Kissing Trouble

An In the Dark Novel

By Morgana Phoenix

©2014 by Airicka Phoenix

All rights reserved.

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical,

photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission of the copyright owner and/or the publisher of this book, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Your insomnia awaits your submission.

Editor: Kathy Eccleston

Beta Readers: Jaime Radalyac

Illustrator: Airicka’s Mystical Creations

Interior Design & Formatting: Airicka Phoenix

ISBN-13:978-1502805638

ISBN-10:1502805634

Published by Airicka Phoenix

Also available in eBook and paperback publication

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

As Airicka Phoenix

As Morgana Phoenix

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Epilogue

About Airicka Phoenix

As Airicka Phoenix

Games of Fire

Betraying Innocence

TOUCH SAGA

Touching Smoke

Touching Fire

Touching Eternity

THE LOST GIRL SERIES

Finding Kia

Revealing Kia

REGENERATION SERIES

When Night Falls

As Morgana Phoenix

IN THE DARK SERIES

My Soul For You

Kissing Trouble

SONS OF JUDGMENT SAGA

Octavian’s Undoing

Dedication

To all who came before me.

Thank you for paving the way.

Acknowledgement

People always assume that writing is a solitary activity. They imagine a stooped, grungy, dirty, possibly smelly creature huddled in a corner with weeks old B.O. and a nervous twitch. They imagine a room that stinks of stale coffee, last week’s burnt chili, and an assortment of discarded clothing. While most would be right, writing isn’t a solitary business. It takes a village to raise a child and a village to piece together every book.

My village is small, consisting of a chosen few who have stood by me through every outburst, every bout of hysterics and the occasional reminder that showers are my friend, especially during edits when editing becomes my very reason for living. They keep me grounded, mostly attempt to keep me sane and every so often, are the reason I don’t set my computer ablaze.

So, in no real order...

Kathy, thank you for insisting that my mad ideas aren’t really entirely mad. Thank you for not hunting me down and beaning me over the head. Also, and this is one I really appreciate, thank you for making my work sparkly. I bow to your awesomeness.

Amber, there are no loincloths in this story and for that I am sorry. I will work harder next time to not disappoint. Thank you for not chalking me up as a hopeless case.

Kimmie, I expect many great things from you and I look forward to being the one to say I told you so when it happens. I’ll never give up on you so you’re not allowed to give up on yourself.

The Dark Court, another book, ladies. Another year almost completed and another year where I get the honor of calling you family. Thank you for always sticking by me.

The authors of Indie Scribe and May the List Be With You, you all awe me with your kindness. I have never met a group so dedicated on helping each other achieve greatness. I feel great just by knowing each of you. Thank you for every push.

My readers, it’s never easy understanding an author. We’re fickle, scatterbrained and so dedicated to the abnormal that it’s sometimes hard to get your head around it. Nevertheless, you stand by us, indulge us and give us reason to write that next paragraph. Thank you for unwavering love and support. As with all my books, enjoy and happy reading.

Love you all!

~Airicka

Chapter One

Love all, trust a few. — William Shakespeare

All the coffee, chocolate, and sunshine in the world couldn’t stave off the migraine pressing against the nerve endings of Julie’s brain. It was taking all her patience, and then some, to repress the urge to commit murder, or worse pitch herself headlong into oncoming traffic. The latter was becoming a definite possibility with every passing second she had to sit and listen to the World War III taking place in the backseat.

“Rick’s touching me!”

“I am not!”

“He’s doing it again!”

“Am not!”

“Will you two shut up? I’m trying to forget I’m in this nightmare!”

“Julie, Dustin said a bad word!”

“Shut up isn’t a bad word, idiot!”

“Julie, Dustin called me an idiot!”

“Okay, okay!” Julie put one hand up, silencing the bickering without taking her eyes off the road. “Look, we have two more hours of driving ahead of us. I really need you guys to work with me, okay?” The last part came out sounding a little unhinged.

“Can we open the window?” Rick whined. “Wendy has athletes foot again and I’m going to die.”

“I do not!” Wendy wailed, her voice fraught with tears.

“Your feet smell like old man fart!”

“No they don’t!” Wendy was crying now.

On Wendy’s other side, Dustin barked out laughing. “Ha! Old man fart.”

“Julie!” Wendy whined.

“Yes!” Julie shouted over the sound. “I will open the window, but no more fighting.”

She knew she was asking for miracles, but she was hoping some of her karma points would kick in, and stay for at least a good portion of the trip. After all, wasn’t she sacrificing her summer to help a neighbor in need? That had to count for something.

The squabbling didn’t stop. It didn’t even slow down. Julie tried to put the radio on and that worked for about an hour before they hit the boonies and all stations, but AM, faded to static. Games were out as well since all three of the Vance children were too old for them. She tried asking them questions, in hopes of distracting them from each other, but every time one answered the other two would pipe in with some taunt that would start a whole new series of rants.

By the time they made the turn off Highway 1 and plunged headlong towards the slumbering town of Salmon Cove, Julie was ready to pull over and dump all three kids on the side of the road.

Get a grip, Brewer, the voice in her head scolded. This is no different from all the other times.

Not necessarily true, she wanted to tell her inner voice. While it was true that she had been babysitting the trio every weekend and most weeks since she was fifteen, it was something uniquely horrifying to spend an entire month alone with them. Suddenly the ten grand Maureen Vance had given her in exchange didn’t feel like enough.

It wasn’t that she didn’t love the children. They were each wonderful in their own ways, but it was when they were together that made Julie want to bring out the holy water and start dousing them. Unfortunately, holy water was the one item she hadn’t thought to pack.

Not like you had a choice, the voice reminded her. It truly didn’t seem to matter how Julie looked at it, ten thousand dollars for one month’s work to sit around and watch three small children hadn’t seemed like such a bad fate. She could read by the lake, get a tan, and unwind from the grueling exams she had just finished. The fact that all that pretty coin came tax free and paid for her rent, her next year’s set of books, and a pretty new laptop was just an added bonus.

Nevertheless, she should have asked for more. It wasn’t like Maureen couldn’t afford it. She practically threw the money at Julie with the promise of more if she needed it.

“Just take them somewhere!” Maureen had begged.

Somewhere, turned out to be the middle of nowhere, camping. Julie, whose idea of nature was sitting on the balcony of her tiny apartment and watching the wind blow through the flowerboxes she had planted earlier that spring, wasn’t sure what to expect. Maureen had promised her that the cabin had everything they needed and all Julie had to do was watch the kids. That Julie could manage.

“Only thirty-days.” Her grumble was swallowed by a shriek from Wendy that was practically a physical force spiking through Julie’s eardrums.

“Wendy peed her pants!” Rick sing-songed with smugness.

“I didn’t!” Wendy sobbed. “Rick dumped my water!”

“What?” Restraining herself from whirling around in her seat, Julie tightened her grip on the wheel and settled on casting panicked glances into the rearview mirror.

“Wendy peed her pants! Wendy peed her pants!” Rick sang at the top of his lungs.

Wendy punched him in the chest. “I didn’t!”

“Wendy hit me!” Rick screamed, then followed it by punching Wendy back.

“Guys!” Julie shouted uselessly. “Wendy, what happened? Dustin, a little help?”

No one was listening to her. Dustin moved just long enough to turn up the music on his iPod. His brooding stare remained fixated on the rushing scenery outside the window.

Seeing that she was alone and outnumbered, Julie gritted her teeth and put a little more pressure on the gas pedal. Not too much, but just enough to make the needle jump from the hundred mark to hundred and five. While it wasn’t exactly speeding, especially when the speed limit was a hundred-twenty, she quickly caught herself and went back to her careful driving. The last thing she wanted to do was hit Bambi or another car because the three in the back were driving her insane.

When the oval sign welcoming them to the Salmon Cove, home of the big one, rolled into view, Julie nearly burst into tears. She would have, if her eyes hadn’t already been watering due to the excruciating pain thrumming at her temples.

She concentrated on the steep slope, propelling them downward into the tiny village cradled in the bowl shaped valley. Trees and mountains stood in a protective circle along the outer edges, shielding the town from intruders. Julie sucked in a gulping breath of pine scented air and willed herself to relax. There was still another forty-five minutes before she was free to leave the car.

“We’re almost there!” she sang out as the descent brought them through the winding road cutting between rows of neatly placed and brightly colored shops. “Why don’t you guys let me know when we get closer?”

She knew where the cabin was ... roughly, but maybe the task would keep them quiet for the next half hour.

It didn’t.

The Vance’s summer cottage was tucked away in a secluded patch of wilderness at the foot of a majestic mountain capped with snow. Julie had never been there before, but the two story structure was nothing like she ever imagined a cottage would look like. Granted, it was made of logs, but the rustic feel ended there.

It was sprawling with a wraparound terrace around the second floor and enormous windows that glinted beneath the late sun. The front drive was almost a mile away from the main road and completely canopied by a tangle of trees. Paved highway ended in gravel, leading to smooth white cement that haloed an empty fountain and was hugged by miles of neatly manicured lawn. It was the sort of place she envisioned strung out celebrities would be sent to detox. It was certainly not what she pictured when Maureen told her it was a simple, rustic place.

Julie pulled the car to a gentle halt at the bottom of the stairs and cut the engine. Dustin, Wendy, and Rick tumbled out of the car almost immediately. They stretched their legs by setting off in all directions. At least Rick and Wendy did. Dustin slumped over to the stairs and flopped down on the third step, fiddling with his DS.

“Don’t go far, guys!” Julie called after the two chasing each other around the back of the house.

She checked the backseat of her car first and cringed at the dark stain in the worn upholstery. Scooping her long, blonde hair over one shoulder, she bent down slightly and sniffed.

Not pee.

Exhaling, Julie straightened and backed out of the car. She slammed the door shut before moving around to pop the trunk. She dug inside for the box of groceries, propped it against her hip and headed up the stairs.

“Want to give me a hand, Dustin?” she asked, juggling with the box and her keys.

“No,” he grumbled, eyes focused on blasting aliens, or zombies—Julie wasn’t sure.

“Please?” she prompted.

For a moment, it looked like he would refuse again. But he set down his game machine and stomped to his feet. He took the keys from her and jabbed them into the lock. He pushed the door open and stepped back as the alarm screeched to life.

Hurrying inside, Julie set the box down and dug into her pocket for the piece of paper Maureen had given her with the alarm code. She keyed it in quickly and exhaled when the piercing sound halted.

“Julie! Julie, come look!” Wendy appeared in the open doorway, rosy faced and beaming.

“Can it wait?” she asked. “I need to put the milk away and you need to change your shorts—”

“No!” the girl whined. “You have to see this!”

Abandoning the groceries, she followed Wendy back outside. Dustin was no longer slumped on the steps, but standing next to Rick alongside the house, staring under the porch. Dreading the possibility of a possum or other rodent infestation, Julie joined them and peered into the hole cautiously. The opening wasn’t very large, but it was dark.

“What are we looking at?” she wondered.

“Look! There!” Wendy pointed frantically, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Still squinting, Julie moved in slightly closer, wishing she’d thought to bring a flashlight.

“I don’t...”

Then she saw them. Tiny, glowing eyes peered back at her. For a moment, her heart scuttled in fear, certain it was a healthy family of rats, or something equally disgusting. But then she saw the little ears and big yellow eyes and she melted a little.

A black and white tabby blinked at her, surrounding by no less than five furry babies.

“Aw!” Julie crooned.

“Can we keep them?” Wendy asked eagerly.

Julie thought of Maureen and her spotless white living room with priceless antiques and polished hardwood floors and cringed.

“Yeah, that won’t happen.”

“But why?” Wendy moaned.

Julie straightened. “Because they’re still very little and can’t be adopted for a while.”

“Can we touch one?” Rick asked.

Julie shook her head and lied. “If you touch them, the mother won’t take care of them. Just leave them alone, okay?”

“But what if they’re hungry?” Rick asked.

“The babies are getting milk from their mother,” Julie explained. “But we can bring something out for her, okay?” She turned to the group. “Let’s get the stuff inside first. Wendy, please change your bottoms.”

Inside, every inch was modernized. Plasma TVs and gaming systems took up nearly every room. There were no less than eight bedrooms, each one with its own full bathroom and access to the terrace. Each room was big enough to fit a herd of elephants and smelled like fresh laundry—a mixture of wildflowers, meadow and sunshine. The furniture was shiny and the rich color of cream. It was like walking into the White House. She was almost too afraid to touch anything.

I am never leaving, Julie decided as she left the children to settle into their rooms and started down a magnificent hall that curved slightly as it cut deeper through the house. On the left was a set of stairs that led to the second floor. On the opposite side, two doorways led to the sitting area and the kitchen. Julie peeked in briefly at the sitting area. The interior was dark, but she caught a quick glimpse of a plasma TV and a wide assortment of furniture before she ducked into the kitchen.

The kitchen was incredible. Stainless steel appliances gleamed in the fading light floating in through windows. Marble countertops counteracted the onyx cupboards and the solid glass table that sat on the other side of a grand island with built in grill. But it was the wall across the room that had Julie setting the box down and drifting forward. The entire thing swung open to a wide patio and a whole backdrop made for painting. It was the sort of place made to inspire. She had no trouble seeing herself curled up on the patio swing with a cup of coffee as the sun rose over the wall of trees hugging the sparkling lake below. Even in that moment, the water was rippling like liquid gold, tinted by the smear of orange melting into the horizon. She drew in a breath and held it for five heartbeats before releasing it slowly.

For the first time since locking herself up in the car with three rumbustious kids, Julie was actually happy she had accepted the job.

Turning away from the dazzling sight, she made her way back to the counter and the groceries that needed tending to. She organized while dialing Maureen on the house phone.

“How did it go?” the other woman asked almost immediately. “Did you make it there okay?”

Phone propped between her ear and shoulder, Julie grunted at a little as she tried to wedge a box of cereal into the cupboard with one hand while shoving stuff aside to make room with the other.

“Oh, everything was fine,” she lied smoothly. “The kids barely made a peep.”

Maureen exhaled. “Oh I am so glad to hear that. I was sure this would be difficult for them.”

“Nah,” Julie assured her. “They were excited to get here.”

“How’s Dustin?”

How is Dustin? Julie asked herself with just a hint of tense amusement.

“He’s fine.” She briefly wondered how many lies she could tell in a single phone conversation before she was struck down by a bolt of lightning. “He’s getting his room together as we speak.”

Maureen sighed again. “He’s taking this so hard. I was hoping to spare him ... but Dean thought the kids had a right to know, you know?” She released another deep exhale. “Thank you for taking them, Julie. I think a change of scenery will help make this easier.”

Julie doubted that, but she wasn’t paid to voice her opinion. “We’ll have loads of fun here,” she promised instead.

After several more reassurances that everything was fine and yes, all the doors and windows would be locked at all times, Maureen let Julie hang up and finish unpacking.

It took her all of one trip to haul her duffle from the car into the house.

The master suite at the end of the upstairs hall was as grand and lavish as the rest of the place. The carpets were an eggshell white and thick enough to swim through. The bed was wide and a dark mahogany that beautifully complimented the soft, mint green coloring of the walls. She even had her own separate set of doors leading onto the terrace that overlooked the lake, which in her opinion, was the best part.

She dropped her bag onto the bed and started the slow process of unpacking. She hadn’t brought much, despite the fact that she would be away from civilization for an entire month. But she had never been the sort to over pack. There was exactly ten of everything, which could be mixed and matched at random. That was enough outfits for two weeks and since it would just be her and the kids, there was no one to judge her for not being a fashionista. Her mother would have a heart attack if she ever learned Julie was traipsing through the wilderness and had only taken along a single pair of sneakers and one set of flip-flops. It made no sense to anyone how she could be so blasé about her looks when her mother lived and breathed fashion. But then, Julie had never been a normal child in her mother’s eyes.

Tessa Brewer, fashion designer by day and home decorator by night, had wanted one child, a girl preferably, who would one day take over her business. Instead she got Julie, who spent a very large percentage of her time examining dead bodies.

Her love of forensics started while watching the Scooby gang solve impossible crimes, later it was Law and Order and CSI. Her mother had been appalled when Julie had announced her desires to dissect and examine crime scenes.

“No daughter of mine is going to sit at my dinner table after fondling a carcass all day!”

So, Julie had moved out, gotten her own apartment a block away from the University of Alberta and started on getting her bachelor's degree. Two years later, she was still as much in love with the whole process as she had been from day one—much to her mother’s eternal despair.

With the last item stowed away in the dresser, Julie dusted her hands and turned to the final item still nestled at the bottom of the bag. The steel coating on the bat glinted in the golden light. The thing had been a gift from an old boyfriend after one of the suites in her building had been broken into. He had wanted to get her a gun, but thankfully she had managed to talk him out of that. The bat usually sat propped in the corner of her apartment, tucked away behind the coatrack next to the door. She had never had to use it, thank God, but she liked having it close. Kind of like a security blanket.

“Julie?” Dustin poked his head through the gap between the doors. “I’m hungry.”

Pulling the flaps on her duffle closed, Julie straightened and turned to face the miniature-sized person shadowing her doorway. “How do you feel about chili?”

Dustin blinked very slowly, watching her through his round glasses. “How do you feel about having your skin melted off? Because that’s what will happen if Wendy so much as smells the stuff.”

Biting the inside of her cheek, Julie moved towards him and slipped an arm around his thin shoulders. “I hear it’s going to be a cold night. We can do with some heat.”

“That’s disgusting.”

Laughing, she propelled him downstairs and nudged him towards the rec room where Wendy and Rick were arguing over whose turn it was on the TV. She walked into the kitchen and began taking out pots and pans and starting the process of chili making.

Supper ended when Rick flicked a bit of meat at Wendy and hit Dustin instead. It was only the threat of no dessert for the remainder of the month, plus a phone call to their mother, that got them to settle them down long enough to march upstairs for a quick shower and bed. They must have been exhausted, because no one argued with her. Teeth were brushed, hairs were braided—in Wendy’s case—and pajamas were donned. She read two chapters of Percy Jackson, tucked the children into bed and slipped back downstairs to stow her car in the garage and clean up.

Once the kitchen was back in order, she did a quick tour of the house, double checking the locks and windows and setting the alarm. She considered parking herself in front of the TV and unwinding, but between the drive and the children, Julie was ready for some shut eye. Plus tomorrow promised to be a very long day.

After checking on each kid and making sure they were tucked in, she slipped into her own room. She left the door slightly ajar in case the children needed her and moved to the side of her bed, digging into the pocket of her jeans as she went.  She emptied her phone, loose change, a squished pack of gum, and the piece of paper with the alarm code onto the nightstand. She grabbed a long t-shirt from the dresser and padded into the bathroom to braid her hair and wash up for the night.

In the brightly lit mirror, her reflection stared back at her with all the exhaustion thrumming through her. Deep, purple rings haloed her gray eyes. The pallor of her round face made them seem prominent like someone had punched her in the face, giving her two shiners. That, unfortunately hadn’t been the case. The truth was that she had been running herself ragged the last year, throwing herself into her studies and work and babysitting, plus trying to appease her mother by volunteering at the clothing boutique twice a week. Getting away for a month to do nothing but sunbathe and swim had been almost a godsend. Had Maureen not offered the money, Julie probably would have still said yes, just to get away for a few days.

Sighing, she ran the water in the sink before splashing her face in hopes of reducing some of the puffiness. She brushed her teeth, applied a thick coat of moisturizer and shuffled her way back into the bedroom. The sheets were cool and silky as they slid against the bare skin of her legs. Julie moaned quietly with a profound happiness to be off her feet and snuggled into the downy folds of her pillow. She closed her eyes and let herself drift comfortably into a dreamless sleep.

Unfortunately, she didn’t stay there.

It was two in the morning when the alarm shrieked to life.

Chapter Two

Julie bolted upright as though the pillow had shocked her. For a moment she simply sat there, amidst a sea of rumpled silk with her heart in her throat, stuttering with terror and disorientation. It took her five seconds to remember she wasn’t in her apartment and that there could only be one reason why the alarm would be sounding.

Fingers fumbling, she groped for the lamp chain and lit the room with its soft glow. The sheets were thrown back hastily as she scrambled out of bed and hurried to the duffle she had kicked beneath a chair. The alarm continued to shriek with a vengeance that made her eyes cross and her brain rattle.

The bat’s rubber grip was cool between her clammy fingers as she hauled it free of the duffle’s confines. A spark of light slid down the metal length to glint at the curved top. Julie whacked it once on her palm before she shoved apart the doors and sprinted from the room.

“Julie...?” Wendy shuffled out of her room, rubbing her eye with a small fist.

“Everything’s fine,” Julie said, never slowing her pace. “Get back in your room and close the door. You too,” she told Dustin as the boy stumbled out of his room.

She took the stairs at a quick, cautious clip, keeping against the wall with all her senses on high alert. The hard clap of her heart counted off the seconds until she hit the bottom landing.

The front door stood wide open to the star speckled night. Balmy summer air swept into the foyer, circled around her bare ankles and faded deeper into the house.

Her insides writhed with confusion and fear as she edged closer. Her mind scrambled trying to remember if maybe she hadn’t locked the thing properly, because there was no other sound, except the blaring of the alarm. The night was quiet and. Julie wasn’t used to that level of silence, or darkness. It creeped her out and stole a chill through her. How could there be that many stars glittering in the sky and the night still be so damn black? It made no sense. But she didn’t dwell on it.

Moving quickly, she shut the doors and flipped the latch. She slid the chain into place for good measure before hurrying to the alarm control panel in the wall. She keyed in the passcode and the shrieking instantly died. But her ears continued to ring as though the alarm had recorded itself onto her brain.

She blew out an exasperated breath and rubbed a hand over her face. She made a mental note to examine the locks more properly in the morning. It was impossible to tell if she just hadn’t locked them as tightly as she’d originally thought, or if something was actually wrong with them, but she would make sure it didn’t happen again. Four weeks of that would drive her insane.

Relieved that it was nothing but the wind, Julie started for the stairs, eager to return to the warm folds of sleep. There were still a few precious hours before she had to deal with the world, and the Vance children, and every second of sleep counted.

Her hand had just closed on the railing when she heard it.

“Took you long enough!” came a deep, male voice from somewhere in the house.

Ice cold terror washed through her in a wave. It shrilled between her ears so she couldn’t even hear her own heart accelerate until her chest began to ache. She tasted bile when she tried to moisten her lips and swallowed rapidly.

The hallway was stamped with pale patches of moonlight that spilled freely from the windows in the kitchen. Whoever was in the house hadn’t bothered turning the lights on, which furthered her assumption that it was a burglary and they hadn’t yet located the light switches. That gave her some advantage and that was all she needed.

Keeping on the toes of her feet, Julie scurried to the opposite side of the hall and pressed her sweaty back against the wall next to the sitting room entrance. She paused just long enough to suck in a breath and hold it for two heartbeats before darting a quick peek inside.

Light shone through the sheer curtains over the high windows, creating shadows over the furniture. But the room was void of human life. Yet in no way did that comfort her.

Shifting her weight to put her strongest foot forward, Julie darted further along to the next door. The kitchen. She took another breath, braced herself and started to move forward only to have something tall and menacing lurch out into her path. It would have barreled into her had she not jerked back.

Instinct, and eight years of kickboxing, took hold and Julie reacted. The bat spun expertly lengthwise in her grasp. Her arms swung left and in that same fluid motion, she thrust with the butt of the bat like a battering ram straight into her assailant’s face. The satisfying crunch of bone was swallowed by the howl of agony. The shadow stumbled back, collided into the doorframe.

Julie swooped down. Her leg shot out and she kicked the figure off his feet. He went down and she kicked him straight in the ribs. She was rewarded with another exclamation, then a weak whimper that would have been amusing any other time.

“Shaun?”

The second voice from somewhere deeper in the kitchen had Julie sidestepping to press her back into the wall just outside the door for a second time. She swung the bat over her shoulder and planted her feet shoulder-width apart, bracing her weight.

The second figure, blind in the dark and confused by the commotion, scuffled forward. Julie could hear their hesitant steps towards her. The first one snarled in pain when his buddy trampled on him by accident. Julie heard the second one stumble and catch himself on the doorframe.

“Dude, what—”

Julie swung without a second of pause. She kept her her aim low for the abdomen. It made contact with a satisfying thwack and a sound like a mouse being stomped on whooshed through the air as the second figure dropped on top of the other, earning a loud grunt of pain from his friend. He was shoved unceremoniously off and he collapsed on his side, cradling his abdomen and whining like an injured puppy.

Breathing hard, Julie scuttled back, keeping a close eye on the pair.

“Who are you?” she demanded. “What are you doing here?”

Neither spoke. There was a sound like air being released from a balloon, but that was all.

“Who are you?” she snarled a second time.

Deep in the kitchen, a lock clicked. The terrace doors slid on their grates and then banged shut as a third person joined the party. Then a very bedroom-worthy voice vaulted through the room, cutting through the darkness to muffle the groans at her feet.

“Very funny locking me out, you assholes.” The soft clip of feet beat against the silence. It was moving across the room, towards Julie and the two still trying to catch their breaths. “Guys?”

Lights burst to life. Julie grimaced as the sharpness off it chased away the shadows and burned her eyes. The two on the floor groaned even louder. The one nearest her, the one that had gotten the bat to the gut, flopped over onto his back.

“Run!” he squeaked. “T-1000’s are attacking!”

The footsteps were hurried now. A shadow fell over the two on the floor. Julie tightened her grip on the bat.

“What the fuck—”

Julie swung, determined to take the intruder down before they could get the upper hand.

“Whoa!”

He was quick. He ducked and Julie’s bat struck the doorframe inches from his head, chipping wood and sending slivers of pain shooting up her arms. She cried out as her weapon rebounded and flew out of her hands. It clattered noisily to the floor and rolled out of reach.

Julie opened her mouth to curse only to be slammed into by a hard body. They both struck the ground, with her taking most of the blow. The impact, combined with the immense weight coming down on top of her, crushed the air from her lungs so she couldn’t even cry out. Her assailant took advantage of her momentary weakness by wrenching her arms over her head and locking them to the hardwood by the wrists.  Toned thighs settled on hers, anchoring her completely so all she could do was thrash uselessly.

“Get off me!” she snarled.

“Easy, love,” the smoky voice soothed, like he were pacifying a child who was having a wee tantrum.

The light behind him shone through dark hair, tinting the tips a soft red. Shadows painted over his features so all she could make out was the glimmer in his eyes and the slight flash of teeth in what she could have sworn was a grin.

“Who are you?” she demanded. “What do you want?”

“Honestly? I wouldn’t say no to a beer,” he replied evenly. “Maybe a smoke.” He paused. Then added more seriously, “Definitely a smoke.”

Confusion pulled at Julie. “What?”

But whatever he was about to say was interrupted by the soft scuffle from above them. His head came up so she had a view of his throat. Julie had a harder time twisting her head around to see what had caught her attacker’s attention.

It was Dustin. He stood on the bottom step in his Tony Hawk pajamas. His glasses were slightly cocked on his nose and his eyes were enormous behind the silver frames.

Julie’s heart missed a full beat before she found her voice.

“Dustin!” She struggled against the hold still pinning her to the icy ground. “Get back upstairs!”

The boy looked from her to the guy on top of her, then at the two shuffling gingerly to their feet, but didn’t move. He seemed to be frozen in place.

Cursing inwardly, Julie acted.

With her companion’s attention fixed on the boy, Julie thrust up sharply with her hips, sending him teetering forward in surprise. He had no choice but to release her arms in order to catch his balance.

Julie rolled, twisting her torso and dislodging her hands free. He didn’t stand a chance once she was loose. He certainly wasn’t fast enough to stop her when she slammed her fist into his jaw, following it up with a knee straight up into his groin.

“Motherfaaa...”

He dropped sideways off her, holding himself and expelling a series of very creative curse words that Julie hoped to God Dustin didn’t memorize. She scrambled to her feet and threw herself at Dustin and grabbed him.

“Run!” she shouted even as she shoved him up the stairs. “Dustin, get the others. Lock yourself in my room and call the police. Go!”

But the boy was fighting her, craning his neck, and trying to look around her at the figure hunched over on his hands and knees, still swearing vividly. Then he narrowed his eyes behind his glasses and spoke the last name Julie ever expected to hear.

“Mason?”

It was as though someone had torn the very ground out from under her. Her stomach lurched and dropped somewhere around her ankles as a whole new surge of dread coiled up through her body. A wave of dizziness had her swaying into the banister. She clutched at it as her insides trembled with pain and horror.

Julie turned with a slowness that made her wonder if someone had put her entire life on slow motion. Her limbs creaked, protesting the action. She had to will her legs to remain firmly beneath her while she fought to face one of her greatest nightmares.

Mason heaved unsteadily to his feet, using the wall as leverage, and turned furious blue eyes on her. “Are you out of your damn mind, lady?”

He stumbled awkwardly to the light switches next to the alarm panel and smacked them on with a frustrated sweep of his hand. Light flared on overhead, drenching everyone in its sharp glow.

Julie winced, but it had nothing to do with being blinded.

He’d gotten wider around the shoulders and the width of his chest, and his dark hair was longer, more unruly, but he was still six feet of rugged beauty. Even with the scowl knotting his brows together, his features were perfect, clean cut and chiseled. His eyes were an impossible blue and his lips looked like they would feel like velvet. Julie had spent far too many nights dreaming of feeling that mouth on hers, until that mouth had broken her heart.

Memories of that night four years ago were what jarred her back to the present and the very big problem looming before her.

Julie fingers tightened around Dustin. “Get back upstairs. Now, Dustin!” she snapped when he remained defiant.

Shooting her a look of loathing, Dustin stomped back upstairs—literally. He slammed his feet on every step all the way to the top. There was a pause, followed by the resounding bang of his door slamming shut. Julie would have groaned if she hadn’t been caught in the resonating pulse of power that always washed off Mason. He was like a magnet, imposing and compelling. Even when they had been kids, he had a way of making people listen and do what he wanted just by walking into a room. And, as much as she hated to admit it, she had been one of them.

Mason seemed too preoccupied with keeping upright to properly look her in the face. There were also tears in his eyes. But even then, she wasn’t sure if he would recognize her. The last time they had been in the same room, she had been fifteen, a mousy thing with a mouth full of metal. And while he had never been cruel, at least never to her, he hadn’t stood up for her either that night.

As the barbs embedded around her heart burrowed just a little deeper, Julie gritted her teeth against the memory. She reminded herself that was years ago and she had moved on. Mason Brody couldn’t hurt her anymore, and yet, just the sight of him hurt.

Oblivious to the turmoil he was causing her, Mason reached down and adjusted the bulge between his legs. His face twisted in a grimace of pain that almost made her feel bad. Almost.

“It’s after two in the morning,” she said, fighting to keep her voice even as she broke the silence. “What are you doing here and why are you creeping around?”

He huffed indigently. “Did it really sound like we were creeping anywhere? I think we were making enough noise to wake half the town.”

He was still not looking at her. He seemed focused on unsnapping the fastens of his jeans and drawing away the cotton material of his boxers to peer down at his crotch.

“Why are you here?” she demanded, hating the way her body was tilting itself forward just a notch to also get a glimpse.

“My dad owns half of this place!” he snapped back. “So if anyone should be asking questions, I think it should be me.” He elevated his weight from one leg to the other again. Then gave his left leg a shake and winced. “Jesus Christ you lunatic! Didn’t anyone ever tell you, you never hit a guy there? I’d like to have kids one day.”

Julie narrowed her eyes. “You attacked me. I was defending myself and my charges from a pack of criminals for all I knew.”

He visibly bristle at the implication of being a criminal. His hands fumbled as he fought refastened his pants.

“Well, you know what, lady—”

“Okay, wait!” The guy who had caught the length of her bat in the stomach leaped forward, hands up. “Let’s all calm down.” He turned to Julie. “There’s clearly been some kind of misunderstanding here. Why don’t we move this into the kitchen and discuss it like adults?”

While he asked the question openly, his gaze was on Mason, who was still having trouble doing up his pants without rubbing the stiff material against his private parts.

“Fine,” Julie said.

Seemingly satisfied that there wouldn’t be any bloodshed, the guy forcibly dragged his friends into the kitchen.

Julie waited until they were a good, safe distance before darting to where the bat had fallen and hefting it up. After casting a glance up the stairs to make sure the children weren’t hovering somewhere along the top landing, she stepped cautiously into the next room.

The trio was huddled around the island, heads bent close as they whispered rapidly. They looked up when she edged into view, and if looks could kill, she would have been across the floor with her insides torn out. But as it were, she took the time to examine her opponents and was surprised when she recognized the third guy sneering at her from around a wade of crimson soaked tissue.

Shaun Ryan, her least favorite of Mason’s group of childhood friends, stood trying to stifle the flow of blood from his nostrils. He, she realized, must have been the one to get the butt of her bat in the face. Oddly enough, she didn’t feel too bad about that. Her only regret was that she hadn’t hit him a few more times to make up for what a monumental asshole he was. It would have certainly served him right. Unfortunately, she had also let him live, which meant she would need to sleep with one eye open. Shaun was not the sort to forgive, or forget, and his temper was legendary, not to mention it wasn’t beneath him to strike a woman if the rumors were anything to go by.

Letting her gaze move past him, Julie eyed the newcomer to the group. The guy was small and gangly and nothing like the usual bad asses she was accustomed to seeing around Mason. He wore freshly pressed khakis and a plaid button up that was actually buttoned all the way to the throat. His sandy brown hair was combed flat and to the side and he had loafers on his feet. If anything, he reminded her of someone who belonged on the other side of a chessboard, not trampling around with a pair of guys who looked like a whole lot of trouble.

Gradually, and with great deal of hesitance, Julie moved her attention to the remaining figure.

Mason.

He was staring at her now with something akin to recognition that tightened her stomach muscles. His mouth was gaping ever so slightly in a silent gasp.

She quickly looked away. Her free hand lifted and she found the butterfly pendent tucked beneath her collar. She slid the silver piece anxiously back and forth on its chain, a nervous gesture she’d had since her grandmother had given her the necklace on Julie’s ninth birthday.

“Julie?”

The expression on Mason’s face could only be described as absolute astonishment. Like someone had sucker punched him between the ribs and taken off, leaving him dazed and winded. But there was something else in his eyes, something bright and wondrous.

“Hello,” she said with as much poise as she could muster.

Mason’s lips parted, but not in speech. He seemed completely incapable of anything more than simply gawking at her, taking in her curls that had escaped the confines of her braid and the rumpled state of the t-shirt she wore. When his gaze traveled to her bare legs and all the way down to her bare toes, Julie couldn’t help feeling exposed and embarrassed. It took all her willpower not to tug at the hem of her top. But it didn’t matter, because his eyes were back on her face, searching and tracing with an urgency one would show a gleaming pool after trekking through the desert for a week. He never so much as blinked, like he was afraid she might vanish from sight if he did.

Heat rose through her in tendrils that started at her base of her stomach and worked its way up slowly to her face. She shivered. Her tongue darted nervously over her dry lips and she felt her heart give a wild kick in her chest when he sucked in a sharp breath.

“Jesus!” Shaun blurted, breaking the electric tension weaving seamlessly around the room. “What the hell happened to you?”

Julie had learned long ago to never let anything that Shaun said affect her and yet those six words were like a double edged blade being thrust deep between her ribs. It took all her willpower not to look down at herself for some horrible deformity she hadn’t realized she’d grown in the last four years. But that was what Shaun was good at, slashing at a person’s confidence.

“It’s called growing up,” she answered hotly. “Something I see you have yet to accomplish.” She set the bat down gingerly on the counter between them and focused on the third guy who seemed like the safest bet. “Why are you here?”

Brown eyes scooted between Julie and Mason, like he wasn’t sure he was allowed to answer, but he spoke anyway. “Well...” he began slowly, almost hesitantly. “It’s summer, so...”

Mason cut in when his friend seemed to run out of things to say. “I told Maureen, and my parents, we would be using the cabin for a couple of weeks before heading back to work.”

Julie narrowed her eyes. “Uh huh ... so why didn’t Maureen tell me you would be arriving?”

Mason exchanged glances with his friends before responding to her question. “When has Maureen ever been reliable?”

As excuses went, it was a good one. No one could deny that Maureen was notorious for forgetting important things, mainly concerning her children.

“Are you seriously going to phone the police?” Mason demanded when Julie skirted around the counter.

“No,” she said calmly while picking up the receiver and dialing the number. “I’m calling Maureen.”

“It’s two in the morning!” he retorted with slight outrage that sounded more insulted than anything else.

Julie narrowed her eyes. “I am perfectly aware of the time. But I also know that you’re not moving from that spot until I get answers.”

She tucked the handset between her ear and shoulder and listened as it rang. All the while, she studied the trio watching her back with more than a twang of distrust.

Maureen picked up on the fifth ring, her tone hoarse from sleep, but alert. “Julie? What is it?”

“I’m sorry to bother you at this hour, but there’s been an incident,” Julie said, keeping her tone calm and professional. But even with her attempts, Maureen went into instant panic.

“Incident? What happened? Where are the children?”

“The children are fine,” she said slowly, kicking herself for not starting with that. “They’re upstairs. The incident I’m calling about is that we had an unexpected visitor—”

Mason charged across the room before she could finish speaking and motioned she give the phone over. Ignoring him, Julie started turning her body away from his, when he plucked the receiver straight out of her hand.

“Hey!”

Silencing her with a single harsh glare, Mason shoved the phone to his ear.

“Hey Auntie M, it’s me.” He stomped away from Julie. “Yeah, we just arrived. No, the drive was fine, but we ran into some problems when we arrived. Yes, I know Julie...” Cool, blue eyes shot to Julie and narrowed. “Sweetheart, isn’t the word I would use. Uh huh. Yeah. Okay, I will. Goodnight.” He moved back to Julie, phone held out. “She wants to talk to you.”

She snatched the phone back from him with a little more force than was necessary and almost lost her grip on the plastic. She fumbled with it before stuffing it to her ear.

“Yes?”

“I am so sorry, Julie,” Maureen said at once. “I feel so horrible. What with everything that’s been happening around here I completely forgot that Mason asked to use the cabin for the week. You know Mason, don’t you?”

“Yes, I know Mason,” Julie muttered already dreading what was about to come next.

“He’s really a wonderful boy.”

Julie eyed Mason dryly and without blinking. “Wonderful, isn’t the word I would use.”

Her mimic of his earlier statement slitted his eyes, and she smirked.

“It’s my fault. I should have told you. You don’t mind, do you?”

Julie stiffened as the conversation took a drastically bad turn. “Mind what?”

“Well...” Maureen hesitated. “If Mason stayed the week. You would be doing me such a huge favor. It’s not that I don’t trust you, because, of course, I do, but it’s so isolated over there and, well, I worry. Having another person there would really help ease my mind. Plus, it’s my fault I forgot that Mason had asked to use the cabin months ago. I would feel horrible if he couldn’t because of my horrible memory.”

“But I don’t—”

“It’s fine!” Maureen insisted as though she were suggesting they paint their nails coral pink instead of cotton candy pink. “Mason is just amazing with the kids. They simply adore him.”

Hating and dreading the idea with every fiber of her being, Julie gritted her teeth with enough force to make them creak. It was a wonder Maureen couldn’t hear it.

“And what about his friends?”

“Well, you know Shaun, right? And Luis has been Mason’s roommate for two or three years, so I’m sure he’s trustworthy. Mason is an incredible judge of character.”

Julie turned away from the eyes watching her. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. We don’t have enough supplies—”

“We brought our own things,” Mason interrupted her, unabashed that he was clearly eavesdropping on her every word.

“I understand that you don’t know Mason very well—” She was wrong. Julie knew Mason. Maybe a little too well. “—but I really need you to handle this situation, okay? Mason’s a good kid and I think he’ll be a great help to you with the kids. It’s only for a week.”

Julie sighed. “I don’t like it, Maureen.”

Maureen was quiet for so long Julie wondered if they’d been disconnected. She started to pull the receiver away from her ear to check when the other woman finally spoke up.

“Please don’t do this right now, Julie. I have too much to worry about without having to deal with this on top of everything else. You’re both adults and it’s a big house. I doubt you’ll even see each other.”

But I see him now! Julie wanted to snap.

“Julie, please.”

Pinching the bridge of her nose with one hand and gripping the phone with the other, Julie growled deep in her throat. “Fine! But only a week.”

Maureen exhaled loudly, the sound filled with relief. “Thank you, sweetie. I really owe you one.”

Julie was tempted to tell her she owed her several, but never got the chance. Maureen had hung up.

Julie replaced the receiver with a stiff crack and turned to face the three watching her with a varying mixture of annoyance, curiosity, and smug arrogance. The latter had her bristling and straightening her shoulders.

“One week,” she told the trio firmly. “Today is Monday, so you will be gone by Friday.” Carefully, she clasped her hands together to keep from hitting something. “Lock the doors and alarm the house before going to bed. Goodnight.”

“Whoa! Whoa!” Shaun shifted his impressive frame to block her path when she tried to make her grand exit.

“Shaun...” Mason’s tone was quiet, but filled with warning.

Shaun seemed to ignore him as he bore holes into Julie. He looked a whole lot more menacing with blood smearing his face and running down his chin to stain his already red skater shirt. His brown eyes were watery and bloodshot from pain and the skin around both eyes was red, swollen and tender looking. And maybe it was just the play of light and shadows, but his features were almost demonic.

“That’s all you have to say for yourself?”

Julie arched a brow with as much arrogance as she could muster and replied coolly, “Was there something else?”

“Yes!” he exclaimed, practically throwing his arms up in outrage. “How about an apology?”

Julie narrowed her eyes and cocked her head a notch to the left. “Not necessary, but I appreciate the thought.”

Luis and Mason smothered what could only be snickers behind feigned bouts of coughing. Shaun, on the other hand, was less inclined to find her cute, or amusing.

“Not us. You!” he barked.

She had known exactly what he meant, but seeing the barely suppressed rage bubbling across his face filled her with a surge of giddy delight that was impossible to ignore, or deny herself.

“Apologize? For protecting the children in my care?” She scoffed. “I don’t think so.”

“What do you mean you don’t think so? You broke my nose, you stupid—”

All humor melted from Julie’s face as quickly as ice cream melted in the angry July sun. Her shoulders tensed even as her fingers remained relaxed and unfurled at her sides. To an onlooker, she would appear mildly perturbed, maybe even a little bored. But there was a hot twist of scalding fury seeping through her that seemed to grow hotter and brighter the longer she stared into those cold, mean eyes.

“I wouldn’t.”

The voice was hers, but even she had no knowledge of speaking the words. Yet they snapped through the room with all the warning they were meant to. It seemed to be enough to pull Shaun short in whatever insult he was about to hurl at her.

Julie felt her eyes narrow, not in anger, but deliberation, like she was trying to determine whether or not the world really needed him to reproduce someday.

“Really?” Shaun’s wide-eyed surprise liquefied into one of cutting amusement. “What are you going to do about it without your stupid bat?”

There were a lot of things she could have told him, like how she had won every kickboxing tournament for the last eight years, or maybe how she even taught it in her spare time. But she opted against it. She had nothing to prove to him. If anything, she already had.

“Okay, put the tape measure away, Shaun.” Mason stepped around the counter and moved sinuously towards the pair. His gaze was on Julie, but he continued to talk to Shaun. “I think we can all agree that this isn’t how any of us wanted this week to go, but we’re here and we have no choice, except to make the best of it.”

Julie met the full heat of his eyes squarely, refusing to show, even slightly, how much his scrutiny was affecting her. “I can fight my own battles,” she told him.

Something shimmered over the surface of his blue eyes, something warm and bright, reminding her of dawn rising over the ocean. His mouth twitched once before curling upward at the corners, revealing straight white teeth. They nipped on the full curve of his bottom lip and he finally broke her of his spell by lowering his gaze to his feet.

He wore motorcycle boots, worn jeans, and a white t-shirt under a leather jacket. There was a silver ring on his left thumb and another on his ring finger that glinted under the sharp lights of the kitchen when he swept his hand back through his dark brown hair. He chuckled quietly, shook his head before lifting his face and capturing her all over again.

“I don’t remember you having those claws, Jewels.”

It was an innocent enough remark, yet it snapped through her like the silver studded tip of a whip. She almost hissed at the burn it left against her stiffening spine.

“Or maybe you just never really knew me.” She offered him a slight quirk of her lips in an almost sardonic smirk that never touched her eyes. “I’ve outgrown many of my bad habits.”

He searched her face, her eyes ... seemingly her soul, with an intensity that somehow felt more personal than having sex. Julie, who was neither shy about loving sex nor was prone to blushing easily, felt the familiar tug at the pit of her stomach. She also wasn’t ignorant enough to chalk the ripple of arousal as her body’s way of reminding her it had been twelve damn months since she’d gotten any. Nope. Despite her brain and heart donning battle armor and getting ready for war against temptation, her body was all but ready to let Mason Brody do to her exactly what his eyes promised.

“They must not have been very worthwhile habits if you were able to let them go so easily,” he remarked with a careful undertone that enticed a person to sin. “Because the really good ones, the ones that tie you up inside and keep you up at night...” He sucked in a deep, lusty breath through his teeth. “They never really leave you, do they, Julie?”

The cacophony of noise slamming around between her ears made it impossible to hear herself think. Her heart was a wild horse pounding between her ribs, made louder by her inability to catch her breath. She wanted nothing more than to laugh in his face and tell her he had no power over her, that she was immune to his charms and sexy good looks, but her tongue had superglued itself to the roof of her mouth and all coherent thought had fled from her mind.

She was nothing if not completely captivated by him, and she hated herself for it.

“I have an early morning,” she blurted. “Goodnight.”

Julie turned on her heels and stalked as casually as she could muster from the room without full on bolting.

No one stopped her. More importantly, she didn’t faceplant in her haste. She was free and clear.

She didn’t expel the ball of air from her lungs until she reached the top of the stairs, and only then did she let herself crumble, slumping against the wall and mashing her face into trembling hands. Her hands were cold and clammy and her knees trembled, threatening to abandon her in a heaping mess on the ground.

Get a grip! Get a grip! It was only a week. Only a week.

Releasing a sound between a whine and a sob, Julie pushed away from the wall and willed herself to place one foot in front of the other as she made her way to the first door.

Wendy was spread eagle across the roped sheets, arms and legs draped over the edges of the mattress. In the next room, Rick was a small bundle under the blankets, mouth slightly gaping, hair a mess. Julie partially closed their doors and moved to Dustin’s room.

The boy sat on his bed, clearly waiting for her.

“Where’s Mason?” he asked, in a tone that suggested he suspected she’d killed him and gotten rid of the body.

“Downstairs,” she told him.

“Is he staying?”

Julie nodded. “You’ll see him in the morning.”

Dustin didn’t show it, but his eyes lit up. “That’s cool.” He slid under the sheets.

Julie offered him a slight smile as she began closing the door.

In her room, she shut the doors behind her and leaned against them, her bravado once again melting into shaken nerves. Of all the men to waltz uninvited back into her life, why did it have to be him? It seemed like such a horrible joke. What was worse was the fact that he had once again reverted her back to that clumsy, star-struck idiot she’d been at fifteen.

She shook her head slowly.

This was not going to end well.

Chapter Three

It felt like no time passed between her crawling into bed and the rude chirping of her alarm, yet the numbers on her phone insisted she had slept a full five hours.

Liar. She had a feeling evil, meddling fairies had deliberately set the time forward just to aggravate her. But with no way to prove such things existed, she was forced to heave her weary body out of bed and into the bathroom.

The shower helped wake most of her up. Her brain was still a foggy mess when she tumbled out of the tub and dressed in shorts and an off the shoulder top. The little weather icon on her phone had promised a bright, sunny day and while the sky was still an indecisive smear of crimson and gold, Julie figured she might as well give the illusion she was ready for the day.

Early morning silence followed her downstairs twenty minutes later. All the doors along the hallway to the stairs were closed, indicating that she was the only person awake, which suited her just fine.

Unlike her mother, who was part rabid dog and part zombie first thing in the morning, Julie preferred the quiet calm before the world stirred to life around her. It was another reason she had moved to her own place. She liked being the only person awake to watch the sunrise with a cup of her favorite brew cradled in her hands.

At home, the sun rose over the backs of wet, filthy buildings and the alleyway that separated her apartment from the porn shop next door. It hadn’t been easy pretending nothing existed but the slow rise of dawn, but she had. Looking out the wall of glass to a world shimmering a spectacular hue of rich gold that danced through miles of rippling fog, Julie knew she would never be able to go back.

Mesmerized, she braved the early morning chill and padded onto the patio. She was immediately surrounded by the fresh scent of moist grass, pine, and wet soil. The crisp breeze blew through her damp hair, making her shiver. She held herself as she watched soft rays of light shatter over the frost that had settled overnight. It was all a thing of dreams. She almost hated herself for not thinking to bring her phone. Scenery like that needed to be photographed and remembered forever. She prayed she would get another chance.

Leaving the doors open wide, she slipped back inside. Her bare legs were cold, as were her cheeks, but she ignored both as she set out making breakfast.

Dustin was the first to arrive, still clad in his pajamas, brown hair in disarray. Wendy was next, followed by a blurry-eyed Rick who yawned noisily and dropped into a chair at the table. Wendy hopped up on a stool at the counter and sniffed loudly at the air.

“Pancakes!” she chimed, kicking her legs excitedly.

“I hate pancakes,” Dustin muttered from his spot across from Rick.

“And that is why...” Julie swept the lid off a steaming plate. “I made you French toast and I even warmed up the syrup.”

Dustin’s face perked, but only slightly, and it was quickly straightened to a mask of indifference. “That’s okay, I guess.”

Julie had learned long ago not to let Dustin’s flippant teenage attitude provoke her. He was thirteen, the eldest of three and the only one between them who really understood what was happening to his family. Wendy and Rick, who were nine and seven, still believed they were on vacation, despite being told to the contrary. Julie was certain they didn’t quite understand the full severity of the situation their parents were going through, but Dustin did, and for someone who practically lived with the family most weeks and weekends, Julie had seen firsthand just how vicious, and sometimes violent, the fights got.

Putting on her best smile, Julie ushered everyone to the table. She filled their plates with pancakes and French toast and made sure they had orange juice in their cups before moving back to the other side of the island. She drowned the pans and bowls, letting them soak in hot water while she scrubbed the counters before the batter could crust over. The children, mostly Rick and Wendy, chattered on about all the things they wanted to do around mouthfuls. Julie listened with only half an ear. She was semi-focused on lunch and supper when the hairs on the back of her neck prickled and her entire body tensed a split second before the room erupted with cries of, “Mason!”

He wore flannel bottoms that hung over his sock clad feet and a white t-shirt, the same t-shirt, she was sure, as the one he’d been wearing the night before. There were pillow marks on his right cheek that was barely concealed beneath the full day’s growth on his jaw, which was doing incredibly dangerous things to her restraint. His hair was forced back carelessly from his face, by his fingers no doubt, and his eyes were heavily lidded with sleep. Nevertheless, he grinned lazily and something pitched inside Julie.

His laugh was deep and masculine and made goose bumps scatter along Julie’s arms and a shiver pass up her spine. Her fingers tightened on the damp rag she’d been using to scrub at the oven top.

Wendy was out of her seat first and bolting across the kitchen to throw herself into Mason’s arms. He caught her like she weighed nothing and hoisted her up into the air. Rick hurried after his sister and was pulled against Mason’s hip with one hand pressing between the boy’s shoulder blades. Wendy was perched on his other hip for better support.

“Man, I missed you brats,” Mason told them, beaming from ear to ear. “You’ve grown.”

Wendy looped her thin arms around his throat and squeezed so tight Julie was afraid Mason’s head might pop off.

“We missed you!” the younger girl declared and planted a loud, wet kiss to Mason’s bushy cheek.

Rick squeezed his eyes closed and circled Mason’s waist with both arms. He looked like a kid at Christmas, clutching his most prized present. Julie felt herself melt, felt her lips curl. Then she caught herself.

Before he graduated high school and left for university, Mason had been their babysitter. Julie remembered all too well sitting at her bedroom window, watching them as he would chase the three around the yard next door. Their squeals and giggles could be heard for miles. He had always been really good with them, as Maureen had been kind enough to point out on the phone the night before. But his love for his cousins was never in question. It was his inexplicable ability to turn her inside out that worried Julie.

“Hey, bro.” Mason grinned lopsidedly at Dustin, who had yet to get out of his chair. “How’s it hanging?”

Dustin was more suave about the greeting. He meandered over like he was swaggering into a high end club and casually bumped his fist against Mason’s.

“It’s hanging,” Dustin said casually. “Does Mom know you’re here?”

Mason shuffled deeper into the room with Rick still clinging to his leg like a baby kola. He grunted slightly under all the weight, which made Wendy giggle and grip tighter to his neck.

“I talked to her last night,” he told Dustin.

“Did she say you could stay?” Rick chimed, tilting his head back to peer up into Mason’s face with wide blue eyes.

“She did.” Whoops and squeals filled the sunbaked kitchen at the news. Mason dumped Wendy into her chair and hoisted Rick up. He dropped the seven year old into his chair as well, freeing himself of children. “You guys are up way too early. What happened to sleeping in?”

“I smelled pancakes,” Wendy said. “Julie makes the best pancakes in the whole world.”

Those unfathomable blue eyes slid to the side and caught Julie in their web. “Does she now?”

Wendy nodded enthusiastically, making her brown bob swing wildly around her small face. “Have you ever tried them?”

“No,” Mason said slowly, still watching Julie. “I can’t say I have. She seems to be full of surprises lately.”

Torn between pitching the rag at him and bolting from the room, Julie found a small balance by turning away with the pretense of scrubbing the pots in the sink. But even while pretending not to notice, Julie could feel his eyes roaming over the expense of her back. Her skin prickled with heat and she had to stave off a shiver. Her better judgment lost the war and she stole a peek over her shoulder. Sure enough, his gaze clashed with hers instantly.

“I ate them all!” Wendy announced proudly. “I eat a lot. Mom says I have a black hole in my stomach.”

Mason mussed her hair fondly, but a little absently. He moved away from the table and wandered casually forward until only the island separated him from Julie. His palms pressed flat against the marble and he leaned forward.

“What does a guy have to do to get a stack of those pancakes?”

Refusing to be deterred by his captivating presence, Julie gestured to a nearby plate of French toast. “There’s French toast left if you—”

“French toast and I had a falling out a few years back.” He bit his lip in a way that was more than a little distracting to her senses. “I’d really like your pancakes, Jewels.”

Was he seriously trying to seduce her into making him breakfast after everything that had happened? It was absurd and yet...

Seizing a calming breath, she shook soap suds and water from her hands and turned to him.

“Everything you need is in that cupboard there.” She pointed to the pantry. “Except the milk and eggs, and don’t call me Jewels.” Drying her hands on the rag she snatched off the counter, she turned her attention on the kids. “Why don’t you guys get dressed? We’ll go for a hike.”

“I don’t want to go for a hike,” Dustin griped. “We’re on vacation.”

“I want to go!” Rick said, raising his arm into the air.

“Can I stay?” Dustin ignored his brother. “I’m old enough to be alone.”

“I think...” Julie hooked the rag onto the handle of the oven. “You can use some sun. Afterwards, once the water warms up, maybe we can try out the lake.”

Wendy and Rick were out of the room before Julie even finished. Dustin glared at her as though she’d suggested he gut a kitten with a box opener.

“The lake is disgusting. That’s why we have a pool.”

“Dustin,” Julie said slowly, trying to remind herself he was really a good kid behind the brat mask he wore. “You’re not going to fester on the sofa for the next four weeks playing Minecraft. We are going to go out, enjoy the weather, and have some fun.”

“I’m not a little kid!” Dustin snapped, leaping to his feet with such force, his chair skidded back and hit the floor with a deafening crash.

“Whoa, dude!” Mason turned to the younger man. “Chill.”

Pink spots appeared on Dustin’s cheeks. His balled hands trembled at his sides as he glowered from Mason to Julie. His glasses caught the light and glinted.

“Why are you taking her side?” Dustin accused hotly.

“I’m not taking anyone’s side,” Mason soothed. “But I do think you’re being a little harsh.” He jerked his head towards the door. “Come on. It sounds like fun. I’ll even join you.”

Dustin’s jaw worked like he was chewing steel, but he mashed his lips together and stormed from the room, muttering unintelligibly under his breath.

Julie exhaled once he was gone and folded her arms over her abdomen. “He’s usually a good kid,” she said, feeling the need to defend the boy. “He’s just having a hard time right now, what with the divorce and all.”

“Yeah, but that’s no excuse to be a little shithead,” Mason replied evenly.

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him what his excuse had been four years ago, but she opted against it and averted her gaze.

“Maybe.”

She heard him shuffle and looked back in time to watch as he planted both forearms on the counter and leaned in.

“So, listen.” He cleared his throat. “I think we got off on the wrong foot last night.”

Her brow lifted with interest. “Think so, huh?”

He rolled one broad shoulder in a shrug. The corner of his mouth lifted in that lopsided grin that made her heart miss a beat. “I’ve certainly never been ambushed before by a bat wielding maniac.”

Julie gasped in amused outrage. “Maniac?”

“Come on.” He straightened. “Even you have to admit that was like James Bond crazy.”

Julie huffed, folding her arms. “First I’m a maniac, now I’m crazy. Anything else?”

He groaned and dropped his chin forward. His eyes closed in a grimace. “I have never had this much trouble talking to a girl.”

“I’m finding that hard to believe.” She circled around the island to gather the dishes off the table.

He was studying her when she turned back. There was contemplation in his expression and something else that lit her skin on fire. The dishes in her hands rattled as her nerves jittered anxiously. The sound jolted her back to the present and she quickly ducked her head and hurried past him. She dropped the plates and cutlery into the soapy water and stayed to watch them sink to the bottom. Anything to keep from looking at him again.

“Julie...”

She didn’t budge, except to squeeze her eyes closed tight. She prayed he would go away and leave her alone with what was left of her sanity. But he stayed.

“Will you please look at me?”

It was only because of the mature voice in her head, reminding her she was an adult and that ignoring him was childish, that she braced herself and turned.

The expression on his face could only be described as pleading, maybe even guilt ridden and agonizing. It was not something she had ever seen there before, not on him. In all the years she had known him, he had never been anything but confident and so sure of himself. Now he was watching her with eyes that begged her to hear him out.

“We need to talk.”

Julie swallowed and it tasted bitter like bile. Her insides trembled fearfully, dreading what was about to come next.

“About what?”

He lowered his lashes to conceal his eyes while he watched his fingers drum restlessly on the counter between them. “You know what.”

“No.”

Screw being an adult. She wasn’t ready to face that door.

“Julie, please. We’re going to be here together for a week, don’t you think—”

“I think we should stay completely out of the other’s way,” she decided decisively. “You and your friends can do whatever it was you came here to do and I will watch the kids. And when the week is over, you will go on your way and we will never have to see each other again.”

“That won’t happen.” He spoke so quietly she almost didn’t hear him.

“Why?” She whipped around, anger making her eyes shimmer with tears. “Why can’t you just leave me alone?”

There was so much anguish in his eyes that she felt it like an open wound. He said nothing for so long that she was almost certain he wouldn’t. But then his mouth opened and words poured out.

“Because I made a promise.”

Julie blinked, disorientated by the unexpected curveball his declaration provoked. She stared at him in numb confusion while her mind spun around what he could possibly mean.

“What are you talking about?” she whispered.

He splayed his hands to her, palms up. “I just really need you to trust me.”

“Trust you?” she repeated slowly, like he had cursed at her. “How can I ever trust you again after you humiliated me in front of the entire school for no reason?”

A muscle bunched in Mason’s jaw and he averted his eyes like the sight of her was worse than a knife in the chest. “I know what I did was unforgivable and that I’m asking a lot—”

Julie backed away from him, not trusting herself not to pitch something at him if she remained too close. “No,” she bit out shakily. “You’re asking for the impossible.”

Without waiting for him to think of anything else to say, Julie hurried from the room with her shoulders squared and her head held high. Her hands trembled at her sides and she fisted them until her nails bit half-moons into the heels. At the top of the stairs, she willed herself to calm down, to suck in as much air as she could possibly squeeze into her lungs to make the ache stop. But all that did was made her want to curl up in a corner and sob. Already unwanted tears were clinging to her lashes and she had to bite a hole into her cheek to keep them from falling.

He had some nerve asking her to trust him. Just how stupid did he think she was? She sniffled angrily and swiped at the single tear that sliced down the apple of her cheek.

No. She had already cried enough tears for Mason Brody. She refused to shed anymore.

With that, she stiffened her spine and went in search of the children. She found Wendy in Rick’s room. The two were arguing about who stole whose towel. Julie intervened quickly before the yelling match turned into a fist fight.

“Are you guys ready?” she asked.

Dressed in green shorts and a pink t-shirt, Wendy gave a little jump, already forgetting about her argument with Rick. “Yes!”

Rick grabbed his Toronto Maple Leafs cap off his bed, stuck it down over his sandy brown hair, and grinned toothily up at her. “Ready!”

Dustin was already waiting for them downstairs in baggy jeans and a t-shirt that announced something about people drinking from the fountain of stupid. He blatantly ignored Julie as she led the group into the kitchen and out the back doors by blaring his iPod as loud as humanly possible without causing his eardrums to explode.

As per his promise, Mason was waiting for them on the patio. He must have changed while Julie had been talking Wendy and Rick out of a brawl, because he now wore sweat shorts in gun metal gray and a black t-shirt. A red baseball cap was pulled down over his face, which still needed a shaving. He grinned broadly at the kids. He even offered her a hint of a smile that struck her as almost apologetic, but she ignored him by ushering the children down the steps.

She took them down a winding trail that ran alongside the lake. Julie had never heard such a tranquil silence. There was nothing but the whisper of summer through the trees and the occasional scuttle of critters. Even Rick and Wendy seemed to be relishing the vast freedom as they scampered on ahead, chasing butterflies and tearing out every colorful weed they came across. The only one not enjoying the walk was Dustin, who was kicking everything in his path and grumbling under his breath. Mason stayed a decent four feet on Julie’s right side, hands lost in the pockets of his shorts. His hulking presence did nothing to calm the turmoil twisting through her with a vengeance that left her unable to concentrate on anything, except how to get away.

She picked up her pace, lengthening her strides, which really made no difference because two of her rushed steps were basically a normal step for him. Plan foiled, she returned to her normal clip. No point pulling something for nothing.

She exhaled loudly, but it was swallowed by a shriek of joy from Wendy as she propelled herself down a steep incline straight towards the lake.

“Wendy!” Julie sprinted after the girl.

But at the last second, Wendy shot left, following the dirt path as it curved, running parallel to the steady flow of water. Trees lined the edge, forming a makeshift barricade, but there was just enough opening for a person to squeeze through, slip on wet mud and go straight into the water.

“They do that all the time,” Mason said quietly from beside her. “It used to scare Auntie M to death until she put all three of them in swimming class. They can probably swim better than I can.”

Julie considered ignoring him. To respond would open a line of communication she didn’t want. But her traitorous tongue spoke, without a shred of consent from her.

“I can’t swim.”

He gave a small chuckle. “So you decided to babysit a pack of kids in a cabin on a lake?”

