Chapter Nine
Chase checked the security camera feed on the property for the third time. Raine’s house was dark. Nothing but deer, raccoons, and possum running around. Exactly how he liked it.
Sleep wouldn’t come so he paced the loft with a beer in his hand. Could the man at the school be the same guy at the General today? He couldn’t be certain the man at the school was a stranger. He could’ve been Fred the homeless guy that wandered around town from time to time. Fred was harmless and lonely.
Even though it was late, he grabbed the phone.
“Hello?” Deke’s voice scratched across the line.
“Sorry to wake you, man, but I need a favor.”
“Hang on.”
Rustling came through the receiver. “Okay, I splashed some water on my face. Something must be wrong for you to call me asking for a favor.”
“I just need you to check something for me.” He no longer had access to the databases that Deke had. Even though Grey Holden fought his resignation, he had blocked his entry to the programs needing clearance.
“I’m at the computer. What do you need?”
“Don’t you want to ask what this is about first? You might be about to get into some serious trouble.”
“I don’t need to ask when the request comes from you. Fuck the regulations, man. You’re my brother.”
“If you get fired, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“If I get fired, I’m bunking with you in that big house and taking your dumb cook job.”
“Yeah, yeah, you’re all talk. Here’s what I need. Can you run a check to see if a report on a missing woman, late thirties and a child, male, about nine, went missing in the last month? I don’t know where they might be missing from so you’ll have to do a country-wide search.”
“Country-wide? That’ll take a while.”
“Just get it to me when you can.”
“Does this mean you’re ready to come back to work?”
“Not a chance. I’m just following up on a hunch.”
“Take the security detail for the birthday party. It’s good money. Better than those tips you make slinging hash.”
He wiped a hand over his face. “Deke, you don’t want me on security.”
“Stop being a prick. You made one mistake. An honest one. That could’ve been anyone of us. What would you be saying to me right now if I had been the one and not you?”
“You’ve always been a better ops guy than me. I’d be telling you to stay.”
“Yeah, well, feelings are mutual. Just think about it. I’ll call you later when I know something. And I’ll see you Friday. Max and I are leaving in the morning.”
“Thanks.” He ended the call. He wanted to see his friends. He’d missed them. And he’d be lying if he said the adrenaline wasn’t pumping when he called about the search. He missed his work too, but he couldn’t be trusted. Well, he didn’t trust himself and that put his team at risk. He’d never risk those men’s lives.
Raine wasn’t telling him the truth, and he couldn’t walk away. If she was going to live next door to him then he wanted to know what he was dealing with. She was putting his life at risk too just by his being nearby. He wanted to know if he should have a shotgun or a forty-four Magnum ready.
He padded down the steps to the dark living room and dropped into the recliner. The day was weighing on him. Sleep might not be far off. His pretty neighbor had him thinking thoughts he’d buried someplace.
When he gripped her hand earlier, he wanted to pull her close and taste her lips. He wanted to curl his fingers into her hair and hear her say his name as he kissed her neck, her shoulders, and lower. She had him wanting her in a way he hadn’t wanted a woman before. Maybe it was her feisty attitude, or the determination in her eyes to take care of her son. Whatever she was running from she wasn’t afraid of. She didn’t need him, had told him as much, and still he wanted to protect her which scared the life out of him because until she’d showed up he was happy keeping to himself.
The phone rang. “Hello?”
“Can you meet me outside?” Raine’s sweet voice came over the line. She didn’t need to ask twice.
“Give me two minutes.”
He shoved his feet into boots, yanked his coat off the hook, and was outside in the biting cold air in two strides. She waited for him wrapped in a blanket at the bottom of her porch.
“Is everything okay?” He stopped short of grabbing her and pulling her to him.
She tugged the blanket closer. “Yes, I’m sorry. I…I…God, I must sound ridiculous. I wanted to ask you something, but I didn’t want to leave the house in case Landon woke and didn’t find me.”
“You could’ve asked on the phone.”
