Anticipation Page 7

  And his woman, he finished mentally. As he made his way out of the house, a broad smile spread across his face. And it felt damn good.

  * * *

  “Can you believe he’s up at this hour?” Jeff sounded surprised as Jonas drove down the Blackstones’ asphalt drive toward the bed and breakfast ranch house.

  Chaz Blackstone tugged his baggy jeans back up his lanky form as he stood up from a crouched position at the edge of the drive. He dipped his paintbrush into a can of white paint then applied a new coat to one of the wrought iron spindles on the fence that curved in a semicircle around the entrance to the B&B.

  When Jonas turned into the drive, Chaz glanced their way. Adjusting his navy blue baseball hat, he squinted against the bright morning sun.

  Once he turned off the car engine, Jonas handed Jeff the folder that was on the seat between them and got out of the car.

  “Mornin’, Sheriff.” Chaz touched his hat’s bill and stared at his visitors, paintbrush paused in midair next to the fence. “My parents are inside preparing the morning meal for their guests.”

  “Being punished?” Jonas asked as he glanced at the gallon can of paint next to Chaz’s tennis shoes. While his gaze was averted, he surreptitiously examined the teenager’s athletic shoes. Sure enough, they matched the picture of the brand the Kick Footwear’s manager said was in high demand with the lifetime warranty.

  “Nah, just making the place look nice.” Chaz returned to his work, swiping his brush along the thin wrought-iron post.

  Jonas caught Jeff’s nod toward Chaz’s shoes. He raised his eyebrow to let the deputy know he saw them. Now, to get the kid to willingly show him the bottom of his right shoe. “You been working hard around here this weekend?”

  Chaz paused his brush strokes for a second. “Yeah, helping my parents with the upkeep,” he commented before he bent and wiped more paint on his brush from the can.

  A few drops of white paint landed on the black asphalt as he returned the brush to the fence, giving Jonas an idea.

  He stepped right beside Chaz and kicked the nearly full can of paint as he pretended to inspect the boy’s handiwork. “Nice job, son.” Satisfied that enough of the white paint had sloshed over the side of the can and onto the pavement, he asked in a casual tone, “You didn’t go out at all yesterday?”

  “Huh?” Chaz stopped painting and glanced at him, wrinkling his freckled nose.

  Jonas was determined to draw the kid out. “Did you go anywhere yesterday?”

  Chaz shrugged then dipped his paintbrush once more. “I went to the store for my mom to pick up some bacon, milk and eggs.” Straightening, he stepped around Jonas and began working on another part of the fence.

  Jonas glanced down at the asphalt and a heavy dose of anger washed over him at the sight of Chaz’s shoeprint perfectly stamped in white wet paint against the black drive.

  “You should really be more careful,” Jonas said as he reached over and pulled the manila folder out from under Jeff’s arm.

  “What are you talking abou—” Chaz cut himself off when his gaze landed on the perfect white shoeprints he’d made on the pavement. Lifting his shoe, he stared at the paint now coating the bottom. “Shit, my parents are going to freak at this mess.”

  Jonas pulled out a photo of the impression they’d taken and tossed it on the ground next to the print on the asphalt. A kind of sad satisfaction swept through him that the photo was an exact match, all the way down to the nicked outer edge of the sole. “There’s one thing you’re definitely right about. Your parents are going to freak.”

  Pointing to the photo, Jonas continued. “This impression was taken at the scene of a crime last night, next to an old barn on the Flying Wind’s property. The barn almost burned to the ground, Chaz. The fire spread to the house, engulfing the stairs. Had we not caught it in time, it probably would’ve burned the entire B&B, too. Bet you don’t know anything about that, do you?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Despite his denial, when Chaz’s anxious gaze met his, Jonas noted how pale the teenager’s skin suddenly looked underneath the heavy sprinkle of freckles across his nose.

  Retrieving the photo, Jonas slid it back inside the folder and handed the package to Jeff at the same time he pulled his handcuffs from the leather snap on his gun belt. He took a step forward and gripped Chaz’s wrist, slapping the handcuff on him.