She shot him a sidelong glower. “I didn’t pick the location. Besides, it’s not that I can’t swim, really. It’s more like...” She paused to think of the correct term. “I can’t swim well.”

“My dad taught me to swim ... the hard way.” He chuckled and slid his glance towards the rippling water running alongside them. “By pitching me straight off that dock.”

“Oh my God!” Julie gasped.

“It wasn’t as bad as it sounds. My uncles were already in the lake and my dad was a champion swimmer in high school and college, so I was more or less safe.”

“But that is still ... it’s a wonder you even go near water after an experience like that. What did your mother say?”

He barked a laugh. “Mom was the one who gave him the idea.”

Julie stared at him, horrified. “I don’t even know which part of that to wrap my head around first.”

“Well, they may have had unorthodox methods, but I learned pretty damn quick how to get my head above water and keep it there.”

“I’m a little scared to ask how they taught you to drive,” she muttered, with a disbelieving shake of her head.

“Would you believe my grandfather taught me?”

Julie exhaled and rolled her eyes heavenward. “Is it wrong that I’m relieved on your behalf?”

Mason grimaced. He chuckled and scratched his brow with his thumbnail. “I got into the car with a helmet and four shots.”

“A helmet? Why...” She trailed off as the second part of his comment hit her. “Four shots?” Her eyes narrowed as she recalled the Jeep Cherokee he and his friends had blazed around town in. “How old were you when you got your license?”

He sucked in a deep breath. “Sixteen.”

“And you were drunk?”

Julie hadn’t exactly grown up with Mason. His aunt, Maureen, lived next door to her parents and she would see him occasionally when he would come by to watch the kids. They had also gone to the same school for years, but he had always been three whole grades ahead of hers and completely out of her circle. Except when he was babysitting and he would go into Maureen’s bedroom window, which was adjacent to her bedroom window, and wave her over. She would spend most of the night watching movies with him, or playing board games until it was bedtime for the kids ... and her.

It wasn’t until much later that she found out it was because he pitied her. Julie, who had never really had friends, had been devastated, because she had considered him her friend. Plus, by that time, she was already in love with him, only to learn it was all a lie.

“I wasn’t drunk.” He broke into the hot flames of her memories, scattering the ashes and leaving behind a smudge across her aching heart. “But I was buzzed just enough to stomach Grandpa’s driving. The man is insane.”

“And he’s the one your parents thought should be the one to teach you?”

She had met Mr. and Mrs. Brody on the odd occasion when she was babysitting and they would drop by to see Maureen. They had always struck her as fun, kind parents. She couldn’t picture them being so reckless with their only son.

“Grandpa used to drive in the Indy five hundred,” he explained. “He has never in his entire life gotten into an accident, or even gotten a ticket, unlike my mom. He’s the best driver in the family. But he still drives like he’s trying to make that next curve.”

Julie shook her head. “I am having a really hard time understanding your family, truth be told. But you made it to adulthood, so I guess it all worked out.”

“Yeah...” He pulled in air. Exhaled. “They’re unique, but they’re the best.”

Her gaze flicked to him and his wistful tone before she quickly focused on the kids again.

“So where are your friends?” she asked.

“Sleeping.” Mason bent down and scooped a stone off the path. He tossed it a few times into the air and caught it deftly. The strobes of sunlight piercing through the canopy of trees overhead caught the smooth curves and glinted brightly. “They won’t be up until noon.”

“Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“Fourteen years of waking up at six am ... I don’t even know what sleeping in is anymore.”

Julie chuckled. “I’ve always been a morning person, which used to drive my parents nuts, especially when I was a kid and they were forced to get up with me. It was always a problem, because my mom wouldn’t get home until late from some event and my dad is a pilot so he was always fighting jet leg. I think it was a relief for both of them when I was finally old enough not to burn the house down making toast.”

Mason laughed and the sound rang through the trees as sweet and addictive as melted chocolate. His eyes shone when they slid to her. “Do you still live at home?”

Mouth painfully dry, Julie shook her head. “No, I got my own place two years ago when I started university.”

He pitched the rock deep into the bushes. It hit a trunk with a clunk and disappeared from sight in some foliage.

“No roommates?”

Julie shook her head. “I like my privacy.”

He nodded slowly, like it made perfect sense. “I guess it would be hard scheduling when to bring your boyfriend home with a roommate.”

She thought about it.

“Yeah, I guess that would be a problem,” she decided at last. “I also don’t like getting permission to bring people into my home, so that’s another reason.”

He kicked hard at a chunk of stone and sent it rolling down the path.

“So how come your boyfriend didn’t come with you on this trip? I mean, this would be the ideal getaway.”

Julie watched him thoughtfully while she mulled over his question. “Not really. I’m here to watch three crazy kids. When do you think we would have any downtime?”

He shrugged, but the motion was tense. “I don’t know, but I do know that if I were in his place, I wouldn’t want you up here alone.”

Julie snorted at the ridiculousness of his statement. “Because I might get eaten by a bear?”

There was a hard intensity in his gaze when they locked with hers. “It’s dangerous. You never know what kind of crazy person is out there in those woods.”

“Well, I can look after myself.” She jerked her face forward. “As I already proved last night.”

He shot her a frown that was a poor mask for the grin he was fighting back.

“You got lucky,” he muttered. “You caught us off guard.” The humor dissolved from his eyes and he forced a hand through his hair. “So what’s his name?”

Julie, caught off guard by the unexpected question, blinked. “Whose name?”

“Your boyfriend.” He didn’t say it so much as spat it like it was a dirty word.

Julie eyed him as though he’d lost his mind. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Mason’s brows winged up and his eyes widened, and if she wasn’t mistaken, there was interest and maybe even glee behind the look he shot her, even if it was mixed with apprehension.

“But you said ... all that talk about roommates...”

“I thought we were being hypothetical,” she replied evenly.

Whatever else he wanted to say was interrupted by Julie’s attention fixing on the children and the steep incline dropping straight onto a large opening next to the lake.

She bolted after them as they started pitching rocks into the water.

“Guys, can you back up a little? The mud there looks slippery.”

“They’re fine.” Mason caught up to her. “I’ve jumped off this point a million times. It’s like three feet deep.”

Hesitant, Julie nibbled her lip and fiddled with the butterfly pendent around her throat. The hoop slid back and forth over the tiny ridges as anxiety knotted up inside her with every step the children took closer to the water.

“Is that the best you guys can do?”

Moving around Julie, Mason swooped down and snatched up a flat, smooth stone. He drew back his arm and, with a flick of his wrist, sent it bouncing smoothly over the glimmering surface of the lake.

“It’s all in the wrist,” he told Rick when the boy flung a chunk of dirt that immediately hit the water with a splash and sunk.

Julie stood back and observed as Mason showed the kids how to skip the perfect stone. Dustin was the only one who seemed immune to the shrieking and fun. He stalked off further down the path and flopped gracelessly down at the foot of a tree. He raised both knees and folded his arms on top.

With a sigh, Julie went to him, ignored the dirty look he cast her, and lowered herself down next to him.

“Hey.”

He didn’t reply.

“Do you know how to skip stones?”

Still nothing.

“Why don’t you give it a shot?” she tried again, and when she got no response again, she sighed. “Look, I know you don’t want to be here—”

“I never said that,” he muttered.

“Then why—?”

“I just don’t want to be here with you.” The sun sparked off the lenses of his glasses when he turned his head sharply in her direction. “You shouldn’t be here.”

Trying not to feel hurt, or take offense, Julie nodded slowly. “I know you used to come here with your parents, but—”

“Stop trying to understand me!” He lunged to his feet. “You don’t know anything.”

Stabbing her with a sneer that struck her like a physical blow, he stomped off.

Julie shot up, prepared to hurry after him. “Dustin, wait—”

“Let him go.” Mason took a step towards her, hands in his pockets. He watched the boy’s retreating back with his mouth forming a thin, white line. “He can’t go anywhere but back to the cabin.”

“But he could get lost, or—”

“Not really.” He shifted his attention to her. “We’ve been here too many times for that. Besides, like I said, the path goes in a circle and leads straight back to the cabin.”

“Mason! Did you see?” Rick took that moment to grab Mason’s arm and yank him back towards the lake’s edge. “It skipped like ten times!”

“It did not, stupid!” Wendy scolded. “It like got confused and skipped once.”

“My rock did not get confused!” Rick protested.

“That’s awesome!” Mason quickly intervened. “Show me.”

He was nothing if not infinitely patient and indulgent. Even as children, he had always been so kind to everyone and everyone loved him for it. It was never any surprise that every girl in school had fawned over him, but in Julie’s mind, none of them had what she had—her times with him when he was babysitting. She had been so certain he cared about her, too. That he would pick her.

Then he had brought over his first girlfriend, a pretty brunette with too many teeth and perfect skin. Julie had wanted to die. It had been the first time he’d crushed her heart to powder, but not the last.

As they always did, memories of that night picked at the crude stitches over her heart, agitating the never healing wound. The physical pang had her rubbing at the soreness with the heel of one hand while the other toyed with her pendent.

“Julie? What’s wrong?”

Caught in a moment of temporary vulnerability, Julie quickly straightened and checked her watch.

“We should head back for lunch.”

Not waiting to see what Mason was thinking, Julie ushered the kids away from the lake and propelled them back towards the cabin.

Shaun and Luis were both in the kitchen when the group returned. They sat over bowls of soggy cornflakes as something like Machine Wars played on the flat screen in the next room.

In the bright light of the afternoon sun, Shaun looked even worse than he had the night before. The swelling around his nose and eyes was vividly visible where the butt of the bat had struck him square between the eyes. The skin, already dark with stubble, looked agitated, tender, and angry. Julie almost felt horrible.

“We were beginning to wonder where you’d gone off to,” Luis said when they walked in. “We thought maybe she killed you in your sleep and was off burying your body.”

Scooping Wendy off his shoulders and setting her down, Mason scoffed. “Unlike you two, she didn’t get the jump on me.”

“No.” Shaun shoveled a spoonful of cereal into his mouth. “She just kicked your balls up into your—”

“Okay!” Julie quickly intervened. “There are children in the room.”

Shaun had the decency to wince and mutter, “Sorry.”

She turned to the two wide pairs of eyes watching the interaction with mute curiosity.

“Why don’t you guys get your swimsuits? I’ll pack us a lunch and we’ll go for a swim.”

Rick and Wendy practically trampled over each other trying to get out of the room. Dustin was nowhere to be seen, but Julie had a suspicion he was the one parked in front of the TV.

Julie exhaled and turned to find three sets of eyes studying her every move. Unlike the night before, they shared a unified expression—confusion mixed with a touch of suspicion.

“We were never introduced properly.” Luis broke the silence. “I’m Luis. This is Shaun—”

“She knows, dumbass,” Shaun muttered, returning to his breakfast ... brunch.

Some of Luis’s smile faded and was replaced by a splash of coloring that darkened his otherwise pale complexion. “Right...”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Julie said, ignoring Shaun and no longer feeling half as bad about giving him two black eyes. “I’m Julie.”

Luis broke into a charming smile that revealed slightly crooked teeth. “So that was seriously some impressive tactical maneuvering last night.”

Julie chuckled. “That was eight years of my father insisting his daughter would never be anyone’s victim. But thank you, and I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

“Whoa!” Mason, no longer entertained by the interaction, stepped forward, hands up. “Whoa, whoa, wait.” He jerked a thumb towards Luis. “How come he gets an apology?”

Julie snorted at the ridiculous question. “Because I like him.” She shot Luis a wink.

Luis beamed. “Well, it was seriously hot...” Luis flushed. “I mean...”

Stifling her laugh, Julie inclined her head. “Thank you.”

“Back off, Romeo,” Shaun mumbled. “Stop slobbering all over her.”

“I wasn’t slobbering!” Luis looked to Julie. “I wasn’t.”

Biting the inside of her cheek to contain her laughter, Julie started around the counter towards the fridge.

No one said anything as she pulled items out for the picnic and set them on the counter. Mason and Luis parked themselves on a stool on either side of Shaun and began a very detailed discussion on making a trip into town for supplies.

Julie fought desperately to ignore Mason’s dominating presence, but it was like ignoring a forest fire when it was only feet away from you. She could feel his heat washing over her through the space dividing them. But she pulled together a quick lunch of sandwiches, cheese and fruits and was absently sweeping clean the counter when Luis slid back his stool and announced he had emails to check. Shaun, after finishing his cereal, dumped his bowl into the sink and stomped off to find a chair in front of the TV with Dustin, leaving Mason there to pick idly at the container of roast beef until Julie threatened to cut his fingers off.

“You are truly a violent woman,” he decided. “I feel like no part of me is safe with you.” Before she could stop him, he snatched a large chunk of meat and scurried towards the door. “For the road,” he said around the hunk he had shoved into his mouth.

Julie watched him warily as he strolled from the kitchen and disappeared into the hallway. She shook her head as his footsteps faded into the distance.

She was still standing at the island, staring at the giant sun spill burning blindingly on the hardwood floor from the open terrace door, when Wendy bounded into the room. She had to blink back the splotches of light before she could focus on the girl.

She wore a one piece yellow swimsuit and flip flops with a pink towel slung over one tiny shoulder. She threw it carelessly over a stool and scrambled up onto another to watch as Julie collected herself out of her own thoughts and tried to remember what needed to be done next.

“Can I go to the lake?” she asked.

“Let’s wait for everyone else,” Julie replied.

Wendy mashed her chin into her palms and huffed. “But I know how to swim,” she said.

“Yes, but you still can’t go alone.”

“But I’m nine!” Wendy argued.

Julie looked up at her. “Yes, but you need to wait, okay? There are still a few things that need to be done before we can go down and I don’t want you there alone.”

Wendy puckered her lips, but didn’t push.

Rick bounced into the room next, wearing navy blue trunks. He shoved Wendy’s towel to the ground and scurried up on the stool.

“Rick threw my towel to the ground!” Wendy wailed.

“It was taking up a whole stool!” Rick protested.

Julie sighed. “Guys, keep it together. We’re almost done. Rick, please pick up the towel and put it over a chair.”

Grumbling, Rick slipped off the stool, snatched up the towel, and tossed it heedlessly onto the table where it slid across the glass and stopped short of flipping off the edge and onto the floor again.

With the basket packed and two of the three kids ready, Julie turned to the children.

“I’m going to run upstairs and get dressed. You two are not allowed to leave the house until I get back, okay?”

The two nodded with all the looks of innocent angels. Too bad she knew them too well.

“Promise?” Julie urged. “You have to stay right here.”

Again, the two nodded, but in no way did it ease her mind. She was contemplating taking them upstairs with her and making them wait in their rooms until she was done when Mason sauntered in. His dark hair had been shoved back by hasty fingers, yet several strands had tumbled recklessly over his brow and the black plastic of his sunglasses. His jaw was freshly shaven and Julie was torn between which look she liked better on him. He was topless, miles of taut, toned muscle bared for viewing pleasure. His torso reminded Julie of Greek battle armor, chiseled and defined with absolute perfection. Everything from the hard cuts of his breast plates to the taper of his narrow waist and the rock hard groves etched into his stomach were designed to make a smart girl go stupid. Black swimming trunks hung low on lean hips and her gaze was caught in the V that disappeared into the waistband.

He meandered to the opposite end of the island, tossed down a towel she hadn’t noticed him holding, and swept off his glasses. He gingerly folded the plastic arms, rested them on the counter next to the towel, and drew his bottom lip between his teeth. The right corner quirked. His lashes dropped to half-masts over twinkling blue eyes as he peered through them at her.

Julie, who was scarcely breathing, never mind being capable of rational thought, could do nothing but stare back, wide-eyed and flushed.

Mason rolled his tongue over his teeth and cocked his head ever so slightly to the side. “Just tell me when, baby.”

Julie blinked. The movement felt slow and dazed. “When what?”

He folded toned forearms on the counter between them and lowered his voice to a gravelly purr only she could hear. “When you want me to make that aching stop.”

The slow, steady thrum that had been building high in the junction of her thighs gave a desperate twang. The walls clenched like they could somehow wrap around his guttural words and ride them straight to climax. Arousal slickened her folds, dampening her panties, and she wished he would stop watching her so she could at least shift her weight to elevate some of the pressure.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied, horribly when her voice gave a tremor, betraying just how hot the longing was.

His grin was slow and devastating, but it was also knowing and wicked. “Don’t you?” His gaze traveled down her flushed face to linger on the front of her top where she could feel the fabric straining over the hard peaks of her nipples. They tightened almost painfully under the hot scrutiny of his eyes. “Well, then, I would be really careful how you watch a guy, sweetheart, because I will fuck you, long, hard, and fast. That’s what your eyes are begging me to do.”

The pang blossomed into a full blown throb of agony that almost sent her to the floor. It shot splinters of electricity up her limbs to crackle in the pit of her stomach. Images of him filling her, stretching her walls, and sliding deep inside her nearly tore a whimper from her lips. She bit it back and willed herself to get a grip.

“You’re imagining things.” She muttered with far more resolve than she possessed. She swallowed audibly and turned her attention to the two fiddling with Mason’s glasses. “Can you two go upstairs while I change into my swimsuit?”

“I’ll watch them.” Mason took his glasses off Wendy’s face and tweaked her nose fondly.

Julie hesitated. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely! Now hurry.” He rounded those darkened eyes on her face, the look in them hungry. “I want to get you wet.”

Jelly-kneed and tongue-tied for the first time in her life, Julie could think of nothing to say that wouldn’t wind up with her begging him to make it stop. She had to remind herself he was toying with her. That he probably didn’t even mean it, in which case, it was just cruel and she was sure she would die from female blue balls—if such a thing existed.

Turning on her heels, she hurried from the room and down the hall. At the front doors, she paused, wondering if anyone bothered picking up that morning’s paper. She then wondered if anyone even bothered delivering that far from town.

Bypassing her original destination towards the stairs, she crossed to the door, wrenched it open ... and screamed.

Chapter Four

They hung from the doorframe, a macabre wind chime held by fishing wire, their limp little bodies swaying with the late afternoon breeze that was now tinted with the coppery scent of blood and meat that had been left in the sun too long. It was the smell that instantly shut her up. It slammed into the back of her throat, tickling her gag reflex.

Julie staggered back, away from the smell and sight, and collided with something that had long, strong arms snapping around her. She didn’t care whose hold she was in. She turned into their naked chest and mashed her face into their neck.

“Julie?” The pulse at Mason’s throat hammered against her lips. “What...?”

Words failed him as he stared at the open doorway. His arms tightened around her as he swore under his breath.

“What’s going on?” Wendy appeared in the hallway alongside Rick. A second later, Dustin and Shaun were also standing in the hallway with confusion and alarm on their faces.

Mason came out of his shock first; he slammed the front door shut and turned to the crowd with a trembling and clammy Julie still clasped to him protectively.

“Mouse,” he told them with a completely calm tone. He even sounded amused. “Girls,” he added and she could almost hear the roll of his eyes.

Rick giggled.

“I’m not afraid of a mouse,” Wendy declared, affronted.

“But you’re brave,” Mason told her. “Julie ... not so much. Hey, I think I saw a box of cookies in the cupboard. Why don’t you guys wait for us in the kitchen, okay?”

“Julie said we can’t—”

“It’s fine,” Julie choked out, extracting herself from Mason’s sturdy hold. “Just stay in the kitchen.”

“Come on before she comes out of her shock!” Rick hissed and grabbed his sister.

Wendy didn’t need to be told twice. She chased Rick into the kitchen. A moment later, a new set of feet hurried down the stairs. Luis glanced anxiously from face to face with questions in his eyes.

“What’s going on? I heard screaming.”

Rather than answer his friend, Mason waved Dustin over. “Can you do me a favor? Can you keep an eye on Rick and Wendy for a few minutes?”

“Why? What’s going on?” Dustin asked.

“Some cat brought a dead mouse to the door. I don’t want them to see it when I clean it up.” Said so smoothly, even Julie, who knew it was a complete lie, almost believed him. Wanted to believe him. “I could really use your help, bro.”

Dustin seemed to swell with the idea of being needed, especially by someone he considered as cool as Mason. He puffed out his thin chest and gave a terse nod. “No problem.”

“Thanks, man.”

With a shared fist bump, he darted into the kitchen with his siblings. And only when he was gone did the light fade from Mason’s eyes. He marched to the door and wrenched it open. Julie was prepared this time—she turned away. The hand she had no recollection of mashing into her mouth felt sweaty and hot against her skin, but she didn’t take it away.

“Whose idea of a sick joke is this?” he growled in a low hiss, gaze darting between Shaun and Luis.

“Dude, I was in the living room the whole time,” Shaun said.

Luis just stared, open mouthed in horror. There was a green tinge soaking through his pale complexion. She prayed to god he didn’t vomit, because there would be no stopping her from following suit if he did.

“Someone did this,” Mason said fiercely. “And since we’re the only ones tall enough to reach—”

“Why are you looking at us?” Shaun snapped. “It could have easily been her.” He jabbed a finger towards Julie.

“It wasn’t me!” Julie willed herself to say. “I would never do something so vile!”

“Well, we’ve been in the house this whole time,” Shaun said. “One of us would have heard if someone was hammering kittens into the doorframe.”

Julie’s stomach heaved at his blasé attitude towards the situation. She tasted bile in her throat when she swallowed.

“Keep your fucking voice down!” Mason snarled. “We were out for most of the morning with the kids. You two were the only ones here.”

“And we didn’t hear jack!” Shaun replied hotly. “Unless you’re accusing us of being psychopaths?”

Mason straightened his shoulders and stared at his two friends. “We are the only people here for miles. It’s literally an hour drive into town. That’s how isolated we are. Someone here did this.”

No one spoke, or looked at anyone else. The silence was deafening, overpowered by the stench Mason was letting waft into the foyer through the door he held open. Julie wished he would shut it. With every soft breeze, the limp little figures swayed and the sight was just revolting and heart wrenching.

At long last, when it became apparent that no one was going to admit to the crime, Mason shut the door and sighed.

“Help me clean it up before the kids see,” he said to his friends.

“Wait!” Julie moved to stand between them and him. “You can’t clean it up. We have to phone the police. This is serious.”

For one fleeting second, Mason and Shaun exchanged glances over her head before those blue eyes were on her once more.

“I don’t think that will be necessary,” he said.

Julie blinked and then frowned. “Not necessary? Someone butchered those poor...” She couldn’t even bring herself to say it. “And then hung them up like Christmas ornaments. I’m sorry, but we’re phoning the police.”

Mason exhaled so heavily that it ended in a low growl. “Okay, fine. I’ll phone them. You get the kids out to the pool.”

“The pool? Why—?”

“Because they’re expecting it and if you want to keep this from them, they can’t be here when the police arrive.”

Julie shook her head. “But I—”

“I’ll call you when they get here. I promise,” he added when she continued to stand there.

Cradling her insides together solely by willpower alone, Julie accepted his assurance with a solemn nod. She ducked her head and made a straight line to the powder room and the solitude it promised.

Inside, she locked the door and slumped over the sink. Her stomach muscles churned and coiled like an angry serpent prepared to lash out. It writhed until she was all but sagging under the counter. It was by sheer grace that she heaved herself up. Her fingers fumbled with the knob as she twisted cold water into the porcelain basin and scrubbed at her face. The icy burn of it on her flushed face made her choke upon contact, but she splashed until she was no longer in danger of fainting.

It had to have been Shaun, she thought, snapping the water off and reaching for a hand towel. No one else was capable of that much cruelty. She had often wondered how Mason could be friends with someone who took pleasure in terrorizing others. But shoving people in the hallway and knocking books out of people’s hands was a far leap from torturing and killing innocent creatures. Or was one synonymous with the other? Escalation of crimes wasn’t unheard of. Small, cruel things later growing into more heinous and nightmarish acts. At least, that’s what her textbooks said about serial killers. After all, wasn’t the torture of animals the first step?

She shuddered and held her breath as another wave of nausea passed over her. Her heart drummed between her ears, almost muffling the low, urgent whispers coming from the hallway.

“You’re not seriously going to phone the police,” Shaun was saying when she held her breath and moved to listen more closely.

“I said I would,” came Mason’s short retort.

“Why? Because some walking vagina told you to?”

Julie’s gasp of disgusted outrage was swallowed by Mason’s agitated response.

“No, because it’s the right thing to do.”

“Right,” Shaun scoffed. “You know exactly what will happen the minute you call the cops, and yet you’re still going to do it because you’ve always been a little bitch when it comes to her.”

“This has nothing to do with her.”

“Bullshit!” Shaun spat. “She is the root of everything you’ve ever done.”

Confusion drew Julie’s brows in a knot between her eyes. She pressed closer to the door, but whatever Mason said was too low to hear, although the tone rippled with an anger that left a hot wave through the room.

“You expect me to believe that?” Shaun shot back. “Like I don’t know—”

“Shaun, enough.”

Mason didn’t shout, but there was a finality in his tone that speared the air with an icy arrow. Julie half expected ice particles to begin forming on the door and dripping off the doorknob.

“I get that you’re pissed,” Mason continued in a more even tone. “Because of your nose—”

“Fucking right I’m pissed!” Shaun practically shouted. “Question is, why aren’t you?”

“Because I know why she did it.” Mason was cool and collected again. “Those are my cousins in there and she was protecting them. I’m not going to blame her for that. Also, if you guys are telling me you didn’t do that shit outside, then someone did and, like it or not, we need to call the police.”

There was more snarling and growling from Shaun, silence from Mason and finally, the stomp of boots on the stairs as someone—Julie assumed it was Shaun judging from the furious pounding—left the hallway. There was a heartbeat of silence, then a door slamming shut overhead.

She pushed away from the door now that there was nothing left to hear. She straightened her clothes, ran anxious hands through her hair, and double checked her reflection before prying open the door and peeking out.

The foyer was void of life. The low whine of commercials spilled out of the sitting room and there was a chattering coming from the kitchen. She padded quietly to the first door and peered in. Dustin, Rick, and Wendy looked up from the table, faces smudged with chocolate and a whole box of Oreos empty on the table between them. From the island, Luis met her glance, still looking ashen and shaken, but he gave her a feasible smile that was probably meant to comfort her if it hadn’t appeared so strained.

“You said we could!” Rick said quickly, as if worried she was about to chew them out.

Julie smiled at him halfheartedly at him. “It’s okay, but now you have to wait to get into the pool.”

“Can we still play outside?” Wendy asked.

Casting another glance at Luis, Julie nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Whooping in excitement, Wendy and Rick hopped out of their chairs and bolted for the backdoor. Dustin popped another cookie into his mouth and followed. Unlike his siblings, he wasn’t dressed for swimming. He still wore his jeans and t-shirt and his DS was poking out of his pocket. Julie let it go. She was in no mood to argue.

“Did he call?” she asked Luis once the kids were out the door.

He nodded. “He’s upstairs,” he said. “He asked me to stay with you guys. If that’s okay?”

Julie nodded. “Of course.”

They left the kitchen together and ventured down the stone step towards the flat stretch of land separating the house from the lake. The grass here was unnaturally bright, almost artificial and the pool was a blue gem right in the center. The grass around it was more faded, almost yellow where they ran alongside the path leading down to the dock. A basketball court and outdoor lounge area sat beneath a beautiful, white canopy, looking more like a resort than a cabin in the woods.

Julie went for the lounge as the Rick and Wendy chased each other around the basketball court. Luis took the recliner next to her as Dustin flopped down in one of the chairs surrounding the glass table almost ten feet from where Julie sat and pulled out his game system. No one spoke. Only the rustle of leaves as the wind blew through the branches and the children’s squeals broke the silence.

“Are you okay?” Luis asked quietly.

Jolted from her reverie, Julie looked at him. “No, honestly. I’m kind of really freaked out.”

Luis nodded. “I’m really sorry.”

Julie shrugged. “Not your fault. I mean, it’s not like you did it.” She searched his face. “Right?”

Both of his hands went up in the air, a sign of surrender. “I swear.”

Maybe it was the fact that he looked positively clammy, but she believed him.

“I just can’t believe someone could do something like that,” she whispered.

Luis’s Adam’s apple bobbed rapidly and what little color he had remaining blanched. “What I can’t believe is the lack of empathy it would take to...”

They both lapsed into a tense silence and watched as Wendy shoved Rick from behind, making him stumble and cry out in indignation.

“I just can’t believe we never heard anything,” Luis went on after a moment. “I feel like if I had...”

Julie shook her head. “I don’t think there’s anything you could have done. The person is clearly unstable.”

Luis turned his gaze out over the basketball court where Wendy and Rick were now having a game of blind man’s bluff.

“Hopefully the police will find them.”

Julie couldn’t agree more.

It was almost ten minutes later when Mason joined them. He took the chair on Julie’s other side. Julie and Luis immediately leaned closer to him.

“They’re on their way,” Mason muttered with a hard edge in his tone.

Relieved, Julie exhaled. “Thank goodness. I should call Maureen.” Instead, she drew her knees to her chest. “But I don’t know what to tell her.”

“Just wait until the men in blue get here and sort things out,” Mason said, keeping his voice low so Dustin wouldn’t overhear. “No point freaking her out without proper information.”

Seeing no reason to disagree, Julie sat back, tucking her legs under her. A cool breeze swept across the yard, ruffling the sheer curtains around the canopy and brushing over the sweat clinging to her skin. It smelled like grass, sulfur, dirt ... and blood. Maybe the latter was part of her imagination, but it continued to perfume the picture-perfect scene she was so desperately trying to cling on to. Everything that had started with such promise felt tainted. Part of her ached to bolt into the house and shower, but she knew that would do no good. She couldn’t scrub the image from the inside of her eyelids.

“Hey.” Mason drew her attention away from the swaying branches in the distance. “Everything will be okay.”

The fact that he actually believed that, smacked her with an anger that drew tears to her eyes. “Unless you have a crystal ball, Mason, you can’t possibly know that.”

He blinked, momentarily taken aback by the sharpness of her voice. “No, I can’t for certain. No one can, but we can try and make sure it doesn’t.”

That wasn’t any better. She wanted him to assure her that everything would be okay, that he would make certain of it. She needed reassurance. But reasoning told her that he had no grounds for giving it to her, because, as he said, no one could be certain. So the fact remained, some lunatic had committed one of the most heinous crimes Julie had ever been witness to and was still at large.

“Julie! Can we go in now?” Rick shouted from the other side of the pool.

Julie checked her watch, trying to remember how long it had been since they polished off the box of cookies. Then she wondered if the whole don’t eat before swimming notion applied to cookies, or a larger meal.

“I’ll go in with them,” Luis offered, already hefting his lanky frame off the lounge chair.

He peeled his t-shirt off and dropped it onto the cushion before starting on his shoes. He was even paler under his clothes. Almost translucent. It was like the harsh glint of sunlight over freshly fallen snow, nearly impossible to look directly at.

“Are you sure, Luis?”

Luis waved a hand, dismissing her concern while he toed his sandals off and hoisted his shorts a little higher around his hips.

Grateful, Julie smiled at him before fixing her attention on the boy a few feet away.

“Dustin, why don’t you take a dip with the others?” she suggested.

“I don’t want to swim,” he muttered, his unblinking gaze never lifting from the game’s screen.

“Hey, come on,” Luis coaxed. “We can have a game of Marco Polo. I’ll be it.”

Dustin rolled unimpressed eyes upwards and pinned Luis with a dry scowl. “Seriously?”

“Dude,” Mason warned.

Dustin threw open his arms. “Does it look like I’m even dressed to swim? Common sense need not apply, right?”

“That is it!” Julie snapped. “You’re grounded!”

“You can’t ground me!” Dustin shot back. “You’re not my mom.”

Julie barked a harsh laugh. “Well, that just makes you lucky. Get inside and go to your room. What you just said was horribly rude and when you return, I expect you to apologize to Luis.”

“No fucking way!”

Appalled, horrified, and furious, Julie slapped her armrests. “Upstairs. Now! And you better believe I will be calling your mother about this.”

“That’s bullshit!”

Dustin kicked his chair back, sending it careening to the concrete. His cheeks glowed a murderous red that shone in the wires of his glasses, giving his eyes a demonic hue. The knuckles on his hands blanched white at his sides. They trembled like he wanted nothing more than to pound them into someone’s face—possibly Julie’s.

“I hate you!” he snarled through clenched teeth. “I hope you die.”

“Dustin!” Mason was on his feet, but Dustin had already shot past them and was running back towards the house.

“Leave him,” Julie said when Mason started after the boy. “He just needs to calm down.”

Mason remained standing, gaze fixed on Dustin’s retreating back with a glimmer of irritation sparking behind his eyes

“What he needs is a good beating,” he muttered under his breath.

Julie turned a deaf ear on the comment. She squinted up at Luis. “I’m really sorry about that.”

Luis shrugged his bony shoulders. “Not a big deal.” He slapped his hands together and rubbed them with a mad glint in his eyes as he twisted around to face the pair standing by the pool, watching the whole incident with looks of hesitation. “Now, who do I throw into the pool first?”

Rick and Wendy squealed and booked it as Luis let out a roar and charged after them.

Julie forced out a small laugh.

“I’m sorry as well,” Mason murmured, as he regained his seat.

Julie tossed him a glance. “Why are you sorry?”

“Because he’s my cousin,” he said evenly. “And I know he can be a little shit, but he’s never this bad.”

“It’s not his fault,” she replied. “He’s just taking the divorce really hard.”

“Yeah, but kids go through divorces all the time and it’s not easy; but you don’t take it out on everyone around you, especially not people who are trying to help you.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “You sound like you’re talking from experience.”

He snorted. “No, my parents are still disgustingly in love, but I was taught not to be a douche.”

“Mm,” was all she said and hoped he didn’t hear the mocking disbelief in the hum.

Thankfully, if he heard it, he didn’t comment. Instead, they both lapsed into silence and watched as Luis pitched first Wendy, then Rick into the pool before following them in with a cannon ball.

“He’s nice,” she mused, more to herself than to Mason.

But he answered. “Yeah, he is.”

“Where did you find him?” she asked.

“He answered the ad Shaun and I put out for a roommate. That was two years ago. He grows on you.” There was fondness in the remark, the one she heard often when he spoke of his family.

“I’m surprised Shaun accepted another person in your life,” she remarked with just a hint of an edge in the words. “He’s always been very possessive of you.”

Something flickered behind his eyes but was quickly masked when he lowered his gaze to the space between his feet.

“Shaun had a tough time growing up. I was the only friend he had.”

You were the only friend I ever had and yet you never hesitated when crushing my soul beneath your heel.

“I’m glad you two had each other.”

Maybe traces of her resentment had seeped from the words into the air, or maybe he knew somehow she didn’t mean it, because he turned his head and his ever watchful eyes settled on her face. She felt the heat of it against her skin, hotter than the sun. It burned her cheeks until they were glowing a faint pink.

“Julie...”

She was saved from enduring the helplessness that sparkled like embers behind his steady watchfulness when two dark figures stepped out from around the side of the house and started down the incline towards them. She recognized the brown uniforms immediately and stiffened.

“Mason.” She jerked her head over his shoulder.

He twisted around in his seat and squinted at the pair before climbing to his feet. Julie did the same and they walked together to greet their guests.

Both officers were male, but while one was tall and built, the one in front with the sour expression was clearly the one in charge. He was shorter, rounder around the stomach, and had a face made for old western movies, right down to the fat mustache. He knuckle-tipped his sheriff’s hat and glanced through narrowed eyes first at Julie, then at Mason. His expression didn’t warm. If anything, his lips curled, making his mustache twitch.

“Mason Brody,” the man drawled in a voice that no one wanted a cop to use while saying their name. It was filled with annoyance, disgust, and wary distrust.

“Deputy,” Mason muttered, looking nowhere pleased by the man’s presence.

The man tipped back his hat even further to show the thin, white line across his forehead where his tan didn’t reach. “It’s sheriff now,” he said lazily, puffing out his chest so the afternoon sun glinted off the silver badge fastened to his shirt. “Has been for near three years. You’ve been gone a long time, son.”

A muscle worked in Mason’s jaw. “Seems that way.”

“Can’t say I’m overly pleased to have you back,” the sheriff went on. “Has it really been five years already?”

The corner of Mason’s mouth quirked up in an almost smug smirk. “Time flies.”

“It certainly does.” The sheriff tucked his thumbs into the loops of his belt and rocked back slightly to peer at the pool and Luis playing with the children. “So what seems to be the problem here?”

It was hard to imagine they hadn’t seen it pulling up in front of the house. Yet if they had, they were doing a damn good job masking their thoughts on the matter.

“We had an incident about an hour ago,” she explained. “I went to—”

“And you are?” the sheriff interrupted, digging out a battered notepad from the breast pocket of his dress shirt.

“Oh, uh ... I’m Julie Brewer,” she said.

He scribbled that down in the pad. “And your business here, Ms. Brewer?”

“I’m babysitting the Vance children,” she said and gestured in the direction of the pool.

“Uh huh...” More scribbling. “And what can you tell me about the incident?”

Julie slanted a quick glance towards Mason, caught his eye before turning back to the sheriff.

“Well, I went to see if there was a morning paper outside and ... didn’t you see them?” she asked, glancing from the sheriff to the other officer standing mutely behind the sheriff’s round shoulders.

“We did,” the sheriff replied evenly. “So you went to get the paper and...?”

Julie frowned. “And what? They were hanging there.”

“Right and what did you do?”

“I screamed,” Julie said, annoyance growing.

“And were they there last night?”

“Of course not!” she practically shouted. “The blood is clearly fresh. It had to have happened between the hours of two and ten.”

The sheriff raised his head and eyed her. “Know a lot about blood, do you?”

Indignation sharpened her voice when she answered, “I’m studying to become a forensic investigator, so yes, you can say that.”

A brow lifted on his oval face. “Is that so?” He folded his hands in front of him. “And what exactly do your studies tell you happened here?”

Teeth gritting, Julie lifted herself up to her full height. “Shouldn’t you be telling us? You’re the professional here.”

If he was angered by her remark, he didn’t show it. If anything, he grinned.

“Humor me, Ms. Brewer.”

Drawing in a breath, Julie thought of the crime scene the way she’d been taught at school and hated it. Despite being perfectly aware of what her choice in professional entailed, she had never been to a real crime scene. Everything she knew, she’d learned from her books. The real thing was a whole other experience.

“I would need to run tests and examine the scene—”

“Where were you this morning, Ms. Brewer?”

Thrown for a loop, Julie faltered in her response. “I was here. I made the kids breakfast and then we went for a walk. We returned about midday.”

“And were they there when you returned?”

Julie shrugged. “I don’t know ... I would think so, but we went in through the back.”

Those piercing green eyes went to Mason. “And what about you, Mr. Brody? Where were you?”

“He was with me,” Julie blurted. “I mean, he came on the walk with me ... us. With me and the kids.”

“And you’ve been with Mr. Brody all morning?”

Julie nodded. “Yes.”

“How about last night?”

Heat prickled her cheeks. “We only met last night. His aunt Maureen is—”

“I know who Maureen is,” the sheriff said. “As I know who Mason Brody is.” He folded his arms and glowered at Mason. “Upped your antics, have you, Mason?”

If looks could kill, Mason would be in handcuffs.

“I don’t torture animals,” he ground out through his teeth.

The sheriff’s eyes narrowed. “It’s been five years. How do I know what you do now?”

“Sheriff,” Julie interrupted before Mason got arrested for assaulting an officer. “It’s like I said, Mason was with me the whole day and it wasn’t there the night before when Mason arrived.”

“And what time was that exactly?”

“Two,” she said without hesitation. “The alarm went off. I’m sure you can verify that with the alarm company.”

He jotted that down in his pad. “I’ll be sure to do that.” His gaze roamed past them to where Luis and the children were frolicking in the pool, oblivious to the company. “Who’s that?”

“My friend and roommate,” Mason said. “He and Shaun—”

“Shaun Ryan’s here with you?” The sheriff hooted like that was just the funniest thing he’d ever heard. “Well, case closed then.” He snapped his notepad shut.

“What?” Julie looked from Mason to the sheriff. “That isn’t a closed case.”

“Ms. Brewer, it most certainly is. What we have here is a simple case of fuckheads united. Nothing good ever comes of a situation when Shaun Ryan and Mason Brody are in the same vicinity. This was probably their idea of a joke.”

“We had nothing to do with what happened!” Mason snarled.

Julie had to put a hand on his arm to keep him from pummeling the sheriff. The muscles beneath her fingertips rippled.

“So you say.” The sheriff seemed unconcerned by the violence raging behind Mason’s eyes. “Your rap sheet says otherwise.”

“Nowhere on my rap sheet does it say that I torture and kill helpless animals,” Mason growled. “So my rap sheet and you can go to hell!”

He spun on his heels and marched back to the lounge. He threw himself down in a chair and glowered hotly towards the pool.

Julie turned to the sheriff. “Sir, with all due respect, I’m positive Mason didn’t do it.”

“And what of Shaun?” the sheriff countered. “Was he with you the whole day?” He smirked when she said nothing. “I don’t think you understand the situation you’re in, Ms. Brewer. Mason Brody may seem like a handsome, charming young man, but take it from someone who’s been cleaning up his messes since he was seven, he’s bad news. His friend Shaun is worse. There is no one in this town that has any love for those two. If I were you, I would take those children and leave.”

But Julie couldn’t leave. At least not until she’d had the chance to talk to Maureen, except that couldn’t happen until the mess outside the door was cleaned and supper was served. It had taken a great deal of stealth to keep it all from the children. Julie couldn’t help being severely impressed with her own acting abilities. But it wasn’t until supper had been served and the dishes had been cleaned off the table by Mason and Luis that Julie finally called Maureen.

“Hello Julie,” Maureen said the moment she picked up. “I was just going to call and see how the kids were.”

Julie sat on the edge of her bed. “The kids are great. We went for a hike this morning and then spent the afternoon in the pool.”

Maureen sighed. “I miss afternoons like that.”

“Yeah,” was all Julie could think to say without falling in a fit of deranged giggles.

“How are things with you and Mason? Did you guys work things out last night?”

“Yes, we did,” she said. “Listen, Maureen, Mason’s actually the reason I wanted to talk to you.”

“Oh no, what has he done this time?”

That was in no way reassuring considering the circumstances.

“Well, he hasn’t done anything directly ... I don’t think.”

“Julie, can you hold on a minute, please? I’m getting a call on the other line.”

She was gone before Julie could respond. It was nearly twenty minutes before Maureen returned, tearful and nearly hysterical.

“I need to let you go, Julie.” She sniffled. “My lawyer’s on the other end. Dean’s filed for custody! Can you believe it? He’s never home and yet ... I’m the one who...” she broke off. “I can’t believe the nerve of him!”

Not sure what to say, Julie mumbled, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t get married, Julie. It’s the worst mistake you could ever make.” Maureen sniffled loudly. “I’m just glad the kids aren’t here to see this. They would be devastated. Thank you so much for watching them. You’re my angel. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“But, Maureen, I need to talk to you about—”

“Give him a chance,” she pleaded almost angrily. “I promise you’ll like him. Kiss the kids for me and tell them I’ll call tomorrow.”

“But—”

The line was already dead. Maureen had hung up.

Julie replaced the receiver onto its cradle and closed her eyes.

A very large part of her wanted to pack the kids up and take them back. Maureen would be upset, but once Julie explained the situation, she would understand. Another part of her worried for the kids. The battle at home seemed to have escalated and Maureen was right, it was best if the kids didn’t see that. Then there was the ten thousand dollars she was sure Maureen would want back and Julie didn’t have it.

The minute she thought it, Julie winced. Worrying about money when there was some crazy person on the loose seemed like such a silly thing and yet...

Torn, she dropped her face into her hands and willed away the dull thrum at her temples. The back of her eyes ached like she’d strained something. She wanted to curl up on the mattress and sleep. But there was a possible sicko somewhere out there and she couldn’t leave the kids alone.

Dragging her weary body upright, Julie went down to get the kids ready for bed. Shaun and Luis were watching TV in the sitting room when Julie returned from putting the kids down and securing their doors. She could hear swearing and soapbox laughter as she passed on her way to the kitchen. On the sofa adjacent to the TV, she could just make out two heads, sitting a full cushion apart. But she didn’t pause to see what was flickering on screen, her mind was too busy dreading the mountain of dishes waiting for her in the sink and the ultimate decision she needed to make.

The kitchen sat in a dim silence, save for the bar lights hanging over the island. She left it that way, not in any mood to be distracted by bright lights when her head was already threatening to explode. She moved to the sink and groaned at the sight awaiting her. It somehow seemed even higher than it had earlier. What was worse, she was certain she hadn’t made all of the mess. Several of the pots looked new, freshly used. Also, she hadn’t made Kraft dinner, yet the required items to create the dish was sitting on top of the other dishes, mocking her. She had a feeling this was Shaun’s way of getting back at her for getting the jump on him. He was probably expecting her to bitch about it. Well, she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. If the worst he could do was make a few dishes for her to clean ... he had clearly lost his touch.

Reaching for the faucet, she ran the water with one hand while organizing the dishes onto the counter with the other.

“There’s a dishwasher you know.”

The voice cut through the darkness and punched her in the back. Julie jumped and released a yelp of fright. She whipped around and squinted through the wall of near black where the light didn’t quite penetrate.

Mason offered her a small wave. “Sorry.”

“Why are you sitting there in the dark?”

With a deep exhale, he unfurled himself from the chair and rose to his feet. He reached for something off the table and wandered over to the island. He set the items down and pulled himself onto a stool across from her.

“Milk and cookies?” She raised a brow at him. “Are you a comfort eater, or five years old?”

Mason shrugged and took up one of the cookies. He dunked it in the glass of milk and popped it into his mouth. “Why can’t I be both?” He asked around the morsel. “We have a dishwasher,” he said again.

Julie turned back towards the sink. “Washing dishes relaxes me.”

She heard the soft clip of his feet as he left his seat and approached her. With every step, his heat pushed like a physical force against her back.

“There are other ways to relax.”

“I like keeping my clothes on,” she muttered, snapping the faucet off and adding soap to her water.

She felt rather than saw him lean into the counter next to her.

“No one said anything about taking your clothes off.” Warm breath tickled her flushed cheeks. “But I like the way you think.”

She turned her head to him, slightly surprised that there was a whole foot between them, yet her side continued to burn like he was physically touching her.

“That won’t ever happen.”

His eyes narrowed as he propped an elbow on the counter and leaned into it. He continued to study her, but didn’t speak.

“I spoke to Maureen,” she said, needing to break the silence. “I think I’m going to take the kids back in the morning.”

“Is that what she said?” All humor was gone from his features now.

Julie shook her head. “I never got the chance to tell her.” She dropped the plates and bowls into the water first. “Dean’s filing for custody.” She bit her lip and looked to Mason. “I don’t know what to do.”

Divulging a weakness to him irritated her the moment it was out of her mouth. But it was too late to draw it back.

“I think you should stay,” he said simply.

“Even with what happened today?” She twisted her body so they stood face to face. “It would be irresponsible of me—”

“It won’t happen again.”

She blinked. “How do you know that?”

He looked down.

A sick jolt struck her straight in the chest, nearly rocking her back on her heels. “Did you...?”

His head shot up. “No! God no! I would never do that, but I...”

She waited for him to continue. It took several long minutes, but he seemed to be mulling something over so she didn’t interrupt him.

He scoured a hand over his hair, raking the fingers back through the thick strands to rub the back of his neck. His blue eyes lifted, settled on her face with a look of pain and pleading.

“You know how I was.” His voice urged her to understand. “I wasn’t a great kid, Jewels. It was worse when Shaun and I used to come here over the summer. We were uncontrollable. Everything was a big joke and we did a lot of really stupid things.”

“So that’s what the sheriff meant,” Julie mumbled.

Mason chuckled humorlessly. “Yeah, Deputy Reynolds, excuse me, Sheriff Reynolds, was the one that always came out to haul me and Shaun in. He’d slap us in cuffs, drag us to the cruiser, and drive straight to the holding cells until morning when my dad would come down to bail us out. It was always stupid things - stealing, breaking and entering, mischief, vandalism and the odd fight. That thing that happened this morning, that’s the kind of thing I would beat the shit out of someone else for doing. I’m not saying I was some kind of superhero, but I didn’t hurt anyone that didn’t deserve it.”

“If you know who did it, then why didn’t you tell the sheriff?”

He snorted. “Because I don’t know who did it. Exactly”

“But you said...”

He put a hand up. “It could have been anyone from town. The good people of Salmon Cove literally celebrated the end of summer every year because it meant we were leaving. Then, the next year, we’d come back to broken windows, and graffiti all over the place. One year, kids had broken in and trashed the place. That’s when dad installed the alarm. He also hired cranky Mr. Alberts. He’s the ground caretaker when we’re not around. Dad pays him to swing by once a week, mow the lawn, make any repairs that need to be made, and clean anything ... undesirable. I haven’t been back here in five years, so I don’t know if this was something recurring or if someone saw us drive into town, but it seems the welcome party has hit us and will now move on.”

Julie narrowed her eyes, half in disgust and half in indignation. “The people in town gut helpless animals to pay you back for a few childish pranks? Are you kidding me?”

“I wouldn’t say the entire town,” he corrected. “But a certain few would really like to string us up and let us rot. Mostly kids now. Those who think we owe them for whatever we did have more or less grown up, but we’re infamous.” He let his mouth turn up in a lopsided, humorless grin. “We might also have pissed off the wrong people. They’re very determined to make sure we don’t come back.”

“But that’s ridiculous!” she cried in exasperation. “There are children here. Don’t they realize ... what if Rick had opened the door, or Wendy? Also, you can’t just go around slaughtering kittens! There are people who ... there are laws! And it’s disgusting,” she finished with a hitch in her throat.

“It’s only against the law if they get caught,” he muttered. “Something that won’t happen when the sheriff refuses to look. They won’t do it again,” he went on. “They’re brave the first night, but they always stop. I think they’re worried we’ll retaliate, which we have a few times.” He offered her a wicked grin. “It wasn’t pretty.” His smile vanished. “If you want to take the kids home tomorrow, I won’t stop you, but I’ve seen the aftermath of Dean and Maureen’s blow outs. It’s nasty and it’s the last place those kids should be.”

Julie raised her head and sighed. “I just want to do the right thing, Mason.”

“Then stay,” he urged softly. “I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

She wasn’t sure how he was going to do that, but he had a point; she couldn’t take the kids back home, not when Dean and Maureen were on the warpath. Dustin was barely keeping it together. The kid played tough, but she could see how his parent’s divorce was getting to him. If what Mason said was true and it wouldn’t happen again...

“If it does...”

“I promise to help you pack the car.”

Chapter Five

There were no dead animals the next morning. Julie checked the front porch the moment she woke up. Her hand had trembled as she had reached for the doorknob. By the time she was standing in the threshold, staring out into another beautiful day, she was nauseous. Her knees had been weak and her stomach had nearly crawled out of her mouth. The bitter tang of bile had stayed lodged in her throat even when she shut the door and leaned against it.

Shaky and jittery, Julie shuffled her way to the kitchen, in desperate need of coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. Focused on her destination, she nearly leaped out of her skin when a voice interrupted her journey.

“Morning.”

Mason sat at the table, dressed in jeans and a white t-shirt. His hair was tussled like he hadn’t bothered brushing it. There was a mug of coffee in front of him and a cream cheese bagel.

“Morning.” She moved to the coffee pot, still steaming on the counter. “You’re up early.”

Her grip was nearly steady as she tipped the pot into a mug. The warmth of it burned her palms as she cradled the liquid of life to her chest and shuffled over to take a seat at the table.

“So are you.”

Julie sipped, then sighed as the rich warmth trickled down her throat and settled comfortably in the pit of her stomach.

“I don’t think I slept a wink,” she mumbled honestly, setting her cup down. “I woke up every hour to check on the kids.” She bit her lip, watching the ripples on the surface of her drink. “I kept expecting someone to break in and...”

“Hey.” Mason reached across the distance and lightly slipped his fingers around her wrist. He pulled her hand away from her mug and held on to it. She let him. Let the warmth and comfort of his touch sooth her, even if it was temporary. “I won’t let anything happen to you, or the kids. I promise.”

Her gaze slid away from their joined hands to clash with the eyes searching her face. Her skin tingled even as her chest did that weird fluttering thing. She quickly pulled away.

“The kids will be up soon.” She pushed to her feet. “I should start on breakfast.”

Taking her mug with her, she stepped behind the security of the island, putting the chunk of marble and wood between her and the man seducing her resolution.

She didn’t know what to make of the Mason standing before her. He had, only four years earlier, made it perfectly clear that he had no interest in her whatsoever. Yet there he was now, acting like he cared, touching her, and using those smoldering good looks on her like she were one of the girls that normally clung to him. Did he really think that, just because he made her heart palpitate a little faster and her knees a little weaker, she would just forgive him for what he did?

Turning her back on him, she yanked out pans and set them on the stove. Her mind was set on repeat, reminding her he would be leaving in four days and she could go back to pretending he never existed. What were the odds of them ever crossing paths again?

Comforted in her own thoughts, Julie broke eggs into a bowl and dropped strips of bacon into the first pan. The greasy scent of frying meat filled the air. She popped pieces of toast into the toaster while pouring the egg mixture into the second pan. She did all this without giving the figure at the table a single glance. It was simple only in theory.

Whether it was the clang of pots and pans or the smell of breakfast, it drew Dustin and Rick into the room. Rick seemed more awake than his older brother, but Dustin made up for his lack of alertness by glowering hotly at everyone. Apparently, he hadn’t gotten over his grounding the day before. Julie didn’t let it bother her.

She smiled at the two. “Morning! Where’s Wendy?”

“Sleeping,” Rick muttered around a wide yawn. “I smelled food.”

Julie waved them to the table and began filling their plates. She was just pouring orange juice when Wendy stumbled into the room, looking exhausted.

“Did I miss breakfast?”

“Nope, just started.”

Julie got Wendy a plate and urged her into a seat.

“Can I have more bacon?” Rick called.

“I want more juice,” Dustin chimed.

“I don’t like scrambled eggs,” Wendy whined.

Julie was reaching for the plate of bacon when a hand rested over hers, stopping her.

Mason met her gaze as he dragged the plate away from her. “Grab yourself a plate. I’ll deal with the savages.”

“Oh, it’s okay—”

“Sit!” he urged, nudging her towards the table.

Not accustomed to being assisted, Julie sat and watched as he dropped bacon onto Rick’s plate, told Dustin to get his own juice, and coaxed Wendy to eat her eggs. Had she not been so tired, she would have been impressed.

“What are we doing today?” Rick asked, as he sat kicking his legs under the table.

In the process of raising her coffee to her lips, Julie paused, her mind a complete blank. “Uh...”

“Well, if you guys behave and hold tight for a little while, I was thinking we could hit the carnival. I saw signs for it driving in. It’s opening night.”

He had the kids at carnival. They practically upended the table in their enthusiasm. Even Dustin’s sullen expression broke with the enormous grin that spread across his face. Julie laughed and watched as they shoved down their meals and hurried from the room to get ready.

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” she asked once she was alone with Mason.

Mason shrugged. “Why not? It’ll get the kids out of the house and keep them quiet for a few hours.”

Julie had to agree that it had been a good idea. There wasn’t a peep out of the kids the entire day. Even Rick and Wendy, who were notorious for their screaming matches, played quietly in the yard with Mason, shooting hoops and chasing each other around the pool. Dustin, after finishing his breakfast, left his plate on the table and wandered off to flop down alongside Shaun on the sofa. Julie was scrubbing egg and leftover bacon off the plates when Luis padded into the room. He made himself a bowl of cereal and ate it at the counter as Julie did the dishes. When he finished, he rinsed out his own bowl and asked if she needed help before leaving her alone to join Shaun and Dustin in the sitting room.

Julie finished in the kitchen and did a quick sweep of the rest of the house, making beds and running a quick vacuum and mop over the floor. Mindless cleaning had always helped keep her mind off her troubles, except this time. Thoughts kept bouncing off the walls of her skull and it all revolved around her decision to be in that place. She should have told Maureen no. She should have just accepted the offer to take the kids to Disneyland instead. But no. She hadn’t thought she was capable of handling three energetic miniature-sized humans for a solid month at an amusement park. Somehow, now that she was faced with Mason and some psycho nutcase, Disneyland sounded like a fantastic idea.

It was two in the afternoon when Maureen called to talk to the kids. Wendy wasted no time telling her mom about Mason’s promise to take them to the carnival if they were good. Even from a distance, Julie could hear Maureen’s false excitement as she cheered at the news. It made Wendy laugh and bounce around the kitchen as she chattered on about the couple of days they’d had. By the time Julie got a hold of the phone, after it had been passed from Wendy to Rick and Dustin, patience was running thin in Maureen’s voice. She could almost hear the rattle of pills as Maureen staved off one of her many migraines with valium, or aspirin, or whatever the choice of numbing agent was that week.

“Are you sure it’s safe?” Maureen asked once she had dosed herself properly.

“Yes,” Julie assured her. “There are four adults and three kids. I think we can keep an eye on them. How are you?”

Maureen blew heavily into the receiver. The sound reminded Julie of wind blowing through an open car window while driving down the highway.

“Exhausted. I spent most of last night talking to my lawyer and then the rest of it tossing and turning. Susan, my lawyer, swears we have a solid case against him, but it is going to be a long, messy road. Dean’s pulling out all the dirty stops. He’s bringing up stuff that I did in college. Can you believe it?”

“No, I—”

Maureen kept talking. “It’s ridiculous. I’m the one the kids should be with. I do everything for them.”

Julie said nothing, not sure what to say.

“So have you and Mason solved your problem?” Maureen asked.

“Oh, yeah, we’re good,” Julie assured her, not wanting to burden her even further.

“I knew you would be. Mason is just wonderful.”

What was she supposed to say to that? So she said nothing.

“Have there been any incidents?”

Julie considered not telling Maureen about the incident the night before, but years of babysitting had taught her one thing—never lie to the parents. It never ended well.

“There was one.”

She told Maureen about the kittens and how the sheriff had behaved and all the things Mason had told her. By the time she finished, Maureen was spitting mad.

“I never liked that sniveling worm,” she hissed. “Errol Reynolds was always a self-serving little shit.”

“But is it true?” Julie asked.

“Julie, listen, the things Mason did, yeah, they were really stupid, but he was young and he was stupid. He paid for his crimes. He straightened out his life. He’s a good man now and that’s what matters. We all learn from the crap we did when we were young, right? Anyway, that asshole should have looked into the matter instead of sitting on his thumb.”

“He seemed positive that Mason and Shaun were responsible.”

“Of course he was,” Maureen muttered. “It means he doesn’t have to do his job. The lazy fuck. I know when Roger and I would take the kids up, back when Dustin was Wendy’s age, there was always that one kid high on bravery who would do something stupid like throw eggs at the house or key the cars. But Mason’s right, after a day or two, they always stop.”

“So you’re okay with us staying?” Julie wondered. “I don’t mind bringing the kids back.”

“No, no, it’s fine. I should have forewarned you beforehand, but I always forget about that part.”

Typical Maureen, Julie thought with a stressed shake of her head. The woman never remembered anything important, not unless it involved her directly. Having dead animals thrown on your porch was something Julie would most certainly not forget, especially when she was insuring the safety of her children to someone who wasn’t properly warned. But then again, that was also typical Maureen.

“I should go make sure the kids are ready for our outing. Did you want to talk to any of them again before I let you go?”

“No, no, I think they’ve told me all they can for one day. I’ll call again tomorrow. Have fun and be safe.”

She hung up before Julie could even open her mouth to say goodbye.

“Everything okay?” Mason asked when Julie set the phone down.

“Yeah, everything’s fine.”

“Great.” He grinned and clapped his hands together once before rubbing them in a very insect-like manner. “Ready for some fun?”

Despite the tension in her gut, Julie couldn’t help but laugh at the wicked grin on his face. “As I’ll ever be.”

It took less than twenty minutes to get the kids packed and strapped into Julie’s car. Dustin opted to go with Mason, leaving plenty of room in her backseat for Wendy and Rick. The air was white hot with excitement. The kids were practically euphoric throughout most of the trip into town. They chattered on about all the rides they were going to go on and all the cotton candy they were going to eat. It got loud a few times, but Julie would take their happy babbling over their arguing any day.

Night was creeping across the sky, dosing the pale gold smear left behind by the fading sun. Cool air swept through the open windows, filling the car with the crisp scent of pine and night. It felt amazing stinging Julie’s cheeks and blowing her hair back from her face. She would have closed her eyes, had she not been driving.

A safe distance ahead, Mason’s Dodge Ford taillights spilled pools of crimson across the wet pavement. On either side, trees became dark silhouettes that stretched on for miles until it was broken by the first shop into town.

Mason followed the neatly kept roads and passed rows of country styled buildings. People darted from store to store like it was the night before Christmas and no one had done any of their shopping. Julie had to keep one foot over the brake at all times as she maneuvered the crowd with a tight knuckled grip around the wheel.

“What the heck is going on?” she muttered to herself as she slowed to allow a couple the chance to dart in front of her.

They waved, laughing as they sprinted across the road.

“It’s like this all the time,” Rick announced from the backseat.

“Not all the time, stupid!” Wendy argued. “It’s the festival weekend,” she said. “Mom and Dad used to take us all the time.”

“So you guys have been to this carnival before?”

She saw Wendy and Rick bob their heads in the rearview mirror.

“My favorite is the bonfire!” Wendy announced. “We get to stay up late and roast marshmallows until the fire dies.”

“The bonfire?”

Julie made a mental note to ask Mason about all the other festivities taking place in the next four weeks. The last thing she wanted was to make the kids stick around the cabin all summer, doing nothing but swim and run around. New activities once in a while sounded nice.

“It’s on the beach!” Rick said.

“The lake!” Wendy corrected. “And the whole town comes and they build this giant fire by burning tons of old furniture and stuff. It’s really fun.”

Julie huh’d. “We’ll have to check it out,” she said.

Wendy clapped excitedly.

It seemed like forever before they pulled away from the bustle of the main road and headed further out of Salmon Cove. Julie was beginning to wonder if they were headed back to Alberta, when Mason turned off the highway and pitched headlong down a dirt path that forked off. The darkness was thicker and the road thinner, not nearly big enough for the two-way pass that it was. Julie prayed to god no one was headed towards them going in the opposite direction. She wasn’t sure she had enough room along the shoulder to allow them to pass.

Eventually, after nearly six miles, the road yawned and widened. The trees thinned until they were sparsely placed and finally stopped altogether as a clearing came into view.

They saw the halo of light first, spreading into the navy blue sky like the approach of dawn. The tinkling sound of music came next. Then she saw it, the glittering top of a Ferris wheel peeking out from over a small cluster of trees. A long row of cars curved up the road ahead, creating a line that seemed endless as Mason rolled to a halt, forcing Julie to do the same.

“Guys?” Julie called into the backseat. “We need to set down some rules before we get there, okay?”

Groans followed her statement, making her grin.

“First, you stay with me at all times. You don’t go anywhere without me. You stay where I can see you and you can see me. Don’t talk to anyone you don’t—”

“We know all this, Julie!” Wendy whined. “We’re not babies.”

“No, you’re not, but I just want to refresh your memories.”

