Xavier

by Miranda P. Charles

  Helen put a hand over her mouth. “You’re here to follow up on that? I never expected anyone to call me back after not having heard anything for weeks.”

  “Is there anywhere we can quickly talk in private?”

  Helen nodded and took her to a small office. “I was positive it was Eugene Barker I saw about five, maybe six weeks ago. I even Googled him to get his picture, and it was definitely him. I didn’t even know he was here until they’d finished their meals. He was with another man—oh, very good-looking and hunky, I tell you—and two women who looked like models.

  “Anyway, Sarah looked after their table, but she didn’t recognise him. So I didn’t even know he was here until I had to give them their bill because Sarah was attending to another table when they asked for it. Even then, I probably wouldn’t have noticed him. But I went to their table twice to take their cash and bring them change, and both times he was looking at the specials board. That got me wondering if the guy didn’t like the food he ate and was wishing he’d ordered one of the specials instead.

  “So when they left, I checked him out again. That’s when I thought he looked like that Eugene Barker they showed on TV after he escaped from prison. I remember him because, believe it or not, he’s got the same name as my next-door neighbour, and my sister and I spent a long time looking for similarities, wondering if they were related.

  “Anyway, that’s when I Googled him again to make sure I wasn’t jumping to conclusions. He looked the same. Hair just a bit shorter, but same everything. He didn’t even look older. Maybe he has laser treatments to keep him looking young. They work, you know.”

  Eve smiled. “Then what did you do afterwards?”

  “Oh, I called the police. Of course, Eugene and his friends were gone by the time they got here. I gave them descriptions of his companions, but that was all I could do. I didn’t want to follow them out to see what kind of car they drove. I was too scared! What if he saw me following him out?

  “The coppers kind of got annoyed that I didn’t do that, and they also asked why I don’t have security cameras. But, for heaven’s sake, it’s their job to do the detective work, not mine.

  “And to be honest with you, Miss Marrin, making a living from one restaurant is very difficult. We keep our profit margins thin so we can compete with the countless other eating places around. This area might be popular with tourists, but not everyone wants to eat fine dining. We can’t afford to spend on unnecessary expenses like expensive security cameras. Our back-to-base alarm system is already sufficient.”

  Eve nodded in agreement. “And when did you decide to call Your Eyes and Ears about this?”

  “Well, I told my sister about a wanted criminal eating here, and she got very worried. She said Eugene might come back if he believed he wasn’t recognised. So she suggested I also call your show the day after he was here, in case you might be interested in mentioning that a wanted man was in our restaurant. If Eugene knows we’re on the lookout for him, then perhaps he’ll stay away. It’s plain scary to think he might be back here.”

  “Right. And you haven’t noticed anything suspicious since?”

  “No, thank God.”

  “Okay. Thank you so much, Helen. We probably don’t have enough to run a feature on this, but I’ll see how far I can investigate it.”

  “Oh, that’s a shame. But thank you, Miss Marrin. I do appreciate you coming and talking to me. I hope you and your boyfriend enjoyed your lunch.”

  Eve smiled at Helen’s description of Xavier. “Thank you. The food was delicious. Please give our compliments to the chef.”

  “I will. Next time I’ll pay more attention to people who pay cash. Not many of them do anymore, you know, especially when the bills are large. But I suppose criminals need to pay cash—and they have loads of it too, I imagine. Oh, I forgot to tell you about Eugene and his friends wanting to get rid of their silver toys. I bet it’s to make more cash.”

  Eve frowned. “Silver toys?”

  “I overheard them when I was getting serviettes from a cabinet behind the wall close to their table. Either Eugene or the other guy said that it might be time to completely get rid of three of the sterling silvers and keep the one that’s popular. One of the girls asked what kind of silver they were talking about, saying she’d take them if she could make earrings and necklaces out of them. The men laughed, but ignored her question. Instead, the other guy said to wait just a little bit more, because he was still enjoying playing with them. So clearly, they’ve got toys made of silver.”

