“Ouch.”

  “Yep. I was devastated. I’d believed I was in love. Now I know I was trying to create something that wasn’t there after all.”

  “I think you’re still devastated about it,” I told him. “I do understand but I’m not her.”

  He slowly turned his head, his eyes now as full of heat and desire as they’d been before. “You’re definitely nothing like her, Cass. If you think I’m trying to replace or still in love with her then you’re wrong. You cured that.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “Oh. Yes.” His nostrils flared after making the statement. “In spades.”

  For a grumpy son of a bitch and one I knew would never be romantic, he knew how to cut through the bullshit, making me feel more special than I had in my entire life. A warm flush crept up my cheeks. “You know when to say the right things.”

  “I don’t lie, Cassandra. You might not like what I have to say, but I won’t lie to you and I don’t cheat. Maybe I am one of those bad guys from your romance novels, but I’ve never been abusive to a woman and never will be. I have a mama who would beat my ass if I did.”

  “I think I might need to meet her one day.”

  “Yeah, well, we’re not really talkin’ much these days.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she sides with my dad and he thinks I’m a failure,” he said, half laughing afterwards.

  “Families are complicated. What about hockey?”

  “What about it?”

  “You’re damn infuriating. It doesn’t appear the injury bothers you any longer. Why aren’t you still playing?”

  “One reason is that I’m too old for the sport,” he admitted. “And too out of shape.”

  “Uh, no. You’re built like a machine, a very sexy one.”

  “You think so, Cinnamon Girl?” He grinned and winked, which added another layer of butterflies to my tummy. He had a way of making me feel like I was slip-sliding. I only hoped I wouldn’t crash at the end of our glorious and very passionate tryst. I knew that’s all it was.

  “I know so. In the biblical sense too.”

  Seeing his dimples against was a sweet reward. “A compliment from you. I think I like it.” Another swig was consumed before he continued. “My Achilles tendon was severed by an opposing player’s skate. It was enough to knock me out for good. The surgery and rehab repaired it, but my ankle will never be strong enough to play professionally again. It’s quite possible if I do, I could lose the ability to put weight on my right leg.”

  “But you’re not certain of that, are you?” I could tell there was more behind the reason why.

  “It doesn’t matter any longer. I’m considered washed up. That’s fine by me.”

  Why did I have a feeling he’d give his right arm if he could play again? “Do you ever practice just for fun, for the love of a sport that consumed you a long time ago?”

  His eyes flashed a slight hint of anger, as they always did when I got just a little too close. The push and pull was killing me. “Don’t push it, Cassie. I’m not that guy any longer. Okay?”

  “Sure. I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, don’t be sorry. It was just one thing in a line of shit I’ve been forced to deal with. I’ve adjusted.” He glanced at me and sighed. “You have a way of dragging information out of a man. The guy I found Tammy in bed with was a guy from the team. He’s a friend of my brother’s. It’s funny. A group from the team I used to play for is in town for practice before the season starts in a couple weeks. I ran into him at a bar.”

  “Oh, boy. How did that go?”

  “As you might think but I didn’t kill him.”

  When he laughed, so did I. “I’m glad to hear that. I don’t think bailing you out of jail is on the agenda. That’s right. You’re buddies with the sheriff. Never mind.”

  “Ha. My brother asked me to practice with my old team.”

  “Do it.”

  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

  “You’re right in that I don’t know anything about the game, but what I know about you so far is that if you don’t fight the demons, they’ll eventually destroy you.”

  “It might be too late.”

  “Nope. I don’t buy it. My mother once told me it’s never too late to begin a new chapter in life.”

  “And my mother told me that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

  “You’re incorrigible,” I teased. This time our laughs were easier, the tension passing.

  I wanted to offer something more appropriate, but I didn’t have a chance before my phone rang from the kitchen, the interruption unnerving. I hated the cold shiver but after the two earlier phone calls from unknown parties, the line dead both times, I was at the point of changing numbers. I should have done that anyway after leaving DC, but it had been one of those details that fell way down on the list. Now I was regretting it.

  When I didn’t budge, Jake narrowed his eyes. “Aren’t you going to get that?”

  “Why should I?”

  “Because the call might be something important.”

  Why I didn’t share my concerns with him I wasn’t certain, but I hesitated long enough it stopped ringing. I breathed a sigh of relief but that was short-lived, the second ring coming just ten seconds later.

  He cocked his head, still staring at me. When it became apparent the caller wasn’t going to hang up this time and my voicemail was determined to betray me, he rose to his feet, heading for the kitchen. He was staring at the phone as he brought it back.

  “It seems Jessica is dying to get ahold of you.” As he tossed me the phone, he winked. “Something you’re not telling me?”

  “Very funny, tough guy.” As I pressed my finger across the screen, I hoped he didn’t see the relief crossing my face. “Hey, girl.”

  “You worried me. You didn’t call me back,” Jessica huffed.

  “I didn’t get a message.” Which was a little white lie. I hadn’t answered because I knew she’d grill me about Jake. I wanted to keep him in my private black box for a little while longer, including from the gossipy town folk.

