Page 29

K age

Less than thirty minutes later I was back at the store. As soon as I walked inside, the woman behind the counter turned her head in my direction. Her reaction was entirely different than what I’d faced at the drug store. She had a bright smile on her face. “You must be our new neighbor.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re Henry Rollins’ nephew, Kage. Right?”

Fuck. “Yeah, I am. I’m looking for a woman who came in here about thirty minutes ago. Copper hair. The brightest blue eyes you’ve ever seen. Hourglass figure.”

She laughed. I’d never seen the woman before and her telling me we were neighbors meant nothing since there was a huge horse farm beside me miles away and every other property near me had at least fifty acres if not more.

I also had a private road stretching for almost a mile.

For anyone to know I was living there meant someone in town had talked.

I wasn’t interested in learning her name.

“You must mean Corabelle.”

“I’m sorry?”

“She came in wearing a bright floral dress telling me you two just got back from your honeymoon and the luggage was lost?” She peered at me skeptically. “Congratulations. I know you two didn’t have time to get settled into your new home before you left on your trip. I hope she loves living here.”

My jaw was clenched to the point stars were flashing in front of my eyes. “That’s her.” At least she’d used a different name, but honeymoon? Was she kidding me?

“She’s in the dressing room. And I have everything else she purchased right here. I’ll ring them up in just a few moments.”

I glanced at the stack of items and another wave of fury crested right below the surface. There had to be two thousand dollars’ worth of clothes. How the hell had she shopped so fast and rung up such a bill?

“Thank you. If you don’t mind, I’ll just hang around.” My voice sounded clipped.

“Of course. You can have a seat over there if you’d like.” She pointed to a huge stuffed red chair placed just in front of a three-way mirror. Like hell I was going to sit down like I was patiently waiting.

So I paced the floor. That’s what I did when I was in a mood, which had occurred on a regular basis.

Fortunately, less than five minutes later Juliette walked out of the dressing room. I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and turned my head in her direction. I’d be damned if I didn’t have my breath stolen again.

I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t for her to change here on the spot.

She appeared to be an entirely different person and under the lights with the makeup and light blush on her cheeks, her entire face was shimmering.

Long dark lashes skimmed across her cheeks as soon as she noticed me.

She laughed and glanced down at herself.

Holy fuck.

She’d managed to slide into a tight pair of black jeans, adding a bright red sweater that should clash with her copper penny hair, but the combination was irresistible.

The sweater was soft, clinging to her breasts, even the slightest movement highlighting them perfectly.

She’d even found a stunning pair of cowboy boots.

Not too over the top, just the right addition for the outfit.

I took a deep breath and she seemed pleased at my reaction. When she swaggered closer, I looked away on purpose. The last thing I wanted to do was give her the wrong impression.

“What do you think?” she asked, spinning in a complete circle.

“I think you spent too much of my money.”

Pouting wasn’t her style. She leaned in and gave me a hard look instead. “I could just walk around naked all day if that’s what you’d prefer, honey bunchkins.”

“What the hell did you call me?”

“Well, since we’re married, we need pet names for each other.” As if to add insult to injury, she leaned in, one hand on my chest, the other on my arm, rose onto her tiptoes and kissed my lips. That was when I gathered the first whiff of whatever perfume she’d selected.

Floral, but light with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon.

My skin would be tainted with the stuff before the end of the day. “Where the fuck did you get that perfume?” I snarled, shocking her.

“Jesus. It’s my favorite perfume. Not expensive. I didn’t think you’d mind.” She recoiled enough I almost felt guilty from my reaction.

Almost.

“Fine. Whatever. Have it your way.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, her tone dripped of contempt as she squeezed my arm, moving away.

I spun on my heel, heading to the register, already reaching for my wallet.

“Grace, the clothes are fabulous. Thank you for all your help.”

They were on a first-name basis. Great.

“I’m glad you found a few things, Corabelle. I hope you two are incredibly happy together,” Grace said as she added items to a bag, leaving some on hangers. “Good luck with getting your ring sized.”

“I’m certain we will and I admit I miss having it on my finger. My honey bunchkins spared no expense,” Juliette cooed and slipped her arm under mine.

I stiffened but said nothing. I wasn’t certain what I could say to make this nightmare go away.

