Chasing Bliss

Chapter Fifteen

Three days later, Cade had no damn idea what he was doing.

Oh, he was replacing Mel’s ancient artifact of an alternator. It had blown due to its extensive old age and not, as Mel had claimed, because of alien vibrations from its recent abduction. This time, he claimed, they had taken his whole 1972 Ford pickup truck. He’d left it at Beaver Creek when he’d gone on a fishing trip. The next morning, he’d told the sheriff aliens had taken his truck. They’d done an exhaustive search and the truck had turned up later that day in the woods near Mel’s cave.

Mel was certain that the aliens were now abducting precious vehicles, but Cade kind of thought Mel needed to lay off the “special” tonic he took when he was fishing. It was rotgut whiskey. Cade had tried it once, and he hadn’t remembered where he’d left his car either.

No, he totally knew what he was doing with the truck. Gemma was another story altogether.

“I’m going on a run into Alamosa,” Jesse said, picking up his helmet.

“You call if you find anything.”

Jesse nodded, palming his keys. “Let Roger know where I’ve gone. I’ll pick up the new parts to the snowmobile on my way back. And I promise, I’m just looking. If I find the fucker, I’ll let you know.”

Patrick. He’d disappeared the night of Gemma’s accident, and they couldn’t find him. Nate claimed he didn’t have enough evidence to put out an APB. They were stuck in limbo until they tracked him down.

Limbo. That was exactly where he was. He should be halfway to California, but Gemma had changed tactics and he had no idea how to handle her.

“I’m taking Princess Two to the dog park,” Roger said, walking out with his baby thing in his arms. He’d dressed the dog today. In deference to the coming winter, Princess Two had on a pink and white sweater. “And then we’re going to have a nice lunch at Stella’s. Yes, we are. Yes, we are. Is Jesse picking up the snowmobile parts?”

“Yep. We’ll have them this afternoon.”

“Good.” Roger was almost out the door when it opened. “Well, hello, Miss Gemma. You are looking mighty healthy. Princess and I were real upset to hear about your little trouble. Weren’t you, girl?”

Princess answered with a weird little howl.

Gemma stood in the doorway wearing jeans and a light V-neck sweater that showed off the beginnings of the slopes of her breasts. The jeans hugged her hips, nipped in at her waist. The sunlight came through, illuminating her hourglass figure. Cade had been stuffing her every chance he got, feeding her to make up for years and years of harsh diets, and those curves were finally filling out. She looked soft, healthy, and so fuckable his dick threatened to burst free and make a run for her.

Two days of cuddling that sweet body and not sinking in were taking their toll.

Of course, if he’d had his way, he would be on the road and not forced to look at what he couldn’t have again.

She talked to Roger for a moment, and then he left, the door closing behind him. Cade was all alone with Gemma.

“Hi.” That voice went straight to his gut.

Maybe now was the time to talk to her. After he got one little thing out of the way. “You’re supposed to be with Naomi.”

“She’s getting the full smackdown at Polly’s Cut and Curl. I think it sounds horrible, but Polly’s got a whole wrestling theme going right now. A smackdown is a full mani-pedi with a deep hair conditioning, a cut, and a blow out. She could be there for hours.”

Hours. Hours alone with Gemma when he needed to keep his dick in his pants because she wasn’t his and she never would be. He was wrong for her. She belonged with Jesse. Jesse hadn’t fucked up the way Cade had. Jesse deserved a future.

Cade just had to find a way to ease out of the relationship without hurting Gemma.

Gemma walked across the floor, her hips swaying. “Whatcha working on?” She walked into the bay and leaned over, looking into the engine. It put her heart-shaped ass on full display. His hands itched to cup those curvy cheeks.

“I’m replacing an alternator.” The words came out on a high squeak that would have done a virginal schoolboy proud. He cleared his throat. “Jesse’s gone into Alamosa.”

“I know. I talked to him on my way in.” Her head turned back, just a little, a smile playing on those lips that looked so good wrapped around his dick. “Looking for Patrick?”

And she was too smart for their own good. They’d tried to keep her out of the loop. “Nah, he’s picking up some parts.”

She stood back up, crossing her arms under her breasts and shooting him a deeply cynical look. He only caught a tiny piece of the cynicism because her arms pushed her boobs up so they formed a glorious rack. “I’m not dumb, Cade. I know you’re looking for him. I would be depressed if you weren’t.”

He felt his eyes narrow. Shouldn’t she be yelling at him? “I thought you would be mad.”

