Promise Her

by Mitzi Pool Bridges

  She’d loved him too long. If only he could see how they belonged together. But she knew now that he never would. Living in the same house all this time only verified it. She’d never get commitment-phobic Douglas to admit they would be good together.

  She had to tell TJ. And she had to get over the fantasy that Douglas would fall in love with her and they would live happily ever after.

  Except he wasn’t a fantasy. He was real. He was the man she wanted in her life forever, the man she wanted to be the father of her children.

  Choking back tears, she determined again to get over him. There was no other choice.

  Picking up the phone, she dialed. TJ answered on the first ring.

  “Did I wake you?”

  “Are you kidding? Your godson doesn’t let me sleep past six. Is something wrong?”

  “Why do you think anything’s wrong?”

  “Because you don’t sound like yourself. Is Douglas treating you okay? Is he feeding you? Are you getting enough rest?”

  Lisa put the phone to her chest and took a deep breath.

  “Answer me, Lisa or I’m on my way over there.”

  “I’m not at Douglas’ anymore.”

  “What!”

  “I came home.”

  Big gasp. “You’re not alone are you? Do I have to send Max over? Or Darin? Why did you leave? Did Douglas do something? If he did, brother or not, he’ll answer to me. I haven’t forgotten my karate.”

  “Evan brought me home last night because I couldn’t take another minute of Douglas treating me the same way he treats you. I want more, TJ. You know that. My heart is broken, but I have to face reality. I’m not the woman for Douglas. I never will be.”

  “Maybe you’re giving up too soon.”

  “You weren’t there. You didn’t hear his women calling day and night—didn’t hear him telling them how he wasn’t available because he was taking care of his little sister. No. I’ve had enough.”

  She wouldn’t tell TJ about the kiss. It was too personal. Besides, it was all she’d ever have to remember him by.

  “I’m so sorry, Lisa. There’s nothing I’d like more than to have you as my real sister.”

  “Same here.” Lisa sighed, fighting tears that threatened again. “Reality sucks.”

  “I’ll do all I can to help. Just tell me what. Do you want me to talk to him? I’d like to box his ears, make him see what a jewel you are.”

  “You know better.”

  “I know. Can’t help how I feel, though. You know how much I love you—how much the family does.”

  “That’s part of the problem, isn’t it? But don’t worry. I’ll put on a happy face when we get together. No one will know my heart’s broken. Or why. Maybe I’m just being selfish.”

  “Don’t be silly. You’re a sensible woman who fell in love with the wrong man. You’re not the first, you know.”

  Nor would she be the last. But that didn’t diminish the hurt.

  “Okay then, let’s change the subject. How do you feel? Your wounds, I mean.”

  “I’m all shades of black, blue, green, purple, and yellow, but I don’t hurt so much anymore.”

  “Good. I’ll see you later today. I know you need groceries.”

  “I’ll get Evan to pick some up. We have to go out anyway.”

  “No way, Lisa. You can’t expose yourself to a killer. It’s too dangerous.”

  “Evan will protect me. Since the cops still think I’m guilty, I’m going to have to find the killer. I can’t do that sitting around here watching TV now can I?”

  “The cops are nuts.”

  “I know that and you know that. What I don’t know is how to make HPD look in another direction.”

  “Stay put. Max and I will be there soon.”

  “No. I mean it. I was out and about most of yesterday and I did fine. Today, I’m going to check out Tempest’s home when she was a kid, try to find out something about her twin. It won’t be strenuous. Besides, do you know a better investigator?”

  TJ sputtered and fussed a while, but eventually gave up.

  Lisa took a shower, put on a warm robe and went to the kitchen where Evan had a pot of coffee going.

  She’d never realized before now how small her kitchen was. Douglas’ was large enough for an island and a breakfast nook. Plus all those cabinets. She had a tiny space big enough for one. A family would be comfortable at Douglas’.

  But would Douglas ever have a family?

