Slow Hands (20 page)

The other runners simply swerved to avoid a collision. All knew somebody from the crowd would step in to help. Someone always took a fall in the race.

Keira rolled, trying to prevent further injuries, and landed against the curb.

"You okay, boss lady?" Reggie Reeves bent down in front of her.

She nodded, looking up just in time to see Alec head her way.

Scarlet intercepted him by flinging herself into his arms. Alec frowned as Scarlet triumphantly ripped the number off his back and waved it to the crowd.

Accepting Reggie's help, Keira climbed to her feet. Her palms burned from the scrapes. "I'm fine."

Reggie grasped her hands gently, swearing as he inspected her bloody palms. Reaching around, he tore off his number and handed it to her.

"Feed me lunch and we'll call it even."

Keira nodded, taking Reggie's number and waving it overhead. Everyone clapped as Reggie helped her limp off toward the picnic area.

Leaving Keira on the closest bench, Reggie went and collected her basket from Mabel.

When he returned he unfolded a plaid blanket on the grass, then unpacked the basket while Keira washed her hands with bottled water.

"Everyone says Miss Mabel makes the best fried chicken in town," Reggie said, offering her a plate.

"She makes the best of everything," Keira said. "Thanks for helping me."

Reggie winked, then bit into a drumstick. "'You sure you're okay? I swear it looked like that big lady knocked you down on purpose."

"Cissy takes no prisoners."

"Actually, I was afraid that Scarlet chick would catch me. Glad she nailed Dempsey."

Keira wasn't glad, but rules were rules. You were stuck with whoever caught you in the race. She changed the subject. "So how are you liking Freedom?"

"To be honest, I don't know if I'll adapt to small-town life. Awful quiet."

She nodded. At least Reggie was honest. Freedom was growing, but it would never be large. You had to like it for what it was or leave. There was no middle ground.

Scarlet and Alec walked by. Alec's shirt was soaked; he'd obviously finished the race. And Scarlet strutted around like a queen bee looking for a hive to invade.

Scarlet spied Keira and Reggie.

"Here's a perfect spot," she announced.

Unfolding her own blanket. Scarlet spread it out right across from Keira.

Scowling, Keira set her plate aside.

Reggie looked at her thoughtfully. "Something wrong?"

"My hands hurt a little."

Setting his plate down, Reggie scooted closer and took her hand. "Let me see."

Surprised by his gentleness and concern, Keira allowed him to examine her abraded skin.

"You've got gravel in there." Reaching for a clean napkin, Reggie wet it with water. Looking up, he met her eyes. "This will hurt."

At Keira's nod, Reggie moved even closer, tugging her hands into his lap. Then carefully, slowly, he worked the small bits of dirt and rock from her skin.

It stung, but she knew it would feel better when he finished.

She looked away, caught Alec staring. Glaring actually.

His reaction made Keira feel a tiny bit better. Until Scarlet grasped his arm and thrust a plate into his hands.

Keira looked back at what Reggie was doing. He finished her right hand, stuck ice against it, and reached for her left hand. That one wasn't nearly as bad.

"Is it true you and Dempsey were engaged once?"

Reggie's question caught her off guard. "Yes," she answered bluntly. "But it was so long ago it doesn't count. We were both too young."
And stupid. And naive.

"I hear he's back to try again."

Remembering the cover story, Keira nodded.

"Obviously Scarlet's trying to convince him otherwise," Reggie observed.

Keira looked at Scarlet. The other woman held a fork of food out to Alec. For a moment cartoon lovebirds flew around them. It shocked Keira to realize she was jealous.

"Scarlet caught him in the race. He's obligated to her for the next few hours."

Reggie grinned. "Guess that means you're obligated to me." He released her hand and stood. "Come on. Let's go find some antiseptic and Band-Aids. Gotta have you patched up for the big
Softball
game this afternoon."

He pulled Keira to her feet just as a squealing patch of kids raced past, chasing a Frisbee-toting German shepherd. Reggie tugged her against his chest, held her until the stampede passed. Then he pulled her toward the first-aid station.

Alec watched Reggie fawn over Keira's hand. If Scarlet hadn't interrupted, Alec would have given the younger man a different hand to contemplate.
His fist.

Alec had all but thrown himself at Keira. Stubborn little minx. He should have done what Reggie did—just ripped his number off and handed it to her.

He'd watched Cissy Odum run into Keira, knew Scarlet was hot on his tail. And in those precious few seconds when he'd stopped to try and help Keira, Scarlet had nailed him.

