Gunnin' for You (Rolling Thunder series Book 4) (12 page)

“God, Em. Who knew the smallest person in this house would go with so much damn stuff!”

Emma grinned as she watched Ashley run around like crazy. “Can I help with anything?”

“No. Oh, shit…Wait, where’s Tyler?”

Ashley ran back to Tyler’s room. She came running into the living room where Emma was toeing off her shoes. “God, Emma, I can’t find Tyler.”

Emma stood up and walked to Ashley. She put her palms on Ashley’s shoulders and forced Ashley to look at her. “Ash, honey, calm down. Ron has Tyler in the SUV. They escaped your crazy ass packing binge. I saw them when I came in. Ron told me to enter at my own risk and to hang onto something so I didn’t get packed in a bag or something.”

Ashley furrowed her brows and looked at Emma. “Crazy ass packing binge?” She burst out laughing. Pulling Emma into a hug, she squeezed her tight. “I get so nervous going to Ron’s parents. His mom is kind of ‘judgy’ and I’m worried she won’t think I’m a good mom.”

“Oh, Ash. You’re a great mom. Tyler is a healthy, happy boy. You and Ron may do things differently than his parents did, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t a good mom. You remember that if she says anything to you. Just tell her you have a different way, but that doesn’t mean it’s the wrong way.”

Building her resolve, Ashley straightened her spine and leveled her shoulders. “I love you, Em. Thanks.”

They hugged again and Ashley picked up her bag and walked out the door. Emma chuckled as she walked back to her bedroom to put on a pair of jeans and a tank top. She began packing a bag; actually, a large suitcase to take to Gunnar’s. Tonight they were having Molly and Ryder over for supper. Emma promised to make her favorite teriyaki ribs and Gunnar offered to grill them. They’d been marinating all day. She grabbed her suitcase and toiletry bag and locked up the house as she left. As she was putting her suitcase in the trunk of her car, Ashley and Ron hurriedly pulled into the driveway. Emma stood by her car smiling at them. Ashley jumped out of the car and as she was running into the house she yelled to Emma, “I forgot my purse.”

Emma laughed, looked over at Ron and shrugged her shoulders. She slid into her car and drove out of the driveway, giggling at her sister.

Emma had arrived at Gunnar’s, unpacked her suitcase into a drawer Gunnar had given her to use, put it back into her trunk and started working on supper. Molly came over before the guys got home and was making a potato salad. Each sipped on a wine cooler while chatting. Emma asked Molly questions about her childhood and more about the lies that almost broke her and Ryder up. Molly explained the whole sordid mess, her stepfather’s abuse, the rape, the guilt, all of it. Even though they had talked about it before, Emma wanted to know her better.

“How’s your job going, Em?”

“Oh, it’s not the best job in the world. I’m rethinking this one.”

“Sorry to hear that. Something better will come along.”

“Yeah.”

Continuing to baste the ribs in the marinade, Molly watched Emma’s face.

“It’ll be okay, Em, really.”

Emma looked into Molly’s bright blue eyes, identical to Gunnar’s. Her mouth turned down into a frown.

“Can I ask you something personal, Molly?”

Molly giggled. “We’ve been talking about my crazy ass past, it can’t get much more personal than that.”

Emma nodded. “Gunnar’s been getting phone calls. I don’t know who they’re from, and he gets agitated when he receives them. A few days ago he got one and refused to answer it. Do you know what’s going on with him?”

Molly stopped stirring the mayo into her salad and looked into Emma’s eyes.

“Have you asked him?”

“Of course. His behavior is so weird afterwards. It’s been bothering me and I know it’s bothering him. But he won’t say who’s calling.”

Molly released the wooden spoon she was holding and wiped her hands on a towel lying on the counter. She glanced outside as they heard the rumble of motorcycles rolling down the street.

Giving Emma a half smile she said, “You need to insist he tell you. Joci said Keith, our biological father, used to get mysterious calls at all times of the day and night, and then he would disappear for a while.”

Emma’s frown deepened as she stared out the kitchen window to the backyard. Watching two birds hop and play along the top of the wooden fence separating this house from the backyard neighbor’s. The motorcycles were pulling into the garage, making goose flesh form on her arms and legs. The thunder those bikes created in the smaller confines of the garage was exciting.

The door sprung open and Gunnar was the first to enter the kitchen. His tall massive frame instantly made the kitchen seem smaller. When Ryder and JT entered, it positively dwarfed the room, making it feel like a phone booth. Gunnar looked at Emma’s face and cocked his head to the side. He flicked a glance at Molly and saw the frown on her pretty face.

