Cross My Heart

Ten

Ty turned the corner by Night Owl’s and saw trouble immediately. A fire engine sat in front of the building and smoke billowed out from the windows of the apartments. Panic swamped him.

Milk, eggs and groceries forgotten, he ran toward the building screaming Lilly’s name.

“Ty! Hang on, man. She’s right here.”

Hunter’s voice broke through Ty’s panic. He glanced over and caught sight of them beneath a tree, far from the building where the firefighters were working.

Relief filled him but his racing heartbeat didn’t slow. “What happened?” Ty echoed Lilly’s question.

“That’s something we’d like to go over with you,” Tom, the fire chief said. He lifted his hat off and wiped his sweaty forehead with the back of his hand.

Ty shook his head. “First tell me everyone’s okay.”

“Everyone’s okay,” Hunter and Lilly said at the same time.

Relief flowed through him and when Digger began to paw at his shoes, Ty scratched the dog’s head.

“The fire started in your apartment, Ty, so why don’t you run through your morning with me,” the fire chief said.

Ty narrowed his gaze. “I woke up early and went to make breakfast. I couldn’t find any eggs so I went out to buy some things and came home to pure chaos.”

“Lilly?” Tom asked. “What about you?”

“I didn’t sleep well last night,” she said without meeting Ty’s gaze. “I fell asleep so late, I was still out cold until Hunter came by with my dog. They woke me up just in time.”

“So, Ty, you took out the frying pan and left it on the stove?” Tom asked.

Ty nodded, thinking back to the early morning. “I put some oil into the pan, went looking for the eggs and came up empty.”

“Who uses oil to make eggs? You’re supposed to use butter or margarine on the pan,” Lilly said.

“An ignorant bachelor uses oil,” Ty muttered.

Tom scratched his head. “So you didn’t turn on the stove.”

“No.” The hair on the back of Ty’s back prickled, giving him chills. “I never turned it on.”

“I had to ask, even if I have known you forever. I’m guessing you didn’t jimmy your own lock, either.”

“Someone jimmied the lock? You mean someone broke in?” Ty asked, anger and fear fueling his raised voice.

“Ty-” Lilly put a calming hand on his arm.

The chief nodded. “There’s evidence that someone broke in.”

“Fingerprints?” Ty asked, his thoughts immediately going to Lilly’s uncle.

The chief shook his head. “Don’t know yet.”

“Is anything missing?” Ty asked.

“Nothing obvious but you’ll have to let me know.”

Ty nodded. His gut told him nothing would be missing. Whoever had jimmied the lock wanted something and it wasn’t anything he could carry out with him, Ty thought, glancing at Lilly.

As soon as the cops and firemen left, he’d call Derek but Ty knew Dumont hadn’t been around here at all. If he had, Derek wouldn’t have been far behind. He’d never have let the man get near Ty’s apartment door.

“Why didn’t the smoke alarm go off and wake me?” Lilly asked.

“That was one of the first things we checked. It was disconnected. So one of two things happened. Either you made another stupid bachelor move and pulled the batteries out last time it went off while you were cooking, or whoever broke in disconnected it. So which is it?” Tom raised an eyebrow in question.

“It wasn’t me,” Ty said through gritted teeth.

“I had a hunch you’d say that.” Tom smiled grimly. “The police’ll do their jobs once we finish ours. Right now I need to go talk to some of the other tenants. Don’t go too far and let us know where we can reach you,” he said to them. “Lilly, you make sure you stop by the ambulance and let the paramedics check you out,” he said before walking away. “I’ll be in touch.”

Ty inclined his head, waiting for the other man to leave so he could talk to Hunter and Lilly. “Lilly, did you hear anyone inside the apartment?”

She shook her head. “I never even heard you leave. I told the chief the truth. I had a hard time falling asleep and once I did, next thing I remember was Digger barking and licking my face. I woke up coughing, I saw the smoke and ran.” She hugged her knees against her chest, obviously still shaken.

So was he. When he’d seen the fire engines and the smoke, his heart nearly stopped when he realized Lilly might still be inside. The sun shone in the sky yet he still didn’t feel its heat or warmth.

“It was Uncle Marc, wasn’t it?” Lilly asked softly, petting Digger who lay still in her lap.

“It’s possible,” Hunter said.

On that note, Ty raised a finger indicating they should wait. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Derek. A quick conversation with the other man confirmed Ty’s hunch. Dumont hadn’t left his house all night. Thanks to Derek’s binoculars and his position on the road, he could see the older man in the kitchen as he and Ty spoke.

