Silver Bracelets: A Loveswept Contemporary Classic Romance (11 page)

She gave a quick little sigh. Their relationship. Dare she even go that far? Yes, she decided, she could. And this was the start. Where they went from here, she couldn’t control and neither could Asa. They would just have to follow the winds of chance. Because, whether or not Asa wanted to admit it, they’d stirred up a whirlwind and every time they were together the intensity grew.

By two o’clock everybody in Cobb County had brought their plate for a ladle of the Sheriff’s special black-eyed peas. Sarah had added a chunk of hot cornbread and a greeting. More than one of the local ladies had come through for a second helping and an invitation for Asa Canyon to join them. He thanked each of them, then said he’d check with Sarah about attending. Once Sarah’s name got officially linked to Asa’s, Asa’s line shortened. Sarah’s friends kept on with the wisecracks and warm hellos.

“Do you really know everybody in the county, Sarah?”

“No, there are always a few newcomers. But sooner or later, I get to know most of them.”

Perspiration was running down Asa’s face. His eyes felt like they were filled with dry sand. For all practical purposes he hadn’t slept since
he’d met Sarah Wilson. He didn’t know why he was standing out here in the sun serving peas when he ought to be finding the murderer of the vagrant they’d found last night in the county park.

The autopsy was underway now. Ballistics experts were checking the bullets that had been fired into the body before it was thrown in the lake. Fingerprints were being run through the FBI headquarters in Washington and the victim’s clothes were being examined in the lab. Until the reports were in, Asa had been instructed to man the pot of peas at the festival.

He finally figured out that part of his reservations was because he wasn’t doing his job, and part of them was because he was tired of sharing Sarah with the world.

“What’s wrong, Deputy? Are you hot?” Sarah had moved closer to Asa, concern marring her sunny expression.

His gaze followed a bead of perspiration trickling down her neck, rolling past her collarbone, disappearing into the body-hugging stretch top she was wearing.

“Yes, I’m very warm,” he said.

“Then I think it’s time we had a break. Hey, guys,” she called to the officers kibitzing behind them. “Time for a shift change.”

Sarah picked up two cups of lemonade and managed to avoid drawn out conversations with festival-goers as she and Asa sipped the cool drinks and made their way through the crowd.

The city square was filled with people: Craftsmen with their wares and locals who enjoyed the food and activities. Asa couldn’t imagine where the two of them were heading until Sarah dropped their cups in a trash can, took his hand, and led him across the street.

“Where are we going?”

“Don’t ask questions. Just follow me.”

He did.

They ducked into an alley behind the row of buildings on the north side of the square. When they reached the last building Sarah fumbled with a panel beside a small side entrance. When the door swung open she jerked Asa inside and closed it behind them. The room was cool and totally dark.

“Where exactly are we?” he asked.

“We’re on the stage of the old Strand Theater, behind the curtain.”

“A movie theater?”

“Well, it isn’t a movie house anymore. It’s being used as a theater.”

Asa whistled. She’d done it again, caught him off guard. “How’d we get in? Wasn’t it locked?”

“Yes, but I put the lock in and I know the combination. The owner left my code in the alarm, in case I ever had to make a service call.”

“Then we’re not trespassing?”

“Oh, I didn’t say that. Come on.” She took his hand and pulled him forward. Trying to see was impossible and after slamming into two pieces of equipment, Sarah finally pulled
his arms around her so that they were curled together like two spoons as they walked.

“Now stay with me,” she said.

“Are you sure we’re alone here?” Asa asked, concerned about the growing evidence of his reaction to her nearness.

“Why, Deputy, you want to fool around?”

Sarah twisted around in his arms and pulled his face down to meet hers. “Do I embarrass you, Asa?”

“No! Yes! Hell, I don’t know what you do to me. I just know that I’ve broken into a building and I’m standing here in the dark making out with a woman who doesn’t have any idea what she’s inviting!”

“I think I know,” she said in a voice that was throaty with desire. “I’m inviting you to kiss me.”

“As I recall, you were taking me someplace to get cooled off.”

“Not true. I asked you if you were hot and you agreed. I figured that I’d never get a better shot at taking advantage of you.”

