Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Sully heard a bloodcurdling scream.
Acutely aware he had an overnight guest, Sully hurried across the room and climbed the stairs two at a time.
It had taken him forever to fall asleep, knowing a stunning stranger was in bed on the floor above him.
He came to a stop at her closed door and hearing a whimper, he gently tapped his knuckles against the wood.
“Sully?”
“Yeah. Are you okay?”
“Yes,” Charley said. “Come in.”
Sully opened the door. Moonlight, streaming through the window, haloed her pretty head as she sat in the middle of the bed. Her long brown hair was loose and cascaded around her shoulders. Under the sheet her knees were pulled up to her chest. She looked vulnerable, delicate, and frightened.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, entering the room.
“I’m so sorry I woke you. I thought I only screamed in the nightmares I’ve been prone to lately. I didn’t know I was screaming out loud.”
Sully walked a few steps closer to the bed. “What can I do to help?”
“Keep me company?”
“Sure,” he said, and when she patted the mattress, he took a seat on it facing her.
She had the sheet pulled over her breasts, but he saw bra straps on her shoulders.
Realizing he was sitting on something, he tugged her leopard-print pants out from under him and knew she was sleeping in her underwear.
He should have offered her one of his tee shirts.
“What’s causing your nightmares?” When Charley didn’t reply, he asked, “The death of your mother? Or the strangler? Both? Or something else?”
Charley only nodded and then rested her forehead on her knees.
Feeling protective of the beautiful young woman, Sully clenched his jaw.
Reaching for Charley, he pulled his hand back before he made contact.
A strange man touching her was probably the last thing she wanted.
But when a sob escaped her, he threw caution to the wind and tugged her into his arms. Resting her head on his shoulder, she used the corner of the sheet to dry her eyes and sniffled.
“He didn’t succeed with me,” Charley whispered.
“Who didn’t succeed?”
“The man who killed my mother. My presence during her murder has not been disclosed by the police to the press.”
“What do you mean he didn’t succeed?” Sully asked and then instinctively knew. “You mean raping you?”
“Yes, he only got as far as tearing open the top of my robe. I screamed and fought. A moment later, my mother called my name from the living room. The guy stopped and ran. He shot her on his way out of my apartment.”
“Damn.” Sully tightened his hold on her. Relief that a murderer had not been able to rape Charley hit him faster and harder than he would have expected. “I’m thinking I might find this guy and kill him.”
“No, Sully,” Charley said with alarm in her voice as she leaned away from him. Her eyes glittered with tears. “Whether or not he’s the Cave Killer, he’s out there and he’s dangerous.”
“Yeah,” Sully gritted through his teeth. Charley was quiet, and he didn’t want to push her. “How did he get into your apartment?”
“I had left my door unlocked because I was expecting my mom. I came out of the shower and there was a man in my bedroom wearing a ski mask.” Charley gently pushed out of his arms. “He grabbed me and shoved me onto my bed and I—I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I understand. You’ve been through a lot in a short span of time. But I’m a good listener if you change your mind.” He paused and added, “Or if you need help, Charley.”
“I’m basically a stranger to you, Sully,” Charley said with a shake of her head. “Why would you help me?”
“I liked you on the spot, Charley Cooper,” he told her, just as she’d said to him about the Coopers.
Charley smiled and then a soft laugh escaped her. “I like you, too, Sullivan Custis.”
“Back to sleep?” he asked.
“Back to sleep,” she agreed, but when he stood, she grasped his hand. “Stay with me?”
Wearing only his boxer shorts, Sully hesitated for the span of one breath taken and then said, “Sure.”
“I’ll try not to scream,” Charley whispered.
With that, Charley moved over in the bed and laid down.
Sully stretched out on his back beside her.
She rolled away from him to her right side.
He heard her take a deep, shuddering breath.
He stared at the ceiling. Lying in bed with a woman and not touching her was a first. Charley Cooper was a first too. In every way imaginable.
When Sully woke, it was morning and he was alone.
He sat up and saw that Charley’s leopard pants were no longer at the end of the bed.
Had she left without telling him? He rolled out of bed and went downstairs.
