Layers Crossed (16 page)

“Crap! I guess
me getting inside you will have to wait then.”

His words
surprised me, and my mouth opened a fraction. There was something
so arousing hearing him speak to me this way, knowing so well how
much I affected him and what he wanted to do to me. When it was
just the two of us, Eric was like a completely different man. Not
the shy guy I’d pictured him as, but a gorgeously built hunk who
swept me off my feet each time he spoke and moved.

As Eric led me
back toward the house, I wondered about this beautiful place.

“Why do you
think Huntz wants your parents’ farm so badly?” I asked just before
he opened the door.

“Can you keep
a secret?”

My eyes flew
wide open.

“Cowboy, I’m
all about secrets.”

“All right. I
have a feeling he thinks there could be crude oil underneath the
farm.”

“That’s
impossible. I checked the geological surveys.”

“Have you
checked the ones for my ranch?”

“No. Are you
saying there’s oil underneath your ranch?”

“Lots of it. I
don’t know how the word had leaked to Huntz of our family’s wealth,
but it had to. There’s no other reason he’d want it. Except he got
the wrong property.”

“Some of that
actually makes sense. He could have been after the oil originally,
but now that there’s no way he’d get the property, there has to be
more. We should tell your parents. ”

“We
can’t.”

“Eric, secrets
can destroy families. Trust me, I know. And it takes a hell of a
lot to put the pieces back together. You should tell them.”

Eric shifted
uncomfortably. If I was to bet, I’d say that something was off.

“I think
they’ll have more peace if I find Huntz first and end his pursuit.
Once that’s done, we’ll tell them. I’ll be able to withdraw the
crude openly, and give my parents the retirement they deserve. I
don’t want them working any longer.”

“It seems like
it’s something they enjoy doing.”

“It is, but at
least their financial worries would be eased.”

Eric was
right, financial freedom could definitely reduce stress.

I wasn’t sure
why I didn’t tell Eric about finding out that Huntz had visited
Ogden, but my instinct told me it wasn’t the right time. Panic
wouldn’t help me find the bastard, and neither would Eric running
around asking questions and following me everywhere. I had to be
subtle. The element of surprise was the only weapon I had at this
time. Maybe my brothers were right. If Huntz would be coming back
to this town, perhaps I should have brought reinforcements.

C
HAPTER
15

Eric

“Thank you for
the lovely meal,” Emma said to my mother. “But you didn’t have to
go to all this trouble.”

“No trouble at
all, Emma. It’s been too long since we’ve had company and more than
two people at this table.”

“We’ll
definitely need to change that. At least while I’m here. Right,
Eric?”

She took my
hand into hers, right on top of the table. My mother took a sharp
breath in. A wide smile stretched across her face. I hadn’t seen
that kind of joy in years. Emma was sure playing the girlfriend
part to a T. Except that as of this afternoon, she didn’t need to
play it, did she?

“Of course,
darling.” I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, wondering how
far I could push her before she was melting in my mouth again. The
exchange felt so natural that I could have fooled myself into
believing we’d known each other for more than a week. Her sweet
smell infused the air around me, having quite the unexpected effect
on my pulse.

“So, Emma.
What do you do in New York? Tell us a little about your
family.”

Emma happily
went into telling stories about her parents, brothers, nieces, and
nephews, wisely skipping the part about Cross Enterprises and her
current case. I’d never seen a woman talk about her family with so
much enthusiasm and love. It made my heart clench, as that had
always been what my parents wanted; yet as hard as they tried, they
were never able to achieve it. My parents listened as if she were
telling some sort of a fairytale about a happy family they’d once
had and lost. A tear collected at the corner of my mom’s eye as
some fond memories of our happier times before our kidnapping must
have come back to her. Unlike now, our home used to be a happy one,
full of laughter and giggles, and I couldn’t help but want to have
that feeling once again. Was Emma the woman who could help me bring
it back? Was she the one who could finally bring our family
together? She was here only on a job, though, and I had so much
hope and expectation in my heart I was afraid I’d break if she
found Huntz too quickly and left before I had the chance to make
her want to stay longer – maybe forever. Chills swept along my arms
and, as if sensing that I needed her, Emma gently grasped my thigh
under the table, smoothing her hand over it. My body responded with
an instant swell in my boxers. I swore that woman would be the
death of me.

