by J. Lea
“Thanks.” Max places two water bottles on the surface in front of me. “I designed it myself.” I almost forgot his major was architecture. “Want some coffee?”
“No, I had one on the road. Is this your family?” I nod my head to the photographs in the hallway.
“Yes. My wife, Amanda, and we have a lovely four-year-old, Emma. Let’s say I am never bored.” I can see his eyes light up at the mention of their names. “And you?” he asks. “Is there a missus, any kids?” He pulls a chair from the table and sits down next to me.
“Ha,” my lips curl up into a smile. “None of that for me. It’s next to impossible to have any kind of meaningful relationship in my line of work. I’m constantly on the road, facing all sorts of dangerous situations. Maybe someday in the future.”
“You haven’t changed a bit.”
“Same goes for you, man.” I unscrew the lid of my water bottle and take a sip. “So, tell me about your sister’s stalker.”
Max closes his eyes, taking a deep breath. When he opens them again, I see pain and despair there. “His name is Leo and they used to date. He keeps harassing her. He’s one heck of a persistent guy, let me tell you. He won’t stop bothering her despite the restraining order. And, ever since he violated it, the police can’t find him. I’m afraid he’s going to hurt April. The last message she received hinted at an abduction. I’m scared for her well-being, and the police have hit a dead end.”
“So, you took things into your own hands and contacted me.” I’m surprised Max remembered me talking about going to work for my father when I finished college.
“I can’t just sit here watching my little sister’s life tumble down like a house of cards. She acts strong, but I know deep down she’s hurt and terrified. I see how the tiniest of sounds makes her jumpy and how she keeps looking over her shoulder every time she’s out in public. This is not like her.”
“Where is she now?” The house has been quiet ever since I arrived, so I’m assuming Max and I are the only ones here.
“She’s upstairs, sleeping.”
I nod. “And the messages you brought my father, that was all of them?”
“No, there’s more. Come see.” We walk into a room that I assume is his office and Max closes the door behind us. “Here are the e-mails he sent her. Luckily, I managed to re-send them to my e-mail before the police took her laptop.”
“Okay, I’ll take a look at them later. Anything else?”
Max pulls a stack of photos from the top drawer of his desk. “I took these with my phone after he broke into her house and tore her bedroom apart.”
“The front door was broken in?”
“Not really. There were no signs of a break-in; it was left ajar.
“Does he have the key to her house?”
“He had one, but he gave it back to April when he moved out.”
I nod as I process all the information and examine the photos of the break-in. “Did the police find any of his fingerprints when processing the scene?”
“Yes, but that’s to be expected since he used to live there.”
“I admit I was a bit skeptical when pops told me about this case. But something seems way off. Why would Leo want her back all of a sudden if they broke up a while ago? It doesn’t make sense.”
“April and I were wondering the same thing. But there are his constant calls and e-mails that indicate he desperately wants her back, and, in his twisted mind, there’s nothing holding him back. I’m afraid some day she’ll just disappear and I’ll never see her again.” His voice shakes as he says that. I can see the unconditional love he has for his sister.
“I’ll personally make sure it doesn’t come anywhere near that. You have my word.” I run my hand over my stubble. “I promise I’ll protect her, but I will expect nothing but honesty from both of you. No hiding information from me. Otherwise, it can come right back and bite us all in the ass.”
“You have my word. And if you need anything at all, I’m available at all times. The police already know I hired extra security, so you shouldn’t expect any trouble from them.”
“Good. And does April know about me already?”
“Not yet. We’ll break the news to her when she wakes up. But be warned—my sister is very stubborn and she’s fiercely protective of her freedom. She’s a very ambitious woman. She graduated with a degree in journalism, and her ambition and determination will take her places. Her job is her life, so please understand that all this mess Leo put her in has turned her life upside down. Maybe you saw her show, it’s called Celebrity?”
“Sorry, I don`t watch much TV, except for sports.”