“Are we there yet?” Rick piped in, craning his neck to look out the window.

“Okay, guys, for real now, I need you to stay with me at all times, okay?”

“We know!” Wendy whined, bouncing in her seat.

Julie didn’t push the matter, because it was becoming a task to navigate as they finally reached the parking gates.

Cars and people filled every square inch and Julie began to have doubts about agreeing to go. Every so often, she had to hit the brakes as some kid darted into the middle of the road. Her fingers ached. She was sure the steering wheel would forever hold the imprint of her grip. She had one foot hovered over the brake and she was leaning so far over the wheel, her face was nearly brushing the windshield.

Ahead of her, like a shark through a school of fish, Mason’s truck rolled through the crowd. The back lights flicked on every so often, warning her to halt as well. So it was a surprise when he suddenly shot forward and slammed on the brakes a second later. A horn shrieked in the night and Julie was sure he’d hit someone. She was about to jump out when he stuck his head out his window and waved her onward. Bemused, she watched as he inched forward, revealing a parking spot on his left. He pointed to it.

“Get in!” he shouted over the noise.

Highly relieved that she would finally be out of that rat race, Julie pulled into the spot and cut the engine. She pocketed the keys and slipped out. Mason was still there, blocking traffic.

“Thank you!” she called.

Through the window, he waved. “I’m going to find a spot and meet you at the front gates.”

She raised an arm that she understood and watched as he swerved around a small compact and a very irate little man who shook his fist at the back of Mason’s four by four. Julie winced as she realized what Mason had done; he had blocked the man from taking the spot so Julie could have it. As touched as she was, she contemplated pulling out and letting the man have it. Then she thought better of it. No way was she getting back in that mess. Even she wasn’t that noble.

Helping Wendy and Rick out of the car, she took each of their hands and led them quickly, but safely to the metal arch opening a path to the park. She propelled them off to the side, under the shaded arches of a swaying oak tree and away from the rush of traffic as people shoved their way into the park like there was a free for all going on inside.

“They’re taking forever!” Wendy whined, sagging against Julie’s hip.

“There’s a lot of people,” she told the younger girl. “They’re probably still looking for a spot.”

They must have parked somewhere at the far back, because it took them twenty minutes to reach Julie and the kids. Relief must have shown on her face, because Mason flashed her a grin.

“Miss me?”

Julie chose to ignore that. “Everything okay?”

He nodded. “Had to park at the other end. This place is a zoo!”

Julie cringed inwardly at the thought of still being in that jungle, circling like vultures on a carcass.

“Thank you for finding me that spot,” she said as they started for the ticket booth. “But you shouldn’t have cut that man off.”

Mason shrugged. “He had a tiny car and he was one person. Finding another spot and walking up wouldn’t have killed him.”

Julie pressed her lips together. “It wasn’t very nice.”

His eyes glinted a near black in the semi darkness, but even then, the amusement was almost blinding. “And yet you didn’t give it back.”

Biting her lip when they threatened to twitch, Julie turned her head away. “You’re a bad influence.”

“You have no idea.”

The lineup for the ticket booth was like waiting for the women’s bathroom during a Boxing Day sale at the mall. Shaun and Luis took the kids and moved to a souvenir stand, rescuing Julie from a parade of are we there yet?, How much longer?, and I have to pee while she stood in line for wristbands. Mason stayed with her, hands in his pocket, gaze surveying every passing face like he was expecting someone. A few people, Julie noticed, eyed him back, none of the glances flattering. The very bold actually pointed and whispered to whoever was with them. Mason was like the town celebrity, but not in a good way.

“You weren’t kidding,” she mumbled, fiddling with the strap of her purse.

“Nope.” He smirked a little at an older couple that stepped past, both glowering at Mason as though he were the antichrist. “Salmon Cove never forgets.”

“So what did you do exactly?” she wondered.

He tipped his head slightly towards her. “Which time?"

Julie chuckled. “In general.” She faced him fully. “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?”

“The worst?” He drew his lip between his teeth and scratched the stubble on his chin.

“Was that too personal?” she asked.

Mason shook his head. “No. I’m not proud of the things I’ve done, but I don’t hide it either. The worst thing I think is the time I broke into the high school.”

“You broke into a school?”

The horror and outrage must have shown in her face and in her voice, because he chuckled. “It was on a dare,” he justified. “Shaun and I were running with this group of kids and one of the guys dared Shaun to get into the school and change a few things around.”

“Change a few things around?”

“Yeah.” He gestured absently with his hand, like he was moving invisible chess pieces on a board. “We took the gym equipment and put it in the music room and the musical instruments went in the art room. Things like that. We also moved a few of the teacher’s desks and put them in the cafeteria.”

Julie eyed him. “And that’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?”

Mason shrugged. “Maybe not, but it was the most elaborate and the one we got the most grief for.”

She shook her head. “I can only imagine.”

The line shuffled and they moved forward a few steps.

“What about you?” he asked. “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?”

It wasn’t a question she’d ever gotten before and she had to really wrack her brain to think of something. By no means was she a saint, but she just never had time to do anything bad, or saw the reason to.

“I’m a little concerned that you have to think about it,” he teased. “Either you’re not as innocent as you look, or I’m going to have a lot of fun corrupting you.”

Julie scowled up at him. “I don’t need help being corrupted. I’ve done loads of bad things.”

The soft leather of his jacket rustled as he folded his arms. “Like?”

“Well, I...” She furrowed her brow and pinched her lips, thinking hard. “Oh!” Her face lit up as it finally came to her. “I got one. You know Mr. Talbot from down the block?”

Mason nodded. “The grumpy asshole. Yeah, I know him.”

Julie pursed her lips at his name calling, but continued. “Well, you know his Pomeranian, Miss Teacup? I used to walk her every day for five bucks. Anyway, I loved her. She was adorable, but he was just...”

“An asshole?” he prompted.

“Stop that!” she scolded without heat. “So every time I would bring Miss Teacup home, he would snap at me that I wasn’t gone long enough, or I that I was gone too long, or I wasn’t holding the leash properly, or something else. There was always something I wasn’t doing right. So one day when he called me to take her, I told him I was sick.”

Mason raised both eyebrows when she finished with a broad grin. “And?”

Her grin dimmed. “And I didn’t go.”

He cocked his head back an inch and raised the fingers on his right hand to his mouth. He tapped lightly on his bottom lip. There was amusement in his eyes and in the ghost of a smile he was trying to hide behind his fingers.

“And that’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?”

Julie frowned. “Well, it was my job and I lied.”

He ran a tongue over his teeth, dropped his head forward, and chuckled.

“What?” she snapped, offended.

Hooded eyes rose and met hers, alight with laughter. The string of bulbs overhead shone like pinpricks of light across the pale surface, making them appear luminous.

“Nothing!” But he continued watching her, tracing her face in a way that was making it impossible to maintain eye contact without blushing.

“Okay, seriously, what?”

He shrugged, turning to face the front of the line. “Just trying to figure you out, Julie Brewer.”

Thankfully, they soon reached the front of the line and the ticket booth. Julie ignored the charming figure next to her hip and focused on the smiling brunette behind the glass.

“Hi!” She fished into her purse for her cash. “Three kids...”

The girl wasn’t looking at her. She had her eyes on Mason and the interest in them was a little hard to ignore.

“Hello?” Julie shifted, hoping to get the girl’s attention. “Hi. Three kids’ wristbands.”

The girl blinked and focused on Julie. “Wristbands?”

“Yes. Please,” she added, softening the sharpness in her tone.

Julie lost her somewhere between yes and please. She was smiling in a very come hither manner at Mason, who was busy rifling in his pockets for his wallet and didn’t notice. He looked up though, possibly feeling Julie and the girl watching him.

“Sorry?” he said, glancing from one to the other.

“Can I have my wristbands please?” Julie muttered sharply at the girl.

The girl finally fed three wristbands through the slot and forgot all about Julie as she turned the full force of her dazzling smile on Mason. Julie suppressed the urge to roll her eyes as she went to where Shaun and Luis stood with the kids.

“Never fails,” Shaun muttered with a hint of pride and amusement.

In the process of snapping a band around Rick’s wrist, Julie glanced up. “Sorry?”

Shaun stood a short distance away, arms folded, watching the ticket booth with a smirk twisting his face.

“Mason,” he said, jerking his head to where Mason was now laughing at something the girl in the booth was telling him. “Girls just can’t resist him and he them. They’re his weakness.” Dark, brooding eyes dropped down and met Julie’s. “But like all addictions, each hit wears off and the next one is always better.”

It annoyed her that his comment bothered her. It wasn’t like there was anything between her and Mason. He could flirt with anyone he wanted. Yet the pang still made her heart sore.

“Good thing that I don’t care to be anyone’s addiction then,” she muttered, before turning away from his drilling stare to take Wendy’s hand.

Mason arrived a moment later, waving three wristbands in the air. “Everyone ready?”

They started through the park to a chorus of suggestions, everyone wanting to try a different ride first. Julie had to shout in order to be heard over the din.

“We will try to get on as many rides as possible!” she called. She pointed to the first ride on her right, which happened to be a dozen plastic horses. “Why don’t we start on here and work our way around the park?”

“Or we can split up,” Dustin piped in. “I’m not going on any stupid carousel.”

“I do!” Wendy cheered, arm thrusting up into the air. “I want to go.”

Frustration welling in her chest, Julie shoved a hand back through her hair and looked at the flashing lights and laughing faces all around them, knowing already that coming had been a bad idea. But it was too late to regret her decision now.

Taking a deep breath, she put on her mask, the one she wore when she needed to pretend like she was in control.

“Okay, here’s the plan,” she said, loud enough to drown out Dustin’s grumbling. “We’re going to go around the park in order. Wendy wants to go here, so we’ll start at the carousel and make our way around so everyone has a turn at something they want.”

“I’m not sticking around for this,” Shaun muttered, breaking away from the group. “I’m hitting up the rollercoaster.”

“I want to go on the rollercoaster, too!” Dustin exclaimed, face as bright as the lights around them.

“No!” Julie said sharply. “We stay together. You guys can do what you want,” she told Mason, Luis, and Shaun. “We’ll meet back here at—”

“That isn’t fair!” Dustin burst out. “Why do you get to make all the rules?”

“Because your mom put me in charge,” Julie told him firmly. “If you don’t like it, we can go home.”

Dustin’s chin wobbled and his nostrils flared, but he wisely kept his mouth shut.

Relieved by his submission, Julie turned to the three men. “We’re going to go down this way,” she told them. “We’ll meet at the gates at...” she checked her watch. “Ten.”

“That’s in four hours!” Dustin huffed. “No way we’ll get to all the good rides in four hours.”

“Then we’ll come back another day,” Julie replied, feeling her head beginning to throb. “Ten is already past your curfew, so don’t push it.”

“This is so lame!”

“Hey.” Mason set gentle hands on Dustin’s shoulders. “Why don’t we take Dustin?” he offered. “We’ll hit some of the big rides and meet you guys at the hotdog stand there in two hours for a break.”

As much as she wanted to scream and cry yes! Take him! She willed herself to remain calm.

“That sounds like a good idea,” she said. “Do you want to do that, Dustin?”

“Fuck yeah!”

“Watch your mouth!” Julie scolded him before turning her gaze on the three men. “Please keep an eye on him.”

“Soooo, don’t sell him into child slavery?” Mason grinned when she narrowed her eyes. “Kidding, Jewels. Relax.”

Exhaling, Julie straightened her shoulders. “Okay then. Hotdog stand in two hours.” She took Wendy and Rick’s hands and led them towards the plastic horses. “And don’t call me Jewels,” she called over her shoulder.

Without Dustin, the progression from ride to ride went as smoothly as possible considering Rick and Wendy could only go on a limited number of rides. There was no one arguing over who got to pick the next station, or how lame it was. Julie loved the older boy, but it was nice to have a few stress-free hours.

By the time the two hours rolled around and they started for the hotdog stand, even the headache was gone and Julie was laughing at how silly Rick and Wendy were being as they skipped on ahead of her. Mason and the others were already there, taking over a picnic table littered with paper plates. Dustin and Shaun sat opposite each other. Luis sat next to Dustin, head buried in his folded arms. Mason looked up from where he sat perched on the table with his boots on the bench when Julie approached. His blue eyes glinted in the near darkness.

He grinned. “Hey.”

Looking over the mess and the hotdog eating contest Shaun and Dustin seemed to be having, Julie chuckled. “Hey. What’s going on here?”

Mason hopped to his feet and pivoted on his heels so he stood shoulder to shoulder with her.

“Well, what happened was that Dustin claimed he could out eat Shaun, which,” he leaned in so his shoulder bumped hers and, in a loud whisper, said, “is impossible because Shaun is a pig—”

“Fuck you, man!” Shaun garbled around a mouthful of mashed hotdog.

Mason flipped him off.

Julie grabbed his hand and forced it down. “The children!” she hissed, jerking her head to where Wendy and Rick had climbed onto the bench on either side of Shaun to watch the show with great big smiles on their faces.

The hand she held turned and he threaded his fingers through hers. Her heart gave a lurch when he pressed their palms together. The muscles in her stomach tightened with a fluttery anticipation that zapped all the moisture from her mouth.

“As I was saying,” he murmured, his face suddenly inches from hers, so close she could smell the pepperoni and tomato sauce on his breath brushing over her upturned face and count each thick eyelash surrounding his darkened eyes. “You smell amazing.”

Her heart tripped over her lungs and the air in her throat hitched. “That’s not what you were—”

He drew her to him with a practiced tug of his hand. “I know. You’re very distracting.”

Blissfully paralyzed by the predatory glint in the shadowed pools of his eyes, Julie could only stare with open mouthed wonder as he got uncomfortably close. Her cheeks warmed at his closeness. His body was a heater prickling her skin. Her lips were parted by the merciless hunger of his attention on her mouth. Something feral and unmistakably self-satisfied flared behind his eyes, like her submission to his wordless command pleased him immensely. But it was also this that speared Julie back to the present. She crashed unceremoniously into the shrieks and whirs of people and machines all around her, to Wendy and Rick’s chanting for Dustin to win the hotdog eating contest, to her breathing, hot and heavy in her ears.

Furiously numb, Julie pushed away from him and his immobilizing embrace. The weakness in her knees nearly took her to the ground, and she just caught herself on the corner of the picnic table and pulled her arms tightly around herself, inexplicably chilled now that he was no longer warming her.

“Did you guys have fun?” she asked, desperate to change the subject.

He seemed to draw himself up like her detachment of him had somehow cut him deep between the ribs and only sheer stubbornness kept him from crumpling to his knees. His nostrils flared with his dragging inhale and he squared his shoulders by stuffing his hands into his pockets.

“Yeah, we did. You?”

Julie nodded weakly. “We did. Thank you.”

Desperation and something she was too scared to look too closely at shot across his face like a lit arrow. The muscles in his jaw twitched and he eyed her with a look of pained misery.

“Julie—”

Whatever Mason was about to say was halted by Wendy’s squeal of delight as Dustin crammed the last piece of hotdog into his already over stuffed mouth. He punched the air above his head in victory, bits of chewed bread falling from his barely shut lips as he howled his triumph. His cheeks glowed pink with exertion and victory. Shaun flicked the last bit of his hotdog at the boy, but there was no malice on his face, no anger. For the first time ever, Julie saw Shaun without his habitual scowl. His handsome features were open, bright with the laughter he was suppressing. The sight of it had Julie staring, too awed by the possibility of it to look away. She honestly hadn’t thought Shaun Ryan capable of any other facial expression.

“I want to go next!” Rick’s arm shot into the air, nearly knocking Shaun upside the head.

Chuckling, Julie set her hand on the boy’s thin shoulder and nudged him back into his seat when he started scrambling up to stand on the bench. “Maybe when you’re as old as Dustin,” she said.

Rick wrinkled his nose and slumped down so his chin rested on the table top.

Shaun nudged him with his elbow. “I bet I can finish an ice cream cone before you can.”

Rick perked. Round eyes shot up to Julie, asking without words.

She ruffled his hair. “One, but after you guys have eaten something.”

Glowing pink, Rick turned to Shaun with narrowed eyes and a furiously determined expression. He pointed a stubby little finger right in Shaun’s face, almost touching his nose, and growled out in a Hulk voice, “You’re on!”

“You’re very good with them,” Mason murmured when Julie stepped back.

She shrugged, watching Dustin high five Rick from across the table. “They’re good kids.” Her gaze went to where Luis sat, head still on the table, breathing shallow. “Is he okay?” she asked, pointing with a jerk of her chin.

Mason snorted. “He tried to get in on the game, even though I warned him not to.”

“How many hotdogs did he eat?” she wondered.

Mason grinned. “Four.”

“Oh!” Julie covered her mouth to stifle her laugh. “That’s really horrible.”

“I can hear you guys,” Luis grumbled. He raised his sweaty, slightly green face.

Still biting her lip, Julie looked over at Rick and Wendy. “Are you guys hungry?”

“I want ice cream!” Wendy cheered.

“I want candy apples,” Rick added.

“How about we start with actual food?” Julie suggested. “Pizza or a hotdog?”

Both kids wrinkled their noses.

“Pizza,” they muttered on unison.

“Pizza it is.”

Leaving the group at the table, Julie moved to the brightly lit food stand. There were six in all, each one offering a different food item. She went to the one with the longest line. Apparently she wasn’t the only one with the idea to get food.

With a sigh, she got behind a couple with their arms wrapped tightly around each other. They were passing the time by sharing long, slow kisses that made Julie shift uncomfortably and look away. She busied herself pulling out her change purse from her back pocket and picking through the loose coins and few crumpled bills. Anything to avoid the slow roll of tongues from the couple in front of her.

“Mm.” Mason slid up alongside her, hands clasped at his back, watching the two with dry amusement. “A thrill for everyone,” he remarked, mimicking the park’s moto. “They certainly mean it.”

Julie stifled a chuckle.

The line shuffled up. The pair stayed rooted, every inch of their fronts touching and slightly grinding.

A warm flush tightened the skin on Julie’s face. Her gaze darted to the figure standing next to her, curious to see if he’d noticed.

He had and he was smirking.

The two were practically glowing when they finally pulled apart. The girl giggled and rested her head on the boy’s shoulder.

Julie hated them a little, which was irrational. They hadn’t done anything to her, nor did she even know them, yet she wanted what they had. She wanted to be kissed like that until she forgot everything but the hot mouth conquering hers. She wanted blunt hands on her hips cradling her to a strong chest. What’s more, she wanted it all to be with Mason.

“What?”

Julie must have made a sound, because the bane of her existence was watching her.

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

Thankfully, he didn’t push. They stood in silence as the line moved up, one customer at a time.

When it was finally her turn, she bought two slices of cheese pizzas, cans of soda and two bags of chips. Mason took the chips and drinks while Julie balanced the two paper plates on the palms of her hands.

“Thank you,” she said to him as they headed back to the table.

Mason inclined his head. “You’re welcome.”

Julie noticed the change immediately. In the fifteen minutes that she had been gone, their group had shrunk by one.

Wendy was gone.

Chapter Six

The pizzas fell to the floor as she spun on the spot, searching the wave of people moving in all directions. But there was no sign of the girl, nor did Shaun or Luis know what happened.

“She was right here,” Shaun said dully, half rising from his seat.

“Mason!”

It was a mystery why his name was the first thing she could think to say around the numbness creeping like ice water through her.

“It’s okay.” He grabbed the hand she had no recollection of reaching out to him. He squeezed the trembling fingers. “She can’t have gone far. Luis, get to the ticket booth, tell them a child is missing. Give them her description and tell them to call the police. Shaun, you and I will—”

“No.” Julie came to herself, her responsibility overruling her desire to break down in a mess of hysterical tears. “I’ll go.”

Mason didn’t argue with her. “Take that way,” he told her, gesturing left. “Shaun, stay with Rick and Dustin. If she comes back, keep her here.”

Julie didn’t wait to hear the rest of the instructions. She bolted through the crowd, calling for Wendy. Cold sweat plastered her clothes to her skin and glued bits of hair to her temples and neck. People shouted as she weaved through them, eyes scanning every face, every movement. Horrific thoughts of Wendy being kidnapped and hurt burned through her mind, intertwining with the gnawing sense of guilt. Why hadn’t she paid closer attention? The girl had literally been five steps away from her. How had she not noticed when Wendy left? If anything happened to her, it would be Julie’s fault. Maureen would be devastated. She would never trust Julie again.

“Wendy!”

Her voice was snatched up as though she had done nothing more than whispered the name and was swallowed by the cacophony swirling around her louder than a tornado. Families and couples streamed past. Some cast her a curious glance as she shoved her way past them, but not one actually stopped to ask if she needed help.

Rows upon rows of tables and booths lined a path that was illuminated by arches of light overhead. The sound of cheering and balls hitting glass bottles followed her up the lane, seemingly coming from everywhere all at once. Children ran in and out of sight. Each new one that darted by that wasn’t Wendy had Julie’s heart sinking an inch lower in her chest until it was somewhere around her knees.

Please, God, please let her be here! Julie prayed.

“Julie!”

That single voice seemed to cut through every single second. It froze the entire world as Julie grappled with disbelief and relief.

Up the trail, standing at a booth with water and plastic ducks, Wendy waved at her, oblivious to the terror she had caused. Julie would have sunk to the ground had her legs not been pumping, propelling her straight to the girl.

“Wendy!” Julie scooped her up and crushed her in a fierce embrace, not letting her go until Wendy squeaked and started struggling. She pushed the girl back by her thin shoulders and bore wildly into Wendy’s face. “What are you doing here, Wendy? Why did you leave?”

Confusion shimmered in the girl’s blue eyes. “I wanted to see where he got that bear.”

Julie shot a glance around them at the stream of people flowing past them. “What? Who?”

Wendy gestured behind her. “The man.”

Weak all over with barely suppressed rage and the steady flow of fear still coursing through her, Julie staggered unsteadily to her feet. One hand remained clasped firmly on Wendy’s shoulder, like she was afraid the girl might somehow mysteriously vanish again.

“Who?” she said again.

Wendy shrugged. “I don’t know. He was right there.”

The space around the tank of ducks was empty except for the boy manning the booth and he was too busy staring at his phone to notice anything. It was by far the least occupied stand along the game strip, like no one really wanted to go fishing for ducks with little magnetic strips attached to plastic fishing poles. But she could see which bears Wendy was referring to. They were plush, red bears hugging satin pillows with the words I love you in white stitching. It wasn’t remotely unique, or all that eye catching, but Wendy was still just a little girl and a stuffed toy was a stuffed toy. Nevertheless...

“What are the rules, Wendy?” Julie rounded on the girl. “You told me in the car that you knew them. What are they?”

Wendy’s shoulder’s slipped up around her ears and her back hunched as she deflated into herself with shame. “Not to go anywhere without you?”

“Yes!” Julie practically roared. “You never, ever go anywhere with someone you don’t know, Wendy. You know better. What were you thinking?”

Tears shimmered in Wendy’s eyes. “I wanted a bear—”

“A bear?” Barely contained rage shook her voice. “Do you have any idea...?” Breathing hard, Julie stood, not trusting herself not to start screaming, or worse, shaking the girl until her teeth clacked. She took Wendy’s hand tightly instead and, without a word, hauled the girl back to the table.

Halfway there, Mason came barreling out of the crowd, dark hair flipping across his brow. His cheeks were pink with exertion and his blue eyes were bright with relief when they spotted her, then Wendy.

“Wendy!” He scooped the girl up and crushed her to his chest. His  large hands nearly covered her entire back as they fisted in the fabric of her shirt. He buried his face into her shoulder. “Thank God!”

“I’m sorry.” Wendy’s face shriveled and her bottom lip began to tremble. “I only wanted to see the bears.”

Mason pulled back just enough to peer into her shiny eyes. “Bears? You scared the hell out of us, kid. Do you have any idea how dangerous what you did was?”

“I’m sorry.” She was sobbing now. Her tiny frame shaking violently. “I only wanted a bear.”

Mason set her down gently and cupped her face. He smoothed away her tears and peered closely into her eyes. His gentleness was endearing and, any other time, Julie would have been touched, but she was still struggling to bring her own emotions under control.

“You don’t ever go anywhere without me, or Julie. Something really bad could have happened to you.”

Fear and apprehension shone across the wet surface of her eyes. “Are you going to tell Mommy?”

“Yes!” Julie said before Mason could. “You are in a world of trouble.”

The corner of Mason’s mouth turned down a notch. “Julie’s right, brat.” He ruffled her hair and rose to his feet. “Get back to the others. Julie and I need to talk.”

Sniffling, Wendy hurried back to take her place next to Shaun. Mason waited until she was completely out of sight before turning to Julie.

“You okay?”

Hand mashed against her pounding heart, Julie shook her head. Her gaze never once strayed away from Wendy, or the other two.

“I think I’m having a heart attack.” She had meant it as a joke, but her voice broke and she had to draw in a breath when tears threatened to spill.

“Hey.”

Gentle fingers skimmed the ridged path of her spine to spread flat against her lower back. The heat of his palm burned through the material of her top, singing skin and chasing away the chill that had been twining through her. He tugged her attention onto him against her will.

“It’s okay now,” he murmured. “You found her.”

Still unable to catch her breath properly, Julie had to fight to speak and, even then, each word was a jagged pant. “What if I hadn’t? What if—”

“Stop.” He turned her to him completely. His arm remained around her middle like a steel band restraining her from running, or worse, falling in a mess to the ground. “There’s no point thinking what if, because she’s fine and safe.”

“But—”

“No,” he said firmly. “Deep breath. Do you want to go home?”

There was nothing she wanted more. At least at home, she could keep a closer watch on the children. At least at home, there weren’t strange faces everywhere with who knew what in mind.

“I ... my nerves are shot,” she said, wiping a shaky hand over her clammy brow. “I want to go home.”

Mason nodded slowly. “Okay.” He glanced towards the picnic table. “We’ll get the others and—” His eyes suddenly went wide with horror. “Luis!”

The abrupt change of subject threw Julie for a loop. It took her a second to figure out why he was crying out his friend’s name and she felt her own eyes widen as she recalled Luis leaving to call the police.

“Oh no!”

“I’ll be back!”

Leaving her staring after him, Mason bolted through the crowd. Julie prayed he got there in time. The last thing they needed was for the entire park to get shut down and swarmed by the police. Something told her Sheriff Reynolds would not be pleased at seeing them a second time in two days.

Forcing the stiffness in her limbs to bend, Julie joined the others at the picnic table.

“Where’s Mason?” Dustin looked up first.

Julie shot a glance in the direction Mason had taken. “He went to get Luis,” she answered.

“Are we leaving now because of Wendy?” Rick muttered, glaring at his sister, who looked small and miserable in her seat.

“Yes.” Julie ground her fingertips into her forehead. “But not because of Wendy. We’re leaving because it’s late.”

Dustin and Rick immediately boo’d and tossed Wendy scathing glowers. Wendy’s shoulders were up around her ears and she had sunk so low in her seat, all Julie could see of the girl was a bright, red forehead.

“But I’m still hungry!” Rick protested.

Julie had forgotten about the pizzas, the ones that had fallen from her grasp when Wendy had gone missing.

“Well, I’ll get you guys something, but afterwards...”

The drinks and one of the chip bags were still on the table from where Mason had left them, so it was only the pizzas she had to rebuy. She made Shaun swear not to take his eyes off them as she went back to standing in line. The whole time, she kept watch over the table, not looking away once, not even to blink.

Wendy and Rick were on their third slice when Mason returned, followed by Luis. He was chuckling at something the other man was saying and Julie had never been so happy to see anyone.

“Everything okay?” she asked when they were close enough.

Mason turned those startling eyes to her, a smile still curling his mouth. “Fine,” he said. “Candace had to call the sheriff’s station and let them know everything was all right, but other than that...”

“Candace?”

He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “The girl manning the booth.”

Not sure what to say, except give a soft oh of understanding, Julie turned her back on him and faced the children, who had finished eating and were throwing bits of their paper plates at each other. Her gaze was caught instead by Shaun. He wasn’t smirking exactly, but there was a glimmer of triumph floating in the murky brown of his eyes, like he was somehow personally responsible for bringing Julie misery. She ignored him.

“Is anyone still hungry?”

When the only response she got was squeals as the paper fight continued, she snatched the empty plates away from the children and carried everything to the trash. Then she motioned for everyone to get up and follow her.

“You guys can stay if you want,” she told Mason and the other two. “I’m going to take the children home and put them to bed.”

Mason glanced at his friends, first Luis then Shaun. “What do you guys want to do?”

Luis wrinkled his nose. “I’m kind of fun’d out,” he admitted, patting his middle gingerly and making a face.

Shaun rolled his eyes. “Whiny bitches.” He heaved his hulking frame up and off the bench. “But no point in sticking around if you ladies are going home.”

Mason shook his head, but said nothing.

They walked together in silence out of the park. Other families seemed to have had the same idea, because it was a zoo. People everywhere. Dustin left with Shaun and Luis when they turned right and headed in the opposite direction of Julie’s parked car. Julie had been tempted to call the boy back, but opted against it.

Mason stayed with her. His strides were long, but he remained firmly by her side all the way to her car. He helped strap the children in and shut the door behind them before turning to face Julie.

“Tired?”

Julie chuckled wearily. “Exhausted.” Sucking in a breath filled with cotton candy, machine grease, and pine, she looked up into his face. “Aren’t you?”

He gave a casual shrug. “I could sleep.” He glanced over the sea of shiny metal in the direction of his truck. “Follow me to my car and we’ll drive back together.”

She nodded and ducked behind the wheel.

It was just as tedious driving out as it had been driving in. Only difference was that people were maneuvering the parking area with enough slowness to drive Julie insane. Every few feet, they would stop and wait for another car to back out, or for another person to cross the road. It was pure madness. But at least the drive home was done in silence. It wasn’t until they reached the cabin that she noticed Wendy and Rick were both sleeping in the backseat, their heads against the windows.

Mason was already at her door when she came to a gentle stop behind his truck. Together, they gathered up the children and carried them inside.

“I think I’m going to bed,” she murmured once the last kid was tucked away in bed and they stood in the hall between Rick’s and Wendy’s doors.

Mason nodded. “I think I’m going to head there as well.” He grinned a little. “I nearly forgot how much energy those three have.”

Julie laughed and leaned back against the wall separating the two rooms. She closed her eyes and breathed in the end of a long day.

“I’m so tired,” she moaned, resting her head back. “And my feet hurt.”

She wiggled her stiff toes, curling and uncurling them against the hallway carpet. She groaned as the stiffness in each digit caused tiny slivers of pain to prickle up the tops of her feet.

A movement had her eyes popping open. She hadn’t exactly forgotten he was there, but she hadn’t realized how close he had gotten until that moment.

A full foot stood between them and yet every inch of that space was filled with him, with his heat, scent, and hunger. The air around them pulsed with heat and Julie was helpless to do anything but fall into those unwavering eyes. In her chest, her heart rocketed against her breast, anxious and excited as whatever distance was keeping her safe was demolished by a single step.

She was trapped. Her mind cried out for her to push him away, to remember not to give in, but her body, her senses, and her heart were rigid with anticipation.

“What am I going to do with you, Jewels?” It was placed as a question, but it was said as a demand, one she was incapable of answering, because what she wanted to say, she couldn’t. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to need a response. “Tell me what I can say to make you stop backing away from me.”

Once again, she was completely void of words, even as his filled her with a strange, floaty sensation.

Cautiously, Mason raised a hand and brought it to the side of her face. He lightly smoothed a coil of blonde hair off her cheek, letting the tips of his fingers graze the sensitive curve. It was only then that she caught the series of numbers across his palm in faint, blue ink topped with a name—Candace.

Julie jerked back. It was so rapid and unexpected, she smacked her head against the wall. Mason blinked in surprise by her reaction. He turned his hand over to see what had caught her eye and he cursed under his breath. He rubbed at the digits with the thumb of his other hand, smudging the numbers together until they were indistinguishable.

“This isn’t—”

But Julie had already skirted away from him. The moment broken.

“Goodnight, Mason.”

The front porch held only that morning’s paper and a sky full of clouds. The air was charged with the sort of electricity that came minutes before a thunderstorm. Julie exhaled the breath she was holding and pulled the folds of her hoodie tighter around her chilled frame. She crossed her arms across her midsection and watched as black bled through the tufts of gray overhead. The wind was lace with a frigid edge that lashed against the trees, making them bend and sway. It was definitely an indoor sort of day.

Grabbing the paper, she shut the door and headed into the kitchen. She was prepared for the figure at the island, bent over a bowl of cereal.

“It looks like we’re about to have a storm,” she said as she shook open the newspaper and eyed the front page.

It was nothing interesting. Some woman won first place for her apple pie. Julie crumpled the paper up and tossed it into the recycling bin.

She went to the fridge.

“So what’s it going to be?” Mason asked. “Eggs and bacon again or pancakes?” He pointed his spoon at her. “You owe me pancakes.”

Dragging out the milk carton, Julie frowned at him. “No, I don’t. You can make your own.”

“But they won’t be the best pancakes in the world.” He scooped corn flakes into his mouth, chewed. “They’ll be mediocre pancakes.”

Julie rolled her eyes in amusement. “Well, I’m not making pancakes.” She drew down several boxes of cereal and several packets of oatmeal. “We’re going to have a very simple breakfast.”

She walked to the sink and filled a pan with water. She set it on the stove and turned it on.

“Julie?”

In the process of opening the cupboard, she glanced over her shoulder. “Yeah?”

“We need to talk.”

Instinctively, Julie stiffened. She turned away with the pretense of drawing bowls down. She set them on the counter and kept her back to him.

“We can’t keep avoiding—”

“I’m not avoiding anything.” She faced him. “I also don’t think there’s anything to talk about. You said, or didn’t say all you had to four years ago. Unless you feel like there’s something more you’d like to add.”

Mason lowered his face until his chin nearly brushed the collar of his green skater t-shirt. His hands bunched on either side of his bowl.

“I had no idea ... I would never...” He rubbed the tip of his fingers over his furrowed brow with such force, she half expected him to peel his skin off. “I would never have let...”

Julie averted her eyes. “I don’t want to—”

“Well, you have to!” He shoved his plate aside and planted his palms hand down on the table. “You need to know...”

“Know what?” she snapped. Her hands trembled and she quickly balled them. “That you invited me to that party and then slapped me down in front of your friends? In front of the whole school?”

“That’s not what happened!”

“I was there!” she shot back.

“That’s not what happened!” He lunged to his feet and his fists made a resounding bang as he slammed them down on the table. “I never asked you to that party. I wouldn’t.”

“Because I wasn’t one of your usual supermodels?”

“Because you were fifteen!”

Julie blinked. “What?”

Solemn blue eyes met hers. “You were fifteen, Jewels. That might be okay with a lot of other guys, but not with me. I was eighteen. I was leaving for university and you didn’t even have your driver’s license. I’m a lot of things and I’ve done a lot of bad things, but even I have morals.”

Shock and confusion pulsed through her as his words wound around the memory she had clung to for the last four years, memories of that night that felt both eons and minutes old.

“But you invited me...”

“I didn’t.” He lowered himself back down on the stool and clasped his hands on the table in front of him like he was about to start prayer. “That’s one thing I can promise you.”

Julie shook her head, more to clear it than in denial. “Shaun said you ... Shaun?”

It was as though someone had smacked her upside the head with a two by four. The crack of it echoed through the chambers of her brain until her eyeballs rattled. But she kept them focused. Kept them trained on him.

Mason dropped his gaze to his fingers. The gesture said everything.

“But why?”

He shook his head slowly. “It doesn’t matter—”

“No, it does matter!” She yanked open a drawer and grabbed all the spoons from their slot. “That’s what this is all about. What does he have against me? Why would he do something so ... horrible?”

Mason made a sound between a sigh and a groan. He mashed the heel of his hands into the back of his eyelids and rubbed.

“Because of me.” He dropped his hands and raised his head. “Because he knew I liked you and he thought it was funny.”

“Why would that be funny?”

Mason hesitated. “Because he knew I would never do anything about it. At least, not at the time. He thought it was funny that of all the girls that wanted me, I was fighting like hell to keep away from the one I wanted back. Inviting you to that party was his way of dangling the carrot, so to speak. He wanted to see me fail.”

Shaken, Julie could only stare at him as his every word slammed into her, syllable by syllable, like tiny metal fists. So much of what he was saying were things she had longed to hear from him for so long that it hurt. The rest only made her furious.

“Julie,” he murmured when she could only shake her head.

“He’s an asshole!” Her voice trembled.

A grimace of pain crossed Mason’s face. “Shaun’s not the easiest guy to understand, but he means well ... most of the time.”

Julie almost laughed. “Means well? He humiliated me because he thought it would be funny.”

“That’s not...” He broke off with an exasperated sigh. “It was me he was trying to prove a point to.”

“But you’re not the one who got hurt, Mason. He never even apologized.”

He shifted in his seat and leaned closer. “I’m not going to make excuses for him. We’ve been friends since diapers, so I know he’s a royal douche. What I’m trying to tell you is that I had nothing to do with what happened.”

It was the truth. It gleamed almost pleadingly in his eyes and in the way his mouth had pursed into a thin, white line. He searched her face with a tinge of desperation that reflected in the straight, tense lines of his shoulders.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” She sucked in a breath to calm herself. “Why didn’t you come after me? You’re telling me all of this now, four years too late and expect me to ... what? What do you want, Mason? Forgiveness? Does it even matter at this point? You’re leaving in three days and we will never have to have this conversation again.”

He pulled in a lungful of air, held it, and let it out in a loud growl. “I want you to stop looking at me like I broke your heart! That’s what I want.”

Heat prickled her cheeks, but she never broke eye contact. “But you did. To me, it wasn’t a stupid crush. I genuinely loved you and you just stood there that night and said nothing as everyone laughed at me for being an idiot.”

“You left before I could say anything,” he replied.

Julie threw open her arms, spoons still clutched in her hands. “What did you expect me to do? Stand there and continue to be humiliated? And what exactly would you have done had I stayed?” She laughed, short and cold. “Somehow I doubt that, because you looked green enough to be sick when I showed up.”

“You caught me by surprise, first by showing up, second by how ... beautiful, you looked in that pink dress, your hair around your shoulders and then you just stood there, hands fisted, looking so determined and scared ... I wasn’t prepared. I panicked.” He had the decency to bow his head. “I was eighteen, damn it!” He raised his gaze to her face. “I was a kid. I was stupid. I admit it. There are a lot of things I wish now I had done differently, but making the decision to wait until you were older, is not one of those regrets.” He was breathing hard now and his eyes were bright with determination. “I was leaving in two months to go to school in another province. How could I ask you to wait for me at fifteen?”

“But I would have!”

“I didn’t want you to!” he shot back with equal verve. “I didn’t want to only see you on holidays and maybe weekends. I didn’t want to steal those years from you. I wanted you to experience high school like a normal teenager, one who didn’t have a boyfriend who couldn’t take her to dances, or movies, or call her regularly. Go ahead.” He threw his hands up. “Call me a selfish bastard, but I fucking loved you enough to let you go.”

Julie’s jaw dropped. Her heart missed two whole beats in her chest. All the anger and hurt evaporated to a numb silence that seemed infinitely louder between her ears. It sounded like the ocean, vast and perpetually churning.

“What ... what did you say?”

His grin was humorless. “I—”

Wendy shuffled into the room, yawning widely. Her slippers scuffled on the hardwood as she staggered towards the island and Julie.

“I’m awake,” she announced. “I dreamt I was pink.” She yawned again, louder, all the while still talking. “Even my eyeballs and hair, and I had to go to school like that.” She blinked several times and squinted at the items lined on the counter. “Can I have oatmeal?”

As if on cue, the water on the stove came to a boil, bringing Julie completely out of her jumbled thoughts. She quickly shut it off and motioned for Wendy to take a seat at the table. The girl climbed up on a stool instead, next to Mason, who had yet to take his eyes off Julie.

Rick arrived next, followed by Luis, who was still recovering from his failed hot dog eating contest the night before and waved offers of breakfast aside. Dustin looked reasonably more cheerful when he strolled into the kitchen. He poured himself a bowl of cereal and scrambled up onto a stool.

“What are we doing today?” he demanded while drowning his corn flakes in milk. “I want to go into town.” He took a giant bite and, while chewing, announced, “I need to get the new Dead Space game. Mom said I could.”

Julie was still lost in the sea of her own thoughts and wasn’t fast enough to respond. Wendy and Rick picked up on the idea and squealed their approval, shouting their own needs in town.

“I want to get a pretty dress!” Wendy announced. “And shoes!”

“Can we go to the beach?” Rick asked.

“We don’t have a beach, dummy!” Wendy exclaimed, nudging Rick’s arm and making him drop his spoon. It struck the lip of Rick’s oatmeal bowl and clattered noisily to the counter, splattering porridge across the counter. “We have a lake.”

“Look what you made me do!” Rick cried angrily.

“Guys!” Nearly balanced in her thoughts, Julie approached the counter and faced the three watching her. “Let’s finish breakfast. Then we’ll decide.”

That satisfied the masses. They ate quickly, dumped their dishes into the sink, and scurried out of the room to get dressed.

Julie, thankful for Luis keeping Mason occupied, hurriedly rinsed the few dishes and wiped down the table before leaving to dress herself and get away from the gaping chasm threatening to swallow her whole.

In her room, she shut the door and leaned against it. The wood made a dull thud as the back of her head struck it. She shut her eyes.

Mason Brody loved her.

Mason Brody loved her.”

Chapter Seven

Mason...

She wanted to cry. She wanted to squeal in excitement and dance crazy around the room. But she definitely wanted to cry. She wanted to curl up on the floor and sob. And it wasn’t out of happiness. The mammoth-sized ball of emotions crammed down her throat and suffocating her wasn’t joy. It was something else, something she couldn’t settle down long enough to name. Everything inside her was a jittering mess.

Pushing away from the door, Julie staggered to the terrace doors and peered through the rain splattered windows at the turmoil turning the heavens the color of sludge. Below, the lake churned. The water was the same mucky color as the sky. The waves lapped over each other and slammed into the dock and spilled over land. Around it, trees thrashed and swayed, shivering violently against the winds tearing through them. Julie felt a tickle of laughter in her throat that never made it to her lips. It was, in a grim way, funny how much the outside world fitted her insides.

A knock on the door startled her. She turned away from the terrace and moved to answer, part of her already knowing who she would find on the other side.

Sure enough, Mason raised his head and met her gaze. He was still clad in his flannel bottoms and t-shirt. His hands were in his pockets. He offered her a lopsided smile.

“Hey.”

Not sure how to act, or react, Julie could only stare back at him. Her fingers tightened around the doorknob.

Mason’s smile faded and grew serious. “The kids are waiting downstairs.”

Grateful that he wasn’t there to continue their talk, Julie nodded. “I just need to grab my purse.”

He didn’t stop her when she shut the door, putting it between them. Sucking down as much air, calm, and strength she could draw in, she snatched her purse and coat off the chair by the door and headed out.

Sure enough, Wendy, Rick, and Dustin hovered impatiently by the front doors. Dustin had his headphones on and stood slumped against the corner, but he kept casting annoyed glances towards the stairs. He quickly straightened when Julie came into view. He yanked the earbuds from his ears and stuffed the cords into his pocket.

“You guys ready to go?”

It really didn’t need to be said. Nevertheless, their enthusiasm made Julie smile and that was what counted.

Together, they scrambled out of the house and piled into the car. Julie fluffed the humidity and stray beads of rain from her hair with one hand and inserted her keys into the ignition with the other. She was fiddling with the knobs on the heater when the passenger’s side door swung open and Mason’s long, toned body folded itself into the seat. He grunted and slammed the door shut behind him.

“Whew!” he said, adjusting his frame more comfortably in her tiny compact. “I thought you guys were going to leave without me.”

Julie simply stared at him.

He stared back. “What? I need to pick a few things up.” He twisted his torso to look over his seat at the kids in the back. “You guys don’t mind if I tag along, do you?”

“Yay!” Wendy cheered.

Dustin and Rick made equal sounds of enthusiasm.

Mason turned back to Julie. “You okay with me coming along?”

Not sure what else to say, Julie shrugged. “Yeah, sure. It’s fine.”

Driving with him sitting less than a foot away proved to be harder than it should have been. Every turn was stiff. Every thought was a second too slow. She made three wrong turns before finding the center of town and the shops, which should have been impossible considering there was only one road that led into the heart of town.

Salmon Cove wasn’t famous for its giant outlet malls. Instead, they had tiny family run stores with shiny bay windows and warm, golden lights. It was the perfect place for tourists who wanted the picturesque scenery. Normally, Julie would have been one of them, but a lot of that thrill was sucked out by the cold tension that followed their every step, down every road and into every store. Warm, welcoming smiles instantly melted into tight, pinch-lipped frowns the moment their gazes bounced from Julie to the figure behind her. One woman even told them she was closing up for lunch, even though it had only been ten in the morning.

“I’m not having fun,” Wendy murmured as they left the only hobby and toy store in town empty handed.

Julie ran a gentle hand over the girl’s silky hair. “I know, sweetie. I’m sorry.” Her gaze roamed along the surprisingly bustling street and the row of shops on either side. “What do you say we get something to eat and try again?”

Wendy nodded gloomily. Beside her, Rick stood quietly, his face drawn. Dustin simply looked pissed, and she couldn’t blame any of them.

She turned to Mason standing tall and silent beside her. “Where’s a good place to eat?”

His blue eyes were dark, matching the thick overcast. “There’s a diner just up that way.” He gestured with a jerk of his chin. “But maybe I should head back, or wait in the car.”

Julie frowned at him. “What good would that do?”

He sighed and met her gaze squarely. “It might make things easier on you guys.”

Disgusted, not at him, but at the situation, Julie shook her head. “No, we came here together and we are going to stay together. This is ridiculous. Come on.”

She took Wendy’s hand firmly and tugged the group down the street in the direction of the ranch style cabin at the end of the block. Music, something western, filled the streets when Julie pushed open the door. Several heads turned, but the hushed whispers didn’t actually start until Mason stepped over the threshold.

Julie’s jaw set. Her temper crackled. She gripped Wendy’s hand tighter and dared the onlookers to say something. No one did, but the glances continued, as did the whispers.

“Let’s find a seat,” she muttered, propelling them through the maze of tables to an empty booth.

The kids slid in first. She and Mason took the ends.

A waitress came out from the back room behind the long counter at the other end of the room. Her pen and pad were already in her hands when she started towards them. Then her gaze went from Julie to Mason and she stumbled mid-stride. Her eyes flicked anxiously away and she veered off course towards another table.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Julie hissed under her breath.

“You said a bad word,” Wendy whispered from beside her.

Julie ignored the girl and watched the waitress as she stood hovering over a table that had already been served.

“Jewels, I think—”

“Stop!” she ordered Mason before he could say another word. “This is bullshit. Hey!” she called when the waitress pulled away from the table and made a hasty dart towards the kitchen again.

The waitress practically ran through the doors and disappeared from sight.

Fury writhed through Julie. She would have upended the table had it not been bolted into the ground. She had never tasted that level of absolutely abhorrence before in her life and it only infuriated her further. And it had nothing to do with Mason, or the people still watching them. It was the fact that Rick was a small, quiet figure staring at the table and Wendy looked on the verge of tears. It was the red stain in Dustin’s cheeks as he glowered hotly through the window. This wasn’t fair to them. They had done nothing wrong. They were being punished for something Mason had done years ago, when he had been a stupid kid.

“Stay here.”

Slapping both hands on the table, Julie hefted herself out of her seat and marched to the counter. She slammed her palm down rapidly and repeatedly on the bell next to the register. She kept ringing it even when she felt all the eyes in the restaurant on her. She kept ringing until the back door swung open and a frazzled man burst out, looking bemused and annoyed. His brown eyes blinked behind round glasses as he took Julie in. The thick mustache over his thin lip twitched.

He was a reedy man, tall and lanky with a receding hairline that was combed to one side of his round head. He wore a blue striped dress shirt with black slacks and a blue tie. He was clearly not a waiter, or the cook, which suited Julie perfectly.

“I hope you’re the manager,” she stated at once, ceasing her dinging.

The man pushed his glasses high up his nose and moved up behind the counter. “I am. Is there a problem?”

Julie laughed bitterly. “Is there a problem?” she repeated loudly. “Yes, I would say there is a problem. We,” she gestured to their table, “just arrived and your waitress refused to wait on us. Is that how you run your business?”

The man’s mouth gaped a little. “I’m sure there’s been some misunderstanding.”

Julie planted her palms on the counter and leaned in. She dropped her voice. “I don’t think so. But I do think you need to hire yourself a new waitress. Yours just cost you a paying costumer, and probably a whole lot more, because you can bet that I am going to report this on every blog, every tourist website, and even the Better Business Bureau. Her behavior was appalling.”

It was the confusion and horror on the man’s face that made her wonder if he were new to the town, because when he looked in the direction of her table and his expression changed to anger, it wasn’t aimed at Mason.

He turned and marched to the swinging doors and poked his head through.

“Carrie!” He barked into the back. He pulled his head back and returned to the counter, still looking angry, but also apologetic as he met Julie’s gaze. “I am so terribly sorry,” he said. “I will most definitely get to the bottom of this.”

Julie didn’t accept his apology. She waited until the kitchen doors opened and Carrie emerged, looking pale, but determined. The manager rounded on her.

“What is the meaning of this?” he hissed in a low whisper, not that it mattered because the entire restaurant was practically out of their seats in anticipation of what would come next.

Carrie shot Julie a dirty glare before lowering her head and her voice to murmur something to the manager Julie couldn’t hear, but had a feeling it involved Mason, because Carrie waved a hand in the direction of the table.

“Nobody wants him here,” was the little Julie overheard.

The manager seemed about as impressed with her explanation as Julie was. “That is not your decision to make,” the manager retorted, struggling to keep his voice low. “This is my establishment and a paying costumer is a paying costumer.” He squared his thin shoulders. “Pack up your things.”

Carrie’s jaw seemed to become unhinged, hanging nearly to her collarbone with shock. “What? You’re firing me?”

“I will not have you running out my costumers!” the manager shot back. “Wait for me in my office. We will finish this conversation there.”

Like a broken toy, Carrie’s mouth opened and closed without a single sound. Then her gray eyes shot to Julie and her shock melted into fury. Her mouth snapped open and Julie braced herself for the avalanche of insults, instead, Carrie was speared by a warning glower by the manager and her mouth shut once again. She pivoted on her heels and stormed back into the kitchen.

The manager turned to Julie. “Please accept my most sincere apologies. I assure you that I will deal with this matter immediately. In the meantime, please stay. Your meals are on the house.”

Tempting. Julie almost said yes. Then her gaze went to the table, to each face watching her and she shook her head.

“No, we won’t be eating here.”

She stalked back to the booth and motioned Wendy out. She took the girl’s hand, grabbed her purse and left the restaurant with her head high and her back straight.

“Are we still going to eat?” Wendy asked as they walked down the sidewalk. “My stomach is rumbling.”

Once there was a good block between them and the restaurant, Julie stopped and turned to the group. She peered down into Wendy’s pleading eyes.

“Yeah, we’re going to eat.” She put on a bright smile. “Do you think your stomach can wait a little longer?”

Wendy narrowed her eyes. “Depends. What are we going to get?”

Julie shrugged. “Your somach will just have to trust me. But first, we need to get to the car.”

“Are we going home?” Rick asked.

Julie shook her head. “Nope. We’re going for a drive.” As the kids perked at the new idea, Julie found herself caught in Mason’s brilliant gaze. His expression was masked behind a quiet deliberation. “You okay with that?” she asked.

His bottom lip disappeared between his teeth. His eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you sure you still want me around?”

The question was simple, but it was the well cloaked undertone behind it that made her pause. Thankfully, Wendy saved her from having to answer.

“I do!” She grabbed Mason’s hand with her free one. “I still love you.”

Mason smiled, but his eyes remained fixed on Julie. “Love you too, brat.” Finally, he lowered his gaze to the girl, but not before he had sent Julie’s heart racing in her chest. “And I am hungry.” He focused on Julie once more. “What’s the plan, Captain?”

She didn’t have one, but she smiled with all the confidence she could muster and got everyone back in the car. Then she just drove and kept driving until they passed the town sign thanking them for visiting Salmon Cove and hoping they returned soon.

Not if I can help it, Julie thought to herself.

She took the group to the next town over, not quite as picturesque a place, but no one glowered at them and that made all the difference. Even the kids seemed relieved when she parked the car outside a steakhouse and no one stopped to stare and point. They shoved each other in their mad haste to reach the doors first. It was good to see the smiles on their faces again.

The hostess at the front smiled widely at them without a shred of prejudice and ushered them to a booth in the corner. The kids darted after her, yelling about who got the window seat. Julie let them go and started to follow when her wrist was caught in a gentle restraint. Mason, watching the children scamper away, waited until they were out of sight before pinning her to the spot. His chest came up against her side. His lips caressed the curve of her ear. The thumb on her wrist lightly traced the soft skin over her pulse. She wondered if he could feel its erratic patter.

“You’re amazing,” he whispered into her ear. “You know that?”

Julie started to shake her head when his free hand slid over her waist and settled along the curve, just above her hip. The heat of his fingers burned her through the thin material of her top and her insides felt like she’d missed a step going down a set of stairs. The sensation was intensified when tapered fingers unfurled from her wrist and lifted to take her chin. Her face was tipped to his, brought dangerously close to his mouth and forced to watch his lips as they moved with speech.

“Promise me we’ll finish our talk,” he was saying when she struggled past the loud hum between her ears. “Please,” he whispered. “We only have three days and I need to know...” He sucked in a breath and held it. His eyes explored the hills and valleys of her face like the thing he most desperately needed was hidden somewhere in their lines. “Please promise me.”

His plea whispered feather light across her mouth, her chin and fanned across her cheeks. The skin everywhere it touched tingled. Her lashes fluttered, threatening to close.

“Promise.”

She expected him to pull away now that she had given him her word that they would talk, but he continued to hold her, continued to stroke the skin of her jaw with the tips of his fingers, gliding closer to the point of her chin until he was skimming delicately over her bottom lip. He seemed fascinated by her mouth and she was fascinated by the way his eyes had darkened and his every intake of air seemed ragged and unsteady. But most of all, by the rapid patter of his heart against the palm she had flattened unknowingly to his chest. She never in a million years imagined she could ever have that sort of effect on him. She didn’t want to pull away.

“Sorry! Excuse me.” The hostess, having dropped the children off at the table had returned and was offering them a small, apologetic smile. “Your table is ready.”

Flustered and starving for all the things Mason had promised with a single skim of his fingers, Julie pulled from the warm cocoon of Mason’s arms. Her heart was still going a mile a minute and her knees were shaking too hard to support her weight, but she followed the hostess to where the children sat coloring happily on the paper placemats. Dustin was flipping through his iPod for a new song, but he glanced up when Mason and Julie took a seat, Julie next to Wendy and Mason next to Rick and Dustin.

“I’m getting the twenty pounder,” he declared. “Ribs and a steak as big as my head.”

Julie laughed and winced when it came out breathless and weak. “Let’s stick to something a little smaller.”

“But I can totally eat that,” Dustin insisted. “Besides, if I do, I get my meal for free!”

“If you eat it in an hour,” Mason said, eyeing the little sign pinned to the table, announcing the specials, including the King Platter which was free only if you finished all of it in an hour. “You think you can eat all that in an hour, squirt?”

“Damn right I could!”

“Language!” Julie scolded. “Dustin, the thing is eighty bucks.”

Mason and Dustin stared each other down over Rick’s bent head.

“All right.” Mason pushed his menu aside. “We’ll make it two. You win and you get to stay up late and watch The Walking Dead marathon.”

Dustin’s eyes practically popped out of his skull. “Shut up! Seriously?”

Mason put up on hand and pressed the other to his chest. “Scouts honor. But if I win...” His grin was slow and wicked. “You have to drop the attitude for the rest of the month.”

“Deal!” Dustin shouted without a second of hesitation.

“Don’t tell him that,” Julie pleaded. “He’ll make himself sick. Besides, if he wins, his mom will kill me for letting him watch that show.”

Mason smirked. “Hear that? She doesn’t think you can do it.”

“Mason!”

Dustin straightened his shoulders. “It’s so on.”

The two bumped fists around the back of Rick’s bent head.

Julie rolled her eyes, but didn’t stop the pair when they made their order. Wendy and Rick both chose burgers and fries, and Julie got a steak with a side of potatoes and steamed vegetables.

They laughed and ate as they watched Mason and Dustin scarf down their enormous platters. Mason didn’t seem to be in any rush and actually took the time to cut his meat into neat cubs, while Dustin jumped in with his hands, gnawing and ripping at his meat with his teeth.

In the end, Mason won. Dustin got through half of his steak before calling it quits and sagging against his seat. He looked on the verge of throwing up, which Rick thought was amusing as he kept jabbing Dustin in the gut with his finger.

They paid their bill and headed back to the car, but rather than head back to Salmon Cove, Julie found the local mall and pulled in.

“Who wants to do some of that shopping?”

Grinning, she pocketed the keys and led the kids inside.

They didn’t stay long. Dustin bought his game, Rick got a motor boat for the lake and Wendy bought a pretty new dress and a pair of slippers. Hers was the longest to shop for.

“I didn’t think we would ever leave that place,” Mason muttered as they drove back.

In the back, Dustin had his head back, eyes closed as something loud and angry shrieked through his headphones. Wendy had her head against the car window as Rick slumped against her, both out cold. The sun had set behind them and the road was dark.

“Yeah, but at least they had fun.” She took one hand off the wheel to yawn behind it. “Sorry. I’m exhausted. I haven’t been sleeping very well.”

“Do you want me to drive?”

The thought was tempting. She would have given anything to pass off the wheel, recline her seat and shut her eyes for the next forty minutes, but she wasn’t ready to let go ... of the wheel.

“I’m okay.”

They drove for another mile in silence. Julie yawned again and the gesture sent a tremor through her that shook her arms. The car swerved ever so slightly over the yellow line. She righted it quickly, but Mason noticed.

“Okay, that’s it. Pull over, lady,” he ordered.

She didn’t argue this time. She turned the wheel and rolled to a gentle halt on the side of the road. Mason shoved his way out, left the passenger’s side door wide open and started around the hood towards her side. Julie was reaching for the handle when the door was jerked open. He offered her his hand.

“Come on,” he urged coaxingly.

With a reluctant sigh, she accepted his outstretched fingers and eased out of her seat. She was barely able to keep her eyes open when he pulled her to him. His grip was gentle as he rested his hands lightly on her waist, steadying her. His body was warm and cradled hers in such a way that it made her want to rest her head on his shoulder and close her eyes.

He led her around the car, keeping a gentle arm around her the whole way.

Julie chuckled as they reached the passenger’s side door. “I’m not intoxicated. I can walk.”

“I know,” was all he said.

Shaking her head in dull amusement, Julie started to pull away, to turn towards the passenger’s side door, only to be restrained by his arms. His lips found her temple. His hands slid across her back. She was pulled to his chest. The softness of her thighs pressed into the hard cords of his. His heart beat fast and wild against hers. She felt him inhale against the curls at the top of her head, felt his arms tighten. One hand lifted off her back and slipped beneath her chin, and for the second time that night, her face was offered to his. Her cheek was caressed by the same hand. The curve was traced by the tips of his fingers. Julie gasped. The harsh clap of her heart intensified to a painful crack inside her chest. She watched in wonder and anticipation as he studied her shadowed features. She wondered if he could even really see her when she couldn’t make him out at all.

“Let’s go home,” he murmured at last, pulling her from the spell he had so effortlessly woven around her. “Luis and Shaun probably think we’ve run off and left them there.”

With a weak laugh, she let herself be tucked into the car. He shut the door behind her and hurried around to slip behind the wheel. Julie leaned her head back and relaxed as they set off.

At some point, she must have dozed, because it was only mere minutes later when Mason was shaking her gently awake. They were parked in front of the cabin and the front door was open to the warm glow of the foyer.

Julie grimaced in embarrassment as she pushed straighter up in her seat.  “I’m sorry,”

She resisted the urge to check her chin for drool.

“Don’t be.” He smiled sweetly at her. “You okay to walk?”

Julie nodded and threw open her door. Together, they put the kids to bed and found Shaun and Luis watching some horror movie on TV. Luis beamed when he saw them. He waved.

“Where did you guys take off to?” he asked.

“Took the kids shopping,” Julie said.

“Thanks for asking us to tag along,” Shaun muttered. “Sorry we couldn’t move our busy schedule around.”

“You guys had the keys to the truck,” Mason told them. “You didn’t need to stay here all day.”

Shaun shot him a murderous glower. “We came here to hang out together. Two seconds through the door and you were sucked up her vagina.”

“Jesus!” Mason snapped.

That was the second time Shaun had called her a vagina and Julie had had it.

“The only vagina in this room is you, Shaun,” she said evenly. “Stop being a little bitch.” She turned to Mason. “I’m going to bed.” She cast a glance towards Luis. “Goodnight.”

Without waiting for a comment from anyone, she started up. She was at the top of the stairs when the arguing downstairs erupted. Feeling way too exhausted to have to deal with any of Shaun’s bullshit, she went straight to bed. She was out the second her head hit the pillow.

Only, she didn’t stay asleep.

Chapter Eight

“Julie!”

The desperate wail sent Julie staggering out of bed. Her head rushed from the sudden motion and her stomach roiled in protest, but she stumbled to the doors and threw them open. A scream lodged in her throat when the shadow in the hall jumped, clearly as surprised as she was at not being the only one awake. It was only due to the lit bulb in the hallway bathroom, normally left on so Rick could find his way, that Julie recognized the figure.

“Mason?”

“I heard a scream,” he said, answering her unasked question.

“Who was it?” she wondered, darting anxious glances at the other doors.

“I think Wendy.”

Hand still pressed to her thumping heart, Julie sprinted past him towards Wendy’s room. She pushed open the door and hurried inside.

Wendy, in her My Little Pony pajamas, stood by the window. She spun around when Julie burst into her room, followed by Mason. Her face was pale, made paler by the harsh glow of the moon spilling through the glass.

“There’s a man outside!” Wendy said, pointing, jabbing at the glass. “He’s carrying a body.”

“What?” Julie ran to her and pulled her away to take her place at the window.

The world outside was dark. Not city dark where lights from streetlamps and apartments still illuminated even the places that seemed impossibly dark. No one knew the meaning of true darkness unless they’d ever gone camping. But that was what that was—absolute darkness. Everything was a violent smear of black. The light from the moon shone over the grounds only mere feet around the house like a spotlight. Julie squinted, straining to see even a glimmer of movement that wasn’t the trees, and saw nothing.

“Where?” she asked out loud.

“By the lake,” Wendy answered.

Julie felt the warmth and strength of Mason’s body come up against her back. His hand rested on her hip as he leaned to see over her shoulder. His weight rested securely on her and she had to resist the urge to lean back into him.

“I don’t see anything,” she replied.

“Are you sure you weren’t dreaming, brat?” Mason wondered.

“I’m awake,” Wendy insisted.

Julie turned to her. “What are you doing out of bed anyway?”

Wendy shrugged. “I heard a noise.”