“I figured out that you and Jesse are different from the other men I’ve dated.”

Since she’d dated insane douchebags, he was pretty satisfied with that. “How?”

She leaned against the truck. “In just about every way, but in this case, you like to take matters in your own hands, so to speak. Most of my other boyfriends, and I use the term loosely, would be happy to have the police looking. You and Jesse want to deal with it on your own.”

“Well, there’s not a lot Nate can do. Me and Jesse don’t have to work within the confines of the law.” Despite the fact that it was chilly outside, his skin was heating up.

She leaned over, closing the distance between them. “Because you care about me.”

Because he was mad about her, thought about her every second of the goddamn day, and dreamed about her at night. Her hand touched his chest, and he had to back away because, damn, he wanted to lay her out on the hood of one of the cars and pound away at her. And he couldn’t because she was fragile and he was leaving.

“Gemma, baby, we need to talk.”

She hadn’t let him have his little talk with her. Every time he tried, she changed the subject or sighed and put her head on his chest and looked generally wounded to the point that he just gave in and held her. Two nights of cuddling her in front of the TV had yielded nothing.

Even Jesse wasn’t listening to him anymore. He’d tried to talk to Jesse, but Jesse seemed as stubborn as Gemma.

She stalked after him, backing him up to where he had no place to go. His back hit the wall. “I saw Caleb today. He cleared me for…everything. I think Jesse intends to make another stop before he comes home tonight. Something about toys.”

Damn. Damn. Damn. Everything. Everything meant sex and stuff. She’d been all horny and kissy and lovely, but Jesse wouldn’t let her play until Caleb gave her the okay. Toys. Sex toys. Dirty little things to use on his girl.

Not his.

“G, you know I can’t stay.” He had to go.

She nodded, her eyes on his mouth. “I know. You’re bad for me.”

“That’s right.” At least she got it. His dick would have to chill out because she was starting to understand. “I’m not good for you, baby.”

She didn’t back off. “No, you’re a bad, bad man. You’re very bad.”

“Gemma, please.” Her hand was on his chest, trailing down to his jeans.

“Yes, Gemma needs to be pleased. Gemma’s had several very bad days.” She pulled at the fabric of his T-shirt.

He tried to keep his hands up. “Bad idea, baby. I’m leaving, remember?”

Those baby blues came up. “Do you have to leave now? You could wait a few days. Don’t you have to give Roger some notice?”

This was what she did. Every time he tried to bring this incredibly important subject up, she started talking about all the problems with him leaving Bliss.

And yeah, he really should give Roger notice. But not today. It was Tuesday. Friday was more of a day to tell someone about an inevitable departure. Two weeks. Yes. Two weeks from Friday. That would satisfy his conscience.

Gemma pulled the shirt free. “Don’t you prefer to be naked?”

He did. He knew it was weird, but he liked the way it felt, and it would be dangerous around Gemma. Who he wasn’t going to fuck. Nope. “That’s just a rumor.”

“I don’t know. I think I might like it, too.” She pulled her sweater up, teasing him with inch after inch of perfect flesh. She pulled it over her head and tossed it his way with a sexy little wink. She wore a lacy black bra underneath that barely managed to hold her breasts. They threatened to spill out over the top. One little flick to the back of that bra and her breasts would be free. He could touch them, take them into his mouth. He could lick and suck those sweet pink nipples.

He reached over and handed her back the sweater. “Gemma, this isn’t right.”

She pouted a little. “But I told Jesse I was here to seduce you and he just asked me to do it in front of the security monitors so he could watch it later. And I bought new lingerie.”

Damn Jesse. He’d known Cade would have a hard time turning away Gemma. But he had to do it. His dick protested mightily, but if he ever wanted to be friends with her, he couldn’t keep fucking her at every given opportunity. He needed to leave, and maybe in a few years he could look them up again. They would be married and maybe have a couple of kids, and Cade would just be a mild part of their wild courtship, a thing to look on fondly. He could still be friends with them.

He needed to keep them the only way he could.

“Get dressed, Gemma. I’ll take you to lunch.” He would talk to her over lunch, lay out all the reasons this couldn’t work. He would tell her about his family, and she would understand.

She stood there for a moment, that previously flushed skin turning white. He caught a brief hint of tears as she turned and pulled the sweater over her head. She took a moment, and when she turned back around, she was perfectly composed. “I think I’ll go join Naomi. I should get my nails done or something. I’ll see you later. Tell Jesse I’ll be at home.”