  Perhaps he’d wander from woman to woman the rest of his life while the family, including her, watched in the background.

  She didn’t want to think such thoughts and turned to Evan. He had pushed back a couple of chairs and was on the floor in the living area doing push-ups in a pair of running shorts and nothing else.

  Tall, with his blond Marine haircut and those penetrating dark eyes, he was quite a hunk. The muscles didn’t hurt a bit.

  Too bad she wasn’t in the market for any hunk except the one she'd walked out on last night.

  “How did you sleep?” she asked.

  “Fair. Your couch isn’t as bad as some I’ve slept on,” he huffed out between breaths as he continued exercising.

  “Sorry I don’t have another bed, Evan.”

  “Call me Ev. All my friends do. And don’t worry about the sleeping arrangements. I’ve had worse.”

  She couldn’t help but smile. Ev, indeed.

  He puffed in and out, breathing in sync with the push-ups.

  She had to admit those rippling muscles were awesome. When he finished the push-ups, he rolled to his back, started in on crunches. His abs should be photographed and put in a health magazine.

  “Do you do this every day?”

  He was counting and breathing, but managed an answer. “Almost.”

  She poured a mug of coffee and went to sit down just as the doorbell rang. Ev was on his feet in less than a second, his gun in hand. He motioned her out of the room and was at the door faster than she could open her mouth to ask who was there.

  The bell rang again and again. Impatient. Ev waited until her bedroom door shut before checking the peephole.

  Lisa waited a second, then opened the door wide enough to see who was there.

  Ev laid his gun on the table by the door, smiled.

  Lisa put a hand over her mouth when the door opened and Douglas stepped in. He was madder than one of those bulls Mike rode during the rodeo.

  Unable to hear what was said, she shut the door, crept into the bathroom and checked herself in the mirror. Her hair was a tangled mess. Probably from tossing and turning for hours after she got home. She ran a brush through it, grabbed her make-up and did a quick one-minute job before coming to her senses. What was she doing? Douglas had seen her looking worse.

  Quickly, she stepped into jeans, pulled a T-shirt over her head and, looking in the mirror, fluffed her hair. Oops. No bra. Would have to do. No time.

  The door flew open and Douglas stood there, a scowl on his face.

  Her insides turned to jelly at the sight of him, but she wouldn’t let him know it.

  “Good morning,” she said with a frown. “Didn’t you see my note?

  “I read the note. You’re supposed to stay with me. Not go running off in the middle of the night.”

  She shrugged. “Knew you’d put up a fuss. I’m well enough to stay here now. Especially with Ev as my bodyguard. You can go home and get your life back. I’m fine.”

  “Not going to happen, Lisa.”

  Yes it was. She could be as stubborn as he was. If need be—more so.

  Breakfast, then?”

  The scowl went deeper. He was hanging onto his composure by a thread. This was his out, but he didn’t seem to want to take it. Family commitments could be a bitch sometimes.

  “We haven’t had time to eat. Ev has been exercising.”

  She managed to ease past him and lead the way to the kitchen. She felt Douglas’ hot breath on her neck when she opened the refrigerator a
nd did her best to keep her composure.

  Her grocery supply was limited to say the least. “I have milk. Nope. Outdated. No eggs or bread, so toast is out.” She opened the small freezer. “Frozen orange juice and bagels. How does that sound?”

  “I’ll help,” Ev said. Still damp from his workout, he moved into the small kitchen. She stole a quick glance at Douglas. Green eyes sparked daggers, first at Ev, then at her.

  "Why don’t you take a shower, Ev? I’ll get this started.”

  He gave Douglas a nod as he passed.

  Ev? Since when? Why the hell isn’t he wearing clothes? I’m having a talk with Max about this guy. How can you trust someone who answers the door barefoot and in his underwear?

  His gaze raked Lisa. She didn’t act one iota different today than any other day

  “I forgot, Douglas. Do you like cream cheese on your bagel or—” she opened the fridge again “—I have strawberry jam.”

