Sweet Vengeance (19 page)

But
for now, she was going to enjoy where she was.  She'd been through hell, so why
not enjoy heaven?

She
rubbed her hands over the soft cotton quilt as though she were making a snow
angel.  Why was it so hard for people to appreciate what they had?  She would
give anything to live this kind of life.  Yet, Jase willingly gave it up to go
shoot at mobsters.  Not her.  If she were him, she'd walk away from Chicago in
a heartbeat and never look back. 

She
rolled over and sat up, intending to find the tub, when a satiny white
nightgown hanging on the closet door caught her attention.  She grinned,
recognizing another of Carole's tactics.  Was this her attempt to make Allie
look like a so-called Miss America?  She snorted.  Whatever.  She grabbed the
garment and headed for the adjoining bathroom.  Miss America or not, the
nightgown looked fit for a princess, and it fit perfectly into her fantasy. 

Where
did these people come up with all their extra clothes, she wondered as she shut
the bathroom door.

*       
*        *

Something
creaked in the darkness, and Allie jerked open her eyes.  Nothing in the room
seemed to move, but with her surroundings so unfamiliar, it was hard to tell if
there was anything in there that didn't belong.  She took a deep breath, trying
to slow her heart rate.  She was far away from Chicago and most certainly safe,
but she couldn't seem to convince her subconscious mind of that.  She should
have asked if Boo could sleep with her, but she hadn't seen him again after
they'd arrived. 

She
rolled over and pulled the soft covers up to her chin.  Biting her bottom lip,
she tried to ignore the obvious.

She
missed Jase.

This
was the first night she'd spent alone since Joey's violence had trampled her
world.  She needed Jase, his comfort, his protection to help her get to sleep. 
But she was on her own tonight.  If she could just relax, she'd fall asleep.

Another
sound from outside jolted her.  She threw back the covers, her bare feet
hitting the soft carpet as she climbed out of bed. 

Her
door opened without a squeak, and she closed it softly behind her.  The house
was completely quiet, the hallway much too dark.  She hurried the few feet down
the hall that separated her door from Jase's.  His, too, opened without a
sound.  Muted moonlight came in through his open blinds, and she could hear
deep breathing coming from the big lump in his bed.

She
was crazy for doing this.  What was she thinking, creeping into a vigilante's
room in the middle of the night and slipping between his sheets?  That was one
question she couldn't answer as she lifted the corner of his covers and gently
climbed in.

He
made some incoherent noises as she laid her head on the vacant pillow next to
his.  He moved and rolled.  She stiffened as his hand came across her belly,
and he pulled her closer to him, mumbling.  She didn't know what else to do, so
she relaxed into him.

It
felt perfect. 

Then
it was his turn to react.  It was as though he'd finally realized she was
there.  His hand went from her belly, across the satiny material over her hip,
to her bottom and then back again.  The feel of his touch was so sensual, she
had to stifle a sigh of pleasure.

"God,
woman."  His voice was hoarse in her ear.  "You're going to be the
death of me."  She waited for him to say something else or to let go, but
he did neither.  She wasn't even sure he wasn't dreaming and talking in his
sleep.  But he didn't kick her out, and she had no intention of leaving on her
own.

*       
*        *

Carole
was lucky Jase didn't pull a gun on her when she barged into his room without
bothering to knock.  "Good thing I brought enough for your friend,"
she said, carrying a loaded breakfast tray.  She smirked as Allie sighed in her
sleep and rolled over next to him.

What
the hell could he say to that?  "It's not what you think, Carole," he
whispered softly as his gaze drifted back to the sleeping vision who occupied
his bed.  Her dark hair rested in a tangled, sexy mass over her pillow with
several strands reaching out toward him.  Her slender arm was bent, with her
fist tucked under her chin.  Her curled up position left the swell of one
breast threatening to escape the flimsy piece of lingerie that covered it. 

