All the Pretty Faces (33 page)

Dane paced the hospitalic waiting room, anxious about Josie’s condition. Even though the doctors had identified the drug and assured him that she’d recover, he couldn’t erase the image of her lying helpless in that damn cage.

If he’d been a few minutes later . . .

You made it in time. She’s all right
.

Was she? Would she be plagued by more nightmares?

If she were, it was his fault.

Voices echoed in the hall, then footsteps, and Josie’s mother, Anna, and her husband, Johnny, raced up. Mona, Josie’s half sister, and Cal followed on their heels.

Anna looked panic-stricken. “Where is she?”

Mona grabbed his arm. “Is she okay, Dane? What did that crazy woman do to her?”

“She’s going to be all right.” Dane explained about the paralyzing drug. “The doctor said it will wear off soon.”

“I have to see her,” Anna said, frantic.

Mona nodded. “Me, too.”

They hurried to the nurses’ station while Cal and Johnny remained in the waiting room with Dane.

“I heard you cracked the case,” Cal said. “Good for you.”

Self-recriminations screamed in Dane’s head. He didn’t deserve accolades. He just wanted to get to Josie. See that she survived. “Actually, Josie figured out Grimley wasn’t the Butcher. I almost got Josie killed.”

On the way to the Grimleys’ old homestead, he’d realized just how much Josie meant to him.

How much he loved her.

He’d prayed she was alive so he could tell her.

Now looking at her family and knowing that his stubbornness had put her life in jeopardy, he kept his mouth shut.

He had no right to ask for forgiveness, much less love.

Josie blinked back tears as her mother and Mona doted on her. She’d assured them that she was okay. She’d survived Billy Linder.

She would survive this.

Where was Dane?

He was probably furious with her for going to the community center by herself. He’d said she was naïve, and she had been.

She’d trusted Olive completely. Hadn’t seen beyond the surface, beyond what Olive wanted her to see.

Johnny poked his head in. “Everyone all right in here?”

Anna stroked Josie’s hair. “Yes. Josie’s going to be okay.”

“Where’s Dane?” Josie asked.

Johnny frowned. “He said he had to go, honey. Do you need me to get him?”

Emotions swelled in Josie’s throat. Yes, she wanted him.

But he didn’t want her. He simply cared about the job. For a while she’d helped him, had been his partner. He didn’t want a partner, though. He’d told her that in the beginning.

She’d have to learn to live without him just as she’d learned to live with the nightmares.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

It had been three days since Dane had seen Josie.

Every day was torture.

He’d never thought he’d love anyone else in his life, much less want to spend every waking moment with a woman.

He wanted to spend every moment with Josie.

Josie had become an obsession. Missing her was all he could think about.

Even knowing he’d closed the case didn’t quiet his need for her. His want.

Unfortunately, Olive Turnstyle had died in the ambulance on the way to the hospitalic. Justice was served, yet she’d died without having to face her victims’ families. That didn’t seem fair.

Grimley had been moved to a state facility. He’d made a plea deal to avoid a lengthy trial and was given a life sentence. After thirty years, he was eligible for parole. Dane doubted the man would make it that long. His Parkinson’s disease had already begun to progress.

Dane packed his things at the cabin. He was ready to leave Graveyard Falls.

The good news—his mother was slowly emerging from her catatonic state and starting to speak and interact. Maybe one day she’d be strong enough to leave the nursing facility.

Apparently she and Ellie had discussed sharing an apartment. He was glad she had a friend, even if that friend professed to have visions. For a brief moment, he’d considered turning Ellie in for killing Grimley’s father, but under the circumstances, he decided justice had been doled out after all.

His suitcase in the SUV, he headed out of town. Back to his life. Another case.

Only a few miles down the road, and the itch to see Josie one more time overcame him.

He spun his vehicle around.

Ten minutes later, he found himself sitting in Josie’s driveway. He stared at her house, remembering when she’d called him about the photograph. She’d been scared and shaken but so gusty he’d liked her on the spot.

He cut the engine, an image of her standing up to him, insisting that she needed to help with the case, stirring. Then he saw her taking his hand and drawing him to bed when he’d needed her warm, sweet touch to stave off his own nightmares.

A few weeks ago he hadn’t cared about anything but his job and finding Betsy’s killer.

He’d been driven by guilt. In the end, he’d found the truth, but he’d almost gotten Josie killed.

He owed her an apology. He was a man who believed in taking ownership of his mistakes and in saying he was sorry. He couldn’t leave town without doing it now.

Nerves clanged inside him, but he opened the door and climbed out. A fresh storm was brewing, tornadoes touching down in other parts of the South. Tornado warnings had been issued for the rest of the day and night, and one had been sighted in North Georgia.

Wind swirled leaves and debris across the drive, tossing twigs in his path. The sky turned dark, a funnel cloud in the distance spinning as if a tornado was headed this way. He’d been caught in the eye of the storm himself for so long that he’d forgotten how to live.

He’d emerged a different man.

A man who wanted more than a job. A man who wanted love and someone to share his life with.

Determined to learn from his mistakes, he strode to the door and rang the bell. His shoulders knotted with anxiety as he waited for Josie to answer. Her car was here. She had to be inside.

Finally she opened the door. He took one look at her and lost his breath. She looked so damn beautiful he wanted to drag her in his arms and never let her go.

An image of her tied spread-eagle in that cage flashed back, and emotions clogged his throat.

“Dane?” Her eyes searched his. “I thought you’d already left town.”

He gestured toward his SUV. “I’m packed and on my way. How about you? What’s going on with the movie?”

“The film company decided to hold off production until things settle down. Maybe in a few months . . .”

“So you’re leaving town?”

