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He stopped in his tracks, his hand on the doorknob and his keys in hand. He turned to look at me, and the vulnerability I saw in his eyes was almost my undoing. He was always so strong. Such a stable part of my life. But I’d hurt him when I’d left, and I’d hurt him even more by not letting him know that I recognized the power and importance of what we had between us. I hadn’t told him I loved him, at least not in that way, but now wasn’t the time. I wanted to make it special the first time I told him. I wanted to do something for him for a change.
His hand dropped off the doorknob and he held it out to me, making me come to him this time.
“I guess I should’ve offered to feed you sooner,” he said. “Do you mean it? No more looks of panic at the thought of letting me love you? No more ducking your head when we’re driving through town so you don’t have to look at the people talking about us?”
My lips twitched. “I didn’t think you’d know what I was doing.”
“You’re a private person, Jaye. With personal demons. I can respect your space and your need for that privacy. I have that same need, which is why I think we won’t kill each other when we take the next steps in our relationship.”
“It’s just happened really fast. I’m still getting used to it.”
“It’s happened over a lifetime, and it won’t be as big of a deal as you think it will. We’ve loved each other forever, whether you’re ready to say it or not.” He pressed his finger against my lips before I could get the words out to try and explain. “You don’t have to say it if you’re not ready. I don’t need to hear them. I know you love me.”
I stepped into his embrace, my eyes wet with emotion, and a love for him so strong I wasn’t sure how I’d ever be able to hold it all inside. He deserved to know my feelings. The time and place didn’t matter—there didn’t need to be candlelight and romance.
I took his face in my hands and tilted his head down so we saw eye to eye. “I do love you, Jack. You’ve been the only person in my life I’ve ever said that to. And you’ll be theonlyperson from here on I’ll ever say it to.”
I saw the emotion flood his eyes before he pulled me back into his arms. “I lied,” he whispered. “I needed to hear you say it.” He kissed me once, lingering and tasting, telling me without words everything he was feeling. “But you have lousy timing, because all I want to do now is make love to you.”
“Our last bout should hold you until we’re done talking with Greg Vance.” He held the door open for me and we went out to the cruiser. I paused with my hand wrapped around the door handle and said, “Hey, Jack.”
He looked across the top of the cruiser at me, a question in his eyes.
“I’d like to sleep in your bed tonight.”
He smiled and said, “Our bed.”
“Our bed,” I repeated. I knew no matter where I was, that I’d sleep well with Jack beside me.
Chapter Twenty-One
Greg Vance Jr. lived in an area called the Upper Fan in the West End section of Richmond. It was named that because it was shaped like a fan (go figure), and anyone who was anyone knew that if you lived in Richmond, then that was the place to be.
Unfortunately, Greg Vance wasn’t at home when we came by to pay him a visit. His wife—a very nice woman in her mid-thirties who hadn’t looked like she’d given birth to three children—answered the door. She told us Greg had been called to close the dealership because his manager had gone home sick. She very proudly told us he was the only dealership in the state that was open on Sundays.
“She was very—nice,” I said as we headed toward the dealership. “She came to the door in an apron and smelled like gingerbread. What’s up with that? It’s not 1950.”
“You and I are the cynical ones. Sometimes people really are just—nice,” he said. “But I bet she called him as soon as we drove away. He’ll be expecting us now.”
We pulled into the dealership parking lot right at eight o’clock, and it looked like everything was being shut down for the evening.
“Geez, the whole thing must take up an entire block,” I said. “I’ve never seen so many cars.”
“It would certainly explain the hefty amount of money in his checking account.”
Jack parked the cruiser right in front of the glass double doors that led into the dealership. I’d just opened the door to get out when a man came out to meet us. He didn’t look anything like his father. In fact, he looked like a perfect match for his wife. He smiled showing off expensive dental work, and he held out his hand, first to Jack, and then me, as we got closer.
“You must be Sheriff Lawson,” Greg Vance said. “My wife called and told me you were looking to talk to me.”
“This is Doctor Graves,” Jack said. “She’s the coroner for King George County.”
“Good to meet you,” Greg said. He pulled out a stick of gum and folded it into his mouth. “I’m trying to quit smoking. Some days are easier than others. Come on in to my office and we can get comfortable. Would you like any coffee? I’ve already got a pot made.”
“I would,” I said, before Jack could decline for the both of us.
“Well, come on in and get out of the damp. I think it’s supposed to rain again.”
He turned around and headed back inside and I raised my eyebrows at Jack. Greg Vance wasnotwhat I’d expected. He was about Jack’s size, and it was obvious he kept himself in good shape by the look of his bulging arms and flat stomach. He looked like the All-American male, down to the blond hair and blue eyes. He wore charcoal slacks and a light blue polo that had the dealership logo over the heart.
