WhiskeyBottleLover (22 page)

“Everything’s perfect,” she said, ignoring him. “Just the
way I left it.” More tears streamed down her cheeks. “I can’t imagine what
could have started it. I know I didn’t leave anything on.”

“Chance,” he said, moving toward her. “It was set on
purpose.”

She ran to her torches, checked the valves and then moved on
to her welder. It wasn’t even plugged in. “I don’t understand. Wiring, maybe?”

He grabbed her, gave one hard shake and waited until her
gaze locked with his. “It was set on purpose,” he repeated.

“What?”

“Someone tried to burn your barn down, Chance. Arson.”

She blinked a few times, stared into his eyes and then shook
her head. “It can’t be,” she whispered. “Who would do something like that?”

It had to be the shock of it all. Chance wasn’t stupid.
She’d fit all the pieces together, all he had to do was give her one last
piece. “Bill drove by the store tonight, damn near stopped in the middle of the
road.”

“What?”

Patiently he waited. He could almost see it fitting together
in her mind.

“The truck that ran us off the road.”

He nodded. In a matter of seconds the fury hit, vibrating
off her body.

“That fucking bastard,” she growled. “That sick, twisted
piece of shit. I’ll kill him!”

“You aren’t gonna kill him.” Hayes tried to pull her into a
protective embrace but she slapped his hands and arms away.

“You’re right. I’ll call the police.” Chance turned on her
heel and took one step before he stopped her.

“And tell them what? That you came home and found you barn
on fire? Look at it, darlin’. No sign of fire. They won’t believe you.”

Her gaze darted around as her jaw clenched. Probably not the
right time to notice how sexy she was angry, but he did. Talk about sick and
twisted.

“Then I’m going over there and making sure he knows that I
know what he did.”

The way she said it, slowly, deliberately and with so much
malice it turned his blood cold, gave him a scare. She’d do it. No doubt. And
what would happen when she got there? What would Bill do with her on his
property? The possibilities turned his stomach.

“Calm down, Chance.” He put as much calmness into his voice
as possible. “We need to think this through.”

“Like hell! He tried to burn my barn down. He deliberately
tried to destroy my work. He’s always saying how I can’t make a living doing
what I do. I need a man to take care of me. Well, guess what? I don’t need a
man.” She jerked out of his hold, took a few steps back and glared at him.

“No. You don’t.” Her words hurt, cut like a knife, but he
knew she needed this burst of realization. It would be easier for her in the
end. “But goin’ over there is only gonna give him more ammunition to hurt you,
Chance. I don’t want that to happen. Besides, how are you gonna explain to him
how the fire got put out and you have absolutely no damage?”

“Well, what am I supposed to do? Act like it didn’t happen?”

She combed her fingers through her hair out of frustration.
He understood. “Yes.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Listen to me. Call the police and report seein’ him on your
property. Tell them you want them to know he’s been snoopin’ around. That way,
after I’m gone, if anythin’ does happen he’ll be their first suspect.”

Her eyes went wide, scary wide, and her mouth twisted into a
frightening snarl. “When you’re gone. Just like everyone else, Hayes? Put in
your time and leave me?” She stormed past him toward the door and stopped
before stepping out. “What does it matter if I go over there now? So he beats
me to a pulp and violates me. At least I’ll have something to charge him with
then. Right? No skin off your nose either way. You don’t give a damn. Lucky
you, I only have one more wish.”

A surge of anger swept through him, filling every nook and
cranny of his body. Where did she get off? He turned, ready to tear into her,
but she was gone. Fear quickly mingled with the anger. He popped himself
outside and saw her opening the car door. Jesus, she was actually going to do
it. He couldn’t let her. The thought of that sick slime touching her, it made
his brain burn.

“Chance!” he boomed and then closed the distance between
them in a heartbeat. “Get out of the car,” he roared. As soon as he reached for
the door handle, pain exploded in his gut. It stole his breath, causing him to
double over. Breathing through it, he slammed his fist down on the hood. “Get.
Out. Of. The. Car.”

“Go away, Hayes,” she shouted, inside. “This doesn’t concern
you anymore. You’ve already made up your mind to leave me. Let me handle this
on my own.”

