by Debra Cowan
“Don’t say anything else.” Raye touched Sherry’s arm, her eyes hard as diamonds as she looked at Collier and Kiley. “Is she under arrest?”
“Not at this time,” Kiley said through gritted teeth.
“This interview is finished. We’re leaving.”
She rose as did her client, and the two women walked out, heels clicking loudly against the tile. Vail had ample motive, but Kiley and Collier couldn’t prove anything. Kiley tossed her notebook on the table in disgust. She wanted to hit something. The stormy emotion in Collier’s eyes told her he felt the same frustration.
“We’re not getting anywhere. With anybody.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “In all the excitement with your washer, I forgot to tell you that earlier today I stopped by to talk to Monty Franklin’s aunt and his parole officer again. Both say they haven’t seen or heard from our fake firefighter. His aunt probably told him we were looking for him, and the loser’s in Timbuktu by now. I don’t think he’s our murderer, but I thought he might have some useful information.”
“It’s frustrating,” she admitted, her gaze going to the bandage on his temple. “But we’ll get a break. We have to.”
“When, dammit?” He grabbed his coat from the back of his chair and walked out. “Let’s go.”
Kiley slipped into her own coat and followed him. Once in his truck, they headed for her house. It hit her then that she hadn’t even thought about driving her car to Sherry Vail’s house. She and Collier had automatically climbed into his truck and taken off.
Long minutes passed without either of them speaking. Kiley’s irritation faded as she tried to find a new angle from which to approach the case. A quick glance at Collier showed that his jaw was no longer hard, but tension pulsed from him and a heaviness she hadn’t sensed before. “What is it? What’s wrong? Is it Sherry?”
“Why can’t we get anywhere?” He hit the blinker forcefully, then turned onto Kiley’s street. “I can’t tell those guys again that we’re still nowhere with this arsonist-sniper.”
“The other firefighters?” she asked quietly, struck by the self-recrimination she heard in his voice.
“They’re out there with a target on their back every time they respond to a call. They need these murders solved. So do I.”
“I know.” She knew his sense of responsibility didn’t stem from being close friends with the murder victims. It was because he’d walked through fire with them, faced death with them. Watched their backs just as they’d watched his.
He pulled into her driveway and parked. “I really thought we might spook something out of Vail. Every time we get a lead, it’s a dead end. Why can’t I find anything?”
Kiley noticed that he hadn’t included her in the investigation, and she understood then that the pressure he felt was about more than his getting justice for fallen comrades. This was his first solo case. His boss was watching, and so was hers. “Terra would be exactly where you are, Collier,” she offered.
With a look of surprise, his gaze shot to her.
“She would. We’re doing everything right, everything we can. Terra would never even consider that you weren’t suited for this job. She didn’t make a mistake by hiring you.”
Kiley realized that at some point she’d reached out and put her hand on his arm. She withdrew it.
“Thanks.” His gaze measured her, as if he were trying to see inside her head. Then he angled his shoulder into the corner, laying one arm along the back of the seat. “We’re missing something. I’m going back to the office to go over everything we have.”
“You’ve got to be exhausted. I am, and I wasn’t the one who chased down leads all day, then played repairman for my partner.”
One corner of his mouth hitched up. “We need a lead, Blaze.”
“I know, but you don’t have to try and find it all on your own. Come inside. I’ll make some coffee and we can go over everything together.”
“You don’t have to go backward on this case just because I am.”
“We’re not going backward,” she said firmly. “We found out what Sherry was hiding about Lisa. We’ll keep digging until we find out what else she’s not telling us.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes briefly.
“It’s frustrating, but something will give. It will, and then all the pieces will fall into place.”
“You sound so sure.”
“Just one of my many talents.” She smiled. “Come on. Come inside.”
After a brief hesitation, he nodded. “Okay.”
She led him through the garage and into the laundry area. Leaving him in the kitchen, she took his coat and draped it with hers over the back of the sofa in the living room. When she returned, she found Collier sitting at the table in the same place he’d sat for dinner. She filled the glass pot with water, scooped some grounds into the filter and started the coffee.
“How’s your head?” She slid into the chair next to his, gently touching the small bandage. “And the rest of you?”
“I’m all right,” he said evenly, eyeing her curiously. “Do we have anything on Vail besides motive?”
“Not yet, but motive to kill all four victims is a big deal.”
“We need more. I really thought we’d get somewhere with that information about Vail’s mother’s suicide.”
“I did, too.” She bent and tugged up the hem of her jeans, unbuckling and removing her ankle holster and Walther PPK. Double-checking the safety, she placed the weapon on the table beside her.
She looked up to find Collier’s gaze moving hotly over her, and she couldn’t halt a little shiver as she struggled to call to mind details of the case. They laid out what they had on Alan Embry, went back through the names of those who had been interviewed after each murder. Kiley got up to pour them both a cup of coffee and brought the mugs back to the table, the rich aroma drifting around them.
They reviewed the fire and rescue calls responded to by all the victims. Besides the four dead firefighters, there were twenty-four others who’d answered those same calls due to the need for manpower, yet none of them were dead. What was the common denominator?