“Did we interrupt something?” His low voice vibrated through Emma, making the gooseflesh spring up again.

Emma shook her head and plastered a stiff smile on her face. Staring into the blue depths of his eyes, taking a moment to breathe in the fresh scent of spring air, and shower soap, she rested her hands on his hips, looping her thumbs through his belt loops.

“No, we were just chatting.”

Gunnar leaned down and kissed her lips, but quickly bent his knees to level his eyes on hers.

“It looks serious.”

“No. It’s okay.”

Ryder walked over to Molly, wrapped her in a hug and kissed her fully on the lips.

Whispering to her, Molly bobbed her head twice and stared into his eyes. He chucked her under the chin and grinned.

JT opened the fridge and pulled three bottles of beer out and popped the caps.

“Enough with the mushy crap, I’m hungry.”

Giggling, the girls continued their tasks as Gunnar grabbed plates from the cupboard and set the table. Ryder stepped out on the deck and lit the grill while JT slouched in a patio chair.

After they had eaten their fill, the women began clearing the table.

“Well, would you look at that? Two smoking hot babes in the kitchen, the place smells like heaven, drinks in our bellies, and I’m filled to the brim with fantastic food. Would you both marry me?” JT waggled his eyebrows. He grabbed Molly in a big hug and spun her around, planting a kiss on her forehead as he set her on her feet. Emma laughed as she watched them. JT turned to her and did the same thing.

“Boys, I’m engaged to your women. You may leave.” JT grabbed a beer off the counter, popped the top and took a long pull from it.

“Go tug off, JT; you’re not getting my woman.” Ryder grabbed Molly and kissed her.

“Dinner was fabulous, babe.”

Gunnar grabbed Emma around the waist and pulled her to his body. His lips touched hers and the evil of the week vanished. Yes, he had that kind of power over her.

Chapter Sixteen

The laughing and teasing continued into the night. Emma had to admit, this was the most fun she’d had in such a long time. Around ten o’clock, Ryder and Molly decided to head home. They stood to leave as Emma’s phone rang. She rolled her eyes, thinking it was Greg, but she looked at the screen and saw it was Ashley.

“Hey, Ash, what’s up? You made it okay, right?”

Ashley’s voice was hysterical. “Emma. We got a call; the house is on fire. The police called and I was worried you were in it. Please tell me you’re okay.”

“Oh my God. What happened? When?” Remembering Ashley's words, she continued. “Yes, I’m fine.”

“I don’t know. Police and fire crews are there. They called us to find out where we were and I was worried you might be there. I’m so relieved you’re okay.” Ashley’s sobs tore through Emma’s heart.

Emma’s voice quivered with shock and emotion. “God. Ash, I’m heading over there right now. I’ll call you later when I know more. I love you.”

They hung up and Emma told Gunnar, Ryder, Molly, and JT what had happened. “I have to go and see what’s going on. I’m sorry, you guys.”

Emma started toward the door, “You’re not going alone, babe. We’ll all go with you.”

Emma smiled, relieved. “Thanks. I wasn’t looking forward to facing this alone.”

When they got to Ashley and Ron’s house, a sob escaped Emma’s throat. Flames were shooting out of the roof of the house. They climbed out of Molly’s car and walked to the barricade to watch the firemen put the fire out. Emma couldn’t say anything. Ashley was so proud of their new house; she would be devastated. Of course, thank God no one was home; but, still, this was going to be a nightmare to deal with. What on earth could have happened?

They waited until the fire was out and JT and Ryder found their Uncle Tommy standing by his police cruiser. They walked over to talk to him; Gunnar pulling Emma along with his arm around her shoulders.

“Hey, Uncle Tommy. Do you know what happened here?”

“Hey guys. What are you doing here?”

“This is Emma’s sister’s house.”

Tommy looked over at Emma. “Emma. Honey, I’m sorry. I understand your sister and brother-in-law are out of town. Have you spoken to them?”

Emma swallowed the big knot in her throat, “Yeah. Ashley called me because someone called her. She wanted to make sure I wasn’t in there. What happened?”

Tommy looked at Gunnar and then back to Emma. “It looks like arson. One of the neighbors saw a car slow down in front of the house and throw something. She heard the glass in the front window break and a little while later she saw the flames. Investigators will get in there once the fire is out and confirm that. Do you have any idea who would want to harm Ashley or Ron?”

