Carol Ericson - Circumstantial Memories

Julia’s mouth went dry. Why was Duke wearing sunglasses at sunset? She shook her head as Duke’s knock resounded through the house. You’re being paranoid.

She unlocked the door, edging around Duke’s bulky frame to look for Ryder. Still not back.

“Hey, Julia. So you saw Charlie Malone at your window?”

“Yeah, at that one to the left.” She jerked her thumb in the direction of the window.

Duke tramped through her grass and her flower bed with his cowboy boots to inspect the window. He returned to the porch and lifted a shoulder. “From the flattened flowers it looks like someone was there.”

Julia rolled her eyes. “You mean the flowers were trampled before you trampled them?”

“Yeah.” His eyes widened at her tone.

Nobody in Silverhill expected Julia Stoker to fight back, but she was Julia Rousseau now and she didn’t take crap from anyone.

“I’ll dust the window ledge for prints.”

“You don’t need to do that. I told you it was Charlie at that window.”

“Are you going to let me in?” Duke gestured toward the entrance she’d been blocking with her body. She glanced toward the street once more before swinging the door open.

Duke stepped across the threshold and glanced around the room. “The 911 call said someone went after Charlie.”

“Ryder. He’s still out there looking for him.”

“Did Ryder see Charlie at the window, too?” Duke’s gaze tracked across the living room and stumbled on her ripped panties hanging off the edge of the coffee table.

A wave of heat surged from her chest to her cheeks. “N-no.”

“Too busy, huh?” His eyes shifted to Ryder’s T-shirt crumpled into a ball and stuck in the cushion of the couch, before lingering on her panties. “Maybe it wasn’t Charlie at all. Maybe it was just a garden-variety Peeping Tom enjoying the show.”

“You pig.”

Duke smirked. “No wonder you have stalkers after you.”

The titillation lighting his eyes turned her stomach and she clenched her hands into fists.

The half-open front door crashed against the wall, and they both jumped. In two long strides, Ryder ate up the distance between him and Duke and grabbed him by the throat.

Duke’s eyes popped out of their sockets as Ryder drew his fist back, the corded muscles of his arm visible and lethal. Duke choked out, “You can’t assault a sheriff’s deputy.”

“Get the hell out of here.” Ryder shoved him, and Duke stumbled backward. “I’m filing a complaint with your department.”

Duke’s chubby cheeks reddened. “I didn’t mean anything, Ryder.”

“Get out.”

When he reached the door, Duke threw a glance over his shoulder. “Did you find Charlie?”

Ryder crossed his arms over his chest, his legs in a wide stance, his lips a thin line. His taut, hard muscles signaled danger and Duke scurried out the front door without waiting for an answer.

Ryder swung toward Julia and cupped her face in his rough hands. “Are you all right?”

She snorted. “Did you think I was going to let that horse’s ass stand there and say those things to me without letting him have it?”

She’d been ready to lay into Duke herself, but Ryder’s protection sure felt good…and it totally turned her on. Not that she needed any more stimuli from Ryder to get her hot. Just feasting her eyes on the man’s bare torso with the planes of muscle across his chest and the tight six-pack abs was enough to send her into a swoon. It didn’t help that he’d never gotten around to fastening the top button of his jeans, which hung precariously low on his hips.

“I knew you wouldn’t accept that treatment from Duke or anyone else.” He kissed her lips. “I was just trying to protect Duke from your wrath.”

Skimming her hands down his back, she kissed him and then shot a sideways glance at the window, still uncovered. “I take it you didn’t find Charlie?”

“No, I didn’t. I wonder if his mother’s hiding him somewhere.”

“I don’t think Gracie would hide a killer, especially someone who killed Zack Ballard, even Charlie.”

“Maybe the stalking and the murders are unrelated.” He hooked an arm around her shoulders. “Maybe Charlie really did murder Zack in a jealous rage over Rosie and then murdered Rosie because he thought she was meeting me as a lover.”

“And the phone call to me from Zack’s phone and Dr. Brody’s card in Rosie’s possession were just coincidences? I think they’re all linked.”

He shrugged. “I think you and Shelby need to get out of town, whether that’s Paris or…somewhere else. Now let’s get this place closed up and head back to the ranch.”

His hand slid to her bottom and his warmth connected with her skin through the thin material of her skirt, curling her toes and weakening her knees. God help her, she wanted him again.

Even with the fear and uncertainty folding around her like a heavy cape, she wanted him again.

HE DIDN’T DESERVE a family. He specialized in breaking up families. If he’d kept his mouth shut about seeing his father with Pam all those years ago, his mother would’ve stayed. She knew about her husband’s philandering, but confronted with it in front of her family, she had to save face and walk out. But she didn’t just walk out on her husband, she walked out on her family. Ryder did that.

And what about Julia’s marriage to Jeremy?

He’d torpedoed that, too. When he first met her and felt that strong attraction rock him to his core, he should’ve bowed out. He should’ve left Paris. Instead he hung around and stoked the embers of their passion. Maybe Julia and Jeremy could’ve stayed together and worked through their problems. Maybe Jeremy never would’ve turned traitor.

Julia’s desire for Ryder put her in harm’s way. She’d gone to Tucson to protect him. He didn’t deserve a family.

Ryder buried his fingers in his hair. If he walked out now, took that next assignment, he could escape the weight of responsibility of keeping a family together. He could take the easy way out.

He grabbed the phone and tapped it against his forehead.

“Is that a new way to make a call?” Rafe ambled into the room, peeling an orange.

The spray from the orange peel arced up and sprinkled the edge of Rod’s spotless desk.

Dropping the phone, Ryder tilted his chin at the film of moisture on the shiny wood. “He’s gonna kill you.”

“He’ll never know.” Rafe ran his palm across the orange juice, smearing it into a sticky circle.

“Yeah, right. Any news on Charlie?”

“Still missing. You didn’t mention a car two nights ago at Julia’s. If he got away on foot, he can’t be far.”

“Anyone check the caves at The Twirling Ballerinas?”

“I took a quick look, but we don’t have the manpower for that. There’s no clear evidence linking Charlie to Rosie’s murder or Zack’s. We just want him for questioning.”

“If I can keep Julia under lock and key for another week and a half, she’ll be home free.”

“Why a week and a half?” Rafe popped an orange wedge in his mouth.

“She and Shelby are going to Paris.”

Rafe swallowed and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “She is?”

“Her mother invited her. I think it’s good for her to get away. Maybe this maniac, whether it’s Charlie or not, will fixate on someone else and you guys can catch him before Julia returns. If Julia returns.”

“You’re letting Julia get away? What about Shelby?”

“You’re leaving your family?” Rod’s low voice from the door startled both of his brothers. Ryder slid his feet from Rod’s desk and Rafe hid the orange behind his back.

“I have another assignment.” Ryder stiffened his back.