Chapter 13
Suzy wasn’t sure what the heck she’d interrupted between Duke and her brother, but whatever transpired between them left him in one hell of a mood. She kept her mouth closed as he made the familiar turns into town. A makeshift blockade stretched across the road that led to the town square.
“Sonofabitch,” Duke muttered. “What the hell’s that about?”
“Everything’s blocked off for the Winter Rodeo,” she said. “Things are being set up in the streets and sidewalks. No vehicles can get through unless it’s to bring in materials needed for booths and the ice rink.”
“That’ll be fun for you.” He shot her a tight smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Usually is. I don’t mind parking a block away for a few days. All the festivities and people watching make it worth the slight inconvenience. Not to mention all the yummy food. I hope I don’t have to miss it this year.”
Duke turned into a small lot for public parking and pulled into a spot. “If I have anything to say about it, you won’t miss out on a damn thing.”
“Will it be safe?”
He shifted his attention out the windshield and sighed. “Do you trust me?”
“Are you kidding me?”
“No, I’m not kidding.”
“I wouldn’t be sitting here with you if I didn’t.” Frowning, she followed his gaze and found nothing but the back of an old brick building. “What happened with you and Lane?”
“Nothing,” he said, shutting off the engine. “Let’s go.”
She refused to move. “Not until you tell me what put you in this mood.”
“Seriously?” He huffed out a humorless laugh.
“Maybe I’m a little pissed that my sister’s laying in a hospital bed and another woman I care about is in danger and it’s all because of my poor choices.
Or could be that I thought I’d handled this only for my past to swoop in and slap me in the face again. ”
“All of those things are true, but they were true back in that hospital room where you took my hand and comforted me, let me comfort you. That stick didn’t get lodged in there until after you left the room to make a phone call.
So either something happened on the call to your family or with my brother. My money’s on Lane.”
Bracing his hands on either side of the steering wheel, he hung his head. “Does it really matter?”
“To me it does, because if Lane said something stupid, I’ll have to kick his ass.”
He chuckled, and this time it was laced with amusement. “I’m sure you’d give him a run for his money.”
“I have before, and I’ll do it again. What did he say?”
Finally, Duke turned to face her. “He thinks I’ll hurt you.”
The sadness in his voice crushed her, but she didn’t reach out to him. Didn’t offer a soothing touch. Not yet. Because if there was a chance of anything developing between them, she needed him to really hear her. No distractions. No excuses. No bullshit.
“Do you think you’ll hurt me?”
He shrugged. “I don’t want to.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Again, he shrugged.
“Listen, we’re both adults. We understand things happen sometimes that are beyond our control, including starting relationships that don’t last. But if we care about each other and respect each other, then we understand that no matter how things turn out, neither of us did a damn thing without the best of intentions.
So I guess the real question is, what are your intentions? ”
The ghost of a smile cracked the tight set of his lips. “I feel like I should be having this conversation with one of your parents.”
“Well, my mother died a long time ago and my father was worthless before he left this earth. I’m the only one you have to worry about, besides my idiot brother, and I don’t give two shits about his opinion.”
His grin widened. “Do you give one shit?”
She struggled to keep a grin of her own from taking over her face. “Nope. Not one.”
“Then I guess I’m in luck.”
“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want an answer. Besides, you said before that the conversation about what’s happening with us should be between you and me, not you and Lane.”
Huffing out a sigh, he tossed his hat on the seat and shoved a hand through his hair.
“He kind of forced that on me, but you’re right.
You’re what matters. Your opinions, your feelings, your heart.
I can’t promise you that I’ll never inflict an ounce of pain on you, but I’ll never do it on purpose.
I think we could have something real special, and I’d be no smarter than a horse’s ass if I didn’t do something about it. ”
“Well, we both know you’re smarter than that. So tell me. What are you going to do? Let whatever bullshit my brother spewed get in your head? Or toss that aside and put your energy into something a hell of a lot more exciting?”
He slid over on the bench seat until their knees touched. He cradled his palm along her jawline, swiping the pad of his thumb along her cheekbone. “Oh, I’d love to do something more exciting.”
Heat licked inside her belly. She wet her bottom lip with her tongue, her gaze shifting to his mouth. “Are you sure you can handle it?”