She bit down on her lower lip. “Yes. I don’t think I can stay in Graveyard Falls. I’m a reminder to all the locals that I brought another serial killer to town.”

“
You
didn’t bring a killer to town,” Dane said, his voice firm. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—allow Josie to blame herself. “Olive was on a path to destruction before this film fell in her lap. She used you, the town, and the movie to get her revenge.”

Josie blinked, her eyes moist. “I know, it’s just hard to forget.”

He would never forget it either. “I’m sorry for what I said, for putting you in danger.” God, he had to spit it out. “You were right that day. I let my emotions over my sister’s case cloud my judgment and lost my objectivity. I should have at least investigated Grimley’s claims.”

Josie reached out a hand as if to touch him, but then pulled back. “Don’t beat yourself up, Dane. You had a right to be emotional. I’m just glad that you found your sister’s killer.” She paused. “How’s your mother?”

“Better. She heard me tell her about the arrest and is making progress.”

“She must have felt trapped,” Josie said softly. “That’s the way I felt when I was given that drug. I could see and hear everything, but I couldn’t move or speak.”

Regret made Dane flush with heat. He had to look away. Too much guilt.

Stand up and be a man. You have no right to look away. You have to face her.
“Are you having nightmares again?”

“Some,” she admitted. “Don’t worry, though. I’ll be okay.”

He nodded. Of course she’d be okay. She was tough. She didn’t need him. “You’re going to write this story, too?”

She rubbed two fingers against her temple. “I have to. It’s my way of coping, of making sense out of the violence.”

He gave an understanding nod. “Maybe I should have written about Betsy.”

“We could do that together,” Josie offered. “That is, if you want.”

God, yes, he wanted it. He wanted her sweetness and compassion and intelligence and tenacity. He wanted her in his arms any way he could have her.

Most of all he wanted her beside him and in his bed.

Dane forgot all the reasons he wasn’t supposed to fall in love, because he was already knee-deep in it. Josie was smart and beautiful and strong, and he needed her.

The wind picked up, roaring as if a freight train was coming.

“There’s a tornado warning,” Josie said, her brows furrowed. “You shouldn’t be on the road.”

“I’m not afraid of a storm,” he said quietly.

Josie’s gaze met his. “What are you afraid of, Dane?”

He swallowed hard. “I was afraid of falling in love,” he said. “Of caring about anyone. I shut down after Betsy died, and then when my mother lapsed into that silent world, I thought I’d lost her, too. I thought that she hated me, that she blamed me.”

She licked her lips, her voice a whisper. “Your mother loves you.”

He shifted, barely able to keep his hands from reaching for her. “When I thought Olive might have killed you,” Dane said gruffly, “I realized I’d fallen in love with you. I can’t go back to not caring, Josie.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “It’s my fault you almost died, and I can’t expect you to forgive me—”

“I already have,” Josie said softly. “I love you, too, Dane.”

Hope mushroomed inside Dane as Josie took his hand, pulled him inside, and led him to her bedroom. Slowly they stripped their clothes, then fell onto the bed together.

Outside the storm raged, the wind howled, and tree branches snapped and beat against the house. The clouds opened up, dumping rain on the earth, the force of it shaking the windows.

They were oblivious. Josie was safe in his arms, and he loved her. That was all that mattered.

Three weeks later

Josie stood in front of the priest wearing a long, satiny white gown. She was thrilled to have her mother, her half sister, and her stepfather present to watch her marry Dane.

Even more wonderful was the fact that Dane’s mother had begun talking. Today she and her friend Ellie were attending the wedding.

The ceremony was short and sweet, but when Dane kissed her, she kissed him with all her heart. She would love him for the rest of her life.

Toasts were made at the reception, but she barely sipped her champagne. She and Dane had been looking for a quiet moment to share their news with his mother.

Her mother and Mona already knew.

While the guests began to serve themselves from the buffet, she and Dane joined his mother and Miss Ellie.

Dane leaned over to kiss his mother’s cheek. “I’m so glad you’re here, Mom.”

She squeezed his hand, then smiled at Josie. “You look beautiful, dear.”

“She’s positively
glowing
,” Miss Ellie said with a smile.

Josie laughed. According to Dane, the blind woman claimed to have visions. Maybe she knew Josie’s secret.

“Mom, Josie and I have something to tell you,” Dane said with a squeeze of her hand.

Josie scooted into the seat beside his mother while Dane claimed the opposite side. “Mrs. Hamrick—”

Dane’s mother smiled warmly. “Please call me Paula.”

“All right, Paula, we have a surprise.” Josie squeezed the woman’s other hand. “We’re going to have a baby.”

His mother’s smile lit up. “Oh my word, a baby.”

“It will be a girl,” Miss Ellie said with conviction.

Dane’s mother laughed and hugged Josie and Dane. “You know, there’s some truth to her visions,” she whispered.

Josie blushed. “Well, if it is a girl, we’re going to name her Betsy. That is, if it’s all right with you.”

The baby would never take Dane’s sister’s place, but they wanted to honor his sister’s memory. A beautiful girl whose life was taken too soon.

Tears glistened in his mother’s eyes. “Yes, I’d like that.” She rubbed a finger over the locket around her neck. “Betsy would have liked it, too.”

They hugged again, then the music cranked up.

Dane stood and extended his hand to Josie. “Time for our first dance as husband and wife.”

Josie laid her hand in his, and together they walked to the dance floor.

Dane wrapped his arms around her, and she leaned into him, savoring his solid warm body as they swayed to the music together. His tender caresses and kisses had chased away all her nightmares and filled her with happiness.

Sadly, murder had brought them together, but love would see them through any storm, because they would face it together.