Chapter Sixteen
“They’ve been gone for a while now.” Sully surveyed the land outside the kitchen window. Jane had met his parents a few times now, but he didn’t want her to feel uneasy at the prospect of being alone with his mom for so long.
“Relax. They’re fine.” His dad clapped him on the shoulder. “Why don’t you make yourself useful and cut up these cucumbers.” His father placed a cutting board on the stone countertop and passed him a knife. “Didn’t see a ring on Jane’s finger yet.”
“You will.” He chuckled, glad his father was so eager to welcome her to the family.
“Your sisters are going to beg you to let them plan the wedding. I like her, Sullivan. I don’t want you to let a good girl like that get away.
When I met your mother, I knew right away I was going to marry her.
Jane reminds me of her. A little rough around the edges, but sweet as could be underneath it all. ”
The knife slid through the cucumber, and the rhythmic task helped him relax.
“Look at that.” He followed his father’s line of sight out the window. “A pair of cowgirls.”
“I don’t think Jane’s ever ridden before.” Jesus, she was beautiful leaned back in the Western saddle. Her dark, glossy hair thick around her shoulders and back.
“A natural, then. Those animals have helped your mom more than any therapist could. When Bentley started to struggle, she blamed herself. Has he been leaving you alone?”
“I haven’t heard from him since the day we landed in San Diego.”
“We haven’t either. I know your friends must be doing some digging into him. I want you to know whatever they find, your mom and I will be okay. He’s our son, and for that he has our love, but if he tried to harm you or is breaking the law in any other way, he needs to answer for his crimes.”
“I hope it doesn’t come to that.” Laughter carried in from the open window as he put the cucumbers onto the salad.
He glanced up and the sight that greeted him left him feeling weightless.
Jane and his mom walked hip to hip, their arms thrown around each other’s shoulders, their empty drinks in their free hands.
The back door slid open, and Sully took in Jane’s relaxed appearance. Her cheekbones were raised in a smile and her eyes danced with light. In fluid movements, she crossed the kitchen and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“I rode a horse.” She bounced up on her tippy toes and kissed him. “Then, she said it was mine.”
“Congratulations.” He chuckled.
“This is nuts,” she said, but her face was glowing with excitement. “She can’t really give me a horse, can she?”
“Mom tends to do what she wants.” He grinned down at the beautiful woman in his arms. “Think of it as a bribe to come over more often.”
“I told you he’d say that. I’m going to take a quick shower. Be down in five,” Kelly called as she jogged up the stairs.
“I’ll go out and start the grill.” His dad took a tray onto the deck, closing the door behind them.
“Let’s bring some of this stuff out.” Jane went to pick up the salad, but he stopped her.
“In a minute,” he whispered, dropping his head, and teasing her lips with his own. She gripped his shoulders, pulling him closer. He could taste the tart wine on her tongue and a sweetness that was all her own. She pulled back long before he was ready.
“We can’t just stand her and make out in your parents’ kitchen.”
He liked the soft giggle that left her lips.
“Who says?” He wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck until her laughter grew.
“Me. Your dad’s doing all the hard work out there.” She planted another quick kiss on his lips and stepped back and grabbed the salad.
“I’ll get plates.” He followed her out on the deck.
His father was facing the grill, but he could tell he was grinning by the curve of his cheek.
Smoke rolled off the grill and the scent of hamburgers made his mouth water.
It took a few more trips to get the potato salad, corn on the cob, and condiments to the table, but by the time the burgers were off the grill, his mom had walked barefoot on the deck, her wet hair in a messy bun at the top of her head.
His dad poured Jane another glass of wine and retrieved his mom another beer from the refrigerator before sitting down at the table on the deck.
Contentment swelled in his chest at the laughter around the table, the feel of Jane’s outer thigh pressed up against his, and the glow of the sun dipping low on the horizon.
They’d just finished their strawberry shortcake as dusk settled over the ranch.
The cool night air rustled over his skin, and he put his arm around Jane to keep her warm.
He was just about to ask if she wanted to go inside when the glass door to the kitchen slid open and Bentley stepped out.
His brother took in the scene, face souring. “Well, this is cozy. I must’ve missed my invitation.”
“Didn’t know you left Vegas,” his father said easily and stood. “Feel free to fix yourself a plate.”
“No,” he said, eyes moving around the table. “I think I’m good.”
“I wish you told us you were coming. I would’ve made up the spare bedroom,” his mother said. “I still can if you’d like.”
Bentley continued to stare, and his silence made the fine hairs on the back of Sully’s neck bristle.
He tightened his arm protectively around Jane.
“No. I’ll head out. Enjoy the evening.” His brother stepped back through the slider and closed it shut with a bit too much force.
Everyone seemed to fall quiet until Jane cleared her throat. “Maybe we should get going, too.”
“I don’t know what that was all about. I’m sorry for my younger son’s behavior, Jane. It wasn’t polite for him to take such an attitude.” Suddenly, the lines on his father’s face appeared more pronounced and deep with worry.
“Thanks for dinner.” Sully stood, pushing back the chair.