Julie took the other girl by the shoulders and gentle guided her back to the bed. Mason remained by the window, looking up and down the yard with his hands cupped around the face he had squished into the glass. He must not have found anything, because he turned away and watched as Julie tucked Wendy into bed.

“There’s no one out there, squirt,” Mason promised as he tugged the curtains over the window, blocking the moon and yard from view. “You probably saw a deer.”

Wendy frowned. “It wasn’t a deer.” But she sounded unsure.

Julie smoothed back hairs off the girl’s face. “Whatever it was, it’s gone now, okay?” She drew the blankets more securely around Wendy’s shoulders. “Go back to sleep.”

With a sigh, Wendy turned onto her side and shut her eyes.

Mason crept out of the room. Julie followed, only after casting an uneasy glance in the direction of the window. Mason was waiting for her when she shut the door behind her.

“Coffee?”

Julie squinted at her watch and groaned at the ungodly hour. “It’s five in the morning.”

Stretching and pulling all of that glorious taut skin and sinewy muscle, Mason yawned loudly. “Apparently.”

Her weary limbs protested the idea of going anywhere that wasn’t her bed, but she knew sleep was only a distant memory. Even if she tried, it wouldn’t come and she would only toss and turn anyway.

“Fine,” she grumbled.

Mason started the coffee while Julie watched the shimmer of light reflecting off the surface of the lake through the patio doors. The sky was lit solely by a slash of orange just along the horizon. The color trickled through the navy blue, painting the peaks of the trees a brilliant gold.

Strong hands settled on her shoulders from behind. The fingers pulled on the knots tightening the muscles and Julie whimpered as every expert knead rolled her eyes up into the back of her skull. Her head dropped back against the hard corded muscles of Mason’s shoulder. Her eyes closed.

“Why don’t you get some more sleep?” he offered, letting his hand slid down her arms to hook around her middle. “I can take the kids.”

Julie shook her head, eyes still shut. “I’m okay. I just need some coffee.”

“Are you sure?” He kissed her temple with the most endearing skim of his lips. “I make a mean bowl of cereal.”

Julie laughed.

“Don’t laugh.” He nuzzled the side of her face, scratching her face with the soft bristle growing around his jaw. “My cereal could win awards.”

Her snort was met with a nip of his teeth against her jaw. She squeaked and tried to pull away.

“You promised we’d talk,” he reminded her, tightening his hold. “I need to know if you’ll give us a chance.”

“A chance at what?” Her voice came out an octave too high. “We live in different provinces. I’m still in school. You have your job. Now, unless all you want is a summer fling, I don’t understand what you want from all this.”

The arms cradling her protectively against his chest stiffened. “That’s not what I’m asking. That’s not what I want.”

“What then?” She turned so they were face to face and she could see the determination in his eyes. “Are you really willing to wait for me while I work my way out of school?”

“Yes!” It was said without a shred of hesitation. “Maybe you didn’t hear me earlier, but I’ve been in love with you my entire life.”

It took a great deal of effort not to fall boundlessly into those words, into the warm promise behind them. She had waited too long to hear them and now that she was, she was filled with pain. Like he had physically reached into her chest, torn out her heart, and mashed it all over again under a mallet.

“Don’t say that.” There was no hiding the plea, nor was she able to suppress the humiliation that came with it.

“Jewels...”

“No!” She planted her palms to his chest and shoved him back a full three steps. “You had years to tell me that. You had years to explain what happened that night. But you choose now to do it? Why?” she demanded.

“Because no matter how I looked at it, you were too young,” he cut her off. “When I was sixteen, you were thirteen. When I was eighteen, you were fifteen.”

“But that’s still only three years,” she rationalized. “It was still legal in Canada.”

He shrugged. “Didn’t matter. I told you, I wasn’t going to start something between us when I would eventually have to leave. I wasn’t going to ask you to put your life on hold for me.”

“But that was my choice!” she shot back, livid. “You had no right to make that decision for both of us.”

He spread his arms out in exasperation. “Maybe not, but how long do you think it would have lasted, huh? How long would you have waited, going weeks, sometimes months without seeing me? Loneliness is a bitch, Julie. Trust me. It would have eaten at us, driving a wedge between everything we had and I wasn’t going to lose you like that.”

Her anger was stilled by the confusion brought on by his words. “What are you talking about?”

“You were fifteen when I left for British Columbia,” he reminded her. “I would have been your only relationship and it would have been for two months before I left for school. That first year, I didn’t come home until Easter break. That’s seven months. The next time was Christmas. That’s another nine months. That’s twice in a single year. That’s how often you would have seen me while your friends were going out every weekend with their boyfriends and you had to stay home in case I was able to call for a few minutes between homework and classes. You were fifteen, Julie.” He lowered his voice, but she could hear what those years had cost him reverberating through every word. “It killed me, but I wanted you to live. I wanted you to go on dates and have fun.” He dropped his eyes to their feet. “I wanted you to be sure you still wanted me when we met again.”

“That’s crazy.” But there was no anger in the statement. In her. For the first time in four years, the thought of him didn’t fill her with pain and fury, because she understood what he had been trying to do. If anything, it made her heart sink a little deeper in the quicksand that was her love for Mason Brody.

“Maybe,” he murmured with a sheepish quirk of his lips. “But like I said, I loved you enough to let you go for a short time.”

She arched a brow almost teasingly. “You sound so sure that I would still be single when we met again.”

He averted his eyes, but not before she saw the spark of doubt. “I wasn’t sure, but...” His head tipped ever so slightly in her direction and his features became contemplative as he studied her. “I hoped.” He paused before adding, “I also had a very elaborate way of making him disappear if it came down to it.”

Julie burst out laughing.

He didn’t. But he grinned a little. It was dark and there was something there that stole her breath. Her laughter died.

“Tell me about that night.”

The coffee machine took that moment to beep, signaling the end of its brewing. The rich, dark scent of roasted beans momentarily distracted Julie. Her eyes flittered over to the counter where the machine sat, gleaming almost tauntingly, and she nearly whimpered.

Mason chuckled and gave a slight shake of his head as he took a step back. “Come on. I’ll tell you once we get you your fix.”

“God bless you,” she moaned, following him across the kitchen and around the island.

With steaming mugs in hand, they ventured to the table and sat. Julie took the head and Mason claimed the chair on her right. He waited until she had gulped a greedy mouthful that burned all the way down before speaking.

“It was Ian Herst’s graduation party and the entire senior class had been invited. I originally hadn’t wanted to go. Mom was taking the whole family out to dinner and I knew it would be a long time before I would see everyone together like that. Shaun insisted. He pushed and begged, and I think he even threatened me at one point, but I eventually gave in. After dinner, we got into my truck and we drove to Ian’s.” He paused and looked down at the cup cradled between his hands. “The whole way, Shaun teased me about you. I think we talked more about you then anything else. There was even a point where I asked him if he liked you. He doesn’t,” he said when Julie visibly cringed. His smile faded as he continued. “But he liked how it annoyed me. He said it was funny seeing me get all riled up about something, especially considering how stupid I was being. He didn’t understand why I wasn’t just taking what we both wanted when it was clear there was nothing standing between us.

At the party, he joked how it would be hilarious if you showed up. I told him that was unlikely—it was a senior class party and you’d made plans to see a movie at the Cineplex with your friends.”

Julie blinked in surprise. “How...?”

His grin was sheepish. “I overheard you and your friends earlier that day while you were cleaning out your locker.”

She nodded as that day passed through her mind’s eye like a movie reel. “We were going to see the Deathly Hallows. I was getting ready when I got your text.”

The all too familiar twang wrenched her heart as she recalled how excited she had been to get that message, how she could scarcely hit the right buttons to text her friends and cancel. All because Mason had asked her to the party. She had spent hours getting ready, so desperate to look older, like the other girls that would be there.

“It said you wanted to talk about us,” she mumbled, staring fixedly at the rippling liquid in her mug. “That you had to see me. It was important. I thought...” She bit her lip. Humiliation burned in her cheeks.

Mason squeezed his eyes shut and scrubbed a frustrated hand over his face. “God, Julie, I’m so sorry.”

She looked away, hoping to conceal the bright shine of tears threatening to spill.

He lowered his arm and let his forearm fall next to his mug. His fist was clenched. “During the party, Shaun had asked to borrow my phone because he’d left his somewhere and wanted to phone it. I didn’t think anything of it. I didn’t see the text until the next morning. That’s when I realized what he’d done.”

The snort she gave had been meant to sound careless, but it was riddled with the emotion she was fighting to suppress. “That explains why you looked so shocked to see me.”

“I had no idea you would be there,” he said. “I looked up and...” He rocked his head slowly from side to side. “I thought I’d imagined you to life. Then you saw me and your face lit up...” His face softened and seemed to tighten at the same time like the memory was a great source of joy and pain. “You were standing under a blue paper lantern and the color made your hair and eyes shine blue in the darkness. You wore that pink dress I liked so much and you just looked so ... beautiful. For a moment, I thought one of the other guys had asked you and you were there with them. I remember wanting to punch their lights out...” He smiled humorlessly when she snorted a chuckle. “But you made a straight line across the back patio to me and it took all my resolve not to grab you and keep you away from all the other guys watching you.”

Julie’s eyes widened. “What other guys?”

It was his turn to chuckle. “You didn’t notice them, but I sure as hell did. The gleam in their eyes made me want to commit murder. But then you were standing in front of me, eager anticipation turning your cheeks the same pink as your dress and I forgot about them.”

She had been terrified and excited, like someone meeting their celebrity crush. The whole time he stared at her with the stunned expression of someone who was witnessing something unfathomable, she had been bracing herself for whatever he wanted to tell her. In her mind, she had been so certain that this was when he would tell her he loved her and wanted to be with her. She had rehearsed what she would say during the drive to the party. It had ended with them kissing and spending the rest of the night together talking and kissing some more. She had spent so long dreaming about his lips that her stomach was a writhing pit at the very thought of finally feeling them against hers.

“What are you doing here?” he’d said instead.

His confusion had confused her and her already sweaty fingers had trembled around the purse strap she’d been anxiously toying with.

“You ... you told me you wanted to talk.”

His brows had drawn together. “No, I—”

Shaun had taken that moment to saunter over, his cocky strides matching the leer on his face.

“Look who showed up to a big kid party.” He’d looked Julie over with a disgusting smirk. “And all dressed up in her mommy’s clothes. Bet the bra’s stuffed.”

Heat had exploded in Julie’s cheeks and she had an overpowering urge to cross her arms.

“Back off!” Mason’s expression had been thunderous.

Shaun had put up his hands in a mock show of surrender. “Hey, relax. I don’t want that.” His sneer had turned nasty. “No one does.”

Several eyes had begun to turn their way at that point. Julie could feel their eyes boring into her, taking her in. Several of the boys were elbowing each other and pointing, and she couldn’t help wanting to make sure the back of her dress wasn’t tucked into the band of her panties. Instead, she turned to look at Mason.

“Why did you ask me to come, Mason?” she’d demanded.

“I did—”

“Don’t back down now!” Shaun had crowed at the top of his lungs. “Tell her.”

Mason shot him a heated glare. “Stop it.”

“What?” Shaun threw up his hands. “You’re the one who was going on about how you were ready to cut the umbilical cord and getting the clingy bitch to finally let you go.”

Julie had felt like someone had sucker punched her square in the abdomen. Her gaze had shot from Mason to Shaun to the many pairs of eyes watching and laughing.

“Mason...?”

His attention was on Shaun. The two were staring at each other - Mason with a black, violent sort of rage that seemed to be sending tremors down the length of his rigid frame, Shaun with sly amusement that seemed immune to his best friend’s blood thirst.

“Shut up, Shaun,” Mason had hissed at last in a deadly calm voice that warned not to cross him.

Shaun must have been severely drunk, because he didn’t seem to notice. “Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts now that you’ve seen her in a skirt?” He rolled his brown eyes to Julie and she flinched. “Bet she came here hoping you’d finally spread her legs and ram your cock—”

“Shaun!” Mason had pushed forward and planted himself between Julie and his friend. His balled hands had trembled at his sides. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Shaun had squared his shoulders and come toe to toe with Mason without batting an eye. “Maybe you’re too afraid to tell her what’s been on your mind for years, but I’m not. The bitch needs to know how pathetic you think she is and how the sight of her makes you turn tail and bolt in the opposite direction.”

“Enough!” Mason had grabbed Shaun by the front of his t-shirt. “Not another word, Shaun. I swear to God I will beat your fucking face in.”

Shaun had rounded cold, brown eyes on Julie, who wished the floor would open up beneath her feet. “Then tell her I’m wrong. Tell her to stay. You can’t,” Shaun taunted with malice when Mason said nothing. “Because she repulses you.”

Mason’s jaw muscles had bunched. His eyes had been chips of blue eyes burning straight into his friend. He looked on the verge of losing control. But he didn’t argue the things Shaun was saying. He didn’t deny them. He just stared at Shaun like he wanted to strangle the other man.

Julie wanted to die, but all she could manage was to mash her wet palms over her mouth, smudging her lip gloss as she fought to muffle the tight ball of pain threatening to explode from her chest.

It did anyway despite all her attempts. Even with the drunken laughter of a group of girls nearby and the heavy bass slamming across the yard, that single, pathetic sound trumped them all. It rang over the crowd of onlookers as though it had been broadcasted over a microphone. The horror of it hit her all the harder when Mason’s entire body went rigid like she’d punched him between the shoulder blades. His head dropped forward as though in prayer, but he never turned to her. He never called her back when she threw herself through the jeering spectators back towards the house. The tears had started before the car door had shut behind her.

“Jewels?”

Julie jolted at the unwarranted intrusion into her private hell. Her breath caught in her chest and she teetered a moment while she tried to pull herself out of the nightmare.

“I’m okay,” she lied, running the back of her trembling hand over her mouth.

Mason took the hand and brought the heel to his lips. He skimmed a kiss over the soft skin. His eyes never left her face, and she wished they would so she could compose herself.

“You have every right to hate me,” he murmured quietly. “I handled the situation horribly. I let you down and for that I am so sorry.”

“Why didn’t you come after me?” she whispered. “Why didn’t you try to call, or text?”

“I tried!” he said with an urgency in his tone. “I tried so many times. But every time I wrote you the text, or dialed your number, I froze. I didn’t know what to say and everything I wanted to say wasn’t enough. How could I make you forgive me for that night? How could I tell you the real reason Shaun was goading me?”

“You could have said something,” she shot back. “You could have apologized. You could have told me about the text and how it hadn’t been from you. You could have...” She broke off to catch her breath before plunging on. “Why are you still friends with that asshole?”

“Because he wasn’t trying to hurt you ... only you,” he added quickly when she narrowed her eyes. “He was trying to humiliate me. He knew anything I said at that point would go against me. Believe it or not, he was actually trying to help.”

“You’re right.” She drew her hand out of his. “I don’t believe you. Shaun Ryan doesn’t help anyone, but himself. And you’re a coward.”

“Hey!”

She pinned him with all the pain and anger swirling up inside her. “That night I was the one who was made a fool of and you didn’t do anything despite claiming you loved me.”

“Whoa!” His blue eyes crackled with his indignation. “Is that what you think? That I did nothing? I broke Shaun’s nose and jaw.”

“You didn’t do what was important,” she countered. “Like tell the girl whose heart you broke that it wasn’t true. Damn it, Mason! I loved you. I cried every night for a month.”

“I know!” He threw up his hands in aggravation. “Don’t you think I know? You don’t think I hate myself for what happened? I know now that I should have done something, said something, but at the time I...” He lowered his head. “I was a coward. You’re right. I was young and stupid and thought maybe it was for the best.”

“Me hating you was for the best?”

“No.” He raised his head to meet her gaze. “You forgetting about me and moving on. I told myself I would throw myself at your mercy one day and beg for your forgiveness, but until then...”

Julie searched his face, his eyes, and heard the desperation and anguish coating his voice, and found herself fighting back a grin. It was ridiculous. There wasn’t a damn thing funny about the situation, yet...

“All right,” she said.

Mason blinked. “Sorry?”

Julie folded her arms and sat back in her seat. “I’m waiting for you to throw yourself at my mercy and beg for my forgiveness.”

Light shimmered across the blue surface of his eyes. He moistened his lips with a slow glide of his tongue. Very slowly, he rose, skirted the corner of the table, and bent on one knee at her feet. His hands curled around the armrests of her chair and he came eyelevel with her. Neither of them blinked.

“Please forgive me.”

“For?” she prodded teasingly.

“For hurting you.” The humor melted from his features and his gaze became sharp and earnest. “For not doing better to protect you. For being a coward.”

Julie swallowed audibly. “What about for deciding—”

He shook his head. “Not sorry for that. I’m sorry we had to wait so long, but I’m not sorry for waiting, Julie. I would have waited forever for you.”

“It still wasn’t right,” she whispered, ignoring the flutter in her chest. “You can’t make decisions for me because you think they’re the right ones.”

“I know,” he surprised her by saying. “I have no intention of making future decisions for you, but that was different and you know I’m right.”

She did, unfortunately. She saw exactly why he had done what he’d done and she couldn’t help feeling grateful to him. It had been hard the first few months, but she had dated. She had grown and learned from each experience. More than that, she had seen the aftermath of long distance relationships. They were always ugly and painful. She didn’t want that for them.

“What does this mean now?” she wondered. “I’m still in school. You have an apartment and a life a full province over. At the most, at this point, we’d only see each other on holidays and maybe weekends. So what’s different between then and now?”

“The difference,” he said carefully as he rose to tower over her, his hands still clamped around the armrests, “is that I have nothing keeping me rooted to where I am.”

Julie couldn’t allow herself to get too excited. “What do you mean?”

He took her hand, drew it up to his mouth, and placed a light kiss to the knuckles. The skim of his lips sent shivers up her arm. It filled her blood with fire and made her insides swoon. Unwavering blue eyes bore into her very soul as he spoke.

“You don’t seem to get it, love,” he murmured against the ridges of her hand. “Everything I’ve built in the last four years was done so with the knowledge that, if this opportunity ever presented itself, I can easily pack up and come home. I have no ties in B.C. My software business goes where I go. My clothes, my furniture ... easily packed into a truck. All I was waiting for was you.”

“You seem so sure I would forgive you.”

Something like sadness flickered over his face. “I wasn’t. I’m still not, but I’m hoping I can convince you.”

“How?” The single word was barely above a whisper.

His lips quirked. “By any means necessary.”

Chapter Nine

They spent the rest of their few shared moments in a calm sort of silence that was made cozy by the coffee. It wasn’t until the first child stumbled his way into the kitchen in search of food that they knew their time had come to a close.

Mason made Julie stay put as he grabbed a spoon and bowl for Rick. The boy was seated at the table and given a box of cereal and a carton of milk.

Mason returned to his place next to her. “What’s going on, squirt?” he asked Rick. “You look like someone who spent the night partying.”

It was true. The boy looked exhausted, barely able to keep his eyes open.

“I kept hearing voices,” he mumbled and yawned. “Someone kept walking past my door talking to themself.”

Julie and Mason exchanged glances.

“Are you sure?” Julie asked.

Rick nodded. “It sounded like Dad when he’s working on a big case.”

Some of the wariness left Julie instantly. “You were probably dreaming, sweetie.”

Rick shrugged. “It sounded real.”

Dustin arrived next, followed by Luis, who looked bedraggled and pale. He got himself a cup of coffee as Dustin helped himself to a bowl of cereal.

“Did anyone in this house sleep last night?” Mason wondered as Luis dropped down on Mason’s other side.

“I didn’t,” he muttered. “Shaun had his TV on all night and the damn thing is up against my wall so it was all I could hear.”

“That’s probably the talking Rick heard,” Julie decided.

Mason sighed. “I’ll talk to him.”

“Talk to who?” The man in question ambled into the room.

“You,” Mason retorted without missing a beat. “Turn your TV off at night.”

Shaun frowned. “What the fuck are you talking about? I don’t have a TV.”

“I heard it all night!” Luis protested. “It was buzzing through the damn walls.”

“Rick heard it, too,” Julie piped in.

Glowering at them, Shaun stomped to the coffee machine and glowered even harder when he found it empty. He slammed the pot back into the machine.

“I don’t have a TV,” he repeated. “If I did, I would stay up there; which would suit me much better than being down here with you asswipes.”

“Can you tone down the language?” Julie snapped. “There are children in the room who I am certain don’t need to hear that garbage.”

Maybe it was the lack of coffee or the fact that he never liked Julie, but he bristled at her comment. He moved up to the counter separating them and leaned in.

“Bite me, bitch!”

“Hey!” Mason jumped to Julie’s defense, probably saving his friend from getting a face full of scalding coffee. “That’s enough.”

Shaun turned the full strength of his gaze on Mason. “You know, I’m getting really sick of you sticking up for this cock-biter. We came up here to chill out, drink some beers, and enjoy the summer and all you’ve done is run around chasing after her skirt. Now you’re taking her side when I’m telling you that I don’t even have a fucking TV in my room?”

“This isn’t about the TV,” Mason argued. “This is about you watching your language around the kids.”

“Oh bite me!” Shaun exploded. “Since when do you care about language? You swear more than I do.”

“Not when the kids are around,” Mason replied. “What the hell’s gotten into you?”

“Maybe I’m just sick and tired of your bullshit.”

Mason narrowed his eyes. “My bullshit?”

Shaun nodded. “Yeah, your bullshit. Fuck the bitch already so you can get it out of your system and we can go back to living this summer like we were supposed to.”

“There is nothing stopping us from living this summer like we were supposed to,” Mason argued. “You and Luis are more than welcome to—”

“What? Tag along as you play house with her?” Shaun bit back.

“They’re my cousins,” Mason retorted.

“Yeah, but they’re not your responsibility, Mas. Let her deal with them.”

Feeling a grinding behind her temples, Julie slid off the stool and got to her feet. She drew in a breath and braced herself to say something she never believed she would.

“He’s right.” That shut everyone up, including Shaun, whose eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You’re here to spend time with your friends,” she told Mason. “And while I appreciate your help, I don’t need it.”

Mason stared at her until she wanted to shift. “Okay,” he said at last and turned to Shaun. “Let’s go do something. What do you want to do?”

Shaun was either too stunned to speak or he really hadn’t thought that far ahead, but he seemed speechless. It was Luis who spoke.

“I want to go camping.”

Everyone seemed as confused as Julie felt by the declaration.

“We are camping, dipshit,” Shaun said.

Luis’ cheeks pinkened. “No, I mean with tents and ... things.”

Mason shrugged. “We can do that. Maybe Dust—”

“No kids!” Shaun barked before Mason could finish his sentence. “I want to get piss-faced drunk and I know you won’t if there’s a brat tagging along.”

Mason opened his mouth to argue, but Julie beat him to it.

“It’ll be fine,” she urged. “Maybe we’ll have our own campout in the backyard, if it ever stops raining.”

“Lame,” Dustin muttered from the table.

Julie ignored him. “Go have fun,” she told Mason. “You only have two more days before you have to leave.”

Mason seemed to draw himself up. He pulled in a breath and released it slowly. “Fine,” he muttered at last. “I’ll go pack. I think Dad has his camping stuff down in the cellar.”

With a whoop, Shaun sprinted from the room. Luis followed with a skip to his step. Julie stayed by the counter and continued clashing gazes with Mason.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked her. “I don’t like leaving you alone here.”

Julie snorted. “Of course I’m sure. Besides, like I said, you’re leaving in two days. I’ll be alone here for the next three weeks.”

That seemed to harden his features. His jaw muscles clenched and his lips pinched thin.

“I’ll be fine.” She gave him a gentle nudge in the chest. “Go have fun with your friends.”

With a reluctant nod, he touched her arm once before stepping around her and leaving the kitchen.

No sooner had he left when Wendy entered, looking bleary-eyed and half asleep on her feet. She dumped her tiny frame into a chair and poured her own cereal. Julie left her to it as she walked around the island and began drawing out bowls and cookie sheets.

“Anyone want to help me bake cookies?” she asked.

“I want to go camping,” Rick pouted.

“Me too,” Dustin chimed.

Setting the items on the counter, Julie turned to the fridge. “Well, there’s nothing really stopping us from pitching a tent in the yard. We can—”

“We want to go with Mason,” Rick said.

“You guys aren’t old enough for their kind of camping,” she told them, pulling out eggs and milk. “But we’re going to have loads of fun. I promise.”

“I don’t want to go camping,” Wendy murmured, speaking for the first time. “That man might still be out there.”

“There’s no man out there,” Julie promised. “You were dreaming.”

“But I saw him dragging a body across the ground,” Wendy argued. “He was going to bury it.”

This sparked Dustin and Rick into full alert mode.

“A body?” Rick cried excitedly. “Where?”

“Outside,” Wendy said, relieved that someone finally believed her. “I saw it from my window.”

“You saw shadows, maybe a deer,” Julie stressed. “There was no body.” And please don’t tell your mother there was, she thought silently.

The last thing she needed was Maureen sending a swat team over to investigate.

“I saw him!” Wendy insisted vehemently.

Luis returned then, a duffle bag in hand. He dropped it by the door and walked deeper into the room with a small smile.

“Sorry,” he said. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Julie returned his smile. “You didn’t. Are you all ready?”

Luis shrugged. “I think so. I’ve never been camping so I’m still iffy about what I need to bring along.” He jerked a chin towards the bowl she was breaking eggs into. “What are you making?”

“Cookies,” Julie answered. “But apparently I’m doing it by myself since no one wants to help.”

“I’ll help,” Luis said at once, already rolling up his sleeves.

“Where’re you from, Luis?” Julie asked him a few minutes later as they rolled chunks of brown dough and dropped them onto a greased sheet.

The kids had abandoned them the moment they’d finished breakfast. Wendy was still sulking that Julie didn’t believe her about the body and Rick and Dustin were upset that they weren’t allowed to go camping with the older boys. Julie just let them leave.

Hands covered in chocolate to the wrists, Luis shrugged. “Everywhere,” he mumbled. “My dad was in the military. We moved around a lot.”

“An army brat.” Julie smiled. “You must have seen some amazing places.”

Again, he shrugged, but he didn’t elaborate. “Where are you from?”

“I was born in Ontario.”  She took the first sheet and popped it into the preheated oven and set the timer. “But we moved to Alberta when I was five. We’ve been here ever since.”

“Are your parents still here?” he asked.

She nodded as she shoved the pan into the oven. “Yup. They actually live right next to Maureen’s house. That’s how I met Maureen ... and Mason. I’ve been babysitting for the Vance children for a little over...” She did the math quickly in her head. “Four years. Since I was fifteen and Mason went away to school and Maureen needed someone to watch the kids.”

“You know he’s talked about you,” Luis said, head down, watching his own hands ball cookie dough. “I think I knew you even before we met.”

Feeling her cheeks warm, Julie chuckled nervously. “I’m afraid to ask what he said. I wasn’t exactly the pretty girl next door back then.”

Luis shook his head. “No, Mason’s not like that.”

“So, how did you two meet?” she wondered.

“I was looking for a place,” he answered, finally looking up. There was a smile on his face. “I had just moved into the city when I saw their ad for a roommate on a billboard in a coffee shop. I phoned, asked to see the place and I’ve been there ever since. Going on two years now. They’re my best friends.”

Julie smiled. “That’s really nice.”

Luis nodded. “Shaun’s a little much sometimes, but I’ve seen the good in him when he thinks no one’s looking. I think he had a rough childhood or something. But Mason has always been good to me. He has a good heart, always thinking of others. I don’t know a lot of guys like that, certainly none that can put up with Shaun.”

“Me neither,” Julie muttered.

Luis laughed. “Yeah, I wasn’t his biggest fan at first either.” His face sobered. “I’m sorry about the things he said to you. I think he’s a little jealous that Mason is spending so much time with you. Like I said, Mason has talked about you a lot in the past. I don’t think Shaun took Mason’s feelings for you seriously until we arrived here and he realized there was a chance he could lose his best friend.”

Julie stared at him for a long moment.

“What?”

She shook her head. “Nothing. That was just really insightful.”

Luis blushed and dropped his gaze. “I ... I took psychology for a semester.”

“Mason said you were very smart.”

The stain on his cheeks darkened. “I don’t know about smart...”

“Your parents must be really proud.”

The oven timer took that moment to ding and he turned away to get the cookies out. Julie snatched up the second tray and waited for him to pull back before sliding it onto the rack.

“Maybe we can pack some of these up for you to take with you,” she decided as she helped Luis scoop hot cookies onto a cooling rack. “I certainly made enough.”

Luis opened his mouth when Mason walked into the room, sniffing the air. “I smell chocolate!”

He stalked over and snatched a cookie straight off the sheet. He hissed and cursed and tossed the steaming cookie from hand to hand.

“Hey!” Luis protested. “We spent half the morning making those.”

Mason popped it into his mouth, chewed quickly, and grinned around the mush. “And my stomach thanks you.”

Julie laughed even as Luis continued scowling at Mason. From the next room, laughter rose that sounded suspiciously too happy for a group of children cooped up inside.

“How are the children?” she asked.

Mason sauntered around to stand on the opposite end of the counter, closer to the tray Luis was keeping out of reach. “As lovely and charming as ever. Dustin is challenging Rick to a spitting contest as we speak.”

Groaning, Julie moved to the fridge. “Call them here, please?” She yanked open the door and pulled out the milk carton. “The last thing I need is to be cleaning up spittle off the walls.”

“True that,” Mason replied, already moving to do what she asked. “Dustin’s like a camel.”

Luis went to grab mugs as Julie set out preparing lunch.

“Are we eating the cookies now?” Wendy came barreling into the room, followed by Mason, Dustin, and then Rick.

“No, we’re saving those for later,” Julie said. “We’re going to have lunch.”

Grumbling, the three children settled around the table, waiting as Julie put hotdogs and fries onto plates. The only sound came from Wendy as she scurried off her chair and hurried to the sliding doors to peer out at the gloomy yard. She pressed small hands to the glass and mashed her nose in after it.

“It’s never going to stop raining,” she whined. “We’re going to be stuck inside forever.”

Luis took the plates from Julie and set them on the table. “Realistically, that’s not possible,” he said. “It will stop raining eventually, or else the whole world would flood.”

“And we’d die!” Rick chimed in enthusiastically.

Wendy pulled away from the window, her eyes round. “Are we going to die?”

“No!” Julie said at once. “Of course not. It will stop raining ... eventually.”

“I hear this weekend will be beautiful,” Mason added, making himself at home in one of the chairs.

Wendy sighed heavily and turned back to the window. “This weekend is forever away.”

Leaving the girl to sulk, Julie helped Luis set the table for lunch.

“Julie?”

It was the pitiful squeak that caught Julie’s attention. The girl had scrambled away from the window, her face deathly pale, and she was staring at the glass like it had grown jagged fangs.

Wiping her hands on a dishrag, Julie hurried to where the girl stood. Mason followed.

“What’s that?”

Julie put a hand on the girl’s shoulder and pulled her back. Her gaze scanned the soggy yard, the gray heavens and the steady drizzle washing over everything.

“What?”

“There.” Wendy pointed at the white, steel handle that pulled the two sheets of solid glass apart.

Julie could see nothing for several seconds. But when she finally did, it was all she could see.

Mason cursed behind her, grabbed Wendy and pushed her towards the table where Dustin and Rick had scrambled out of their chairs, but were being restrained by Luis.

“Get the kids out of here!” Mason snapped as he wrenched open the doors and bolted out into the rain.

Chapter Ten

Coming out of her daze, Julie ripped her eyes away from the stain on the glass and focused on Luis.

“Take them into the living room,” she ordered.

Luis nodded and herded three protesting children out the door. With him gone, Julie pivoted around to stare at the ghastly stain marring the handle.

On the other side, Mason met her gaze. The rain was soaking through his t-shirt, plastering it to his torso like a second skin. His hair hung damp around his set features. While she couldn’t think past the horror and fear, his expression was rigid and furious.

He ducked back into the room and slammed the rolling door shut behind him. “Was that always there?”

Trembling, Julie could only open and shut her mouth in response. She managed a shake of her head, more indecisive than anything else.

He studied the clear handprint wrapped perfectly around the white bar. Some of it had been nearly washed away by the rain, but there was still enough of it left behind to leave no doubt to what it was.

“I don’t understand what this means,” Julie said at last, finding her voice. “What ... what is it?”

“Someone was trying to get in,” he murmured.

“But what is it?” she cried. “Why is it red?”

Deep down, she knew exactly what it was. There were many shades of red in the world, but blood had a unique hue that could be mistaken for nothing else.

“Call the police,” Mason instructed firmly. “Tell them to get here quickly. Their evidence is about to wash away with the rain.”

Julie didn’t need to be told twice. She sprinted for the phone and was dialing when Shaun strolled into the room, duffle bag in hand.

“What’s going on?” He looked from Julie to Mason.

His bag made a thump when he dropped it down next to Luis’s by the door and joined Mason by the glass.

Mason told him, all the while pointing to the mark. Shaun said something that Julie couldn’t hear over the phone ringing in ear.

The dispatcher that picked up was a woman and as soon as Julie gave the address, her helpful tone changed to curt and dismissive. It infuriated Julie to the point that she almost cussed the woman out.

“Someone will be there in a few hours,” the woman told her.

“That isn’t good enough,” Julie retorted. “It’s raining. The handprint won’t be there by the—”

“Look, unless there’s a body to go along with this bloody handprint, or there’s an ax wielding maniac outside the door, we have other people who need our help. We will get to you when we can.”

The line went dead before Julie could protest. She slammed the receiver down and growled in her throat.

“What happened?” Mason asked, coming to stand next to her.

“They’ll get here when they get here!” she snapped, mimicking the dispatcher’s tone. “This is unbelievable. I hate this place!”

“Hey.” Mason took her shoulders lightly and pulled her to him.

She let herself be cradled against his chest. She burrowed there, letting his warmth—and the dampness of his clothes—soak into her. Her eyes closed and mashed her face into his shoulder.

“It’s all right,” Mason murmured into her ear. His hand lightly stroked her hair. “This was probably just another stupid prank.”

“But that’s blood,” she whispered into the soft material of his shirt. She raised her head to peer into his face. “They were trying to get in.”

“But they didn’t,” he pointed out.

“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” she cried. “What if Wendy was right last night? What if she did see someone with a body?”

“I didn’t see anyone when I checked.”

“Why are you so calm about this?” she demanded, feeling her desperation melt into anger.

“Because there’s nothing I can do, except wait for the people in charge to do their job.”

“You know that’s not true.” Shaun stomped to the island. “We can do something.”

“No!” Mason rounded on him. “No, we swore we were done with that.”

“With what?” Julie asked.

“Getting even,” Mason answered. “I’m not doing that anymore. Our retaliation is what caused this. It’s why I can’t go into town, why the police refuse to do anything. I’m done with that.”

“It’s the only way to get respect!” Shaun argued. “Show those fuckers they can’t mess with us.”

Mason just shook his head. “No, I won’t.”

With a snarl, Shaun threw up his hands and stormed from the kitchen. They heard his boots pound against hardwood as he hit the hallway and disappeared upstairs.

Then there was silence broken only by the soft rush of rain hitting the roof and windows.

“Do you think I should hunt the person down and teach him a lesson?” Mason fixed her with his questioning gaze.

Julie shook her head even without thinking about it. “No.”

He nodded, seemingly satisfied by her response. “I’m done with those days, Jewels. I’m not a little kid anymore. That’s not how I want to be known.”

She took his hand. “I know.”

The gesture seemed to surprise him. He lowered his face and surveyed their joined hands with interest. His head tipped to the side a moment before he twisted his wrist and threaded his fingers through hers.

“You should get ready,” she told him. “I think the rain’s going to pick up soon and you won’t be able to put the tent up if it gets too heavy.”

Her words penetrated whatever thought he appeared to be having. His head came up, his expression dogged. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “Not after that.”

“But Shaun...”

“Let Shaun say whatever he wants. You’re more important than some stupid camping trip.”

Her heart jumped in her chest and she felt a warm trickle work its way up her body.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“For what?”

She lowered her gaze to the collar of his shirt. “For being relieved.”

The corners of his mouth lifted. “That I’m not going?”

Julie nodded.

He chuckled, pulled her closer, and pressed a kiss just between her eyebrows, smoothing the wrinkles there. “I never wanted to go in the first place.”

With a short exhale, Julie leaned into him and closed her eyes.

The police didn’t arrive until two hours later. Sheriff Reynolds was at the head, wide brim hat collecting rain. He yanked it off and shook it once he was under the front porch awning. Behind him, two officers stood quiet and solemn, like they didn’t think this worthy of their time. One of them had a field kit on him.

Julie ignored their hard looks and widened the door for them to enter.

“Ms. Brewer.” Sheriff Reynolds stomped in first, knocking mud and dirt across the floor with his boots. “We heard you had a situation.”

Julie nodded. “Thank you for coming.”

No one said anything. Nor did anyone bother removing their boots as they followed her down the hall and into the kitchen.

Mason had pushed the patio umbrella against the window, using the fabric to block most of the rain from completely washing away the handprint. But still, most of it was already gone.

“What are we looking at, Ms. Brewer?” Sheriff Reynolds asked, his shrewd gaze moving over the wall of glass.

Either he was deliberately avoiding the fact that there was an umbrella against the window, or he thought that was normal.

“Right there.” Julie pointed straight at the handprint.

The two officers moved in, eyes squinting.

Sheriff Reynolds never budged. He twisted his frame around the officers and moved a short distance away, digging out his notepad.

“When did you discover the item in question?” he asked.

“A little after lunch,” she answered. “I was in the kitchen making cookies—”

“Why so late?” He tipped his head back and peered down the length of his nose at her. “We might have had more of a print if you had called us earlier.”

Her teeth creaked under the force of her gritting. “I didn’t notice it until that time. I called you immediately ... two hours ago.”

The sheriff tapped his pen on his open pad. “Miss. Brewer, do you know who the handprint belongs to?”

Julie frowned. “Of course not. I wouldn’t have called you if—”

He took an unexpected step forward, dropped his voice. “You can tell us if it was one of those boys,” he told her quietly, his gaze drilling into hers. “If they’ve threatened you—”

“They had nothing to do with this!” she snapped, jerking back. “We don’t know who did it.”

The officers were prying open the door and moving the umbrella aside to examine the print better.

“Ms. Brewer—”

“Sheriff,” she interrupted sharply. “Mason isn’t the kid he used to be. He’s trying to change his life. I think you should give him the benefit of the doubt.”

The sheriff seemed to consider this a moment while he studied her face.

“Ms. Brewer,” he said finally. “Do you know how long I’ve been doing this?” He didn’t wait for a response. “A damn hell of a long time. I have been shot, stabbed, and nearly run over more times than I can count. In this line of work, you don’t ever know what sort of person you’re going to come up against, but I have learned one thing. Do you know what that is, Ms. Brewer?”

Julie shook her head.

“That they never change their spots.” He searched her eyes a long moment before continuing. “They might claim they aren’t what they used to be, but trust me, they are always the same. Mason Brody and Shaun Ryan, hell, I’m surprised they’re not doing life in some maximum prison for being serial killers.”

Julie stared at him, appalled. “That’s a bit of a leap,” she said. “A few dumb kids pulling stupid tricks—”

“That’s how it starts, Ms. Brewer. A few stupid pranks, then they’re boosting cars, breaking into houses, and eventually ... murder.”

Julie sucked in a deep, calming breath. “Sheriff Reynolds, I grew up with Mason and Shaun, and believe me when I tell you, I have no love for Shaun. I might even think he’s the antichrist—” This got a snort from him. “—but I know Mason. He’s not capable of hurting anyone.”

The sheriff’s eyes widened. Then he burst into a fit of broken laughter, like his lungs weren’t used to it.

“Ms. Brewer.” He straightened, wiped a tear. “I can give you a list as long as I am of people Mason Brody has hurt.”

“I meant physically,” she muttered.

“Me too.” He glanced in the direction of his officers dusting and peeling prints off the glass, seemed to consider something, then looked back to her. “Ms. Brewer, I think you’re a decent person and I think you’re just trying to do your job and enjoy your summer with those kids, so I’m going to give you a bit of advice.” He folded his pad and tucked it and the pen into his breast pocket. “Leave and forget Mason Brody. You are in the middle of something you will never be able to control and you will get hurt.”

Julie swallowed hard. “Who is doing this and why can’t you stop them?”

He watched her with something akin to pity on his wrinkled face. “I would have to arrest the entire town. It would be the only way to stop this.”

She left him after that and moved to brew a fresh pot of coffee while the officers hovered around the glass.

Reynolds’s words continued to play through the other million questions already plaguing her. Her hands trembled as she brought out mugs. Years of her mother’s training propelled her to draw out three extra mugs and set them on the island. She poured herself one while she waited for them to finish and tell her what to do, because she had no idea. She considered calling Maureen, telling her she quit and wanted to return home, but she forced herself to wait until the cops had given her information to pass on; Maureen wouldn’t justify a few bad happenings as a reason to leave.

Maureen wasn’t a bad parent. She loved her kids. But it was common knowledge that Maureen Vance was the sort of woman who believed having a beautiful home with a picket fence and two point five children was expected, but so was passing those kids off for lots of mommy time. Unless the person terrorizing them was standing over them with a bloody knife, Maureen would most likely find an excuse to keep them there while she sorted things out. And while Julie understood Maureen was under a great deal of stress with the divorce and all, she couldn’t help feeling frustrated and disgusted by the woman. But just as quickly as the feeling came, she pushed it away.

“Ms. Brewer?” Sheriff Reynolds approached the island. “Have you noticed anything odd the last twenty-four hours?”

She started to shake her head when she remembered. “Wendy thought she saw someone outside her window last night. She said...” she trailed off.

“Yes?”

Julie took a deep breath and started again. “She thought they were dragging a body across the yard.”

The sheriff crossed his arms and blinked at her. “You didn’t think to mention this earlier?”

Julie shook her head. “I checked. There was no one out there.”

“Where is the girl?”

Julie stiffened. “Is that necessary? I’m trying to keep the kids away from this.”

The sheriff didn’t seem the least bit sympathetic by her request. If anything, it only seemed to further irritate him. “Ms. Brewer, if you want us to do our job properly ... we need the girl.”

She knew from her studies what would happen next, what needed to happen. She knew in order to solve a crime, all witnesses needed to be interviewed and every piece of evidence was a potential clue to solving the case. But she really didn’t want the children involved.

“Okay,” she whispered at last.

She left the kitchen to find Wendy. The entire group was sitting in the living room, watching The Goonies. Mason looked up when she stepped over the threshold. His eyebrow arched in question.

It had been her idea to keep Mason out of the kitchen while the officer did their investigation. She thought maybe they would work harder in solving the handprint if Mason wasn’t pissing them off with his presence.

“Wendy?”

Snuggled between Mason and Rick, Wendy popped her head up. Julie waved her over. Mason started to rise, but Julie shook her head.

“They want to ask her a few questions.”

That was probably the wrong thing to tell him, because he was up despite her protest and following.

Sheriff Reynolds was waiting at the island, a coffee mug in hand. He looked up when they entered.

“Do you have any cream?” he asked.

After ushering Wendy onto a stool, Julie yanked open the fridge and pulled out the creamer. She set it on the counter and watched as he poured a healthy amount into his cup. He stirred, rapped the spoon against the lip, and set it aside before turning the full force of his gaze on Wendy, who sat small and motionless in her seat. She seemed to shrink as the sheriff’s hard stare bore into her.

“Wendy Vance.” He took a sip of his coffee and smacked his lips. “I hear you had yourself an adventure last night.”

Wendy said nothing. Her gaze flitted over to Julie. Then back to the sheriff.

“Why don’t you tell me what happened.” It wasn’t a question, or a request.

When Wendy looked to Julie again, Julie nodded encouragingly.

“Am I in trouble?” she asked.

“No!” Julie said, only to be cut off by Sheriff Reynolds.

“That depends,” he said. “Are you going to lie to me?”

Wendy’s eyes widened. “No!”

“All right then.” Sheriff Reynolds put his mug down and pulled out his pen and pad. “Tell me the truth.”

Wendy recounted the story exactly as she had earlier that morning. Reynolds jotted every word down, making the appropriate humming noises cops made. When Wendy finished, he tapped his pen to the white coils across the top of the pad.

“Show me.”

They led the sheriff upstairs to Wendy’s room and watched him amble to the window and peer out. He stood surveying the backyard a solid ten minutes before he seemed to come to some inner conclusion and turned to them.

“I’m going to call a few more officers in,” he told them. “Get that yard checked.” He stole a peek at his watch. “You might want to put on a fresh pot. This may take a while.”

He stomped past them and disappeared back downstairs. Julie looked to Mason, who stood with one shoulder against the frame, and found him glowering after the sheriff.

“I have a feeling this is going to take a while,” she sighed, moving to stand next to him. “I should call Maureen. Let her know what’s going on.”

Mason nodded. “I’ll watch the kids. Maybe take them for ice cream or something.”

Julie blinked. “Do you think they’ll let you leave?”

He shrugged and pushed away from the frame. “Don’t care.”

“Hey, wait!” she called after him when he started towards the stairs. “I want ice cream.”

Mason smirked. “Sorry, babe. You get to answer questions.” At her pout, he walked back and tapped her lightly under the chin. “Maybe I’ll bring you something back.” His grin broadened. He nipped his bottom lip between his teeth and closed his long fingers in her hair. With a light tug, he tipped her face up to his and let his mouth hover dangerously over hers. “If you’re a good girl.”

It was as though he had caressed every inch of her with those words. She shivered and felt his grip tighten. She was pulled more securely against him and shoved back simultaneously until she was braced against the cold frame of the door. He followed her, molding all that taut, warm flesh against her, trapping her so completely. Almost instinctively, her hands fisted in the fabric of his shirt, right along his waistline.

“I want to kiss you,” he murmured. His gaze dropped to her mouth, already parted and waiting for him. “But I don’t trust myself, not when my bedroom is just across the hall.”

Julie moistened her lips, not to be enticing, but to chase away the dryness he was causing. The gesture seemed to draw a sharp breath from him.

“Maybe later?” she whispered. “When the police leave?”

He lifted his attention away from her mouth to fixate on her eyes. “You can count on it.”

With a last look, that cut the air in her chest, he pulled back and offered her his hand. She slipped her trembling fingers through his and let him guide her downstairs.

The officers made no protest when Mason packed the kids up and took them out for ice cream. Shaun went with them, but Luis stayed with Julie. He said it was because he didn’t like ice cream, but she didn’t believe him. Who didn’t like ice cream? She had a feeling it was because Mason asked him to stay with her. Whatever the reason, she was glad for his presence, especially when the entire place was swarmed by police officials and crime scene investigators. They were actually regular officer with field kits. But Julie stood on the back porch and watched them as they scored the yard, searching for signs of freshly turned earth, or anything else that might explain the handprint.

Sheriff Reynolds was right in the thick of things, walking the field and barking orders. There was no mistaking who the man in charge was.

The rain had stopped, which probably made everyone’s job easier. But the wind was still cold and wet. It blew through the trees and showered droplets of rain on the officers working around the outer edges of the yard. Julie wasn’t certain why a handprint was getting more attention than a series of butchered cats, but she wasn’t going to complain.

“How are you holding up?” Luis appeared at her elbow, two steaming mugs of coffee in hand. He passed one over to her.

She took it and wrapped her chilled fingers around the ceramic. “Honestly? Is it wrong that I want them to leave already?”

Luis shook his head. “No, but let’s hope they find something before they do.”

She couldn’t argue with that. But from the way the officers kept shaking their heads and shrugging their shoulders, she had a feeling no one was finding anything. Her theory was proven correct when the sheriff ambled over to her.

“Well,” he began, “we’ve searched every inch of this yard and we haven’t found anything.”

“So what does this mean now?” Julie wondered.

The sheriff rolled his wide shoulders. “At this point, nothing. But we did get a print off the window. My team is going to run it through the database and see if we can’t find a match.”

Julie sighed. “That’s something.”

The sheriff nodded. “In the meantime, we would appreciate it if you submitted your prints.”

She blinked. “My prints?”

“Well, everyone in the house,” he said. “So we can eliminate you from our list.”

Julie exchanged glances with Luis. “We ... we’re on the list?”

“Everyone’s on the list,” he said. “That way, we work our way down it.” He narrowed his eyes. “Didn’t you say you were studying to be in law enforcement?”

Julie shook her head. “Forensic investigator.”

“Then you know about the list.” It wasn’t a question, but he was right, she did know.

“Yes.”

He nodded like that settled that. “Officer Delanie here will take your prints.”

The officer he waved over was tall and lanky with a friendly enough face and a field kit in his hand. He smiled at them.

“Make sure you get Ryan and Brody as well,” Sheriff Reynolds told him.

Officer Delanie nodded before turning his attention on Julie. “Can we do this inside?”

Seeing no choice, Julie led the way back into the kitchen. Officer Delanie went straight to the table and set his kit down.

“Are the other two here?”

Julie shook her head. “They took the kids for ice cream,” she told him.

“Do you know when they’ll be back?”

Again, she rocked her head from side to side. “No.”

He painted Julie’s palm with black ink. First her right then her left and made her plant them flat on a piece of paper, finger by finger, then her heel and the side. He did Luis next. When he was finished, he stowed the prints away, closed his kit and went in search of the sheriff as Julie and Luis tried to scrub the ink off their hands in the sink.

“When do you expect your friends back, Ms. Brewer?” Sheriff Reynolds stalked into the room with Officer Delanie hot on his heels.

Wiping her hands on a dishrag, Julie shook her head. “I don’t know. They took the kids out for ice cream.”

“Could you please call them and let them know they need to return?” Like everything else, it was said as a question, but the tone behind it was definitely a command.

“I don’t have their numbers,” Julie said honestly.

“I do,” Luis supplied.

He fished into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He dialed and waited.

“Hey!” he said after a few seconds. “Yeah, everything’s okay. Yeah, she’s here.” He glanced at Julie. “No, they’re done. Yeah, they’re leaving, but they want you and Shaun to come back to the house. For printing.”

They exchanged a few more words that were mostly hums from Luis’s end. Finally, he hung up and returned the phone to his pocket.

“They’re on their way back.”

With a nod to him, Sheriff Reynolds placed a hand on Officer Delanie’s shoulder and the two moved away to talk while the other officers packed up and started out.

“Why do I feel like a criminal?” Julie dumped her exhausted frame onto a stool.

Luis placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry about all this.”

She sighed. “I’m so tired and it’s not even suppertime.”

“I can make supper,” Luis offered. “I mean, I can only make like three things, but...”

Julie laughed. “You’re really sweet. But it’s okay. Thanks, Luis.”

He offered her a sheepish smile.

The house was mostly clear by the time Mason strode into the house, a full step behind the kids, who were high on sugar. Officer Delanie had waited for their return and already had his kit open when Mason walked into the room.

“Shaun’s not coming,” he said flat out before anyone could ask.

Julie frowned. “What do you mean he’s not coming?”

He walked around to where Delanie stood and offered his hand. “He says if you want his prints, you need to get a warrant.”

Julie would have facepalmed if it didn’t involve moving.

“Is he aware that his refusal to comply only makes him appear guilty?” Officer Delanie inquired as he coated Mason’s palm in ink.

Mason never batted an eye. “I don’t think he cares.”

Chapter Eleven

“So there was no indication that the person was inside the house?”

Julie mashed the heel of one hand harder against the back of her eyelid while the other cradled the phone to her ear.

“No, the police don’t think anything else is out of the ordinary. They checked the whole property.”

“Then everything’s all right,” Maureen decided simply. “I’m glad to hear they’re taking all of this seriously.”

“Yes, but that doesn’t change the fact that someone had been outside the house,” Julie tried to explain yet again. “This is the second incident in a week, Maureen.”

“But I told you to expect such things,” Maureen said. “So some kid thinks he’s braver than the rest and tried his luck a second time. Now that the police have gotten involved and have fingerprints, this will stop.”

Julie gritted her teeth as her anger threatened to claim her. “The handprint was blood, Maureen.”

“Oh I’m not worried about that,” the other woman insisted. “It was a scare tactic. I’m sure of it. Probably used animal blood, or paint.”

Julie’s temples were throbbing and it was taking all her willpower not to simply hang up.

“I think I should bring the kids back.”

“Back?” Maureen laughed tightly. “Back to what? There’s nothing here for them. Their friends have all gone away and they’ll just be cooped up in the house. Besides, I already paid you to watch them, Julie. Have you forgotten that? I don’t think you want me to ask for that ten thousand back.”

No, she didn’t, especially not when she had already spent such a large portion of it.

“Just ignore it,” Maureen went on. “They will stop. I promise.”

There was nothing remotely reassuring about the flippant response. If anything, it only fueled the fire crackling inside her until she wanted to lash out, to scream and shout at Maureen that it wasn’t safe. But the older woman was right about one thing - if they returned, Julie would be forced to return the money given to her to babysit the children for a month. She really couldn’t do that.

“Jewels?” Mason stood darkening her doorway. One hand was braced against the frame. The other hung loosely at his side. “What is it?”

Tossing the phone down on her bedspread, Julie rose with a weak scoff that was supposed to have been a laugh. “I’m a bad person,” she decided.

Mason frowned. He moved over the threshold and started deeper into the room. “What are you talking about?”

Grinding the grit and unshed tears from her eyes with the heels of her hands, Julie sniffled. “I just got off the phone with Maureen.” She let her hands drop, only to lift one up to fork back through her hair. “She’s telling me not to bring the kids back, or, if I do, to fork over the money she gave me to babysit them in the first place, which, of course, she has every right to, but...”

“What?” he prompted when she trailed off.

“I can’t!” she blurted. “Not that I don’t want to, but I honestly can’t. I mean, I can, but not the whole thing.” She shook her head. “I’m the worst person in the world.”

“How’s that?” He was standing right in front of her now.

“What do you think?” she shot back. “I’m actually considering staying here, keeping those kids here, because of money.”

“That doesn’t make you a bad person,” he justified.

Julie frowned at him. “Then what does it make me?”

His response was to move a step closer and tuck a coil of hair behind her ear.

“You need to stop beating yourself up, Jewels,” he murmured after a moment. “It’s going to be fine.”

“You can’t possibly know—”

“I do,” he interrupted evenly. “They got a fingerprint off the glass. It’s only a matter of time before they find the person responsible and it will end for the rest of the summer as it always does.”

Her frown deepened. “Have they caught the person in the past?”

Mason shook his head. “No, but I haven’t been here for five years.”

“Why didn’t Shaun give his handprint?”

As though the words had been lodged like a fist between her ribs, they blurted out of her, coming out almost accusing.

“He had his reasons,” Mason stated simply.

Julie couldn’t help frowning. “Like what?” she pressed. “Doesn’t he realize this makes him sound guilty?

His shoulders lifted and fell with his inhale and then exhale. “It wasn’t Shaun.”

The absolute faith Mason seemed to have in the guy bothered her. Granted, she would never just throw her best friend under a bus either, but then she liked to think any friend of hers wouldn’t be a horse’s ass like Shaun.

“Shaun has a problem with authority,” Mason explained. “It has nothing to do with him being guilty, just stubborn.”

Julie just shook her head. “I need to start on supper,” she muttered. “Then I need to decide on what to do.”

He didn’t stop her right away. She walked past him to the door and her hand touched the doorknob before he spoke.

“Jewels?”

Unwillingly, she turned to him.

His gaze was level, calm, and collected. “I know you don’t believe me, but Shaun would never hurt anyone.”

Julie narrowed her eyes at him. “Maybe that’s true in your rose colored world, but in the real world where I live, trust me, Shaun Ryan isn’t a humanitarian.”

He lowered his head as though praying and said nothing for a moment. When he finally fixed his attention on her once more, his expression was reluctant.

“Do you want help making supper?”

He followed her to the kitchen and joined her, even when she told him she had it covered. Together, it took them no time at all to make spaghetti. Shaun appeared halfway through ladling the meal onto plates and made himself at home at the table without a word to anyone about his disappearing act. It took all of Julie’s restraint, plus some pleading glances from Mason, to keep quiet.

Dinner was a somber affair, followed by everyone packing it in early, even the kids. Their acceptance worried her. She wondered if the whole event had forever scarred them. It only infuriated her further towards Maureen.

“What are you going to do now?” Mason asked once they had washed and put the dishes away.

Julie shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe go upstairs and read.”

“Come watch TV with us,” he requested.

She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said. “I don’t think Shaun will appreciate my company. Besides, you guys watch really boring stuff.”

Mason gasped in feigned horror. “Take that back.”

Chuckling, she slipped around him and started for the door. “Goodnight.”

She made it all the way to the bottom of the stairs before she was caught by the wrist and tugged back into Mason’s chest.

“Stay for a little bit,” he cajoled. “I promise to stab Shaun in the eye if he so much as glances at you.”

At that, Julie laughed. “I think I might go just to see that.”

Mason smirked. “I thought that might entice you.”

With her hand still clasped securely in his, he led her into the living room and the bright flicker of lights as some action movie unfolded across the screen.

Unlike the comfort of the kitchen, the sitting room wasn’t a place she frequented. It felt more like Shaun’s domain than hers since he spent such a vast majority of his time sprawled across the sofa, taking full command of the remote control. Occasionally, the children were there and Luis. Mason, like her, or maybe because of her, stayed in the kitchen area. So when he dragged her to the loveseat to the right of the sofa, she lowered herself down gingerly on the cushion. Her gaze kept darting to Shaun taking claim to the entire length of one sofa while Luis lay in the other.

The trio of couches sat in a half square around a coffee table, facing a wide TV mounted to the wall above a fireplace. Julie didn’t recognize the movie playing, but then she didn’t have much time for movies.

Mason stayed on his side of the loveseat, but he seemed to take up all the room. His long legs were sprawled beneath the coffee table and he had one arm over the back of the sofa. The other was along the length of the armrest. The hand on the arm along the back played unhurriedly with the hairs bunched together in her ponytail. It took all her restraint not to twist her body around and tuck herself into the curve of his side.

She did relax. She let her bones sink into the velvety fabric of the upholstery. That brought his hand to her shoulder where it resumed its winding of the loose strands of hair by her ear around his finger.

No one spoke as things exploded across the screen and people ran in all directions screaming. A few times, Julie wished she’d gone to bed. At least there, she could have been reading instead of watching people die. In her opinion, it hit too close to home and that made her anxious.

It was twenty minutes in when Julie decided she’d had enough. She started to rise only Shaun beat her to it, lunging to his feet and straining his big body in a stretch that, in the dark, made him appear enormous.

“I’m out,” he grunted as he let his arms drop down to his sides.

“Where are you going?” Mason called after him when Shaun started around the sofa.

“Bed,” Shaun muttered. “Too crowded in here for me.”

Julie felt the jab as surely as though he’d physically stricken her. Warmth seeped up her chest to flood her cheeks.

“Don’t bother,” she muttered, getting to her own feet. “I was just leaving myself.”

“Whoa, wait...” Mason rose quickly and took her by the elbow. “Guys, come on.”

She shook him off. “It’s fine.” But her gaze drilled into Shaun. “I wouldn’t want to deprive Shaun of his couch time.”

That sparked a fresh coat of anger behind Shaun’s gaze. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Julie shoved her way around the coffee table to meet the man’s seven feet head on with her five foot five inches. She had to tip her head back, but she went toe to toe with him anyway.

“It means you’re a bully and I don’t have time for your bullshit.”

Feeling better for having gotten that off her chest, Julie began to turn away only to be grabbed roughly by the arm and wrenched to a stop that nearly dislocated her shoulder.

“Hey!”

Shaun ignored Mason’s growl and jerked Julie closer to him. “You got something to say, bitch?”

Planting both fists against Shaun’s chest, Julie shoved. It didn’t do more than rock him back an inch.

“Get your hands off me,” she warned through gritted teeth.

His hold only tightened, leaving a bracelet of red, that would probably turn black and blue, circling her bicep.

“No,” he retorted. “Come on. Say what’s really on your mind.”

“Shaun, get your fucking hands off her!” Mason started around the furniture to get to them.

“You want to know what I think, Shaun?”

Without giving him time to think, she grabbed at the elbow holding her with her free hand and gouged her thumb into his pressure point. Shaun yelped. His fingers relinquished their grip on her arm and he tried to dart back.

Julie followed his retreat by stomping on his instep and followed it up with an elbow in the throat when he doubled over.

He hit the ground on both knees wheezing and clutching at his throat. Julie stood over him, trembling with fury and adrenaline. “I think you need to keep your fucking hands to yourself. Also, learn to keep your mouth shut. I’m not fifteen anymore. I will tear your dick off and feed it to you.”

Not waiting for him to catch his breath, Julie marched from the room. At the top, she softened her steps, careful not to wake the children.

In her room, she went straight into the bathroom to brush her teeth and scrub the little makeup she had on off her face. She stripped out of her clothes and yanked on her night shirt and, as an almost afterthought, yanked on a pair of shorts. After combing out her hair and knotting it back up in a thick braid, she climbed into bed, grabbed her book off the nightstand, and settled in despite the angry churning in the pit of her stomach.

But it was no good.  She was just severely pissed off and no matter how hard she tried, the characters in her book were unable to save her from her own crowded mind.

Grumbling, she tossed the paperback down on the nightstand and jerked the covers up to her chin. A second later, she pitched them down, flopped onto her stomach. Then onto her back to stare at the ceiling. But no matter which position she took, sleep remained elusive. Her head was just too full of all the things that refused to stay quiet. Yet, just when she had begun to make progress and her eyelids finally started growing heavy, a light knock snapped her back.

Her eyes flew open and sleep popped like a bubble against a sharp barb. Her heart gave a violent jolt that propelled her upright. She blinked at the closed door in a semi daze.

The knock sounded again. Julie scrambled from amongst the swaddle of covers and hurried to the door. As an afterthought, she snatched up her bat where it leaned against the corner and held it firmly when wrenching open the door.

Mason raised an eyebrow. “Do you sleep with that thing or something?”

Snorting, Julie set the bat down in its place and pulled the door open wider. “What are you doing here?”

He met her gaze squarely, amusement gone. “I’m sorry,” he said. “What Shaun did was inexcusable and I...”

Julie put up a hand, stopping his flow of words. “Look, there’s only one day before you leave and I just want to get through it without any more incident. If you can keep him out of my hair for the next forty eight hours...”

“He won’t touch you again. I swear. But,” he added quickly when she opened her mouth, “I will keep him away from you.”

Julie gave a satisfied nod. “Thank you.” She offered him the hint of a smile. “So how come this couldn’t wait until morning?”

His attention flicked over her shoulder and fixed on the bed, rumpled still from her failed attempts at sleep. He bit the inside of his lip.

“Did I wake you?”

She followed the line of his gaze and gave a sigh filled with longing. “No, I can’t sleep.” She turned back to him and caught him already watching her. “Are you going to bed?”

“I’m not tired,” he said. “I was going to head downstairs and maybe make a bowl of something and watch a movie.”

He was watching her now, almost expectantly, like he was waiting for her to say her line, but she didn’t know it. So she nodded, slowly.

“Okay.”

He chuckled. “Will you join me?”

Julie blinked. “Oh! Uh...”

“Luis and Shaun have gone to bed,” he said, mistaking her hesitation.