  “Right. Tell me another lie. How are things?”

  “Good, girlfriend, but not a good time. Can I call you back?” The look of amusement on his face was cute but annoying.

  “Does that mean you’re with that hunky contractor guy? How is he anyway?”

  “He’s delicious but I gotta run. I have company.” Her question and the way he was studying me caused another warm flush along my cheeks.

  “Oh, girl. You work fast. I love it. You know what they say. The way you get over someone is to get under someone else. Please tell me that’s what you’ve done.”

  “Mmm… Maybe.” The way he was looking at me was hysterical. I didn’t know a person could have that many frown lines.

  Her squeal was loud enough even Jake lifted his eyebrows. “You rock, girl. You need to tell me everything. Then you can shove it in Stephen’s face.”

  “I will tell you everything,” I teased, making faces at him. “Eventually.” It was fun to tease him.

  “Maybe I can’t wait to slip it to Stephen,” Jessica cooed.

  “You are one bad girl but I’d enjoy watching.”

  Jessica snorted. “So would I. Talk to you later. Don’t forget about me or I will hunt you down in that tiny town of yours.”

  “Never, girlfriend.” I ended the call and gave him a sweet look. “I’m sorry. You were saying?”

  “You were talking about me to a girlfriend?” he asked, his tone lighter than before, the shadows leaving his angular face.

  “No, I was telling her about another hot guy I met.”

  “You need another spanking.” When he reached for me, I scooted backwards.

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  He laughed, the husky sound keeping the fire burning hot deep inside. “It’s good to laugh, lady. I can’t remember the last time I did so.”

  “You look good when you smile. It alleviates all those little frown lines you have.”

  The way he wrinkled his face on purpose sent another swell of desire into me. I liked the guy more than I should, but I’d been feeling sorry for myself for far too long.

  When my phone rang again, I answered it without thinking. “I will call you back, Jess. I promise.”

  I didn’t need to look at the screen to realize Jessica hadn’t called back. I expected there to be nothing but dead air, not the dark laugh that assaulted my eardrums. “What do you want? Why are you doing this?” I asked without thinking. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know I wasn’t talking to my friend, the change in my tone significant.

  Whoever was on the other end of the phone continued to laugh. Yet when the unknown male spoke, I started shaking.

  “Everything. And I will get it.”

  I ended the call, immediately trying to shut off my phone. One big hand stopped me.

  “Who was that?”

  “Nobody.”

  “Uh-huh. Terrible liar.” Jake snagged my phone from my hand before he’d need the code.

  “Give that back to me.” I reached for it, almost sloshing my wine.

  He held it over his head, glaring at me as he did seconds before indulging in calling me a bad girl or worse.

  “Fine.”

  He held the look of amusement until he shifted to my call history. When he lifted his head, his look was entirely different. While the call had scared me, his expression went way beyond that.

  It terrified me to death.

  CHAPTER 18

  Jake

  The asshole had broken into her house. That much I believed. Cassandra hadn’t left the door open by accident. That’s not who she was. And the phone call was meant as a warning. The reason why was something I needed to find out.

  Everything.

  The caller hadn’t threatened Cassandra outright, but she’d remained quiet the rest of the night, consumed in a fear that I couldn’t conquer. But I was damn well going to try. I had had a sense the two of us were embroiled in something that was capable of destroying what little joy either one of us had been able to experience over the past couple of years.

  I took a deep breath as I walked down the stark corridor toward Bart’s office, furious that I’d been accosted in the parking lot.

  Goddamn reporters.

  I’d even worn a ballcap and sunglasses, but a female newscaster had recognized me, all but chasing me down in the parking lot of the sheriff’s office. That was enough to put me in an even worse mood, enough so I’d turned around and gave them an example of why people stayed away from me before storming inside.

  Okay, so riling them wasn’t good for anyone, but I was sick and tired of being hounded. The truth was uglier than that. I was finished with being me, the memory of who I’d been crushing down on me like a heavy weight. I’d allowed that to happen, had groveled in the ‘woe is me’ attitude until I was ready to choke on it. Those hounding me had been an excuse to remain locked in a bubble. But it was past ready to pop.

  “Come in.”

  Bart’s voice was heard as I was already opening the door to his small office, refusing to take no for an answer from him. He and I needed to have a nice chat.

  “Hey, buddy,” he said more casually than I thought he would, given the case he was working on. “You comin’ here to issue a formal complaint against that sexy woman you live close to? Did she piss in your Wheaties? I’ve heard from several sources she’s got your number.”

  I sat down in the single chair opposite his shitty nineteen-eighties desk, glaring at the commendations he had framed on his wall. In a town full of hockey heroes, I’d been one of a handful of people to really sing his praises. Even his father hadn’t cared, acting as if his own son was nothing but a failure. Bart had grown up with a star hockey player for a father, a beauty queen for a mother. That had set the poor kid up for failure.

  In my mind, he was more successful than all of us put together. I don’t know why that bothered me today more than usual other than I’d been thinking far too much about the past. “That’s not why I’m here.” I glanced out his dingy window into a portion of the parking lot. His job certainly was no more glamorous than mine was. At least it was honest.

