Murderous Lies (6 page)

Rose sighed, tired of explaining why she didn’t fear Max. She knew the people in Clarkston cared about her, and that’s why they stuck their nose in her business, but she wished they’d stop. “Max just wants to protect me. He’s not hurting anyone.”

“For now.” Kelsey snorted. “Until he freaks out and starts bashing people’s faces in again.”

Rose’s chest constricted and for a few seconds she found it hard to breathe. Sage’s face had hardly been recognizable. She’d been beaten to a pulp and her blue eyes stared sightlessly at the ceiling of the boathouse.

“People are talking, sweetie.” Kelsey crossed the room and crouched level with Rose. “I’m scared for you. They say Max went crazy last time because he’s obsessed with you. I keep waiting for Jimmy Durant to show up dead when someone lets it slip that you dated him for a while.”

Rose felt heat rush to her face and neck and she resisted the urge to punch her friend. This was getting out of control. “Max has known since Sunday. Jimmy’s still alive and kickin’.” She lifted an eyebrow and couldn’t stop the grimace she felt across her face. “Have you been gossiping like this with other people? Saying you expect Max to kill Jimmy?”

Kelsey eyes narrowed and her mouth jutted in a sullen pout. “Everyone’s saying it. Don’t act like I’m the bad guy.”

Rose closed her eyes, counting to ten under her breath. She’d talked with Kelsey Tuesday about Max, told her how much he had meant to her and how hard it was to lose him all those years ago. How part of her hoped she could get back together with him, because those feelings came flooding back the second she saw him.

She opened her eyes, not feeling any calmer. “No wonder everyone looks at Max like a rabid dog they’re just waiting to shoot. Even my best friend is spreading rumors. I thought I could count on you to have my back.”

“I
do
have your back.” Kelsey reached out and patted her knee. “Don’t you see, that’s why I’m telling you? Me and Bill are terrified
for you
. I know somewhere in that pretty, stupid head of yours, you’re starting to think Max is innocent and you’re planning on being with him.” She pressed her lips tight and shook her head in obvious disapproval. “Max murdered your sister and ruined your life. Don’t let him back in.”

Rose stood, shoving Kelsey out of the way as she fled to the door. She stopped at the threshold, refusing to look at her supposed friend. “Thanks for the talk, Kel. Sorry your loving husband has had to worry so much and think about more than his next bottle. It must be so stressful on your family.”

Behind her, Kelsey made an undignified squeak, but Rose ignored it. She wouldn’t feel guilty for hurting Kelsey’s feelings. She deserved it. All week long people had told Rose she’d be stupid to trust Max. She was tired of it. Maybe Max didn’t approach her or speak to her after their odd encounter last Sunday, but she knew his silent watch was for her protection. He wasn’t making plans to hurt her. He was making sure no one else did because the cops wouldn’t look for whoever really left that dead rodent on her porch.

Her fleeting thought last weekend that he might hate her now had to be wrong. His dedication proved he still loved her. He was doing everything he could to keep her safe.

She marched through the diner, pasting on a grin for the familiar faces staring at her in various stages of judgment or pity. It was a drill she knew well. This week had felt like the first days after Sage’s death, then again when Dad left, and one more time after her mother burned down the house. Rose certainly provided fodder for the gossip mill in town.

Now Max being back was just one more mark against her. She thought she could at least count on Kelsey to be a true friend, but she was wrong. Kelsey gossiped just like the others. All Rose had was herself.

Stepping into the parking lot, she spotted Max’s beat up car across the street and him sitting inside, window down as he waited for her. By now, she knew his habit. He’d follow behind her a few car lengths to her next stop and then circle around after she parked, watching until she went inside.

She needed to find out why he left last weekend when she had agreed they should work together. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t all alone. Maybe she had Max too.

M
ax followed behind Rose’s truck, not bothering with trying to keep his distance like he normally did when following her. Rose had looked over and waved before climbing behind the wheel. Unfortunately, he wasn’t particularly stealthy. Partly because he wanted her to know that no matter the troubles between them, he would still protect her.

