Authors: Elle James
Chance appeared from around the side of the house. “Ready?”
She nodded and headed for his SUV, the ugly red paint an angry reminder of the continued assault on her house and person.
When she reached for the door handle, Chance swept her hand aside and opened the door for her.
“Thank you.” Jillian slipped into the seat and her gaze followed Chance around to the driver's side. Her heart thumped against her ribs. He was gorgeous, muscled, a gentleman and basically everything she could dream of in a man. The woman who finally tamed his nightmares would be lucky to have him in her life. Jillian wished it could be her.
Chance slid behind the wheel and started the vehicle.
“Did you find anything noteworthy?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Nothing. I searched the perimeter a hundred yards out. Nothing stood out. If there's an unmarked grave, it blended with the landscape.”
Jillian's heart fluttered. “You think there's someone buried out here and that's why I'm being chased away?”
He tossed her a crooked smile. “I can't think of any other reason for someone to want the owner of a house to leave.”
A chill rippled across her skin. “Maybe we've been focusing too much on Julia Thompson and we should have been asking about unsolved murders.”
“I was thinking the same. While you're working, I think I'll pay a visit to Chief Taggart and the local library and look for any murder cases in the past seventeen years the house has sat empty.”
“I'd help, but I have a couple of showings this morning and some new listings to post to MLS. My afternoon is completely devoted to Molly and the wedding.” She shook her head. “I don't want any of what's happening to me to detract from Molly and Nova's big day.”
“Got it. Just promise you'll call me when you're ready to go back to the house.”
Jillian nodded, her mind on the tasks filling her day, pushing aside the troubles she'd encountered since starting the renovations on her house. One thing she couldn't push out of her thoughts was the man sitting beside her. Maybe once he was out of sight, he'd be out of her mind, as well.
Ha. That's not going to happen.
Chapter 18
A
fter giving Jillian his cell phone number and strict instructions on contacting him or the police immediately if she thought she was in danger, Chance dropped her at her office. He wasn't comfortable with the idea of her showing houses. After she explained that she knew the customers personally and would be meeting them at her office and leaving from there in her clients' vehicles, he was more willing to let her handle it on her own.
Jillian hated being on guard all of the time. She leaned back into vehicle one last time before he left. “I hope you find something in your digging today.” She smiled. “As long as it's not a body in my backyard.”
His grim expression didn't leave her feeling better about the day. All morning she worked, trying to catch up after taking the previous day off to chase after the ghost of Julia Thompson, who might not even be dead.
Two showings and setting up the listings on the Multiple Listing Service took up all of her morning. Jillian was just posting the last house to the website when Molly sailed through the door.
“Hey, sweetie, wrap it up. You and I have a lunch date.” Molly was all smiles, her cheerful attitude just what Jillian needed.
Jillian stood and gave her friend a hug. “I'm done.” She grabbed her purse and jacket and followed Molly to the door. “Seaside Café?”
“Since we have to drive into Portland for the final fitting, I thought we'd eat lunch there. It gives us a few more choices than here in Cape Churn. That's if you can wait that long to eat?”
“I can wait,” Jillian said, although the breakfast bar she'd had earlier had long since worn off. The drive to Portland would give her time to go over all the preparations for the upcoming wedding, nailing down the last-minute details. She slid into Molly's SUV and buckled her seat belt.
Molly got in and started the car. “When will your car be fixed?”
“I need to call the adjuster and see what the damage is. Thanks for the reminder.” Jillian called and got the adjuster's voice mail. She left a message and settled back in the SUV, prepared to enjoy the rest of the day with her friend. “Are you ready for the wedding?”
Molly laughed. “I'm ready for it to be
over
so we can enjoy our honeymoon in Hawaii, far away from all the chaos of the wedding.” She gave Jillian a sad kind of smile. “As soon as we get back from our honeymoon, Nova has to go back to work. It's been nice having him here these past few weeks. I'll miss him when he's away.”
“How do you feel about him going out on dangerous missions?” Jillian asked. “Won't you worry?”
“Hell, yes.” Molly's fingers tightened on the steering wheel. “I'll worry about him every time he goes away.”
“And you're okay with that?”
“It's his job. What he loves to do. I wouldn't take that from him. Besides, it'll make his homecomings that much more intense.” Molly's eyes narrowed. “Why do you ask? Are you thinking of snagging a secret agent for yourself?”
Jillian's cheeks heated. “No, of course not.”
Molly's foot left the accelerator. “Oh, my God! You're falling in love with the best man, aren't you?”