“We’ll walk you out,” his mother said rounding the table. The air had grown heavy as they collected their things and made their way to the front door.
“Don’t forget your bag.” Sully nodded toward the hook where Jane had hung her purse earlier.
“Oh right.” She slung it over her shoulder and gave his mom and dad a hug.
“Call if you need anything.” His father stepped out on the front porch and crossed his arms over his chest. Sully didn’t miss the way he surveyed the driveway and surrounding area with a trained eye.
“Did you know he was in California?” Jane asked when he started the truck.
“No.” He glanced in the rearview mirror and backed out of the driveway. An uneasy feeling settled in his gut as they drove. “I think I’ll give Red and Jude a call now.”
She gripped his knee. “Sully, look.” There was an edge of fear in her voice. “I think we’re being pulled over.”
He’d been so focused on Bentley’s visit that he hadn’t seen the cruiser pull out behind them.
“Probably just needs to pass. I wasn’t going over the speed limit.
” He eased the wheel to the right along the sidewalk, but instead of driving around, the police officer stopped directly behind them.
Blue lights flashed and Jane’s breathing increased.
“Hey, everything’s going to be okay. Maybe I have a taillight out or something. We’ll be on our way in a minute.” He rolled down the window as the officer approached.
“License and registration.”
Sully leaned over the console to open the glove box and retrieved the information. He passed it to the officer who shined a penlight on the documents.
“Where are you coming from this evening?” The police officer shined his light into the car.
“Visiting my parents. Is there a reason you stopped us?” His body temperature seemed to increase as the light stopped on Jane.
“I’m going to need you both to step out of the vehicle.
” The uneasiness that crept into his gut earlier solidified, despite the fact he had nothing to hide.
There was literally nothing in the vehicle.
He unbuckled his seat belt, but Jane sat frozen.
“Sweetheart, we have to get out of the truck. I’m sure this is a big misunderstanding, but it’ll be better if we cooperate. ”
“Good advice. Anything I should know about?” the officer asked as he stepped onto the pavement. “Any drugs or weapons.”
“Yes, I have a licensed firearm holstered on my hip. I’m a Navy SEAL stationed in Coronado.”
“I’m going to need you to put your hands behind your back.”
“Not until you tell me what this is about.”
“I have probable cause to search the car, sir.”
“I want to see your identification,” he said as Jane exited the truck.
“Of course.” The officer held out his identification to Sully. “Ma’am, please come forward and put your hands on the hood of the truck.”
Jane was visibly shaken, and he wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her and let her know everything would be fine. Nothing was off about the man’s credentials. He was sure if they cooperated, they’d be on their way once the officer discovered they had nothing to hide.
The cold metal cuffs encircled his wrists, and the officer led him to the curb. “Take a seat.”
As the officer walked toward Jane, his heart rate sped up as she visibly recoiled from him.
They spoke in low tones until she turned, and the officer secured her hands behind her back.
He wouldn’t put it past Bentley to have called the cops and reported his vehicle as stolen, but he had no doubt it would be straightened out in a few minutes when he was done searching the cab of the truck.
The officer made his way over to Jane, she shook her head, then the man showed her something in his hand.
Jane dropped her forehead to her knees and shook as though her body was racked in silent sobs.
“What’s going on?” he demanded as the officer walked back toward him.
“How do you know the woman in the vehicle?” His neck and jaw stiffened as the officer once again ignored his question.
“She’s my girlfriend,” he bit out, losing some of his carefully honed patience.
“Sir, have you visited Baltimore recently?”
“Yes, I was in a military hospital there for three weeks.”
“Drugs were located in your girlfriend’s purse. The RX matches the description of medication that was reported stolen a couple of weeks ago from the hospital.”
“That has to be a mistake. I came home with medication. It might be mine.”
“I know this might be hard to hear, but your girlfriend has a prior arrest for possession of a controlled substance.”
His heart was hammering, and he knew he wasn’t thinking straight.
All he knew for certain was that the drugs found on Jane weren’t hers.
He could believe that she’d had a prior arrest, as she’d hinted to things in her past, but those drugs were as much hers as they were his.
There was no way he was going to convince the police officer otherwise.
A second police car pulled up and parked behind the first.
“What happens next?”
“She’ll be arrested, detained, and booked at the station. She’ll be able to make a phone call and will be arraigned within seventy-two hours. After she enters a plea, the judge will consider the possibility of bail.”
“What about me? I was in the vehicle, too.”
“You’re free to go.”
He gave the officer a curt nod. Several hundred feet away, Jane was being led to the second police car by a female officer. “Can I talk to her first?” The officer used her hand to cover Jane’s head as she got into the back seat of the cruiser.
“We allow visitors at the county jail.” The officer unlocked the handcuffs, and they dropped from his wrists. The man gave him a pitying look. “Sometimes, we learn things about the people we love, and it’s a shock. I hope things work out, man.”
Sully didn’t bother to respond and went straight to his truck. He wasn’t sure what had happened, only that his brother was behind it. Once inside, he phoned Jude.
“I need your help.”