Always the One Read online

  After winking at him, she strolled away.

  Reaching into the front pocket of his jeans, Derrick withdrew a worn coin. He ran his thumb over the warm metal, the raised edges smooth after years of being handled.

  “Okay, guys. What do you say we decide who gives Mom away in the Matthews’ family tradition?”

  Dante rolled his eyes. “I hate this tradition.”

  “Poor loser?” Derrick asked.

  “No, so far I’ve been fortunate, but the anticipation is agony.”

  Dylan slapped Derrick on the back. “What do you say we let those two go first.”

  “Works for me.”

  “Heads,” Dante called.

  Deke shrugged.

  With a flip of his thumb, the coin sailed into the air then landed in Derrick’s palm. He looked at it for a long time, stretching out the suspense, a grin curving his lips.

  “Oh, for the love of...” Dante griped.

  “No worries, little bro. Heads.”

  Dante blew out a breath and turned on his heel.

  “Escaping so soon?” Deke called after him.

  “I’m going back to Eloise where it’s safe.”

  Deke turned back to the bearer of the coin. “Heads.”

  “You sure?” Derrick asked.

  “Let’s keep the good luck rolling.”

  Once again, Derrick made a show of letting the coin twist in the air. The wind picked it up, but after it came down, he winked at his brother. “Safe.”

  “Good,” Deke replied, then narrowed his eyes. “By the way, I’m onto you.”

  Derrick’s hand flew to his chest, and he projected an air of innocence. “Me?”

  Shaking his head, Deke walked away but not before Derrick glimpsed a small smile.

  “That just leaves us,” Derrick said to Dylan.

  “Why bother? The coin is double-sided.”

  “How do you know? You’ve never seen it.”

  Dylan sent him a really? glance. “My point, exactly. You wield that coin to do your bidding.”

  “Harsh.”

  “The truth.”

  “Then let me buck the system and call tails,” Derrick said.

  “Magnanimous of you.”

  With a chuckle, Derrick sent the coin into the air. It hovered. Dropped. Derrick eyed the metal and said, “Guess I had to lose some time.”

  “Let me see,” Dylan said, reaching for the coin. Derrick snatched his hand away.

  “Nope. Doesn’t work that way.”

  “So you really lost?”

  “You doubt me?”

  “You’ve been known to cheat.”

  Once again, Derrick went for hurt. “I’m wounded.”

  Dylan crossed his arms over his chest. “Yet you haven’t confessed.”

  Derrick shrugged.

  “Fine. You win.” Dylan took a few steps back, then turned to leave. A couple of minutes later Jasmine reappeared.

  “How did it turn out?”

  “We decided I’d have the honor of walking you down the aisle.” He puffed out his chest. “I am the oldest, after all.”

  “And this decision didn’t have anything to do with you manipulating the coin toss?”

  His eyes went wide. “How...”

  “You boys think you’re a step ahead of me.” She rolled her eyes. “That will be the day.”

  Barking out a laugh, Derrick hugged the woman who had loved him since birth, the woman he’d be pleased to give away in marriage.

  She pulled back, her eyes bright as she searched his face. “You’re okay with this?”

  “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” he said.

  “With the upcoming weddings and happily-ever-afters, I don’t want you to feel left out.”

  His chest squeezed tight. He knew his mother was referring to Hannah. “I’m okay, Mom.”

  She tilted her head. “Really?”

  “Yes,” he lied.

  While she continued to read him, he led her in the direction of the beach. “Yes, I’ve always been in love with her. And yes, I’ll continue to love her. But by her silence, Hannah’s made it clear she doesn’t feel the same way. I’ve tried to find her. Failed.” He ran a shaky hand over his closely cropped hair. “Maybe Dylan is right. It’s time to move on.”

  A bright sheen brightened his mother’s eyes in the bonfire light. “I know how much this hurts.”

  It did. Every day. But it didn’t change reality.