  Eve’s heart hammered hard at the word sterling. Could it have meant Stirling? Get rid of three, except for one that’s popular—Holly. If it did, then why? What was the Stirlings’ connection with Barker? What did Xavier have to do with Barker?

  “Miss Marrin? Are you okay?”

  Eve forced herself to focus on Helen. “Yes. Sorry, I was just thinking. Anyway, did you mention this to the police?”

  “Yup. I wish I knew exactly what kind of toys they were but, you know the police, they don’t tell you anything.”

  Eve thanked Helen and went to the ladies’ room to settle herself. The more she thought about it, the more she believed Barker and the other guy had indeed been talking about the Stirlings. Barker himself could have been directly responsible for that fake eyewitness account that he’d been in Xavier’s gym. If so, then Barker was toying with Xavier.

  But why?

  She shook her head to clear it. Xavier had mentioned that the police kept suspecting him of wrongdoing despite the lack of evidence because of his family’s connection to Ross Anton.

  Could there be a link? Xavier had apparently helped put Ross Anton in jail. Was Ross one of Barker’s men?

  Her heartbeat accelerated. That could be it! And that would mean Xavier was telling the truth and he had nothing to do with Barker—at least, not in the way the police suspected.

  Or the Stirlings could be Barker’s cronies who’ve done something to displease him.

  Ah, damn it, couldn’t her mind just shut the fuck up? Barker could pull the trigger on Xavier any minute.

  And they were at a place where Barker had been. In fact… hadn’t she noticed two men wearing baseball caps trying to avoid them?

  She hastened back to their table, slightly panicked. What if Barker or one of his people was around right this moment? What if they saw Xavier here and did something unthinkable?

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” Xavier asked as she got back to him.

  “I think we better leave.” She remained standing and looked at him expectantly.

  Xavier stood, frowning. “Okay.”

  She went to the door, looking around for capped men, then hurriedly headed in the direction where they’d parked his car.

  “The pelican feeding’s over that way,” Xavier said.

  Eve paused, ordering herself to calm down. “Can we go home? There are things I need to tell you.”

  Xavier searched her face. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’ll tell you in the car.”

  “Tell me what?”

  “Please, Xavier?”

  He nodded, and she let out a sigh of relief.

  She waited until they were driving away before talking. “Helen told me something back there.”

  “What?”

  “She said Eugene Barker had been in the restaurant.”

  Xavier glanced at her in surprise. “When?”

  “About five weeks ago.”

  “And what else?”

  Eve told him about the comment Helen had overheard about the sterling silvers.

  “Fuck,” Xavier muttered under his breath. “He could be talking about us.”

  See, she wasn’t the only one who had come to that conclusion. “Xavier, do you know if Ross Anton is in any way connected to Eugene Barker? That might be the answer to why he’s got something against you and your parents.”

  Xavier glanced at her, and Eve realised she’d hit the mark.

  Instinctively, s
he knew that this moment was make or break for them. Xavier’s answer would mean the difference between her trusting him and suspecting him.

  “Yes,” Xavier answered.

  Eve let out a gushy breath, her heart skipping with relief.

  “Ross was one of Barker’s cronies,” Xavier said. “The police think that if they can make Barker believe that Ross hasn’t revealed their connection with anyone, then Barker won’t think he has to shut other people up about what Ross might have revealed about him. It’s police orders for those who know this fact to keep it a secret.”

  Her jaw dropped. She hadn’t expected the depth of his answer. Xavier had just revealed classified information to an investigative journalist.

  She couldn’t help but feel trusted… and touched.

  But her worry quickly returned when his revelation sank in. “But Barker’s now after you. Obviously, that plan hasn’t worked.”

  Xavier’s lips curled mirthlessly. “And I think that’s why the police are suspicious of me. That sterling silver comment coupled with Barker supposedly having met me at my gym might be making them think I’m a crony who’d fallen out of favour rather than a victim.”

