“Quick thinking. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now I’d say you owe me, Garvey.” She stood, using a tone his mother would have recognized. “I’m too tired to worry about you all night, so you’ll use the couch. Tomorrow we’ll have an early breakfast and one of us will call the police station after we eat.”
Lee took the remaining step that brought him in touching distance of her. Awareness mingled with the sudden caution in her expression.
“You’d worry about me?” he asked softly.
She stared at a button on his shirt. “I’m a born worrier. I’m worried about that poor pregnant woman, too.”
He lifted her chin. Kayla trembled. He shouldn’t have touched her again.
“She’s probably nursing her son or daughter about now.” The words conjured an image that quickly changed to one of Kayla. She’d make an incredibly sexy, wonderful mother. He kept picturing her naked, heading for the shower. The vision simply wouldn’t go away.
“It’s been a long time since anyone worried about me, Kayla.”
“Don’t let it go to your head.”
Her words were shaky. In the confusion he read so clearly on her face, he saw an answering spark of desire. Reassuring to know his needs weren’t all one-sided.
“Will you hit me if I kiss you again?”
“Probably.”
“I think I’ll risk it anyhow.”
He lowered his head, giving her time to back away. She raised her chin, instead. He conquered the urge to kiss her the way his body clamored. Instead, his lips settled over hers with aching tenderness. Her hands drifted to his head, twining in his hair to draw him closer. She kissed him back with a fervor that ignited an instant fire in his gut.
Her lips parted, allowing him access to the moist heat of her mouth. Lee heard a low groan and knew it was his own. He held her against his straining body and her soft curves pressed against him in delicate counterpoint to his ready hardness.
He wanted to make love to her all night long. The inflammatory thought made him shudder with need.
“Kayla.” Her lips clung. He reached for a core of restraint. “If we don’t stop right now, I’m going to lay you down and take you right here. Right now. Is that what you want?”
Passion and uncertainty clouded her eyes. It was the uncertainty that restored his sanity. She was shaking. So was he. He settled her head against his chest, stroking her back while he placed light kisses against her damp hair.
“You should have hit me. I shouldn’t have kissed you.”
This time when she lifted her face, anger mingled with the passion that lingered in her eyes. “Stop apologizing. I kissed you back.”
Lee smiled ruefully. “I know.”
She stepped away, placing her hands on her hips. The action defined her gentle curves and caused the short nightgown to ride up high enough that he could almost see the junction of her thighs. Lee studied the ceiling while he drew in several deep breaths.
“Do you have sheets for that couch?” he managed to ask.
“I’ll get them.”
“No!” He stared at the ocean print over her bed to avoid looking at her. “Just tell me where they are.”
“In the linen closet next to the bathroom.”
The vulnerable note he heard in her voice caused him to risk a look. “I haven’t wanted a woman in a long time, Kayla. But I want you. I guess it would be impossible to pretend otherwise after that kiss. I want you, but I won’t kiss you again. You have my word.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I think I’ve just been insulted.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“Go to bed, Lee. I’m not sure what I’m feeling right now. Mostly confused.”
“Hey.” He started to reach for her and dropped his hands to his side. “You aren’t alone. If the situation were different...”
“If the situation was different you wouldn’t be here at all. We both know that. But since you are, I have a favor to ask.”
“Name it.”
“Don’t sneak away again. Stay the night.”
Her troubled eyes doubled his guilt. He’d planned to do exactly that. “You know me that well, huh?”
“Promise?”
“I can’t, Kayla.”
“Please.”
He felt torn, wanting to hold Kayla and offer comfort. But Kayla wasn’t a child. She could understand that he was leaving for her own good.
“If you won’t stay for me, what about for Meredith?” she added.
The question went right to his gut. His daughter hadn’t been far from his thoughts all day, but he didn’t like being reminded of her now.
“It’s late and you’re tired,” Kayla continued. “Anything could happen. Neither one of us is thinking straight anymore. Promise you’ll stay until morning.”
Lee ran a hand over his face. He’d planned to take her car keys and head back to the motel, but the truth was, she was right. He was exhausted. If he’d been thinking straight, he wouldn’t have come back here in the first place.
“You know all the right buttons to push, don’t you?” he asked. “All right, Kayla. I’ll stay.” He stopped in the doorway and looked back, letting her see the hunger that still haunted him. “But I’ll still want you in the morning. And I doubt either one of us is going to sleep much tonight.”
LEE HAD BEEN PARTIALLY right, Kayla discovered. She’d lain awake for hours dissecting her unwanted feelings for him and taking apart the events of the day. When she did sleep it was fitfully, waking early to complete silence. Quietly she padded out to the living room, certain he had left.
Lee slept soundly on the pullout couch. His dark hair was tousled, falling against his forehead. In repose, his features were peaceful and oddly youthful, the lines of strain mostly smoothed away by sleep. He’d used one of her throw pillows for his head, and the top sheet lay tangled low on his chest, revealing a light dusting of dark hair. Below that, she could clearly see the outline of his partial arousal against the thin material.
The sight held her mesmerized. She longed to reach out and touch him. To watch his eyes open, welcoming her with the slow hot look he’d given her last night. She wanted to see all of his lean, hard body.