He groaned. She was right. He wanted badly to kiss her. Just one quick intense little kiss wasn’t going to make things any worse than they already were.

“Asa?”

“I like the way you say my name, Sarah. I like the way you smell, the way you feel.” He pressed a hand against the small of her back. He planted the other on her bare skin just below the swell of her breasts.

“Asa,” she whispered, and rose up on her toes.

Then he covered her mouth with his in a hard, possessive kiss, parting her lips, plunging his tongue deep inside as he pulled her even closer. She copied his movements, shifting her body so that every part of them could touch. He was murmuring her name now as his fingers slid beneath her top and claimed her breasts.

She could have cried out with joy if he hadn’t been stealing her breath with his mouth. There was something warm and wonderful exploding inside her, something that she would have stopped to consider except she was too busy feeling pleasure.

Asa was lost. From the moment he took her into his arms he was overwhelmed with emotion. Her scent filled his nostrils. Her body filled his hands. The joy of being with her erased all sense of caution and he gave into his desire. As he bent over her, sliding his mouth down her neck and across her breasts his arms came in contact with something metallic. It moved and they fell forward, just as the curtains slid open and the stage lights came on, flooding them with brightness.

Asa stood up, lifting Sarah. “Damn! I can’t see a thing. It’s too bright.”

“Oh, Asa,” Sarah was whispering. “I never knew kissing could be so … illuminating.”

“Damn!” Asa swore again. “What kind of cooling-off place is this?” He was beginning to adjust to the lights. At the other end of the
building, where he’d expected to see a partition between the seats and the lobby, was a plate glass window. They were in full view of the entire square.

“Cooling off?” Sarah’s innocent quip was lost on Asa as he observed the applause of the onlookers on the sidewalk.

“Damn! Let’s get out of here!” Asa whirled around and threw the light switch. “I hope you know how to relock this door.”

“It locks automatically.”

“Fine.” There was no more conversation as he dragged Sarah behind the buildings to his truck. He helped her in, climbed in beside her, and slammed the door.

“What is there about you and lights?” he asked, knowing that he was bellowing and knowing that he couldn’t stop himself. “Don’t you ever stop to think what your actions can lead to?”

“I thought it was nice. I like kissing you. I like touching you. I like you touching me. But I can understand I embarrass you. You aren’t very public with your feelings. I keep forgetting and I’m sorry about that, but I won’t apologize for the way I feel.”

Asa took a deep breath.

“It isn’t you, Sarah. It’s me. I’ve been alone so long that I don’t know how to act with a woman.”

“I think you do very well.”

“I think I’d better take you home.”

“Aren’t we going to stay for the dance?”

Dance? Hold Sarah in his arms with the
world watching? Not today! Not tomorrow! Not ever! Asa gripped the steering wheel tightly, trying desperately to formulate an answer. He failed. Instead, he found himself turning toward Sarah, leaning forward, taking her into his arms. What he might have done he’d never know for at that moment the shortwave radio in his truck crackled on.

“Are you there, Deputy? We have a problem.”

Asa pulled away and picked up the speaker. “Canyon here. What do you have?”

“We’ve got a make on our body. You’d better come in.”

“Damn!” This time it was Sarah who cursed and drew back in frustration.

Six

Asa kept the engine running when he pulled up to the fence outside her barn. Sarah knew that he was impatient to get to his office but she couldn’t resist asking, “Will you come by later?”

“I don’t know. I have a job to do. I can’t—” He stopped, softened his voice and added, “If I don’t come, I’ll try to call you.”

That was more than she’d expected. Sarah slid out, started to the barn, stopped and turned back.

“I’ll be here, Asa. People aren’t always temporary.”

Her words played through his mind as he drove back to the station.
People aren’t always temporary.
He wanted to believe her, but he didn’t dare.

Sarah Wilson was the kindest, most caring person in the world, but other caring people
had abandoned him, and she would be no exception.

Jeanie had left. This was the first time he’d allowed himself to admit that Jeanie’s running away with Mike hurt. In spite of all his resolve, Jeanie had become family. And for her to elope without talking it over with him was a blow.

