Shine On (32 page)

She felt the bed sink as he sat down. She scooted her legs over to give him some space. He put his hands on hers to still her fidgeting. Her gaze went up his arms. It was like this man was cut from stone. He was like the marble statues she’d seen in art history books.

She felt her face flush.

“Emmie, look at me.” She pulled her eyes up to his.

His blue gaze was piercing. He swallowed. She saw all of the muscles in his neck flex and relax, “You asked ‘did I care’ about you. It’s not that I did care about you… it’s that I still do.”

Her heart leapt. He’d admitted it. He wasn’t only using her, she knew it.

“But I am who I am. I’m not sure it’s right to drag you into my world. Maybe in another world if I wasn’t me and you weren’t you,” he started.

“Silas, what are you saying. We’ve both made mistakes. But we’ve got no secrets left to keep. Don’t you see that? It’s all out, we’re free.” She smiled honestly.

“You’re still keeping one secret,” he reminded her, “the identity of the mysterious he.”

“Can you promise me you won’t hurt him? If I let you meet him with me tomorrow?”

“I don’t like making promises,” Silas said, looking down at her.

“If you want to meet him, you will,” she said.

“I promise you I will keep an open mind,” he said in compromise. The truth is he was already going to be able to figure out who she was working with tomorrow when he talked to the guy who ran the pig. James had met the guy to get the ’shine. He would have no problem telling Silas who it was. But, if he had a choice, he would rather hear the truth from Emmie’s mouth.

“Okay, you can come with me tomorrow,” she said. “I’m showing you that I trust you. So don’t ruin it.” She punched his arm playfully.

“Ouch.” He rubbed. For the first time all night he was himself. “Violence is never the answer.”

She arched her brow at him thinking back to the events of the last week but was too tired to rehash any more of the details. Emmie shivered.

“Emmie, it’s really cold. I think it’s a bad idea to sleep out here,” he said, rubbing his arms.

She lay down and pulled the covers up closer to her ears. “It really is toasty under here,” she teased.

He looked annoyed for a second, then devilish. “Well, if you say so.”

He jerked back her covers and slid in next to her. “Silas McDowell!” she screamed and rolled backward in the tiny bed. He snaked an arm out and wrapped it around her waist to keep her from falling. Once she was safe on the bed she expected him to move it but he didn’t. His touch was so easy, so familiar. She kept trying to relax her body.

Silas propped up on one elbow and looked down at her. “You were wrong you know.” He shrugged, “You’re the smart and beautiful one. I shouldn’t have had a chance with you. That’s what I kept telling myself, ‘She is too good for this, Silas.’ But I couldn’t ever seem to stay away.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry I hurt you. Please forgive me. I promise from here on out, I’ll tell you as much as I can. And no more lies. If we are going to work at this that’s what I promise.”

“I thought you didn’t like promises?” she asked.

“Emmie girl, I plan to make lots of promises to you.” He smiled.

Silas wrapped his leg around hers bringing her closer. He ran his hands up the length of her body, taking in every curve, dip, and patch of soft skin. She pushed forward onto her elbows and brought her mouth to his. He kissed her until her lips were swollen and plumped. Then he moved to her ears and neck brushing his lips over every inch of skin. Her hands moved further down his chest and she pulled him in for another long slow kiss. He pulled away from her before things got too far gone.

“I’m going to sleep out here with you, if that’s okay?” he asked.

She nodded biting her lower lip. Her brain was reeling and exhausted. She rolled over onto her side to give him more room. Then she felt his legs press into the back of hers. She felt her body tense.

“Relax. We’re just sleeping. No fast moves, trust me,” he said, wrapping his arm around her stomach.

She grabbed his arm and held it tightly. “I trust you.”

Chapter Forty-five

T
he birds sang early the next morning. It sure had been a long night. Her leg was asleep, she jerked trying to kick it awake, and someone cursed.

“Damn Emmie, it’s me.” His voice was groggy and grouchy. “I thought I was the fighting Irish in this bed. But you, you’re giving me a run for my money.”

