Chapter Ten – You Don’t Make Me Cry
Chapter Ten
Andie
YOU DON’T MAKE ME CRY
Performed by Kelly Clarkson w/ River Rose
My laughter died at the back of my throat, and my body stiffened. All it took was four words to steal the absolute joy from the air and replace it with anxiety.
Wysteria stood up, shoulders going back. Luca pushed Akela off and rolled to his feet. And we all turned to face the music as Cooper leaned on the fence dividing our properties.
Akela barked and went barreling over, standing to put his paws up on the top of the fence and greeting the sheriff with a kiss.
Cooper made a guttural noise and commanded the dog to sit, which he did, because Luca and I had been working devotedly to get him to do just that so he wouldn’t knock over everything and anything around him.
“Hey…Dad,” Luca said, making his way over to the fence.
The teenager’s costume was some odd vampire-ghoul mix that somehow meshed with his friend’s zombie punk rocker costume perfectly.
“Wysteria and I were just playing with Akela a bit before coming home for dinner.”
Cooper rubbed a hand over his face. “You talked Andie into adopting that behemoth?”
“Uh—”
I could feel Luca’s panic from where I was, so I rushed over to the fence, shaking my head. “No. I was ready to adopt a dog.”
“And you decided the kind who ate furniture for dinner was perfect for you?” Cooper raised a brow.
He didn’t look angry, even though his tone when he’d interrupted us had sounded it. If anything, he now looked almost…amused.
“According to the vet, as long as I keep him busy, that shouldn’t happen again.”
Cooper stared at me, lips starting to twitch upward, and that frisson, that heady chemistry that always burst to life when he was near, stepped up another notch, curling through my stomach and filling my chest with unwanted heat.
“Andie’s been taking him to the ranch. This guy out there—Teddy—raises Chinooks and has given us…uh, her…lots of tips on how to train Akela. He’s already helping herd the goats and everything. Isn’t that cool, Dad?” Luca rushed out.
Cooper looked from me to his son, and his entire face softened. The love I saw tore through me, leaving an ache deep inside. I wasn’t sure what I was longing for. That same kind of feeling? Adoration for a child that was mine? Impossible things.
My throat bobbed, and by the time Cooper looked back at me, I was sure the emotions were all over my face. His gaze lingered on my eyes for a moment before dropping to my lips and then jerking back to his son as if the mere thought of my mouth had burned him.
“Soup is ready, so come on over and fuel up before you hit the streets,” Cooper said to the two teens.
“Okay. But Andie said we can take Akela with us while we trick-or-treat, so I’ll have to come back for him.”
“Not everyone’s going to be happy to see a dog his size walking down the street toward them, Luc,” Cooper said gently.
“I know, I know. We’ll have him on a leash, and I’ll have his treats with me. He responds like a pro when he thinks he’s going to get a reward. I promise we can handle it.”
Cooper’s jaw worked overtime, but he just nodded.
“Come on, Wysteria. I want to get out there before all the stores on Main Street run out of the stuff they’re passing out.”
Luca jogged toward the gate in the side yard, and Akela ran after him. Luca’s face fell a little. “You gotta stay, Akela. Stay. I’ll be back, boy.”
He rubbed the dog’s head and then held the gate open for Wysteria, who slipped through. She’d been uncharacteristically quiet since Cooper had interrupted us. The couple of times she’d been around the house, she’d been more talkative than even Luca.
Akela whined as the gate shut behind them, but as soon as I called him, he flew back to me on those ginormous paws with his fur swooshing behind him and that sweet smile on his face. He sat, leaning into me, and my heart stuttered a bit.
A week. I’d only had him a week, and I’d already fallen for him. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do when I had to give him back to Luca. I could get another dog, but I doubted any would be as loving and kind as this big oaf.
When I looked back up, Cooper was watching me. He tapped a hand on the top of the fence and took a step back. “I think we need to talk about more than a broken windowpane.”
I shook my head. “Really, we don’t.”
Luca popped his head out their back door. “Dad, come on!”
Cooper stepped farther away. “Nice outfit.”
I looked down, remembering for the first time since he’d interrupted us that I was still wearing the ’20s costume I’d worn to work.
I’d been drafted into helping with an event the local Daisy Detectives Club had put on for Halloween.
