Chapter 16
SKY
I was just prolonging the inevitable. I had no doubt the sheriff, who was a very intelligent man, would look into my background. He’d find out that I had been arrested in the past for arson and murder. It would eventually come out what had happened, the speculation, the accusations and that I had been the main suspect in torching my family home and killing my parents.
The fact that Jake had sent his lawyer to help me made me so very grateful, but I knew that I would have to make drastic changes in my life. I’d already set the wheels in motion.
The feel of him beneath my hands so warm, strong and good. Anna Kate didn’t deserve him, and neither did I.
I broke away from him, and he looked down into my face. “What is it?”
“I have to talk to you.” I took his hand and pulled him out to the back patio. It was chilly, and I rubbed my arms. He gave me his jacket when I shivered, the scent of him overpowering my defenses and making me weak for just a moment.
I grabbed the back of his neck and kissed him with all the longing and regret welling up in me. His chest expanded as he inhaled raggedly; then his arms came around me in a crushing embrace as he took what I offered.
His jaw flexed beneath my hand as he moved his mouth deeply against mine, the thoroughness of his hot, wet kiss setting off a wild and heartbreaking frenzy in me. He drew me hard against his pelvis, and my breath caught on a rough sob, the surge of sensation and the aching pain making my lungs falter. He tightened his arms around me, holding me with the same fierceness as I held him, his mouth hungrily absorbing the taste and feel of me. His need merged with my own, and I went all soft and willing in his arms, a liquid weakness spreading through me.
With a shuddering intake of air, he dragged his mouth away, his breathing harsh and labored. His arms tightened around me in a savage, crushing hold. Trembling from the impact of that single kiss, I closed my eyes and hung onto him, my heart breaking, breaking.
Drawing another shuddering breath, Jake brushed at a curl that had escaped my tight hairdo and pressed a kiss against my neck, the feel of his moist mouth making me shiver. He held me tight for a moment, his mouth warm against my flesh. Then he sighed and raised his head, his hold protective as he backed me into a shadowed corner, blocking the line of sight from the door and the festivities.
“Let me take you home, take care of you, Sky.”
I melted even more to have him so protective and sweet, but I shook my head. There was no more stalling. “I’m not going back home. I’m staying with Jordan until I can figure out where to go.”
His harsh indrawn breath and stricken eyes hurt more than I could bear. I turned away.
“What? Why? You’re leaving?” His bewildered and hurt tone was only the beginning of this terrible exchange.
“Yes. I have to. I can’t stay here.”
“Sky. No one is going to believe you murdered Anna Kate.” His hand through his hair wasn’t quite steady.
“Don’t be so sure,” I whirled and said, my voice harsh. “I’ve been through this before and people I trusted turned on me.”
“What? When?”
“My parents died in a fire, but I didn’t tell you everything,” I whispered softly. I met his eyes and it hurt so bad to see the look of pain there when I only wanted to see him laugh. But I had to get through this for both our sakes. “Our ranch, the whole thing, barns, house, horses, cattle…” My voice caught on a sob as the dark memories surfaced after so many years of suppressing them. He reached out, but I couldn’t bear him to touch me. I’d never get through this. I stepped back and his expression contorted. “Everything burned. The authorities investigated afterward and said it was arson. At first they thought my dad had done it because of our finances weren’t exactly the best. But then suspicions turned to me as the only survivor. I inherited everything. They even accused my boyfriend at the time of putting me up to it to get my parents’ money. They said we might have even done it together, but in the end, I alone was charged for arson and murder. While I was in jail, Seth up and left without a word to me. I was completely alone.”
“You aren’t alone now,” he said fiercely. My heart broke into pieces. I should have known he wouldn’t abandon me no matter what. He’d stand by me and this scandal would only add to his stress.
Trying to swallow the knot of emotion in my throat, I was moved beyond words by his gruff admission of support.
“I know that and I’m so grateful, but I never doubted you for a moment, Jake. Not for a moment. It’s just that this is going to be a terrible, long-lasting scandal. I can’t put you through it, and I can’t go through it again. Nothing lasts forever. That’s what all this has taught me. Sometimes we just have to let it go.”
“I’ll go with you then,” he said his voice breaking. “I don’t give a damn about anything but you.”
“That’s not true, and we both know it. You love your orchard.” My voice clogged, tears flooding my eyes as my throat constricted. Too emotionally raw to continue, I covered my eyes. Viciously wiping at the tears, I made myself say what was in my heart. “Jake, you reconnected with your brother and you’re going to be part of his wedding. You have issues to resolve with your business and your father. Your sister has your growing nephews. Your aunt and uncle are here. You have such a gift. I couldn’t drag you away from all of them.” I leaned back against the building, tilting my head to look up at the star-filled night, feeling as lost as I had before I’d found Suttontowne. “My family is gone, and I mourn their loss every day. If you think that I would willingly deprive you of your closeness with them, I won’t. Your family is here, and it’s where you have to stay. Don’t make this harder on me than it already is. I’ve already contacted a realtor to sell the Blue Coyote. Please, just let me go.”
“No. Fuck, no,” he bit out, his jaw muscles flexing. The torment in his eyes made my heart stall.
He grabbed me and held onto me, but I couldn’t give him any false hope. This was the course of action I had to follow. I wouldn’t destroy him further. I pushed out of his arms and shook my head. “Jordan is picking me up in a few minutes. Stay at my house as long as you need to, and I wish the best for you. Let Jordan know. She’s going to handle packing it up and selling it for me.”
I turned away. “Sky—”
“Please, Jake. Please just go back to the party. Maybe one day you can forgive me.”
I didn’t want him to leave, part of me begged him to fight me and the other part was relieved.
