Chapter Ten
Cecily argued with Judd about him carrying her bag into the day spa, but he wasn’t taking no for an answer. He wanted to carry it for her—and check everything out to ensure nothing had happened while they’d been away.
The extra sway in her step since their hot night together at Eagle Crest had him smiling—until he looked up.
Son. Of. A. Bitch.
The wire to the surveillance camera extended under her sign. If a person didn’t know it was there, he wouldn’t readily see it.
So how the fuck was the line cut?
He stared up at that severed line, heart a piston in his chest, pumping too fast, too hard.
“I’m soooo relieved to see my shop isn’t broken into again.” Cecily tossed him a happy smile over her shoulder and Judd attempted to wipe the fury off his face as he came inside and set her bag on the floor.
She turned to him and slipped her arms around his neck. During the drive home, he’d thought about little else but her admission she loved him. How it raised him up to feel ten feet tall and immortal. Now, his mind was filled with a rage bigger than any he’d felt since Cassie left.
No, scratch that. He’d never felt this damn angry in his life, and he hoped to hell when he found the person responsible for terrorizing Cecily that one of Judd’s deputies was around to stop him from going too far into the realm of police brutality.
Only once before had he needed real backup—when he’d gone after the lawyer his ex had hooked up with, it had taken both Aiden and Wes to restrain him.
He squeezed Cecily’s upper arms and leaned in to kiss her brow. Holding her close as he scanned the room in search of some evidence of a B&E.
Everything looked settled in its spot, right down to the hairbrushes lined up neatly on the workstation.
He couldn’t let her go upstairs alone, and he sure as hell didn’t want her sleeping here.
“Baby doll.” His voice was rough with the effort to keep from roaring. He stroked a thumb down her cheekbone. “Echo’s taken a liking to you.”
She let out a low laugh. “Is that so? I’m glad your dog approves.”
He nodded, searching her eyes. Not a hint of fear or worry lived in that bright green gaze—she was so naïve and that only made him want to lock her up in his house and keep her safe.
“What do you say about packing a bag, enough for a couple days, and coming home to stay with me? You can follow me in your car so you have a means to get back and forth to open the shop in the morning.” He’d checked out her sputtering engine and a replaced spark plug had done the trick.
She leaned on tiptoe and surprised him when she bit into his lower lip. He chuckled, aroused, angry and confused about whether to pin her to the closest wall and have his way with her or get in his SUV and hunt down the fucker who’d cut that wire.
She tugged his lip in her teeth, worrying it gently back and forth until his cock expanded to full length. He cupped her ass, drawing her against his erection. “Let’s get your bag packed, okay? I want you in my bed tonight.”
“Mmm, I love a man who knows what he wants.”
He caught her hair around his fist and leaned in to capture her mouth. The feel of her, knowing she loved him… Fuck, he had to get her safe. Then he’d try to figure out what to do about her emotions.
Not to mention his.
He’d only known her a few days before realizing that he wanted her. After his marriage dissolved, he’d sworn off relationships. But a sweet, sexy little day spa owner had changed his mind.
He just had to figure out how to let her know. The fact she hadn’t run away screaming after their rough night of passion made him realize Cassie just hadn’t been the right woman for him.
Cecily, though… She’d been a wildcat in bed. Loved every minute of their time together. She’d even admitted with a blush at breakfast that she loved feeling the slight soreness between her legs.
He let her go and patted her behind to send her toward the stairs and her apartment. He entered before her. She had things in better order, the empty boxes broken down in the corner to be taken out to the trash. He’d do that for her next time he came by.
While she emptied her bag and then added more clothes to it, he went to the window that overlooked the street. Across the road was the hardware store. Beside that a yarn shop. Neither business would have a problem with her being a neighbor.
“See anything interesting?”
He turned at her words.
She smiled up at him. “You look lost in thought.”
“Little bit, yeah.”
“Judd, I know you.”
He stiffened his shoulders. “What do you mean?”
“You’re thinking about a case. A certain look comes over your face when you’re puzzling out something. If you want to go on to the office and get some work done, I know the way to your place. I’ll take Echo in my car.”
