Chapter 25
Llama kisses and Christmas wishes.
Hudson had been trying to use kid gloves with Scout all day. She’d been insistent that the winter festival would still go on even though just last night her ex and his fiancée had tried to kill her.
Neither he or Scout had gotten any sleep, not with the sheriff’s department coming in to arrest Oliver, remove Andrea’s body, document the crime scene, and take their statements. It had been a whole lot of activity at her place.
She should have canceled… But he hadn’t wanted to push her too hard.
Now, though, the festival was over for the day and most of the town had heard what happened so everyone was dropping by with casseroles and flowers, and just being damn good neighbors.
It reminded him of the way the people in his own community were, as weird as that sounded.
When one of them was in trouble, they all showed up.
“Make sure you tell her how much we all love her.” Standing on Scout’s front porch, Mae handed Hudson a bourbon pecan pie that smelled as if it had come out of the oven in the last hour or so.
His mouth watered as he tucked the container under his arm. “Of course. She’s finally inside, taking a shower and resting.” Darkness had already fallen and mostly everyone had left except some of the people working the festival.
“I would have come by sooner, but three people called out at the diner. And I wanted to bake one of her favorite pies.” Mae’s face scrunched up in anger. “I never liked that smug shit Oliver, but Andrea… She had me fooled.” There was a hint of shock in Mae’s face now.
Yeah, some people were like that. And it seemed the savvy attorney, who had once been Scout’s friend, was a psychopath.
Maybe not actually diagnosed, but that was what he was calling her.
Because it took a special kind of monster to betray someone the way Andrea had.
And that was coming from a contract killer. “I can only imagine.”
Mae patted his forearm gently. “I’m glad you’re out here with her. Let her know that she’s invited to my place for Christmas if she wants. We call it the Misfits Christmas. Anyone who doesn’t have somewhere to go is welcome. You’re invited too.” She winked at him, then left with a wave.
Touched by the invite, he headed back inside, found Scout standing in front of her open refrigerator, in llama pajamas and her hair wrapped up in a towel.
“Mae dropped this off.” He made his steps loud enough so she would hear him coming. She’d been understandably jumpy since last night and he figured it would go on for a while. “And you’re invited to her place for Christmas.”
She turned and blinked at him as she shut the fridge. “I’m not even hungry,” she murmured.
“No wonder. You’re still processing a lot of shit.” Her ex had tried to kill her and…Hudson had also told her that he was a hitman. All in the same night. So, yeah.
She sat at the center island, looking beyond exhausted. He desperately wanted to pull her into his arms, to comfort her in all the ways a man comforted his woman, but that wasn’t the right move. Or he didn’t think it was; he was winging it.
Instead, he cut a piece of pie and set it in front of her as he started making her hot cocoa. Thankfully she didn’t argue with him, just speared her fork into the slice and started eating.
Good. She needed warmth, food. Sleep.
He pulled out one of the pasta casseroles someone had dropped off and popped a small plate into the microwave.
It should be filling and help her sleep.
Or crash, which she needed. Hell, she needed to cancel the festival but that wasn’t an argument he was going to win.
He knew, because he’d already tried and she’d dug in with a ferocity he hadn’t expected. So here they were.
“Thank you. For all you did,” she said as she set her fork down, only crumbs left on her plate now. “I don’t know if I ever told you that.”
“You did. And you never have to thank me for that.” He’d questioned himself a thousand times if he should leave—if she wanted him to leave, but just hadn’t figured out how to tell him.
He’d cleared his throat, trying to find the right words, when he got an alert on his phone.
After a glance at the screen, he saw that they had company. “Sit tight,” he murmured, not waiting for her answer. The microwave was still going, but he heard the stool scrape back when it started beeping as he opened the front door.
Deputy Cori Lyon stood with her hand poised to knock, let it drop. She was in plain clothes tonight: jeans, a green sweater and heavy-looking boots. She had a short cap of blonde hair and dark, kind eyes. He hadn’t been sure about her at first, but she’d been a solid presence last night.
“Oh, hey. Is Scout doing well enough to talk?”
“I’m fine,” Scout called out. “And I can hear you.”
Hudson wasn’t sure about the fine part, but stepped back to let the other woman in.
He was surprised by the visit, but hoped for some news.
The Feds had taken over this case too in case it was linked to crimes at the Willman Ranch.
Considering Oliver Michaels had worked for Willman, they were covering all their bases.
At least they were working in tandem with the sheriff’s department so they might actually find out what was going on.
Cori stepped inside, glanced around for a moment before following him to the kitchen. “You look good,” the woman said, concern in her expression as she eyed Scout.
“I’m hanging in there. We both are.” She nodded at Hudson.
Cori nodded between the two of them, cleared her throat once. Twice. “Look, I’m not here in an official capacity. Not exactly. Ah, can I sit?”
“Of course.” Scout nodded and something seemed to shake loose because she was more like herself as she cut a piece of pie from the open box and slid it over to Cori. “Mae made it.”
“I won’t say no to pie,” she murmured. But she didn’t make a move to touch it. Instead she leaned back. “Oliver…” The way she said his name, with uninhibited disgust, mirrored how Hudson felt about the guy. “He confessed to a plot to kill you.”
Scout sat down, her pasta untouched as she listened.
Hudson moved in behind her, placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. She surprised him by reaching up and laying her palm over his. He savored the gentle touch, memorized it.