The part I’d played had hit a little too close to home, but Misty had insisted it was the only role left, and since she’d heard from Fallon that I was a whiz with cards, it only made sense for me to be the sexy dealer caught with her hand in the pot.
“It was for work,” I croaked out. “A gangster-themed murder-mystery party in the speakeasy at the hotel.”
White teeth flashed in the twilight as he moved toward his back door. “You’ll get no complaints from me, Havoc. That look is good on you.” And then, under his breath as he got farther away, I swore I heard him say, “Trick-or-treating with the neighbor is off-limits.”
My entire body lit up in reaction, and I silently scolded it. No men. Especially, no moody, handsome men with anger issues. Cooper was right. I was off-limits. Just like he was off-limits to me.
I turned and headed back inside.
Akela followed me to the bedroom, curling up at the foot of my bed. I’d tried to get him to sleep in the dog bed I’d bought, but no dice. He always ended up with me. And truthfully, the company and warmth had felt nice after years of sleeping alone.
I slipped out of the costume and jumped into the shower to wash off the stage makeup and strain of the day. When I got out, I pulled on a pair of leggings and a San Francisco Giants sweatshirt I’d inherited from Dawson when I’d stayed with him for a few days between impossible chapters of my life.
Whenever I was feeling a bit stressed or lonely, I wore it as a reminder of what real family did for each other—how real family behaved. I swore it comforted me almost as much as my half brother’s hug.
I twisted my wet hair into a braid, tugged on a pair of thick socks, and then made my way out to the kitchen, debating what to do for dinner.
I’d planned on actually cooking a real meal tonight, but that was before Luca and Wysteria had rushed over as soon as I got out of the car.
Now, I’d used up the last of my energy with the kids, the dog, and Cooper.
True to his word, Luca had come by every single night since I’d found the two of them in the fishing shack.
He’d walked Akela, fed him, and brushed him.
Together, we’d practiced the commands Fallon’s stepdad had given me.
Teddy had been a lifesaver. Not only had he taken Akela during the day for me, but he’d helped with the training I would never have known to do.
Akela was flourishing because of it and becoming a damn good dog in a really short span.
“Bed, Akela,” I said, pointing to the large dog bed I’d placed in the kitchen after he’d refused to use it in the bedroom. It was a good place for him to sit and watch, but it also ensured he wasn’t at my feet, begging for food while I cooked.
He ducked his head but did as I commanded. I rewarded him with some pets before opening the refrigerator and debating whether I had enough energy left to even make a grilled cheese. I didn’t. So I went to the pantry to grab the cereal I’d already had as dinner three times this week.
I froze, staring at the box. It lay on its side with the top open. A few pieces of cereal were scattered on the shelf, and the clip I always sealed the bag with was nowhere in sight. My throat closed. My palms turned sweaty.
Had I forgotten to close it last night?
I shut my eyes. No. I hadn’t even opened it in the pantry. I’d taken the cereal box out to the counter and poured it into the bowl there. And I clearly remembered closing it up with the clip and putting it away.
I turned slowly, heart racing as I scanned the kitchen in a way I hadn’t done when the kids and I had gone straight through to the backyard.
The cookie jar with the dog treats was opened, and the Ziploc bag was undone.
The lid of the mason jar I used for my brown sugar was askew, crumbs spread out along the counter, except I hadn’t used the sugar in days.
My head spun, fear spiking along my spine.
The realization hit like a fist to my stomach—someone had been in my house.
Someone had been here.
I grabbed the counter, and I must have let out some sort of strangled noise, because Akela raised his head and whined.
My doorbell rang, and my entire body jerked.
Akela barked, a deep, scary-sounding boom that in no way fit his joyful personality.
I couldn’t draw in enough air to respond, let alone walk to the door.
A sharp rap followed the doorbell, and Akela looked from me to the door. “Andie, I know you’re home. I want to talk about the dog.”
Cooper’s voice was rich and dark, not at all threatening, but still commanding.
After the love I’d seen coating his face as he’d looked at Luca, I wasn’t sure I could ever see him as a threat again.
But then again, I’d thought that about Eddie too.
To my absolute horror, tears gushed, running down my cheeks before I could stop them.
