by Vivi Holt
She grumbled and she reached for the TV remote. There was nothing on, and she was still channel-surfing when he emerged from the bathroom, his hair damp and slicked back. The faint scent of aftershave made her pulse race, and she switched the TV off with a sigh. Why was she always attracted to men who underestimated her?
Even Paul had done it in his own way, though she hadn’t realized it until after they were married. He’d been more subtle in his approach, but as her supervisor, he’d been reluctant to promote her to detective. In his own words, it was a harsh line of work and he wasn’t sure she was up for it. She hadn’t held it against him, but she probably should’ve, especially once she learned about his extra curricular activities.
She had no intention of getting involved with another man who didn’t see her strength and all she had to offer.
“Ready?”
She looked over and found him already dressed – black slacks, dress shoes and a Hawaiian shirt covered in brightly-colored flowers. She nodded. “When you are.”
“Let’s go, then.”
6
Callum was very much aware of Jessie striding along the deck beside him. She’d thrown a flimsy wrap around her bare shoulders, but the dress she wore didn’t deserve to be covered up. In the time since he’d met her, he’d noticed she usually took a unique approach to fashion, but tonight she was all elegance and style. Her makeup and hair were a little quirky, he’d admit, but he liked it – she stood out from the crowd and wasn’t afraid to express herself.
She took his hand, her fingers winding through his, and his eyes widened. He glanced down at their linked hands, his large one almost engulfing hers.
“What?” she laughed, an eyebrow raised. “We’re on our honeymoon.”
He chuckled. “I’m not complaining.”
She leaned in closer. “How will we know where Alton and his missus are dining?”
His heart pounded against his ribcage. He could barely concentrate with her standing so close. “I figured we’d have to go restaurant to restaurant until we find them. They have to be somewhere. I doubt they’ll be staying in their room every minute of the cruise.” He caught her eye and swallowed hard. “Let’s start with the Neptune Bar & Grill.”
They walked for a half-hour before they finally located Alton and his mystery lady at the Nippon Grill, a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant. They were seated at a table built around a large square griddle where the chef sliced and fried strips of meat and fresh vegetables.
“Two dining tonight?” asked a waitress with a shy smile.
“Yes, please,” replied Callum.
The waitress led them to the table where the Meers sat, and Callum exchanged a satisfied look with Jessie. They sat and Jessie took off her wrap, slung it over her purse and hung both on the back of her chair. Callum ordered them sake and a pot of green tea, then sat back to watch the chef prepare their meal. As he did, he leaned a little toward Alton, who had his back to them, to see if he could hear anything the couple was saying.
The woman with Alton wore a scarf around her hair and large dark glasses, even though the restaurant was dimly lit. Her lipstick was bright red, her cheeks pink with rouge, and long manicured fingernails tapped the outside of a glass of what looked like Coke. At first glance, Callum pegged her at about forty years old to Alton’s twenty-six, although he couldn’t say for sure.
“I don’t know if I’ll like sake,” said Jessie with a frown. “I’ve never had it before and honestly I’m not much of a drinker.”
“No problem, honey.” He grinned at her. “If you don’t like it we can order something else or stick with the tea.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, thanks, sugar plum.”
Sugar plum? he mouthed to her and frowned. Really? That was the nickname she’d come up with for him? Couldn’t she think of something a little more masculine?
She didn’t reply, at all. Her poker face was impressive.
Alton and his consort spoke quietly together, and Callum could only catch the occasional word. They’d have to try another tack. “How are you liking Atlanta so far?” he asked, his ears pricked to listen to the couple.
Jessie smiled. “It’s okay, I guess. I lived in Marietta as a kid, but it’s been a long time – it’ll take some getting used to again. I left a lot of friends behind in Chicago, good friends. I miss them, and Scott misses his friends and his school. But I know we can make a good life for ourselves.”
“Especially now that we’re married,” he added, one eyebrow arched.
She winced at her slip. “Yes, of course. That helps a lot.” She leaned close and whispered against his ear. “Mrs. Meer is listening in on our conversation, I’ll see if I can engage her.” As she pulled away, she laughed as if he’d said something hilarious. “So, sugar plum …”
Callum laughed too, but his nostrils flared. She wasn’t going to give that one up. “Yes, honey bee?”
“I’ve been wondering – what are we supposed to do when the ship stops at each of the islands? Do we go on a tour, or just look around on our own? I’ve never been on a cruise before. How does it work?”
“I suppose we can just ask the staff …”
Alton’s wife leaned forward. “You can do either of those things,” she said in a husky voice. Her face was a mask, eyes still hidden behind the shades.
Jessie’s face lit up. “Oh, that sounds wonderful, thanks. So have you been on a cruise before?”
The woman nodded. “Oh yes, I love cruising.”
“What do you usually do at each stop?”
There was the faintest hint of a smile. “I prefer to lie on the beach and soak up the sun. There’s nothing quite like a Caribbean beach. And I have no desire to tour the islands. Though some of the tours are worthwhile, especially on the bigger islands – they have lovely boutiques and decent shopping.”
“Wow, good advice, thanks. I’m Jessie McKenzie.” She reached out her hand.