The engine started. His heart dropped down into his gut. If
he tried to stop her again, he’d be punished. He couldn’t help her if his
insides were being pureed. The only thing he could do was play to her
compassionate side. “Don’t make me suffer, Chance. I will and you know it. I’ll
stop you and I’ll pay for it. Is that what you want?”

“Don’t stop me.” She put the car in reverse.

“I can’t let you go over there and get hurt, damn it! I
can’t go on livin’ knowin’ he touched you again.” Another spear of pain shot
through his chest, dropping him to his knees. Steam rolled off his wrists and
he didn’t care. He’d gladly suffer to keep her from putting herself in danger.

Chance jumped out of the car and slammed the door while
letting loose a string of curses. “Stop it,” she whined. “Just stop. You’re
hurting yourself.”

“I don’t care,” he snarled through the pain. “Damn it,
Chance, don’t you see? I love you and I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep you
safe even if it means dying.”

Silence filled the air. The seconds ticked by as the pain
subsided, which meant she’d changed her mind about leaving. Thank whoever for
it.

“You love me,” she repeated in a deadpan voice. “You have a
funny way of showing it. Ya know, Hayes. I may not have had the best childhood
but in all the homes I lived in, all the families who took care of me, none of
them ever said those words to me and I’m grateful for it. Know why?” She knelt
down beside him. “Because they had the decency not to lie to me,” she snarled.

Chance got to her feet, stomping her way toward the house.
He slouched forward in relief. At least she’d gotten the idea of confronting
Bill out of her head. Then her words sank in past the pain and fear. Chance had
never been told she was loved. He had the privilege of being the first and she
didn’t believe him. And so what if she did? He couldn’t stay to prove it to her
every day.

But he could right now. He could show her that he honestly
did love her. Maybe in some small way it would help after he left. He struggled
to his feet and braced himself on the car, letting the pain roll through him.
After a few moments everything settled. His gooey organs seemed to shift into
place and though he didn’t feel perfect, he could at least move.

Calling on his power, he put himself at the door. At first
he reached for the knob but pulled his hand back. She thought he was lying. He
couldn’t ever recall saying those words to anyone. If he did, he was damn sure
he didn’t feel the way he did about her. Did she honestly think he wanted to
leave her? Couldn’t she see he had no choice? This wasn’t a game. Anger grew
over the situation. He hated it, the world, everything and especially Bill.

The shackles trickled information into him. He could stay.
All she had to do was wish for him to be her servant. That’s all it would take.
Sure, he’d watch her grow old but they’d have years together. He’d take that.
Once she passed to the other side, he’d go back to his bottle. Yeah, that was
the answer.

The door burst open. Chance jumped, glared at him and then
turned her back, trying to escape to her bedroom. It wasn’t happening. They
were going to work this out now. He appeared at the opening of her small
hallway. She jumped again, muttered a curse and turned away.

Desperate and frustrated, Hayes reached out and grabbed her
arm gently. “I wanna stay, Chance. Isn’t that clear to you by now? I want you.”

She took a deep breath, letting her shoulders sag. “You want
your freedom,” she whispered. “I get that, Hayes. I don’t blame you. I’ve been
trying to figure out how to make that happen. Just, please,” she said, with a
hitch to her voice. “Don’t lie to me. Don’t use those words to manipulate me.”

“I’m not lying,” he stated firmly and with conviction. “I
meant them and I’ll say them again. I love you, Chance.”

A jagged, sad sob broke his heart. He couldn’t stop himself.
He had to hold her. Hayes took two steps, gripped her arms and pulled her back
against his chest and wrapped her in a tight embrace. “You may never have heard
those words from anyone but I’ve never spoken them to anyone. I’m sure of it.
There are some things the heart doesn’t forget.”

“Stop,” she pleaded but made no effort to distance herself
from him.

“I won’t stop, darlin’. The thought of never seein’ you
again, it hurts worse than any punishment the shackles could ever deliver.”

She turned in his arms, placed her hands on his chest and
gazed up into his face. “Then why do you keep reminding me you’re leaving?”

“My sweet, Chance, it’s a reality we have to face.” With one
hand he cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb over her soft flesh. “There could
be a way,” he told her.

Chance froze. “What do you mean?”