More
than anything else, he wanted to pull her into his arms and wake her up with a
good morning kiss, and then do all the things he'd thought about doing all
night.

Carole
cleared her throat.  Jase widened his eyes before he turned to her, grateful
the sheets didn't give away his thoughts.  "What?" he whispered
again.  "Thanks for the breakfast." 

"Mmm-hmm." 
She grinned as she set the tray on a table near the window.  "I'll just
leave you two alone."  She winked as she left the room.

Jase
rolled his eyes as he fell back onto his pillow.  He'd never explain away this
one.  He turned to Allie, studying her closed eyes and softly parted lips.  She
was right there.  All he had to do was reach out and touch.  There was no doubt
she wanted him.  He'd heard her contented sigh when he'd pulled her into his
arms the night before.  And there was no doubt about the desire that simmered
in her gaze every time she looked at him.  In a heartbeat, she'd be his.

But
that wouldn't be fair to her.  She deserved her dreams of a family and
security.  He couldn't give her that.  His future was already determined, and
she'd be better off when he was just a memory. 

He
wished he could make her understand why it was important to exact his justice,
but people who hadn't been in his situation would never be able to relate. 
Allie might feel differently if she'd tried to plug the bullet holes in her mother,
like he had with his sister, while her life blood gushed out.

Things
like that changed people.  

He
threw the covers off and walked around to her side of the bed.  He touched her
shoulder, shook her lightly until she roused.  "Carole brought breakfast. 
You should eat."  Without waiting for an answer, he stomped off toward the
bathroom looking for one hell of a cold shower.

"This
is too much."  Allie glanced at the dollar amount of their shopping cart
on Macy's webpage.  She and Carole had picked out everything from underwear to
jeans to a lovely leather jacket, and the price tag totaled several hundred
dollars.  "I'll never be able to pay this back."

"Who
said anything about paying it back?"  Carole finished typing Jase's credit
card number and clicked on the enter button.

Allie
let out a long, slow breath and swallowed.  "It's so much money.  I
can't—he shouldn't spend that on me."

"Why
ever not?"  Carole honestly looked surprised.  "He's got plenty, and
he loves you."

The
cuteness of Carole's matchmaking skills had started to wear on her.  The woman
had obviously pushed Jase too far, because he'd mentioned his need to escape,
and Allie hadn't seen him since.  It wasn't fair for Carole to keep teasing him
when his intentions toward Allie were strictly compassionate.  "Carole, I
really appreciate your kindness.  I wish Jase could see what a gem he's found
with you."

"Oh,
he knows, all right."  She loaded up another website that showcased
footwear.  "How about some fancy shoes?  Black, strappy leather ones with
three-inch heels?  That'll turn a man's head.  Not that I could walk in them
anymore."

Allie
put her hand on Carole's arm.  "Please, just listen."

Carole
stopped and shifted her attention from the computer screen to Allie. 
"Sure, honey."

"Carole,
it's really
not
what it seems."  She held up her hand when Carole
tried to interrupt.  "Jase helped me out of a very difficult situation,
and what you see as love is really him being kind to me."  How did she
explain this without breaking her promise to Jase?  "Something...bad
happened, and Jase kept things from getting worse."

"Does
this have anything to do with his so-called business in Chicago?"

That
surprised Allie.  She lifted her eyebrows, pretending ignorance.  "I don't
know what—"

"Oh,
hogwash.  He thinks we're so daft here, but he should know better with a
bloodhound like me.  It has something to do with what happened to his parents,
and whatever it is, I know it's not good.  I was hoping you'd brought him home
to settle down."

"I'm
sorry.  I only know he brought me here to help me get a better future, but my
future
won't
include him."

Carole
snorted in disgust.  "That makes no sense.  I've seen the look on his face
when he watches you.  He's a man in love."

Allie's
heart flip-flopped.  Did he really look at her that way?  Could she hope?  The
only way they'd have a chance was if he was willing to give up his revenge. 
"Carole, I'm pregnant."