  He swallowed hard. Forced himself to believe the words he was about to say. “I’m ready. Probably should have been years ago.”

  “You never gave up hope.”

  “Sometimes hope isn’t enough.”

  At those words, his mother tightly hugged him. Then she stepped back and wiped her cheeks. “I’m happy about your decision. And that you’ll be here for the wedding.”

  “I have vacation time coming. And believe it or not, I’m happy you found James.” He lifted his chin in the direction of her fiancé. “Go enjoy your night.”

  “You promise you’ll be okay?”

  “Promise.”

  She frowned. “I worry about you. You talk a good game...”

  “Go.”

  At his directive, she made her way back to James, the smile from earlier returning to her lips.

  He glanced around the crowd, catching glimpses of his brothers and their girlfriends. He was the odd man out here. He’d head back to DC early, get some paperwork done and take off on his unwelcome vacation. It was going to be a long six weeks, but what choice did he have? Sit around his apartment and mope? The idea of a solo trip didn’t appeal, but he realized that maybe he was better off alone in the long run. In life.

  On that sobering thought, Derrick made his way to the water’s edge to escape the pervading good cheer. The surf rolled in at a steady pace as he approached. The scent of burning wood and wet sand should have relaxed him, but as he stared out over the dark horizon, his mind traveled elsewhere.

  Usually he kept himself so busy at work that he didn’t have time to dwell on the past. The pace in DC was hectic, and in his position as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he took every case he could. But coming here to Florida brought back memories he’d tried to block over the years. Even as they faded to black-and-white.

  He and Hannah had come up with the idea to get married while they were at the beach, shortly after high school graduation. Hannah had been talking about college and how she didn’t want them to be separated and before he knew it, they’d hatched a plan. It had been a night much like this, filled with promise and joy, but they’d been alone instead of in a crowd like the folks gathered here to celebrate with his mother. Seemed like it had always been him and Hannah against the world. He’d liked it that way. Didn’t need anyone else and neither did she.

  Excitement had gleamed in her eyes. She’d thrown herself into his arms for a kiss that sealed the deal. Two months until their birthdays and then they’d make things official.

  Until fate decided otherwise.

  He let out a sigh as he heard someone approach. He looked over his shoulder and spotted Dylan walking his way.

  “You going to be able to make it back in time for Mom’s wedding?” his brother asked.

  “Looks like I’ll have to now.”

  “Because you cheated.”

  He canted his head. “Like that’s a shocker.”

  Dylan chuckled. “You can get time off?”

  “Turns out I’ve accrued a month and a half worth of vacation time my superior is hounding me to take. He hates paperwork and wants me to lighten his load by going, in his words, anywhere.”

  “Have you made plans?”

  “I was thinking about hitting the road.” Dante had restored and modified a classi
c ’67 Challenger for Derrick. The same car that was a piece of junk when he’d arrived in Hannah’s driveway the day he’d discovered her gone...

  He’d jumped out of the car. Run up the brick path to the front door and rung the bell. Could barely keep still from the excitement coursing through him. After a few minutes of silence, he’d pressed the button again. And again. He’d moved to the large picture window and cupped his hands around his eyes to peer into the dark recesses of the house before stepping from the porch to walk around the house. No one out back. Stumped, he noticed the next-door neighbor watering her flowers.

  “Hey, Mrs. Gaines. Have you seen Hannah around?”

  The older woman frowned. “Heard noises last night. Couldn’t sleep, so I looked out the window to see who was making the ruckus. The family got in the car and took off.”

  That couldn’t be right. “In the middle of the night?”

  “There were some official-looking men telling them to hurry. Hannah and her mother were crying but they were pushed in the car and left.”

  Gone? Just like that?

  “But...”

  The neighbor shrugged. “Can’t tell you any more than that.”

  Derrick jerked when his brother spoke.

  “I asked where you’re headed.”

