Safe at Home (Warm Springs Trilogy Book 1) (17 page)

Though unpleasant, the conversation had been enlightening. She was sure she’d done the right thing now. Spencer had other women in his life who wanted nothing more than to be with him. He deserved someone who could give him their whole self. She set the bush in the hole and pushed dirt around it.

Of course the thought of someone else cozying up to Spencer and sitting with him on the back porch after work and talking, or going fishing, or kissing him… Her face burned. Sam had never been a jealous person and she was trying to reason with herself, but she wasn’t winning the inner battle. Jealousy pulsed through her like a poison. She took a deep breath and tried to get a handle on the anger she felt toward an imaginary person. Susan’s words came back to her. Instead of relaxing, she moved to where the next bush waited and stomped the shovel into the earth.

Chapter 21

Stopping in Kentucky to use the computer had been the right decision. No one would be able to track him. A random town, a random grocery store and a public library. He smiled to himself as he reflected on his own brilliant planning. His adrenaline began to flow through him as he crossed the state line.
Welcome to Georgia. We’re glad Georgia’s on your mind
. He was close now. Close to making her pay for what she’d done. His mother would be proud of him. He was the man now and he would take care of his family.

At the same time Lt. Martin hung up the phone, Stephens walked through the door. “What did you find out?”

“They’re going to grant our request for a warrant to get the employee files for everyone from the night of the shooting. Also, I did some research into the victims’ families. I’ve got to be honest, I don’t think Tyler’s family had anything to do with the murder of the two perps. According to the papers, they’re well-off and they moved to California after everything happened. I know they could’ve afforded to hire someone, but since the guys were in jail,” Stephens put his hands on his hips and walked over to the dry erase board. “I don’t know. I just don’t see it. I’ll know more about the little boy’s mother after I get the employee files.”

“I agree. As soon as you get the warrant, head over to the bank. I have a meeting set up for us in the morning at the jail with the old cellmates of the deceased.” Martin crossed the room and stopped beside Stephens. They studied the board in silence a few minutes. “Every day it takes us to get answers, Denise’s murderer could be getting farther away.”

Stephens studied his boss’s expression. “Farther away from us and closer to his end game, you mean?”

Martin nodded once and went back to his desk.

She’d been restless since the previous weekend. Sam thought it would help having the Malloy family out of town to visit their mother in Florida during the past week. Their absence would give her some time and space to get a grip on her emotions. But it hadn’t. Her mind just kept returning to Spencer and what the woman at the church said. If anything, Spencer’s continued distance was making matters worse. She was distracted at work and back to her old habit of suffering from interrupted sleep.

But lately, it wasn’t past memories from the bank keeping her up at night. This time, she was dreaming of running into Spencer and some nameless girl. They would exchange small talk and then the happy couple would walk off together arm in arm, leaving Sam alone. Exactly the way she’d asked him to.

The email she’d received from her mom earlier in the morning wasn’t helping her mood either. Her eyes flicked to the closed laptop sitting on the kitchen table as if afraid her mother’s pleading voice might echo through it at any second. She’d gone on and on about Thanksgiving. For some reason, her mom thought ‘all the drama’ would take a time out for the holidays.

“We were so disappointed not to have you here for Thanksgiving. We kept hoping you’d show up and surprise us.”

I mean really, Mom?
Frustration radiated from Sam in waves. Deep down, she wasn’t mad at anyone but herself. She’d pushed the one person away who’d made her feel something for the first time in years.

She’d done her best to avoid any sort of relationship since losing Tyler, she hadn’t wanted one, but she was losing control when it came to Spencer. She was desperate to talk to him. She missed his easy laugh and she couldn’t get their kiss from months ago out of her mind.

Sam paced across the kitchen with bare feet, the tapping on the hardwood floor the only sound. Maybe she could find a way to run into him. Then she could talk to him just to see how he was doing. Maybe it would be enough to put her mind at ease. After all, he’d been a good friend over the last few months. It was natural to want to see him.

She grabbed her keys, purse, stepped into some shoes, and headed for the door. Enough was enough. No more sitting around and waiting.

