“He found me on an open stretch of I-95,” she argued. “I’m sure he’ll find me no matter where I go.”
“Where were you coming from?” he asked.
“My office.”
Burrows frowned. “He probably had your firm under surveillance in the hopes you’d show eventually. You should make a habit of avoiding places you normally frequent. We can offer you a safe house with patrols passing by on a regular basis.”
“Pass, thanks,” she said without hesitation. “Mr. Kavanaugh seems to have everything under control.”
“That’s why you almost got killed last night.”
She glared at the detective. “As you said, I made an error in judgment going to my office. I won’t do it again.”
“Suit yourself.”
Jack stood. “Do you have anything else?”
The detective shook his head. “I would like to be apprised of Miss Summers’ whereabouts.”
“You can get to her through me,” Jack said with such finality that the detective didn’t press the issue.
“If I get any new information, I’ll contact you,” Burrows said.
* * *
“You know you can take Burrows up on his offer,” Declan said after they pulled out of the parking lot. “I won’t take it personally.”
“Get locked away in some house in God knows where with the occasional police cruiser driving by? Besides, when I’m with you I can be active in the investigation.” And have great, if temporary, sex.
“Good to know you have so much faith in me,” he said as his hand slipped onto her knee. Using his fingertips, he bunched up the fabric until he was touching her bare skin. He began making maddeningly sensual circles with his thumb, inching up her hemline higher and higher. Chasyn’s breath caught in her throat when his fingertips reached her thong. Her body was fully alert and she tensed with need.
“Don’t,” she said on a rush of breath.
“You’re wet.”
She reached down and pushed his hand away. “And you’re driving.”
“I keep telling you I can multitask.”
“Well, maybe I don’t feel like being a distraction,” she told him as she straightened her clothes.
Declan placed his hand back on the wheel. “Sorry if you feel pressured.”
“I didn’t feel pressured,” she assured him. “I just haven’t had enough time to process this yet.”
He chuckled. “What’s there to process?
“I need to make a pro-con list to put this all into perspective.”
“Tell you what,” he began easily. “You make your list and I’ll restrain myself until you’ve beaten this dead horse.”
“That was condescending.”
“It wasn’t meant to be,” he said. “I’m just saying I’m willing to give you time.”
“How much?”
“However much you need.”
They reached the compound, went through the gate, and parked. Chasyn was a little surprised that Ziggy and Gavin were still in the office. Didn’t these people ever sleep?
“How’s everyone?” Declan asked.
Gavin was grinning like the Cheshire cat. “I was just about to call you.”
“Yes?” Declan prompted.
“Lansing finally made a mistake.”
“Really?”
“He went home about an hour ago, and while he was waiting for the gate to open, he stepped out and tossed a water bottle into a recycling bin.” Gavin rubbed his hands together. “Joey and Sam recovered the bottle and they’re driving it up to the lab for DNA testing as we speak. We should have the results in about twenty-four hours.”
Declan turned to her and said, “This could throw the whole case open. We prove Lansing is the father of Mary’s unborn baby and they go before the grand jury. You won’t need me anymore.”
Wanna bet?
CHAPTER NINETEEN
This is great news, right?” she asked when they were headed back to Declan’s place.
She couldn’t make out his expression in the dark, but his tone spoke volumes. “Maybe.”
Chasyn fidgeted in her seat. She was a jangle of raw nerves and exhaustion. “Is it the money?”
“Something doesn’t add up,” he confirmed, his tone serious. “Why would Lansing pay an extra fifty grand to his checking account and then only make two withdrawals?”
“How much would it cost to hire those two bozos who fired on us last night?”
He blew out a slow breath. “Two grand sounds about right for an upfront payment. Probably another two grand when the job was completed.”
“Then what did he spend the other twenty-eight thousand dollars on?” she asked. “The upfront payment to Müller?”
In the shadows, he shook his head. “Müller wouldn’t get out of bed for twenty-eight grand.”
“Really?”
“A guy of his caliber?” Declan asked. “He probably goes for more like a hundred thousand as a retainer.”
“I know Lansing’s wife has a ton of money. Maybe she isn’t protecting him from a pregnant girlfriend. Maybe she has an interest in making sure her husband isn’t revealed as a cross-dresser and a submissive.”
“I agree, however…” Declan’s thought trailed off.
“What?”
“Why would Lansing risk killing Mary in a public place, then go to such elaborate measures to kill off the only witnesses?” he asked.
Chasyn pondered the question for a few seconds. “Maybe Lansing couldn’t do it again. I mean, he did kill Mary in a very brutal, up-close way. Plus, he knows he’s a person of interest in her murder so coming after me could go a long way toward avoiding an indictment.”
“When we get the results back from the water bottle, Lansing will be toast.”
“What if the DNA doesn’t match?” Chasyn asked.
“It’ll match,” he said with conviction. “Every other man in Mary’s life has already been tested. Lansing is the only one who refused to provide a sample.”
She tucked one leg under the other. “Which is completely within his rights,” she explained. “Without probable cause for a warrant, the police can’t compel a buccal swab.”
