The inside of the carriage house was simple but lovely. It was an open floor plan, and despite the historical building, there was nary an antique in sight. The appliances were gleaming stainless steel, and the furniture was modern, immaculate, and done in tranquil shades of blue and cream. The scent of fresh flowers filled the room from the several overflowing vases that dotted the space.
“Well?” Adele inclined her head toward Natalie. She wanted her to be happy even in their temporary digs.
“Anyone would be comfortable here. It’s lovely, Ella.”
Adele considered retrieving her cane from the duffel bag, but gritted her teeth and decided she could last just a few more minutes. She opened what she assumed to be the bathroom door and wasn’t disappointed.
The shower was large with multiple heads and a teak bench. It was already stocked with spa-quality toiletries, and encased in opaque glass. Across from it and the toilet, sat a deep Jacuzzi tub that was big enough for two with room to spare. Fluffy white towels filled a rack near the sink. Adele smiled broadly, her heart racing at even the possibility of eventually sharing it with Natalie. Amelia and Georgia had found a way to find every single thing on her list. They rocked.
Natalie moved alongside Adele and stared at the tub with open lust. “I would kill for a bath.” She groaned and wrinkled her nose. “I feel disgusting. My hair is filthy and I’m pretty sure I stink.”
“Well, I know I stink.” Adele shook her head woefully. “And my muscles are in knots. God, I’m going to owe Amelia forever for this.” Georgia, she could pay. Amelia would demand something, well…more demanding.
Natalie wiped at the drool that had pooled at the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand as she continue to ogle the tub. “I’m willing to have her baby.”
Adele burst out laughing. “Gross! Don’t let Amelia hear you say that. You don’t know my sister. She was a whiny pregnant woman and might take you up on that offer.”
Natalie set her bag on a side table. “Tub first or sleep?” As they pondered which pleasure was more compelling, they continued deeper into the apartment. Several large Chinese screens separated this area from the rest of the apartment. In the corner was a tall, king-sized bed that looked decadent enough for an actual king.
Adele rolled her eyes. “One bed?” Amelia, you goddamned meddler. “I take back what I said about my sister,” she groused, but was too tired to feel embarrassed or anxious at the idea of sharing a bed. “Would you like me to take the sofa?” Her bloodshot eyes pleaded with Natalie not to take her up on her offer.
Natalie drew her hand across a plush comforter, a slight frown pulling at her lips from Adele’s words. “Don’t be silly. If anyone has to end up on the sofa it should be me. It’ll be nice not to be pestered throughout the night by nurses.”
Adele snorted. “Like I’d have you sleep on the couch.”
“This bed is huge. My head hurts, and I can tell by the way you’re walking that you’re sore all over. We both need a good night’s sleep. I’m okay with sharing, if you are.” Natalie grinned tiredly. “I’ll even keep my hands to myself.”
Adele wasn’t sure whether that was really a selling point, but it didn’t matter. Without further discussion, Natalie gingerly climbed onto the bed. Taking the hint, Adele followed.
They lay down on top of the covers with twin sighs.
“I’m just trying it out,” Natalie mumbled, her eyes already closing. She moaned in pleasure and shifted to her side. Her voice went faint. “Just for a minute…”
“Yeah,” Adele agreed, sinking into the luxurious comforter and snuggling so close to Natalie’s side that they shared the same large down-filled pillow. She exhaled deeply, her breath ruffling Natalie’s hair. Adele’s aching body finally began to relax. Warm. Safe. Together. She gently placed an arm around Natalie’s waist and pulled their bodies flush. “We’ll get cleaned up eventually…”
But Natalie was already fast asleep.
* * *
A gentle shake. “Ella?”
“Nooo…” Adele muttered. “Go ’way. Sleepin’.”
This time her shake was firmer. “Wake up, sweetie. Your phone is ringing.” Natalie thrust the cell phone at her. “You’re going to want to take this call. It’s Logan.”
Blearily, Adele pressed the phone to her ear. Her confused gaze traveled to the darkened windows and then to the clock. She’d slept for ten hours without moving an inch.