Kiley participated in the conversation, but her train of thought wandered frequently. Collier was a good investigator, conscientious and fair-minded. She liked what she’d come to know about the investigator and the man. Especially the man. More than once she’d thought about how kind he had been to his ex at Lazano’s wake, how sweet he’d been with that little girl at the hospital.
She caught herself twice replaying that bone-melting kiss between them the other night. As she inhaled his musky, male scent, she remembered the way he had looked at her, as if she were too good to be true. No man had ever looked at her the way he did, but since showing up to repair her washer tonight, he hadn’t looked at her once that way. Hadn’t flirted or teased her. Had treated her like a partner. Only a partner. Just as she’d requested.
She hated it.
She wanted him to kiss her again. She wanted more than that. The pull between them was strong, sweeping her under further every time she was near him. She was tired of resisting, but what if he had decided he didn’t want to pursue this thing between them?
Glancing over, she took in his strong features, the lips that had kissed every protest out of her head. Right now he didn’t seem interested in anything other than her coffee and the case.
With one hand he massaged his neck. “Everything still leads us to Alan Embry and Sherry Vail. Don’t you think?”
“Yes.” She rose and walked to the coffeemaker, trying to decide if she should broach the subject or just forget it.
He stood and moved next to her, turning to brace his hands on the edge of the counter and lean his backside against it. He watched her refill the pot with water. “And we can’t prove anything about either of them.”
“We just have to keep chipping away, Collier.”
“Yeah.” He dragged a hand down his face. “Thanks for the coffee,
and for going over everything again.”
She loved his slow drawl. “You’re welcome.”
He smiled. “You’re not so bad, Russell.”
“Neither are you,” she murmured, her stomach fluttering. In that second she decided. She set down the coffeepot and squared her shoulders. “I’ve changed my mind.”
He started to nod, then frowned. “About what?”
“About me.” She swallowed hard. “And you.”
He stilled, his green eyes going smoky. “Changed your mind about you and me and what?”
She cleared her throat, looked him right in the eye. “Sex.”
At least five seconds dragged by.
“Sex,” he finally repeated in a strangled voice. “Sex?”
The absolute shock on his face would’ve been comical any other time. Right now it just made her nervous. She shifted from one foot to the other. “Does that mean yes, sex? Or no sex?”
Chapter 9
Why had Collier ever thought he understood women? He didn’t have a clue. At least not with Kiley. “You want to have sex with me?”
“Uh, yes. That’s why I’m talking to you about it.”
He stood completely still against the counter, his hands now gripping the edge. “I’ve been trying to respect what you told me the other night.”
“I know, and I appreciate it.”
“And give you some room. You said you wanted room.”
“Yes, I did.”
“I’ve been leaving you alone. You know that, right?”
“Yes, Collier.” She moved in front of him and laid a hand on his chest, flexing her palm against him. “I’m taking full responsibility.”
He searched her face. “You’re just yanking my chain, right?”
“No.” Her heated gaze traveled meaningfully over him. “Not yet, anyway.”
Hell. He grasped her upper arms, but he wasn’t sure if it was to pull her closer or keep her away. “I need to catch up here. We should think about this.”
“I have thought about it. I’ve done nothing but think about it. The only way I’ll stop thinking about it is if we do it.”
“What changed your mind?”
“The way you’ve been treating me all day.”
He frowned. “I haven’t done anything.”
“That’s my point.” Her index finger stroked the hollow of his throat, bared by his unbuttoned collar. She toyed with his shirt, slipped a button free. “You haven’t flirted with me, teased me, tried to get me to do something I don’t want.”
“You told me—”
“I know, and I meant it. But now I’ve changed my mind.” She shrugged, looking a little self-conscious. “I like you, McClain. In fact, I like you so much it’s starting to distract me, so I think we should just have at it and get this out of our systems.”
“Have at it?” he choked out.
“You know what I mean.”
How could she be so calm? She sounded as if she were doing nothing more than offering him another cup of coffee. His mind might be trying to process, but his body already had. His pulse raced. His skin felt taut, hot. And he was hard enough to “have at it” all night. “We should talk about this.”
“We are.”
“I mean, later.” Her breasts brushed his chest. He could smell the subtle scent of skin and soap, of her shampoo. “Give ourselves a little time.”
“You really want to wait?” The disbelief in her eyes mirrored what he had felt since she’d turned his world upside down a minute ago. She dropped her hand from his chest and backed up a step, color flushing her cheeks. “If you aren’t interested anymore, you can tell me. I won’t fall apart.”
“That’s not what I said. I didn’t say anything like that.”
“I didn’t think I would have to convince you.” She turned away.
Was she walking out? He hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her back into his chest. Lowering his head, he nuzzled his stubbled jaw against her cheek. “I want you, Blaze, but I want you to be as sure as I am. I don’t want you to regret being with me. Ever.”
She turned her head so she could look up into his face. Uncertainty, surprise, wariness flashed through her eyes, then was gone. “I am. Sure, I mean.”