“The police also couldn’t keep eyes on him twenty-four-seven,” Declan explained. “It was only a matter of time before he screwed up.”
“So exactly how will this work, assuming it’s Lansing’s DNA?”
Declan dropped one hand from the wheel and rested it on the console between them. His fingers dangled over and every time they drove over a bump or other imperfection in the roadway, they grazed her thigh. Chasyn tried to ignore it. She wasn’t successful. In fact, she was silently wishing for a decent pothole.
“We turn the results over to the state’s attorney and the cops and let them take it from there.”
“Will that guarantee that the heavyset Hispanic guy will back off?” she asked as a shiver ran the length of her spine.
“Possibly,” he hedged.
She raked her hands through her hair. “That isn’t very reassuring.”
“Don’t worry. I’m on it until they find him.”
How she longed for the feel of his hand to give her a little reassuring squeeze. Not to mention the wondrous way he felt buried inside her. Geez, she was losing it. Big time. One minute she was telling him she needed space and just a few minutes later she was practically dreaming about having more hot sex with him.
She decided it was time to start her mental pro-con list. At the top of the pro list was her strong physical attraction to Declan. And she was forced to admit that the attraction was more than just physical. Even though it had only been a little more than a week and God knew it had been a stressful week, she found herself on the brink of falling in love with him. Other than the occasional bout of arrogance, she couldn’t find a single flaw in the man. He was literally the perfect guy. Only not. He was smart, funny, kind, considerate and her mental list threatened to grow too long to remember. Her intellect warned her off b
ut it was overruled by her emotions. Now there was a new twist in the situation. Now she had to ask herself if she could be in a casual relationship with a man she loved. Man, she needed a legal pad.
Or not.
In reality, all she could think of for the con column was his stated aversion to commitment. Chasyn weighed her options. Well, option. Would it really be the end of the world if she continued her liaison with Declan? She’d probably end up nursing a broken heart, but on the plus side if past behavior was any indication of future behavior, she would certainly enjoy her time with him.
“You’re quiet,” Declan said.
“I’m concentrating on not itching these stitches,” she fibbed.
“When do they come out?”
“Tomorrow in theory, but I’m afraid to go back to the hospital with Müller and the Hispanic guy out there.”
“Either one could be watching the hospital,” he agreed. “Want me to call Darby?”
“The vet?” she asked.
“It’s either me or her,” he suggested. “And Darby is way better at it than I am.”
“You know how to remove sutures?” she asked, surprised.
He let out a deep, brief chuckle. “Only my own.”
The mere thought of that made her stomach curl. “I’ll choose Darby.”
Declan took out his cell and gave her a call. Darby would come out this evening to remove her stitches. Good riddance.
* * *
Darby practically floated into the house with Jack hot on her heels. She was carrying a small black satchel and wearing a stunning smile. She was tall by Chasyn’s standards. Being only five-two, most people towered over her. Like Declan. Guessing Darby was somewhere in her mid-thirties, Chasyn marveled at her flawless skin. She wore a minimal amount of makeup, so she had that fresh, dewy look about her. Oh, and she was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt that hugged her perfect body. Chasyn was starting to feel like a troll.
That wasn’t the only thing she noticed. There was an unspoken intimacy between the couple. Jack’s eyes followed her every move and he always seemed to be touching her in a casual way. Chasyn was looking at the very picture of love and it filled her with a sense of envy and sorrow.
Darby set her bag on the table and instructed Chasyn to take a seat.
“Front or back first?” she asked.
“Back,” Chasyn insisted. “They’re making me crazy.”
Darby smelled faintly of floral perfume and had a gentle touch. She pulled on a pair of gloves, then took an alcohol swab to the site. It was so cold Chasyn gave an involuntary start.
“Sorry,” Darby said.
“No problem,” Chasyn assured her. “I just wasn’t expecting that.”
Darby took some scissors out of the bag along with some long tweezers. In less than five minutes Chasyn no longer felt the itchy tug at the back of her head. Then she switched positions and Darby removed the sutures from her hairline.
“You healed nicely but I can put Steri-strips on the wounds,” she offered.
Chasyn shook her head. “I’m over bandages, thanks.”
“Then,” Darby said with a smile, “this calls for a glass of wine.” She turned to Declan. “Please tell me you have more than just beer in that fancy fridge of yours.”
Declan went over and tapped the door of the fridge twice. Suddenly the contents became visible. Lord, but the man did like his techno toys.
“Red, white, or rosé?”
Darby looked at Chasyn and asked, “Do you have a preference?”
Chasyn shook her head. “Anything is fine with me.”
“Two glasses of white for the ladies,” she told Declan.
After pouring the wine into glasses and grabbing two long-neck bottles of beer from the fridge, Declan and his brother joined them at the table. Jack took a long drink then said, “Michael’s parole hearing has been reset for next Friday.”
Declan scowled. “What do you think his chances are?”
“Conner and Emma are cautiously optimistic,” he answered, then turned to Chasyn. “Conner is my brother and Emma is his new bride. She’s an attorney up in Purdue. Conner is the sheriff there.”
“Where is Purdue?” Chasyn asked.