  He shook off the memories, including how his actions, and his father’s, in retrospect probably set events in motion. Maybe if it had been a normal breakup—still not a great scenario—he would have had closure. But his nature, to find answers, kept him hooked.

  “No destination in mind. Just get in the car and drive.”

  “Need a wingman? For part of the trip?”

  “Nah. I’m good.” He gazed over the water. “You’re right, Dylan. It’s time to let go. Maybe on this trip I can finally get rid of baggage from the past.”

  Dylan clamped his shoulder. “It’s a good idea.”

  Derrick thought so, even if his heart cracked a little bit deeper.

  * * *

  MONDAY MORNING HE was back in his office, finishing the last of his stack of paperwork. His superior, Ron Collins, popped into Derrick’s office.

  “I thought you were leaving today.”

  “I am. Just wanted to clear my desk before taking off.”

  “You do have plans, right?” Ron asked, hope in his eyes.

  Derrick laughed. “Yes. I’ll be gone until next month. My mother is getting married in February and after that, I’m all yours again.”

  “Look, I know I sound like a broken record, but it was either remind you about your accrued vacation time or you lose it.”

  “It’s fine. I needed the push.”

  Ron nodded at the computer screen. “You tied up the museum case?”

  “Yep.” He rifled through the papers on his desk to find the printed report. “Here you go.”

  “Nice job.”

  “Thanks.”

  “And Derrick?”

  “Yes, sir?”

  “Enjoy your time off.”

  Derrick allowed a small smile. “Will do.”

  Once he’d finished the last report, he gathered his mail from the corner of his desk. He tossed a few envelopes aside until he came upon a bulky 3 x 5 package. His name was scrawled across the front in a flowery script. Definitely not official. The return address came from Nevada. He didn’t recall knowing anyone from there. Curious, he ripped the package open and peered inside. No paper. He tipped it upside down and out tumbled a small red gem, about the size to fit an expensive women’s ring. When the late morning sunlight from his office window reflected off the gem, his breath caught in his throat.

  He took a pen from the holder and pushed the cut stone closer. Leaned down to inspect it better. A flash of memory jolted him and he sat back in the chair—multiple stones scattered on Hannah’s father’s desk. Hannah asking him not to tell anyone what he saw.

  Could this be a signal from Hannah?

  He grabbed the envelope and scanned the return address again. Dark Clay, Nevada.

  He swiveled in his chair and typed the name into the computer. Found the location about twenty miles outside Carson City near Lake Tahoe.

  His heart started pumping wildly. Finally. After all these years. A connection. Was this Hannah’s way of contacting him? And why now?

  Did it matter?

  No.

  He picked up his phone and booked the next available flight to Reno-Tahoe International.

  * * *

  SOMEONE WAS WATCHING Hannah Rawlings. Or, Anna Rawley, as she was currently known. She was sure of it.

  She’d been on the run long enough to recognize when the little hairs on the back of her neck were warning her, not acting up because of the biting wind. She walked around the playground of Ponderosa Day School, avoiding patches of ice as she pulled her wool coat more snugly around her. It had rained just after the morning bell and since then the temperature had dipped close to freezing. The sun barely peeked out from the cloud cover. Shivering, she watched her students, but her eyes flitted around the schoolyard. Nothing out of the ordinary for a Tuesday. But still, she couldn’t shake the strange feeling.

  “Miss Rawley, Tommy threw snow at me.”

  She glanced down to find William staring up at her. She controlled her exasperation. What was it with boys, always tussling and one-upping each other? She crouched down to his level, her heart squeezing at his mournful expression.

  Teaching ten-year-old children required a patience level and skill she never thought she’d need.

  “What happened?”

  “You know the pile of snow in the corner? Chuck was kicking it with his boots and then Tommy scooped it up and made snowballs.”

  “I thought you boys were playing a game?”

  He nodded, his blue eyes solemn behind glasses. “We were. It was my turn with the ball, but Tommy took it from me and then started throwing snow at me.”

