Sweet Dreams Boxed Set (101 page)

After that, Amarok wasn’t interested in hanging out at The Moosehead. It was always a good place for law enforcement to be. If there were going to be problems after the sun went down, it was generally at the bar, which was why he dropped in most weekends. Typically, he enjoyed that aspect of his job, despite the number of fights he had to break up, but tonight he couldn’t quit thinking about Evelyn. So he gave up trying to hold out and drove over to her place, just to make sure she was okay.

Once he parked in front of her house, however, he almost changed his mind. On the drive, he’d told himself there wasn’t any reason they couldn’t be friends. She’d soon be living in the area; he might as well accept her, get used to having her around for however long she might stay.

But he wasn’t really interested in friendship, and he knew she couldn’t give him anything else.

“So
why
are you here again?” he mumbled to himself, but he climbed out of his truck anyway.

She was wearing gray sweats when she came to the door. They weren’t revealing—not by a long shot—and yet he preferred the way the soft cotton hugged her curves to the harsher lines of the business suits she normally wore.

“Apparently you
do
dress down occasionally,” he said.

A few strands had fallen from the messy bun that held the rest of her hair back. He liked that, too.

She tilted her head back to look up at him. “You’re not suggesting I should’ve worn this to The Moosehead...”

“No.” It was just nice to meet the woman behind the “tough girl” mask she normally showed the world. She was so defensive—she had good reason to be—but it made him want to peel back the layers until he could get through to the soft part she was trying so hard to protect. “How’d it go today?” he asked. “Did you manage to find someone to stand guard over at HH?”

“I have a couple of possibilities, but I didn’t want to hire anyone without getting your opinion first, since you probably know both men.”

He found it oddly gratifying that his opinion mattered to her. “Did you call me?” He couldn’t imagine she had. Since there was no cell service in Hilltop, he didn’t own a smart phone. But until he’d left for The Moosehead, he’d checked the voicemail connected to his land line after every time he went out, just in case. There’d been no word from her.

“No. I got caught up in some psych evals I had to do, and by the time I finished, I was afraid it was too late. I blew your Friday night; I didn’t want to ruin your fun on Saturday, too.” She gave him a sheepish grin. “Since you’re here, however, do you have a minute to come in?”

“Sure.”

When she stood back to admit him, he was careful not to touch her as he brushed past, but that wasn’t because he didn’t want to. He was determined to give her plenty of space. He felt it was important that she come to him—like she had last night.

He just wasn’t sure she ever would...

“So who responded to your ad?” he asked. “Who do we have to choose from?”

“Jayden Willoughby.”

He’d been crossing her living room, but at this he pivoted to face her. “Jayden hasn’t even graduated from high school yet.”

“True. He’ll be a senior. But he’s got two weeks before school starts, and he said he could come out on nights and weekends if I need him longer. The construction crew is there the rest of the time, so that could work.”

He did nothing to hide his skepticism. “Is he even eighteen?”

She gestured for him to sit down. “Yes. Had his birthday in June.”

“And option number two?” he said as he dropped onto her couch.

“Mason Thornton.”

Amarok remained seated but shoved himself forward. “He’s an alcoholic!”

“I could tell by the way his hands were shaking. He also volunteered that information, which I respect. He said he’s trying to sober up, so I thought giving him some work might help.”

She was considering someone who had such an obvious problem? Amarok shook his head.

“What?” she said.

“You are
so
much kinder than you seem.”

“Yeah, well, don’t tell anyone. It’ll ruin my image.” She gestured toward the kitchen. “Would you like a drink?”

“What do you have?”

“Not a lot. Actually, nothing, except milk or water.”

He made a face to let her know he wasn’t impressed with the selection, and she laughed. “Sorry, I haven’t really stocked my fridge or my cupboards, since I won’t be here on a permanent basis for another month.”

“So what have you eaten today?”

“I had some canned soup earlier.”

“What else?”

She shrugged. “A few crackers?”

“That’s
it
?”

“Like I said, I don’t have a lot in my cupboards, and once I took off my makeup and washed my face, I wasn’t about to drive to town. If you’re thirsty, water should work.”

