Chapter Eleven #2
“A picnic sounds wonderful.” She took his hand and squeezed it. “I’ll look forward to it.”
She was waiting at the curb when he arrived Thursday afternoon. “Is my mom watching out the window?” he asked as she slid into the passenger seat of the Jeep.
“Probably.”
“Did you tell her we were going out?”
“No. Though I could tell she was curious when I told her I had a date. But she really is trying hard to respect my privacy. I appreciate that about her.”
“I didn’t think my mom ever respected privacy,” he said. “But I guess that’s only with her children.”
“When I suggested it was time for me to move back to my own place, she told me she didn’t think that was a good idea.”
“You were thinking of moving back?” He tried to keep his voice light, but his hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Is that safe?”
“Your mother told me it wasn’t. She said she had no idea why, but that Aaron had pulled her aside and impressed on her how important it was to watch out for me.
” She cleared her throat and when she spoke again, her voice was a little ragged.
“I’m touched, really, how much your whole family seems to care. ”
He reached over and squeezed her hand. “You’re an easy person to care about.
And I don’t think you should move back to that tiny house.
It’s so remote and you’re all alone out there.
” He also made a mental note to pull Aaron aside soon and find out what made him so insistent on keeping Roxanne from venturing too far alone.
Had the sheriff’s department heard something about Ledger’s location?
“My house isn’t that remote,” she said. “Kara is just across the drive, and Mr. Lusk lives less than a mile away.”
“It’s not the same as being in a house with other people.”
“Yes, well your mom got so upset I agreed I wouldn’t leave just yet. But I can’t stay with your folks forever, and it doesn’t seem the sheriff is any closer to finding Ledger—if he was even the one behind those attacks.”
“You saw the man who ran you off the road and you recognized him,” Dalton said. “And who else would know about the doll Ledger gave you?”
She sighed and sat back in her seat. “I’m glad you believe me. I wonder if the sheriff does, or he’s just humoring me.”
“Aaron wouldn’t insist on you staying safe if he didn’t think you were at risk,” Dalton said. “I’m not trying to frighten you—I just want you to know we’re all taking this seriously.”
“I probably should be more frightened, but I’m not,” she said. “Mostly, I’m numb. It’s so surreal, having to deal with him again after all these years.”
“Let’s not think about that this evening,” he said as he turned onto the road leading to the small reservoir that served as storage of the town’s water, as well as a popular fishing and picnic spot. “Let’s just enjoy ourselves.”
He parked by the restrooms, then they walked the path around the lake. When he took her hand, she moved closer. “I’m glad you suggested this,” she said. “It’s good to get out.”
For a long time, they didn’t say anything.
They didn’t have to. In the week she had been with his parents they had spent more time together, mostly talking.
He had learned about the other places she had lived and the jobs she had held.
He knew her favorite food, her favorite color, her favorite movie and about her allergy to seafood.
She knew the same things about him. These were the boxes people checked off when getting to know one another, but observations counted for more than words.
He heard how her voice softened when she spoke about volunteering at an animal shelter at her last home, and her enthusiasm for learning to cook from his mom.
She laughed at all his dad’s corny jokes and could discuss the intricacies of rehearsal dinner decorations with his sister for a mind-numbing amount of time.
She was smart and funny, yet quick to stand up for herself.
He was one of the few people here to know how strong she really was.
They picnicked at a table in the shade, sharing fried chicken and deli salads and a bottle of white wine.
When the meal was done, she pushed the leftovers away and turned around to lean against the table and stare out at the lake. “Thanks for suggesting this,” she said. “It’s so beautiful here.”
He slid closer and put his arm around her back. Was he being too daring—asking too much? He didn’t think he was the only one feeling this pull of attraction.
She turned her head to smile up at him. He wanted to trace his finger down the curve of her cheek and feel the satiny texture of her skin.
He wanted to kiss the corners of her eyes and the tip of her nose and press his lips to hers, to feel her body relax against him and to taste the sweetness of her mouth.
