I'll Be There Part 18

"You won't leave me?"

His arms tightened around her. Jenny eased back, framing his face with her hands. Emotion softened his harsh features as his dark gaze devoured her face. She closed her eyes against the intense rush of feelings a.s.saulting her.

"Cord?" she whispered against his cheek.

His mouth captured hers, hot and open. She met him with an intensity of her own, knowing no other way to express all that she felt for him in this moment. Jenny Thompson was not a romantic, but their bodies fit perfectly, their kiss a ch.o.r.eographed dance she'd waited her whole life to experience. Their bodies moved restlessly, frustrated by clothing and need.

"Everything okay down there?" Cole called from the top of the stairs.

The interruption shocked them into breaking the kiss, but they still held each other close, both unwilling to let the other go.

"Cord? Jenny?"

"Yeah," Cord said, his voice rough, husky. s.e.xy as h.e.l.l. "She's fine. We'll be right up."

Her head fell back as Cord imprinted her neck with his kiss and they heard Cole's footsteps recede to the front of the house.

"Dear G.o.d..." he said.

She pulled at the leather holding his hair in place; it felt like fine silk sliding through her fingers, his kiss like fire branding her. Jenny moaned, longing for more, but knowing they had to let each other go. What a cruel twist; to finally find this when her life was no longer her own.

Jenny stepped back. Pulling herself together was not possible, but she could pretend. She looked at Cord, so dark and appealing, his desire for her evident, and she faltered. This was what it meant to be truly powerless.

"Jenny..."

He was only an arm's length away. She smiled and took his hand. "Let's go."

Cord squeezed her hand and led the way up the stairs like he wanted to put himself between her and any potential harm that might surprise them. But in the kitchen, it was empty and silent. He pulled out a chair and she sat, not because she was tired or ill, but because she didn't think her legs would hold her any longer given what she'd just experienced with Cord.

He squeezed her shoulders, like he didn't want to break contact with her. "I'll just go see-"

Cole came into the kitchen followed by Grady. Taking in Cord's hands on Jenny, his gaze skidded to hers and back to Cord's. When Cord crossed his arms, but didn't move, Grady said, "Um, our guests are on their way to the jail. I'll be extending our hospitality to them, and then hopefully, tomorrow, the TBI will be here when we question them. Of course, tonight, we'll offer them a deal if they turn state's evidence. Just a little something for them to sleep on."

"What about Jenny?" Cord said, but had to wait for his answer when Grady's phone began ringing.

He pulled the cell out of his pocket. "Sheriff."

Frowning, he said, "Miss Estelee? Is everything all right?... I'm in the middle of something. Can I call you back?"

Grady looked at Jenny, his eyebrows rising.

"Who told you that?... Well, as a matter of fact, I do, but-Miss Estelee? Ma'am?"

He disconnected the phone. "What was that about?" Jenny asked.

"After all these years, nothing about that woman should surprise me, but-" He broke off, staring at the phone before he pocketed it.

"What?" Jenny repeated.

"She told me to bring the folks I have, that need a place to stay, over to her place."

"You're kidding," Cord said.

Jenny, Grady and Cole all started laughing.

"I don't understand," Cord said.

"Miss Estelee is Angel Ridge's oldest resident," Jenny supplied. "She's a bit unusual in that she turns up in odd places at odd times, and, well, she seems to know what's going to happen before it happens. No one can really explain it."

"You mean like a granny woman," Cord said.

"Yeah," Cole agreed. "Like those women from the mountains that just knew things-like how to cure sickness, when a baby would be born or someone had died."

"Or when someone was coming," Jenny added.

"She's got two rooms ready," Grady said.

They all laughed again, shaking their heads.

"Good thing you're familiar with mountain ways, Goins," Cole said.

Cord nodded. Jenny fitted another piece of his puzzle in place.

"It's as safe a place as any," Grady said. "I can't imagine anyone daring to intrude on Miss Estelee. The wrath of G.o.d and a host of angels would be likely to fall on anyone who did."

"Still, you know there will be more coming in behind that bunch you just hauled off."

"Yeah. I just called our friend, Jay Kennedy, with the Bureau and asked him to contact the Highway Patrol to seal all roads leading into Angel Ridge until we can move Jenny out of here."

"That'll draw attention," Cord grumbled.

"That ship's sailed, Goins. They know she's here."

"What if they're already here?"

"Hopefully, that four was it. But just in case, me and the boys I brought here will be combing every square inch of Angel Ridge tonight making sure that's not the case."

Jenny looked up at Cord. As if sensing her need for him, he turned to her. She held his gaze for a moment, trying to rea.s.sure him. "I'll be fine at Miss Estelee's as long as you're there with me." She noticed Grady and Cole exchanging a look in her peripheral vision. Cord looked at her for a long moment. She could tell something was holding him back. "You said you'd stay with me," she reminded.

He looked away from her and asked, "Sheriff, how will we get her there without drawing attention?"

"Like you said, thanks to the weather, whoever is here is here. I'll go with you to Miss Estelee's, and if anyone follows, all the better. They'll fall right into our hands. Once our guests are settled in lock up, I'll have my men come back and clear our route."

"I don't like it," Cord grumbled. "We should just stay here."

"This position is harder to secure. We'll block the south end of Ridge Road, which goes by Miss Estelee's house and leads to Main. Then we can put another block at Main and Lower Ridge Road. This way all of Ridge Road and downtown will be sealed."

