Heartland (11 page)

“I don’t like crowds. When they start to get too close I’m reminded of my last mission.”

Her father telling her about EJ being involved with a hostage crisis in Jerusalem came to mind. “You have flashbacks?”

He snapped his gaze to her. “Not as much anymore, but they still happen.”

She swallowed and leaned against the shelves. “I had nightmares for about two years after Mike tried to kidnap me and shot my dad. One of my counselors said I had PTSD.”

He snorted and rubbed the back of his neck. “I know I did.”

“Want to talk about it?”

He shifted to stand in front of her, effectively blocking her escape. “No.”

Before she could comprehend what was happening, his lips settled over hers. She gasped, and he took the opening she provided to sweep his tongue into her mouth. He tasted of coffee and hot, sweet man. She wanted him, but needed to fight him. When he suckled on her bottom lip, she couldn’t find the strength to deny her desire. She dueled with his tongue and snaked her hands round his waist while he held her head between his warm, strong hands and deepened the kiss to toe-curling hot.

* * * *

EJ pulled out of their sensual kiss lightheaded and wanting much more. His breathing came hard, and his senses filled with her fragrance of soft lilac and lilies. He held her face between his hands and stared into the deep jade pools of her eyes, but instead the passion they’d shared reflected in them, sorrow shined back at him.

Damn, what had he done?

He took a breath and stepped away from her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

She touched his arm, and he turned to meet her haunted gaze. “EJ, I can’t be more than your friend.”

Did she still love the rock star? He ran his hand through his hair and put some distance between them. Fuck, what did he care if she was in love with someone else? She was pregnant with another man’s baby. He couldn’t let himself feel anything for her. She’d end up hurting him like his wife had.

“I’m pregnant and it wouldn’t be fair to you or my baby to get involved with anyone.”

Her words twisted his insides. “Do you still love the father?”

She shook her head and let out a short bitter laugh. “Fabian? I’m not sure I ever loved him. I was infatuated early on, and then he became as much of a bad habit as coke and booze did, but I can’t let my baby pay for my stupidity. As for Fabian, he wants nothing to do with us.”

Defeat numbed his limbs, even as relief flooded him. He couldn’t let himself fall for her. She would cause him pain, but he wanted her. Friendship wasn’t, nor would it ever be, enough. “When are you going to let the world know about the baby? You won’t be able to hide it much longer under baggy t-shirts and high waists.”

She faced the CDs again. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do. But I’m not ready for anyone to know about it.”

Her words sliced through him. The memory of Raquel telling him about her pregnancy oddly echoed Emily’s words.
“Oh, EJ, I’m pregnant. What are we going to do? No one can know about it yet.”

“I think I should take you home.”

His tone came out harsher than he’d wanted it to, but he didn’t apologize for it.

“No. I’ll call Momma.” She headed to the front door, where she turned and looked back. “See you around.”

With that she was gone, leaving him with a strange pain in his heart.

Chapter 10

Two weeks had passed since the kiss.

Two weeks of thinking about a man who’d turned her inside out and upside down.

Why had EJ become gruff with her after Emily told him they couldn’t be more than friends? Maybe she’d misread him. He may not have wanted the happily ever after. Had he simply wanted them to be friends with benefits? The questions swirled around in her mind like mist over the Tennessee mountains. Elusive, slippery, and impossible to grasp. But one thing remained. After reconnecting with him and the friendship they’d once had, she missed him.

She hadn’t seen him since that night. Last weekend, his family had been invited to celebrate her dad’s birthday, but EJ declined saying he had to work. Tucker, Vince, and their families had come to the backyard party. They’d brought along EJ’s little boy, and she loved playing with Austin. He could easily steal her heart as quickly as his father could, if she’d let them.

Today was EJ’s thirtieth birthday party. She’d been anxious about it for a week now, and didn’t know what she’d get him. But soon she had the perfect inspiration and got busy on his birthday present.

Turning around as she inspected her reflection in the mirror, she smiled. She looked as hot as the summer sun in the sundress she’d chosen with help from her mother. Momma had been right. It was perfect. With its low cut corset styling and delicate embroidery, the eye was drawn to the top of the dress and not to the slight bulge of her lower belly hidden beneath the full short skirt. She stepped into the high-heeled sandals, again with the hope people would look at her long legs and not at her midsection and the baby she soon wouldn’t be able to hide.

A knock sounded at her door. “Emily, we’re leaving,” her mother said before opening the door to peek in. “You sure you don’t want to come with us?”

“No, I’d like to have my own car in case I need to leave.” She wanted a way to escape, not only the temptation of the alcohol flowing freely, but also EJ if things got too uncomfortable with him.

“Okay. See you there.” Momma smiled and closed the door.

Emily turned to her dresser to apply her makeup. She didn’t wear much--a bit of shadow, eyeliner and mascara to make her eyes pop, and bright berry-colored lipstick.

Her cell buzzed, and she picked it up off the edge of the dresser. Glancing at the ID, she hit the button to answer. Before she could speak, her assistant’s frantic voice shattered her good humor. “He’s out of jail.”

“Kelly? What are you talking about?” Emily sat on the edge of her bed as dread filled her. She only knew one person who was in jail.

“Your stepfather.” Kelly’s voice shook with her fear. “He called me looking for you.”

“What did he want?” Her stomach plummeted to her feet at the prospect of Mike Ritter being out of jail. But how? He’d been sentenced to life in prison, and he wouldn’t be up for parole for at least another fifteen to twenty years.

“I don’t know. He told me he’s out and coming for you.” Her voice became shrill as she spoke. “God, Emily, I’m scared for you. He sounded absolutely crazy.”

“How did he find your number?” Emily’s heart raced as cold fear numbed her limbs.

“He called me on the business phone. I figured it was another tabloid reporter. But it was him.”

