Layers Crossed (11 page)

“No, Dino will
stay at my parent’s while I’m away. What else did Jack tell
you?”

I recalled my
chat with Emma’s nephew as I’d given him a piggy back ride.
Thankfully Emma wasn’t aware that her brothers had invited me over
to their family’s home a full hour earlier to discreetly
interrogate me about the dangers of my case and feel me out. After
all, they already knew I’d be spending a lot of time with Emma, as
that was the point of me taking her away from the city, like we
agreed. Although I must say that the nature of their personal
questions and subtle threats had me wondering whether they wanted
me to keep my hands to myself as well. That was something I
definitely couldn’t promise. Yet my fifteen-minute conversation
with Jack, who seemed to take a liking to my cowboy hat, gave me
more information about Emma than anyone could have.

“Jack said not
only do you need a man who can give it to you, but also one who can
take care of you and love you the way his daddy loves his mommy.
‘Unconsciously’ was the word he used, though I’m pretty sure he
meant to say ‘unconditionally.’ You know, his vocabulary is quite
extensive for a little kid.”

She laughed.
“You need to remember that Jack is only four and still believes in
Santa and the Easter Bunny, so his words don’t mean much.”

“Are you
telling me you don’t believe in Santa?”

She chuckled,
shaking her head. Her laugh vibrated through my body. “You’re
definitely one of a kind. But Jack hasn’t been stabbed by life’s
sharp thorns of reality.”

I knew she was
lying about Jack. A shadow passed over Emma’s face when she tried
to hide the truth. The little boy was right – unconditional love
was something Emma had once lost.

“Have you been
stabbed, Emma?” I pulled up beside the general goods store. If we
were going to stay at the ranch, I had to pick up a few groceries
for the house. After our brunch, the fridge had been emptied.

Emma shook her
head sideways, and I knew she’d just put a wall up between us. “I’m
pretty much built like a machine when it comes to getting hurt, and
refuse to let anyone to do so. There aren’t many things anyone can
say to hurt me.”

“That doesn’t
answer my question, Emma.”

She rolled her
eyes, and I sighed.

“Is this it?”
She motioned with her head at the town coming up, changing the
topic.

“Yup, that’s
Ogden.”

“Looks like a
Western movie set.”

“You’ll find
people here a bit nosy, which may be good for your job. I need to
get some groceries. If you’d like to look around, I can meet you
back here in an hour or so? Sheriff’s office is that way, local
post office and I guess what you can call a motel.” I pointed them
out. “Just tell them you’re with Eric, if anyone asks.”

Emma’s cheeks
flushed, but she recovered in two beats of my heart. I was
beginning to love that pinkish shade on her face. It was so rare
and unique, I doubted she even knew she was doing it. The few
freckles that decorated her skin darkened, and her eyes
brightened.

“So, I’ll meet
you back here in an hour?” she asked.

“Sounds good.”
I rushed around the front of the car to open the door, reaching
just before she pulled on the handle.

“Thank you,”
she whispered.

“You’re
welcome.” I stepped closer, leaning in. “And one more thing, Emma.
I’m really glad you’re staying with me, and I hope you can find
some time to relax while working, too.”

“If anyone can
relax, it’s me, Cowboy.” She was lying again. “But not while I’m on
the clock.”

“Then I will
make it my mission to make sure the clock stops for you once in a
while.”

“You’re the
one that’s paying the bill. If you want me to take it easy, it’ll
cost you more time.”

“Money’s not
an object.”

“Really?” Her
brows rose. “You don’t look like someone with loads of cash.”

“Just because
I don’t flaunt it doesn’t mean I don’t have it.”

Her mouth
formed a perfect O, and I said, “See you soon, Emma Cross.”

She didn’t say
anything as I left her by my truck, speechless. There weren’t too
many people in town who knew about our family fortune: flowing
crude under the fields of my ranch. At the time my grandfather had
left the property to me, his first grandson, not even my parents
knew about it. The horses now camouflaged a secret that had been
passed on to the first born in each family, and I’d always had
trouble figuring out why the secrecy.

