The Fifth Season (11 page)

“Thank you.” He wasn’t moving. She pulled the towel tighter around her body and scolded herself for not bringing a robe. A warm tingling spread slowly across her skin, and Emma knew it wasn’t an after effect of the scalding shower. Anger over the mess of guns and his disputatious attitude spurred her into leaving her room half-dressed.

“You’re welcome.” Scooting past him, Emma dove for the safety of her bedroom.

“Emma?”

She stopped, turning to face the keeper of her heart.

“Yes?”

“I didn’t mean what I said.” He fumbled with the wad of clothes clutched in his arms. “I don’t want you to stay away.”

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she nodded. Wincing, Emma wondered if he could hear her heart pounding. “I’m not indifferent.”

He didn’t say a word, but his eyes deepened and a slight smile touched his lips. After what felt like an eternity but probably only encompassed a few seconds, Stone stepped into the bathroom. Bathed in the yellow glow of the small fluorescent bulb, he cast one more soul searing gaze in her direction. “I’m not running.”

The bathroom door shut, and she heard water spill from the showerhead and closed her eyes against the erotic images torturing her mind.

What would it be like to have a man like Stone love you?

A round of roaring expletives hit her ears.

“Stone? Is everything okay?”

“No, dammit,” he yelled. “The water’s ice cold.”

She tried not to laugh, but failed. With shaking shoulders, Emma entered her bedroom and proceeded to transform herself from an emotional avalanche into an animated hostess.

***

Stone emerged into the main part of the house refreshed from the chilly shower and unusually lighthearted. He felt like smiling which only made him scowl.

Candles lit the resort in a soft, yellow glow. The fireplace sparked, crackled and sizzled in bright colors, thanks to a bag of colored pine cones he’d grabbed from the hardware store this morning. Emma stared at the bright blue and green fireworks, mesmerized by their magic.

He paused in the doorway. The blaze from the fireplace highlighted her hair, creating a halo of burnt amber. She’d dressed for the occasion. An off-the-shoulder, cream sweater topped a tawny suede skirt that accentuated the curve of her hips. His mouth watered. If he closed his eyes, maybe the room full of people would disappear and allow him a moment to savor her, taste her, claim her.

Stone knew he didn’t deserve her. Love and laughter weren’t his future. Maybe tonight he could pretend? Masquerade as a whole man, a worthy man. Swearing softly, he realized a mask didn’t exist thick enough to cover his black soul.

“Stone?” Her voice stretched across the distance of the large living room, caressing his ear and shooting straight to the depths of his yearning.

He forced himself forward. Standing close enough to inhale her jasmine perfume but not touching. “What’s up?”

“Nothing. You seem kind of far way. Is everything okay?”

He couldn’t look away from the depths of her emerald eyes. Little jewels in a satin case.

She smiled tentatively, a flash of hope, desire maybe, deepening the richness of her sparkling green gems. He wasn’t sure, but in self-preservation, Stone efficiently doused the twinkle.

“I’m going to talk with Seamus Adams. I’ll check in with you later.” Ignoring the hurt expression that crossed her face, he headed over to the billiards table.
Become the enemy
. Stone clapped Seamus on the back and accepted the offered pool stick. “Let’s play,” he said.

***

Emma sipped her wine. She refused to look at the other end of the long dining table. Stone and Seamus Adams remained in deep conversation, their voices carrying the length of the room. She smiled politely at Linda Leary.

Tilly finished clearing the last of the dinner dishes and began presenting dessert. The tiramisu didn’t tempt her taste buds like it normally did but instead caused her dinner to churn bitterly.

“So tomorrow is hiking Jenny Lake, right?” Linda said.

“Yes. I think you’ll love it. Make sure you stop in town tomorrow night and collect your picture from today’s rafting trip. It’s definitely worth framing.” The polite words burned her mouth. What she wanted to do was stand in the middle of the table and scream at Stone. How dare he?

She froze suddenly. Tilting her head, she confirmed her fear. Seamus Adams had just mentioned Clover Enterprises.

“Emma?” the Irishman called.

“Yes, sir?”

“I was just asking Stone here if he’d ever heard of a local company called Clover Enterprises.”