The woman hesitated, then took it and shook it limply. “I’m Liliana. Nice to meet you.”
“You as well. Is this your husband?” Jessie waved at Alton.
He smiled, swallowed a mouthful of chicken and waved back. “I’m Alton.”
“This is my new husband, Callum,” replied Jessie.
Callum shook hands with the couple. The chef passed Jessie and Callum some meat and vegetables and they began to eat.
“Where are you both from?” asked Jessie.
“We’re from Atlanta.” Alton seemed more eager to talk than Liliana.
“Really? So are we! Isn’t that funny, sugar plum? It really is a small world, isn’t it?”
Callum smiled and nodded. At least she’d gotten the couple talking.
“How about that? Where in Atlanta?” asked Alton.
“Marietta,” replied Callum. He wasn’t sure what Jessie was about to say, but knew they needed to keep their story straight. The best way to do that was with as much truth as possible.
“Oh, that’s close to us – we’re in Alpharetta. We love it there, don’t we, darling?” Alton smiled at Liliana.
She nodded, then huffed in displeasure. “I thought this food would be tastier.”
Alton’s smile fell. “Oh. Well, we can go somewhere else if you like.”
“No, never mind. I’ll put up with it tonight, I suppose.”
Jessie and Callum exchanged a glance. Whoever she was, she had Alton under her thumb. “Are the two of you married?” asked Jessie.
“Of course we are,” snapped Liliana, scowling. “It’s a honeymoon cruise, isn’t it?”
Jessie didn’t miss a beat. “We are too – we just got married. Our parents think we rushed into it, since we’ve only known each other for a few months, but we couldn’t help ourselves.” She put her hands on Callum’s shoulder and leaned her cheek against it. “We just knew we were meant to be together.” She gazed lovingly into his eyes.
Callum had to remind himself it was all a ruse. She was good – he had to give her that. He lea
ned over and kissed her, and her eyes flew wide. She wasn’t expecting that, and he grinned as her cheeks flushed. That’d teach her not to play with the big dogs. “That’s right. When you know it’s right, why wait?”
Liliana arched an eyebrow and took a sip of Coke, looking like she was trying to calm her nerves. Finally she managed a tight smile. “I’m so happy for the two of you.”
“Thank you!” Jessie gushed. “And we’re happy for you as well. Were you together long before you got married?”
Callum could see Liliana’s patience was running low. Jessie was pushing it. But she’d done well so far – he decided to see how it went. If it went well, fine; if not, he could signal to her to back off.
“We’ve known each other a long time,” replied Alton.
Liliana’s nostrils flared. “But we don’t want to bore you with the details. Suffice to say, we’re very happy with the way things are.”
Jessie linked her fingers through Callum’s again. He liked the way it felt, and his pulse raced as she leaned close to whisper in his ear. “Something’s not right about them.”
He nodded, but while he pondered the possibilities, he couldn’t stay focused. Jessie was too close, her touch too appealing, and he’d been single too long. He found himself wishing they could be alone so he could kiss her again. But that wasn’t part of the deal. He shook his head in an attempt to clear it. He couldn’t think that way about her – she was a colleague, a mother and a recent widow.
“I think I’ll go get some dessert, darling.” Liliana stood and reached for her purse. “So nice to meet the two of you.” Alton hurried after her, only stopping to pay for their meal as they left the restaurant.
Jessie pulled her hand out of Callum’s. He couldn’t help feeling disappointed. “Did you see that? As soon as we started asking questions, she got very uncomfortable. Look, they didn’t even finish eating.” Jessie’s eyes sparked in satisfaction.
Callum nodded. “I saw it. A strange couple, that’s for sure. And why didn’t Liliana take off those glasses? What’s she hiding?”
“She’s hiding something, that’s for sure. And if they’re newlyweds, I’m a monkey’s uncle.”
Callum laughed. “You’re a what?”
“It’s a saying … haven’t you heard it before? A monkey’s uncle?”
He shook his head, still chuckling. “Sure, I’ve heard it, just not from anyone under the age of seventy.”
She slapped his arm playfully. “Oh, I see how it is. You’re going to make fun of me… but I could just as easily make fun of that shirt.”
Callum glanced down at his Hawaiian shirt. It was perfect for a cruise, or so he’d thought when he purchased it. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Nothing, if you’re in the AARP.” She burst out laughing.
“So I guess we’re just a couple of newlywed retirees, huh?” He took her hand and moved closer to kiss her cheek. “Us and the Timmses and all these foreigners.”
Her body stiffened. “What are you doing?”
“We’re pretending to be married,” he whispered into her hair. “Or had you forgotten?”
“I didn’t forget, but Alton and Liliana left …”
He dropped her hand and pulled away. “Okay, fine. Just thought we should keep up appearances. What were you saying about them not being newlyweds?”
She ran her hands over her hair, and he noticed she was still blushing. “It’s just that they’re not doing any of that …” She waved a hand in his direction. “… you know, the lovey-dovey stuff. They didn’t touch once. They barely even looked at each other. That’s not how newlyweds act. And she’s a lot older than he is, and telling him what to do …” Jessie picked up her fork and stuck it into a piece of beef, then pushed the meat into her mouth and chewed it with her eyes closed. “Oh, that’s really good.”