He got to his feet and pulled out his keys.

“You’re leaving?” she said.

“Yes, and you’re going with me.”

“I just told you—I’ve already taken off my makeup. I don’t want to be seen in town.”

“I like the way you look—and nobody else matters.”

Her jaw dropped, as if he’d surprised her with that statement. “Okay, but...where are we going?”

“To get a bite to eat, of course.”

“This late? There’s nothing open!”

“Shorty serves a limited menu. We’ll go to the back of The Moosehead, right by the kitchen, and his sister’ll grill us a burger.” He extended his hand.

She eyed it. “Amarok—”

“Take my hand, Evelyn.”

“I can’t.”

“Sure you can.” He ran a finger lightly down her arm. “Going to get a burger with me is harmless.”

She looked slightly troubled as she stared up at him. “But what I feel when I look at you isn’t.”

Carefully, but very obviously, he weaved his fingers through hers. “See? This isn’t so bad, is it?” he murmured and felt a certain warmth when she let him lead her from the house.

***

Evelyn put her feet up on the dash of Amarok’s truck and stared at the stars beyond his windshield, which were so much more vivid in Alaska than anywhere else. She was fairly certain she’d never tasted anything as good as the bacon and cheddar quarter pounder he’d brought her from Shorty’s kitchen—or felt more secure or happy than kicking back with him in the parking lot of The Moosehead, where they could hear the music from inside drifting out onto the cool evening air.

“It’s beautiful here,” she said. Maybe Hilltop didn’t have a lot of other things to recommend it, but it certainly had stunning scenery.

“
I
like it,” he responded, following her gaze up into the sky.

“How long have you lived here?”

He was making quick work of his meal, much quicker work than she was. “All my life.”

She took another bite of her own burger. “What kind of a nickname is Amarok?”

“It’s Inuktitut.”

“The language of the Inuit people.” She’d read about some of the various Alaskan natives once she’d heard where Hanover House would be located.

“Yes.”

She selected one of the crisper French fries from the basket in the seat between them. “What does it mean?”

“Wolf.”

“Have you been called that all your life?”

He swallowed the bite he’d taken of his own burger. “For most of it. My friends gave me the nickname after some bully picked a fight with me in grade school.”

“You must’ve won that fight.”

“That kid never messed with me again,” he said with a cocky grin.

She stuffed another fry into her mouth. “So, let’s see...when that was happening to you, I was...what?
In college
?”

He slanted her a look that said he wasn’t happy with the topic of conversation. “We’re going there, are we?”

“Don’t you think we should?”

He scowled. “Definitely not.”

“Because?”

“What’s the point?” he said with a shrug. “As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t matter.”

She sat up. “Of course it matters. Relationships are hard enough when both people are at a similar stage of life. And that’s when you’re dealing with ‘normal’ people. We both know I’m not ‘normal.’”

“Everyone has their challenges.”

She laughed without mirth. “Not many people have
my
challenges. We have too much stacked against us, Amarok.” As far as she was concerned, whatever spark they felt they’d be wise to smother right away. It would be far easier to end things now, before either one of them could be hurt—before they could get carried away with hope only to be disappointed by the limitations imposed by her dysfunction.

“That’s it, then?” he said.

She was fairly certain he’d never had a woman tell him no, and she could understand why. “Maybe I haven’t been clear enough, but”—she lowered her voice even though there wasn’t anyone else around to overhear her—“I can’t have sex.” She figured she might as well be blunt, get it out there. “I’m guessing that’ll be important to you.”

He wiped his mouth. “Important but not everything.”

Her appetite suddenly gone, she put her burger on the wax paper it’d been wrapped in. “You’re serious.”

“Is that all you think I want?”

She drew a deep breath. “I’m not sure what you want, but I’m pretty sure I can’t give it to you, regardless.”

He caught her wrist before she could come up with a napkin to wipe the ketchup and grease off her right hand. “I don’t believe that,” he said and proceeded to lick her fingers clean.

Something deep in her belly reacted so strongly to the sensual nature of what he was doing that Evelyn gasped. It felt like she’d just come screaming over the first hill of a roller coaster.

