Sweet Jayne Read online

  “I can leave,” I state as I stand.

  She waves me off and grins. “No, stay. Jason hovers too much as it is with this pregnancy. It’ll do him good to have some time to relax. Besides,” she tells me with a mischievous grin, “Ames and I have to gossip, which is never much fun when your husband is around.”

  Jason grunts and saunters over to her. She squeals when he pulls her into a tight embrace and sucks on her neck.

  “Be careful, beautiful. And tell Ames she’s not allowed to hit on my friend.”

  She giggles. “I won’t let her go for Kasper anyway. He’s too…”

  “I’m right here. I can hear you,” I groan with faux annoyance. “I’m too what? Too much of an asshole?”

  Ashley walks over and swats at my shoulder. “No, punk. You’re too serious and she’s too…bubbly. You’ll just break her with your broody, grumpy self. Amethyst loves a project. And you, my friend, are a broken project she’ll want to fix.”

  I frown but nod. “I’m not going to hit on your sister.”

  She bends down and kisses the top of my head. “You can hit on her. Just don’t sleep with her. She’s better than a weekend fling.”

  Shrugging my shoulders, I lean back against the sofa. “Sure, Ash. But I can’t promise I won’t look after her. If she’s your family, then she’s my family too.”

  Ashley beams at me and I can’t help but crack a smile when Rhodes kisses her belly before she leaves.

  “Have you thought of names yet?”

  “Aiden for a boy,” he says as he sits back down, “and Arden for a girl.”

  We chat and a couple of beers later, I’m relaxed after a stressful as fuck day.

  “Another cold one?” he asks as he stands to toss out our empty ones.

  “Nah, I’m about to head out here in a second. But, hey, does your dad ever do any commercial plumbing projects?” I ask and pull out my phone.

  “On occasion, why? Are you going to take on a bigger project?”

  I shake my head and locate the picture of the pipe from Logan’s. “Do you know why this size pipe would be in a residential home?”

  He inspects the picture for a moment. “No, but if you’ll text it to me, I’ll send it to Dad and ask him about it. Why you want to know?”

  “Between us,” I say carefully. “This was behind the wall at Logan’s. I’m curious to know why.”

  His eyes narrow at me. “And you didn’t just ask Chief?”

  Clenching my jaw, I shake my head. “He and I aren’t exactly best buds at the moment. Ever since his engagement became known, he’s been acting strange. I’d rather just find this out on my own. It’s weird and I want to know why he’d have a pipe that size in his home.”

  “Whatever, man. I’m not getting in the middle of anything between you and our boss but I’ll ask Dad. Did you ever—”

  My phone rings and, speak of the devil, it’s Logan calling. I have a good mind not to answer it but he is still my boss.

  “Yep,” I bark out in a gruff tone while Rhodes saunters off to fetch another beer.

  “Kasper,” Logan bites out with equal annoyance, “I need you out on highway 82 at the Owl Creek Road exit. Now.”

  “Out by the airport? What’s happened?”

  “There’s been a fatality,” he says in a grim tone. “And I’m sorry but I think it was Dale’s truck. Your mom is still at The Lounge. I double checked before I called you.”

  I don’t normally handle traffic accidents but this one involves my stepfather and I’m grateful for Logan calling me to it.

  “I’ll be right there.”

  My stepfather dying would be a blessing. Mom could be free of that prick once and for all. I don’t even feel like an asshole when I send up a quick prayer wishing that he suffered a little before he died.

  As soon as I climb out of my car at the scene, my stomach flops. Dale’s beat up truck is barely damaged. But the silver Honda is completely smashed in the front. If that motherfucker hurt someone else, there’ll be hell to pay.

  “Ghost,” Logan calls out and waves me over to his Tahoe. “We’ve got a big fucking problem.”

  I frown and stalk over to him. “What is it?”

  He shakes his head and waves at his vehicle in disgust. I can see Dale’s glazed over eyes in the backseat.

  “The woman he had in the truck with him was dead on arrival. Apparently he was going the wrong way on the exit ramp when he collided head on with the other vehicle. His headlights weren’t on, which could have prevented the collision if they had been on. An officer already made note of that when processing the scene.”

