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  Emerald nodded. “My investigator has a complete list. I’ll get it from him rather than try to recreate it from scratch.”

  “I’m not sure you should talk to him right now. He hasn’t been cleared as a possible suspect.”

  “That’s crazy,” she protested, vigorously rubbing her hands up and down her arms. “Dane isn’t a stalker.”

  “You sure enough to risk your life?” Abel’s stark reminder sent a chill down her spine. “He was interested enough in you to ask for a date.”

  “Yes, but that was months ago.” God, would this nightmare never end?

  Nathan, who been silently listening to her and Abel, added his two cents’ worth. “Maybe you should call him.”

  “Are you out of your mind?” Jackson took a threatening step toward his brother.

  “No, I’m not.” He held up his hands to placate Jackson. “Just listen for a second. I called it in and had one of my people do a quick search. So far this Hatcher guy checks out. Let Abel talk to him. He’s known for his investigative work and it’s less likely to piss Hatcher off than getting a call from the local police.” Nathan turned his attention to Emerald. “If he’s not the stalker, the work he’s done on the case would be a big help. If he is the stalker…” Jackson swore, but Nathan ignored him and continued. “If he is the stalker,” Nathan repeated, “then he’ll probably show up here fairly quickly and we’ll be waiting for him. Any stranger will stand out like a sore thumb, unlike in New York City where it’s easy to blend in.”

  Emerald nibbled on her bottom lip. Her stomach was churning. There was no use in lying to herself. She was scared. But more than that, she was sick of running. She wanted her life back. “Okay.”

  “I’ve already got his number from the list you gave Jackson.” Abel hauled out his cell phone and handed it to her. “If you could just give him a quick call and let him know it’s okay to talk to me, I’ll handle things from here.”

  Emerald took the phone and dialed. Her head was spinning with how fast everything was moving. Less than a half an hour ago, she thought she was totally on her own. Now she was surrounded by people who wanted to help her. And she’d only just met them. Overwhelmed by their generosity, she barely kept it together as she spoke to Dane. Well, he yelled and she listened.

  “What the hell were you thinking?” She could hear the barely suppressed anger in his voice as he continued, “Do you have any idea what I went through when you didn’t answer your phone? I contacted your sisters and they told me they didn’t have any idea where you were.”

  The man obviously wasn’t pleased that she’d taken off without telling him. Her stomach lurched. Did that mean he was the stalker or was it just honest concern for her? Emerald no longer knew. When Dane finally wound down, she told him why she’d called. Once she’d made the introduction, Abel took the phone and strode outside to talk to the other man.

  Erin stood and came around the table. Leaning down, she hugged Emerald. “Try not to worry too much. Everything will work itself out.”

  Emerald sensed her hesitation. “It’s okay. You can ask me anything you want to.”

  “I don’t mean to pry, but I’d love to see more of your work if you wouldn’t mind. The business you run with your sisters sounds absolutely fascinating.”

  The normalcy of the question almost shattered Emerald’s composure. She could see the genuine interest in Erin’s face. “I’d love that.” She made up her mind then that the next time she talked to her sister, she’d ask her to send out a box of samples. It occurred to her that it might be easier to get Dane to pass the message along. After talking to Abel, her location was no longer a secret from him. In his profession, it wouldn’t take him long to trace the call. “If you’ll excuse me, I want to talk to Dane before Abel hangs up.” Pushing out of her chair, she went outside with the rest of them following her. So much for privacy.

  She motioned to Abel just as he was about to hang up and he handed her the phone. Walking several feet away, she whispered her request to Dane who promised to pass it along to Topaz for her. Satisfied, she hung up the phone, walked back and handed it to Abel.

  “I’ll call you as soon as I know something.”

  “I appreciate all your help. I don’t know if it will do much good, though, if it really is just a crazy fan of my parents. I don’t believe the stalker is Dane and it’s definitely not Derek. I’ve known him since we were kids. And it’s not Fred.” Emerald shook her head. “Fred is kind to everyone. He always brings us flowers on our birthday…” Her voice trailed off.