Akela gave up waiting for my release command. He bounded over to me, shoved his head into my stomach, and whined.
I couldn’t soothe him any more than I could soothe myself.
Another knock sounded. “Andie?”
Cooper’s tone was worried now.
The last of my air rushed out of me when I heard the squeaky hinges on the front door creak open.
Oh, God. I hadn’t locked it after Luca and Wysteria had followed me inside from the car.
And I hadn’t even thought to check on it when I’d come in from the backyard after they’d left by the side gate.
The door had been unlocked while I’d showered. Anyone could have come in.
Someone had.
I felt all the blood leave my face, felt the dip in my stomach that preceded a full-on attack.
“It’s Cooper. Are you okay?” he hollered.
Akela woofed. Friendly and welcoming. Then, he looked up at me with one big blue eye and one brown eye, whining again.
I was shaking, just as I had the night of Beckett and Maisey’s wedding. I hated knowing that, in two seconds, Cooper would see it again. Would see me in the midst of another panic attack.
Except…this one was not a ridiculously unprovoked one like that night.
This one was because someone had been in my house!
The room swam. I needed to breathe. Breathe.
My vision darkened. Fuck. No. No. No.
I felt myself falling, tried to grab the counter, tried to brace myself, but I was out before I hit the tile.
I had no clue how long I’d been out when I came awake to something damp pressed to my forehead.
I screamed, kept my eyes shut, and shoved with all my might at the hands touching me before kicking out with my sock-clad feet until they collided with a body.
When the hands disappeared, I scrabbled backward, pulling my knees to my chest so he couldn’t grab my ankle.
I wouldn’t make it easy. I wouldn’t let him take me.
“Easy.” The gentle voice wasn’t the one from my nightmares. “It’s just me.”
My eyes flew open, landing on Cooper, crouched next to me, blue eyes full of concern, a damp paper towel in his hands.
Akela whimpered once more, squashing his oversized body into my side. I draped an arm around him, pulling him to me, trying to comfort us both. Sitting on his haunches, the dog was taller than me, especially folded in on myself as I was, with my back pressed up against the kitchen cupboards.
My breath came in sharp, painful jolts as I squeaked out, “You can’t just walk into my house!”
I hated that it sounded weak when I wanted it to be strong. Commanding. Get the fuck out.
“Good thing I did. You were passed out,” he said, reaching for his pocket and pulling out his phone. “I’m going to call an ambulance.”
“No!” I said, surprising us both when I reached out and took the phone from him. I swallowed hard. My body trembled from head to toe. “I’m fine. I’m fine.”
It was as much to convince myself as it was to him.
“Passing out isn’t fine. Are you a diabetic?”
I shook my head.
“You got a heart issue?”
“No,” I insisted.
“People don’t just pass out, Andie. It can be a sign of a serious health issue. If you’re worried about causing a stink with the ambulance, I can drive you to the ER myself.”
“This isn’t a health issue. I had a panic attack.”
“Like at the wedding?” He scanned me, lingering on my pale cheeks, still damp from the tears I’d shed. I hadn’t been out long, then. “What happened to freak you out tonight?”
He rose in one smooth, graceful move and searched the kitchen.
And I knew what he saw. Nothing. An almost pristine room. Not a glass in the sink. Not an object out of place.
Except, there were sugar crumbs…and an open box of cereal in the pantry.
My lungs squeezed tight.
God. Someone had been here.
Someone…
The tears came again. I couldn’t stop them.
By the time Cooper crouched back down next to me once more, they were streaming unchecked. His eyes were gentle, holding a kindness that still surprised me.
“Havoc, tell me what’s going on here. I can protect you. I will protect you.”
“From a ghost?” I croaked out before I could stop myself.
Surprise widened his eyes.
Eddie was dead. It could only be his ghost or someone who’d known him very, very well. Someone who’d come for money I didn’t have and decided to torture me along the way.
My mind flashed to Marla, her meek, overly round face scurrying to do Eddie’s bidding, then flashed to the faceless person Eddie had borrowed half a million dollars from and who’d threatened both our lives if we didn’t double it as Eddie had promised we would.
The money Eddie had hidden in a secret compartment under the floorboards.
Money that had disappeared right along with the gun I’d placed with it.