After being at the boathouse today, watching her cross the diner’s lot was more frustrating than ever before. If anything, Rose’s body had firmed over the years. The muscles of her tight thighs flexed in her small black shorts, and when she turned around, her ass was even higher and firmer than he remembered. He could imagine pulling her against him, taking those muscular globes in his hands...

Max swallowed hard and eased off the gas pedal, realizing he was driving too close to Rose’s bumper. He really needed something more to hold at night than himself. It was a good thing Rose wasn’t speaking to him, or keeping his hands to himself would be even harder.

To his surprise, Rose didn’t drive her usual route, and Max soon realized she headed to her house. Fridays must be her night off from the gas station. When she turned into the driveway, he parked in his usual spot across the street. It was a little harder to hide his presence in the daylight, so it was a good thing she already knew.

Rose jumped from the truck and headed to the mailbox.

Max ground his teeth and leaned his head against the steering wheel. This was getting out of control. Even with his eyes closed, his imagination supplied the image of the way her top jiggled in all the right places while she trotted across the yard.

“You aren’t three, you know?”

Max startled at Rose’s mocking tone and opened his eyes. “What are you talking about?”

She grinned, gripping what looked like junk mail in her hand. “Just because you close your eyes, that doesn’t mean I can’t see you.”

He laughed, glad she felt positive enough to crack a joke. “I wasn’t hiding.”

The breeze tugged playfully at her hair, but she tilted slightly and looked toward the house. “No, you haven’t been. And people in town have noticed. Freakin’ nosey jerks.”

She sounded upset, and the urge to caress her arm and offer comfort was almost too much to resist. “Is someone hassling you?”

Maybe the real killer didn’t like the fact that Rose was never alone. Hard to leave a nasty threat on her doorstep and blame it on Max when he was nearly always in sight to protect her.

Rose’s jaw clenched, straining the muscles of her neck. “Is someone hassling me? Try everyone.” She glanced back down and her face softened when their eyes met. “Never mind. They don’t matter. Come inside and I’ll fix lunch.”

Max hesitated, not sure he should go back into the house. She’d obviously felt pressure to take his side before, going so far as to kiss him. Max didn’t want her to feel forced into believing him. Not if she thought he could be a killer.

She raised her eyebrows. “You’re not moving. Is that a no to lunch?”

Screw it. He wanted to spend time with her, and he’d given Rose all week to think things over without his interference. If she decided he was innocent, it wasn’t because he forced her into it. “Lunch sounds good.” After rolling up the window, Max climbed from the car and followed her to the house.

Gizmo came running at the sound of the door opening, but skidded to a halt when he saw Max. After giving him the stare down, the cat flicked his tail as though Max couldn’t matter less, then rubbed himself against Rose’s leg.

“I know, boy.” She bent and picked the cat up, snuggling her face to his furry side, which caused the cat to purr loudly. “No dry food for your lunch today. That’s why we like weekends.”

She really loved that cat. Whoever threatened Gizmo must have realized that. It had to be someone Rose was close with; someone who knew it would devastate her to lose the fur ball.

Rose walked into the kitchen and Max followed.

“Anything I can do to help you cook?” he asked.

Shaking her head, she put the cat down and opened the fridge. “I’m not the world’s greatest cook, but I planned to make spaghetti and green beans. I like to have at least one real meal each week.” She bit her lip and a crease formed between her eyes. “I hope that’s okay. I don’t really have anything else except frozen meals, which very well could be better than my cooking.”

Leaning against the wall, Max chuckled, relaxing slightly. This was the Rose he remembered. She didn’t seem nearly as stressed in his presence as she had before. “No one’s ever explained prison food to you, have they?”

She pulled a package of hamburger from the bottom shelf. “What do you mean?”

“If you scorched the sauce to the bottom of the pan, overcooked the noodles, and shriveled the beans, I’d still like it better than what I’ve been eating.”

***

R
ose rinsed the last plate and Max took it from her, drying it before placing it in the cupboard. Dinner went better than expected. After Max left last week, she half expected him to refuse to come inside tonight. He’d certainly thought about her offer long enough.

