“We have reason to believe Prissy was murdered.”
Jarrod’s eyes widened. “You don’t think Hammy could have done it, do you?”
“No, but we think he knows who did. He won’t talk to me, but maybe he’ll talk to you.”
“I don’t know. At one time, maybe. But we haven’t been close for the last two years.” He shifted his weight, face set in indecision. He probably didn’t want to get involved.
She didn’t blame him. But she needed his help. “I know my sister and I had our issues, but Prissy didn’t deserve this. If she was murdered, I really want to find her killer. Will you help me?”
Jarrod drew in a deep breath, then gave a sharp nod. “I’ll go talk to him this afternoon and see what I can find out. If I learn anything, I’ll call you.”
Shane cleared his throat. The warning glance had morphed into a worried scowl. She gave Jarrod her cell number, and he programed it into his phone. “Please don’t tell him you talked to me.”
“No problem.”
BethAnn approached as Jarrod dropped his phone back into its pouch and walked away. “I invited Kevin and Shane to dinner, but there’s always room for one more. Can you come?”
“I’ve got to run home and let Buttons out, but I can be there in twenty minutes.”
BethAnn headed toward her car, but Shane stayed. The rigid jaw underlined the scowl already there. “I’ll walk with you.”
His tone didn’t give her an option. They’d barely made it to the sidewalk when he began his scolding. “You just made a big mistake.” His voice was taut. “Even if he doesn’t mention your name, Hammy and Spike will know it was you.”
“They already know I’m asking questions. That’s nothing new.”
“And the more you push, the more danger you put yourself in.” The tension radiating off of him seeped into her, and she tried to shrug it off. She didn’t need his reminder. She was well aware of the danger. But she refused to turn her back on Prissy again.
She had almost reached her driveway when BethAnn drove past with a toot of her horn. Kevin was right behind her in his truck.
Jessica stalked up her drive, Shane next to her, and jammed her key into the front door lock. “I’m careful. And I’ve got Prissy’s gun.”
“That might be some consolation if you knew how to use it.”
“Then I’ll learn.” She pushed open the door. “I’ve been taking care of myself for almost my whole life. So you need to back off.”
He followed her inside. “And you need to stop selfishly charging ahead without any consideration for how your actions affect the people around you.”
Her jaw dropped, and she spun to face him. Selfish? He was calling her selfish? Everything she was doing, she was doing for Prissy, trying to make up for all the things she hadn’t done when she’d had the chance.
The indignant reply never made it to her lips. His features softened, and he gently traced her jaw line with the back of one index finger.
“There are people who care about you, Jess.”
Yeah, that was what he kept saying. She was just having a hard time believing it. When they’d been kids, Priscilla had fought for the attention she craved by being sweet and compliant. Jessica had just walked around with a Texas-sized chip on her shoulder, telling herself she didn’t need anyone’s love or affection, all the while hoping someone would care enough to try to prove her wrong. No one ever had.
“Why are you so concerned about me?”
“Because I care.” He tilted her face up to meet his. “You’re a special lady, Jess, and don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.”
She stared up at him, her gaze captured by warm hazel eyes that seemed to look right into her soul. He had a knack for knowing what she needed to hear and just the way to say it. He’d told her she was special. Right now, she believed it. He made her feel special. And cherished. And complete.
But he was leaving. Not today or tomorrow or even next week. But eventually he would be gone.
She lifted both hands to cup his strong jaw. “When are you going to stop running from the past? When will you put those memories to rest and grab hold of the future?” She searched his eyes, watching the battle that raged in their depths—the longing to take the risk and open his heart, while the voice of caution held it in check.
And she sought to soothe the pain of his memories in the only way she knew. She slid her good arm around his neck, stretching to her tiptoes while she pulled him closer. Her lips met his, and for several moments, he didn’t move. Then his arms encircled her waist, and the tension seemed to drain from his body. What she initiated, he took over, leading in a way that was urgent and demanding.
And she had no doubt. He wasn’t trapped in some distant memory. He was kissing her.
Fully and completely.
Chapter Thirteen
A brimming half-moon hung suspended in a cloudless sky, stars sprinkled across the endless expanse. Beneath, the world lay quiet and still, the silence broken only by the soft rustle of leaves in the light breeze. Shane strolled back down Jess’s driveway, watching for a familiar set of headlights. He’d already circled her house three times, scanning the shadowed landscape for any threats. But the Parker property was as still as the rest of Harmony Grove.
At the end of her drive, he stopped to check the time on his phone. A quarter till eleven. It wasn’t that late. But Jess out alone after dark was