She met his gaze with a tilt of her chin. “I realize that.”
“But you wanted to see me?” Had she felt the charge between them too or was he wishful thinking?
“I guess I did. I called.”
She wasn’t exactly throwing herself at him. He’d have to settle for I guess.
“Do you know how to shoot a gun?” She didn’t let her gaze waver.
“Do you have a gun?” Did she only want him as a bodyguard? And why did disappointment twist his stomach into a rope at the thought she didn’t want him for more?
“Do you always answer a question with a question?” The blanket dropped around her shoulders revealing a zip-up sweatshirt opened to her cleavage.
“Do you?” He wanted to find out what her creamy skin felt like under his touch.
She growled under her breath, and he laughed. “You can be so frustrating. Yes or No. Do you know how to shoot a gun?”
“I do.” He liked teasing her.
“Will you teach me?”
“That depends.”
“On what?” She narrowed her eyes at him.
“On if you’ll want me to teach you after I do this.”
He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers expecting her to smack him across the face, which he probably deserved, but at the moment didn’t care about. Her lips were soft, and sweet, but she stiffened. He was about to lean back and save them both from further embarrassment because she was probably still in love with the guy she was running from when she gripped his coat and pulled him to her.
The blanket fell away, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her mouth opened to him, and he took her lead from there. She tasted like heaven and he wanted to drink her in. He laced his fingers into her long, blonde hair, and tugged her closer. She let out a little moan, and he was a goner. She pressed her curves against him fitting into his angles and setting his skin on fire. His desire for her pulsed against his jeans, making him breathless and hungry for her. She must be able to feel how hard he was against her belly.
She fumbled with the zipper of his jacket, then snaked her arms around his waist and ran her hands up his back. It was his turn to moan. He needed to get his head about him, or he’d have this woman on the front porch, in the cold, and in plain sight of raccoons, possum, deer, and worse her son, should he happen to wake for a glass of water.
He eased back not wanting the kiss to end. “Raine, I don’t know what got into me.”
She gnawed on her bottom lip. “That was nice. Unless it wasn’t for you.”
“Oh, no, that was very nice, and I’d like more, but I don’t think this is the time or place. You came out here to ask me for help, and I acted like a raging hormone.” Because he couldn’t remember the last time he was with a woman who had him this excited, but he wasn’t about to tell her that.
“I wanted you to kiss me. I’ve wanted that since you showed up in my house with flowers, and you tucked my son into bed. I may have asked you to come out here so I could kiss you because I thought I’d be waiting forever for you to make the first move.”
“I give you that impression.”
“Only a little.”
“Are you married? I shouldn’t be kissing a woman who has a husband.”
She eased out of his embrace and picked the blanket up off the ground. “Landon’s father and I aren’t married anymore. We haven’t been for a while now.”
“Is he the man you’re hiding from?” He zipped his coat up.
“The less you know the better. Can you show me how to shoot a gun?”
He should walk away from this woman and never look back. He couldn’t get messed up in something that might be illegal, or at the very least dangerous. He couldn’t trust himself to react properly in the heat of a dangerous situation. He’d been through the required therapy, but he hadn’t been back in action since the incident. Raine was telling him something would go down, and he’d likely be in the crossfire. He didn’t need that or want that. But she had a child, and this time if he could protect a child he would. Even if he showed Raine how to shoot she wouldn’t be prepared when the shit hit the fan. No one was ever prepared. Not even those well trained.
“I’ll show you how to use a gun. There’s a firing range not far from here.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” She stepped near him and wrapped her hands around his neck pulling him closer.
She showed him how much she appreciated his help, and he kissed her right back.
****
Raine lied. What was one more lie in a million? But now she’d added Chase to the list of people she lied to, and she liked him. Technically, she and Matt were married. She had never officially filed for divorce, and she wasn’t exactly lying in a morgue. But they hadn’t had sex in three years. Once she found out he was cheating on her, she refused to go to bed with him. He hadn’t cared, was relieved in fact. He’d demanded that they stay married, and act like the perfect couple. When she tried to leave he bashed her head into the wall and promised Landon would grow up without a mother. That was the moment she formed her plan to leave him.
