“Call me Chip, Winnie,” he said.
Winnie nodded, actually blushing. Lana shook her head. Why had she never noticed Chip’s effect on women before?
“We were looking at the garage,” Winnie said. “Let’s retrace our steps and go through the house.”
Perhaps sensing that her clients needed a private moment, Winnie hurried into the laundry room.
“I’m glad you came,” Lana told Chip.
“I wasn’t sure I would,” he said.
“Does this mean you’re on board with the plan?”
Chip’s mouth tightened. “Let me look at the place first.”
“Fair enough,” she said.
When they entered the laundry room, Chip’s gaze zeroed in on the washer and dryer, a feature she was beyond pleased about. No more lugging her clothes down to the first-floor utility room. She’d never considered how much more convenient a single-family house would be over an apartment, but washday ease was a definite plus for moving. Chip already had that convenience at home. It was even possible his mother still washed all his clothing. That thought made her pause.
While Winnie walked Chip through the rest of the house, Lana kept shooting him glances to gauge his reaction. He remained stone-faced. When finished, they gathered in the kitchen, where the Realtor removed a lease from a file folder lying on the counter.
“It’s a standard one-year lease,” she said, handing the stapled papers to Chip. “Except my owner is very motivated to sell, so he’s offered to let the entire year’s lease go toward a down payment.”
“That’s generous,” Chip said, lowering his gaze to read the document.
Winnie handed another lease to Lana, and she also glanced down. She started to read, but the language soon grew complicated with lessors and lessees, this clause and that one. Chip was the lawyer. She’d let him decide if the terms were okay.
She cut him a sideways glance, trying to get him to meet her gaze. But he continued to examine the document.
“You could move in immediately,” Winnie said. “Obviously the house is vacant, and we can start the lease on any date you want.”
“Is there any chance we could shorten the lease?” Chip asked.
“How long?” Winnie asked.
“Three months?”
Winnie hesitated. “I’d have to ask my client.”
“I’m a law student,” Chip said, “and a year is a long commitment.”
“I understand,” Winnie said.
At a loud knock on the front door, Winnie hurried to respond. “That must be my one o’clock,” she said. “They’re looking to buy.”
She flung open the door, and a well-dressed man and woman stood on the threshold. Lana decided they’d come directly from church.
“You must be the Rivenbarks,” Winnie said.
Lana sighed, wondering if this couple would move in instead of her and Chip. So much for her beautiful plan. But he was right, a year was a long time for him to commit. Maybe she could move in on her own. Her sister would help with the double rent for a few months.
As introductions were made at the door, Lana nudged Chip to get his attention. “Have you seen enough?” she asked.
Chip nodded.
“We might as well go,” she said.
They said their goodbyes to Winnie and exited the house just in time to witness Gary Shotwell, dressed in ragged cutoffs and a rumpled aqua-colored Dolphins T-shirt, bend over to pick up his morning paper.
She sucked in a breath. Would he notice them?
She looked Chip’s way and raised her eyebrows. Game on.
“Chip?” Gary yelled across the yards. “Lana?”
She grabbed Chip’s hand and gave his fingers a little squeeze. She felt his gaze on her face but didn’t look at him.
“Hey, Gary,” she said. “Thanks for telling Chip about this house.”
Moving toward them, Gary scratched his unshaven chin, his gaze fixed on their joined hands.
“Actually, I noticed the sign when I visited last week,” Chip said. “Gary didn’t tell me.”
“Oh, my mistake,” Lana said.
Gary blinked, looking from one to the other. “So, you guys are a couple now?”
“Isn’t it wonderful? I don’t know why we waited so long.” Lana wrapped her arm around Chip’s waist and gave him a quick pinch. He stiffened, and she hoped Gary didn’t notice.
What was wrong with Chip? He needed to wake up and help her convince Gary they were truly together. She intended to rent this house with or without him as a roommate.
She raised to her toes and kissed his cheek, allowing her a tantalizing whiff of his aftershave. He swiveled his head and their gazes locked. Lord, but his eyes were blue.
“So, you’re moving into the Jensen place?” Gary asked.
“We haven’t decided,” Chip said, staring down at Lana.
“We’re still thinking about it,” Lana replied. “Aren’t we, hon?” She searched Chip’s face, but found no clue to his thoughts.
“Yeah, we’re thinking about it,” Chip said.
When he dropped a hand to her shoulder and gave a quick squeeze, Lana heaved a sigh of relief. Finally he was paying attention.
“I’m still reviewing the lease,” Chip added.
“He’s the lawyer,” Lana said, wishing she could interpret Chip’s mood.
“How would you feel about us moving in next door?” Chip asked.
Lana held her breath, wishing he hadn’t asked.
What if Gary objected?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHIP EYED GARY, waiting for him to answer his question. Lana pinched him again, but he ignored her. She considered herself a tough cop, but Gary was one bulked-up dude. He’d be a serious adversary for anyone, male or female.
“Why the hell should I care?” Gary asked with a shrug.