She knew if Kelsey hadn’t pissed her off, she probably wouldn’t have invited him, but now she was glad it happened. Being with him was the first time in far too long that she actually felt like herself. They’d kept the conversation light, talking about his plans to work at his uncle’s repair garage starting next week, and she’d told him about her jobs. It had been calm and relaxing, just what she needed after the stress with Kelsey.

“The food was great. Thanks for that.” Max hung the damp towel over the handle of the oven. “You were too modest about your cooking skills.”

Rose shrugged. “I’ll accept that for the compliment it’s meant to be, even though you told me it would be great no matter how awful it turned out.”

A slight smile crossed his lips, but then he took her hand and frowned. “We need to talk, Rose.”

She sighed. “Yeah, we do. I’ve been wondering why you left last Sunday.”

She had tried hard not to feel hurt by it. She’d kissed his cheek, let him know she still cared for him, and he walked out with no explanation. Enough people had abandoned her in the last eight years. Whether by choice or not, it made her life rough. She didn’t want him popping back in if he wasn’t staying.

He tugged her hand to pull her close. “I didn’t want to pressure you.”

Rose breathed in deeply. It was as if nothing changed since their last summer together. Max wore the same woodsy cologne he used to, mixed with the slightly musky smell from him being in the sun all day. He smelled like safety and happiness. Something she never thought she’d associate with his scent again.

She inhaled one more time, letting it out in a long sigh. “I’m so sorry, Max. I never should have doubted you.”

He raised his hand to her face, gently wiping a few strands of hair from her cheek. When his fingertips lightly touched her skin, it ignited something she hadn’t felt in far too long.

As if he understood what was happening inside her, Max slipped his hand lower, circling it around her neck. His mouth loomed near hers and he breathed a whisper of a kiss against her lips. “I’ve missed you,” he said.

His voice sounded growly and strong, and a shiver of anticipation went through her.

His lips crashed hard against hers. His mouth was demanding, needy. He circled his other arm around her back and crushed her against his chest. Max licked, nibbled, and teased with his tongue, causing liquid fire to race through Rose’s entire body.

“
Max
!” She stroked fingers up his back, aching to feel more of him.

He ran his hands down her sides, resting them on her hips as he thrust his pelvis against hers. His hot mouth made a greedy path down her chin, burning a trail of need in its wake until he found the sensitive spot on top of her shoulder that she liked so well. No one else had ever been able to make her shudder and sigh like Max did.

She plunged her hand up the back of his t-shirt, noting the well-defined muscles of his lower back as she eagerly explored the changes in his body. Her mind remembered every angle, every gorgeous inch of him. Over the years, his boyish physique had turned into that of a man, and desire consumed her. She hadn’t realize it until this moment, but something had been missing in every kiss she’d had since Max’s conviction.

He pressed his lips against hers again, filling her mouth with the taste of him. A guttural groan ripped from his throat, and Rose moaned and rubbed her breasts against him. She definitely wanted more, but their clothes were in the way. Grabbing the hem of his shirt, she attempted to push it up over his shoulders.

Suddenly, Max pushed her away and took a step back, tugging his clothes straight. His blue eyes bored into her, dark and brooding. He didn’t look entirely happy.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, still breathless but with a sinking feeling creeping into her gut. Why was he upset?

“I didn’t mean to do that.” He rubbed his chin roughly and looked away. “I can’t think when I’m near you, Rose.”

Being with Max felt so right, and she wanted to argue. They didn’t need to think, not right now. She wanted him. Judging from the bulge in his jeans, he wanted her too.

“Then don’t think.” She walked forward, wrapping her arms around him and snuggling into his chest. “I want to be with you.”

Max pressed his face against the top of her head, and Rose gave a contented sigh. He always said how much he loved the smell of her hair. It seemed that hadn’t changed.

He circled her with his arms once again, this time gently cradling her. “We need to find the killer first.” His voice was full of regret, but he sounded definite.

He wouldn’t be warming her bed today.

She knew she could tempt him, change his mind. It was as if the past eight years never separated their eager bodies. He would break down if she pressed the issue.