  “The woman with him wasn’t Mom?” I know he said she was still at the bar, but my stomach remains twisted up.

  “No. She’s fine. But,” he murmurs and slams his fist on the hood of his Tahoe. “It’s the other vehicle that is the issue.”

  “Why?” I croak.

  His brows furrow and I can tell it pains him to say it. “It was Ashley Rhodes.”

  I double over and suck in a deep breath of air. “Is she okay? Has she been sent to the hospital? She’s fucking pregnant, Chief!”

  He scowls and nods. “I know. They rushed her off in an ambulance right before you got here. I’m not going to sugar coat it, Kasper. She was in bad shape. The paramedic wouldn’t say but I think her neck might’ve been broken.”

  “Shit! What about Rhodes? Why didn’t you tell me who it was? I was at his house.”

  He lets out a sigh. “I sent a uni to his house to take him to the hospital. I needed you here because it was Dale who caused the accident and I wanted someone else to make sure he was okay, besides you.”

  Red rage blinds me and I shoulder past Logan to get to the backseat of his Tahoe. I ignore his bellows ordering me to stop. Instead, I drag Dale’s wormy ass out by his throat and tackle him to the pavement. I’ve managed to smash my fist into his nose at least six brutal times before Logan and another officer wrangle me off him.

  “I’ll kill you!” I scream at him. “I will kill you!”

  Logan grips my bicep painfully. “He’ll get his justice. Slam dunk case. But get your shit together. Get to the hospital to be with your friend.”

  I run my fingers through my hair and curse at the sky. When I’ve calmed, marginally so, I turn to him. “Was Ashley the only victim in the car? She was on her way to get her sister. Was there another woman in the vehicle?”

  He shakes his head. “No, there wasn’t. The vehicle was headed westbound, toward the airport. Guess you better go get her and take her on your way.”

  I’m already stalking back to my car before he even gets the words out.

  After dinner, Logan got called out on an emergency. He’s been gone for an hour but thankfully took my call when I reminded him to do what needed to be done. Now that I’ve bought myself another hour, I’ve been aimlessly pacing the hallway. Sometimes he doesn’t set his stupid timer on his phone. Those days, I can breathe easier and my muscles don’t stay knotted up. But I think he knows, deep down, that he’s the most vulnerable when he doesn’t set it. One of these days, it’ll be the right time when he forgets and I’ll strike.

  I let out a sigh and tenderly touch the bruise on my face. Today was a frustrating day. My body ached from his abuse the day before but I couldn’t seem to shut off my mind. It kept wanting to flit there. Of course, my mind is one of the parts of me I have control over. I was able to shut it off and focus on housework. Logan was extra needy throughout the day, calling me often to check up on me. He even came home for lunch and gave me a quickie over the back of the living room sofa. Everything about him today is different. It puts me on edge. Logan is never nice or caring. He’s never the adoring one. So when this afternoon I received red roses from him, I nearly had a panic attack.

  Either, he’s on to me and is playing games.

  Or I’ve managed to crack him and I’m one step closer to the end.

  But since I don’t know which it is, I’m stuck teetering on t
he edge of sanity until I have more of an idea of what’s going on in his head.

  A bang on the door startles me from finishing up the dinner dishes and I quickly dry my hands on a towel. Fear threatens to swallow me up alive. If it’s Kasper, here against Logan’s wishes, I’ll have a meltdown. I have a good mind not to even answer the door.

  The banging is relentless and irritation courses through me. “¡Calmate!”

  Of course whoever it is, won’t hold their fucking horses and continues their beat down of the door. When I finally wrench it open, my whole world crashes down on top of me.

  “My baby.”

  The lonely ache in my chest is soothed upon seeing him. The ever present grip on my heart loosens and I let out a choked exhalation.

