Witness (20 page)

“Stay put.”

She nodded. He made his way to the outer office where he found the staff in hiding. The front of the office wall consisted of a line of long windows, all of which had been destroyed by a barrage of bullets.

Annie Laurie looked up from beneath her desk, her eyes wide with fright. “Ashe? Oh, my God, what happened?”

“Everyone stay put,” Ashe said.

Cracking his office door a fraction, Neil Posey peered outside. “Is everyone all right?” he asked. “Is Annie Laurie okay? Was Deborah hurt?”

“As far as I know the only damage is to the windows,” Ashe said as he made his way to the bullet-riddled front door. He walked out onto the sidewalk. People were staring at him and at the Vaughn & Posey building. In the distance he heard a police siren and knew, the police station being only a few blocks away, the authorities would arrive at any moment. Returning inside, he made his way toward Deborah's office.

“It's all right,” Ashe said. “Whoever did all this damage is long gone.”

One by one the staff of Vaughn & Posey emerged from under their desks.

Neil opened his office door. “Annie Laurie, are you sure you're all right?”

“I'm fine, Mr. Posey. Just scared to death.”

Ashe found Deborah still sitting in the corner behind the filing cabinets. She stared up at him, her eyes dry, her face pale.

“It's okay, honey.” Reaching down, he lifted her to her feet. She shook uncontrollably. “Deborah?”

She clung to him, her trembling growing worse. “Was anyone hurt?”

“Everybody's fine. Nothing's hurt but the building.”

“I can't let the people who work for me be at risk because of me.”

Ashe stroked her back, trying to soothe her. “You can't blame yourself for this.”

“Yes, I can. And I do. I'm Buck Stansell's target. If I hadn't been here at the office, then he wouldn't have sent someone
here
to shoot up the place.”

“Don't start blaming yourself for something that isn't your fault.” Dammit, she was shaking like a leaf. He wasn't getting through to her.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her soundly. She glared at him, then nodded her head. Ashe pulled her back into his arms, and that's how the police chief found them.

“Deborah, Chief Burton is here,” Annie Laurie called out from the doorway.

Deborah turned in Ashe's arms, but made no move away from him. He kept his arms tightly around her.

“They sure as hell made a mess of things,” Chief Burton said. “A couple of witnesses across the street said they saw one man drive by real slow, coming to a stop right out front before he pulled out what they thought looked like some sort of automatic weapon. Of course, they can't identify the weapon. Said it happened too fast. He was driving a new Chevy.”

“The car was probably stolen,” Ashe said.

“Could've been. Anyway, I just wanted to ask if either of you saw anything that could help us.”

“No,” Ashe said. “We didn't see anything.”

“Nobody in the office seemed to have seen a thing. Just heard the shooting.” The police chief looked directly at Deborah. “Ms. Vaughn, you might want to think about staying at home for a few days, that is, unless you plan on closing down the business.”

“No, I do not plan on closing Vaughn & Posey.” She stiffened her spine. Sliding his hand up and around, Ashe caressed her back, then placed his arm around her shoulders. “However, I will consider staying at home. I don't want to put my employees' lives at risk.”

“I'm taking Ms. Vaughn home, now,” Ashe said. “If you need to question us further, you'll know where to find us.”

“Fine,” Chief Burton said. “I don't think we'll need either of you any more today.”

“I need to make arrangements to have the building cleaned
and repair work started immediately.” Deborah allowed Ashe to lead her across the shattered glass and splintered wood covering the outer office floor.

She stopped at Annie Laurie's desk; the two women hugged each other. Deborah turned to face her employees. “I'm sorry this had to happen. I'm so relieved no one was injured.” She glanced over at Neil, whose normally pink face was a pale gray. “Let everyone go home for the rest of the day. I'll have someone come in and clean up. Rearrange things so work can continue tomorrow. Make use of my office. I'll be working at home. Temporarily.”

“Certainly, Deborah. We'll carry on,” Neil said.

Ashe hurried her outside and into her car. “Just hang on, honey. I'll take you home.”

“I dread telling Mother, but I have no choice. You know someone may have already called her.”

“Miss Carol will handle this okay. She's a strong woman, just like her daughter.”

When they arrived at the Vaughn home, they found Mattie Trotter waiting on the front porch. The minute Deborah approached her, she opened her arms.

