Chapter 15

“I never thought I’d be happy to come back here.” Grace turned in a full circle in Jules’s kitchen.

Hugh watched her spin, her straight, dark hair fanning out behind her, and he couldn’t help but smile. He knew he should look away, that his staring was bordering on creeper mode, but he wasn’t able to do it. She was incredible. As he started to get to know her, her energy and strength and sheer Graceness shone through, just adding to her beauty. “You’re just saying that because you saw Theo’s place.”

Abruptly turning away from the apparent amazingness of Jules’s kitchen, with its mismatched, thrift-store table and chairs, its ancient appliances and crooked or missing cabinet doors, Grace looked at him. He met her gaze and immediately felt warmer. “I can’t believe how tiny it is.”

“I visited with Otto once—never again.”

“I can’t imagine how all three of you fit,” she said. “It’s like a dollhouse.”

Hugh gave a belly laugh. It was perfect. She was perfect.

Immediately, he poked himself in his sore thigh, and the jolt of pain centered him. He had to stop thinking about how incredible she was, how amazing she felt, how beautiful she looked. The only reason she was in Monroe was because Jovanovic wanted her dead. As soon as it was safe, she’d run back to LA, back to her glamorous life and glamorous friends and glamorous guys. He couldn’t keep her. All he could do was make the most of the short time he had with her and try his hardest not to get too attached. He had to keep things casual.

Even as he thought it, his heart laughed at his wishful thinking. Another harder poke at his thigh sent a heavy jolt of pain through his leg, distracting him.

“Why are you jabbing at your leg?” Grace asked, frowning.

“What? I’m not. That’s crazy talk.” When she opened her mouth, as if to argue, he quickly continued. “Agent Shankle’s in town.”

“The FBI guy?” All the humor disappeared from her expression, and she sagged a little. Guilt seeped through him for his part in putting that look on her face.

“Do you still want to call your boyfriend?” The last word tasted bitter as it left his mouth. “If you do, Shankle could help set that up safely.”

“Ex-boyfriend, and not even that, really. Maybe for about two seconds, when I thought he was a Disney… Never mind.” For a moment, she was quiet. He wouldn’t have even known she was anxious except that she was drumming her fingers against her pant leg. That was her tell. He mentally filed away that fact in case he ever played poker with her. “Yes,” she finally said. “I do. Well, I don’t, but I want it to be over.”

He winced before he was able to stop himself.

“Not you,” she corrected quickly. “I don’t want this part to be over. Just the almost-getting-killed part.”

That startled a laugh out of him. “Yeah, it would be nice not to be shot at every five minutes. Maybe not, though. We might get bored.”

“Right. If that happens, we can always go play paintball or have a water fight or something a little less deadly.” She grinned at him, and he quieted abruptly. Her beauty was like a kick to the chest. Ever since he’d first met her, Hugh had known she was gorgeous, but sometimes he was startled by just how breathtaking she really was.

When she cocked her head, looking at him curiously, he realized that he was staring. Quickly, he cleared his throat and hunted for a comeback. “What’s the fun in that?”

She rolled her eyes and then turned as Jules, Theo, and Viggy came into the kitchen. Jules still looked a little green around the edges every time someone mentioned Ty’s skill with a rock, but other than that, she seemed to have bounced back with impressive resilience.

“Okay,” Jules said, plopping down on one of the chairs. “The kids are upstairs and under threat of painful dismemberment if they try to listen in to our conversation, so let’s talk. How do we get people to stop trying to kill Hugh?”

“Aww, you care,” Hugh said, keeping his tone teasing, even as he fought the urge to peer out the kitchen window, looking for guys with guns hiding in the woods. He pulled out a seat for Grace and then took the one next to her. Stretching out his arm, he let it rest on the back of her chair. Although he wasn’t actually touching her, he was reassured by the warmth of her shoulders and the occasional silky brush of her hair.

Theo didn’t sit. Instead, he prowled around the kitchen, his frequent glances out the window making it obvious he was feeling as paranoid as Hugh. “I’m not happy you’re involved in this.”

