The Running Series Complete Collection: 3-Book Set plus Bonus Novella (107 page)

“Are you sure?  There’s no rush.  We have plenty of time,” he reminds me.

“I know, but only having part of the story is making me crazy.  There are so many things that I don’t understand.”

“Okay, but if it becomes too much, just tell me to stop.”

Evan tells the parts of the story that I missed.

“Adam was in the car, on his way to our house to drop off the dissolution papers when the alarm company called.  He was only a minute from the house when the call came in.  At first, he thought no one was home.  The entire perimeter of the house was ablaze, including the roof.  He took a quick scan of the property as he reported back to the agent.  He was getting back into his car to move it away, creating room for the fire trucks when you decided to break the picture window in front of the house.  If you hadn’t gotten his attention, he would have driven away, never knowing that you were there.”

The full effect of that statement sinks in.  Someone was watching over me.  There is no other explanation. 

“Did something explode?” I ask, recalling the explosion and sparks that prompted my decision to escape.

“Yes, that was the propane tank on the grill.  They found it in the neighbor’s yard the next morning,” Evan explains.

“Evan, do you think it was an accident?” I ask.  “It doesn’t sound like it was.”

Evan doesn’t answer right away.  “It was deliberately set,” he admits.

“Are you sure?”

“The fire chief knew immediately that an accelerant was used.  The treated wood of the deck and the landscaping bushes should not have gone up as quickly and fiercely as they did.”

“Do they have any leads?” I ask, curious to know who would do this and why.

“We have more than leads, Juliette, we have video.  The surveillance camera set up near the garage pointing directly towards the front door recorded the entire event.  Are you sure you want to hear more?” Evan checks.  I nod, so he continues.

“First thing Saturday morning, the police arrived to start their part of the investigation.  I refused to leave the hospital and Adam refused to leave, too.  The hospital staff was kind enough to let us use one of their conference rooms.  The detective brought his laptop to take notes and Adam was able to remotely login to download the footage.”

“What did you see?”

“At exactly 8 P.M., we recorded a man dousing every inch of the area surrounding the house in gasoline.  The arsonist was approximately thirty years old, dark spiky hair, and a tattoo sleeve on his right arm.”

I look up at him in complete disbelief, “Ryker?”

Evan confirms my suspicion.  “Ryker Donovan almost killed you, Juliette.”  He closes his eyes and swallows hard.  “And it’s all my fault.”

So many thoughts swirl in my mind, creating a confusing cocktail of emotions.  Anger, fear, regret, and self-doubt ebb and flow.  How could I have been so easily fooled?  I brought him into our fold and welcomed him with open arms.  And yet, this man that I trusted so easily turned on us and brought his wrath down upon us. 

“Where is Ryker now?” I ask.  “Is he in jail, where he belongs?”

“No, he’s out there somewhere.  And if I ever see his face, so help me, God.”

“What do you mean, ‘he’s out there somewhere’?”

“He saw the fire on the news.  That’s when he found out you were trapped inside.  He sent Emmy a text message asking if you were okay and telling her that he had to leave town.  He told Emmy to tell you he was sorry.  We tried to get a hold of him, but he got rid of the phone.  He took off.  His apartment is empty, completely cleared out.  He’s got contacts from the army all over the place, Jette.  He could be anywhere.”

“Should I be scared?” I ask.

“The only thing you need to fear is what I might do if I ever get close enough to put my hands on him,” Evan snarls.

Keep Your Eye on the Ball

I
wake early before the alarm.  I feel both comfort and confusion as my fuzzy brain wakes from the first good night’s sleep I’ve had in a week.  This place is unfamiliar to me, yet the scruffy looking jock in bed next to me is not.  His heavy arm is wrapped firmly around my middle, and his large muscled leg is tangled with mine.  I move and fidget, trying to find a cool spot without losing the closeness that I require. 

“Good morning,” Evan hums in my ear.

“Morning,” I answer, snuggling deeper into his arms.

“Sleep well?” he asks, running his fingers through my hair.

“Like a baby.”  He kisses my temple, and we just lie here in each other’s arms until the alarm goes off. 