His gaze searched hers until he was convinced. “I can’t believe you really thought I wanted to wait.”
“You don’t?”
He pressed her tight into him. “Does that feel like a man who wants to wait?”
“You were teasing me?”
“Yeah, and I plan on doing more of it before this night is over.”
She stiffened.
He laughed. “I didn’t say I was going to bite you, although I do take requests. Relax.”
“I’m trying.”
“It doesn’t feel like it.”
“I want to touch you.”
“I want to touch you first.”
“I want you to kiss me.”
“Oh, I’m going to do a lot of that,” he said in her ear, lightly nipping her lobe.
Resting against his shoulder, she curled a hand around his neck and brought his head down to hers. “Then stop talking.”
Her lips parted beneath his, drawing him into her sweet warmth. The kiss grew more heated, deeper, desperate, and she tried to turn. He pulled back a fraction, held her in place.
“No,” she said raggedly when he lifted his head. “Come back here.”
Every muscle in his body clenched.
“Collier.”
The way she breathed his name had hard, hot need slamming into him. She tried to turn around again. He stilled her movement, keeping her back molded to his chest, her rear to his hips.
“This isn’t gonna be fast, Blaze,” he said softly. “I’ve waited too long to get my hands on you.”
He gently sank his teeth into the spot where her neck met her shoulder.
“Oh.” Her knees gave out and she sagged weakly against him.
“Now,” he murmured against her warm flesh. Finally getting her where he wanted her, he smoothed his hands down her arms, bracketed her hips.
Pressing hot, open-mouthed kisses down her neck, he moved her hair aside for more, burying his face in the fragrant thickness. He squeezed her waist, then dragged his hands up, closing them over her breasts, kneading her flesh through the soft angora of her gray sweater.
Her breathing broke and she pushed into him. He could feel her tight nipples through the downy fabric and his pulse revved up. “I want to see you,” he said hoarsely.
He tugged her sweater up and over her head, dropping it to the floor then pressed his cheek to hers, nuzzling her hair out of the way. Full creamy breasts, rosy nipples strained against her sheer black bra. Bracing himself against the savage rush of blood through his body, his hands covered her. He cupped and stroked, his fingers reaching past the edges of her bra to the swells of her breasts. “You feel so good.”
Making a tiny sound, she turned her head and found his lips, kissing him hungrily.
Caressing first one breast and then the other, he slid his free hand down over her stomach, opened the button of her jeans and slipped his fingers inside. The zipper parted as he went lower.
She trembled. “You are killing me.”
“You can thank me later.” He pressed kisses to her jaw, the side of her neck, her ear.
His palm, hot and a little rough against the warm satin of her skin eased beneath the elastic of her panties, delved between her legs. Very lightly he touched the knot of nerves there.
“Ohmygosh.” She melted all over him.
Her head fell back on his shoulder and he felt the small convulsions of her body. His own body stretched painfully taut as raw, searing need coursed through him. After a minute he shifted, swung her up into his arms and started down the hall.
She looped an arm around his neck, nibbled at his jaw. “Where are we going?”
“Your bed. I need some room, Blaze.”
She bit him lightly on the neck, then
his earlobe. Lust knotted his belly.
The large room was warm and cozy, smelling of soft cinnamon and a light airy fragrance. He stepped inside, saw the bed situated between two windows. A light shown from the half-open door of her bathroom opposite him, shadowing the large bureau against one wall, a long dresser with a mirror against the adjacent one. Moonlight glowed from around her drawn blinds.
The bed was big with an acre of pillows. He laid her on the thick, light-pink downy spread, palming off her shoes and socks. While he leaned over her to tug her jeans down her hips, she stretched her arms over her head and knocked pillows out of the way. Collier’s pulse thudded hard when he dropped her pants and got a look at the tiny scrap of transparent black that passed for her panties.
She gripped his shoulders, then started working on the buttons of his white dress shirt, saying urgently, “I don’t see how you can go so slow.”
“I’m not an in-and-out kind of guy, Blaze.” As he looked down at her, he peeled off his shirt, then his T-shirt. Her hair tumbled like fiery silk against the paleness of her bed covers. She trembled beneath his gaze. “I like the trip as much as I like getting there.”
She groaned. “If you don’t stop saying things like that, the trip will be over for me before we get started.”
Grinning, he bent toward her to outline her body with a slow drag of his hands. He wanted to look at her with the soft light falling over his shoulder, gilding her skin with gold.
He trailed his fingers between her breasts to her navel and she shivered. Bracing his hands on either side of her, he came down on top of her for a deep, languid kiss. Her arms went around him, and she shifted, making a place for him between her legs.
He could feel her silky heat through his slacks. After long seconds he dragged his mouth from hers, nipped and laved his way over the swells of her breasts, down her torso, over her stomach. His pulse hammered; his groin ached. He skimmed a hand over her breasts.
“Collier.” She shifted restlessly.
She smelled sweet, tasted smooth and rich. He knelt, ignoring the pain in his injured knee, his shoulders pushing her thighs apart as he slid his hands beneath her hips and pulled her to him.