  “How are you gonna prove that you’re not his crony?” she asked, dying to know his answer.

  “The truth is there for them to see. Barker was never in my gym. I never met with him. But how long they’re gonna keep trying to find proof that doesn’t exist, I don’t know. Way things are going, I’ll turn up dead somewhere before they realise they were wrong.”

  “Don’t say that!” What a horrible thing to say. She couldn’t stand the thought.

  Xavier smiled. “What else did Helen say?”

  “That’s it. I did mention to her we don’t have enough to feature her brush with the infamous on Your Eyes and Ears. I didn’t want her to get hopeful.”

  “So why are we going home?”

  She glanced at him in surprise. “Because Barker has been in that restaurant.”

  “But he wasn’t there when we were there, was he? And I doubt he would have gone to the pelican feeding show, either.”

  She hid a sigh. They’d left because her fertile imagination had taken over and she’d gotten scared for him. “I thought those two men wearing baseball caps looked suspicious. And with Barker not having been recognised at the restaurant before, you’d think he might decide to go back there again. Who knows what he might do to you if you and he happened to be in the same place at the same time?”

  Xavier’s face broke into a wide grin. “Are you worried about me?”

  She glared at him, then rolled her eyes. Yes, damn it. This particular threat to him had hit her right at the chest, so that she’d even acted impulsively—something she hardly ever did. She wasn’t ready to admit it, though.

  Xavier took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “Thank you. I appreciate your concern.”

  “You’re welcome,” she murmured, feeling herself melt yet again.

  How did he do that?

  They spent the rest of the trip in relaxed conversation and her nerves calmed. Soon they were back at the mall where she’d parked her car.

  Xavier walked her to her vehicle.

  “Eve?”

  “Yes?”

  “Can I see you again?”

  She hesitated. “Yes.”

  “When?”

  “Um…”

  “Tomorrow?”

  She sighed. “Okay. I’m free for dinner.”

  “Great. Where shall I pick you up?”

  “I might go straight to the place after work. Can we meet at a restaurant again?”

  “Sure. Just let me know where and what time.”

  “Okay.”

  Xavier grinned and gave her a kiss on the cheek, then waved goodbye.

  She watched as he drove away, wanting it to be tomorrow night already.

  Xavier was easily destroying her defences. It was strange because she herself had had a hard time pulling down those walls she’d built around her heart. Now she felt wide open and vulnerable, yet hopeful and excited.

  She could only hope that the burgeoning trust she had in Xavier wasn’t something she’d regret later.

  Chapter 14

  Xavier knocked on Eve’s door, feeling silly for holding a bunch of flowers.

  It had literally been years since he’d given a girl flowers, and even then, he’d had them sent to Gail’s address, not clutched them like this while he waited for her to greet him.

  But the other night, on his fifth date with Eve since she’d come back to Sydney, she’d finally relaxed around him again enough to make out.

  God, that had been hot, and he’d been suffering from blue balls for three days. But even with blue balls, he was happy with how things were going.

  His dad appeared back to normal, even upbeat. What was more, Aidan had confirmed there wasn’t any new intel regarding any property development scam anywhere. That wasn’t to say the perps had shelved whatever plans they had regarding his dad, but there didn’t seem to be any developments in that area. He could only hope it stayed that way.

  And the police had stopped coming to his gym. Again, that didn’t mean much. They could still be working hard behind closed doors to find something connecting him to Barker. But they’d never find anything. Unless, of course, Barker hatched another plan.

  But he wasn’t going to concern himself with something he couldn’t control. He—and the Indie Rebels—would act on it when it happened.

  At least his guilt at having to hide certain things from Eve, especially when she’d been opening up to him more and more, had lessened. The knowledge that he was indeed protecting her with his covert interrogations and shadowing soothed his conscience.