What had she been thinking kissing Chase like that last night? She couldn’t seem to stop herself. He tasted minty, and a little like beer. His hands were strong, and that little tug in her hair. It wasn’t the same as the way Matt handled her, rough and mean and ugly as if she was his property and not his wife.
Her insides had lit up like fireworks from Chase’s touch. He had been intense like his stare, and sure of himself which only heated her core more. She wanted all of him, but he had been right. The front porch wasn’t the place.
“Landon, you’re going to be late for school.” She needed to get her thoughts on a less erotic subject.
The man at the school had her worried. When she dropped Landon off, she’d go inside and tell the principal. She should think about getting Landon a disposable phone just in case the worst thing occurred. Her stomach clenched at the thought of anything happening to him. Chase had promised to show her how to use a gun. That would be a help. But how would she buy a gun? Could he get her one? How much was she willing to ask of this man? Would she really put him at risk?
They piled into the car and she headed down the drive sneaking a peek at Chase’s place. His truck was gone. Probably at work. She’d see him in an hour and wiggled a little in her seat. She’d have to find an excuse to get him into the walk-in for a quick kiss.
“Mom, when are we seeing Chase again?” Landon broke through her steamy thoughts.
She placed a cold hand against her heated cheek. “I don’t know, bud. I’m sure we’ll see him around.”
“I hope he comes to dinner again.”
“Me too.”
****
A snow storm threatened. The weather reports talked about it. They were probably wrong. At least Chase hoped they were. The storm was more than a week out. He’d offer Raine and Landon his place to stay during it. He had a generator.
The lunch shift was over, and the General sparkled like a new toy. Jim locked the front door. “Why don’t you kids get on out of here?”
Mandy counted out the tips and handed the whole wad of cash to Raine. “You earned it, honey.”
“I can’t take all of this.” She shoved the money back.
Mandy pushed her hand away. “Keep it. I’m covered.” She shot a quick glance at Jim and pressed her lips together.
That old dog. Chase shook his head. He hadn’t had much of a chance to talk to Raine during her shift. The lunch crowd had been a steady stream of people. He had been hoping for a chance to slip her a quick kiss, and to talk to her about something, but they were never alone.
She shoved her arms into her coat. Now or never. “Hey, do you have a minute?”
Her face lit up. “Sure.”
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
“’Night folks. Don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do.” Mandy cackled at her own joke.
The sky was filled with heavy, gray clouds. The barren trees blended into the overcast day giving the parking lot behind the General Store a desolate feeling. Damp air seeped through his coat. He pulled the zipper up higher.
Raine shivered beside her car. “I can’t get used to this weather. I swear I’m in a damp, musty basement on days like this. If it’s going to snow, I wish it would do it already.”
“It doesn’t snow where you’re from?” He wanted her to tell him something about herself that might clue him in as to who she was.
“Not in a very long time. When I need my snow fix, I go skiing.”
“Where is your favorite place to ski?” He leaned against the Camry. He could wait to talk to her about his idea. He wanted her to keep going so he could watch the sparkle in her eye.
“Utah. Do you ski?”
“Me? Never. I’m too big and awkward for that. I prefer hiking and mountain biking to trying to make two little sticks carry me down a mountain covered in snow.”
“In other words, you don’t like the feeling when you’re rushing down the slopes and the wind races back to meet you? You probably like mountain climbing with all its gear, and rules.”
She summed him up with ease and seemed to be enjoying it if the smug look on her face was any indication. He inched closer to her. “You think you have me all figured out?”
“I wouldn’t even try to figure you out. I’d need more time for that.” Her voice became husky, and she looked up at him through her long eyelashes.
He stifled a growl in his throat. He wanted to grab her right there and kiss her until she begged him for more. “Are you free for the next few hours?”
