Bend But Never Break

by Cheryl Phipps

  ‘It certainly looks like you’re enjoying it.’ Nick was transfixed as she began licking the cone in rapture. He studied the movements of her mouth and tongue while his own ice cream melted quickly in the heat. The tantalising way she ate had his loins throbbing madly and if he could have, he would have ravished her on the spot.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Talia was in the process of wiping the corner of her mouth with a finger when she noticed Nick’s gaze following her movement. It was impossible to mistake the look of unadulterated lust in his eyes. Her heart skipped a beat as she hesitated, then gently slipped her finger into her mouth and sucked the residue from it. She watched, fascinated, as he gulped and then forced his eyes to meet hers.

  She inhaled his musky cologne as he leaned forward. His lips slowly parted, and, as if an invisible thread was tightening between them, she was pulled towards him. The air grew warmer the closer they got, and in seconds, there was no space at all. The coldness of their lips was in stark contrast to the sizzling heat of their mouths. Tentative at first, their kiss soon deepened into a need for more - more of everything.

  The erotic kiss was something neither of them wanted to end, though Nick was the first to move. In fact, he yelped and jumped up simultaneously. His crotch held the majority of his forgotten ice cream. Shaking the offending mess onto the grass, he studied his pants helplessly.

  Talia couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled up and out of her. Ferreting in her bag, she located a handful of tissues, then, pulling herself up onto her knees, she wiped at the mess. Nick sucked in a breath but did not move as her hands dabbed, not too delicately, in very personal areas.

  As she was despairing of getting any more off with the soggy tissues, a woman, holding the hand of a small boy, stalked past.

  ‘Well, really, and in a public place!’ she muttered.

  Talia was taken aback until she realised what this must look like. Nick reacted by yanking her to her feet and all but dragging her from the area. When they had gone a fair distance, they turned to each other and burst into laughter.

  ‘Fancy a nice girl like you, creating a spectacle like that!’ He pointed an accusing finger at her.

  ‘She must have thought we were a couple of degenerates.’ Talia grabbed her ribs.

  ‘Speak for yourself. I was the one being manhandled,’ Nick said, trying to sound scandalised, and spoiling it by laughing again.

  ‘Well I hate to mention this, Nick, but you still look as if something nasty has happened to your trousers, and I’m guessing these people walking past don’t imagine it’s just an innocent ice cream!’ Talia was doubled over with glee at his mortification.

  People were definitely staring at him. Some were even smirking.

  ‘I’m so glad you find this amusing. You better wait here while I go to the toilets and see if I can fix this mess.’

  ‘Take as long as you like,’ she said and waved him away, still clutching her sides.

  He stalked off but had a smile on his face. It had been a long time since he’d enjoyed himself so much. Talia was, indeed, very attractive, but when she laughed, he wanted to hear the sound again and again. It lifted his heart and, as crazy as it sounded, it made him feel full of life, and something more that he couldn’t put a name to.

  When he had done the best he could with his pants, Nick returned to the spot where he’d left her. Talia was no longer alone. She was bent over a young girl who appeared to have lost her balloon in a tree and was doing her best to console her. They began to peer through the branches, deciding if it could be reached or not. She saw him coming towards them and looked at him hopefully.

  Without a word, he swung himself up onto the lowest branch and with a bit of a stretch, managed to reach the string. Jumping to the ground, he presented the little girl with her prize.

  ‘Thank you, mister,’ she said, shyly hiding behind Talia’s skirt.

  ‘You are most welcome. Now where’s your mother? I bet she’s looking for you.’

  At this, the child’s lip trembled and she turned her head frantically up and down the field. ‘I don’t know. My balloon ran away and I chased it.’ A fat tear rolled down her cheek.

  ‘Hey, it’s no problem. She won’t be far away. I tell you what? How about you get on my shoulders and we’ll see if we can find her or maybe someone else who can help.’

  ‘I’m not supposed to talk to strangers,’ she sniffed.

