Harry had to work late tonight, maintaining some equipment at the Aquatic Center that could only be shut down after business hours, so they’d arranged to meet at Kai’s apartment at nine for a pizza before bed.
“If you’re too sore to fuck, we totally understand. We can suck you off instead,” said Harry.
“Or fuck your breasts. We haven’t done that for a while,” added Kai.
“Or we could just cuddle and sleep,” she’d teased.
The men had looked at each other and surprisingly nodded. “If that’s all you want to do, okay,” said Kai.
She knew they were incredibly considerate, so she shouldn’t have been surprised they took her seriously. They were wonderful men, and she loved them both. That thought was something else that surprised her, but she’d been coming to the gradual realization of how important they both were to her for a while. And she did. She loved them. Both of them. She knew they’d believe her about the man attacking her, but it would worry them, and after all, nothing had happened, and there were so many other things happening in her life right now. She really couldn’t afford the time to weigh up all the conflicting thoughts in her mind. She’d wait and see what her subconscious told her to do.
Deborah had decided to work late again, simply to get on top of her projects. She wasn’t happy with the idea that there may be a man who hated her hanging around the area, but surely he wouldn’t be there two days in a row. After all, the car alarm had scared him off. And anyway, she would insist the security guard walk with her to her car, even if she felt like a fool. It would be dark, and that was a good enough reason to ask for his company. It was worrying that he’d traced her. It wasn’t like she was famous or a celebrity with her pictures on the news. Still, she really couldn’t think about it now. She had too much to do.
By seven she was starting to feel hungry and wishing she’d thought to buy some extra food at lunchtime, but she made herself stay at her desk. People were relying on her to find them appropriate physiotherapy and other helps. Their well-being was at stake, and her rumbling tummy was a small price to pay for that.
Just after eight her phone rang.
“Ms. Steele? Ms. Deborah Steele?”
“Speaking.”
“Detective Rowans, Ms. Steele. You made a report about an attacker two months ago. We have some men here now ready for a lineup. I’m sorry we weren’t able to give you more notice, but can you come here in the next hour please and see if any of these men matches the description of the man who attacked you?”
“Yes of course. Can I bring someone with me?”
“You may bring a person with you, but they are not permitted to speak while the ID is in progress.”
“That’s fine. I’ll be there inside the hour.”
Deborah wondered about interrupting Harry at work but decided she needed to tell both the men. Likely Harry wouldn’t be able to come with her, but at least he’d know what was going on.
“I’m almost done here. I’m putting it all back together now. I’ll be there in forty-five minutes,” said Harry.
“Oh great.”
Kai on the other hand, wanted to take charge. “I’ll come and pick you up and drive you there,” he said.
“But then Pablo will be left sitting in the parking lot here, and how will I get to work tomorrow?”
“All right. I’ll come in a taxi. Seeing we’ll be finishing up at my apartment, that’ll work out okay.”
Hastily Deborah finished off the work she was doing and just had time to tidy herself up before the security guard announced Kai had arrived. He insisted on driving her car, but Deborah figured it was just his overactive protective instincts and once again felt a little guilty she hadn’t told him about the previous night. Well, she hadn’t told Harry either, and it was possible they were both about to find out, but too bad.
Detective Rowans explained what was happening and then said, “You may have your friends with you, but they are not to influence you about any of the men they see through the window. When the men are brought into the room, there must be absolute silence. Do you understand?”
Deborah nodded, and both men said yes. She couldn’t help wondering why they just hadn’t used the DNA samples to check the people but figured now was not the time to ask that question either.
“Are you ready, Ms. Steele,” asked Detective Rowans.
Deborah nodded again.
“Bring them in.”
Deborah stood at the big window of one-way glass and watched as six quite similar men were brought into the room. They lined up each one standing beneath a number, one through six. Deborah made herself look at each one carefully, but her brain was saying number four. Still she stared carefully at their height and the way they stood. It still seemed like number four to her. She nodded at the detective, and he dismissed the men.
“Well?”
“Number four.”
“Ha, that’s what I thought, too, although I only saw him running away,” said Harry.
“Did the DNA match for him?” she asked.
“He refused to give us a sample, but he can’t refuse now you’ve identified him.”
“I have a photo of him on my phone, too, although it’s very blurry,” she said, pulling her cell phone out of her purse.
“When did you get that?” asked Kai and Rowans together.
“Last night.”
“What?”
“How did that happen?”
“Why didn’t you tell us you’d seen him?”
The detective held up his hand. “One thing at a time please. Send the photo through to my phone.” He handed her his business card. “Joe, number four is to provide us with a DNA sample immediately, thanks.”
* * * *
It was after midnight before they arrived home, but Harry was feeling pretty happy about everything. The DNA so cleverly provided by Deborah would stitch this man right up. Apparently he was part of some weirdo, fringe, male-supremacy group, and Chris had been a member of it, too. That was how the police had caught him, by investigating Chris’s contacts.
This group met out on the land, but instead of hunting or fishing, they apparently spent most of their time watching porn movies in their hidden building and threatening women they imagined had slighted them.
And what was more, this group owned all the land around Hillside View. That was why houses were being built on a Water Authority reservation which had been how Deborah came to be there in the first place. If the group was found to be operating illegally, their assets would be seized, and it was even possible Deborah may receive a bonus for helping catch them.
“All in all, it’s been quite a productive day,” he said, kissing first Deborah and then Kai. “However, don’t ever scare me like that again. I love you both and don’t need that kind of terror running through my veins.”
“You love us both?”
“Hell yes, didn’t you know?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know. But I love you both, too, so it’s all good,” said Deborah.
“About time you both verbalized it. I’ve been telling you I love you for months,” said Kai smugly.
THE END
WWW.BERENGARIABROWN.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Berengaria is a multi-published author of erotic romance: contemporary, paranormal (ghosts, vampires, fairies, dragons, and werewolves), futuristic, medieval, and Regency-set historical. She loves to read all different kinds of romance so that is what she writes: one man/one woman; two women; two men; two men/one woman; three men, two women/one man, three men/one woman…. Whatever the characters need for their very hot happily-ever-after, Berengaria makes sure they get it.
Visit her blog at www.berengariasblog.blogspot.com.
For all titles by Berengaria Brown, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/berengaria-brown
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Table of Contents
Title Page
C
opyright Page
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
About the Author
Small Woman, Big Trouble [Wet and Willing 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 7