Her mouth formed a little circle, but she held her ground and kept her chin up. “I might be. What did you have in mind?”
He had a lot of things in mind, but those would have to wait. “Follow me.” He jumped into his truck and waited until she pulled up behind him. He turned onto Main Street. People moved about. Some were at the gas station, people were in the parking lot of the hair salon and the liquor store. He searched for Man-Bun, but no sign of him. He hadn’t heard back yet from the park ranger. Another call would be in order.
He led Raine out of town and to the highway. She stayed behind him the whole time never once questioning where they were going. He pulled into the parking lot of what looked like an industrial complex but was really a firing range. She parked alongside his truck and hopped out.
“Where are we?” She took in the square, cream-colored building.
“You asked me if I could show you how to shoot a gun.” He swung his arm wide to take in the plain scenery. “Ready?”
****
Raine stared at him. His lips tugged up in a smile, and he rocked on his heels. He was serious. “Did you bring a gun?” Had he kept a gun in his truck all morning while he worked?
“We rent them. If you don’t want to go in, we don’t have to.”
“No. No. This is great. Thank you for taking my request seriously.” This man was full of surprises, and a good kisser. Probably better not to think about his kissing when she was about to fire a gun. Would he help her get a gun? That might be the more important question.
He slid his hand into hers and they crossed the parking lot. His hand was warm, and strong around hers. Being beside his large frame, and confident stride made her shoulders relax a little. She could put the burden of her life up on a shelf for the next few hours.
The inside was set up as a retail store with guns locked in glass cases like diamond rings. Accessories hung on walls and one room was dedicated to black gun safes the size of standup freezers.
A tall woman with short dark hair, and the perfect slim figure Raine would never have, smiled as she and Chase approached the counter.
“Hey, Chase.” Her gold name tag read Amanda.
“This is my friend, Raine. The one I told you about.”
Amanda stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet you. I have everything ready for you. Raine, you’ll have to watch a safety video first. That’s the rule even though I know Chase is one of the best shots I’ve ever seen. You have yourself a fantastic teacher. And sign these for me.” She handed over some papers and a pen.
Chase took her to an area in the back where she signed away without really reading and sat through a ten minute video on how to shoot and be safe. Her heart hammered in her chest, a little from fear and a lot of excitement.
“Wear these.” He handed her protective eyewear and placed what looked like large headphones over her ears instantly drowning out the noise around them. Her head seemed to become too heavy for her neck.
He pushed open a door that led to the shooting area. Six ports were divided by black walls. Only three stations were occupied. They turned into number six. He rested a gun case on the small shelf attached to the port wall and snapped open the latches. A black pistol was tucked into foam inside the case.
He tapped the side of her headphone ear protector and indicated she should slide it back. “I need to explain a few things and I want you to be able to hear me.” Gun shots went off, and she jumped.
“It’s loud in here.”
He smiled making the blue in his eyes darken. Her low belly sat up and took notice. “The magazine holds fifteen bullets. That’s the most allowed in New Jersey. We’re using blanks for target practice.”
“How come you don’t carry a gun? Can’t retired police or private investigators do that kind of thing?”
“I’m neither of those. Now pay attention.” But he smiled again sprinkling his words with amusement. The heat moved down from her low belly to the spot she thought had stopped working a long time ago.
He showed her where the safety catch was. “Leave the safety on at all times unless you’re going to shoot.”
He loaded the magazine. “Pull back on the slide to put a bullet in the chamber. You’re too tiny to use only your hand. You’ve got to get your pec into it. Let me show you.” He turned the gun to face down the range and away from them.
He yanked back on the slide with his powerful hands, and sure enough his pec muscle jumped in his shirt. She thought she might melt into a puddle of hot liquid.
He shot off a few bullets to show her how to aim and stand. His jeans stretched across his tight butt, and solid thighs. His shoulders were broad, and his arms toned. He hit the center of the target every time.