  ‘Your mother is very right to tell you that. I’m Nick and this is my friend Talia. What’s your name?’

  ‘Rebecca Torrance.’

  ‘How do you do, Rebecca? There, now we aren’t strangers anymore. Let’s go find your mom.’ He held out his hand and she allowed him to swing her up on his shoulders. ‘Which way did you come from, Rebecca?’

  She turned, using his ears as a handhold while she studied the area.

  ‘Over there, I think. There was a man playing the guitar.’ She pointed vaguely.

  They managed to push through the throng of people and found the place where the guitarist had been but where a young woman was now playing a flute.

  ‘It was here. We were standing right by that sign. Where is she?’

  He heard the quiver in her voice. This might be harder than they thought.

  ‘What’s your mom’s name?’ Talia asked.

  ‘Donna Torrance.’

  ‘Let’s find the information tent, then we can send her name out over the loudspeaker,’ Talia whispered in Nick’s ear as she stood on tiptoes.

  ‘Great idea. I think I saw it over by the café.’ He slipped the girl from his shoulders and, placing her on the ground, took her hand. She looked up at him trustingly but gripped his hand tightly, as if afraid he might let her go.

  ‘Come on, sweetheart, we think someone over here can help us,’ he said encouragingly.

  Sure enough, the tent was not too far, and they found a harassed young man in it trying to field a dozen questions by several people.

  ‘Excuse me, please.’ Nick tried to press through the crowd of people, who were equally determined not to let him pass.

  ‘Just one moment, sir.’ The man didn’t even look up.

  ‘There is a queue, you know?’ An old woman waved a sun umbrella at him menacingly.

  ‘I’m afraid I can’t wait. This little girl has lost her mom and naturally, she’s very upset. I wondered if someone could put her name over the loudspeaker.’

  Immediately, the other people let him through, the old lady clucking over the little girl, who hid her face in Talia’s skirt, overwhelmed by all the attention.

  Talia gave the information to the man, who looked relieved at the sudden change in atmosphere and immediately picked up a microphone. It seemed like mere seconds before a woman pushed her way into the opening.

  ‘Becky, Becky! Oh my goodness, there you are. Where did you go? I’ve been so worried.’ The poor woman began to cry and that set Rebecca off.

  It was a touching, if noisy scene and everyone seemed pleased at the outcome.

  ‘I think we should go before we get any more attention,’ Nick whispered.

  Talia nodded and followed him outside. ‘Another case solved, Mr Detective,’ she joked.

  ‘Naturally. You’re dealing with the best here.’ He pulled her arm through his and they meandered through the stalls and crowds for quite some time. ‘We should get going soon. Do you feel like another wine before we leave?’

  ‘No, thanks. What about you? I can drive home if you want to try some more.’

  ‘As I’m supposed to be working, it wouldn’t be a good idea. Besides, who needs alcohol when the day has been totally enjoyable without it?’

  ‘Yes, it has. Who would have thought a wine festival would be so much fun with only one glass of wine?’ She smothered a yawn.

  ‘It looks like someone’s had too much of a good thing. I suppose we should head on back now, if you’re all done here.’ Nick said, wondering if she was as reluctant as he to let the day end.


  ‘I guess so.’ For some reason, Talia felt sad. Everything would change as soon as they crossed that doorway, and she wasn’t ready to let this wonderful day go. Not yet.

  Nick must have sensed her mood. ‘Did you have something else in mind?’ he asked her softly.

  ‘How about taking a drive around the whole island? It doesn’t take too long, and it would be nice to see how things have changed since I was last here. Only if you have the time, that is.’

  They’d arrived at the car park, which was still full, even though it was late in the afternoon. Nick opened her door but hesitated. Then, looking into her eyes, he smiled. ‘Sure, it might be the only chance I get to see all of it, and I couldn’t ask for a prettier tour guide.’

  It wasn’t long before they were cruising the main road on the island with the windows open and soft music playing in the background. The smell of the salty sea air became even stronger as they dipped down to the beaches and around the coast.