The dog was still in the front seat of the SUV, the windows down, probably barking at every pedestrian in Bracken.
He nodded. She’d be safe at his place. Which meant he could dig into this question of the security camera here.
I should tell her.
He looked down at her happy face. Commanding her in the bedroom was one thing, but Cecily was a woman who knew her mind. With her business, she was in charge.
She’d insisted on paying him back for the door and if she learned he’d had a security system installed while they were out of town, she’d write the last penny out of her checkbook to repay him.
He couldn’t have that. Until he figured out how to make her see that he was doing this for her safety, for her own good, he’d remain quiet.
After he’d given her the keys to his house and seen her safely to her car, and Echo was installed in the front seat beside her, Judd kissed her lips gently and sent her on her way. He stood watching her until she made the corner at the end of the street.
Then he got out his phone, and through a website, dialed into the surveillance footage by way of a passcode. He stood outside the spa and stared at the footage, watching carefully for anything popping onto the screen.
Hours of nothing but street activity. Then customers coming to the door, a pair of women wearing happy smiles. He scrolled through the frames of the video to see them leaving in the same way, talking and laughing. Ten minutes later, he saw nothing amiss.
He got into the dark hours, the street empty and only an occasional car driving by, the headlights lighting the path. If he’d blinked, he would have missed it—a hand in front of the camera for a split second before the video went blank.
So tense he felt if someone touched him right now, he’d shatter, he rewound the footage and watched it three more times.
He couldn’t tell much by that hand. Whoever it was wore a black glove, disguised. Could be a small man or any woman in Bracken. He pushed a breath through his nostrils and dialed Troyer.
“It’s Roshannon. I need a guard on the day spa for the night. Do you still have that buddy of yours who works off the books?”
“Yeah, I think he’s off tonight too. You just want eyes on the place?”
“Yes. And tell him to call if he sees even a single person walking toward the spa.”
“Got it, boss. You back in Bracken now?”
“Got in a bit ago. Heading back to my place and I’ll see you in the morning unless anything comes up before.”
He ended the call and double-checked that the shop was locked up tight for the night. The back door as well.
As he slid behind the wheel of his SUV, he texted Cecily. “On my way home.”
“I’ve got a surprise.”
Dark warmth slammed his groin. After their night of sexual exploration at Eagle Crest, he couldn’t imagine what the woman had in store for him tonight.
As soon as he walked in to the scent of fried eggs, pancakes and a side of home fries for dinner, he realized he might have actually done it this time.
Found the right woman.
She was standing in his kitchen wearing nothing but an apron.
* * * * *
Cecily put the finishing touches on the refreshment stand set up along the side of her shop. A stack of disposable coffee cups with cute polka dots sat next to the coffee system with a big rack of coffee pods with all varieties of coffee, tea and even cider. The end of the table displayed three kinds of fresh cookies from the local bakery and a big white cake with GRAND OPENING written in aqua lettering and candy pearls.
At the first sign of snow on the slopes, cars lined the road to Bracken, and Cecily’s mind had been set in motion. Her plan had worked out perfectly too, thanks to a little help from the community. The radio station offered her a live interview and the bakery discounted the goodies as long as she showed off their brand.
The place was shining from all her hard work and she couldn’t be prouder. Even the cheap mirrors didn’t look so bad with the lights angled a certain way. At last, she felt hopeful for her business.
More and more people came to the grand opening, and she was so caught up speaking to customers, old and new, that she was surprised to turn and look into the big familiar brown eyes.
“Amaryllis.” Touched beyond words, she held out her arms to embrace the woman she’d spent so little time with but felt so close to. “Thank you so much for coming.”
“Almost missed it. These Roshannon men really need to step up their communication game. Judd didn’t tell Aiden until this morning.”
Cecily grinned. “Doesn’t surprise me.” She and Judd had been a little caught up with playing house. The past week Judd hadn’t wanted her to leave. The fact Echo liked her too and followed her around the house confirmed it.
“This place looks amazing. Oh look, cookies.” Amaryllis made a beeline for the refreshment table, and Cecily giggled as she trailed behind. “I’m so hungry all the time. I’m going to weigh as much as a monster truck by the time this baby arrives.” She patted her flat stomach.