  That did it. He stalked over, took the jam out of her hand, slammed it on the cabinet. “What kind of game are you playing, Lisa? It isn’t like you to take off in the middle of the night. I want to know why? If it’s about that kiss, I apologize. I wouldn’t jeopardize our relationship for anything.”

  She shook her head. “Nothing like that. You can stop growling now. It’s too early and I’m not in the mood.”

  “I’m not in the mood for games,” he growled again, trying to steady his voice. “You know what a serious position you’re in. I can’t help you if you aren’t with me.”

  “Ev will be with me. You’re free now to do your own thing. I’ll call Mom later and tell her what a good job you did. That I’m better now.”

  She turned back to the counter and poured three glasses of juice. “Put these on the table while I get coffee.”

  She flashed him that Lisa Kane smile and he went weak in the knees.

  Dammit to hell. He felt his face flush with heat as blue eyes looked at him with absolute composure. As if they were discussing the weather.

  Lisa had never struck him as being cold and unemotional. Rather, he’d always thought of her as warm and caring and involved in everything around her.

  “Lisa?” He stepped toward her, determined to talk.

  “Ev. You’re just in time,” she spoke over his shoulder. “Do you like your bagel with jam?” She spread some neatly on each slice, put them on a plate and took it to the table. She did the same for herself. “How about you, Douglas?”

  “I’ll have coffee.”

  He poured a cup, whirled on his heel and went to the living room. He was going to kill Evan Drury.

  Lisa’s soft laugh made Douglas want to go in there, grab her up and take her home with him.

  He wasn’t acting at all like himself and knew it. Making a concerted effort to pull himself together, he vowed to send Evan home and get this settled with Lisa.

  One kiss and he was so confused he didn’t know which end was up.

  Evan chuckled at something Lisa said.

  Douglas’ hands clenched into fists.

  Douglas was furious. Probably mad because she’d come home. Under the circumstances, this was where she should be, not at his house pining over his every word, hoping for what would never be.

  Lisa tried to eat. Couldn’t. Every bite stuck in her throat. She couldn’t choke it down with a gallon of coffee.

  Instead, she sat there trying to stay interested in what Ev was saying. It wasn’t easy when her mind was on the man in the other room whose anger was evident in his stance, in every look, in the way he gripped his coffee mug. She'd never thought he’d have this reaction. What she'd thought was he’d be glad to get back to his women friends and his work.

  “You’re a lot better today,” Ev said, getting up to get another cup of coffee.

  “I’m great.” Lie. She was far from great. But the sooner they could solve the mystery of who killed Tempest and why, the better.

  “Are we sticking to the plan?” Douglas asked from the doorway.

  “You don’t have to come with us today, Douglas. Ev and I can take care of it. I know what I’m doing and Ev’s a great bodyguard.”

  “Not going to happen,” he said through gritted teeth.

  “This is your last chance for a free day.”

  “Just. Get. Ready.”

  “Five minutes.”

  True to her word, five minutes later, she had on a jacket, grabbed her laptop, and was ready to leave.

  “I’ll call when we need your services again, Evan,” Douglas said stiffly as he took her arm.

  “Ev is coming with us. We need him now more than ever.” Understatement. She had no intention of answering the questions Douglas was sure to pound her with. It was hard for her to lie, and there was no way to tell the truth. “I think the two of us can handle knocking on a few doors. If anyone tries anything, Ev has a gun. You don’t. Let’s go. We’re wasting time. I’m anxious to find out what we can about Tempest’s twin.”

  His hand tightened on her arm.

  “Really Douglas. Go back to work. Ev is good at what he does.”

  “I’ll bet.”

  He wasn’t buying it, and edged them to his SUV. Once there, Douglas tried to steer her into the front seat. Lisa slipped into the back, waved Ev to the front. “I have work to do. You guys can chat while I work.”