Kelly had been fielding all of her PR calls for months and keeping Emily’s whereabouts completely out of the tabloids. The world thought she was holed up in Nashville, which was exactly what she wanted them to think. Kelly’s business cell was the only phone number connected to her. All the other numbers associated with her, including her parents’ and Mike’s parents’ cells and home phones were private numbers. “Kelly, listen to me. Get rid of the business cell and call Trish. You both have to stay safe. Lord knows what he will do.”

“I will. What are you going to do?”

Emily stared at her reflection in the mirror above the dresser as her world spun out of control. “I don’t know.”

* * * *

EJ read the APB from the Texas Justice Department for what had to have been the hundredth time, and his heart sank to his belly a little farther.

Franklin Michael Ritter III (aka Michael Ritter and Mike Ritter) escaped a work detail today at 1300 CST outside the Clements Unit of the Texas Department of Justice, Amarillo. He is believed to be heading to McAllister, Texas, and should be considered armed and dangerous.

He needed to leave the office. His family had planned a birthday party for him at Tucker’s ranch, but first, he had to warn Mike’s family and the Kendalls he might come looking for them. After finding the phone number for Mike’s second ex-wife, he called Tammy Jo McAllister. She lived in the mansion her father had built at the edge of town with her eight-year-old son. Although EJ didn’t believe Mike would come after the heiress to the town’s founding family, he couldn’t take that chance. As far as he knew, she’d denied any contact between Mike and his son from the day of his birth. Even legally changed the boy’s name to McAllister after Mike’s conviction.

The call went as predicted. Tammy Jo took the threat seriously and would hire more security to protect her and her son. Next, he called Mike’s parents. They assured EJ they would call if Mike contacted them and would let their ranch hands know to stay watchful. They’d call Mary Jane, Mike’s sister, who lived in Dallas with her husband, and warn her as well. He hung up the phone and looked to the door where Deputy Clint Grier leaned against the doorframe.

Clint had been a deputy under Mike when he’d been sheriff and was the lead singer of the band Lawman. He’d been Mike’s arresting officer when he’d shot Seth Kendall after a local concert at the fairgrounds. “I saw the APB.”

EJ nodded and leaned back in his seat. “Do you think he’s stupid enough to show up here?”

Clint entered the office and sat in the chair in front of EJ’s desk. “I do. He swore he’d punish those who’d put him in jail. He especially has it out for Emily. Abby showed me a letter he’d sent to Emily after he was convicted.” The older man shook his head and rubbed along his square jaw. “He threatened she’d never be safe. The moment he got out of jail he would find her and kill her. He’s one sick son of a bitch.”

Emily had mentioned the letter and her memory of Mike’s confession at the trial the other night. Did she know how dangerous he was? “Damn.” He stood and reached for his hat on the rack by the desk. He’d change out of his uniform and head straight over to Tucker’s place. “C’mon. I know the Kendalls plan to come to the party. I don’t want to give them this news over the phone.” Especially to Emily. How would she take it? Would her fear send her back to the crutch drugs and alcohol provided? Or would she let him protect her?

He made his way to the locker room as the seditious voice in his head whispered,
How can you protect her? You couldn’t save your team or the dignitaries. Hell, you couldn’t even save your own wife from herself.

* * * *

In a daze, Emily parked in the grass next to the driveway. Following the noise of the party around the house she’d grown up in to the backyard, she hoped the people at the party wouldn’t mob her as they had the other night. EJ’s sisters approached and gushed about how much they loved her country music.

“I wish you would sing country again,” the one with curly blond hair said. The other one wore her blond locks long and straight. Emily could never tell the sisters apart, she knew their names were Lori and Becky, but that was about it.

She gave the women a forced smile and fudged the truth. “I have something in the works. Please, excuse me. I have to find my parents.”

At the edge of the rows of tables set up in the backyard under a large tent, she studied the faces of family friends and neighbors until she found EJ and Clint Grier talking to her mom and dad under a tree at the edge of the yard. EJ glanced at her, and by the seriousness shining in his expression, her heart fell. Kelly had been right. Mike was out of jail.

She joined her parents and her father instantly wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “We got some bad news.”

“I know.” Emily swallowed and snaked her arm around her dad’s waist. In her other hand she held the small wrapped gift she’d brought for EJ. “Mike contacted my assistant in Nashville and told her he was coming after me. He must have found my business number on the Internet. As far as I know, the media still thinks I’m in Nashville. How did he get out of prison?”

“All we know from the APB is he escaped from work release and he may be headed here.” EJ shifted his stance, narrowing his brows as he met her gaze. “You confirmed you are his main target. He might not be on his way here at all, but Nashville.” He turned to Clint. “Call the FBI to let them know this new development.”

Clint nodded and headed toward the front of the house.

“What do you suggest we do?” Momma asked. “Seth is leaving Monday to go on tour.”

Dad’s stormy green eyes narrowed. “I’ll cancel the tour.”

“Actually, it might be better if you left. Take Abby, Emily, and your little boy with you.”

Johnny let out a giggle as he chased two of the Cowley kids around a sprinkler set up nearby. What would Mike do to her little brother if he ever got his hands on him? Before either Dad or Momma could reject the idea, Emily said, “That’s perfect. Y’all get out of town. If no one is in McAllister for Mike to bother with, he’ll stay out of town.”

She knew how unlikely Mike forgetting about the town was, but she had to protect her family.

“You’re coming with us.” Her mother’s voice shook.

“No, Momma, I can’t.” She looked around to make sure no one was listening and lowered her voice. “I’m going into hiding right here. I’m this close”--she held her thumb and forefinger together--“to showing. I’m not ready for the world to know I’m pregnant.”

Her mother’s eyes widened as she glanced at EJ.