“You look beautiful, and a little goodie here and there isn’t going to hurt.” Cecily patted her arm, feeling extremely affectionate toward Judd’s family member.
As a woman approached, the printed menu of services in hand, Cecily broke away from Amaryllis to talk wrap treatments. The bell at the door tinkled steadily as people wandered in and out. Her appointment book was gaining more and more entries, and Cecily finally felt that her decision to move to Bracken had been right.
She’d never expected to meet a hunky cowboy sheriff and fall for him, but it was definitely a side perk. When he walked in, his gaze fell on her, rooting her in place. Their gazes locked, and her breath caught.
She’d admitted her love for him that night at Eagle Crest, but he hadn’t mentioned it since—or confessed his feelings. But she wasn’t going to push him for words that she saw in the depths of his eyes. He only had to look at her for her to know he loved her too. Stubborn ass sheriff just couldn’t form the words.
For a second, she thought about asking Amaryllis if she’d had a similar experience with Aiden, but the thought flitted away as Judd turned his glare on a woman across the room.
Tensing, Cecily followed his attention to the blonde speaking to two friends, their heads bowed together. The blonde turned enough for Cecily to glimpse her profile.
Shit. The last time she’d seen the woman, she’d been running out of her spa sporting a face full of welts. Audrey.
She’d never told Judd who the woman was, but she wouldn’t be surprised if he’d done some sleuthing on his own. Still, he had no reason to be glaring at Audrey when Cecily was to blame.
She’d never expected to see the woman again. In fact, she was shocked she’d come to her grand opening.
Judd didn’t remove his glare from her, and Cecily’s inner radars went off.
In this small town, the pair most likely knew each other. Had they dated at one time? She seemed young for Judd, but Cecily could be wrong.
He tugged the brim of his hat down lower, and Cecily bustled through the group of women before Audrey realized he was glaring at her and took offense. Cecily couldn’t have the woman insulted in her shop anymore.
She grabbed Judd’s arm, and he turned his gaze on her. His eyes cleared.
“Why are you glaring at that woman?” she whispered.
He looked to Audrey again, a crease between his dark brows. “You know her?”
Cecily reached up and cupped his jaw, drawing him down to speak quietly. “A customer who’s come in a few times. The last time, she had a facial mask applied and left with welts and hives on her face because she was allergic to it.”
He slanted a look at the woman again. “That was her?”
Cecily brought his attention back to her. “I’m surprised she’s here, honestly, but I don’t need her to see you glaring at her and leaving with another reason never to come back. What’s your problem with her anyway?”
She held her breath, waiting to hear if Audrey was an ex of his, but did it matter? He had a life before she’d come to Bracken.
“Do you know her?” she asked.
“Reminds me of my ex.” His voice was rough. “But yeah, she bartends sometimes at the Slug and Chug, remember? She was there the first night you were in Bracken. I don’t even know why she takes shifts there when her father gives her all the money she needs.”
Cecily mostly heard the part about Audrey looking like his ex.
“She looks like her?” Cecily asked.
“Just the hair. But no, there’s something else about her I don’t like. Her daddy’s a big business owner in town.”
Judging by his tone, that wasn’t a good thing. “So?” she whispered.
“So he owns half of Bracken and thinks of himself as a sort of mayor. Thinks everyone should drop and kiss his boots as he passes.”
“Well, that doesn’t mean his daughter’s that way. She seemed perfectly nice when she came in those few times. Until…”
He brought his attention fully to Cecily, mouth grim. “I’m sorry you had that trouble. I know it really upset you. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were already solving enough problems around here, with the break-ins and everything. You didn’t need to know I screwed up somebody’s complexion and she ran out threatening a lawyer.” She went for an airy laugh, but Judd’s brows lowered like two exclamation marks.
“She threatened you?”
She gripped both his biceps. “Don’t get all growly on me now, Judd Roshannon. Nothing happened, it was just anger talking. Let’s get some cookies before they’re all gone.”
“I’m not much on sweets.” He broke away from her hold, and to her shock, strode across the room to Audrey.
* * * * *
As Judd approached the woman, a cloud of perfume enveloped him. The floral scent too overwhelming to the senses to smell good. He pushed forward and delved into the miasma.