Spencer rubbed a hand over his bristled face. God, he was miserable. He thought he could use work to get her out of his mind, but it hadn’t worked.

“You awake over there?” Jake ran his paintbrush along the wall near the trim. “That wall isn’t going to paint itself.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Spencer turned and dipped his roller into the light blue paint.

“Why don’t you just call her?”

Spencer glanced behind him. Jake was leaning against the ladder with his arms crossed, studying him.

“Do you want my help or not?” Spencer debated on whether or not to roll paint down his brother’s face, but fear of Ann’s wrath held him back. Jake shook his head and returned his attention to his own wall.

Even when he tried to keep himself busy by helping Jake with the nursery, Sam worked her way into the conversation. He was still pissed he’d missed the chance to see her at the church the previous weekend. Jake and Ann had spent the whole afternoon with her and he couldn’t help but feel they were rubbing it in every chance they had.

Then there had been the trip to Florida. Visiting with his mom had been great until she started asking him about the old house. Sam was everywhere now. She seemed to have touched every part of his life in just a few short months. He could barely remember his life before her.

He needed a plan. He needed a way to see her which wouldn’t look as if he were trying to check up on her. He told her he would stay away and he had, but he’d always secretly hoped she would miss him and want to seek him out.

It was time to call in reinforcements. Maybe Ann could have them both over for dinner. He’d just stop off in the kitchen and run the plan by her. It was about time for a break anyway.

“Hey, I’ll be right back.”

Jake waved a hand without sparing him a look and continued to bob to the music playing through his headphones.

As Spencer rounded the corner of the living room he heard voices in the kitchen. He would just have to get rid of whoever was visiting. He raised an arm to push open the door to the kitchen and then stopped in mid-motion.

“Ann, I need some advice. I hope it’s okay that I dropped in like this.” He could hear Sam’s muffled voice through the door.

“It’s no problem. I’m glad you stopped by. Here, let’s have a seat at the kitchen table.” There were footsteps and then the sound of chairs scraping across the floor. “What’s on your mind?”

“I’m a bit of a disaster.”

“Oh, sweetie, don’t say that.” Ann said.

“Remember how I told you I was worried Spencer was mad at me because I wasn’t ready for a relationship?”

“Yes, I remember. Did you change your mind?”

Spencer’s heart raced, but he couldn’t betray her trust again, not after the photo album incident. She wouldn’t forgive him twice. With his conscience weighing heavily on his mind, he walked through the door without giving himself time to hear Sam’s answer.

“Hey, Ann, we were wondering— Oh hey, Sam. I didn’t realize you were here,” Spencer passed through the revolving door hoping he sounded convincing.

“Hey. I was just visiting with Ann,” Sam replied, but not before her face turned red.

“You know, girl stuff,” Ann winked. “What did you need, Spencer?”

“Nothing. It’s not important.” He stalled while he tried to think of something. “We were just wondering if you had any sweet tea made up.”

“I could probably handle that.” Ann got up and made her way to the refrigerator. Spencer took the initiative and sat down in her seat.

“So, how’ve you been?” She was even more beautiful than she’d been the last time he’d seen her.

“Good. And you? Been busy?”

“Yeah, I’ve been working a lot.”

“That’s good.” Sam stared at her hands resting on the table. “I didn’t see your truck outside.”

“Oh yeah, I rode over with Jake.”

A minute of pained silence stretched between them. Sam barely looked at him.

“Spencer, you boys about ready to call it a night?” Ann asked as she poured tea into a glass. “Maybe Sam could drop you off at home since she has to drive right by your place.”

“Oh, I don’t want to make Sam go out of her way.” He tried to sound nonchalant, and again was reminded how wonderful his sister-in-law was.

“I wouldn’t mind.” She smiled at him for the first time. “Really, it’s on my way.”

“Great. Well if you guys are off then, I’ll go upstairs and take this to Jake and let him know you got a ride. I’ll talk to you both later.” Ann disappeared out of the kitchen.

“Ready?”

They drove in silence all the way to Spencer’s place. Sam’s fingers tapped the wheel. There was something different between them. Maybe it was the time apart or maybe it was all just in her head, she wasn’t sure.

