Page 55 of Guarded Secrets
Jaxon paced back and forth across the tiny patio, pausing to peer through the glass, cupping his hands around his eyes. It was her first good look at him. His face looked like it’d been used as a punching bag. One eye was swollen shut, his lip was puffy and split, and his jaw appeared to be the color of a ripe plum.
“Stay on the line with me, Keeley. Officers are seven minutes out.”
A lot could happen in seven minutes. She texted Abby to tell her that she was safe, asking her also to call Owen, and to stay in her house, adding that the sheriff’s department was responding.
She hated that her parents were once again being affected by whatever this mess was she somehow found herself in.
Jaxon’s voice carried through the window. His movements were becoming agitated. He was running his hands through his hair, bouncing on the balls of his feet, and kept looking over his shoulder into the darkness edging the patio.
“Talk to me, Keeley. I could end updeadand you don’t care. I coulddie.” He paced back and forth, at times using both hands to grab his hair and pull. “Open up, dammit.” Spittle flew from his mouth. He kicked a clay pot she’d bought to plant with geraniums, shattering it and sending shards flying.
He shoved a chair, sending it into the window, but luckily the glass didn’t break. Keeley scrambled to her feet when he grabbed the chair and hoisted it up, holding it cocked over his head. He turned toward the sliding door. She caught her breath, sure he would throw it through the glass.
Then he froze with the chair over his head, his attention riveted on something to the left of the patio.
Owen entered her range of vision, gun steady in his hand.
Jaxon stood motionless. It was like watching a balloon deflate as he seemed to shrink before her eyes. Owen’s voice was a low rumble through the glass. Whatever he said convinced Jaxon to slowly lower the chair to the ground. He turned his back to Owen and went to his knees, raising his hands behind his head and lacing his fingers together. Keeley drew in a deep breath as what felt like a fist around her lungs eased enough for her to breathe.
In uniform, Sawyer appeared in the circle of light as he moved behind Jaxon and cuffed him. Owen set the safety on his gun and tucked it into a shoulder holster under his jacket. He searched Jaxon, pulling a wallet from his back pocket as well as keys, and a phone from the front, placing all items on the patio table.
“Keeley, are you there?” The dispatcher spoke in her ear.
“Yes, yes, I’m sorry. We’re good. Deputy Sawyer McGrath is here along with former police officer Owen Hardesty. They have Jaxon in custody.” Feeling lightheaded, she breathed deep to get oxygen to her brain. “Everything’s fine.”
Keeley heard the faint wail of a siren and spoke hurriedly. “Would you ask the deputies to come in without sirens? My dad is an Alzheimer’s patient and he’ll get agitated if they wake him.”
“Sure thing.”
Keeley ended the call with the dispatcher and the sirens cut off a moment later. She tossed the knife into the sink and then opened the sliding glass door. Owen spoke over his shoulder to Sawyer as he approached the doorway, his gaze locked on hers.
He didn’t stop until his arms circled around her and he’d pulled her into him.
She released a ragged sigh and breathed him in. “Jaxon thought you’d go to the gas station and he’d be able to get to me here,” she murmured with her face pressed to his neck.
He dipped his head, his mouth next to her ear. “I figured. He’d have to’ve known you’d never meet him at a gas station at night, and he knows we’re together. I’d gone up the road only a quarter mile before I realized his plan. Felt like an idiot I didn’t figure it out sooner.
“I called Sawyer to let him know and circled back. Jaxon parked his car to block the driveway and I had to park on the street. It took me too damn long to get to you.” His hand went to the back of her head. “I’m sorry he scared you. I should’ve never left you alone.”
“You came back and you stopped him.”
He dropped his forehead to rest against hers, eyes closed. He seemed to need her touch as much as she needed his.
“I’m so damn tired of fighting this thing between us,” he whispered.
Then his mouth was on hers and she felt like he’d thrown off whatever restraints had been holding him back.
He kissed her with an all-consuming urgency that found an answering need in her. With her body fused to his, it was impossible to ignore his response.
His lips moved along her jaw to the slope of her neck. “Tell me to stop. I can’t fight you any longer and I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I don’t want you to stop.” Her voice sounded breathy.
Voices from the patio had Keeley peering around Owen’s shoulder. More officers had joined Sawyer.
Owen loosened his hold, his hands sliding down her arms to tangle his fingers with hers. “Did you tell Abby you’re okay?”
She shook her head. “Not yet. The cops will want a statement from me. I’ll text Mom an update and get shoes, then come out.”
