“Wouldn’t it be stupid to push me away now,” he had said, “after you’ve told me all your secrets, and I’ve told you none of it matters?”
She’d spent every day since then turning his words over in her mind. He knew what happened to her family. He knew she dreamed. She told him the dreams never went away. She warned him she wasn’t good with relationships. The only thing she hadn’t confessed was that the dreams sometimes held visions from the dead.
But did he ever need to know that? Why would he need to know that?
If he witnessed another nightmare, wouldn’t he think she’d dreamed of her family? She often did. Perhaps it was selfish, but he’d offered her a chance. A chance that might never come again. The insanity of her life made falling into a relationship feel wrong, but thinking about pushing Ty away was nearly unbearable.
She glanced into the rearview mirror. A stranger with big, blond hair, thick eyeliner, and glossy pink lips stared back. As an undercover look, it wasn’t all that unusual, but the unease that accompanied it certainly was. Trepidation had gnawed at her since she’d accepted the invitation to Thanksgiving at the Bucks, and this year, she knew it was more than the normal stress the holiday usually carried for her.
Working with little backup and no wire while at the nightclub was one thing. Walking straight into the lion’s den with no way to defend herself was stupidity on a whole different level. It was obvious Warren wanted more than a friendship. And while flirting with him had once seemed like a sensible plan, she was now rethinking it. How was he going to react when she finally put her foot down and said no? She’d survived a lot of crazy stunts in the name of justice, but sleeping with Warren Buck wasn’t going to be one of them.
She turned on the little gravel road leading to the Buck family home and blew out a huge breath. What a mess. Thank God Bahan and her surveillance team would be in place by tomorrow, most likely before her shift began. That knowledge alone made her breathe easier.
It was just before 1:00 p.m. when she pulled in front of the old two-story farmhouse. It could have used a fresh coat of paint, but it was pretty and surrounded by its own personal forest of trees. She stepped onto a huge porch decorated with festive holiday pumpkins and corn stalks. A large swing swayed from the overhang. It was better, homier, than any place she pictured Arlo and Warren living.
“Hey, baby, glad you could make it.” Warren took her coat and gloves, and then kissed her. Not in a friendly, welcoming sort of way, but with a much darker undertone. She’d definitely pushed the flirting thing too far, but how else would she have gotten an invitation to their home?
Warren introduced her to his grandparents and a gathering of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Then he pulled her into the kitchen to meet his mother.
The scent of turkey clogged the air. The sickly smell of pumpkin pie bombarded her. Sage. Onion. Celery. The smells, one on top of the other, grabbed her around the throat and squeezed.
One of the children flew through the kitchen door, and the loud crack of wood smacking wood made her whirl around in defense. Her gaze flittered to the table lined with bowls of stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, and rolls piled high on a platter.
Her heart raced, thundered in her ears. No air seemed to pass in or out of her lungs. Then Warren’s mom touched her shoulder and the spell broke.
“I’m sorry, honey, that door is louder than a firecracker when the kids run in and out. Anyway, I’m glad you could join us.”
“Thank you for having me.” Jordan said. “Is there a restroom where I can wash up?”
Warren led her past the large group watching football. The restroom on the main floor was occupied, so he guided her to a bathroom on the second level. “What’s wrong? You okay? You looked like you were gonna pass out.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I’ve had a bad headache all morning, but I’ll be fine. I’ll just take a couple aspirin, wash up, and be down in a minute.”
Warren tapped her bottom as she turned from him.
Jordan stepped into the bathroom, locked the door, and sank to the floor. She scrubbed her hands up and down her face. Her ears were still ringing, but her heart rate had dropped from wildly rapid to just moderately fast. She could breathe now.
“I’m so stupid.” She hadn’t participated in a real Thanksgiving since her family had been gone. Why had she thought she could manage it today? Ty had been furious when she’d admitted where she was going, and he was right, she should have stayed with him. He would have understood. He would have made it better.
Turning the water to its coldest setting, she let it run over her hands and splashed her face. “Rein it in, Jordan,” she whispered. There was a job to do.
She dried off, straightened her clothes, and opened the bathroom door. When she stepped out, she looked around.
Arlo Buck’s home office sat directly across the hall. She made it to the threshold before she heard footsteps on the stairs.
“Hurry up, Jordan,” Warren said as he peeked the top of the stairs. “Everyone’s sitting down to eat.”
As the day progressed, Jordan had to admit the Bucks seemed like any other family sitting down to a holiday dinner. Not that she had much to base the experience on, but it all felt relatively normal. Enough food to feed a small country. Men debating football strategies. Grandpa telling stories.
Warren pulled her to her feet after dinner. “I could use a little fresh air.” He grabbed a blanket and two glasses of wine and led her out to the swing on the front porch. He shoved off the two pre-teens who’d been giggling over something. They giggled even more when they caught Jordan’s eye.
Anything that moved her away from the overwhelming Thanksgiving gathering was a blessing, so she didn’t argue. But she did say, “Jeez, Warren, it’s like thirty degrees out here. We’ll freeze to death.”
“Trust me, I’ll keep you warm.” He pulled her down on the swing and threw a blanket over them both.
They swayed with gentle movements, chatted, and sipped wine. Warren pulled her legs onto his lap, slipped off her shoes, and began rubbing her feet. Thank God she’d opted for no clutch piece today.
“Something tells me you’ve had more than one girl out on this porch swing.” Jordan smiled at him, but all the while she contemplated how to get upstairs to his dad’s office and how much time she needed to put in before she could leave.
