Chapter Five

Beck would have lunged at Kent and taken the little bastard’s skinny neck between his hands if Alex hadn’t interfered.

Stepping between the two men, she halted any further verbal threats, or threatening moves, with a light touch to the chest of each. She waited only long enough for Kent to suck in another lung full of air before she demanded, “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” Kent said, catching his breath, “every tire on your car is slashed to ribbons. He did it.” He wagged his finger close to Beck’s face.

Beck was just about ready to ignore Alex’s attempt to circumvent an outright fight and go for the little bastard’s neck anyway. He’d controlled his anger at the thought of this low-life troublemaker even thinking about putting his hands on any part of her body. And he’d finally convinced himself, at an early hour of the morning, that this little bastard had a damn good reason to be at her condo last night. But this accusation was going much too far. “Just what the hell are you talking about, sonny?” That should get him. He was probably close to thirty. With more than ten years on him, Beck took satisfaction in reducing him to the level of a child in Alex’s eyes…and he deserved it. Accusing him of such an outrageous act.

The bony bastard took a step forward. “You know what I’m talking about. You do have balls, mister, I’ll grant you that.”

Kent’s breathing had leveled off, but the flush on his face grew brighter, and the puckered, scarred skin looked ready to gush blood.

“Stop it right now, both of you.” Alex turned to Beck. “Let me talk to him, please.” When he gave her a quick nod, she trained her gaze on Kent. “All the tires on my car are slashed?”

“Every last one.”

Beck grabbed Alex’s hand. He had to see for himself. He started running, taking Alex along.

When they reached her car, they were both gasping for air. They leaned against the car’s hood until they caught their breath.

Recovered, Alex stepped back to survey the damage. “Oh my God, who would do such a thing? And why?” She looked at Beck then turned her attention to the group of students who had followed them with Kent in the lead. “Get back to the site and begin packing up the gear.”

When Kent didn’t leave with the others, Alex addressed him directly. “I’d like you to join the others, please.”

As soon as Kent was out of earshot, and before she could utter a word, Beck spoke up. “I swear I was certain this thing had ended. The other things were jokes—sick, I know—but still jokes. This act is way beyond a joke, way beyond what I would have expected from….” He lifted his chest and exhaled when he realized he’d pulled in too much oxygen. “I’m sorry. I’ll make certain this situation is made right.”

Alex pressed two fingers to her forehead and shook her head. “I just don’t understand how anyone could blame me for their misfortune. This destruction is like something from television. It’s unreal.” She looked at the nearest tire with a piece of rubber sticking out like a black tongue and shook her head again.

“I’ll take you home myself,” he offered. “And we’ll stop on the way for a tow truck. I’ll pay for everything.”

“Such a long trip for you isn’t necessary. I can go home with Kent. He drove his own car because he had to work a few hours this morning before coming here. Between his car, and another belonging to one of the other students, we have enough room for the entire group.”

“Why didn’t you use the university van today?”

“It’s in the shop for maintenance. We’ll all be using our own cars while we’re at the cabin.”

“We? You mean all of you will be staying at the cabin?”

She nodded. “During the week, yes. Why?”

Why? If he told her why, she’d probably laugh in his face. Or tell him to mind his own damn business. “I don’t like the idea of you being under the same roof with that….” He couldn’t think of anything to say that wouldn’t be so offensive she’d turn him away for sure.

She laughed. “His bark is really much worse than his bite, as the old saying goes.”

“I don’t like him.” That statement was putting it mildly.

“Well, the feeling is mutual, I’m sure. But, I can’t do anything about it except keep the two of you as far apart as possible until these outrageous actions stop.” She took a walk around the entire car and came back to stand next to Beck.

She’d put on a good front, but he believed down deep she was shaken. He put a hand on her shoulder. He wanted to do more. Now was another of those times when he wanted to just fold her up in his arms and hold her close. “Let me take you home. Please.”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I have to report this incident to the police.” She took her cell phone from her pocket.

“I know you do. And I know we’ll have to wait to call a tow truck until the police see the damage. If you won’t let me drive you, will you at least let me pay for the new tires?”

“I have insurance.”

Of course. Why hadn’t that occurred to him? Why? Because all he was thinking of was making things better for her. Of finding ways to see her again.

“You’ll need your car to get back here tomorrow. You won’t be home for a couple of hours. Do you think you’ll find a place to get new tires so late in the evening?” The question was a logical one. And one he thought would stump her.

“The dealership where I bought my car is less than a mile from my house. Their service department is open until nine.”

He threw up his hands in defeat. “Okay, you win.” What else could he say?

