A Hard Man to Forget (14 page)

“Couldn’t she have been kidnapped? Could someone have
attacked her?”

“There was no evidence of that. Besides, are you suggesting
someone kidnapped her—you—and held her for a year until
you were able to escape? Who would do something like that?”

Laura exhaled in exasperation. She couldn’t disagree. Something
wasn’t adding up.

“Then who shot at her tonight?” Simon demanded.

Coombs’s eyes narrowed on Simon’s face. “You were
the only other person at the house tonight, weren’t you?”

“Why would I try to shoot her?”

“You tell me. Revenge, maybe? You’re the one who thinks
she’s the wife who supposedly left you.”

“Then why did I get her out of the house? Why didn’t I
finish the job?”

“Maybe you just wanted to scare her, make her turn to you in
gratitude or something. I never did claim to understand you. Those
games of yours are all about violence, aren’t they?”

“You’re good at coming up with theories, Sheriff, but a
little low when it comes to facts.”

“That’s funny, coming from the guy who’s been
throwing around a dozen half-baked theories since his wife
disappeared.”

“Enough!” Laura interrupted. “As entertaining as
this is, you’re wrong, Sheriff. Simon wasn’t the only
other person at the house tonight. We both saw someone through the
window.”

Coombs leaned back in his seat and aimed that coolly assessing gaze
at her once more. “All right. Tell me about this person. What’d
he look like?”

“I’m not sure. It was just a silhouette, and I only saw
him for a split second.”

“So you looked out a window into a storm and saw a dark shape?
Is that right?”

Laura gritted her teeth. He made her sound like an idiot. “I
know what I saw.”

“A silhouette. That’s real helpful.”

“He would have left footprints in the mud.”

“Which would probably be washed away from the rain by now.”

“Damn it, Coombs,” Simon spat. “What is it going to
take for you to do your job for once?”

The outburst didn’t ruffle the sheriff’s calm. “I’m
just giving you some of those facts you asked for. Now if you want,
we can go out to your house and I can collect some of the bullets
that must be there if what you say is true.”

“There were some footprints on the floor,” Laura said.
“You might find some muddy ones on the carpet. That should
prove someone was there.”

“Fine. I’ve got a camera in the car. Let’s go.”

Laura started to rise at the same time the sheriff did. Simon waved
her back. “You’re exhausted. Why don’t you stay
here?”

“Here?”

He nodded and pulled a key from his pocket. “I got a room. I
figured you wouldn’t want to go back to the house tonight.”

She flashed back to the house, where no amount of light could ever
completely block out the shadows. After what had happened, she
doubted she would feel safe there.

“What about you?”

“I'll be back when we’re done. I don’t really feel
up to staying out there myself.”

“Don’t you need my statement?” she asked Coombs.

“I can get it in the morning, once I’ve got a better idea
what I’m looking at.”

“All right,” she agreed, not sure why she felt so
reluctant.

With a nod, Simon stepped away and moved toward the door.

It was the sheriff who lingered, staring at her for a long moment.
Once again, her skin crawled under the force of his scrutiny.
Something about it felt uncomfortably intimate.

Finally, as though realizing the effect he was having on her, he
shook his head and smiled ruefully. “I’m sorry. It’s
just that you really do look so much like her.”

“But you’re still convinced I’m not?”

“I know you’re not,” he said with absolute
certainty.

He walked away to join Simon at the door, leaving Laura to wonder why
the unwavering conviction in his voice made her the most
uncomfortable of all.

THE ROOM SIMON HAD booked for the night was actually a large, yet
cozy two-room suite. There was a small outer room that opened into
the larger bedroom. The furnishings were warm and homey, leaving no
doubt this was a bed-and-breakfast and not some impersonal hotel
chain. Its best feature was waiting in the bathroom. Laura took one
look at the big tub and sighed. It looked like she was finally going
to get her bath after all.

Too wound up to sleep, she soaked in the hot water for more than an
hour, letting the heat seep into her skin until all she felt was warm
and safe. All the confusion of the last couple of days, and the two
years before that, faded away.