Going into Mattie's arms, Deborah sighed. “Oh, Mama Mattie, this has become a nightmare. I thought it was over, that the worst had been Huckleberry's poisoning.”

“It'll be all right,” Mattie said, glancing over Deborah's shoulder at Ashe. “Ashe isn't going to let anything happen to you.”

“Someone called already, didn't they?” Deborah asked. “Mother knows.”

“Miss Carol is fine. She's lying down in the library, taking a little nap.” Mattie winked at Deborah as she slipped her arm around her waist and led her inside. “I put a few drops of brandy in her tea.”

“Where's Mazie?” Deborah looked around in the hallway. “I
can't believe she's not out here foretelling the end of the world for us all.”

“I sent that silly woman to town on an errand,” Mattie said. “I had to get her out of the house. She was driving me crazy and upsetting Miss Carol. She should be gone a couple of hours. And Allen won't be home from school until after three.”

“Thanks.” Deborah swayed, her head spinning. Mama Mattie motioned to Ashe, who lifted Deborah in his arms.

“Put me down!”

“Take her on upstairs and tend to her.” Mattie pointed to the closed library door. “I'll go sit with Miss Carol and finish reading that new Grisham book. If we need y'all, I'll let you know.”

Ashe carried Deborah up the stairs and into her sitting room, but didn't put her down. With her arms around his neck, she stared into his eyes and knew he was going to kiss her. She didn't resist, indeed she welcomed the kiss, needing it desperately. Quick. Hard. And possessive. Deborah sighed.

He carried her over to the window bench and sat down, placing her in his lap. She laid her head on his shoulder.

“Do you want a drink?” he asked. She shook her head from side to side. “A bath?” Another negative shake. “A nap?”

“All I want is for you to hold me,” she said, clinging to him.

He hugged her fiercely. “Nobody was hurt.”

“This time. But what about the next time or the time after that? You can't guarantee me that some innocent person won't be harmed because of me.”

“Not because of you, honey! Dammit, why do you insist on blaming yourself?”

“Maybe I should go away. Far away. That way the people I love would be safe.”

“Not necessarily,” Ashe said. “Running away isn't the answer if Buck Stansell is out for revenge. If you leave town, he might target Miss Carol or Allen.”

“Oh, God, Ashe, Mother has enough to deal with already.” Deborah grasped the lapels of Ashe's jacket. “Promise me that you won't let anything happen to Allen.”

“I won't let anything happen to Allen.” He kissed her forehead, then smoothed the loose strands of her hair away from her face. “You love Allen a great deal, don't you?”

“He's the most important person in the world to me. I—I…He's just a little boy.”

Ashe caressed Deborah's face, cupping her cheek in his palm. “I'll take care of you and Allen. And Miss Carol.”

Gulping in air, Deborah looked at Ashe pleadingly. She needed him, needed his tender loving care, needed his strength, his power.

He stood with her in his arms and carried her into the bedroom, laying her on her bed. He came down over her, turning her to one side as he eased his body onto the bed. Facing her, he removed her jacket, then unbuttoned her blouse. Slowly, carefully, stroking and caressing her as he uncovered more and more of her body, Ashe undressed her completely.

She was a bundle of nerves, her emotions raw. She needed soothing, needed to forget, at least for a few hours, the nightmare her life had become. He hated the feeling of helplessness, knowing he hadn't been able to prevent the drive-by shooting at her office. But he could give her the reassurance and care she needed now. And soon, very soon, he would have to confront her enemy.

Ashe made love to her with his hands and mouth, whispering endearing words of comfort and admiration. Never before had he felt so totally possessive about a woman, wanting her and her alone in a way that bordered on obsession. How had this happened? When had Deborah become the focal point of his existence?

Every touch, every word was meant for her pleasure, but with each touch, each kiss, each heated word, he became lost in the fury of a passion over which he was fast losing control.

He caressed her breasts, loving the way her tight nipples felt beneath his fingertips, loving her hot little cries. He kissed her inner thighs. She sighed, squirming when his tongue turned inward for further exploration.

She moaned and writhed, her body straining for release as Ashe pleasured her, his lips and fingers masterful in their ministrations, bringing her to the very brink, then pausing, only to return her to that moment just before satisfaction.

