There was no way around it. He was screwed. Lucas stared out his bedroom window. He could see Naomi’s house right down the hill, but he couldn’t be there. Couldn’t be with her. Once again, the realities of his past barreled straight for him and hit him with the force of a freight train.
By now, everyone in town must’ve thought he’d started the fire to look like a hero. So he could run in and rescue Gracie, and be crowned as some kind of savior. Dobbins must’ve planned it all out. Everything. Even going to Denver the same time he’d been there to buy the Turpentine. God. He should’ve known. On his way out of town that day, he’d stopped by the gas station right next to Marshal’s auto shop, and he’d made the mistake of telling the cashier he was on his way to Denver. He hadn’t thought twice about it. Crazy how one friendly conversation had led him here.
He looked at the mess of clothes on the bed, at the half-packed suitcase. He couldn’t go back to prison. Couldn’t live in confinement again. Especially after having a taste of what it would be like to be with Naomi.
Going back now would kill him.
The door creaked open. Lance stuck his head in. “You ever gonna leave this room?”
“Won’t have a choice when they come to arrest me.” They’d haul him right back into his nightmare.
His brother stepped into the room but hung out near the door. “Dev’ll find something. He knows you didn’t do it.”
“He might know, but no one else does.” And if the evidence pointed to him, the town would be all too eager to hang him. “I never should’ve come back here. It was a mistake.” It’d only caused trouble for Naomi and Gracie. And hell, it might cause trouble for Lance and Jessa, too. They were supposed to get married on Saturday. If this thing blew up and he got arrested, it’d ruin everything for them.
“That’s bullshit,” Lance said. “You belong here. With us. With Naomi. I don’t care who Dobbins is and what kind of evidence he planted, you’re not going back to prison.”
“How can I stay here?” He’d seen the glares people were giving him at the trailhead after he’d brought Gracie down. They looked at him with anger, mistrust. “By now it’s all over town that I set the fire so I could be a hero.” He’d heard Lance and Jessa talking about it last night. It’d happened before in Colorado. A ranger who’d wanted some recognition set one of the biggest wildfires in the state’s history. Everyone thought Lucas was just following in her footsteps.
His brother eyed the suitcase on the bed. “The truth has to come out eventually.”
“Until it does, I think it’s best if I go back down south.” If they even let him leave town. “Can you imagine what it would be like for Gracie to hear people saying I set the fire? It could’ve killed her.” The kids at school were already giving her a hard time. Now it would be even worse. That was it; what got to him the most. He knew Naomi could deal with the gossip. But Gracie…she was ten.
“Gracie will know it’s not true.” Lance faced him. “She knows you would never do something like that.”
“She may have known that before but then she found out I didn’t tell her the truth about my past.” Now she wouldn’t trust him any more than Hank Green did.
Lucas went to the bed and shoved more clothes into the suitcase. “I’ve gotta pack.” Then he’d force himself to go down to Naomi’s house to say goodbye.
“Take it easy.” His brother took another bundle of clothes out of his arms. “Wait until Naomi gets here.”
That got him to stop. “She’s coming here?”
Naomi stepped into the room just then, her eyes narrowing when she looked at the mess of clothes on the bed. “What’re you doing?”
“I’ll give you two a minute.” Lance quickly ducked out of the room.
Naomi marched over to him. “What are you doing?” she asked again.
He couldn’t look into her eyes. “I’m packing.”
“For what?” Her eyes fired up as she stepped between him and the bed.
“I have to go.” He couldn’t explain why. Couldn’t utter one damn word past the painful knot in his throat. Leaving her again would wreck him, but if it meant protecting Gracie—and Naomi—he’d do it. He’d suffer the rest of his life to make sure they never did.
Naomi moved closer to him. She was so captivating and delicate, but such a force to be reckoned with. She seemed to ignore the mess on the bed, the clothes, the suitcase. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth about the fire ten years ago?”
He sank to the bed. Obviously she’d been chatting with his brothers. “Telling you the truth wouldn’t have changed anything.” They still would’ve lost all of those years. They still would’ve had to start all over.
She sat next to him. “I knew it wasn’t you. I always knew.”
Even just the feel of her thigh brushing against his was enough to flash the memories of holding her against him while they made love. “I wish I could go back and change things.” Everything. Every decision he’d made that day that had brought them to this moment. The moment he had to say goodbye to her again.
