Lost in Bliss

Chapter Fourteen

Laura felt like a freak on display. She’d tried to take a seat in the back, but Holly had shown up and pulled her to the front, explaining that the only reason she wasn’t onstage was that Nate had told everyone he didn’t want to put her on display.

Nice to know Nate Wright was on the job.

She groaned inwardly at herself. She was in a terrible mood.

She’d been sitting in this chair for an hour while Nate went over what was happening with the rest of the town. At some point, she’d noticed that Joe, Brad, and Edward had filed in, but they had kept to themselves.

The fact that everyone knew about her past rankled. She wouldn’t be proud, strong, competent Laura Niles anymore. She would be that victim, Laura Rosen.

Nate had gone over the facts of the case and what to look for.

Everyone was supposed to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior.

Everyone was supposed to stick together. There was a lot of talk about how Bliss had come through time and time again. Laura had felt a bit numb through it all. The only thing that had warmed her was the way Cam and Rafe encircled her. Even though she wasn’t talking to them, she appreciated their presence. What the hell was she going to do if she couldn’t get them to leave?

She wanted them. God, it welled up inside her until she almost couldn’t breathe.

At least they had gotten to the fun part of the evening. Open forum always brought up her spirits.

“You have got to make a law or something,” Max Harper was saying, his voice all growly and taciturn as he faced the small group onstage.

Cam sat on one side of her and Rafe on the other. Despite her locking them out, they had been standing there waiting for her when she emerged to go to the meeting at town hall. They hadn’t said a word, simply opened the door to the car. She’d decided not to be stupid. Taking her own battered Jeep would have been an act of defiance. If de Sade was stalking, she shouldn’t be alone, and calling Holly or Nell into it seemed like a dumb thing to do.

Cam leaned across her to talk to Rafe. “Is he talking about what I think he’s talking about?”

Laura couldn’t miss the way Rafe’s lips quirked. “I believe he is.”

“It’s a natural process, Max,” Rachel shouted, proving she didn’t need a microphone. “How the hell else am I supposed to feed our baby?”

Hiram, Bliss’s elderly mayor, leaned forward and spoke into his microphone. “Max, this seems like something private between you and your wife.”

“Oh, I wish it was private,” Max shot back. “If it was private, I wouldn’t be standing here, but my wife’s boobs are everywhere now.

I would like to see a show of hands of the people who have been treated to the sight of my wife’s nipples.” No one took that bait. Laura figured Max would have written down some names for a future ass kicking.

“I’m feeding the baby!” Rachel argued. “I don’t know what your problem is, Max. Rye is fine with it.” There was a tap on Laura’s shoulder. She turned around to where Jen Waters sat with Stef Talbot. Jen’s eyes were lit with mirth, while Stef watched the proceedings with the lazy amusement of a king being brilliantly entertained. “I brought chocolate-covered peanuts.

Want some?”

Laura couldn’t help but smile. “You knew about this particular topic?”

Jen nodded. “Oh, yeah, Rachel is sick of using the privacy blanket when she breast-feeds in public. Paige doesn’t like it. So she’s just started plopping that sucker out whenever Paige cries. Max walked into Stella’s the other day and just about had a heart attack. I also know something else.”

Stef’s eyes narrowed. “Are you about to gossip, love?” Jen flushed a little. “No. It’s not going to be a secret in about thirty seconds.”

Rye Harper approached the microphone. He walked up to his brother and placed a hand on his shoulder as though about to calm his twin down as he so often did. He leaned forward. “I’m with Max on this one.”

“Rye Harper!”

“We decided our marriage was a democracy a long time ago, baby,” Rye replied. “We’re outvoting you.” Nell stood, her pretty face red with indignation. She brought her own microphone up. “I am making an announcement. I intend to back Rachel in this horrible affront to her rights as a mother. As long as Rachel’s freedom to do something as gentle and pure as making sure her child is fed is being taken from her, I cannot stand in silence.”

“Oh, shit,” Laura said as Nell’s hand went to the bottom of her T-shirt. Laura had a pretty damn good idea what was about to happen.

She pulled the T-shirt over her head. “My breasts will be free.