  Abel shrugged. “We’ll eliminate as many suspects as possible and go from there.”

  “Flowers are something that your stalker likes to send you too,” Jackson pointed out to her before turning to Abel. “Check it out.”

  “Her investigator is already on it, but I’ll double-check,” Abel assured him.

  Erin gave her a quick hug. “I’ll see you soon.” Then Abel and Erin walked back to their truck.

  “The groceries,” she called. She had completely forgotten about them. They’d been sitting out in the hot sun for quite some time. She hurried down the steps, thankful that Erin had had the foresight to bring along a cooler to pack the perishables in.

  It didn’t take the men long to cart all the groceries into the kitchen and then Abel and Erin headed home. Nathan lingered behind as they stood on the porch and watched the truck fade into the distance. “I’m sorry again for what happened at the diner, but it couldn’t be helped.”

  Emerald crossed her arms across her chest, but nodded. “I understand.” And she did. Nathan was the sort of man who would do whatever needed doing, even if he didn’t particularly like it. He and his brother were much alike. They were both dependable men. Good men.

  He turned to Jackson. “Park her car in the barn.”

  “Will do.”

  Nathan nodded and headed for his vehicle. “I’m sure Carly will want to come out in the next day or so after I explain the situation to her.”

  Emerald wasn’t quite sure what to say or do, so she inclined her head. “That’s fine.”

  Then Nathan was gone and she and Jackson were alone on the back porch. The heat was like a living thing between them, making the air heavy and humid. Now that the others were gone, Emerald felt unsure and awkward with him. The sweet connection of last night was nowhere to be found.

  “Emerald?” She turned away from the question she heard in his voice. Knew that he felt the same tension that she did. Arousal was there, low in her belly, but she ignored it. Now was not the time or the place. Her emotions were too all over the place.

  She started to walk away, but came to a quick halt. Her throat ached as she swallowed up the emotions that suddenly swelled. Her heart beat heavily as she took a step forward and then another. Hanging from heavy hooks at one end of the porch was a white swing. Reaching out, she touched the thick chains that held it up and remembered that when she’d driven up, Jackson had just finished working on something.

  She whirled around. “You put up the porch swing?”

  He came toward her slowly. She noticed the way his jeans clung to his thick thighs, the way his T-shirt strained at the shoulder seams, and the heavy stubble on his chin. He hadn’t shaved this morning and it made him look dark and dangerous as he stopped in front of her. “I did.”

  “Why?”

  He cupped her chin in his hand and leaned closer. “Because I thought you might like it.” His lips grazed hers and she parted them without thought. His eyes closed and she stared at his thick, dark eyelashes. They looked so soft against the ruggedness of his face that she wanted to touch them.

  He pulled back and stared down at her, tracing his thumb over first her top and then her bottom lip. She shivered, her nipples pebbling against her bra. Jackson heaved a sigh and leaned his forehead against hers. They stood like that for several minutes, neither of them wanting to break the mood.

  Finally Jackson stepped back. “I’ll move your car.”
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  “All right.” She missed his presence next to her already.

  “I’ll be back in time for supper.”

  She nodded.

  “You’ll be here when I get back?”

  “I will.”

  He nodded and then strode across the porch and down the stairs. He didn’t look back as he climbed in her chair and drove it toward a smaller barn just beyond the big one. Emerald slowly eased herself down onto the porch swing. Pushing off with one foot, she let it swing as she pressed her fingers against her still-tingling lips.

  Chapter Nine

  Emerald was pulling a roast chicken out of the oven when the back door opened. She didn’t even bother to turn around. It was just past five o’clock in the evening and Jackson’s boots had made their familiar stomping sound as he’d climbed the few steps to the back door. She’d only been here a week, but already she found herself listening for the sound of his footsteps in the evening.