And Reggie got Keira and the chance to eat Alec's fried chicken!

When Reggie and Keira stood and walked off, Alec almost followed. Then his watch beeped, reminding him he needed to check on Ian Griggs.

He handed Scarlet his plate and made an excuse to go find a rest room. Scarlet pouted momentarily, then smiled.

"The
Softball
game starts in an hour," she said. "I'll meet you there, okay?"

Alec nodded, distracted, as to watch Keira and Reggie disappear into the crowd. Then Scarlet wrapped her arms around him and pressed a kiss to his cheek before backing away, acting coy.

"See you soon," she gushed.

Alec hurried to his car and slid behind the wheel. He needed to establish some ground rules with Scarlet. He'd told her he wasn't interested ... yet she still persisted.

He turned on Main Street, pulled down the alley. Griggs was scheduled to work until five that afternoon, but Alec still planned to do spot checks.

The gas station was deserted, but he could see Ian behind the counter, watching television.

Alec also noticed that Lance Parks, the reporter, had his car parked a block from the station. It hadn't taken Parks long to establish his own surveillance of Griggs. It was unlikely Griggs would do anything with the reporter watching.

Returning to the festivities, Alec looked around the park, at the families, the happy faces. Music drifted through the air from the bandstand. Delicious smells of barbeque, candy apples, and popcorn permeated the air. Smalltown, USA.

He passed the kiddy contests. The corn-eating contest had just ended. Next up was the watermelon-seed-spitting contest. Several entrants practiced dutifully.

Alec remembered participating in the same contests himself. The feeling of nostalgia washing over him was surprisingly warm.

He shook it off. For every good memory of growing up in Freedom, there was an equally bad one.

He'd picked his first fight in third grade, when he'd learned the real meaning of the word
bastard.
Had too many fights after that to remember.

In junior high, the guidance counselor had labeled him delinquent, predicted a dire future. A future that had altered when he started dating Keira in high school. For the first time in his life, Alec had wanted to impress someone. Favorably. Keira had never asked him to be anyone other than himself—which made him stop and look at himself. He hadn't liked what he saw.

The distressful cry of a child caught his ear. He turned, and found a small girl at his knee, crying inconsolably. He bent over.

"Lose your mom?" he guessed.

She looked up, tears tracking down her cheeks. At first, she didn't say anything, clearly remembering her mother's admonition not to trust strangers. Then she nodded, crying harder.

Alec looked around, seeing the world from the child's three-foot-tall perspective. He saw legs and knees, no faces, no landmarks.

He smiled. "How about I lift you up on my shoulders so you can look for your mom?"

The child nodded and stepped into Alec's arms. Her trust humbled him. Very carefully, he swung the child up.

"Somebody lost her mother," he called out loud.

Immediately a woman yelled, relief evident in her voice. "Becky!"

"Mama!" The child started sobbing anew.

Alec made his way toward the distraught woman, swinging Becky into her mother's waiting arms.

"Thank you," the woman cried. "I would have never found her with all these people."

Nodding, Alec started to move on. The woman stopped him. "Becky wants to tell you thanks."

He turned, caught off guard when the child reached forward and hugged his neck, then pressed a tiny, wet kiss to his cheek.

At that same moment, he caught Keira's gaze on the far side of the crowd. If Alec had stuck around, he and Keira could have had a little girl just like Becky. Hell, in ten years' time they could have had a half dozen. The thought wasn't unpleasant. Or scary. Now
that
was dangerous.

'Thank you," Becky hiccuped, releasing him.

"You're welcome." Alec looked back just as Keira turned away, with Reggie's arm draped around her shoulder.

Chapter El
even

Keira
had volunteered to help at the Fireman's Barbecue after the
Softball
game. Afterward, she joined Franny and Darryl at a picnic table to eat. "I'm starved."

Scarlet and Alec materialized out of the crowd, Cissy right behind them.

Scarlet smiled brightly when she spotted Keira. "Oh, look, there's space at this table."

Keira picked at her potato salad, suddenly not so hungry. She felt a hand drop to her shoulder and looked around, just as Reggie Reeves set a plate beside hers.

"I've been looking all over for you." Reggie nodded at the others, then locked eyes momentarily with Alec.

Reggie looked away first, but not before squeezing the top of Keira's hand. "Great game this afternoon. We might have to organize a rematch."

"What about tomorrow, at the camp out at Culver-leaf?" Cissy asked. "Who all's going? Besides me, Scarlet, and Alec, that is."

