Chapter Six

Moon

More than a week had passed since I set foot in my shop. It was the longest time I’d spent away since I opened it. Rainbow Canvas was my life and my only priority aside from Beau. Today, it needed all of my attention. Not for cleaning, because the insurance adjuster had already come out and done his part of the job and the window guys, painters for the outside and cleaners had done everything they could.

The state of the floors wrecked me, though. From the blood and the gunshots, I had to consider getting new floors or hiring a specialist to repair them because those floors used to be gorgeous and gave the shop personality. I could no longer look at the shop and see the place I created with hard work, love and a lot of elbow grease. Now it was foreign. Different. Strange. It was a crime scene.

And it felt like one, so I reached into the plastic bin behind the counter and grabbed a few bundles of sage and lavender and lit them at the entrance and the archway that led back to the painting area and gallery.

I sat on the floor as they burned, filling the air with relaxing, protective scents that settled my shoulders back to their normal position. I needed to clear my mind and center myself so that each time I looked at the spot at the right of the half circle, I didn’t see Jana lying there bleeding out.

Thirty minutes later I was as stressed and worried as ever, and the sage and lavender had burnt out completely.

A knock sounded at the door that made me jump so high in the air, I was on my feet instead of my bottom. Looking out the window, I let out a groan at the sight of two detectives in ill-fitting suits. I stepped back so they could enter. “How can I help you, detectives?

The older one with the green eyes stepped in first.

“I’m Detective Haynes and this is Dodds. We’re assigned to handle the shooting that took place last week.” His eyes were kind but tired, like a man who had seen too much bad in the world to remain unaffected. “How are you doing, Ms. Vanderbilt?”

“It’s hard being here but I’m okay. How can I help you gentlemen?”

The shorter one, Dodds stepped forward with an angry scowl on his face. “Why does it smell like marijuana in here?”

So he was going to be one of those cops. “Is that illegal in this state, detective?”

His frown deepened and he was even more in my face, not concerned with my height advantage because he had the gun. “Is that what I smell?”

“Actually, no. I haven’t the faintest idea what you smell, Detective. Unless sage and lavender smell like pot, but if you have proof that it’s what you think it is, I’m ready to hear it.” When he said nothing I turned back to the nicer detective. “Did you come here to arrest me for imagined crimes so you have an excuse not to solve the crime that actually took place here?”

“Not at all Ms. Vanderbilt.” Detective Haynes flashed an annoyed look at his short, angry partner. “We just have a few questions about the night of the incident.”

I didn’t want to relive it but I wanted that psycho off the street. “Okay. Ask away, but he can’t stay.” I pointed to Dodds who thought he was being oh so clever, wandering around the shop in hopes to find some pot lying around. As if I would ever be that careless.

“That’s not your choice,” he said from the back and I didn’t bother turning my head, because I knew where he was standing.

“Well if that’s the case then I’d prefer not to speak to the police until I’ve spoken to a lawyer.” I knew how people saw me because I made sure they saw me that way. It was an attempt to leave the old me behind, the girl who wasn’t Moonbeam and who wouldn’t be caught dead in cheap non-designer brands. People like Detective Dodds weren’t worth my time or effort, guys who didn’t bother to look below the surface or consider that outside packaging gave no indication of what was inside. But just because I looked like a pot smoking hippie, didn’t mean I was one. I was, but I was also raised by wealthy and powerful parents, which meant I knew my rights and the power of an attorney.

“We’re trying to help you, lady,” the little man said.

“I think your captain will love to know how you treat crime victims, detective. Maybe you need more time at the academy so you can learn to be something other than a total ass.” His aura was toxic and that told me everything I needed to know about the man. He was poison.

He leaned forward as he drew closer, trying to intimidate me. “What did you call me?”

“Is your hearing defective as well?”

He glared, face so red I thought he might keel over and die right in my shop which would just be unfortunate. “I could arrest you.”

“Dodds! Get out of here goddammit.” Haynes looked to be at the end of his rope as he stared down his tiny partner who huffed and puffed before finally exiting my shop. “Sorry about that, Ms. Vanderbilt. Let’s just say that he’s my punishment for a past sin.”

“No apology necessary. At least you acknowledge that he’s a crappy cop.”