“I totally understand. Same here. Well, she has a house, but she lives there alone. When April met Leo, it took him less than two months before he moved in with her. God, I was furious when I found out. I told her she was making a mistake but she didn’t listen to me. She always does what she wants. And she has a cat named Bella. She drags that thing with her everywhere. She’s going to be beyond pissed I went behind her back and hired you, but I don’t care what she thinks. Her safety is my priority.”
Four
April
Some of the rare early February sun rays managed to penetrate the closed blinds of my bedroom and they’re caressing my face as I’m lying in bed, trying to avoid the reality outside my bedroom. The alarm clock shows it’s a minute past nine in the morning. I heard Amanda taking Emma to Kindergarten at around 7 and I even managed to doze off after that, but only for a short while. I can’t seem to fall asleep for the past week. I keep waking up in the middle of the night because my tortured thoughts won’t leave me alone. Yesterday, Leo called me twice. He demanded to know where I was and who I was with. He also informed me he intends to hurt anyone that touches me. I don’t know how to get out of this mess. I swore I wouldn’t let him get to me, that his words will not hurt me anymore, but it’s still hard. I’m trying to keep it together and stay strong; trying to pretend his calls and messages don’t scare the heck out of me. But they do. And my brother knows that, even though I don’t show it. He knows me so well that it only takes one look at me and he knows all my innermost thoughts.
It’s been five days since I appeared at the door of Max and Amanda’s. I’ve only left the place when I went to work, and Max was by my side the whole time. Police are still in the dark, finding no evidence that would point to Leo’s whereabouts. It’s as if he vanished into thin air.
I take a deep breath, roll over and put my bare feet to the warm woodblock floor. Running my fingers through my messy hair, I stretch my limbs. Bella is sleeping on her fuzzy mat on the floor; I smile at my baby. I’ve never met a lazier cat than Bella. She sleeps through the majority of the day, only coming alive at night, and even then she prefers naps to running around the house. I put Amanda’s old fluffy slippers with giant bunny ears on and walk downstairs into the kitchen, wearing only the long shirt I borrowed from Max to sleep in the day I got here. With all that drama, I forgot to pack my PJs. I start the coffee maker and poke my head into the fridge for breakfast options. Weird that Max hasn’t come down yet, I think to myself as I’m pulling out stuff. Usually he’s the early bird, having the breakfast ready for us when I get up in the morning. I step up on my tiptoes to reach into the top cupboard to grab two plates and I gently place them on the counter. Grabbing the coffee mug when the coffee is done, I wrap my palms around the hot mug to sip at the caffeinated deliciousness. Mmm... glorious.
“Max!” I yell out as I turn around to place the mug back on the counter. “Breakfast is re…” I scream at the top of my lungs when I see a large, dark figure in front of me, spilling the beverage on the front of my shirt. “...ady,” I finish. “Shit.”
A tall man is standing a few feet away from me - his hands, crossed on his chest, are covered with tattoos that start at the wrists and disappear at the elbows up into the rolled up sleeves of his shirt. His tongue darts out to wet his lips, his eyes are fixated on my legs, and the intense look in them is makin
g me squirm. I blink, and, when I take in his whole face, my eyes suddenly widen—and so do his. Him?
Eyes, green like emeralds.
Brown, silky soft hair I could run my hands through for an eternity.
A sculptured body with rippling muscle.
I swallow hard. No, no no. It can’t be him. But it is.
“Shit!” I realize I’m standing there braless, pantiless, and staining the whole front of my shirt with hot coffee. My hand shoots out to grab a kitchen cloth to wipe myself. “What are you doing here?” I ask carefully. I look around the kitchen to see if I’m being punked. But he appears to be shocked, too.
“You are April Brookes?!” he exclaims in shock, ignoring my question.
“You know my name?” I knit my eyebrows together. When we met for the first—and I apparently mistakenly thought, also the last—time, names didn’t really matter. The passion we ignited in each other was all we could focus on.
“Now I do. You are Max’s younger sister?” he asks, incredulity in his voice. He scratches his head as I hear him mutter a curse under his breath.
“Where is Max? How do you know each other?” I throw the cloth back on the counter.