Fuck. He’d hurt her, and he was trying so hard not to. This was what he did. He fucked up time and time again. “Gemma.”

She didn’t turn, simply grabbed her purse and smoothed her sweater down. “It’s okay, Cade. You said you were leaving. I thought I could make you want to stay. It was a stupid idea. I’m not some sexpot. I just…just forget this happened. I’m deeply embarrassed.”

He caught her before she made it to the door. “Baby, it has nothing to do with how much I want you.”

She turned her eyes up to him, tears falling. “Oh, I beg to differ. Please just let me go. I won’t fight you anymore. I got it into my head that you were leaving because you had some dumbass idea that you were cursed or something. But that’s stupid. It’s because of me. I’m difficult.”

She was and he fucking loved her that way. “You’re perfect, Gemma.”

She snorted. Yeah, he loved that, too. “Hardly.”

He was dangerously close, staring down at her with a hard cock and a soft heart. He couldn’t help himself. He used his thumb to sweep away a tear on her cheek. “I am bad for you.”

“I don’t care.”

He sighed. “You will one day. Or maybe not. But I do care. I cost some people close to me their lives, Gemma. Every time I open up, someone gets hurt. I’m tired. I don’t want to try again. Can you understand that?”

She nodded, her hands coming up to find his cheeks. “You’re wrong. One day, you’re going to meet the woman you love, and you will open yourself up and, god, I hope she makes you happy, Cade Sinclair, because if she doesn’t, she’ll answer to me.”

“Gemma.”

“No, it’s okay. You can’t love me. It’s okay. I still don’t even know what I want. I don’t trust that Jesse will stay. I’m just holding on for dear life as long as I can because I’m pretty sure this is the most I’ll get. If a few weeks with the two of you is all I get, then I want to take it.” She pulled away. “But you don’t have to leave town because of me. This is your home. I’m not going to make things difficult for you.”

She didn’t understand anything. “Gemma, seeing you will be difficult.”

“I could leave. You were here first and all.”

“It’s not some contest, baby.”

“Please don’t call me that. And let me go, Cade. I made my play and it kind of sucked. I should have taken sex-kitten lessons or something. I’ll try that on the next guy.”

Oh, there was the bitch. Yep. The bitch got his cock hard while those tears kicked him in the gut. It was a perfect mix. One without the other and he could let her go. As it was, his hands tightened. “You are the only woman I want and the idea of you stripping down for anyone but me or Jesse makes me fucking insane.”

Her eyes narrowed, calculating the power shifting between them. His Gemma knew when she’d just gotten the upper hand. “You don’t have any right to say that to me.”

He was so fucking weak. “Baby, I don’t want to hurt you. I’m trying like hell not to hurt you. I want you so bad, but I don’t know if I can stay.”

Her body moved into his. She might think she wasn’t a sexpot, but she was a goddamn siren. Everything about her called to him. “I’m not asking for a ring, Cade.”

“You deserve one.” She deserved two.

“Can’t I just have a few weeks? Can’t I have a few weeks where we just let things flow?”

A horrible idea. He was already in love with her. If he let himself be with her for a few weeks, he might never be able to leave. A terrible idea and yet his head dipped down, his lips brushing against hers. He should have known this wouldn’t work. He should have known he couldn’t resist her. “I’m not a good man.”

“Then be my bad boy.” Her hands skimmed his chest. “Just for a while.”

He would break her heart, and she would never know that she held his in the palm of her hand. Just for a while, he might pretend he was good for her. And he couldn’t leave until that fucker Patrick was dealt with. Did he really think he could be around her and not kiss her and love her and fuck her? Memories. He could build memories of her, of the family he could have had if he was just a better man.

“Gemma,” he started.

She put a finger to his lips. “Don’t. I just want to be with you. No promises. No regrets. Just here and now.”

She needed to feel wanted. He’d damn near crushed her by turning her away. She’d spent years discounting her value for anything but her brain and her ambition. Cade pulled her close, growling a little. She needed to feel sexy, and he could do that. She was the sexiest woman he’d ever met.

“Give me that sweater.”

She hesitated. Cade decided to take a page from Jesse’s book. She liked a dominant male. She liked to fight and scratch and struggle, but in the end she wanted to be taken down by a man who cared about her. He could be that man.

“I said give me that sweater, Gemma. I want to see your breasts.”

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“I’m sure that if that sweater isn’t on the floor in two seconds, I’ll pull your pants around your ankles and we’ll start with a spanking.”