He had to. Every time he thought of those seconds he’d spent searching for Gracie, he went back to that place where fear had sickened him. The outcome could’ve been so different…
“What happened wasn’t your fault.” Naomi turned to him, threading her fingers through his as though she could sense how much he needed her touch.
“I could’ve made sure it didn’t happen,” he murmured, running his fingers over her knuckles. Her skin was so soft…
“Bad things are going to happen sometimes. It’s not up to you to stop them.”
Maybe not, but he didn’t need to provoke them, either.
“This isn’t your fault,” she told him for the umpteenth time. “You can’t put that burden on yourself.”
Too late. “I should’ve walked away from him at the bar that night. I shouldn’t have let it get to this point.” He should’ve hauled Levi out of there before the fight started.
“You listen to me, Lucas Cortez.” Naomi drew his face closer to hers. “I don’t need you to save me from anything.” Even though her voice had a harsh edge, her eyes were soft and open. “I only need you with me. Like you have been these last few weeks. Holding me. Letting me cry.”
“It’s not enough.” He should be able to protect her from pain. Instead he’d brought it on her…
“You’re enough,” she whispered, emphasizing the words with a kiss. “Do you know that?”
“No.” He didn’t feel like enough. He’d never felt like enough.
She laid her hand on his cheek. Her touch was healing. “You’re already good enough for me. Perfect. Nothing you will ever do could make me want you more than I want you right now.” As if intent on proving it, she moved into his lap and brought her lips to his again. It held so much power; the way she kissed him, the way she touched him. She did want him. He could feel it in the fast pounding of her heart against his chest.
He held her tightly, kissing her slowly, letting her sweetness take him away from everything else. Maybe Naomi made him enough. Maybe it was them together. He started to lower her to the bed; he couldn’t help it. When she was with him, he forgot about everything else.
“I need you to go somewhere with me,” she murmured in the same soft tone she’d used right before they’d made love. “Please? It won’t take long.”
Her touch had so much power over him—already the troubles that plagued his life didn’t seem so terrible. She was soft and warm, priceless…this lost treasure he’d searched for his whole life, but had never been able to hold onto.
“Okay.” He sighed, focused on her lips. Their softness provoked that bottomless hunger, making his body plead for one more taste of her—to take her to the bed and make love to her, to lose himself inside of her…
“Okay,” she repeated, sitting up. “Let’s go.”
He didn’t ask where. He just let her lead him out the door.
* * *
When Naomi pulled up in front of the community center, Lucas didn’t take off his seat belt. “What’re we doing here?” Cars packed the parking lot, but only one or two people stood near the entrance, making their way inside.
“You’ll see.” She cut the engine and withdrew the keys. “We’re already late. We have to hurry.”
Hurry? “I’m not going in there.” Especially if the whole town was there.
“You need to go in there.” She drew closer and brushed a kiss over his lips. “You trust me, right?”
“Yes.” He trusted her fully. Trusted that she’d only want what was best for him. “Don’t know if I trust myself, though.” If he saw Dobbins in there, he couldn’t say what would happen.
Naomi must’ve seen the apprehension building in his eyes. “There’s a community briefing about the fire,” she explained. “And we’re already late, which means we can sneak in the back. No one’ll even see us.”
He was tempted to send her in and tell her he’d wait in the car, but she likely wouldn’t let him do that, so he got out and followed her through the entrance.
The community center was nothing like those fancy rec centers you’d see in a big city. It had once been the Episcopal Church, complete with a white steeple. They scooted quietly through the old wooden doors and into a small foyer. Beyond that, the space opened into a sanctuary with rows of staunch wooden pews that faced a small stage. Stained glass windows gave the room a holier-than-thou feel. As if this town needed any help in that department.
Lucas followed Naomi into the sanctuary, keeping his head down and trying to remain inconspicuous. Hank Green, king of sweater vests and bow ties, already stood at the podium speaking in his lofty monotone. Luckily the man didn’t glance up from his notes as he and Naomi snuck in behind the back row and sat in a couple of vacant chairs.
“Right now we have level-one evacuation orders for all neighborhoods west of River Valley Road. The high school gym is being converted into a shelter for anyone who has nowhere to go,” the man intoned. “But I also know the good citizens of Topaz Falls will come together and open their homes to offer the kind of hospitality this town is known for.”
What about him? Lucas wondered. Green had one of the largest homes in town and had never had a family. The man could probably shelter fifteen people.