“Hey, Lo-Logan!” She cleared the sleep from her voice and smiled a gorgeous smile that transformed her face and made Natalie’s knees buckle. “I’ve missed you, buddy. Are you having fun with your dad?” She sat up a little in bed and gave Natalie a grateful look. “Are you excited about Santa’s visit soon? Only another week.”
Natalie moved into the kitchen to give Adele a little privacy and hopefully to find something she could put together for a light meal. They’d slept through lunch and dinner and she was starving.
She’d been awake for the past hour and when she couldn’t comfortably lie in bed any longer, she’d padded to the nearest window and cracked it open for a bit of fresh air. She stood there, star gazing, and feeling more at peace than she had in a very long time.
It was far quieter in this area of town than at the Touro Street Inn. She couldn’t hear the sounds of tourists laughing or passing cars. Just the wind in the trees—she laughed quietly as she remembered—and Adele’s light snoring.
Amelia, or perhaps it was Georgia, didn’t disappoint. The kitchen cabinets and refrigerator were packed with fresh groceries and on the countertop sat a half-dozen bottles of good wine and an opener. Natalie debated between a California zinfandel and a Chianti. And for a second, she longed equally for both options. Deciding this wasn’t really Sophie’s Choice, she eventually selected the zin. She took a healthy sip and, murmuring her approval, gave herself permission to fully live in the moment.
A beautiful woman who Natalie wanted to get to know much, much better, was in her bed. The wine was delicious. And right now, they were safe. She sighed in pleasure.
Deciding on some pasta and a green salad, Natalie pulled out a large can of crushed tomatoes from the cupboard, along with some dried herbs and spices and a box of spaghetti noodles. After about ten minutes of work the salad was ready, and she poured the tomatoes and spices into a sizzling pan of sautéing onions and shredded carrots. Oregano and basil scented steam rose up and tickled her nose.
Satisfied, she turned the stovetop burner to low. Natalie’s second glass of wine was nearly to her lips when Adele limped slowly into the kitchen with a raised eyebrow.
“Don’t give me that look,” Natalie warned. “I’m not being bad. I took my last prescription pain tablet this morning. As of now, I’m on ibuprofen and can safely drink in moderation.” She said her last words in a surprisingly good imitation of her doctor’s slightly southern, but mostly condescending tone.
Adele neatly plucked the glass from Natalie’s hand and took a dainty swallow of wine, claiming the glass for herself. “What a coincidence. So can I.”
“Hey!”
“Mmm.” Adele smacked her lips a little and chuckled as Natalie playfully scowled in her direction and retrieved a second glass from the cabinet. “This is one of Georgia’s favorites. Oooh…whatcha makin’? It smells fantastic.” Adele stuck her nose into the pot of sauce and inhaled deeply, her eyes rolling back in pleasure.
“Just some spaghetti. I hope that’s okay.” At Adele’s nod, Natalie poured herself a fresh glass, and added pasta to the boiling water. “You’re walking so much better tonight.” She’d noticed that Adele’s forehead wasn’t pinched in pain, as it often was when her leg was hurting.
“That’s because I’m feeling so much better. Sleep does wonders. Though if I’m being honest, I could go back to bed in an hour or two and probably still sleep through the entire night.”
Natalie felt the same way. “Then that’s what we’ll do.” She added black pepper to the sauce. “How’s Logan?
”
Adele leaned against the cabinet, her voice a tiny bit more subdued than before. “Excited for Christmas. Happy. Enjoying his time with his dad. Missing me.”
Concerned, Natalie glanced sideways. “You miss him too.”
Adele shrugged one shoulder, and swirled the wine a little in the glass before bringing it to her mouth. “Pretty much all the time.”
Natalie thought of the beautiful Christmas tree sitting undecorated and alone at the inn. “What are you going to do about Christmas with him?”
Adele let out a resigned breath. “He’ll have to stay with Landry until this is over.”
“What does that mean?” Natalie was suddenly a little panicky. She didn’t feel any closer to finding Josh’s killer than the day she’d arrived back in New Orleans. Even though her attacker clearly felt differently. “We might never find out who killed Josh.”