Except Simon.

His face remained in the forefront of her mind. She saw him even when
she closed her eyes.

She almost drifted off until the water became cold, the chill slowly
prodding her to wakefulness. With a sigh, she pulled the plug and
stepped from the tub.

There were two big fluffy robes hanging on the back of the bathroom
door. She reached for one and pulled it on. She barely had the belt
cinched when she heard a soft tap on the door of the suite.

Laura froze, a burst of nervousness exploding inside of her. Should
she answer it? If she hadn’t been safe at the house, what
chance was there that she would be here, in a public building where
anyone could walk in at any time? At this point, there wasn’t
anyone she thought she could completely trust. Even the sheriff made
her uneasy, the way he looked at her.

The knock was repeated.

Suddenly angry at herself for her own trepidation, she straightened
her shoulders and called out.

“Who is it?”

The muffled reply came through the door. “Simon.”

The breath left her lungs in a whoosh. She moved forward to open the
door.

He stood on the other side, exhaustion written across his features.
It had been a long day for both of them. She felt her heart lurch in
her chest. From sympathy…or something else. She didn’t
want to analyze it.

“Sorry to wake you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I wasn’t asleep. I took a bath.” The explanation
was unnecessary as she watched his gaze track over her wet hair and
down her robe. Awareness sparked inside her. She did her best not to
tremble.

She shot a glance down the hall. They weren’t being loud, but
anyone could be listening to their conversation. She took a step back
out of the doorway. “Come in.”

He looked for a moment like he was going to decline. Then he stepped
forward into the room.

She closed the door behind him. “How’d everything go at
the house?”

He scowled. “Coombs made a big show of looking around. He said
he’d bring in his deputies tomorrow to collect evidence from
the scene.”

“He didn’t want to do that now?”

“He didn’t see the point in getting them up this early,”
he said, his voice rich with irony. “After all, it’s only
attempted murder. The deputies need their sleep.” He shrugged.
“I told him we’d meet him back out there around noon.”

“What’s the deal with the two of you anyway?”

“He’s an incompetent fool. You saw that yourself. The
only reason he was elected sheriff is because his father was before
him. He didn’t like me pointing that out to him during the
investigation into Meredith’s disappearance.”

“If you used your usual tact, I’m not surprised.”

“He already didn’t like me. Never did.”

“Did he have feelings for Meredith?”

“What makes you say that?”

“Something about the way he looked at me tonight, that’s
all.”

“I suppose it’s possible. They grew up together. But if
so, he never did anything about it.”

“Or else Meredith didn’t tell you.”

He grimaced. “That wasn’t Meredith.”

“Yes, perfect Meredith would never keep a secret like that.”

She couldn’t keep the bite out of her words. He looked at her
strangely. “Where did that come from?”

“I’m sorry. It’s just getting old hearing how
flawless she was. She sounds too good to be true.”

“She was pretty damn close.”

“Then she couldn’t be me. I hate to break it to you, but
I’m not perfect.”

“After all you’ve been through, it would make sense that
you’ve changed.”

“Even if it was for the worse.”

“Who said it was for the worse?”

“You don’t think so?”

He cocked his head to the side and looked at her for a long moment.
“I haven’t decided,” he said finally. “You’re
stronger. Everyone else could imagine the old Meredith killing
herself. I could see her running away. I’m not so sure with
you. You’re a fighter.”

“I’m glad you think so,” she said with a smile.
Then she sobered. “Can I ask you a question?”

“You’re free to ask. It doesn’t mean I’ll
answer.”

“Why didn’t you divorce her? If you were so convinced she
left you, why not file for divorce for reasons of abandonment.”

He said nothing. The silence stretched on interminably.

Finally, he cleared his throat. “I couldn’t. She was
declared dead. You can’t divorce a dead woman.”

He was lying. There was more to it. She could tell. He hadn’t
even considered divorcing Meredith.

He still loves her
, she thought. She couldn’t decide
whether the thought pleased her or disturbed her.

“Are you still convinced I’m her?”

