Black Creek Burning (The Black Creek Series, Book 1) (36 page)

Brie stood at the end of the upstairs hallway around the corner and out of sight.
She leaned her back against the wall, staring mindlessly while tears fell uncontrollably
over her face. There was a part of her that was scared to accept the idea that this
could be over. If it was a mistake, the devastation would be too much to bear. She
sunk slowly to the floor as her mind raced through images of Sandy in prison. Living
in her parents' house without fear of running the dogs or simply answering the phone.
She thought of Nathan and what this meant for them. The relief of wondering if the
one of the boys would ever be in any kind of danger.

He came back to her as she sobbed quietly on his floor. He slid down the wall next
to her and silently wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She curled up like a child
and melted into him. He held her until she cried herself out.

* * *

Early morning sunlight slanted through Nathan's bedroom window, waking Brie. His fisted
hand rested in the middle of her chest as he breathed deeply. The moment felt unreal.

They'd said Sandy was in custody, ranting, raving and denying everything. Her fingerprints
were on a lighter found in the char from the field. Her shoes had pieces of wildflowers
and grasses stuck in the treads.

Slipping her foot between the calves of Nathan's legs, she wrapped her hand around
his and tried to pull him closer. She lay there for a very long time trying to file
away the past seven years and look ahead to her future. She had friends and family
that were there for her and loved her. And she had Nathan and his family. She took
a cleansing breath, climbed out of bed and put her robe on over her pajamas. She snapped
her fingers quietly at the sleeping dogs on the floor. They followed her downstairs,
and she let them out the kitchen doors before she ground coffee beans.

As the coffee brewed, she dressed and went for the first run with the dogs since her
attack. The morning was warm and humid and perfect. She probably went farther than
she should have on her first trial run, but her legs yearned for the action, so she
took an extra winding path and even dipped through her cul-de-sac.

Macey was confused when they passed their house without stopping but ran obediently
at her left side. She cruised past the Melbournes' just as the front door opened.
She went to raise a hand in greeting to Lucy, who was in her pajamas getting her morning
paper, when she noticed Clifford standing behind her. Almost tripping over her feet,
she tried to pretend like she hadn't seen them and ran on, laughing hysterically to
herself.

She could faintly smell bacon and coffee when she returned. She stood for a few moments
taking in the hint of lost scents and watching her lover as he leaned against his
granite kitchen counter in his sexy boxers with his steaming mug in one hand and paper
in the other.

"I'm going to get use out of your whirlpool this morning." She stuck a piece of bacon
between her teeth as she poured a cup.

They didn't speak of Sandy or the fire as they made love in the bubbling water. Nathan
knew there would be time and need for that soon enough. Instead, they went for a walk
through the dewy grass and discussed his plans for the porch. He would put the boys
to work gathering stones from the creek to use in the base of the posts. Sentimental
pieces.

But when they wandered around to the back, the smell of wet soot and the sea of black
on Brie's side of the creek were too much to ignore.

"Nature feeds on fire," she said. "It's a biological process. Many plants will thrive
from the ashes. Some won't come back."

They looked over the lake and the creek. There were two Great Blue Herons walking
stealthily through the reeds of grasses. He walked with her along to the end of his
property. Brie stopped in front of the pond. "Told you."

He stood by one of the new white oak trees and looked over to see what she was talking
about.

She bent down and gingerly picked up something small. "See? Frogs." She set it back
by the pond and stood up as he pulled her into him.

He took her face in his hands. "Marry me, Brianna."

Chapter 31

Brie's face contorted into a bumbled and confused mess. Nathan thought it odd that
with all her brains and education, all she mustered was, "Huh?"

One side of his mouth lifted as he gripped the sides of her face. "Baby, I want you
to be mine. I want you forever. Marry me."

"Jeez." She pushed away from him, using his chest for purchase. "Are you crazy?" She
started to pace in a short path back and forth in front of him.

The side of his mouth lifted a little farther, and he leaned back against the oak,
sticking his thumbs in his front pockets. He loved watching her think.

Brie pressed the palms of her hands on her temples and paced in the grass. "Why would
you do this? Everything is perfect." Her hands moved to the backs of her hips. "I
can't breathe."

Nathan decided to kick back and crossed a leg over his ankle while she cycled through
this.

"Nathan, I don't do relationships well. Have you been listening? Marriage? What about
the houses? Have you thought about the houses? What about the kids? Have you thought
about Duncan and Andy?"

"Yup."

She stopped and looked at him. Her face softened.

He knew the look in her eyes, knew everything about her. He stepped one foot back
as an anchor. She ran at him and flew into his arms, wrapping her legs around him,
and showered his face with kisses.

"I'll do it. Oh, my gosh, I'll do it." She held onto him. "How did I ever find someone
so perfect for me? What can I ever possibly give you that you don't already have?"

He slid her to the ground and took her face in his hands. "A little girl."

* * *

"Our anniversary is coming up, Brianna."

A figure stood in the shadows between the houses, snapping high-speed photos. "I guess
that will make seven of them now."

She took a close-up of Brie wrapping her leg around Nathan's calf. "Don't the lovebirds
look so sweet? Do you have no frigging modesty?" She clenched her fingernails into
the palms of her hands as the camera hung from her neck.