She cried out, begging him not to prolong the agony, clinging to him, pleading for fulfillment. His words grew more erotic, more suggestive, as he carried her to the edge. With one final stroke of his tongue, he flung her into ecstasy.

Covering her mouth in a heated kiss, he devoured her cries of pleasure. Pulling her close, he reached down and lifted the hand-crocheted afghan and covered her. He lay there holding her while she dozed off to sleep and the noonday sun began its western descent.

His heart beat like a racing stallion. Sweat coated his body. He ached with the need for release. But this time had been for Deborah, not for him. She had needed the powerful fulfillment, and what Deborah needed was far more important to him than what he needed.

When Ashe had sent Buck Stansell a warning, declaring Deborah Vaughn his personal property, it had been a ruse. Now it was a fact. If he had to destroy Buck Stansell to keep Deborah safe, he'd do it. No one was going to harm his woman.

D
EBORAH SET UP
a temporary office in the library, moving in a computer and borrowing Annie Laurie for the first day. She would do whatever was necessary to protect her employees. That might mean staying away from Vaughn & Posey for a few weeks, but it also meant business as usual. Too many people depended upon the real estate firm for their livelihoods, including Deborah's family. She had no idea whether or not Whitney had any money left in her trust fund, but she doubted it. Not after nearly eleven years of marriage to George Jamison. That meant Whitney, too, depended upon revenue from Vaughn & Posey to keep her and her worthless husband from bankruptcy.

Ashe McLaughlin's return to Sheffield was a mixed blessing. He and Roarke guarded the family night and day. Anyone wanting to harm her or Allen or her mother would have to go through two highly trained professionals. But her personal relationship with Ashe had her confused and uncertain.

She could not deny that she was in love with him. Always had been. Always would be. But the lie about Allen stood between them as surely as Ashe's inability to make a commitment. If she knew Ashe loved her, if she knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, telling Ashe the truth about Allen would not be as difficult. But he hadn't said he loved her and certainly had made her no promises beyond defending her with his life.

“Where do these go?” Ashe stood in the doorway, a stack of file folders in his arms.

“What are those?” she asked.

“They're printouts of all your current files on your present listings.” Annie Laurie scurried past Ashe, dragging a swivel desk chair behind her.

Deborah smiled at Ashe; he returned her smile. She couldn't stop looking at him, couldn't stop remembering how it felt when they made love. She was as giddy and light-headed as a teenager in love for the first time. And the crazy thing was she honestly thought Ashe was acting the same way.

He looked incredible this afternoon, but then he always did. Tall, muscular and lean. Gray slacks. Navy blue jacket. Light blue shirt, worn unbuttoned and without a tie. She could see the top curls of dark hair above his open shirt.

They hadn't made love since yesterday and she ached to be with him.

Annie Laurie cleared her throat. “We could take a break. It's after one and we haven't stopped for lunch.”

“Good idea.” Ashe laid the file folders to the left of the computer atop the antique mahogany desk. “Why don't you two do whatever it is you need to do and I'll tell Mazie we're ready for some of her famous chili. I've been smelling the stuff for hours now.”

“Check on Mother, will you?” Deborah asked. “She's been busy all morning working on that cross-stitch piece she wants to finish before she goes in the hospital.”

“I'll see if she wants to join us for lunch or have something in her room,” Ashe said.

Deborah looked around the library and wondered if it would ever return to normal once she went back to Vaughn & Posey's downtown office. Together she and Annie Laurie had managed to keep everything fairly neat, but office clutter had certainly changed the charming old room's atmosphere.

Deborah fell into the huge, tufted leather chair behind the desk. Her father's desk. Her grandfather's desk.

“So, Neil finally came to his senses and asked you out.” Folding her arms behind her, Deborah placed her hands at the back of her head and stretched. “You'll need to leave here early enough to go home and change and—”

“It really isn't a date, Deborah. We're just having dinner and Neil is going to help me study. If I can't pass the test, I'll never become a Realtor. There is no need for me to leave early. Neil's picking me up here after work.”

“Neil could have helped you study without taking you out for dinner,” Deborah said. “My goodness, Annie Laurie, give the man a little encouragement. I think everyone, except Neil, knows how you feel about him.”

“I can hardly throw myself at Neil when he's in love with you.” Annie Laurie plopped herself down in the swivel chair she'd placed at the edge of the desk.

