Maybe, despite her car in the drive, Jewel wasn’t home. But where could she have gone, especially if she was sick?
Heart thudding in his chest, he padded down the small hallway toward the single bedroom.
As soon as he entered the small room, he realized she was there, sleeping or unconscious. Staring, he also realized he was in big, big trouble as his body thickened.
Sprawled across the bed on top of the faded quilt, Jewel looked as beautiful and alluring as he remembered, maybe more so. Colton froze, unable to keep his gaze from drinking in the sight of her.
She was all right. He needed to go before she woke and saw him. He couldn’t blame her then if she called the police.
Stumbling, he made it out without disturbing her. Once he reached his truck, he sat inside, shocked at what he’d done.
He felt like a stalker.
Dragging a shaky hand across his face, he wondered what the hell was wrong with him. The more distance he put between himself and this woman, the better. He knew it. Yet he couldn’t seem to stay away.
Later, after a shower, he felt too restless to stay put. He needed a cold beer, or two or three. Pulling on a pair of jeans and boots, he headed to the highway and Jack’s Grill on the Water, his favorite place to grab a cold beer and shoot a game of pool. They had pretty decent burgers, too.
Once there, he found a group of locals hanging around the bar listening to a woman wail into the microphone while guitars twanged.
Conversation eventually turned to the new—and beautiful—single woman, Jewel Smith. Of course. Even the fates were against him. Resigned, he listened rather than contributing to the talk.
“I’ve seen her somewhere,” John Cassel muttered, staring into his beer bottle. “But I can’t remember where.”
The band started up again, drowning out what else John said, but Colton didn’t care. He knew the feeling. Once he could put a finger on where he’d seen her, maybe he could stop thinking about her.
He’d even dragged himself out to this bar, a place he used to come every week, though he’d stopped recently. But he needed a distraction, something to keep his mind on other things besides her. So far nothing, not even fishing, his favorite escape, had worked. Why not try noise and smoke, booze and inebriated, tanned women? What did he have to lose?
Christ. He rubbed his eyes. He’d already lost it all.
“What’s wrong?” Rick Bantam, newly elected mayor, punched Colton’s arm. “You look like someone died.”
“Nothing like that.” Despite his lighthearted tone, Colton’s insides clenched. Rick couldn’t know how his careless words stabbed him. After all, it had been two years. Normal people recovered in two years, right?
But then, Colton had never claimed to be normal.
“He’s just trying to remember where he’s seen Jewel Smith. We both think she looks familiar.” John tapped his foot in time to the music. His easy grin said he didn’t really care.
“You don’t remember her?” Rick’s bushy gray brows rose. “It’s only been six months since she was on the news.”
Colton sat up, carefully placing his beer bottle on the bar. “On the news? Are you telling me you know who she is?”
“Sure, man.” Rick leaned close, lowering his voice. “Though I’m willing to bet she doesn’t want anyone else to know. I’m surprised you didn’t place her, as obsessed as you are with stopping drugs.”
So his suspicionswereon target.
Suppressing the urge to grab the other man by the shirt, Colton waited. If he tried for nonchalance, he knew he’d fail, so he said nothing.
Neither did Rick. He sipped his beer while leisurely surveying the packed room.
Seconds ticked into minutes. Finally, Colton couldn’t take it anymore. “Who is she?”
Rick’s mild brown gaze met his. “Sorry. Despite the blond hair, Jewel Smith is a dead ringer for Julie Licciardoni, former wife of Leo Licciardoni. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about his trial.”
Colton hadn’t forgotten. How could he? The indictment, arrest and trial had been sensationalized in every media outlet, including his former employer’s.
“If I remember right, she entered the Witness Protection Program,” Rick continued. “That must be why she’s here, with a different name and hair color.”
“Excuse me.” Draining the last of his beer, Colton set the empty bottle down. “I’ve got to go.” Without waiting for Rick’s response, he pushed his way through the crowd toward the exit. Smoke curled around him, curdling his gut, stinging his eyes.