“Thanks.” Ty flipped his phone closed and glanced at his friends. “I’ve had Derek tailing your uncle since the day he showed up at my apartment to see you. He had an alibi for the incident at the mall and he was also home all last night and this morning.” Ty shook his head in frustration. “He could have hired someone, but we’re not finding any proof. He’s not being sloppy.”

“But he isn’t succeeding at hurting her, either,” Hunter said.

“No he’s just scaring the living daylights out of me,” Ty said.

Lilly trembled and Ty pulled her tight against him. “Hang in there,” he whispered into her hair. “I need you to think back to that night at the mall. When the car nearly ran you and Molly down. Could the car have been aiming directly for you?”

She lifted her head. “Yes. I mean, it was coming for us. I dove into Molly to get us out of the way. But I thought it was a prank. A kid driving recklessly.Something.”

Anything other than the truth. That her uncle hadn’t changed after all. Only this time, he didn’t just want her trust fund. He wanted her dead in order to claim it.

MARC WAS THIRSTY and water wouldn’t quench his need. Neither would soda, juice, coffee or anything else so bland. He needed a good, stiff drink but he fought the desire threatening to engulf him and drag him under.

Nobody told him sobriety would get harder as the years passed. Nobody ever mentioned he’d never forget the taste of alcohol, any kind of alcohol or that he could crave it in his sleep. And the worst part was, nobody understood. Just when his life had begun to turn a corner, everything around him was suddenly closing in.

He stood in his private office and stared at the answering machine, glaring at the offending piece of equipment. He hit the Play button to hear the messages one more time.

“We need to talk and it has to be soon. Don’t defy me on this or else.” Paul Dunne, the trustee and manager of Lilly’s money in the years since Marc’s brother died, issued a directive in his pompous voice.

The tone clearly said, “I’m in charge and you’re not.” Paul’s arrogance and control over the purse strings had sent Marc to the bottle more than once back in the days when Lilly had lived here. Now Marc merely gripped the glass filled with tonic water tighter in his hand.

“Hi, it’s Robert,” his brother said. “Vivian’s taken a turn for the worse. She needs round-the-clock care even in that hospital. I can’t take another mortgage on my house. I need the money. You said we’d have it but that was before Lilly showed up alive. Now I’m desperate. My practice is dwindling and I can’t afford the malpractice insurance it takes to keep it going anyway-” A loud beep cut off Robert midsentence.

A large lump settled in Marc’s throat. He knew how his brother felt. He knew desperation. The next message filled him with it.

“Marc, darling, it’s Francie. I’m in New York City. I took a trip there to look for wedding gowns. There’s one that is just exquisite. You said I could have anything my heart desires, regardless of the cost. I do hope that hasn’t changed.” She pointedly paused, the silence giving him chills. “Call you later, love.”

The machine clicked off, leaving him alone in his office. A place and a state of mind he’d be in for eternity without the money. The sad part was, Marc no longer wanted or needed the money for himself. Along with getting rid of alcohol, he’d learned to get rid of the greed and jealousy that drove him for much of his life. If only the others in his universe felt the same.

LACEY HELD IT TOGETHER while the paramedics did a needless exam, and she was grateful when they let her go without so much as giving her oxygen. Hunter took off for his office, promising to check in on them later. The fire department allowed Lacey and Ty to go back into the apartment to collect their things, but as they’d predicted, everything smelled like smoke. There wasn’t anything salvageable to take with them and she was shaken by the fact that they had to leave everything behind. Lacey was forced to remind herself that all of her things were still safely at home.

But where was home, she wondered now. Where did she want home to be? Here with Ty? In the one place she had people she loved and cared deeply about? Where her only family member wanted her dead?

Or in New York where she’d established herself and the business she loved? But what she was beginning to realize was that she kept herself detached from everyone and everything in her life.

Only when she’d come back to Hawken’s Cove, did Lacey begin to feel. She felt both the good-like making love with Ty and renewing friendships and making new ones-as well as the bad-the fear of her uncle and the loss of her parents. But at least she felt alive, no matter how beside herself she happened to be at the moment.

She managed to hold herself together while she and Ty did a quick run through Target to pick up a few spare outfits and necessities. And she kept her composure while they drove in silence to Ty’s mother’s house where they were going to stay until his place had been aired out and cleaned, top to bottom.

By the time they drove up to the curb and parked, Lacey was hanging on by a thread. Still shaken up from nearly being killed and the realization that her uncle actually wanted her dead, she was exhausted and near tears.

So when Flo Benson opened her front door and stepped out to greet them, Lacey jumped out of the car leaving Ty behind, and ran up the front lawn, throwing herself into the other woman’s open arms.

An hour later, they’d showered-separately, darn it, and Flo had fed them both, much as she’d done when they were young, Lacey thought.

