by Rebecca Rose
“Ma’am? Are you all right?”
“Hmm? Oh, yes. I’m fine.” Owen and Dave eyed her as if there was another head about to sprout off her neck.
“Can you answer some questions?” Owen’s eyes were soft, and he didn’t seem like such a bad guy even though Dave clearly thought so.
“Yes. I’m not sure what I can tell you. I had only just walked in.”
“From what Mr. Sanders says, the guy manhandled you, thus causing the commotion. Ex-boyfriend?”
“That’s not what I said,” Dave seethed.
Maybe she was wrong. Maybe this cop was a jerk. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never met those men before. From what I can see, I don’t believe they’re regulars and if you’re suggesting that by walking into my place of work I started this, you’re wrong. These men obviously can’t hold their alcohol.” Dave gave her a sly grin at her response.
“I wasn’t suggesting anything, Miss…”
“Smith.”
He wrote it down on his little note pad. “Smith. Is that your real name?” Owen’s eyes bore into hers while waiting for an answer.
“Detective,” Dave interrupted, “can Kathy give her statement tomorrow?”
“Yes, I would really prefer that,” she told him.
When the detective smiled at her, Kathy’s skin began to crawl. The man was more than a little overweight, balding, and ridiculously sweaty despite the cool temperature in the bar. The sensation of being naked and vulnerable seemed to go hand in hand when he set those beady eyes on her.
“She seems perfectly fine to me,” Owen said.
“That’s because you don’t know her.”
When Dave put a protective arm over her shoulders, Kathy couldn’t stop herself from leaning into him. Warm, safe, dependable. He was all those things and so much more.
“I’ll give you my statement then, too.” Dave told Owen. “Jake!” he yelled before the officer could protest. “I’m driving Kathy home. Mind?”
The giant of a man walked to them then pulled Kathy into his arms for a hug. “You okay?” More than a little shocked at his openness of affection, Kathy only shook her head. “Get some sleep and take tomorrow off.”
“I’m fine and more worried about Sophie. She’s really not feeling well.” When the men seemed to be examining her, she asked. “What?”
Dave ran a hand over her thick, red hair. “You’re shaking that’s how I know you’re not okay.”
“Really?” She looked down at her trembling hands. “Oh, guess I am.”
“Let me get my sling and talk to the staff.” As if in reflex, Dave shifted his shoulder and adjusted his back with a grunt.
“You hurt yourself.”
“Naw. Only a tweak.”
“You’ve experienced worse. Right, Mr. Sanders?” Kathy, Dave, and Jake all looked at Detective Owen.
Jake crossed his massive arms. “Detective, I just have one question. Why are you here?”
“The call came in and I responded.”
“But this isn’t your normal thing, is it?” Jake stepped closer to Owen, who held his ground.
“No.”
“I’m gonna be completely honest with you, detective. I think you only came because you knew this was our place, specifically, my brother’s.”
Owen clearly mulled this around in his sweat-beaded head. “What are you accusing me of, Sanders?”
“Gunnery Sergeant Sanders if we’re going to do this properly. I think you heard something went down at the Lion and you wanted in on it because you think Dave’s—”
“That’s enough Jake.” Dave abruptly interrupted his brother.
A look of disgust crossed Jake’s face but he backed down. “I’ll be in touch, Detective Owen.”
“Nice bodyguard,” Owen mumbled while Jake walked away.
“I don’t need one. Card?” Owen pulled a business card from his front pocket and handed it over. “We’ll talk tomorrow,” Dave told him.
“Good. I have lots of questions. Miss Smith, were you injured at all?”
It was too obvious Owen was stalling them. Kathy knew the moves. How many times had her parents been detained for one reason or another? Most times with threats that their children would be taken away if they didn’t conform to what society deemed acceptable. Or about them not holding down steady jobs and scoffing about being suspected drug dealers. The clincher always came when they would openly admit to being swingers and that hanging out with known pedophiles wasn’t against the law. Yes, Owen only wanted to see if he could bring Dave’s temper back out. Well she wasn’t going to give him that chance. “I’m fine, thank you. Can we go now, Dave?”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
“One more question, Miss Smith.”
She turned a wicked look on Owen. “Yes, detective?”
“Do you feel safe working here? I mean after tonight, of course.”
“Jackass.” The word slipped out and when she looked at Dave both his brows were perked to attention. “Let’s go.”
She could hear her heels clicking on the wood floor and feel the furious beat of her heart pounding in her chest. The nerve of that man! Thinking he could get her to second guess working for Dave! “Is that really your name?” The detective’s sarcasm echoed in her mind.
Kathy swung the bar door open as an older couple came upon it. She stepped back and held the door for them. No sense in being rude and spreading the bad karma around. Kathy laughed at herself because her brother loved teasing her with that line.
“Oh my! What’s happening here?” The older woman, who seemed to be as tall as she was wide, asked.
“I don’t know, my love, but I hope it’s nothing serious,” the tall gentleman answered.
Kathy smiled. “I can assure you it’s only a few boys getting rowdy.”
The woman put a hand to her ample breasts. “Thank goodness. Look, there’s Jake.” She cupped her hands around her mouth and… “Jake! Over here! Jake!”