Kayla turned away quickly, but her thoughts followed her, refusing to go away. It was morning, and she still ,wanted Lee as much as he claimed to want her. The attraction had always been there, hovering in the background of her thoughts. She’d fought against it every time she’d seen him. Things had been so much easier when she could think of Lee as Fay’s husband—and a cop.
He was still a cop. She needed that reminder. She would not fall in love with him. These powerful emotions weren’t real. The two of them were simply caught up in an unusual situation, thrown together in a way that wouldn’t last and would never happen again. Lee had said himself that he hadn’t been with a woman in a long time. And she didn’t want to remember the last time she’d wanted to know a man in more than a general way. It was just sex, rearing its unwanted head.
She dressed briskly, pulling on a pair of white shorts and a loose-fitting T-shirt with a cluster of kittens on the front. The outfit could hardly be considered sexy. She brushed her tangled hair into a ponytail, deciding not to wear any makeup. She had no clients to deal with today and she would do nothing at all to make herself attractive to Lee. He’d quickly see that circumstances had caused his interest.
As she set about preparing a small breakfast casserole, the flashing light on her answering machine distracted her. There were nine calls waiting for attention, but playing them now would wake Lee. Besides, they were probably all from her brother. She didn’t want to talk to Alex right now. Or to Chief Hepplewhite, who had probably also phoned. Kayla wondered how much trouble she was going to be in when he finally talked to her again.
“Good morning.”
She whirled at the sound of Lee’s voice. He stood in the doorway, his chest bare, wearing only yesterday’s pair of dark tailored pants, which fit
him much too well. Her pulse leaped with excitement. Morning stubble covered his jaw and his hair was tousled. He’d never looked sexier.
“Hi.” She busied herself setting the table.
“Okay to take a shower?”
“Help yourself. You know where the towels are. Your clothing is in a bag on—”
“I have it right here.”
She hadn’t even noticed the shopping bag in his hand. The slow curve of his lips told her he knew exactly what she was thinking. She walked to the refrigerator so he wouldn’t see her blush.
“I stayed the night, Kayla, And I still want you.”
Her mouth went dry with longing. She couldn’t summon an answer. She leaned her head against the refrigerator as he left. She wanted him, too, with a fierceness that was almost painful.
She finished putting the simple casserole together and set it in the oven. Then she headed for the living room to avoid listening to the sound of his shower. Lee had already made up the couch, she discovered. He’d restored the living room so there was no trace of his presence at all.
“And that’s exactly the way he’ll leave you,” she told herself sternly. “As soon as this is over he’ll be gone without a trace, leaving only your guilt. You don’t do well with brief affairs, remember?”
But she thought it might be too late for lectures. Despite her best intentions, she was falling in love with Lee. And if all they could have was a brief fling, well, it just might be worth the pain.
A key turned in the lock of her front door. Fear exploded in her chest. Before she could move, Alex stepped inside. His worried expression changed to anger as soon as he saw her standing there.
“Where have you been? I must have left you a dozen messages to call me.”
“Nine messages and I’m fine, Alex, as you can see. I haven’t played my messages yet.”
“Where’s Garvey?”
“Alex—”
“The cops are looking for him. Hepplewhite isn’t happy with you, either.”
“I know.”
“They think he killed Fay.”
“He didn’t.”
“You don’t know that! The man had a fight with her right there in the parking lot at the old Perry place in front of half the town.”
Answering anger rose in her chest. “That doesn’t make him a killer. Look at us. We’re having an argument right now.”
Alex cursed and began to pace. “I should wring your neck. What do you mean getting involved with this guy? He’s a cop, Kayla. Exactly the sort of man you’ve professed to hate since you were a kid.”
“I know that. But he didn’t kill Fay.”
Alex cursed. “Get your purse. I’ll take you to the police station right now so you can get Hepplewhite off your case.”
His words made her furious. “How nice of you to be so concerned for my welfare all of a sudden.” Alex had the decency to look momentarily abashed. “What about you? Is he off your case? Were you having an affair with Fay?”
Her brother looked astounded, then hurt, and finally angry. “I suppose I have Garvey to thank for this inquisition.”
She shook her head. “No, those are my questions, Alex. I found your picture in her locket.”
“What picture? What locket?” Alex rocked back on his heels. “What’s going on here? Do you think I killed Fay?” His eyes, so like her own, glittered with banked emotions.
“Of course not. But they’re going to look at everyone who had a connection to Fay. The locket says you were more than just acquaintances.”
“You really think I had an affair with her?”
“She made no bones about wanting you, Alex. She asked me a lot of questions about you.”
Her brother suddenly stiffened. His face became hard. Dangerous. A stranger’s face.
“What sort of questions? What did you tell her?”
“What could I tell her? I don’t really know anything about you, do I?”
For just a moment, she saw guilt and then regret. Then it was like watching a mask descend.
“I don’t believe this!” he exploded. “You’re my sister, not my mother. And for someone who professes to hate cops, you’re sure going to extremes to defend Garvey all of a sudden. Have you forgotten what happened to Dad?”
