Greeley's Spyce (28 page)

hand around a glass of juice.

―Aren‘t you going to eat?‖ she asked as her fingers picked up a piece

of crisp bacon.

―I love you, Kacy.‖ Ernst spoke from the heart.

Setting the bacon back on her plate, Kacy sighed. For so long she had

waited to have a man like him say that to her. Biting her bottom lip, she

looked everywhere but at Ernst until he captured her chin.

―Why are you still trying to push me away?‖ Ernst questioned as his

thumb traced the lip she had just bitten. ―He can‘t hurt me. And I‘ll be

damned if I let him hurt you.‖ His tone never changed, but anyone would

have been able to hear the conviction in his voice.

―I‘m scared,‖ Kacy admitted.

―Will you tell me of what? Please, Kacy. We can‘t get farther if we

don‘t talk.‖ Ernst let go of her chin to reach for some fruit. If eating honey-

dew wasn‘t supposed to be sexy, then the rules needed to be changed.

She squirmed in her seat as she watched him enjoy the succulent

fruit. ―I‘m not sure I have what it takes to be in a relationship with someone

like you.‖ Her hands began to rip up her toast.

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Aliyah Burke

―Explain further, please,‖ he ordered gently.

Eating a small piece of toast, she washed it down with some juice. ―I

don‘t know if I can live with what you do for a living. All the leaving for

however long and never knowing if or when you are coming back.‖ Her eyes

glistened with unshed tears as she looked at him. ―I don‘t think I am strong

enough for that.‖

―Do you love me?‖

―Yes,‖ she responded without hesitation, ―I love you.‖ Kacy glanced

away from his face.

―But…?‖ Ernst drew out.

―There is also Kirby. I don‘t want him to hurt you, either.‖ Her hands

toyed with the fork on her plate.

―Kacy.‖ Ernst waited for her to look back at him. ―Kirby can‘t hurt

me. You are the only one with the power to do that. I‘m not scared of him. He

is only a man who is used to picking on those physically weaker than him.

He‘s a bully and I‘ve never liked bullies.‖

Kacy sat in the chair and watched Ernst as he spoke. He seemed so

sure of himself. So confident. Except when it came to her, that was when she

noticed hesitation from him.
Give it a chance,
her heart told her.

Drinking the rest of his juice, he licked his firm lips and said, ―As for

the other. Kacy, I wish I knew how to make it easier but I don‘t. All I can tell

you is that my love for you will not wane. No matter how long I am gone, it

will be you I long to see, yearn to hold, touch, and kiss. Being a military wife

is hard; there are many who don‘t have what it takes. You do. You may not

see it in you, but I do.‖

Kacy sent him a shy smile. ―Why are you talking wife? I was just

talking about a relationship.‖

Brilliant white teeth flashed. ―
Liebling
, so am I. One that lasts fifty…a

hundred…hell, all eternity.‖

―Let‘s try to make it through brunch first, okay?‖ Kacy muttered.

―Deal.‖ Ernst filled up his plate and together they ate a Saturday

brunch.

Kacy and Ernst walked around her neighborhood. Since it was a Sat-

urday afternoon, there were children playing in yards and in the street. The

air was full of autumn‘s chill and everyone knew the Indian summer had

finally come to a head.

Ernst had his arm around her shoulders as she had one slid around

his lean waist. Deep in the back of his mind he knew they hadn‘t really

solved anything. Kacy was still scared of something.

Glancing at the woman beside him, Ernst couldn‘t stop the smile that

crossed his face. She had that affect on him. If he could just pinpoint what the

source of her fear was, he knew they could find a way to overcome it togeth-

er.

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163

―What are you thinking about?‖ he asked, loving the way her eyes

sparkled with life as she looked at him.

―Nothing, really. Just thinking about the here and now.‖ Kacy smiled

at his boyish expression.

―Good thoughts?‖ His fingers tapped lightly on her shoulder.

She nodded. ―Good thoughts.‖ Snuggling her head closer to him, she

put the question to him. ―And you? What are you thinking about?‖

―You.‖ Ernst tipped his head and brushed his lips over her forehead.

―I‘m thinking about you.‖ He stopped and cupped her face in both his hands.