His eyes searched her face with desperation, with misery. “I
don’t know anymore,” he admitted. “Maybe you are,
maybe you aren’t.” His mouth worked in a bleak and
unexpected smile. “Maybe you’re Meredith’s ghost,
sent here to torment me.”

There was such darkness in his voice, Laura couldn’t help but
shiver.

“IS THAT WHAT I’M DOING?” she asked. “Tormenting
you?”

“I don’t know,” he said, his voice ragged. “I’m
not sure of anything anymore.”

In the shadowed darkness of the room, she might as well have been a
ghost. A pale puddle of light spilled over her from a nearby lamp.
The startlingly white robe she was wearing enhanced the effect so it
seemed like she was practically glowing. She looked angelic. The
thoughts she inspired were anything but.

Exhaustion dragged at him and made it hard to think. All he knew was
that for three years, he’d dreamed of seeing her again. The
past several days of following her, the last day in her presence, had
done nothing to ease that need. If anything, it was stronger. He
soaked in the sight of her. Whoever she was, whatever she was, he
couldn’t tear his gaze away. All he wanted was one touch, one
kiss, to make sure she was real.

She stood there now, only five feet away. All he had to do was reach
out and touch her.

He couldn’t have stopped himself if he tried.

He took those steps, crossing the distance between them.

She didn’t move, knowing what he was going to do, waiting for
him. He reached down and cupped the back of her head with his hand.
She was right there with him, lifting her face to him. Her eyes
drifted shut. He felt a feathery breath escape her parted lips, the
shuddery rush of air washing over his cheek. Her breathing was
uneven, perhaps from anticipation, perhaps from nervousness.

There was no such hesitation in her kiss. Her mouth met his with an
eagerness that matched his own. Their lips caught, tugging lightly,
suckling gently. His tongue slid through her teeth into the warm
cavern of her mouth. Unbelievably, he’d forgotten what she
tasted like. When he’d kissed her that morning, it had all been
amazingly fresh and new, like kissing her for the first time. It
wasn’t just that she reacted differently. Her sweetness set off
something powerful in his system, a response that was incredible and
thrilling. He couldn’t get enough of her taste.

His hand skimmed down her spine, coming to rest at the small of her
back. He braced it there and pulled her closer. A low groan rumbled
deep in his throat as her body pressed against him. It was all so new
and so familiar at the same time, the feel of her breasts mashed
against his chest, of her hips molding to his. It had always been
right. This was something more. They fit perfectly, better than ever
before. The changes in her body had only made their bodies complement
each other more, like two puzzle pieces made to be together locking
into place.

He ground his pelvis against her, the move instinctive, allowing her
to feel his erection. She didn’t react as she would have
before, with a gasp of embarrassment, with coy shyness. The years
apart had left too much of a need. She needed him as badly as he
needed her. She pushed her hips against him, increasing the friction
between their bodies. It was he who felt the burst of surprise,
quickly replaced with an even greater arousal. He was so hard, and it
had been so long. That friction between their bodies was almost
enough to make him lose control.

He held on by a thread, wanting more, needing it like nothing he’d
ever experienced in his life. He wanted to touch all of her, to trace
her body with his fingertips and relearn every inch of it. He wanted
to taste her with his tongue, letting it roll over every swell, every
curve, every tight peak, until he knew it all intimately again. The
need exploded in his system. All conscious thought evaporated. Only
the need was left.

He tore his mouth away from hers, drawing a whimper from her swollen
lips. That made him smile. He didn’t drift far, pressing kisses
along her jawbone and her cheek. She wound her hands into his hair.
Her fingertips danced along his scalp as he licked a path down the
curve of her throat. He lapped at the silky skin he found there,
savoring the taste and feel of her. She was so damn soft. He traced a
path up the line of her neck until he reached her ear. This was so
right he couldn’t help but sigh her name.

“Meredith....”

“Meredith….”

He groaned the name right in her ear. Laura froze the instant the
word penetrated the fog of sensation clouding her brain. A cold
breeze swept through her, replacing the heat of passion with a chill
that went to the bone.