“See?” He knew she liked it; she could tell by his satisfied expression. “It wouldn’t be
all
bad.”

She was far more afraid of it being
good
. The physical element was one thing—that was a big challenge. But it was falling in love that terrified her most. Not only had Jasper hurt her body, he’d broken her heart, betrayed her trust and destroyed her confidence.

She pulled her hand away while she still had the will to do so. “It’d be a mistake to even try,” she said. “Please, take me home.”

He studied her for several long seconds. She could tell he was conflicted, that there were so many things he wanted to say. The obstacles she faced were difficult for someone who’d never been through the same type of trauma to understand. But he didn’t attempt to argue with her; he started the truck.

Once they reached her bungalow, Evelyn almost jumped out before he could come to a complete stop.

“Thanks for dinner,” she mumbled.

He caught her arm, then let go right away as if he’d reacted out of instinct but wanted to show her that he would never be forceful with her. “Will you do me one favor?”

Tamping down all the useless desire he evoked, along with the frustration of feeling that desire and not being able to act on it, she swallowed around the lump in her throat. Tears seemed to be her only outlet, but she wanted to get away from him before she broke down, didn’t want him to see her cry. “What’s that?”

“Just give me a chance,” he said softly.

“Isn’t it a little premature for...for
this
?” she asked. “You barely know me.”

“I figure, in our situation, it’s especially important not to play games. I’m putting my heart out there, trying to make it easy for you. That’s why I’m telling you so soon. I’ll help you get through whatever your issues are. I just need you to try and trust again.”

“I’ll think about it,” she responded and fled.

Chapter 10

It wasn’t until Amarok heard the word “vandalism” that he realized Eric Bilichek, a plumber he’d known for years who sat a few seats down from him, and the stranger next to Eric, were talking about Hanover House. Then he couldn’t help but eavesdrop, just in case they said something about who had damaged the building. Amarok didn’t want to charge the Jennings boys, if they were even to blame. But if they committed the crime, and he had enough evidence to arrest them, he had to do so. He was the law around here, and the law couldn’t turn a blind eye no matter the reason
he
might personally want to.

“So who did it?” the stranger asked, holding his morning coffee loosely in his hands.

“No clue.” Eric shoved what was left of his breakfast away from him, so that Sandy Ledstetter, the only waitress currently working the bar at The Dinky Diner, could pick it up. “I wouldn’t turn the guy in even if I did,” Eric added with a humorless chuckle. “He just did what we’ve all been tempted to do—make our feelings known. But the fact that it happened just goes to show that you’re right. Folks here are worried, not sure we should’ve let Hanover House come to town.”

“Can’t blame ’em for being skeptical of a place like that,” the stranger said. “I mean, who is this chick—Evelyn Talbot? And what does she think she’s going to be able to do, anyway?”

Eric wiped his mouth and put his napkin on his plate. “She’s supposed to be a pretty good psychiatrist.”

“Doesn’t matter
how
good she is. Psychiatry in general is a joke—a pseudo-science. No one can figure out what other people are thinking—or control behavior. And having Hanover House here will change the whole community, bring in a lot of outside attention. Is that what folks here want? Did anyone even bother to ask?”

“Some asked, but there aren’t a lot of ways to earn a living in such an out-of-the-way place. I think most people decided it could be a blessing to those who need the work.”

“A blessing!” he scoffed in disbelief. “You want to know what I bet? I bet before long she’ll be pushing the government to expand, maybe even build other facilities here. There’s a place in Arizona that has
seven
prisons. Can you believe that? They have more
inmates
than citizens.” He shook his head. “Whoever let that happen was crazy.”

“One prison is plenty,” Eric responded. “We don’t want any more.”

“Then you’re going to have to make sure Dr. Talbot doesn’t get her way again. Fight her and everyone who stands behind her. If the people in the lower forty-eight can dump all their human garbage where they no longer have to smell it, they will. And if just
one
of those bastards ever gets loose”—the stranger whistled—“you and everyone else here will be totally fucked. It’ll be like shooting fish in a barrel!”