Tangerine Morning: Jezzica's Story (Serenity Cove Series) (14 page)

Chapter Twenty-one
 

“I disagree with having Jezz sitting in the bookshop waiting to be attacked.” Zack paced in front of Logan’s desk. “Nicole is trained.”

“Stop running in circles and set the plan in motion.” Logan moved the mouse and his computer lit up. “We had a delivery truck pull up to the back door of Jezzica’s shop and move several boxes and crates into her back room. Ted was hiding in a large crate. He’s upstairs in the bookshop and we need you on lookout duty, now.” He nodded toward the open doorway.

Dismissed, Zack stormed out of Logan’s office. He drove to Main Street and positioned himself inside Rubi’s Diner. Shaded by the café curtains hanging in the window, he could still watch the happenings at the Sea Glass Bookshop. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind, and stared across the street.

“Coffee?” Tiffani held the pot, ready to pour.

He flipped the thick brown mug right side up. “Thanks.”

“It’s Friday. We have a great clam chowder simmering—it’ll be ready in time for lunch.”

“Works for me.” He studied the bubbly petite blond as she sashayed back behind the counter. Pretty, though he wouldn’t have classified her has a classic beauty. From the way she chatted with the customers, she was a people person.

He opened a folder, scanning the contents. Several shoppers went in and out of Magnolia’s Antiques and a few of the other shops, but otherwise the street was quiet. He was on the second folder when Tiffani brought his chowder.

She waited while he scooted the paperwork out of the way. “Here you go. If you need anything else, let me know.” She placed a basket with an assortment of crackers in the center of the table. Zack ate while continuing to watch the bookshop. Nothing.

Jezzica stepped outside her shop. The way the lady filled out a pair of jeans made his breathing almost stop. She crossed over and came into the diner, sliding into the booth, facing Zack. She touched the papers lying on the table. “You’ve been here all day?”

He nodded at the window. “Playing lookout.”

“It’s been super quiet. I’m so anxious I haven’t accomplished anything except pacing back and forth like a caged animal.” She lowered her eyes. “About last night—”

“Need to back up and take it slow.” He reached for her hand.

“Something like that.” She pulled her hand away as Tiffani brought her the white paper bag with her to-go order.

“Mom said there’s no charge today. Either of you want anything else?”

Jezzica ran her fingers across the fold at the top of the bag. “This will do it. Tell Rubi thanks.”

“I’m good.” Zack nodded and Tiffani moved on to another customer.

“I better get back. Ted’s waiting on lunch.” She took a couple of steps and turned back. “Is it a problem if I go home in a few minutes?”

“Go about your day naturally as possible. We don’t want to raise any suspicions.”

With a resigned expression, she nodded and left, crossing the street to the bookshop. He waited until Jezzica locked up and drove away before making his escape through the kitchen of the diner, the same way he had entered. He cruised Main Street, using the observation skills that he had learned at the academy, and practiced over the past ten years. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He checked out the alleyway behind the shops and found not so much as a cat lurking around—which brought a smile to his face, remembering finding Rusty. Jezzica doted on that silly cat. He made a left onto Shoreview Drive and drove the short distance to his cottage.

At home, he changed into his sweats and pulled out the files he’d been working on earlier. He finished the last one as the sun began its descent, and on impulse he called Jezzica and invited her for an evening run.

From his cottage he saw her sitting on her steps. Her dark hair pulled into a ponytail made her eyes seem even more mysterious. She wore shorts and a tank top. Zack couldn’t recall a woman ever affecting him like this one managed to. Not only was she stunning, he admired her strength of character—the way she cared about her family and even her loyalty to her dead husband.

He trekked through the sand to where she waited. “Hey.”

“Hey, yourself.” She grinned up at him.

They began outlining the shore with footprints and chatting. With a lull in words, he reached for her hand.

“Maybe we could start by having dinner and see what develops.”

“I want to. That isn’t the dilemma.” She stopped and faced him. “I find myself thinking about you when you’re not around. My attraction to you, on a scale of one to ten—it’s off the charts.”

“Then it turns into a three-way relationship. You, me, and Geoff.” He held on to her hand, wanting her to find the strength to say what she needed to say.

“That’s the problem. For two years, I’ve felt as though the killers destroyed my soul. When I’m with you, I can almost feel again. Until I get this overwhelming guilt telling me I’m being unfaithful to Geoff.” She brushed away the moisture on her face.

He pulled her into his arms. “We deserve a chance at loving again, both of us.”

She looked into his eyes. He lowered his head and brushed his lips softly across the sweetness of her lush mouth. He heard a low moan as he parted her lips with his.

With a step back, she placed her hands on his arms. “This gamble at loving again—taking it a little slower would be good.”

“Dinner on Saturday work for you?” He slid the tips of his fingers down her arm.

“Sounds good.” She raised her eyebrows. “Didn’t you invite me for a run?”

“Let’s go.” He winked at her.

They started a slow rhythmic jog. A flock of pelicans flew overhead, dipped down, skimmed the water and then took flight once again.