Emma shook her head as new tears streamed down her cheeks. Her knees were weak, her face felt grimy from the soot floating in the air, and her lungs felt heavy. Gunnar pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. After Emma had composed herself, she pulled away and wiped her eyes with her hands leaving dark streaks on her cheeks.

Her voice was soft and shaky. “I have to call Ash.”

Gunnar nodded. “Let’s go over there where it’s a little quieter.”

Emma and Gunnar walked over to a neighboring yard where there was a large tree near the street. They sat on the curb under the tree and Emma dialed Ashley’s number.

“Em. What happened?”

Emma’s plan to be stoic was gone when she heard Ashley’s voice. “Oh Ash…they think it’s arson. A neighbor saw a car stop in front of the house and throw something. A while later the fire started. Police are asking if anyone is angry with you or Ron.”

Emma looked up at Gunnar when she heard Ashley crying. Emma held her phone between them and tilted it out so Gunnar could hear. He wrapped his arm around Emma’s shoulders and pulled her close with no room between them. They were touching from foot to shoulder.

Between sobs, Ashley whispered, “No! We live a quiet life. We’re quiet people. Oh. My. God. I have to talk to Ron. Go home and go to sleep, Em. We’ll call you in the morning. Ron is on the phone with police right now. We don’t want to bring Tyler and we don’t want to leave him. And,” choking back a sob she finished with, “now we don’t have anywhere to come home to.”

“Oh. Ash.” Catching herself before she started crying, Emma swallowed, took a deep breath and said. “I love you, Ash. Don’t worry. I’ll do what I can for you here. You guys sit tight until we know how bad it is. Okay? Promise.”

“I love you, too, Em. Thank you. I promise.”

Gunnar listened to Emma talk to her sister and his heart felt heavy. He knew Ashley and Ron felt helpless being so far away. By the looks of the house, they were going to need another place to stay for some time. His Uncle Bryce and Aunt Angie owned apartment complexes; hopefully, they’d have a nice unit available for them and the baby. But, Emma was coming home with him.

Emma ended the call and laid her head on Gunnar’s shoulder. Gunnar kissed the top of her head and they sat quietly for a few moments. JT, Ryder, and Molly found them a while later and sat alongside Emma and Gunnar on the curb.

“Are you ready to go home, Em?”

Emma lifted her head and looked at Molly, indecision in her features.

“There’s nothing you can do here, honey. Let’s go home.” Gunnar looked into her eyes, swiping at her tears with his thumbs.

“Yeah, okay.”

Gunnar squeezed her shoulders and stood up. He reached down and pulled Emma to her feet, wrapped his arm around her shoulders and started them walking toward their car. The ride home was quiet, each of them lost in their thoughts.

Molly and Ryder didn’t come in, they dropped them off in the driveway, and JT, Gunnar, and Emma went into the house.

“Do you want a drink or anything, Em?” The serious JT sounded funny to her and Emma smiled.

“No, thanks. If you don’t mind, I would like to go take a shower. I smell like smoke.”

Gunnar kissed her forehead. “Go ahead, babe. I’ll be in, in a little while.”

Emma went into the bedroom to shower as Gunnar turned to JT. “We’ve already talked about her moving in. She’ll be here for certain now. You sure you’re okay with that?”

“Gunnar, I told you I have no problem with Emma being here. I like her, she’s great, funny, she gets along with everyone. I don’t have a problem with it.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“So, you in love or what?”

Gunnar looked in the direction Emma had gone, his lips pressed into a straight line across his face. He turned his head back to JT and said, “Yeah, I think I am.”

“Hmm. Sucks.” JT smirked at him. “I’m hitting the hay. See you in the morning, lover boy.”

Gunnar turned out the lights and walked to the bedroom. He heard the water in the shower running and walked to the closet to take his clothes off. He put his shoes in their normal spot on the floor and saw five pair of pretty, high heeled pumps sitting alongside his. Emma’s tennis shoes and a couple pair of sandals were there, as well. Gunnar stood and looked at the clothes hanging in the closet. There, to the back, were beautiful dresses and skirts, tiny little jeans, and two very neat stacks of sweaters, t-shirts, tank tops, and yoga pants. The little vixen had moved a few things in.

Peeling his t-shirt over his head and dropping it in the hamper in the corner of the closet, his jeans and boxer briefs quickly followed, along with his socks. Emma was right, they smelled like smoke. He took another quick look around the closet, and with a grin on his face, he went to join Emma in the shower.