  “You have the right to remain silent.”

  The kid’s strawberry-blond eyebrows rose and his eyes widened in fear as Jonas took the paintbrush out of his free hand and gave it to his deputy. Locking the second cuff on the boy’s other wrist, he said, “Jeff, please go get the Blackstones.”

  As Jeff walked toward the house, Jonas continued with his Miranda warning. “Anything you say can and will be used against you—”

  “Wait!” Chaz jerked around, his expression panicked. “You can’t arrest me. I didn’t mean to burn the house, just that old ratty barn they planned to tear down anyway.” He hung his head and continued in a lower voice, “I thought if the Flying Wind had lots of problems… I just wanted people to come to our B&B.”

  Disappointment tensed Jonas’ shoulders and he shook his head at the kid’s illogical thinking. “You could’ve killed someone, Chaz.” Gripping the boy’s upper arm in a firm hold, he glanced up to see Roger and Joyce Blackstone running down the porch stairs toward them.

  “Why in the world are you arresting our son?” Chaz’s father asked while his mother clung to her husband’s arm.

  Jonas met their concerned gazes. “Let’s all head to the office and discuss it there.”

  * * *

  Jonas drove up to the Flying Wind B&B as the sun slid lower in the sky. He’d spent the entire day at the office filling out paperwork. Once he talked to the Nelsons, he could wrap up the Blackstone case completely.

  Deidre’s mother and father came out on their front porch as he got out of his car.

  Jonas walked up to the stairs and brushed the rim of his hat. “Evening, Glen and Dot. How was your trip?”

  “Wonderful.” Dot’s skin was a little darker than when they’d left and there was a definite spark in her deep blue eyes.

  Glen stepped down the stairs and shook Jonas’ hand. “We just got off the phone with the Blackstones. They were very shocked and apologetic about their son’s behavior. I wanted to talk to you about Chaz’s punishment, Sheriff.”

  “I’m not done with my report—” Jonas cut himself off with a sigh, knowing small town ways of ignoring protocol were ingrained and the hardest to get past when it came to his job. Releasing Glen’s hand, he put his booted foot up on the burned bottom step and prepared to negotiate with the older couple. “He needs a good lickin’, in my opinion.”

  Glen walked back up to stand beside his wife. Folding his arms, he set his mouth in a determined line. “I seem to remember a certain young cowboy who came to work at this B&B a little over ten years ago. From what I remember, his daddy said he was headstrong and had a wild streak. He hoped that by working for us, we’d straighten his son out.”

  Jonas mirrored Glen’s pose, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared the older man down. Glen had been more than an employer. He’d been a mentor in many ways. “Are you telling me you don’t plan to press charges? Deidre could’ve been killed if the fire had continued to spread.”

  Regret softened Glen’s stern features for a brief second. “No, we’re not pressing charges on the condition that Chaz makes up for what he’s done. We’re thankful you held up to your word and kept watch after the B&B and our daughter.”

  Jonas could tell Glen wasn’t going to back down from his stance on the Chaz issue. Preparing himself to push for the harshest punishment he could get the Nelsons to agree to, he met Glen’s steady gaze. “I’m thinking community hours. Lots of community hours.” He glanced at the burned out barn and then shifted his line of sight to the step under his foot. “After he helps clean up this mess.”

  �
��Agreed.” Glen nodded then added, “And we think he should have to help out at the station as well.”

  Jonas stiffened. “The station?”

  “That way you can keep an eye on him and point him in the right direction. I’m sure you could use an extra worker around the office,” Dot added, her short dark hair bobbing as she nodded her agreement.

  The Nelsons had effectively backed him into a corner he saw no way around. Jonas rolled his head from shoulder to shoulder in frustration.

  “What do you say, Jonas?”

  When Glen called him by his first name instead of “sheriff”, the older man was definitely playing upon their longstanding friendship. Inclining his head in grudging approval, Jonas lowered his arms and relaxed his shoulders now that they’d come to an agreement.