“We’ll hand out maps after the meeting,” Green went on. “Along with a list of what everyone can do to help. We’ll need food and water donations for our fine firefighters who are on the front lines. Even with the state’s resources, we’ll all have to pull together to fight this thing.”
A murmur of support bounded around the room. Lucas kept quiet. He still didn’t know what he was doing here. If anyone turned around and saw him, there was a good chance this meeting would turn into a public flogging.
Naomi smiled at him and snuck her hand into his as though telling him not to worry.
At the podium, Green gathered up his notes. “Now, before we close, are there any questions?”
An older woman Lucas didn’t recognize waved her hand. “Is it true someone started the fire on purpose?”
This ought to be fun. He edged against the back wall and ducked his head.
“The fire chief has not officially released the cause yet,” Green said stiffly. “But yes, we have reason to believe it is arson.”
A commotion broke out as people began talking and looking around.
“Any other questions?” Green asked above the noise.
“Yeah. I have one.”
Lucas’s head snapped up. Why the hell was Levi sitting in the front row at a town hall meeting?
“In fact, mind if I take the mic for a minute?” His brother didn’t wait for Green to answer. He simply walked up the aisle and nudged the man out of his way.
“This is highly inappropriate,” Green huffed. “We’re here to talk about the fire, not—”
“This is about the fire.” Levi glared at the man until he shut his trap and stepped aside. “This about both fires. The one that started yesterday and the one at the rodeo grounds ten years ago.”
“What’s he doing?” Lucas started to stand, ready to pull his brother off the stage before he made a huge mistake, but Naomi kept ahold of his hand.
“Let him,” she whispered. “It’s time. He needs to do this. For you and for himself.”
Restlessness needled him, but he forced himself to sit still, forced himself to watch Levi, the little brother he’d always protected, stand up in front of the whole town to make his confession. He slipped an arm around Naomi and braced himself for what was coming.
Levi bent down to the mic. “Lucas isn’t responsible for the fire at the rodeo grounds. I am.”
A rumble of murmurs grew into a roar.
The noise didn’t seem to faze Levi. “I used lighter fluid and a match and then ran away when it got out of control.”
“What on earth?” Green asked, but Levi didn’t give him a chance to finish.
“Lucas took the blame. He went to prison for my mistake. And I don’t want him to pay anymore. He’s given up enough for me.”
Lucas glanced at Naomi, at the tears that ran down her cheeks.
He slipped his arm around her. “I’m sorry.” They’d lost so much time…
“Don’t be. Not anymore.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “You’re selfless, Lucas. It’s one of the things I love the most about you.” She peered up at him. “But you don’t have to sacrifice your happiness anymore. Not for your family. Not for Gracie. And not for me.”
At the front of the room, Levi cleared his throat and waited for the crowd’s noise to die down. “You can all stop judging him now that you know the truth. You can stop trying to run him out of town.”
Lance left his seat near the front and joined Levi behind the podium.
When was the last time Lance had attended a town meeting?
“And you can stop blaming him for the Topaz Falls fire, too,” his older brother said into the mic. “He had nothing to do with it.”
“You’re all in on it.” Lucas gazed down at Naomi. That’s why she’d dragged him here.
“It’s our turn to protect you.” She nestled closer, and that feeling of having her by his side made everything right. All of those years they’d spent apart didn’t matter now. All that mattered was their future together. Their future with the family they’d always wanted.
“You have no proof he didn’t start the fire,” Hank Green barked. “Then or now.”
“Actually we do.” Dev appeared near the back doors.
Somewhere in the middle of the crowd, there was a scuffling sound. Marshal Dobbins stood and started to make his way toward a side exit, but Dev quickly cut off his escape route. “Marshal Dobbins, you’re under arrest for first-degree arson.”
The man tried to bolt, but Dev tackled him and wrestled his arms behind his back.
Lucas blinked five times to make sure this was really happening, that Dev had Marshal in handcuffs and was leading him out of the sanctuary.
Loud chatter swarmed the room, swallowing the stunned silence.
Green whistled and took the podium again. “In light of the circumstances, I’d say the meeting is adjourned.” Without acknowledging any of the Cortez brothers, the man hurried out after Dev.
Everyone stood and started to gather their things, whispering in hushed tones, casting glances back at Lucas.
He sat right where he was, gaping at Naomi. “How the hell did that happen?” Given her beaming smile, she’d had something to do with all of this.
“Jessa and I had a talk with Jen Dobbins.”