“Hello, Mr.
Front,” I greeted the butcher. While he’d kept the meat store
clean, his apron held the permanent stain of blood, which always
sent shivers down my spine.

“Good to see
you Eric. Where’d you pick up that beauty?” He nodded to Emma, who
was making notes on her tablet and taking pictures.

“On my way
back from Rutherford.”

“How was the
horse sale? Did you get any new breeds?”

“None
interested me.”

“Could it be
because she interested you?”

“Could be.
Once I saw her, I knew I was done.”

“She looks a
bit out of place.”

“She’ll
adjust. Emma will be staying with me for a while.”
Hopefully for
much longer than she expects.

“Make sure you
introduce her around town, Eric. You know how jealous the girls
will get if they find out you’re off the market.”

“Thanks for
the advice, Mr. Front.”

Didn’t he know
I never truly let myself be on the market? None of the women in
Ogden could ever hold my interest for long enough, the way Emma
did. But then again none of them were dancing nearly naked when I
first saw them either. Emma was so different and fresh, no wise man
would let that one go – so why was she still single? I ordered a
few dozen cuts of steak and ribs, packing the frozen pieces of meat
in the cooler in my trunk. Just as I finished stacking the
remainder of groceries, a hard and loud slap on my back shook
through me. “Look what the cat dragged into town.”

“Hey, buddy.”
I shook my friend’s hand before giving him a man hug. “It’s been a
while.”

“What are you
doing here? Couldn’t get your shopping delivered?”

While it was
true that my parents had often brought my groceries on their way to
visit, I’d mostly avoided the town. Whenever I came here, I had the
odd sensation that I’d somehow run into Huntz.

“Don’t make it
sound like I’m some sort of a spoiled brat.”

“Never would,
brother.” Derek often referred to me as his brother. The one-year
difference in our ages, made it feel as if we were twins sometimes.
We’d become good friends while away from home, both being forced to
return from serving our country too early. So much connected us
since childhood, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to explain to
anyone how we’d become so close. But once you lived through what we
had, there was no way that bond could be broken.

“Derek, I need
a favor.”

“You know you
can ask me anything. I’m indebted to you for the rest of my
life.”

“You would
have done the same. And I would have done much more than I did if I
could have.”

“What’s
up?”

“It’s
Annabelle. I need you to check up on her in San Francisco. But keep
it to yourself. If she finds out I sent you, she’ll flip.”

“Your little
sister? How old is she now?” I knew exactly where my friend’s mind
was drifting.

“She’s my
little sister. You’ll keep your hands to yourself.”

“Of
course.”

“And your dick
in your pants.”

“Hey, if she’s
your sister, she’s like my sister. Besides, I remember her as a
freckled kid, so I doubt she’s my type.”

“Are you
calling Annabelle ugly?”

“No, I’m
calling her not my type.”

“Fine,
whatever. Just check up on her, will ya? Make sure she’s not in any
trouble.”

“Something I
should know about?” The concern crossing his forehead in the form
of straight lines reminded me what a good officer he was. His
instinct out in the field had only failed him once – and for that
reason we were both back on home soil.

“No,
everything is fine,” I lied. “I just haven’t heard from her in a
while, and this thing I need to clear up is taking up my time.”

“By ‘this
thing,’ you mean this blonde sex-goddess you brought back from the
city? And why is she here playing dress-up?”

I followed
Derek’s gaze toward the window where Emma and the cashier, Missy,
were chatting as if they’d known each other for years. I’d never
seen Missy be so open with anyone before. It looked like Emma was
fitting in with the town’s most difficult girl quite well. The girl
I’d heard had been hanging around with Derek’s younger brother
Blake enough to start rumors of them being an item.

Looking at
Emma from behind the glass, part of me wanted to know where she was
planning on wearing all those clothes she was buying. I mean, I was
sure the outfits would last for the next ten Halloween parties
she’d go to. Yet as I watched her face, studying each piece of
clothing and chatting up Missy, I couldn’t help but think that Emma
was in her full investigative mode, even while blending in with the
town. And was that nerves I noted in Missy’s body language? Why was
she so anxious and sweating?

