ENTANGLED PURSUITS (MEN OF ACTION Book 1)

by Brenda Jackson

  “Yes, Natalie?”

  Ignoring Toni altogether, the woman asked Drew, “What can you tell me?”

  “Nothing now. Next of kin still has to be notified.”

  “Come on, Andrew, give me something. I go on the air in less than five minutes.”

  “Our PR guy will be giving a statement any moment now. See you later, Natalie.”

  The woman gave Andrew a knowing smile, which Toni translated to be more of a promise than an actual farewell. Would he meet up with this Natalie later? Toni fought the same green-eyed monster that had taken over her senses earlier. She and Drew had ended things nearly five years ago. But she knew what a virile man he was, one who enjoyed making love. There was no reason to think he’d changed. And if he wasn’t spending his nights with Toni, he had every right to spend them with whomever he pleased. It wasn’t any of her business.

  As she buckled her seatbelt, Toni glanced over at Andrew and said, “What happened to Maria Tindal is so sad. What a waste of a life. She and I were the same age.”

  Andrew nodded. “Maria Tindal was a sweet young woman, friendly and easygoing. She didn’t deserve to die. No matter how many murders I investigate as a detective, the human side of me still can’t understand the senseless taking of a life.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s almost lunch time. You want to stop and grab something to eat before meeting up with Maria’s ex-boyfriend?”

  “That sounds good.” She paused a moment, then added, “I owe you an apology, Drew. I didn’t mean to insinuate you had something to do with Maria Tindal’s death. I was just doing my job—nothing personal. You would have asked the same thing of me had you been in my place.”

  She saw the way his mouth tightened. “Maybe. Maybe not. But I doubted I would have called you out like that in front of a group,” he said.

  “You admitted to knowing her in front of that same group. There was no way I could have given you a pass. And you did have an alibi.”

  Instead of starting the car, he turned to her. “But what if I hadn’t had one? What if I had gone home last night instead of playing cards with the guys? I don’t know what your problem was back there, Antonia, but let me give you some advice—don’t start anything, and there won’t be anything.”

  She narrowed her gaze. “Meaning?” He’d only ever used her given name a few times...and each time, he hadn’t been happy with her.

  “We’re here to do a job, not try to rekindle old flames that are nothing but ashes. You’re acting as if you haven’t gotten over me.”

  Toni bit down on her lip. He’d thrown her own words back at her. She didn’t say anything, because there was a small piece of truth in his accusation. There was no way she would admit it to him, but knowing he’d probably planned to make Maria Tindal one of his future bed partners, had twisted her gut. Jealousy had reared its ugly head and taken a bite out of her professionalism. She had allowed their past personal relationship to interfere with their professional one. That wasn’t good.

  It wasn’t his fault that she’d loved him.

  She just had to remember that she’d been the one to end things between them—not him. Drew probably would have been perfectly satisfied keeping things the way they were. Like her, he’d had no intention of settling down with a spouse and kids. That had been the main reason he’d been the perfect man to hook up with because she hadn’t wanted any of those things either.

  It wasn’t his fault that her thoughts about those things had changed. When she’d fallen in love, she realized she wanted it all—marriage, babies and a happily ever after. She had wanted all the things she could never have with him, so she had done the only thing she could think of—break up with him without telling him why.

  For all she knew, Drew might be seriously involved with someone. A man with his looks wouldn’t lack for female company. She had certainly let him into her bed—and her life—easily enough…not that she had any complaints. What should have been a one-night stand in her hotel room that night in San Diego had ended up continuing for the remaining days of the seminar. Sex between them had been so good, so off-the-charts incredible, that they’d agreed to continue things when they returned to their respective cities.

  And she had looked forward to their weekends together. They had been relaxing, a way for both of them to unwind from hectic jobs. And it had been even nicer because they had the same occupation. It gave them something to talk about when they finally came up for air.

  Eventually they had become more than sex buddies. And then the unthinkable had happened. He’d become her entire world, the only man to ever touch her heart. But it hadn’t been his fault that she had elevated him to that level, and she shouldn’t act like it was.

  She glanced over at him. “It won’t happen again, Drew.”

  Toni knew he’d heard her, but her words were followed with silence. That was fine. In fact, maybe it was a good thing. Putting up with his surly attitude was better than watching him try to fake a friendly one. “So, where do you suggest we go eat?” she asked.

  He had come to a stop at a traffic light but didn’t seem to want to look at her. “There’s a sandwich shop not far from here. They serve the best chicken salad sandwiches. You’ll like this place.”

  Toni swallowed deeply. He had remembered—chicken salad sandwiches were her favorite. And as if he had read her thoughts, he glanced over at her and said, “Did you honestly think I’d forgotten?”

  Drawing in a deep breath, she said truthfully, “I wasn’t sure if you had or not, Drew.”

  He didn’t say anything. Instead, he shifted his gaze from her to focus on the road ahead. When the traffic light changed, he hit the gas.