Julie gave the bed another glance of longing. “No, that’s not...” She sighed. “Movie sounds great.”

She shut her door and followed him down. The upstairs hall, stairs, and parts of the foyer below were lit solely by the single bulb in the upstairs bathroom. The rest of the house lay in a quiet darkness. Mason flicked the switch on in the kitchen, dousing the place with a soft, white glow that made her wince. He wandered over to the pantry and came back out with a bag of chips. He tore it open as he made his way back.

“What’s on your mind?” he asked as he set the bag down on the counter and went to a cupboard.

Mason had his back to her while she focused on his question. He was bent at the waist, head buried in a cupboard. Julie took the opportunity to study the tight curves of his backside through the warn material of his flannel bottoms. His top had ridden up, exposing a thin strip of flesh between the hem and his waistband. Julie was momentarily distracted by the sliver of skin and the muscles bunching across the wide span of his back.

The man definitely had an incredible ass.

A giant purple bowl in hand, Mason pulled back and straightened. He reached around, hooked a finger in the bottom of his shirt, and tugged the material down over his waistband, depriving her of her treat. She must have made a sound of protest, because his head came up and he raised an eyebrow.

“Nothing,” she blurted a little too quickly.

He set the bowl down on the island and dumped the chips into it. “You sure?”

“Yeah.”

He didn’t appear too appeased by her halfhearted remark, but he didn’t press her. Instead, he dusted his hands of invisible crumbs and reached for a six pack of Coke from the fridge. Then he motioned for her to follow him.

They didn’t turn the TV on, which, in her opinion, defeated the purpose of watching a movie. But she didn’t questioning him as he set the bowl between them on the sofa cushion and the drinks on the coffee table.

With an exhalation of great relief, he flopped back on one end of the sofa. He tucked one leg under him and kept the other planted firmly on the ground. One arm was thrown over the back of the sofa, the other over the armrest.

He looked enormously relaxed.

“Are you going to sit?”

Seeing no other choice, Julie lowered herself down on the opposite end of the sofa and twisted her body so they were facing each other.

“So...” She blew out a breath and darted a glance towards the TV. “What now?”

“Now we talk.”

Julie started. “Oh, I thought...”

“Well, yeah,” he agreed absently. “Originally, I thought we could watch a movie, make out a little, but you look so stiff that I’m a little afraid you’ll bolt out of your skin if I touch you.”

A brow rose on her face. “You wanted to make out?”

“I’m a hot-blooded twenty-two year old male who has had more than one fantasy of having you under me on this sofa.”

His blunt honesty combined with the images his statement conjured shattered the dam in her chest, filling her body with a white-hot surge of heat that tightened her nipples against the material of her top and flooded her panties with anticipation. She shifted ever so slightly to alleviate the pressure between her legs.

He noticed.

His eyes darkened. The air around him thickened. He carefully reached for the chip bowl and set it aside. There was nothing between them now but thick possibility.

“Come here, Julie.”

It wasn’t a request. There was nothing but authority in the command. There was also refusal. The refusal to take no for an answer. And Julie was powerless to deny him.

She rose on legs too weak to support her. Her feet closed the four steps separating them and stopped when she was directly in front of him. His gaze held her captive, even when he turned in his seat and planted both feet to the ground. His hands reached for her. They anchored to her hips and she was dragged forward to stand directly before him, in the place between his feet.

In her chest, her heart was a rampant mess crashing against her breast. The force of it was violent and louder than a storm brewing over the ocean. The reverberations of it vibrated down the length of her body and she wondered if he could feel her shaking.

The sofa creaked, the fabric of his clothes rustled as he pushed his frame back, away from her.

“All the way,” he instructed.

Her heart gave a vicious crack as his implication slammed into her. Her gaze dropped from his to take in his lap. Her spit made a mortifying gulping sound going down the dry path of her throat. It sounded louder in the stillness of the room.

Pushing aside the little voice begging her to run, Julie drew herself up, placing one hand on the back of the sofa next to his shoulder and the other on the armrest, and straddled him.

Maybe he didn’t think she would actually do it or maybe he thought she would sit side saddle, but there was a quick flicker of surprise in his eyes before it was swallowed by the hunger.

His fingers tightened on her hips in a very clear message: you’re not going anywhere. Julie wanted to tell him she wouldn’t even if she could, but he took that moment to push himself up higher. The gesture arched his hips. Julie was awarded with a very solid grind of his erection over the wet path of her pussy. The sheer shock alone tore a gasp from her. Slivers of fire shot through her in a shower of need. Her body collapsed forward into his and was secured by his arms. Against her breasts, his heart pounded as fiercely as hers.

“No.” The plea was a whisper against her shoulder where his fingers were digging into her skin.

It took Julie a moment to realize what he meant and it was only because his free hand was pressed flat against her tailbone, ceasing the slow jerks of her hips. Her crotch was flush against the bulge of his cock, like the worst torture device known to man. The feel of it snug between her pussy lips, the heat of it burning through both their clothes, the pulse of it as he fought back his own desires was driving her insane.

“No!” he said again, louder and with more insistence. “Hold still.” The command was back in his voice. His hand was steady and even his heart had slowed to a near steady patter. “I’m going to fuck you,” he announced without a shred of doubt. “But not here, not like this, and not tonight.”

Julie didn’t know what part of that pissed her off more, being told to wait, or being teased mercilessly and then told to wait.

She jerked back and his hands dropped to her hips. Hers were curled in his shoulders. She peered furiously into his eyes, her defiance marking a red haze over her vision.

She tightened her knees around his hips and pushed ever so slightly forward, dragging herself up the full length of his cock. She stared unflinchingly into his eyes through every second, daring him to stop her.

Mason stared back. The blue of his eyes were pits of black on a face dark with warning. The fingers on her hips gouged into her skin. It hurt. It was meant to. She responded by giving his cock a slow, rolling grind that had his nostrils flaring and something primal flaring across his eyes.

She never saw it coming. Never saw him move. In a near flash of light, Julie found herself face down on the sofa. Her back was pinned by the full span of Mason’s hand, restraining her from so much as twisting her head around. The cushions on either side of her dipped as he straddled the backs of her thighs. The hand lifted only to be replaced by the weight of his chest.

“Damn you!” he growled quietly into her ear. “What did I tell you?”

Tasting velvet and her own churning desires, Julie could only pant into the fabric.

Mason took her silence as acceptance as he slid one hand under her belly and between her legs. Julie struggled, not to escape, but to make room as he bypassed the elastic of her shorts, shoved aside the waistband of her panties and cupped her mound.

Her sob was muffled in the cushion. Her eyes squeezed tight as her entire body shuddered. She parted her knees and thrust out her ass.

His fingers pried apart her hairless lips. A growl burned into the side of her face when he located the thick pool in the center. She could tell by how easily his fingers slipped over her opening and traced the rigid bump of her clit that she was soaked.

“Is this what you want?” he demanded, his voice no longer steady.

Delirious and so close, Julie shook her head.

“What then?”

It took her a second too long to answer; he was circling her slit with a fingertip and it was taking all her resolve not to scream when he didn’t elevate the pressure.

“I want you!” she growled at him.

“I’m right here,” he said, inserting just the tip of a finger before pulling out.

“I want your cock,” she blurted. “I want it inside me.”

Against her back, his heart gave a wild kick. She heard his sharp intake of air. The hand cupped between her thighs tightened, stroking a little harder, getting just a little closer to her opening but not close enough.

“And you will have it,” he promised. “But not tonight.”

Just like that, he stopped. His hand tugged free of her shorts. Frustrated, feeling like she was on the verge of exploding, Julie pushed up with her arms and twisted her head around to glower at him over her shoulder.

“What...?”

Mason offered her a sheepish, understanding little smile. “I know, love.” He extended her his hand. “I hate stopping, too. Trust me,” he added with grimace.

Julie ignored the hand and got to her own feet. She swayed slightly on her unsteady feet and caught herself on the armrest. Her gaze flitted down to the strain against the front of his pants.

It was clear that he was in as much pain as she was and yet his hesitation baffled her.

“Why?” she demanded, her voice accusing and breathless.

His grin was aggrieved. “Would you believe I’m trying to be a gentleman?”

Julie arched a disbelieving brow. “You had your hand in my pants only two seconds ago.”

He stabbed an accusatory finger at her. “That was your fault. I told you to stop.”

She threw up her hands in frustration. “You started it, giving me those smoldering looks and asking me to sit in your lap.”

“I wanted to hold you,” he shot back. “I wasn’t expect...” He broke off and put both hands up to still the conversation. “Okay, wait.” He took in a deep breath. “I want you,” he said flatly. “I really fucking want you. But I only just got you back after four years and as much as I am literally dying over here with how badly I want to bend you over that sofa and sink deep inside you, I want ... no, I need to take this slow. I need to know the person you’ve become since we last saw each other. I need you to know the person I am.” He paused to search her face, his own pleading. “Does that make any sense?”

Julie didn’t know what to say, but she nodded.

He exhaled like he’d been holding his breath. “I’ll walk you upstairs.”

Chapter Twelve

Mason was already in the kitchen, standing over the coffee machine when Julie made her way down. He looked up with two steaming mugs in hand and grinned.

“Morning,” he said as she accepted the drink.

Her cheeks warmed, partially from the hot drink, partially just from the look in his eyes.

“Morning.”

“How did you sleep?”

Miserably. Her body had ached and thrummed mercilessly for most of the night and, when she had finally fallen asleep, her dreams had been plagued with images of being brought to earth shattering climax over and over again by expert hands and a very skilled cock.

“Okay,” she lied. “You?”

He exhaled deeply. “Horribly. I kept tossing and turning all night thinking of you all alone in that bed.” His gaze was pitiless. “I had your scent on my hand and all I could think about was the sounds you make when you get really close.”

The mug jerked in her shaky hands and scalding liquid splashed over her fingers. She didn’t notice. It was far less painful than the hard drum that had started in the junction of her thighs.

“You said you wanted to wait,” she whispered.

He nodded, took a sip of his drink, all the while watching her over the rim. “I do, but I didn’t think you wanted our relationship to be based on lies and half-truths.”

Damn him!

“That’s not fair.”

His head tipped to the side. “Why’s that?”

“Because you’re leaving tomorrow.”

The thought speared her with a sadness that made her drop her gaze to the cup clasped tightly between her hands.

“I actually wanted to talk to you about that.”

Julie peered up at him, waiting.

“I was thinking about staying for a while.”

Excitement sparked through her. “Really? But what about Shaun and Luis? Shouldn’t you talk to them first?”

He shrugged. “I would let them take the truck back. I can just catch a ride with you and take a bus home later. That is ... if you want me.”

I want you! Julie wanted to blurt, but somehow managed to restrain herself.

“What about work?” She didn’t know why she was giving him reasons to change his mind, but they just kept coming out. “Don’t you need to get back?”

“I own my business,” he reminded her. “I can do it from here if I really need to, all I need is a computer and a phone line.”

“Shaun won’t like it,” she whispered.

“I don’t care what Shaun likes.”

Julie bit her lip. “Well, the kids will love it if you stayed,” she murmured instead.

He set his mug aside and moved to tower over her. “What about you?”

Julie never so much as batted an eyelash. “I would love it, too.”

“Yeah?”

Julie nodded.

“Okay then.” He nipped a coil of hair off her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. “That’s settled.”

She didn’t say it, but it wasn’t only because she would miss him that she was relieved by his decision. It was because the idea of being alone in this place filled her with dread.

“Mason...?” She bit her lip, restraining thoughts clamoring around in her head.

“Yeah?”

She hesitated for a second more before answering, “I’m just really glad you’re staying.”

His smile was heart melting. “Me too, Jewels.”

They took their coffees to the terrace and, after Julie had checked to make sure there weren’t any more surprises on the doors, left them open to air out the house as she joined Mason on the deck overlooking the lake. The clouds were a pearly white, but it had stopped raining. The air was crisp and moist, and felt nice against her skin.

“Sit with me,” Mason insisted when she tried to drag a chair out.

He had perched his long body on a lounge chair, one leg on either side, his bare feet planted on the floor. It left a stretch of space between the V of his thighs. Julie paused, not sure she was ready to be that close to him after the incident the night before. But he wasn’t taking no for an answer.

Lifting his butt up just a notch, he reached out and caught her wrist. He dragged her to him and forced her to sit. It was a miracle she didn’t spill her drink as she was drawn back into his chest. His thigh muscles felt hot wedging her between them. Part of her wished she had thought to put on pants.

Mason’s arms tightened around her when she shivered. His breath was warm against the side of her jaw.

“Cold?”

Julie nodded. “A little.”

She almost whimpered when his arms unraveled, taking their heat with them. She heard a clink as he set aside his mug and reached for something under the chair. A moment later, he had a hand knitted throw drawn out from a pouch sewn into the bottom of the chair. He shook it out and draped it over her, careful not to spill her coffee.

Julie snuggled under it and let herself melt into the arms that returned around her.

“This is nice,” she murmured. The heat of his body burned through her and she shivered again as goose bumps littered her skin. “You’re so hot.”

Against her shoulder blades, she felt his chest vibrate with laughter. “You’re only just realizing that?”

Julie chuckled. “I meant your temperature.”

“That’s exactly what I thought you meant.” But she could hear the amusement in his voice.

Grinning, she set her drink down next to his on the round, glass table next to their elbows and closed her eyes. Without the distraction of the coffee, Mason drew her tighter to him, tucking her more securely beneath the blankets and his chest. The tip of his nose brushed her temple.

“Tell me something,” he murmured.

“Like what?”

The shoulder beneath her head jerked. “Anything. Tell me what you’ve been doing the last four years.”

Julie pulled in a breath, then let it out in a white cloud that vanished almost instantly. “I finished high school. I started university.”

Mason clicked his tongue. “That’s too simple,” he said. “You were never cut and dry like that, Jewels. Tell me something.”

She had to really think about it. Any other person would have accepted her response and moved on.

“I, uh...”

Her words drifted from her mouth and disappeared in a plume of white right before her eyes. She followed the last of the wisp as the breeze blew and swept it off somewhere to the left.

Beyond the deck railings, fog lifted off the glistening blades of grass. It swirled like ghosts rising from their graves. She watched as the vapors shifted with the rising light in the distance, parting to give shape to the dark silhouettes.

But there was one shape, one silhouette, that didn’t make sense. It was in an odd place to be a tree, too thin to be a bush, and it had too many curves to be part of the basketball court.

Julie straightened, her eyes squinting. The blanket slipped from her shoulders and pooled across her lap. Mason touched her arm lightly in concern.

“What is it?”

Blinking rapidly, like it could somehow make her eyesight sharper, Julie frowned. She pointed to the spot.

“What is that?”

Against her back, he stiffened. She felt the ripple of his muscles as he shifted higher.

It was at the edge of the basketball court, just below the left post. It wasn’t moving yet it seemed suspended.

“What is that?” Mason mimicked her question. He pulled away from her and pushed to his feet. “Stay here,” he told her as he marched to the edge of the deck and peered through the mist.

It must not have been any clearer from that point, because he cursed and hurried to the stairway.

Rain began to fall. It soaked through the blanket no longer keeping her warm. Julie stayed frozen to the spot, torn between following him and making sure the children were all right. In the end, she threw back the blanket and plunged after him into the spearing dawn.

Cold dampness leached through the fabric of her t-shirt and shorts, chilling her already goose pimpled skin. Her feet sunk into wet soil as she crossed the yard to where Mason stood, staring at the shape in the mist.

It was a girl Julie’s age wearing sneakers, shorts, and a red shirt that was spattered with mud. Dirt and grass and blood stained her bare legs and matted her blonde hair. She stood before them with her mouth gaping and speechless. Eyes the blue-white of spilled milk stared back unseeingly from a face crossed with blue blood vessels and drained of color. She was standing without support and Julie had a horrific image of zombies walking. Yet the girl never moved. She never moaned, or gnashed her teeth. She simply stood there, a little limply, like she was exhausted.

“Mason?”

“Get back inside!” he shouted at her.

Julie didn’t move. Couldn’t move. Her mind was too focused on the image that would forever be seared into her brain.

The girl was dead. That much was evident. But she was upright, standing before them, motionless as the elements lashed about her, tearing at her clothes and her darkened hair. There was no breath leaving her, while Julie and Mason were building a wall of white with every ragged pant. Her skin wasn’t goose fleshed. In fact, she didn’t seem at all affected by the rain, while Julie could hear the clack of her own chattering teeth over the pounding of her heart.

“Mason...?”

“Get inside!” he said again, grabbing her now. He shook her. “Julie!”

Her cold, stiff fingers grabbed for him. They closed in the fabric of his wet shirt. “What...?”

He must have realized she wasn’t going anywhere, because he stopped trying to make her. Instead, he licked the rain from his lips and turned back to the girl. He took a tentative step forward, reached through the cold and space and gave the body a quick jab in the shoulder.

Julie’s grip tightened on his shirt until her knuckles ached. She waited for the girl to come to life and lunge at them. What happened instead made the coffee in Julie’s stomach come up in a thick flood of dark liquid that soaked into the already damp ground when she twisted away: the body swayed.

No. She rocked weightlessly like a child holding on to the monkey bars and letting their body swing side to side. But her arms hung at her sides, fingers slightly curled, and the nails dirty and chipped. There were bruises along her arms in the shape of violent hands. Part of her shirt was ripped at the hem and there was blood ... most of it had washed away, but it had stained her clothes.

Then Mason shoved the girl again, harder this time, and her entire body arched back. Her feet slipped from beneath her so she rocked on her heels and then swooped forward once more like she was doing a pelvis thrust.

That’s when Julie saw it—the perfect red necklace around her long, slender throat and the clear, plastic string tying her to the basketball hoop.

By the time the sheriff was called, Julie had calmed herself just enough to get the three Vance children packed into their rooms with promises of cake if they stayed put. She made sure they had everything before hurrying downstairs to pace the foyer. She could hear Shaun, Luis, and Mason arguing in the kitchen. They were trying to be quiet, but there was no mistaking the path of their arguments.

Shaun didn’t think they should have called the sheriff. “We’ll get blamed!” was his reasoning.

It made her wonder if maybe he was guilty. It made her wonder if maybe ... but as quickly as the thought always came, she shoved it away. Not because she had this great fondness for Shaun, but because she couldn’t believe Mason and Luis would be friends with a killer.

A killer...

Her stomach roiled. Her classes had covered cadavers by going on field trips to the morgue. The woman on the slab had been gray, like a painting that wasn’t finished. A few of her classmates had been sick, but Julie had kept her composure ... until the incision had been made. Yet in no way had that prepared her for the sight outside.

“Hey.” Mason darkened the doorway leading into the kitchen. “You okay?”

Julie laughed sharply. “No, not even a little. I don’t...” She broke off and forced ten fingers back through her hair.

He crossed to her and took her hands. His were warm and steady, so unlike hers.

“It’s going to be all right,” he told her calmly.

“Are you insane?” she hissed. “Did you not see ... are you going to tell me that that is normal, too? Like those kittens and the handprint? Was this a prank, too?”

His face was grim, but determined. “I don’t know what that was,” he confessed quietly. “In the past, we’ve found dead birds on the porch and a few dead mice, but...” he trailed off, rocking his head slowly from side to side.

“It’s the same person,” she murmured. “It has to be. The fishing wire used to string the body to the basketball hoop is the same as the one used that first day. I’m sure of it.”

Mason nodded. “You could be right.”

Julie drew in a deep breath, relieved he hadn’t called her crazy. “I’m taking the children home tomorrow,” she told him. “I won’t keep them here. Not after that.”

She expected an argument. She expected him to assure her it wouldn’t happen again. She wasn’t expecting acceptance.

“I’ll help you get ready in the morning.”

Their conversation was halted when a knock sounded on the front doors. Julie shared a glance with Mason before leaving him to answer it.

Sheriff Reynolds swept into the foyer. Three uniformed police officers followed.

“Yard,” was all she could muster to say.

The officers disappeared in the direction of her jerked chin, leaving her alone with Sheriff Reynolds.

The older man tipped his face back, peered down the length of his nose at Julie, and narrowed his eyes. “You all right?”

Julie felt her eyes sting and she had to blink several times to keep the tears in check. She shook her head mutely.

The sheriff shifted his weight. “I’m going to need to ask you some questions, Ms. Brewer.”

Swallowing, Julie nodded. “I know.”

With a jerk of his head in a nod, a satisfied gesture that they were on the same page, he stalked past her and disappeared into the kitchen.

Julie paused just long enough to wipe her hands on the rough grains of her jeans before following the group to the back doors.

Sheriff Reynolds made no pithy remark. There was no malice or annoyance in his eyes as he broke through the light drizzle to where the solitary figure hung, eyes vacant.

Julie stayed on the porch, hugging herself and watching from a distance as the body was examined and eventually cut from its strings. A medical examiner was called, who arrived in a black van to take the body away while the officers did a search of the grounds.

The sun was just fading slowly over the horizon beyond the lake when Sheriff Reynolds finally turned his attention on Julie. And while she had nothing to be guilty about, Julie couldn’t help but feel a stab of it in her chest. What if he didn’t believe they had nothing to do with that murder?

“Ms. Brewer, I would like to ask you those questions now if you’re ready?”

It was stated as a question, but she knew better.

She nodded, and watched as he dragged free his notepad and pen from his pocket. Raindrops darkened the pages, smeared the ink. He didn’t seem to notice.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

Over his shoulder, she could see the other officers talking to Mason, Shaun, and Luis. Mason was talking. Shaun stood mute and definite, while Luis looked like he was two seconds away from fainting or throwing up. He was a shade of green that Julie was positive a normal person should never reach.

“Ms. Brewer?” Sheriff Reynolds said again.

Her attention went back to the grim-faced man watching her. She took a deep breath, more to steady herself than anything else.

“I don’t know what happened,” she whispered. “Mason and I were on the back deck—”

“You and Mason?” he interrupted. “Mr. Nelson and Mr. Ryan weren’t there?”

“No,” she said. Julie took another gulping breath when her voice wavered. “But Luis didn’t do this,” she said firmly. “Whoever put those kittens across the door our first morning—”

“I’m just trying to get the picture, Ms. Brewer,” he said evenly. “I need to make sure I have all the facts. Please, continue.”

Willing herself to remain calm and rational, Julie started again. “We were on the deck when I looked up and saw the body.”

“And do you recognize the diseased?”

Julie shook her head. “No.”

“Do you have any idea who would do something like this?”

Again, she shook her head. “No.”

“You said Mr. Ryan wasn’t there,” he tapped his pen on his pad. “Where was he?”

“His room ... I think.”

Sheriff Reynolds raised an eyebrow. “You think?”

“Well, he usually sleeps until noon and most mornings Mason and I are the only ones awake at that hour.”

“So you were with Mr. Brody the entire time.”

Julie nodded. “Yes.”

Carefully, he closed his notepad and surveyed her with narrowed eyes. “Ms. Brewer, can you tell me what you think happened here?”

It baffled her, but she did her best to answer. “From what I could see, the victim was strangled by the fishing wire.”

The corner of his mouth quirked upwards. “Spoken like a true newbie. But you would be wrong. The victim was stabbed, in the back, before being strung up.”

Julie blinked. Her gaze swung to the basketball hoops. “The blood on her clothes...”

He stuffed his pad and pen into his pocket. “The medical examiner says she was killed elsewhere and then brought here.”

She frowned. “That’s a lot of trouble to go through.”

“Exactly.” He shifted his rail thin body. “Now, what sort of person would go through that kind of trouble?”

Julie shrugged. “Psychopaths?”

“Yes, but why? Why here when they could have easily tossed the body into the lake or buried it?”

“It’s hard to determine the mind of a psychopath. There are a great number of reasons why—”

Sheriff Reynolds chuckled. “You’re talking like a book, Ms. Brewer.”

Her tongue snuck out to dampen her lips. “To prove a point? To frighten us? To warn us?”

“Correct, now can you tell me why someone would want to do any of those things to you?”

Julie shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Maybe he believed her, or maybe he didn’t. It was hard to tell when he said nothing as he pushed past her into the house.

Julie stayed with her shoulder against the frame as the officer interrogating Mason pulled back and started towards the house. The two with Shaun and Luis remained, looking none too pleased by Shaun’s defiant muteness and whatever they’re getting from Luis.

“You should sleep.” Mason reached her.

Julie’s laugh was hollow. “I don’t think I’ll ever sleep.”

His gentle fingers closed over hers and he drew her into the warmth of the kitchen. He continued to hold her hand, gently massaging blood through the stiffness.

“I’ll keep you safe, Julie,” he murmured quietly.

“Mason, I—” His fingers ghosted over her lips, pinning her words to her lips.

“Get some sleep,” he urged softly. “I’ll make sure nothing happens to you.”

“I’m just...” She scratched furiously at her brow, trying to peel away the furrow that wouldn’t lift. “Why, Mason? Why is someone doing this?” She pressed her lips together, holding them firm to restrain their tremble before speaking again. “You can’t tell me this is all because of you and something you did when you were a kid. This goes beyond ... they killed someone.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, Jewels.” The frustration was blinding behind his eyes. “I know I did some pretty shitty things as a kid, but...” He forced his fingers back through his hair and stole a glance in the direction of the yard. “I never hurt anyone. I never killed anyone. People hate me, but not this much. I don’t know anyone who would do this.”

She believed him even as part of her wanted to hate him for putting her and the kids through this. And while she knew it was irrational, that he had nothing to do with the girl hanging from the basketball hoop, she needed to hate someone.

Shaun and Luis climbed the steps to the back porch with the two officers at their heels. Mason and Julie stepped aside as the group entered the kitchen.

One of the officers closed the door and turned to face them. “Sheriff Reynolds asks that you don’t leave town until this matter is dealt with.”

Julie’s jaw dropped. “What? No! I’m taking the kids home tomorrow and I’m not coming back to this place—”

The officer was unmoved by her outburst. “This is a murder investigation, ma’am. No one is leaving town until we’ve caught the person responsible.”

“Well, this is clearly a hit on us,” she expressed hotly. “If we stay, who’s to say the psychopath won’t come back and do the same to us? We are in danger.”

“For all we know, one of you is responsible,” the second officer supplied, without heat.

“What officer Brennon is trying to say is that we might have further questions for you,” the first officer explained.

“I’m not letting the kids stay here another day,” Julie said sharply.

“Then perhaps you should call someone to come get them,” Officer Brennon suggested. “Staying in town is not a suggestion. You will get arrested if you leave.”

“You can’t do that!” She looked to Mason. “Can he do that?”

“We can.” Sheriff Reynolds returned. “We will also need the keys to your cars.”

“Our cars? Why—”

Sheriff Reynolds closed the distance with long, slow strides. “Someone moved that body here. They would need a car to accomplish that.”

“We didn’t do this,” Julie protested.

“Then you won’t mind surrendering your keys,” Officer Brennen retorted with a smugness that made Julie want to hit him.

“No.” Shaun widened his stance. He folded his arms over his chest and glowered at the officers. “You need a warrant for that.”

“Actually, we don’t,” Sheriff Reynolds replied. “This property is our crime scene and we have rights to everything on it. If you get in our way, you’re disrupting an ongoing investigation and I will arrest you. Now keys, please.”

Not for the first time, Julie wished she’d gone into law rather than forensics. One didn’t teach the other. It wasn’t her job to know the loops that was the intricately woven system, only what she saw when she looked at a crime scene.

After exchanging apprehensive glances with Mason, Julie left to grab her keys from her room. Mason was handing over his own set when she returned. Sheriff Reynolds passed his to Officer Brennen. Her set went to the second officer. He pocketed it almost immediately, like he was afraid she might lunge after him and snatch them back.

“Get Moe here,” Sheriff Reynolds instructed. “Tell him there’s two cars that need picking up.”

“When can we get them back?” Julie interrupted.

The sheriff turned to look at her. “As long as it takes to examine them and find the son of a bitch who did this.”

“But—”

“Ms. Brewer, please let us do our job.” Then, just like that, he dismissed her by turning his back on her and addressing his men once more. “I want this entire house searched, dusted and printed, and get him,” he jabbed a finger towards Shaun, “to submit his fingerprints. If he resists, arrest him.”

Having said what needed to be said, the sheriff left his officers to get to work as he stalked through the backdoor and moved effortlessly to the basketball court, now void of a body. The officers moved to the front door, pulling out their phones, and Julie had a feeling they were about to get very crowded.

“I have to call Maureen,” she said. “She won’t like it, but she has to come get the kids. I don’t want them here another night.”

Leaving the men behind, Julie stormed from the kitchen and hurried to the stairs. She caught sight of the officers standing on the porch, ordering someone to come tow the cars away, and prayed they got their job done quickly. The thought of them remaining there for longer than necessary made her want to weep.

In the seclusion of her room, she marched to the phone on the nightstand and phoned Maureen.

“Julie, is something wrong?” the question was asked around a loud yawn.

“Hello Maureen,” Julie said calmly. “The kids are fine, but there was another incident today.”

She told Maureen about the body and needing her to come down and get the children.

“I can’t,” Maureen said before Julie could finish. “I have appointments all this week.”

Julie ignored the tickle of impatience. “They can’t stay here, Maureen. It’s too dangerous.”

Maureen sighed. “I’ll call Dean. Maybe he can swing by to get them. He’s telling his lawyers that I’m not giving him enough time with them.”

Having had a long day and in no mood for bullshit, Julie growled deep in her throat. “Maureen, I don’t care who gets the kids so long as they’re not here.”

“Julie?” Maureen hesitated. “This has nothing to do with you wanting to spend time with Mason, is it?”

For a whole second, Julie had absolutely nothing to say to that. It was so ludicrous that for a moment, she didn’t event to justify it with an answer.

“Julie?”

“No!” she shot back. “Of course not. This is about the children and keeping them safe.”

“All right, but if it is, you can tell me.”

Julie pinched the bridge of her nose. “It’s not. Do you want me to call Dean?”

“Yes, that might be a good idea. I’m not allowed to call him without my lawyer.”

Needing to set a plan into motion, Julie hung up with Maureen and called her soon to be ex-husband. Dean, unlike his wife, was more concerned about the children spending the night.

“I’ll be there first thing in the morning.”

True to his word, he arrived at the crack of dawn the next day. Julie was already awake and the children were dressed and ready in the sitting room. Dustin seemed to be the only one happy about being sent home. Wendy and Rick had thrown tantrums unlike anything Julie had ever witnessed. They didn’t understand why they were being sent home after only a week of vacation.

“Is this because of the carnival?” Wendy whined. “Because I didn’t listen?”

“No, of course not,” Julie tried to reassure her, but it was a tricky matter when she couldn’t tell them why they were leaving, only that their father was on his way to get them.

It had been nearly impossible to console the pair, even with bribery. It wasn’t until Mason stumbled downstairs, rubbing at his sleepy eyes that they quieted.

“What is all the racket?” He yawned loudly.

“Julie is sending us home,” Rick said at once.

“Tell her not to, Mason,” Wendy pleaded.

Mason squinted at the figures in the room. “Don’t you want to spend time with your dad?”

“But we like it here!” Wendy said.

“It’s still summer,” Rick added.

Mason listened and nodded, but his attention was caught by Dustin, who sat at the counter, elbows on the table with his head bent over his game system. He hadn’t said a word since the news.

“Hey.” Mason went over and ruffled Dustin’s hair. “Where do you stand on all this?”

Dustin shrugged. “I hate it here.”

“Then maybe you can talk to your siblings,” Mason suggested.

“Why?” Dustin looked up at him. “It’s not like they have a choice.”

Mason smacked him on the shoulder. “True, but as an older brother it’s your job to comfort them and keep them safe.”

Dustin’s eyes narrowed behind his glasses as he tried to understand the logic behind the words. “What if I don’t want to?”

Biting the inside of her cheek, Julie watched as Mason fumbled with a response. Luckily for him, he didn’t have to think of one.

The front door opened and a moment later, Dean Vance strode into the room as though he were entering a court room. His suit was crisp and as dark as his wavy locks, which were swept back from a strong brow. Warm, brown eyes swept over the room. They lit up when they landed on the children.

“Hey guys!”

Wendy and Rick continued to sulk. Dustin just stared with absolute blankness for someone anxious to leave.

Julie quickly stepped forward. “Mr. Vance, you made it. Hello.”

Dean looked away from his kids to smile kindly at her. “Hello Julie. I hope I’m not late.”

Shaking her head, Julie motioned him deeper into the kitchen. “No, you’re right on time. I have everything packed and the kids have been fed...” She glanced at the kids in question. “Why don’t you guys use the bathroom before you leave?”

No one moved.

“Dad, do we have to go?” Wendy whined. “Why can’t we stay?”

Dean stole a glance towards Julie before facing his daughter. “Because I thought we could do some stuff together.”

“Like what?” Rick prodded, not convinced.

“Well, if I tell you that then what will happen to the surprise I have planned?”

Wendy and Rick exchanged glances with a mixture of suspicion and barely concealed excitement.

“So why don’t you hit the bathroom and we can get on the way?” Dean suggested when no further arguments were made.

“Okay, but it better be a really good surprise,” Wendy warned as she hurried after Rick to the door.

“Dust?” Dean glanced at his eldest. “Need the can?”

“Nope,” Dustin replied without glancing up from his game.

Nodding, Dean turned to Julie and Mason. “Why don’t you two help me get the bags into the car?”

Knowing an excuse when she saw one, Julie followed without comment. They stepped into the foyer and each grabbed a duffle.

“So I know we discussed what was happening over the phone, but I just want to be clear.” Dean popped the trunk on his Range Rover and stuffed one of the bags inside. “The police have no leads?”

Mason passed his uncle the bag in his hand. “No, but they want us to stick around in case they have any more questions.”

“Plus they took our cars so we can’t even go to the store if we need to,” Julie added.

Dean shook his head. “I just can’t believe someone would do something like this.” He took the duffle from Julie’s hand. “It’s seems so fictional.”

“And yet...” Mason mumbled.

Head still rocking steadily from side to side, Dean dumped both bags into the trunk next to the first and slammed the door shut. He turned to them.

“Will you guys be all right up here alone?” He glanced from Mason to Julie, his expression endearingly concerned. “I don’t like leaving, knowing some psycho is leaving bodies in my backyard.”

“We’ll be fine,” Mason assured him almost immediately.

“Actually,” Julie interjected. “You’re a criminal lawyer, Mr. Vance. Do you think you could talk to the law enforcement here and see if they’ve learned anything new and ask when we can get our cars back and go home?”

Dean glanced between them again. “Of course,” he said at last. “I’ll swing by on my way out of town and call the house if I learn anything. I have a few other cases on my plate, plus the children now, but I will try to stay on top of this.”

Thanking him, Julie went inside to round up the kids. Dustin was already on his way out. Rick and Wendy were a little trickier. They couldn’t decide who sat on which side of the car. It didn’t seem to matter that there was no difference.

Finally, after what felt like ages, Dean pulled away and they watched his taillights fade into the distance. But it wasn’t until the crunch of tires on gravel melted away that Mason turned his attention towards Julie. He gave her a crooked grin that dripped sexual appeal and sent the butterflies in her stomach tumbling.

“Well, it’s just you and me now, Jewels.” He bit his lip and took a dangerous step closer, invading all her space. “Scared?”

Terrified.

Chapter Thirteen

With the children gone, the house seemed vastly too large and too quiet. Julie had far too much time on her hands and not enough books to keep her occupied. She spent the majority of the time locked in her room trying to finish a book she was definitely no longer interested in, or cleaning. Even with the kids gone, it was as though they had never left and while every instinct in her body told her to let Shaun clean up after himself, she knew he wouldn’t and she didn’t want to live in a house filled with flies.

Luis helped her, occasionally running the vacuum, or sweeping the floor. He tried doing the dishes once, but Julie begged him not to do it again when half of them had to be redone. It made her wonder what their apartment back home looked like, but every time she thought about it, she cringed.

Then there was Mason. The guy had made it his mission to go out of his way to unnerve her. Simply by walking into the room, he managed to set all the alarm bells off in her head. His easy grins and the not so accidental brush of his fingers along the curve of her spine and lengths of her arms had the flames in the pit of her stomach leaping. He was driving her insane and he knew it.

But while he taunted her, he never took the leap. The touches, the deep, hungry survey of his eyes, and the way he always came just a little too close, but not close enough, always ended with him pulling back. It drove her insane, which, she was sure, was his plan.

“Hey, Martha, when’s supper?”

Perched on her bed, book in hand, Julie looked up when Shaun stalked into her room unannounced and loomed over her.

“Excuse me?”

Still lost in the pages of her book, in the coil of words muddling her brain, Julie wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly.

“It’s after six,” he said and glanced at his watch to confirm. “We’re starving.”

So she had heard him right.

Julie laughed, short and filled with disbelief outrage. She closed her book and set it down on the mattress.

“There are three of you,” she said slowly. “Three grown men who live without a woman.” She squinted at him. “How did you survive before me?”

Shaun scowled, which had become a common thing between them. Honestly, Julie didn’t care. His thoughts and feelings meant shit to her.

“We survived just fine, but it’s after six and you always make supper.”

Evidently, she was to blame.

“So because I made dinner a few times, you think I am now you’re personal chef?”

His eyes only seemed to narrow further. “Are you going to make food or not?”

It had been on her list, just as soon as she finished the chapter, but now she was just annoyed.

“Nope.” She plucked up her book and flipped it open. “I think I’m going to leave dinner making to the men tonight.”

“Seriously?”

Leaning back against the headboard and crossed one ankle over the other, Julie shrugged. “Yup.”

She pressed her nose into the folds of her book and pretended not to hear Shaun when he muttered a curse and stormed out. She was still smirking when another figure stepped into the room. But she sensed him even before the door closed with a muffled click. Her heart leapt as she lowered the book to keep him from seeing her fingers trembling.

“You shouldn’t be in here,” she murmured.

Mason grinned. “Don’t trust yourself alone with me?”

Setting her book down and getting to her feet, Julie met his gaze squarely. “Are you here to get me all hot and bothered and then leave again? Because I have to be honest, I will probably dropkick you.”

His smile broadened, wide and breathtaking. He was in front of her now, tall and imposing in the dwindling daylight filtering through the sheer curtains. The golden hue spilled through his hair and down the perfectly defined ridges of his face. They traced the lush arch of his mouth and reflected in the blue of his eyes, and she imagined that was how the ocean looked with the sun leaking its rays over the gleaming surface.

The eyes she’d been scrutinizing darkened. They were so close, she could see the irises expand as heat and hunger collided. She should have been immune to that look and yet it never failed to sear through her like lightening. “You know, it’s very hard for a guy to be noble when you say things like that.”

She hadn’t realized she’d been staring at his mouth until his lips moved, forming the words that took a moment to register. She blinked and looked away.

“Maybe I’m tired of you being noble,” she heard herself murmur.

He made a sound that could have been a chuckle if it hadn’t been self-deprecating. “Fuck, baby...” His fingers closed around her chin and she was forced to face the fire behind his eyes. The rough pad of his thumb glided over the curve of her mouth. “That’s not fair.”

“What are you waiting for, Mason?”

His fingers tightened on her face. She was drawn closer. Her front came up flush against his. The crack of his heart beat against hers. His breath mingled with hers. His heat engulfed her.

“Are you sure you want to know?” His fingers glided back through her hair to cup the base of her skull. “Because once I tell you I’m going to kiss you and I might not be able to stop.”

How was she supposed to resist that when the pit of her stomach had all but melted into a puddle of aroused goo that was tightening her nipples and dampening the fabric of her panties? Damn, the guy didn’t play fair.

“Yes.”

His fingers tightened in her hair. His breathing was ragged, scraping against her cheeks. His heart rocketed against the hands she had no memory of raising, never mind planting against his chest. He pulled her still closer by the arm anchored around her middle.

He lowered his head and she caught her breath, expecting him to kiss her. Instead, he stopped inches from his mark.

“I’ve been waiting for you to want me half as badly as I want you.”

She made a sound between a laugh and a choke. “You know I want you.”

He gave a short shake of his head. “I knew you did once, but I needed to be sure you still did.”

“Are you always this cautious?” she wondered breathlessly.

Mason chuckled. “Only when it’s something that really matters to me.” His smile faded. His expression grew serious, giving weight to the words he spoke next. “You matter to me, Jewels. I told myself long ago that if I ever got this chance with you, I would do it right.”

It was impossible not to fall in love with him all over again after that, not that she had ever not been in love with him. Even when she had told herself she hated him, a part of her had still wanted, needed, and loved him.

“Is that it?” she whispered. “Is that everything you had to tell me?”

He gave a nod and rolled his shoulders in a shrug. “Pretty much. Yeah.”

“Good.” She curved the full length of her front into his, raised her arms and folded them around the width of his shoulders. Her pulse spiked when his eyes darkened and his heart gave a hard thump against hers. “You promised me a kiss, Brody. You owe me a kiss.”

He was breathing as hard and fast as she was. The heat in his eyes mirrored the hunger gnawing at her insides. She was ready for this. She had dreamt of that moment for so long that it almost felt surreal. Any moment, she expected to wake up and find herself in bed.

When his head lowered, Julie caught her breath, holding it tight in her lungs in fear of shattering that moment. Her heart hammered as her nerves jittered. Her lashes swept closed the exact moment his lips brushed hers.

It was no more than a flutter. Barely a breath. Yet it struck her square in the gut with a white hot surge of desire. Her gasp parted her lips, leaving his path clear to deepen the kiss with an agile sweep of his tongue.

Julie moaned. She melted against him. Her fingers tightened in his hair as she opened for more. Need propelled her tongue out to meet his, to caress the velvety length of his. The hands gripping her turned bruising at her waist. Against the soft planes of her abdomen, the proof of his need lengthened, burning through fabric to further fan the fire raging through her. The very notion that he craved for her half as much as she yearned for him ignited a fresh wave of delirium. Places that hadn’t felt a man’s touch in a damn long time pulsed. Her skin prickled with a desperation that could only be sated by his hands. Against the material of her camisole, her nipples swelled, pushing against the firm span of his chest for attention and teasing the sensitive peaks.

Her low whimper was met by the hands that roamed down to anchor her backside through her thin shorts. She was lifted and her legs wasted no time coiling around his lean hips. His growl vibrated against her mouth when she rested perfectly over the straining erection pushing up against his sweat shorts. But all Julie could focus on was how moving against it calmed some of the pressure building between her thighs.

“Jewels...” Her name tore out of him in a sound between a snarl and a plea. His fingers bit into the curves of her backside, urging her harder against him.

“Yes!” Julie sobbed, tightening her knees.

Still devouring her mouth, Mason stalked across the short distance and dumped her onto the bed. He paused for a split second to rip off his top before he was on her, crushing her into the mattress. One toned thigh found its way to the crest of her body as the rest of him was eagerly gathered in her arms.

His kisses trailed along the length of her jaw, down the column of her neck to nip at her collarbone. His fingers wrapped around the thin strap of her camisole and tugged it over the slope of her shoulder, following the path with his mouth. His free hand did the same with the other side, drawing her top down her chest in the process.

Julie bit her lip, scarcely breathing as the collar inched over the swell of her breasts, caught on the sharp points of her nipples, and then dragged free, but not before kindling a new wave of hunger that exploded in the pit of her stomach. She writhed beneath him, desperately trying to get him between her legs where he belonged. But he kept her pinned, holding her prisoner as he feasted on her with his eyes.

“So fucking perfect,” he breathed through every pant.

It would be even more perfect if you had your pants off and were buried deep inside me, she wanted to say and was about to when his head dropped and he caught her right breast in his mouth.

All thoughts of speech vanished as he assaulted the nipple to the point of pure agony. He suckled, all the while watching her as she squirmed beneath him. His blue eyes were dark pits of ravenous pleasure that bore straight into her. Then, with a nip of his teeth that tore a wail from her, he switched, leaving the abandoned nipple throbbing, shriveled and wet in the cool air of the room.

Julie squeezed her eyes closed tight, bit her lip, and hissed as her back arched, shamelessly begging for more. And Mason didn’t disappoint. He closed his hand around the thigh not trapped between his and thrust it aside to palm the inferno blazing in between.

A series of prayers and curses burst from her lips as she all but climaxed on the spot. Her eyes rolled back into her skull.

“Is this what you want?” His lips were grazing the curve of her jaw. One finger slipped through the gaping hole left in the pant leg of her shorts. It skimmed the inside seam of her panties before moving inward. He hissed and then groaned huskily against her skin. “Your panties are soaked.” He pressed with two fingers against the damp patch, making her cry out when it pushed against her throbbing center. “But it’s not enough. I want you wetter.”

The elastic gave way easily under his demanding attention and his fingers were slipping through her folds, parting them, and diving into the pool gathered at the core.

“Mason!” Her hoarse cry was met with a wicked grin from him as he circled her opening with the tip of one finger.

“I want a closer look.” It wasn’t a request, but a demand that darkened the gleam in his eyes. He twisted his hand around, fisted the material of her panties and shorts, and began tugging them downward. “I want to see your pussy before I fuck it into exhaustion.”

She choked on her gasp and a fresh flood of arousal trickled free. Mason’s smirk only intensified.

The band of her shorts dragged over her hipbones and crept along her pelvis when suddenly, he stopped. His expression went from predatory to alarmed.

“Do you smell that?”

For a second, she almost took offense, when suddenly the bitter stench of something burning chased away the passion haze cocooning her.

Mason scrambled off her and bolted upright. Julie hurriedly straightened her clothes and followed him to her feet. But Mason was already out the door with a hasty demand that she stay put. Jelly-legged and painfully aroused, Julie ignored the command and hurried after him.

The smell was stronger when they hit the bottom of the stairs. A thick, black cloud poured out of the kitchen, forming a dark halo around the hallway light. Coughing, they followed the smoke and the clang of pots and pans into the kitchen and found Shaun cursing and waving a towel over a two foot high flame leaping over the grill.

Mason clamped one hand over his mouth and nose and dove deeper inside. He rushed to the pantry, threw open the door, and disappeared inside.

Julie stood frozen in the doorway, blinking back the sting of tears, as she watched in horror as the towel in Shaun’s hand caught ablaze with an audible whoof.

With a cry of alarm, Shaun dropped the rag to the floor where it continued to smolder and get eaten by flames.

Prodded out of her shock, Julie raced forward, and was about to stomp on it, when she remembered she had no shoes on. Thinking quickly, she grabbed a pot lid off the counter, swooped down, and slammed it down repeatedly on the fire, smothering it to charred ashes and burnt fabric.

Mason ran out then, a box of baking soda in hand. He shoved Shaun out of the way and dumped the entire contents on the grill.

The fire died instantly, leaving behind a thick, suffocating plume of smoke that coiled up to join the black wall choking the ceiling.

“What the fuck?” Mason growled, twisting around to glare at his friend.

Julie scrambled to her feet and hurried to the terrace doors. She threw them open and gulped down the fresh, clean air on the other side. Her lungs burned and her eyes were still watering, but the cold eased some of that, plus some of the heat Mason had left behind.

“I was trying to make mac and cheese!” Shaun was shouting back when she returned to the room.

“How the hell do you screw that up?” Mason barked in return. “It’s not rocket science. Water. Pasta. Drain. Simple.”

It was hard to tell if the flush on Shaun’s face was from the panic of nearly burning the house down or from actual embarrassment, but it brightened the scowl knotting his brows.

“I got distracted, okay? I put the water on the stove and next thing I know ... the damn thing’s on fire.”

Mason blinked. His eyebrows rose in skeptic disbelief. “You burned water?”

Against her better judgment, Julie snickered. It was clearly the wrong thing to do, because now Shaun’s full attention was on her.

“What the hell are you laughing at?” he snapped. “This would never have happened if you’d just made supper like you were supposed to.”

Julie snorted. “I’m not your keeper.”

Shaun narrowed his eyes at her. Then they moved over her, down her, before shifting to Mason and doing the same. Julie flushed, wondering just how she must look with her swollen mouth and wrinkled clothes. That wasn’t including her tangled hair and a very bright blush darkening her cheeks. If that didn’t give away what they’d been doing, she was sure the hard on still bulging against Mason’s shorts was a dead giveaway.

He stared at Mason with a look of absolute revulsion. “Dude, seriously?”

“Shut up!” Mason shoved him as he moved to the sink and grabbed a rag. He pitched it at Shaun. “That better come off,” he said, pointing to the ruined pot smoldering on the stove.

Without waiting for a response, he started for the doorway. He paused on the threshold to glance back towards Julie.

“Coming?”

She would have followed him anyway, not only because she really wanted them to finish what they’d started, but also because no way was she staying there alone with Shaun.

She nodded and accepted the hand he extended to her. His touch was warm and sent the butterflies in her stomach dancing. He pulled her into the hallway and out of Shaun’s sight before pushing her into the closest wall. His mouth found hers, fast, hard and greedy. Julie never hesitated, pushing back, entwining her arms around his neck and returning the demand for submission.

But unlike in her room, he didn’t push past that. Instead, he broke the kiss and peered breathlessly down at her.

“We’re not finished,” he promised huskily. “I’m going to have you. But first I need to make sure Shaun doesn’t kill us all.”

Despite the weakness in her knees and the hard thundering of her heart, Julie chuckled feebly. “I think I need a shower. A cold one.”

He growled deep in his throat, lowered his face, and rested his brow against hers. “That’s just mean.”

“Why?”

He kissed her slower this time. “Because images of you naked, wet, and soapy is not going to help me keep the house from burning down. In fact, that’s all I’m going to think about now.”

Delighted by his response, Julie gently pushed him back. “Well, keep that image in mind as a reminder that you have a job to finish.”

Heat flickered behind his darkened eyes. “Oh, I don’t need a reminder.” He reached down and gripped the long, hard shaft tenting the front of his shorts. “Trust me.”

Biting her bottom lip, Julie smothered her grin as she left him and hurried upstairs. She had just reached the top landing when the door near the end of the hall opened and a sleep tousled Luis emerged, grinding his fists into his eyes and stifling a yawn. He blinked one eye open and squinted at Julie.

“What’s that smell?”

Julie almost laughed. “Shaun’s cooking.”

Luis took this in a moment, gave a decisive nod, turned on his heels and marched back into his room, shutting the door behind him. But not before he said, “I’m fine with starving,” from over his shoulder.

Mason never returned that night. Julie lay in bed wearing nothing but her panties and bra, watching the door, only to be left disappointed when it remained firmly shut. She had hoped that after dinner he would follow her back to her room, throw her on the bed, and take her until she couldn’t see straight, but he had gone into the living and started a game of chess with Luis while Shaun flipped uselessly through the channels. Julie had excused herself and gone straight to her room, thinking maybe he was giving her time to get ready. So she had showered, brushed her teeth, shaved her legs, and even did a little trimming of her nether regions before donning her prettiest pair of underwear to wait for him.

They weren’t Victoria’s Secret material. They didn’t even have lace and were a soft white cotton. But they were comfortable, clean and the bra did hold her breasts nicely. As sexy went, it was the best she could do. Instead, the man she was waiting for was too busy playing chess to notice.

Annoyed and severely frustrated, Julie shut off the lights and flopped back against the pillows. Her body thrummed as though livewires had been snaked beneath her skin. She could still feel Mason’s fingers moving in slow, maddening circles around the rim of her vagina. She could feel his mouth, hot and wet closed around her nipples. She knew there would be no sleep for her unless she dealt with the problem, and if Mason wasn’t going to help ... she would just do it herself.

Rolling the damp material of her panties down her legs, she tossed it somewhere towards the foot of the bed. Her bra quickly followed. She laid her overheated body against the cool sheets and moaned. Her nipples puckered in the chill of the room and she smoothed them beneath her thumbs, rolling them slowly as she kicked the covers aside and spread her knees apart wide. Another moan left her as the air licked the moisture between her thighs. Her eyes closed as she squirmed slightly. The sheets rustled beneath her.

She wasn’t ignorant of her body. She had learned the workings of it as soon as she figured out how good she could make herself feel with just her fingers. She had often fantasized about Mason during those nights. Later, when she’d gotten into college and met Todd, she had his fingers, his tongue, and, after six months of making him wait, his cock. He’d been her first and last so far. After they’d broken up, the only thing she really missed was waking up to him licking her pussy before he fucked her silly.

Unfortunately for her, she hadn’t thought to bring a vibrator with her, too afraid one of the kids might find it. Well, it didn’t matter now. She had her fingers and they had served her well the last four years.

With that thought, she tucked her right hand between her sprawled thighs and smoothed the folds apart with two fingers. She flicked the swollen muscle quivering for attention and moaned around the tight clamp her teeth had on her bottom lip as that single caress sent shivers of pleasure through her. Her eyes fluttered closed as she moved in deeper, reaching for the slick pool in the center. Both fingers slipped easily inside, gliding over slick walls that convulsed greedily for more. Her back arched. Her hips rolled against her own palm, mashing her aching clit against her heel.

Trembling and so close, she pulled her wet fingers back to roam circles around her clit the way she was circling her nipple with her other thumb.

Groaning, she rolled onto her stomach, burying her face into the pillow and pushing her ass into the air as the first wave of release rang through her head. Her wail of Mason’s name was muffled by the mound of feathers as she bucked against the air and her pumping hand.

When the last of the first climax faded, she pushed up onto her knees with one hand while the other kept lazily stroking the pulsing nub between her legs. Her hips rolled and her head fell back as she came again. Hot, sticky cream trickled between her fingers and she used it to further coat her pulsing pussy.

Her fingers were still working on removing her of every last tremor when she finally collapsed onto her side and began to drift into a content slumber.

Chapter Fourteen

The smell of freshly brewed coffee and the lingering after stink of burnt metal led her into the kitchen and a waiting Mason. He glanced up from the mug in his hand when she walked in and the look in his eyes could only be construed as knowing ... and predatory.

“Morning,” she whispered, feeling her heart pick up speed.

“Morning,” he said in a low, gravely murmur. “How did you sleep?”

Something in his tone made her pussy clench and her nipples tighten. It also made her mouth go dry. She dragged a mug down with shaky fingers.

“Fine. You?”

She quickly turned her back on him and reached for the coffee pot. Her fingers closed around the handle and stuck.

Behind her, she heard the screech of wood scraping against wood. She heard the almost deafening clink of ceramic being set down on glass. Then the unmistakable rustle of clothes as he rose to his feet.

The coffee pot rattled in her nervous gasp and she quickly let go of it. Unlocking her fingers turned out to be a task in itself.

“I came to your room.” He was right behind her. His chest brushed her back. “What do you think I found?”

Her first reaction to the thought of him standing over her while she lay naked and sated was a searing, white hot spear of pleasure that dampened her panties. Then it was mortification.

“You came to my room?”

His hard hands clamped down on her hips when she started to whirl around. He thrust her forward, trapping her between the counter and a very large erection grinding into the crack of her ass through her shorts.

“What do you think I found, Julie?” he repeated slowly, with an ominous command in his tone that sent slivers of delight down her spine. “What were you doing without me?”

“I ... I waited...” Her voice broke, giving way to a breathy whimper when he lowered his head and nuzzled her ear. “You didn’t come and I...”

“What?” he prodded.

She moistened her dry lips. “I needed to come.”

His fingers tightened on her sides. “And did you?”

Breathing hard, Julie nodded.

“How many times?”

“Three.”

He made a quiet humming sound as his hands relinquished their iron grip to travel up her arms.

“Do you know how hard it was not to wake you up?” His voice dropped several octaves until it was nothing but a low, guttural growl vibrating directly into her ear, sending hot shivers down her already aroused body. “To not slip into bed with you, pull apart your legs, and lick you clean?”

“Mason!”

He caught her with one arm around her middle when her knees buckled.

“It broke my heart to walk away,” he went on using that siren voice of his. “Especially when you were that wet because you were thinking of me, isn’t that right?” He ground his cock harder against her. “Were you thinking of me?” The hand on her arm drifted up and caught the strap of her camisole with one finger. “Were you imagining me fucking you?”

“Yes!” she gasped.

His heart cracked against her shoulder blade, the only indication that he wasn’t as collected as he was portraying.

He dragged the strap down her arm. Then, releasing the only thing holding her up, he did the same to the other side until her breasts were freed of her top’s confines. The nipples jutted out, proud and pink against her flushed chest.

“If I put my hands inside your panties...” He cupped her breasts and flicked both nipples with his thumbs. He hummed in satisfaction when she whimpered. “Is your pussy wet and ready for me?”

Head rolling back onto his shoulder, Julie arched her back, thrusting her breasts more securely into his palms.

“Check,” she panted.

“But I’m asking you.”

Licking her lips, Julie nodded. “Yes.”

His chest rumbled against her back with satisfaction. One hand fell away from her thoroughly pinkened nipple. It slid down her quivering abdomen to disappear deftly under the elastic of her shorts.

Julie cried out and barely caught the counter to keep from crumpling at his feet when he, without warning, plunged two fingers deep inside her.

“Mm,” he drawled lazily. “Yes, she is going to fit perfectly around my cock.”

She couldn’t think of a single thing to say, or think. A familiar ringing had started between her ears and she knew she was a handful of strokes away from coming.

He must have felt it too, because he quickened the slap of his palm against her clit and the drive of his fingers deeper inside her. Julie met every thrust with a downward one of her own.

“Shit!” she gasped, so close. “Mason ... don’t stop...”

But he did, and instead of pulling out completely, he left his fingers buried to the knuckle so her walls rippled around them, begging for the release hovering inches away.

“You already came,” he taunted into her ear. “Three times. No more for you until I say.”

Julie choked on her sob. “What? Mason, no ... please!”

It didn’t matter, because in that moment, there was a thud from upstairs, followed by a door opening. Yet, while Julie stiffened. Mason continued pinching her nipples and rolling her clit under his thumb.

“Mason...”

“I know,” he said calmly. “But we’re going to finish this tonight, understand?” He didn’t wait for her to nod. “And you are not going to touch her, do you hear me? She’s mine.”

He let her go to stand on her own two feet a full second before Luis strolled into the kitchen.

He grinned at them lopsidedly. “Hey!”

“Hey,” Mason replied, moving away from Julie to circle around the island. “You’re up early.”

Luis shrugged as he made his way to the coffee pot, giving Julie no choice but to use her useless legs to shift aside.

“I’m having trouble sleeping.” He said, taking up the mug Julie had left behind. “Is this yours?”

Julie managed to rock her head mutely.

Luis turned back to the machine. “I mean, I sleep,” he went on, pouring himself a cup. “But I wake up exhausted.”

Behind him, Mason met Julie’s eye and held it as he raised the hand that had moments ago been buried knuckle deep inside her and brought the two middle fingers to his mouth. The pit of her stomach dissolved in a hot rush of liquid as he sucked each one slowly, cleaning them of her essence.

“I think maybe it’s just everything that’s happened,” Luis continued on as he turned just as Mason lowered his hand. “Are you guys leaving, or...?”

Mason shook his head. “No, we were just about to sit, actually.”

“Oh, great!” Luis moved to the table and took the head. He sat.

Moving to the left, Mason rested a hand on the back of a chair, gave it a little pat and shot Julie a wicked grin.

“Have a seat, sexy.”

Flushing at the raised eyebrow Luis aimed at them, Julie shot Mason a glower, which he ignored.

“So do you guys always get up this early?”

Sidestepping around Mason, who marched past her towards the machine, Julie took the seat.

“I usually get up early for classes,” she answered. “But I’ve always been an early riser. It drove my parents nuts.” She chuckled. “My Mom’s a self-pronounced debutante who stays up most nights rubbing shoulders with the crème dela crème of high society fashion. My dad’s a pilot so he’s gone for days at a time and when he gets back, he’s fighting jet leg and exhaustion. Then there is me, waking up at the crack of dawn.”

“But you were a really good kid, so...” Luis mused.

Julie snorted. “Why would you think that?”

Luis’s gaze darted sheepishly towards Mason before flicking back to her. “A hunch?”

“Uh huh...” She twisted around in her seat and looked to where Mason was pouring the last of the coffee into a mug. She briefly wondered why when his mug was still on the table, steaming. “Are you telling people I was a good kid?”

Scooping three teaspoons of sugar into the cup and stirring it, Mason smirked. “I said no such thing. I may have, however,” mug in hand, he returned to the table, “mentioned something about you being incredibly punctual.”

“Punctual?” Julie mimicked dryly.

He set the mug down in front of her and reached for his, pulling it over to the chair next to hers. “You were always on time. I remember that about you. I could tell exactly what time it was, just by seeing what she was doing,” he told the last part to Luis.

She watched as he folded his frame into the seat.

“Is this for me?”

He glanced from her to the cup he had set before her. “Well, I haven’t yet mastered the ability to drink two cups at once, so I guess, for now, I have no choice but to share.”

Endeared by his thoughtfulness, Julie wrapped her fingers around the scalding hot ceramic and dragged it closer.

“Thank you.”

She took a tentative sip as he inclined his head. Her eyebrows rose up in surprise at how perfect it was, right down to the amount of sugar and creamer. It was as though he had made her coffee every morning their entire lives.

“This is amazing,” she said, looking up at him. “How did you know how I liked it?”

The gleam in his eyes could only be construed as mischievous as he brought his own cup to his grinning lips. “I’m a really fast learner.”

As innocent as the response was, Julie felt a wave of heat roll up her neck to flood her face at the wicked implication behind the comment.

“So, this is nice,” Luis observed. “You two getting along.”

Mason sat back with a deep exhale. “Yeah, she practically begged me to forgive her.”

Julie almost spewed the mouthful she’d taken of her coffee. “You forgave me?”

He reached over and tapped her lightly under the chin. “It’s all right, love. It’s all in the past.”

She swatted at him.

Luis chuckled. “So do you guys have anything planned for the rest of the day?”

Mason let out another breath, interlocked his fingers behind his head and leaned his chair back on its hind legs. “I was thinking we could go to the beach, maybe drive around ... oh wait...”

The smile melted off Luis’s face and he turned his attention to the dark brew held tightly between his pale hands. Julie felt her gaze shift to the wall of glass ten feet ahead of her against her will and a chill spiked down her spine.

It hadn’t gotten any easier since the discovery of the body hanging from the basketball hoop. Julie couldn’t even bring herself to look out a window, never mind opening the front door to get the newspaper. Without their cars, they were sitting ducks, waiting for the next shoe to fall, and she hated it. Hated feeling so helpless.

“Have you heard from your uncle?” Julie asked Mason, which was really pointless, because the one time Dean Vance had called to let them absolutely nothing, he’d called the house phone. Since then, it hadn’t rung at all.

“Nothing,” he mumbled.

Julie pulled in a breath and shoved to her feet. “I’m going to call the sheriff,” she decided. “It’s been three days. I need my car back.”

No one stopped her when she marched to the phone and snatched it up. There was silence as she dialed and waited for someone to pick up on the other end.

The cranky dispatcher told her Sheriff Reynolds was in a meeting and would call her back when he had a minute. It irked Julie that the woman hadn’t been pissy until Julie had given her name and reason for calling. What pissed her off even more was the fact that she had a feeling Sheriff Reynolds wasn’t going to call her back.

For a moment, while she stared at the phone in her hand, she contemplated calling a cab. She could go home, visit her parents, and let her dad make her a plate of her mother’s famous cookies and cuddle the horrors away. But not even her mother’s award winning cookies had the ability to save Julie from being thrown in jail.

