just the topic under discussion, Alyx rubbed his shoulder in a gesture of appeasement. “I guess we have a lot to get worked out once I move in, huh?”

Scott froze, then slowly raised his face. His expression guarded, he took Alyx's hand and held it tight.

“I've been meaning to talk to you about that.” He drew a long, deep breath, as if preparing himself. “This morning in fact. But ... the timing just never seemed right.”

Something inside Alyx went cold and dark. “Talk to me about what?”

“Moving in.” Another deep breath, then Scott's eyes gentled and his gaze became direct, almost compelling. “I'm not sure living together is the right way to go.”

Alyx's heart lurched into a too-fast, too-hard, frantic beat. She'd love him forever ... maybe he just needed more time.

Though sickness churned in her belly, she forced a smile. “It's an ideal situation. No real commitment, no legal ties, so ...
neither of us
will feel trapped.”

Eyes closing, Scott cursed under his breath.

Oh God, the thought of losing him left Alyx panicked. “You'll be able to come and go as you please. I'll be able to come and go. What could be better?”

Scott's face darkened. “Have you thought about how that's going to look to everyone?”

Relying on pure bravado, Alyx shrugged. “Hey, these are modern times. Lots of people cohabitate.”

“Alyx.” He said her name in soft rebuke. “Like you told Becky, this is a small town and we do things differently here. That day I found you with Willow made me stop and consider how awkward it might be.”

Awkward?
Damn, it hurt. Wanting to deny his words, Alyx shook her head.

But Scott persisted. “What if Willow asks you why you're living with me? What would you tell her? That we're just shacking up? What if she decides she wants to go off with Clay, too? And I respect your brother, honey. He won't like it if we're—”

“I see.” Belatedly, Alyx found her backbone. She really didn't need Scott to say any more. No matter how he explained it, the statement was clear: he didn't want her moving in after all.

Knowing she was going to lose it at any second, Alyx jerked her hand free from Scott's and wrenched at the door handle.

“Alyx, wait.” Scott reached for her shoulder, but she shrugged him off and finally the door opened.

She tumbled out so fast that she nearly spilled her now-melted ice-cream float. A garbage can sat close to the curb, and Alyx tossed the drink inside. Her stomach churned too much to put anything more in it.

She heard Scott's door opening, knew he wanted to offer up more lame excuses—excuses that all amounted to a rejection that hurt more than anything she'd ever experienced in her life.
Let me have my pride,
she silently prayed.

Smiling wasn't easy, but Alyx managed it. “Hey, it's okay, Scott. No big deal.” She held up a hand to halt him. “I understand. And sure, we can talk about it more later if you want.” After she had a chance to regroup, to summon up her arrogance so she could get through it without tears.

Scott kept his gaze glued to her face. “I want to talk now. This is important. Just because I don't want to—”

“Can't.” Alyx hustled backward, moving farther and farther away. With her facade crumbling fast, she just knew she'd die if she fell apart in front of Scott. “I've got a ton of things to do. Lots of things. Really.”

Concern—and something else—showed on Scott's face. “But ... I bought you something.”

A present to soften the blow? No way. She had almost reached the corner. In three more steps, she'd be out of sight. “No need for gifts, Deputy. The sex was good, but I agree, it probably wasn't enough to warrant shared living quarters.”

Raw anger flashed on his face. “It was more than sex, Alyx, and you know it.”

Sure ... more,
but not enough.
“Later, Scott.” With a quick wave, Alyx ducked away, and the second she was out of sight, tears burned her throat and blurred her vision.

Determined to hide her wretched weakness, she sprinted to her car in the post-office parking lot, lumbered inside, and fumbled with her keys until she got them in the ignition.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid.” Sniffing hard, Alyx tossed her bag from the post office out of her way and slipped on sunglasses to hide any signs of emotion. Her hands shook as she put the Mazda in gear and pulled out of the lot. When she turned the corner, she couldn't help but glance toward the drugstore.

Scott still stood outside by his car, one hand braced on the hood, his head down. He looked dejected, damn him. He looked hurt.

And like a lovesick idiot, she couldn't stand to see him like that.

Alyx needed a distraction and fast. She needed to vent. She needed—

Up ahead, barely visible in the roadway, Alyx spotted a recognizable car—and with a smile of mean intent, she stepped on the gas. The timing couldn't be more perfect.

Becky would give her just the distraction she needed.

 

 

Jamie carried in the bags of clothes he'd forgotten on the porch. He hoped they might serve to soften the blow when he gave Faith the news. She had just finished doing morning dishes, and Jamie dropped everything on the table to free his hands so he could hug her from behind.

“How do you feel?”

Faith laughed. “You keep asking me that, and I keep telling you, I'm fine.”

“Very fine.” Jamie nibbled on her nape and got a soft sigh in return. He adored Faith's sighs, just as he adored her fragrant skin, her silly chatter, her carnal nature that exploded with him.

“Okay,” Faith said on a long breath. “The truth is, I'm sated. Full. Very soft in the head and the body, and my legs are like overcooked noodles, and my skin is still tingly.”

“All that, huh?” Jamie grinned against her shoulder. And God, it was starting to feel natural, smiling so much. Having
reason
to smile. “You weakened my legs a little, too.”

Turning her head to peer at Jamie over her shoulder, Faith raised a brow. “Only a little?”

“And good thing.” He stepped away from her, and braced himself for the arguments he knew would come. “Because I need to make another trip down the mountain.”

The peacefulness that had surrounded her moments before now turned to alarm. She jerked around to face him, soapsuds and water dripping from her hands.
“Why?”

“I'm sorry. It's necessary.”

Anger mixed with the alarm. “Oh, no, you don't. That is not an explanation, Jamie Creed.”

“And you're not my wife. I don't have to explain myself to you.” She looked wounded, making Jamie frown. What he said was true, but damn it, he didn't like seeing her disappointment.

He couldn't relent, but he could give her a partial truth. “I wouldn't go if I didn't have to. Believe me, Faith, I'd rather stay here, preferably with you naked and in bed.”

Faith colored before she began drying her hands in a rush. “Fine.” She tossed the dishtowel aside. “I'll go with you.” She headed toward the bathroom in a militant march.

Jamie caught her shoulders, drawing her to a halt. “No.”

Her chin shot up. “I'm going and that's it.”

He hadn't expected this, hadn't seen it coming. But Faith in a mutinous mood was kind of cute. He wished he could accommodate her, except that wouldn't be fair to Scott.

“I said no, Faith.” On the heels of that rejection, he caught her to him for a hug and gave her an explanation after all. “I'm sorry. But it's a personal matter. Not my personal matter, but someone else's. And I don't think he'd appreciate an audience.”

Her hands fisted against his shirt.

“Come on, Faith. Give it up.” Jamie didn't want to leave with her upset. “I shouldn't be gone long, just long enough to go down the mountain, have a talk with someone, and come back up. An hour or so at the most.”

Confused, Faith tipped her head back and stared up at him. “You mean someone is down there waiting for you?”

“Not exactly, no. He thinks he's going to come up here to see me later in the day. That's his plan.” A plan that would put Scott behind schedule on events that demanded immediate attention. “But what I have to tell him won't wait until later. So I'm going down instead.”