You can place me in jail. You can silence me, but I will not give in. I vow to remain uncovered until my sisters are free.” Laura started to get up, but Henry was there before her. Damn.

Now everyone was going to see Henry’s privates, too. This was rapidly devolving.

Henry picked his wife up, shoving her over his shoulder in a neat fireman’s hold. Nell, never one to drop a microphone, held it even as Henry started walking. “Henry? What are you doing?” Henry walked straight up to Max and Rye and spoke into their microphone. “Handle this one, people. She really will walk around all Amazon-like until you figure this out, and then I’ll have to break my vow of nonviolence by killing every son of a bitch who looks at her.”

“Henry!”

His head shook as though in deep disappointment. “You see. I cursed. I don’t curse. This is bringing out all the caveman-like tendencies I normally despise. We’re going to join Mel and Cassidy until such time as my wife can keep her nudity to the places it belongs. Our bedroom. Our yard. The Naturists Community. Various clubs. The swimming hole behind the Harper Stables. Stef’s guesthouse. And that Divine Creek place in Texas. Yeah, you know the one. Everyone’s naked there. See, I know you all believe I have no boundaries. There. Firmly placed boundaries. Someone give us a call when it’s safe to come out again.” Nell was yelling into her microphone as Henry carted her off to Mel’s.

On the computer screen Wolf had set up, Cassidy Meyer grinned and rubbed her hands together. “Company. That will be nice.” Hiram shook his head. “We’re shelving this until next week. Max, Rye, Rachel—you work this out. The last thing this town needs is another article on how we’re the topless town.”

“It might make them forget we’re the murder town,” Zane called out.

Hiram sighed. “If there’s nothing else on the agenda, we should consider ourselves adjourned.”

Nate stood up, microphone in hand. “You all remember what we talked about. No female in this town goes unescorted until this guy is caught. If you find yourself without someone to walk with, call the sheriff’s department. One of my deputies or I will come and get you.

In addition, the men of the town have agreed to be on call, so to speak. I want everyone to take a flyer with phone numbers. Do not hesitate to call.” He stared out over the auditorium as if he could intimidate the audience into obeying him. “If I find out that someone’s broken this little rule, well, you know I don’t mind arresting people. It’s one of the joys of my life.” Rafe looked across her towards Cam. “Your new boss is interesting.”

Cam grinned. “I think my new boss is slightly insane.” Cam’s open, easy smile told her he was looking forward to working with the Sheriff. She studied him for a moment as he and Rafe talked about what had gone on. Cam didn’t seem uneasy. He’d walked around introducing himself to people, telling them all about how he was the new deputy. If he was ashamed of his new job, he didn’t show it.

Rafe had been right behind him, though he’d been quieter than usual. Laura hadn’t missed how he’d spoken to Nate and the mayor before the meeting had begun. He’d had a series of notes that Laura hadn’t had a chance to peek at. She seriously suspected he was the one behind the “no woman left unescorted” rule.

Holly walked up, a big grin on her face. “I always knew Henry was hiding the dark heart of a predator.” Henry? Laura laughed. “Henry loves Nell. He just proved he’s a guy. Though I was worried for a moment that he would join her in her nude protest.”

“Nah,” Cam said. “That dude’s a total freak. I bet he spanks her regularly.”

Rafe concurred. “Absolutely. I was watching him. He would be very indulgent, but he’s also possessive. She would be able to push him very far, but once his foot is down, it would not come back up.”

“Is this that profiling stuff?” Holly asked.

“No,” Cam replied, giving Holly that good-old-boy grin that caused Laura’s heart to speed up. Holly was a beautiful woman. How long would it be before Cam gave up on her and went after Holly?

Could she really bear to watch her best friend with one of her men?

Why was she even thinking that? They were just talking to each other.

“I’m a guy, too. I know how I am. If a man really loves a woman, he’s bound to be possessive.

“And he certainly wouldn’t allow his woman to walk around showing off what belongs to him,” Rafe said, staring squarely at her.

Holly’s stare bounced back and forth as though watching an amusing tennis match. “Well, here in Bliss, we have some awfully liberal clothing-optional laws.”