“He’s in his office. He should be right out,” he responds, his brilliant green eyes never leaving me.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask more fiercely, as I still haven’t gotten the answer out of him.
He’s brief. “Business,” he says. “You look good.” His eyes are studying me.
Yeah, right. I must look fabulous with a giant brown stain on my shirt, a rats’ nest on my head and a make-up free face. “Uh, thanks.” I shift my weight to my other foot and I blush. I actually blush! I never blush. But my brain suddenly brings up all the memories of a night I thought I’d managed to lock deep inside my mind. “You look good, too.” Way to go, April. But good doesn’t even begin to describe the way he looks. His chiseled jaw and defined cheekbones paired with his deep, raspy voice is a balm for my eyes and ears.
I glance down the hallway in the direction of Max’s office. And when I direct my gaze back to the man I’ve spent one explosive and passionate night with, he is quite obviously checking out my legs again. I pull the hem of my shirt down but it only reaches half way to my knees. His simmering gaze makes my whole body melting hot, as if the boiling coffee didn’t burn me enough. I can feel him stripping me with his eyes. “Stop looking at me like that!”
“And how am I looking at you?”
“Like you’re imagining me naked.”
“I don’t have to imagine anything, sunshine. Did you forget I familiarized myself with every line and curve of the body that’s hiding under this shirt? I spent hours memorizing your body.”
My blush intensifies. How could I forget? That was the best night of my life. I doubt I’ll ever get it out of my head.
“I know exactly what you taste like and how you make these little moans when you come,” he adds, his voice lower, a naughty grin on his lips. His bold confidence pisses me off.
I glower at him. “I vaguely remember that night. I guess it wasn’t that good after all.” I try to act indifferently, but I’m everything but. Walking behind the kitchen island, I block his view of my legs. I keep my gaze averted so he doesn’t see bullshit written all over my face. I cross my hands over my chest.
“Have you seen my—“Max walks into the room, holding an eyeglass case in his hands, and he abruptly stops when he sees us. “Oh! I see you two have already met. Good.” My heart starts pounding in my chest. I’m praying hard that he didn’t hear our conversation.
“Not exactly.” I take a sip of what remains of my coffee. “You haven’t mentioned any visitors.”
“Why don’t you go change your clothes and then I’ll explain everything?” Max places his hand on my back and gives me a pointed look, protective as always, and this time I’m actually grateful. He gently pushes me into the direction of my room. I give both men a pointed look, but do as my brother asked me, because the heated gaze of the man I’ve had a one-night stand with is giving me naughty thoughts and that’s the last thing I should have on my mind at the moment. But a memory of his muscled, tattooed arms around me, his skilled hands sliding up and down my body, and his full lips on mine keeps playing in my mind. Geez!
I don’t waste time; I pull on a pair of skinny jeans and put a purple sweater over a tank top in the same color. I quickly run a brush through my wild long brown curls and style it in a messy braid dangling off my shoulder. I put on some eye shadow and mascara, but leave the blush alone; my cheeks are red enough from all the blushing they’ve been doing already today. When I feel decent enough, I return to my brother and his mysterious guest. I find them in the living room sitting comfortably on the big black leather couch: Max in the middle and His Hotness, whose name I still don’t know, lounges on his right, his hand on the armrest, his leg resting casually on his knee. They’re in the middle of a heated debate, but they both shut up the second they notice me.
“What’s going on?” I look suspiciously between them. They exchange glances.
“Come here.” Max pats the seat next to him.
“Why do I have the feeling I’d better stand?” I raise an eyebrow.
“As you wish.” Max stands up, walks to me and takes my hand into his. “You know I worry about you, right?”
“Yes,” I say slowly, swallowing hard. I can’t wait to see where all this is leading.
“Taking into account that Leo has fallen off the earth, the police still have no trace of him, and we have absolutely no idea what his plans with you are, I thought the only smart move would be to protect you.”
“Okaaay,” I roll my eyes at him, then point my gaze to the green-eyed hunk. I still don’t know what he’s doing in my brother’s house.
“This man here,” Max points to his friend, “is a private detective.”