In his master bedroom, he was pulling on a pair of jeans when he heard her call out to him from the kitchen.
He smiled, liking the sound of her voice.
He answered her, and then grabbing a shirt, he padded barefoot to the kitchen where he found Charley dressed and standing near the coffeemaker.
“Morning,” he said.
“Good morning,” the gorgeous girl replied with a blush staining her ivory cheeks. “May I interest you in a cup of coffee before the tow truck arrives?”
“When is the truck due?”
“They said between an hour and a half to two hours.”
“Yes, I’d like to have coffee.”
“You sit and I’ll pour,” she said and began opening cabinet doors.
“To the right, above the coffeemaker,” he said about the coffee mugs she was obviously looking for. She’d braided her hair again and it swung down her slender back. Her waist was small and her hips saucy. When she turned to him, he brought his eyes up her body to meet her gaze.
“How do you take your coffee?”
“Black.” He knew she’d caught him eyeing her, but she didn’t call him on it. “How do you take yours?”
“A dollop of milk and no sugar.”
“Milk’s in the fridge.” Sully watched her walk to the refrigerator and take out a jug of milk. He liked the way she looked in his kitchen. Like she belonged.
For the next hour, they shared light, sometimes flirty, conversation as they sat on the barstools pulled up to the quartz-topped island in his kitchen.
“Oh no,” Charley said after looking at her phone. “The battery is dead.” Glancing at him she asked, “What time is it, Sully?”
Glancing at his watch, he said, “Ten.”
“I’d better get going. Are you sure you don’t mind giving me a ride to my car?”
“No, of course not. I’ll put on my boots and be right with you.”
Sully went back to his bedroom, brushed his teeth, ran a comb through his hair, and returned to her wearing his cowboy boots.
Grabbing his keys, he led the way to his garage.
He saw Randy in the distance, heading into the stables and gave him a wave.
Randy acknowledged him with a thumbs-up.
Heading into the garage alone, Sully backed his truck out, stopped, and went to the passenger’s side.
After opening the door for Charley, she climbed into the double-cab truck.
Sully slid in behind the steering wheel as she fastened her seat belt.
Charley looked around at the land and his country-style, two-story house with a wistful smile on her full lips.
“Your house, surrounded with the green pastures and ponderosa pines, is so serene,” Charley said.
As he drove down the driveway leading from the backyard to the main road, she pointed.
“Blooming season is mostly over for columbines, but I see the remains of some along the front of your porch. What colors are they?”
“You have a good eye for perennials. Along with the lavender ones, there are yellow, purple, and red.”
“Lavender columbines symbolize the blending of differences and finding harmony.”
“Really?” he asked. “Like the differences and harmony between the city and country?”
Charley gave him an appreciative smile and nod. “Yellow columbines bring friendship, positive energy, and happiness,” she said softly. “Purple ones are often used to indicate a resolve to win. And red columbines symbolize love and passion.”
“I didn’t know any of that.” Sully tilted his head in surprise. “The hummingbirds help keep the red ones pollinated.”
Charley nodded as if she knew that, too, and changed the subject. “You did a great job building your house, Sully,” she said with one last look. “It’s spectacular.”
“Five thousand square feet of peace and quiet. Thank you,” he replied and held out a phone charging cord to her.
“You’re welcome.” She plugged in her cell phone and told him, “I’ve never ridden in a truck before.”
“Is that right?” he asked, heading the Dodge Ram north.
“That’s right,” she replied, taking in the countryside. Looking back at him, she added, “I’d never ridden a horse until yesterday either. And never have I been in bed with—”
Nearing the crossroad where they would head west toward the Triple C Ranches and Colorado Springs, he cocked a brow at her and waited. “With—?”
“With, umm…such crazy circumstances.”
“Okay.” Sully chuckled. He drove to Triple C Ranch-South and turned left onto the gravel road leading to the log cabin.
“Sully, thank you again for your help last night and this morning,” Charley said, without getting specific about sharing a bed. “I really appreciate it.”
“My pleasure.” That was an understatement.
They saw her car and stared.