Chapter 4 #2
Daisy told them what had happened.
“Did you identify it right away as that painting?” Finn asked. “Honestly, I wouldn’t have had a clue.”
“At first, I didn’t know what it was. After I found it, I grabbed my phone and the first name that popped up was my minister. So I clicked on. He came over and was the one that suggested it resembled The Scream.”
“So we have a culprit who’s versed in art history?” Heath shook his head. “This is bizarre.”
Jeff scowled. “And once again, there were no fingerprints other than Daisy’s, Liam’s and the minister’s on the closet door.”
“Like when he got in here with the barbells and the snake.” Finn sounded disgusted. “He left no trace.”
Elise took his hand. Ryder noticed Juliet staring at them. Her expression was one of…longing. Hmm.
“What do we do with this information?” Heath asked.
“There’s little to do. I’ll alert Stanton and Evans—” He looked at Ryder.
“They’re the FBI agents working with us.
But again there’s not much to go on. I called this meeting because you should know even the possibility of an incident.
And again, be vigilant and alert me like Daisy did if anything happens. ”
When the meeting broke up, Juliet crossed to the cop. “Thanks for doing this Jeff. Even though everybody is cranky, you handled it well.”
“I appreciate that.” He turned to Ryder and held out his hand. “Jeff Marshall.”
Ryder shook with him. “Ryder Pace. You have my gratitude, too.”
They walked out together, Ryder’s hand at Juliet’s back. He hoped the Marshall saw that.
* * *
Juliet was quiet on the way to the car. Ryder opened the door for her and she slid in. The buttery soft leather encompassed her. When he got into the driver’s side, he asked, “You okay?”
“As well as can be expected.”
On the way to his house, Juliet kept picturing the happy couples in the meeting. She’d never in her life been jealous of someone, but she envied all three pairs. She stared through the windshield blankly until it hit her. “Oh, God.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I-I—”
Much like the last time she burst into tears, he swerved the car into an empty parking lot and turned to her. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
She faced him. “I had an epiphany.”
“What kind of epiphany?”
“I want what those couples have. Since Michael died, I’ve never felt this way again.”
He wiped away her tears with his thumbs. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”
She cupped his cheek. “I want it with you, Ryder.”
Emotion suffused his face. Finally, he asked, “So why are you crying?”
“Because I want it with you,” she repeated. “And I’m afraid of that.”
“Juliet, I’ve been telling you I want a relationship with you, since we met.”
“I…” She hiccupped. “I know. But what if—”
He grabbed her to him and kissed her. He possessed her mouth, claimed her with his tongue, held her tightly. When he drew back, she was crying harder.
“You—you can hurt me, Ryder.” She grasped onto his shirt. “Promise you won’t take advantage of me or lie to me or lead me on.”
“I’ll do my damnedest not to, love. Trust me.”
* * *
Ryder went out for a run and left her reading to the boys with a promise of more games with them. He had to clear his head. As he left through the gates and headed up one of the neighborhood hills, he tried to work things out in his mind.
She decided to stay with him for two more days.
It was the most he could get out of her.
In truth, his mind was reeling with what she’d said to him.
What she wanted from him. To be a couple with him.
He was prepared to give that to her. Maybe even make a life with her. He asked her to trust him. Promised he
wouldn’t hurt her when he knew a secret he was keeping from her would be a big violation of that trust. One she might not ever forgive him for. He’d been lying to her from day one in the art gallery. How ironic.
He reached a level road and sped up, trying to figure a way out of this. He ran further and further but nothing came to him.
Tell her. It’s the only answer.
Hell, he wasn’t a criminal. He’d never intentionally hurt the women he dated, never abused them. And he’d been a stern negotiator but he didn’t cheat the businessmen he worked with. And, really, was this secret so bad?
If it’s not a big deal, tell her.
That was out of the question today. She’d go home right away. Joey could get to her there. It was too big of a risk.
Maybe he’d confess before she left on Monday. When the boys went to school, they could talk.
Slowing to an easier pace, he entered the house breathing normally. Now, they were in the kitchen playing a board game.
“Sorry, Mommy!”
“You kicked me off!”
“You gotta go back home.”
“Monster!”
He walked into the room. She was dressed in sweats again, this time buttercup yellow, her hair up in a messy knot. She was simply adorable. He asked, “Who’s a monster?”
“Mommy called me that,” Billy said his eyes devilish. “I kicked her off her space and she’s gotta start over.”
“What are you playing?”
Tommy was all smiles. “Sorry. It’s a fun game.”
“Want to play with us?” Billy asked.
Ryder admitted both kids were getting close to him. And they meant something to him now.
“No, thanks. I’ve got to take a shower and make some business calls.”
“Okay,” she said sweetly.
He was bereft when he left the room. He could lose all three of them.