“I don't know.” Jillian looked away, afraid Molly would see in her face something she wasn't ready to admit to anyone, even herself. “We've only known each other a few days.”
“A few
intense
days. That's all it took with Nova and me. He's more than I could ever have hoped for in a soul mate.”
Soul mate. Jillian chewed on that phrase. Was that what she was feeling? Chance was the kind of man she could spend the rest of her life loving, if she let herself. And if
he
let her.
“So what's wrong?” Molly demanded.
Jillian's head jerked back to her friend. “Nothing.”
“You have that look like someone just kicked your kittens.” Molly grinned. “And for the record, Jack and Jill are fine. Nova is quite good with animals and keeps them entertained when I need to get work done.”
“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have dumped them on you. I can take them home with me tonight.”
“You will not. Those kittens have been a godsend. They keep Nova out of my hair for long stretches at a time. And now that his family is here, they are helping entertain them, as well.”
“How's that going?”
Molly laughed. “I love his family, but after being just me and Gabe for so long, all the family time is a bit overwhelming. That's why I was so looking forward to this trip to Portland. I can escape for a few hours. Just you and me. Now, tell me what's wrong between you and Nova's hunky best man.”
Jillian took a deep breath and then admitted, “You're right. I'm attracted to Chance.”
Molly took her hands off the wheel long enough to clap. “I'm so happy for you.”
“Well, don't be.” She reached out to steady the steering wheel.
Resuming her control of the vehicle, Molly asked, “Why?”
“Chance doesn't want a relationship.”
“Is he already committed to someone else?”
“I don't think so.”
“Then he only needs to be shown that he really does want to be in a relationship. With you.”
Jillian shook her head. “He's serious.”
“There's no way any right-minded man could pass on a dish like you, Jill. You're stunningly gorgeous, smart and independent. Just the kind of woman a secret agent needs in his life.”
“Apparently not.”
“Then there's something wrong with Chance, if he doesn't like you.”
Jillian smiled. “Oh, he admitted to liking me.”
“Then what's the big deal?”
“He's afraid of sleeping with me. Afraid he'll hurt me in one of his violent nightmares.”
“Oh.” Molly stared ahead for a while. “PTSD can be pretty bad in some veterans. Nova says that being on guard at all times, as well as being shot at and bombed, screws with your head.”
“I told him I was willing to risk it. But he's not.”
“Well, damn. I thought for a moment there we might have a double wedding.”
“Molly! Chance and I barely know each other.” Jillian's heart beat faster at an unbidden image of two brides walking down the aisle to their grooms.
“Again, it didn't take long for me to know Nova was the one for me.”
“It doesn't matter. When the wedding's over, Chance will be on his way back to Virginia. That's on the opposite side of the continent. It's not like we'd see each other.”
“I'm sorry,” Molly said, her happy smile sliding off her face.
“Enough about me. This is your week and your wedding. I refuse to be morose when my very best friend is about to marry the love of her life.” Jillian squared her shoulders and forced a smile on her face.
The rest of the way to Portland and during their lunch, Jillian and Molly talked through the final planning for the rehearsal dinner, the wedding and the reception.
The fitting went well, the dress perfectly shaped to Molly's gorgeous figure. Jillian cried when she came out of the dressing room wearing the beautiful mermaid dress with the sweetheart neckline.
“Good grief, Jillian.” Molly laughed. “Are you going to cry at the wedding, too?”
Pressing a tissue to her nose, Jillian nodded. “Damn right I am. Don't worry, I'll tuck tissues into my bra so that I don't drip on anything important.” She winked and helped Molly out of the dress. The attendant packaged the beautiful gown and they were on their way back to Cape Churn before sunset.
Jillian was tired but happy for her friend. Molly, so intent on getting home, forgot to stop in Cape Churn to drop Jillian off with Chance, bypassing the turnoff to Main Street and heading straight for the road leading to Jillian's house.
Jillian texted Chance, letting him know she would be at her house and that she would be fine. He could take his time, or not come at all. She sent the text before she could change her mind, hoping he would ignore her silent offer to stay away, if he wanted. The thought of sleeping alone in her house made her insides quake. With a nutcase running around trying to scare her with ghost sightings, car crashes and the sabotaged railing, Jillian wasn't confident in her ability to sleep through the night.
As Molly pulled up in front of the old house, she frowned. “We can just wait in the car until Chance gets here.” She shifted into Park.
Before she could shut off the engine, Jillian covered her hand. “I'll be fine for the few minutes he's not here. You need to get back to the B and B. Your houseguests will be expecting you back by now.”