He nodded. “Yeah, there’s definitely an age difference. But it’s hard to tell how much of a difference with her all covered up.”
“Maybe that’s the point,” added Jessie, speaking around her food. “But from what little I could see, she acted more like his maiden aunt than his new bride.”
So Jessie noticed that too? They didn’t seem like newlyweds at all – but what did it mean? How did it impact on the case? What he needed to do was discover whether the will was valid or if someone had pressured Kyle Callahan into writing it. He still wasn’t sure how to do that, since it wasn’t likely Alton would admit it. But starting a friendship with the couple couldn’t hurt – he’d just have to follow his instincts from there.
They continued eating until he couldn’t hold any more food. Their discussion revolved around the Atlanta Braves and Scott’s obsession with baseball and other sports. Callum told Jessie he had a friend who did physiotherapy for the Braves and could probably get Scott in to meet some of them, and Jessie seemed excited at the prospect.
But all the while, he was watching her, waiting for her to give him some sign that what he was feeling was reciprocated. She was hard to read – he’d never known a woman like her before. Usually he knew immediately where he stood with women, but Jessie kept her feelings well hidden. Or she simply didn’t have any for him. That was possible too.
They finished up and headed outside. The air was chill against Callum’s skin and he shoved his hands into his pants pockets as they walked. “Can I ask you something?”
She nodded, tugging her wrap more tightly around her shoulders.
“What happened to your husband?”
She stopped walking and leaned against the railing to stare out over the dark water below. “He was killed.”
His heart sank, and he went to stand beside her. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. It was a few years ago, but it still hurts to think about.”
“I shouldn’t have …”
She smiled weakly. “It’s not your fault.” She sighed. “He was my boss at the Chicago PD. We were quite the scandal for a little while. He … he was killed on the job – shot. He shouldn’t have been there, but the callout was to a politician’s house, a friend of his – he was trying to talk him down, but somehow a fire fight broke out and he was shot in the cross fire. The politician was killed.
“No one knows exactly what happened, but Paul was investigating corruption within the department at the time, and the bullet came from a police weapon so … the officer responsible was arrested and put in jail, but he never admitted there was anything else going on, he swears it was an accident, and there are still a lot of unanswered questions around his death. The shooter will be out in 3-5 years.”
Callum shook his head. “I think I remember hearing about that on the news.” He wished he could do more to comfort her, but he kept his hands in his pockets.
“It was a big story. Anyway, Scott and I stayed for another three years, but when Dad died, Mom was so alone and we were too … it just made sense for us to move back.”
He stood in silence a few moments before speaking. “That does make sense.” There wasn’t anything else to say. He couldn’t make things better with words. He knew what grief felt like, though he’d never lost a spouse. Words didn’t help, no matter how well intentioned. It was the friends who stuck with you that made the difference.
He studied her out of the corner of his eye. She seemed so fragile and vulnerable, shivering in the cool night air. Yet there was a strength inside her he was just beginning to see. She was beautiful, heartbreakingly, but there was so much more to her than that. And she seemed completely unaware of the effect she had on him. He’d have to take care not to let himself fall for her. That wasn’t something she needed or wanted from him – she needed his friendship, she needed the job. Those were things he could do for her.
He’d just have to forget the rest – unless she told him otherwise.
Jessie, now in pajamas and slippers, peered into the mirror as she cleaned the makeup from her eyes with a cotton wipe. She’d had a fun evening. After the official part of the night was over and Alton
and his wife fled the restaurant, she and Callum had talked and connected in a way that surprised her.
She sighed and leaned her hands on the bathroom counter. She had to pull herself together. He was her boss, at least for now. She couldn’t afford to see him as anything else. If she let her heart get involved, she could lose this job and any future work he might send her way. And from the way Jack spoke about him, it sounded as if Callum was the man to know in the Atlanta PI world. She couldn’t afford to mess up this opportunity.
“You need this job for Scott and Mom, and for yourself,” she whispered to her reflection. “Be sensible.” Not like last time was left unspoken. She tossed the cotton wipe in the trash can and walked out of the bathroom.
Callum had pulled out the sofa bed, made it up with sheets and a blanket, and now sat cross-legged on top of it in boxers and an undershirt, staring at the TV. “What are you watching?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Ice Road Truckers. There’s not much on until SportsCenter at eleven.”
She pulled back the covers on the bed and slid her feet in. He glanced her way and caught her gaze, setting off a chemical reaction from her head to her toes. His chest and arm muscles rippled as he followed her example and slipped under his own covers.
She caught a glint from his left ring finger – odd that she hadn’t noticed it earlier. She couldn’t remember him mentioning a wife, but how much did she really know about him? “I know it’s none of my business, but you’re wearing a wedding band – are you married?”
His brow furrowed and he turned toward her. “What? Oh no, I’m not married. It’s for the gig, you know.”
She nodded in relief. “Oh, of course. I just didn’t realize you’d committed quite so heavily to the part. I mean, I wore mine, but I had it in my bedside drawer at home. You went out and bought a ring?”