The students returned and stood in silence. Skinny kept his distance, but the scowl never left his face. And he never looked away from Beck. Not for one minute.

Not that being stared at bothered Beck. What galled him was that Alex would be riding home in the car with him. Probably alone. A nagging thought ate at him, and he had to know if he was off-base or not. He motioned for her to move to the back of the car so they could talk in private. When they were a comfortable distance away from the students, he positioned himself so his back was between her and the troublemaker. “It’s none of my business, but I have to know.” Jesus, how could he just come out and ask her such a thing? Yet, if he didn’t… “Nothing is between you and”—he tilted back his head and looked upward at the sky—“between you and him, is there?” Alex’s face registered so many different emotions so quickly, he couldn’t keep up with them.

Then she covered her mouth with her hand and laughed noiselessly into her palm. “You’ve got to be joking. He’s my student. He’s too young for me. And, he’s not my type.” She turned away her head.

He suspected she did so because she didn’t want to laugh in his face. He felt like a jackass. A friggin’ jackass. She was making fun of him in a not-so-obvious way.

Alex turned back. “What would make you think such a thing?”

Jackass was still all he could think to call himself. “Just the way he acts like a damned centurion guard around you.” Jealous jackass is how he was coming off and for no good reason. Jeez, they’d only shared a couple of kisses.

“I’m just one of a few people who’ve gone out of their way to make him feel like he belongs,” Alex said. “He’s still struggling with issues from his time in Iraq and…”

Sirens cut off the rest of her explanation, and they spent the next half-hour giving information to the police and waiting for the tow truck.

When everything had been taken care of with the police, he walked Alex to the little weasel’s car and reluctantly got her settled in the passenger seat. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow.” He pushed his luck and gave her chin a lift with his knuckle, forcing their gazes to meet. “I promise I’ll take care of the other matter. You can make book on it.” You bet you can make book on it, he promised her again silently, while he watched the cars take off for the highway.

On the road, his head pounded and his bruised knuckles throbbed from his death grip on the steering wheel. He didn’t want to fight with Ned again. They’d duked it out in the parking lot last night and patched things up between them before heading home.

Last night, he’d believed Ned’s story—that he’d gotten drunk after a fight with Merilee and wound up at one of his favorite drinking holes. That the same guys who’d been with him to set up the skeleton were at the bar, and they decided on their own to have a little more fun with some packing material retrieved from the bar’s dumpster. That he’d gone along but had been too drunk to do anything but sleep through the whole thing. And that he wasn’t holding a grudge.

Ned had lied.

Beck knew he would have to eat crow for a while with Alex. But first, he would find Ned and beat the crap out of him for sure this time.

****

Wednesday night, Alex secured her hair at the nape with a gold barrette and leaned close to the mirror. She gave her nose and cheeks an extra dusting of powder to conceal the spray of freckles that never failed to make her feel like a teenager when she wanted most to feel like a woman. Suddenly, she realized the amount of attention she had put into dressing for dinner with Beck St. Romaine was out of proportion to the occasion.

Still, as she fastened the two top buttons of her blue linen dress, she was thankful she’d brought a decent set of clothes to the cabin. No woman should feel guilty for looking her best, regardless of the occasion, or the company she’d be keeping.

Beck hadn’t told her the name of the restaurant where they’d be dining, but after going into detail about the extent of its wine list, she decided it must be one of the better area restaurants. Her anxiety rose when she looked at the clock on the bedside table. Ten minutes to seven. He’d be arriving any moment now.

When he’d come to the site at noon to remind her of their date—his words, not hers—he’d politely asked what time she preferred to dine. She’d quite honestly told him she wasn’t a late diner. After which he promised he’d be on time. He’d pick her up at seven for their date.

There, he’d said date again. But she didn’t consider this to be a date. He probably had his reasons for taking her out—maybe to stay on her good side. Although she couldn’t understand why he felt the need to do that, anymore than she could understand his friend taking out his vengeance on her.

Beck really did appear to feel guilty about what had happened at the site. Dinner was probably his way of making up for all the trouble he’d first caused, as well as the trouble his friend had caused later. She found a clean handkerchief tucked between her lingerie, put it in the navy leather clutch, then flopped down on the bed and sighed, wondering whether she should feel some of the guilt.

She couldn’t remember a time during the past four years when the month of May had brought her anything but a resurgence of the profound grief she had come to expect—and to accept—at this time of year. Until this man called Beck burst into her life like angry lightning and upset her natural world. Something she should never have allowed. Because after tonight, after he’d done his proper penance for whatever transgressions he imagined were his responsibility, she’d likely never see him again. Then what? Once he’d gotten a new project off the ground and his business partners off his back, he’d no doubt forget Alexandra Kingsley and her anthropological dig ever existed.