“North Florida,” he answered. “About fifty miles from the prison, so Conner has been able to see Michael on a regular basis. I go up when I can.”
Jack asked Declan, “Will you be at the hearing? Michael needs all the support we can give him.”
“Wouldn’t stay away for the world.”
Jack’s expression grew serious. “What about your current situation?”
“We’re closing in on Lansing and hopefully once he’s indicted, Müller will lose interest because there won’t be a paycheck in it for him with Lansing under arrest.”
Chasyn absently rubbed her arms. “Can all that happen in just over a week?”
“Sure,” Declan said confidently. He checked his watch. “We should have the DNA results back from the lab by four or five tomorrow afternoon.”
“That coupled with the DVD should give the state’s attorney enough probable cause.” Chasyn’s tense muscles started to relax.
“DVD?” Darby asked.
Chasyn smiled. “Turns out Mary had a video of the good doctor prancing around in women’s clothing. Complete with some kinky dominatrix tossed in for good measure.”
“Whatever floats your boat,” Jack mused. “Have you verified that it’s Mary taking the video?”
“My guy is on his way to Tampa tonight to see the ex-husband. He should be able to confirm it’s her on the audio.”
Jack finished his beer and took Darby’s hand. “We’d better get home. I want to tuck Mia in before bedtime.”
As soon as they left, Chasyn asked, “They have a daughter?”
“Basically,” he said as he got up and took another beer from the fridge.
“What does that mean?”
“Sean Grisom, Darby’s husband and Mia’s biological father, was an abusive man and a killer. He used Mia as a weapon against the two of them.”
“Are they divorced now?”
“Yes.”
Chasyn felt her brow furrow. “So how come Jack and Darby haven’t married? Especially with a child involved.”
“They are getting married,” Declan said. “Darby’s first wedding was a low-key thing in front of a justice of the peace. She wants a big affair this time around. A whole lot of planning and money for just one day.”
“If I didn’t already know you were anti-marriage, I’d know it now.”
He shrugged and took a long pull on his beer. “Just a huge waste of money with no guarantee that it will last.”
So much for her dreams of a magical wedding. She was wavering between ditching her life plan and being with Declan. Compromise was part of any relationship but would that be a compromise or a disaster? Chasyn finished off her wine and stood up. “I’m going to turn in,” she said. In reality she just didn’t want to listen to him extol the joys of staying single any longer. She’d gotten the message loud and clear and it was chipping away at her heart.
“’Night,” he said, raising his bottle in a silent salute.
Their differing philosophies chased her into the guest room. She changed out of her dress, showered, put on a camisole and pair of lounge pants, then slipped beneath the covers. Though she was bone tired, her mind refused sleep. Her thoughts bounced between the memory of their amazing sexual encounter and her own jumbled feelings. How was it possible to have perfect sex with a guy who wasn’t perfect for you? She wondered. Chasyn kept coming back to the same conclusion. For her, he was perfect. He met all her criteria. Except for the commitment issue. As much as she knew that was a deal breaker, she reluctantly acknowledged that if she wanted to be with him—and she did—it would have to be on his terms. Chasyn wasn’t sure she could do it, but the alternative was worse. Walking away from him at this point would be impossible. Mainly because she was falling for him. Hard.
Fru
strated by her inability to sleep, she got up and went to the kitchen for a glass of water. No sooner had she crossed the family room threshold than a loud, blaring alarm sounded. Over the deafening sound, she saw Declan’s shadowy figure appear from the master suite, gun in hand.
“Jesus,” he muttered under his breath as he went to the alarm pad and killed the ear-splitting sound.
“I’m sorry,” she said as soon as it was quiet.
Declan stood in the kitchen, wearing nothing but boxer shorts and his watch. His hair was slightly mussed. He took several steps toward her and she stood perfectly still when she saw the raw desire in his eyes. Only then did she remember that her cami was made of thin, pale pink material that left very little to the imagination.
* * *
Declan stopped just inches from her. She smelled of floral shampoo. He knew the smart thing to do was to turn and head back to his bedroom. But seeing the outline of her nipples through the fabric drained him of his smarts.
Reaching out, he bracketed her arms and looked into her eyes, checking for any sign of censure. That was all he needed. “I can’t resist doing this,” he said, dipping his head and placing a tentative kiss on her partly open mouth.
Her response was immediate and tangible. Her hands roamed up over his chest before cupping his head and deepening the kiss. She pressed against him. He could feel the taut buds of her erect nipples against his skin and moved quickly to find the hem of her top. He slipped both hands up until he felt the swell of her breasts in his palms. He flicked his thumbs across her nipples, which made her moan against his mouth.
Declan lifted his head and looked into her hooded eyes. “If we keep this up, there will be sex.”
She surprised him by responding, “Promise?”
He reached for her hand and led her into his bedroom. They didn’t break the kiss during the transition. Declan backed her up to the edge of the bed, then gradually lowered her onto the mattress. Just as he’d imagined, her silken blond hair fanned out on the pillow, creating a golden halo around her exquisite face. Her pale ashes fluttered when her hand moved to the waistband of his boxers.
Declan moved quickly to prevent her from undressing him. “I want this to last,” he said.
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