  With that, she opened her laptop and contacted Bernie Peters at AAF.

  Have you found anything on Storm Collier? We need all the help we can get.

  He responded. Nothing. Will keep trying.

  She signed off, checked the Internet again for more info on the twins, and on Harold Wheatley. But found nothing she hadn’t accessed before.

  There has to be something.

  She looked up from the laptop, saw Douglas looking at her in the rearview mirror. “I hope we find someone today who can tell us something about Storm. I’m coming up empty.”

  He went back to his driving.

  Total silence from the front seat.

  She shrugged and went back to the Net.

  Chapter Twenty

  The neighborhood was rather run-down; no brick homes, no professionally manicured lawns, just simple, small three bedroom two-bath starter homes.

  “Can’t see the wealthy Colliers living here,” Ev said.

  “They didn’t have money in the beginning. They lived here early on, when the twins were babies,” Lisa reminded him.

  She looked out the car window at the house where the twins were born and spent their early years. “Not much to look at.”

  “Nope,” Ev agreed. “Guess we’d better get started.”

  “Doubt anyone around here will remember them,” Douglas said as he stepped out of the SUV.

  Although Lisa thought he might be right, they didn’t have anything else to go on and she had a feeling about those early years. And Storm. “We have to try.”

  “Where do you want to start?” Ev asked.

  “The Colliers lived in the house on the corner. Why don’t you take the houses across the street?” Douglas said. “Lisa and I will start with their former house and go from there.”

  “Sorry. I was hired to protect Lisa. I can’t from across the street.”

  Lisa wanted to cheer. But Douglas gave him a look that spelled out he was in charge. Just like that, Ev started across the street. She watched as he knocked on the first door.

  “Let’s go,” Lisa said, annoyed by Douglas’ skill at intimidation. Guess it went with his job.

  “We need to talk.”

  “Not now, Douglas. We have a job to do.”

  “Later, then.”

  His jaw was clenched, his green eyes bright with controlled anger. Was he upset because she'd left without telling him? About how the family would react? Or about the kiss? No doubt he felt the need to apologize. It wasn’t a brotherly kiss. He had to know that.

  Lisa shrugged. She wouldn’t worry about it now. She had work to do.

  She started down the cracked sidewalk t
o the house where the Colliers once lived. Knocking on the sagging screen door, she glanced around. Ev had moved to the second house, was gesturing with his hands. She prayed they’d come up with something. They really needed to find Storm, then determine whether she was involved in her sister’s death. Or not.

  Lisa had talked to Darin last night. He’d told her since the authorities couldn’t find anything on Storm, they figured she was either dead or out of the country. Which meant they weren’t putting any effort into finding her.

  Lisa didn’t believe any of it. She was sure Storm was here and involved in the case.

  The door opened and a stooped, gray-haired man glared at them. “Not buying.”

  “Nothing like that.” Lisa smiled her best investigator smile. “We just want a little information. I promise not to take more than a minute of your time.”

  “Well, now.” He smiled back.

  “A family by the name of Collier once lived here. Do you know anything about them?” Lisa asked.

  “Nope.”

  “Nothing?” Douglas ventured. “They had twin daughters, did you ever see them?”

  The man started to shut the door.

  “It’s important,” Lisa said. “A matter of life and death.” Hers if she didn’t find who killed Tempest.

  He turned back. “I bought the place from them in the late eighties. They brought the girls to the signing. Haven’t seen them since.”

  “Were they identical?” Lisa asked.

  The old man shrugged. “They were dressed alike, were the same size. One sat on her mom’s lap, the other on her dad’s. Don’t like kids, so I didn’t pay them any mind.”

  “Do you remember anything else?” Douglas asked.

  “Nope. Never saw them again.”

  They thanked him and left.

  “If they looked alike, my theory holds up. Storm pretended to be her sister to get her hands on the trust money.”

  “It’s a likely scenario,” Douglas agreed. “But where is she now?”