  His hardened features light up as he assess me. Like every time I would come bounding into his presence. Making sure I’m okay. Studying my smiles and my frowns as if they unlock the mysteries inside my head. He’s always been able to read me better than anyone in the entire world. While he’s staring at me as if I’m a mist that might suddenly dissipate, I’m drinking up his handsome face and inhaling his familiar masculine scent. The other day I hadn’t looked at him properly. Everything was a blur. It was too risky. But tonight, I want to freeze time so I can simply stare. So I can make up for three years lost.

  He’s regarding me as if I’m his entire world. As if no time has passed at all. It’s heartbreaking and relieving all at once. Donovan Jayne hasn’t changed a bit. And thank God for that.

  “Donovan,” I gasp, “what are you doing here?”

  “I’m here to get you the hell out of this place, sunshine.”

  He takes a step toward me but I hold up both hands. Reality snatches me from my frozen dream world and a shiver of fear courses through me. “Please do not come any farther.”

  His silvery blue eyes are narrowed as he assesses my face, his gaze lingering for a moment on my lips. It twists up my mind and starts to pull at the thread that’s keeping my sanity tied together. “Then come out here.”

  I cast a quick glance over my shoulder to the camera and then turn back to him. “Just one moment, Donovan. You have one minute with me.”

  His sigh of relief crushes me. “No amount of time will ever be enough.”

  I step out and close the door behind me. My lip quivers as I attempt to keep my emotions in check. As soon as I’ve come onto the porch, he pulls me into a forceful hug. Being crushed in his loving embrace is painful both to my broken body and my broken spirit.

  “Come home with me,” he begs against my hair as he strokes my back with firm circles.

  Oh God, how I wish.

  I suck in a comforting breath of his scent, wondering if I can keep it in my lungs forever, and shake my head. “I can’t.”

  He growls at my answer but doesn’t release me. “Don’t you miss this? Don’t you miss us? What’s really going on?”

  I have answers but I’m not ready for him to hear them yet. “Shhh, can you just trust that I know what I’m doing?”

  With a huff, he pulls away to stare down at me. His hands cradle my face and he runs his thumb over my wobbling lip. I’m glad for the darkness on the porch hiding my secrets from him. I can’t have him peeling apart the edges when I’m so close to my goal. Just this once, I need him to let me take care of things.

  “I trust that you still love me,” he says with his air of confidence I so love.

  “You always were good at trusting your gut,” I chuckle and poke his hard stomach.

  He smiles at me but it quickly fades. It’s then I notice he’s not the usual unflappable man I know. His shirt is wrinkly. He’s slightly scruffy as if he hasn’t shaved in days. Completely disheveled and not at all like him. It kills me knowing he’s like this because of me.

  “I tried to stay away, for you. To let you follow whatever it was you were after. But…” he trails off and flicks his tortured eyes to meet mine. “I couldn’t not come see you again once I knew you were here. You’re so close, yet still so far away. I’m selfish and I want you back where you belong. With me.”

  He smiles again before his lips descend upon mine. The air is stolen right from my mouth as he kisses me passionately. Donovan Jayne owns my mouth with the possession of a man who’s been starved for three long years. He marks me with his scent and taste. And all I can do is try not to float away. I’m reminded of what I’ve lost. Of what I may not have ever again if I don’t see this plan to fruition. I’m terrified this kiss may be our last.

  “Do you remember Vegas? That first time, baby?” he says, his words poking holes in my heart, before his lips trail along my cheek and down my throat.

  I tangle my fingers into his hair as he places soft kisses near my ear. A small moan escapes me and I close my eyes.

  “I remember it fondly.”

  “I’m going to take a quick shower,” Donovan says as he works the knot on his tie. “When I get out, let’s talk about what happened today. I want to help you remember.”

  I nod and he disappears into the bathroom. Today was mentally taxing. It’s been years since Kasey was taken but not one single day goes by when I don’t think about her. Not one second passes when I don’t try to find clues as to who could have stolen her. Donovan has come through for me considerably. He’s become just as obsessed as I am about finding her.

  Mamá still lives in the house but he’s long since moved into one of the fancy suites at his lodge. The divorce wasn’t messy at all despite my mother’s unusual behavior and desire to end the marriage. It was almost as if both of them knew it was inevitable. She never loved Donovan like she loved my father. I think deep down she seems satisfied that she’s given me this opportunity.