But they’d kissed. Twice. And the kisses were not just ordinary, casual lip synching, but well-placed, well-executed kisses. Didn’t that count for something?

A knock sounded at the door, and she had to keep from running to open it. And when she did, she almost said wow.

Beck gave her a wide smile. “Wow.”

“Wow, yourself.” She stood there, her pulse racing like a teenager. The feeling had absolutely nothing to do with her freckles. She invited him inside “You really do look great.” He absolutely did. His ivory silk shirt opened at the neck just enough to form a backdrop for curly, dark chest hairs, as dark as the hair on his head.

Jeans had been replaced by dark gray trousers, and his work boots with the snakeskin boots he’d worn the second time she’d seen him. He wore his unbuttoned navy blazer as casually as he might have worn a denim work jacket.

“I left the tie in the truck. I hoped I wouldn’t have to wear it, but now that I’ve gotten a look at you—”

“You look fine without the tie,” she assured him, wondering if he could read her mind and know she trembled inside at the thought he might kiss her again. Or not.

He shoved his hands in his jacket pockets. “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks. So, do you.”

They both laughed and after an awkward second, she told him they could leave anytime.

At the restaurant, the waiter handed Beck the menu.

Beck read for a few seconds, then looked up. “I recommend the Pinot Noir.”

“No alcohol for me, please.”

He drew back his shoulders. “None?”

“None,” she affirmed. “I don’t drink.”

His brows creased. “Never?”

“Never.”

“Well, in that case….” He set aside the wine list.

But she quickly laid a hand on his. “Have a drink if you want one. Water will be fine for me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.” She turned to the waiter. “I’ll have mineral water if it’s available.”

The waiter assured her it was, and after taking their order, left to attend to other diners.

“I’m happy to see you look much more rested than you have for the past few days.” Beck took her hand in his.

“I feel better, thank you.” Only marginally better, but he didn’t need to know that. Nor did he need to know he was at least partially responsible for the rise in both her spirit and her general well-being.

“The deal I’m striking over the land adjacent to the state-owned property is progressing. Changing the boundary of the land sale to avoid interfering with the excavation might be possible,” he told her. “What about your research on the young Indian couple?”

She swelled with pride that he remembered. “I brought tons of research material with me so I can work on the project in the evenings.”

“Promise to tell me the story one day?”

“Yes. I promise.”

They were lingering over coffee when he asked, “Would you think me terribly nosy if I asked what had you so upset the other night even before you got the telephone call?”

A surge of emotion filled her chest and felt as though it would crush her from the inside out. Her eyes filled with tears, and she blinked a couple of times to hold them back. She had almost forgotten the pain, until now.

“This week is a bad time of year for me. It’s a reminder of a very painful part of my life.”

“The end of your marriage?”

“No.” Her lips trembled, and the first tear fell. “No.” Why did he have to ask? Why did she feel she had to tell him?

She didn’t have to. She just did.

“The death of my child.”

****

Aw, shit. With a single question, he’d put that woebegone look back in her eyes. A kid? One that died? How could he have known? As soon as she’d answered his question she’d fled to the ladies’ room and stayed a very long time. He was about to ask the hostess to check on her when she returned to the table. He’d already settled the bill, figuring she’d be in a hurry to leave, and he was right.

They drove to the cabin in a heavy silence broken only by Alex’s intermittent sniffles and an occasional sob, all of which she tried valiantly to hide. When he pulled up to the cabin, it was dark, except for the porch light and a low light inside shining like a faint candle through the front window. Hers was the only car parked in front of the cabin. She would be here alone tonight.

Alex let him take her hand and help her down from the truck. He walked with her to the front of the cabin. At the door, she turned with a “thank you” already forming on her lips, but he wasn’t about to let her turn him away so easily. “I’ll see you inside.”

She fumbled with the key and turned to look at him only after the lock clicked. “You don’t have to see me inside. I’m fine. Really.”

“I’d rather check everything before I leave. I didn’t think you’d be alone. No one is around for miles.”

She let out a shaky laugh. “If your intention was to frighten me, I think it’s working.” She opened the door and stepped inside.

He followed. “I thought your whole crew was staying here.”

“They’ll be here only during the day, until this weekend. Most have part-time jobs that’ll be finished by then.”