“Mom! Dad!” he called back. “Dave, Sophie! Look who’s here!”
A smile bloomed across Dave’s face. The love for his parents was apparent as he ran to hug and kiss them. “What are you doing here? I thought you weren’t in until tomorrow.”
“Well Jake called the ship, when you didn’t,” his father said while giving Dave the stink eye, “and we got here as soon as we could.”
“Dad, you and mom have been saving for that month long Hawaiian cruise forever, don’t tell me you cut it short.”
“No, no. He assured us you were okay and that there would be hell to pay if we did. But we did change our flight to tonight instead. And we’re staying for two weeks instead of one,” their father explained.
Gosh, Dave looks so adorable standing there. Kathy took a step back to let the family hug and say hello. She only made it two steps before Dave took her arm.
“This is Kathy. Kathy, my father, George, and my mother, Renee.”
“Is this ‘The Kathy’?” Renee inquired.
“Yes,” Sophie piped in. “It’s ‘The Kathy.’ ”
“Sophie, my princess!” George picked Sophie up and spun her around. “I’m so glad my dingbat of a son hasn’t scared you away.”
“It’ll take a crowbar, George.”
Renee tipped her head to the side in examination of Kathy. “You’re not what I expected.”
Kathy looked down at the new clothes Sophie made her buy. The short, flowing violet skirt, fitted print V-neck top, and new heels were certainly not her norm. No, this was an outfit that required talking into, even if it still bordered on the traditional.
“I… ah… went shopping with Sophie… and.…”
“Oh,” Renee stated, as if understanding. “She can talk a hungry carnivorous beast into becoming a vegetarian.”
“I cannot!”
Detective Owen cleared his throat. “Excuse me. Miss Smith, if you’re going to be staying a bit longer, we can have that talk now.”
Dave seethed.
“You can wait until tomorrow.”
“Relax, Dave. I’m more than capable of taking care of myself. Tomorrow, Detective Owen,” she grumbled.
George stepped forward. “What’s the problem, officer?”
“There was a little disturbance here,” Dave told his father while glaring at Owen.
“I’m investigating—” Owen began.
“Harassing,” Jake mumbled.
“—a lead I was presented a few weeks ago.”
Renee crossed her beefy arms. “And what does that have to do with my boys?”
“Nothing, Ma. Nothing at all,” Dave interjected.
“Then why is this officer questioning you?”
“Detective.” Owen stated while reaching out a hand for a shake. “Detective Owen.”
George rocked back on his heels, something Kathy had seen Jake and Dave do numerous times. “What does a detective have to do with what happened here tonight?”
“Nothing,” Dave grumbled.
“I was at the station when the call came in. Thought I’d come down and help.”
“Harass,” Jake repeated.
Owen spared him a glance. “I’m being thorough.”
“And we can appreciate that but why exactly are you interested in my sons?” George wanted to know.
Owen puffed out his hefty chest. “What I questioned your son about has nothing to do with this incident. As far as I can tell, those guys were causing a ruckus and Mr. Sanders, Dave, used unnecessary force to restrain one of them.”
“I didn’t restrain him.” Dave’s face turned a deep shade of red and Kathy could have sworn she saw steam come from his ears.
“No. You used undue force.”
“Detective Owen,” Renee stepped to the officer, “are you accusing my son of something?”
“No. I never said that.”
“How about implying he did something wrong? Other than using what you call, ‘undue force.’ ”
“He knocked a man out, Mrs. Sanders—”
“And you don’t believe what? There was a good enough reason?”
“The men said they were getting ready to leave when they were jumped by both your sons,” Owen insisted.
“Liars,” Kathy mumbled.
“This is their restaurant. If someone is causing a problem, they have a right to ask them to leave.” Renee stood firm, defending her boys.
“Yes, ma’am. But they don’t have the right to—”
“Defend themselves and their customers?” Renee asked.
“Yes, they have a right. But if there is a problem then they should have called the police right away.”
“Which was done,” Dave added.
“After you knocked that man out.” Owen pointed to the guy with the ice pack on his face. “You seem to like finding trouble, Sanders.”
Kathy watched with amazement as both elder Sanders turned on the detective. The devotion, trust, and love seemed to overpower anything Owen tried to prove.
“It’s time for you to leave, Detective Owen. Or I’ll file a stayaway order on you. We understand each other?” Renee demanded.
Owen looked at Jake, Sophie, Dave, and Kathy. “I’ll being seeing all of you tomorrow,” he said before walking away.
Dave let out a long, slow breath, “I’m gonna bring Kathy home, and rest my arm ’cause it’s throbbing. Plus I’m hungry and pissed off. Jake, can you close up?”
“Yeah, Dude. All’s good here.”
“Thanks. Ma, Dad, I love you. You’re welcome to stay at my house as long as you don’t interrogate me.”
“We would never do such a thing,” Renee said, fluttering her lashes at her son.
“Oh, never you!” Dave hugged his father and mother good-bye then walked out the door before Kathy even made the move to get her jacket.