“Neil is not in love with me. It's just that he's had a sort of crush on me for years. I've made it perfectly clear that we can never be more than friends.”

“I guess none of us can help who we love, can we? I'm in love with Neil, he's in love with you and you're in love with Ashe.”

“I see you have this all figured out.” In Annie Laurie's version of their love lives, they were beginning to sound like a modern day Southern version of
A Midsummer Night's Dream.
“But if actions speak louder than words, as Mama Mattie says, then I'd say you're the woman Neil cares for the most. After all, I'm not the one he checked on first yesterday after the gunman's drive-by attack.”

“He couldn't have gotten to you without going through Ashe and Neil certainly would never try to confront Ashe.”

“I'm telling you that if you want Neil, you're going to have to let him know. And I mean in no uncertain terms. Seduce the man.”

Annie Laurie gasped. “Why Deborah Luellen Vaughn, what
sort of advice is that? Are you saying that if I sleep with Neil, he'll fall madly in love with me?”

“No. I'm saying he's already in love with you, but just doesn't know it. Besides, a man Neil's age isn't going to be seduced unless he wants to be. And I'm telling you, he's ready for you.”

“You and Ashe are having an affair, aren't you?” Annie Laurie kept her head bowed, but risked a quick glance in Deborah's direction. “I know it's none of my business, but you've been a good friend to me and I don't want to see you get hurt.”

Deborah sighed, then smacked her lips lightly. “Yes, Ashe and I are having an affair. And I know only too well that I could wind up getting hurt again. But I've been in love with him for as long as I can remember. I've never wanted anyone else.”

“I know exactly how you feel.”

“Then don't wait around. Go get what you want. Neil isn't going anywhere, and take my word for it, you're exactly what Neil needs and what he wants, whether he knows it or not.”

Ashe knocked on the doorpost, announcing his presence. “Chili is served in the kitchen. Coffee? Tea? Cola?”

“Tea,” Deborah said.

“I'll go wash up and help Mazie get everything on the table.” Annie Laurie stood. “Is Miss Carol joining us?”

“Yes, she said for me to come up and get her when we're ready to eat,” Ashe said.

“I'll bring her down after I help Mazie.” Annie Laurie rushed out of the library.

“What's wrong with her?” Ashe asked.

“I think my advice on her love life upset her.”

“What kind of advice did you give her?”

“I told her to seduce Neil.”

Ashe bellowed with laughter. “Good God, woman! I'd say you're sending two virgins into uncharted waters. How the hell will they know what to do?”

“I think they'll figure it out.” When Ashe walked around the desk, Deborah slipped her arms around his neck.

“Annie Laurie and Neil? How long has this been going on? I thought the guy had a thing for you.” Ashe pulled her up against him.

“He thinks he has a thing for me. But given the right encouragement, he'll realize Annie Laurie is the only woman for him.” Deborah nuzzled the side of Ashe's neck with her nose. “Besides, Annie Laurie's so in love with Neil she can't see straight. A man would have to be a complete fool to reject that kind of love.”

The moment she said the words, she wished them back. She tensed in Ashe's arms.

Taking her chin in one hand, he tilted her face. “It's all right, honey. I know you were talking about Neil, but the shoe certainly fit me once, too, didn't it?” He kissed her. Quick. Hard. Passionate. With his forehead resting on hers, he held her close. “I know what a fool I was eleven years ago. I didn't appreciate what I had. I was too young to know what I wanted or needed.”

And now? she wanted to ask. Did he know what he wanted and needed now? “We can't change the past. Either of us.”

“We aren't a couple of kids anymore, are we, Deborah? We can handle a love affair without either of us getting hurt this time.”

“Yes, of course, we can.” She nudged him with her hip. “I'm starving. Let's go eat.”

 

N
EIL ARRIVED AT
six-thirty, late and haggard, fuming about the workmen Deborah had hired to clear away the rubble from the office and fussing at the price their contractor was charging them to repair the damage.

Deborah tried to soothe his ruffled tail feathers, but he calmed very little, even after Deborah assured him their insurance would cover most of the costs.

She finally shooed Neil and Annie Laurie out of the house, suggesting the perfect restaurant for their dinner. When she and Ashe turned to close the front door, they realized Neil couldn't get his car started.

Getting out of his car, Neil walked back toward the house, leaving Annie Laurie waiting patiently in the car.