  Glen gave a big smile. “Good, glad we got that out of the way. I wanted to talk to you about purchasing a portion of your property to expand the B&B trails and possibly add a couple guest cabins in the future. My Deidre said there’s some fine land back there.”

  If Glen bought some of his property, he should be able to afford to give Noah the price he wanted. His brother might not want the work of owning a ranch, but he’d want to bring his future children to visit the family ranch later in life. Jonas’s spirits soared.

  Jonas nodded, but kept his expression neutral. “Let me talk to Noah and see if he’s agreeable.”

  “Sounds good.” The older man crossed his arms, looking very proud of himself.

  This was Deidre’s doin’. Jonas cast his gaze through the screen door. Why hadn’t she come out with her parents? “Can I speak to Deidre for a few minutes?”

  “She left a half hour ago,” Dot said.

  Surprise shot through him. Was helping him her parting gift? “Did she leave a note?”

  Dot’s eyes lit up. “She did say, ‘Tell Jonas I’ll see him’.”

  Dejection hit him hard, making him feel sick to his stomach. Deidre’s parents must’ve noticed his tanking mood because both Glen and Dot stared at him as if waiting for him to say something.

  Jonas cleared his throat and touched his hat once more. “I’ll be in touch with you once I talk to Noah, and to set up a work schedule for Chaz.”

  Glen smiled and wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “We’re here when you’re ready. Have a great evening.”

  * * *

  Jonas headed up the long drive leading to his ranch, feeling as if a two hundred pound weight had fallen on his chest. When his gaze landed on a familiar blue compact rental car sitting in his driveway, his spirits rose. Deidre hadn’t left. Enjoying the euphoric feeling, he parked his car and turned off the engine.

  Deidre sat on the top step of his porch, one leg crossed over the other as she leaned back on her arms. Her pink tank top pulled tight against her breasts while her sandaled foot swung casually underneath a long prairie skirt. She smiled and stood as he got out of the car and shut the door.

  “Evening, Sheriff.”

  Jonas didn’t say a word. Instead, he mounted the stairs two at a time until he stood in front of his woman. She’d tried to help him save his ranch. He could get used to the sight of her sitting on the stairs waiting for him to get home, the last remnants of sun casting a golden glow across her bare shoulders. When he stared down at her upturned face and her smile broadened, he realized just how much she’d come to mean to him, how much she’d always meant to him.

  “Your dad offered to buy some of my land,” he said.

  She tilted her head to the side. “He did, did he?”

  Jonas nodded, his heart beating double-time as he waited for her to admit she’d had a part in it.

  Instead, she stayed quiet and they just stared at one another for several seconds until she finally stood and brushed off her skirt. “I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye.”

  Jonas’ stomach pitched. She was really leaving? Instead of saying what was in his heart, his self-preservation defenses kicked in, lodging the words in his throat. Stepping into her personal space, he rubbed a strand of her hair between his fingers. “I’d say our reunion warranted a personal goodbye.” The floral scent that rose from the silky strands made his groin jump to instant attention, rekindling memories of their night together. Jonas swallowed the lump that formed in his throat at the thought of her driving away, the idea he’d never see her, touch her or make love to her again.

  Sliding his hand under her hair, he cupped the back of her neck and pulled her toward him until her chest touched his. Her lips drew his like a magnet. “I’m going to miss this sexy mouth.”

  Deidre’s heart pounded against his chest and her smile faltered. When her gaze dropped to his mouth and her tongue darted out to wet her own lips, Jonas couldn’t resist her nonverbal invitation. “Dee, I—” His hand tightened around her waist and his mouth covered hers. He kissed her with all the love he felt but couldn’t put into words.

  The passionate intensity of Jonas’ kiss thrilled Deidre. But she knew in her heart he was holding back.

  Her heart also ached at the knowledge he couldn’t see beyond his past to tell her how he felt. She knew deep inside, hurt drove him. The fact he’d let her go instead of taking a chance on them, felt as if someone had just ripped her chest open. Placing her hand on his jaw, she broke their kiss and searched his hooded gaze.