A little muddled she looked around. “Ah, Sophie, I guess Dave’s bringing me home. Renee, George, it was… umm… an interesting first meeting. I hope we can… ummm—”
“Don’t get nervous, honey.” George wrapped his lean arms around her then picked Kathy up clear off the floor in a hug. “We can’t wait for supper tomorrow night.”
“Supper?” she asked in confusion.
Chapter Seven
Dave slammed the door shut to his borrowed car as he waited for Kathy. He could only imagine what was going through Kathy’s head right now. Loser, criminal. God he hoped she didn’t quit the Lion. He didn’t want her to do that, they were just starting to get to know each other. She always talked about how nice she found him. What a good guy he was. He could see it now—her finding out he wasn’t this stand-up guy, and then wanting nothing to do with him. Isn’t that how it always happened? He would meet a woman he liked, and who liked him back, then his criminal record would be revealed. Mostly by accident. But sometimes, when it seemed as if it might be a serious relationship, he would confess. What a mistake that always turned into. Nonetheless Dave had promised himself that honesty was what he would live by, and if a woman couldn’t accept his past, then she couldn’t accept him.
Kathy slid into the passenger seat with her cell in her hand.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“Nothing.” Her reply was short and he could tell she was upset with whoever had been on the phone.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.” She turned to him with a smile. “Okay, boss, let’s go.”
He looked at her for a long moment, neither one saying anything to the other. “Well? You must have something to say to me after all of that,” he finally asked.
Kathy visibly cringed. “I’m sorry, Dave.”
Here it comes. The crash and disappointment. Just once, can’t I be wrong? “For what?” he asked.
“I’m sorry but your parents kinda scare me.”
He couldn’t deny how relieved he felt to hear her unexpected reaction. “They frighten me too.”
With a small smile and mesmerizing eyes, Kathy leaned toward him. “I think your mother scared Detective Owen, too.”
Leaning into her Dave could feel the sexual energy sparking in the air around them. He eyed her lips before looking into her eyes. “She can terrify the devil.”
“Absolutely,” Kathy whispered.
Their faces were so close. Dave caressed his nose to hers. “She likes you.”
“Really? How can you tell?” Kathy tipped her head ever so slightly up, and he accepted her invitation.
With his lips traveling along her jaw, he told her. “Ma would have focused on you instead to make sure you’re not going to break my heart.”
“Oh, Dave.” He tugged on her earlobe with his teeth. “I’m worried about mine.”
“Good.” Pulling back he gently touched his lips to hers. Slow, he reminded himself. Take your time. When he slid his tongue into her mouth Kathy’s body tightened under the arm he had wrapped around her. She fisted her fingers in his hair and tried to take them both deeper, wilder, but he wouldn’t allow it. Keeping the kiss gentle he took his time tasting, all the while memorizing the smooth texture of her lips. “You’re so beautiful, Kathy,” he said, against her mouth.
“Come inside.”
He sat back to look at the woman he hoped would someday be his. He’d known from the instant they met in the Lion’s manager’s office when Sophie had worked there. Kathy was the kind of woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. But he couldn’t tell her, not yet. Not when there were still things she needed to know about him and him about her.
He pulled into her apartment building parking lot then turned to her. “You and I… the first time we make love, it’s going to be special. Not just a grope fest.”
“There’s nothing wrong with those.” Kathy teased with a hand caressing up his thigh.
“Nope, there isn’t as long as you’re both getting something great out of it.” He took her hand in his and started to gently rub his thumb over the back of it. “I want to make you squirm and hear you scream out my name. I don’t want the chance to catc
h our breath—no downtime, only passion.” He began to put more pressure on the friction of her thumb pad. “When you come that first time, I want it in my mouth. My God, Kathy, I can’t even get close to telling you how much I need you because I’m so overwhelmed by you.”
“Oh, Jesus,” she whispered. “Tell me more. Tell me how.”
“I want to take you in every position possible with long slow strokes.” His eyes burned into hers, and when he moved his hand under her skirt he found her moist. Gently he glided his middle finger in small circles over the dampness when he heard her breath shutter then gasp as he applied pressure. “I’d love to taste you now.” He brought his hand to his mouth and sucked on the finger that he just teased her with.
“Dave?” Her body slithered lower in her seat, her eyes wide and filled with passion.
“Yes?”
“I feel like I’m going to explode. Pleasssse,” she pleaded.
“Please what?”
“Come inside.”
Hopping out of the car, they both raced to her apartment door. Dave stood behind her, his hands on her breasts, as she unlocked it. He then pushed her inside, and flung her around so she faced the closed door.
Gliding his hands up her sides and then her arms, he brought them above her head and cuffed them there with one hand.
“The things I’ve dreamed about doing to you,” he whispered. Leisurely he unzipped her skirt and let it float to the floor. “Nice,” he told her while tracing the V-string panties with a finger. “I’d always imagined you wore something like this. Keep your hands up.”
Letting go, Dave lifted her shirt while letting one finger from each hand trail along her skin. Her body arched, trying to escape the gentle touch.
“I can’t decide if that tickles or not,” she told him, giggling breathlessly.
With her shirt gone, he began tracing the tops of her breasts. “What do you feel?”