Collared (Going to the Dogs)

by Dawson, Zoe

  “What’s your name?” the little girl who’d brought him to the table asked.

  “Caleb.”

  “That’s a nice name.”

  “He’s a pretty fairy,” the pink fairy in his lap said, then gave him a chubby smile, her face smeared with chocolate. He smiled back at her.

  “What’s your name?” he asked the first little girl.

  “It’s Rebecca, but I like to be called Becca, so don’t call me some rubbish like Becky. She poked him in the chest. “Is there something you don’t like to be called?”

  “Yes, but I can’t repeat it to you.”

  “Why?”

  Another little girl crawled on his lap, a yellow fairy with dark hair.

  “It has to do with me being a cop.”

  “It’s a bad word?”

  “Yes, bad,” he said trying once again to wipe the gooey stuff off the pink fairy’s dimpled little hands while ensuring the little yellow fairy didn’t fall.

  “Do you gots a badge?” chocolate-hands asked.

  “Yes, but us cops call it a shield.”

  “Like a knight? Can I see it?”

  Another little girl asked, “Where are your wings?”

  “They were optional,” he said to her reaching down to unclip the shield from his belt. The pink fairy with the charming smiles grabbed it in her sticky hand. Hadn’t he just cleaned her hands? He wiped them down again.

  “The pretty fairy has a pretty badge,” she said showing it to him.

  Becca rolled her eyes, “Shield. It’s called a shield.”

  He nodded at her. Just then Harper’s three friends walked in the door along with their significant others. They each covered up smiles at the sight of him knee-deep in six little girls, smeared with chocolate, and trying to wrestle his shield back.

  “You gots a gun, too?”

  They waved to him while Becca climbed up into his lap, too. Now he was juggling three little girls. Becca caught his chin hair and pulled his face to hers and said again with a determined look on her face, “Do. You. Gots. A. Gun?”

  He nodded, and had to accept that cake that one of the little girls was trying to shove into his mouth. Chewing, he said, gruffly, “I’m not showing you that.”

  She shrugged. “Okay. Do you have a girlfriend?”

  He opened his mouth to tell her no, but he heard, “Yes he does, so back off Miss Becca.”

  He turned towards Harper’s voice and lost his train of thought, his reason…his breath. She stood next to him in a pink dress that looked like petals flowing from a bodice that had a cascade of flowers on each strap. On her head was a glittering fairy crown with five twinkling stars across her forehead and the tails of the stars above, fanning out like dazzling stardust. She looked fucking amazing, and exactly like a fairy princess should.

  “Awww, Miss Harper you always get the good stuff.”

  The little pink fairy looked up at Harper and said, “He’s a really pwetty fairy even if he doesn’t have wings.”

  “They were optional,” he murmured absently as he simply tried to absorb Harper through his gaze alone. He’d never wanted to touch a woman more than he did right now.

  “Yes,” she said softly, “he is quite pretty.”

  A blue fairy walked over with an ice cream cone clasped in her tiny hand and offered it to him. He glanced at her and, as the ice cream started to fall, he reached out to grab for it. Some of it plopped, cold and soft, in his hand, but the overflow splashed onto his pants.

  “Uh-oh,” she said, so innocently, her mouth forming a cute little O, Caleb had to laugh.

  Harper said, “I’ve got to go mingle. Looks like you have your hands full. Want to bail? I think it’s been more than five minutes.”

  He gave her a wry smile and shook his head. “No, but I’m beginning to think I was set up. No wonder Brooke said I needed full tactical gear.”

  Harper giggled and the little yellow fairy who had dropped the ice cream into his hand took a bite of the melting mess.

  Later on, finally sitting alone in a corner, his tie askew, one shirttail hanging out and smeared with something he was afraid to identify, he leaned his head back, feeling like he’d been pulled through a knothole backwards. Who knew little girls could be so energetic, ask so many questions, and run him ragged?

  Becca came over and smiled at him. “It was nice to meet you, Caleb. You get out there and keep the streets safe by catching all the bad guys.”