Audrey looked up, the pasted smile on her face widening. “Why if it isn’t Sheriff Judd Roshannon?” She let her gaze skim down his shirt front and back up to his face, slowly.
He didn’t like her looking at him. As if he hadn’t gotten a bad enough vibe from her in the first place, now she was twirling her hair around her finger in a flirtatious manner.
“I see you know me. You’re Boone Howard’s daughter. Haven’t seen you since you were riding around in the parade. What were you, Miss Teen Bracken?”
She slapped at his shoulder. “Oh, that was ages ago. I’m all grown up now. See?”
He gave a nod. He’d seen plenty since walking into the spa, and he didn’t like a single fucking thing about Audrey. Mainly the way her gaze darted around the room, and several of those times to the shelf where the money box had been hidden. The one that had been stolen after the first break-in.
Yeah, he got a bad vibe from this polished, overaffected woman, and it was more than the fact she reminded him of Cassie.
“You know, Sheriff, I always had a thing for you Roshannon men. All so tall and handsome. All of you being in the law. Very exciting.”
“That so?” He watched her body language. How she acted so interested in him yet was turned aside as if to run. She wasn’t nearly as comfortable speaking to him as she was letting on.
“Yes, all three of you together, well, it would make a woman swoon.” She fluttered a hand in front of her face as if fanning herself. “Then Aiden went and got himself hitched. Isn’t that his wife over there?”
He pivoted to see Amaryllis speaking to Cecily. He hadn’t spotted his sister-in-law when he’d walked in. All he’d noticed was Audrey Howard’s eyes twitching all over the room—to the shelves and the new door lock.
Could be just his imagination, but his gut instincts were howling like a wolf at the moon. Something was off about this woman.
“Then Wes went and got on his motorcycle and well, I stopped holding out hope that he’d notice me. I don’t favor black leather,” she added, leaning close to Judd. “But you’re still available, aren’t you, Judd? And you’re practically partners with my daddy. He owns part of the bowling lanes too.”
“I don’t own that share anymore. That went to the ex.” A foul taste filled his mouth, and he resisted the urge to spit.
“Now that was a painful breakup, I’m sure. But to be truthful, I was happy when she ran off with that lawyer in the next town. It meant you were free…” She extended one finger and skidded the tip of her too-long nail down his shirt front. Over his buttons.
He steeled himself against the need to step back. This woman wasn’t only throwing off mega-creepy waves. Judd was sure there was something more about her, something he needed to look into further.
Last woman he’d dug into her past, he’d found she was married.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cecily turn to speak to a few more ladies. Her laugh sounded tight to his ears, but he knew her well. Anybody else might not hear the tension in her voice.
She opened the book she was carrying with her and wrote some appointments down. He was happy for her—the start of the tourist season would definitely help her business, and the grand opening was giving the ladies in town a chance to see what she could offer them.
She raised her head and waved a hand at those around her. “I’ll be giving free nutritional nail soaks to the first ten people who book for mani-pedis in the next two weeks. Who’s in?”
A group stampeded her.
Judd swung his gaze back to find Audrey’s expression one of disgust. She caught him looking and quickly rearranged her features. “Why, Judd, aren’t you rushing over to claim your nail soak?”
“Aren’t you?” he returned.
“Not today. I do my own nails.” She held out her hands and examined her talons painted bright red with swirls of black.
“Very nice. Excuse me.”
“I didn’t get a chance to invite you over for dinner. My father would love to see you.”
“Another time.” He tipped his hat to her, though that left a sour taste in his mouth too. He tossed a look at Cecily, but she was busy booking appointments. He couldn’t even catch her eye.
On the way out, he and Amaryllis exchanged a long look. She gave the slightest nod as he made his exit. As he hurried to his vehicle parked down the street, he wished he’d been able to say goodbye to Cecily. Over the past week, they’d drawn close, and she’d be upset by him leaving without word. But once he told her why, she’d understand.
First, he needed to get to the office and do some digging. Once he had everything he needed, he’d be able to relax and think about how to tell Cecily that he was so in love with her that he was tossing out his vow to remain single.