Defeated, she set the receiver down and returned to the table. She took up her mug, but didn’t drink.

“He’ll call me back,” she grumbled.

“It’s going to be okay,” Luis said evenly. “They’re going to catch the person responsible. I know it.”

“How?” Julie wondered.

Luis jerked a thumb over his shoulder to the wall behind him. “The handprint. They had to have gotten a match off of that by now.”

“Not necessarily,” Julie muttered. “The print was already faded by the time they got around to coming by. Granted, they could possibly get a partial, but if this is the person’s first offense, odds are, they won’t be in the system. Not until they catch the guy and run his prints.”

Luis chuckled nervously. “You sure know a lot about this stuff.”

“I’m training to be a forensic—”

Shaun walked in then, which surprised all of them.

“Is there a fire?” Mason mused. “Did you try to cook again?”

Shaun flipped him the middle finger mutely as he shuffled to the coffee machine. Julie gulped down a mouthful of hers with a sly sort of amusement when he found the machine empty.

“Why did no one leave me coffee?” Shaun grumbled in a hoarse, sleepy voice.

He shoved the empty pot back into the machine and staggered over to the table. He reminded Julie of a cranky five year old.

When he yanked out a chair across from Julie, Luis darted to his feet, looking like someone just took a dump in his drink.

“I need to finish...” The rest was a series of mumbles that got lost the further away he hurried from the table.

Mason met Julie’s eyes and shrugged. “Apparently my friends have been huffing glue this morning.”

“We could be screwing hookers and you wouldn’t notice.”

Mason’s good humor vanished. He threw up his hands and dropped back in his chair. “Not this again, Shaun. Seriously. Stop.”

“You’re the one picking some ho before your bros.”

Julie’s fingers tightened around her mug. “I have a hot cup of coffee and perfect aim. Call me a ho again,” she challenged.

Mason put his hand up before Shaun could open his mouth and fire back, or before Julie could give in to temptation and douse the asshole just on principle.

“I told you to knock that off,” he said to his friend. “We’re too old for this shit, Shaun!”

Shaun had the decency to avert his gaze. He stretched his long arm and snatched up Luis’s forgotten mug. He dragged it to him and drank a mouthful before making a face.

“Ugh!” Yet he drank again. Apparently it didn’t matter to him how disgusting it was, he really needed his caffeine.

“I’m going to get dressed,” Julie muttered, pushing out of her chair.

She started turning her back, but stopped at the last second, faced the table, snatched up her coffee in case it too was taken, and shot Shaun a glare before turning on her heels and leaving.

In her room, she set the mug down on the nightstand and threw herself down on the bed to stare blankly at the ceiling. So this was what being in prison felt like, she mused to herself. But at least prisoners had yard time. Julie couldn’t even bring herself to open a window in fear of what may crawl in, or what she might see outside. There could be a whole field of bodies out there and she was blissfully ignorant of it.

Sitting up, she reached for her cellphone off the nightstand and phoned Maureen. The voicemail picked up after the third ring.

Julie hung up and phoned Dean. He picked up on the second ring, sounding breathless and very loud. Something roared in the background. Kids squealed. There was laughter and the hiss of wind blowing into the receiver. Julie snatched the phone away from her ear.

“Hello?” she heard Dean yell on the other end.

“Hi!” she shouted back. “It’s me, Julie.”

There was a pause, more shrieking from the kids. “Hi Julie! Is everything all right?”

She wet her lips. “I was just wondering if you’d heard anything—”

“What?” Dean called back almost instantly.

Julie took a deep breath. “Have you heard from the sheriff’s office?”

“No! I haven’t,” he yelled. “I’ll call them again when I get home. Listen, Julie, I’m taking the kids...” The wind hissed. “So I’ll...” More wind. “Don’t...”

“Mr. Vance?”

“Yeah, I’m here!” he assured her. “Don’t worry! I’ll handle it.”

Julie hung up without saying goodbye and pitched the phone to the other side of the bed. Dean’s assurance had in no way assured her at all. She felt as lost and hopeless as ever.

Sucking in a calming breath, Julie rose, and as she’d done every day since all of this began, she paced. Her fingers worried the pendent at her throat, sliding it restlessly back and forth on its chain. She considered praying, but, at this point, she was sure she was just spamming God’s inbox.

A knock interrupted her stressing. She hurried over and opened the door expecting Mason, but found Luis.

“Hey!” she said in surprise.

Luis didn’t smile back. He fidgeted nervously and surveyed her with the look of a burglar hiding from the cops.

“I heard you come up. Can ... can we talk?”

Bemused, Julie nodded and stepped aside to let him in. She shut the door behind him. “Are you okay?”

Luis hesitated to survey her room, taking in the white walls and rumpled bed. She felt her face warm at the memory of the previous night, of having Mason see her, curled up and naked on that very bed. Then she remembered Luis had no knowledge of that. Even then, she couldn’t help wishing she had straightened it before letting anyone into her room. It seemed unreasonably personal.

“Luis?”

Moving around him, she hurried to the bed and began drawing the covers into place.

Luis dropped his gaze to his feet, his cheeks pink. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She tucked the last corner in and turned to him. “What’s up?”

He continued to study his sneakers for a long moment, a look of guilt and frustration twisting his features. “I wanted to ask ... have you ... you know...”

Julie put her hands up to slow his rambling. “Okay, start that over again.”

Luis’s chest rose as he inhaled deeply. “Sorry.” He squished a knuckle into the corner of one eye. “I was just thinking ... you know Mason and Shaun better than I do. I mean, you grew up with them, right?”

Julie frowned and shrugged. “I guess, but not really. They were both three years ahead of me in school and the only time I really came into contact with them was at Maureen’s house.”

“But you know them, right?” Luis urged.

She shrugged again. “I guess. Why...?”

Her question only seemed to agitate him further. His mouth formed a thin, white line. He began to pace, never quite meeting her eye in passing.

“Luis!” she snapped, her own tension blossoming anew.

He stopped and pivoted on his heels to face her. “Something...” He broke off. Tried again. “Something isn’t right.”

Julie’s frown deepened until her face began to hurt. “What?”

He leaned towards her, dropping his voice. “Something’s wrong with Shaun.”

Her heart dropped. “What?”

Luis’ face convulsed with a mixture of aggravation and pain. “Please don’t tell them I said anything.”

“Them?”

If possible, the muscles tightened even further on Luis’s features. “Mason and Shaun.” He took a step towards her. “They have both been so good to me and I...” He broke off and turned away, throwing his arms out wide in frustration. “I’m Judas.”

Julie blinked in surprise at the unexpected volley of thoughts. “Judas?”

He confronted her once more, looking appalled with himself. “I am betraying my friends all because I’m freaking out.” He shoved all ten fingers back through his hair. “I’m a bad person.”

Julie went to him. “You’re not a bad person. It’s been really hard for all of us.”

Luis nodded slowly. “I haven’t been sleeping,” he confessed. “I mean, I do ... I think, but when I wake up, I’m exhausted. I jump at every little noise and ... I can’t even look outside.” He exhaled, a sound between a sob and a laugh. “You must think I’m pathetic.”

Julie shook her head, her heart going out to him. “I don’t. I feel the same.”

He dragged his slouched body to the chair by the door and dropped into it. He planted his elbows on his knees and stuffed his face into his hands.

“You know, I’ve never had friends like Shaun and Mason. I mean,” he raised his head and looked at her. “Shaun’s a bit hard to digest sometimes. He’s mean and sarcastic and a pain in the ass...”

Julie chuckled.

Luis smiled weakly. “But he’s a good guy once you get to know him. He will always have your back in a fight.”

Julie raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t peg you as a fighter, Luis.”

He snorted and dropped his gaze. “I’m not, but that doesn’t stop others from trying to turn me into one.” His expression was solemn now. “Shaun was always there, always standing up for me, and here I am thinking the worst.” He shook his head in disgust. “I just need more sleep I think, or less coffee.”

Julie went to him, rested a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Don’t beat yourself up, okay? It’s actually normal. We’re all under a great deal of stress being locked up here without any answers. It’s going to be okay.”

He raised his head and peered up into her face. “So you don’t think I’m crazy?”

She shook her head. “Not even a little.”

Relief dropped his shoulders and lifted some of the darkness from his eyes. He got to his feet, towering over her as he reached out and pulled her into his arms. Taken by surprise, Julie stood stiff for a second. Slowly, she raised her arms and patted him lightly on the back.

When he drew back, Julie let her arms drop, expecting him to step away, only he didn’t. He moved closer. Then his mouth was on hers.

Shocked, Julie froze. She stared wide-eyed at the back of Luis’s eyelids as he mashed his mouth over hers, a little wet and a whole lot sloppy. When his hands flattened against her back, pressing her closer, Julie broke free, gasping and shoving him back.

“I’m sorry!” Luis looked horrified at his own actions. “I am so sorry. That wasn’t ... I wasn’t ... shit!”

Raising a trembling hand, Julie wiped him off her mouth. It wasn’t to hurt him, but his heat felt wrong against her skin.

“Julie, I...” He started reaching for her and she jerked back. He dropped his hand. “I’m so sorry.”

Before she could respond, he had turned and bolted through the door, narrowly bowling Mason over.

“Whoa!” Mason jumped back just in time. The hand he’d raised to knock dropped to his side. “Where’s the fire?”

Luis didn’t stop. He shoved his way through. A moment later, Julie heard his door slam shut.

Mason stepped into her room, still glancing over his shoulder at his friend’s retreating back. “What did I miss?”

Rubbing Luis’s saliva off the back of her hand onto her shorts, Julie swallowed. She turned away, more to collect herself than anything else.

“Hey.” Mason came up behind her. His hands closed around her arms. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah...” She cleared her throat when it squeaked and tried again more firmly. “Yeah.” She forced herself to face him and keep her features neutral. “Sorry. Hi.” She willed her mouth to curve into a smile. “Did you need something?”

He continued to study her, searching her face with concern in his eyes. His hands remained on her arms, not restraining, but comforting. He rubbed lightly with his palms. It took all her restraint not to lean into him and nuzzle that taut stretch of flesh along the side of his neck. More than that, she wanted to scrub away Luis’s kiss with his.

“Jewels?”

She started to lick her lips, only to think better of it a second later. “I’m okay.”

“What did Luis want?”

It was harder looking him in the eye when answering that one. “To talk. I think being cooped up here is getting to all of us.”

Her response seemed to satisfy him. Some of the tension melted from his shoulders and he pulled her to him. One hand lifted and lightly stroked the side of her face.

“But you’re okay?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I was about to shower and dress.”

He grinned teasingly. “Need someone to wash your back?”

Despite the resonating shock clamoring in her chest and jittering through her veins, Julie chuckled. “Is that why you’re here?”

“Actually, I came to ask if you wanted to go for a walk with me, get out of this house for a while.”

Dread clenched her stomach muscles all over again. “I don’t...”

“You can’t just sit here waiting for something else to happen, Jewels. We don’t know how long this is going to take.”

She shifted, but his hold tightened on her. “Mason—”

“I’ll be there the whole time,” he promised. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Julie started to shake her head. “It’s not just that,” she whispered. “What if there’s something out there?”

“There isn’t.”

“How do you know that?”

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Because I’ve been checking.”

Julie blinked. “What?”

“Every morning after I get up,” he replied. “I do a full circle around the house. There hasn’t been anything else.”

While relief slammed down on her like a two ton truck, Julie squinted at him horrified. “Are you insane? Why would you go out there ... alone? Something could have happened to you and we would never know.”

“Well, I wasn’t going to sit around and wait for something else to happen,” he said simply. “It’s my house and it’s my job to protect it, and you. I’m not letting anything else happen to either.”

“But who’s going to protect you?” she shot back.

His grin was lopsided. “I was hoping you would with those really sexy karate moves.”

“It’s kickboxing,” she muttered, feeling her own mouth twitch.

His grin broadened. “So, about that walk?”

It was in the pit of her stomach to say no, a nagging that was slowly gnawing its way up her esophagus. But she chuckled instead and gave him a nod.

“Okay, but I still need a shower first.”

His hands moved over her back and along her arms, guiding her even tighter into the folds of his chest until there was no space between them. His head lowered, dropping his lips inches from her, and Julie stiffened. She jerked back without thinking.

Mason started. “What?”

It killed her not being able to tell him that she felt like she had something contagious on her lips and couldn’t bring herself to let him catch it. At least not until she’d had the chance to wash it off.

“I haven’t brushed my teeth this morning,” she lied.

His brows crinkled in confusion at her lie. “I don’t care—”

“I do,” she lied, yet again. “It’s kind of a pet peeve.”

Still squinting at her like she’d just declared she could fly, Mason shrugged. “Okay, well, I’ll wait for you downstairs then.”

She said nothing as he left, closing the door behind him. Alone once more, she shut her eyes and breathed in the lingering scent Mason left behind. Exhaling, she opened her eyes and hurried into the bathroom for a shower and a heavy lather of toothpaste.

While she had nothing against Luis, and even really liked him, getting her mouth invaded against her permission made her feel ... dirty. The fact that Luis had gone straight for tongue, hadn’t helped. It had been like getting Frenched by an over enthusiastic Labrador.

She dressed in jeans, sneakers, and a black top that fit comfortably under a light jacket; there was no sun in the sky, just an angry wall of clouds that looked about ready to burst. She stowed her cellphone into her pocket, double checked the room for anything she might have missed before heading downstairs.

Mason was leaning against the sitting room doorway, arms folded, watching the basketball game Shaun had put on. Shaun was reclined on the sofa and Luis was a tiny figure stooped in the armchair. He glanced up when Julie stepped into view. His shoulders seemed to migrate even higher around his ears. He looked so pathetic that Julie couldn’t stay angry, even if she had tried. She offered him a slight smile, not too bright. The last thing she needed was for him to get the wrong idea. But enough to assure him she was letting it go. He seemed uncertain, but some of his tension lessened.

“Hey.” Mason turned his body to her. “Ready?”

Julie nodded.

He took her hand. She let him, hoping it was a clear enough sign to Luis that she had already made her choice. Just in case.

“See you guys in a bit,” he told his friends.

Shaun deliberately ignored the statement. Luis nodded ever so slightly, but kept his attention on the worn carpet beneath his feet.

Mason led her out of the house. Julie faltered only marginally when they crossed over the threshold. Her gaze swung over the driveway, searching for lurking shadows and hanging bodies. There were none. The air was miserable, cold and damp, but aside from the threat of a downpour, everything was calm. If Mason noticed her hesitation, he never let on as they started down the stairs.

At the bottom, they headed towards the main road. Their feet clipped on pavement that followed them with the whisper of the wind rustling through the trees.

“So Luis told me what happened,” Mason murmured once they had ventured off the driveway and down the dirt path towards the main road.

Julie’s eyes widened. “He did?”

He nodded. “Luis isn’t very good at ignoring his guilt. It eats at him until he’s sobbing the truth. I guess he really felt bad about what he did.”

Julie grimaced and looked away. “I’m sorry. I should have told you. I just ... it didn’t mean anything and he was already so sorry. Are you angry?”

He was quiet for a moment, letting their footsteps fill in the silence. When he spoke, it was thoughtful and soft.

“I won’t lie, I was pissed at first when he told me. I even considered punching him in the face just to prove a point. But I thought of something.”

“What?” she wondered when he stopped talking.

He cocked his head in her direction. “You don’t need me to fight the little things for you. I’ve seen you kick ass more than once. Even my ass.” He grinned when she laughed. “So I know you could have handled him. Now if he’d been bigger, taller, and if his chin hadn’t wobbled like a little kid ... maybe then...”

She laughed harder. He squeezed her fingers in response.

“I am sorry,” she said. “It honestly didn’t meant anything. I felt ... I feel worse for Luis.”

“Mm.” He released her hand and slid the arm around her shoulders instead, drawing her into his side. He pressed his lips into the side of her head. “Yeah, well, he can just find himself his own girl to kiss. Mine’s off limits.”

A warm tingle worked through her at his words. She hid her goofy grin by resting her head on his shoulder and slipping her own arm around his lower back. They trudged for what felt like miles, immune to everything but the other. They spoke of the four years they’d been apart, of the lives they’d lived until that point. They talked about relationships that had failed and things they expected of the future. The conversation would have been endless had the sky not begun to leak fat drops of rain.

Julie laughed as the clouds burst overhead and drenched them. She tipped her head back on Mason’s shoulder to peer up into his face, a face that was tilted to the heavens. His eyes were closed. He seemed so peaceful standing there, unaffected by the icy downpour.

Rain cascaded over the hard lines of his face to stream down the column of his exposed throat. Julie watched the rivulets of water drench the collar of his shirt, soaking the dark blue material until it was black. Beads of it dropped from his chin, the curve of his jaw, and earlobes, clinging for one quivering second before plummeting. She could have stood there for hours, just watching him. Instead, she acted on impulse, rose up on her tiptoes and skimmed her lips to his Adam’s apple, tasting him in the water.

The spot vibrated with his low hum. She felt it tickling her lips before he lowered his head and his dark eyes met hers from amongst strands of damp, shiny hair that lay plastered to his head and over his brow.

Julie dampened her already wet lips. Mason raised a hand and skimmed the tips of four fingers over the curve of her cheek, sweeping aside plastered strands of hair and rain. They roamed over the bow of her bottom lip, making them part.

“I’ve never kissed anyone in the rain before,” he admitted quietly, barley loud enough to be heard over the downpour.

Julie swallowed. “Me neither.”

Something shimmered dark and primitive behind his eyes. “I want to kiss you.”

“Yes, please.”

His mouth curled into a voracious smile. “Beautiful.”

There was nothing gentle or romantic about the kiss. It was impatient and demanding, robbing her of her breath and senses. She whimpered as the fire built inside her, the one that worked up from the very heart of her abdomen to spread like wildfire through her veins. She could feel it coiling like barbwire about to snap. And all he’d done was kiss her in the rain.

Then, just as suddenly, he changed gears, giving her soft little nips that capsized her heart. The burn was a sweet one that pattered in her chest, weakening her knees and melting her into his arms.

When he finally released her of his spell, she was panting. Her heart was thundering with painful force that hurt her ribs and she was relying solely on him to keep her up. He didn’t seem to mind. He clasped her close and continued to rain tiny kisses across her face, sipping the rain from her lashes and lips.

“I love you,” he whispered into the side of her cheek, close to her ear so she couldn’t miss it.

Julie felt her eyes close as those three little words warmed her straight to the marrow. She would have squealed in delight if she wasn’t too busy trying not to cry.

“You love the fifteen year old you used to know,” she whispered. “I’m not her anymore. I’ve changed.”

His eyes were intense. The light behind them sharp. “Not as much as you think,” he murmured. “You may not look like her, but you’re still her, and I’m still crazy about you, Jewels. I don’t think that will ever change.”

Chapter Fifteen

The rain had lightened up by the time they found their way back to the house. Shaun was on the front porch, a cigarette pinched between his fingers. Smoke coiled from the red end. It rose into the air, mixing with the plume Shaun expelled from his nostrils like an over enraged bull ready to charge. His eyes narrowed through the thick cloud.

“The happy couple returns,” he grumbled between another deep drag. He expelled. “Sorry, we forgot to put down the carpet.”

“Lay off, dude,” Mason muttered as they started up the steps. “Did we miss anything?”

Shaun shrugged. “That depends on what you mean.”

Mason stopped and faced the other guy. “Are we really playing this game?”

Slipping out from under Mason’s arm, Julie started for the front door, which stood open and dimly lit from the hallway light.

“I’m going to shower and change,” she said, anxious to get away from Shaun. “I’ll see you inside.”

The last thing she heard before she ducked inside was Mason’s voice, tired and frustrated.

“Are we really going to do this again, Shaun?”

Shivering, Julie jogged up the stairs and closed herself up in her room. She shed her clothes in the bathroom, rung them in the sink before tossing them into the hamper and climbing into the shower.

The hot water felt like heaven chasing away the chill stiffening her limbs. She moaned as the spray hit her in all the places that needed it and she all but melted on the spot. She leaned into the sprayer, letting it drum loudly in her ears and echo through her skull. It was why she didn’t hear the knock until the voice broke through her solitude.

“Jewels?”

Sputtering out water, Julie poked her head out of the water and squinted through the shower curtain at the dark silhouette hovering by the open doorway.

“Mason?”

“The one and only.” He kicked the door shut.

She watched him move to the counter, heard the quiet clutter as her bottles and things were lifted and set back down. He hefted himself up on the counter and sat, swinging his legs.

Julie bit back her grin. “What are you doing?”

“Waiting.”

Shaking her head, Julie stepped back under the spray and closed her eyes. “Have you changed?”

“I did.” She heard him sniff. “This smells really good,” he said.

Drawing back the curtains a notch, she glanced into the room at him holding her body spray.

He looked up. “It smells like you.”

Julie chuckled. “Well, I do use it so I guess it’s more like I smell like it.”

He brought the bottle to his nose again and sniffed. He set it back down.

“So I was thinking of grilled cheese.”

Julie ducked back behind the curtain, shut off the nozzle, and twisted the water out of her hair before responding. “For supper?”

She saw him hop down and reach for the towel she’d hung on the back of the door. She hesitated with her fingers on the edge of the curtain.

It seemed silly to play modest now when he had seen most of her naked already and had touched nearly all of her. But stepping out completely in the nude was a move there was no going back from. Yet, she drew in a deep breath and rolled the plastic aside.

Mason stood frozen a full two feet from the tub, towel in hand. He’d changed into gray sweat shorts and a white wife beater that showed off the beautiful hills and valleys of his arms and chest. His hair was still damp and hung recklessly over his brow and into his dark, roaming eyes.

“Towel?” She held out a hand like she stood naked in front of people all the time.

A pink tongue poked out and slid over the firm curve of his bottom lip as he continued to survey her from head to toe. Julie could almost feel the force of his scrutiny like the lick of flames along her skin. A shiver passed through her that had the junction of her thighs clenching and her breasts swelling for his attention, which they got almost immediately.

He tossed the towel onto the counter, out of her reach, and offered her his hands instead. Trembling from the cool sweep of air over her damp body mixed with anticipation, Julie accepted and let herself be guided from the tub. She was brought to stand before him, naked except for the droplets of water clinging to miles of pinkening flesh.

“I thought you wanted grilled cheese,” she whispered over the loud cracking of her heart.

“I want you more,” was his guttural response.

Biting her lip, Julie turned to the door. Her fingers curled around the knob, but the thing never opened. It was restricted by the large, toned hand pressing into the wood just above her head.

“I didn’t say I was letting you leave.” Hot, naked skin pushed against her back, driving her forward into the door. It took her a moment to realize he had yanked off his top and it lay at their feet. “Not when I feel like I will lose my mind if I don’t touch you.” His lips grazed the arch of her neck. “Kiss you.” His fingers on the hand not holding the door shut glided along the curve of her side. “Take what you’re so willingly offering me.”

The pit of her stomach seemed to melt into a warm puddle that only added to the tremors coursing through her. Her skin seemed to sizzle with hyperactive awareness of every caress as though he had the power to coax every nerve ending just with his words.

“You said we would wait until tonight...” Her words hitched in her chest when his fingers deftly traced the line of her hipbone.

“And I meant it.” He nipped lazily at the curve of her jaw with his teeth. “When I’m inside you, it won’t be on a bathroom floor.”

Julie caught her breath as her heart hammered wildly in her chest. There was no doubt he could feel the sheer force of every crack when his palm slipped over her breast.

She gasped his name at the burst of heat that vaulted through her. Her back arched into the steady flick of his thumb over the peak, teasing it into a tight point that fanned the ache between her legs until she was shifting restlessly for a reprieve. Her fingers clenched around the knob she was now clutching for dear life.

When Mason released her and began slipping free, she whimpered urgently, unable to bear the idea of him stopping now.

“Shhh,” he whispered huskily into her ear.

His hands returned. They turned her to face him and color pulled into her cheeks when his eyes settled on her exposed flesh. It intensified when he actually licked his lips as if in anticipation of a feast. He drew his bottom lip between his teeth. His hand lifted and he toyed with the right breast, rolling and pinching it until she was panting. It was only the door supporting her limp weight now.

“I’ve waited a long time for this moment.” But he wasn’t talking to her.

His gaze was fixed on her chest and she was slowly going mad as she waited for him to touch her more. It didn’t seem like her subtle hints of pushing into his hand was working. Plus it wasn’t enough. She wanted more. She needed more. She would have to make the first move.

“More,” she croaked, her tongue too big for her dry mouth. “Please.”

Eyes that had always been so warm and gentle housed an animal she had never seen when they rose up and met hers. They flickered with a challenge that darkened the color in her face, but she didn’t look away.

Moistening her lips, she reached for him. Her fingers closed around the hard shaft reaching back for her through his shorts. His snarl and the jerk of it in her palms sent a thrill through her that was untamed and feral. It filled her with a drive that should have been frightening, instead it had her lunging at him. Her hand clamped around the back of his neck and she drew his mouth to hers.

It all happened so fast. His mouth ... he was too powerful for her. He kissed her with the forces of a man possessed, a man hell bent on claiming what belonged to him. He was not gentle, nor was he giving her a chance to put together the pieces of her sanity when he, with one deft move, he reached down and snapped the lock into place. The sound sparked a gasp from her.

“Too late to run now, Jewels.” The dark, wolfish growl coursed down the length of her spine in tendrils of fire. “Not until I’ve had my fill of you.”

She opened her mouth to tell him she didn’t want to run, but he’d lifted her off her feet and had dumped her on the short stretch of counter attached to the sink. Her knees were parted and she was yanked forward by hands under her kneecaps. Her head struck the mirror, but she took no notice as she was pulled to him.

His hands were bruising on her thighs and continued to tighten the longer he devoured her with his eyes. The intense scrutiny had her skin warming and her self-consciousness rearing its head.

Then, without warning, he bent at the waist. His hands left her thighs to close around her waist, holding her in place as his mouth closed over her breast.

Julie made a sound between a gasp and a whine. Her fingers closed into his hair, holding him to her as he nipped and sucked on her flesh. Each flick of his tongue propelled her a little closer to the edge until she was sure she’d go insane if he didn’t do something quickly.

As though reading her thoughts, and without a shred of forewarning, his hand slid between her legs. His fingers drew apart her lips to the sticky pool in the center and plunged inside.

“Shit!” she sobbed, tightening around the digit as he worked it along her walls.

Lavishing her nipple with a final lick, he started a hot path down the center of her body to where his hand was wreaking havoc on her sanity. She was barely breathing by the time he got to her mound and gave the glistening muscle there a flick with his tongue.

“Oh!” Her breathy moan was followed by another curse and the uncontrolled writhe of her body as he traced a lazy path around her clit. His name squeaked out of her in incoherent pants.

“I want to feel you come apart for me, Julie,” he whispered between licks.

He didn’t have very long to wait. She was so close. So maddeningly close.

His mouth closed over the swollen little peak, the heart of all her suffering, as he exchanged one finger for two and delved up to both knuckles. He sucked at the same moment as he prodded something inside her that had her entire body arching off the counter as she wailed his name and grabbed violently for his hair with both fists.

“I’ve got you,” he soothed, nipping delicately on her. “Let go, baby.”

She did with a guttural shriek of his name. There was just enough sense in her head to muffle the sound by tearing into her bottom lip with her teeth as her body shattered around his embedded fingers like glass. Her ears were ringing and she was pretty sure she would never get the feelings back in her lower extremities, but hell if she cared. Everything was so blissfully numb and she felt so gloriously sated. She never wanted to get up.

“Next time,” he straightened to peer down into her eyes, “I’m going to bury myself deep inside your body when you come.”

He gave a final thrust of his fingers, drawing out the last of her tremors before sliding them out to stroke her sensitive clit, making her whimper and buck into his hand.

“Jesus...” Julie moaned, eyes falling closed.

He drew her off the counter and into his arms, even though she was sure she couldn’t trust the strength of her legs. He kissed her deeply until her head was swimming deliciously.

“Do we have to wait until tonight?” she whispered when he drew back.

“Are you hungry?”

Julie blinked, taken aback by the unexpected change in topic. “Sorry?”

“Are you hungry?” he repeated slowly.

Her hand went to her stomach where she could just feel the low rumble against her palm.

“Yes.”

Mason grinned. “Come on. I’ll make us dinner then we’ll take it to my room and watch a movie.”

Julie’s eyes narrowed. “Why your room? We’re already in my room.”

“I don’t care whose room it is. I just want to get you to myself for a few hours and since Shaun has claimed the rec room sofa as his personal domain ... my room or your room are the only places available. So, what do you say?”

It didn’t really matter whose room they went into. That much he was right on. But she didn’t understand why it was such a big thing that they eat first. Her bed was just on the other side of the door. She was already naked. But he seemed so adamant.

“Fine,” she grumbled, which made him chuckle.

“Don’t worry, love. We’re not finished.”

He made them a taco salad and led her up the stairs to his room. Julie had seen it during her tour the morning she’d arrived, but it felt infinitely different now that all his things were there, taking up room. The whole place smelled like him, soap and spices. The bed was made and the whole place was reasonably neat, except for a small heap of fabric dumped on a chair next to the wardrobe.

Unlike her room which was more feminine, his room was dark blue and the furniture was heavy. The four poster bed sat facing a dresser with a TV mounted over it and there were two nightstands on either side of the bed, but otherwise, it was reasonably sparse.

“Get comfortable,” Mason told her as he set the tray down on the dresser and hurried towards the chair with the clothes. “I’m going to change.”

Scooping up the heap of fabric, he disappeared through the door next to the dresser.

Julie watched the door shut and turned to face the bed. She took a deep breath and crawled onto one side and sat with her legs tucked under her and her back against the pillows. She was still sitting there when Mason emerged, clad in flannel bottoms and a black t-shirt. He dropped his old clothes onto the chair and crossed to the dresser. After tossing the remote onto the mattress, he picked up the tray and joined her.

“What are you in the mood for?” he asked.

Julie shrugged. “I’m not picky.”

Snatching up the remote, he flicked the TV on, then surprised her by passing the remote to her.

“I’m not picky either,” he said when she stared at him.

She settled on an episode of CSI: Vegas. It was one she’d already seen, but she left it running as they ate in silence.

“This is delicious!” she said after only a few bites.

Mason grinned. “I am a man of many talents.”

“And you can cook,” she added with a smile. “I am thoroughly impressed.”

“Oh, you would be amazed at some of my ... abilities.”

Poking a piece of lettuce between her lips, Julie glanced at him. “Yeah? Like what?”

The dark humor in his eyes when they met hers made her blush. “I play a mean game of Scrabble.”

That was not what she had seen in his eyes, but she let it go and focused once more on her food; he was a master of teasing and she was already confused enough that he hadn’t made good on his promise.

When they finished eating, Mason returned the tray to the dresser and, after snapping the lights off, climbed back into bed. The flicker of the TV washed over the dark fabric of the sheets, just barely illuminating them.

He wasted no time reclining with his arms folded beneath his head. It took Julie longer to follow suit. They were on their third TV show before she gave into the fatigue and stretched out, tucking the pillow beneath her head and turning onto her side to watch. The pillow smelled like his shampoo, something earthy with a hint of citrus. It was nice. Soothing.

“You’re not falling asleep on me, are you?”

Julie’s eyes popped open and her cheeks burned at being caught sniffing his pillow.

“No!” she blurted. “I was watching.”

His teeth gleamed in the semi darkness when he flashed her a smile. “Are you tired?”

She shook her head. “Are you?” She tried to make out his face. “Would you like me to go?”

He chuckled. “No. I don’t want you to go. In fact, I want you to get closer.”

Following his own advice, Mason wiggled closer. He closed that single bit of space and left his pillow to take over hers. Julie tried to shuffle back, only to have her middle captured. She was pulled into him.

“It’ll be easier if you turn around,” he told her.

Heart palpitating wildly in her chest, Julie rolled onto her other side, presenting him with her back, which he instantly melded his chest into. Her hips were drawn into his. His thighs pressed into hers. She could feel his heart beating against her shoulder blades.

“Better?” he murmured, tickling her ear with his warm breath.

They were spooning. His hand expanded clear across her entire abdomen. She hadn’t realized how long his hands were until that moment.

“Yes,” she croaked.

The low chatter on the TV claimed the silence that followed. Julie was grateful for it. She wasn’t sure what she could possibly say except, do you have a flashlight in your pocket? Yet she wasn’t ignorant enough to believe it was a flashlight. It was too hot, and it was cradled perfectly against her backside. It took all her resolve plus some not to grind back against it.

Outwardly, Mason made no indication that he was fully erect. There was no change in his breathing, or in the patter of his heart. He seemed content, which baffled her. Didn’t men always want that problem looked after immediately? Now she wasn’t an expert on men, having only been with the one—two counting Mason—but she liked to think she knew what she liked and was pretty good at asking for it. Yet she had the specimen of all men in bed, curved into her warm body with a full hard-on and she was at a loss on what to do. It definitely didn’t help that she wanted to roll her hips back a notch just to see what he would do. If he would finally give her what he’d been promising her for days.

“You’re thinking awfully hard over there,” he drawled softly.

Feeling like she’d been caught doing something especially naughty, Julie flushed. She was so glad he couldn’t see her face.

“No, I’m fine,” she lied, and it showed in the breathy squeak of her voice. “I was just...” She adjusted her position to stuff more pillow under her head.

Behind her, Mason hissed. It was low. She would have missed it had it not been directly against her ear. The fingers across her stomach flexed and a thrill shot through her. It was hot and liquid coursing through her veins to flood the place between her legs. Her limbs trembled as she froze in realization and delight.

Carefully, she did it again, lifting and wiggling her body back against his in the pretense of trying to get comfortable. The erection nestled between her cheeks twitched. The man connected to it growled. His hand fisted her tank top.

“Stop,” he half hissed, half growled into the curve of her jaw.

Nipples tight with longing, Julie wet her lips. “Stop what?”

His fingers tightened on her top. “You know what.”

He gave a very blunt thrust of his hips, leaving no doubt in her mind that he knew what she was doing. Mouth dry, Julie arched back, meeting him. His guttural curse spurred her confidence. She reached around back and took him in her hand through the worn fabric of his pants. He was scalding to the touch and thick, and when she glided her fingers down along the shaft, she marveled at his length.

“Shit!” he snarled into the back of her shoulder. “Julie!”

Delighted by her power, she gave him a little jerk. His gasp elated her. She thrived on the knowledge that his shudder was because of her. The TV went forgotten as she drew out every second of torture. She was so lost in her own triumph that she wasn’t prepared when he returned the favor, for when he forced his hand beneath the hem of her shorts and cupped her mound. Her shocked gasp was met with a sinister chuckle.

“My turn.”

Without a shred of warning, he jerked away from her, and in that same violent motion, he grabbed and twisted her onto her back. She was liberated of her shorts and panties in the blink of an eye and her legs were wrenched apart to accommodate the wide length of his shoulders.

“Mason...!”

His name tore out of her in a squeak that was instantly followed by the clamp of her fingers through his thick locks as his tongue delved past her outer lips to terrorize the muscle in between. His fingers cut bruises into her thighs, keeping them from stopping him as he worked a steady rhythm from slit to clit in a clean figure eight. She was thrashing and clawing at him as he stoked the fire burning white hot inside her with his mouth, teeth and tongue.

When he switched his mouth for his hand, she wasn’t sure she liked it. There was something profoundly delicious about being licked into oblivion. But Mason proved to be equally good at building her with only his hands. He used his free hand to wipe his mouth before climbing over her.

“Nothing more than this has to happen tonight,” he told her. “I’ll stop.”

Chapter Sixteen

She wanted to laugh. The last thing she wanted was for him to stop.

“Don’t you dare,” she warned, releasing a hiss through her teeth when he inserted a finger and pushed it to the knuckle inside her.

Mason was breathing hard when he dislodged himself from her and climbed off the bed. Julie watched as he stripped off his clothes and reached for the nightstand. Items were shoved around inside the drawer before he found what he was looking for. The light from the TV danced over a silver packet. Her cheeks warmed as she realized what it was when he ripped it open with his teeth. She shivered when he returned. Her arms lifted to welcome him over her and he accommodated her. But rather than put all his weight on her, he braced himself on his forearm just next to her head and straddled one of her legs.

He brushed the knuckle of his free hand over a rigid nipple, slamming her in the stomach with a want so bad, she didn’t bother stifling the gasp that escaped her. Heat trickled between her legs, moistening her bare lips, and drawing the cool caress of air, making her shiver.

Mason clenched his jaw as he repeated the gesture, this time going so far as rolling the bud beneath his thumb. She arched her back, pressing her breasts into his touch for more. His eyes watched her without blinking as he drew down the straps of her top. Her breasts, small in her opinion, bounced free, unrestrained and painfully aroused. The cool air licked at her, goose pimpling her skin.

Then he kissed her ... hard. It was like kissing embers. Her very soul seemed to blister with the heat. She was drowning in sunlight, floating on hot, summer winds. The solid ground beneath her feet vanished and she was falling, falling, falling heedlessly into space and time, lost in the scent of musk, spices and soap.

“No!” she gasped, grabbing him, holding on tight when he began to pull away.

“Shit!” She heard him growl seconds before his lips slammed back down over hers, this time with an angry vengeance, like he wanted to hurt her, hurt them both, like he just couldn’t get enough.

His fingers gouged into her side, bruising flesh as he crushed her violently into his chest. His teeth cut into her lips, nipping, sucking, and making them swell. Then, his tongue was invading, plundering, and conquering hers into submission, and she was gasping and moaning and clutching him to keep him from stopping, because if he stopped ... the thought, the heart-stopping, the mind numbing ... the torturous thought was just too much, too much and she’d die. She just knew it.

He started to stop doing that amazing thing he was doing with his mouth, to pull away, to open his lips to say something, but no. She couldn’t have that happen. She couldn’t let him break the dreamy hue encasing her, not yet; she kissed him, pressing her lips back to his and devouring him with all the insanity blazing white-hot inside her, all the passion he’d unleashed so heedlessly, without thought, and if she was going to crumble into ashes, she was going to take him with her.

Mason ripped free of her before she could stop him and lit a fiery trail down the length of her neck to her collarbone. His tongue dripped into the hollow of her throat, drinking the heady moan that vibrated through her very soul.

Julie tangled her fingers through his hair, fisting and holding him prisoner while he melted the skin off her bones with his mouth alone. His clever fingers were no help righting the world around her, flicking and plucking and fondling her nipples. Little bolts of electricity surged through her veins, all bursting like fireworks in her pit of her stomach. The jolts sent another sort of sensation, a sort of life that seethed deep in the V of her legs. The pang was so intense, so demanding that when he worked his hand up her thigh to cup her mound, she was opening her legs as far as they would go.

Above her, grinding his rock hard cock into her hip, Mason groaned as he parted her dewy folds and found the thick puddle of arousal waiting for him. He was breathing hard, harder maybe than even her and she felt like her lungs were going to explode and her heart was going to stop from exhaustion. His minty breath washed across her face, over her lips in puffs as he tried and failed to control the tremor in his hand as he worked the cream over her lips, her clit and prodded gently at her slit. His eyes, big, shiny, and black with hunger, bore into hers, watching, appraising every look on her face carefully.

His head bent forward again and her lips were captured by his. He pulled away a second later and went for her breasts.

“Mason!” she keened, back bowing off the mattress.

He groaned into her chest, his voice muffled by the suction he had around her nipple. He drew back an inch, just high enough to circle the bud with his tongue. The indents he’d made in her flesh with his teeth glistened in the moonlight with saliva. Then, he lowered his head to her other breast and took the peak into his mouth, sucking it in deep and clamping his teeth around it, hard. She knew she would have marks in the morning, but she didn’t care.

The pain, laced with the sharp stab of pleasure that quickly followed with every swift little flick of his tongue sent her head was reeling, and then, then he released the bite, letting blood rush back into the nipple, sending it tingling and throbbing in such sweet agony that she sobbed, positive she was tearing hairs from his scalp. Her body shuddered. Her hips bucked, rubbing and grinding in time with his as he rode her leg, thrusting his cock against her thigh.

“Still with me, love?”

Julie could only make a strange, choked sound in response. But it seemed to be all he needed as his fingers began to do more than draw lazy circles high up on the inside of her thigh, just an inch away from her pussy. He pinched her clit, tugging on the helpless little nub, then rolling it like a bean between his thumb and index finger. Wave after wave of electricity zapped up her pliant body like lightning through a conductor. She hissed her pleasure, head dropping back in ecstasy.

He growled into her throat, the sound strained as if he were the one in pain.

“Don’t stop!” she hissed through her teeth, knees spreading further apart, as far as they would go.

His chuckle was hoarse. “Don’t think I could even if I wanted to.”

She didn’t ask what he meant by that. Instead, she bit her bottom lip and thrashed her hips against his hand. He took this as the encouragement it was and pushed a finger inside her, fast, without pausing to give her a chance to think, to protest ... to breath. Her eyes snapped open wide, mouth open in a silent cry as her lungs struggled to remember how to exhale or inhale.

He pushed in and out of her body in steady thrusts that had her toes curling against the sheets. Above her, he worked a second finger into her channel, stretching it.

Julie whimpered a little. The coppery tang of blood touched her tongue from the groove she was cutting into her bottom lip.

“All right?” he asked quietly.

She nodded, breathing hard.

“Good,” he said, pressing the pad of his thumb down on her clit, holding it while he twisted and fidgeted inside her, seemingly searching for something against the soft tissues of her walls. “Because I don’t think I can last much longer,” he said, a tremor in his tone that hadn’t been there earlier.

She didn’t ask what he meant. She didn’t care. He was doing something, stroking something, pressing his fingers against something that was sending sparks of gold popping across her vision. But he kept moving over it, brushing it and then moving away. His brows were furrowed with deep contemplation.

“There!” she gasped when he touched it again. Her body rocked unconsciously when he fumbled over it again. “There! It’s there!”

His face lit up with dark triumph. He didn’t speak, made no comment at all, but concentrated on that spot, that sweet, magical spot that was gathering every sense, every breath, every thought and nerve inside her and mashing it into a ball of raw energy that brewed and bubbled deep in the pit of her stomach. A weak, frightened sound escaped her as she fought to rationalize just what he was doing, how he was able to immobilize and set her on fire at the same time. How he was able to set her ears buzzing and her eyes blurring in a sensation of colors.

Whatever he was doing was amazing. It was terrifying and paralyzing, but dear God, she would kill him if he stopped and left her in mindless agony. She clawed at him, imprisoning him to her.

“Don’t stop!” she gasped. “Don’t stop! Oh God, please... Mason... please...!”

His face tightened. The muscles of his jaw twitched. His lips curled, baring tightly clenched teeth. His movement quickened, stroking, thrusting, pressing down on her clit with his thumb, then rolling the swollen muscle, all the while thrusting, rubbing against that spot, that beautiful, beautiful spot. Her vision blurred. Her lungs ached. His face disappeared into the curve of her neck, washing the sensitive skin with his hot, ragged breaths.

“Come on, baby!” he snarled, voice breaking. “Come on!”

He pushed harder against her leg. His body trembled against hers, but his hand remained steady, consistent.

“Mason...” His named choked from her throat, shaky with uncertainty as something seized her, something fierce and dangerous.

“I’ve got you! I’ve got you, Julie!” he vowed savagely, and that was all the reassurance she needed, that and the solid weight of his body crushing her into the mattress like a boulder keeping her from being snatched up and tossed into oblivion.

She crumbled. She broke so hard, so fast that she barely had the sense to sink her teeth into his shoulder before the scream exploded from her chest, ripping up her throat like a ball of nails. His snarl of pain touched a vague spot at the back of her mind, washing away in the indigo waves crashing and rolling over her, slashing her with silken claws of heady frenzy.

She was still freefalling through a cyclone of sweet torture when his fingers vanished from inside her.  She grabbed at him, but he was already back in her arms and inside her with a single, powerful thrust that ripped her sanity all over again and she wailed. The crippling burn of pain and pleasure rocked her clean off the mattress. Her back arched as her heels dug into foam. Mason snarled as her nails raked down his back.

“God, baby, yes!” he roared, pounding inside her with vicious force.

Beneath her hands, his muscles trembled as he fought to remain in control. He reached between them and held down her convulsing clit, extending her sweet suffering until she was certain she’d go mad. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes as the pressure crushed her. She sobbed as that single orgasm seemed to go on for hours.

It finally slowed just when she was certain her heart was about to stop. Above her, Mason was shuddering as violently as she was, expelling a series of incoherent words against her skin as he let himself go.

The tremors, she realized much, much later, never faded. They never went away or lessened. They rocked her body without an end in sight. They were still skating hot fingers down her spine when her mind finally prickled with a few pieces of random thought. But that was all that was working, a mind that was still too fuzzy to think anything past: oh my God. Oh my god. Everything else may as well have not existed. She was a brain, floating somewhere in a blissful ocean of nothing.

Slowly, slowly, she surfaced to tingling toes, numb fingers, and crushing weight resting straight on her chest. Then, there was the flutter of silk tickling the side of her face, hot puffs of air against her throat, the smell of soap and spices, and, finally, the heartbeat rapping in succession with hers.

The place between her legs throbbed with delicious content and her clit pulsed with its own heartbeat, sending little tremors through her with every twinge. He was still buried inside her.

“Julie?” His voice was hoarse, muffled by her collar bone.

All she could manage in response was a weak, “Mm?”

“Okay?”

She wet her lips. “Way better than okay. I can’t feel my toes.”

Mason laughed, getting a feeble chuckle from Julie, who was fully prepared to drift peacefully off to sleep.

With a kiss to her throat, Mason raised his head to peer down into her face. His was shadowed, but she could just make out the glimmer in his eyes.

He smoothed a finger over her warm cheek. “Are you sure I didn’t hurt you?”

Julie chuckled. “Did I sound hurt?”

His teeth flashed in a grin. “I guess not.” He bent his head and kissed her, slow and sweet, stealing her breath. “I definitely loved how you sounded.”

With a last quick kiss, he pulled back completely, leaving her chilled in the loss of his warmth.

“No, don’t leave,” she whined, trying to grab him and only snatching air.

He climbed off the bed. “I’ll be right back,” he said, and she watched him pad to the bathroom.

A moment later, she heard the faucet run in the tub. The toilet flushed and more water running. He returned and came around to her side of the bed. Gingerly, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her into the bathroom with him. He set her down next to the Jacuzzi tub and carefully helped her inside. She gasped as the steaming heat scalded her all the way to the knees.

“Is it too hot?” he asked as she sunk up to the shoulders in the soothing foam scented of vanilla.

Groaning, she sunk lower until the water made a necklace around her throat. “It’s wonderful.”

Chuckling, he nudged her to sit up so he could slide in behind her. She leaned back into his chest and closed her eyes as his arms slid home around her middle.

Part of her wondered if he normally took vanilla scented baths on a regular bases, or if this was a normal routine after ever girl, fuck ‘em and then bathe ‘em.

“I got it from Maureen’s stash,” he said as if reading her thoughts.

“Stash?”

He jerked a nod towards the open door. “Maureen keeps a lot of her ... womanly things in the closet in the hallway. It saves her from running into town if she forgets to bring something along.”

She chuckled. “That sounds like Maureen. I called her,” she added as an afterthought. “No one picked up. I also called Dean. He said he’d look into it.”

Mason snorted, the sound coming out sardonic. “Maureen has someone watching the kids. Dean finally got one over on Maureen. Life is good for both of them right now.”

“Yeah...” She signed heavily. “But what about us? Dean hasn’t gotten back to us since he last talked to the sheriff and the sheriff won’t return my calls—”

“Hey.” He tightened his hold on her. His lip brushed the side of her head. “Don’t think about that tonight. Tonight, it’s about you and me and...” He slid his hand down her abdomen to cup her thigh. He forced it aside, opening her to him. “Us and the many hours between now and dawn.”

Chapter Seventeen

She was crushed into the mattress by a hard weight that exuded heat like a furnace. It cradled her gently while something feather-light traced the arch of her spine from the nap of her neck to the end of her tailbone in slow strokes. Goose bumps rose in its progression, tightening her nipples and stealing a shiver from her. Julie sighed and nestled closer to the warmth and was rewarded with a light kiss to her temple.

Dawn hovered in a streak of pale gold outside the window, painting the room with soft hand of light when she pried her eyelids open. She blinked and squinted at the chest inches from her face and the arms crushing her to it.

“Morning.”

Mason.

Heat warmed her cheeks as the previous night came flashing through her mind. The arms around her tightened.

“Morning,” she whispered.

Warm lips brushed the curve of her shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

She grinned lazily into the pillow. “Very relaxed.”

He returned her grin. “You up for some coffee? It’s almost one.”

Julie blinked. “In the morning?”

“The afternoon.”

Sheets folded tightly around her, she pushed upright. She squinted at the window with its pale light spilling through.

“I can’t believe we slept that late.”

Mason grinned smugly. “We had a very late and eventful night.”

Julie chuckled. “We certainly did.” She sighed contentedly and started rolling off the bed.

Only he caught her.

“Not so fast.”

His hands fisted in the sheets and they were tugged away, exposing her to the chill.

Julie squealed and laughed as she was caught under him. Her thighs were filled by his hips.

“Want me?” he urged between sucking and nipping at her throat. “Or have you had enough?”

Biting her lip, Julie folded her arms around his neck. Her legs twisted around the small of his back, imprisoning him to her.

“Not on your life.”

“I think we should go out for a swim,” Mason said from behind her, his hands on her hips while they waited for the coffee machine to finish.

Biting her lip, Julie said nothing as he nuzzled the back of her neck and pressed all that glorious heat into her. He had such amazing hands.

“What do you think?” He hooked a coil of damp hair and swept it off her shoulder to get more of her neck with his lips and teeth.

“A swim?”

“Mm.”

She opened her mouth to argue all the reasons they should stay away from the backyard, when a discreet knock propelled them apart. They exchanged bemused glances before following the sound to the front of the house. Mason reached the door first and yanked it open.

A man stood there, clad in black slacks and a rumpled dress shirt. He offered them a hesitant smile that looked strained and painful. His bloodshot eyes darted between Mason and Julie like he was being faced down by two Rottweiler’s.

“Hello,” he said in a raspy, smoker’s voice. “I’m sorry to disturb you.”

Mason shifted his weight to raise one arm and prop it on the doorframe. “Can we help you?”

The man was jittering, Julie noted, when he raised a hand to pat down the front of his rumpled and dirty shirt as though searching for something. His chipped fingernails looked like he’d been clawing at dirt all day. Dark smudges appeared on his already filthy top with every brush of his palms.

“I’m Dr. Wallis Nixon.” He rummaged in his pockets. His brows furrowed in confusion and agitation. “I ... I had a card...”

He trailed off and looked behind him in the direction of the beat up piece of crap parked in the driveway.

“The car...?” he mused quietly to himself.

“Is there something we can do for you, Dr. Nixon?” Mason pressed.

Dr. Nixon scratched the back of his neck and faced them once more seeming confused. “Yes, I’m looking for someone. He was last seen in this vicinity.”

Mason shook his head. “We haven’t seen anyone since we arrived.”

The older man ceased his pocket rummaging. He let his hands drop and blew out an agitated sigh.

“You might not believe what I’m about to say, but I strongly believe you might be in terrible danger.” He started patting down his pockets again, his hands not as steady. He completely missed the glances Julie and Mason exchanged, or the way Mason straightened his frame to block the doorway. “I’m here to help.”

“Whoa pal.” Mason put up his hand. “Hold your breaks. Who are you and what are you talking about?”

“He goes by the name of Jimmy, or Frank Deschanel,” the doctor went on, faster now, like he was worried Mason would toss him off the porch. “I got a phone call from the sheriff’s department yesterday regarding the troubles you’re facing.”

Julie stepped forward. “The sheriff’s department? Are you talking about the body?”

Dr. Nixon hesitated. “That why I’m here.” He darted a glance over the driveway and the surrounding woods. “Can we talk inside?”

Neither Julie nor Mason moved. They both eyed the man cautiously.

“How do we know you’re not the guy the cops are looking for?” Mason challenged.

The doctor actually looked baffled. “I’m a doctor,” he replied with such offense, it was almost comical.

“And I’m a tooth fairy,” Mason countered. “But only on my spare time. The rest of the time, I’m a ballerina.”

Dr. Nixon straightened his shoulders and observed Mason the way a scientist would a small insect. “Look here, son. I have come a very long way to try and save your ass. Now if you don’t want my help...” He started to turn away.

Mason, unimpressed by the haughty indignation, folded his arms and let the other man stomp down two steps before Julie jumped in.

“Wait!”

“Julie!” Mason grabbed her arm when she tried to push past him. “He could be crazy!”

“He could also help,” she said. “Mason, please.”

He peered into her eyes, searching. His reflected his annoyance. “We can’t just trust random people who show up on the doorstep claiming to be sent by the sheriff.” His gaze shot over her shoulder to where the doctor had stopped on the third step. “Why didn’t the sheriff come with you?”

Dr. Nixon pivoted, stumbled when his foot got caught, but quickly caught himself on the railing. “Because they don’t know I’m here.”

It was the wrong thing to tell Mason. He tensed all over again. “Wait, you said you got a call—”

“And I did!” Nixon protested. “Just not the department here.”

“I am so lost,” Mason mumbled.

“A friend of mine who works in a different department heard what happened here. He called me, because it sounds like Jimmy.”

“Who is he?” Julie cut in. “Why is he doing this?”

He sighed. “He was a patient of mine. I was...” He huffed. “Can we please do this inside?”

“Maybe after some ID,” Mason interjected. “No offense, Doc, but if you’re telling me a mental patient is just wandering around this area, no way am I letting you through this door without ID.”

Dr. Nixon shook his head, resuming his searching once more. “No, it’s perfectly understandable. I seem to have left my wallet in the car...”

He turned on his heels and scurried down the steps. They watched him move with a slight limp in the direction of his car.

“What do you think?” Mason asked her.

“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “I suppose it explains things. I guess it also means that if the police get evidence that there’s someone else doing these things, we’ll be free to go home.”

Mason turned those brilliant blue eyes in her direction, but said nothing.

The doctor returned, rifling through a battered wallet. He removed a plastic hospital ID card and passed it to Mason. Julie leaned over his shoulder to read the print.

“Doctor Wallis Nixon,” she read out loud. “Head physician at Saving Angels.” Her brows furrowed. “Where is that?”

“Saskatchewan,” Dr. Nixon said.

“You’re a long ways from home, Doc,” Mason said, passing the ID back to him.

“Yes...” He stuffed the card into his wallet and closed the flaps. “I have been following Jimmy’s reign of terror for nearly five years.”

Mason stepped back and ushered the doctor into the foyer. “You alone?”

Dr. Nixon limped inside and the door was shut behind him. “In a manner of speaking. I feel it’s my responsibility to bring him home. After all, it was my fault he escaped in the first place.”

Julie led the way down the hall into the kitchen. The coffee had finished brewing and she poured three cups. Mason helped her take them to the table where Dr. Nixon had gratefully fallen into one of the chairs.

“So he’s done this sort of thing before?” Julie asked, claiming the seat next to Mason.

Dr. Nixon nodded. “Jimmy has always had a problem adjusting. He...” Nixon took a timid sip of his coffee. He sighed and closed his eyes. “I haven’t had real coffee in days.” But he set his mug down and faced them once more. “He’s gone too long without his medication and I can no longer predict what he will do next.”

“What does he suffer from?” Julie asked.

“Dissociative identity disorder as well as schizophrenia, paranoia, anxiety, and bipolar.”

Mason whistled through his teeth. “Wow! And he’s just out there right now doing who knows what, huh?”

“I’m afraid so,” Dr. Nixon said. “He’s very good at blending. He can become anyone and, half the time, he doesn’t even realize he’s being someone else.”

“How did he find us?” Julie asked. “Neither of us are from here originally.”

The doctor took another, longer, sip of his drink. “I can’t say for certain, of course, not until I’ve spoken to him, but I am guessing he’s always been here.” He set his mug down again with a muffled clink. “That he had been using this residence as his hideaway. When you arrived, he considered you a threat.”

“How would he get in?” Mason demanded. “The place is alarmed.”

Julie nodded. “It was armed when I arrived.”

Nixon shrugged. “Like I said, I’m only assuming.”

“What if you’re wrong and it’s not him?” Mason asked.

“I could be,” Dr. Nixon agreed solemnly. “But this seems to be his choice of murder.”

“Why are you here?” Julie wondered. “Why not go to the police?”

Nixon dropped his gaze to the mug. “The police, for all their good intentions, are quite narrow minded when it comes such matters. A few mere coincidences will not sway them without concrete evidence. I felt it best to warn you and hopefully help keep you alive.”

“So we should leave?” Julie said.

“I’m not leaving,” Mason muttered. “This is my place. I’m not letting some lunatic run me off.”

Dr. Nixon flinched. “I don’t like that word—lunatic. Jimmy isn’t a lunatic.”

“He killed newborn kittens and hung them over the door like Christmas ornaments.” Mason arched a brow. “What do you call him?”

“Sick,” Dr. Nixon said at once. “He is severely sick and needs help. When he was under my care and taking his medication regularly, he was making remarkable progress. Had he not escaped, I do believe he would have been nearly fit for normal society. With strict supervision, of course.”

Mason leaned back in his chair. “The fact that you were even considering that after everything he’s done makes me think you’re just as crazy.”

“Do you have a photo of him?” Julie interjected when the doctor’s cheeks darkened with indignation.

Dr. Nixon nodded. “Yes, in the car with my files.” He rose from his seat, tucked in his chair, and curled both hands over the back as he stared between them. “I strongly suggest that you pack up tonight and leave. If Jimmy is within the area, you are most definitely not safe.” He pushed away. “I’ll bring in that photo.”

They watched him walk out, heard him scuffle along the hallway to the door.

“I want to leave,” Julie whispered. “I don’t want to stay here. Maybe we can get the doctor to talk to the sheriff and they’ll give us our cars back.”

She expected Mason to argue, to say something manly about how he would protect her. Instead, he swept back a curl off her cheek and slipped it behind her ear and said, “I agree.”

Julie blinked. “You do?”

He nodded. “I don’t like you being here with that psychopath just roaming around the place.”

Relieved, Julie exhaled. True she wouldn’t have stayed even if he had asked her, but it was nice to know that they were on the same page.

Dr. Nixon hurried into the kitchen once more, looking ashen and pasty. “My notes are gone!”

Mason was out of his chair first. “What?”

The doctor pointed to the door. “The doors to my car were open and all my notes are missing from the front seat.”

“Are you sure?” Julie got to her feet.

Dr. Nixon nodded, his face going a sickly shade of green. “I had everything, my notes, my research ... my laptop ... everything on the front seat and now they’re gone.”

“I’ll help you look,” Mason offered, moving across the room.

“It’s Jimmy,” the doctor blurted. “It has to be. He must be watching the house. He knows I’m here.”

Cold terror swept through Julie, fisting around her gut until she was sure she would be sick. “I’m calling the police,” she said at once.

No one stopped her as she hurried to the phone. Mason and the doctor left the kitchen to start the search for the missing files while she swallowed down the hard bulge wedged in her chest.

After arguing with the bored receptionist that this was an emergency and she really did need the sheriff, Julie was assured that an officer would be sent to investigate soon and that she should hold tight.

Muttering a curse, Julie hung up and followed the hallway to the front door. Dr. Nixon and Mason stood by the beat up car. All the doors were open and bags and clothes and an assortment of food wrappers, coffee cups, chip bags and soda cans lay strewn across the pavement. Dr. Nixon was tossing random bits of clothing into the backseat as he ranted at Mason. Julie couldn’t hear the exact nature of the conversation, but the doctor looked distraught and frustrated, if not a bit terrified. It did nothing to help ease her mind about the situation they were in; if the doctor who had considered Jimmy healed was scared, what should she be?

Arms wrapped around her middle, she carefully crossed the porch and descended the steps. Her sneakers scuffled over concrete as she moved to stand next to Mason. He turned his head to her, met her eyes, but said nothing.

“My life’s work!” the doctor was saying as he pitched a filthy shirt into the seat. “Everything’s gone.”

“I called the police,” Julie murmured. “They’ll be here soon.”

Dr. Nixon shook his head as he straightened. “They can’t do anything. Jimmy’s too smart. He’s been keeping off of their radar for a years. Every time the police get close, he vanishes.”

“Then maybe you can help us convince the police that we’re not safe here,” Julie suggested with desperation in her tone. “They think we did all this,” she explained. “But if you tell them everything you told us, maybe they’ll return our cars and we can leave.”

The doctor seemed to consider this a full minute before nodding. But it was reluctant. “Yes, of course.”

They were still standing in the driveway, watching Nixon repeatedly empty and repack his car, searching for files that were no longer there when the sheriff’s cruiser rolled into view. The more he did it, the more agitated he seemed to become, Julie noted and she was actually relieved to see Reynolds.

He was alone and harboring a glower that made some of her relief shrivel up and die. He stalked over to them, a man on a mission with his mouth drawn in a straight, thin line of disapproval.

“You summoned?” he growled.

Chapter Eighteen

“I was robbed!” Nixon snapped, rounding on the sheriff with his own head of rage.

Reynolds narrowed his eyes. “And you are?”

They moved their talk into the house. It was only after she had shut the door behind the small group that Julie glanced up the stairs towards the second landing. It struck her that they were missing two from their group. A glance at her watch indicated that it was well after two in the afternoon, late enough for Shaun and Luis to have awakened from their coma sleep.

Letting Mason guide the sheriff and the doctor into the kitchen, Julie ventured upstairs. Part of her dreaded what she might find. She had horrible visions of mutilated bodies strewn across the room. It was ridiculous of course, because no one could get in so long as the alarm was activated and she had been making sure that it was every night before she went to bed. Yet she couldn’t stave off the coiling chill her overactive imagination triggered.

“Luis?” she called even before she reached his door. Her palm was sweaty when she raised a curled fist to knock. “Luis?”

The knock echoed into silence. It ticked by slowly until one minute faded into two.

Gingerly, she grasped the doorknob, claimed a calming breath and eased the door open. A dull, grayish brown darkness stifled the room. Most of the light spilled from the lace covered window. Julie’s hand trembled as she groped for the switch. She fumbled before sweeping the lights on.

The room was empty. The bed was made. Had it not been for the open laptop on the desk in the corner and the book on the nightstand, there would have been no other indication that anyone had ever slept there. It was all so immaculately kept. Even she had the odd shirt lying about on the back of a chair in her room. Luis had nothing. Even his toiletries were in a straight, neat line on the counter when she poked her head into the bathroom.

For a guy who spent the majority of his time locked up in his room, she mused, he certainly didn’t do much.

She glanced at the laptop and wondered what he did all day when he wasn’t mildewing on the sofa with Shaun. Then she wondered where he was now if he wasn’t in his room and he wasn’t downstairs...

Frowning, she backed out into the hallway once more and crossed it to Shaun’s room. She knocked briskly twice before letting herself in.

Where Luis’s room was every mother’s dream, Shaun’s room liked like someone had set a bomb off in a thrift store.