We do our best to keep our old routine in this new space.  Evan showers while I make coffee.  The refrigerator is full, no doubt thanks to Evan’s mother and sister.  It’s the exact sort of thing they would do.  I locate some fresh fruit and yogurt and place them on the table.  Then I busy myself making Evan his special protein drink.  He no longer drinks anything of the sort at the stadium.  If it’s not sealed, he won’t have it.

When Evan emerges freshly showered, shaved, and dressed, I greet him with a big hug and kiss.  But when I bury my face in his chest, I notice immediately how different he smells.  I detect the sweet sugary scent of flowers and vanilla.  His shampoo, body wash, and shaving cream haven’t been replaced and he’s using mine.  I make a mental note to head straight to the store today to replace his toiletries.

At six o’clock sharp, he kisses me good-bye and climbs into his Porsche to make the drive down to the stadium.  He’s got a double practice today.  The game is in two days and there will be no practice tomorrow, just team meetings and planning.

After breakfast, I spend some time trying to fit my life into my new surroundings.  I carefully hang up the clothes that Reese brought me and fold the clothes from Camilla.  I step back and look at my pathetically empty closet.  Evan has exactly three items hanging, and I have only a few more than that.

This is the second time since I’ve known Evan that I’ve had to completely replace my wardrobe.  Everything happens in threes, so I try to guess what the next occasion will be.  First we had a lunatic ex-girlfriend go on a slashing spree.  Second we had a disgruntled employee turn into a firebug.  What’s next?  Wild animal attack?  Alien abduction?  Hopefully none of the above.

I choose a few dresser drawers to start unpacking Emmy’s donation and my face turns pink with embarrassment.  There are thongs galore, but not a single pair of panties.  The bag is filled with push-up padded bras and lingerie that leaves nothing to the imagination.  Last night, I slept in a t-shirt and shorts, but that won’t last long.  Since I’m going to be out shopping for Evan today, I may as well pick up a few things for myself, too.

By ten o’clock, Auggie is knocking on my door, bringing with him the final puzzle piece to make this house a home – Maddy.  She comes barreling towards me and I brace myself for the impact.  After she’s done reacquainting herself, I think I need another shower to clean off all the slobber.  Her little nub of a tail is wagging madly as she investigates her new surroundings.  Fortunately, the yard is fenced and we can let her run rampant.  I just hope she doesn’t decide to go for a swim in the river.

Auggie is fairly familiar with this house since he’s been showing it as a rental property for a few weeks now.  Very few renters can afford this type of a house and I’m grateful for it. He shows me how to work the thermostat, set the alarms, and even work the ovens.  I’m in my own personal heaven when I see that the kitchen has two ovens, a warming tray, a sub-zero refrigerator and a wet bar.  While we’re here, we can throw some awesome parties.

There are bouquets of flowers everywhere.  My mother made sure they were brought here from my hospital room for me to enjoy.  My favorite is the new arrangement of bright white gardenias, the ones Evan picked out for me.  These are my promise flowers.  Evan gave them to me when he proposed and they will be the ones I carry with me when I become his wife.

There are more bedrooms upstairs and a full basement below.  By some work of magic, Auggie managed to find us a rental property that has a home gym.  It’s not quite the same standard of equipment Evan has, but it’s all in working condition and ready for use. 

Just outside the home gym is the entrance to the back yard where there is some sort of a hot tub.  It’s considerably larger than any Jacuzzi I’ve ever seen, but it’s much too small to be a pool.  Auggie and I puzzle over it for a few, and we settle on the moniker, Pacuzzi – half pool, half Jacuzzi.

With three full floors of living, all surrounded by thickly wooded trees and shrubs, I decide to nickname our new home The Chateau.  It’s luxurious, spacious, and we’re just here as visitors.

I make us both a big glass of freshly squeezed lemonade, and we sit out on the veranda while Maddy romps around in the backyard.  “So, tell me about your travel plans.  You’re still flying out to see Lucas, right?” I ask.