“Ms. Vanderbilt,” he began on an exhausted sigh.

“Call me Moon, please.” Reminding me of my family was not the way to inspire me to be helpful.

“Moon, just remember that no good deed goes unpunished.”

As if I hadn’t learned that truism too many times to count in my life. “Believe me, I know but this isn’t a good deed. I’ll tell you the same thing I told the uniforms who showed up the night of the incident. There was a yellow sports car, yellow and black actually. It looked like the car from Transformers,” I told him nervously, explaining when his brows rose. “My son owns one of those models, it’s his favorite.”

He smirked. “What about the shooter, did you see anything? Race? Hair color or eye color?”

My head was already shaking in response. “No, there was no skin on display just a mass of blackness that I assumed meant he or she was wearing gloves. Just darkness and then a flash of light when the gun went off.” Even replaying it my mind had my breath racing and shallow. My skin began to heat, and my hands started to shake but I could always count on deep breathing exercises. They never failed me. “That’s all I saw, Detective Haynes, I’m sorry.”

He scribbled in his miniature notepad for a long time before he closed it and looked up with a grin. “You were pretty handy to have around, especially for Mrs. Ellison.”

I nodded at his words, hearing the next question before he even asked it. “In another life I was an EMT.”

“And how well do you know Mrs. Ellison?”

“The victim?” I asked for clarification because again, these cops weren’t as clever as they liked to think. “Well enough to know that CPA’s don’t often draw that kind of client dissatisfaction, detective.” He grimaced but had the grace to look ashamed. A little.

“I’m just trying to help, Moon, and that means figuring out who did this.”

“No, you assume that this has something to do with her husband’s motorcycle club. It might or it might not, but knowing the color of a car doesn’t tell you that unless I’ve missed some new investigative techniques?”

He smiled but it was one of frustration and restraint. “It’s a safe bet though, isn’t it?”

“I don’t know detective, what about the incident a few months ago that involved that Governor? That had nothing to do with the club, did it?”

He sighed because I was adding to his exhaustion but he could join the club. I’d been exhausted for years with no end in sight so his was none of my concern. “Okay, it didn’t. Happy?”

“No I’m not happy. Someone shot up my business and my friend is still in the hospital. Happy is the last thing I’m feeling. Look, Jana and Max both came here for my painting classes and that’s how I met them. Jana and I became friends and that’s all I have for you.”

“Thanks. If you can think of anything else, please let me know.” Detective Haynes left his card on the glass checkout counter and left, taking his toxic little partner with him.

Dealing with the police was never my favorite thing, not since I’d seen up close just how they treated those entrusted in their care. Thanks to my family’s money and my privilege, I only found myself on the wrong side of them once. I wouldn’t forget it. Ever.

Another knock sounded and I practically jumped out of my skin. I wasn’t in the mood for visitors and I was much too jumpy to deal with customers or artists at the moment. But I was clearly visible from the window so I looked up and frowned, walking to the door and unlocking it again. “Cross. What are you doing here?”

He stood in the doorway, so big and imposing that I would have felt intimidated by him if he’d ever given me a reason to fear him. Cross might be surly but he didn’t seem to be dangerous. To me anyway. Hands shoved in his pocket, he looked a little scared. “I came to apologize for the other day. I was out of line and rude for no reason, and I’m sorry about that.”

I stepped back so he could come into the shop and locked the door behind him. Given the events of the last few weeks it didn’t matter much but it made me feel safer. Or something. “It’s fine, Cross, really. You don’t have to like me, especially since you haven’t done much to make yourself all that likable.”

He smirked and crossed his arms, giving me a long glimpse of the tattoos covering his forearms. Blue eyes sparkled with something akin to mischief and I swear to Mother Earth, the tiny smile transformed his whole face from angry curmudgeon to holy smokes irresistible bad boy. “You don’t find me likable?”

“You’re plenty likable,” I told him as I worked hard to tamp down the desire that welled up at that smile. “Until you open your mouth.” He really was entirely too good looking with his tall frame and wide shoulders, thick brown hair that looked like it belonged in a shampoo commercial and eyes so blue they could rival the ocean. He was as handsome as he was dangerous, but it was the latter I needed to remember.

“There may be some truth to that,” he admitted sheepishly. “What’s that smell?”

