Exposed in Darkness

by Heather Sunseri

  I took a gulp of wine, letting the sweet taste slide down my throat. “You see a lot.”

  “You interest me. I pay attention.”

  “And your look into my past didn’t give you all the information you needed to make that ‘assessment’?” Just thinking about this megalomaniac having the nerve to have me checked out made the muscles in my neck and back start to return to normal. I realized that despite the candles and the wine, I was here because I needed information.

  He smiled, set his wine back on the table, and leaned forward. He wanted to keep me off balance. I was beginning to recognize this. “Yes, I had you checked out. As I would any employee or business associate who entered my realm.”

  “You’re saying you didn’t look into my past until I became an employee?”

  He chuckled. “Actually, I asked Maggie to find out who you were the night of the Bluegrass Derby kickoff party. Like I said, you interest me. And I was intrigued from the moment I met you.”

  “So you know that I was with the FBI, and you know that I left about a year ago. What else do you know?” I ran my finger around the rim of the wine glass, unable to make eye contact.

  “That you were once the governor’s sister-in-law. But that you aren’t anymore.”

  I turned away from Declan, toward the horses in the field. I sensed him shift beside me, and when his fingers touched my cheek and turned my face back to him, I miraculously didn’t flinch. I searched his eyes.

  “I didn’t invade your privacy beyond that,” he said. “Maggie might have more information, which she would have filed away in a secure file, but I only asked for enough to make sure you weren’t a threat to me or anyone around me. I decided shortly after we met that I would find out for myself why you have that sad look in your eyes. And you’ll tell me when you’re ready. Until then, I just want to get to know you. That’s all. No pressure.”

  “No pressure, huh?” I asked. “You seemed so sure you would have me in your bed the other night.”

  “I still am. Let’s eat. I’ll let you ask me the questions about the investigation that I know you’re dying to ask.”

  “And you’ll answer straight?”

  “I already told you. I won’t lie to you.”

  “Why were you at the B&B this morning?” I asked before I took a bite of pasta. The creamy, buttery farfalle pasta, paired with lightly grilled vegetables and skewers of shrimp, was as perfect as any I’d had in a restaurant.

  “I had a meeting at the boarding school in Midland. I stopped by Julep Hill to get coffee. For the sake of full disclosure, I was hoping to see you.”

  I paused mid-chew and narrowed my eyes at him. “Why?”

  He angled his head. “I thought we already covered this. You interest me. Simple as that. No other reason.”

  I set my fork down and took a drink of wine while I processed that. “What is your relationship with the governor?”

  “We’re friends. We play tennis together once a week when the weather allows.”

  “Do you donate money to his political causes?”

  “Some of them.”

  “Do you agree with everything he’s doing in Kentucky?”

  A grin touched the corners of his lips. “No, but when does anyone agree with every position of a politician?”

  “What’s your position on the Kentucky Heritage Economic Development Act?”

  “I’m a big supporter of the equine and bourbon industries, as I have business in both. This bill would allow the owners in both industries to provide more jobs and more benefits to workers. It would also allow for increased growth in tourism surrounding both industries.”

  “Some say this bill would mostly place more Kentucky workers in low-wage jobs, therefore making the rich richer and the poor poorer.”

  He reached for his wine and drank. “The first job I ever held was on a wheat farm in Essex, England. I worked for barely enough wages to feed myself. My fringe benefit was being provided lodging, a single room inside a work shed of one of the farm’s barns. I basically had a cot to sleep on and the most basic of washrooms.” He set his now empty glass in front of him and seemed to contemplate the miniature puddle of dark red wine left at the bottom. His eyes lifted, met my stare. “I was sometimes hungry and more often cold, but I made it work because that farmer gave me something I couldn’t get anywhere else.”

  I didn’t take my eyes off of his. He had me. “What’s that?”

  “I learned more from this simple farmer than any university could teach me. I learned how to work. And I learned how to take the knowledge I was getting from university and apply it to the business I wanted to start.”

  “The business of fertilizer.”

  “That’s right. I knew I wanted to produce an organic fertilizer and a pesticide that was safe for the environment.”

  “And that’s why you studied… what? Farming? Agri-science?”

  “Among other things. And then, after university, I went to business school so that I could build a successful business and get that product in many hands around the world.”

  “You make it sound like you didn’t do any of that for money.”

  His lips curled into a much larger grin. “I will never apologize for being rich. I worked hard for it. But I also believe in helping others get their start as well. And I think the economic development bill will provide a good start for a lot of Kentuckians.”

  “Did you know the lieutenant governor?”

  “We’d met a few times. But no, I didn’t know her well.” He reached for the bottle of wine and lifted it. “More?”

  I looked at my empty wine glass and pondered. “I better not,” I said, though I really wanted another glass.

  “I’ll make sure you get home safely and that your car is there in the morning—assuming you’re still planning to show up for work in the morning.”