  By opportunity, she means someone to take care of me. A father figure.

  But I don’t need anyone to take care of me. Not in the way you’d think. I want him to use his resources to help me find the seventeen-year-old girl from my past. He tells me he has his own reasons for helping me and I am forever grateful.

  While Donovan showers, I stride over to my suitcase to hunt for something to sleep in. We’d flown to Vegas to see the country’s best hypnotherapist. It had cost Donovan thousands of dollars for her services on a whim and he didn’t bat an eye when he handed over the stack of hundreds to the greedy old lady. And while she attempted to hypnotize me so I could search for answers that my brain had somehow locked up, he sat beside me and held my hand firmly.

  His support has meant everything to me.

  At twenty-three-years old, I don’t feel much like his stepdaughter. More like his partner. When I was in college, we Skyped nearly every day. And now that I’m moved back to Aspen, we see each other all the time. I see and speak to him more than anybody else.

  I frown as I dig through my suitcase. I’d thought I’d packed some pajamas, but apparently in my haste to meet with the hypnotherapist, I hadn’t packed properly. With a huff, I peel off my jeans and sweater, tossing them into my suitcase. Next, I free my heavy breasts from my bra and then make my way over to Donovan’s suitcase to steal something of his. I find a white sleeveless undershirt and pull it on. Since he’s so gigantic, it fits like a dress hitting me mid-thigh. Once I’m dressed, I crawl back onto one of the queen beds and lie back. Closing my eyes, I attempt to bring back that day. As each day passes, it seems as if the past becomes darker and less clear. Nothing sticks out to me.

  “I was thinking tomorrow we could do a little gambling. I know we came here on business but we can still find time for pleasure,” he says in an absent tone as he saunters out of the bathroom.

  My eyes pop open. He’s looking at his phone as he talks to me. I’ve known Donovan since I was seventeen and have never really seen him in anything except business attire. In fact, I tease him that his suits are physically attached to him. Even when he “dresses down” he wears a button-up, crisp, long-sleeved shirt. I’ve never seen him in anything less than professional.

  So that’s why now, I’m havi
ng trouble breathing.

  More of those foreign thoughts enter my brain as I greedily drink him up. He’s turned to the side reading an email or something, wearing nothing but a white hotel towel tied low and loose on his hips. The swell of his ass is perfection and I bite my lip to keep from letting an appreciative groan escape me. His body is all chiseled curves and definition from many years of working out. And his smooth dark hair, for once, is a wild, wet mess on top of his head. Water rivulets drip from his hair and roll down the flesh of his chest in such a way that has me thirsty—so damn thirsty.

  He may have tried to put a wedge between us after our whole phone sex fiasco, but I wouldn’t let him. Nothing like that has happened since and I don’t mention it ever. Instead, I behave as if it never occurred because I can’t afford to lose my best friend that way. Together, we slipped right back into being comfortable around one another. Well, I still crave more from him but never try.

  I sit up on my elbows to take a better look, despite the trouble I know it’ll bring. My heart gallops in my chest as a million perverted thoughts run through my head. I’m still lusting after him when suddenly, his inner forearm is revealed to me. All thoughts of dirty sex with my stepfather drain from me as the tattoo unlocks something in my head. Scrambling from off the bed, I all but run to him. His eyes widen in shock when I grab his wrist and pull his arm to where I can look at it properly.

  “Nadia,” he murmurs, his voice sounding pained. “What the fuck are you wearing?”

  I tear my gaze from his flesh to meet his heated stare. His pupils are dilated and I like what’s reflected in them. Hunger and desire.

  “I didn’t think you’d mind,” I tell him and a shiver ripples through me as his eyes fall to my lips. “Do you?”

  He steps closer to me, almost as if he can’t help himself, and I’m enveloped by his clean scent. “I, uh…” he trails off and tosses his phone into his suitcase. “No, I don’t mind.”

  I flash him a grateful smile and then go back to inspecting his tattoo—a tattoo that I never knew he even had. My thumb skims over the name. “Who’s Taylor?”