  No way could Eve have known that two of the “victims” of a scam she was investigating had connections with Barker. Luckily, the Indie Rebels had discovered that fact after they’d done a check on those individuals. After a well-timed anonymous tip-off to the police, those goons had been arrested before their scheduled meeting with Eve. What a fucking relief.

  His heart skipped as Eve’s door finally opened.

  “Sorry I was—” Her eyes grew wide at the sight of the flowers. “Oh, thank you,” she gushed. She tiptoed to kiss his lips and took the flowers from him.

  “Hope you like them.”

  “I do. They’re beautiful. Let me put them in a vase.”

  He followed her to the kitchen.

  “Want a drink?” she asked.

  “Just water, thanks. And your lips, if you don’t mind.”

  Eve giggled. “My lips are not a drink.”

  “But they’re for drinking,” he quipped. “And for kissing.”

  Eve placed the flowers on the counter and walked towards him. “That they are,” she murmured before lifting her head for a kiss.

  With a soft groan, he captured her mouth and pulled her close. “I missed you so much.”

  “I missed you too.” Eve moaned as their kiss deepened.

  Ahh. They were still fully clothed and he was already hard as steel.

  He caressed her back and cupped a soft ass cheek.

  Eve pressed herself harder against him. “Touch me, Xavier,” she breathed.

  He groaned, her words making him devour her mouth like a starving man. He ran a finger on the crotch of her panties and moaned out loud. Fuck, she was so wet, so ready for him.

  He unzipped her dress, letting it fall to the floor. Then he walked her backwards to the bay window of her living room and sat her on the bench. He crouched down and reached for the band of her panties.

  Eve breathed through her mouth, lifting her hips so he could take off her undies while she unhooked her bra.

  Then he pushed her legs wide apart, his breath shallowing at the sight of her glistening sex beckoning him. God, he’d missed it.

  He kissed his way up her inner thighs, loving the feel of her fingers caressing his head. Then he skipped the moist part between her legs to lavish attenti
on to her breasts.

  He licked a nipple over and over, while he blindly searched for the other peak to tweak between his fingers.

  “Ahh,” Eve gasped.

  “You like that?” he murmured, kissing her neck while his thumb ran circles round and round her bud.

  “Yes,” she sighed, angling her face to capture his mouth.

  Their tongues danced, tasted and teased each other, and he brought his hand on a downward journey. He reached her mound and his fingers probed for her nub.

  Eve moaned, getting him even harder, if that was at all possible.

  Luckily, Eve was fumbling with his fly, then pushing down his trousers and boxer briefs together.

  His cock sprang free, welcoming the feel of her fingers around its girth. “Eve,” he couldn’t help gasping as she started to caress and tug.

  “Stand up, Xavier,” she ordered.

  Inhaling deeply, he did, and the sight of her mouth in perfect alignment with his hard-on almost made him lose control. He quickly undressed and stood back in front of her.

  “Come here,” she said, grabbing his hips and pulling him closer to her face.

  “Eve,” he whispered, chest heaving as he watched his erection disappear into her mouth slowly. He shut his eyes, pleasure engulfing him as Eve sucked the head of his cock while tugging at the base. Fuck, this was so good. So good that after only a short moment, he pushed her away gently. He’d love to spurt inside her mouth, but he didn’t want to come yet.

  He lifted her head with a finger and kissed her lips while he went down on his knees.

  “I think I missed something around here,” he said, running both hands up her thighs.

  “I think you did,” Eve said with a giggle, opening wide for him.

  He parted her folds, then wet his thumb with her juices before running it over her swollen nub.

  Eve called out his name, fisting his hair.

  Ah, his beautiful, lusty girl. Nothing made him hotter than her responsiveness.

  He inserted a finger inside her, licking her clit over and over. When he closed his mouth on her nub and sucked lightly, her hips bucked off the bench, and she gasped out loudly as she came hard.