“Oh, Silas. I’m sorry… you okay?” She turned around and faced him. He was beautifully disheveled. She reached up and toyed with his hair and then ran her fingers the length of his jaw.

“I’m fine.” His face spread in a wide grin staring up at her.

“Why are you smiling like that?” she asked.

“I just remembered last night when you let me kiss…” he started.

“Silas,” she looked around laughing, “don’t talk about it. It’s too embarrassing.” She pulled the covers up around her face.

He dug her out of them laughing. “You asked why I was smiling? And we promised honesty from here on out.”

He leaned up and kissed her forehead. “Good morning sweetheart.”

She smiled. She was so beautiful. Her ebony hair covered every inch of the pillow and when she leaned forward to kiss him it hung several inches past her shoulders.

“I like this long. Why do you keep it all pinned up?” he asked, running his fingers through her hair.

She shrugged, “It’s what’s in style I guess.”

“I like it like this,” he said, giving her a mysterious grin.

Silas sat up and pulled her into his lap facing him. He leaned back on his arms, drinking in the sight of her against the rising sunlight.

“It’s a new day,” he said.

“Yes,” she agreed.

“Sometimes I wish we could just meet all over again. Start fresh you know? So we didn’t have the complications of the past couple of months in between us,” he said, looking right up at her. “We could do that you know. Pretend like we’re meeting for the first time right now.”

“No.” She shook her head.

“No?” he questioned.

“I like the Silas I know. Besides, I’m pretty sure if I met you in my nightgown like this,” she pointed at their close position, “I wouldn’t have been the kind of good girl you liked.” She crinkled her nose and shook her head.

“Oh, well that’s true.” He nodded in thoughtful consideration. “I like it best when I meet my girls at the pool… in their underwear… wet see-through underwear.” His eyes were wide with humor.

Her mouth fell open and she dove for him. He lifted his arms, prepared for her attack, and caught her before bringing her back down to the bed.

“What the hell is going on out here?” Gabe said from the hall. “Oh, shit Silas, shit. Sorry Emmie.” He grabbed a quilt off a nearby chair and threw it over them.

“Get out,” Silas shouted.

“It’s just… Emmie’s had a call. The housekeeper just came to Ava’s room. He’s called twice. Some man and he’s upset.”

“Oh no.” Emmie’s heart sank. How could she be so thoughtless? “He’s probably worried sick. I was supposed to meet him first thing this morning.” Emmie threw back the covers forgetting all modesty and started to get out of bed, heading into the hall.

Silas visibly tensed. He stood and pulled his shirt on all in one motion. He grabbed the quilt and pulled it tight against her shoulders before she reached the hall.

“I’ll meet you downstairs in ten minutes,” he said.

“Make it five,” she called, closing the door to Vince’s bedroom to change clothes.

When she came downstairs Gabe and Silas were waiting for her by the door.

“No,” she shook her head. “This wasn’t the deal.”

“We made no deal,” Silas barked.

“You promised,” she said.

“I promised to keep an open mind. And I will. Gabe is not going to close my mind. I don’t know this man. Gabe is coming,” he said.

Emmie walked up to Silas and ran her hands along his chest then threw open the sides of his coat. She pointed right at the guns. “No, I don’t want you to wear those.”

“Okay, we will compromise.” He reached in and pulled one of the guns out and laid it on the table. “I’ll only wear one. Let’s go.” And with that he turned and walked out the door.

“Fine but I promise you that if either one of you pull a gun on him, I will jump in front of it. So keep that in mind, Tough Guys.” She gave them each a pointed look before flying down the stairs and to the car.

They drove in silence. Emmie wasn’t surprised to find Walt’s truck already at her house. She was surprised to see the lock had been shot off her front door. He was watching from the doorway as they pulled closer to the house. His thumbs were hooked in the straps of his overalls and his pipe was dangling out of his mouth.