Furious that he would bring that up now, she raised her face to his. “I haven’t forgotten a thing.”
“Then you remember that a trigger-happy cop shot him in cold blood when he was reaching for his wallet.”
“Stop it.”
“And do you remember that the other officer on the scene lied so no charges would be filed against the man who killed Dad?”
“Alex, stop it.”
“What happened to all your claims that the police are nothing but macho animals with no morals and—”
“I said, stop it, Alex!”
“You heard the lady.”
Lee stepped behind her, having heard more than enough from his position in the hall. He wiped the remnants of shaving cream from his face with the towel draped around his shoulders.
After a second of startled surprise, Alex narrowed his eyes in clear warning. His gaze encompassed Lee’s bare feet and the intimacy implied in the both the situation and the way Lee rested his hand possessively on Kayla’s shoulder.
Alex swore. “You’re sleeping with the bastard!”
Lee moved, intending to give the punk a matching bruise to go with the one already on his stubbled jaw.
Kayla grabbed his arm. “Lee, don’t! Both of you stop it. Right now. I mean it!”
Lee hesitated. Alex was Kayla’s brother. He owed her, even if Alex was exactly the sort of swaggering punk he enjoyed putting away.
Alex muttered an oath, but he didn’t relax. Despite the wild gleam in his eyes, his voice remained dangerously under control. He didn’t take his eyes from Lee when he spoke.
“They have him all but nailed, Kayla. Motive, opportunity, and I’m betting when they find his weapon they’ll have a perfect ballistics match, too.” His jaw clenched. “Care to comment?”
“Yeah. You have an awful lot of information for a two-bit punk, Coughlin. Information only a cop or someone who’d been inside that motel room should have had.”
Alex took a half step forward. Lee released Kayla, gently nudging her to the side as he prepared for the other man’s lunge. But other than balling his fists, Alex didn’t move.
“I’m only going to warn you once, Garvey. Drag my sister into this murder investigation, and I’ll tear you apart with my bare hands.”
“You’re welcome to try.”
“I’m already in this investigation, Alex,” Kayla interjected quickly. “Fay was my friend, remember? Lee didn’t kill her. He spent that night here. With me.”
Lee tried not to look as stunned as he felt, though Alex probably wouldn’t have noticed if Lee’s mouth had hung open. Alex looked murderous and her words acted as a catalyst. Alex closed the distance between them and came to a ragged stop. With a sudden oath, he whirled away and began to swear and pace, running a hand through his dark hair. “Do you know what you’re saying?”
“Yes,” she responded without hesitation, but she wouldn’t meet Lee’s eyes.
“Kayla, thank you, but I don’t need you to jump to my defense,” Lee told her quietly. Still, something lifted inside his chest. Hadn’t he wondered what it would be like to have someone defend him as staunchly as Kayla had originally defended her brother?
Alex reached the front door and stopped. “I’d really like to beat you to a pulp,” he told Lee.
“As I said, you’re welcome to try.”
Alex nodded. “It’s a date. You’ve got fifteen minutes before Hepplewhite gets here. I’ll talk with you later,” he told his sister before heading down the stairs. Lee listened until he heard the downstairs door shut, then he turned back to Kayla. Tears ran down her cheeks unchecked.
Lee groaned in instant remorse, reaching for her. “C’mere. I’m sorry, Kayla.”
; He pulled her unresisting form against his chest, feeling the wetness of her tears on his bare skin. They stood for several seconds before she pulled back, wiping at her face.
“The buzzer,” she said. “I have to get the casserole out.”
He heard the annoying sound but dismissed it. “Never mind the casserole.”
“It’ll burn.”
“I like things well-done.”
“No.” She broke free and turned away, leaving him feeling like the world’s worst heel. If he’d been dressed, he’d have been tempted to go down the steps after Alex so they could both work out some of their frustration in a stupidly aggressive manner. Instead, he went into the bathroom and finished dressing.
Kayla met him in the hall. He had his bag of clothing under one arm. She couldn’t mistake his intention.
“Breakfast is ready.”
“I’ll take a rain check.”
There was no sign of the tears that had stained her cheeks only minutes ago. The set of her jaw told him she was back in control.
“You’ll sit and eat. You still owe me.”
. “Kayla—”
“We’re going to talk, Lee. For Meredith’s sake if not for yours.”
“Leave Meredith out of this.”
“I can’t. She’s already lost her mother. Fay might not have been much of a loss, but you would be. Are you going to run?”
“No, I’m not planning to run. I have a couple more people to talk to, that’s all.”
“Fine. Sit and eat. We’ll go talk to them after we finish. My brother isn’t going to the police. He just said that to chase you away. He doesn’t love the police any more than I do.”
“And if you’re wrong?”
“Then you’ll talk to Chief Hepplewhite and I’ll give you an alibi for the night of the murder.”
“You will not! You don’t even know what happened that night.”
“I know you didn’t kill her.”
The open sincerity in her expression nearly undid him. “Even I don’t know that for absolute certain,” he admitted. “But it does look like I was set up.” He stared at her determined features. “Honest to God, I don’t know whether to shake you or kiss you.”
“Just sit down and eat.”
For His Daughter Page 13