Cam frowned. “No, you don’t. I was given all the codes, and I was informed to strictly enforce the dress code. The Naturist Community is the only place where it’s relaxed. Well, and apparently the pond behind the Harper Stables and that other place Henry said—the guesthouse—but I don’t know what that is yet.” Stef Talbot laughed, a silky sound. “I’m sure you’ll find out, Deputy Briggs. Most people do.”

Laura threw him her most intimidating stare. Stef’s guesthouse was a playroom. It was filled with sex toys and totally equipped for BDSM play. Cam and Rafe were not going there.

“As to that end, gentlemen, would you please join me in my office?” Stef asked. “There’s something I would like to talk to you about.”

Cam and Rafe stood and agreed to meet with Stef. Laura pulled Stef back. “What is this about?”

Stef’s eyebrows rose, and he went from friendly to intimidating in a second. “You, of course. I understand your men are staying. Did you not think we would welcome them properly? It’s just some guy talk and perhaps a Scotch.”

“They aren’t my men.”

Stef shrugged her off. “Well, then what I say to them isn’t your business. Logan is going to watch you.” Laura looked, and the big deputy was standing close by. He tipped his hat to her, but didn’t smile. Damn, when was that boy going to smile again? “Stef, I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Consider him a bodyguard. And don’t even try to tell me you don’t need one of those.” Stef nodded and walked off toward the hallway that led to the town hall’s offices. Stef held the title of Bliss’s County Engineer and kept an office there.

Jen put a hand on her arm. “He means well, Laura. Don’t worry about it. He won’t do anything to hurt you.” She looked across the hall. “Oh, crap. I think Rachel’s about to break her vow not to kill someone around her daughter.” Jen ran off.

Holly stood up and put an arm around her. “Are you sure this is the way you want to go? Those men seem to really care about you.” And that was the trouble. They loved her. They weren’t thinking straight. She couldn’t stand the thought that one day they would wake up and realize everything they had given up to be with her. “It wouldn’t work. I don’t want to marry anyone.”

“Okay,” Holly said, but Laura could tell she didn’t believe her.

Wolf walked up, a smile on his handsome face. “Holly, I’ve been assigned to escort you home. Your chariot awaits, if you consider a big-ass truck to be a chariot, darlin’.” Holly started to smile, but a low voice cut through the crowd.

“No.”

Laura turned with Wolf and Holly to see Caleb Burke standing close, his hands in his pockets and a ferocious frown on his face. The gorgeous doctor was staring a hole through Wolf.

“No?” Wolf asked.

Caleb shook his head. “No.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“No.” Caleb walked up and placed a hand on Holly’s elbow. “She needs someone to drive her home. It’s not going to be you. Come on.” Holly was staring up at the doctor as she allowed herself to be led off.

“Do I smell or something?” Wolf asked. “Because I can’t seem to catch a break today.”

Laura watched as Holly walked off with the doctor. “He’s one of those guys who can’t seem to commit, but doesn’t want to let go.”

“Well, I wasn’t hitting on her,” Wolf protested.

Laura raised an eyebrow.

“Much,” Wolf admitted. “Hey, I’m on the rebound.” He turned very serious. “Those men keep watching you.” She turned and saw who he meant. Joe, Edward, and that asshole Brad were talking amongst themselves, ignoring everyone around them. They stared at her in turns and talked behind their hands as though deciding on an assessment.

“They’re trying to decide if I’m going to be murdered tonight,” Laura said.

Wolf paled. “No.”

“Now you sound like Caleb.”

“Damn it, Laura, I know Rafe and Cam offered to take you away.

Tell me they didn’t.”

“They did.”

“Then why the hell aren’t you gone? Why aren’t you miles down the road?”

No one understood. “I have to face him. I ran once, and now there’s another dead girl. I’m the one who got away. He’ll come after me. He has to. It isn’t in his nature to leave something undone. He’s been stewing for years on the fact that I got away. This is the only way to catch him. If he’s allowed to continue, he’ll never stop.”

“Fine, then let someone else be the decoy,” Wolf suggested.

“Surely they can bring in someone with your height and coloring.” She’d thought of that herself, but discarded the notion. “It won’t fool him. He’s very clever, and for all I know, he would be the one picking the decoy.”