"I'm going," Reggie volunteered. "Been wanting to do some camping up there." He glanced at Alec. "I hope Keira will show me the old fire tower I've heard about."

Alec felt heat build behind his eardrums. The old fire tower in Culverleaf Park was the first place he and Keira had made love. The thought of anyone but him going there with Keira made Alec feel short-tempered.

"The fire tower's off-limits," he said.

"Yeah, the Forest Service will have it blocked tomorrow," Darryl interjected.

Reggie shrugged, winked at Keira. "Another time, then."

Dusk was rapidly setting in, and people began moving toward the huge expanse of grassy lawn to await the fireworks.

Reggie stood, grabbed Keira's plate. "I'll dump these, then let's go find a good spot to watch the fireworks."

He found a spot and spread out a blanket. "I heard Freedom puts on quite a fireworks display."

"They have to, or everyone goes to Hot Springs," Keira explained.

Darryl and Franny came up and spread their blanket beside Keira. Then Keira heard the squeal she was beginning to hate.

Scarlet.

She claimed the space right in front of Keira.

Keira looked off to the side, to where three young boys danced around, begging their parents to let them light sparklers. It couldn't get dark soon enough for her either.

Scarlet had managed to monopolize Alec the entire day. She must have thought catching him in the race gave her exclusive rights.

Of course, Reggie hadn't wandered far from Keira's side either. In all honesty, she'd done nothing to discourage his attention, so she could hardly blame Alec.

Still—

To her surprise, she felt herself bodily lifted onto Reggie's lap. "Come here, darlin'. I've been waiting all day for this."

Tilting her back in his arms, Reggie proceeded to kiss her.

It was a long, drawn-out kiss, short kisses in between longer ones. Keira couldn't have been more shocked. Recovering her wits quickly, she tried to lose herself in the kiss.

Unfortunately, her mind kept making comparisons. And while Reggie was definitely skilled, he wasn't Alec.

He didn't evoke mind-blowing emotion or passion. Reggie's kisses didn't make her want to rip his clothes off. They didn't even make her hungry for more.

They made her miss Alec's kisses.

Damned if she was going to let that happen.

She tried to block Alec from her thoughts by throwing herself fully into the kiss. She wrapped her arms around Reggie's neck, leaning in.

"That's better," Reggie mouthed against her lips. "Now, let me show you what you've been missing."

He took control of the kiss, his tongue sweeping into her mouth. He tasted vaguely of mint... not unpleasant. She felt his fingers creep along her lower back, teasing along the waistband of her jeans. Testing. She drew a sharp breath, unsure. He tugged her closer, his fingers stroking across her abdomen.

And still her mind was on Alec.

Enough.

She ended the kiss only to find everyone staring in the fading twilight. Franny had her mouth open. Darryl winked.

She turned and saw that Alec and Scarlet both watched, too, Scarlet in envy, Alec in anger.

Just then, the skies erupted in color.

She moved off Reggie's lap, disconcerted.

Luckily, the roaring fireworks kept everyone's attention elsewhere for thirty minutes. As the sky grew bright with the finale, the national anthem started playing on the scratchy public address system. When it ended, everyone clapped.

The park lights came back on as families gathered their belongings and tired children. Tomorrow many of the same families would watch a second, smaller fireworks display at the reenactment battle.

Keira kept her eyes averted, concentrating on folding the blanket. Scarlet and Alec disappeared in the sea of people heading toward their cars.

Keira bid Darryl and Franny good night, then walked with Reggie toward her car.

When they reached her truck, Keira stopped, not certain how to proceed.
This
was exactly why she didn't mix business and pleasure.

"I know what you're going to say," Reggie started. "You don't date employees. Except Dempsey." He let the words hang. "Give me half a chance, and I'll change your mind."

"Look, Reggie, right now ..."

He cut her off with a wistful smile. "If now is not good, there's always later. This means I'm not fired, right?"

"Right."

"Good. Can I follow you home? Make sure you arrive safely?"

Keira shook her head. "Thanks for offering. See you tomorrow."

Traffic leaving City Park was congested, but Keira managed to ease into the flow of cars. She wondered where Alec was and if he was with Scarlet.

He probably was. And after her little show with Reggie, she had no right to be mad.

Yet... the thought of Alec with someone else stung.

Feeling restless, she turned at Main Street and headed out of town. The last thing she wanted to do was go home and wonder what Alec was doing with Scarlet.