  • • •

  Andrew was having trouble focusing on the road ahead of him. Did Toni honestly think he could forget anything about her? He remembered it all, down to every minute detail. Especially every inch of her body. He’d seen it all, touched it all, and tasted it all. If he concentrated really hard, he could probably conjure up the taste of her on his tongue right now. Delicious. Unique. Mind-blowing.

  But it was more than just her taste. He’d never forget the tone of her voice, the look in her eyes and her various mannerisms, as well as what each one meant. He was familiar with everything about her. He could tell when she was upset, angry, annoyed and…jealous. That one he knew well. Although he’d never given her a reason to be jealous, he’d sometimes been approached by brazen women when he and Toni had been out together—women who hadn’t given a damn that he was taken.

  Andrew knew how to handle women like that and had never allowed anyone to disrespect Toni or the part she played in his life. But that hadn’t stopped her from getting jealous. He always thought it was adorable, but not today. Because today, she’d had no right. By breaking up with him, she’d indicated that he meant nothing to her anymore. So she had no reason to be concerned with who shared his bed.

  After all, he hadn’t been the one who, just out of the blue, had called one night to end things, saying some shit like their relationship had run its course and they needed to move on. And she had. So if she was miffed because he’d planned to hook up with Maria Tindal, she was out of line.

  So why was she jealous? It wasn’t as if she wanted him. When he’d seen her at Stonewall and Joy’s wedding, it had been the first time their paths had crossed in four years. No one had told him she would be there, but he’d had a feeling she would be. After all, she was Joy’s best friend. And because he’d kept his relationship with Toni pretty quiet, Stonewall would not have known to give him a heads up.

  Andrew hoped like hell that he and Toni worked well together. The last thing he’d want was to go back to the chief and put in a request for a new partner. Chief LaNeer didn’t know their history, although Drew was certain the man knew they had one. It had been quite obvious that morning in the chief’s office that he and Toni weren’t strangers after the way they’d greeted each other. Chief LaNeer was as observant as he was intelligent.

  The one
thing Drew had noticed so far was that he and Toni had worked well together while questioning Pamela Larkins. They’d taken turns asking questions, and the routine had been fluid and on point. It had been that way between him and Norm, also. That boded well for them having a solid, professional relationship...if they could only ditch the personal garbage.

  “When was the last time you talked to Stonewall and Joy?”

  Andrew was surprised by the question. Evidently, the silence had gotten to her. Without taking his eyes off the road, he said, “A month ago. He doesn’t do international security as much as he used to, but he still travels domestically upon occasion.”

  He paused a moment and then added, “I’ll probably see them in a few months. It’s Shep’s birthday and his wife Carson is throwing a party.” During their ten months together, he’d finally told her about the time he’d spent in prison, and the part Sheppard Granger had played in his life.

  “Sounds like fun.”

  “I’m sure it will be. I’m looking forward to seeing the princess again.”

  She glanced over at him. “The princess?”

  “Yes. That’s what the guys who served time with Shep and I in prison call his daughter. Shep’s youngest son, Dalton, calls his baby sister Wild Child. To everybody else, she’s Ava.”

  “That’s a pretty name.”

  “Ava was named after Shep’s mother. It’s still hard to believe. There is nearly a thirty-year difference between Ava and Shep’s youngest son Dalton. Who would have thought, after having three grown sons, that Shep would remarry and start another family? All he used to talk about was one day becoming a grandfather, not a father.”

  “Sometimes a person’s desires change, Drew.”

  He had nothing to say to that. Sure, that might be true for some people, but not for all. Although he hated admitting it, he doubted his desire for her would ever change. But that was his problem, and he’d have to deal with it. But the last thing he’d do was let Toni into his personal space again, regardless of how much he wanted her there.

  “We’re here,” he said, pulling into the restaurant. This conversation couldn’t end soon enough for him.

  “NICE PLACE,” TONI SAID, glancing around. There was a large lunch-hour crowd, but they didn’t have to wait long for a table. It was obvious Drew was a regular. She later found out he was friends with the owner. “Nice to have connections.”

  “I guess you can say that, although we met under unpleasant circumstances. Norm and I were the detectives on a case involving the murder of his son. He appreciated the way we handled things, and told us we would always have a table at his restaurant whenever we came in, no matter what.”

  She nodded. “It’s nice to be appreciated.” She then pulled the menu card out of the rack on the table. “So, you think they have good chicken salad sandwiches.”

  He shrugged massive shoulders. “I’ve never had one. Like you, Norm loves chicken salad sandwiches and swore by them. That’s all he ever ordered.”

  “Then I’ll take Norm’s word for it and order one.”

  The waitress who came to take their order was all smiles, and it was obvious the owner wasn’t the only one who appreciated Drew’s visits. After the waitress had left, Toni glanced over and saw Drew staring at her. “Is there something wrong?”

  “Yes. I want to know why you are here. In Alexandria. And don’t hand me that ‘it’s complicated’ BS.”

  She dropped her gaze and studied the pattern on the tablecloth. She really didn’t want to discuss this with him—it really wasn’t any of his business. But then, the last thing she wanted was for him to think her move here had something to do with him. He needed to know that she really hadn’t had a choice.