Wolf breathed deeply, his chest expanding. “You seriously think he’s already here?”

“I know it. He’s here, Wolf, and he will come for me.” Laura turned and walked off, Logan following behind her. She needed to find a bathroom. She had an interview to do.

“Scotch?” Stef Talbot asked, holding up a crystal decanter of amber liquid.

Cam shook his head. He didn’t need anything screwing with his faculties. Not even a single drink. He was already a bit nervous about leaving Laura, but Stef had assured him that Logan Green would watch over her. She wouldn’t be allowed to leave the safety of town hall. “No, but thank you.”

Rafe shook his head as well. It seemed they were in sync. They had been since they stood out by the river and contemplated what the hell they would do if Laura didn’t let them back in. Stef shrugged and poured three glasses. He passed them to the men in the room. Nate Wright took his with a nod, and his partner, a big dude named Zane Hollister, took the other.

Cam waited impatiently for someone to tell him why he was here.

The door to Stef’s office opened, and the twin cowboys with the wife who liked to feed her child walked in.

“Damn, Stef, give me some of that. Rachel is pissed off,” one of them said.

The other grinned. “And not just at me, brother. I told you she wouldn’t know what to do if we presented a united front.”

“Yeah,” the first one said morosely, “now we’re both cut off.”

“Max, don’t worry. It never lasts long. She can’t help herself.” Stef looked at the two with great affection. It was easy to see they were all friends, which begged the question of why he and Rafe had been called into this meeting of a close-knit group.

“Gentlemen, I appreciate the invitation, but my partner and I really need to get back to Laura,” Rafe said in a firm but polite tone.

Cam nodded. He would have just said “what the fuck.” Rafe was better at the social conventions.

“Partner? Is he really your partner?” Stef asked, staring at both of them.

What was that supposed to mean? Cam tried to explain. “We used to be partners when we both worked for the Bureau.”

They all exchanged looks, heads shaking, eyes narrowing. They seemed to be communicating amongst each other, as though that was the answer they had all expected and it disappointed them.

“That’s what we thought,” the sheriff said.

“Amateurs.” Max Harper had a little frown on his face.

“What is this about?” Rafe seemed calmer than Cam felt. Cam felt like he was being judged and found wanting.

Zane Hollister turned. “Look, we all care about Laura. It’s easy to see that you do, too.”

“Are you attempting to pursue a ménage relationship with Laura?” Rye Harper asked. He asked the question academically, without a hint of judgment. Cam tried to calm down.

“I don’t see where this is your business, but yes,” Cam managed.

He kind of wished he’d taken that drink.

Stef sat on the edge of his desk looking wholly comfortable as he probed into someone else’s private life. “Laura belongs to Bliss. She’s everyone’s business. We work differently here, gentlemen. You should get used to that.”

Zane grinned, his scarred face looking years younger. “Yeah, everyone is up in everyone else’s shit here.” Stef shook his head. “Not the way I would have put it. I believe what the big guy is trying to say is that we care for each other here.”

“And you two are totally fucking this up,” Max interjected.

Dark eyes rolled as Stef replied. “Again, I would have used different words.”

Max shrugged. “And taken up way more time with all your pussyfooting around. Let’s get to the point. You two are fucking up.

You’ve been fighting amongst yourselves since the day you walked into town.”

Rye agreed with his twin. “You two are not acting like partners.

When we asked about the whole partner thing, we weren’t talking about your work relationship. We were talking about the way you live your lives.”

Nate held out a hand. “Don’t take this the wrong way. We’re really trying to help. Normally, we would take a step back and let you two figure this out on your own, but we’re worried about Laura. With a killer on the loose, she needs the two of you to get your shit together.”

“Trust me, those two are experts at this. They know how to fuck up. They fucked up for years before getting their shit together. You should listen to them,” Max said, sarcasm dripping.

Zane stood up, and his face turned into a mask of intimidation. He bared his teeth at Max, and then sat back down and sipped his Scotch while looking up at Nate. “He’s right. We were dumbasses for years.