  ‘Do you miss your job?’

  She shouldn’t have been surprised at the question, more that it had taken him so long to ask. Different answers circled her mind but the answer was a simple truth.

  ‘I miss it nearly as much as I miss Chloe.’

  ‘You’d been there a long time.’

  ‘Since I graduated. It was my first job, and it felt like I was born to it.’

  ‘So what will you do when you have your daughter? Will you go back there?’

  ‘I don’t think I could. It wouldn’t be right. I’m pretty good at buying and selling other people’s work but I might take up painting again. I love it but I’m not sure I could make a living from it. It may be just a hobby if that’s the case.’

  ‘Surely if you’ve been dealing with art, you would know if your work was good or not?’

  ‘You can’t be objective about your own stuff, and it needs to be better than good.’

  Their conversation switched back and forth on a variety of topics, but by an unspoken mutual agreement, they steered clear of the more personal aspects of their lives.

  ‘Can you turn off up there on the left?’ Talia asked quietly. ‘I’d like to show you something.’

  Without hesitation, he pulled the car off the road to a lookout. They parked on the cliff just as the sun began to set. The sight was breathtaking. The sea danced with light and changed colours before them, as the last of the sun’s rays dipped into the horizon.

  Without the warmth of the sun, the air turned chilly and, as they closed the windows, the mood also changed. Time wasn’t going to stand still for them. It was time to go back to where Nick was just a detective and she, the woman in his way. It was useless to think otherwise.

  ‘We’d better get back. Jack might have some news.’ Nick’s voice sounded harsh in the confines of the car. Talia nodded as she turned away, vowing to keep her distance for the remainder of the trip.

  Driving with an awkward silence, Nick tried to gather his thoughts about this beautiful woman beside him. She was the first to make him feel as though there were other things in life that mattered besides his work. Without a doubt, she was someone he would like to take the time to get to know, but right now he had a job to do and he couldn’t let this . . . well, whatever it was, get in the way. He would tell her firmly, and she would have to accept, that there could be nothing between them until the case was resolved.

  They arrived at the house and Nick turned to tell her what was on his mind, but she spoke before he had a chance.

  ‘I believe this is where we leave it, Nick. You’ve got a case to close and I have to get on with my own plans. Thanks for a great day, I had a lovely time. Goodnight.’

  He watched her get out and go inside. His hand dropped from the door handle. He could have stopped her but to what purpose? They both knew the situation and they couldn’t act on their feelings right now. It was best to leave things as they were, even if every fibre of his being wanted to go after her.

  ***

  A few days later, Nick was finishing his cereal when the back door, straining at its hinges, was flung open. Jack entered, slightly out of breath and acting as if the hounds of hell were on his heels.

  ‘Something’s happening next door! There are a bunch of people yelling and going in and out of the house like they’re looking for something.’

  Nick tossed the bowl into the sink and grabbed his gun, dropping it into the holster already strapped to his body. He shrugged into his jacket, snatching up a small backpack, and followed Jack down the garden. When they got within a few feet of the beach, they hugged the tree line until they came to the hedge.

  Nick peered around the corner and sure enough, four men stood looking out to sea, passing a set of binoculars between them. The bulkiness of their jackets and the fact that they were dressed in suits did nothing to make anyone think they could be tourists. One was operating a walkie-talkie, but frustratingly, they were out of hearing range.

  Nick tapped Jack on the shoulder, and they crept along the hedge until the road was in sight. Gesturing for Jack to keep watch, Nick climbed up to the vantage point he had used previously. Swinging the backpack off his shoulders, he removed a pair of binoculars and began to scan the front garden, then focused on the main door, which was standing ajar. He took the digital camera from his pocket and snapped a few shots of the men patrolling the yard.

  Just then, a burly security guard came out the door, dragging a woman with him. She was yelling fit to bust, when suddenly Randall came up behind the pair. Nick hissed through his teeth. How had they not known he’d arrived?