She glanced at Stone. His face remained impassive, but she could see the blood behind his steel blue eyes. “No sir, can’t say that I’m familiar with that business, but that’s not unusual. I tend to stick pretty close to home.”

“I see. It appears they’re investing quite a bit of funds in my opponent’s political campaign. I was hoping to meet with them and offer a more viable solution to their investment.”

“Seamus,” Stone interrupted. “I’m certain I can inquire around and see if we can’t find someone to talk to.”

Emma wanted to faint. This little scenario crossed beyond her wildest nightmares. Seamus Adams knew about Clover? How could he? She disguised her concern and focused back on Linda. “Tomorrow is the staff’s day off so I’ve arranged for you to dine downtown. Every Sunday the local pizza restaurant has an eat all you can buffet involving every possible concoction imaginable.”

“That sounds delightful. The kids’ll love it, I’m sure.”

Emma smiled and excused herself from the table. She couldn’t wear this mask any longer. It was cracked to the point of disintegration.

Walking rapidly from the dining room, she closed the doors behind her. Blocking out the rest of the guests, blocking out Stone.

She grabbed the phone and quickly dialed Nate’s number. Her hands trembled violently, and she had to redial several times before getting it right. Listening to the ring, Emma tapped her foot and bit her nails. No one answered.

“I think you have a lot of explaining to do.”

Emma whirled around and threw the cordless phone at him. “Stop that. Right now, you stop that.” She approached him, waving her finger under his nose. “If you ever again so much as say
hi
and make me jump, I swear on all the four leaf clovers in the pasture that you’ll be a soprano before you finish your next word.”

Stone narrowed his eyes and stepped into the room. “Yeah? That’ll be pretty hard to do when the next time I say
hi
will be at your funeral.”

“Go back to your guests.”

“
Our
guests have all gone to bed. Apparently without a hostess around to direct conversation, it’s rather boring.” He grabbed her finger before she could wave it one more time. The warmth of his touch seeped beneath her skin, sending little flames of fire all along her nerves.

“Why?” he said softly. “Why expose yourself this way?”

“I didn’t.” Emma swallowed and bit back tears. “I don’t know how he found out about Clover. It shouldn’t be written anywhere in any records.”

Stone stared into her eyes. “Are you planning on assassinating Seamus Adams? Is that why you don’t want my interference?”

“No.” Emma gasped and tried to pull away. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

“You’re not going anywhere until you explain what’s going on.”

She closed her eyes and counted back from ten. Her emotions skittered to the left then to the right, making it dammed impossible to think straight. “Nothing. There’s nothing illegal with Clover. I initiate a donation once a year to aid in the downfall of Adams’ political organization. But it goes through a thousand different companies before ever hitting the soil of Ireland.”

Stone stared at her, his brows furrowed. “I don’t know whether to admire you or shake you silly. How stupid can you be?”

She bit her tongue.
If only he knew the whole of it
.

“I’m not stupid.”

“Did it ever occur to you that this is exactly how he knew your whereabouts?”

Emma shook her head slowly.

He appeared entirely too caught up in his thoughts to realize how closely they stood. Her hand still caught in his grasp, his other hand pushing her firmly against his chest. Her heart quit beating as his fingers slid slowly down, over her rear. She was wrong. He knew.

Stone released her hand and wrapped his other arm around her, pulling her even tighter against him. They molded together, not an inch of space between their bodies. She stared up into his face, into dark pools of desire.

“I don’t want this,” he said.

“I know.” And she did. She understood his hesitancy, his need to remain distant. He would be gone soon.

Their lips touched and everything blurred beneath the longing and desire. Emma let go. She poured every ounce of herself into him, showing him what he’d never accept in words. His breath hitched, and he delved deeper. Pulling her in, twirling her around in an erotic dance.

Her head spun…every nerve flaming and wanting only one thing. Stone.

His hands raked her hair. She yanked at his shirt, pulling it off his shoulder. He chuckled when his buttons popped, but he never broke the kiss…the earth shattering, smoldering, hotter than Hades kiss.

Somewhere she heard an insistent ring.

“What’s that?”