“Dalton?” She whispered his name like a question.
“Roxanne.” He leaned closer. “I’d really like to kiss you.”
In answer she leaned forward, closing the gap between them, sealing her lips to his.
He slipped his arms around her, holding her, but not too tightly, reveling in the feel of her, warm and yielding.
Her lips parted beneath his and he accepted the invitation, sweeping his tongue into her mouth.
She tasted of the wine they had been drinking and smelled like vanilla and flowers.
He wanted to bury his nose in the soft place where her neck joined her shoulder and breathe in the aroma of her.
She pressed her palm to his chest and he slid one hand up her side to cup her breast. They were both breathing hard, wanting more. Or at least, he wanted more.
She broke the kiss, though she kept her hand on his chest. Her expression was troubled. “Is something wrong?” he asked.
“No. Everything is right. Except . . .”
“Except what?” He unwrapped his arms from around her and allowed a little more space between them. Her face was flushed, her lips lightly swollen, hair mussed. She was an erotic vision but he forced himself to focus on the pain in her voice.
“Sarah is missing. And Ledger might have taken her. That means he’s somewhere close. He could be a danger to you and to your family. I should be telling you to stay as far away from me as you can.”
“I’m not going to do that.”
“And I’m not strong enough to ask you.” She curled her fingers, gripping his shirt, and rested her forehead against his chin.
He stroked her hair, trying to find words for what he needed to say. “After Sarah disappeared, I went online and read more about Ledger,” he said.
“So you know more about what happened to me.” Her voice was flat. Resigned.
He pulled back enough to look her in the eye. “I know, but it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
“It doesn’t?” She sounded doubtful. “I guess that saves me the trouble of having to tell you everything that happened.”
“You don’t have to tell me anything,” he said. “Or not anything you don’t want to tell me. I guess—I’m just trying to say I understand why you’re so afraid of him. I’m afraid for you.”
“Then you understand why I don’t think we should get involved. Not now. What if he does come for me again? What if he tries to hurt you?”
“What if he tries to hurt you? Don’t you think I want to protect you?”
“Why would you want to protect me?”
Because I’ve fallen in love with you. Because you’re important to me. The words were so freighted with emotion he shied away from them. “Because you deserve protecting.”
She leaned into him again and rested her head in the hollow of his shoulder. “I’m afraid if I start something with you, Ledger will ruin it,” she said.
He tried to figure out exactly what she meant. “Because of what he did to you before?” he asked. “Did it change the way you feel about sex?”
She pushed herself away from him and looked him in the eye. “You don’t have to worry about that,” she said. “I know the difference between what he did and real passion between people who care about each other.”
His throat tightened and he was horrified to realize he was close to tears. How was it that every emotion with her seemed more intense? “That’s good,” he managed to croak.
She smoothed her hand down his chest. “People like Ledger like to break things,” she said. “Whether it’s people or possessions. I’m worried he’ll try to break us.”
“No, he won’t.” He gripped her arms. “He didn’t break you all those years ago, and you’re stronger now. You make me stronger.”
“I love that you’re so sure about that. I wish I could be.”
He kissed her again, harder, and slid his hand beneath her sweater to trace the edge of her bra. “We could go back to my place.”
She pulled back again, a soft expression of longing and regret on her face. “I’d rather wait,” she said. “I don’t like to rush things.”
“And I don’t want to rush you.” He took his hand from beneath her sweater and kissed her again. A gentler brush of his lips. He was disappointed that he wouldn’t be making love to her tonight, but also thrilled that she trusted him enough to be honest with him.
She turned in his arms to look out across the lake once more. “It’s a beautiful sunset,” she said. “I can’t get over how everywhere I look is a picture postcard. I don’t want to ever take that for granted.”
“Then you’re not sorry you came here?”
“No. I’ve found so much here.” She smiled, and he hoped she was thinking of him. Then the smile faded. “I’m not going to lose that,” she said. “I’m not going to let Ledger steal that from me.”