The
older woman threw her hands up.  "Don't tell me you don't have a future
together when you have a child on the way."  She pushed back her chair and
stood.  "If that man is sending you away because he doesn't want his child
around—"

"It's
not his."  Allie hated the look of disappointment on Carole's face.  It
was like watching a balloon slowly deflate.  "I was pregnant before I met
him."

"Where's
the father?"

"Dead." 
Allie pursed her lips, not wanting to divulge too much information.

Carole
studied her with an intent gaze.  Allie wanted to leave, to run away and hide
from Carole's prying eyes, but she couldn't move.  A long minute passed before
either woman spoke.

"Well,
what's done is done.  So what's the plan, missy?"

Allie
supposed she could tell Carole that much.  "I'm going to be leaving in a
few days and going to college.  I...I want to give my baby to a stable family
with a good mother and father."  She waited, watching Carole's
expression.  For some unknown reason, she found herself wanting the woman's
approval.

Relief
washed over her when Carole nodded.  "And this is what you want?"

"Yeah. 
I consider myself lucky to have this opportunity."  She couldn't admit
what she really wanted was to stay where she was forever and raise her baby in
the fresh Oregon air.  That was obviously a pipe dream.  "It will be the
best for everyone."

Carole
shook her head and sighed.  "Well, if that's how you say it is, then it
must be true."  She shrugged as she headed out of the room.  "I was
sure that man was in love with you."

*       
*        *

Two
days passed and life was storybook perfect.  Allie spent her time exploring the
lush green hills that flanked Jase's property.  It was like she'd been whisked
away and taken to an alternate world.  A place of peace and beauty, and none of
the poverty and violence that was such a huge part of her life in Chicago. 
Carole had backed off with her matchmaking attempts and life around the house
was relaxed and happy.  The only flaw in Allie's fairytale was that, although
she still crept into Jase's bed every night to sleep, he kept himself busy and
unavailable during most of the daylight hours.  Then again, what did she
expect?

Jase's
patchwork family had finished dinner earlier, but dusk was still over an hour
away.  There was time for her to make a trip out to the quiet stream that wound
through his property.  It had become her favorite place to go.  The sounds of
the water soothed her and seemed to regenerate her soul.  She'd miss that spot
the most when it was time for her to leave.

She
slipped into her new black leather jacket and headed for the rear entrance.  Express
shipping was a wonderful addition to the Internet shopping experience.  As she
passed through the dining room, she caught sight out the big picture window of
Robert and Carole sitting on the porch swing.  Robert reached up and tucked a
stray auburn curl behind Carole's ear.  The look on his face was filled with
tenderness, and Allie found herself entranced by their interaction.

To
see them together at dinner, there was no sign of this underlying attraction,
but the sight of them sitting closely together on the swing had lovers written
all over it.

"Allie?"

She
startled at being caught spying and twisted around.  Jase stood in the doorway,
his arm resting against the frame.  His light blue shirt accentuated his dark
eyes and hair.  She liked seeing him in something besides black and dark blue
all of the time.  It made him seem less menacing.  She could almost picture
convincing this man to stay in Oregon.

She
put a finger to her lips and nodded out the window.  Jase walked up just as
Robert pressed a soft kiss on Carole's lips.  "They pretend nobody
knows," Jase whispered.  "They'd die of embarrassment if they knew we
were watching."

Robert's
kisses quickly took on a new meaning as he pushed Carole's hair to the side and
started his descent down her neck.  Allie swallowed.  The scene had gone from
sweet to sensual in a matter of seconds.  Allie widened her eyes as Robert
popped open the first button on Carole's shirt and leaned in to kiss the top of
her breast.  Carole ran her hands over Robert's head, holding him to her.  It
was hard to tell exactly what Robert did with his mouth because he'd shifted
his position so she and Jase could see only the back of his head, but whatever
he did left a rapturous look on Carole's face.