"Of course you don't. You're a slut. A bitch. A backstabbing thief. You'll pay dearly.
You'll pay with what is closest to you." She tilted her head with her eyes half open.
"Do you really think I would be so stupid? So sloppy as to set that amateur gas-can
fire? I have my own little professional at the snap of my fingers."

She clicked a few more shots before slinking away down the street.

* * *

Nathan sat in Dave's office for a celebration, except he didn't feel much like celebrating.
He listened as Dave cheered.

"
She's
the victim.
She's
lost her job.
She's
been innocently out looking for employment.
She's
been set up. Yada, yada, yada." Dave took a drink of hot coffee. "She's 'fessed up
to the brush fire and to Brie's tires, even said she got in the garage through an
unlocked door that she carefully locked before she left. It's only a matter of time
before we get the rest out of her. We're taking it slow. Everything by the books.
No mishaps. She'll go away for a very long time."

Nathan nodded. "Yeah, you're right."

"Then why don't you look as excited as I'm thinking you should be?"

"I am. Brie's so different. She seems... lighter somehow." He ran his fingers through
his hair. "It just seems off."

"Oh, no, you don't. Where is this coming from, man?" Dave leaned forward and placed
his elbows on his desk. "Nearly seven years of this shit. Be happy."

Nathan took a deep breath. "But how do you go from an evidence-clean arson to a shoddy
brush fire set downwind of Brie's house? With a fingerprinted lighter left at the
scene?" He shook his head side to side. "Shit. It's just me. That's not really why
I'm here anyway."

"How so?"

"I want to know where you got Amanda's ring."

"No kidding? I'll be damned." Dave rubbed his plate-sized hands over yesterday's shave.
"Congratulations, man. Mincemoyer's. I'll get the address."

"No, shit? I know where it is."

* * *

Nathan and Brie drove to Rochester for the afternoon. They ate salmon steaks with
Chardonnay at a sidewalk café before stopping at the jewelers.

"You're quiet. Are you nervous?" He pulled up to the jeweler's to drop Brie off at
the door.

"Just a little. I'm a pick-out-an-engagement-ring virgin. You don't need to drop me
off. I'd rather walk."

He put the Saab back into gear and parked away from the door. "We could go into the
city if this doesn't work out."

"All right." She pulled on her ear and smiled warmly.

"Mr. Reed, we've been expecting you." The man in black slacks and crisp, white shirt
held the door for the two of them. "I'll take you to the back room. Mr. Mincemoyer
would like to assist you himself." The man turned to Brie. "And this must be the lovely
Brianna." He took her hand and kissed the back of it. "Such a pleasure to meet you.
Please, follow me."

Now she was nervous. They sat in ridiculously ordained, velvet chairs at a table covered
in glass. They didn't wait long for the owner.

"No, no. Please don't get up." Mr. Mincemoyer gestured to her. "How are you, Nathan,
my boy?" She lifted her brows at their embrace. "When will we see that project of
yours? You've gotten my furniture requests, have you? Are the offers up to your standards?"

"I'm not sure about a showing, George. And are you going to charge me more if I tell
you I'm still not in business?"

They laughed like old cigar-smoking friends before turning to her.

"So this is her. What price range are we talking, son?" he asked as he pulled out
some boxes from under the table.

Brie looked over at Nathan with wide, puzzled eyes.

He took her hands and kissed her knuckles as he shrugged his shoulder at George. "Sky's
the limit."

She leaned over to Nathan and whispered, "What if I don't really want the sky?"

"I figured," he said.

She turned to Mr. Mincemoyer, or George, not knowing how to address him. "Sir, I'd
really like something I can wear. Actually, all the time."

Nathan saved her. "She works with her hands. I suppose a raised solitaire wouldn't
work. Yes?" He looked over at her.

She nodded, relieved.

"She teaches first grade and owns her own landscaping business. What do you recommend?"

"An entrepreneur. A woman of my own heart."

George drew his hands dramatically to his heart before dipping back under the table.
He pulled out an assortment of sparkling ring sets with imbedded diamonds. She sat
patiently and listened as the jeweler explained golds and platinums, clarity and color.
But, her eyes locked almost immediately on one toward the side.

Nathan followed her gaze and nodded his head to his friend.

She slipped on a slightly raised round diamond circled with smaller ones encased in
a band of white gold. It fit. She couldn't remember the last time words had escaped
her. She decided the jeweler must have thought she was a little slow.

"That's an exquisite choice. Nearly FI with a shallow cut that should meet your needs.
What else can I get out for you today, Miss Brianna?"

She glanced over at Nathan once more.

He lifted one corner of his mouth. "George, I think we're done here."

"Well, my boy, you are an easy customer. Shall I wrap that up for you?"

She spoke up this time. "That won't be necessary. Thank you. I'd like to wear it if
that's okay with you. It doesn't seem to need to be sized."

"Of course, my dear. It looks beautiful on you." George turned to Nathan waving his
hand at his wallet. "Just put this toward my sleigh bed."

"That's bartering, George." Nathan smiled.

"That's bartering plus bribery, boy. I'm in no hurry." George held out a hand. "You
come back any time, and I expect an invitation to a showing soon." He winked at her
and led them out.