  After a few minutes of deliberation, she decided she would tell him. “Do you remember me telling you I was a hostage negotiator when we met?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, a situation came up six months ago that didn’t end well. A man who’d suspected his wife was cheating killed her at her place of employment. Then he left the scene of the crime, went home and told the nanny to leave. When the police arrived to arrest him for his wife’s death, he threatened to kill himself and his two sons, ages three and five.”

  She paused a minute, remembering that day. “I was called in to talk him down. And for a few minutes, I thought I had. He’d opened the door to send the two kids out. Then...I don’t know what made him change his mind, but he did. He killed those little boys and then turned the gun on himself.”

  “Damn.”

  “Yes. It was bad. Everyone told me it wasn’t my fault.”

  “Of course, it wasn’t your fault. There was nothing you could do.”

  “Tell that to the man’s father. He tried bringing charges against me.”

  “What the hell! You’re kidding, right?”

  “No, I wish I was. Of course, I was protected by the law since I’d only been attempting to do my job. But the man’s father, Thomas Gilmore, who is a county commissioner in Miami and a wealthy businessman, is also an asshole. He felt I didn’t work hard enough to talk his son into surrendering.”

  “That’s a bunch of BS. He doesn’t know how things would have gone down.”

  “Well, he thinks he does. He started making my life a living hell by calling for my resignation. The department backed me and told me to ignore it. However, his bullying got so bad, it became hard for me to do my job effectively. That’s when I decided to transfer elsewhere.”

  Drew didn’t say anything for a minute, then asked, “But why here?”

  “A lateral transfer was nearly impossible—at least one where I wouldn’t have to start over as a beat cop for at least a year. Joy tried getting me in on her team in Charlottesville, but there’s a freeze on hiring. The city is still operating in the red after that Murphy Erickson case. I’m sure you remember that.”

  Murphy Erickson, the infamous mobster had put a hit out on everyone who’d been in the courtroom the day his sentence had been read. Ten people had been killed before his reign of terror ended.

  Drew nodded as he took a sip of tea. “How can I not remember? Striker’s wife Margo was one of the jurors. He was assigned to her as a bodyguard, or protector, as he prefers to be called. Anyway, I can understand why the city would be in the red. Cops were working overtime. It was crazy.”

  She was quiet as the waitress delivered their food. Drew had ordered a huge hamburger and fries, and it looked delicious. When the waitress walked away, Toni said, “Lucky for me, Chief LaNeer is a friend of my chief in Miami. So, I guess you can say I got the job through connections.”

  “I hope you’re not feeling bad about that. You’re not the only one. I told you how I got my job, through Sheppard Granger’s connection to the governor. All the governor had to do was place a call to the police commissioner in Alexandria, and suddenly I have a job.”

  She recalled him telling her about that...and other things. They’d been together for about six months before he’d told her his history—how he’d spent nearly five years in jail. She knew he’d been worried about how she’d handle the news, but all she could do was admire his dedication to become the man he was—a model citizen who worked for the law, not against it.

  “My chief talked to Chief LaNeer and knew he needed a detective to fill a vacancy,” she said. “Chief LaNeer was impressed with my resume, and hired me within the hour. We even did the interview via Zoom. However, I had no idea that I would become Norm’s replacement.”

  She took a sip of her own drink, and then continued, “I figured there was a chance we would run into each other, but since we were both adults—and our affair had ended years ago—that we’d be able to handle seeing each other again. Although…”

  He lifted a brow. “Although what?”

  “You did act rather distant when you saw me at Joy’s wedding.”

  She knew he wouldn’t like what she had said, but it had been the truth. And, just like having her as a partner, he was just go
ing to have to deal with it.

  • • •

  Andrew didn’t say anything, because what Toni said was true. He had intentionally kept his distance at the wedding, and had only come in contact with her when he’d had to—like when there had been group pictures.

  After biting into his hamburger and taking another sip of his iced tea, he said, “Don’t expect me to apologize, Toni. The last time we’d spoken, you’d ended things without giving me what I considered as a valid reason.”

  “But we agreed, in the beginning, that we didn’t have to. We said that our affair would last until one of us felt it was time to end it, and that we wouldn’t owe the other an explanation.”

  “But that was when we thought it would last only a couple of months, Toni. We were together almost a year. I think I deserved more than that ‘goodbye, I no longer want to have an affair with you’ phone call.”

  “Maybe. But there was no reason we couldn’t remain friends.”

  “We were lovers, not friends. If you recall, Toni, it was you who defined our relationship. It was you who made it very clear we could not be friends and were nothing more than sex-buddies. That’s all you wanted and claimed that’s all you needed.”

  He could tell from the look on her face that she would rather not be reminded of that. Too bad. “If the rules had changed, I wasn’t told.”

  She shook her head. “No, the rules didn’t change.”

  “Then at what point was I supposed to assume we’d become friends? I don’t make love to my friends. I was never one to buy into that ‘friends with benefits’ crap. We were either friends or we were not. We were either sex-buddies or we were not.”

  She didn’t say anything, and in a way, he was glad. It had taken him a long time to get over losing her, mainly because he had wanted to believe they’d become something more. Not just friends, but something much more significant.