Her skin flushed a darling pink, her eyes dilating with desire. She pulled the sweater over her head and let it fall to the floor.

“That’s what I want.” He stared down at her breasts, letting his hand trace a line from her throat to the valley of her chest. Smooth curves beckoned him. “Take off the bra.”

She fumbled a little, but got the bra undone. “What about you?”

He couldn’t help but smile. “I’m supposed to be in charge, Gemma.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I might have issues with authority.”

Cade pulled his shirt off, giving her what she wanted. “Can we agree to a little give and take? You give me that tight pussy and I promise you all the cock you can take.”

She sighed, the tension leaving her body. “I might be demanding.”

“I might be incredibly horny.” He reached for her hips, pulling her close again. He loved seeing her in the sunlight. He shut the door but left the windows open. He didn’t give a shit if someone saw them. He wanted her bathed in sunshine. He tugged the bra free, releasing her breasts.

He lifted her up. She was small, no weight at all in his arms. It was easy to get her right where he wanted her. He brought her nipples to mouth level and rubbed his face in her chest.

“Horny?” Gemma asked, running her hands through his hair. “Aren’t you always horny?”

He loved the fact that her voice was light and teasing again. This was what he could give Gemma. He could bring some lightness to her always ambitious life. “You have no idea how horny I get the minute you walk in the door, baby. My cock stands up and it doesn’t go down until it gets what it wants. The last two days have been hell on me. I’ve masturbated more in the last couple of days than I did when I was fucking fifteen.”

“You masturbated thinking about me?”

He glanced up, surprised she sounded so amazed. “I’ve yanked my own cock since the day I met you. I pretend my fist is your pussy, but nothing compares to actually getting to have you. I’m going to have you today, aren’t I, Gemma?”

“Oh, yes.”

He would have her. He was a bad man. He would take her over and over. He sucked a nipple into his mouth, reveling in the low moan that he wrung from her throat. He adored that moment when her brain shut off and she became soft and wanton. He whirled his tongue around and around the tight bud in his mouth. Gemma’s legs wrapped around his waist, her back bowing.

He needed more. Without letting her nipple go, he carried her across the floor to where his precious Chevy sat. He tinkered with the engine whenever he had a chance. He laid her out on the hood of the car.

“Fuck, you’re so gorgeous.”

He started to work the button of her jeans, dragging them down her shapely legs. She was left in nothing but a little pair of black panties, and she didn’t have the same trouble she’d had before. He leaned over and shoved his nose right into the V of her legs. Arousal surrounded him. He inhaled the spicy scent of her wet pussy.

“I don’t know how you can do that.” Gemma’s voice shook a little. She looked down her body, her eyes wide as he brushed her wet pussy with his nose.

“I told you, I love the way you smell. I love how wet you get. I love the taste of you on my tongue.”

And he loved the fact that she was inexperienced. Oh, he hated the fuckers who hadn’t taught her pleasure, but he loved that he could teach her. “Ever done it on the hood of a car?”

“Uhm, no. Strangely, that didn’t happen for me between the gay guy and the priss. And yes, they’re two different people. Johnny was far more masculine than Patrick.”

Now he growled in earnest. “Don’t you say his name when I’m fucking you. What name do you say?”

He half expected her to call him Bare-Chested Ape Man, but she just smiled that mysterious smile of hers. “Cade. I say Cade, but I have two lovers so if I mess up and call you Jesse, will I get spanked?”

He stood, pushing off his own jeans and freeing his cock. “You better remember which man is which or you’ll get the spanking of a lifetime. You’ll get spanked and fucked over and over until you use the right name.”

“Not exactly a reason to be good, Cade.”

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t enjoy it.” Cade hopped on to the hood of the car. He had a fantasy to play out. “Get on top, Gemma. Not that way. Sit on my face and take my cock in your mouth. You suck me. You suck me hard or I’ll stop eating your pussy.”

He could see the light hit her eyes. He’d made it a challenge because that was what Gemma responded to. A little awkwardly, she shifted on the car, positioning herself right over his face. Her scent surrounded him. He reached up, putting his hands on her ass and dragging her down. This was where he wanted to be. He wanted to be tongue deep in her pussy four times a day.

He slapped her ass lightly when she hesitated. “Suck me, Gemma.”

He sighed as he felt her tongue on the head of his dick. His balls drew up as her hot mouth closed over him.

