“That is an interesting thought.” Gordon nodded. “And when we find Mr. Nickerson, we’ll get the truth out of him one way or another.”
Another person walked into their circle, and once he stood in the light, Nicole recognized him as one of the policemen. “Sir,” she said to him, “would you please take Mrs. Larson into the house and get her some tea? I fear she is exhausted.”
“Yes, miss.” The policeman hooked his hand around Mrs. Larson’s elbow.
“Please, tell this man all you know,” Nicole told the distraught woman. “I promise we’ll find Mr. Nickerson and have him arrested.”
“Thank you,” Mrs. Larson said in a weak voice.
Gordon followed the policeman, leaving Nicole and Ashton alone. The night was quiet; even the insects weren’t chirping loudly to disturb the stillness. Several tall trees surrounded them in privacy. Only the full moon gave them light to look upon each other.
She stepped closer to him and touched his hand. “How are you holding up?”
Ashton shrugged. “With all of the surprises we have received in the past twenty-four hours, I suppose I’m holding up rather well.” He sighed. “So, will Glynn be charged for all the robberies, or just this last one?”
“He will probably be charged as a conspirator, because it was his plan to frame you for the thefts, because we can only prove he had taken the money yesterday.”
“All because of something my father did.” He shook his head. “It seems so senseless.”
“Indeed, it is.” Her heart tugged with emotion seeing Ashton torn apart like this. “But at least it’s out in the open now. Because of what you did yesterday, you have proven you are not the thief.”
As he looked at her, his expression changed from irritation to relief, and then finally to contentment. He moved closer and stroked her cheek. Although the night was a little chilly, his touch warmed her skin quickly.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do this without your help, you know.”
She shivered, but not from the cold. Instead, it was his caring voice that made her react. As always, whenever his eyes displayed such tenderness, her body couldn’t help but melt. “I was more than happy to do it. I knew you weren’t guilty.”
“Not the whole time,” he reminded. “I know you had doubts.”
“I doubted my doubts.” She swept her fingers against his hair. “Deep in my heart, I knew you hadn’t done the crime. My mind wanted to argue, which was why the doubts were able to sneak in.”
He snatched her hand away from his hair and held it against his chest. Immediately, the mood between them changed. Nicole’s heartbeat hammered just as quickly as his was doing against her hand at this moment.
Ashton moved, closing the space between them. “Nicole, do you know how hard it is to desire a woman I can’t have?”
His words made her breathless, and weak all over. “What makes you think you can’t have her?” She stroked his cheek. “She is right here and she wants you just as much...if not more.”
Groaning, Ashton wrapped his arms around her and crushed her against him as his mouth captured hers. Heavily, she sighed and met his hungry kisses with those of her own. He slanted his mouth over hers, deepening the kiss. His hands wandered over her back and shoulders, and she clutched at his shirt, wanting him closer—so close that they could be one, because her heart was already his.
The words Nicole had wanted to say for so long were on the tip of her tongue. More than anything, she wanted to confess her love. Right now would be a good time, but she couldn’t tear her mouth away from his long enough to announce her feelings. Kissing him was so enjoyable—and healing.
His mouth left hers as his kisses trailed down her neck. Breathless, she tilted her head to give him better access. Warmth stirred in her limbs, and in her soul. She never wanted this to end.
“Oh, Ashton.” She took a ragged breath. “I love—”
“No.” He interrupted and raised his head, releasing her at the same time.
She stumbled back, but quickly regained her footing. “Ashton?”
“No,” he repeated and scrubbed his face with his hands. “I cannot do this. I cannot allow your sweet, tempting kisses to sway my mind. You have broken the trust between us, and that’s a hard thing to get back.” He breathed slower. “Nicole, I cannot trust you, for as soon as I do, you’ll be free to break my heart again.”
“No, Ashton.” Her voice broke and tears stung her eyes. Her chest tightened with emotion, making it hard to breathe. “It won’t be like that.”
“It will for me.” He stepped away. “I’m sorry, Nicole. I won’t go through this again.”
Slowly, her vision blurred as tears filled her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. She didn’t stop Ashton from walking away. But what killed her even more was knowing she might not get him back.
NICOLE COULDN’T SLEEP due to heartache and crying. Although extremely weary, she still rose with the sun and finished packing her trunk in preparation for leaving Ashton’s house. She dressed in a gold and black traveling gown, and wound her hair tight at the back of her head, before placing black netting over it to keep it in place.
