Stranded by Alice Sharpe Page B

kindly look.
    “Yes, ma’am,” he squeaked.
    “Would you like something hot to drink?”
    “No,” he said. “I’ve got to go.”
    “Okay,” she said softly. “But be careful on that road, okay?”
    He nodded, his gaze downcast.
    “Come back tomorrow when you remember what you wanted,” Alex added.
    “Yeah, okay,” he said, but he wasted no time hustling down the stairs to beat a hasty retreat toward the gate. The fog swallowed him up after just a few steps.
    Jessica looked after him with confusion on her face. “That was odd. He’s not usually forgetful.”
    “The boy couldn’t get his thoughts straight if he wanted to,” the chief said. “But looking at what I can see of your garden amazes me. Who would have thought the kid had this kind of beauty in him?” He dropped his cigarette butt and ground it out beneath his heel. “The wife just got back from spending a week with our daughter at her college. I guess I’d better get home. And by the way, Alex, I saw your medical clearance on my desk when I stopped by the precinct on my way over here. We’ll see you bright and early Monday morning, okay?”
    Alex grinned. “You bet.”
    “I’ll walk you out,” Jessica said, and led the chief back into the house. He’d arrived late and he’d used the front entrance. No backyard gates for him.
    Dylan got to his feet and heaved a deep breath. “I think the party’s over.”
    * * *
    “T HANK YOU FOR TONIGHT ,” Alex said as he got ready for bed.
    Sitting at her dresser and brushing her hair, Jessica glanced in the mirror where she saw Alex’s reflection. “Did you really like it?”
    “What was not to like?” he said which she took as a nonanswer.
    “Oh, I don’t know. After being alone for so long, all these people might have been difficult for you to handle all at once. Maybe I shouldn’t have tried to surprise you.”
    “You did what you thought best,” he said. “It was fine.”
    It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him to stop making nice all the time. She knew he was worried the peace they seemed to have found was too fragile to withstand brutal honesty, but he’d have to get over it if they stood a chance at a real marriage. “How about Chief Smyth bringing a reporter?” she asked, shaking her head. “What is that guy’s problem?”
    “My guess is that he was trying to score points with the mayor by getting his picture front and center in Sunday’s newspaper. The reporter had the look of a guy making a few extra bucks.”
    She turned to face him, watching as he unbuttoned his shirt. “That was odd about Billy, wasn’t it?”
    “Yeah. But he’s always been a little awkward with people.”
    “I think seeing all you cops must have unnerved him.”
    “That’s what I thought. All of us have been out to his mother’s place a few times over the years. She’s had her share of trouble.”
    He pulled his shirt off, stood up and unbuttoned his jeans. He was leaner than she’d ever seen him, but stronger, too, the muscles in his chest and shoulders honed by the work he’d been doing to stay alive. She couldn’t really imagine what he’d gone through, how he’d survived the first few days of storms and snow with a badly injured leg and cuts on his face. She’d asked him to tell her in greater detail, but he’d glossed over all the facts, dismissing the experience as yesterday’s news.
    He paused as he sat back down on the edge of the mattress, just in his boxers now. There were scars running up and down his left leg that made her wince when she thought of the agony he must have endured all by himself. And yet he looked younger than he had in years, and incredibly handsome. Every molecule in her body reminded her that making love to him was about the best thing in the whole entire world.
    “He was fine until the lights came on,” Alex mused. “When he saw everyone he just clammed up. Do you have any idea what he wanted?”
    “No,” she said. “He’s been coming around