He pulled her down, bringing her pussy onto his mouth. He dove in, licking and sucking. He speared up into her cunt, seeking her unique sweetness. He drew out her cream, kissing and suckling every bit of her pussy. He sucked her labia in, laving it before moving to the other.

Gemma gave as good as she got. She sucked the head of his cock, forcing him to concentrate on the task at hand. Over and over she drew his cock in, running her tongue all over him before sucking hard.

He was surrounded by her. She filled his every sense, leaving no place for the noxious doubt and guilt that usually filled him to the brim. He was filled with her. There was only Gemma.

He worked her clit, sucking at her and biting gently. His whole heart swelled when she pulled her mouth off his cock, groaning as she came.

He flipped her over, not giving her a chance to take him down. He wanted to get inside her, to make her come again, this time on his cock.

Her eyes were wide, and she gasped as he moved, making a place for himself between her legs. He spread her wide and remembered what he’d forgotten. “Fuck. Baby, I don’t have a condom on me.”

Her lips curled up. “You don’t fuck a lot of girls in the shop?”

“Never.” His dick was an iron poker that threatened to slice into him if he didn’t give it what it wanted. “God. I could go look in Roger’s desk, but I don’t think the man’s had sex in years.”

“Good thing I brought my own. Look in the pocket of my jeans.” She cupped his ass, a languid smile on her face. “I was trying to be a sex goddess. I thought I should be prepared.”

She was his sex goddess. He kissed her again and then scooted off the car and ran for her jeans. Just in time to see Max Harper start to walk up. Fuck no. That was not happening. Completely comfortable with his nudity, he ran for the door, locking it and turning the sign from “Open” to “Closed” just as Harper tried to open it.

“Cade. Come on, man. I need spark plugs,” he shouted.

Cade shrugged. He needed to get laid by the most gorgeous sex goddess in Bliss.

“Is someone there?” Gemma asked.

Harper rolled his eyes and then turned his back, a silent assent that sex was far more important than his spark plugs. But he wasn’t leaving.

“Nope. We’re good.” His cock was still at full-mast. Fuck, he loved this place. He didn’t want to leave. He didn’t want to leave her. He didn’t want to leave Jesse. He didn’t want to leave Bliss. Home had seemed a place he’d abandoned all those years ago, but he’d just been drifting until he’d come here. What the hell was he going to do?

She sat up, the siren call of her soft body his undoing. She held a hand out, and it didn’t matter anymore. No past. Just here and now with Gemma. He rolled the condom on and laid her out on the car his father had adored, the one he’d painstakingly reconditioned. His car. His girl. All was right with the world.

He spread her, her body welcoming him inside. He lined his cock up and pressed home.

“I love that. I didn’t get it before.” Her eyes shined up at him.

“It wasn’t right before, baby.” He stroked into her, every thrust a pure pleasure. “I came with other women, but they didn’t matter. Only you. Only you matter.”

She was everything. Now he knew why his father had often locked the door to his parents’ bedroom in the middle of the afternoon. Why his mother got that look in her eyes when his dad walked in the door. Love. A sweet, pulse-pounding love lust that spelled out the meaning of his life. Loving Gemma changed everything.

She pulled in for a kiss. “Only you and Jesse. You’re the only ones for me.”

His girl. His best friend. His town. He could have it if only he was brave enough to take the chance. He thrust in and out, the decision meaningless at the moment. He could be a pussy later, but for now, he would give her what she needed. He ground his pelvis against her clit, and she called out his name when she came. One more perfect thrust and he went over the edge with her. He pressed in, again and again, giving her every ounce of cum he had. It was hers. It was all fucking hers.

He collapsed on her, loving the way she held him. He breathed in the scent of their mingled sex. All day long, he would look at this car and remember her.

There was a loud banging on the door. “If you two are done fucking, I need sparks plugs for the lawn mower. I haven’t mowed in three weeks and Rach gets mad when I lose Paige in the back field!”

Gemma squeaked and tried to hide, but Cade just laughed. That was life in Bliss. He kissed her and climbed off.

“Get dressed, baby. I got a business to run.”

He was deeply pleased with the gorgeous pink her skin turned.

Jesse turned back down Main Street, his prey eluding him once again.

He’d heard Patrick had been seen in Alamosa, but when he’d gone to the better motels in town, the little fucker was already gone. He’d put the word out, but the lawyer was proving to be fairly good at covering his tracks.