  The screen door opened and he stepped inside. He brought with him the smell of summer and sweaty male. Emerald busied herself with laying the roaster on the counter then checking the pots on the stove. Anything to keep herself from going over to him and burying her face against his shirt.

  “That smells great.” His voice was so close she knew he was standing right behind her. He didn’t touch her, yet she could feel the heat from his large body practically surrounding her. “I’ll be down as soon as I shower.”

  “That’s fine.” She was proud of the way that her voice didn’t wobble. She sounded steady and matter-of-fact. She raised the lid on the pot of carrots and gave them a stir with her fork. She could sense him hovering behind her, undecided, but a second later the air stirred and he was gone. His footsteps echoed as he took the stairs quickly.

  She all but slumped against the kitchen counter and took a deep breath. Ever since her first night here, she’d made it a point of keeping her distance from Jackson. And boy, it hadn’t been easy. That first night had been too intense and her common sense had forced her to take a step back and examine the situation. She’d been ready to climb into bed with a man she’d barely known. That just wasn’t like her at all.

  With everything else that had happened, the last thing she’d wanted to do was get into a relationship, so she’d backed off. She’d sensed Jackson’s impatience and confusion, but he’d accepted the fact that she wasn’t ready or willing to pursue the attraction between them. But that resolve was weakening as each day went by.

  The more she got to know Jackson, the more she liked him. He was exactly what he seemed to be—loyal, honorable, hardworking, earthy and sexy as all get-out. He had a quick wit and a dry sense of humor that appealed to her. She’d never seen him lose his cool or his temper, but she hadn’t heard him laugh either, although when he turned his smile on her, she felt lightheaded. The man was good-looking in a rugged sort of way, but when he smiled, he was something special.

  Rather than abating, the attraction she felt toward him was growing as each day went by. He hadn’t made any overt moves toward her, but he was always touching her. Small touches. The graze of his finger over her cheek, the firm squeeze of his hand over her shoulder, the brush of his muscular body against hers.

  She sighed as she lifted the chicken onto a platter and began to carve it. There was really no reason why she couldn’t or shouldn’t let nature take its course. Sex with Jackson would be spectacular. Of that, she had no doubt. If they came together physically, it would be explosive. No, that wasn’t why she was holding back. It was the emotional attachment that worried her.

  Emerald had never slept with a man she hadn’t been in love with. It just wasn’t in her nature to take these things lightly. The fact that she was seriously considering sleeping with Jackson told her that she was already in over her head when it came to him. She worried her bottom lip with her teeth as she spooned up carrots, mashed potatoes and corn onto their plates. She was already half in love with the man.

  Wrapping her arms around her waist, she hugged herself tight. As if her life wasn’t confused enough at the moment, she had to go and add something like this on top of it. Shaking her head, she picked up the plates and placed them on the table. The shower had gone off and Jackson would be here any moment.

  By the time she’d placed the platter of chicken on the table, she could hear him on the stairs. Taking one last look to make sure that everything was in place, she slipped into her chair just as he strode into the kitchen.

  “Everything smells great.” His hair was still damp and brushed the back of his denim shirt. The sleeves of the shirt were rolled back to reveal darkly tanned forearms sprinkled with dark hair. His fingers were thick and long, his palm broad. They were strong, capable hands and she remembered all too well what they felt like against her skin.

  Sucking in a deep breath, she picked up her fork. “Thanks.”

  They ate in silence, the only sounds the scrape of their utensils against the plates, the clink of their drinking glasses as they sipped iced tea and their deep breathing. Finally, Emerald couldn’t take it any longer. “Tell me about the farm.” In the week she’d been here, she’d barely ventured beyond the yard.

  Jackson finished chewing and swallowed. He laid his fork down and sat back. She could tell she’d surprised him with her willingness to talk. He’d tried the first few days she was here, but she’d shut him down. Now she was feeling badly about that. He’d only been trying to be friendly and put her at ease, but she’d been feeling too raw and had just wanted to be left alone.

