Safe at Home (Warm Springs Trilogy Book 1) Read online

  He stepped aside. Marching past him, she dropped the food and drinks on the table next to the cash register. Ann and Jenny pounced. They’d all been working hard and worked up serious appetites.

  “I guess I’ll catch you guys later.” He tugged at his hat and shuffled away.

  “Well, that was awkward,” Ann said around a mouthful of food. “I take it you haven’t seen him since last weekend?”

  “What? No, I haven’t.” Sam was a little surprised, but then realized she shouldn’t be. Ann was married to his brother, after all.

  “Yeah, so what’s going on with you two?” Jenny reached for her soft drink and it opened with a hiss. “I mean, I heard he took you on a picnic and I almost keeled over. The thought of Spencer taking anyone on a date, much less a picnic,” Jenny shook her head. “I mean, I almost don’t believe it.”

  “Does everyone know about that?” Sam’s irritation sounded in her voice, even to herself.

  “Small town. Nothing is sacred, darlin’.”

  “Ann’s right. There isn’t a whole lot to talk about, plus this is pretty big stuff considering it’s Spencer we’re talking about. I mean he hasn’t really liked anyone in years.”

  Sam chewed on the new information while they finished their hot dogs. Luckily, their break didn’t last long enough to give them the opportunity to ask any more questions. The thought that Spencer might have feelings for her stayed with her the rest of the day, and she couldn’t help but smile a little. Nothing could come of it and she was still mad at him, but it did make her remember what it felt like to be a woman, which was a far cry from the scared mouse-like person she felt like most days.

  That evening, she was exhausted. They sold almost everything they had brought over, so there wasn’t much to clean up. Sam picked up her bag and pulled out her keys. Ann cleared her throat, then bounced on the balls of her feet in a pregnant lady’s version of the Gangnam Style moves. “The dance, remember?”

  Sam groaned and dropped into a chair, but couldn’t hold back a giggle. “You’re cute, Ann, but I can’t keep up with you. I’m beat.”

  “Oh, come on, we’ll just go over for a little while. Promise.”

  “Okay, but only for a little while. We have to do this again tomorrow.”

  All three women groaned in unison.

  “Let’s run over to the hotel and freshen up a bit in the bathroom. I may be fat, but I can at least try to remind my husband why he picked me.”

  Ann and Sam made their way to the bathroom after saying goodbye to Jenny who hurried off to meet up with some of her other friends.

  “You’re not fat. You’re pregnant. Two very different things,” Sam pulled her hair down out of its ponytail.

  “I knew I liked you. Here, do you want me to braid your hair? You know, try something new.”

  “Sure, if you want to. It’s looking a little funny since it’s been up all day.” She looked at herself in the mirror and was amazed at what a little makeup and a braid could do after a long day.

  “Ready to go knock ‘em dead? Or, at least get something to drink?”

  “That sounds perfect.” They hurried across the street to where the big tent was set up in the middle of the square. Sam could already hear country music and a lot of loud voices. When they walked into the tent, Sam stared in amazement. The place was packed. She figured at least some people would’ve gone home, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

  “There you guys are.” Jake whistled and then hugged Ann. “Do you want something to drink? Beer, water.”

  “I’ll take a beer, thanks.”

  “Me, too,” added Ann. “In about four months.”

  Jake hurried off again and left the women to check things out. Music poured out of the speakers from the front of the tent. The dance floor was already crowded with couples and the band seemed to be having as much fun as the dancers. “And now for an old favorite,” the lead singer said into the microphone.

  A moment later when the chorus rolled around, the whole tent broke out into song…. “Dixieland Delight…”

  Sam didn’t know the words, but judging by the sheer volume she was the only one. Jake reappeared and the three of them grabbed a high table and some stools.

  “How were the pony rides today?” Ann hoisted herself onto a stool and leaned into Jake.

  “Fun, and hot. Jimmy Johnson was scared at first, but ended up loving it and riding three more times. It was a good day. How did you guys do?”

  “We sold nearly everything. Tourists love doodads. What can I say?”

  “Okay, Sam, so how about it . . . next song join me for a spin?”

  “I don’t really know how to dance to this kind of music.” She looked at Ann almost pleading for her to say something to rescue her, but Ann seemed to pick that moment to concentrate on the band.

  “Come on. Let’s give it go, old girl.” Jake grinned at her and his smile reminded her of Spencer.

  The next thing she knew, he was pulling her off of her stool. The song was fast and Sam could barely keep up, but Jake was laughing so hard she couldn’t help but laugh, too. He spun her away from him and when she reeled back in, Spencer was whisking her away. Sam tried to break his hold on her, but his grip was too strong.

  “Just relax, sugar. This won’t hurt a bit.” Spencer kept dancing, dragging her along for the ride.

  Sam was ready to spit nails. “How dare you?”

  “Now don’t get all touchy on me. Since you wouldn’t listen to me earlier, I figured this would be the best way to make you listen to my apology.”

  “I’m listening. Not that I have a choice. It doesn’t mean I forgive you though.”

  “Look, what I did was stupid and a little nosey.”

  “A little,” said Sam.