Adele’s brow puckered. “We won’t give up.”
“No. No. Jesus…” Natalie ran a frustrated hand through her hair, wincing when she encountered a few stitches that were now sans bandage. “I’m not that selfish…I mean, I guess I must be to have done this to you so far. But I shouldn’t be. I’m dangerous to be around at the moment. But Logan’s so excited about the holiday, and you miss him terribly. I’ll leave town before you and Logan miss Christmas together. And—”
“Natalie, stop rambling.” Adele’s voice was full of warmth. “I don’t want you to go.” At Natalie’s wide eyes, she added, with a little less confidence, “At least not yet, okay? We still have time.” Adele drew a finger down the stem of her wineglass. “You haven’t done anything to me. I’m doing this for myself too. Not just you.”
“But now you’re in danger.”
“The second I said yes to investigating Josh’s murder that happened. I was a cop for almost my entire adult life. A little danger isn’t going to make me melt. Besides, I’m not sure you leaving town would put an end to things. If someone tried to kill you over something on Josh’s phone, why wouldn’t he come after me, too?”
Natalie’s stomach dropped through the floor.
“The phone was in my house, after all. And we were clearly investigating this together. Anything you could or would know, I could know.” Adele’s gaze darkened. “I can’t risk Logan. But I have to see this through, with or without you.”
“Bu-but…” Natalie’s mind whirred. It seemed unlikely someone would go after Adele, and yet, everything that had happened so far seemed that way. “Shit!”
Adele looked skyward, as though she was asking for some sort of heavenly intervention. “Or maybe we’ll get lucky, and my Christmas wish will come true, and we’ll figure out all of this before Christmas Day.”
Suddenly tears swam in Natalie’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I never meant to take time away from you and Logan.”
“Hey.” Adele moved to stand next to Natalie and gave her a gentle peck on the cheek, artfully avoiding a small scab that sat atop her cheekbone. “That hasn’t even happened yet. Even if it does, none of this is your fault. I’m glad you’re working with me. I was tired of being alone, Nat. And I don’t feel like I am when we’re together.”
Natalie couldn’t help a tremulous smile at the heartfelt admission.
“The only thing I’m unhappy about is that you’re hurt. Let’s not worry about Christmas yet, and focus on one thing at a time.”
Natalie turned her back to Adele and tested the spaghetti. She tried to keep the worry out of her voice as she thought of the coming days. “So, we’re going to talk to Billy Hobson tomorrow?” Natalie knew she should be more enthusiastic about the prospect, especially now that she was officially the Grinch but she still felt weaker than normal and mentally frayed around the edges. It seemed a stretch that the rookie officer who responded to the crime scene after Josh’s murder would know anything that could help them.
“If I can go alone, then yes, absolutely.”
“Alone?” God, this woman could be infuriating! Natalie suddenly wanted to shake Adele until her teeth rattled. “No, absolutely!”
“Natalie—”
“No.”
Adele gave her a challenging look. “Fine. If you’re going to be anywhere near me when I catch up with Billy, you need to be able to run if something unexpected happens.” She lifted her eyebrows in question. “Can you run?”
Natalie blanched. The thought of running and the pounding it would cause her head made her stomach roil. “Yes.”
The challenging look turned into a disbelieving glare.
Natalie wanted to stamp her feet when she realized that Adele could already tell when she was lying. “I said yes.”
Adele continued to stare.
“Oh, my God, fine! If I only have to go six steps and then it’s okay for me to stop and puke, then, yes, I can run.”
“Stopping to vomit won’t slow your escape down at all.”
Natalie bared her teeth at the sarcasm.
“And before you ask, I know I can’t run either. But I’m willing to use my gun, if necessary.”
Natalie winced at the word gun. They made her impossibly uneasy. Even though Natalie’s parents had gone as far as purchasing her one, insisting that a single woman living alone needed protection, she’d refused it.
“I hate to put off going to Shreveport as much as you do, more maybe, but we don’t need any more disadvantages when we confront Billy. And let’s be honest. He’s a sheep compared to Morrell. How about we reevaluate how we’re feeling in the morning and take things from there?”
