Shadow in the Pines (24 page)

Dani thoroughly enjoyed the day, even the ordeal of unloading a car full of groceries and rearranging cabinets to be able to fit it all in. While she started a pot of chili, Noah trekked next door to retrieve clothes and toiletries. He returned, suitcase and duffel bag in hand and an odd expression on his face.

“What’s wrong?” Dani joined him in the living room, drying her hands on a dishtowel.

He dropped the bags beside his feet. “I just want you to know I’m staying here to make sure you’re safe until we catch this guy,” he said awkwardly. “I don’t want you to misunderstand……… to think I’m expecting anything more permanent than that.”

Dani cocked her head to the side and tried to interpret the troubled expression he wore. The longer she looked, the more he seemed like a little boy lost, confused and expectant at the same time. Dani smiled. “What if I want something more permanent than that?”

The shades dropped on his eyes and his face took on a guarded expression. “Then you’ll have to tell me that.”

“Deal,” she smiled again. “Now get that upstairs and stop cluttering up the room I just cleaned.”

Under the tree looked barren since they’d delivered the gifts Dani had for Beth and the foster children. All that remained was the one tiny package from Noah and the one Dani had for Mike. With Noah busily starting a fire and the chili simmering away on the stove, Dani ducked into one of the extra bedrooms and spent the better part of an hour wrapping the gifts she’d bought for Noah today. She’d found a couple of sweaters she knew he’d like, and a few books she hoped he’d like.

Two felt stockings with appliqués of Santa and his reindeer nearly jumped in her shopping cart, so she’d set to work looking for smaller items to stuff Noah’s with. Happily, she wrapped a bottle of his favorite cologne and a CD of ZZ Top’s greatest hits for his truck. The last two items had her stumped, though. Caught up in the holiday mood, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Now she wasn’t so sure.

Dani opened the first box and looked at a gold pinky ring. He didn’t wear much jewelry, aside from an earring, but it seemed appropriate. It was a gold snake that coiled around the finger. A fitting gift for the man who seemed destined to save her from the creatures. The second box held an earring – a small hoop with a tiny dangling heart. She’d wondered at the store if it was too feminine, although a man like Noah could wear anything without fearing ridicule. It seemed symbolic of her giving him her heart to wear. She might as well give it to him. In reality, she’d already done that.

When she was finished, she carried them all downstairs and positioned them under the tree, stepping back to admire the results. Then, she went in search of a hammer to hang the stockings.

“You have been busy, haven’t you?” Noah smiled from his customary seat on the couch, lowering the newspaper to watch her in action. “Oh, man, you should have told me about the stocking,” he frowned. “I didn’t get anything for that.”

“Well, it’s not Christmas yet, either,” she grinned, then headed off to the kitchen to check on dinner. When she came back into the room bearing a tray with steaming bowls of chili and a package of saltines, she found him sitting in front of the tree looking at the gifts.

“You’re worse than a child,” she laughed, setting the tray down on the coffee table.

“These are all for me,” he said soberly.

“Yeah,” she nodded, “except for the ones for Bandit and Charlie.” She didn’t get his point.

“I have to go back to town,” he said.

“Noah,” she chided. “Come eat your chili.”

He joined her on the couch and started eating, but didn’t say much. When she’d finished hers, he looked over at her. “I’m serious. I have to go back into town, but I can’t leave you here.”

“Noah,” she argued, beginning to feel a little embarrassed, “if it’s just the gifts…”

“Dani, will you go back into town with me before it snows?” he looked at her earnestly.

She couldn’t resist. “Yeah. But you don’t have to do this.”

His face broke into a smile. “I want to.”

“Let’s take the truck,” he said when they’d bundled up and got outside. “I’ve got chains on it.”

She looked at him in surprise, but didn’t argue. He held her hand and led her through the trees to his driveway, then helped her up in the truck. Although her Taurus was plenty powerful to her, his F150 had a lot more get up and go, especially on tiny country roads. The clicking of the chains was an interesting sound, but oddly comforting as the snow flurries started not long after they left. She’d hate to see the storm that could stop this truck.