  “I wanted to know more about you. You never talk about yourself.”

  “Why? What difference does it make?” Her voice rose and she began to struggle again.

  “It makes a difference to me.” his voice rose to a near shout.

  “Well, it shouldn’t. You know me well enough.”

  Gripping her hand over her head, he spun her in a circle. “No, I don’t. I barely know anything about you.” He spun her again.

  The band kept singing about someone’s heart being sold at the county auction and she was beginning to get dizzy. “Maybe it’s better you don’t know anything about me. There isn’t much to know and you still shouldn’t have been nosing around my house.”

  “Look, I said I’m sorry. I just needed to know more.”

  “Why did you need to know more?”

  “Because I, well, I can’t stop thinking about you.”

  At his words, she tripped. He caught her against him and she had nowhere to look but at his face. The music changed to a slow melody about life being a dance. How appropriate. They swayed together while she tried to decide what to say. She hadn’t counted on this. She’d already had her chance at love and it hadn’t ended well. She didn’t deserve another one. It would be a betrayal. Not just to Tyler’s memory, but to Spencer. No one deserved to get wrapped up in her life. She hadn’t forgotten why she moved here in the first place, or that a certain predator’s release date had come and gone.

  “Listen, just forget it. No real harm done.” She didn’t want to argue anymore. She wanted to forget the whole night had ever happened.

  They swayed together and he leaned toward her, his cheek brushing hers. They stayed that way for what felt like an eternity. His arms felt strong holding her and he smelled like soap and little bit of aftershave. She closed her eyes as they swayed and almost felt as if she were floating.

  It was taking all his control to keep from kissing the slope of her neck where her hair was pulled back. He was finally close enough to drink in the scent of her, and something sweet, maybe strawberries, made him sigh. He had dreamed of this, holding her, touching her.

  Then the song was over and she seemed to come to her senses. She broke his hold on her and disappeared into t
he crowd. Stunned at her abruptness, he tried to follow her across the dance floor and paused by Ann and Jake to try to spot her.

  “Little brother’s got it bad.”

  “Shut up, Jake,” Spencer said without looking at him.

  “She does, too, but she doesn’t know what to do about it,” Ann whispered.

  “I bet Spence could tell her what to do about it.” Jake winked and Spencer growled.

  “Men, I swear, you’re all the same.”

  “You ready to go?” Jake reached out and covered Ann’s hand with his.

  “Yeah, I am a little tired. Should we find Sam and give her a ride?”

  “No, let’s leave that to Spence.”

  “Very funny.” Spencer stared a hole through Jake.

  “That’s not what I meant, but since you brought it up.”

  “Come on, Malloy. Let’s go home,” Ann slid off her stool and took a final sip of her drink.

  Jake followed her lead and stood. “We need to go get Alex from Mary.”

  “Nope, I called. He’s already asleep. We’re going to pick him up in the morning.” Ann wove her fingers with Jake’s. “We’ve got the whole house to ourselves.”

  Spencer scowled into his beer as he watched them leave. There was still no sign of Sam. He slammed his bottle on the table and walked to the exit. He and Sam had unfinished business.

  Chapter 13

  The night air was humid and smelled of sawdust, but the stars were out in full force. The sight of so many took her breath away. In Chicago, the city lights replaced the stars, but here they seemed endless.

  She was staring up at the sky with her head resting on the window when he found her leaning against his truck.

  “There you are. Why’d you run off?” He stopped in front of her so she had to look up at him. “I thought we were having fun.”

  “We were. I was. It’s just getting too complicated.” She started to move, but Spencer’s hands suddenly rested on either side of the window pinning her in.

  “What’s complicated about it? I’m a guy who enjoys your company. We know you’re not married and I’m pretty sure you like me, too.” He grinned.

  “Look, I can’t get into it. Let’s just say I’m not interested.” She placed a hand on his chest and tried to push past him. He didn’t budge. “Would you please let me pass? I need to see if I can catch a ride home with Ann.”

  “Ann’s gone. I said I’d give you a ride and this conversation isn’t over.”

  “Oh yes, it is. I have nothing more to say to you, Spencer Malloy.” Her back went up. Why did he always do this to her? She was trying to be reasonable.

  “I have more to say to you. Now look, I’m a patient man.”

  “Oh yes, you’re the picture of patience.” She fought the urge to roll her eyes.

  “Stop interrupting me,” he snapped. “I don’t know what’s going on here,” he gestured from her and back to himself. “This is new for me, too, but something is happening between us whether you want to admit it or not.” Spencer grabbed her chin and crushed her mouth with his. She never had time to think, argue, or turn away.

  Sam’s skin sizzled. His radiating heat nearly paralyzed her, and then the kiss deepened. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and his body pressed intimately against hers—challenging, demanding. The music changed inside the tent and a truck bumped along the road behind them, but the music and truck were soon lost in the background. Her heightened senses were wrapped up in Spencer. His taste. His smell. Each place his skin touched hers. Slowly they pulled apart, but only to arm’s length.

  “Spencer, this can’t hap—” Her voice sounded breathless and a little foreign.