The comforting
gesture tugged at my heart, and I got the feeling that she had
definitely been sent here for a purpose – not only to help me but
also to heal my family, which has been torn apart for so long. My
stomach flipped inside out when I thought about the pain my parents
had gone through and the fear that remained within the perimeters
of my childhood home. Could Emma change that? Was there any
possible way she could mend my parents’ fears merely with her
presence? From the sound of my father’s belted laugh I thought I
saw a spark of hope in my mother’s eyes. Emma was telling them
about Jack and the twins. My mom gasped every time she mentioned a
family holiday at a table suitable for a kingdom that could host
each member of the Cross family. And when she mentioned Christmas
traditions, my mom could no longer keep her tears concealed.

“I would love
it if you could both visit us in New Jersey,” Emma said, suddenly
making me aware of what her invitation implied. Me and Emma
together as a couple for much longer than I could have hoped. She
cautiously eyed me from the side, studying me carefully as I
listened to every word that came out of her beautifully smart
mouth. I nodded in agreement, noticing the immediate effect it had
on her pulse. Was she being serious? I doubted the invitation
wasn’t honest – after all, if my parents accepted, she couldn’t
back out. But Emma was smart: seeing this sad and over-secure
house, she knew they’d never leave.

“Thank you so
much, sweetheart. But I don’t think we could leave here,” my mother
replied, confirming my suspicions, a little sadness gleaming in her
eyes.

“I guess a
farm this size must be a lot of work, but I’m sure someone could
help out while you’re away for a few days. You’d love it
there.”

“We’ve lived
here our entire lives, and we’re just used to it.” My mother
shrugged. “Most of the land is leased, so all we have to take care
of are the pigs. We were hoping one of the kids would take it over
one day, but Eric’s grandfather bequeathed him the ranch, and
Annabelle seems to want a city life.”

“So this is
your retirement?” Emma asked in surprise. “I mean, how long were
you thinking of tending to the pigs? It can’t be an easy job. I
mean, other than some of the men I’d met in New York, I don’t know
much about the animals, but the workload must tire you out.”

My father
chuckled.

At the thought
of some of the pigs that Emma could have dated, I felt rage boil in
my veins. But Emma was right. It wouldn’t take more than a few more
years before my parents’ strength ran out.

“This has
always been our life,” my mother replied. “It doesn’t feel like
work. And we’ll sell them one day when we can’t take care of them
anymore. Just… not yet. They’re important.”

They looked at
each other in that loving way. The exchange was so rare I got lost
in it myself. It reminded me of the good old days. It seemed that
Emma was bringing all that love out of my parents without even
knowing it. My parents weren’t keeping the pigs for themselves.
They meant much more than anyone could understand. They had been a
part of us when we were happy, and giving them away would mean
losing another part of their lives that they couldn’t afford to
lose right now.

“My parents
started purchasing pigs by accident,” I explained. “It was
Annabelle’s idea, and the team just grew from year to year.”

“So Annabelle
will be returning to Ogden, then? I got the impression she wanted
to stay away.”

“Your
perception is correct, Emma. It seems Annabelle wants to remain in
San Francisco for now. And I don’t blame her. But we’re still
hoping she’ll change her mind one day. God has a way of working
miracles. I’m sure when she comes home to visit after graduation,
she’ll remember her roots. It’s not easy living away from the
people you love,” my mother said.

Emma flinched
at her reply, and for a moment pulled her hand away from mine, most
likely taking my mother’s words to heart.