“My mother and sisters-in-law are taking care of dinner. I'm actually looking forward to it. They're cooking a traditional Mexican dinner complete with homemade tamales. Nova's mother promised she'd share the recipe.”
“Your guests love everything you cook.” Jillian gathered her purse and opened the door the SUV. “If it makes you feel better, the construction crew is here if I need anything.”
Molly glanced at the clock on the dash. “If you're sure. I would like to get back and hang the dress before it gets any more wrinkled.”
Jillian leaned across the console and hugged her friend. “I'll see you tomorrow when they deliver the chairs for the ceremony.”
“Okay.” Molly stayed where she was until Jillian entered the house. Then she turned around and left.
Jillian found Bob in the kitchen, inspecting the floors that had been sanded and cleaned.
“We're just about done for the day. The cabinets will be here in two days. Countertops, sink and appliances will be here next week.”
“Really?” Jillian grinned. “I didn't expect them to come that soon. That's wonderful.”
“We're cleaning up some of the mess, then we'll be heading out. Is there anything you need?”
For Chance to get here before you leave.
“No. Thank you for everything.”
“Our pleasure. It's nice to see old places like this get a makeover. It has good bones.” Bob patted the wall beside him. “Just needs a little TLC.”
“Do you think it's haunted?” Jillian asked.
Bob's brows puckered. “Excuse my French, but hell, no. I don't believe in ghosts.”
“Me either.” Although she'd thought she'd seen one last night. Based on Chance's scouting, she'd been correctedâsomeone driving a vehicle had pretended to be a ghost to scare her.
“We'll be back early in the morning.” Bob tipped his ball cap. “Good night, Miss Taylor.”
The men piled into the crew cab truck and Bob started the truck, backed up and turned around.
“Hey, wait. Aren't you missing someone?” Jillian waved to Bob. “Where's Daryl?”
Bob poked his head out the truck window. “He's out back stacking lumber. I didn't think he'd be working today since he wasn't at the café, but his mother brought him by around ten this morning. Mrs. Sims will be by to pick him up today.” With that explanation, Bob and his crew left.
Jillian walked around the porch to the back of the house.
“Hi, Miss Taylor,” Daryl said, continuing to work. “I'll only be a little longer.”
“Thank you, Daryl. If you need anything, I'll be in the house. Just yell.”
“I will.” He continued to sort and stack boards and pieces as Jillian went back into the house. She opened the box the deliveryman had left and was happy to see the dresser she'd ordered online. Unfortunately, it needed assembly. With nothing else to do but kill time until Chance showed up, she changed into jeans, a sweatshirt and tennis shoes, found her toolbox, took out the instructions, and started reading through them. As she tore open a package of nuts and bolts, the bag came apart faster than she expected, scattering the items over the floor. Jillian scooped them up and was stuffing them into her front pocket when she heard a knock on the front door.
Thinking it was either Daryl or Chance, Jillian jerked the door open.
“Hello, Miss Taylor.” Mrs. Sims stood in the doorway, wearing old jeans, a flannel shirt and a heavy coat.
“Good evening, Mrs. Sims. Daryl's out back, stacking lumber. Come in while I get him.” Jillian stood back and waved the woman into the house.
She remained standing on the porch. “I can go around on the porch. No need to track my dirty feet through your home.” The woman looked past Jillian. “Are you alone?”
Jillian smiled. “Only for a little while.”
Mrs. Sims tilted her head. “Has anyone ever told you that you look like the woman who used to live here?”
“Really?” Jillian shook her head. “Are you talking about Sarah Thompson?”
“Yes. She was about your height and had blond hair.”
“I have one more thing in common with her.”
“What's that?”
“We both love this house.” Jillian glanced around. “I felt like I was at home the moment I stepped through the door.”
Mrs. Sims eyes narrowed, and she stared at Jillian for a long time. “Where did you say home was?” she asked.
“Here, now.” Jillian drew in a deep breath. “I came here for a short vacation a couple years ago and felt like I knew this town, like it was the home I never found in Portland.” She laughed, a little self-conscious at revealing so much about her decision to stay in Cape Churn to Mrs. Sims. “Anyway, I'm here now and hope to make new memories in this house.”
“Do you have family back in Portland?”
“My mother and stepfather died in a small airplane crash the year before I found Cape Churn. I have no siblings and nothing to take me back to Portland. This is home.”
“You sure you want live here? Some say the place is haunted by that little girl who disappeared.”
“I don't believe in ghosts, Mrs. Sims. And the little girl was found. She didn't die in this house. But I am concerned that that person who took her was never captured and put away.”