“Yeah, I’m not too excited to be involved, either.”

“I was talking to Jules,” Theo growled, glaring at Hugh.

He deserved it, Hugh knew. Guilt that had been sitting in his stomach in a growing dark mass expanded, making it impossible to maintain his joking facade. “You’re right,” he said seriously, looking at Jules and then at Grace. “I’m going to get someone else killed. You need to stay far away from me.” He turned toward Theo. “All of you.” From Theo’s set expression, he wasn’t going anywhere. Hugh’s guilt multiplied, threatening to choke him.

“So you can become a one-man army and figure this out yourself?” Grace scoffed. “Please. We don’t even know for sure that it’s you they’re aiming at. It still could be that Martin Jovanovic sent these guys after me. Self-involved much?”

Despite his dark mood, that made him snort. “No. They’re after me.”

Twisting in her seat, she crossed her arms and locked eyes with him. “Not necessarily.”

“They blew up my truck.”

“Circumstantial.”

“What?” He blinked at her. “That’s not what circumstantial means.”

“Sure it is. Next flimsy argument?”

“The Rack and Ruin member said so.”

“Please.” She flicked her fingers at him. “Like you can take the word of a felon who beats up his wife.”

Jules made a tiny choking sound.

“That asshole at Otto’s place pointed a gun at you and said he was going to kill me for the money.”

With a shrug, Grace flipped her hair over her shoulder. The strands fanned out, sliding over his arm. He forced himself to focus on the argument—the insane argument. Even though he knew she was just trying to make him feel better, he couldn’t let her ridiculous assertions slide. “One guy. There were three. Maybe the other two were there for me. We don’t know that.”

“Yes, we do—”

Theo’s phone rang, and they all jumped. He glanced at the screen and then answered. “Hey, Otto.” There was a short pause before he spoke again. “Got it.” Ending the call, he headed for the hallway. “Otto’s coming down the driveway.” As if on cue, Lexi started barking from the front, where she was positioned in Theo’s squad car. Viggy was in the kitchen with them; they’d decided Lexi would be a better alarm in case anyone trespassed.

“I’ll go let him in,” Theo added, disappearing into the hallway.

“As entertaining as this thing”—Jules pointed back and forth between Hugh and Grace—“is, your argument is pointless. We’re not going to hide and leave you to the mercy of hired killers, Hugh. We’re helping. Deal with it.”

Grace smirked at him. “Exactly.”

Even as their words warmed him, the enormity of the situation pressed down, threatening to crush him—crush them all. “You can’t endanger yourselves like that. And the kids…they can’t be involved. What if something happens to one of you because of me?”

Jules flinched as if he’d struck her, but then she lifted her chin. “We’ll figure out how to keep the kids safe. I’m helping, though.”

“Me, too.” He’d never seen Grace look so mulish. It was a surprisingly good look on her. “We’re not going to treat you like a bullet-attracting leper, Hugh. We’re going to bring this Truman bitch down.”

“Exactly.” Jules held out her fist, and Grace bumped it with her own. They both made exploding noises as they opened their fingers.

Frustration and humor warred inside Hugh. They didn’t understand that he’d rather get shot a dozen times than see one of his friends get hurt. He opened his mouth to say…he wasn’t sure what exactly, but something that would convince them to run and hide a long way away from him and the target on his back.

He was distracted when Theo returned with Otto, however. “How’d processing go?”

“LT wants you to come in,” Otto non-answered, leaning his bulk against the counter.

“I’m aware. That’s why I haven’t returned his fifty calls.”

Grace frowned at Hugh. “Is it wise to blow off your lieutenant like that? Won’t you get in trouble?”

Shrugging with a nonchalance he didn’t feel, Hugh answered as lightly as he could. “If I don’t answer, then I don’t have to ignore a direct order. That would definitely get me into trouble. When he eventually chases me down, I can just say my phone died—which it will eventually, if he keeps calling me.”

“Maybe you should go in,” Grace said. Her fingers were tapping out a silent, anxious rhythm against the table, and Hugh put a gentle hand over hers, stilling them. “You’d be safe there.”