  As usual, Tommy made his own rules.

  “I’ll talk to him.”

  William’s face lit up. “You’re the best.” He turned and ran back to a group of boys.

  “Hardly,” she muttered under her breath. Not when she wondered every day why she was getting dressed to go to school and teach a class full of rambunctious fourth graders. Not exactly her grand plan, but then, nothing had turned out the way she’d dreamed.

  But once she arrived, the kids reminded her why she loved being around them. Their optimism and energy filled her with a sense of hope she hung on to daily.

  Rising, she stuffed her gloved hands in her coat pockets and watched the boys work out their problems just before the bell rang. The students hurried to line up. Taking one last look around the schoolyard, Hannah searched for the source of her uneasiness. No adults hung around the fence. The cars in the parking lot belonged to teachers or support staff. Even the cars along the street were a normal part of the landscape.

  Okay, so she was overreacting. Wouldn’t be the first time.

  The next couple of hours dragged on as Hannah finished her day. The black slacks and white sweater she’d dressed in that morning did little to keep her warm. Despite the heated classroom, she couldn’t seem to stop shivering. She was exhausted by the time the kids had been released and she was free to leave. As she took her keys in her right hand, she remembered her earlier prickliness and clutched the pocket-size container of pepper spray attached to the ring. With the other hand she gripped her leather tote bag, ready to head home to check on her mother and then relax with a strong cup of tea. She made her goodbyes to her colleagues and walked to the parking lot.

  A frigid late-afternoon wind whistled around her. Pine trees swayed, the needles rustling, cones dropping to the icy ground with a thud. Clouds hadn’t left the sky since she’d been outside earlier. Patches of crusty snow lingered along the curb from the storm a few days earlier.
She shrugged deeper into her coat, wishing she’d remembered a hat. In the five years she’d lived here, she’d never gotten used to winter in Nevada.

  Her car came into view. Hannah scanned the lot, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Silly, really. No one had bothered her in a long time. Still, the years of drills were seared into her muscle memory, most of them unnecessary. Heaving out a laugh, she reined in her imagination.

  In her haste to cross the lot, her boots slid on an ice patch but she righted herself before wiping out. Carefully navigating her steps, she finally made it to her car. Relieved, she pressed the button to unlock the door. Her hand had just settled on the silver handle when she heard rapid footsteps on the asphalt behind her. She tensed. Continued to open the door.

  Almost there.

  She tossed the tote inside just as she heard, “Hannah.”

  Shock enveloped her. No one had called her that name in over fifteen years.

  A presence drew up beside her. Panicked now, she turned, lifted the canister in her hand and aimed at the deepest blue eyes she’d ever seen...a color she’d never forgotten.

  CHAPTER TWO

  DERRICK RECOILED AS Hannah’s hand rose, a small pepper spray canister in her grasp. She wasn’t really going to... Flinging his hands in the air, he ducked, then slipped on the ice, his feet skidding out from under him, arms flailing as he dropped with a loud whoosh.

  Thankfully the fall kept him from the full force of the spray, but the dose that did reach his eyes made him cringe. He sucked in a sharp breath at the combination of burning eyes and skin on fire. His right hip took the brunt of contact with the solid ground, but he managed to roll and scramble upright again. Through the stinging tears, he saw Hannah, eyes wide, mouth open.

  “Derrick?” she whispered.

  He rapidly blinked his stinging eyes, flushing the pepper spray as best he could, and tried to ignore the jolt of pain radiating through his body.

  His vision may be blurry, but he saw enough to know Hannah was still as achingly beautiful as he remembered. Her usually curly auburn hair was pulled back into a tight knot, her hazel eyes still as luminous as ever as they stared back at him. In disbelief, if he had to gauge her reaction. Her skin was like ivory, but he couldn’t miss the dark circles under her eyes. She was tall. Willowy.