  “What do you want to know?”

  She shrugged. “Everything.”

  One corner of his mouth kicked up in a grin. His jaw was covered with evening stubble and a lock of hair tumbled over his forehead. The collar of his shirt was open, exposing his strong throat and neck. A tuft of hair peeked out from between the parted fabric. It gave him a roguish look, like a sexy pirate. His blue eyes stared intently at her, making her squirm in her chair.

  He leaned back and linked his hands over his flat belly. She swallowed and laid her fork down on her plate. She couldn’t eat with him watching her so intently.

  “This farm has been in my family for several generations. My grandfather owned it first and then my father.”

  “And now it’s yours.” She marveled at having such a family legacy.

  “Not quite mine.” He looked thoughtful. She could tell he was picking his words carefully. “It belongs to the three of us—me, Nathan and Erin. Our father never liked the farm, never truly wanted it or us. Our mother died when Erin was just a kid and he just went through his days until I was eighteen. I knew he was going to sell the farm and I offered to buy it from him. At first he laughed.”

  Emerald couldn’t look away from Jackson. She could sense his underlying pain even though his words were matter-of-fact. She thought about her own parents—so loving and giving—and couldn’t even imagine what it must have been like for Jackson and his siblings. She and her sisters had known nothing but love and acceptance and encouragement. They’d been very lucky.

  “Then what happened?” she prompted after he went silent.

  “He agreed to give it a go and moved to Florida. The three of us worked like dogs and finished paying off the farm a few years back.”

  Jackson was the oldest, so she knew he’d born the brunt of the workload on his shoulders. She could also tell from the way he was shifting in his seat that he didn’t want to talk about this subject any longer. “So, tell me about the farm itself. What kind of apples do you grow?”

  He tilted his head to one side, watching her, gauging her reaction. “We grow about fifteen varieties, including your more popular Macintosh, Ida Red, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious and Courtland.” Sensing her genuine interest, he kept going. “We’re all organic. That’s the first thing I changed after I took over the farm sixteen years ago. Took a while and a lot of hard work, but we’re now certified organic.”

  That was smart of him, but then, she’d never
doubted Jackson’s intelligence. “Erin mentioned something about alfalfa and blueberries.”

  He nodded. “We own the orchards and a few more acres of land, but we also lease Abel’s land from him. Have for years. Erin cultivated blueberry fields on her own and has a U-pick operation that’s been doing real well the past few years. She convinced me to take a few acres of the orchards close to her crop and designate them as U-pick as well. That way folks can come and pick apples and berries. She takes care of that end of the operation. The rest of the orchards are harvested and bagged or pressed to make cider. We sell a lot of them at the small stand that Erin set up to sell berries and apples to those who don’t want to be bothered with picking them themselves. The rest are sold to local stores. I also grow fields of alfalfa and hay and sell it to local farmers as feed and bedding for the animals.”

  Emerald was fascinated. “It really is a family operation.”

  “Sure is. We all work hard, especially from late August to late October. Erin convinced me to put in a pumpkin patch a few years back, so now we have a U-pick pumpkin patch that’s busy in October.”

  “How do you handle it all yourselves?” The sheer amount of physical work was daunting.

  “We do the bulk of the work ourselves, but we hire local kids, mostly students looking for extra money, in the late summer and fall. For a few weeks, it gets real busy around here.”

  So far, she hadn’t seen anyone but Jackson and his family. She couldn’t imagine that much activity around the place. “Wow.”

  Jackson chuckled. “Yeah. It can get pretty crazy around here. But don’t worry, most of the activity takes place away from here. We put in another road a few years back and that’s where we built the fruit stand. That way, we get a lot of drive-by traffic, especially on the weekends. Although, by the end of September, the barns will be filled while we’re waiting for buyers to come and pick them up.”