  He nodded. “Will do, Becca.” He saluted her.

  She walked up to him and took off her tiara and set it on his head. “You are now officially the King of the Fairies.”

  He bowed from the waist. “I’m so freaking honored.” She kissed his cheek, then mussed his hair. “Next time don’t forget your wings.”

  He sighed. He must have answered this question ten million times. “They were freaking optional, Becca.”

  “Well, that may be the case, but a king must set an example for his subjects, so next time wear them, mister.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Becca, your mother’s looking for you.” Harper said, as fresh as the moment he’d first seen her at the beginning of the tea party.

  “Bye, Caleb.” Becca started to leave, but turned back. “Oh, I almost forgot. Here’s your shield.” He reached out and accepted it with two wary fingers. “It’s got chocolate on it.”

  “What the hell,” he said as he clipped it to his waist. “Bye, Becca.”

  “You look like it’s time for a really strong drink.” Harper reached her hand out to him. He clasped it and rose, winking at her friends who followed close behind her.

  “And a good dry cleaner,” Drew said.

  “I don’t even think Mr. Woo could get those stains out,” Brooke said.

  “And a nice hot shower. What the hell is that on your shirt tail?” Owen asked.

  “I have no idea. Caramel, maybe?” Callie said.

  “Man, they worked you over,” Drew said. “But—oh, looky—you got a tiara out of it.”

  “But where are your—”

  “If you say wings, I’m going to shoot you.”

  Owen laughed. “Okay,” he held up his hands. “Retracted.”

  “Let me give you a ride home. With your luck you will probably get mauled by stray dogs trying to get to all the goodies on your suit.”

  “Ha fucking Ha. I’ll take the ride.”

  Down at the street, Harper’s chauffeur took one look at him and had to hide a smile. Caleb just gave him a narrow-eyed glare.

  Once they were settled in the back, Harper put up the security panel.

  “You were quite the trooper.”

  “It wasn’t a bar fight, but I feel like I’ve been in one.” He took the tiara off his head and dropped it into his pocket.

  “What happened to your hat?”

  “I have no clue. At least I got my shield back.”

  She covered her mouth and laughed so hard she got tears in her eyes. “Oh, my God, you were so adorable with those girls.”

  “It was awful. I kept wiping her hands and the next thing I knew she had something else on them. It was like I couldn’t get them clean. It was a freaking nightmare.”

  Harper held her stomach. “Stop it.”

  “I’m telling you. I’ve had easier times cuffing mad dog killers.”

  He flopped back against the leather seat, thoroughly exhausted. “And the questions…I didn’t know there would be tests. I felt I needed a Ph.D. in physics. Do you know why the sky is blue? I had no freaking clue. I panicked and said the light bounced off the ocean and made it blue. I have no illusions at all. That little girl will probably go home and Google it. She’ll discover I’m a complete idiot.”

  Harper scooted closer to him and he warded her off with his hand. “Don’t get any closer. I’m not sure any of these stains are stable at this point. I have no intention of messing up that gorgeous dress.”

  “I could take my dress off.”

  “I pref
er to use this time to get to know you.” He smiled at her disappointed look.

  Despite the intimacy they’d shared, he had no idea who she really was. Her background was intensely privileged, far more so than any woman he’d ever met. Her education was obviously impeccable. She was sharp, smart, fearless. Which was both impressive and, he imagined, potentially quite intimidating when she wanted it to be. But that was the part of her he knew, the part the whole world knew. What he wanted to know—was suddenly dying to know—was who she was, and what she’d be like on a regular, everyday level. Then he laughed at himself. Harper Sinclair didn’t have a regular, everyday level.

  Still…he tried to picture her in his apartment. He couldn’t see it. The picture wouldn’t form. She had a point about her lifestyle and his lack of one.

  It shouldn’t have dispirited him. After all, she’d always been more fantasy than reality. Larger than life. Certainly not destined to be a part of anything having to do with his normal one. If he could call anything about his life normal, either.

