Rise and Shine (Shine On Series, Book 2) (24 page)

“Did you think I was going to be happy with this?”

“No. But I thought you’d understand once I told you about Max.”

“I’ll never understand you doing this just for money for him when I have the means to give you whatever you want. And even if I did, I still wouldn’t let you do this, not right now. It’s bad timing.”

“Why?” she asked curiously. “Is it because you’ve got some misguided idea I’ve got eyes for Bo?”

He laughed and pulled her toward the water. “No. I’d like to shoot him and still may find good reason to do it, but it’s not even about Bo. Your water’s getting cold.” She knew him well enough to know that he was shutting her out of the conversation.

She felt her body warm as he brushed his fingertips down her neck and she started to melt. Her brain fought with her emotions. He was distracting her. There was something he didn’t want her to know—why he said he couldn’t help her right now. Emmie thought of the newspapers she’d seen spread on the table. It was about revenuers.

He leaned in and kissed her neck, leaving wet trails to her shoulder. Her body melted but her brain screamed again, trying to force the words out her mouth. She reached her hands up and put them on his chest. “Wait. Why not right now? Why is now not a good time?” she asked.

He groaned as he pulled away. “You and your questions.”

That was when she knew she’d asked a good one. “What is all that about?” She pointed to the kitchen. “Is it connected to why you don’t want me making apple pie?”

“No. We are not having this conversation. I am keeping you out of that world.” He grinned and pointed to the kitchen mocking her earlier motion.

He picked her up and plopped her down in the tub.

“Silas McDowell.” She laughed. “You got my underclothes all wet.”

“It’s just like the day I met you,” his laughed turning to head back towards the kitchen. “I’ll give you some privacy.”

She did her best to keep her body as far down in the tub as possible. Partly to keep warm, partly out of fear someone could see through the fabric that closed off her room. Finally she plunged her head under the water, washing her hair as quickly as possible. It was absolutely frigid when she stepped out of the water. Despite being so close to the fire she was chilled to the bone with her hair wet. Her teeth chattered instinctively. She pulled on her nightgown and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders before pulling back the curtain that separated the rooms. She was surprised to find that Silas was standing there waiting.

“You’re freezing.” Silas said.

“No relaxing baths in the winter.”

Silas was in awe of little reminders that showed how different they were. This was the first time he’d ever stayed in a house that didn’t have a bathroom. He realized for the first time he didn’t completely understand where she came from or the choices she made.

“That’s not doing much to keep you modest,” he said, pointing to the nightgown and crocheted shawl.

His eyes darkened and he ran his fingers through her wet hair. He leaned in and kissed her. She shivered. Silas went to the chest and pulled out one of the old quilts she’d let Trick use last night and wrapped it around her shoulders.

“Please don’t close me out of your life. What’s got you all in a stew?” she asked.

“You know that I cannot tell you that.” He said.

“Help me understand what’s going on. Maybe I can help.”

“No. I don’t want your help with this. It’s dangerous. Why can’t you be like Ava, happily oblivious.”

Emmie frowned. “You want me to be like Ava?”

“God, no,” he said with a laugh.

Trick walked into the doorway. “Silas, it’s not exactly a secret. It’s been in the papers.”

“Ugh.” Silas groaned. “Alright. But no questions, I’ll tell you the basics.”

Chapter Thirty-four

E
mmie sat at the kitchen table with one leg curled under her body while she read the article from the paper. She looked up and thought for a moment, chewing her bottom lip. As she leaned over the table to grab the second newspaper the quilt slipped from her shoulders, landing in a puddle at her waist. Emmie flattened the paper in front of her, reached over to Silas’s chair and pulled his suit coat off it.

“Do you mind?” she asked.

He grinned and shook his head. She shrugged into it. The sleeves came a good six inches past her fingertips. She pushed them back to her elbows and dove headfirst into the newspapers again. Silas loved watching her when she was thinking. She was a smart girl, a real problem solver. If she’d been a guy, she was someone he would have wanted on his crew. He shook his head as soon as that thought entered his mind. He could not think about her like that. Sharing these newspapers were about him gaining her trust. Not taking her help.

She read the second article and then flipped back to the first. He wanted to start telling her about the similarities in the cases but he held back. It was better to not unload any more information on her than she could figure out herself. She reached for his file but he grabbed her hand to stop her. He had notes there that weren’t for her eyes. Names of distributors, income, and officials that were bought off; that was more than she needed to see. Hell, as soon as they worked this out he would be burning the file.

She gave him a playful frown.

“Nope. Not that one,” he said with no apologies.

“So, revenuers have been busting up stills? That sure is a lot of waste. That amount of mash could produce a lot of shine.” She chewed her lower lip again. “Lots of money.”

“Yep,” Silas said.

“They seem to be really proud of themselves in these pictures.” She pointed to the smiles on their faces while they busted the barrels.

“Yes,” he agreed.

“There would have been more than enough money in those stills to send Max to the hospital,” she said without looking up at Silas. “That’s a shame. That money could do a lot of good for kids.”

Trick snorted a laugh. She looked up to see Silas was just as amused. “What? It’s true.”

“It’s just that I’m pretty sure you’re the only person that looks at this picture of a bunch of moonshine and thinks of all the children that could be helped with the lost profits.”

“Well, it’s true isn’t it? If they’d just make that stuff legal again they could use the money for some good,” she argued, thumping the paper.

“If they made it legal again there probably wouldn’t be as much money to be made from moonshining. It would go back to the businesses.” He couldn’t believe he was having this conversation with her.

A quiet moment passed between them again and Emmie looked back down at the location of the stills. “So both of these were a good piece from here, nearer Louisville than here. Why are you worried about me being here with the Johnsons?”

