Reaper's Stand(13)

Jess refused to look at me, which worked out well because I really didn’t feel like dealing with her. We’d made it halfway home before she broke the silence.

“Mom would never embarrass me like that.”

After all that, she was going to throw Amber at me? Something ugly inside me snapped.

“Nope, she would’ve charged them to screw you because she never gives anything away for free.”

Jessica gasped and I immediately felt horrible. It might be true, but I had no business tearing down Amber to her daughter. I knew better …

“I’m sorry—”

“Fuck you,” she said, her voice cold, dark, and so full of hate I flinched. “I want to go live with her. My real mother.”

I slowed the van to pull over, because I’d messed up and I knew it. Jess turned away.

“Just drive. I don’t want to talk. You’re not my mom and you’re not my boss. I’m an adult. Fuck you …” she repeated, but this time she didn’t sound strong. Nope. It was a pained whisper. My heart tore in half, because no matter how damaged Jess was, it wasn’t her fault. From the instant of conception she’d been bathed with chemicals in her mother’s toxic womb, and now she had to live with that the rest of her life.

In the privacy of my mind, I allowed myself a second curse for the night.

Fuck you, Amber.





CHAPTER THREE


MONDAY

LONDON

“Have to admit, I thought you might have a problem with this …” I said, running a finger around the rim of my water glass. We were supposed to have a date that night, but Nate had called earlier saying he’d been scheduled to work, so we’d met downtown for lunch instead.

He stole one of my fries, and I smacked his hand playfully. I’d missed having a man around, as much as I hated to admit it. Looking at him across the table, I felt a wave of warmth, because being with him always made me happy. He was so strong and sexy in his deputy’s uniform … Like something out of a romance book. Nate even had the tousled hair and dimples to complete the package.

The memory of Reese Hayes’s kiss flashed through my mind, and I flushed. I hadn’t told Nate about it. We weren’t officially exclusive … or at least we’d never discussed it.

The implication was certainly clear, though.

“I’m not thrilled,” he admitted. “Hayes is a criminal and we all know it—but he’s not under investigation for anything right now. I do question his motives in asking you to come out personally.”

Yeah, I wasn’t going to touch that …

“Well, it should be interesting,” I said.

“How’s Jess?”

“Same as always, I guess. I’m trying to get her job hunting. She needs to be thinking about her future, and she says she doesn’t want to do any more school. It’s frustrating.”

“Must be,” Nate said, his voice sympathetic but noncommital. He’d made it clear from the start that whatever went on between me and Jess was our business. Totally hands off, which I found alternately reassuring and frustrating, because I was in over my head. “You think it’s safe to leave the house for a night? I’d love to take you up to Sandpoint this weekend. There’s a beautiful B&B I think you’d like.”


I flushed, because we both knew what he was really asking. Was I ready to spend the night with him? For some reason I’d been stalling, which was strange, given how sexually frustrated I was. I couldn’t think of a single good reason not to sleep with him … Might as well just do it, I decided. Rip off that bandage, get back in the saddle.

Great. Now I was thinking in cliches.

“I don’t think I can leave overnight,” I replied, offering him a smile. “I’m afraid she’d have a party and burn the place down or something. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take some time for ourselves.”

His face brightened.

“You sure?” he asked. Nate never pushed, which was one of the things I loved about him.

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

He reached across the table and caught my hand, pulling it up for a gentle kiss. I heard a little sigh and glanced over to find our waitress watching raptly.

I leaned forward and whispered in his ear.

“I think she’s waiting for you to propose,” I said, giggling.

“Not this time,” he replied, turning his head just enough to allow his lips to graze my jawline.

Did he just say what I thought he said?

Oh, wow … I knew Nate wanted to get married again. He’d been divorced for three years and had been clear he was looking for a serious relationship. Still, seemed a little early to say something like that.

I tugged away, staring down at my food.

“Hey, don’t worry,” he said lightly. “You think too much, Loni. Just enjoy the moment, okay?”

“Okay. So … Maybe we should make a plan. How about I come over to your place on Friday? We could fix dinner and maybe watch a movie or something.”

“I like the ‘or something’ option,” he said, eyes sparkling.

I stirred my ketchup with a fry, pretending I had to consider the suggestion carefully.

“Yeah, that’ll work.”

He leaned forward to kiss me properly, right in the middle of the restaurant. Our silly waitress started clapping. Ugh. Had I ever been that young and romantic?