Kathleen Brooks - Secrets Collide

She squeezed her pillow and then screamed when it turned to her and sleepily smiled. “Good morning.”

Gemma leapt from the bed, kicking at the covers tangling up her feet. “Oh my God!” She panicked as she bounced from foot to foot breaking free of the sheets and moving to the end of the bed.

“Wow. You’re even more beautiful in the daylight. Better than I could've ever imagined. How did I get so lucky?”

Gemma felt Cy’s eyes traveling the length of her body and she looked down and automatically tried to cover her nakedness. “I . . . you . . . you were a dream,” Gemma stuttered as her eyes focused on his bare chest. His lap was still covered, but the top of a tattoo close to the bulge under the sheet caught her eye. What was that?

“I’m very real, sweetheart. Want me to prove it to you again? I’m more than happy to accommodate you.” Cy grinned and Gemma got that flip-flop feeling again. He was so handsome, so sexy when he showed his real self. He was playful but tender. Assertive but giving as she remembered her non-dream. He was everything she wanted and more . . . and completely unavailable.

“But you’re dating every Hollywood bimbo around,” Gemma moaned as she rolled her head up toward the ceiling in distress.

“And . . . you didn’t like me. I think last night proved we were both wrong. In fact, I think we’re pretty perfect together. I mean, that thing you did with your leg and then you moved—”

“I can’t believe I did that.” But Gemma’s worry disappeared and her mouth went dry as Cy pushed aside the sheet and patted the bed next to him. The tattoo was uncovered to reveal a family crest and a very excited Cy.

Gemma ran her eyes over his broad chest, ripped abs, and narrow waist. His legs were long and muscled. Scars marked his body here and there, but somehow they only made him more masculine. And that tattoo. She got hot just looking at it. It was small, maybe only five inches in the crease of his thigh across his pelvic bone. She was drawn to it.

“I love your tattoo. It fits you,” Gemma stepped forward and traced her fingers over the small red shield. A black lion was in the middle of the shield with a knight’s helmet on top. Plumes cascaded from the helmet around the top of the shield.

Cy patted the bed and the nagging doubt disappeared. “Want to get a closer look?”

“Well,” Gemma smiled as she dropped her arms to her side, “if you insist.”

* * *

Cy couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he clasped his hand around her smaller one. He absently rubbed his thumb over her knuckles as he felt more like his real self than he had in years. Being with her, laughing with her, it was like seeing the light at the end of the dark undercover tunnel he was trying to escape.

“If you think the muffins Miss Lily has been giving you were good, you’ll love the food at the café. You should try the biscuits and sausage gravy; they’re my favorite.” Cy felt a smile settle on his face as he looked down at her beautiful face. She wore no makeup and her hair was swept back into a sloppy ponytail. He didn’t think he’d seen anything so sexy before in his life.

“Sounds good,” Gemma smiled back.

Cy opened the door to the café and walked in behind her. The café went quiet and he felt Gemma stiffen.

“It’s like they all know we slept together,” Gemma whispered as she hesitantly smiled at the patrons.

“That’s because they do, sweetheart.” Cy placed a quick kiss on her forehead and the patrons groaned.

“Yee-haw.” Noodle jumped up and pumped his fist in the air.

“I take it you won the bet?” Cy asked, smiling. No wonder he missed this town.

“I sure did. Today was my day. I gotta call Emma. We’re upgrading to a suite for the honeymoon now.” Noodle pumped his fist in the air and reached for his phone.

“They bet on us?” Gemma hissed incredulously.

“They bet on everything.” Cy saw her shoot him a yeah, right look and decided to prove his point. “Miss Daisy, what’s the line on Dani and Mo’s baby?”

“Two to one that it’s a girl. August third is the leading due date. Want in?” Miss Daisy asked as she set down a plate of bacon and eggs at the closest table.

“No thanks, but I do think we’ll have two orders of biscuits and gravy.” Cy pulled out a chair at an empty table for Gemma as she sat.

Gemma tasted the food and felt happy. A fluffy biscuit was smothered in gravy. It was the perfect comfort food. The conversation in the café had resumed to a normal level and she was surprised how easily she and Cy talked. For once, Hollywood wasn't interrupting and she enjoyed hearing about all the residents of Keeneston.

“Cy Davies?” a tall woman with strawberry-blonde hair asked as she stopped by the table. Gemma almost threw down her fork in frustration. Hollywood just interrupted. Gemma didn’t know who she was, but she was striking even though she was wearing black cargo pants and a tight black scoop-neck shirt.

“Yes?” Cy was polite as he looked up into a face lightly sprinkled with freckles.

“Bridget Springer,” she said with a sweet voice that held nothing but authority in its tone.

Gemma was suddenly jealous. She wished she had the confidence Bridget did. She seemed so secure in who she was and maybe that was Gemma’s problem. She was suffering an identity crisis. She wasn’t happy with her job, just lost her sister, and had no idea what direction her life was going in.

“And I’m Gemma Perry,” Gemma said with a smile as she held out her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you both. Mr. Davies hired me to train Marko for the sheriff and I ended up staying here. And, from what I’ve heard, I’m the reason you’re at the bed-and-breakfast instead of Paige’s. I was just going to offer to move out if you need the space.”

“Nonsense,” Gemma waved the idea away. This woman was a strange contradiction. While there was authority there, she seemed to be a genuinely kind person and Gemma definitely wanted to get to know her better.

“Thank you. Just know the offer stands.” Bridget paused for a minute before looking back to Cy. “Forgive me if it’s none of my business, but I also had some ideas about the case.”

“Well, then, take a seat and tell us what you think.” As Bridget sat, Cy filled Gemma in. “Bridget is an elite K-9 handler. She’s worked the front lines of the War Against Terror, guarded the president, escorted ambassadors, and more. She’s very well respected in the security world.”

“Thank you,” Bridget said with a slight nod before lacing her fingers together and turning serious. “I think the men Ahmed turned over to the police may be of some use to you. As you know, they were the ones charged with finding you. They could be able to tell you how they found you. If you have that information, then you can work your way back up the food chain, so to speak. Also, if they’re personal security, for example, then they may have information on the boss they protect and run these kinds of errands for.”

“That’s a good point. I had just assumed they’d be hired henchmen, but you may be right. I wish I knew if they had a tattoo. That would tell me if they were hired or part of the security team.”

“They had a small black tattoo on their wrist. It was a Roman numeral X.” Gemma jumped back as she heard Ahmed answer from directly behind her. She hadn’t heard the bell ring or even felt anyone standing behind her.

“Then we need to have a talk with them,” Cy agreed.

“I thought the same thing. It’s why I came to see you. Miss Springer,” Ahmed acknowledged with a quick nod of his head.

“Ahmed,” Bridget responded in kind. Gemma had to hide a smile behind her napkin. There was certainly a spark there, but it was strange. They were both so good at hiding their feelings, she couldn’t tell if it was love or hate.