“I've been having trouble with the darn thing for weeks now, but haven't had time to take it in for a check-up.”

“Leave it here.” Deborah and Ashe met Neil on the porch steps. “Take my Caddy and you two go on for dinner. Keep it for the night. We'll call the garage in the morning and have them come get your car.”

“I couldn't possible take your Cadillac.”

“I insist. I'll go get the keys.”

When she turned to go inside, Ashe grabbed her by the wrist. “I've got the extra set of keys you gave me.” He pulled the keys out of his pocket and tossed them to Neil, who caught them, then almost dropped them from his shaky hand.

“I appreciate this,” Neil said. “I'll drive safely.”

Ashe and Deborah waved goodbye. Arm in arm, they returned inside to spend the evening with Allen, Miss Carol and Roarke, both of them counting the minutes until bedtime when they could meet at the pool house and make love.

Although the company was pleasant, Ashe wished the time would pass more quickly. He had wanted to drag Deborah off to some secluded spot all day. As the minutes ticked away, he grew more and more restless.

Deborah only partially heard most of what was said during and after dinner, her mind was so completely consumed with Ashe. All she could think about was being alone with him, loving and being loved.

There was no other man like Ashe—not for her. She had always been fascinated by him, even when she'd been a young girl. Indeed, she wondered if his years as a Green Beret hadn't
enhanced the very basic male drives that had been born a part of him.

They watched each other, their eyes speaking the words they dared not utter in the presence of others. Deborah had no idea a man could make love to a woman without touching her. Ashe McLaughlin could. And did.

She felt herself growing moist and hot, her body responding to his every glance. She checked her watch for the hundredth time, wishing her mother and Allen would go to bed early. Roarke had excused himself thirty minutes earlier to take a walk around the block as he did each night.

The phone call came three hours after dinner. Ashe took the call, saying very little, but Deborah immediately knew something was terribly wrong.

Ashe replaced the receiver, a solemn expression on his face. His gaze met Deborah's; terror seized her.

“What happened?” she asked.

“There's been an accident,” he said.

“What sort of accident?” Carol Vaughn glanced at Allen, who had stopped watching television and looked straight at Ashe.

“A car accident. Neil and Annie Laurie. They've been taken to the hospital in Florence.” Ashe's gut instincts told him the car wreck had been no accident. Neil had been driving Deborah's car.

“Oh, dear Lord, no!” Miss Carol clutched her hands together.

“They're both alive. That's all I know.” Ashe looked at Deborah. “I think we should go to the hospital immediately.”

“Yes, of course we should,” she said.

“I'll let Roarke know we're leaving.” He turned to Carol. “We'll go by and get Mama Mattie. Pray for them, Miss Carol. Pray for all of us.”

Carol nodded, then placed her arm around Allen's shoulders when he started after Ashe and Deborah. “Did somebody do
something to Deborah's car? Were they trying to hurt her?” Allen asked.

Ashe halted in the doorway. Deborah rushed over to Allen, pulling him into her arms.

“No, darling, of course not,” Deborah kissed Allen's cheek. “Please don't worry about me.”

“We don't know what happened,” Ashe said. “I'll talk to the police and find out. But Deborah's right. Don't worry about her. I'll take care of her.”

Allen hugged Deborah, then released her, waving goodbye as she and Ashe left.

 

N
O ONE,
not even Ashe McLaughlin, could make Neil Posey leave Annie Laurie's side, and the doctors allowed him to stay when he told them he was Annie Laurie's fiancé.

When Deborah, Ashe and Mattie Trotter had first arrived at the hospital, Neil had been incoherent, his eyes glazed with tears as he sat holding Annie Laurie's hand. Neil had suffered a few cuts and bruises, but nothing serious. Annie Laurie was unconscious. A concussion, they'd been told. If she came around soon, there should be nothing to worry about; however, if she remained unconscious…

Hour after hour passed without any change in Annie Laurie. Mattie Trotter dozed in the big chair in the corner of the room. Still holding Annie Laurie's hand in his, Neil had laid his head on the side of her bed.

Easing open the door, Ashe glanced around the room, saw his grandmother and Neil sleeping and Deborah looking out the window, watching the sunrise. He set the cardboard carton containing disposable coffee cups on the meal tray, removed the lids from two cups, picked them up and walked over to Deborah.