Prey (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (23 page)

“What were you thinking when you bought this one?” In horror, she held up a brightly colored miniature outhouse.

“I liked the colors. I thought they were pretty,” he said sheepishly.

She laughed and put it in a prominent place on the tree. “Okay then, you bought it. I’m going to make you see it every day. I want you to suffer for your art.” She giggled. The thing really did look ridiculous, but his boyish excitement was contagious. He didn’t seem to mind her teasing criticism and broke into a boisterous rendition of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”
.

She interrupted him. “I can’t believe you. Where did this propensity for ugly decorations come from? You’re the best dressed person I know. You dress so well you make it seem effortless. You’re GQ all the way, yet your decorations are Homer Simpson meets Elvis. Not the sexy black leather Elvis, we’re talkin’ sequin-caped Vegas Elvis.”

He laughed. “I guess since I was never allowed to decorate a tree as a kid, I’m channeling my inner bingo player.”

She wanted to laugh, but instead she looked at him deadly serious. “I happen to like bingo.”

He paused. “There’s bingo every Wednesday night down at the seniors’ residence. I’ll take you some night.”

“Maybe we’ll see Ernestine there.”

He vehemently shook his head. “No way, Ernestine’s been banned. They say she alters the trajectory of the bingo balls and wins too often.”

* * * *

The night she spent at Sam’s house decorating the tree and teasing him was heartbreakingly domestic, and Jade loved every minute of it. She couldn’t help wishing it was forever.

When they went up to bed he made slow sensuous love to her as if worshiping her body. In the middle of the night she woke him looking for more, and he took her so swiftly it thrilled her.

In the morning, he told her to stay in bed while he showered and made breakfast. She gladly acquiesced. She remembered Travis teasing Sam about the thread count in his sheets and smiled. Snuggling under the incredibly smooth and soft sheets, Jade tried to fall back to sleep. She failed. Sam’s phone rang and from the shower, he called out to her,

“Can you get that please, Jade?”

Feeling a little awkward, she picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. Then a woman’s cultured tones were heard. “Good morning, Michelle dear. Oh so sorry, I’ve done it again, haven’t I? I always seem to interrupt you two. Could you please put him on for me?”

Jade recognized the voice. It was Sam’s mother, Shannon Daniels. Crushed, Jade didn’t bother to correct her. She obviously didn’t think it unusual to find a woman answering her son’s phone first thing in the morning.

Jade had trouble pushing sound through her throat. “Just a moment.”

She put the phone down, gathered her things and popped her head around the bathroom door. She could see the outline of his taut lean form through the shower door. Her chest tightened, and her voice came out like a croak.

“It’s your mother. Look, I’ve changed my mind. I’ll eat breakfast at my place. This is my day off, and I have so much Christmas shopping to do. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She didn’t wait for his response. She gestured to Rags and hurried from the house and into her car.

Nothing had been said about exclusivity. If anything, she was the one avoiding the topic, but Jade was too afraid to talk to Sam about what was happening between them. An affair like theirs wasn’t new to
him
but to her it was entirely virgin territory. What would she end up revealing should they examine the situation?

Jade hadn’t lied to him. She did have a lot of Christmas shopping to do. She knew she wouldn’t have breakfast though. She couldn’t. Her stomach wouldn’t let her. Refusing to wallow in her unhappiness, she made her way home. Once there she resolutely took a quick shower and kept her word. She went shopping.

New Crescent had a number of unique little boutiques lining both sides of Main Street. She started there. Hesitating in the square, she looked on as three men adjusted the lights on the huge Christmas tree. Tonight was supposed to be the tree lighting ceremony. Jade had forgotten. It was a tradition in New Crescent. People from miles around came to town to see the tree light up. It was a night Jade had always looked forward to as a child. With determination she decided not to let anything spoil her Christmas and vowed to attend the event. How she’d avoid Sam she didn’t know but that was something she could deal with a little later. Stepping back, she turned to head towards the west end of town. She collided with someone. He groaned as if she’d hurt him, but she couldn’t figure out how.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” The bag he was carrying slipped and fell to the frozen ground. She bent to retrieve it and recognized Gridlock, Tom Weatherby’s dog. She greeted the fully recovered canine and looked up at his companion.