“Hells, yeah.  My flight leaves late Saturday night.  I won’t be able to join your little group at Evan’s game.  Take lots of pictures and send them to me, okay.  I wish I could get to see the inside of that fancy suite he’s got.”

“I know, but there’s going to be lots of games for us to see together.”  I think about all Auggie and I have been through together.  He has always been there for me through all of it.  I would do anything for him.  He’s one of the most important people in my life.  Suddenly, I have an idea and I can’t wait to blurt it out.

“Auggie, will you be my Man of Honor?  When Evan and I get married, I want you there, beside me.  It will be perfect.  You’ll make sure I don’t turn into one of those Bridezillas.  And I know you’ll organize the most amazing shower ever.  Please say yes.”

“Jepetto, nothing would make me happier.  One question, though.”

“Anything, ask away.”

“Who’s going to tell Emmy?  She’s already planning your bachelorette party, just so you know.”

I explain to Auggie that Evan and I haven’t even chosen a date yet, so there’s plenty of time to work out the details.  Deep down inside, I can’t help but think that maybe letting Emmy handle the bachelorette party isn’t such a bad idea.

We spend the remainder of the day wandering around Freehold Mall leisurely collecting all the things I might need.  By the time we leave Nordstrom’s, both our arms are full of bags and boxes.  I can’t help but wonder if Evan is going to regret giving me my own Visa Black Card.

Auggie drops me off at Rush.  I’m not cooking tonight.  Evan is already here, waiting for me at the bar.  A hot trickle shivers through me when I see him.  When he spots me, he smirks, and I know exactly what he’s thinking.  He turns to welcome me, arms wide open and lips curled.  I press my mouth to his as his lips part and his tongue reaches for mine. I can’t help but drink him in. 

Forgetting we’re in a public place, I caress the nape of his neck as he holds me tightly.  “God, I’ve missed you,” he breathes onto my lips.  “I need to get you home and in bed.  It’s been entirely too long.”

“Oh, really?” I tease, feeling every bit as anxious as he.  “What do you have in mind?”

“I thought maybe you could be Little Red Riding Hood and I’d be the Big Bad Wolf trying to sink his teeth into you.”  Evan kisses my neck and nibbles on my ear.

“I don’t know,” I hiss into his ear, “the way I heard it the Big Bad Wolf was very big and very bad and he needs to be punished for his behavior.” 

Evan’s eyes grow wide with excitement.  He runs a finger seductively across my lips, down my chin, over my neck, and into the valley of my cleavage.  I grab his finger and admonish him.  “That’s exactly what I’m talking about.  This is a public place, and there will be none of that in my restaurant.”

“Uh-oh,” Evan mocks.  “I have been bad.  And I need to be stopped.  The sooner the better, before anyone gets hurt.” 

My mind drifts to images of him holding me, flesh against flesh, pressed firmly against the bed.  “Food first, I want you in top form,” I warn.

Evan grabs me by the wrist and drags me to the nearest table, a man on a mission.  “Order food, now,” he demands.

As we sit in the restaurant that we built together, sharing a meal, a warm flush runs through me.  I look into his piercing blue eyes and see him looking back at me with all the love and devotion every woman desires and deserves.  I whisper, “I love you.”

Evan grins and whispers back, “I love you more.”  It’s in little moments like these that make all the difficult times bearable.  It’s because of the darker times that we have had to endure that I know how good the good really is.

The moment we finish our meal, Evan hurries me to his car and he wastes no time in bringing us home.  As he drives, his hand drifts beneath my skirt and skims the thin fabric at the juncture of my thighs, teasing me with tiny strokes.  “Drive faster,” I urge him.

Evan sits on the edge of the bed, waiting.  I slip into the en-suite bathroom to change into one of Emmy’s sexy selections.  The soft white lace reminds me of the white pedals of my gardenias.  I slip on my red strappy stilettos that Evan loves so very much. 

When I step out, Evan is stripped of everything except his boxers, waiting patiently for my entrance.  He watches every step I make in silence, unmoving.  I walk right up to him, hoping for a reaction, but he just stares at me, biting his lip.