"He's right," Jenny said. She looked at Grady. "When can we go?"

"As soon as Woody calls. Are you feeling okay? Cord said you'd been ill."

"I'm a little tired, but I feel much better."

"I'll call the doc to have him check you out, just the same."

"Can I get you anything?" Cole said.

Hope sprang into her chest. "Do you have Diet c.o.ke?"

He chuckled, went to the cabinet, got a gla.s.s and then removed a two-liter bottle from the fridge and set both in front of her. She felt like a kid at Christmas! It had been so long since she'd had her favorite drink.

"Can I get you anything else? Something to eat?"

She shook her head, already uncapping the drink, and poured it into her gla.s.s. It was all she could do to keep from drinking out of the bottle while she waited for the fizz to subside. The chilled liquid hit the back of her throat and burned all the way to her stomach. The carbonation and caffeine zinged through her body. "Mmm... that is so good."

Cord looked like he'd been punched in the stomach. Jenny frowned. What in the world?

"Cord? What's wrong?" she asked.

"We're all set," Grady said. "Let's roll."

Jenny looked at her half-filled gla.s.s longingly.

"Take the gla.s.s and the bottle with you," Cole offered.

Jenny stood, tucked the two-liter bottle in the crook of her arm and took another sip of her drink. Smiling, she said, "I feel almost human again. Let's go."

Cord took Jenny's arm and didn't release her until she was seated in his Jeep. He even buckled her in. Instead of being offended at being treated like she was helpless, she felt cared for. It was a nice feeling. "Thank you," she said as he slid in behind the wheel.

His face was set in hard lines as he started the engine and put it in gear. It was like he'd turned into another person as soon as they stepped outside. When he had moved the car out behind Grady's without comment, Jenny said, "So, you've gone quiet and intense because?"

He swung his dark gaze in her direction, still silent.

"What's with the look of death?" Guessing that he was now regretting what had happened between them, she said, "You kissed me. And in case you're interested, I'm not sorry, but clearly you have feelings on the matter."

"It should have never happened."

"He speaks! Unfortunately, he speaks nonsense. And you can glare at me all you want, but it won't change anything."

"Right. Let's stick to the facts. You're a protected witness in danger. When the weather clears, you'll be moved again, and eventually, you'll be set up somewhere with a new ident.i.ty to begin your new life. That makes that kiss a mistake. I promised to protect you, not take advantage of you."

"My situation does not preclude connections from being formed or feelings from developing. And you didn't take advantage of me. I willingly partic.i.p.ated, in case you didn't notice."

"There are no feelings. No connection. I crossed a line, and I'm sorry."

"Have you always been this stoic or is it a new development?"

No response other than his knuckles whitening on the steering wheel.

"I'm guessing that what led you to choose the life that you have involved feeling too much. I suppose it makes it easier to live alone if you never feel anything for anyone. But now that you've allowed yourself a moment to feel something with me, it messes up your nice, ordered existence where you're in complete control."

"You should hang a shingle."

"I read people for a living, Cord. Don't fault me for being good at what I do."

He retreated back into silence. Jenny decided she'd pushed hard enough, for now. She sipped her drink as they made slow progress to town. She had another day before she'd be moved, maybe two. Cord had saved her life. She planned to do whatever she could, in the time she had left with him, to save his.

Chapter 15.

"Come in, come in." The little woman with softly curling gray hair greeted them at the front door to her home. "I been expecting you. Come warm yourself by the pot belly stove."

Jenny couldn't help noting that Miss Estelee didn't seem at all surprised to find her alive and well.

"I can't thank you enough for taking us in." Jenny looked over at Cord who was presently scoping the place, locating exits, noting each window and making sure she wasn't standing in plain sight of them. To that end, he closed the door.

"Well, thank you, dear," Miss Estelee said to him. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Miss Estelee."

She held out her hand and Cord took it. "Cord Goins."

"Of course you are," she said. "I've seen you in town, before and after."

Jenny wondered what that meant, but half of what Miss Estelee said didn't make much sense. "Even though I shouldn't be here, it's good to be home. I just wish it was under different circ.u.mstances."

The older lady took Jenny's hand and led her into the parlor. "Now don't you worry none about that. It's all gonna turn out just fine. You'll see. Young man, take those bags upstairs. There's four bedrooms up there. Take whichever you'd like. I have a room down here, because the arthritis in my knees makes the stairs something I'd just as soon avoid. Sit, sit," she said to Jenny. "I'll get the tea."

Left alone, Jenny shrugged Cord's coat off. The small wood stove that stood in the corner of the room emitted cozy warmth. Gleaming hardwoods, throw rugs, Victorian furniture and knickknacks filled the s.p.a.ce. On closer inspection, there were angel figurines everywhere; on the tables, in cabinets, in paintings that hung on the walls.

"Here we are."

Miss Estelee returned with a tray that held a pot, three cups, and sugar cookies. Miss Estelee's sugar cookies were legendary in town. She set the tray on a low table and poured two cups. Placing a long thin cookie on the saucer, she handed it to Jenny.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Please. Call me Miss Estelee. Everybody does."

"I'm sorry I didn't have time to get to know you better, before. I would have liked that."

"Yes, that was you. Always running from one thing to the next. Things are a mite different now, I s'ppose."

Jenny smiled. "I prefer the running I did before to the type I'm forced to do now, I can tell you that." Jenny sipped her tea. "If you don't mind me saying, you don't seem surprised to see me."