“What?” I exclaim, spinning to face Max. “A detective?” I pause. “Did you hire him to locate Leo?” Max shakes his head. “So, what is he doing here?”
“I hired him to protect you.”
No! Not happening. I take a step back, furiously shaking my head. I raise my hands to stop his next words. “You must be joking.” This can’t be happening.
“No, he’s being serious,” the handsome detective cuts in.
“I don’t need a freaking nanny,” I puff. The detective’s lips turn up at the corners. What does he have to laugh about?
“You need someone who can keep you safe at every moment until the threat is removed,” Max states seriously.
“At every moment?” I repeat, shaking my head even more. “What you’re saying is that now he’s going to breathe down my neck, too. Sounds perfect.” I roll my eyes, throwing my arms in the air dramatically. “Just perfect,” I mutter. “Like one man is not enough.” More than the fact my brother has hired a babysitter for me, I’m angered by the fact that babysitter is incredibly hot and that we have a history, even though Max doesn’t know anything about it. Boy, I hope it stays that way. It better stay that way. How on earth did he manage to find the one detective who’s also a person I’ve slept with?
“April, please, don’t make things difficult.” Max’s voice is stern. “I’m only trying to help you.”
“I’m not making them difficult. A private detective, Max? Really? Why couldn’t you ask my opinion on the matter first? After all, this concerns me, not you.”
“Yes, it’s about you. And you know how I get when a person I love is receiving threats.”
“Like some alpha male,” I roll my eyes. “Me Tarzan, you Jane. Me have the final say,” I say in a theatrically deep voice, punching myself on the chest with my fist to top it off. The sexy detective chuckles, despite trying to remain serious. “Do you think this is funny?” I turn to him with my hands on my hips. “You have no idea how annoying it is,” I tell the detective who apparently finds me extremely humorous.
“April, please, do this for me. At least this t
ime, don’t contradict me.” Max’s quiet and serious voice finally gets to me.
“Fine,” I huff, resigned, because I know I can never get the last word when it comes to my big brother and me. I walk up to the detective and extend my hand to introduce myself, even though it’s not necessary—he knows exactly who I am. “I’m April.”
“Jude. Jude O’Rilley,” he responds, showing his white teeth, and my eyes get stuck on his full lips. Jude. Shit, even his name is sexy. Ju-de. I should’ve known. Girl, you’re in serious trouble! His eyes are studying me and his big warm hand is still wrapped around my smaller one. For a moment, I let myself get lost in his intense green eyes; green as the purest, shiniest dark emeralds I’ve ever seen. Jude is very handsome in a wild, manly way. His jaw is covered with a five o’clock shadow, which gives him a robust, manly look. His squared jaw and those perfect, kissable lips evoke memories I long ago buried in a place deep within me—his mouth on me, his tongue tracing his way down my heated body… The things he did to me… I clear my throat and divert my gaze so I don’t get completely lost in the depths of his gaze and take a step back so his scent doesn’t overwhelm my senses completely.
I tilt my head slightly to the side. “You don’t look like a detective,” I say, and straighten up.
“No? And how do you think I should look?” He raises one cocky eyebrow.
Older, much older, with greyer hair, rounder belly, and definitely nowhere close to that attractive. “I don’t know, not like this,” I flap my arms, pointing at his sculptured body. April, get it together. You had a one-night stand with this guy; it’s no big deal.
Shit, who am I kidding? Of course, it’s a big deal. You slept with him! And worse, I’d do it all again in a heartbeat! Right here, right now.
Jude grins as if he just read my mind, like he knew my dirty little thoughts.
“Now that you two know each other, we can get down to business. What do you say?” Max interrupts our exchange and we sit down on the couch. I give Jude the quick overview of what has been happening and then Max takes over. I’m sitting between the two men, so every time I move even slightly my knee bumps into Jude’s leg and I’m wrapped in his delicious scent. I’m trying to remain unaffected, but I’m losing the fight with myself. Damn it! I remember his every touch, every hitched breath, and every toe-curling kiss he gave me. The night we shared was passionate and intense, and I surrender to the memories.