“The phone, damn…hold on.” Stone bent and picked up the cordless she’d tossed at him earlier. She smiled at his flushed face and erratic breathing, thinking it the most wonderful display of emotion she’d ever seen. He grinned wickedly. Emma rolled her eyes and held her hand to her heart, trying to calm her own mad pounding.

Stone glanced at the caller id screen then handed the phone over. The look in his eyes spoke louder than any word.

“Hello?” Her heart sank as Nate’s voice rattled down the line. “Yes,” she answered, “I did try to call earlier.”

Emma bit her lip, fighting back the sorrow as Stone walked out, quietly shutting the door.

Chapter Eight

Emma woke slowly. Soft rays of sun trickled through half-open blinds, creating golden bridges that blurred into a dust-particle blizzard. Without turning her head, she knew Stone was gone. In fact, she couldn’t be certain he’d even spent one moment next to her last night. Pushing away her unreasonable anger at Nate Connor, Emma sat up.

The scent of rich Columbian coffee wafted beneath her door, spurring her to hop out of bed and don her typical outfit of jeans and River Run polo shirt. She exited the tiny bedroom and entered the kitchen.

All four tables were filled with excited guests. White water rafting always prompted this nervous thrill from families who’d never experienced the heart-stopping, roller-coaster adventure.

“Emma?” Seamus Adams interrupted her thoughts. She poured herself a cup of coffee, locked her emotions away, and turned toward her mother’s killer. Only a few more days, and he’d be gone.

“Yes sir?” She smiled sweetly.

“Why don’t you join us today? Linda mentioned how you love hiking.”

“Oh, I don’t think…” Suddenly the room burst into an uproar, everyone talking at once. They all begged her to come along. The faces of the teenage boys alight with joy.
I bet they just want to stare at my ass
, she thought as the man-children cajoled and sunk to their knees, prostrating themselves before her. Keeping their octopus hands off her the past week made diving into the icy waters of Jenny Lake an enjoyable experience.

“Please, Emma.” Linda ‘Leary stepped forward and squeezed her arm. “I can attest that Seamus’s wife, and I would certainly feel more confident with you on board.”

“Really, I appreciate everyone’s encouragement, but I have a full day’s schedule to complete.”

“I’ll fill in,” Tilly piped up from behind the counter. Emma glared then quickly covered her expression. A sudden thought tickled her mind. What if she could trick Seamus into revealing a soft spot in his campaign or better yet, what if she could verify once and for all that he truly had no knowledge of her identity?

If either prospect succeeded, she’d be a more confident person. “Okay,” she inhaled deeply. “I’d love to join you.”

***

The South Junction of Jenny Lake lay a few miles into Grand Teton National Park. Tilly maneuvered the resort van with a skill that sparked a bit of jealousy for Emma. No license. No driving outside River Run. Blocking out the incessant chit-chat between Linda and Seamus’s wife, Emma concentrated on what she wished to accomplish today.

“This is very exciting.” Linda Leary jabbered as they exited the bus and lined up in front of their tour guide. “Do you do this a lot?”

“At least several times a year,” Emma admitted, although she failed to add that this was the first time she’d joined a tour group. Normally she and Nate hiked the trails, enjoying the scenery and absorbing the serenity of their surroundings.

She assisted the group in tightening their hiking books and securing water bottles.

“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” The Leary’s and Mrs. Adams gathered round. Emma noted Seamus still wandered toward the visitor’s center. “The trail that will take us from here to the West Shore boat dock is not overly difficult as far as trails go around these parts. There are steep areas but for the most part the path is clear.” Emma paused to make certain her audience understood. “Once we reach West Shore, we can break into two groups if not everyone wants to hike to Inspiration Falls. There is a shuttle boat that will bring those who are tired back here to the visitor’s center to wait on the rest of the party. Any questions?”

Linda raised her hand. “I see all these bear signs. Is this bad territory?”

Emma smiled as she noted the woman move closer to her sons. “If you use common sense, we will be fine. Talking in regular tones will warn any unsuspecting bear of our presence and hopefully they will move out of our way before we even know they exist.”

Adams rejoined the group and handed his wife a water bottle. “I’ve got an extra,” he offered it to Emma.