He couldn’t stop himself from interrupting her with a kiss. He would kiss that beautiful smile every morning. Every night. As much as she’d let him for as long as she’d let him.
“Jen knew Marshal went to Denver last week,” she said when he pulled back. “Dev was able to get one of the employees at the hardware store to identify him as the customer who’d purchased the turpentine.”
“I can’t believe this.” He gathered her into his arms. “You fixed everything.”
“We fixed everything,” she corrected. “Levi and Lance and Jessa. And your dad. We all came up with the plan together.”
“Thank you.” He brought her fingers to his lips. “I’d almost given up.”
“I wouldn’t have let you.” She moved in closer as though she was ready to kiss him again.
But a hearty throat clearing snagged his attention. “Hate to interrupt…”
That was a flat-out lie. Levi loved to interrupt.
Somehow Lucas managed to look away from Naomi. The room had emptied except for his family. At some point, they’d all snuck in—Jessa and Luis and Evie and Gracie stood with his brothers.
“Lucas!” Gracie launched herself at him. He caught her and pulled her into his lap. That same overwhelming relief that had flooded him after he’d found her out on the trail welled up again.
“I’m sorry.” She smothered him with a hug. “I’m so sorry I got mad at you. I’ll never get mad at you again. Not ever,” she promised.
He gazed down into her precocious eyes. “You might,” he told her. Especially if he had the privilege of being her stepfather. “You might get mad at me again someday.” He leaned in. “But you know what? I can take it.” As far as he could tell, parenting had some gut-wrenching moments, but the happy ones—the ones that lit you with joy from the inside like this one right now…those made the hard ones worth it.
“You’re not a bad guy,” Gracie told him earnestly. “You’re the best guy in the whole wide world.”
He laughed.
“It’s true,” Naomi said, scooting closer to him.
“It’s true,” Levi echoed.
“You deserve all of the happiness you were denied for too long, son.” His father laid a hand on his shoulder.
Lucas covered it with his own. “It means everything to be back with my family. I can’t believe you guys did all of this.” It’d been a long time since he’d had anyone on his side. But maybe that was his fault, too. He could’ve come home sooner.
“Aw, it’s no big deal.” Levi always had to ruin the moment with a smart-ass comment. “Besides, it’s not like they can prosecute me or anything. You already did the time. Compared to that, telling everyone the truth is nothing.”
They both knew that wasn’t true. Sometimes the backlash from regular people was worse than what the law could do to you. “Think it’ll have any implications for your career?” His fans wouldn’t like it when they found out what Levi had done as a teen.
“Nah.” Levi seemed to brush it aside. “If anything, I’ll get eaten alive on social media. But I’ve already got some ideas for how to repair the damage. Starting with launching a campaign to rebuild the grounds and bring the rodeo back to Topaz Falls.”
“I’ll do what I can to help,” Lucas promised, still holding his girls against him. “Now that I’m sticking around for good.”
“Awww.” Jessa dabbed at her eyes. “We need to go out and celebrate! Darla said she’d close down for a private party. She’s making a chocolate torte.”
“Chocolate!” Gracie squealed, jumping out of Lucas’s lap. “Let’s go!”
“You can ride with us.” Jessa herded Lance and Gracie toward the doors.
“And I’ll give you two a lift,” Levi offered to his father and Evie.
Luis nodded. “We’ll see you two over there.”
His family hadn’t even cleared the doors before Lucas pulled the woman of his dreams into his arms again. “I hated thinking about leaving you.” He would’ve, if he thought it could protect her from more pain, but it would’ve cost him his soul.
“I wouldn’t have let you leave. Not this time,” she said, touching her lips to his. “I would’ve hog-tied you and hid you in my bedroom.”
“Is that plan out the window?” he wondered aloud. “Because it could be fun…”
He loved her laugh. Loved how it made him want to laugh and hold her and let it soften all of the rough edges life had given him.
“Come on,” Naomi said, linking her arm through his. “Let’s get out of here. We might have a little time before we have to show up at Darla’s…”
“No.” They didn’t have to be in a hurry. “We have more than a little time.” He slid his hands onto her arms and brought her to face him. “We have all the time in the world.” For once.
Even after he’d finished his prison sentence, he’d still been a prisoner. He couldn’t have what he wanted, what he’d dreamed about. Naomi had changed that. She’d given him back a life—a real life with the potential for love and joy and intimacy.
For the first time in ten long years, he was free.