She finished the last of her chicken soup and rose to help clear the plates.

“Uh-uh,” Flo said. “Let me fuss over you. It’s been way too long since I had the chance.” Ty’s mother began her cleaning, using the same efficient manner she’d always had.

She looked well, too, despite having had heart surgery a few years ago, as Ty had told her during a cookies-and-milk session late one night.

Lacey glanced at Ty. He met her gaze, his lips curving into a sexy grin. “I told you she missed you.” He inclined his head toward his busy mother.

“Yeah. I missed you, too,” she said softly, speaking of Flo, but also of Ty and this place.

Lacey glanced around, focusing for the first time. The appliances were different, a modern-looking stainless steel. They used to be a disgusting yellow, but she recalled the old room fondly despite the putrid color.

She had to admit she liked the new look and it made the kitchen appear more spacious and homey. “The house looks good,” she said to Flo.

While showering, Lilly had noticed the bathroom had been refinished, as well. Flo hadn’t had much money when Lacey had lived here, but either her circumstances had changed or Ty helped his mother, which wouldn’t surprise Lacey. He was a good man.

“Thank you, honey.” Flo caught Ty’s gaze, then smiled at Lacey.

Over coffee, they made small talk, nobody bringing up the dreaded subject of Lacey’s disappearance all those years ago. She knew someday they’d have to talk about it, but for today she was happy to just be here.

The rest of the day seemed to pass in a blur and when it came time to settle in for the evening, Flo insisted Lacey take Ty’s old bedroom. He didn’t argue and Lacey knew better than to fight with the two of them. She’d never win. She unpacked the few items she’d picked up at the store and joined Flo and Ty again in the family room for some television, but exhaustion swept over her much earlier than usual.

She stretched her hands over her head and yawned aloud, covering her mouth in the nick of time. “Excuse me,” she said, stifling a laugh. “I am wiped out.”

“It’s no wonder considering what you’ve been through today,” Ty said.

Lacey knew he was talking about more than just the fire itself. Neither of them had brought up the issue of her uncle. Although they’d have to talk about it soon, she needed a clear head first so she could focus and make decisions. “I’m going to turn in,” she said, rising from the couch.

Ty’s gaze followed her movements. All evening, they’d acted like old friends, neither touching the other, neither letting on to his mother that they’d been intimate last night and Lacey wanted to be again. She wasn’t hiding their relationship out of a sense of shame or regret, but only because Ty seemed to want to keep his private life private.

But she ached to feel his arms around her and to know he cared. That he wasn’t filled with regrets of any kind.

“If you need extra towels or blankets or anything, just let me know,” Flo said.

Lacey smiled. “I will.” She turned and headed to Ty’s old room, her thoughts jumbled and in turmoil.

Thoughts about Ty, her life and her future.

FLO BENSON WATCHED the beautiful young woman disappear down her back hall and she listened for the sound of the bedroom door shutting before she turned to her son.

“So what are you going to do to make sure you don’t lose her again?” Flo asked.

Ty raised his eyebrows. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now that we’ve reconnected, Lilly will always be in my life,” he said, a diplomatic nonanswer if she’d ever heard one.

Flo picked up the television remote and shut off her favorite show. “I am not talking about friends keeping in touch with friends and you damn well know it. You’ve been in love with that girl since the day she moved in here. Now I’m asking you what you’re going to do about it?”

Ty rose from his seat and stretched. “What I’m not going to do is discuss my love life with my mother.”

“So you admit you love her?”

He rolled his eyes much as he’d done when he was a child. “Don’t read anything into my word choice,” he warned her. “I think I’m going to turn in, as well.”

Flo nodded. “Whatever you say. But I can tell you one thing. Few people receive second chances in life. I suggest you don’t let this one pass you by.”

“I’ll take it under advisement,” he said wryly.

Clearly he was humoring her. “So how long before your apartment is ready for you to move back home?” she asked.

He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Good question. I’m hoping four or five days max. It needs to be aired out, then I have a cleaning crew coming in.” He shrugged. “We’ll be out of your hair soon enough.”

She grinned. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. I’m happy to have you for as long as you need to stay. But I’m guessing the couch is going to be uncomfortable after a night or two.” Her perceptive gaze met his.

“Quit fishing for information,” he muttered, shaking his head.

He leaned down to kiss her good-night and strode out through the doors leading to the small alcove where Lilly’s bed had once been. Flo had long since replaced it with a pullout sofa.

With both Ty and Lilly under one roof, life felt full again. It felt right. In Flo’s experience, life never stayed perfect for very long. She shivered and headed up to bed, hoping against hope this time would be different.

