For His Daughter

by Dani Sinclair

“Yeah. That puts me between a rock and a hard place.”

  “No, you aren’t. I told Hepplewhite you spent the night with me.”

  Lee shook his head. “You shouldn’t have done that, Kayla. I told him the truth.”

  She sat beside him, looking stricken. Lee put his arm around her, breathing in the scent of her hair and thanking God she was alive and unharmed.

  “They’re going to arrest you, aren’t they?”

  “Probably.”

  “What can I do?”

  Lee saw the dread in her eyes and lifted her chin. He kissed her softly, tenderly, feeling her tremble. “It’ll be okay,” he said gently.

  “How?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Fool.”

  “Yeah. Why didn’t you go when I told you to go?”

  “You told me to get help. I had my cell phone in my purse so I called for help instead of leaving you there alone.” She pulled back, some of the color returning to her pale features. “And it’s a good thing I did, too.”

  “He was shooting at you,” Lee reminded her, once again shuddering at how close the whole thing had been.

  “He thought I was you.”

  “That would have made your brother feel much better at our funeral.”

  She managed a smile and ran a hand through his hair. “Your ends are singed on this side, did you know that?”

  “It’ll grow.”

  “Barney claims he didn’t set the fire.”

  “I know.”

  “It was Jason, wasn’t it?”

  Lee shrugged. “That’s where I’d put my money. Elizabeth said they were broke. Maybe he set the fire to collect on the insurance.”

  “But they won’t pay off on an arson.”

  “Not if they can prove he had something to do with it.”

  “Did Jason kill Fay?”

  They both looked up as Hepplewhite entered the room. “I’d be interested in hearing your answer to that question myself, Garvey.”

  Lee shook his head, more tired than he’d been in a long time. “I don’t know. If I’m right about the blackmail scheme, a lot of people may have had reason to kill Fay. Have you talked to the Ruckles?”

  Hepplewhite shook his head. “There’s no one home at their place.”

  “No one? Doesn’t that seem strange?”

  Hepplewhite didn’t bother to answer. “I’m not happy with you right now, Garvey. Your captain isn’t happy with you, either.”

  “He’s here?”

  “No. I just talked to him on the phone. He says you’re smart, but headstrong and cocky. Still, he stuck his neck out and called you a good cop.”

  “Aw, gee shucks, I don’t know what to say.”

  Hepplewhite’s expression didn’t change. “You didn’t run when you had the chance and Kayla here corroborates a lot of what you’ve told me. If I don’t lock you up for the night, do I have your word you’ll be available to answer questions tomorrow morning?”

  Lee didn’t try to hide his surprise. “I don’t even have transportation available at this point, unless someone drove Iggy’s car here to the hospital.”

  “No windshield,” Kayla reminded him. “Or side windows or even a working side mirror, come to that.” She turned to Hepplewhite. “He’ll spend the night at my place, if you can give us a ride home.”

  “I’ll have Derek take you back.”

  The vulnerability in her eyes made Lee swallow an automatic protest. Going back to her place actually made sense. “Thank you,” he told Hepplewhite, but he was looking at Kayla.

  “About your car,” Hepplewhite began.

  “You found it?”

  “No, but Fay’s car is also missing. Iggy saw a teenager driving it through town. The kid wasn’t a local, so he noticed that right away. It looks like the car was stolen.”

  “And mine?”

  “The Williams boy is missing. According to his family he took off again. There’s a chance this time he took your car with him. Jake Collins said he was fascinated by your car.”

  “The boy makes a habit of this?”

  Hepplewhite sighed. “Let’s just say there are family problems. He’s run off before, but he never goes far.”

  “Are you sure he took my car?”

  “No, but we aren’t ruling it out, either. If he did, we’ll pick them both up shortly.”

  “He may also have my backup weapon.”

  “Matt may have taken your car, but he isn’t dangerous.”

  “Anyone with a gun is dangerous,” Lee remonstrated. “I’m not worried about the car. It’s insured. What I’m concerned about is my daughter.”