Beck found hiding his excitement difficult at the prospect of having her to himself for the next few nights. Enough time to make up for his gaffe at the restaurant. Nosing around in other people’s business—especially into a woman’s past—was a no-no for him. He’d make sure it didn’t happen again. Anything more he found out about Alexandra Kingsley would come voluntarily.

He gave the cabin a quick once-over. The combination kitchen and living room they had entered was sparsely, but comfortably furnished. He guessed the cabin was used by hunters and fishermen for week-end getaways, probably a little political payback for favors granted to the university.

From where he stood, behind the living room-kitchen combo, he could see straight down the center hall that ran the depth of the cabin. He saw bathroom fixtures through the open door at the end of the hall. And he counted four rooms, bedrooms he guessed, two on either side of the hall. He walked to the first door, opened it, and stepped inside.

The window on the far side of the room was closed from the inside and probably on the outside as well from what he had observed earlier as they approached the cabin. The slide latch on the inside of the window was in place, but he went over and gave it a shake just to be sure.

“I checked all the windows before I left,” Alex said from the doorway.

He didn’t say anything, just checked the rest of the bedrooms. The last room on the right was undoubtedly the one she’d chosen for her own. The room boasted a double bed, instead of two singles like the other rooms. Probably the bedroom for whoever was highest on the pecking order of whichever group claimed occupancy at the time. Two pieces of luggage were open on the floor near the closet. Another piece of luggage lay open on the bed, its contents of various articles of feminine attire neatly folded.

Beck drew in a deep breath. The light, flowery fragrance Alex wore filled the air. He crossed the small space to the bathroom, also marked by her scent. He noted the bath towel thrown across the side of the ancient claw-footed tub, the face cloth neatly folded on the rim of the equally ancient washbowl, and the white terry cloth robe on a hook behind the door. All vivid reminders she’d been there—been there naked.

He retreated quickly to the living room. No sense letting his testosterone go on overload and maybe force him to do something stupid, like try another kiss. “Looks like everything’s battened down good and tight.”

“I told you so. But thanks anyway for double-checking. Thanks for a wonderful dinner.”

She was dismissing him, and he wasn’t ready to leave. He wanted to stay right here, all night, hold her close, and keep her safe. Safe from what or who he wasn’t sure. But she already held open the door.

“It’s not yet ten o’clock. I could stay awhile.” He was so close now he could smell the odor of outdoor pine mixing with her already familiar scent. He toed the door shut. He thought he heard her gasp softly, but he was so off-balance from being this close, he couldn’t be certain. All he noticed was she backed herself against the wall. Perfect. Now, she couldn’t get away so easily.

He lifted her chin with his knuckles so he could look into her eyes. They were bright, but dry. “I’m sorry I dredged up painful memories,” he told her. She blinked quickly a few times, and he cursed silently. Why couldn’t he keep his damn mouth shut?

She ran her tongue over her lower lip, drew it back into her mouth and pressed her lips firmly together. After a few seconds, she told him, “It’s okay. It’s just me, I….”

Pain knotted his chest as he watched her pull her brows together. Was she afraid of crying again? She didn’t appear to be the kind of woman who resorted to tears very often, and probably never to make headway with a man. He didn’t quite know what to make of her. Most of all, he didn’t know what to make of himself or of how she affected him.

Before he could analyze either of their emotions, those misty eyes and quivering lips got to him, and unable to stop himself, he covered her mouth completely with his. She offered no resistance, and when he pressed her closer to the wall, her body went limp, and her lips relaxed under his. His hands found her buttocks, cupped and lifted them so she would have no doubt of his desire.

She moved against him like silk against stone, rippling her softness over the rough, hard ridge of his placket. He was the one close to whimpering now. The soft murmurs turned to deep guttural moans. His or hers? Probably both, because they devoured each other’s mouths, lips, tongues, as if swallowing each other whole.

Suddenly, Alex pushed against him. “Please don’t. I can’t….”

Her appeal spiraled through him clear down to his gut. He took a few seconds to react to the unexpected plea while Alex loosened his grip on her bottom. But she didn’t move, just stood there with a look of disbelief on her face. Beck flattened both palms against the wall above her head, loosely pinned her once more with his body, and again caught her unsuspecting mouth with his.

Alex’s hair had fallen forward in disarray and tickled his nose, its sweetness nearly turning his insides to mush. A few seconds passed before he caught his breath and gathered his senses.

He selected his words carefully. “I want you, and I think you want me. Let me stay the night.” He was blunt. He was honest.

“No.” She pushed him once more as strongly as she had when he’d kissed her in her home. She was crying, softly.

He had no choice but to let her go.

Again, she yanked open the door. “It’s probably time for you to leave.”