“I’m branching
out, dude. She’s keen on learning all about cowboys, and I intend
on teaching her everything I know.” I couldn’t hide the coy smile
on my face, but also felt guilt tug at my stomach for the way I’d
referred to Emma.

“You mean you
haven’t scored yet? What’s wrong with her?”

“Nothing’s
wrong. She’s just… different.”

“Wow, you like
her.”

“What’s not to
like?” I really hoped that I didn’t have that dumbfounded puppy
love look on my face, because if I did, there was no way I could
hide it from my friend.

“Claire will
be jealous.”

Goosebumps
covered my arms at the mention of her name. Claire had had her eye
on me for years, and tried to get her claws into my pants every
time she saw me. And all because I’d made out with her once after
school. All right, maybe twice, if you counted the fall fair after
I returned from the military. But I was a starving man, and the
moment she slid her hand down my pants behind a popcorn stand, I
knew I was done. She offered exactly what I needed at the time – a
quick release. Plus, with the booty she had to offer, how could a
man say no? Hopefully Claire had moved on, though, and Emma would
not run into her anytime soon.

“Isn’t that
your brother chatting with Missy now?” I asked.

“Yeah, I think
Blake’s into her. I don’t know, though. There’s something odd about
that girl.”

“What do you
mean, odd?”

“Can’t quite
put my finger on it.”

“Maybe it’s an
orphan thing?” I said, feeling an odd connection to the girl behind
the counter. I’d never seen Missy date a boy in town. In fact,
they’d stayed away from her, and if I remembered the rumors no one
could avoid, I’d say she was an outcast. Suddenly, I felt sorry for
her.

“Looks like
your girl’s getting ready for you,” Derek said, pointing to Emma,
who was dangling a pair of panties on her finger.

“Trust me,
when Emma’s ready, she won’t need those.” I grinned just at the
same time Emma turned toward the window and waved to me. Missy
blushed in our direction, and I could only imagine what kind of
discussion Emma had been having with her.

I wondered
whether she knew I’d tear those sexy panties off as soon as she put
them on. Or perhaps that was why she was buying them.

C
HAPTER
11

Emma

This town held
as many secrets as the Pyramids. I felt a constant buzz of
excitement slowly simmering inside me. The little research I’d done
at the town hall only increased the number of questions I had –
especially about a quiet town girl named Missy Thrope, and whether
her connection to Huntz was just a coincidence. But in my line of
work, chances were that Missy was part of the puzzle I’d been
trying to solve of why Huntz was after Eric’s family. Eric Waters
and his case had me more interested than anything I could find back
in New York. I had an inexplicable need to learn more about him, to
see the way he lived, and help him and his family heal from the
kidnapping ordeal. Everywhere I turned, it seemed there was new
information to add to my iPad. I’d already introduced myself to
Sheriff Lowes and his protruding beer belly, and met Mrs. Gladden
as I passed by her bakery. Both were chatty and willing to fill me
in with the latest gossip (which gave me the feeling I was it at
the moment) and point me toward the general goods store.

I strolled
between the store’s aisles, looking at jean shorts and plaid
shirts, stacking them over my arm when the sales lady came over.
Little did she know, she was the exact person I needed to speak
with. Despite being dark, her eyes drew me in like a lighthouse –
they were so familiar and soothing, I couldn’t help but be drawn to
them.

“You’re new in
town, aren’t you?” she asked.

“Yes, my name
is Emma. I’m Eric’s friend. Do you know him?”

She smiled
politely before saying, “Everyone knows everyone around here. I’m
Missy.”

“It’s nice to
meet you. Can you tell me where I can buy a cowgirl hat? I think
I’ll be staying here for a while, and would love to fit in.”

“Sure, let me
help you with these first.” She took the clothes I was holding and
brought them to the front counter. I then followed her petite
hunched figure to the side wall. Her baggy clothes overwhelmed her
entire body, making her look twice the size she really was. “You
look like someone who doesn’t have trouble fitting in anywhere,”
she remarked.

“Thank you.
You’re so sweet. I think we’re going to be good friends.”