“For the record, I’m probably not supposed to tell you any of this, but the Feds didn’t tell me not to.
And I don’t actually care.” She took a steadying breath.
“Oliver blamed everything on Andrea.” Again with the disgust in her tone.
“And I believe him, that she was the mastermind behind everything. He always was a bit thick.”
Scout snorted in agreement.
“When they questioned him, they didn’t tell him she was already dead.
They were trying to get him to confess with the illusion of getting a deal first. So he spilled everything.
The two of them hired Hank Sellers and Lane Davis to mess with your animals and property.
They knew that Zack Willman wanted to buy part of your land and wanted you to think it was him—so you would tell him no.
Because they wanted your land. All of it. ”
She glanced down at her pie for a moment, before looking back up and continuing.
“Andrea has—had—a big developer interested in buying up land in the area. And she came up with the idea to backdate a will. You were her client at one point, and everyone knew you and Oliver were serious a while ago. So it wouldn’t be a shock that you left your land to him and just forgot to update your will. ”
“Was the developer in on this?” Hudson asked, impressed that he kept his tone even instead of letting his rage spill out.
“What? Oh, no. Not that Oliver said, and I kind of doubt it. No, it was just the two of them hoping to make millions after they…” Gritting her teeth, she shook her head.
“That bitch really had a lot of us fooled. She helped me with the title on my house. I…” She ran a hand over her face.
“Anyway, I just wanted you to know what was going on. After his confession, I can’t imagine he’s going to be let out on bail.
I don’t even think he’s going to push for a trial.
He could, but…” She shrugged and stood, leaving the pie behind.
“Where are Hank and Lane?” Hudson asked. “Have they been brought in yet?” He knew exactly where they were, but wanted to see what the cops knew.
“Feds have a warrant out on them, but it seems they skipped town. There’s enough evidence at Andrea’s office to corroborate what Oliver said too. What a mess,” she muttered.
“What about the sheriff? I don’t think he was connected to…” Scout motioned to herself. “But I heard he got arrested for his connection to Zack Willman.”
Cori shifted slightly in her seat, but eventually said, “He was arrested for taking bribes to look the other way. He knew about the exotic animals. I’m still not sure if he’ll do jail time or if he’ll get a break for testifying.”
“But he wasn’t involved with Oliver or Andrea?” Hudson asked.
“No. He was truly surprised about them.” She glanced over at Scout, her expression softening. “You sure you’re okay to keep the festival going? Everyone would understand if you shut it down a little early.”
“I am, but thank you for asking. I think if I had to just sit here doing nothing, I’d go stir-crazy. It’s been good to see everyone from town.” Her voice cracked slightly, and she swallowed hard. “It’s a reminder how many people are truly good.”
Cori stepped over and pulled Scout into a hug. “Okay then, I’m glad. And I know everyone says this but please reach out if you need anything. We’re all here for you.”
“Of course.” Scout nodded.
Cori shook Hudson’s hand, then clapped her other one over their clasped ones. “I’m really glad you were here last night.”
“Me too.” He couldn’t keep the emotion out of his voice now. He could have lost Scout, something he was still trying to shove down, to not think about.
Because it sent him into a dark place. One he hadn’t visited in over a decade.
He’d lost so many friends that he’d walled himself off even if he’d found a way to keep moving forward.
Now he didn’t want to just keep moving forward with no purpose.
He wanted…Scout. All of her. Anything and everything she would offer.
After he walked the deputy out, he found Scout pouring a glass of wine at the countertop.
“Can I hug you?” he blurted.
Her blue-green eyes widened slightly but she nodded, her expression soft. “Of course.”
He leaned into her, holding her close, grateful to have her in his arms. “I never should have let you walk out that door last night.”
She laid her cheek against his chest, gripping him tight. Her amber-vanilla scent teased him, grounded him. “You couldn’t have foreseen any of that. No one could have.”
He didn’t respond for a long moment, mostly because he didn’t trust his voice not to shake. The thought of a world without Scout in it, a woman he hadn’t even known for a full month, was inconceivable. “Can we talk about what I told you before everything?”
Sighing, she stepped back, but didn’t put much distance between them as she looked up at him. Her grip around him was loose, but she was still touching him. “I’m processing that, to be honest.”
Yeah, he’d figured that. And his fear was that once she did fully process his profession, once she got her equilibrium back, she’d kick him out of her life for good.
The thought was a gut punch.
He cupped her cheek gently. “Listen, I’m going to head back to Miami in the morning.
I’m not just abandoning you,” he added quickly.
“Sarah, and Ace and Silas will be here keeping an eye on things. I’ve got something to take care of but more than that…
I want to give you space from me. To really think about if you can handle what I do or even want to be with me.
Because full disclosure, I want to be with you.
Not for one night, Scout. I want something real with you.
” How about till death do us part? His throat felt like sandpaper as he admitted the truth, let himself be vulnerable in a way he never had with anyone else.
“I don’t want to let you go, but you’re probably right,” she said softly. For a moment, she looked as if she might pull him close, but instead she let her arms drop and took a subtle step back.
The distance between them might as well be the Grand Canyon for how he felt.
He’d done this. He was giving her space to figure out if she could accept him as he was. All of him.
Even if he hated the thought of leaving her, especially now, the threat was gone. And he had one more thing to take care of to wrap up this mess.