We wasted a lot of time that we could have spent with Callie.” Nate put a hand on his partner’s shoulder. “That’s in the past.” Cam looked over at Rafe, who seemed to be assessing the situation as he always did. Though Cam had gone through all the training and knew how to read body language and size up a subject, Rafe was the one with the true talent for it. Rafe wasn’t on Laura’s level, but he knew what he was doing. When Rafe’s shoulders relaxed, Cam calmed down.

And Stef Talbot smiled. “There. That’s what I’m talking about.

Rafe just decided we’re not out to get them, and Cam took his cue.

Now we can talk.”

“Are you sure you’re not a profiler?” Cam asked, surprised someone had read him so well.

“I am many things,” Stef replied. “But for now call me a concerned friend. Laura isn’t happy.”

“When she talked to Rachel earlier this afternoon, Rach said she’d been crying,” Rye explained.

“She had a rough afternoon.” Rafe’s eyes were downcast. They had all had a rough afternoon. There had been moments of pure joy, but now all Cam could feel was an aching sadness.

“Yes, I watched the whole thing.” Nate took off his Stetson and set it down on the desk. “I also know that you two did what you could to protect her. The trouble is she’s not protecting herself. Now, I know a little bit about what happened. Stef and I have looked into this. We don’t know all the details, but we can read between the lines.

Laura handed in a profile of the serial killer that neither one of you agreed with.”

Cam nodded. His guilt was an uneasy knot in his gut. “We backed the senior special agent’s report. Laura was upset because we were involved at the time.”

“All three of you?” Stef asked.

“We had just started a relationship the night before,” Rafe explained. “We hadn’t worked out the details yet.”

“So she was unsure about your intentions,” Stef continued. “And then she was taken and tortured.”

“But we were there for her,” Cam argued. God, there was a part of him that was still trying to figure out what had gone wrong.

Zane shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Look, I know what I’m talking about. When you’ve been through something like that, you feel utterly powerless. I know that some people would curl up and sink into the first affectionate person they could find, but people like me and Laura, we leave. I’m not talking about just walking away. We leave emotionally. We retreat because it’s easier than feeling. I was lucky. I had someone who wouldn’t let me fade away. Laura has made a comeback, but it took her a while. I don’t pretend to know exactly what she’s feeling, but everyone here has seen the way she looks at the two of you. She’s just scared.”

“I don’t know about that,” Rafe replied. “I think there’s a certain amount of anger in there, too. I think she blames us for what happened to her.”

“Then you make it up to her,” Stef said resolutely. “Are you in love with Laura?”

“Yes.” The word came out of both of their mouths at the same time, sounding as though their voices were one.

“Then you have to quit fighting and work together,” Nate said.

“The whole screwing her in my office was a good play, even if it was a little messy. But you need to take it further. You took turns.” Everyone shook their heads at Nate’s announcement.

“Like I said, amateurs,” Max whispered.

Max might get that ass kicking everyone thought he wanted.

His twin stepped forward. “You can’t view it like that. You have to take that girl down, and the best way to do it is together. You see, women are a little like horses. They’ll kick and buck and resist that saddle until you prove you can handle them. Then they like a real nice, smooth ride, if you know what I mean.” Cam was pretty sure he didn’t. “So, like at the same time?”

“He learns,” Max snarked.

“We’re not idiots,” Rafe interjected. “We’ve taken her together.”

“Have we?” Cam asked, suddenly kind of getting what they meant. “We’ve been in the same room. One of us has held her while the other one fucked her, but have we really taken her together? Have we really worked together or just been voyeurs?”

“It’s the same way in life as it is in sex,” Nate added. “You have to talk things out between the two of you. Cam just picked her up and walked out today. You didn’t look to Rafe. You left him behind to quit his job and deal with all the Bureau shit. Now, that’s fine and dandy if that’s the way your roles work. Trust me, I handle anything that requires a modicum of delicacy, and Zane’s job is to make sarcastic remarks.”

Cam wasn’t sure delicacy was the sheriff’s strong point. Maybe he and Rafe made a better team. Damn. Was he just the sarcastic one?

“And to give Callie multiple orgasms,” Zane interjected.

