Chapter 14
Grace
My hands are shaking. I collapse onto a chair at the table. Woody immediately sits next to me, leaning his weight against my thigh, eyes trained on my face. “I don’t understand any of this. Was Guy murdered for something he saw in our own back yard? And why are they bothering me now?”
“We don’t know that he was murdered,” Clay says.
“Stop it, Clay. I’m not deaf nor dumb. I heard all the speculation about the fire that took Guy.
It escalated too quickly. Due to location Guy was sure to be first on scene.
That one of the other men heard the same voice but thought it was a radio.
That someone saw a vehicle leave the woods after Guy was pulled from the burned-out wreckage.
“Was my husband murdered? And why is this starting all over again now?”
Caleb hunkers down in front of me covering my hand with his.
“Something has changed. Something has happened that has them spooked. These notes are incriminating. You said you don’t remember anything in the house being disturbed.
But then they tried to start the studio on fire.
Had we not caught the blaze in time, they may have done the same with the house. ”
“Can you think back to anything going on the last few weeks? Anything different?”
“I took a few more of Guy’s paintings to the shop. Some old guy came by and wanted to buy Guy’s truck, twice. He was a little persistent, almost pushy, but I said no both times.
“I also cleaned out some old stuff and seasonal clothes of Guys and took them to the shelter in town. They called me when they found a roll of film in a pair of Guy’s pants.”
“The film. What did you do with it?”
“I took it to the drugstore to be sent out for development. I haven’t picked it up yet. Oh, I was nearly rear ended that day and an old sketch book of Guy’s slid out from under the seat. Then the yard light went out and the fire that Caleb stopped.”
“Where is the sketch book,” Clay asks. “And did you look through it?”
“I-ah-just fanned through it. I couldn’t really look.
It’s in the studio. No, wait, I put it there but then I took it to the Vet center.
I wanted to show Joe some examples of how to sketch before painting.
He asked to keep it for a couple days. I left it with him.
I-ah looked at the first two sketches. One of me and one of our hands clasped. I—I couldn’t go any farther.”
Clay looks at Caleb. “If someone’s been watching her...”
“We need to get the photos, and the sketch book from the Vet center.”
“I’ll stop by the center. No one will think anything of me going in tonight,” Jaxon offers.
“I don’t know if they’ll release the photos to you, Clay. I could try calling.”
He glances at his watch. “They’re about to close. Call but make up an excuse as to why I’m getting them in the morning.”
Sharon answers. I’ve known her since high school, and she accepts my explanation easily. Who’s going to doubt the sheriff.
Spade glances to where I’m mindlessly scratching the top of his dog’s head. I’m surprised by the comfort the animal is giving me.
“Grace, I’m going to leave Woody here tonight.
He’s taken a shine to you and isn’t going to want to leave anyway.
I know you’ve talked to Fawn about maybe wanting a dog for company.
I’d like you to give Woody a trial run. I planned to leave one of the two with you tonight just for extra protection anyway, so I have food and bowls.
I’ll come back tomorrow and we can talk more. ”
“Thank you.”
Caleb stands. “I’ll walk the two of you out.”
Slumping back in my chair, I squeeze my eyes shut. When does this nightmare end? At least I have confirmation for my own suspicions. My husband was murdered.
I knew he was too well trained to make a mistake during a fire. What I could never figure out was why. He was a good man in a dangerous profession.
And here I am, head over heels in love with a hotshot. Another risk taker. He’ll put his life on the line in every fire, too. The potential for another heartbreak is right there. What the hell is wrong with me? I’ll never have peace if I continue down this path. Wasn’t one loss enough?
I should break it off right now. Send him on his way. But I won’t because it’s already too late. I’m in love with him. Some people never get to experience true love. I’ve found it twice. I should be thankful I wasn’t destroyed the first time and can still give and receive love.
Caleb does love me. I feel it every time his eyes meet mine. Every time he holds me. I take a deep breath to calm my racing heart. I can do this. I’ve survived other hard things.
Feeling like I’ve run a marathon, I head to the bathroom to throw water on my face.
“You okay?” Caleb asks from the open door.
I nod.
“I took Woody out to do business, and he’s settled in the living room with a snack and water. Everything is locked up. I’m not leaving your side tonight. Is that okay?”
I nod.
To my surprise, he steps away from the door and pulls his T-shirt over his head. Then unzips his cargo pants and lets them drop to the floor with his briefs. He stands before me, every scar exposed, every doubt and fear written on his face.
“Shower with me?” he asks.
Nodding, I slide the shower door to the side. He steps in front of me and lifts the hem of my shirt pulling it over my head, then pushes my sweatpants down and I step out of them.
Inside the shower stall he adjusts the temperature then looks down at me.
Sliding my palms up his chest, one palm lightly skimming the edges of his side with the burns, I hold his gaze with mine. Cupping his cheeks, I urge his lips down, whispering, “There isn’t a single part of you I don’t want, crave, or love.”
Ever so gently he wraps me in his embrace, kissing first my lips, then cheeks, eyelids. He rests his forehead against mine as I slowly stroke up and down his back from burned hip and side to shoulder.
Breath whooshes from his lips as he exhales. “Grace. My angel. I— you’re healing me in ways I didn’t think I needed or would ever experience. You make me feel whole again.”
“You’ve always been whole, Caleb. You give of yourself for others. You take risks to serve and protect. Your injuries are not failures. They’re the price you paid for your dedication and compassion. Don’t hide them from me, from anyone.”
Cupping my butt in his palms, he lifts me, aligning his body to mine and leans me again the shower wall. “Wrap your legs around me.”
Stroking one hand up and down my arm, he kisses a path along my shoulder and up my neck.
“Did you mean it? When you said you loved me?” he whispers at my ear.
“Yes.”
“It’s fast. Are you sure?”
I grin and shrug. “When you know, you know. I love you, Caleb Rourke. It’s okay if you don’t know how you feel. For now, I’ll take what I can get. And I want you. All of you. Just the way you are.”
“I know, Grace. I know exactly how much I love you and want you in my life. But... what I do. It’s part of me. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
“I understand. You’ve made me realize how much I miss my pottery.
How empty I felt. Because we always worked together, shared the studio, I felt I had to let that part of me die with the loss of Guy.
You’ve shown me that I didn’t have to forsake anything.
I just have to let the old and the new memories learn to coexist. I think we are meant to heal each other. ”
“God, I love you, Grace.”
“Make love to me. Right here, right now.”
Notching his cock at my entrance, he meets my gaze, confirming the full extent of what we’re about to do, the chance we could be taking with pregnancy. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Are you?”
“I’ve spent years going from one battlefield to the next, then fire after fire trusting my instincts. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I love you, Grace. I want a life and a family with you.”
“I’ve been tethered to the past unsure of how to move forward. I love you and want the same with you. I’ll be your anchor. You’ll be my wings.”