  Hepplewhite’s hard features relaxed. “She’s fine. I saw her this afternoon. She’s being well cared for.”

  “I’d like to see her.”

  “I’ll make the arrangements in the morning. Do you have relatives nearby?”

  “No. But I’ve called my sister. She’s en route from Texas.”

  “Okay. We’ll talk in the morning. Try to stay out of trouble until then.”

  “What about Trowbridge?”

  “He should be well enough to answer questions by tomorrow, but he already claims he didn’t set that fire. Says he was in one of the units fixing a stopped-up toilet when he smelled the gasoline and came running.”

  “A .22 makes an unusual plunger, wouldn’t you say?”

  Hepplewhite didn’t smile. “Claims he tried to put the fire out, but it was too late. When he spotted Iggy’s car he thought you were coming back to make sure he was dead. He used the rifle in self-defense, according to him.”

  “Why would he think I’d care either way?”

  “I’ll ask him that question. Meantime, lets say nine o’clock. My office.”

  “We’ll be there,” Kayla promised.

  Hepplewhite, however, waited until Lee nodded before he walked out of the room.

  “Your brother is not going to be happy with me,” Lee said.

  “Ha. That’s nothing. Wait until Iggy sees what I did to his car.”

  THEY RODE HOME in silence in the back of the Fools Point police car. Lee pressed her against his side in a comforting, natural gesture. Kayla rested her head on his shoulder and concentrated on listening to the reassuring sound of his breathing.

  Her car still sat in the driveway, Kayla noticed. Iggy hadn’t gotten around to picking it up yet. She’d have to call him first thing tomorrow and tell him to forget it. She wasn’t looking forward to that call. The police chief had had Iggy’s car towed back to his gas station.

  “Are you hungry?” she asked Lee as they entered her living room.

  “Not really.”

  “Me neither.” She felt unaccountably nervous as she stood there looking up at him.

  “Why don’t I get the blankets and make up the couch?” Lee offered.

  She drew in a deep, shaky breath. “Because it would be a waste of time?”

  Lee studied her face. Then his own features softened. He opened his arms. “C’mere.”

  She flowed against him, lifting her face for his kiss. He smelled of wood smoke and sweat. And he broke the kiss to look down at her. “I need a shower. Want to share?”

  She trembled. A fierce, throbbing excitement started low in her belly. “I don’t think we’d both fit.”

  His smile sent the excitement pulsing all through her. “We’ll work something out. Got any bubble bath? Women are supposed to like bubble baths.”

  “I use bath oil.”

  He reached for the hem of her T-shirt. “It’ll have to do.” He pulled the shirt over her head. “Now, as I recall, you said this contraption fastens in the front?”

  His fingers grazed her breasts as he fumbled for the release of her bra. She didn’t try to help him. She was certain her own fingers would make a hash of it. Instead, she concentrated on undoing his belt buckle.

  “Ah. The prize was definitely worth the wait.”

  Her breasts spilled free as the catch was released and Lee slid
the straps down her arms.

  “Very pretty.”

  His fingers caught the waistband of her shorts and panties, sliding them down her thighs as one, baring her totally to his avid gaze.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  And she felt beautiful beneath that hungry stare. Beautiful and sexier than she’d ever felt in her life. She stepped back. “Your clothes are harder to remove than mine were. I’ll go find the bath oil while you get undressed.”

  His eyes gleamed. “Deal.”

  She scooped up her fallen clothing, aware of him watching her every move, and sauntered down the hall feeling deliciously naughty beneath his gaze. As she drew the bathwater, pouring in a generous measure of oil, she kept thinking the tub was much too small for the sort of thing she had in mind.

  His bare skin suddenly pressed against her back. She stood, wriggling against him, feeling the coiled tension in his powerful body. His hands slid around to fondle her nipples, bringing them to tiny pointed erections.

  “It’s too small,” she said sadly.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  Heated fire lit her cheeks. “I meant the bathtub,” she amended quickly.

  “Good. For a minute there, you had me worried.”