Natalie already felt like the weak link on this team. Now she felt even worse. “You mean how I feel.”
“Trust me, I don’t. But you could always carry a weapon when we meet Billy, just to help even the odds?”
Natalie knew the way she felt was showing on her face by Adele’s I-thought-so expression. “Does this really need to be a confrontation?” Natalie asked. “Can’t it be like what we did with Kurt Mosley? A conversation?”
“That will depend on Billy. But I really think a different tactic will work best with him. This guy is still in his midtwenties. He’s not too many years older than your students. When was the last time one of them didn’t announce their every move on Twitter or Tumblr or whatever?”
“Never.”
“Exactly. The fact that it took us so long to find him online, and that he’s completely absent from social media, tells me he doesn’t want to be found. That makes him dangerous. Plus, he was a police officer, even if he wasn’t a very good one. Chances are he’s got a weapon somewhere.”
Natalie acknowledged Adele’s words with a sigh and a change of subject. “Dinner’s ready.”
The meal was slow and easy and filled with much lighter conversation. Instead of sitting across from each other, they sat side by side, heads unconsciously tilted toward each other, drawn together like magnets. Afterward, Natalie half-filled each of their glasses then threw away the empty wine bottle.
Looking supremely relaxed, Adele wiped the corners of her mouth and set her napkin on the table. “That was awesome, and I ate way too much.”
Natalie felt a tickle of pleasure at the compliment. She liked to cook, but cooking for one seemed so pointless. “No big deal. It was easy.”
“I’m not a good cook, as Logan and Landry will be the first ones to tell you. And I can’t remember the last time someone cooked for me. So it was a big deal. I—” She stopped and broke into a yawn so big her jaw cracked.
Natalie’s expression filled with sympathy. While she’d been in the hospital bed, it was easy to forget that Adele had literally beaten herself black-and-blue getting through the door of her room at the inn and had her own concussion, albeit a mild one. Add to that several nights without sleep, and it was going to take more time for her to recover, too.
“Ella, how about a bath and then bed?”
“God, yes.”
* * *
Adele and Natalie stood in front of the large tub, not quite knowing what to
do. Adele had filled it with hot water and had even added a bit of bubble bath that her nosy but well-intentioned sister had thoughtfully provided. She knew exactly what she wanted out of this bath, but she was far less sure of what Natalie was thinking.
Natalie drew in a deep breath and looked for a place to set their wineglasses as Adele lit several candles and turned off the lights. The room glowed with the perfect mix of relaxation and sensuality. Unnoticed on their earlier tour, a skylight above the tub allowed moonlight to drape over them and provided a lovely view of the stars.
Natalie licked her lips and looked longingly at the steaming water. “I-um…you can go first. Do you want some privacy?”
Face hot, Adele swallowed back her nerves. “I don’t need privacy.” She turned to face Natalie. “It’s okay if you do though.”
Natalie shook her head slowly. “I don’t.”
Natalie’s smoky voice seemed to drop an octave and Adele felt it twist its way through her like a hot blowing wind. “I—I, I mean, I know you don’t technically need it or anything, but, if you want, I could help you wash your hair.”
“I’d like that. And, Ella?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s just a bath. You don’t need to be so nervous.” Natalie set both glasses on the tiled floor alongside the tub.
Adele chuckled uneasily and glanced at Natalie from behind thick lashes. “It’s that obvious?”
Natalie’s grin was warm and inviting as she stepped into Adele’s personal space, not stopping until their faces were only a few inches apart. Her pale eyes looked almost colorless in the combination of candle and moonlight. “A little. But that’s okay. We can be nervous together.”
Natalie reached up and traced Adele’s cheek with the soft pads of her fingers.
The tender touch caused Adele’s eyes to close halfway and her nostrils to flare. The bathroom was hot and steamy, and Natalie’s unnerving fingertips gently drew along the fine, damp hair at Adele’s temple and over her scar, treating it to an even gentler touch.
A Dark Horse Page 32