Now there was Sarah. He didn’t know why he’d let things with Sarah go so far. Except that he cared for her. She made him feel wanted in a way that wasn’t just sexual. And no matter how hard he tried not to, he admitted that he wanted to be wanted.

Still, Sarah was temporary. Sooner or later she’d grow tired of him and she’d move on to the next poor lost soul. Rescuing people seemed to be her thing. As long as he kept reminding himself of that it wouldn’t hurt when she left. He wouldn’t let it. He wouldn’t feel it.

Yes, you will
, a little voice whispered.
But maybe this time, the caring is worth the pain.

After Asa left, Sarah tried some more combinations on the safe, all without success. Then she recalled that her father had had several antique books on locks. She decided to make a couple of service calls while Asa was working and afterward do some research on the safe. That way she’d be here if Asa called. Recording a message on her answering machine
that told her current plans, she changed clothes and started on her rounds.

It was late afternoon when she finished the last call and stopped by the shop to pick up a new pair of handcuffs and keys. She intended to offer them to Asa as replacement for the ones she’d destroyed. On the way home she dropped by the market for steaks and salad greens, which would be, she hoped, her first meal for Deputy Canyon. As she turned down the drive she stopped and ran inside the house where her mother was peeling apples from the trees Sarah and Big Jim had planted.

“Sarah, come in. How nice to see you. Aren’t the apples nice?”

“Yes.”

There was a long silence before Sarah’s mother asked, “Is there something wrong, Sarah?”

“No. Yes. Maybe. I came to borrow some of Pop’s antique reference books. But if you have time, I think I’d like to talk about … about …”

“He’s something to talk about all right,” her mother said.

“He?” Sarah started to protest, looked at her mother and changed her mind. “Yes, I think he is.”

“He seems to be a very private man. But when he came by to check my security system, I asked him what his intentions were toward you, and he confessed. Besides, I think he really wanted to talk.”

“You asked him what his intentions were?” Sarah groaned. “Mother, I don’t believe you.”

“Well, your father isn’t here. I felt it was my duty.”

“What makes you think Asa wanted to talk?”

“He seemed so concerned about security. He really checked out the house. When he got to your old room, he must have asked a hundred questions.”

“Like what?”

“Like why you moved into the barn, and why you weren’t married.”

“Oh. What did you tell him?”

“The truth. That you moved out there because you and your father had so many happy times there, and that you never married because you were afraid to let yourself care for somebody else who might leave you. I think he understood that answer.”

“But that’s not true. I left the house so that you and Robert would be more comfortable. No man wants to come into a marriage with an adult daughter living in the house. As for Pop, he told me over and over that I should find myself somebody to love. I just … haven’t.”

“That’s because you never let anybody get beyond the friendship stage, do you? Look at Paul Martin and Jake Dalton. Both men care for you but you never seem to notice. Why this one?”

“I don’t know,” Sarah answered her mother
honestly. “He just seems to be in so much pain.”

“Like your father? Oh, Sarah, if you love a man, love him for the right reasons, not because he’s in need of comfort.”

“I know. That’s why I’m so confused. Mother, were you … were you happy with Pop?”

“Not always. But”—she stared out into space—“I was never unhappy. Confused is a word that might fit my feelings too. He was larger than life, and I could never claim him all for myself. A part of him was mine, but the rest belonged to everyone who needed something from him.”

“But didn’t that make you crazy?”

“For a while, but I came to understand that I was very lucky that there was a part for me. You’re just like your father, Sarah. And I always worried that you wouldn’t find a man who would share you. I’m not worried anymore. Asa is strong enough. He doesn’t know how to love yet, so you’ll just have to teach him.”

“Did Pop teach you?”

“We taught each other.”

“But I always thought that you disapproved of him.”

“I was angry that he was going to die when I thought he might have been able to live longer if he’d been more careful. I didn’t want him to go on playing baseball. The doctors said it was too much of a strain on his body. I threatened to leave him if he didn’t quit.”

Sarah gave a quiet gasp. Her mother leave her father? She’d known that their marriage hadn’t always been happy, but she couldn’t imagine either of them not being married to each other.