Lowering his mouth until it brushed lightly against hers he whispered, ―And

they are definitely good thoughts.‖

―That‘s nice to know,‖ she murmured back. Kacy linked her arm

through his and shoved her hands in her pockets. The wind had picked up

and it was getting chilly.

They began walking again and people who knew Kacy waved to her

as they passed. Before long, they were walking up toward her driveway

when Ernst tensed again. That white Camaro was parked in her drive next to

his truck. Jacob Trask sat on her porch steps.

―Hey, Jake,‖ Kacy said as they got closer.

The cop stood and smiled affectionately at the woman who ap-

proached him. ―Hey, Kacy. Hello again, Mr. Zimmermann,‖ he greeted

politely.

Ernst looked at the man on Kacy‘s porch. He was as tall as Ernst but

appeared taller being that he was on the steps. Dressed in blue jeans and

black boots with his black leather bomber jacket on, Jacob Trask made a very

appealing visual—a fact that Ernst noticed and didn‘t like at all. ―Hello,‖

Ernst responded, sounding very surly.

Looking between the two men, Kacy rolled her eyes and heaved a big

sigh. ―Come on in, Jake.‖ Walking past him on the steps, Kacy unlocked her

house and entered followed, by the two men. ―Do you have time for some

coffee, Jake?‖ she asked over her shoulder as she kicked off her shoes and

headed for the kitchen.

―Sure do. That sounds great.‖ He followed, leaving Ernst to close the

door behind them. His pale eyes watched Jacob with mistrust and jealousy.

Jake was sitting at the table eating a piece of chocolate pie when Ernst

made it to the kitchen. The coffee was brewing and Kacy was setting out the

mugs for the hot beverage. Ernst wanted to be mad, but the smile that Kacy

sent him when he walked in the room chased all those feelings away. It was a

smile to rival all smiles, lighting up her face and those gorgeous eyes of hers.

Sitting down, Ernst accepted the slice of pie that Kacy slid in front of

him. ―Thanks, love,‖ he said as he picked up a fork.

Kacy winked at him and went back for the coffee. Setting the pot

back on the maker, she fixed her drink the way she liked it and sat down to

focus on Jake. ―What brings you back, Jake?‖

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Aliyah Burke

The lightness on his face disappeared as seriousness overtook it. ―I

got some news over the wire today.‖ His gaze settled on Ernst then focused

back on Kacy‘s dark beauty.

―And?‖ Kacy prompted.

―It deals with the situation we were discussing last night and this

morning.‖

Ernst had no problems guessing who they meant. Kirby. Hands

trembling, Kacy gripped her mug of coffee tighter until his tan hand covered

hers, offering his strength.

Letting go of the cup, Kacy latched onto Ernst‘s hand like it was a

lifeline. ―You can talk in front of him. He knows about it.‖

Holding her gaze for an extra moment, Jake assessed whether or not

to go on. When her eyes remained steady, he nodded. ―Okay. He was picked

up today for a domestic disturbance.‖

Ernst began caressing the back of Kacy‘s hand the second her body

tensed. Kacy bit her bottom lip, no doubt thinking of someone else going

through what he had done to her. ―And the woman?‖

―She died en route to the hospital. He is up on murder charges now.

The DA wants you to testify about what he did to you, even though the office

has access to the reports you filed on him. The restraining orders and all of

that.‖ Jacob sighed and Ernst tightened his hand over hers. ―The DA thinks it

would be an even stronger case with your testimony.‖

Shaking her head, Kacy trembled. ―No. If he is up on murder

charges, then you don‘t need me.‖

Ernst moved his chair closer to Kacy but remained silent. His intelli-

gent and shrewd gaze watched the man across from them both. Ernst would

allow Kacy to make up her own mind and not say anything to influence her

decision; but at the same time, Ernst wasn‘t about to let that cop pressure her

into doing anything she didn‘t feel comfortable doing.

As if reading his mind, Jake met his gaze and nodded just slightly

enough that Ernst knew his silent message had been understood. ―I was told

to put it to you, Kacy, so I did. But I am not going to bully you into doing it. I

can‘t vouch for anyone else, but I won‘t,‖ Jake said, draining the rest of his

coffee. ―So I will let you think about it. You have my card; call me anytime,

day or night.‖

Pushing away from the table, Jacob Trask stood and momentarily

looked at the woman sitting there holding the hand of the man beside her.