“I don’t need to hear that, Hollister,” Stef said with a sigh. “The point of this exercise is to let you two know that we’re here for you if you want advice or need to talk about how to make a ménage relationship work.”

“And we need your input, why?” Max asked. “You’re in a ménage with Jen and your collection of sex toys.”

Stef nodded and looked awfully superior. “Yes, that’s because I’m the smart one. None of my sex toys talk back. Well, that new one from Japan does.”

Nate looked at them seriously. “Are you two really interested in trying this? None of that taking-turns shit. You have to be in this together. You have to be a team.”

Cam looked at Rafe, almost afraid of his reply. Rafe had far more to lose than Cam. Cam’s mother would sigh and then get another beer. She wouldn’t reject him. Rafe was running a risk.

“Cam has always been my partner,” Rafe said. “Even when we weren’t working together. Yes, we’re serious.”

“Then you need a plan, my brother,” Rye said with a friendly smile. “We’re good with plans.”

Max looked at his brother like he’d gone insane. “No, we’re not.

We’re horrible at them. Rachel always sees right through them.”

“Well, I’m good at them,” Stef said with complete confidence.

There was a loud snort from outside the office.

Every male eye in the room rolled.

“That’s ten, love,” Stef called out. “Do you want to make it twenty?”

“Fine,” a feminine voice called from behind the door. “We’ll go.

Callie has to use the bathroom anyway. And Rachel needs to feed Paige.”

Max flushed. “My life was easier when the only ones hanging off my wife’s boobs were me and my brother.” Cam finally laughed. Long and hard. It was ridiculous. It wasn’t normal. He was standing here talking about how he was going to share the woman he loved with his best friend.

And he felt happier than he had in a long time.

Rafe doubled over, his hand coming out to balance against Cam’s shoulder.

Cam stayed still so his partner didn’t fall.

He was quiet as they started to talk about how to win Laura.

His pretty rabbit paced, her arms crossed. She could feel the connection. He was certain of it. There was a tension to her body that let him know she was anxious. She was impatient. He wondered if she’d missed him.

They had an intimate connection—far more intimate than any sex she could have had. He’d held her life in his hand. For the hours they had been together, he had been her god.

He was going to do it again, and no one could stop him. Certainly not the two idiots who sat beside him, talking about the case and making plans. They had sat beside him for years never realizing that the killer they were looking for was right in the room.

This was why he needed her. She was the only one to see through him. Oh, for certain, she hadn’t seen past his mask, but he wouldn’t make that mistake this time. This time he wouldn’t wear the mask. No theatrics between them.

His cock hardened. It almost never did that anymore. Certainly when he was with one of his charges, administering discipline, he would become aroused, but almost never when he was simply thinking about it.

His rabbit did this for him.

He wouldn’t be able to hold it in. He answered his colleague on some meaningless point of procedure, but his brain was looking around the room.

So many ladies. And so many of them were naughty.

He would have liked to play with the one who tried to take her clothes off in a public forum, but her husband had saved her.

A pretty redhead walked behind a man.

“You don’t have to do this, Caleb. I really can get a ride with Laura,” the woman said. “I live right next door.”

“No.” The man simply herded her out the door.

Obviously they weren’t married. He wondered if the man with the gold and red hair would drop her at her doorstep. He doubted those two were having sex. These cabins were so easy to get into. No one here really protected themselves. He wondered if his rabbit would appreciate a friendly gift.

“I’m heading back to the motel,” the Marquis de Sade said, stretching and standing. “Nothing’s going to happen tonight. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

They nodded and gave him a friendly goodbye.

On his way out the door, he bumped into that obnoxious reporter.

She rolled her eyes.

“Excuse you,” she said with a huff as she fixed her hair and charged into the room past him.

He watched her ass sway in her tight skirt. She was a loose end.

She’d been useful over the years. Jana Evans had been more than willing to report what he told her to report. He’d always been careful with her. He used disposable cells to call her and never the same one twice. He gave nothing of himself. It had been mere coincidence that his rabbit had been involved with such a piranha.

Of course, piranhas had nothing on sharks.

He turned and followed the redhead and her escort. It was time to announce that the Marquis de Sade had arrived in Bliss.