“Sage and lavender. To get rid of the bad energy in this place.” I knew he would think it was some type of voodoo or hocus pocus, or whatever other phrase people used to describe things they couldn’t understand.

“Smells good. Kind of like pot.”

I scoffed. “Now you sound like Dodds.”

“That guy’s a fucking dick.”

“Agreed.” I looked around the shop one final time and sighed. Everything looked normal and in time, I was sure it would feel normal as well. Hopefully. “Thank you for stopping by Cross but the apology wasn’t necessary.”

“It was. I don’t dislike you, Moon.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked on his heels, the same way Beau did when he wanted to ask for something he knew he couldn’t have.

“It’s okay if you do.” It took me a long time to become comfortable with that but being me felt better than being accepted for being someone else.

“I don’t. Can I walk you home?”

I smirked but nodded at the gesture. It was nice and kind of old school. I liked it. “Sure. But, I live right here.” I gestured to the side of the building. I locked up and Cross fell into step beside me. Quietly. “How are you doing, Cross?”

“Fine,” he said quickly.

“Okay. But how are you really?” I stopped and put a hand to his chest. “Humor me.”

Those blue eyes stared at me for a long time but there was no hate or malice or even mild dislike in them. There was bone deep fatigue, concern and a fear in them I was sure he’d rather die than let me see. He started walking and I figured the conversation was over and fell in step beside him. “I’m tired as hell, Moon.”

I felt myself softening towards his honesty. “That wasn’t so hard was it? Are you having trouble sleeping?”

“No trouble because I just gave up trying to sleep.” His words were harsh and sardonic.

My heart went out to him. I didn’t know much about the Reckless Bastards but I knew they were a motorcycle club and I knew they had plenty of business interests around town. I also knew the cops thought they were criminals and that bad luck seemed to follow them. “Doesn’t your club own a few dispensaries, because I’m pretty sure pot is a good sleep aid.”

Thick chocolate brows arched. “You toke up, Moon?”

I smiled and shook my head. “Not anymore. When I partake, it’s strictly edibles because of Beau’s asthma. In fact, do you have some time right now?”

He frowned. “For what?”

We stood in front of my house and I climbed the steps. “Therapy and you won’t even have to talk about your feelings.” He grinned and climbed the steps, shaking his head.

“How can I pass up an offer like that?”

***

What on earth possessed me to invite Cross into my home? The man was hurting and he clearly couldn’t express any vulnerability to his club, or probably anyone else. If I could help him, I would. But I refused to get involved. “Come on in and take off your shoes and that vest.”

“Is that necessary?”

I turned to face him, hands on my hips the way I did when Beau decided to question my decisions. “Yes.”

And that was all it took to get him to oblige. He kicked off his heavy duty boots and hung the leather vest with the Reckless Bastards insignia on one of the hooks beside the door. “Happy?”

“No. Satisfied. Now come and have a seat.” The squeak of his much heavier frame easing into the cushion sounded as I went to retrieve what I needed to help him.

“I made these,” I told him and stopped when I returned and saw him stretched out on the sofa with his eyes half closed. He looked peaceful and I didn’t want to rouse him.

“I’m not asleep. Yet,” he said and sat up. “What the hell kind of air freshener do you use?” He sounded grumpy about it and that made me laugh.

“It varies from week to week. Different scents that instill calm and relaxation. Too much stress can be bad for Beau.”

He smiled. “Where is he?”

“Hanging out with Rocky. I don’t know if it’s her red hair or that slight hint of southern twang I hear in her voice, but Beau is absolutely taken with her.”

“He’s a cool kid. Very, ah, adult.”

I laughed and set down the two containers. “He’s mature for his age, I know.”

“I like it. I’m not really the baby talk kind of guy,” he said gruffly, seeming uncomfortable as I sat on the coffee table directly in front of him.

“No kidding. It would probably freak him out if you did.” I’d never treated Beau like a baby because he was too smart for me to get away with it and because I couldn’t afford to baby him during his early years. But when his asthma got out of control I did worse than baby him, I became a mother hen. “I have hemp oil and CBD cream. I made them both and I’m going to combine them. All you have to do is relax.”