Jesse stopped at the red light before turning up the road that led to the shop. Cade was still there despite the coward’s best attempts at fleeing. Gemma had changed tactics on his ass, and Cade had no idea what to do. Jesse smiled a little. She was cutting Cade off at every pass.

Every day when Cade came to say good-bye to her, she hugged him and asked for just one more night.

Jesse wondered if Cade even realized they had practically moved in with her. The first night, they had lain there in the grass for a long time, staring up at the stars and then they’d gone to her bed and cuddled her, passing her back and forth, just hugging and kissing her until she’d finally fallen asleep.

And the next morning she’d gotten up and unpacked Cade’s clothes and placed them in her dresser. He’d packed up again, and she’d convinced him to stay, and the next morning Cade’s clothes had been right back in the drawer next to Jesse’s. Jesse had noticed Cade hadn’t bothered to pack again this morning. And if she’d played her cards right, Cade had probably spent a good part of the afternoon buried deep inside her, bonding with her.

Their girl was smart. And Jesse intended to protect her at all costs.

Long-Haired Roger walked out of the shop carrying Princess Two in his burly arms. A county Bronco was parked outside. Jesse cut his engine and kicked the bike into park. He removed his helmet as Roger walked up, Princess Two’s bug eyes directly on Jesse.

“Hey, been trying to get ahold of you. Nate’s in the shop talking to Cade. Seems like he’s got some information on who’s trying to hurt poor, sweet Gemma.” Roger’s head shook, a long look on his face.

Roger was sweet on Gemma since she’d come into the shop the day before. She was supposed to be there so Jesse could keep an eye on her. She’d come armed with some books, but she’d then spent the whole time organizing Roger’s office and filing his receipts, since apparently Roger didn’t believe in a filing system. Now Roger was sure Gemma walked on water, and Princess Two had given her assent by not barking Gemma’s way. In Roger’s mind, it meant Gemma was good people.

Jesse stalked into the shop, wanting more than anything to get this whole thing over and done with. He wanted this settled because until she was out of danger, he couldn’t concentrate on what he wanted to—convincing Gemma to stay.

Nate stood with Cade, his arms crossed over his chest. A short man with round glasses stood by his side. He had a smallish build. Jesse pegged him in his mid-forties, early fifties, with an intellectual bent.

Nate nodded as Jesse walked in. “Jesse, meet Paul Johnson.”

Jesse stopped in his tracks, remembering why that particular name made him want to punch someone. Paul Johnson was the asshole Cam had been looking for. The one who had made the threats against Gemma years ago. “Paul Johnson?”

Cade put a hand out. “Stay calm and listen to what the man has to say.”

When Cade was the voice of reason, Jesse figured they were all in trouble. He stared at Paul Johnson, who turned to him. The man was dressed in khaki shorts and a T-shirt proclaiming “Scientists Do It Methodically.” He started to put a hand out, but seemed to think twice about it.

“Sorry, I guess you’ve read those things I said to Miss Wells.”

“Damn straight. And you should know she belongs to me. I don’t take kindly to your threats.”

The smaller man shook his head. “I wouldn’t, either, though I think your language is very possessive. She’s a free spirit, man. We can’t own another soul any more than we can own the land and sky.”

Jesse turned to Nate, who had an amused grin on his face. “What the fuck is he trying to say?”

Nate shrugged. “I thought about calling in Nell to translate. It seems Paul here has had a change of heart. He’s given up his worldly possessions to walk the earth and do good things.”

There was an oddly peaceful look on the scientist’s face. “Karma is an amazing thing. It led me to take a look at my own soul. To take stock, so to speak. I would love to talk to Miss Wells, to make amends.”

“And you think you can do that by sending her threatening letters and boxes of freaking hearts?”

Cade sighed. “Catch up, man. Does he look like a dude who would send her a cadaver heart? This has all been one big setup.”

Setup? But why? “You think someone is trying to make it look like this dude wants to kill Gemma?”

“It looks that way,” Nate said. “Cam found him yesterday and managed to get in contact. He came right in. Seems he’s been on the road for over a year following the big music festivals from town to town. The heart in a box was sent from St. Louis.”

“But I was at Peacenick in San Francisco that week,” Paul explained. “It’s a music and healing festival.”

“Are we sure about that?” Jesse wasn’t going to be convinced because the guy looked like he wouldn’t hurt a fly. People could lie.

“Oh yeah, there are several time-stamped pictures of him at the festival. He’s easy to pick out of a crowd. He’s at least twenty years older than anyone there,” Nate explained.