HUNTER PICKED MOLLY UP at seven o’clock and together they headed to The Pizza Joint on Main Street. Anna Marie wasn’t sitting on the porch swing and with a little luck, Hunter hoped she wasn’t home to watch them leave. He was pleased to see not only was Molly wearing jeans and a long-sleeved black V-necked shirt but a pair of red cowboy boots that did amazing things to his libido.

Because he liked touching her, Hunter kept his hand on her back as they walked into the old-fashioned restaurant. He passed the sign that said Please Be Seated, choosing an empty booth in the back. He had his first time alone with Molly in years and he didn’t want to be disturbed.

He gestured for her to slide into the booth first, then instead of sitting across from her, he edged in by her side.

“Make yourself comfortable,” she said, her eyes gleaming with questions at his seating choice.

“I intend to.” Not only did he want to take full advantage of whatever time they had together, he didn’t want her to mistake his intent. He’d decided to gamble on Molly and he wasn’t going to do things halfway.

“Can I get you folks something to drink?” a waiter asked, pad and pen in hand.

“Molly?” Hunter glanced her way.

She wrinkled her nose in thought. “Light beer. Whatever you have on tap is fine,” she said.

“Regular for me. Tap’s fine for me, too.” Hunter couldn’t help but notice the choice had flowed off his tongue easily.

For the first time in a while, he’d given no thought to ordering a martini or one of the premium vodkas he’d begun drinking as a statement maker. One that said I’ve arrived. With Molly, Hunter didn’t feel the need to prove anything to her other than the fact that he cared. That said something important, he knew.

“I heard what happened at Ty’s apartment today.” Molly shifted in her seat, too aware of the man sitting beside her. She could barely concentrate thanks to the tingling in her leg where his thigh touched hers.

Hunter inclined his head. “It wasn’t pretty. I got there just in time.”

She placed her hand over his. “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what you must have gone through thinking your friends…” She shivered, unable to continue.

The waiter interrupted with their beers, placing them on the old wooden table and handing them menus, as well. “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said.

“I love their pizza.” Hunter flipped the menu over to the back, focusing on the words and not on her. “I’ll eat any topping you like, so just choose.”

“Someone doesn’t want to talk about the fire.” Molly reached out and placed a hand over his. “Just know that I’m glad your friends are okay.”

“My family is okay.”

His words settled in her belly, telling her as nothing else could that he didn’t have feelings for Lilly. At least not the kind that were a threat to Molly. Her stomach flipped with excitement and relief.

Taking his cue to change the subject, she picked up her menu. “So how do mushrooms sound to you? And maybe some onions and pepperoni?” she asked.

“Sounds delicious.” He pulled the menu out of her hand and placed their order.

Then he turned his full attention her way. They shared a large pizza and relived old law school stories. They laughed about professors Molly had forgotten all about and by the time he’d paid the check, she realized she’d smiled more than she had in ages.

He drove her back to the house and walked her to her front door. Her stomach fluttered making her feel like a teenager on her first date.

“Would you like to come in? I could make a cup of coffee or we could have an after-dinner drink,” she offered. When they weren’t discussing his past or Marc Dumont, they had a lot in common and she didn’t want her evening with him to end.

Hunter placed one hand on the door frame and looked into her eyes. “I’d like to.”

“But?”

He let his fingertips trail down her cheek. “But I don’t think we should push our luck.” A sexy grin tipped his lips. “We had a good time. Let’s do it again soon.”

She smiled. “I’d like that.” A lot, she thought.

She dug into her purse and pulled out her keys, glancing up at the same time he leaned down and brushed his lips over hers.

His mouth was warm and enticing, his kiss as sweet as it was arousing. She reached up and cupped his face in her hands, the new position allowing a deeper kiss. The minute her tongue touched his, he groaned and took over, sweeping inside her mouth with demanding energy. He kissed her like he cared and she’d had too little of that in her life until now.

She heard a scraping noise and then Anna Marie’s voice. “Isn’t that what’s called an inappropriate public display of affection?” the older woman asked.

Hunter jumped. Molly stepped back and hit the wall.

“It’s only considered public if you have an audience. We didn’t,” he said to the older woman.

Anna Marie slammed the window shut tight.

“I really need to move,” Molly said, laughing.

Hunter grinned. “That’s a little drastic. How about next time you can walk me home?”

She leaned her head back, meeting his gaze. “Albany, right?”

“Close enough to drive in twenty minutes, far enough away from prying eyes.” He gestured toward Anna Marie’s side of the building with a nod of his head.

Molly put her key in the door, her hands still trembling from the impact of their kiss. “I’ll have to take you up on the offer one day.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” he said. And with a brief wave, he took off, leaving Molly wishing he’d taken her up on that cup of coffee after all.