Chapter 14
Panic assailed Moriah as she watched Brian enter the cottage.
Oh, God, a state investigator! A cop!
What were the fucking odds KC’s brother would be in law enforcement?
This could get very ugly, very quickly, if she didn’t get herself under control.
She couldn’t do anything that would raise suspicion, which meant she had to act as normal as possible and do everything in her power to appear unflustered.
Pretend he’s a stockbroker, she told herself. Yeah, right. Good, fucking luck with that.
KC reached out, took her arm, and pulled out a chair for her. A shiver traveled up her spine as he whispered in her ear, “You look beautiful this morning.”
Moriah wasn’t sure if the trembling she felt was a reaction to KC or fear. “Th-thanks.”
His eyes narrowed as he inspected her face. “Everything okay?”
“Um, yeah.” She smiled. “Just trying to wake up. You wore me out last night.”
Grinning, he placed a kiss on her lips. “Right back at you.”
A noise behind them had Moriah and KC turning, and the latter rushed over to open the door as Brian carried a full tray out. Noting the coffee, KC raised an eyebrow. “Just two cups? You’re not having any?”
“No, sorry, Bro. I just got paged into the station. You two enjoy breakfast.” He regarded Moriah in a way that made her want to squirm. “It was nice to meet you, Maura.”
She prayed neither of them could hear the hammering of her heart. “It was nice to meet you too.”
“I’m sure I’ll see you soon.”
She nodded and told herself not to read into those words. He was just being friendly, wasn’t he?
Twenty minutes later, her stomach churning, Moriah sat there, picking at the bagel KC had placed in front of her but never bringing a morsel to her mouth.
His brother’s visit and fast exit bothered her.
She tried to convince herself there was no way he could know about her and her past, but something about their whole interaction left her unsettled.
Devoid of an appetite and needing to think things over, she stood, catching KC off guard. “I’m going back to bed.”
“Mind if I join you?” There was no missing the hopefulness in his question.
“I’m sorry, KC, I’m not feeling well.” At least, it was the truth. “I think I’m coming down with something. Maybe a nap will help me feel better.”
Clearly not happy about it, KC bit his lip and nodded, but she was grateful he didn’t push the issue. “Okay, you go rest. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll check on you later.”
Not wanting him to worry, she leaned down and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. “Thanks.”
On her way to her room—not his—Moriah grabbed her purse from the couch. She shouldn’t have left it out in the open last night, with her real ID in it, but then again, she didn’t even recall how it ended up there after they arrived home. She had been too busy kissing KC.
Closing the bedroom door behind her, she turned the lock, then tossed her purse on the nightstand as she flopped onto the bed.
She couldn’t shake her uneasiness about Brian Malone. How could she have been so stupid? How could she have let her guard down? She had been crazy to think she could settle down here. There was no way she could do anything normal again. To do so could end up with her being killed.
Shit! She had just spent the most incredible night of her life with the most amazing man in the world, only to discover he had a detective for a brother.
Now, she would have to leave sooner than expected, and the thought of leaving KC was tearing her apart.
It shouldn’t, considering she barely knew him.
But it was. She was probably just another conquest in a long line of women he’d slept with.
The thought made her jealous, although she had no right to be, and she chastised herself.
Last night was just a one-night stand. He hadn’t professed love for her.
They had known each other less than a week—there couldn’t be love there.
That only happened in romance novels and fairy tales, didn’t it?
But Moriah knew it was there, deep down in her heart.
She had fallen in love with KC the first time he had kissed her on the beach.
His touch and scent were forever burned into her memory.
She would never forget him. But she couldn’t stay and risk her past catching up with her—it would only place him in danger, and she couldn’t do that to him.
Somehow, she would have to pretend nothing was wrong for the rest of the day.
She couldn’t have KC suspecting she was planning on running away.
It would create too many questions, and she was having a difficult time leaving him as it was.
Standing, she walked into the adjoining bathroom, used the toilet, then washed her hands.
Studying her reflection in the mirror, she wished her life was normal again and her family was alive.
But that wasn’t going to happen. She couldn’t rely on anyone to keep her safe—she would have to do it by herself.
If she told KC what had happened, he might not believe her, or if he did, he could end up being killed when the ugliness she had left in Chicago caught up with her.
She was certain one day it would, and she couldn’t put KC at risk.
The best thing to do was leave tonight. She could already feel her heart breaking.
Reluctantly, she made up her mind. After KC fell asleep tonight, she would grab her things and the bag of money and disappear.
She could walk into town and call a cab to take her back to the Walmart in Elizabeth City.
From there, she would catch a bus to God-only-knew-where .
. . just anywhere but here. Pulling the covers to her waist, she settled into the soft mattress.
Now that she had a plan, she needed to get more sleep.
The Lord only knew when she would feel safe again.
Maura hadn’t looked at him and had barely uttered a word since his brother left. She’d just sat there, not eating the bagel he’d given her. KC knew she must regret what happened last night.
Fuck. He shouldn’t have pushed her so hard.
But he had wanted her badly and assumed they were on the same page when she responded so quickly.
Well, he didn’t regret last night one bit.
It had been the most fantastic evening he had ever spent with a woman.
Whoever had told her she wasn’t good in bed was a fucking ass.
She had been like molten lava in his hands, and he had lost track of how many orgasms he’d brought her to.
The woman was incredible in bed, and he was growing hard just thinking about it.
After she had gone back to bed, he sat there brooding for a while.
Somehow, he had to change her mind and banish any regrets she had because now that he had taken her to his bed, he was dying for it to happen again.