He didn’t want to scare her and tell her he already had knowledge that the Johnsons had been discussed by the tall skinny revenuer grinning in the front of both of these photographs. Or that these particular revenuers were not just busting up shines on moral value, they were weeding out the competition. She didn’t need to know that there was a connection to these two suppliers and the speaks that Silas was in charge of. He didn’t want her to know there had already been two of his men killed trying to protect their liquor.

Silas watched as Emmie cocked her head to the side and ran a hand along one photograph and then the other. She leaned across the table for a closer look.

“Silas, that tall man is in both of these photos.” She pointed to him.

“Keen eyes, Emmie.”

“You think these are connected somehow. That’s why you’re worried isn’t it?” she said quietly. He could tell from her expression she was attempting to put more pieces together.

“Yes. And we are all done here. No questions, not tonight. It’s late and has been a long day.” Silas folded the papers and shoved them all in his leather satchel.

Gabe let out a loud, exaggerated yawn. “I need to be heading home. Trick, you staying with me tonight?” he asked, getting up to get his coat and hat.

Trick batted his eyes and smiled, “Gabe. You dirty rascal.”

“Dry it up, Trick. Are you coming or not?” He laughed.

“Nah… I’ll stay here. Pretty good bed back there… and I like roughing it in this house… you know, going outside to piss. Makes me feel like a man.” He started making his way to the bedroom.

“Glad you have something to make you feel like one,” Silas said to his brother. The two bantered back and forth, throwing and blocking punches. Emmie had never seen them act like such kids. But then she’d never been with them like this before.

“Be careful going home, Gabe. Come over tomorrow night and I’ll make supper for everybody.”

“Thanks Emmie.” He leaned forward and gave her a hug and an awkward kiss on the cheek. “You know you’d be welcome to stay at my house. I mean I understand why you don’t, but I just wanted you to know you’re welcome.”

“Thanks, Gabe.” She squeezed his arm. There was no way she was staying there but she appreciated the offer.

He turned and opened the door. “Oh, and Emmie, why don’t you give Ava a call tomorrow when things calm down? She could use a friend.”

“You mean someone to listen to her talk about lace and flowers?” Emmie laughed.

Emmie was surprised that Gabe didn’t smile. His face looked solemn. “No, I just mean a friend.”

Her eyebrows scrunched together as she thought about his words. What was that supposed to mean? Ava must have pouted to him on the phone about how Emmie had brushed her off about the wedding planning. But why would that make his face so hollow? Gabe left without another word.

She locked the door and walked to the window, peeking out the curtain to be sure Gabe made it to his car and down the drive. Emmie felt two strong arms snake around her middle, crossing tightly over her abdomen. Silas’s scruff of a beard scratched her neck.

“Well, I guess you convinced me.” His voice was deep and husky.

“Of what?” she asked, trying to turn around, but he held her in place.

“That I can’t keep you up on that pedestal forever.”

“Pedestal?” Her voice came out as barely more than a whisper.

Looking down at her he explained, “Good girl pedestal. I can’t keep you up there forever.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good thing, Silas.” She chewed her bottom lip. “I just…” She worked up the courage to say what was in her heart. “I don’t want you to think less of me.”

“I could never.” He pulled her hair away from her face as they reached the top of the steps. “What I meant to say was you’re more than just a good girl. I’ve been fooling myself… and selling you short.”

He laid her down on the bed, and she sat up and scooted back against the metal bed frame. Working to steady her breath, Emmie chewed her lip.

“You didn’t sell me short,” she said, watching him unbutton his shirt. He didn’t reply at first. His shirt fell on the floor. After pulling his white tank off, he sat on the bed next to her. His faded black cross tattoo rippled as the muscles in his arms stretched.

“You are good.” He pulled his jacket off her shoulders and kissed the hollow of her neck. “And kind.” He kissed her temple. “And brave.” Silas moved so his body was positioned over hers, balancing his weight on his arms. “And smart.” He kissed her mouth again and again until she relaxed into his touch. “And beautiful.” Silas and kissed her on the forehead.

“So,” Emmie swallowed hard, “does this mean want to be with me?”

Silas smiled his crooked grin. He ran his thumb down her temple and shook his head. “It’s not a matter of want.” He made a sound she’d never heard before. An earthy, throaty sound and he looked into her eyes. “Because trust me, I want.”

Emmie tried to find the saliva in her mouth but she was dry. Her voice cracked as she tried to speak. “Tonight?”

Silas shook his head and muttered something under his breath. He rubbed his face. “Not tonight.” Even though he said the words, he didn’t look convinced.

“Oh.” She frowned.

“But it’s not that I don’t want to. Mo Chuisle. I love you. Gabe was right though that night he busted into the room. You deserve better than this.” He motioned to the room.

“Silas, this is not some hotel. We haven’t been drinking. It is different.” She retorted unable to believe she was arguing with him about this.

“Yeah, and my brother is right below us. No door, just open air. You. Deserve. Better.” He said.

Oh. Trick. She’d forgotten about Trick. She licked her lips and brushed her hair back over her shoulder. “You’re right. Sorry. It’s just. I’ve never. I not good at this… this stuff,” Emmie wasn’t sure how to finish that sentence.

“When it’s time we won’t have any doubts. Trust me.” Silas whispered in her ear. He planted another slow kiss on her temple. “But, we will be together. I swear it, Emmie.” She nodded in agreement and curled into him. She knew by society’s standards it was wrong for him to stay at her house like this. Wrong to sleep so close to her she could feel his breath on her back but she didn’t care. Never in her whole life had her house felt like such a safe and peaceful place. Silas brought her a feeling comfort she had never known.

Chapter Thirty-five