  “If you’re ready, I’ll take you home now.” He released her and opened the door making it impossible not to get in the truck.

  Sam’s mind reeled as they road in silence toward her house. Here she was with a man that infuriated her, sitting in his truck no less, confused, annoyed and completely aroused. She had never in her life been kissed like that. With Tyler, it had always been sweet, tender, but it never made her feel this sense of need. What was happening to her?

  Spencer turned into her drive and she reached for the handle. She missed the handle the first time and tried again. When she glanced over her shoulder, she saw him suppress a grin and felt her face redden.

  “Thanks for the ride home. And the dance.”

  “No problem, sugar. See you soon.”

  She shut the door and all but ran into the house. Leaning against the door, with her hand pressed to her forehead, she sighed in relief. Her hand slid from her brow and lightly skimmed over her lips. They were still humming from Spencer’s kiss.

  No.

  She pushed away from the door. She had to put a stop to this. But, how was she going to do it? She couldn’t deny it. Not to herself. She liked him, even more than she was willing to admit. She thought about him at work, at home, when she was watching the news or planting flowers. All the time.

  After washing up and changing into her favorite pajama pants and a tank top, Sam climbed into bed. Her fingers twisted the sheet until it wrinkled like a prune. Frustrated, she released it and turned onto her side. Her mind wouldn’t turn off. Shadows danced across her wall and reminded her of her time in Spencer’s arms on the dance floor. She turned to her other side, determined to push him out of her mind. Sleep would erase the feel of him, but not if she couldn’t calm down. What she needed was a girlfriend. Someone to commiserate.

  Denise. She sat up and flipped on her lamp. The phone rang and then went to voicemail. Sam mumbled, “She must be on a date.” They hadn’t talked in two weeks. Turning her light off, she rolled over and played the scene by the truck over and over in her head until she finally fell asleep.

  The following morning, Sam was running behind. She grabbed a piece of toast and flipped on the television in her room for some noise while she finished getting ready. She could hear the broadcaster on the news touch on all the regular highlights, civil unrest, the financial deficit, the weather and then they said something about a person who was still at large for the gruesome murder of a Chicago woman.

  Sam froze, her brush still in her hand. She didn’t know why she was holding her breath. Chicago was a big city after all. But, she couldn’t stop herself from walking out of her bathroom and sitting on the edge of her bed. Come on, come on. Get to it.

  The opening stories seemed to take forever. Then Jerry Master’s face appeared looking serious. “This morning we bring you a story filled with questions and very few answers. A Chicago woman was murdered in a gruesome manner days ago, but the police have no leads.”

  Sam was holding her breath.

  “This building was the setting for what has turned out to be . . .”

  Tears sprang to Sam’s eyes as a picture of Denise’s building came onto the screen.

  “We now turn to Dan Avery who is live in Chicago.”

  “Good morning, Jerry. Police were called in to inspect a strange smell coming from one of the condominiums inside this building. Upon arrival, the police got much more than they expected. A woman in her early forties was found mutilated with all of her hair burned off and tied to a chair. Police are not releasing the woman’s name at this time, but it is known she worked at a local bank and was born in the area. We spoke with Detective Martin earlier, and this is what he had to say.”

  The camera cut to a middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair standing behind a podium. “We do not have any leads at this time, but we do believe the victim was known by the attacker. If anyone has seen anything, please get in touch with your local authorities . . .”

  Sam wasn’t listening anymore. She was shaking. Worked at a bank. Born locally. The words played on repeat in her head. Sam remembered the first time she’s sat across from Denise in her office for her first job interview after graduating and how scared she’d been. But, Denise had been all smiles and offered her a job at the bank the same day. Denise who’d become her best fri
end and mentor.

  Sam’s legs were numb and refused to move. “Oh, Denise,” she sobbed. It was all her fault. She stared around the room, eyes wide, and started feeling as though his eyes were watching her from the hallway or from the window to her bedroom. It wasn’t possible, and yet, she couldn’t shake the terror taking root in her chest.

  Her hands shook harder and her heart pounded. Panic set in and the corners of her vision began to blur. She had to get out. “Oh, God.” Sam fell to her knees and fought the urge to vomit as she crawled to get away.

  Spencer lowered the table saw’s spinning blade through the wood. He focused on the line he’d drawn to ensure accurate measurements, but his mind was on Sam. She couldn’t fight him forever.

  He’d thought he could quench his need to feel her lips on his with a simple kiss, but he’d been wrong. The kiss had only made him want more. He wanted to drink her in, explore all of her. Under her shy exterior, there was a woman dying to get out.

  He raised the saw and studied his cut. Then his phone buzzed. Spencer paused and took off his work glove while he fished around in his pocket.

  “Hello?” He swiped the sweat from his forehead onto his sleeve.

  “Spencer? It’s Mary. I’m sorry to bother you, but I didn’t know who else to call. And, I didn’t want to worry Earl and Betsy.”

  “What’s wrong, Mary?” A crease formed between his eyes as he tried to figure out a scenario in which she would call him regarding some kind of trouble, but he kept coming up blank. Mary rarely called him unless it was about hiring him for an odd job.