“There you go. You’re all set.”

As before, I carried most of the weight as we headed to the truck. To my relief, she remained quiet, but I noticed she was scanning the street.

“Married,” I grumbled.

“I’m sorry about the alias. She started asking questions and I’m not a very good liar. I had to come up with something.”

“It’s alright. Just don’t advertise it.”

“I won’t.”

I followed her gaze and groaned. “What?”

“Do you think we could have a drink at the bar over there?”

Jasper’s was the bar she was talking about. The odds of there being a problem were small. Maybe giving in would keep her off my back for a little while. I continued glowering. Was the risk worth the reward?

“Just one,” she pushed.

“Fine. Sure. Come on, Tank.”

“They allow dogs?”

“This bar does.”

“I think I like it already.”

As we crossed the street, I was aware her knee was still bothering her and slowed down.

“Don’t you have a leash?” she asked.

“Yeah, I do, but Tank isn’t going to run away.”

“You sure of that?”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure. We’ve bonded.”

“You know what? He’s a sweet dog. Surprising given how grouchy you are.”

I snorted as I opened the door. “Not what you said two days ago.”

“A lot has changed in two days.”

“So it has.” The place smelled of old wood, stale liquor, and cigarette smoke, although a sign was posted about no smoking being allowed. Maybe I was being a gentleman or just keeping up the act she’d created, but I kept my hand on the small of her back as I led her to the long bar.

“Well, if it isn’t our newest local hero,” Jarvis said as soon as we approached the bar. “And who is this lovely creature? I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“Very funny,” I groused.

She slipped onto a barstool, studying the two of us with a gleam in her eye.

Tank woofed, announcing his presence.

“Tank. Hey, boy. I wasn’t certain if I’d ever see you again, buddy.” He leaned over the bar and Tank jumped up, planting his two front paws on the bar’s surface.

“You know Tank?” she asked.

“Sure do. A Marine used to own him. They were inseparable. How’s he doing?” Jarvis scratched behind his ears.

“Doing great. Tennis balls. That’s the key.”

“What happened to the Marine? Why did he give up his dog?” she asked, darting her head from Tank back to me.

Jarvis looked at me as if asking permission to tell her. I shrugged in response.

“Killed in the line of duty. Broke his heart to leave his dog behind.” Jarvis was straightforward with the information.

She sat back, a forlorn look on her face. “That’s terrible.” When she looked at me again, I could tell she was searching for more answers.

She wasn’t going to find anything she wanted to hear.

“What can I get the two of you?” Jarvis reached under the bar, pulling out a canister. Tank sniffed out what he was getting, his tail thumping back and forth. The older man was playful, teasing the pup before giving him the biscuit.

“Red wine if you have it,” Juliette told him. Her pretty face was pinched.

“Just a Budweiser and a whiskey chaser.” I shook my head as I watched Tank inhale the dog treat.

“You got it. Starting a tab?”

“Just one drink,” I told him.

Jarvis nodded, walking away.

Juliette shifted in her seat, trying to act like she was interested in the bar. There was no doubt she had something else on her mind.

“What?” I barked.

“The perfume. What’s the deal?”

How the hell was I supposed to answer that? Briefly, my mind wandered to the last time I’d inhaled the sweet perfume. The pain was still fresh. “Nothing. Just not into flowers.”

“What are you into?”

“Nothing that would interest you.”

Jarvis returned, the old geezer studying our interaction way too carefully. “How’s your uncle’s place treating you?”

“Haven’t really done much with the cabin. Still unsure if I want to sell.”

“You can’t do that, son. Henry really wanted you to have the place.” Jarvis shook his head. “You know, he talked about you all the time.”

“You’re shitting me.” I finally sat down next to her, avoiding her gaze. “Why the hell would he do that? He and my father didn’t exactly get along.”

He poured Juliette’s wine, sliding the glass in her direction.

“Families are tragedies waiting to happen. That much I know personally. Still, that’s all he would talk about.

Through you he lived another chapter of his life.

He loved the Navy, and was so proud of you for joining, but he was a lonely man. ”

“My father barely mentioned Henry served in the Navy.” I thought about the collection of photographs, another wave of guilt just below the surface.