Chip felt Lana relax.
“I thought I should run the idea by you first, considering how you did me such a solid with that recommendation for ADS,” Chip said.
“Hell, anybody’d be better than old man Jensen,” Gary said.
“Why? Did he make a lot of noise late at night?” Lana asked.
“Nah, he went to bed at nine every night. But he was a nosy jerk, always poking around in my business.”
“Oh,” Lana said. “Good riddance, then.”
“This is a nice neighborhood,” Gary said with an approving glance around him. “It’s convenient to most expressways. There’s a grocery and a pharmacy two blocks away. You already know it’s not too far from the university campus.” He nodded. “You guys would like it here.”
“Thanks, Gary,” Lana said, “because this place is perfect for us.”
“It is, isn’t it, hon?” Chip gave Lana another quick squeeze, and she gazed at him with a huge smile.
“No problemo,” Gary said. “Listen, I’d invite you guys in, but I’m late for an appointment.”
Chip nodded. That sounded like a lie. Or an excuse to keep them out of his house. Maybe he didn’t want them to see new holes in his walls.
“We have to go, anyway,” Lana said. “But thanks.”
“Yeah, you’ve probably got more places to check out,” Gary said. “Later.” He lifted his hand in farewell and moved away.
Chip waited until Gary had entered his home before he released Lana.
“Do you think he bought us as a couple?” she asked.
“Yeah, I do,” Chip said.
“I’m going to rent this house even if I have to do it alone,” she told him.
Chip nodded. He’d figured that much out when she’d kissed him. He’d been surprised by her move, which left him wanting far more than a friendly peck on the cheek.
“If we do move in together,” Chip said, “we can’t behave like we’re mere frien
ds, or Gary will get suspicious.”
“I know that,” she said.
“Do you?” Chip asked.
“Of course.” She narrowed her eyes. “Is that going to be a problem for you? You might have to kiss me on occasion to make it look real.”
Chip dropped his gaze to Lana’s very kissable mouth. “On the lips?” he asked softly.
She nodded, looking uncertain.
“Oh, I think I can manage that,” he said. “So, you’re really going to do this even if I don’t?”
She lifted her chin. “Yes.”
Chip stared at the house she wanted to rent. Typical Lana Lettino behavior. Once she got an idea in her head, she was like a pit bull and wouldn’t let it go. No matter how impulsive the plan. Had she really thought this idea through?
Damn. Could he let her move in next door to a possible murderer without being there to protect her?
“There’s something else,” she said.
“What now?” he said, returning his gaze to her.
Tucking a lock of hair behind her left ear, she asked, “Are you busy Saturday night?”
“Why? Are you asking me out?”
“Yeah, I guess I am. I’ve tentatively set up a double date with Bubba and his wife.”
“Because he’s still on your radar?”
“Right.”
Chip folded his arms. “How did a double date happen?”
“You know he’s married to Tina?”
“One of the twins?”
Lana nodded. “It was actually her idea. I ran into her at the grocery, we started chatting, and I told her you and I were dating.”
“I’m relieved to know we dated before we moved in together.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “You’re a funny guy, Chip.”
“I guess that’s why you can’t keep your hands off me,” he said.
She crossed her arms and glared at him. “So, you’ll do it?”
“Go out Saturday night? Sure.”
“And you’ll move in here with me?”
Chip held up the lease. “I’ll let you know after I study this.”
“Don’t take too long,” she said. “There are other prospects interested in this house.”
* * *
WHEN LANA ENTERED the noisy locker room of her station house on Tuesday morning, she still hadn’t gotten an answer from Chip about leasing the house. She’d spent her day off Monday babysitting for her sister so she could work in the field, and had texted him twice. He’d responded that he was still thinking about it, that it was a big decision.
She nodded at her coworkers, their conversation a blur of noise that she was too preoccupied with her own thoughts to join. She opened her locker, stuffed in her purse and withdrew her sturdy work shoes.
The more she envisioned living with Chip and thought about the prospect of kissing him, really kissing him, the more she looked forward to that happening.
She stepped into her shoes. Was she getting in over her head with Chip? None of her past relationships had lasted more than a couple of months. Was she about to get even more screwed up about men than she already was?
Her biggest fear was she’d turn out like her mother, a woman who made lousy decisions about love and life. After her dad had left, her mom had worked her way through a string of disastrous relationships that started fast and ended badly.
Maybe Lana ought to rethink her brilliant plan. Was she repeating her mother’s behavior by moving in with Chip so quickly?
No, of course not. This was a practical decision for two old friends.
Yeah? If so, then why did she fantasize about kissing that old friend?
She jerked the second shoelace taut and tied a bow. Winnie Zeder had called to inform her the house was still available, but it wouldn’t be for much longer. The deal was a good one, especially the part about the first year’s rent money going toward a down payment.
Maybe she should call Winnie and tell her the answer was no.