“Can’t hide at the station forever.” The idea of cowering in safety while his partners risked their lives to save his revolted him. It wasn’t an option. He’d just continue dodging his LT’s calls until he fixed the situation…however he was going to manage that. “I just need to track down Truman.”

“We need to track down Truman, you mean,” Theo corrected.

With an impatient huff, Hugh opened his mouth to restart the argument, but Otto spoke first.

“Got an idea about that.”

All heads turned toward Otto.

“While we were waiting for you to return, the conscious suspect got chatty.” After dropping that tidbit, Otto went silent.

Hugh found himself leaning toward Otto, wishing he could physically force the other man to talk faster. It was just the way Otto spoke, considering his words before allowing them to escape, but right now, with Hugh’s internal hurricane of guilt and frustration, he really just wanted Otto to spit it out. By the way everyone else was mimicking his body language, they felt the same way.

“Truman offered a bonus.” Otto’s face went cold and hard. “An extra fifty thousand dollars, but only if you were killed before midnight.”

“Tonight?” Hugh asked, his brain processing the information as Otto nodded.

“So he’s planning to have a shipment come through sometime after midnight.” Theo vocalized the thought even as it took shape in Hugh’s brain.

Hugh smiled, feeling the first inkling of hope he’d experienced in several days. “Should we form a welcoming committee?”

“LT won’t let you within a mile of the scene,” Theo warned.

“If the lieutenant doesn’t know there is a scene, he can’t ban me from it.”

Otto and Theo groaned, but Hugh’s grin widened. He knew that sound. He and Otto and Theo would be meeting Truman’s shipment that night.

* * *

Hugh was driving her nuts. If they hadn’t been parked next to a cliff, she would’ve been tempted to jump out of the car and storm off. No, it was her car. She would’ve kicked out Mr. Protective instead. “For the last time, I’m not leaving you here alone.”

“I’m not a safe person to be around right now, not with the contract Truman put out on me.”

“So?” she scoffed. “Who in this car doesn’t have a drug lord trying to kill them?” Lexi shifted in the backseat. “Okay, so Lexi doesn’t. I do, though, so quit trying to sound special.”

“Special?” he grumbled. “I’m not trying to sound special. Jovanovic doesn’t know where you are, so it’s not the same. I almost got you killed about four times now. It’s dangerous to be around me.”

“That’s why we’re here.” Grace waved an arm to encompass the mountain they were currently sitting on. “If we’d stayed in Monroe, people would’ve started shooting at us again. No one will find us up here. It’s the safest place to be until your drug bust tonight.”

“No,” Hugh argued. “The safest place to be is at the police station.”

“So let’s go.”

Hugh grimaced. “I can’t. If LT sees me, I won’t be leaving the station until Truman’s locked up. You should go, though.”

“Fine. I’ll go to the station to join Jules and the kids.” Grace reached out as if to turn the key in the ignition. “I’ll drive this car right into the law enforcement center’s parking lot and leave it there. Will you be coming with me or staying here?”

Hugh frowned at her. “Are you threatening to leave me in the middle of the mountainous nowhere without a vehicle? Call Theo or Otto. They’ll come and pick you up and bring you to the station, where you’ll be safe.”

“Nope. No cell coverage up here. You could always come with me, though. I’m sure your understanding and easygoing lieutenant will be fine with letting you leave in a few hours to stake out a drug shipment.”

His scowl deepened. Oddly enough, his cranky expression made her want to smile.

“Or you could stay here. If you and Lexi start walking now, it’ll only take…what? Six or seven hours to get to town? I’m sure Theo and Otto and the others can take care of that little drug bust, though.” She blinked at him innocently, trying to control the smirk that wanted to form.

After another few seconds of futilely trying to glare her into submission, he gave in. “Fine. Stay. Just cuddle right up to the guy with a target on his back. Good plan.”

She rolled her eyes. There was something wrong with her that she found his fits of melodrama endearing, rather than annoying. “We are literally, as you said, in the middle of mountainous nowhere. You and Theo and Otto all agreed that it would be impossible to snipe either of us.”