  He knew I was. The files from Mike and Carlos had indicated that several of the caterer’s servers the night of the kickoff party were also employees of Gallagher’s Stables and Kensington Race Track—and I was sure that was significant, though I didn’t yet know how. I met Declan’s eyes and nodded. “If I have a headache in the morning, I’m blaming you.”

  He poured the wine. “Half a glass, then. You’ll be riding A Fool’s Errand and On Liam’s Watch, and I have every intention of being in the winner’s circle the second Saturday in May, so I need you at your best.”

  “Confident,” I observed.

  “Mmm,” he said. “You’re an excellent rider. And you bring me luck.”

  There was that superstition that came with many thoroughbred horse owners. I’d seen it many times before, including in my granddad, during the days when he frequented the winner’s circle.

  “How did you become so skilled?” he asked.

  I hesitated, assessed the risk of giving this man more details about my past—a look into my personal life. “My granddad was an excellent horseman.”

  “Was?”

  “He’s retired now. My gram won’t allow him to ride anymore. Now, he’s an excellent handicapper.” I smiled just thinking of my grandparents.

  “And he taught you to ride?”

  “He taught me everything I know about the thoroughbred horse business.”

  “Why didn’t you carry on the family tradition? Stay in the business?”

  “I wanted to, but Granddad encouraged me to go to college and learn something else. He said if I still wanted to go into the horse business when I was out, he’d help me in any way he could.”

  “What changed?”

  “I discovered that I was interested in other things. My curiosity about forensics, crime, and justice took over.”

  “What about your parents? Where were they when all these decisions were being made?”

  “They were around.” I smiled, angled my head. “How did this become about me?” I asked, realizing that he had gotten me to relax enough to talk about myself, something I didn’t do often.

  “It�
�s a talent I have.” He stood. “Grab your wine. Let’s take a walk.”

  We walked along the pool’s edge to a path that led to the fence separating us from the horses I’d seen earlier. The sun was just starting to set. A breeze moved through my loose silk blouse, giving me a slight chill.

  He grabbed my wine from me. “Climb up.”

  Beside one of the posts, I climbed, threw my legs over one at a time, and sat atop the fence, facing the sunset. After handing me the two wine glasses, Declan followed.

  “This is a beautiful place you’ve got here.” Strands of hair blew forward across my face. I passed Declan his wine, then pushed the strands back, tucking them behind my ears.

  “This is a million-dollar view, right here.” His tone held a sense of amazement.

  “You sound like maybe you think you’re undeserving of this view.”

  “Do I? I don’t mean to. I’m grateful for it. Like I said, I worked hard for everything I have. But I also know it could all be taken away.”

  I studied his profile and, for a brief moment, saw a longing in his gaze. As if something was missing in his life, and as if that missing thing was out there hiding in the sunset.

  He turned to me and caught me staring. I quickly looked away. He moved his leg just slightly, letting it brush against mine. We watched the sun set in silence, taking with it the light of day.

  The silence stretched between us. Not uncomfortably, but enough that I flinched slightly when he spoke again.

  “Who tipped you off that the coffee had been contaminated?”

  “What?” I turned to him, thrown off by the subject change.

  “You were terrified when you arrived at the B&B this morning, and I nearly stopped breathing when you were almost hit by that car. Who told you the coffee had been poisoned?”

  “A confidential source called me.”

  When he realized he wasn’t going to get any more from me, he helped me climb down, and we made our way back toward the house. We were halfway up the walk, along the pool’s edge again, when he stopped me with a touch to my arm. “Stay here tonight,” he said.

  I drew back, dangerously close to the swimming pool, my eyes wide with surprise.

  “Not like that. Not to sleep with me. Though the look on your face right now is doing nothing for my ego.” He slipped his hand to my cheek, then the back of my neck. “I feel the need to make you safe. You were terrified this morning. I’m guessing that fear has everything to do with whoever called you to give you that warning.”

  “Safe…” I whispered, repeating his word. Did I need to explain to him how proficient I was with a handgun? I looked down at the water at my feet; a small waterfall built into the landscaping on the far side sent ripples across the surface.

  “I agreed to keep your identity secret. But someone dangerous obviously knows who you are and where you’re staying. I can’t imagine that you give your phone number out freely, yet someone managed to call you to tell you there was poison in the coffee at Carrie Anne’s.”

  “I can take care of myself, Declan.”

  “I’m nearly positive you can handle yourself against just about anything during daylight—but in the middle of the night? In a cottage behind the B&B that has about as much security as a public park? Why take the chance?” He moved closer, moved his hand to my cheek again. “I know you’re not ready for what I want. I know we haven’t known each other long. I can be patient, but I need to know you’re safe. There’s something about you that stirs something in me—something I haven’t known in way too long.”

  I covered his hand with mine. “Declan… I might not ever be ready. You have to understand—”

  “I understand that you’re here to do a job. You’ll tell me more when you’re ready. Until then, I have the space. I live in this big house all by myself. Most of the time, anyway.”

  “And you think that by wining and dining me—literally—I’ll just let you take care of me? Let you get to know me?”