“And I haven’t used a computer in months, man,” Paul said. “I’m all natural, man. This is a great town you have here. The vibes are incredible. Peace, man. This place just radiates peace.”

“It’s got the worst murder rate per capita in the country.” The last thing he needed was someone else from Gemma’s past hanging around. He needed her to think about the future.

“Really?” Paul looked around like he was expecting someone to try to murder him any minute.

Cade seemed to pick up on Jesse’s thought process. “Oh, yeah. It’s totally dangerous. We’ve even had a serial killer. Mobsters run amuck here. I heard there was a violent biker gang.”

“Don’t forget all the alien abductions,” Long-Haired Roger chimed in.

“And our women would make your toes curl.” Nate got a shit-eating grin on his face. “They like to keep a running tally of their kills. They have a club.”

It was more like a support group. Jesse had mistakenly walked in on it one time. It seemed to consist of drinking coffee, eating lemon cake, and talking through their feelings about being forced to kill in self-defense. Though he’d overheard Marie and Rachel giving tips on the best places to shoot a son of a bitch, as they called it. He’d tiptoed back out of that room right quick and prayed they didn’t notice him.

Paul’s eyes grew round. “Wow. I would not have guessed that. It seems so beautiful. Serial killers. Yeah, maybe I should go. I don’t need bad vibes. I heard there’s an alt-rock healing festival in Santa Fe. I’m thinking about spending some time there so I can study to become a yogi. I think I can heal hearts from the inside, you know?”

“So you’re not mad at Gemma anymore?” Jesse asked.

Paul’s face fell momentarily. “I signed a bad contract. I thought I was smart enough to get out of it. I wasn’t. She was smarter. She found a tiny little clause in my contract, and by playing off some of the vague language, she cost me millions, possibly billions of dollars. When I think about it, I get upset. Yeah, I get mad. But there’s not a thing I can do about it. I heard about what happened to her.”

Apparently everyone had heard. He needed to figure out a way to get that damn video down. Gemma had to hate the fact that everyone could see her lose control like that. “I’m sure that made you feel better.”

“No, it just made me sad, but it could end up being a good thing. She’s a great lawyer. Why do only the big corporations get someone like her? Why can’t the little guys have someone like Gemma Wells? So she pissed off her firm. Maybe she should start her own. I always thought she would make a great warrior. Maybe that sounds dumb, but there are so many people out there who need a warrior.” He shook his head. “Or a masseuse. You both seem so tightly wound. I can help with that. There’s healing in these hands.”

Nate put a hand on Paul’s shoulder. “Let’s get all the paperwork out of the way before you start healing people. Come on, Johnson. Cam should have some sort of report to make.”

They left, the door closing behind them and a silence falling.

Roger sighed. “Well, he seemed like a decent fella. Don’t much cotton to massage, though. I’m going to get some paperwork done. You boys let me know if you need anything.”

When the door closed behind Roger, Cade turned, his eyes stark. “We’re right back to square one.”

“No, we know who we’re looking for.” Patrick Welch had attempted to build himself a fall guy. He’d probably known damn well that Johnson was in the wind. But why try to set up an accident? Why not just kill her? It was an awfully complex setup for a little accident.

“Do we? I’ve thought about this. Can’t think of much else. Why does Patrick want her dead?” Cade scrubbed a hand through his hair.

“Maybe he wants her back.”

“He could have gone after her before now. And he couldn’t know she was getting involved with us. We weren’t actually involved with her when she got the first package.”

“Dear god, don’t point that out to her.” She was still arguing about the duties and expectations of being in a relationship. He was going to have to put a ring on her finger before she would acknowledge his right to protect her.

Fuck. He was going to marry Gemma Wells. He had to figure out how to keep her here because he truly believed this was the best place for her. Paul Johnson might be a weirdo, but he was right. Gemma couldn’t sit behind a desk at the station house for the rest of her life, but the crazy, high-pressure life she’d led before wasn’t right, either.

Cade took a long breath, his hands trembling a little. “You have to talk to her. I can’t seem to do it.”

“I saw her at lunchtime. She was coming in to see you. You should have talked to her then.” Jesse studied Cade. His best friend seemed even more stressed than before. Had the afternoon not gone well with Gemma?

Cade paced a little, walking back and forth from the Camaro to the work bench. “There wasn’t a whole lot of talking going on. She came in and showed me her breasts, and I pretty much just gave in.”