  The guard turned the woman to face his boss, who leaned back and smacked her across the face so hard, her head snapped back. Blood trickled from her mouth, and she cringed as he slapped the other side of her face.

  Nick would have loved to shoot the bastard right then and there, but his professionalism held him back. The man he had been tracking for so long was furious, his voice carrying clearly.

  ‘Now, you’ll do as you’re told, Sarah, or do you need some more persuading?’ He raised his hand to her.

  ‘No, Randall. I’m sorry, I’ll go right now.’

  ‘That’s better. Dave will take you to the ferry and you don’t come back here until I say. Do you understand me?’

  ‘Yes, Randall,’ she answered to his retreating back, her eyes narrowing and her mouth ugly, even though the words were said with suitable humility.

  Nick was impressed. After working with her for all these years, he hadn’t realised what an accomplished actress she was. Randall was still calling her Sarah, which meant her cover wasn’t blown. The guard pushed her into the front of the car and then drove to the automatic gates, which someone had opened.

  Nick stayed hidden but nodded to Jack who, anticipating the request, was on his way to retrieve their vehicle. Nick kept his eyes on Randall, who was issuing orders left and right. Another familiar face emerged from the house and Randall instantly turned to him.

  ‘Right. I want you to make sure there’s plenty of open sea when our visitors arrive tomorrow night, Steve. I don’t want to see any other boats in the vicinity. Is that clear?’

  ‘Crystal clear, boss. We’re checking out the beach around the clock starting from now and the rest of the guys arrive tomorrow, so we’ll have all angles covered when the time comes.’

  ‘That better be the case.’ He poked the man in his chest. ‘There have been too many stuff-ups lately and I don’t like it one bit. Someone’s leaking information, and when I find out who, they won’t know what hit them, and trust me, I will find out.’

  Nick knew Randall did not make idle threats. Men associated with him had been disappearing from day one, but each time they’d brought him in for questioning, he’d pleaded innocence, producing alibis, all the while looking like the devil incarnate. They needed to catch Randall red-handed to make it stick.

  When Jack drove slowly by, Nick motioned for him to follow the car on his own. He waited until the rest of the goons went back in
to the house before retracing his steps.

  ***

  Nick arrived back at the cottage in a filthy mood. If only they’d managed to plant a bug, they would know what was going on in there. But the security had been so tight that Emma hadn’t even taken a gun in when she’d infiltrated the compound. The phone taps had proved useless, as Randall was too clever to talk about anything significant on an open line and he regularly changed pre-paid mobiles, using different names and addresses to purchase them.

  The sight of Talia in the kitchen doing the dishes made him force a calmness he didn’t feel. He didn’t want to alarm her, but now it was even more crucial to get her away from here. It would be so easy if he didn’t care about her so damn much.

  ‘Hey, you don’t have to do that.’ He picked up a tea towel and began to dry the dishes.

  ‘Of course I do. You do the cooking so it’s only fair. Besides, it gives me something else to do, other than read. Where did you two race off to this morning? I heard raised voices, the door slamming and then silence.’

  He could have kicked himself for the oversight. ‘I’m sorry about that. One of us should have told you we were going so you could have been prepared in case something went wrong and we had to get out of here quickly.’

  ‘That would make me a lot happier. I know you don’t feel able to tell me everything, but I don’t want to be left so far in the dark that I’m a sitting duck.’

  He dropped the tea towel, suddenly appreciating that Talia wasn’t the same person he’d built a file on over the last few years. She was tougher, willing to risk everything, and eager to begin the showdown - all traits that would put her in more danger.

  ‘You’re right and you need to know there have been some unexpected developments.’

  ‘What’s happened? Are you leaving?’

  It was hard to tell by her sudden stillness if that would please her or not. ‘One of our team infiltrated Randall’s gang but they’ve just been kicked out of his compound, and because they’re not going to be of any help in the future, it means we have to make some adjustments.’