“Snipe?” His mouth twitched at the corners, and Grace had to hold back a triumphant grin. She knew he couldn’t keep his glower for more than a few minutes. “Is that a verb meaning ‘to shoot at’ now?”

She waved off his teasing correction. “Snipe, shoot at, stake out, whatever you want to call it. There’s nowhere to hide up here. We can see the road below us, so no one can drive up here and surprise us. Even when it gets dark, we’ll be able to see headlights. If they try to drive on this road without lights, then they’ll fall right off a cliff. Besides, it’s so quiet up here that we’ll hear their engine when they’re a long way away. If anyone magically does manage to get close, Lexi’ll bark, and we’ll get the hell out of Dodge.” As if in agreement, the dog thumped her tail against the backseat. “For the next few hours, we’re safe from any and all people who want to kill you, and that includes your lieutenant.”

“I doubt LT wants to kill me,” Hugh said. His scowl had disappeared completely, and he was leaning back in the passenger seat, apparently resigned to the fact that she wasn’t leaving him behind. “Maim and torture me, sure. He wouldn’t go as far as actual death, though. Too much paperwork.”

She laughed and then stopped abruptly.

“What’s wrong?” He peered through the windshield, as if looking for threats.

“Nothing.” When he didn’t relax, she laid a hand on his arm. “Seriously. I was just surprised that, with everything that’s happening, you were able to make me laugh.”

After a moment of eyeing her closely, he eased back against his seat again. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry that you make me laugh?”

“No.” His expression was serious as he reached over to link his fingers with hers. Her stomach clenched at the contact. “I’m sorry that I’ve put your life in danger.”

“Not your fault,” she said, squeezing his fingers as if she could use force to make him believe her words. “That’s the awful hit men and the even awfuller Truman.”

The tension around his mouth eased slightly. “Awfuller? Do we need to have another grammar lesson?”

Twisting, she smacked his shoulder with her free hand. “No, we do not. And quit changing the subject. I’m trying to tell you that it’s not your fault. Do you think I’m to blame for Martin Jovanovic trying to kill me?”

Just like that, he was serious again. “Of course not. That’s not your fault.”

“And the hit out on you isn’t your fault.”

“I still feel guilty.”

“Me, too.”

They fell into silence, their hands still locked together. His grip was warm and comforting. She didn’t care that it was just the illusion of safety. If he wanted her to let go, he was going to have to peel her off him, finger by finger.

The sun had dipped behind the tallest mountain peaks, dimming the light around them. The car windows were down so that they could hear, and the air cooled rapidly. In just a long-sleeve T-shirt and jeans, Grace shivered.

“Cold?” Hugh asked, his fingers tightening around hers.

“A little.” When he released his grip, she wanted to complain, until he slid his arm around her shoulders. That was even better than holding hands. “It’s more that I’m thinking about tonight. What if the hit man lied? What if this is a trap, so they can lure you in and kill you?” Her voice got rough with anxiety on the last few words.

“Hey,” he said gently. “Come here.” Before she could respond, he was hauling her over the center console.

After an initial surprised yelp, she went along with him, even helping to shift her body until she was sitting on his lap, her legs draped over the console and her feet in the driver’s seat. If he wanted to hold her, she wasn’t about to say no. After all, this was Hugh, and he was like a warm teddy bear with muscles and an attitude. The memory of their kiss outside the viner played in Grace’s head on a frequent basis, and she had to admit that she wouldn’t mind a repeat. Plus, now that she was snuggled up with Hugh, she was already feeling warmer.

Much, much warmer.

“Once this is over, you know what we’re going to do?” He kept one arm wrapped around her while his other hand chafed her arm from her elbow up to her shoulder. Even with her shirtsleeve and the bandages over his palms blocking his touch, heat still flooded through her. It wasn’t from the motion, but more just that Hugh’s hands were on her. “Gracie?”

“What?” She jolted out of her semi-dazed state. The man was the ultimate distractor. How was she supposed to concentrate on what he was saying when he was rubbing her?

“Are you paying attention now?” he asked in a mock serious way. “Because I don’t talk just to hear myself, you know.”