Beck kicked the door shut so hard the gun case on the wall rattled. “I’m not ready to leave. Not until you tell me what kind of game you’re playing.” The anger in his voice surprised even him.

Her head snapped back. “Game? You think I’m playing a game? How dare you insult me that way.”

He didn’t think raising his anger another notch was possible, but she had. “How? Let me count the ways,” he sneered. “You kiss me as hungrily as I kiss you, you rub your hot body up against mine, and turn my hard-on into stone, you steal my breath with your desire, and you ask me how?” He laughed, reached for her again, and drew her up hard against his body.

Surprisingly, she didn’t resist as he lowered his mouth to hers, but once again, she burst into sobs. Her reaction unnerved him. Unlike the soft cries of minutes ago, these were hard, wracking sobs. Damn. Bypassing the kiss, he cradled her head against his chest, and held her until she cried herself silent. Then he gave her a little room away from him before he demanded, “Okay. Now tell me what the fuck is going on.”

In the middle of a low, shuddering sob, Alex laughed. “That’s more the you I’m used to. You do like that four-letter word.”

“You like me better when I talk like that? If so, I can oblige you with such talk anytime you want, baby.”

Alex turned away. “That’s not what I meant, but it’s late, and I’m too upset to continue this conversation.” She looked at the door and then back at him. “Thanks again for a wonderful meal.”

“You’ll be missing a good thing if you let me go tonight.”

“Then I guess I’ll just have to live with my decision, won’t I?”

Smart-ass b—. He couldn’t finish the thought, which infuriated him as much as her rejection. He’d show her, though. “Plenty of women are ready to enjoy my company and have some fun.” He stomped to the door and yanked it open, but he couldn’t resist one last dig before he left. “I’d like to say ‘see you around,’ except I don’t plan on coming back.”

When he slammed the door behind him, the gun case shook even harder than before.

****

Alex didn’t give in to the tears until she no longer heard the roar of Beck’s engine. After she cried herself dry, she stumbled down the hall to the bedroom. Wearily, she put on her pajamas then crawled under the handmade quilt. Now that she’d stopped crying, she was acutely aware of the deep silence surrounding her.

Then she heard a sound. Something, or someone, was on the porch.

She sat upright, pulled the quilt up to her neck, held her breath, and strained to listen. The noise came again. A scratching sound. Right outside her window. She scrambled from under the quilt, tiptoed to the bedroom door, and slowly opened it. The door creaked. She held her breath.

The scratching started again, fainter this time. Then, silence.

Beck. He must have come back to apologize. Or check the shutters on the windows outside. Then he left without another word.

Or maybe the person wasn’t Beck. She hadn’t heard an engine. He could have parked a distance away and walked back, so she wouldn’t hear him.

But if that were true, couldn’t someone else have done the same thing? But who? And why? Few people even knew she was here.

An animal could have made the noise. The woods were full of animals. One had probably come to scour for food. That possibility explained the scratching sound.

Alex trembled, and her heart raced, but her thoughts were a little clearer now. Moving cautiously in the dark, she crossed the bedroom, feeling her way tentatively with her toes until she touched the suitcases on the floor. She knelt and opened the closest suitcase. When her fingers curled around the cold, hard steel nestled between the soft layers of clothing she let out a long, quiet sigh of relief.

An owl hooted.

She jumped and waited to see what was next. Nothing sinister or threatening followed. She gripped the gun and made her way in the darkness to the corner of the living room where she remembered seeing a rocking chair. She found the chair, dragged it slowly and silently to the end of the hall, and positioned it outside the bathroom door. Then she tiptoed back to the bedroom, grabbed the quilt off the bed, and went back to the chair. She would sit there, awake, all night.

In the morning, when the first light of dawn filtered underneath the front door, Alex came suddenly awake. Sometime during the early morning hours, despite her resolution to remain on guard, she had fallen asleep, her fingers curled around the handle of the gun in her lap.

A sense of relief washed over her as the welcoming safety of the cabin surrounded her. She stood, groaned at the stiffness in her joints, flexed them slowly, and went into the kitchen. After she put on the kettle, she opened the door and took a deep breath of the fresh, early morning air.

Something on the ground in front of the bottom step caught her eye. Cautiously, she took a step onto the porch to get a better look. Her breath stalled in her lungs. In the middle of a patch of soft mud, still damp from yesterday evening’s drizzle and this morning’s dew, was a smeared footprint.

She forced herself to look closer. The trapped air rushed out of her lungs. She hadn’t blown the events of the night before out of proportion. Someone, probably a man by the size of the footprint, had indeed paid her a visit.