Whispering Rock (Virgin River #3)(97)

“Ever since that happened, I feel like trash. When you first started talking to me in school? When I told you I’d been sick? I hadn’t been sick. I’d been knocked up while I was passed out.”

“You are not trash,” he whispered softly, not trusting his voice. “You’re an angel. Pure as gold. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“That’s not how it feels. Tommy,” she said miserably, “I dated before and I wouldn’t give it up—I was saving it for someone really special. Someone like you—someone I really loved. And now I can’t.”

“No one else can ever take that away, Brenda. When… If… If it’s us and we know it’s time and it’s right, it’ll be special. I promise.”

“How can it be? The first time should be so special. Now it won’t even be the first time!”

He brushed her hair away from her eyes. “What can I do to show you that I love you just the same? Respect you? Huh?”

“I don’t know….”

“I do. Come on, we’re going to take care of these horses. Then we’re going to find a nice soft bale of hay and I’m going to hold you. Hold you and kiss you until you believe me when I say I think you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Everything is going to be fine.”

“I was so scared to tell you.”

“I know, Bren. It’s okay now. I don’t want you to ever worry about that again. Okay?”

An hour later, lying on the fresh hay in the stall, Tommy held his girl, kissed her, touched her gently in the places she’d begun to allow and told her how much he cared about her. He was careful not to try anything more or do anything less, and after a while she curved against him in their familiar way, trusting him. In case she wondered if she still turned him on, it took absolutely no effort on his part to demonstrate that he was just as easily aroused by her as ever before. Then when he took her home, he kissed her on the front porch and told her as far as he was concerned, she was perfect. Pure and perfect.

He might’ve been a little quiet at dinner, but around his house the past couple of months, that went completely unnoticed. A little later he told his dad he was going to run into town and would be back in an hour or so. Walt probably assumed he was going to see Brenda.

He parked his truck around behind the bar, just in case the Carpenters happened to be having an evening drink, something they did with their friends the Bristols from time to time. He walked back to Mike’s RV and knocked on the door. Mike opened it. “Can I talk to you a minute?”

“Sure. Wanna come inside?”

“How about out here?” Tom said.

Mike grabbed his coat and stepped outside.

“Remember those parties you were asking about?” Tom asked, standing beside Mike but looking straight ahead.

“Yeah,” Mike said.

“You think there might’ve been a drug that made people pass out?”

“Very possible,” Mike said.

“Maybe things happened to people while they were passed out? Against their will?” he asked, still looking straight ahead.

“Could be.”

Tom turned to look at Mike. “I bet I know who has some. I bet I can get him to sell me some.”

“And how would you know this?” Mike asked.

Tom shrugged. “I’m just an investigative genius.”

“You’d do this? A buy? There’d have to be police, you know.”

“I know,” Tom said. “In fact, I’ll check and see if I can get some other stuff. If I’m going to do this, might as well get it done right. Might be meth or ecstasy or something. That interest you at all?” Tom asked.

“Pal, what interests me is getting anything that could hurt people off the street. If you think you can help me do that, I’d sure appreciate it.”

“This what you’ve been looking for, asking all your questions?”

“Yup.”

“Then let’s do it,” Tom said.

Fifteen

Vanessa had asked Paul if he could stay until the baby came and he said he could if she wanted him to. By his calculations, the house would be finished at about the same time Vanni gave birth. Jack and Mel would still have one or two things to do—carpet, appliances, paint—but the general contractor wouldn’t be needed for that. And the house was shaping up very well—the hardwood floors sanded and varnished, master bath complete, plumbing and light fixtures in, walls textured for painting, porch painted and sealed. Furniture deliveries were scheduled. Mel was spending evenings packing dishes and things at the cabin.

And Vanni was getting huge.

She wasn’t crying so much these days. It seemed as though a lot of her attention was focused on preparing to go into labor. Oh, there were times she’d get a little weepy, which was certainly to be expected. But she was so strong—Paul just admired the hell out of her.

When he came home from the job site one day, she met him in the foyer. “Come with me,” she said. “I have to talk to you about something.”

“I should wash up first.”

“No, just come.” She took his hand and led him into the great room. She sat in one of the overstuffed leather chairs and directed Paul to another. This was the most animated Paul had seen her in a long time. Her cheeks were bright; her eyes sparkled. “Paul, the baby is coming very soon.”