“Okay, drama queen. I’m listening. Share.”

“Do you really want to know?”

“No.” When he did a double take, she laughed.

Although he made a fake-sour face, he gave her an affectionate squeeze.

“Fine, okay, yes,” she relented, barely resisting the urge to kiss his pouty mouth. She’d never known a guy who was so unabashedly dramatic, and she kind of loved it. The banter, his quick comebacks, his obvious adoration of her smart mouth… Talking with him made Grace feel clever and witty and so alive. “Tell me, please. I might die if I never know what you just said when I wasn’t paying attention. Save me, my prince, and tell me what I missed.”

“Fine.” He gave a billowy, long-suffering sigh, and she resisted the urge to smack his shoulder. She knew from experience that it would just hurt her hand without bothering him at all. “What I asked, as you’d know if you hadn’t been ignoring me, is if you knew what we were going to do when this is all over.”

“Hmm…” The thought of not having killers chasing them made Grace wiggle her toes in glee. “I know what we’re not going to do.”

“What’s that?”

“We’re not going to get shot at. Or blown up.”

“True, but you’re not playing the game right.” His fake pout was back, and this time, she couldn’t resist. Reaching up, she pinched his lower lip. His eyes shot open in surprise for a split second, and then narrowed. Before she could pull away, he caught her thumb between his teeth. She felt a jolt pass from her fingers all the way down to her toes. They both froze, gazes locked on each other, until he pulled away slightly, releasing her thumb.

“We’re…” His voice was rough. Clearing his throat, he tried again, although it didn’t sound any smoother. Grace secretly liked it. It was so easy for him to set her mind spinning, and she loved any type of proof that he was as affected by her as she was by him. “We’re going on a date.”

“We are?” If his voice was gravelly, hers was almost as husky. “Where? I thought the only place in town is the VFW.”

“What’s wrong with the VFW?” he asked. Although she could tell he was trying to tease, his gaze was heated and serious, moving between her mouth and her eyes.

“Absolutely nothing. Well, nothing except that it’s too easy for some creeper to break into the women’s bathroom.” Instead of sounding snarky, the words came out absently. She hardly knew what she was saying anymore. The only thing she could focus on was that all signs pointed to Hugh kissing her. Although her brain still warned her to keep her emotional distance for the sake of her heart, her body was perfectly all right with the idea of kissing Hugh.

His hand slid from her shoulder to the base of her skull, and he pulled her slowly—much too slowly—toward him. Finally, his lips brushed hers, clinging for a fraction of a second before retreating. It was so different than their first kiss, when they’d gone from arguing to making out in no time at all, and this one was even hotter. Gentle Hugh, the Hugh who was taking his time, was just as appealing as the take-charge Hugh who’d initiated their explosive, spontaneous kiss.

He teased her. Of course he did; it was Hugh, after all. He used his lips and his tongue and his teeth, but in the tiniest nips and slides and touches. Every time Grace moved in to him, trying to prolong the contact, he skipped away, only to land in a new spot with the lightest brush of his mouth.

“You’re driving me crazy,” she groaned, turning her head to chase his lips again.

His chuckle rumbled through his chest, and she felt the low vibrations against her breasts as he touched the tip of his tongue to her earlobe. “Is that good?” The warm air expelled with his words blew against the shell of her ear, and she shivered. His teeth were next, lightly scoring the sensitive lobe.

Enough was enough. Grabbing his head with both hands, she held him still and crashed her mouth down onto his. He laughed, but only for a moment, and then he was kissing her back. It was as wild, as ferocious, as intense as Grace remembered from their earlier kiss, but this one was even more amazing. That embrace had been born of heightened emotion, but there was a sweetness now, an affection, that made things so much better.

He took over the kiss, dominating and hot, and then she took it back, loving that they passed control back and forth. It was a game, the most exciting one she’d ever played, but it felt intensely serious at the same time. Hugh grinned against her mouth as she twisted around, wriggling until she had a knee on either side of his hips, straddling him. She felt him flinch, just a tiny movement. Worried that she’d hurt his injured leg, she started to pull away, but he chased her lips with his, not letting her escape. Soon, she was lost in the kiss again.

