Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
“Iknew her,” Charley said, coming to a stop near the island. “We had a couple of college classes together.” Turning from the flatscreen to Sully, she said, “Her name was Heather Mason.”
“They found her earlier today,” Sully said, placing hamburger patties into a cast-iron pan on the stove. “They think she’s been dead for at least three weeks. Toadflax was in her hand.”
“Toadflax is a noxious weed. It’s typically found in degraded areas like untended lots, gravel pits, or along forgotten roadsides,” Charley said, turning to him.
“Right, I keep toadflax out of my pastures,” Sully said as she turned to him.
“Toadflax was in Grace Lightner’s hand too.” Looking back at the TV, Charley said, “Heather was a nice girl. She was studying agriculture. We had lunch together a few times on the UCCS campus,” she said, referring to the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
“I’m sorry for the loss of your friend,” Sully said. “An on-the-scene reporter said some cave explorers found her body. One of them said she had marks around her neck.”
“Just like Grace Lightner.” Charley shivered at the recent and terrifying memory.
“I wonder if the Cave Killer has a tattoo of a scorpion. I tried to pull off the ski mask of the man who attacked me, but I only got it as far as his chin. In the process of fighting against him, I tore the neck of his hoodie. He had a scorpion tattoo on his collarbone.” She touched the left side of her collarbone to show Sully where it was.
“Scorpions are predators,” Sully said as she grimaced. “You told the police about the tattoo, right?”
“Yes,” Charley said softly and nodded.
“Good.” Sully clicked off the flatscreen and said, “Have a seat at the island because smash burgers and fries are coming your way.”
Charley smiled at the handsome man who was cooking for her.
No man had ever cooked for her until today.
Sully gave her a sexy, green-eyed wink, and when he smiled, it showed his straight white teeth.
A white tee shirt hugged his broad shoulders and chest and a pair of black sweatpants clung to his muscular legs.
From the thick black hair on his head to the sprinkle of black hair on his toes, Sully was the most attractive man she’d ever laid eyes on.
Just looking at him made her heart race and skin pop out in goose bumps.
When she had wrapped her arms around him on the horse and on his motorcycle, she could almost forget her new fear of men.
“What have you got to drink?” she asked. Then, before he could answer, she remembered. “Bottled water and beer.”
“Right,” he replied with a chuckle. “Both are chilling in the fridge.”
“I’ll get us two beers,” Charley said.
“Sounds good to me.”
Shortly after she brought the beer to the island, he placed burgers on plates.
She’d spied ketchup and mustard in the fridge, retrieved the condiments, and then took a seat on one of the barstools.
Sully scooped up fries and piled some on both their plates.
Setting the plates down, he sat on the barstool beside her.
Taking a bite of her burger, her eyes widened. It was delicious.
Swallowing, Charley said, “This is the best burger I’ve ever eaten.”
“I can’t take much credit,” Sully said. “It’s Triple C Ranch-Central beef.”
“It’s absolutely scrumptious.”
“Stick around a while and I’ll barbecue you a steak,” Sully said.
“I’d like that.”
They talked and ate and had another beer.
Before Charley knew it, her phone said it was almost eight o’clock.
Making Sully stay put, she insisted on being the one to clean up and stacked their plates in the dishwasher.
Then they moseyed into the den, sunk into the comfortable leather sofa, and Sully found a movie that made them both laugh.
Afterward, they watched a news update. Heather’s parents were asking for anyone with information about the murder of their daughter to please come forward.
The newscaster pointed out that the killer of the other recent murder victim, Grace Lightner, was still at large.
Then he reminded viewers of the murder of the Fleming Flowers shop owner in a nearby neighborhood.
He signed off with a question to viewers: What was happening in Old Colorado City?
“Wanna sleep with me tonight?” Sully asked. Charley turned her head to look at him and slowly nodded. “C’mere, Charley,” he whispered and stretched out an arm to her.
Charley scooted across the sofa cushion to him, and his strong arms closed around her.
She tilted her chin up to look at him, and his head lowered.
When his mouth touched hers for the very first time, it was as electrifying as when her hand had touched his for the first time.
He wrapped both arms around her and pulled her closer.
When his lips parted, hers did too. His strong hand gently cupped her cheek and then he broke the kiss.
His green eyes smoldered, and Charley wondered what she’d gotten herself into with this man.
Instinct told her he was as experienced as she was na?ve.
She trembled and clutched the front of his tee shirt.
“I barely know you, Sully.”
“And nothing is going to happen tonight,” he told her. “Okay?”
“Okay.”
With a confusing mixture of regret and relief, she relaxed, and they finished watching the news.
When Charley yawned, Sully clicked off the flatscreen and grasped her hand.
Standing, he tugged her off the sofa and led her down the hall to his bedroom.
Flipping back a thick comforter on the king-size bed, he left her standing near a nightstand and walked around to the other side of his bed.
“That’s your side and this is my side,” he said, crawling into bed.
“I’ll try to stay on my side.” Charley crawled in after him and drew the comforter and the sheet up to her chin. “And I’ll try not to scream.”
“I don’t know about staying on my side, but I won’t scream.”
When Sully chuckled, a giggle escaped Charley.
She rolled onto her side, facing him. He had stretched out on his back with his hands stacked under his head.
He winked at her and closed his eyes. She lay with her eyes open for several minutes until she heard his even breathing.
When she closed her eyes, her mind plagued her with the murder of her mother.
Then she saw the destruction to her car and her vandalized apartment and the flower shop.
The body of her college classmate, under a tarp at the entrance to a cave, flashed like it had on the news.
It grew darker, and from behind a copse of trees, a faceless killer stepped into the open, shocking Charley.
As he stalked toward her, she tried to run but her feet wouldn’t move.
When his hands snatched her throat, she jerked backward and cried out.
“Help!”
“Charley,” came the deep masculine voice beside her. “Wake up.”
It took her a few seconds. “Sully?”
“Yeah. You’re safe.”
Charley rolled into his arms and clung to him.
Her heart pounded frantically, and she could hardly breathe.
She’d had variations of this nightmare every night since the assault and murder.
But only these last two nights had someone been there to catch her when she fell out of the terror and into reality.
She took a deep, staccato breath trying to calm herself.
“Sorry,” she whispered against his shoulder, her arm around him.
“It’s okay,” he said, his hand flattening to her back as he held her to his muscular chest.
“What time is it?”
“About one, I think.”
“I should go and let you sleep.”
“Where would you go in the middle of the night with no vehicle?”
“I don’t know.” She detested bothering him and feeling scared. “Back to sleep?”
“Good answer.” With a gentle kiss to her forehead, Sully loosened his grip and patted her hip. “Roll over.”
When Charley rolled over, she felt Sully’s hard body come up solidly against her back.
His strong arm looped around her waist, pulling her closer.
This felt good. Safe and secure. It felt so good in fact, she closed her eyes.
She’d never slept with a man. But now that she’d slept with this man, she could imagine doing so every night. Where would something like that lead?
“G’night,” she whispered.
“Night.”