Lana stood and slammed her locker shut. Patrice Skinner, who used the adjacent locker, shot her a questioning glance. Lana shrugged and offered her friend an apologetic smile.
The hell with Chip. She’d call Winnie back and commit to renting the house alone.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket, signaling a text. She withdrew the device and read a message from Chip.
Zeder agreed to a three-month lease. I’m in. Start packing.
A charge of electricity traced her spine, and Lana leaned against her locker. Was she really going to do this?
Yes, by God, she was.
“Come on, Lana,” Patrice said. “I know something’s going on in your head today, but it’s time to go to work.”
Kelly Wentworth stepped toward Patrice. The two slapped high fives and said in unison, “Make it count.”
This was a ritual the three performed every day in the locker room, before roll call.
“Yeah, make it count,” Lana muttered as she texted Chip her okay.
“Girl, you’d better not stay this distracted on the job,” Patrice warned. “That’s a good way to get dead.”
Lana slipped the phone into her pocket. “Sorry,” she said. Her friend was right. She was on duty and needed to focus.
She slapped Trice’s palm. “Make it count.”
After roll call, where all three squads patrolling their district on the morning shift were alerted to nothing particularly new or exciting by Lieutenant Marshall, Lana’s sergeant, Rudy McFadden, stepped to the lectern.
Spit-and-polish as ever in his crisp gray uniform, Rudy announced, “All rookies remain behind. I need to have a word.”
Lana stiffened. Rudy’s request was highly unusual, so something was up. Had they screwed up somehow?
She exchanged a look with her four other squad members, which today was a mixture of first-year and more experienced officers. The two senior members shrugged, apparently unconcerned since the briefing didn’t involve them, and moved out of the room.
Patrice gazed adoringly at their sergeant. Trice tried to hide it, but Lana knew her fellow rookie thought Rudy had hung the moon. Kelly stood at parade rest, with her chin lifted, waiting calmly for her orders.
Okay. No one else looked alarmed, but what if Rudy had discovered Lana had been investigating Danny’s death? Would he order her to cease and desist just when she’d finally narrowed her suspects? Just when Chip had agreed to move in with her?
But that didn’t make sense. If that was the problem, why ask the other first-years to hang back?
Rudy assessed the assembled group without speaking for several long minutes. His method of torture. Lana shifted her weight. Something was definitely up. There’d been more rumors about corruption in the department. Did it involve her class? God, she hoped not.
“What’s going on, sir?” Kelly asked.
“I’m trying to decide if you rookies are ready.”
“Ready for what, sir?” Patrice asked.
“Congratulations. You’ve passed your probation.”
Lana stared at Rudy. What was he going on about? Everyone from her class had completed a year and finished with probation.
Grinning, Rudy dangled a set of car keys in the air. “And I mean by that, the new fleet finally arrived. You pansies are getting your take-home vehicles.”
The room erupted into whoops of joy.
“Awesome,” Patrice shouted, pumping her fist into the air.
“About damn time,” Sean O’Malley muttered.
Lana swallowed. This of course was welcome, wonderful news for her class. One of the benefits of being a sworn Miami-Dade County cop was the privilege of driving their marked police vehicle home every night. That benefit saved on gas and insurance, not to mention wear and tear on an officer’s own vehicle. In fact, you truly didn’t need a p
rivate car if you didn’t mind everyone knowing you were a cop. Neighbors loved the idea because a police car sitting in the driveway next door made an area safer from crime.
Kelly stepped in front of Lana and gave her a stinging high five.
Lana smiled, trying to share in the happiness in the room. She’d looked forward to taking advantage of this perk since her first day on the job. Driving her service vehicle made her feel special, as if she were contributing something worthwhile to her community, as if she were part of something important.
But now she realized with horror that she couldn’t park a police vehicle in the driveway of her new home. Gary Shotwell would keep his big mouth zipped the minute he realized she was a cop. He’d hide his activities and wouldn’t be the least friendly to her or Chip. They’d be pariahs.
Nothing would blow her undercover caper faster than driving a marked police car home.
* * *
ON SATURDAY MORNING, Chip placed the last box of books in the bed of his truck. His mother stood beside his vehicle, obviously trying not to cry. He sighed. Why had he ever thought he could live with his parents again?
He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly, inhaling the subtle flowery fragrance she always wore. At least his father wasn’t home to add to the drama. Thank God for that regular Saturday golf game. Although, now that he considered it, his dad had seemed delighted with the news he was moving out.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do, Chip?” she asked when he pulled back.
“Come on, Mom,” he said. “You knew when I moved in it was only temporary.”
She nodded.
“I can’t study here,” he reminded her. “There are too many distractions.”
“But is moving in with Lana Lettino the right thing to do?”
“Why not?”
His mom bit her lip and didn’t reply.
“We’ve been over this. Lana and I have been friends for years.”
“Right. Friends,” his mother repeated.
“Yes, friends. We’re splitting the rent, and I’m only moving ten miles away, not to the other side of the country this time.”
A Cop's Promise Page 12