  “What’s going on, Jake? You look haggard.”

  “That’s what happens when you chase a misbegotten dog into the danger zone.”

  Bart narrowed his eyes the same way he had in the past when expressing his concerns about my mental health. “Danger zone? Buddy, you’re not making any sense.”

  “The marshy forest near Tangerine Sunset.”

  “That’s right. Ms. Dayne has a dog.”

  “Not much goes down you don’t know about.”

  “Is there a point to why you’re here, cause I’m pretty busy.”

  The goddamn phone call had unnerved the fuck out of me, especially after Cassandra had finally told me what the asshole had said to her. I’d kept pressing until she’d mentioned the feeling of being watched, seeing someone on her driveway. And the cigarette butt. That had taken me some time to find and I doubted there’d be any DNA left, but I’d brought it with me.

  She’d also begrudgingly told me about the basic threat from Malcolm Robinson, which had corroborated what I’d heard at the diner. I’d had more than one run-in with the man, the asshole slimy in the worst way. Did I think him capable of the heinous murders? I wasn’t certain enough he had it in him to go down that rabbit hole. The man was a douchebag, a real bully and always had been, but I didn’t see him as psychotic. Still, I had plans on ruffling his feathers just to get him off her case anyway.

  Maybe then I’d determine whether he’d had anything to do with Margaret’s death.

  I’d only left her alone because she had a meeting with a wine consultant, someone who could easily guide her on what she could hope for in the future. However, my skin continued to crawl at the thought of leaving her alone.

  “What’s going on with the murder case?” When I asked the question, I sensed his mood changing.

  Bart narrowed his eyes, the amusement leaving them. “You know I can’t talk about the case.”

  “Well, you need to.” I leaned forward, giving him a hard look. “Maybe you need to look outside the box.”

  “Do you know something that might prove helpful, cause I’ve got shit right now. No evidence, no connection to the women that I can find. No DNA. I’m shitting bricks because the mayor is all over my ass on this one.”

  “I think Cassandra has been targeted.”

  “Oh, you’re on a first name basis now, huh?” Bart jerked up from his desk, heading to the old Mr. Coffee machine he kept on his credenza. He didn’t bother asking me if I wanted a cup. He never did when I annoyed the hell out of him. I seemed to be doing that with everyone lately.

  “Cut the crap, Bart. She’s in danger and I ain’t gonna let anything happen to her.”

  “Let me repeat. Do you have something that will help or are you just barking up a tree? I’m down a deputy at this point, which means I’m working eighteen-hour days. That doesn’t bode well for the homelife.”

  “I think the killer has been watching her house, including standing in her driveway. She noticed him from her window in the bedroom a couple mornings ago. He also called her last night. And he left this as a souvenir.”

  My buddy cocked his head over his shoulder as I slid the baggie across the surface of his desk. He almost spilled the coffee by pouring too much, a few drips making him hiss. “Where did you get that?”

  “The end of her driveway.”

  He threw me a look before walking closer, yanking the bag into his hand. “Ah, fuck, man. That could have been left there by anyone.”

  “Only Cassie saw him smoking it when he was standing in her driveway.”

  “And she’s certain the guy she thinks she saw is the same dude who called her?”

  “She’s pretty certain whoever is watching her has also been doing so when she’s run errands in town.”

  “Uh-huh.” His look remaining incredulous, he tossed the bag aside and sat down, planting his feet on his desk and leaning back. “Look. You forget how many times I’ve been inside the main house at Tangerine Sunset. I know the driveway. If she told you this mystery person was standing at the end, then you need to go look for yourself. There’s no way she could have seen whether it was a man or woman from that distance. She could have thought one of the of the big maple trees was some dude. I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know given the work you’ve done on the place.”

  Sadly, he was right, but Cass was convinced and I had to believe her.

  “Now, what about this phone call?” he pressed.

  “There’s more.”

  “Fine. What?” I could tell the man didn’t believe me.

  “Someone went into her house and purposely left the door open, coaxing her dog outside. Either Moose was lured to the swamp or was taken there.”

  Bart rubbed his eyes. “Hold on. You’re losing me. Her house was broken into?”

  I had to shake my head. “No sign of that.”

  “Then what? I appreciate that you like this girl but you’re jumping to some pretty big conclusions.”

  Leaning forward, I dropped my head. “Yeah, I know. Look. Margaret left a spare key underneath one of the flowerpots out back. I lifted the pot. The key had been moved.”

  “You’re certain of that.”

  “With all the rains we’ve had this year, the deck was damp underneath leaving a dark spot except where the key had been.”

  He tilted his head. “O-kay. So someone let the dog out. It’s entirely possible the pup wandered over to the swamp based on smells.”

  “That’s what I originally thought but when we found Moose, he was tangled in rope. It had been purposely tied around the dog’s leg.”

  Snorting, he took another sip of coffee before placing the mug on his desk. “You do know this sounds farfetched as fuck.”

  “Maybe so but the phone call she had last night wasn’t the first. She’s had several unknown callers since she arrived.”