He smirked and leaned in, his face hovering close to hers. “I don’t know, but I’d sure like to try.”
Unwilling to wait a second longer, she leaned forward and pressed her mouth to his. She closed her eyes and fireworks flashed against her eyelids. Desire melted her insides to molten lava, and she looped her arms around his neck to bring him closer.
Duke’s lips moved against hers, his tongue pushing into her mouth.
He roamed his hand from her jaw to the back of her neck, his grip tight and possessive, his mouth demanding.
He hooked his arm around the small of her back, applying just enough pressure that her breasts pressed against the hard muscle of his chest.
Her mind went blank, her heart full, and her body demanded she find a place a lot more comfortable than the front seat of Duke’s truck to finish what they’d started.
He broke away, his warm breath skimming her face as he rested his forehead on hers. “Yeah, I can handle it.”
She chuckled and smoothed her palms on either side his neck. “I’m not so sure about that. We just got started.”
“That’s right. We did. And as much as I want to keep going with this, we should really grab your stuff and head back to my house. Before we take this any further, I want to talk more. Cook you dinner. Take you on a proper date. Would that be all right?”
“Sounds perfect.”
And even with the world unsteady at her feet, she’d never felt luckier.
Maneuvering through the throngs of people milling about the town square, Duke held tight to Suzy’s hand. He kept her close. Partly in case danger was near, partly because the memory of her body pressed to his wasn’t enough.
He wanted to kick his own ass for stopping their kiss in his truck. But as much as he wanted to discover every inch of Suzy, she deserved more than a quick bang in a random parking lot. She deserved a room lit by candlelight and a dozen red roses.
She deserved the whole damn world.
And one way or another, he planned to give it to her.
Rounding the corner that led to Main Street, Duke stopped and his eyes went wide. “Holy shit. This is chaos.” He pointed at the giant tree in the middle of the square being adorned with bright red ribbons.
Suzy chuckled. “I told you. The Winter Rodeo is a big deal around here. Locals wait all year to eat roasted chestnuts and the Gurlys make this special hot chocolate you can only get at the rodeo. It’s so good.”
“Is that a Christmas tree?”
She grinned. “It will be. This marks the beginning of the holiday season. The tree in the square gets decked out in multi-colored lights and everyone brings ornaments to hang on the branches. The stores have a competition to see who can have the most creative front windows. I know it sounds like such a cliché, but it really is the most wonderful time of the year.”
Her excitement was infectious. “What’s your favorite part?”
“Besides the food?” she asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Yes,” he said on a laugh. “Besides the food.”
Stopping on the sidewalk, she waited for two men to carry large pieces of plywood past before facing the grassy square.
“The tree lighting. People are encouraged to put up ornaments any time they want, but most people come to the lighting. It’s a big production with music blaring.
Everyone circles round the tree, and after the lights turn on, they clamor to help decorate.
My grandpa used to bring Lane and me when we were kids.
After he died, and Lane left, I’d come by myself. I hope not to be alone this time.”
He squeezed her hand. “You won’t be.”
“The lighting is tomorrow night. Do you really think we can go?”
“I don’t see why not. I’ll be with you, and maybe by then all this craziness will be behind us.” He had to believe that Chrissy wasn’t stupid enough to stick around town, but after everything that had happened, it was hard to tell.
Either way, he’d figure out how to get Suzy to that tree lighting. Even if he had to surround her with guards to do it.
Decision made, he continued down the sidewalk toward her apartment.
She pointed toward the candy store. “Looks like the Gurlys got their window fixed.”
Mrs. Gurly stood outside her store with boxes on the ground beside her. She balanced on her tiptoes and struggled to hang a strand of garland.
Letting go of Suzy’s hand, he rushed forward and took the end of the strand. “Here, let me help you with that.”
“Oh goodness, thank you. I swear, I must shrink a little every year. I used to hang this with no trouble at all. Now I can barely reach.”
“The window looks great,” Suzy said. “You got that installed in record time.”
“They were here first thing this morning. Thank the Lord. Missing our annual Christmas display would have been heartbreaking. I think we might win this year. We’ve got a secret weapon.” She winked, causing the wrinkles on her face to amplify.
Duke secured the garland then took a step back to inspect his work. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“I can’t tell you or it wouldn’t be a secret,” she said, wagging her finger in his direction. “For all I know you’re a spy for Vintage Finds. You’ll tell them what we have planned, and all my hard work would be for nothing.”