  “This isn’t about taking care of you. Not completely.” He moved close, and the smell of him drew me even closer. He stared down, pinning me with an intense gaze. “There’s a sadness in your eyes, Brooke. And this morning, your ‘source’ led you directly into oncoming traffic.” He rubbed his thumb against my cheek, and I found myself leaning into the touch, closing my eyes. Because he was right. No one had ever seen inside my head so clearly. “You’d be safer working here.”

  “You’re a person of interest in this case,” I said. “I’m crossing the line simply by being here tonight.”

  His thumb stopped mid-stroke. When I opened my eyes, his face was close. I swallowed hard.

  Without warning, his lips were on mine. They were soft yet insistent, and tasted of wine. His tongue ran across my lower lip, and his hand went to the small of my back, fisting the fabric of my blouse.

  No longer able to control my own actions, I found my arm snaking around his neck, my hand slipping into his thick, Irish hair. A shudder moved through my body, and he brought my body even closer, if that was even possible.

  I tried to pull back, but his arms around me only tightened. His fingers slipped ever so slightly beneath the hem of my blouse, meeting bare skin at my waist.

  He released the kiss; his lips moved along my cheek and rested against my ear. “Stay here tonight,” he said again.

  I opened my mouth to answer when a deep male voice broke through the night air.

  “What do we have here?”

  Declan released me, and he and I turned abruptly toward the house to find Aidan Gallagher walking out onto the back patio. As I pivoted, I stepped halfway off the lip of the pool and lost my footing. Before Declan could stop what was happening, I was falling backward.

  My arms flew out in front of me, grasping for anything that would stop me from landing…

  … in the deep end of Declan’s swimming pool.

  Chapter 15

  Declan

  It happened in slow motion. Brooke lost her footing. When I reached for her, our hands knocked against each other, but I was unable to grab her in time. She landed in my swimming pool with a huge splash.

  I turned and glared at Aidan. “What the hell, man?”

  “I was hungry. Thought you might be cooking tonight.” He shrugged. I wanted to punch him.

  Brooke surfaced. And if fire could shoot out of eyes, I’d have melted in a pool of my own making. I squatted down and reached out a hand to her. She stared at it, and I could tell by the way she analyzed it, she’d have done anything else to get out of her current predicament if she’d had a choice.

  She reached under the water, took off her shoes, and tossed them one by one onto the deck beside the pool.

  “Those look expensive,” I said, noting the Miu Miu brand.

  She angled her head, but had yet to speak.

  Finally, she slipped her fingers into mine and let me pull her from the water. Her hair was slicked back, giving me full exposure to her beautiful brown eyes. Her blouse clung to her body, revealing every luscious curve of her breasts, waist, and hips. Under any other set of circumstances, I would have offered to get her out of her wet clothes, but I knew our potential relationship was already on unsteady footing.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, placing a firm hand at her waist.

  “Fine.”

  In all my years of getting to know women, I had learned that when a lady said “fine” she meant anything but.

  “Let’s get you a towel.” I led her away from the pool and past Aidan.

  She didn’t even look at him as we passed. I gave him a look of warning that dared him to say a single word.

  While she dripped on my living room floor, I ran to the downstairs guest bath and returned with an oversized bath towel. She wrung out her hair into the towel, then allowed me to drape the towel around her.

  “I’m terribly sorry,” I said.

  She lifted her face to look at me, and after several beats, her lips spread in a wide grin. “Aidan owes me
a new silk blouse and a pair of five-hundred-dollar shoes.”

  “Those shoes cost five hundred bucks?”

  “I didn’t pay that for them. I found them for forty dollars at a consignment shop. The owner had no idea what she had on her shelf. But to find them new…”

  “Five hundred dollars.” I laughed. Then, gripping the towel, I pulled her close again. “I’m just sorry Aidan interrupted the moment we were having. I’ll gladly purchase a closet full of Miu Mius and silk blouses if we can return to that moment.”

  Her expression faltered. “Declan, it’s a mistake for us—”

  “The hell it is. And don’t even bother telling me it won’t happen again. You and I both know that’s not true.”

  She looked away. “I have to go.”

  I ran my hands along her hair and framed her face. “Don’t go. You can take a warm shower upstairs. Let me get you some dry clothes.” But I knew the moment was lost.

  For now.

  As I watched Brooke drive away, I remembered how she had trembled in my hands, how she had reacted to my touch. To my kiss. She had liked the way my lips felt on hers. I knew this wasn’t the last I’d seen of Brooke Fairfax.

  I dialed David. He answered on the first ring.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Please run into Midland and make sure Miss Fairfax makes it safely to her cottage at Carrie Anne’s. Message me once she’s inside.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  With Brooke’s taillights out of sight, I turned and headed back to the patio. When I got there, I found Aidan enjoying the pie that had been meant for Brooke and me.

  “That’s not your pie.”

  “No, but it’s really good. Where’d you get it?”

  “Carrie Anne.” I sank down in a chair beside him. “You’ve got shitty timing.”

  He picked up a fork and handed it to me. “Have some pie.”

  I shoved his hand away. “You’re such an arse!”