  Her stomach flip-flopped at the sensation of his evening whiskers brushing against her fingers. A pleasant burn remained on her lips from the recent contact. She wanted to beg him to ask her to stay, to trust his heart to her. She wanted to tell him she’d been in love with him for ten years, but the words wouldn’t come.

  As if he knew she wanted more than he could ever give, Jonas’ dark, hungry eyes drank in her features. Was he trying to memorize them to keep them with him forever? He didn’t say a word, just lowered his head toward hers once more.

  Before she blurted her feelings for him in an embarrassing emotional outburst, she stepped out of his embrace. “I’ll see you, Jonas.”

  Deidre started to walk down the first stair, her legs shaking.

  A strong hand encircled her upper arm. Jonas turned her around and hauled her against his chest. “You’re just going to walk away?” Anger reflected in his voice while bewilderment filled his deep blue gaze.

  Deidre’s heart thumped at his adamant question. The man needed to let go of his past if they ever had a chance of a future together. She was willing to gamble. The question was…was he?

  “You made it very clear you have little to give.” She stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek then pulled free of his hold. “I’ll always remember our time together with a smile on my face.”

  Jonas’ jaw ticked as he grasped her upper arms in a firm hold. “Don’t you want to find out where this goes?”

  Deidre met his intense gaze, her heart racing in a full gallop. “Don’t you know that having a relationship means you take risks? That you open up your heart, fully knowing it could be broken?”

  His grip on her arms tightened and an incredulous expression crossed his face as realization dawned. “Are you going to walk away from us?”

  She just stared at him, letting him believe what he wanted. It took all her internal willpower not to throw herself into his arms, to make her body do what her mind demanded, while her heart screamed the opposite, but Deidre was fighting for her man…for a strong future together.

  Emotions ranging from hurt to anger stormed in his gaze. Jonas shook her gently. “Don’t you know that I love you, Dee? I’ve always loved you. I want to spend more time together and see where this takes us.”

  Her heart soared with happiness at his words. Tears filled her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. “Are you willing to take the risk and open up your heart again?”

  He yanked her to his chest and cupped the back of her head, pressing her cheek against his neck. “God, yes. I’m asking you to stay. I don’t think I’d be a complete man without you, sweetheart.”

  Deidre wrapped
her arms around his waist and hugged him tight as she sobbed with happiness against his neck. “I’ve always loved you, and I always will.”

  Stepping back, she wiped her tears and pulled out a piece of paper from a pocket in her skirt. “Here’s my schedule. Can you pick me up?”

  Jonas took the paper and read over the flight itinerary, then jerked his gaze to hers. “This is a round trip ticket.”

  She nodded. “It is. I’m going home to close up my apartment through the winter. My parents have decided they want to do a lot more traveling, and they want to spend their Christmas in Texas.” She smiled. “They can’t do this without me, so I told them I’d help out and even spruce up their menu during my stay.”

  His gaze narrowed. “You weren’t really leaving?”

  “My return to Ventura will only be temporary.”

  Jonas’ dark eyebrows drew down in a stern look. “Unless someone convinces you to stay, right?”

  Deidre shook her head slowly. “No, unless someone gives me a reason to stay.”

  Jonas stepped close. Unrestrained love welled in his chest. “I’ll spend the rest of our lives together making up for all the lost years.”

  She laughed and brushed her lips softly against his. “Don’t make promises unless you plan to keep them, cowboy. Then again,” she unsnapped his handcuffs from his belt, and stepped away, continuing in a light tone. “There’s something to be said for anticipation.”

  Jonas watched in surprise as she pulled a baggie of cookie dough out of her pocket and waved the handcuffs and the sweet treat suggestively in front of him.

  He reached for her, but she evaded his grasp and took off down the stairs, casting a flirty, come-hither look over her shoulder. In a swirl of a chambray prairie skirt, she disappeared around the corner of his home.

  He glanced at the flight itinerary in his hand. Deidre had a couple hours before she had to be at the airport.

  “And when I convince you to say ‘I do’, I’m going to enjoy chasing and catching you for the rest of my days,” he said with a wicked grin as he took off after his woman.