His breath caught when she slid her fingers underneath his T-shirt, stroking the soft, hot skin that overlaid ridges of muscle. With a groan, he pulled her closer, trapping her fingers between them so she couldn’t have moved her hands from his belly, even if she’d wanted to.

Their kiss grew in intensity, heating until it reached a flash point and they both burned with an incredible fire that turned everything to ash except the two of them. Hugh’s fingers kneaded the back of her neck as his other hand wrapped around her hip, pulling her closer with each motion, until they were pressed together so completely that she wasn’t sure where she ended and where Hugh began.

She slid her hands to his sides and then to his back, wedging them between his shirt and skin in the small space that the seat back allowed. It felt like she couldn’t get enough of him, of kissing him, touching him. More. She needed more of Hugh. Gripping the bottom of his T-shirt, she started tugging it upward. It needed to come off.

As she pulled at the fabric, wishing it and all the rest of their clothes would just disappear, he groaned and kissed her harder. Distracted, she clenched her fingers around handfuls of his shirt and lost herself in his kiss.

Something cold and damp touched the side of her neck. With a startled cry, she jerked backward, turning her head to see a close-up of Lexi’s muzzle.

“What?” Hugh asked, his voice hoarse, and immediately began scanning the growing darkness outside the car.

The ridiculousness of the situation made her snort, which made her laugh. Hugh stared at her, bewildered by her amusement. “Lexi,” she finally managed to explain. “Her cold nose on my neck kind of killed the mood.”

As if on cue, Lexi licked Hugh’s ear before lying down in the backseat again. With an amused wince, Hugh rubbed his ear. “I have to admit that it’s sexier when you do that.”

Grace got the giggles again. “Sorry, but I’m not going back in that territory until after you shower.”

“No?” The devilish gleam in his eyes should’ve made her run, but she was too caught up in the remains of her laughter to realize what was about to happen. Surging forward, Hugh held her head still and covered her cheek and ear with sloppy kisses.

“Ew!” she complained, still laughing, as she tried to rub off the dampness with her shoulder. “That’s just gross.”

“Sorry.” He didn’t look sorry. He didn’t look sorry at all.

“Uh-huh.” Now that they’d stopped kissing, Grace started to feel awkward straddling Hugh’s lap. She shifted, planning to return to the driver’s seat, but he caught her hips, holding her in place.

“Stay.” When she met his gaze and raised her eyebrows, he shrugged but didn’t loosen his grip. “You’re keeping me warm.”

Since she wasn’t that excited about returning to the cold, Hugh-less driver’s seat, she complied, although she twisted around until she was sitting sideways again. “If I sit the other way, my feet will fall asleep.”

Hugh’s response was a rumbling sound in his chest, but Grace wasn’t sure if it was a sign of acknowledgment or contentment. His arms wrapped around her, protecting her from the chilly mountain air drifting in through the window. Relaxing against his solid chest, she yawned.

“Forget my feet. My whole body might be falling asleep soon,” she admitted.

“No problem.” He sounded almost gentle, and the way he was stroking her hair was incredibly soothing. “Get some rest. I’ll keep watch.”

“Okay.” Her eyes were already drifting closed. “Wake me up when it’s time to go. Or if anyone shows up here.”

“I’ll do that.” Hugh sounded as if he was about to laugh yet again, and she opened her eyes to glare at him…or at least squint blearily at him. Once she focused on his face, her mild irritation dissolved. Just the sight of him made her happier. Although she’d met him only a short time ago, it had been long enough for Hugh to become precious to her. All of her efforts to stay detached and protect herself had failed miserably, and it was too late to turn back. He was now permanently blasted into her heart. Turning her head, she pressed a kiss against his bare throat. His hand stilled on her hair for a moment, and she saw him swallow before he began stroking her head once more.

Grace’s eyes drifted closed once again. The last few weeks had been rough, and she was comfortable here. Even when multiple people were trying to kill him, Hugh made her feel safe.