They’d gone a distance when Zack pointed to an odd-shaped rock covered with kelp and algae—the marker he used to gauge his distance. “That’s three miles. Ready to turn back?”

Jezzica nodded and they turned in unison to retrace their steps. Silence intruded as they wove their way back to the cottages. He observed the sharp, bright stars lighting the sky.

Jezzica rested her foot on the first wooden rung of her steps. “Thanks for calling me tonight. I enjoyed our run.” A smile showered her face and she continued up the stairs.

His eyes remained riveted on her. At the door, she twirled around and touched her fingers to her lips before using them to wave goodnight. Sheer routine helped him lift his feet and make his way to his place. He glanced over his shoulder and she was still standing there. She casually lifted her hand and waved once more.

Would she take a chance on loving again? What if she decided, like Susan had, that she didn’t want to be involved with someone in law enforcement? Having his heart pricked again wasn’t a pain he wanted to revisit.

Chapter Twenty-two
 

Jezzica found a note on the kitchen counter. Catylen and the girls had decided to take in a movie. She grabbed a bottle of water and sat at the table. Rusty rubbed his head against her leg. She picked him up and settled him in her lap. “Looks like we’re on our own.” The quiet was nice, but idleness wasn’t her style.
Good time to dust and vacuum.

She clicked on some music, and Nora Jones’s sultry voice followed her as she grabbed the supplies and went to work. Furniture polish and a dust cloth in one hand, she leaned down to retrieve a paperback that had fallen behind a chair. She rose back up as a sweaty hand clamped over her mouth. Her adrenalin surged as she morphed into panic mode.

“No reason to be afraid. You’re so concerned about your husband? I hold your one-way ticket to go visit him.” He looked her up and down with a sneer on his face. “You’re sure a pretty thing. We could have a little fun first.”

With her foot, she nudged the small table next to the chair, knocking the lamp onto the floor where she’d just retrieved the book. Either Ted or Nicole was out there watching her cottage and she hoped the falling light would signal them.

He spun her around and landed a slap hard across her face. “Don’t move unless I tell you to move.” He ripped her shirt. She recognized him. He had come around to her side of the car, the night of her husband’s murder.

Her hands were shaking as she still clutched the Lemon Pledge. In one swift move, she directed it toward his eyes and sprayed.

Jezzica freed from his grip as he covered his face with one hand and wildly waved his gun with the other one. He squeezed off a shot, leaving her ears ringing. She heard the mirror shatter on the wall behind her and cringed.

She recalled something her father had always told her and took action. With her bare foot, she kicked him right where her dad had said it would hurt the most. Her would-be attacker grabbed his groin—the sound he emitted was pure agony, more animal than man. She heard two gunshots in quick succession and froze—the explosions had come from outside.

Jezzica limped to the back deck, her big toe throbbing. The face of the man stretched out on the wooden planks had been forever etched in her memory. Geoff’s killer stared up at her, blood soaking through his shirt. A hand reached out and grabbed her. She screamed, fighting to remain upright.

“You’re okay. It’s over.” Zack tried to soothe her. “Stay here.”

Zack stormed into the cottage with his gun drawn. Terrified, she followed him.

Nicole had apparently entered from the front, and was aiming her gun at Jezzica’s attacker. “Down on the floor. NOW.” He dropped to the ground. Zack pulled the man’s hands behind his back and snapped on handcuffs.

“Alec has their buddy out front in the patrol car.” Nicole holstered her gun.

Numbness filled Jezzica as she stared out the front door. The EMTs hustled around the side of the cottage and returned with Geoff’s killer on a stretcher. Inside the emergency vehicle, one of the techs began working on him. Nicole climbed in, closed the door, and they sped away.

Jezzica turned back and found Zack opening and closing his fist, standing over the guy still on the floor. Logan rushed in and pulled Zack away. “Come on, man. Alec and I will escort these cretins to the station. You stay here with Jezzica.” Logan pulled the suspect onto his feet.

“She blinded me.” The criminal’s reddened eyes still watered as the tears washed down his face. Logan propelled him out the door.

Zack crushed Jezzica to him. “It’s over.” He rubbed her back. She pulled away, still clutching the can of polish.

“This is what you sprayed into his eyes?” He took the container from her and looked at the label. “Never heard of using Lemon Pledge as a weapon before.” His chuckle faded as he wiped a tear from her cheek before it joined the others falling onto her torn shirt. “It’s over, baby. It’s really over.” He put his arm around her and she pushed him away.

“Need air,” Jezzica managed to choke out between her sobs. Zack followed her out the back door and down the steps onto the sand. She ran along the shore. The trembling in her body took over, and a gut-wrenching cry emanated from so deep that except for the pain in her throat, she wasn’t sure it had come from her. Her legs weakened and no longer had the strength to hold her upright. Zack grabbed her, eased her onto the sand, and fell beside her. He wrapped her in his arms until she was able to pull air into her lungs once more.

She quieted and buried her face into his chest, soaking his shirt with her tears. She pulled away and wanted to tell him so much, but all she could see was Geoff’s face. She couldn’t betray Geoff—not now, not ever.