Slapping a hand to his chest, he fought against a grin. “I’m shocked you think so little of me.”
Mrs. Gurly cackled. “Nah, you’re a sweetheart. But it’s cutthroat around here this time of year. Can’t take any chances.”
“Well, we’ll be here for the tree lighting,” Suzy said. “We’ll make sure to stop by and see the surprise.”
“Good! You won’t be disappointed.”
Reclaiming her hand, Duke tugged Suzy along. “You were right about people taking this seriously. I can’t believe I was accused of being a spy. I’m not sure if I should be honored or offended.”
“Honored. Definitely. If Mrs. Gurly thinks Sue from Vintage Finds would confide in you, then you’re officially a part of the town.”
Her words constricted his throat as his argument with Lane came back to him. “Not everyone thinks so.”
Stopping, she faced him. “What do you mean?”
Rubbing the back of his neck, he debated how much to say. He didn’t want to cause issues between Suzy and her brother but also wanted to be honest with her about everything. “Lane said I never should have come to Hillmore.”
Suzy’s expression fell along with her shoulders. “He didn’t mean it.”
“It’s fine,” he said with a small shrug. “He can think what he wants.”
“Lane’s always felt the need to protect me.
I know that’s part of the whole big brother deal, but it goes deeper than that.
He was all I had after our grandpa passed away.
When he left town, it was hard for him to walk away from me, but I understand he had to finally look out for himself.
As much as I forgive him for making that decision and leaving me alone to deal with our dad, I’m not sure he’s forgiven himself.
So now that he’s back, he’s taken the protective thing a little too seriously.
As though he needs to make up for lost time, even if I don’t need it anymore. ”
Tucking in his lips, he dipped his chin. What she said made sense, and hell, he didn’t blame Lane for looking after his sister. But it still hurt.
“I’m sorry you were alone,” he said. “That you didn’t have anyone looking after you.”
“I learned to look after myself, and I had the people in this town.” She extended her arm and swept it in front of her. “I have dozens of surrogate aunties and uncles. Someone always around to step in and step up if needed.”
He swept her into his arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “That’s why I like it so much here. It’s a community. Now hurry up and gather your things and let’s get back to my place. I’m hungry. We’ll grab lunch to take back with us, if that works for you.”
“Sounds perfect.” Stepping away, she kept an arm hooked around his waist as they walked side by side to her apartment. She led the way up the stairwell to her front door.
A thrill shot through him as he stepped inside.
He’d never been to Suzy’s home before. The urge to see her space moved his feet along the worn hardwood floors.
He noted the thick throw tossed over the back of the sofa and the basket of pillows that sat in front of the brick fireplace.
Cream-colored walls anchored the open floorplan with splashes of blues and oranges and reds coming together to create a warmth he couldn’t explain.
Just like Suzy.
“Nice place,” he said.
“It’s small but I don’t need much. Give me a few minutes and I’ll have everything I need. Make yourself comfortable.”
He waited for her to disappear into her room before strolling to the window and peeking outside.
The town was on full display and he could see why she enjoyed living here.
Being in the center of the community she loved so much.
He wandered through the living room, noting a stack of paperbacks on the end table and a vase of fresh flowers on the mantle.
Crossing to the connected kitchen, his stomach growled, tempting him to look in the fridge. Suzy better hurry if he’d survive until lunch.
A clock with a picture of the mountains ticked on the wall. He didn’t want to rush her, but she said she’d be quick. Taking a chance, he padded down the short hall to her room and knocked on the doorframe.
Suzy stood in front of her dresser. Her narrowed eyes were glued to something he couldn’t see in front of her, her hand suspended in the air with her finger pointing at something.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
Shaking her head, she spun around. “Something’s not right.”
“What do you mean?”
“My necklace. The one my grandpa gave me. I always keep it in this little dish, and it’s gone.”
Frowning, he hurried to her and searched the neat dresser top for the missing jewelry. “Are you sure you didn’t put it somewhere else?”
“I’m positive. If I’m not wearing it—and I forgot to put it on today—I keep it in my mother’s dish. I remember putting it there last night and now it’s gone. Duke, I know I sound crazy, but someone was in my apartment.”