“Tom, I didn’t see you there. I guess I should look where I’m going.”

Her grinned a little tightly then cleared the tension from his smile and looked genuinely pleased to see her.

“Hi, Jade. It’s good to see you.”

“But you didn’t want me to run you down.” She laughed. “It’s nice to see you too. Are you Christmas shopping too?”

With a masculine grimace he nodded. “I’m looking for gifts for the school office staff. It’s impossible. They are all women, but they range in age from twenty five to fifty five. I thought some soap maybe?”

She laughed at his feeble expression. “Now that’s just intentionally lame. You’re positively transparent. I’ll help you.”

“You’re a lifesaver. I’ll buy you lunch.” He looked so relieved Jade couldn’t help smiling with genuine pleasure even though she knew she’d have no appetite.

Despite it all, Jade enjoyed the day she spent with Tom and Gridlock. She got a lot of shopping done as well. She was even able to eat a salad for lunch. Tom was good company and very solicitous of her. He slowed his pace to match hers and walked on the part of the sidewalk closest to the street. He was a gentleman. Tom offered her a pretty good distraction. Her chest didn’t tighten to the point of pain when he looked at her and she had no inclination to spend all day sitting in his lap. She managed to get through the day admirably. She even agreed to go to the tree lighting ceremony with him and Gridlock later that evening.

It started to snow as she drove home with her purchases. The fluffy white flakes landed on the windshield and Jade couldn’t help but notice their beautiful patterns before they melted away. Idly, she wondered why Tom wasn’t running with Gridlock anymore. The dog was completely recovered from his unfortunate experience with the porcupine and couldn’t understand why there had been no outings lately. The poor dog urged Jade to speak to Tom about it. She’d promised him that she’d bring it up with Tom later that evening. He was being too careful. Gridlock was fine, and he missed their daily run. Getting back to their routine would be good for him.

Alone in her house, Jade couldn’t help but think of what had happened at Sam’s place that morning. When she checked her voice mail she noted there was a call from Sam. She wasn’t ready to listen to it, but she stared at his name on the call display for a long time. Rubbing her thumb over the screen she turned the phone off.

Jade had met Sam’s mother many times. She was the sort of woman that went to “spas” on a regular basis and came back with fuller lips but looking just a little too pinched. Shannon Daniels had never had much time for Jade. In fact, Jade suspected that the woman wouldn’t even remember her name. She remembered Michelle’s name though and had sounded pleased when she assumed the beautiful woman was sharing her son’s bed.

Jade felt sick. She’d been fooling herself. Sam told her himself. He was looking for his match. Jade had to admit that Michelle fit the bill perfectly. She remembered how perfect they’d looked together at Reggie and Chase’s wedding. They looked like a photo shoot.

All along, Jade knew she’d been out of her league with Sam, but she’d been powerless to resist him. Well, he’d wanted her to understand what compelled a woman in love to do things that worked against her best interests. She’d certainly learned that lesson, but sadly she wondered if she hadn’t been better off blissfully ignorant.

They lucked out. It was a beautiful night. Jade suspected the weather had very little to do with luck in New Crescent. This was a special night of course, so the weather just had to cooperate. The town square was filled with holiday spirited people. The school band played Christmas carols, and there were children and dogs everywhere. It was a charming sight that belonged on a holiday card.

Jade had a little trouble spotting Tom, but Rags quickly found Gridlock.

“It looks like they’re almost ready to light the tree, Jade. You made it just in time.” He took her elbow and helped her to navigate the crowd.