He still hadn’t had his fill of her, and he’d be damned if he only had one night with her.
Shaking his head, he headed inside to grab his car keys, cursing himself the entire time.
Two hours later, after an extra-long workout at the local gym a high-school buddy owned and then a subsequent shower, KC pulled into a parking spot in front of the hardware store and turned off the engine.
He sat there a moment, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, replaying the night before and this morning repeatedly in his mind.
He couldn’t think of a single thing he had done wrong except perhaps push Maura too fast. Maybe he should have just waited a few more days.
However, at the time, he’d wanted her so painfully that he couldn’t wait any longer.
Fuck, I’m a jackass.
Banging his hand on the steering wheel in frustration for the fifth time since he had left the cottage, he climbed out of the car and headed into the shop.
His mind elsewhere, he wasn’t paying attention when he tripped over Jinx lying in the doorway and ended up sprawled on the floor in front of the counter.
The lazy-ass dog picked his head up, gave him a “whatever” look, and promptly went back to sleep.
“Useless, fucking dog,” KC mumbled while getting to his feet and brushing himself off.
Dan, who had observed the entire incident from his seat behind the counter, was laughing hysterically. “Don’t be mad at him because you can’t watch where you’re going. What’s got you in such a sour mood? I thought you’d be walking on cloud nine today.”
Giving the dog a last annoyed glance, KC’s eyes narrowed as he turned toward the counter. “Why would you think that?”
“Brian stopped back here on his way out of town.” That was all Dan needed to say. KC could figure out the rest on his own.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Apparently, my idea of the morning after differs from Maura’s. She barely said two words to me this morning and went back to bed after Brian left. Told me she didn’t feel well, but I don’t think that’s what’s going on.”
“Shoot, boy, what’d you do wrong?”
Shaking his head, he stuck his hands into the pockets of his jeans and leaned against the counter. “I haven’t the damnedest idea.”
“Well, then, figure it out, son! I like the little lady a lot and think she’s good for you. I mean, she’s perfect for you!”
He gaped at the man. “What? Do you have us eloping already? I’ve only known the woman a week.”
“I’m not getting any younger. Unless I help you boys, I’ll be waiting forever to become a great uncle. I want to enjoy the little ones while I can. And don’t you dare elope,” Dan added, pointing his finger at his nephew.
“Holy crap! Not only do you have me marrying her—you have us having kids already? What the fuck, Dan?”
The man sighed. “I know when two people belong together. It was obvious how y’all looked at each other last night that you two were made for each other. Now, go buy Maura some flowers and apologize for whatever the hell you did, even if you don’t have a fucking clue what it is.”
KC just stared at his uncle as he walked toward his office at the back of the store. Shaking his head, the younger man stepped over the snoring canine and ambled outside into the bright sunshine. Thinking his uncle might be right, he headed to the florist up the street.
Not long after KC left, Jinx lay in the middle of the third aisle, where he’d moved to continue his nap.
But he jumped up, his tail wagging furiously as he trotted over to Bonnie Whitman as she strode through the front door of Malone's Hardware store.
The older woman laughed as she bent down to scratch the dog's ears.
"Well, hello there, good boy. You always know who walks in with dog biscuits in their pockets, don't you? "
Reaching into her jacket, she pulled out a giant bone-shaped treat.
The dog promptly plopped his butt on the floor and offered her a paw.
She shook Jinx's outstretched limb and handed him his gift.
Even though his mouth was full, the dog gave her a grateful woof and retreated to the back of the store with his prize.
Behind the counter, where he had been paying some bills, Dan snorted and shook his head at his deceased wife's best friend. "You spoil that dog."
Bonnie smirked. "Oh, and like you don't. Besides, I don't have any grandchildren to spoil yet, so Jinx reaps the benefits.
" Her only son and daughter-in-law were newlyweds who lived in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.
Much to her chagrin, they decided to put off having children for a few years.
"I hear you've been doing some matchmaking lately, you old coot.
How did their date, which wasn't really a date, go last night? "
He grinned widely. "Pretty darn good, if I do say so myself.
Dinner was fantastic, and apparently, so was the rest of the evening.
They might have hit a small bump this morning, but KC is picking up some flowers to smooth things over.
I'm telling you, Bonnie, those two were meant for each other.
I can feel it right here." He tapped his hand over his heart.
"You know, she reminds me a lot of Lori, the boys' mother, which works out well since KC is the spitting image of his father.
It's a shame Tommy never had a chance to know his sons as men. He would have been so proud."
"Just like you are. You did an excellent job with those boys after their parents died, and they love you for it."
"Thanks," he replied sheepishly. "So, what can I do for you, or did you just come in to make my dog fat and me happy?"
As if on cue, Jinx came running back to beg for the second biscuit he knew Bonnie had for him, and she handed it over.
"Actually, I came by to see if you could come over to the house sometime in the next few days and look at the toilet in the spare bathroom.
I want to know if it's an easy fix or if I need a new one before I call the plumber.
I don't trust contractors anymore since that electrician tried to cheat me last year.
Thank God you came by before I signed anything, and he started working.
They think they can get one over on dumb, single, old ladies like me. "
Dan scoffed. "You are certainly not dumb, most definitely a lady, and don't look a day over forty. I would be happy to swing by and take a look, as long as you make your famous meatloaf as payment for my professional services."
Grinning, Bonnie winked at him. "You’re on. Is tomorrow night okay?"
"Sounds perfect."
After she left the store and headed toward her boutique, Dan returned to his bills and started whistling a silly tune.