Cross looked skeptical but he nodded and I took one of his big hands into both of mine and began massaging his hand and wrist. It took a few minutes, but as soon as he stopped resisting me, Cross began to relax. The weight of his big body sank deeper into the sofa just as I knew it would. Every inch of him was rock hard and not just his muscles, but the knots of tension. “Damn that feels good.”

I smiled and switched to his other hand, feeling a smug sense of satisfaction when his arm remained limp. His hands were big and calloused, like he worked with his hands, which made me curious. “What exactly do you do?”

He opened one eye and stared at me. “Seriously?”

I nodded, adding more pressure to his palm and pulling a groan from him. “Yes, seriously. If you don’t want to answer, don’t.” I never understood why people were so secretive, especially in this digital age. With a credit card and a wi-fi connection I could have his life story in under an hour.

“I’m the President of the Reckless Bastards which basically puts me as CEO of our business interests.”

“Interesting.” I’d never thought about the club like an actual, official organization or corporation but it made sense. The truth was I didn’t think all that much about the club because I didn’t want to know. But I wanted to know about Cross.

“Yeah? Why?”

I shrugged and stood in front of him, noticing the way he made a gentlemen’s effort to avoid looking at my chest. I urged him to stretch out again and stood behind him so I could get to work, my hands on the side of his head.

“Because I never thought of it like that. Jana’s mentioned casually about the dispensaries, the gun shop and even a brothel or two but I guess I just assumed…actually I don’t think I assumed anything. It’s pretty cool that you’re a CEO.”

I’d started working on a pressure point.

He grinned. “These days it doesn’t feel all that cool,” he said honestly and I knew he was feeling relaxed. “Oh, shit, Moon.”

The sound that came from the back of his throat was downright sensual, like the sound a man makes when he first slides into a moan. Satisfied but hungry for more. And all I was doing was massaging his temples. His hands floated back like a baby’s, fingertips brushing the sides of my arms as if I wasn’t already too aware of him.

“Holy shit.” His hands gripped my wrists as my fingertips lightly pressed into his head.

I ignored his touch and the heat it sent through me and kept going because Cross needed this. He would never admit it, at least not to me, but he didn’t have to. “Relax, Cross.”

“I am.”

“Relax completely. Hands too, down at your sides. It’s more effective, trust me.” Not that he owed me trust but since I had his head in my hands, he didn’t have a choice.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine. Relax.” He finally did and I was able to focus, sliding my fingers down the back of his head to his shoulders which were as hard as granite. The man carried his stress everywhere and there was a lot of it.

“Moon,” he groaned again and I felt my nipples harden and I just hoped he couldn’t see the effect that deep, gravelly voice was having on me. “Fuck.”

I gave him at least five solid minutes on each of his shoulders until every lump and knot was gone. He was practically boneless when I stepped back with a satisfied smile. “Better?”

“Hell yeah. Thank you, Moon.”

“I’m just glad I could help.” I wasn’t expecting anything from Cross, but the fact that I could help another hurting soul, even temporarily, meant something to me.

“Where’d you learn all this anyway? Massage expert? Medical professional? What’s next? Ninja?”

A laugh spilled out of me at his words. “Ninja? I wish. Despite the graceful woman you see before you, I am the exact opposite of a ninja.”

“But?” He looked up at me, a mischievous grin lighting up his face.

“I used to be an EMT when I lived on the east coast and then later I got into alternative and holistic medicine.”

“Because of Beau?”

He was perceptive. “I already had an interest, but it kind of went into overdrive after his asthma worsened.”

“Nothing wrong with protecting your kid. It’s your job.” He said it with such conviction I knew there was a story there but now wasn’t the time.

“Agreed.” I stepped around to put some distance between us, until the intimate little bubble we’d found ourselves in quietly burst. “I have some things I need to take care of,” I told him and pushed at his shoulders when he tried to stand. “But you should take fifteen or twenty minutes to lie there and relax. And then you can leave and ruin all of my hard work with your stressful life.”

He smiled a half-smile, looking so handsome I had to look away. “Thanks Moon.”

“I’m glad I could help. Take care of yourself, Cross.” Even though we weren’t actually friends and barely even acquaintances despite how many times we’d crossed paths over the past few years, I really hoped he’d take care of himself.