  “Really, you want to talk?”

  She was staring at him in that intent, open way she sometimes did. He could imagine others found it a tad unnerving, that sort of overt directness. And that she’d intended it to be. For him it was more unsettling then unnerving. Despite the fact that they’d once again found themselves alone. But apparently they were destined to be in each other’s orbit for only a brief span of time, and it would end once the case was solved. He intended to solve it. But he want this to end this…connection.

  In spite of the short time that he’d known her, every encounter had just increased his desire to get closer and deeper into her, on every level.

  “As long as you don’t ask me where my wings are or why the sky is blue, I’m good to go.”

  “I suspect that your wings are hidden,” she said softly.

  “I’m no angel, princess. I could prove that later.”

  She huffed a sigh. “Later? I don’t like that word.” Her direct gaze stayed on him and she tilted her head. “So, what do you want to know?”

  “What exactly do you do with your time, you know, when you’re not trying to get me into bed?”

  “I think that’s a pretty good goal.”

  She was half teasing, but as he looked at her, all he could think about was how she’d looked coming apart in his arms, her exquisite body in the shower all wet and exciting. They seemed to only be evenly matched in their wits and their desire. Was that enough? He couldn’t shake the feeling that getting Harper to make room in their relationship for more than sex was to his advantage. It wasn’t that he was against her stripping off that dress in the limo and having hot sex. And it would be hot. It was that he wanted more, and that was probably a bad sign. He suspected she wanted less.

  “I didn’t say it wasn’t, but you intrigue me and I want to know more.”

  She lifted her eyebrow at that, but didn’t bait him any further. He knew he was confusing her. The feeling is mutual, he wanted to say.

  “You’re really serious about this, aren’t you? About us?”

  “I am.” He didn’t want their relationship to be based on sex alone.

  “My estimation of you just went up a notch.” Why that made his dick go harder, he couldn’t fathom.

  “I’m on several boards, Mercy Hospital, for one, and the American Cancer Society. I also handle the Sinclair Foundation.”

  “For fundraising purposes?”

  “Yes, exactly, along with scholarships for gifted people.”

  “American Cancer Society. That’s because of your mom, right?”

  She looked out the window, and he wasn’t sure if it was because she was composing herself or she just simply didn’t want him to see the core that she guarded so fiercely. She took a deep breath. “Yes, it’s directly related to that. I would love to see that eradicated from our lives. I wouldn’t wish anyone to go through what we went through with my mother. Those pieces in the safe were hers. I keep them close to me, not just to wear them, but because it helps me feel closer to her.”

  He wanted to whoop for joy. Something personal, finally! Then he realized how big a jerk he’d been. “And I mocked you. I’m sorry, Harper, that was an asshole move.”

  “You didn’t know. To be honest, I guess I would have been surprised if you hadn’t. I’m used to those kinds of assumptions.”

  “Well, I’m still sorry.”

  “Thank you. I’m a patron of the arts because I believe that art is fundamental in our lives and we’d lose so much without it. I also run Blue in dog shows because she’s a fierce competitor, is a beautiful compliment to her breed, and I like showing her off. The big one being the Westminster Dog Show. The rest of my time is spent being part of the society of New York City.”

  “Partying.”

  “It may seem that way to you, Caleb, but no, actually, it’s networking. It gives me the clout to get my projects and personal crusades the attention they need, to get the funds they need.”

  “Schmoozing is a job in your world?”

  “Yes, and I’m very good at it. My significant other, or, once I’m married, my husband, would have to schmooze with me.”

  He sighed. “Was that some kind of comment on how I would handle schmoozing?”

  “I’d say not very well.”

  “Hey, I have some charm I can pull out when I need to.”

  “Somehow I’m doubting that, but would you want a lifetime of that?”

  “As long as you come with the package, princess, I think I could freaking handle any goddamned thing, including six tiny little commandos-in-training.”

  She looked away, and for a moment he thought she might be tearing up. Why did that make him feel so damn good?