“You are really good at this.”
“I’ve had practice, and that’s what you’ll need in order to hit something. You try. Remember what you have to check for?”
“Make sure the gun isn’t pointing at anything I don’t intend to shoot.” How would she handle the gun when it pointed at something she intended to shoot besides that paper target at the other end of the range? “There’s no bullet in the chamber.” She loaded the magazine and pointed it toward the paper target.
She fired off her first round. Her hands jumped back, but not enough to throw her off balance. She took a deep breath and tried again. Neither time hitting the target. She used up the entire magazine and hit nothing.
“I’m pretty bad at this.”
“Takes time. How about one more?”
Her pride told her to call it quits, but she followed the instructions, and took her stance. This time Chase came up behind her. His hips resting lightly against her low back. His legs were on either side of hers. From behind, he took her hands in his so together they held the gun. He kept his face near her ear.
“Drop your aim a little. Right there. That’s it. Perfect. Take a slow breath, and then let out half of it before you shoot.” The heat of his breath against her cheek sent chills across her skin. She might drop the gun if he continued to give her directions that way.
He stayed pressed against her as she fired off each round. By the end, sweat trickled between her breasts. The desire to feel his hands all over her had rippled through every nerve ending in her body. The magazine was empty, and he stepped back. The chill of the air cooled her heated skin, but she wanted him near her again, and had to look away worried desire showed in her eyes.
“Nice job. You hit the target several times.”
“I can’t believe it.” Her heart did a little skip. “Once you showed me how to hold my arms, and the breathing thing really helped. Thank you.” She hadn’t enjoyed anything besides Landon in more time than she wanted to think about. This man with his stoic face, and secrets gave her pleasure she didn’t think she deserved.
He packed up the gun, led her back to the store area and returned everything to Amanda. “We can come back again if you’d like.” He held the door to the parking lot open for her.
Snow flurries danced in the air, but didn’t seem to hit the ground, as if they were enjoying the afternoon too. Her voice had tangled up in her throat. She didn’t trust herself to speak. She might proposition him in the parking lot. She really needed to get herself under control.
“You didn’t like shooting, did you?” He narrowed his eyes at her.
“What? Oh, no. That wasn’t it at all. Holding a gun gives you a sense of power.”
“Use that power wisely. Would you like another lesson?”
Would she ever. “How soon can we come back?” She had time each day after work before Landon was done with school. She didn’t want to be too pushy and ask him to take her again tomorrow. She’d wait for the invitation.
“After work on Saturday?”
She tried to hide the disappointment filling up her chest. “I have Landon. I don’t think he should come here.”
“Fair enough. I’m busy tomorrow. We’ll have to wait until Monday then when he’s at school.”
Monday seemed like a lifetime away. “Can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you know where I can get a gun?”
He cocked his head as if he didn’t hear her correctly. “They had hundreds of guns inside. I can help you pick one out or you can buy the one you used today if you like it.”
She opened her mouth to tell him, but she snapped it shut. He would go running if he knew, and at the very least he’d encourage her to tell the police which would never happen. She didn’t want him going away just yet. She was starting to enjoy his company. What would it hurt to hold onto that for a little while longer? If Silent Water didn’t work out, she and Landon would be gone, and he could forget about her.
“Yes, you’re right. Of course, I can purchase a gun inside. I’m not sure what I was thinking. On Monday then, you can help me pick one out.”
“You’ll need to file for the proper permits first. You can’t take the gun home until then.”
She fumbled for her keys in her purse trying to keep her gaze away from his intense stare. “I’ll take care of that part. We’ll just window shop until then.”
“Is everything all right?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“The color has drained from your face.” He placed his hand against her jaw and rubbed his thumb back and forth.
She gripped his hand and slid her fingers through his. “The flu is going around. Maybe I’m coming down with something.” Yeah, it was a case of the run for your life and tell lies to a man you’re falling for.
“Let’s get you back then. Follow me.”
Gladly.