“I can stay, all you have to do is make the right wish.”

She shook her head, jerked away from him and took a few
steps back. “No.”

“I want to stay with you, Chance. I want a life with you.
Let me tell you what to wish for and we can have it.”

“You really want to be a servant?” she shot back at him. “Is
that the kind of life you want?”

He blinked, rocked back on his heels and stared at her in
surprise. How did she know?

“Didn’t think I knew that, did you? I know a hell of a lot
more than you think. I won’t do it.” She went to the kitchen, pulled a glass
out of the cupboard and then retrieved a bottle of wine. After filling it
almost to the rim, she drank down half.

“It’s the only way,” he repeated. “Unless it’s you who
doesn’t want me?” Could it be? Had he misunderstood it all?

“No, it isn’t the only way.” She drank down more of her
wine, slammed the glass on the counter and whirled around, pinning him with a
determined stare. “And I think you know better than to suggest I’m not the one
who wants you. I don’t give myself freely, Hayes. I guard my heart, yes, but
I’m not stupid enough to let the best thing I’ve ever come across walk away without
a fight.”

And didn’t she look as though she was ready to walk into an
arena and take on a thousand warriors? Pride and love crowded his chest so
tightly it brought tears to his eyes. “Then make the wish, please.”

“I won’t do it,” she snapped back at him.

“I’m running out of time.” Standing here arguing with her
wore on him. Hell, he felt half the man he’d been as a mortal. Two days max and
he’d fade away to nothing. “It’s the only way.”

“It isn’t the only way,” she insisted. “I can free you. I
just have to figure a few more things out. Please, Hayes,” she pleaded, coming
toward him. “Hang on a little longer.”

God, she was stubborn. “I don’t have any control over this,
Chance. It’s out of my hands. The only other way for me to be free is to put
someone else in the bottle. Tell me you’re okay with that. Search your heart
and tell me you can live with rippin’ someone out of their life and confinin’
them to that,” he said, pointing to his bottle. “Do you honestly think you can
live with that decision for the rest of your life?”

Her gaze jerked away from his. A soft, luscious pout came
over her lips and he knew he’d been right all along. She couldn’t do it.
“That’s what I thought. That leaves only one choice.”

Chance pulled out a chair at the table, slowly sitting as if
in pain. A vacant look filled her eyes. He cursed himself for putting her
through this. Once again he damned fate for its cruelty.

“I can’t fathom growing old while you stay the same,” she
said. “Eventually you’ll grow to resent me for it. I’ll lose my senses and hate
you for your youth. What would we tell people? We’d have to move often to keep
suspicion away.” She gave a sad little laugh. “It all sounds like a bad
made-for-television movie.”

Hayes went to her, crouched down next to the chair and took
her trembling hands in his. “We’ll make it work, darlin’. I know we can.” He
couldn’t stand the sadness in her face. It tore at him, shredded his insides
worse than anything he’d ever suffered.

Hayes pulled her from the chair, helped her to stand and
then slipped her coat from her shoulders. Once he had it off he tossed it
aside, reaching out to hold her face in his hands. “We can do it,” he whispered
and then took her lips in a soft, tender kiss.

She responded quickly with a tiny sob. As he feasted on her
sweet, addictive lips, his hands worked her sweater up. It took some
maneuvering but he managed to get her arms out of the sleeves. A quick break
from the kiss and he had the material over her head and gone. He wanted her.
Had to show her how much he needed her.

His hands slipped around her side, found the hook of her bra
and released it as he kissed the column of her neck. Chance tilted her head to
give him better access, worked the buttons on his shirt and frantically shoved
the garment down his arms. They both fumbled with the buttons on their jeans,
him moving faster. Once he had the denim wiggled down her hips, he lifted her
and sat her butt on the table.

“I feel like I can’t breathe without you,” he said, pulling
her boots off and then her jeans. “Don’t make me suffocate for an eternity.”
Hayes gently pushed against her shoulder until she lay back on the table.

Once he had her where he wanted her, he kissed his way down
her shoulder until he captured one sweet nipple between his lips. Chance shoved
her fingers in his hair, crying out when he sucked. He wanted to hear that
sound for the next fifty years or so. He wanted to taste her on a daily basis.