  For a moment he sat there and stared at her. “Tell me something about yourself. Something deeply personal, deeply private that you’ve never told anyone else. Anyone including your girlfriends.”

  Her eyes fluttered, then shuttered. “You already have a pretty good foothold. I’m not quite ready for that.”

  “Fair enough. You don’t know me well enough to trust me…yet.”

  “I don’t trust many people and the few I do…well it’s rare.”

  He wanted to know that woman who had shown up at his apartment with a masseuse to alleviate his pain. That woman who had taken his dog and cared for him until Caleb was better. He hungered to know that woman better, not the façade she wore to keep people at arm’s length.

  “Tell me now if it’s because I’m a cop and not part of your...”

  She scooted closer and covered his mouth. “Don’t even finish that thought, Caleb. I have respect for you and what you do. At first I thought you were a jerk, but I was wrong. So wrong.” There was that direct stare, except there was something soft in her eyes, something clearly genuine and firm. “You’re just grumpy.” She rubbed her fingertips over his mouth and trailed down his beard. “And rough. I like that…a lot.”

  The hell with it, he wanted to say. Just do it already. The sexual tension between them was all but shrieking, as it always was. He’d be doing them both a favor by taking her to bed where they could take the edge off for a prolonged and quite gratifying length of time, thereby enabling them to focus more clearly on the task at hand afterward.

  And yet…

  “Okay, be honest with me. Do you want to get to know me better?”

  She didn’t immediately respond. Instead, she looked merely bemused. “Honest?”

  “Yup.”

  She shifted closer until her mouth was against his ear. “Yes,” she whispered like it was a secret between the two of them.

  Something he hadn’t realized was tightly knotted unraveled inside him.

  The intercom crackled. “Miss Sinclair we have arrived at Detective Shaw’s residence.”

  “Caleb.”

  “I believe it’s my turn, princess. Meet me at Gloves at 6 pm tomorrow night. Dress to sweat.”

  “What? Really? A whole day witho
ut seeing you?” She bit her lip like she hadn’t meant to say that.

  He smiled. “Tomorrow’s Monday, princess. In case you’ve forgotten, I work for the city. You know, the one you pay your taxes to support, and I have a job to do for you. I intend to get your mother’s stuff back and that freaking dog collar, too.” Taking great care not to get his messed-up clothes anywhere near that beautiful dress, he grabbed the back of her head and kissed her.

  He had a raging hard-on, didn’t even know how he was going to get to sleep tonight for thinking about her, but he was sure he had the goofiest grin on his face when he entered his apartment.

  But when he went inside, he realized he couldn’t stay away from her for even one night. After changing and showering, he headed to her penthouse. When he got to her door and pushed her freaking loud doorbell, it was late. She was the one who opened the door and her face lit with joy.

  It was something he would remember for the rest of his life. This special, glorious woman who could have anyone she wanted, wanted a mook like him. She grabbed onto his shirt and dragged him inside.

  “One of New York’s finest at my door? What is it officer? Have I broken the law? Why don’t you handcuff me and interrogate me?”

  He chuckled as she dragged him down the hall.

  #

  The next day at noon, sitting in their car, Shane took a bite of his chili cheese dog. “When I get my hands on that weasel, I’m going to kick his ass for making us chase him around the city.”

  “There must be a reason he’s gone to ground,” Caleb said, drinking his soda as he wondered how Shane could eat that shit.

  “Yeah. I was thinking the same thing.” Shane polished off the dog and downed the rest of his Coke. “What do you want to do?”

  They were sitting in their car, staking out the place they’d figured Lang would be, just as they had for days on end. But no such luck. Looked like the bastard was avoiding all his old hangouts. “Well, there’s not much else to do. We’ve already made a run at the pawn shops and that was a dead end. I’ve got the boys at the precinct going over all the data from the night of Harper’s breakin.”

  “Well there are maybe a dozen fences who could handle that kind of job. How about we pay them a visit?”