There were clothes, shoes, magazines, and piles of dirty dishes strewn everywhere. The bed was in shambles, the covers roped and peeled off the mattress. There was a pillow on the floor, next to the blanket that had slid off one corner of the bed. A bright, red t-shirt hung over a lamp, painting the room in a ghastly crimson hue. But the worst part was the smell. It was like something had crawled into the room, gotten lost, and died. Flies buzzed in the air. Julie sprinted across the room and yanked the shirt off the lamp, attempting to stave off a house fire. Her foot caught on a mountain of dishes and she slammed into the nightstand, rattling the lamp. Her arm knocked into a glass of what looked like pop and it tumbled over, splashing like a dark fountain down her legs and across the carpet. She cursed as she ripped off the shirt and used it to dab at her legs and soak up the stain before it set.

She was still kneeling there when Mason walked in. He looked over the room with annoyance before his gaze settled on her.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

Shirt dripping in her hand, Julie rose. “I spilled something. I was just cleaning it up.”

He eased another step deeper into the room. “What are you doing in Shaun’s pigsty?”

Julie sighed and brushed a stray curl off her cheek with the back of her free hand. “I was trying to see where Shaun and Luis were. I mean, they should have been up hours ago, right? So I got here and there was a shirt on the lamp. Not wanting it to catch on fire, I tried to take it off, tripped and spilled whatever was in that cup.”

She gestured at the glass she had set back on the nightstand, empty of its contents.

Mason shook his head. “Typical,” he muttered.

Moving across the room, Julie followed him out with the shirt still clutched in her hand. She felt bad for using it to clean spilled pop, but she hadn’t been thinking when she’d grabbed for it, only that she needed to get the stain before it set in. She took it downstairs with her with the intention of tossing it in the washer and putting it back before Shaun realized it was gone.

“How are things with the doctor and the sheriff?” she asked Mason, who followed her to the laundry room.

He shrugged as she tossed the shirt into the washer and closed the lid, not turning it on; she had clothes upstairs she could toss in with it later. “They’re talking it out in the kitchen,” he said, answering her question.

She faced him. “Do you think he’ll let us go?”

Mason chuckled grimly. “Probably not. I think the good sheriff is convinced it’s one of us. Well,” he scratched the side of his nose with a finger, “I’m sure he thinks it’s either me or Shaun.”

Julie shook her head. “Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?”

“See that’s what they want you to think. In reality, it’s actually guilty until proven innocent. Unless the good doc can convince the sheriff of our innocence, we’re stuck here.”

Groaning, she stepped around him and made her way back down the hall towards the kitchen. Reynolds and Nixon sat at the table. Nixon was talking. Reynolds was scribbling in his notepad.

“And you’re saying this Jimmy fellow is the one responsible?”

Nixon nodded. “He’s done this before in multiple cases. I would show you records, but everything I had is gone.”

The sheriff hummed. “And he was in your care when he disappeared?”

Again, Nixon nodded. “I believe now that he played me. He let me believe he had gotten better when, in fact, he was gaining my trust, allowing me to lower my guard. When the opportunity aroused, he drugged me and left.”

Reynolds looked up. “He drugged you?”

“It was step five in his rehabilitation,” Nixon explained. “To let him become self-sufficient by means of cooking meals for himself and I. We started out with small items like sandwiches and the occasional pasta. Later on, I allowed him to use the stove independently without my supervision. Clearly that was a mistake.”

“Uh huh,” the sheriff muttered, looking about as impressed by the explanation as a pile of dirt. “So you knew he was dangerous and yet you allowed him—”

“He had been making progress!” Nixon stressed. “He had been doing very well. It was incredible.”

“But as you said, he was playing you,” Reynolds muttered.

Dark patches appeared on Nixon’s cheeks. He dropped his gaze to the table. “Yes, well...”

Reynolds tapped his pen on his pad in a way Julie recognized as frustration. “Doctor,” he began slowly, “why do you believe these incidents are connected to your patient?”

“Well, I don’t,” Nixon confessed. “But the patterns are the same. In every case, Jimmy has reinvented himself to become the person he is playing. Jimmy Deschanel and Frank are only two of the ten or so personalities he has claimed during his crimes.”

“So he knows what he’s doing?”

Nixon shook his head. He leaned closer to the sheriff and lowered his voice. “He has no knowledge of his actions when one of the other personalities takes hold. During my observations, the other personalities remain dormant until the urge to kill becomes too much for him to ignore. I was able to muffle the voices with medication, but it has been years since...”

The sheriff raised an eyebrow. “Just how long has this maniac been on the loose?”

Nixon stiffened. “I do not like that word, Sheriff.”

Reynolds narrowed his eyes. “Pardon my frankness, Doctor, but that is what he is. Now, can you please answer the question?”

Nixon shifted in his seat. He picked idly at a piece of lint on his pants before responding. “Four, perhaps five years.”

He said it low, as though mumbling it to himself, but in the silence of the kitchen, there was no mistaking it.

“Are you serious?” Reynolds dropped back in his seat. “And you’re only now reporting this?”

“Of course not!” Nixon snapped at once, offense squaring his shoulders. “I have sent every scrap of information I have on Jimmy to every law enforcement department in Canada, warning them to call me the minute something comes across that might sound like him. I have been from coast to coast. I left my practice, my other patients, and my life to get Jimmy the help he needs, because I feel responsible for every life he takes.”

“No offense, Doc,” Reynolds folded his notepad and stuffed it into his pocket. “But this boy needs more than help.”

“Jimmy isn’t dangerous!” Nixon protested.

Clouds of fury darkened over Reynold’s face. “I have a girl in the morgue who would disagree with you.”

“That wasn’t Jimmy,” Nixon insisted. “That may have been his other personalities. Jimmy is incapable of harming anyone.”

The sheriff dug out his notepad once more, flipped it open. “Describe his MO.”

Nixon drew in a deep breath. “I can’t.” He splayed his hands open, palms up. “It all varies on which personality he’s playing. Each one is unique and very different from the others.”

“All right, tell me what he looks like.”

Nixon nodded. “Well, he’s about five-nine.”

“And?” Reynolds prompted when that was all Nixon said.

“And I don’t know what else.”

With an agitated huff, Reynolds smacked his pen and pad down on the table. “Doc, you need to give me something to work with here. You tell me there’s a mass serial killer on the loose, has been for the last five years, but you can’t tell me his patterns, his description, or where I can find him next.”

“His appearance changes,” Nixon explained. “Jimmy had dark hair, almost black and brown eyes. He was pale and about a hundred and fifty pounds. But all of that can be changed and he is an expert chameleon. He will change his hair, his eyes, and even gain weight if that is his character.”

Reynolds ground his knuckles into the back of his eyelids until Julie feared he would gouge his eyeballs out. There were red marks when he finally lowered his hands. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Okay, tell me about his patterns. How does he kill? Does he have a specific tell? How does he find his marks?”

Nixon thought about this a moment. His dirty fingers drummed on the table. He stared off at something behind the sheriff, like all the answers lay written on the wall.

“Doctor?” Reynolds prompted when Nixon took too long.

Nixon sucked in most of the air in the room and observed Reynolds with the look of someone who knew they were about to get an earful and opted to just get it over with.

“I can’t.”

This seemed to amaze, baffle, and annoy Reynolds. He sat back, folded his arms, and scrutinized Nixon the way one would a bratty little dog that had just pissed in their shoe.

“Excuse me?”

Nixon sighed heavily. “I don’t really know unless I know which personality he’s inhabiting.”

Reynolds threw up his hands. “Fantastic. So what you’re telling me is that there is a killer out there and we have nothing.”

Nixon mulled this over slowly and then nodded. “Yes, basically.”

“Doc,” Reynolds leaned forward, folded his hands on the table and bore heatedly into Nixon. “How long have you been studying Jimmy?”

“Since he was seven,” Nixon answered immediately. “I found him at a children’s psych ward. He had been brought there by the police after they found him in bed with his parents.”

Reynolds narrowed his eyes. “They were sexually assaulting him?”

“Oh, no, no,” Nixon said hurriedly. “They were dead. He had slit their throats while they were sleeping. Blood everywhere. It had been such a mess. And he’d been curled in the middle between the two, drenched in their blood. They’d been dead for about a week before anyone went over to check on them.”

“Oh!” Julie clamped a hand over her mouth, bile rising up her esophagus.

“Great,” Reynolds muttered. “How old is he now?”

Nixon’s eyes rolled up towards the ceiling as he did the math in his head. “I would say early thirties, but he looks remarkably young.”

Reynolds jotted this down in his pad. “So you’re not sure what method, or personality he’s using, then how do you know he is responsible for this case?”

“Because of the fishing wire,” Nixon replied. “It seems to be the singular link that connects all his personalities, his fascination with strangulation, suffocation, or a blade to the throat.” He tapped the three fingers of his right hand to his own throat. “He’s fascinated by the jugular.”

“Wait!” Reynolds put his hand up, stopping the doctor. “You just finished telling me there was nothing linking his personalities.”

“There isn’t.”

Julie could have sworn Reynolds’s left eye twitched. “But you just said...” His hand balled into a fist. A muscle ticked in his cheek. “Okay, let’s start over.” He spoke with a calm that would have terrified Julie. “Is there anything linking Jimmy’s personalities that can help us find him?”

“No.”

Any minute now, Julie expected the sheriff to reach across the table and punch Nixon in the nose, just on principle alone. But that wasn’t what worried her. Her fear was that Reynolds wouldn’t believe Nixon and she would have to stay in that place even longer. She really needed Nixon to get his story straight and start giving the sheriff some solid leads to follow.

Mason took Julie by the elbow and guided her to the stools. They sat with the island at their backs and faced the pair at the table.

“And how did you learn about this one?” Reynolds pressed.

“I was following another lead,” Nixon said. “There was an incident further west in British Columbia. A girl was found with her throat slit in a back alley.” Nixon rolled his shoulders in a helpless shrug. “The police think it was the boyfriend who seems to have disappeared from the apartment they shared.  I tried to tell them what I’m telling you, but they refused to take me seriously.”

Reynolds scoffed. “I can’t imagine why.”

Nixon appeared unperturbed by the rib. “Anyway...” He waved his hand dismissively. “A detective friend of mine told me about the murder here. The girl, Bethany Row. He thought it could be Jimmy because of the way she was killed.”

Reynolds’ jaw flexed. “Your ... friend, didn’t think to notify the department here of this possible suspicion?”

Nixon shrugged. “It was a personal favor.” He pursed his lips almost wistfully. “I am hoping to find him and bring him home.”

That was the wrong thing to say. Even Julie knew it. Reynolds looked livid.

“That, Doctor, is illegal, or were you not aware? Actually, so far, everything you’re telling me about how you’ve gone about handling this situation sounds illegal. This person is responsible for one murder that I am aware of and if it turns out that he’s also responsible for all the others you just confessed to, he will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, not be given a cushy life with you.” He eyeballed Nixon like Charles Manson himself had materialized across from him. Julie couldn’t blame him. “He is not a disobedient puppy digging in the neighbor’s yard, Dr. Nixon. He is a psychopath who has committed probably more crimes than even you know about. I would eat my badge before letting you take him anywhere, except to a maximum prison.”

Nixon seemed to bristle at the statement. “This is my life’s work, Sheriff. No judge would ever throw a sick man in jail and he is sick. I will swear to this in court. He will be released back to me by the end of the week.”

Reynolds rose very slowly. His nostrils flared as he closed his notepad and slipped it into the pocket of his shirt. All the while, he glowered down at Nixon like he wanted nothing more than to stomp on the man.

“I guess that is something we will have to let the judge decide,” he muttered through clenched teeth. “In the meantime, I would like you to come with me back to the station. I have a few more questions for you there. I would also like you to talk to a sketch artist and give me the name of this detective friend of yours.”

The doctor rose and the two men, Julie noted, were the same height. While Reynolds was larger in the chest and shoulders, Nixon was lean and built like a swimmer. But both men seemed taller in their anger.

Reynolds motioned for Nixon to start heading for the door. The doctor turned wordlessly and began the march. But Julie hurriedly leapt off her stool and stopped Reynolds from following.

“Does this mean we can leave?” Julie asked the sheriff. “I can’t stay here anymore. I need to go home.”

“It would be safer for them if they left,” Dr. Nixon agreed from the doorway. “This whole area needs to be searched. If Jimmy’s here, which I am sure of, they are in danger.”

Reynolds seemed to consider this. He eyed Nixon, then Julie, and finally settled on Mason who had yet to get up. His nostrils flared as he drew in air. His shoulders and chest rose before dropping just as rapidly.

“I will investigate the doctor’s claim first,” he decided. “If his story pans out, I will have your cars released.”

It wasn’t what Julie wanted to hear, but it was better than nothing.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

With an inclination of his head, Reynolds followed Nixon out of the kitchen and down the hall. Julie hurried after them and shut the doors. She locked them and turned to find Mason leaning against the kitchen doorway.

“Okay?” he asked.

She gave him a small smile. “Don’t have a choice, do I?” She went over to him. “Just have to hang on a little longer.”

He pushed away from the frame and met her halfway. His fingers closed around hers in a comforting grip. “We’ll get through this. I promise.”

With no choice but to accept his words, Julie nodded. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “So have you tried to get a hold of Luis and Shaun?”

Mason shook his head, a frown darkening his features. “I don’t know where they could be.” He tugged her into the kitchen and walked with her in tow to the phone. “I left my cell upstairs,” he told her as he picked up the receiver. “But I’m sure they’re fine.”

No sooner had he dialed when there was a pounding on the front door. They exchanged bemused glances before hurrying into the hall to answer.

Shaun glowered at them from the front porch. “What’s the big deal locking the door?” he snapped in the way of greeting.

Mason moved aside to let the other man in. “It must have slipped your mind that we have a lunatic out to butcher us in our sleep.”

Shaun bared his teeth, but said nothing as he pushed his way into the house.

“Where’s Luis?” Maosn asked, shutting the door.

“How would I know?” Shaun grumbled. “His door was closed when I left.”

“Where did you go?” Julie made the mistake of asking.

His brown eyes narrowed. “What’s it your business?”

“Lay off,” Mason groaned, frustration lacing his tone. “Seriously, man, just answer the question.”

Shaun looked from Julie to Mason with narrowed, wary eyes. “What happened?”

They went into the living room. Shaun claimed the main sofa while Mason and Julie took the loveseat. Mason told him everything, which didn’t take nearly as long as it should have. Shaun simply stared back with his mouth gaping and a look of wide-eyed bewilderment.

“So the guy’s a nut?” he said at last when Mason quit speaking.

“Looks that way,” Mason said. “We went to check your rooms, but you guys weren’t there.”

Julie was touched that he’d said we and not her. She had a feeling Shaun wouldn’t appreciate her going through his things.

“I went for a walk,” Shaun said. “After listening to you two fuck like rabbits on crack for most of the night, I needed some alone time to clear my head.”

It was Julie’s turn to look horrified.

“Jesus!” Mason snapped.

Shaun raised a brow with bored amusement. “Was it a secret? Because trust me, the entire town heard you.”

Scalding heat coiled in the pit of Julie’s stomach and bubbled up her chest to spill into her cheeks. The back of her eyes stung and her fingers tightened into fists that wanted to slam into Shaun’s arrogant face.

“What is your problem?” she burst out before she could stop herself. “What did I ever do to you?”

Shaun narrowed his eyes in cold disgust. “What makes you think you did anything? I didn’t realize we all had to bow to your awesomeness.”

“Knock it off, Shaun!”

“No!” Julie put a hand on Mason’s forearm, stopping him from speaking as she stared daggers at the guy watching her back. “I want to know. Why do you hate me?”

Shaun jerked one shoulder. “I don’t care enough about you to hate you. Again, the world doesn’t revolve around you and your feelings.” He said feelings with air quotes.

“You’ve been on my case since we were kids and I want to know why.”

The spark in Shaun eyes could only be construed as livid fury as he glowered at Julie. His face muscles twisted into a sneer of disgust that should have killed her on the spot. But when he opened his mouth, the front door opened and a quiet voice called through the house.

It was Luis. He walked into the doorway, a plastic bag in hand. He was sweaty and flushed.

“Where have you been?” Mason demanded.

“I wanted some chips.”

Shaun squinted up at him. “You walked to town?”

Luis ignored the question, his anxious glance darting from face to face. “What happened?”

“Oh, just your usual crap.” Shaun heaved himself up to his feet and stretched his muscly body. “Lunatic on the loose and Brewer wants a heart to heart.”

Luis either missed or ignored the latter part as his eyes grew enormous. “What do you mean a lunatic on the loose?”

“Was the chick swinging from the basketball hoop not clue enough for you, Sherlock?” Shaun goaded. “I will say this,” he continued, ignoring Julie’s scoff of revulsion, “Mason sure knows how to show a guy a good time.” He looked to Mason and gave him a thumbs up sign. “Remind me to sign up for the full package next year.”

“Wait!” Luis put up the hand not holding the bag. “Go back to the lunatic.”

Shaun flopped back down on the sofa and patted the cushion next to him. “Have a seat, my Young Padmé. We apparently missed quite an event.”

Cautiously, Luis shuffled to the sofa and sat. He tucked his bag between his parted feet and waited.

Mason retold the story. The more he spoke, the paler Luis seemed to get. It got to the point where even his lips were a white circle, open in a horrified O. His hand visibly trembled when he raised it and wiped the back across his mouth.

“So, does ... does this mean we can leave?” he stammered. “I mean, the sheriff can’t expect us to stay after that, can he?”

“He says he’ll return our cars once Dr. Nixon’s story checks out,” Julie assured him.

“Geez...” Luis moaned, dropping his face into his hands. “I thought stuff like this only happened in movies.”

“The good news is,” Mason cut in, “we only need to spend a few more nights here. First chance we get, we’ll pack our things, load the cars, and get the hell out of here.” He dusted his hands on his thighs and rose. “We’ll leave this asshole to the cops and the loony doctor.”

Luis got to his feet, bent at the waist, took his bag by the handles, and straightened once more. “I’m going to start packing in case we get to leave tomorrow.”

He left without another word to anyone. Shaun seemed unperturbed by the whole situation as he dumped his filthy boots on the coffee table and reached for the remote.

Mason twisted his torso towards Julie. “I’m going to get my things together, too. You coming up?”

She started to say yes and even began to rise, but she glanced at Shaun and shook her head. “I’m going to stay here for a little bit.”

Mason followed the line of her sight and the corners of his mouth turned down. He looked on the verge of saying something, maybe to tell her not to bother, but he gave a reluctant nod instead and ambled to the door.

“I’ll just be upstairs,” he said, but whether it was to her or Shaun, Julie didn’t know.

She waited until his footsteps had faded on the stairs before fixing her attention on the only other person in the room. Shaun, if he noticed her scrutiny, never showed it as he flipped idly through the channel. But the fact that the TV was on mute, made her think maybe he knew why she was still there.

“We need to talk,” she said at last when it was apparent that he was content just ignoring her.

“Do we?” he grumbled. “My show’s about to come on.”

Julie furrowed her brows. “Well, this is more important than any show.”

He flicked a glance in her direction. The TV light shone in his muddy eyes. “Says you.”

Refusing to be goaded, Julie straightened her spine and screwed down her resolve before speaking. “Okay, look, I want to know why you think so badly of me. As far as I know, I have never done anything to you.”

Shaun snorted. “As far as you know.”

“Shaun, please.” She drew in a breath. “Look, I don’t want to fight with you. I don’t see the point. Truthfully, I think this whole thing is a waste of time—”

“So why are you talking to me then?” he snapped.

“Because you’re Mason’s best friend,” she shot back. “He cares about you and I care about him. I don’t want this tension between you and me to weigh on him. So for him, I’m willing to settle this.”

“There’s nothing to settle,” he muttered, flipping the channels even faster until it was a smear of flickering colors. “We’re leaving in the morning. You and I will never have to cross paths again.”

“That’s not...” She wet her lips. “I’m in his life now and we’re going to try and make this work—”

Shaun’s brown eyes shot to her, narrowed like he couldn’t quite believe he’d heard correctly. “What?”

“Mason and I,” she repeated more slowly, “we’re going to keep seeing each other.”

“Seriously?” He barked a ha that turned into a full out fit of laughter. “Is that what he told you? That he’s going to just pack up his life to be with you? Wow! You are so stupid. I can’t believe girls still fall for that bullshit line.” He sobered, but his mouth continued to stretch across his face in a twisted sneer of mock amusement. “But I guess it worked. He certainly got into your pants quick enough.”

Julie shot to her feet. A sharp, cold sort of feeling had begun to seep through her and it was churning with the rage she was already feeling so she felt almost sick in the stomach.

“You are...” She couldn’t even think of a bad enough word to describe him. “I thought we could be adults about this and be cordial towards each other for Mason’s sake, but I can see that you are just ... evil. I can’t believe how horrible you are.”

He rolled his eyes and went back to the glaring at the screen. “Yeah, yeah. Are we done?”

“So done!” she hissed before stomping from the room.

Her limbs trembled with barely suppressed rage as she jogged up the stairs. She was lost in such a thick haze of red that she didn’t see Luis until they almost collided.

“Whoa!” Luis stumbled back, hands raised in surrender. “Sorry.”

Willing her nerves to calm down before she punched a wall, Julie sucked in several deep breaths before being able to speak. “No, I’m sorry.”

Luis searched her face, concern darkening his. “You okay?”

She started to nod, only it ended in a shake. “I just don’t understand him.”

“Shaun?” Luis guessed. “Yeah, he’s a hard one to figure out.” His expression became sympathetic. He rested a hand on Julie’s arm. “Don’t let him get to you. He means well ... I think.”

Snorting a chuckle, Julie pivoted around him towards her room. “I’m going to go pack. Are you done?”

Luis shrugged. “I don’t have very much.”

She remembered his room, the sparse, tidiness of it.

“Jewels?” She started at Mason’s nickname for her coming from Luis’s mouth. He seemed to realize his error as well, because he flushed. “Sorry.”

She shook her head. “It’s okay.”

He dropped his gaze to his feet, clad in clean tennis shoes. “I just ... I wanted to apologize again for what happened yesterday. I don’t want you to think I ... because I don’t. I mean, I would if you and Mason weren’t ... but Mason’s like a brother to me. I wouldn’t...” He broke off with a shaky laugh. “I’m making no sense am I?”

Julie offered him a kind smile. “It’s fine, Luis. I’m not angry.”

He blew out a breath. His shoulders sagged in relief. “Thank you. So...” He gave her a lopsided grin and rubbed his hands together. “Do you need help packing?”

Chuckling, Julie shook her head. “No, thank you. But I would love help with supper later.”

“Deal!” he said almost immediately, making her laugh again.

With a light pat on his arm, she left him and stepped into her room. She left the door ajar as she pulled out her duffle and began putting her things into it. She had most of the drawers emptied when a shadow in the doorway made her jump.

She whipped around.

“Mason!” She put a hand over her thumping heart. “God, don’t do that.”

“Sorry.” He stepped deeper into the room, stopping when he reached the footboard. “I finished and thought I’d come see if you needed a hand.” He rested a forearm against the frame and leaned into it. “I really hate seeing you leave. I had hoped we would have the month together, get to know each other better, and see what we should do next.”

“Me too, but I can’t stay,” she said, stuffing a t-shirt hastily into the bag. “I honestly hate this place so much.”

Mason nodded. “Yeah, me too.” He moved around the bed to her side and lightly touched her arm. “But I don’t want this to be the end, Jewels.” He ceased her packing by pulling her to him. “I just got you back.” He kissed her lightly. “I need to see you again.”

While his words sang through her like the soft chimes of a bell, it was Shaun’s taunting words that made her flinch.

“You don’t need to feel obligated to—”

“Obligated?” He jerked back like she’d struck him. “This isn’t obligation, Julie. This is me finally grabbing on to what I’ve wanted for years with both hands.” He ran a tongue slowly over his bottom lip. “I told you, I made a promise to myself that the next time we crossed paths, I would keep you.”

A warmth spread through her, chasing away the chill. “And what if we never saw each other?”

He shook his head, eyes never leaving hers. “I never believed that. I knew the day would come and it has.”

“Even if we live miles apart?”

He captured her chin gently between his fingers. “Doesn’t matter. I’m a very determined man.”

She chuckled. “Okay, how about we get out of this mess first and if you’re still interested ... call me.”

He kissed her again.

“Count on it.

Chapter Nineteen

It was after eleven the next night when the phone rang, jarring Julie from her slumber. Groggy and a tad disorientated, she rolled out from under Mason’s suffocating embrace and reached for the receiver on the nightstand. Her hand hit her cellphone, sending it cluttering to the ground. She cursed and pushed herself up higher on the bed. The sheets began to slip down her naked chest and she caught it quickly before snatching the phone up.

“Hello?”

With a knuckle, she rubbed at the sleep in her eyes. She squinted with one eye open at the clock. She and Mason had only gone to bed an hour earlier, but it felt like she only just shut her eyes.

“Ms. Brewer?”

It took her a second to recognize the gruff voice on the other end. “Sheriff Reynolds?”

Next to her, Mason stirred. He raised his head and squinted up at her through the darkness.

“Okay?” he mumbled groggily.

She put her finger to her lips, quieting him as she tried to focus on the man on the other end.

“Pardon the late call,” Sheriff Reynolds was saying. “But I thought you would want to hear this as quickly as possible.”

Julie pushed up higher in bed, fully alert now. “Is everything okay? Did you—”

“No,” Reynolds cut her off. “But I can confirm that Dr. Nixon’s story pans out.” While he said it, he didn’t sound very happy about it. “This ... Jimmy fellow may in fact be responsible for the death of Bethany Row as well as everything else you’ve experienced up there.”

Julie swallowed hard to remove the lump in her throat. “You ... you said may be. You’re not sure?”

“I’m more or less confident,” Reynolds mumbled. “I made some calls to the other towns and cities he’s been in and ... it certainly sounds like this is our guy.”

“So, what now?” she wondered.

“Well,” Reynolds grunted. Something creaked in the background and Julie had an image of him leaning back in his office chair. “You’re free to pick up your cars from the lot in the morning.”

“Wait, what do you mean pick up? We can’t pick up anything. You took our cars. We have no way of getting into town—”

“There’s nothing I can do about that, Ms. Brewer. But I do recommend you leave town immediately once you have retrieved your vehicle.”

“Trust me,” she muttered tightly. “That is exactly what I’m going to be doing.” She hung up without saying goodbye and turned to Mason. “I think we just got cleared of murder.” Something in that statement made her laugh hollowly. “I should feel relieved, except I’m terrified of surviving the next nine hours.”

Mason pushed upright. The sheets slid down his beautiful torso to pool in his lap like a puddle of moonlight. He leaned over and pushed a coil of hair behind her ear.

“I checked the locks,” he murmured. “And the windows and even double checked the alarms. We’re safe.”

He said it with such confidence that it was nearly impossible not to believe him.

“Get some rest,” he advised. “The sooner you sleep, the sooner we can get out of here.”

With a nod, she slid beneath the covers once more. He followed suit and drew her into his chest. With a sigh, she let herself relax. She closed her eyes and let the steady patter of his heart beat against the side of her face. But no matter how hard she tried, sleep refused to come. When it finally did, it didn’t feel like enough when she opened her eyes to the sharp spikes of light piercing through the curtains.

Groaning, she rolled over, away from the penetrating fingers of reality and frowned when she found the bed empty. Her fingers strained across the expense and her confusion built when she found it cool to the touch.

Pushing upright, she held the sheets to her chest and blinked around her room, already knowing she would find it empty of Mason.

Baffled, cranky and exhausted, she rolled out of bed and hurried into the washroom. She showered, and it was in the middle of rinsing conditioner from her hair when she remembered why there was a strange tension building like a bomb between her ribcage. It was akin to fear, but more powerful, more potent. It made her heart rate climb and her stomach muscles clench.

It was excitement.

She was excited. She was going home. She was getting away from that place.

Fired up with a new surge of strength, stronger than caffeine, she hurriedly toweled off, dressed, and sprinted downstairs, eager to find Mason and retrieve their cars.

But the house was empty. The doors were locked and the alarm was set. She called out, but no one answered. Tense for a whole new reason, she jogged back upstairs. She threw open Mason’s bedroom door, surprised that she was surprised that it was empty. It was only the sight of his duffle bag on the bed that helped uncoil the cold fingers fisted around her gut. Then, just as quickly, she rolled her eyes and mentally kicked herself for being so paranoid. Of course, Mason wouldn’t leave her there alone. Yet that faith was dim when she still couldn’t find him, or Shaun, or Luis.

Scratching her head, she moved into the kitchen and reached for the phone. No sooner had her fingers closed around the cool plastic when the locks on the front door clicked and the threatening beep of the alarm being triggered rose through the corridor.

Abandoning her idea of calling Mason, she hurried to the doorway and peered out at the bright stain of sunlight spilling over polished wood and the trio standing in the harsh glow. Shaun and Luis were saying something about asshole lot attendants when she stepped out to greet them.

“Where did everyone go?” she asked.

Mason shut the doors, deactivated the alarm before it could start shrieking and then turned his attention on her. With the blinding light extinguished, she could only see blurry silhouettes. Mason tossed something into the air. They jingled as he caught them again. She saw his form draw closer. Then he was in front of her. He held up a hand and her car keys dangled from his fingers.

“Your chariot awaits, my lady.”

Julie blinked in surprise as she lifted a hand to accept the ring. “You got my car from the lot?”

“Yup.” He slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. “Didn’t you get my note?”

She frowned. “Your ... note?”

He nodded. “The one I left on your nightstand.”

Julie couldn’t recall if she had even glanced in the direction of her nightstand when she’d gotten up. It wasn’t as though anyone had ever left her a note before. But now that he mentioned it, she figured she should have checked for one before freaking out.

“I guess I missed it,” she replied.

He hummed and led her into the kitchen. “How about some coffee before we hit the road? I haven’t had my cup this morning and I’m pretty sure I’m dying slowly inside.”

It was brewing inside her to decline, to insist they leave immediately and stop along the way. But he looked so tired and pleading. Plus she couldn’t see the harm of waiting one more hour. Her bags were packed and as soon as they finished, she would do a quick run through of the house to make sure nothing important was left behind. Then they would leave.

“Julie.” Luis jogged up to join them.

Mason relinquished his hold on Julie and headed to the coffee pot.

Julie turned to face Luis with a smile. “Hey! Thank you for getting my car back.”

Luis flushed happily. “No problem. But it was Mason’s idea. I just tagged along.”

“Even then.” She gave him a quick hug before moving away to claim a stool at the island.

Maybe it was her imagination, but she could have sworn the machine took an extra-long time to brew. She fidgeted with the mug Mason set before her, as if the harder she gripped the handle, the more threatened the machine would feel into brewing faster. It didn’t.

“Oh my God!” she groaned loudly, dropping her head down into the folds of her arms. “It’s like the slowest torture ever!”

On the other side of the island, Mason laughed. “Take it easy,” he said. “It’s coming.”

She wanted to believe him. She would have, if the bitter nectar of life wasn’t dripping one drip every ten minutes into the pot. At this rate, she thought miserably, I’ll be gray and old before I get a cup.

It was probably to fend off her lunging at him and gnawing his arm off, but Mason poured her the first cup and pushed it carefully in front of her. It took all her willpower not to fall on the drink like a rabid dog on a bone. But she did clutch it to her chest, still black and inhaled the rich, dark roast as if she could someone suck it into her system by smell alone. She was vaguely aware of Mason snickering at her. She ignored it as she cuddled her first love to her chest.

“Huh,” Mason mumbled as he opened one cupboard after another. “I guess we’re out of sugar.”

Julie craned her neck around him to peer into the pantry. “There should be a full bag in there.”

He shut the pantry door and turned. “Doesn’t seem to be there anymore. We must have used it.”

She couldn’t see how, but it wasn’t like the stuff just walked away. So maybe they had.

Shaun stalked into the room then. He had his duffle in one hand and a sour expression on his face. The bag made a loud clunk when he dropped it next to the door and faced the others.

“When are we blowing this popsicle stand?”

“Coffee first,” Mason said.

Shaun grunted unhappily, but moved to take a stool one stool over from Julie. She considered that progress.

“I’m going to double check I have everything,” Luis decided as he slide out of his seat and headed for the door. “Does anyone else want me to bring their things down while I’m at it?”

Mason and Julie shook their heads.

“But thank you!” Julie called after him.

With a wave of his hand, he disappeared from sight.

The kitchen fell silent as Julie, Mason, and Shaun sipped their drinks and stared uncomfortably at anything but each other. Julie wondered if hell had frozen over. It must have if Shaun was actually sitting quietly without hurling insults at her.

Then he opened his mouth.

“So have you told Mason your big plans of running off together?”

Julie simply exhaled, having reached the limits of her patience with the guy.

“What’s that now?” Mason asked.

Shaun jabbed a thumb in Julie’s direction. “Little Miss Muffet here thinks you’re going to run off and play house with her when we get back.”

“I never said that!” Julie snapped.

Shaun brought the mug to his lips. “Didn’t you? Certainly sounded like it.”

“What are you getting at, Shaun?” Mason sighed.

“That she’s crazy,” he replied evenly. “I warned you about clingy girls, didn’t I? You screw them once and suddenly they’re thinking of baby names and china patterns.” He shook his head as he took a gulp of coffee. It must have been too hot, because he grimaced when he swallowed. But he kept on talking. “It’s ridiculous to think you would give everything up for a walking vagina.”

It was only then that Julie realized she would never see that word the same way again. That it would forever make her cringe and grow hot with exasperation. Shaun had forever ruined vaginas for her.

Mason set down his cup, planted his palms on the table on either side, and leaned forward. He peered into his friend’s face with a grave expression.

“She’s not a walking vagina, Shaun,” he murmured quietly. “Or a walking anything else.”

Shaun gave a sound between a snort and a scoff. “She’s still just another bitch.”

“Shaun!” Mason’s voice was a snarl of impatience. “I’m getting tired of this game.”

“What game?” Shaun’s mug struck the counter with a crack that should have shattered it. Instead, coffee sloshed over the rim and splattered across the marble. “Don’t tell me it’s true.”

Mason’s mouth pinched together tightly, the muscle in his check coiled, and while he never said a word, Shaun had gotten his answer.

“For her?” he roared, leaping out of his seat. The stool teetered and crashed to the ground with enough force to make Julie jump. “You’ve known her for a week—”

“No,” Mason cut in. “You know that’s not true. I never once kept my feelings for Julie a secret. Not in all the years we’ve known each other, you knew!” He stabbed the counter with his finger. “You know what she means to me. She isn’t just some girl. Not to me.”

Shaun simply shook his head back and forth like no matter what Mason said, he refused to believe it.

“You can’t possibly see it that way,” Shaun argued finally. “You’re infatuated by the girl you used to know. She’s not that girl anymore. Jesus, Mas. You’re letting your dick think for you.”

Mason shook his head, his stance unwavering. “I don’t expect her to be the same girl she was at fifteen. I’m not the same guy I was at eighteen. I know she has changed and that only makes me want to know her all the more.”

Shaun’s lips curled back over his clenched teeth. He reminded Julie of a Rottweiler about to lunge.

“You’re seriously going to pick her over me?”

“No!” Mason shot back instantly. “I’m not picking anyone over anyone else. You yourself wanted to move back home only last month. You knew Julie lived there. You had to know we would eventually cross paths. For god sakes, Shaun! Did you honestly think we would be bachelors for the rest of our lives?”

“No,” Shaun mumbled. “But I did think we would be friends.”

“And what the hell is stopping us from being friend, except for you?” Mason exclaimed, throwing his arms open wide. “You’re the one pushing me away.”

“It’s her!” Shaun jabbed a finger towards Julie. “For years, I’ve known she would be the reason we would fall apart.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Mason shot back. “Julie hasn’t done anything.”

Shaun snorted in disgust. “Now, but what will happen if you want to come over and have a few beers. Nope. Can’t. She’ll want you home with her. How about heading out to play pool? Sorry man. Julie wants me to braid her hair tonight. This is why I don’t have serious relationships. Women are soul suckers. She will brainwash you into doing everything she wants until she’s dressing you and picking out your friends. She’s playing you.”

“You don’t know me,” Julie blurted out. “You can’t possibly come to that conclusion.”

Shaun bit out scoff. “That’s what women do. They take perfectly good men, rip off their balls, and keep them in their purses like trophies. So fuck you!”

“Well, I don’t want Mason’s balls,” Julie said back. “Truthfully, I kind of like them where they are and if he wants to shoot pool or have a few beers, I’m not going to stop him.”

“So you say now, but once you guys start getting serious, you’ll moan and bitch that he doesn’t spend enough time with you. I know how you bitches work.”

“You clearly don’t,” she countered smoothly. “Because if you did, then you would know that I want the same things you do.”

“Is that so?”

She nodded. “We both want Mason and we both want him happy. In the end, our arguing is only hurting him, so I think we should come to an arrangement.”

Shaun’s eyes narrowed. “What sort of arrangement?”

“You can have him on the weekends, all weekend, except major holidays and birthdays. I get him during the week.”

“That’s bullshit! Why do you get more days with him?”

“Because I’m at school all morning, which means I can only see him in the evenings. You get him for seventy-two hours straight whereas I only get him for even less time than that in a full week.”

It wasn’t entirely true, but she was banking on him not being able to do the math without all ten fingers and all ten toes and possibly a calculator.

She was right.

“Fine,” he grumbled. “But I get him on my birthdays.”

Julie thought about this a moment before adding, “Fine, but if your birthday falls on a weekday, I get to take one of your days in exchange.”

Shaun gave a sharp nod of agreement. “Fine, but I also get him during long weekends.”

“No!” she protested. “Long weekends fall into my territory, which means I get him.”

He didn’t seem to like this, but he didn’t argue.

“What about holidays?” he asked.

“We split the day. You get him during the morning and I get him at night, except Valentine’s Day. He’s mine that day, even if it falls on a weekend.”

“What the fuck? That’s not fair!”

“I’ll give you one weekday in exchange,” she bartered.

Busy arguing, neither noticed Mason watching them with amusement until he cleared his throat.

“Mom, Dad, if you’re done arguing custody, I would like to point out that I feel very objectified right now.”

Julie arched a brow. “Are you complaining?”

Mason put up his hands, palms up. “No, no, just throwing it out there.” He strode around the island and came up behind her. “I would also like to add that we should be getting ready to leave.”

With a nod to him that she understood, Julie returned her focus on Shaun.

“So, do we have a deal?” She held out her hand to him.

Shaun hesitated, then reached over and took it. They shook once before letting go.

“This is such a beautiful moment,” Mason sighed. “I feel like we just signed a treaty for new world order or something equally monumental.”

Julie gouged her elbow playfully into his stomach. “Shut up.” With an oomph, Mason doubled over, clutching his middle. Julie left him like that as she slid off her stool and hurried to the door. “I’m going to go grab my things,” she called over her shoulder.

She came across Luis on the stairs. He was making his way down with a single backpack slung over one shoulder. There was a computer bag dangling from the other. He grinned at her in passing.

In her room, she did a quick walk through of her room, double checking the bathroom and under the furniture in case she’d forgotten anything. Then she grabbed her bag and left the room.

Mason met her at the bottom. He, Luis, and Shaun were talking. All three stopped when she approached.

“What’s up?” she asked.

Mason shook his head. “Nothing. We were just deciding whether or not to follow you home.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary,” she assured them. “You guys have to go in the total opposite direction. But thanks. I’ll be fine once I hit the highway.”

Mason took the bag from her, tossed the strap over his shoulder, and led the way out the front doors. Julie followed him onto the porch, where he kicked a small paper bag out of his way as he descended the steps. He stalked to her car and jerked open the back door.

Walking behind him, at a much slower pace Julie noticed it first. Her car was sitting funny, much too low to the ground and the wheels were no longer round, but flattened on the side pressed into the pavement.

“Mason!” She grabbed his arm with one hand and pointed with the other. “Someone slashed my tires!”

He stopped, took a step back, and examined the set directly in front of them. Setting her bag down, he left her side to view the other side. He swore viciously and she knew it would be the same all the way around.

Darting past her, Mason stalked to his truck. Not that he needed to. Even from ten feet away, Julie could see the odd tilt of his car, the way it sat too far on one side. Both sides were slashed, but the left side must have been deeper, or done first, because the right side was leaking but it hadn’t gotten as flat. Her car must have been done before his. The air was completely gone from the tubes and the rubber was sagging around the silver rims. There was no driving it in that condition, not without permanently wrecking her frames. She had a spare in the trunk, but it was more or less useless when all four needed to be replaced.

“Mother fucker!”

Mason’s irate roar had her whipping around, half expecting them to be under attack. But they were the only two in the driveway and he was standing at the back of the truck, staring at something that had his nostrils flaring and his face glowing a violent shade of crimson.

“Mason?” She hurried over to him.

He was bent at the waist, his nose inches from the metal. His gas tank was open. The cap had been torn out and it lay on the ground. But it was the fine, white powder that dusted the rim and coated the black paint that caught her attention.

“What is that?” Julie whispered.

Mason swept a finger over the powder, pressed it between his thumb and forefinger and brought it to his nose. Then, rather than answer her, his gaze snapped to the porch like a wolf catching the scent of fresh blood.

He tore away from her and lunged back towards the house. Julie started to follow, then stopped when he stomped up the steps and snatched something off the porch. Julie recognized it as the paper bag he’d kicked out of his way earlier.

“Sugar.” His growl snapped through the silence. Even the elements had opted to keep out of his way. “Someone put sugar in the gas tanks.”

It took a moment for his words to set in, for it to make sense. When it did, Julie felt it like a blow to the chest. The bottom of her stomach plummeted in horror and she spun to her car.

Sure enough, the tank was open and the same white residue stained the opening. There was a small mound on the ground next to her discarded cap and slashed back tire. Her hand shook as she picked up the cap and stared at it.

It wasn’t enough that the damage to her tires would cost her well over a thousand dollars to replace, but her car was finished thanks to the sugar now clogging her pipes. Whoever was responsible was doing a damn good job making sure they didn’t leave.

“Come on. Get inside.”

Mason grabbed her despite her numb protest and dragged her away from the heap of useless metal back into the house. Luis met them in the foyer, bags in hand, looking ready to get the show on the road. His brows furrowed at the sight of Mason’s murderous expression and Julie’s ashen one.

He shot glances from Mason to Julie, who was still clutching the cap to her gas tank. “What’s going on?”

“Someone wrecked the cars,” Mason told him without pausing in his long strides to the kitchen.

“They put sugar in the tanks,” Julie told Luis over her shoulder as she hurried her steps to follow Mason. “And slashed the tires.”

Luis’s jaw dropped. His already round eyes went enormous. “What?”

Julie didn’t respond. She had already ducked into the kitchen and was watching Mason stalk to the phone. He snatched up the receiver and placed it to his ear. One hand hovered over the pad, froze inches from the keys. He pushed several at random, slammed his hand on the whole base once in frustration, before dropping the receiver back down.

“The lines are dead.” His shoulders rose and fell rapidly with his livid pants.

He was still standing there when Shane came barreling into the room, face scrunched in annoyance.

“Who took my damn phone?”

Luis entered the room on Shaun’s heels, looking shaken and sick. “My phone’s gone, too.”

Shaun rounded on Mason. “What the hell’s going on?”

Mason drew in a calming breath that probably cost him more than he was willing to show, raised his chin, and replied evenly, “Someone really doesn’t want us to leave.”

Chapter Twenty

Julie turned her entire room upside down searching for her phone. After her talk with the sheriff the night before and a vague recollection of dropping the thing when reaching for the land line, the cell had vanished off the face of the planet as though the very floor had swallowed it up. She practically turned her entire duffle inside out searching for it. But she knew it was useless.

“This is bullshit!” Shaun roared, landing a deafening blow to the kitchen cupboard with a meaty fist. “I left my phone on the bed, went to take a leak, and it was gone when I came out. What the fuck is going on?”

“I didn’t see anyone!” Luis said, gaze darting frantically from face to face. “I mean, I was here the whole time, except when I was in my room, but I mean, I would hear someone skulking around the place, right?”

“None of us did,” Mason muttered.

“What do we do?” Luis demanded. “We can’t stay here.”

“We can’t leave either,” Mason added. “Both cars are totaled.”

“And the sheriff thinks we’ve already left,” Julie chimed in. “I told him we would leave the second we got our cars back. He no doubt knows by now that we picked them up from impound and probably thinks we’re long gone. So he’s not going to swing by and check to see if we’re all right.”

“We’ll go to the neighbors,” Shaun decided. “One of them has got to have a phone we can use.”

Mason nodded. “We could, but the closest house is twenty minutes away and town is an hour.”

“We can’t leave the house,” Julie cut in. “We don’t know where this guy is or if he’s watching our every move. We could leave and he could run us over with his car or something.”

“What does it matter?” Shaun snapped. “He’s already been in the house. The sugar out there,” he jerked a thumb over his shoulder, “was from the pantry and all our phones were inside when they got taken. So I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t feel overly safe being locked up in here.”

Mason and Julie exchanged glances, neither of them sure what to say.

Luis bit his lip. He glanced towards the window over the sink. “I’ll do it. I’ll walk to town. I did it yesterday and made it back okay.” But even as he said it, he lost what little color was remaining on his face.

“No!” Julie said at once. “That’s way too dangerous.”

“Then what do you suggest, Princess?” Shaun shot back. “Just sit here until he gets us or we die of old age?”

“It’s okay,” Luis assured her with a weak smile that reminded her of a pained grimace. “I’m a really fast walker.”

“You could get hurt if you go on your own.”

Shaun straightened. “He won’t be alone. This fucker has no idea who he’s messing with.”

Luis’s shoulders sagged in visible relief. He gave Shaun a grateful smile before turning to Mason as though waiting for permission.

Mason checked the clock. “Fine, but stay together and hurry. It’ll be nightfall soon.”

With nods, the two started for the front door. Mason locked it behind them. Then he set the alarm. They both did a walkthrough of the house, locking windows and double checking doors. It was all bolted shut tight, but, the anxious gnawing in the pit of Julie’s stomach continued to writhe like angry snakes. Her chest ached from the baseball sized lump wedged in her lungs, stifling her every intake of air. She wanted to cry, but couldn’t trust herself to stop if she started. It was all just too much.

“It’s going to be okay,” Mason murmured when he found her staring furiously out the living room window at the driveway.

It was reaching six in the afternoon and there was still no sign of Shaun and Luis. A storm had begun to brew, smearing the sky with an angry mess of black and gray. Fat raindrops crashed like water balloons across the ground and the roof, sounding like missiles falling from the heavens. The wind lashed against the windows, rattling the glass, and making the entire house groan in protest. Part of her wondered if it was the weather keeping them from returning, or something else. Had they even made it to town?

“They’ll be fine.” Mason slipped up behind her and enfolded her in his arms. “Shaun’s too much of a bad ass to let anyone get in his way.”

“I just hope they made it,” she whispered, leaning back against him. “It’s starting to come down pretty hard.”

“I’m sure they did.” He kissed the back of her head. “Are you hungry?”

She shook her head. “I’m too restless to eat.”

“Hey.” He took her gently by the arms and turned her to face him. “Don’t be.” He smoothed her hair off her face. “Everything will be fine.”

Julie pressed a hand to her face. “I’m just so glad I got the kids safely home. I would be a mess if they were still here.”

He drew her hand away. “I don’t believe that. You’re one of the bravest people I know.” He grinned slightly. “How many people can say they took on three grown men?”

Julie narrowed her eyes. “Jackie Chan?”

He laughed, pressed a kiss to her brow, and drew back. “Come on. You need to eat.”

They barely made it three steps when the entire world plunged into a semi darkness. The sort of darkness that was deafening with the silence that followed when everything electronic went dead. It was made thicker by the gloom that hung over the house. It tossed them into a murky gray hue that reminded her of a being trapped in a nightmare.

“What happened?”

“The storm must have knocked out the power,” Mason mused, but there was an edge to his tone she didn’t like. “There’s a backup generator in the basement. Come on. I need to get a flashlight from the kitchen.”

In the kitchen, he left her at the island and stalked to the pantry. She could hear things rattling as they were shuffled aside. Something struck the ground with a resounding clunk. It sounded like a can. It rolled with a noisy clatter and came to a stop. There was a muttering, then, with a triumphant ha, he emerged. He flicked something in his hand and a streak of yellow light splintered through the dimness. He clicked the flashlight off and motioned for her to follow him.

He led them to the laundry room. Julie had only been in there a couple of times and both times the plain, wooden door built into the very far wall of the tiny room had creeped her out. Maybe it was the cramped space, the way someone had crammed everything into such a small place, but the door had always struck her as very large and ominous.

There was a state of the art washer and dryer shoved into the corner on her right and a table bolted to the wall on her left. There was a sliver of space in between that was just large enough for one person to move comfortably, and just enough room for the basement door to be opened inward towards the table.

Julie had never bothered opening the door in all the time she had been trapped in that house, mainly because she had never had a love for dark, dank places, but now she was about to venture almost willingly down and the thought had her slickened with cold sweat.

Mason pulled open the door, and maybe it was her imagination, but she could have sworn a glacial gust of wind shoved against them as though in warning.

Julie gritted her teeth.

“Ready?” Mason asked as he snapped on the flashlight.

Julie swallowed audibly, bolted down her courage and nodded. “Yeah.”

With one hand on Mason’s shoulder, she was steered downward over a row of rickety steps that creaked with their weight. It was eerie that not even the storm reached them that far underground.

“It used to be a storm cellar,” Mason explained, maybe to ease her mind and distract her. “But since we don’t get hurricanes here, it was later converted into a basement. There’s even a hatch somewhere down that way,” he gestured somewhere to the right, “that opens up to the side of the house. But Dad had it bolted shut when a bunch of kids broke in and trashed the place. There were satanic symbols painted all over in red paint and dead animal carcasses strung from the rafters. It freaked Mom out. She still can’t come down here after that.”

“I don’t blame her,” Julie whispered.

Mason sighed. “I think Dad might sell the place after this. He’d been debating it for a while, but...”

He didn’t bother finishing. Julie didn’t need him to. Had it been up to her, she would have set the place on fire and be done with it.

But as soon as the thought penetrated, she shoved it aside. It wasn’t the house’s fault bad things were happening to it and yet ... she couldn’t shake the irrational hatred she felt for it.

Mason swept the light over the musty space. Julie could see concrete walls and rows of dusty, cluttered shelves. It also stank of rotting leaves and grime. There was something else hidden just beneath that, something sharp and sour, but she didn’t dwell as they headed left.

The machine was a tall, square box tucked away in the corner. Mason passed Julie the flashlight and moved to crouch down next to it. She held the light aloft, illuminating the machine as he fiddled with it, twisting knobs and pushing dials. He stabbed at one several times, harder each time than the last. Then he smacked the top of the machine with the flat of his palm.

“Not out of gas,” he muttered to himself as he adjusted his position to peer over the top and into the back. “Why aren’t you turning on?”

Julie moved to shine the light where he was looking.

He reached into the back, fumbled around before releasing a stream of curses that would have made Shaun proud. “This is why!”

He was showing her a tattered bit of wire that was torn from a much larger section. She had to adjust her light to see what it was exactly.

“Is that...?”

“The cord.” He pitched it aside. “Someone deliberately ... fuck!”

He turned and took the light back from her. He rapped it in the palm of his hand with frustration and made the beam flicker, casting them in momentary darkness before he exhaled and let his arms drop down to his sides.

“Okay, well...” He jerked the light back the way they’d come. “There are some candles upstairs. We’ll just hunker down until—”

A sharp snap caught the rest of his words, tearing them away as he and Julie both whipped around in the direction of the sound. Deep in the shadows where even the light from the thin, rectangular windows couldn’t quite penetrate, something flared like a sparkler on a birthday cake. It wasn’t bright enough to bring comfort, but it continued to sparkle and pop.

“What is that?” Julie murmured.

Mason didn’t respond.  He motioned with his free hand for her to follow as he started a careful path in the direction of the flashes. The light in his hand crept two feet ahead of them, a dim circle that barely made a dent in the darkness. Julie kept close on Mason’s heels, but not so close she was stepping on him. Her heart cracked between her ears, muffling the sound of their feet.

Gingerly, he lifted the light, letting it climb over boxes, forgotten pieces of furniture, abandoned toys and sport equipment to glisten over wet walls. At the foot of the stairs, he motioned for Julie to stay.

She tried to protest, but he was already walking away, taking the light with him. She contemplated following him or, better yet, bolting upstairs and locking herself up in her room until help arrived. But as tempting as the thought was, she remained and watched in silence as the flashlight skimmed over a gray, metal box. It was crushed and dented. Sparks were flying from where wires had been torn out. Mason cursed as he leaped forward and yanked down the lever along the side. The crackling stopped, but the fuse box was toast. It would need to be replaced. It was also why the lights were no longer working. Someone had gutted the thing, leaving them without power or any way of getting help.

They were truly fucked.

“Oh God...” Her breath came out broken and hoarse.

The room spun. She would have hit the ground had she not been saved by reflexively grabbing the banister. Splinters burrowed into her skin, but she felt nothing, except the overpowering urge to throw up. Cold sweat dampened her top to her back. She shuddered at the clammy sensation slithering up her spine.

“Julie.”

Mason took hold of her. It was his firm hands that guided her upstairs. He shut the door behind them and propelled her into the living room. He dumped her down on the sofa and hurried to the window overlooking the driveway. He shoved back the curtains and peered out through the downpour.

She knew the others must not have arrived, because he growled deep in his throat and shoved the curtains back over the window. He scooped a hand through his hair and fisted his fingers into the thick, silky strands.

“Okay.” He straightened as though that single word had the power to fill him with confidence, and a plan. “Stay here.”

Disliking that idea immediately, Julie lunged to her feet as he took wide strides to the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To find weapons. This asshole wants to play games? Well, I’m not going to just sit here and wait for him.”

She watched him leave and felt a chill pass through her. Shadows pooled in the corners of the room and poured down the walls to collect all around her. They seemed to move in as though sensing her fears.

In the other room, she could hear Mason rummaging through the cupboards and drawers. Silverware cluttered on the counter. She had no idea what sort of weapon he was searching for, but she decided that he was right. She wasn’t going to just sit idly by and let some psychopath kill her. All the years she spent practicing kickboxing, all the money her parents spent to make sure she never became a victim, would be for nothing if she did nothing.

Pushing aside all the lingering fingers of dread clawing down the length of her spine, Julie stalked from the room. She hurried up the stairs, only to freeze on the landing. The upstairs corridor was dark, made even darker by the closed doors on either side of her. The cold fist squeezing her stomach tightened with terror. In her chest, her heart rocketed with such ferocity that she was certain it could be heard for miles. She trembled as she put one foot forward, then the other. Her breathing drove out of her lungs in pants. She dampened her lips as her eyes shifted restlessly from side to side, scanning the darkness for even the slightest movement. There was no sound, but the rustle of her footsteps along the carpet. She tried holding her breath, but that only made her lightheaded. She swallowed and the gulping sound seemed to echo around her.

At the end, the doorknob slipped under her sweaty grip. She tightened her hold and wrenched the door open. She bolted inside as though a monster were behind her and shut the door between them. The lock slid into place with a deafening snick. Cold chills snaked over her clammy body as if someone had left a window open somewhere. She knew that wasn’t possible, because she and Mason had checked all windows and doors before the lights had died. Yet the draft continued to blow over her as she turned to the room and fumbled her way to the bed. Her finger slid over cool sheets until they caught on the straps of her duffle. She dragged the bag to her and ripped open the top.

Downstairs, she heard a cupboard door slam shut. Then the unmistakable murmur of voices followed by a thud as though something heavy had struck the ground.

Julie grabbed her bat from her duffle. Her fingers held firm to the rubber grip as she crossed the room a second time and pried the door open a crack. She listened carefully for some sign that she wasn’t alone and heard nothing. Not cupboard doors slamming. Not the hurried shuffle of Mason’s feet. Not cutlery rattling. Silence. Endless, bottomless, silence.

Her mouth opened without any of her consent. His name rushed up her esophagus before she caught herself. Only stupid girls called out and they always wound up paying with their lives.

Drawing in a shaky breath, she eased out of her room and crept her way downstairs. She kept her back along the wall, moving quickly and silently over each step with the bat nestled against her shoulder. From somewhere in the distance, lightening crashed. A moment later, thunder rumbled, shaking the roof. Her heart galloped wildly with the sound and she had to pause to steady herself before descending the rest of the way.

At the bottom, she scampered to the opposite wall and plastered her back to the wall next to the living room doorway. She counted three heartbeats before tossing a quick glance inside. The room was empty. Not sure how she felt about that, she moved to the second doorway—the kitchen.

She paused for longer this time. She listened as the wind howled from inside. The sound of rain was more pronounced like a door or window were open. She wondered if Mason had gone outside, but she couldn’t figure out why he would, especially without telling her.

Holding her breath, she twisted her neck and did a quick scan of the room. It was also empty. Mason was nowhere in sight. The patio doors were flung open, letting rain stain the hardwood. Outside, the trees bowed beneath the wind’s merciless force like claws snatching at the night. The sky was the color of an ink spill. She frowned as she crept further into the room. She crossed to the opening and peered out at the dwindling fingers of light fading beyond the horizon. It shimmered over the rolling waves crashing into the dock. The lake roiled as though it were in competition with the sky.

Julie shivered as icy claws slashed at her, tearing at her clothes and hair. She rushed forward and pulled the doors shut. She locked them and took a step back.

Mind muddled by questions she had no answer to, she turned away and headed for the island. The remaining fingers of light sliced off the razor sharp curves of knives all piled on the counter. Forks, spoons and bowls littered the floor. Amongst them, she spotted the flashlight Mason had been using and the warning bells sounded in her head.

Something had happened to Mason. He wouldn’t just leave, not without her, not without a flashlight.

She spun towards the doorway and thought of the empty living room, the foyer, and the rooms upstairs. He couldn’t have gone that way without her knowing.

Her gaze went to the patio doors. Had he gone outside? But why? Unless he didn’t go of his own free volition.

Another cold, sinking thought gnashed its fangs inside her; what if the killer had him? What if Mason was dead?

No! She couldn’t let herself think that way. There wasn’t any blood. Mason could still be alive. She had to find him.

While she wanted to crawl into the pantry and wait until morning, she went with the first feeling. She let the white hot determination consume her, even as her hands shook.

She bent down and picked up the flashlight. She flicked it on and shone the beam over the room, chasing away the darkness collecting all around her. Part of her was dying to call out, to call for Mason, but she knew deep down he wasn’t in the house.

As big as the cabin was, there still weren’t very many places to hide. She had already been upstairs, so whoever was in the house, had to either be on the main floor, the basement, or outside.

Julie contemplated making a run for it. She could get help. But that meant leaving Mason behind with a lunatic. She couldn’t do that either. So with her bat in one hand and the flashlight in the other, she set off into the hall. She swung the light left, then right before turning her body right towards the laundry room. Her feet made hardly a sound as she traced the steps she and Mason had taken only ten minutes earlier.

The basement door was shut. There was no sign that it had been opened by anyone since Mason. But that didn’t mean anything.

After tucking the bat under her arm, she used her freed hand to turn the knob. She shone the light down the dark hole, waiting for something to jump out. When nothing did and silence resumed, she eased her way down. The steps creaked, each one making her flinch. The repugnant stench of copper slammed into her, stronger than before. She didn’t recognize the scent, but it was sharp. She swept the light over the dank walls, over the cold concrete floors, and even along the rafters overhead, but everything looked as it had when she’d been down there earlier.

She took a step right. The toe of her sneaker caught a bit of metal. The thing made a world of noise for something so small before it disappeared behind a stack of boxes.

Julie held her breath. She waited for something to lunge out and tackle her and exhaled when nothing did. More careful about where she stepped, she edged deeper. Her light swung over cartons, a wooden rocking horse, and a workbench that was mounted beneath a wall of tools.

Julie took a cautious step closer. The beam of light shook violently, practically vibrating as the halo stuttered across stone.

Something rustled in the black corner off to her right, behind a wall of boxes and shadows. It scuffled. A groan rose through the sickening silence and punched her in the chest. Her mind warred with itself and all her commonsense warned her to get away. Yet she stayed. She remained rooted to the spot and watched in wide-eyed terror as something dark and hulking rose from its crouch. It staggered and caught itself on the wall with a bloody hand. More blood soaked its blue t-shirt and trickled down dark jeans. It was holding something, something sharp and silver that caught her light and glinted.

Julie’s insides went cold.

The figure roared like a cornered animal and lunged for her.

Chapter Twenty-One

With a scream that seemed to tear from somewhere deep in the center of her very being, Julie shot back. The light in her hand fell. It hit the ground with a noisy clatter that went unnoticed, even when the beam flickered and died, casting her into absolute darkness.

She grabbed the bat with both hands and swung blindly. It connected with something, but when there was no sound of pain, she realized she’d hit a row of boxes.

Struggling with the panic welling up inside her, Julie blindly threw herself back the way she’d come. The figure charged after her like a bull through a china shop, knocking aside boxes, and plunging blindly on her heels. There was a thud, a loud, snarling grunt and then scuffling.

Julie didn’t wait to see what happened. She took the steps two at a time, hand still fisted tightly around her bat. Somewhere below, a snarl ripped through her heavy breathing. More boxes hit the ground.

Julie fell into the laundry room. Her hip and side took most of the blow, but the pain was fleeting. She barely felt it as she scrambled the rest of the way in. Her bat rolled out of her hands, but she left it as she twisted around and kicked the door shut behind her. Half sobbing and half panting, she crab-crawled backwards, away from the flimsy bit of wood standing between her and the knife wielding maniac below.

Limbs numb and barely in control, she pushed to her feet and ran into the kitchen. She grabbed a chair from the table and hauled it back. The headrest slid perfectly under the knob and the back feet caught the grooves cut in between each square piece of laminate.

It wouldn’t hold him forever, but it would hold him for a while.

Snatching up her bat, she hurried out of the tiny room and closed the door behind her as an extra obstacle. For a moment, she stood in the dark hallway, surrounded by the howls of wind and crashes of lightening feeling shaken and sick.

Her momentary feeling of triumph was shattered when a scuffle had her entire body going rigid all over again. Her head snapped in the direction of the sound. The grip on her bat tightened.

The shuffle continued, getting closer. Then there was a grunt, the heavy thud of a body hitting the ground, and a low groan. It took all her willpower not to call out. She did, however, inch towards the kitchen; if she could get to the terrace doors, maybe she could make a run for it, get help.

“Hello?” The voice was low, weak, and full of tremors. It froze Julie to the floor. “Mason? Julie?”

It was Luis. He gripped the railings on the stairs and hauled himself to his feet. There was something long jutting from the side of his head.

“Luis?”

She heard his sharp intake of breath. “Julie?”

She hurried towards him. “Oh my God, Luis! Are you okay?”

The bar was his arm and he was holding a blood soaked rag to his brow, which, even in the darkness, glistened where a deep gash had been opened from hairline to cheek.

“What happened?” she demanded, taking his arm and helping him into the kitchen.

“Shaun...” A sound between a wheeze and a sob escaped him as she eased him onto a stool. “He ... there’s something wrong with him. He attacked me.”

Leaving him there, Julie set her bat down on the counter, grabbed a clean dish cloth, and dampened it in the tap. She returned to him and replaced his rag with hers. He hissed and jerked, but didn’t pull away.