Silas couldn’t have looked more shocked if she had slapped him in the face. “Is that Walter? Is that the man you have been protecting?”

Emmie glared over at him unsure how to judge his reaction, so she went with defensive. “Yes, that is Walter. Why are you so shocked?”

“But… why didn’t you tell me he was an old man?” he asked.

“You never asked the right question.” She threw his words back at him with a smile. “Why would it matter if he was old?”

Silas didn’t answer but Gabe chuckled in the back seat.

“Never mind. Let’s just get this over with,” Silas said as he turned off the car.

Emmie tore out of the door without waiting for Silas or Gabe to open it for her. When Walt saw her coming she took a step in her direction. “Ya alright, girl?” he asked, never taking his eyes from Silas or Gabe.

“Yes,” she nodded her head. “What happened to my door?”

“Sorry. When you didn’t answer, I panicked and got my shotgun. I thought maybe you were hurt in there.” He looked sheepish.

She smiled. “It’s fine. It’s just a lock. No big deal. We need your help though.”

“We?” he questioned.

“Walt, this is Silas and Gabe. Silas and Gabe, this is Walter. Let’s go in and sit down,” she said, making quick introductions.

“We’ve met.” Silas smiled as they sat at the kitchen table. Emmie put on a pot of coffee and joined them.

“You have?” She looked from Walt to Silas confused.

He may have been a fool to be jealous of this old man but he still didn’t trust his character. What kind of man would let Emmie get so mixed up in this business? Besides, he had told Sheriff Drake it wasn’t right that the old man had come out of those woods that night. He’d gotten the feeling he was involved. Now he knew he was. And Emmie thought this guy was so trustworthy.

“Your kind, trustworthy bootlegging friend not tell you, eh?” Silas asked, staring pointedly at Walt.

“Silas, watch the way you talk to him,” Emmie snapped.

“She ain’t got no reason to know about that,” Walt said, leaning forward looking square at the younger man.

“I have no reason to know what?” Emmie asked but they were not listening to her.

“She already knows the truth. Except for you because I didn’t think that was important. But now,” Silas shrugged bringing his hands together, “now that I know you’re the asshole that dragged her into this, I think she needs to know.”

“Dragged her into this…” Walter laughed. “I didn’t drag her into nothing. She’s the one that found me… begged me… I have just been trying to protect her and get her a little money.”

“Protect her? You call having her make you apple pie moonshine protecting her?” Silas shouted. “She will not be a part of your bootlegging.”

Emmie opened her mouth to speak but Walt spoke up before she could get the words out.

“You think I want her in this? Hell, I came to pick up that ’shine to get it away from her. I don’t want her near it. Then when I showed up she had spent hours decorating them jars… turning them into some girly drink. What the hell was I supposed to do with that? But because I was tryin’ to take care of her… I took it anyway,” Walter defended himself.

“Silas, I told you that I did that. It’s not Walter’s fault,” she said, wanting to calm this discussion.

“Talkin’ about bad influences. You better look in the mirror, boy,” Walter said, chewing on his pipe.

“Yeah? Is that right?” Silas asked.

Throughout the whole conversation Gabe hadn’t spoke until now. “Watch it old man.”

“I ain’t gonna be watchin’ nothing. Ask her where she got the idea for that silly drink. It was from some speakeasy she went to. I’m guessing she didn’t find that all by herself. If there is somebody no good for her at this table, it ain’t me.” He leaned back and puffed on his pipe.

Silas said nothing.

“Walt. That’s not true either. I’ve not done anything I didn’t want to do. You both need to calm down. I made my own choices here in both cases. And I’m sorry to both of you.” she said, reaching a hand on each of their shoulders.

“Now, I want to know. How do you know each other?” she asked.

Silas looked at Walt waiting to see if he would speak. When he didn’t, it was Silas who told her. “Walt was there the night your stepfather was killed.”

Just like that, the wind was knocked out of her. She looked up at Walt, hurt and confused.

“You knew? You knew it wasn’t a car accident?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.