  He turned her in his arms, kissing the soul from her body. She was hopelessly, happily, his for the taking. She didn’t want to think about tomorrow or the pain that would come after he left her. For tonight, there was just the two of them, lost in a steamy world of scented water and each other.

  Kayla stroked his length, thinking he was anything but small. “Fool. I’m the one who should be worried. I think it’s too big.”

  “No, it isn’t. I’ll take care of you, Kayla,” he said seriously.

  “I know that.” And she did. Part of her wished neither one of them had to bother with any of the little foil packages. Part of her wished she had the right to bear Lee’s child. And then his mouth covered her and all thoughts of rights fled before the incredible sensations he aroused.

  “I just want to be sure you know what you’re doing,” he whispered against her neck.

  He wanted her. Tenderness made it difficult to swallow.

  “Well, I’m not very practiced,” she tried to tease, “but I thought I was going about it the right way.”

  Lee lifted her inside the tub of water. He drew them both down, settling her back against his chest. She twisted slightly to return his kisses, glad when they became hard and demanding in answer to her own need. She wanted desperately to please him.

  “You are beautiful all over.” He cupped the scented water in his hand and stroked it over her breast. The touch was quickly gone, leaving sensitized nerve endings in its wake.

  She quivered in anticipation as he anointed the other breast, as well. “Firm and rounded, the way a woman should be.” Fingers slid across her abdomen moving lower.

  “Is that a polite way of saying I’m fat?” Her voice sounded high and strained. If he didn’t really touch her there soon she was going to go out of her mind.

  His erection pulsed against her back. The contact with his bared skin sent shock waves of pleasure through her system as he kissed her neck.

  “You’re perfect, remember?”

  He leaned into her body, caressing the bared skin of her neck with his lips while his hand teased the hair at the junction of her legs with light, whispery caresses that drove her wild. She tried to turn to face him, but he anchored her with his broad hands and wouldn’t allow her to move.

  “Not yet.”

  He explored her body, testing the texture of her skin, stroking every curve and plane. It was more arousing than anything she had ever experienced before as the warm water lapped around them. And all the while she could feel the hard wanting of his shaft.

  “I want you.”

  He turned her then, water slapping over the sides of the tub. Her hands ran across his skin, probing, touching, caressing. His nipples were as hard as her own and Lee groaned as she rubbed herself against him. He stopped her exploration when she reached lower to hold him.

  “I wanted to go slow, but I can’t if you keep that up.”

  “I don’t want to go slow.”

  “Good.”

  He maneuvered her body on top of his own. Kayla slid over him, aided by the slippery water.

  “Lee!”

  His hand slipped between her legs as they straddled his thighs and he touched her lightly with a finger.

  “We won’t fit,” she blurted.

  Lee chuckled, a low, pleased sound as his finger probed her entrance, cleaving a path through the warm wetness to delve inside.

  “We’ll fit.”

  As she lifted herself slightly, reaching to guide his hardness, she found Lee was right. They fit together in the most electrifying way.

  “Tight.”

  “Incredible,” he corrected.

  She clenched around him, agreeing completely. He held her still.

  “Slowly, or I won’t last,” he murmured. His hands lifted to play with her breasts, tugging lightly on the nipples, before bending her to suckle against one tip and then the other.

  The slight tugging carried straight down her body to the spot where they were joined. Kayla cried out in unbearable pleasure. As one, they began to move, letting the finely honed need take them faster and faster toward completion. Water sloshed everywhere as Kayla rode his thrusts, higher and higher until she felt a blunt finger probe her inner folds. His rubbing touch sent her over the edge. She stiffened, squeezing him in exquisite agony as he drove himself to release inside her.

  Chapter Nine

  As Kayla paced the tiny police station the next morning, her anxiety grew. “They’ve been in there forever.”

  Carolyn gave her a sympathetic look. “Why don’t you go across the street for some coffee? I’ll let them know where you are when they’re done.”

  “Thanks, but they might want to ask me something else.”