Maybe she'd take a quick ride out to Fire Mountain, make sure her grandfather had gotten home safely. She debated taking a back road, then decided to stay on the main highway.

Traffic had thinned, the dark road deserted. She drove along mindlessly, her thoughts on Alec. Playing those what-if games. Wishing it had been Alec she kissed tonight, not Reggie.

A pair of headlights came up quickly, growing close in her rearview mirror. With a sick sense of deja vu, Keira recalled the night she and Franny were run off the road. Panic clenched her stomach.

At least tonight she was in a powerful truck that could outrun almost anything. Alarmed, she floored it.

Alec was a gentleman and followed Scarlet home. Then he spent twenty minutes getting away.

Scarlet tried everything to get him to come in, practically undressing right in her driveway. She'd blatantly groped at his crotch, tugged at his belt. To Scarlet,
no
meant try harder.

"You can't be serious about rushing back to Keira after tonight," Scarlet huffed. "Not after the way she threw herself all over Reggie."

Actually, Reggie had thrown himself on Keira—not that Keira had offered much resistance. Reggie had warned Alec he'd push his advantage wherever he could.

It had taken every bit of control Alec possessed not to slug Reggie. He'd almost lost it when the other man had kissed her.

Alec also suspected Keira was upset with him for being with Scarlet all day. Like it was his fault Scarlet had caught him in that damn race.

When he finally arrived at his apartment building, the first thing he noticed was Keira's empty parking spot His hand tightened on the steering wheel. Had she gone home with Reggie?

It would be easy to throw his car in reverse and drive by Reggie's apartment. He knew where the other man lived.

But what if Keira's truck
was
there?

The thought of her with someone else clawed at him.

Obviously, there had been others in her life. She was too passionate, too gorgeous. And Alec had been gone ten years. It was stupid to think she'd been a nun.

Yet recalling Reggie kissing her tonight drove Alec crazy. Was he jealous?

He resisted answering his own question. His days in Freedom were numbered. Any involvement with Keira had to be limited to maintaining his cover.

Slamming his car door, he went inside. He stopped when he reached the third-floor landing.

Outside Keira's door was a large white box with a bow on top. It had obviously been hand-delivered.

Approaching the box cautiously, he kicked at it. Nothing happened.

Alec kicked the box again, harder, dislodging the lid. Then he peered inside. What he saw disgusted him.

An unidentified creature, obviously long dead, lay in a bloody heap at the bottom of the tissue-lined box. The animal had been skinned.

Moving closer, he spotted the note on her door.

no less than you deserve.

He yanked the note down, careful to minimize his own fingerprints.

Drawing his gun, he let himself inside Keira's apartment and quietly checked it. Nothing appeared out of order.

He took the box and its gruesome contents down to the trash. Jumping in his car, he rode by Reggie's apartment but didn't see her truck. Reggie's truck was gone, too. Were they together? Next, he went by Franny's, then Keira's office.

Growing worried, he tried her cell phone.

No answer . . .

Where the hell was she?

Keira had pulled onto a side road, thankful when the other vehicle zoomed by. Only then did she realize how frightened she'd been and grew annoyed by her sense of suspicion. What was wrong with her? Every car in the night wasn't after her.

She stared at the skyline, saw the distant lightning backlight a bank of black clouds. A storm was brewing. No sense getting caught in it.

Turning her truck around, she hurried home. Alec's car was gone. She knew where he was. At Scarlet's.

And he probably wouldn't be back anytime soon.

What did she expect after kissing Reggie earlier? She'd known Alec watched. Had she hoped to make him jealous? Or prove she was unaffected by his return?

To be honest... she had just wanted Alec. Wanted him to
want
her. She should have been sitting in the park making out with Alec, not Reggie.

And, God help her, with Alec she would have demanded a lot more than kisses.

She opened her apartment door, locked it. Loneliness closed in. Feeling sorry for herself, she turned on the stereo, grabbed a beer, and climbed onto the fire escape, brooding as she watched the approaching storm.

The air was heavy, charged. Change was coming. A bluesy love song played, but she didn't have the energy to climb back inside to turn it off.

She sipped her beer, tuning out sound, trying not to think. Not to feel.
Not to care.

Watching Alec with Scarlet had forced her to admit she still had feelings for him. Deep ones. Complex ones. Their intensity surprised her.

She looked up at the sky, searching for an answer to the one question she'd avoided asking herself since Alec returned.

Did she love him?

She’d never stopped.

The realization was painful. Shocking.

She tried to deny it, but couldn't.