Noah drove straight to the mall and towed her along like an eager boy hurrying to get to the toy store. He left her parked in the electronics department to shop for videos and CDs while he roamed the rest of the store. When he still hadn’t returned almost an hour later, she began to wonder. The thought of his anticipation warmed her heart and put a smile on her lips. He really could be like a little boy sometimes. The thought appealed to her.

As she paced back and forth near the entrance, waiting for him, her eyes lighted on a display of Nintendo games and she wandered over for a closer look. The system itself was marked down to an incredibly low price and the games weren’t too expensive either. Suddenly, she imagined the two of them, snowbound, sitting on the floor in front of a roaring fire playing video games. It might be fun.

She’d just finished paying for it and the clerk was bagging her selections when he joined her, shopping bags filled with boxes on both arms.

“What have you done?” he asked, eyes wide as he watched the clerk stuffing bags.

“See what happens when you leave me alone too long with a credit card?” she teased.

“Oh, my God,” he rolled his eyes. “Let’s get out of here before you do something I can’t beat.”

Dani laughed and collected her parcels. Swirling snow greeted them as they left the store, and they ran like children through the parking lot to the truck. It was a tight squeeze, getting all the packages in the cab with them, but they didn’t dare leave them in the truck bed to get all wet. The wipers stayed busy brushing the snow from the windshield and the appearance of smoke curling from her chimney promised cozy and comfy just inside the door.

As soon as they had the packages inside, Noah left Dani to sort out her games while he disappeared upstairs with his bounty. When he came back down, arms full of packages, Dani had the game and accessories spread on the floor all around her and a look of utter confusion on her face.

“Problems?” he asked cheerfully, stuffing tiny items in her stocking after leaving the larger ones beneath the tree.

“These instructions might as well be in a foreign language,” she grumbled. “I can’t figure it out.”

“Let the master have a go at it,” he dropped down beside her on the floor, brushing her cheek with his lips before reaching for the instruction sheet.

Dani gladly scooted all the pieces closer so he could reach them and got up, stretching. She noticed that he’d taken time to change his clothes and wanted to do the same.

“I’m going to go change,” she informed him and headed up the stairs.

When she returned, he was so engrossed in his project she headed straight for the kitchen. Eggnog. Mechanical shooting sounds coming from the living room told her he’d been successful. She joined him on the floor, much more comfortable in flannel pjs and fluffy slippers.

“Wanna play?” he asked, gratefully accepting the steaming mug she offered.

“Of course, silly,” she smiled. “Tell me how.”

They spent the next hour racing Mario Kart, shooting it out with Star Wars and helping Banjo Kazooie in a never ending search for his kidnapped sister, Tooty.

“I’m done,” she groused, throwing the controller down when her Banjo died the death for the third time, falling off the narrow crosswalk into a boiling pit of lava. “I think I’m too old to sit in the floor this long.” She stood and stretched then padded into the kitchen for a refill. “Want some more?” she called.

A moment later, he came around the corner and set his mug on the counter, then stepped up behind her and slid a strong arm around her waist. “More what?” he murmured suggestively, nibbling her ear.

“Mmmm,” she smiled, wiggling around so she could face him and wrap her arms around his neck. “You spoil me.”

He kissed her softly. “I love it.”

“You wicked man,” she teased, kissing him back, melting at the feel of his hard body next to hers.

“Only with you,” he murmured between kisses that grew more urgent each time.

“You promised to watch a movie with me,” she reminded him.

“How about if I watch you watching a movie?” he backed up a little to allow her room to refill her cup, then refilled his own and followed her back to the couch.

Dani set down her mug, then popped The Horse Whisperer into the DVR while he turned off the lamp and made room for her on the couch. “Can we make out during the previews?” he asked, pulling her close.

She turned to face him, taking his face into her hands and kissing him soundly. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Noah Russell,” she whispered, close enough to feel his warm breath on her cheek. The intimacy of the fire and the comfort of his arms had all her defenses down. It was true, and at this point she couldn’t think of any reason to hide it from him.