Ernst saw him smile wistfully, and he could guess what the other man

thought:
If only I’d met her sooner
. ―I‘ll see you later, Kacy, okay?‖

She reached out her hand and squeezed his. ―Thank you, Jake, for

telling me, for understanding, and for not pushing me.‖ Kacy let go of his

hand. ―I‘ll see you out.‖

―Nice to see you again, Ernst,‖ Jake said as he followed Kacy out of

the kitchen to the door.

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165

As Jake walked past her out to the porch Kacy asked, ―Are we still on

for tomorrow?‖ She leaned against the door staring into dark-brown eyes

that made her feel like there were good cops out there who cared.

Eyes flickering with anticipation, Jake smiled. ―Absolutely. I‘ll be

here at five.‖

―Okay, I will see you then.‖ She flashed him a grin. ―Have a great

day.‖

―You too,‖ Jake said as he trailed his knuckles down the side of her

face in a tender gesture.

―Bye!‖ Kacy waved as he got to his car and climbed inside. She

closed the door when he closed his.

―That man is half in love with you,‖ Ernst‘s voice reached her.

Turning around, Kacy rolled her eyes. ―I don‘t think so.‖

―I know so,‖ Ernst swore. Moving closer to her, he gathered her back

where she belonged—in his arms.

―Whatever,‖ Kacy mumbled against the hard planes of his chest.

Ernst rubbed his hands over her back. ―How you doing?‖

Kacy knew immediately what he was talking about. ―I‘m losing it. I

want him in jail so bad, but I don‘t know why I have to go be on the stand. I

will be in the courtroom, but I don‘t want him staring at me.‖ Her body

began to quiver.

―It‘s okay. It‘s okay,‖ he murmured against her hair. ―You don‘t have

to do anything you don‘t want to.‖

―I just need time to think about it,‖ Kacy confessed.

As Ernst put the pasta on the table for dinner, he observed Kacy

some more. She tried hard to play it off as if the news was not bothering her,

but he could tell she was extremely conflicted about what to do. Her body

was completely tense and she constantly worried her bottom lip, a trait that

while adorable, Ernst had come to discover meant she was unsure about a

decision.

―Ready to eat?‖ he asked as another strong wind shook the frame of

the small house. They were in for a nasty night of weather.

―Absolutely,‖ she said, walking back into the room. She had spent

part of the afternoon going over some bids and doing some work for the

upcoming week while Ernst had made dinner.

Grabbing the wine glasses, Kacy set them on the table and let her

gaze rove over him. A secretive smile crossed her face.

Ernst hid a knowing grin. ―What are you grinning about?‖ he asked

as he poured the wine.

Blushing, Kacy shook her head. ―Nothing.‖

One brow rose with unconcealed disbelief. ―Really?‖ Ernst set the

bottle on the tabletop before pulling out her chair for her.

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Aliyah Burke

Slipping into the chair, Kacy bobbed her head. ―Really.‖

Leaning down to brush his lips over her ear as he slid her in close, he

verbalized in a crystal clear yet extremely seductive tone, ―Well, it‘s a shame I

wasn‘t taught how to read body language, then.‖ His deep chuckle reached

her simultaneously as the blush ran over her body.

It took a while for the blush to recede. Ernst was nice enough not to

point it out, although he was ninety-eight percent sure of what she had been

thinking about. He loved it when she enjoyed his body like that.

―Thank you for making dinner,‖ she said as she wiped up the last bit

of sauce with her breadstick and popping it into her mouth. The meal had

been very enjoyable and delicious.

Swirling the wine around in his glass, Ernst watched her lips before

he took a drink. ―You‘re welcome. I‘m glad you liked it.‖

―Liked it?‖ Kacy gestured to her empty plate. ―I damn near ate all of

it!‖ Leaning back in her chair, she picked up her water and drank it.

―I guess that means we will just have to work all that off later on to-

night then, huh?‖ Ernst stated with a lecherous wink.