“You can park here if you want.” He motioned to an empty space next to his truck. “Would you mind coming upstairs? I have something I’d like to show you.”

Sam’s mind was waging war, common sense versus desire. She wasn’t sure she would have the strength to leave. “I don’t know. I really should be getting home and making myself some dinner.”

“If you’re hungry, I have some deep fried turkey leftover and I could make us some sandwiches. It isn’t much, but there’s nothing better than fried turkey.”

“You don’t have to do that, really. What is it you want to show me?”

“Trust me, you’ll like it. And I really don’t mind. It’ll be nice to have the company.”

“You aren’t tired of people after all the family and traveling?”

“You’re a different kind of company and our Thanksgiving was pretty low key.”

“Mine too.” Her mind made up, she leaned forward and turned off the car. “Okay, you’re right. Eating alone is no fun.”

He grinned at her and then they both got out of the car and climbed up the stairs to his floor. The hallway walls were bare, but recently painted. She counted three other doors besides his.

“Welcome to my humble abode.”

Sam stepped through the door and admired his spacious loft. It was larger than she’d expected and the open floor plan added to the illusion of space. It reminded her of lofts in Chicago, except for the decorating. It was definitely a bachelor pad.

“You can throw your stuff over there on that chair if you want. I’ll go ahead and make us some sandwiches.”

“Sounds good.” Sam wandered around and studied every detail. Spencer had an array of fishing magazines on his coffee table and how-to books lined his shelves. He was every bit a man’s man. There were no frills or plants. Everything was hunter green and brown and it fit him. She walked over to his window and looked down at Main Street. The view alone would be well worth the rent.

“Order up,” he called from the kitchen.

She joined him at his little table off the kitchen. “Thanks for this.” She held up the sandwich before taking a bite. Then, her eyes rolled in satisfaction. “This is the best turkey I’ve ever had. Fried turkey,” she said around a mouthful, “who knew?”

“Once you’ve tried it this way, you’ll never go back.”

They laughed and enjoyed some relaxed conversation. He told her stories about the hayrides and talked about his latest renovation and listened, while she talked about the new shipment of antiques they received. Her shoulders relaxed as they fell back into their familiar rhythm. It was nice spending time with him again, like returning home.

“I met one of your friends the other day.” She shot him a sly grin.

“Oh yeah? Who?”

“Susan. She’s very interesting.”

“Not Susan,” he groaned with a pained expression, “she’s still convinced I’m going to marry her daughter. We went out a few times in high school and for some reason, she thinks we’re meant for each other.” He leaned toward Sam as if he were going to tell her a secret. “To be honest with you, I think her daughter would be more into you than me. I think it’s a denial thing with Susan.”

Sam burst out laughing. She couldn’t believe how silly she’d been.

“Plus, that was like ten years ago,” Spencer added before taking another bite of his food. Sam continued to laugh and he grinned. “I’m glad you find my past love life so amusing.”

“No, it’s not that, really.” Sam brushed tears out of her eyes.

“Amazed someone’s mom would actually want me around their daughter?” He asked in a playful voice. “Hey, I’m going to grab that thing to show you.” In a flash, he was in the room off the side of the kitchen.

Sam smiled again and leaned back in her chair.

“Here it is.” He handed her an old photo album.

She opened it to the first page and saw her house. In the picture, there were two people, each with a hand resting on the shoulder of one of the two little boys standing in front of them. “What a nice looking family. And look at the house. It was beautiful then.”

“Now, too. Those are my parents,” he pointed to the taller of the two boys, “and that goofy looking kid is Jake.”

They flipped through the album together and Spencer talked about the adventures he and Jake had in the tree house shown in one picture. He also regaled tales of the dog that sat waiting at the bottom of the rope ladder in a few of the others.

When they reached the end, Spencer held her eyes with his. “I wanted to share some of my past with you since you told me about yours. It only seemed fair. Besides, I thought you’d get a kick out of seeing your house. And there’s that whole thing about me being a really cute kid.” The slow smile she loved so much began to curve.