The mayor spoke, but Jade pretty much just tuned him out. He was a politician. She had very little patience for politicians, especially ones who insisted on blaming an innocent dog for brutal attacks despite all evidence to the contrary. He droned on endlessly. Bored, Jade looked through the crowd. She located her brother. He stood behind Reggie, his arms wrapped around her waist. They looked so happy it touched Jade’s heart. Snuggled together next to them were Travis and Gillian. Something he whispered to her made her laugh and she looked up at him with love in her lavender eyes. They made a perfect couple. Jade’s heart contracted.

Moving her eyes to the people standing next to her friends Jade’s stomach dropped to the frozen ground and shattered. Sam stood beside Michelle. They too looked like the perfect couple. The beautiful woman was dressed in white fur. At first glance Jade judged the fur to be real. She shivered in revulsion and tried to blame her reaction on the fur. The sight of the three couples made Jade feel isolated. The six of them looked like one big happy family, and Jade had a hard time keeping her bottom lip from trembling. Where did she fit in? Why was she on the outside looking in?

Desperately, Jade wished she’d never appeared at Sam’s door that night. Prior to her physical relationship with him, she thought she was happy. But Sam had taught her what happiness felt like, and now she couldn’t go back. She wanted more, needed more, knew she deserved nothing less. It was torture to see him with the stunning Michelle, and she couldn’t help but resent him for it.

She would have to confront him soon. They had to work this out. She couldn’t hide from him forever. The sound of the crowd cheering startled her out of her musings. The brilliant tree lights lit the square, and it looked magical. This was the town she loved, the town she’d dreamed of returning to for so many years, and she’d ruined it by falling in love with Sam.

Jade didn’t stay long at the ceremony and apologized to Tom for being such a wet blanket. Always the gentleman, Tom was gracious. He and Gridlock walked them to the car and bid them goodnight.

She couldn’t stay in the town square no matter how beautiful it had been. She had no desire to run into Sam and Michele. As she drove the short distance to her home she tried to think rationally. A little hopeful voice inside her head kept nagging at her. Was she jumping to conclusions? Thinking with her insecure little heart instead of her head? Last night Sam had made no indication that he’d rather be with anyone else but her. What kind of man was he? Shouldn’t everything she’d ever known about him make her doubt her current suspicions? Surely the man she knew would never hurt her this way. She was doing him a disservice. Her inexperience and lack of self confidence were driving her.

Instinctively Jade slowed down as she glanced down at her cell phone. He’d called her earlier, and she hadn’t had the courage to pick up the message. How stupid was that? Sam deserved better from her. Looking quickly at her phone, she pressed the buttons that accessed her voice mail. Putting the phone to her ear she braced herself to hear his voice.

Rags barked a warning, and she didn’t get the chance to listen to Sam’s message. Instead, she let go of her phone and put both hands on the steering wheel. Was there something there? Something out there in the woods that lined the road she was traveling? Yes, and it was fast enough to keep up with her car. As she sped up so did the creature tracking her. Rags started to shake and whine. She wondered if they’d be safe in the car. Doubtful. The creature could probably break through her car windows if it had to. Her mind racing, Jade maneuvered the car with every ounce of expertise she possessed.

Jade learned to drive at an early age. Too often her father was so inebriated he had no business behind the wheel of a car. From the age of fourteen, Jade had been driving his car with greater skill than he. Keeping her eyes on the road in front of her she increased her speed. The thing crashing through the brush kept up with her. The car was moving at such a high speed, she didn’t dare turn her head to look in the woods at the thing that pursued.

Jade could almost see it in her peripheral vision. It darted out in front of her headlights and she swung the car in an evasive maneuver. Through the front windshield they faced off as the car slid to a standstill. Their eyes locked. She flinched. She could feel its vast hunger. Her hesitation gave the horrendous, ever changing thing a second’s advantage. It pounced. Jade pushed the accelerator to the mat and aimed the car at it.

The unnatural creature had some evasive maneuvers of its own. At the last second, it slipped back into the forest and out of sight. Afraid to stop for fear that the thing was still stalking her, Jade sped toward a road that would circle back to town. Speed limits forgotten, in a matter of minutes, she made it back to civilization and to the crowd milling around the lit tree.