Why did it
suddenly feel like I’d been stabbed in the chest? Could I ever
convince Emma to give us a real chance? She must have been aware
what that would mean: one of us leaving our family. Getting closer
to each other could prove more dangerous than I wanted to admit.
While I could never leave the ranch or my parents, she was tied to
Cross Enterprises and her family life as well. She’d need to finish
her case here and leave me, wouldn’t she? Was it even worth getting
involved with this stunning woman who had stolen my heart the
minute I saw her? Everything inside me shouted ‘yes,’ but was it
what was best for Emma? I already felt like we were a unit that
couldn’t be broken. Was this too fast?

“You said you
don’t blame Annabelle. Why?” she asked. I instinctively squeezed
her thigh under the table, but it was already too late.

My mom’s hands
began to shake as she clasped them together and lowered her
head.

“I’m sorry, I
didn’t mean to upset you.” Emma lowered her voice.

Fuck!
Getting my mom into one of her trances was the last thing I’d
wanted. It wasn’t Emma’s fault. I should have been more specific
about Annabelle and my mother and why my sister meant so much to
her. There was one more secret our family held that Emma wasn’t
aware of. A secret that was too difficult to share.

“It’s not your
fault, Emma. Annabelle and Eric went through a lot when they were
young. See, a man who wanted to harm our family kidnapped our
children from their room at a young age. Annabelle could never
forget it. And that’s why I don’t blame her for not wanting to live
here.”

“That’s awful.
I’m assuming they didn’t catch him, since she doesn’t want to come
home.”

“You’re a
smart girl, Emma. That’s right, Huntz has never been caught, but we
won’t let that scare us. We need to go on for our kids and for all
those who never get their kids back. We were fortunate that Eric
and Annabelle escaped.”

There was more
to this story that my mother had skipped, and I knew I’d have to
fill Emma in on it later.

“Has anyone
seen Huntz since?” Emma asked. “He couldn’t have simply
disappeared.”

My mom’s head
shot up. She looked Emma right in her eyes and said, “No, we
haven’t seen him since. And neither has anyone in this town.”

Emma held her
gaze, and for the first time tonight, I got the feeling that my
mother was lying. Had Emma caught onto it as well? Had Huntz come
back, and they didn’t tell me? Had he threatened my parents again?
God, I hoped Emma could find the bastard, so I could end this
family’s years of misfortune once and for all.

“Do you know
why he kidnapped the kids?” Emma asked.

“He wanted our
farm.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know,
dear. There’s nothing here, but it’s all we have. We never thought
he’d go to such measures. If we’d known, we would have given him
everything he wanted just to leave our children alone. But now
they’re all grown up. We’re the only ones left here, and there’s no
one to protect. I don’t see a reason to give up our home.”

“No one’s
asking you to do so, Ma.” I reached over the table and took her
frail hand in mine, holding it for a moment. “You’re safe, and
we’re safe. Let’s change the subject, please.”

Emma shifted
uncomfortably in her seat before perking up again. “I would love it
if you could join us for the summer fest. I don’t know many people
around here, and it would be lovely to see some familiar
faces.”

I froze. My
parents’ faces dropped for a moment. Pain was marked in their eyes,
regret in the creases of their foreheads, and guilt near their
tight smiles. While Emma’s invitation was meant to ease the
conversation, it was not welcome. And even though my parents wanted
to hide how they’d been affected, no one could mistake the
seconds-long torture they’d just experienced.

“You don’t
want two old farts there, Emma. You young kids enjoy yourselves.”
My father spoke first.

“But I thought
the fest was for everyone? It would really make me feel better
knowing some people there, Mrs. Waters.”

My mother
looked to my father, then at me. I nodded in encouragement. Perhaps
Emma was right. Maybe if my parents faced their darkest demons head
on, they could finally move away from their past and reclaim some
sort of a future. My mother picked up her head and smiled kindly,
saying, “Please, call me Joanne. We’ll try. I can’t promise, but we
will definitely try.”

A glimmer of
light sparked in her eyes, like she’d somehow been set free. I
couldn’t help but feel like it was Emma’s doing. She was having the
same effect on my parents as she had on me.

“Thank
you.”

“We better get
going, Ma. We’ve already overstayed our welcome.” I stood up from
the table and helped Emma move her chair back as well.