  Carolyn returned to her computer. Tired, cranky and completely out of sorts, Kayla resumed pacing. It was all Lee’s fault. She hadn’t had enough sleep. What happened to that bit about men having limited stamina? Ha. Obviously, no one had tested Lee. They’d nearly been late for the meeting with Hepplewhite this morning when he tried to help her with breakfast. She hadn’t known you could do that on a kitchen chair.

  Not that she was complaining.

  Kayla smiled to herself. Who would have thought making love could be so mind-blowingly sensual. Or such bawdy good fun?

  She resumed pacing, trying to throw off the memories of a night she wouldn’t forget any time soon.

  Carolyn sighed, took something from the printer and walked to the file cabinet. Realizing that her pacing was probably keeping the other woman from her work, Kayla plopped down into one of the visitor chairs and stared at the closed door, willing it to open. What was taking so long?

  Hepplewhite had questioned her first, then asked her to leave while he talked with Lee. That had been nearly two hours ago. What if they arrested him for Fay’s murder, after all?

  Could they do that without the murder weapon? After what her brother said he told Hepplewhite about Officer Osher and Fay, why wasn’t Hepplewhite talking with Thad? It was just as she’d always suspected, the police looked out for their own, even at the expense of others. Lee might also be a police officer, but he wasn’t one of their officers.

  Thad Osher had been leaving the building when she and Lee were coming in this morning. She’d glared daggers at the man as they passed, which he’d calmly ignored. She almost hoped he was the killer. Disliking him came naturally.

  On the other hand, she feared that as soon as they identified the real murderer, Lee would collect Meredith and disappear from her life completely. No matter how she tried to convince herself that last night had been nothing more than mutual lust, it wasn’t true on her part. Lee would take part of her heart with him when he left.

  Kayla frowned, staring at a picture of downtown Fools Poi
nt. Was she going to sit here full of cloying self-pity? She loved Lee. If he didn’t return the sentiment, at least he liked her enough to want to keep her safe. And they had a strong physical attraction. What’s more, she loved his daughter.

  It was a start. Lots of marriages began with less. The three of them would make a wonderful family. If he couldn’t see the obvious, then it was up to her to point it out to him.

  The door suddenly opened. Lee stood framed in the opening, all but breathing fire. She heard the rumble of Hepplewhite’s low voice. Lee’s hands opened and closed at his sides in agitated anger.

  “I don’t care what Ruckles told you,” Lee said softly. “Meredith is my daughter. He’ll have to prove that claim in court.”

  Kayla leaped to her feet, heart pounding.

  Lee set his jaw and turned for the exit. Hepplewhite strode into the outer office. “Stay away from Ruckles, Garvey. Is that clear?” Lee didn’t break stride. Kayla hurried after him. The June sun was scorching after the air-conditioned building, but Lee didn’t even notice. He stalked to her car, vibrating with fury. Not until she saw his anguished eyes did she realize it was more than anger. His eyes were haunted. Was he afraid that Meredith wasn’t really his daughter?

  “Lee?”

  “Hepplewhite talked to Ruckles last night. The bastard is publicly claiming Meredith is his daughter. He says he’s suing for custody and he doesn’t want me anywhere near her.”

  Shocked, she stared at him. “Why would he do that?”

  “Weren’t you the one who said they were desperate to have a child? Well, he apparently decided to claim mine.”

  “He can’t.”

  “You’ve got that right. They may be broke, but I’m not. I can afford a top-notch attorney. And it’s my name on that birth certificate.”

  She rested her. hand on his arm, feeling the bunched muscles. “She is your daughter, Lee. She has your eyes.”

  He looked at her as if seeing her for the first time.

  “He can claim whatever he wants,” she continued, “but that doesn’t make it true. Besides, his claim just gives him a motive for Fay’s murder. Wouldn’t it follow that he might kill Fay to gain possession of what he considers his own child?”

  “I’m not sure I followed that logic completely, but you have a Machiavellian mind, you know that?” Some of the tension drained from his body. “Get in the car.”