“What do you mean he attacked you? I thought you guys were going to get help.”

“I don’t know what happened. I remember us leaving and walking up the road ... then everything went black. I woke up in the garage. Shaun was holding a knife and ... and there was blood dripping off it, and him. He was covered.” Luis shuddered, his voice wavered. “I ... I asked him what he was doing, but he came at me, screaming. I hit him with something ... I think it was a car jack, or something. I don’t remember. Then I ran. I came here and couldn’t find anyone. I was upstairs when I heard a bang. I thought at first it was Shaun, coming back to finish the job, but ... well, it was you.”

Applying a bit more pressure to his wounds, Julie shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense. Why would Shaun—”

“I told you I thought something was off with him,” Luis hissed, keeping his voice low.

“No, this doesn’t add up...”

“Where’s Mason?” Luis asked, interrupting her.

“I don’t know!” she cried. “He was here, in the kitchen, looking for a weapon. I went upstairs and when I came back, Mason was gone, the backdoors were open and there...” She broke off when realization suddenly struck her. “Shaun’s in the basement.”

Luis stiffened. “What?”

Julie wet her lips. “There’s someone in the basement. They have a knife.”

“Shaun!” The single name was choked with fear.

A cold tremor passed through Julie. “Do you think he did something to Mason?”

“Oh God!” Luis doubled over wheezing. “Oh God! Oh God!”

Realizing he would be no help, Julie took hold of his wrist. She brought his hand to the cloth staunching the flow of blood running down his face and stepped back.

“I’m going to find Mason,” she said. “He has to be here somewhere.”

Luis rocked his head morbidly from side to side. “He’s dead. Shaun killed him.”

“Stop it!” she snapped. “He’s not dead. He’s here somewhere.”

Luis continued to moan and sniffle. She left him there as she grabbed her bat and set off. But no sooner had she reached the laundry room when Luis staggered after her, looking ashen and scared enough to faint.

“I don’t ... I don’t think you should go alone,” he explained shakily. “Isn’t there a rule about ... about that? Don’t split up?”

Saying nothing to that, she pulled in a breath and reached for the chair. It took some doing to maneuver the thing out with Luis right behind her and about two feet of space, but Luis dragged the chair out and left it in the hallway. Then there was nothing between them and the threat, except a door.

Silence echoed on the other side, which only heightened the terror coursing through her like ice water. Part of her wondered why Shaun hadn’t followed her up. What game was he playing? The gash on Luis’s face said a dangerous one.

Taking hold of the doorknob, she inched the door open and peered down at the thick darkness below. A frosty draft wafted up, laced with the sour stench she now recognized as blood, and slammed into her. She hissed and gritted her teeth.

“Maybe we shouldn’t...” Luis whispered.

Julie ignored him. She started downward, placing each foot gingerly on the steps. Not that it mattered. Luis stumbled down after her like a pack of elephants. She had half a mind to tell him to go back, to wait for her in the laundry room, but she knew he wouldn’t. For which she was glad. Without her light, the basement was the absolute definition of black. It was vast, cold, and silent. They walked into several boxes and furniture before they reached the spot she had last seen Shaun.

It was silent now. No groaning or shuffling. But the rain was louder. The moldy air was colder and swirling. She followed the draft to the open hatch at the very back of the room facing the side of the house.

“Mason said this was boarded up,” she mumbled to herself.

“Not anymore,” Luis croaked.

“We have to get back upstairs.”

The harsh grind of steel skating over stone ricocheted from somewhere behind her a split second before something struck the side of her head and everything pitched to black.

The world was buzzing when the veil of darkness finally lifted. A dull throbbing resonated somewhere along her skull and down the back of her neck. It made her muscles scream in protested when Julie tried to sit up. She hissed as bright splotches of light flickered through the darkness. Her stomach roiled. She raised a hand to touch the egg-sized bump protruding from the side of her head. Even without being able to see, she could feel the slick sensation of blood on her fingers. Her hair was matted with it.

Don’t panic, she willed herself as she blinked, momentarily terrified that she’d gone blind when all she could see was black.

“Julie?” Someone shuffled closer. Firm hands tucked around her shoulders and eased her up against the wall. “Are you okay?”

She tried to generate spit to speak. Her mouth was filled with cotton and tasted like she’d been licking a dirty carpet. She whined and closed her eyes.

“Take it easy,” he told her. “He hit you pretty hard.”

He? Then she remembered. Shaun.

She struggled out of hold cradling her. “Where—”

“Easy!” Luis stressed. “You’re safe. I got us out of there.”

“What...?” She squinted, trying to make out where they were exactly, but all she could hear was the rain above them and the smell of ocean. “Where are we?”

“Your room,” Luis said. “It’s the only room with a lock.”

She heaved herself a little higher and grimaced at having to jostle her stiffened joints. “Why am I on the floor?”

“Uh, well...” He faltered. “This is as far as I could carry you.”

She let it go.

“What happened?”

She felt him position himself down next to her with his back to the wall and his shoulder and hip brushing hers.

“He got the jump on us,” Luis explained. “I don’t remember it all very well. It all happened so fast.”

“Mason?”

She felt the jerk of his shoulder. “I don’t know.”

Woozy, she let her head fall back against the coolness of the wall, only to further agitate the lump there. She jerked forward once more.

“We can’t stay here,” she mumbled. “We need to get help.”

Luis was quiet for a moment. “I could go to the neighbor’s.”

Julie shook her head. “We’ll both go.”

“You should stay here,” he advised. “You just got hit in the head. You probably have a concussion.”

“I need to help Mason,” she said sharply. “Besides, there’s no guarantee he won’t be able to get in. I’ll be a sitting duck.”

With his help, she got to her feet. The room swam dangerously and she swayed into Luis, who nearly buckled under her weight. She shut her eyes as her stomach lurched and the bitter tang of bile flooded her mouth.

“Okay?”

She waited a beat to make certain her legs could support her before giving him a nod he couldn’t possibly see. “Yes.”

Luis took the lead. He led the way downstairs and the double doors standing open to the stormy night.

“Did you...?”

“No.” Luis’ grip on her arm tightened. “He’s in the house.”

“Or he’s outside.”

“We need to hurry.”

She made no argument to that. They hurried to the door. The rain hit their faces, soaked their clothes. Their feet slipped on the porch steps. Then...

“Hey!”

The silhouette was unmistakable. Shaun, hulking, stained with blood and wielding a knife loomed in the hallway behind them. His face was obscured by shadows, but his eyes gleamed like quarters at the bottom of a dark well.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he growled.

There was a slur to his voice and when he took a step forward, it was unsteady.

“Julie, run!” Luis shoved her, knocking her off the steps and into the rain.

The pavement rose up to meet her and tore through her jeans to rip skin. Her hip splintered with pain and she heard the sickening crack of bone where her left arm cushioned her weight.

Julie cried out as hot sickles of fire snapped at the tendons of her numb arm. Her fingers locked into claws, unwilling to move as she twisted onto her back and cradled her injuries to her chest. Rain stabbed her face, blinding her as she willed herself not to throw up.

Somewhere through the agonizing pain, she heard a roar puncture through the air. Someone screamed and then two figures flew off the porch. They landed with a nauseating crash a mere five feet from her in a tangled heap of flailing limbs.

Julie heaved her throbbing frame up and staggered with the effort. Her head swam dangerously and she momentarily saw double before she blinked and everything came back into focus.

Shaun was on top, straddling Luis who had a hold of Shaun’s wrist with both hands as the knife point hovered inches from Luis’s pale throat. Both had their teeth bared like a pair of wolves fighting for dominance.

“Get off him!” Julie screamed over the whistling wind and pounding rain.

Not allowing herself time to think, she threw herself onto Shaun’s back, wrapped her good arms around his throat and heaved back with all her might. Shaun never so much as budged. The muscles across his back bunched and rolled beneath her chest as he pushed harder to impale Luis on the blade.

“Shaun, stop!” she yelled into his ear. “What are you doing?”

He didn’t seem to be listening to her. All his focus was set on kill Luis. So Julie did the only thing she could think of, she gouged her thumbs into his eyes.

Shaun roared. He twisted his massive body, bucking for all he was worth until he threw Julie off. She landed in the dirt and he tumbled off Luis.

He seemed to sway under the attack as though that single act had zapped him of all his strength. He slumped on his forearms, breathing hard through the rain. His back shuddered like he couldn’t catch his breath. The knife lay forgotten inches from him.

“Shaun?” Julie pulled her aching frame up, never taking her eyes off him.

Luis twisted away, coughing. Julie watched him push to all four before heaving himself up. Like Shaun, like her, he was bathed in shadows that obscured his features. So she couldn’t tell what he was thinking when he swooped down and snatched the knife up.

“Are you okay, Julie?”

Despite nearly being skewered, Luis sounded ... calm. Slightly breathless, but not nearly as shaken as he should have been.

“Yeah...”

He moved around Shaun’s curled figure and stood over her, the knife glinting at his side. Julie told herself to stop being ridiculous. This was Luis. She trusted Luis. Nevertheless, she flinched when he reached for her.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said as he locked his fingers around her arm and hauled her up.

Shaking him off, she looked down at Shaun. “What do we do with him?”

Luis left her side and circled back around Shaun. “Get inside,” he said. “I’ll bring him.”

“Don’t you need help carrying—?”

“No, no, I got him.”

Shivering, Julie staggered her way back up the porch and into the house. Her mind was spinning. There were too many questions and none of it added up.

Shaun wasn’t the killer. He couldn’t be. She had known him for too long and if he’d spent the last five years running from Dr. Nixon, she would have known. So what the hell was wrong with him? Why would he attack Luis? Why would he kidnap Mason? Why was he chasing them? Julie felt like she was missing a very large piece of the puzzle.

When the floorboards behind her creaked, she turned, half expecting Luis to be staggering under Shaun’s massive weight. Instead, he was alone.

“Do you need help?” she asked, her voice small.

She saw him shake his head as he closed the doors behind him. “No.”

Something cracked in her chest. “Where’s Shaun?”

The locks clicked into place. He turned to her. “He won’t be joining us.”

Julie fell back a step, then two. “What?”

He rapped something against the side of his thigh. It was too dark to see, but she knew what it was.

“Luis, what—?”

“He came at me. I had to defend myself.”

A choked gasp escaped her as the implication of his words hit her square in the gut.

“I didn’t have a choice,” he went on in a tone that was much too gruff, too ... husky.

“You killed Shaun?”

He spread his arms open. “He was going to kill us. I had to do something.”

“Oh my God!”

“Julie...”

He took a step towards her and she jerked back, putting her hands up between them.

“Don’t!”

He halted. He sighed and his head cocked to the side. “I was trying to protect you.”

“You killed Shaun!”

“He had it coming, you know that.”

She rocked her head wildly from side to side. “I can’t believe you...”

“Julie.” There was impatience coloring his tone now. “You need to calm down.”

She took another retreating step back. Luis didn’t seem to notice, or he didn’t care. She was almost at the kitchen. If she could distract him a little longer, she could run for the terrace doors.

“Go ahead,” he taunted. “Run. I haven’t had a runner in two years and I miss it.”

“What...?” It was apparently all she was capable of saying.

He advanced on her, his strides slow and even. “You ruined things for me, Julie. I can’t tell you how disappointed I am in you.”

Julie said nothing. Her sneakers squeaked against hardwood in her haste to keep five steps between them. Her back struck the doorframe and she stumbled into the kitchen.

Luis followed.

“Do you have any idea how hard it is to gain someone’s trust?” he asked her in an admonishing tone that suggested he was simply toying with her. “It’s hard! It takes years, but I was patient. I bided my time. I played nice ... well, most of the time.”

His grin flashed a blinding white in the explosion of lightening that crashed just outside the patio doors. It illuminated his brown eyes, the blood smearing his face, and the knife, dripping with Shaun’s blood, clutched in his hand.

“Even the most patient man occasionally slips,” he went on. “But the trick is to fight it, stave back that hunger until the perfect moment.”

“You’re Jimmy,” she whispered.

His chuckle grated against the length of her spine like razorblades. “I’m Luis,” he corrected. “I haven’t been Jimmy in a very long time. Dr. Nixon will be so upset. I think he really liked Jimmy.”

“He said you weren’t aware of your other—”

“My other what?” he challenged. “My other personalities?” He laughed, cold and brittle. “There is no other personality. This is it. This is me. Jimmy was a means to an end.” He paused. When he spoke again, his voice was sharp. “I should have killed that meddlesome fool when I had the chance. That’s what you get when you become sentimental.”

Julie came up against the table. It skidded an inch under her weight. “I don’t understand...”

It didn’t make sense. None of it. How could Luis be Jimmy? How could Luis be the killer? Luis, shy, thoughtful ... adorable Luis. Part of her wondered if this was some kind of sick joke everyone was in on, except her. Any minute, she expected Mason and Shaun to come bursting through the doors, laughing and teasing her for falling for it.

But the doorway remained empty. Luis continued to standing before her, colored in shadows, wielding a blood stained knife.

“It’s hard to understand,” he agreed with a hint of regret in his tone. “But then again, you weren’t supposed to be here, so really, it’s your own fault.”

Julie could only shake her head soundlessly.

“I was,” he continued, “a little concerned when you brought along the children.” He paused. “I’ve never killed children. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it, which is why I suggested the camping trip, to save them from meeting the same fate, unfortunately, I’d been careless. Got a little blood on the door handle...” He hissed through his teeth. “Nevertheless, you made it simple again by having the children sent off so...”

He said it with such casual disregard, as though they were discussing a pizza flavor he hadn’t tried that Julie gagged.

“Don’t be like that,” he huffed, offended. “It’s not something I can help you know,” he explained. “I just ... I have to. It’s kind of like when you’re really thirsty, but there’s nothing to drink. You start craving it. Needing it. It becomes so strong that you can’t breathe or think. Then, when you finally put the rim of that cool glass to your lip...” He sucked in a sharp, lusty breath. “It’s beautiful. The high is incredible.”

“You killed that girl ... Bethany Row,” Julie croaked.

Luis hissed through his teeth. “I did,” he confessed. “I feel absolutely horrible about it, too. I haven’t lost control like that in a very long time. But again, your fault.”

“How—”

“This week was supposed to be my honeymoon!” he exclaimed, cutting her off. “Killing that girl ... it felt so ... dirty. Kind of like having meaningless sex with a stranger. Shaun and Mason, however ... I’ve been working on them for years. Teasing myself. Coming so close only to pull away...” He moaned and the sound sent a chill down her spine. “I was finally going to cut into them. I was going to take my time, bleed them out slowly in their beds. Then you showed up. You ruined everything, Julie. You forced me to rush my work. I got a little carried away with the kittens, I’ll admit, but I was pissed.”

“We trusted you!”

Luis laughed with heady delight. “I know! Oh my God! I know.” He exhaled elatedly. “Just when I thought my plans were ruined ... I saw it in your eyes. I saw the trust. It was so disgustingly easy!” He hissed through his teeth with a relish of someone getting steak after being starved for weeks. “There is something uniquely special about killing someone when they don’t expect it, someone who trusts you and watching the confusion and betrayal in their eyes as they realize what’s happening. Some just lie there. Some cry and beg me not to kill them. But it’s the ones that scream...” He moaned thickly. “It’s like experiencing the ultimate orgasm.”

“How many have there been?” she wondered sickly.

“That the police have actually found, or in total?” There was a gruesome sort of amusement in his question. “Not nearly as many as I would have liked,” he said. “Building that level of trust ... it takes time and patience like slow, careful foreplay. I may not have hit the hundred mark, but it’s not in the numbers. It’s about the process. The careful planning and research.”

“Who’s Luis?”

She saw his shoulders bunch high in a shrug. “Some kid from Wyoming. Met him in a bar one night. Two beers in, a friendly face and an understanding ear and he was spilling his whole life story to me. Raised by an uncaring grandmother, ran away first chance he got, and had high dreams of becoming a doctor. We hung out a few times, I learned all I could about him before he had an unfortunate accident and was never seen again. The rest was pretty simple, slipping into Luis’s life, becoming him. I even called his grandmother a few times, just for a thrill. She never knew the difference. Between you and me, I think she might have preferred the new Luis to the old one. I even contemplated paying old grandma a visit, but then I met Mason and Shaun. Mason I can almost say I liked, but Shaun ... the fucking douchebag. I wanted to kill him on sight. But I knew that the payout in the end would be much more rewarding if I made him think I was his friend, that I was trustworthy, someone he could sleep down the hall from without worry. All the while, I dreamt of the day I would run my blade across his throat and watch as he struggled to breathe.”

“You’re insane!” The words flew from her mouth before she could stop them.

“I’m sick,” he corrected. “Didn’t you hear Dr. Nixon? I am a poor, unstable young man with so much potential. I should have killed him.” The lightness left his voice. “He almost ruined everything! Do you have any idea how many people I could have killed by now if he hadn’t sent my picture to every fucking pig with a badge? Not that I was worried. I am expert at reinventing myself. My own mother wouldn’t recognize me if I didn’t want her to. I mean, if I hadn’t killed her and my father.”

“The police will find you,” she said with far more bravery than she felt. “You gave them your handprint.”

Luis burst out laughing, a high, shrill sound that made her cringe. “Do you think I’m stupid, Julie? I’ve been doing this for a very long time and I have killed so many people. I only got caught with my parents because I didn’t know better. I was a child. But I’m wiser now. I’m careful.” He paused. She saw his head cock to the side as if listening to something in the distance. “I’m smoke,” he decided, sounding in awe of his own awesomeness. “I cannot be caught.”

“But you can’t fake your fingerprints,” she argued. “I saw you—”

“You saw what I wanted you to see.” He raised his arms. She couldn’t see him very well, but she had a feeling he was holding out his palms to her. “I have been coating my hands with liquid latex ever since I got here. You will not find a single one of my fingerprints anywhere in this house.”

She remembered his room, so immaculate. Everything carefully in its place. She thought how he never really left his room, unless it was to eat. Even when he watched TV, he let Shaun pick the shows.

“The sheriff knows what you look like,” she tried again, hoping to stall for time. “He’s getting a sketch done of your face. As soon as he sees it, he’ll know—”

“I’ll be long gone before then,” he replied coolly. “You’re the last thread, Julie. After I kill you, I disappear and become someone else. Do you see now?” he asked delicately when she said nothing. “I have been preparing for this week for a very long time. And even with the unexpected turn of events, mainly you, I am prepared. After I kill you, I will bury your body somewhere deep in the woods. No one will find you. Oh they will look of course, but, eventually, they will give up. They will bury you in an empty casket, throw in some dirt, cry, and then they will all move on and you will become a mere memory. Sweet, beautiful Julie, gone forever. She will be missed. I promise to send flowers.”

“Where’s Mason?” Her voice quivered, revealing the numbing terror rooting her to the floor. “Did you kill him?”

“Let’s put it this way,” he took a step forward, “if you scream, and I hope you do, no one will hear you.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

She didn’t scream. He gave her no chance to when he lunged. Julie spun on her heels and bolted through the kitchen with him in pursuit. The terrace window loomed ahead, urging her to push harder. Her heart pumped fast and hard in her chest, she’d almost reached the doors when she was grabbed from behind and shoved. Her feet slid out from under her and she slammed into the ground on her injured arm. Her chin bounced off the hardwood and the tang of blood pooled in her mouth. Her cry of pain was swallowed by a whimper when her hair was fisted and her neck was forced back.

“Killing you,” Luis growled into the side of her face. “Won’t bring me much pleasure, but I will make do.”

The steel curve of the knife, still slick with Shaun’s blood, bit into the soft tissues of her esophagus. A fine trickle of blood ran hot down into the hollow of her collarbone. It took all her willpower not to swallow. All her training, everything she had spent years learning in order to defend herself flew out the window, and, for the first time in her life, she felt powerless. She could do nothing but lie there with her eyes squeezed shut and wait for the sharp edge to tear open her flesh and for her blood to gush across the hardwood.

She was saying her prayers when the room exploded. The deafening crash ripped the knife wielding hand away with only a thin nick marring her skin. Shards of glass rained over her, cutting her arms when they flew up to shield her face. Something heavy hit the floor and shattered. Thundering feet pummeled the hardwood. Then there was a hard punch of air above her and more thumps, followed by grunts and snarls.

Julie rolled onto her back, ignoring the sharp slivers that burrowed into her palms and cut her clothes to get at her flesh. She scrambled upright and squinted at the two silhouettes writhing a mere few feet away.

The crunch of bones and thwack of fist pounding on meat muffled her erratic breathing. Lightening flared across the sky behind her, illuminating the carpet of glass beneath her like a million spilled diamonds and the two fighting just a few feet away. Tendrils of ice blew through the gaping hole where the terrace doors had once been. It slammed into her back, blowing her hair into her face but. Even then, there was no mistaking the figure on top of Luis.

“Mason?”

He never glanced at her. His clothes were wet. His dark hair fell in damp fringes over his scratched and bleeding face as he wrestled Luis to the ground. There was a gash on his bottom lip and it was oozing fresh blood that was running down his chin. A clay flowerpot lay several feet from the pair, shattered with the soil spilling free. It was what Mason had used to break the glass.

Paralyzed from nearly being killed, overwhelmed with joy at the sight of Mason, Julie couldn’t bring herself to move. She sat in stunned silence as Mason cocked back an arm and launched it with a thousand watts of fury straight into Luis’s jaw. Luis’s head snapped back with a sickening crunch that made Julie flinch. He went instantly limp and Mason let him slump to the ground. He got to his feet. His boots crunched on broken glass. He swayed, but remained upright as he pivoted on his heels and faced her.

“Julie?”

With a cry of his name, Julie launched herself at him. He staggered under her weight, nearly went down, but she was caught mid leap and violently jerked into his embrace. One hand closed in her hair while the other became an iron shackle around her middle.

“Are you okay?” His voice was gruff and filled with anguish.

She nodded from her place nestled in the hollow of his throat. “Are you?”

His response was a jerky nod of his head. His arms tightened, becoming suffocating. Then, just as suddenly, he released her and thrust her out to arm’s length. She couldn’t see his face, but the heat of his eyes burned over her.

“Are you sure?” he demanded.

She nodded. “I’m okay. Are you hurt?”

He exhaled. “No.”

As relieved as she was, her hands continued an anxious path over his chest, his shoulders, his face, anywhere she could reach.

“I thought he killed you,” she said, tears in her voice. “I thought ... he’s not Luis. He’s the killer.”

“I know.” He wiped the rain and sweat and blood off his face with the back of his forearm. “I heard everything.”

“It was all a lie,” she went on, her disbelief pouring out in a flood of words. “Everything. He’s been trying to gain your trust so he could kill you.”

“I know,” he said again, softer ... sadder. “He played all of us.”

Trembling uncontrollably, Julie clutched at herself, trying to hold herself together. “What do we do, Mason? We need to get the police.” She seemed to think of a better question. “What happened to you?”

For a long moment, it was only the raging storm outside that responded to her question. It pitched and rolled, slamming into the house. Finally, he seemed to draw himself together enough to answer.

“I heard him come into the kitchen. I turned, thinking it was you. He injected me with something. I felt a sharp sting in my neck and then everything went black. I woke up in the garage.”

That explained why Shaun was so disorientated. Why Mason was so unsteady on his feet. Julie touched the back of her skull and winced at the fresh pain the contact brought forth.

“Why didn’t he drug me?” she wondered aloud to herself. “I think I would have preferred it to getting my brains bashed in.”

Mason turned his head a notch towards her. “He hit you?”

Julie sighed. “It’s a long story. The point is that we need to tie him up and get Sheriff Reynolds. We need to get an ambulance. Shaun—”

She felt him go rigid. “Where is Shaun?”

She moistened her lips, tasting blood and rain. “Mason...”

“Where is he?” he snapped.

Julie hesitated before answering, “I ... I don’t know. I think Luis killed him.” She told him quickly what happened, everything from the point where Mason disappeared and she found Shaun in the basement. “I’m so sorry, Mason,” she said in a rush when he turned his back.

“We trusted him,” he mumbled at last. “We took him into our home and ... all this time...”

Julie rested a hand on his arm. “It’s what he wanted,” she tried to explain. “He gets you to trust him and then he kills you. There is no way you could have known who he really was. Dr. Nixon was wrong. Luis doesn’t have multiple personality disorder. He finds someone no one will miss and becomes them. He takes over their lives, makes friends, and kills them. Then he vanishes.”

“Who’s Luis Nelson?”

Julie shrugged slightly. “A boy he met at the bar one night.”

She heard his deep intake of air. Felt him hold it before expelling it in a growl.

“Two fucking years.” He moved away, turning his back on Luis and Julie as he stalked to the hole where the window had once been. “I’ll watch him. There’s rope in the garage. Can you get it?”

Relieved to have something to do, Julie didn’t argue as she left him alone in the kitchen with Luis and jogged to the front door. It was only when she touched the doorknob that she hesitated. Shaun was still out there, in the dirt, in the rain, dead. She considered calling Mason and asking him to help her move Shaun, but opted against it. Mason needed time alone and it was the only comfort she was capable of giving in that moment when she herself was barely holding it together.

She opened the door slowly and peered at the steady sheet of raining that obscured the world beyond the porch. Shaun lay in a puddle five feet from the first steps. The water around him was dark and she didn’t know if that was from the shadows, or from his blood.

Leaving the door open, she went to him. Her hand shook. She pressed two fingers to the pulse at his throat and held her own breath.

The figure on the ground groaned. Julie screamed. She jerked back and stumbled onto her backside. Her heaving breaths broke through the darkness in white clouds that created a wall inches from her face.

“Julie?” Mason appeared in the doorway.

Julie scrambled onto her knees and reached for Shaun. “Shaun?” She cupped his face between her hands. “Shaun!” Silence. “Mason, help me!”

Mason plunged into the rain.

“He’s alive,” she panted. “Help me get him inside.”

It was all Mason needed to hear. He bent down and threw Shaun’s arm around his shoulders and eased against his friend’s side. Julie did the same on Shaun’s other side and together, they hoisted the man, all seven feet and two hundred pounds of him.

Julie’s arm throbbed. Her hip where she had fallen off the porch burned. Her knees almost buckled under the pain spiking through her, but she held tight to Shaun all the way up the front steps, across the porch, and over the threshold. She was drenched and wheezing by the time they made it to the sofa. Mason didn’t seem to care that Shaun was oozing blood, or that the sofa was white. He laid his friend down and stood over him, as breathless as Julie.

“Towels,” she breathed, dropping down next to Shaun on the floor. “Lots of towels.”

Mason nodded and left the room.

Julie touched Shaun’s face. The skin was cold and clammy. She pressed her ear to his mouth, listening for the soft whisper of life. She held her own breath, waiting.

It was there, faint, but enough to give her hope. Her gaze shot to the empty doorway, wondering where the hell Mason was.

There was a crash in the next room and Julie shot to her feet.

“Mason?” Leaving Shaun on the sofa, she hurried into the hall. “Mason?”

In the kitchen doorway, she paused, trying to see through the near darkness. Some of the clouds had shifted and a small patch of pale, silvery light spilled into the room, illuminating the floor like a million spilled diamonds. There was a figure on the floor, which wouldn’t have struck her as odd, except it wasn’t in the place Luis had been when she’d left and the build was all wrong.

“Mason?” She edged closer.

A groan came from the figure. Glass tinkled as it rolled off its side onto its back.

“Mason!”

Her cry of panic tore through the room. Her feet pounded as she tore across the room and dropped to his side. She grabbed at him, turning him to her and running her hands over his body.

“Run...” His voice was weak.

Julie shook her head, her hands ripping at his clothes, searching for signs of injury. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She found the wound. His shirt, already soaked with rain was now sticky with blood. The hot liquid gushed from his body in a way that couldn’t possibly be good. It was fast. Too fast.

“No!” Her strangled cry came out in a sob. “No, no, no ... Mason!”

He tried to grab at her, but the effort seemed to cost him. “Run!”

Weeping openly now, Julie swung her head wildly from side to side in defiance and denial. “No!” She pressed on the wound with both hands. His blood ran through her fingers, hot and thick. “Hold on. Please hold on. Please.” She sniffled in between sobs. “Don’t you leave me. Don’t you dare, Mason!”

“Love you,” he groaned.

His chest shuddered and she cried harder. “No!”

“Love you,” he said again, his voice fainter.

Entire body rocking, Julie wailed. “No! Please, no!”

His breathing slowed.

“Mason? Mason!” She shook him violently, not caring about hurting him. “Mason, no! Don’t go to sleep. Don’t go to sleep! Mason!”

His silence ripped the very earth in two. Everything rang like the aftershock of a bomb going off. She might have screamed, but that too was lost in the heart shredding agony swallowing her whole.

She gathered him up into her arms and wailed her grief into his chest. There was only a vague recollection of glass crunching beneath careless feet, but she didn’t care. She clung to Mason’s still form as though letting go would destroy her.

The sigh sounded almost sad. The skin along her spine prickled. She felt him behind her even before something lightly brushed her hair. Lifting her head slowly off Mason’s chest, she sat motionless as the rain slowed outside the window and the storm relinquished them from its brutal hold. Her breathing synced with the slow, even pants stirring the air. She heard the quiet drop of blood hitting the floor just over her shoulder. She would have missed it if she hadn’t been so ... aware. As it were, every plop sounded like a mini grenade going off.

She closed her eyes, felt the air stir, heard the rustle of clothes as the blade lifted. She drew in a breath. Held it. Listened to her heart slow to a regular beat. One. Two. Three.

She exhaled, opened her eyes, and lashed out.

Luis never saw her leg swing out until her foot connected with his kneecap. The vicious snap rang with his scream as the knife cluttered from his hand and nearly impaled Julie as it struck the floor inches from where she knelt. Luis dropped to all fours with a howl.

Julie sprung to her feet, twisted her body in a flawless roundhouse kick, and shattered his jaw. The crunch of bones resonated through her, filling her with a bloodthirsty satisfaction that only increased the roar in her ears. Luis flew sideways and crashed into the wall head first. She waited for him to get up, to come at her, but he remained slumped over. Her labored breathing was the only sound for miles. Even the wind and rain had fled.

She snatched up the knife and pitched it aside, away from his prone body, before dropping back down beside Mason.

Adrenaline gone, weariness set in, followed closely by hopelessness and defeat. There was nothing she could do. Her phone was gone. The electricity was turned off. Her car was ruined. She was in the middle of nowhere with no one to go to for help. Mason was bleeding out and Shaun was probably already dead on the sofa and she could do nothing. All of a sudden, she wanted to break down all over again. She wanted to scream and cry and smash everything in sight.

But she hurt. She ached all over. Her arm was on fire and more than ever, she was certain she had a concussion and it was pushing against her brain, urging her to black out.

Help. Mason needed help. She couldn’t ... she needed to get up. She needed to get help...

A blinding burst of light speared through the darkness and punched her straight in the face. Julie yelped and threw up her hands as the blinding sphere bobbed. Glass crunched under tentative feet. Figures moved on the other side of the light and Julie squinted.

“Hello?” her voice cracked, coming out hoarse and weak.

“Over here!” a male voice shouted back.

The footsteps grew louder. More figures stepped through the patio opening, pouring into the kitchen. More lights. More voices. Julie’s eyes began to water.

“Who’s there?” she demanded.

“Ms. Brewer?”

She tried to peer through her fingers at the familiar voice.

“Lower your lights!” the voice boomed.

The flashlights were aimed at the floor, the walls, the ceiling, and the bodies around her.

“Help him,” she begged. “Please. Don’t let him die.”

Then she fainted.

Chapter Twenty-Three

The world was an angry hornet’s nest when Julie pried her fused eyelids apart. It all came flooding in through the thin cracks like a broken dame, stinging her eyes, and sending tears trickling down her face.

She grimaced as the taste of her own sour breath made her gag. She coughed and something scuffled nearby. A low beeping filled her ears a second later and then a hand was resting over hers.

“Julie?”

Woozy and disorientated, Julie opened her eyes to a shimmering, murky world. Distorted figures shifted across her line of vision and she had to blink several times to bring them into focus.

“Mom?”

Tessa Brewer smiled through a heavy downpour of tears. Her nose was a painful red that looked tender and her gray eyes were swollen. She had no makeup on and her short, choppy brown hair was flat on one side as though she’d slept on it.

She sniffled. “Hey you.”

Julie groaned and tried to push upright. A pain in her side stopped her. “What...?”

“You fractured your arm,” her mom said when Julie stared at the hard, white cast cocooning her entire forearm from hand to elbow. “The doctor said it’ll heal in six weeks, but no heavy lifting.”

Still dazed, Julie stared at her mother like the other woman had just spoken Dutch. “What?”

Her mother wrung her slender hands anxiously together, making the multitude of rings adorning each finger glint in the harsh, fluorescent light. The plastic and copper bracelets along her arms jingled. She shot an anxious glance towards something behind her.

“I ... I should get the doctor,” she decided, speaking to herself. “He said to call him if you...” She trailed off, licked her lips and straightened her shoulders as though she were going into war. “Just lay still, okay?”

Not waiting for a response from Julie, Tessa hurried from the room in a flurry of shimmering silk. The airy dress in peacock blue woven through with gold threading was one of her designs, Julie could tell because it was flashy, but comfortable. Two things her mother deeply loved. Yet that still didn’t explain anything to Julie.

Licking her lips and trying to swallow down the nasty, pasty taste in her mouth, Julie heaved her sore body as high as the pillows would allow without agitating her arm.

She was in a hospital room. Like all hospital rooms, it smelled of disinfectant, medication, and sick people. The walls were a warm peach color, probably to counteract all the white that was everywhere else. Across her lap was a stiff, mint green blanket that made her skin itch. It kept getting caught in the IV tubes puncturing the back of her right hand, the hand not swaddled in a cast.

Julie sighed. She dug the heel of her right hand into her forehead, attempting to forcibly shove the chiseling little demons straight out of her skull.

“Headache?” A short, round man with kind blue eyes and a neatly trimmed beard the exact white of his doctor’s coat stepped into the room. He held a clipboard in one hand and a pair of glasses in the other. He smiled at her as he crossed to the bed. “Hello Julie. I’m Dr. Dreyer. How are you feeling?”

“Confused,” Julie replied honestly. “What happened?”

He slid his glasses onto the bridge of his nose and peered down at the clipboard. “You suffered from multiple contusions, lacerations, a fractured wrist, and a concussion.” He lowered the clipboard to peer over it at her. “You don’t remember?”

The pain behind her eyes was blinding, but she worked through it, wracking her brain for memories of why she hurt so badly and why there was an anxious gnawing in her chest, like she needed to do something, be somewhere, but she couldn’t remember...

“Mason!” His name blurted out of her even before she had the full image in her head. “Where is he? Is he all right?”

The doctor stared at her a moment. Very slowly, he set the clipboard down on the end table next to her bed and took a careful step forward.

“Why don’t you relax,” he told her gently. “I want to take your vitals, then afterwards, I’ll get a nurse to—”

“Mason!” she said again, louder. “Where is he?”

The doctor shook his head, and Julie’s heart plummeted straight into her stomach. “I don’t know,” he said. “If he’s in this hospital, he’s not my patient.”

Julie blinked. “He would have come in with me!”

Dreyer continued to rock his head slowly from side to side. “I’m sorry. I don’t know.”

“Where’s my mother?” she demanded. “She’ll know.”

“Ms. Brewer.” The doctor set his hand on Julie’s shoulder. “I really need for you to calm down, okay? Let me check how you are and then I’ll get a nurse to find your friend.”

She agreed and sat perfectly still while the doctor looked her over. He made several notes in his charts, asked her a bunch of questions and, only when he was satisfied that she would live, did he walk to the door and motion her mother back into the room.

“She seems to be recovering well,” he told her like Julie wasn’t there. “I am going to keep her an extra night simply because that head injury concerns me, but if all goes well, she can leave in the morning.”

Her mother thanked him profusely and walked him to the door as though he were a guest in their home.

Once he was gone, she turned to Julie.

“How are you feeling?”

“Where’s Mason?” Julie asked instead. “And Shaun, and...” She hesitated before adding, “Luis.”

Her mom perched a hip on the edge of the cot. “Luis didn’t make it,” she said evenly, but there was anger in her eyes. “Good riddance if you ask me.”

“Did ... did I...?”

She shouldn’t feel bad for having taken a life when it was justified and she was protecting herself, yet the idea still made her nauseous.

“I don’t know,” her mother replied. “The sheriff didn’t say. Only that he was dead.”

Julie nodded slowly. “And...?”

Her mother looked down. “I don’t know about the other two.”

Julie stiffened. “What? How is that possible?”

“Because they’re not in this hospital.”

Julie’s frown deepened. “Where are they? Where am I?”

“You’re home,” her mother said. “They were kept at the hospital in Salmon Cove.”

“But why am I here and not there then?”

“Because I had you transferred,” her mother replied shortly. “I wasn’t going to drive four hours to see you lying in a hospital bed and since you weren’t a high risk, the hospital agreed.”

Julie, brain still fuzzy, had no idea how her mother managed to pull that off, but that wasn’t the problem.

“Have you talked to Maureen?”

Her mother sniffed. “I haven’t. She didn’t even call to see if you were okay. Can you believe the nerve?” Fire sparked in her mother’s eyes. “Not one phone call after it was her fault you were placed in that situation.”

“It wasn’t Maureen’s fault ... entirely,” she added when Tessa’s finely penciled eyebrow lifted. “She couldn’t have known about Luis.”

Her mother flicked her wrist dismissively. “Still. A phone call wouldn’t have hurt.”

“Where’s Dad?” Julie asked, changing the subject.

“Rome.” Tessa checked the gold watch hidden amongst her bracelets. “He’ll be home tomorrow.” She lifted her gaze to Julie’s face. “Now, you need rest. Your color is simply awful and that hospital gown makes you look ghastly. Honestly, would it kill them to add a little color to these things?”

Her mother stayed with Julie through the night and drove her home the next day after the doctor released her. She was placed on several antibacterial and pain medications that knocked her out cold for hours at a time. Tessa stayed with her, bringing her soup and all but ladling the rich broth down Julie’s throat like a child. All the while, she made comments about the state of Julie’s nails, her haircut, the shade of highlight that would look dazzling with Julie’s eyes, and when she got to Julie’s boobs and the fancy new bra that promised three extra cup sizes, Julie called quits.

“You’re not ready to move back to your apartment!” her mother protested after the third day of holding Julie hostage in her childhood bedroom. “What if you faint? What if a tumor bursts in your skull and you die?”

“Then the couple in room 3B will call the police when I decompose and leak through their ceiling.”

Her mother blanched. “You are a disgusting child.”

Julie kissed her mother’s cheek. “Thanks for being there, Mom, but I need to go home.”

Tessa huffed and pursed her red lips. “Can you at least promise me you’ll look into a new manicurist? Darling, the first thing people see are your hands.”

Rolling her eyes, Julie ambled her way out of the bedroom and down the hall. At the top of the stairs, she adjusted her grip on the small bag her mother had brought for her from Julie’s apartment containing some of her nicer outfits.

Stairs had become tricky since fracturing her arm. Her balance was still off and it was a task climbing down without holding the banister and not falling.

At the bottom, she exhaled a relieved breath and shuffled into her parent’s sunroom. Her father sat at the glass table, a newspaper in hand. He looked up when she walked in.

“Hey there,” he said, folding up the paper and setting it aside. His gaze dropped to the bag in her hand. “Leaving?”

Julie nodded. “I need to get home.”

Hazel eyes narrowed on a face mapped with laugh lines. “Mom driving you nuts?”

She laughed. “Not any more than usual.”

Wayne Brewer, a tall, handsome man with dark salt and pepper hair eyed his daughter carefully. Unlike her mother, he wasn’t looking for imperfections that needed correcting. He was assessing just how badly injured she was and what he needed to do to make it better.

“Do you need a ride?”

She had completely forgotten about her car. “Shoot!” she hissed.

Her dad rose, dug into the pocket of his beige trousers and came out with a set of keys. “Here.” He held them out to her. Then he snatched them back. “Can you drive with the medication they gave you?”

Julie nodded. “I don’t take the pain ones until bedtime to help me sleep and the antibacterial ones don’t affect me. But even then, I can’t take your car. How will you get to work?”

Keys jingling, he strode around the table and stopped when he was in front of her. He took her shoulders lightly between his hands and pulled her into his arms. He kissed the top of her head.

“Don’t worry about that.” He pushed the keys into her injured hand gently. “Get home safely and call when you get there.”

“Thanks Dad.”

But Julie didn’t go home. She drove four hours until she reached the visitor’s parking at Salmon Cove General. She tucked the keys into her pocket and hurried inside.

The receptionist looked up and smiled kindly from behind a high counter. The nametag pinned to her ample bosom read Dawn.

“Can I help you?”

“Hi.” Julie dampened her lips. “I’m here to see Mason Brody. He—”

Dawn’s silvery eyes turned sympathetic. “Oh honey,” she crooned quietly. “Are you family?”

A numb chill stole through Julie. “I ... kind of. I’m ... we’re...”

The other woman pursed her lips, tucking the little corners downward. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but I can’t allow anyone who isn’t family—”

“Please!” The plea burst out of Julie before she could stop it. “Please,” she whispered again. “I need to see him. I need to know if he’s okay.” Tears distorted the woman’s face. She tried to blink them back, but one slid down her face and dropped off her chin to leave a splotch on the counter. “I need to tell him I love him, too, in case I never see him again and this is my only chance.”

There were tears in Dawn’s eyes when Julie wiped her own eyes dry. Pink spots covered her neck and her round cheeks. She sniffled, cleared her throat and turned to the computer. The seductress red of her nails glimmered in the bright lights as her fingers flew over the keyboard. She was still sniffling when she turned back to Julie.

“Room two sixteen down that hall.” She jerked her chin down the corridor on Julie’s left.

Thanking her, Julie sprinted down the hall before Dawn could change her mind and call security.

Nurses and doctors hurried past her and shot her curious glances as she mumbled two sixteen over and over again under her breath. She paid them no attention, too focused on finding Mason.

His door stood open. The curtains inside were drawn, blocking the bed from prying eyes. Julie slipped inside and carefully pushed back the plastic.

He was alive. The steady beep, beep, beep of the heart machine assured her of that much. There were other machines around him, helping him breathe, dripping medication into his veins, and keeping note of his vitals. A thin, clear tube was hooked over his ears and under his nose. He wore a white hospital gown that made his already pale complexion seem almost translucent. His dark hair was tussled and he had the same itchy, green blanket over his legs.

Julie shuffled forward and gingerly lowered herself down on the cot next to his hip. She rested her good hand on the back of his, careful not to disturb the IV piercing his skin. The knuckles were battered, bruised, and scabbed.

“Hey,” she whispered. “It’s me.”

The machines kept beeping and wheezing, but no sound came from him.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t come sooner,” she murmured. “I wanted to. I was so worried...” She bit her lip when it wobbled. “No one would tell me anything.” Her voice broke, but she plunged on. “I thought I lost you.” She sucked in a shaky breath. Tears trickled down her cheeks. “I can’t lose you, Mason, not now. Not when I finally have you.”

Nothing. Not even so much as a flutter of his eyelashes.

She was still sitting there, holding Mason’s hand and watching his face for signs of change when the plastic rustled and the curtains were pulled back. At first she thought it was a doctor or nurse who would tell her to leave, so she was surprised when Sheriff Reynolds walked in. He seemed equally surprised to see her.

“Ms. Brewer,” he said in his booming voice. “Wasn’t expecting to see you back at Salmon Cove.”

Julie rose off the bed. “I came to see Mason,” she said.

Reynolds nodded. His gaze shifted to the unmoving figure behind her. “How is he?”

She swallowed and shrugged. “I don’t know. He hasn’t woken up.”

Reynolds sighed. “So, the same.” He moved closer to the bed and peered into Mason’s slumbering face. “The doctors think he just needs some rest. The knife barely missed all the really important things, but it did one hell of a job cutting him up.”

Julie blanched at the image. “Do you know if he’ll be okay?”

Reynolds shrugged. “They think so. It’s all up to him now to wake up when he’s ready.”

Relieved, Julie fixed her attention on the man in front of her. “What are you doing here?”

He hesitated, keeping his gaze trained on Mason. But when he finally spoke, he looked Julie straight in the face.

“I let you kids down,” he said solemnly. “I let my arrogance keep me from doing my job and I would never have forgiven myself if I wasn’t at least here.”

Julie frowned at him. “I told you it wasn’t Mason or Shaun.”

Reynolds nodded. “You did. I should have listened.”

It was hard to stay upset when he already looked so beaten down. Adding to that would have just been mean.

Julie let it drop.

“Shaun ... where...”

“He’s in the room down the hall,” Reynolds said. “He lost a lot more blood than Brody, but he’s awake.”

It irritated her that the news irked her. Why was Shaun awake and not Mason? But as soon as she thought it, she flinched with shame.

“I was actually going to drive up and see you,” Reynolds went on. “I wanted to ask you some questions, seeing as how you’re the only one well enough to talk about it.”

Julie nodded. “Okay.” She wet her lips. “Do you want to do it here?”

He drew out his notepad and pen. “Maybe in the hall?”

With a nod of agreement, Julie motioned for him to go ahead. She waited until he was gone before turning to Mason.

“I’ll be right back,” she told him, brushing a kiss to his mouth.

Reynolds was waiting just outside the door for her. He looked up when she approached.

“I just need you to tell me what happened that night,” he said.

She did, recounting the whole thing from the time she woke up to find Mason gone, to the ambush of lights before she fainted and everything in between.

When she got to the part where Luis had her cornered, he made her repeat it several times.

“Dr. Nixon ID’d the body,” he told her finally. “He didn’t seem all too happy that Luis, or whatever his name was, was dead.”

“How did he die?” Julie asked.

Reynolds looked at her. “It doesn’t matter—”

“Please,” she prompted.

He sighed, folded up his notepad, and stuffed it into his pocket. “Severe contusion to the head,” he said. “Doc says he died on impact.”

Julie’s insides gave a tremor. “I killed him?” Her hands were ice cold when she covered her mouth. “I killed him...” Wide, fear-filled eyes lifted to the man watching her. “Am I going to jail?”

Reynolds dropped his gaze. He heaved his large frame off the wall he’d been leaning against and folded his arms.

“You said it was in self-defense, right?”

Julie nodded.

“There you go,” he said evenly. “It’s all in my report and it collaborates with your story about what happened. He attacked you, you defended yourself. What happened next was unavoidable.”

“What about Luis?” she asked. “The real Luis.”

“We’re looking,” he assured her. “Along with all the others he came in contact with. Dr. Nixon is helping us go through other similar cases. Hopefully we can give some families a little peace of mind. We were able to locate the place Bethany Row was killed. It looks like he bled her out on the deck then dragged her body inside through the storm hatch.”

“The basement,” Julie whispered.

Reynolds nodded. “He moved her from there to the basketball court when, we think, she started to smell.”

“But why? Why not bury her?”

Reynolds seemed to hesitate a moment as he examined the floor at their feet. “There’s something textbooks don’t tell you, Ms. Brewer.” He fixed her with his gaze once more. “We will never know what really goes on in a twisted mind. I personally think he wanted his work showcased, to get recognition. He had gone so long without getting caught that he had gotten cocky. We’ll never know.”

“I can’t believe he had her in the house,” she mumbled. “Right under our noses. How did we not hear ... that poor girl, down there, alone and us just upstairs?” She pressed a shaky hand to her mouth and shook her head. “We let her die.”

“There was nothing you could have done,” he told her gently. “Oh!” he said, remembering something. “I had your cars towed to the town mechanic. Sam’s the best out there, but he’s not sure he can do much to—”

Julie shook her head. “It’s fine. I’ll contact the insurance company.”

He nodded. “Let me know if they need a police report.”

She smiled at him. “Thank you.”

Again, he inclined his head. “I should head back. This whole thing has been such a mess.”

“Sheriff?” she called before he could walk away. “How did you know something was wrong that night?”

“I didn’t.” He scratched the back of his head. “Nixon gave Luis’s description to a sketch artist and I recognized the face. We hit the road the second I saw it, but we were still too late.”

Julie shook her head. “You saved our lives.”

His eyes were sad, but determined. “You saved their lives. I just arrived to make sure they stayed saved.”

With a bow of his head, he left.

Julie watched him until he disappeared around the corner. Then she returned to Mason’s side. She pulled up a chair and sat.

Julie stayed in Salmon Cove. She rented a room at the motel down the block. She phoned her dad to let him know where she was and got an earful from her mother about dying on the road. But she promised them she’d be home as soon as there was some news about Mason’s condition.

It wasn’t until the next day that she summed up the courage to visit Shaun. She wasn’t really sure what her hesitation was, but it clamped down on her like a metal fist.

Nevertheless, she straightened her spine and stalked to his room as though she were marching to battle.

He was sitting up in bed, idly flipping through the channels. It was such a normal thing to see that some of the tension left her gut as she raised a hand and knocked gently.

Shaun’s brown eyes snapped away from the TV and fixed on her. Surprise flickered in their depths.

“Hi,” she said, offering him a tentative smile. “How are you feeling?”

He shrugged. “I got drugged and then stabbed by a guy I considered a friend.”

Julie lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry.”

There was silence. Then he said, “How are you?”

It was her turn to be taken aback.

“Oh, I’m okay. Thank you,” she added quickly. “Just a few bruises, a fractured arm. Nothing serious like you and ... Mason.”

“Have you gone to see him?”

Biting her lips, Julie nodded. “He’s still sleeping.”

Shaun frowned. “Yeah, that’s what they keep telling me. What kind of fucked up place is this anyway? Shouldn’t they be doing something?”

“I think they are,” she whispered. “It’s up to Mason to wake up.”

Shaun snorted. “Lazy fuck.”

He shut the TV off, which she wished he hadn’t, because it had been a good distraction to keep from having to face him. But now with it gone, she had no choice.

“Shaun?” She stalled by easing a couple steps closer to the bed. “I want to say I’m sorry. You wouldn’t be here if it hadn’t been for me and what I did.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Julie looked down, waiting for his well-deserved wrath to rain down on her.

“I’m told you saved my life.”

Julie blinked. Her head came up. “What?”

He was watching her, his expression unreadable. “Did you, or didn’t you?”

“I didn’t,” she said honestly. “I mean, maybe a little, but I’m the reason you got stabbed. I pulled you away from killing Luis and then I just let him...” Tears welled in her eyes. She tried to keep them in check, but they slipped down her cheeks. “I am so sorry.”

“Yeah, that was a really stupid thing you did,” he agreed. “Should have let me kill that little fucker, but...” He bit the inside of his lip. “I guess we’re cool.”

It was in his eyes, in his voice, and in the ghost of a smirk he offered her that was as close to a hug as she would ever get from him. He was offering her an olive branch. A truce.

Julie smiled.

He looked away. “So, uh, it gets really boring in this place and I’m told I’ll be here a while.” He cleared his throat and glared down at the remote in his hand. “And the fucking place has like three channels. So if you’re, I dunno, bored...”

Her grin broadened. “Are you asking me to keep you company?”

“No!” He shot her a furious sneer. “I don’t need anyone buzzing around my head. I’m just saying...”

“Gotcha,” she said, biting back her twitching lips. “I was going to grab some chocolate pie from the cafeteria later. I wouldn’t mind some company.”

Shaun shifted, looking at anything but her. “Yeah, whatever. Like I said, I’m going to be here awhile so ... whatever. It’s not like I can stop you.”

Still grinning, Julie turned and left him without a goodbye. She wandered her way back to Mason’s room, feeling lighter. Like some invisible weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She was practically skipping by the time she reached his door and pushed inside.

Mason wasn’t alone. In the few minutes she had left his side to visit Shaun, two people had made themselves at home on either side of Mason’s bed. They both glanced up when Julie barged in.

For a moment, no one spoke. Mason’s heart machine filled the silence with its constant beeps. Julie felt her cheeks warm the longer she stood there under the curious scrutiny of Mason’s parents.

“Julie?”  Heather Brody straightened, removing her hand off her son’s brow to turn her lithe body fully in Julie’s direction.

“Hello Mrs. Brody,” Julie murmured. She turned to the tall, handsome man that was an older version of his son and inclined her head slightly. “Mr. Brody.”

There was never any reason for Julie to spend time with the older Brody’s. Aside from the occasional greeting in passing, she was fairly certain they never shared two words to each other. The fact that they knew her name at all was a shock in itself.

Heather was a beautiful woman with a sleek mane of auburn hair that set off her fair complexion and dazzling green eyes. She had elegant features, a thin, upturned nose, full, red lips and a figure that was all willowy. She wore a scarlet dress with a thick, gold belt and red pumps. She looked like someone off to a board meeting, not sitting in a hospital.

Her husband, David was her matching set. Handsome with a kind face and dark hair. His blue eyes reminded Julie so much of Mason’s that she couldn’t tear her gaze away.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted. “I was just...”

“Sitting with Mason?” Heather inquired with a little smile. “We know. The nurse told us.”

“Oh...” Embarrassment seeped up her neck in a hot wave and flooded her face.

“How are you, Julie?” David asked.

She absently touched her arm with the cast. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

David nodded grimly. “We are simply in shock about the whole ordeal. Luis always seemed like such a great kid.”

But he wasn’t a kid, Julie thought, remembering Nixon’s comment about Luis being in his thirties, but appearing much younger. He had certainly fooled a lot of people.

“Yeah he did,” she whispered.

“The sheriff said you saved Mason’s life,” Heather said.

“And Shaun,” David added.

“Yes, of course, and Shaun’s,” Heather corrected quickly. “We may never be able to repay you for that.”

Fidgeting restlessly, Julie shook her head. “Really, I didn’t. Truthfully...” She touched the thin scar across her throat where Luis had let the knife bite into her skin. “Mason saved mine.”

She left the Brodys to sit with their son while she made a run down to the cafeteria for chocolate pie. Shaun was still flipping through the channels when she stepped into his room, two pie slabs in hand. Neither spoke as she handed him his, along with a fork, and took a seat in a hard, plastic chair next to his bed to watch Downton Abbey.

Chapter Twenty-Four

In the week that followed, Julie met a whole lot of Mason’s family. Heather and David, or maybe Maureen and Dean, must have told them about her, because no one was surprised or confused at the sight of her next to Mason’s bed. They walked in almost expecting to see her. Some, even those she didn’t know, greeted her by name. In the case of Great Aunt Lucy, Julie got a crushing hug, a kiss on the cheek, and a comforting pep talk.

“He’ll be fine,” Lucy said, holding Julie’s face between withered hands. “He’s a strong boy. You just have faith in him.”

Maureen and Dean visited without the kids. It was apparent that the two had resolved their issues and decided to give their marriage another shot, because they strolled in, arm in arm.

Julie was still pissed at the two and didn’t say much, except to tell them that she quit and that she was keeping the money that she had so very much earned. Maureen didn’t seem overly thrilled about the latter, but neither protested.

“I heard what you said to Maureen,” Heather said one afternoon as they sat watching Sex in the City on Mason’s TV set. “About quitting.”

Julie nodded.

“I’m proud of you,” Heather said.

“I feel bad, but...” She bit her lip, glanced at Mason in the bed between them. “I just can’t deal with them right now.”

“Understandable. Maureen’s my sister and, Lord knows, I love her and Dean and the kids, but I seriously want to beat the two of them with a bat.” She grimaced. “Too soon?”

Julie laughed. “No.” She checked her watch. “It’s lunch. Did you want something from the cafeteria? I promised Shaun a banana parfait. I think he’s addicted to them.”

“When’s he getting released anyway?”

“Um...” Julie had to really think to remember the date. “Next week. I think the nurses have had it with him and his grumpy ways.”

Heather sighed, rolling her eyes heavenward. “That boy is never going to find a woman.”

Chuckling, Julie grabbed her purse, bent at the waist, brushed a kiss to Mason’s mouth before heading for the door. She paused on the threshold to glance back.

“Did you want anything?”

“No, David is bringing me something on his way from the office. I’m just waiting for him.”

“Okay. I’ll be right back.”

With a wave, Julie slipped from the room. She moved quickly as she always did, too afraid of leaving Mason’s side for very long. In under ten minutes, she had her food and was rushing back when a commotion had her quickening her strides.

Julie sprinted in the direction of the noise, the bag bouncing against her thigh. She took the corner sharply and spotted Heather in the hallway, talking rapidly and loudly at a doctor who was asking her to calm down.

Heather saw Julie and her eyes grew enormous. “Julie! Mason—”

That was all Julie needed to hear. She dropped the bag in her hand and tore down the hall, nearly plowed over a nurse, but kept running towards the room and Mason. She came to a skidding halt before she could knock Heather to the ground. Her hands closed around the other woman’s arms.

“Mason...?”

Not waiting for a response, Julie shoved past Heather and threw herself into the room, terrified of what she might find.

The machines were shrieking. The sound was deafening. David was in the room, so were two nurses and another doctor. They were holding something down on the bed, but it was thrashing and snarling at them.

“Let go of me!” she heard someone roar. “Where’s Julie?”

“Mr. Brody! You need to calm down or you’ll tear your stitches!” the doctor was pleading.

“Where is she?”

Heart hammering, Julie pushed deeper into the room.

David caught sight of her and his face lit up. He lunged forward and grabbed her arm and dragged her closer to the bed.

“Mason! She’s right here. Look, she’s fine.”

She was thrust forward like a sacrificial lamb. The nurses and doctor jerked back and the figure on the bed ceased his struggling.

Mason, still tied to machines and tubes, was panting. He looked wild and vicious and on the verge of killing anyone who got in his way. But there was a sheen of sweat on his brow. It soaked his gown and flattened his hair to his face. The blankets were a knotted mess around his legs like he’d been trying to kick them off. He stared at her like he couldn’t trust his eyes.

“Julie...”

She ran to him before anyone could stop her. His arms were open and waiting to catch her when she threw herself against his chest. Her arms, cast and all, slid around his shoulders and she held him to her, eyes closed as she murmured a prayer of thanks.

“Jesus, Julie...” he growled into her shoulder in a tone riddled with anguish. “You’re okay.”

Maybe it was the feel of his breath against her neck, or the steady patter of his heart beating against her chest, but she dissolved in a fit of inconsolable, hysterical sobs that rocked her entire body. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, gripping him as though afraid he might vanish if she gave even an inch. Her ears rang, louder than the anguished wails ripping from her throat.

Mason tightened his arms around her ribs to the point where she couldn’t breathe. His fingers locked in her hair, holding her face mashed against his throat.

“Shh,” he whispered, stroking her back. “It’s all right. I’m here. I’ve got you.”

That only made her hold him tighter and cry harder. Hot tears burned down her face to soak his gown.

“I thought I lost you,” she forced out between every ragged breath.

He shook his head. “No, I’m right here. I’m right here, baby. I’m not going anywhere.”

The tremors lessened. The tears slowly abated. Yet she kept on holding him, unable to let go.

“I love you,” she whispered into the warm skin of his neck.

“I love you, too,” he whispered back. “I love you so much.”

Epilogue

One year later...

“As you can see, the place is spacious with plenty of room to expand.” Jacqueline Roberts waved a well-manicured hand over the airy loft as though she were a sign turner on Wheel of Fortune. “There are two bedrooms on the main floor, a third upstairs in the loft. The kitchen is state of the art and stainless steel. There is a full bath upstairs and a small powder room down here. And of course, don’t forget the one-eighty view.”

No, Julie thought as she walked deeper into the room. You definitely can’t forget the view.

It was breathtaking. Each sheet of glass was fifteen feet high and lined three of the four walls, framing the glittering city below. She also liked that, while the loft held the red brick motif most lofts did, there was wood flooring and a modern flare that felt comfortable. Most of the main floor, she noted, was one giant room that was divided from the kitchen by a black counter. She liked that, too. It left room for possibility. Beyond the kitchen and the row of stairs leading up to the loft was a narrow hall that opened to the three doors tucked away in the back. It was certainly big enough for what she wanted with room to spare.

“So what do we think?” Jaqueline clapped her hands and turned on her ice pick heels towards Julie.

“I like it.” Julie replied. She turned her gaze to the third person in the room. “What do you think?”

Mason scanned the room slowly before settling his gaze on her. “I like it.”

Julie smiled.

Jaqueline looked euphoric. “Fabulous! Let me just run downstairs and grab the papers. We’ll sign them now and the keys are yours.”

As the blonde bombshell made her escape, Mason crossed the room to Julie. She was opening her arms to him even before he reached for her.

“I guess we found our home.”

She nodded. “Looks that way and it’s close to both our families and Shaun, who has been perpetually bitching that your weekends together keep getting cut short because you always arrive late and leave early.”

He tucked her face into the hollow of his throat and rested his chin on her head. “Let’s not forget it’s close to the school, so no more two hour long drives for you.”

“Or five hours for you to get to the office,” she added. “It looks like we really lucked out with this one.”

He planted a firm kiss to the top of her head and pulled back. “Let’s not forget this means more you and me time.”

She made a hum of pleasure. “I definitely like that best.”

He grinned and it never failed to amaze her how happy she always got seeing it. The searing realization that she had come so close to losing him cut through her as it always did, making her want to grab at him and hold on.

“Hey, you okay?”

Blinking back tears, Julie nodded. “Yeah, sorry.”

He touched her face lovingly, his head cocked to the side. “You’re thinking about it again, aren’t you?”

Swiping at the single tear that leaked free, she looked away. “I can’t help it. I almost lost you.”

She was back in his arms again, her face pressed into his shoulder.

“I’m not going anywhere, baby,” he whispered into her ear as he did at least once a day. “This apartment is the beginning of everything. A new start. What happened before ... it’s not going to touch us here. I’ll make sure of it.” He closed his fingers in her hair and lightly tugged her head back. “Now, kiss me.”

Laughing, she rose up on her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

The End

IN THE DARK SERIES

My Soul For You, book 1

You are cordially invited to have your heart’s desire come true.

For Kaitlin Claremont this is a very tall order. What wouldn’t an orphan girl living over of her aunt’s shop wish for? But when her one night of passion in the arms of sexy and completely out of her reach Kaleb turns into a nightmare, Katie realizes quickly that nothing is as it seems and there is so much more to Kaleb O'Reilly than she ever bargained for.

Kaleb has his own demons and even with all his training, he’s not prepared for the brown-eyed beauty, nor can he deny he wants her in a way that very much complicates everything. But what happens when the hunger wins and his true purpose puts Katie at risk? Can he protect her from his mistakes? And can Katie protect those she loves from a monster with no mercy?

Time is running out.

Will they kill or be killed?

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About Airicka Phoenix

International Bestselling author Airicka Phoenix lives in a world where unicorns, fairies and mermaids run amok through her home on a daily basis. When she’s not chasing after pixies and rounding up imps, also known as her four children, she can be found conjuring up evil villains, bad-ass heroines and swoon-worthy heroes to play with.

Airicka is singlehandedly responsible for her greatly anticipated collections, the Touch Saga, The Lost Girl Duology, The Regeneration Series, Games of Fire & Betraying Innocence. She also writes mature paranormal & contemporary romance under the dark guise of Morgana Phoenix. To date, she is responsible for The Sons of Judgment Saga, & In the Dark Series.

For more about Airicka and the realm she rules with an iron fist—and tons of chocolate—visit her at: Website