Then the plan had come together. He needed to check those security tapes. He would love to watch Gemma work her magic. “Then you had a good afternoon. I’m afraid I don’t see what the problem is. She told me Caleb cleared her. She’s fine. If she wants a little sex, isn’t that our job to give it to her?”

Cade stopped pacing and turned to him, his jaw set in a stubborn line. “You know I can’t do this long term.”

He didn’t want to have this conversation. He was actually really sick of the whole thing. “You talk to her.”

“I’ve tried. Man, you know how hard I’ve tried. She just turns those soft eyes up and asks me to stay.”

“And what the hell is wrong with that?”

“You know what’s wrong with that. Damn it, Jesse. I’m not good for her.”

“I’m sick of that argument, man. It’s a bullshit argument. It’s a pussy argument.”

“No, it’s not. I don’t want this. I don’t want a family. I had a family, and I fucked it up.”

“You were eight years old, Cade. You were a kid.”

“I knew what I was doing. I did it because I was a pathetic piece of shit who wanted attention, and they died because of it.” Cade’s face flushed, anger rising. “And I damn straight knew what I was doing when it came to Nancy. It doesn’t bother you? We were out partying while she was dying.”

Cade had the most fucked-up sense of guilt. It dragged him down every day. Jesse felt it necessary to point out a few of life’s brutal truths. “I loved Nan. She was the mother I wished I’d had, but she was stubborn and too proud for her own good.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

He acted like she was a saint and he was the devil who’d led her to her death. Cade really liked to rewrite history. “We called her every other day. You think I don’t remember? Even when we were on the road, you would make us pull over to call her. We had to buy minutes every week because you would gab for hours. You kept in touch. I kept in touch. And she spent all her time talking about the neighborhood and what television shows she was watching, and not once did she mention she’d lost every dime she had in a scam and was in a rat-infested nursing home.”

“I would have known if I’d stayed with her.”

“We were adults. Were we supposed to live with our foster mother forever?”

“We were supposed to take care of her.”

“She didn’t let us, man. You aren’t responsible for Nan any more than you were the reason your parents and your sister died.”

Cade turned, his face shutting down. “You can’t understand.”

He was also sick of that fucking argument. He could feel his blood pressure take a leap. “You think you had it bad? My old man was killed in prison. I never met him. Probably a good thing since he was up for killing a man in a bar brawl. My mother was a trailer park prostitute whose life took a nosedive—yeah, there’s a place downhill from trailer park prostitute—when she got hooked on meth. I lived on the fucking street for years after she tried to sell my ten-year-old body to a john one night so she could get high. I ran. I kept running until I fucking found something good, so don’t tell me I don’t know how bad the world can get.”

There was a startled intake of breath from the vicinity of the door, and Jesse’s heart plunged to his feet. Gemma stood there with her friend, Naomi. She’d heard every word he’d said. He was honest, but he’d never intended to be that honest with her. His childhood had been a brutal walk on the razor’s edge. By the time he’d entered kindergarten, he knew more about survival than most people had to learn in a lifetime, and he didn’t want Gemma to see that part of him.

She stood there, stark white, and he wondered if she would just turn and run.

Cade’s mouth hung open. “Gemma, just because his parents had trouble doesn’t mean he does. He’s the straightest arrow I know.”

“Shut up,” she said in that commanding tone he was sure she’d used in many a court of law. She walked straight up to Jesse. “Am I the good thing? Am I the thing that stopped you from running?”

She got to him. If she was fucking with him, fooling around with his dumbass mechanic heart, he just might lie down and die. But he was brave enough to tell her the truth. He wouldn’t hide from it. He knew how shitty the world was, had seen it with his own eyes. And nothing changed unless a man willed it. He was going to will Gemma Wells into loving him. “Yes. I got nothing to run from, darlin’. I love you.”

He waited for her to bite that bottom lip and explain all the reasons why they couldn’t work out long term. She was way past smart, into the brilliant territory, and he rebuilt carburetors. She had a whole heart and he shared one with his pussy-ass best friend. She was whole, and he never would be if she told him no.

She walked straight into his arms, hugging him tighter than he’d ever been held. “Be sure, Jesse McCann. You be sure.”

He buried his head in her hair, holding her so close. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

She held him, her face buried in his neck. A long moment passed before she turned and reached out. “Cade?”

But he was gone. The door shut behind him. Jesse heard the purr of an engine starting and held Gemma tighter.

He might not have a whole heart, but what he had was hers. He had to pray it would be enough.