He looked as though he might speak, then cupped her chin in his hand and pulled her closer, dusting her eyes with kisses then seeking her mouth with his own. As his warm, soft lips caressed hers, everything else receded, leaving her aware only of his touch, his taste, the musky aroma of his cologne and his hair. It seemed all she would ever need in this life was wrapped up in him.

With the movie forgotten, Dani abandoned her soul to his lovemaking in front of the fire. For the second night in a row, the two slept soundly on the couch, this time, entangled safely in each other’s arms.

Dani woke when Noah stirred, reaching up to brush back the hair that covered his cheek.

“Penny for your thoughts,” he whispered, startling her. When she didn’t answer, he opened his eyes, examining her face only inches from his own.

“I wish it could be like this forever,” she answered softly.

In response, he pulled her close, embracing her in a bear hug that allowed her to feel the beating of his heart next to her own. “I wish I could promise it would,” he answered, as if holding her tight could make it happen.

“Back to reality, I guess, huh?” she smiled, warm in the circle of his arms.

“Mmmmmm, I guess,” he moaned softly.

“Hungry?”

He smiled.

“Breakfast? Food?” she prompted, teasing.

He groaned louder this time. “I suppose you want me to cook?”

Dani smiled. “You’re the breakfast chef.”

“You make a mean omelet,” he countered.

Dani struggled to get up. “Fried eggs, over medium, with bacon and toast,” she flung the words over her shoulder, dodging his hand as she passed behind the couch on the way up the stairs.

Upstairs, she bathed quickly and dressed warmly, layering long johns under her sweats. There was too much snow outside. Sooner or later, she’d have to build a snowman. If the chill in the air inside was any indication, it was literally freezing cold outside. Bounding down the stairs, she was greeted by the smell of bacon frying and fresh coffee brewing. Maybe this afternoon she’d have time to bake a batch of tollhouse cookies. As far as she knew, Noah wasn’t due back at work until tomorrow evening and she’d have him all to herself until then.

“What? It’s not done yet?” she teased, slipping into the kitchen behind him to fill her coffee mug.

“No griping at the chef,” he answered good-naturedly. “Sit down and get out of my way.”

“Grouchy,” she observed, but did as he asked. A few minutes later, he joined her, with two steaming plates and a stack of toast.

“Do you have a plan for the day?” she asked between bites.

“You mean besides gathering more firewood?” he smiled.

“Yeah,” she smiled back.

“Hmm,” he pretended to consider it. “I suspect, at some point, I’ll have to assist a certain lady in building a snow man.”

“How’d you know?” she punched his arm, amazed at his intuition.

“Lucky guess,” he grinned. “And, less fun but more importantly, you and I need to go over the facts of this case as we know them.”

Her face screwed into a frown. “Ewww. I don’t even want to think about it.”

His expression was compassionate, but determined. “I know, but we really need to.”

She was silent for a while as her mind wandered over territory she’d rather avoid. “Can I ask you something?” she said hesitantly.

“Of course,” he said, pushing his plate aside and getting up for more coffee.

She waited until he sat back down, gratefully accepting a refill from the pot he’d brought with him.

He looked over at her curiously as he took his seat again.

“When did you say you moved here?” Even as she said it, Dani hated herself for asking.

“March, why?”

Dani tried to shrug it off. “Beth says she saw you here last year.”

“Really? When?” he looked genuinely confused.

“I think she said the Rose Parade last fall.”

“Oh. I came down for about a week, checking out the department…you know, kinda looking around to see if I’d really want to move here.”

Dani sighed. As she’d suspected, it made perfect sense. He wouldn’t have moved here without doing just that. Nobody would. But there was still the other issue.

“How do you know Caroline Crane?” she asked.

Noah’s eyes narrowed and he leaned back a little as if to scrutinize her motivation for asking. He didn’t look pleased, but answered anyway. “I believe she’d be the wife of your esteemed Dr. Crane.”

Dani nodded, aware of a feeling of dread growing in the pit of her stomach.

“I first met her in Austin several years ago,” he continued. “She was there attending some kind of society conference I was assigned to guard.”

“Oh.” It never occurred to Dani that he might have known her somewhere else. Still, meeting someone once at a conference would hardly constitute a relationship or even a remembrance years later. “Did you know her well?”