"You knew about that?" Maybe he wasn't as oblivious to the goings on at Knights as Tanya and I thought. Which meant he probably knew about all my work-avoidance techniques. And yet he hadn't fired me…
He leaned against the porch rail and looked at me through his shaggy fringe. "Tired?" he asked.
I nodded. "You?"
He nodded. "Hey, I nearly forgot." He reached into his jeans pocket and handed me a folded piece of paper.
I unfolded it and read:
Dear Kitty Cat,
Working with you on POTC 4 was a blast. Sorry to hear you'd left the biz. All the best in the real world.
Love, Johnny.
"Johnny?" I frowned. "Johnny Depp! Oh my God, Will, you asked him for an autograph?"
"You seemed devastated when your book was destroyed in the fire, so I emailed all the agents of the stars I know you worked with and told them your predicament. He's the first to respond but I'm hoping the others will start trickling in."
"Emailed? You?"
He gave me a crooked grin. "I do know how to email, Cat. I found the agents' information on their websites."
And all this time I'd done all the computer work for him thinking he was too busy, or too hopeless, to learn.
"Will, you're the best." I hugged him and he held me, cradling me gently against his solidness and resting his cheek on my head. We fit together perfectly and neither of us moved for several minutes.
Eventually he said, "I better go and let you get some sleep." But he didn't move. Instead he looked out over the front garden, his face in profile. Despite the hazy early morning light, I could see the sadness in the grooves around his eyes, the downturn of his mouth. I got the feeling the events of the previous night would weigh heavier on him than it ever would on me.
"Will?" I touched his fingers.
He continued to stare at my mother's garden bed. "Yeah?"
"Can I come home with you?"
He turned his attention to me and a hint of a smile played at his perfect lips. "For as long as you want." He bent and pressed those lips to my forehead. Then he drew me into a delicate embrace and buried his face in my shoulder.
I stroked his back when his body shuddered. "So," I said when we drew apart, "looks like you're going to need a new full time P.I."
"Forget it, Cat, I'll advertise."
"But I'm good. I have a one hundred percent success rate."
"One hundred percent disaster rate."
"I'm cheap."
"So I don't have to take you to Monica's Restaurant this weekend?"
"I'll make an exception."
He smiled then quickly sobered. "Seriously, Cat, putting you on as a P.I. will send my blood pressure through the roof. I'm an old man, you know."
"You're not old. Grumpy, but not old." I stood on my toes and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Anyway, you're only as old as you feel." I reached around and squeezed his butt. "And you feel damn fine to me."
Epilogue
After leaving Hollywood, I'd shelved all my ambitions of fame, no matter how small they'd been to begin with. But wouldn't you know it, getting kidnapped and beaten up by a bank robber got me more TV time than most B-list celebrities dreamed of. Everyone wanted a piece of me. It lasted about a week when I was bumped in favor of a kitten stuck down an elevator shaft. You can't beat that.
Once the bruising on my face lessened (nothing was broken, thank God) I went back to work. As a P.I. Yep, Will came through, and after only a teensy bit of encouragement from me. And from Gina. And Mom. And the waitress at Trendz Café and just about everyone else.
Except Scarface. He visited me at Mom's a few days after Carl's arrest.
"You're a walking disaster," he said with a shake of his head. He touched my chin to tilt my head back and get a better look at my cheek. His brow crinkled and concern shadowed his good eye. "You okay?"
Annoyed at his wisecrack, I moved away and sat on the couch. He sat opposite, looking awkward and out of place in Mom's living room. I figured he'd look out of place in anything but a grungy bar.
"Couldn't be better," I said. It was true. I felt like my life was finally moving forward. I had a new job, a new man, and I was a local celebrity, plus the rest of the insurance money for my apartment had finally come through so I was going shopping as soon my face no longer elicited shocked gasps.
"I hear you're going to be working for Will as an investigator," he said, fixing me with one of his paralyzing one-eyed glares. "Poor bastard."
"Hey!"
He grinned. "I bet his no domestics policy won't last."
I humphed and crossed my arms. "It's Will's company, not mine."
"Yeah, but you're female."
Mom entered carrying two mugs of coffee. She handed one to Scarface, watching him all the time through lowered lashes, and gave the other to me. She left the room without saying anything. I don't think she liked me having male visitors that weren't Will. Funny how she'd already fallen under his spell. He can be quite charming when he puts some effort into it. I think she'd taken it upon herself to be his self-appointed watchdog while I convalesced. Dad would have been proud.
"So did you just come here to tease me?" I asked.
Scarface sat back and settled into the chair and the conversation. "We searched Carl's house and found his key and the rest of the safety deposit box number, scribbled on a torn piece of paper that fit the one you gave us. After a little gentle persuasion in the form of a court order and negative publicity, Bank Swiss handed over the cash."
"Do I get a finder's fee?"
"You're lucky you don't get arrested for obstruction of justice, among other things." He looked very serious, a common expression on Scarface so I wasn't too concerned. I figured he'd break into a cheeky grin at any moment and tell me everything was cool.
"Lucky me." I laughed.
"You withheld evidence."
Okay, maybe I had a lot to learn when it came to reading people.
"And then there's the breaking and entering."
"Lou's neighbor let me in. With a key."
He grunted and stood quickly. I stood too and found myself standing toe to toe with him. Boy, he moved fast. His hands brushed up my bare arms making the little hairs stand on end. He smelled like spices with a hint of tobacco. I tried not to let on that I was struggling to keep my beating heart under control. I was a taken woman, damn it, I shouldn't swoon in other men's arms!
"Cat," he murmured, "for a sexy woman, you've got balls."
I cocked an eyebrow. "Is that a compliment?"
His answer was to kiss me lightly on the lips. I was momentarily lost in the tenderness. Fortunately I had enough focus to think of Will and pull away.
"Don't," I said on a breath.
"Sorry." He moved toward the door. "But if that boss of yours ever stops appreciating your…work, you know where to find me." Then he left.
After a long, still moment, I picked up the phone and dialed Will's number. "Hey," I said when he answered. "Just wanted you to know I miss you."
I know it's impossible but I swear I heard him smile down the line. "I miss you too, Kitty Cat."
Now Available:
SOMETHING ABOUT MONEY
The 2nd Curious Cat Mystery
Books by Carolyn Scott
It’s A Wonderful Lie (A Curious Cat Mystery Prequel)
Rebel Without A Clue (Curious Cat Mystery #1)
Something About Money (Curious Cat Mystery #2)
You Again: A short romantic comedy mystery
About The Author
Carolyn Scott is the pen name for a multi-USA Today bestselling author of historical fantasy, epic fantasy, and historical mystery novels.
Email: [email protected]
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Rebel Without A Clue Page 25