Warren took her wine, shifted their positions, and put his arm around her.
You’re walking a dangerous line, Ty had said. I don’t like it.
Warren brushed her hair back from her cheek. “A few of us from the club are going to lunch and a movie tomorrow. I want you to come.”
“I have to work. I start at four. You probably won’t be back by then, so I better not. Your dad said the day after Thanksgiving is always packed.”
“Tell you what, I know both of your bosses, and they’re pretty nice guys. I’ll take care of everything, and you meet us at the bar about noon.”
Since undercover work was second nature, something better than okay should have come to her mind. But it didn’t.
“So how many girls have you seduced out here on this swing?”
“One or two.” He smiled. “But nobody I wanted to be with more than you.” He pulled her close and dove headfirst into a kiss. A dark, greedy, take-all kiss. She tried to ease back, but his arm clutched tight around her waist. He tasted like whiskey and desperation. His other hand found the hem of her sweater and slid underneath to grope her skin.
Automatically, her back stiffened. She wedged an arm across her stomach to create a barrier and gently pushed at his chest with the other hand.
A dark, ominous cloud of warning invaded her senses just as quickly as Warren’s hands. She hadn’t been with Ty long, but guilt and betrayal weighed heavily on her. So did knowing that if Ty ever caught sight of her with Warren, like this, the end result would be disastrous for all of them.
Warren had quick hands and a quicker tongue. Harsh, greedy lips nipped an
d sucked at her neck. With several drinks under his belt, he certainly wasn’t comprehending the subtle cues to back off.
The front door rattled, and Arlo cleared his throat as he stepped out on the porch. He flashed a slight smile at both of them. “Sorry to interrupt. The security company called, said the alarm is going off at the club. I have to go check it out. Warren, you need to come with me. Sorry, Jordan. We should be right back.”
“Oh, I should be going anyway. I hope everything’s okay.” Jordan couldn’t remember ever being relieved to hear about a break-in, but she was damned relieved about this one.
Warren grabbed the nape of her neck and pulled her close. “Why don’t you stay? I promise I’ll hurry.”
“It’s been a long day for everyone, and I’d feel a little strange without you or your dad here.”
“Tomorrow then?” Warren asked.
“Tomorrow,” she said.
Back inside the house, she approached Warren’s mom. “Mrs. Buck, thank you for having me. The food was wonderful. I need to get going, but tell the guys I said goodnight.”
“One second, darlin’, and I’ll get your coat as soon as I finish scrubbing this pan.”
“I can probably find it myself if you point me in the right direction.” Bingo. Buy some time, Jordan. Buy some time. “I need to use the restroom before I leave anyway.”
“Sweetie, I think Warren took all the coats upstairs to his room. There’s a restroom in the hallway up there. Help yourself, if you don’t mind.”
“No problem. I’m sure I’ll find my way.” Straight to Buck’s office.
She hustled up the stairs.
Time was critical. In and out, she told herself as she slipped inside the office door. She grabbed her cell phone and started snapping pictures of every document she could get her hands on.
No book of contacts sitting around, not in this day and age. Everything would be in his phone. Maybe. But maybe not, if he was smart.
There was a calendar. She flipped through the last year, snapped a picture of each month. Opened a couple of drawers, looked up and saw a picture of Warren on the beach with some buddies.
Nothing, damn it. Nothing she could take to Bahan. Maybe Buck was a little smarter than she’d given him credit for. She didn’t expect a list of drug contacts lying around for the taking, but Christ, there had to be something. What about financials? Accounts? Where would they be?
“Jordan?” The voice echoed up the stairs. Warren’s mom. Damn. “Did you find your coat, hon?”
Something about the picture of Warren on the beach bothered her. She snapped a picture of it and blazed into the bedroom and grabbed her coat.
“Yes, thank you,” she said, meeting Warren’s mom in the hallway. “I was looking at all the family pictures. There must be hundreds here.”
“Taking pictures is kind of a hobby. I’ve always loved it, and Warren is so photogenic.” She smiled.
“Thank you again, Mrs. Buck.” Jordan headed down the stairs. “Good night.”
***
She’d survived.
That was the good news. The bad news—she had another date with Warren tomorrow.
But hopefully it would present an opportunity to talk with Warren, as adults, and set the record straight.
If he got angry and fired her, well, she’d need to cross that bridge when it collapsed. Tolerating the hands and comments had been one thing, and even Warren’s kiss she could shrug off. But no one, especially Bahan, would expect her to sacrifice anything more for a case.
Working undercover was often tricky for females. Doors opened a little more easily than for the men, but often there was a price to pay for that ease of entry. Even without Ty’s insistent warnings, Jordan knew enough to back off when the situation got heated, and Warren had been very heated tonight.
She pulled into the parking lot of her apartment complex with Ty on her mind. Big shock, since that’s where it had been since the first night she’d met him. She’d become one of those women she hated, obsessing over a man rather than focusing on the task at hand. Of course this particular man had done things to her body she hadn’t understood were possible, but still, he was a distraction nonetheless.
And she couldn’t wait to get inside and call him, let him know she made it home okay.
Jesus, what the hell is wrong with me?
She stepped out of the car and headed for her building. The wind kicked up. She tugged the collar of her coat tighter around her neck and realized she’d left her scarf and gloves at the Buck’s. Well, she’d just have to do without, because she sure wasn’t going back after them tonight.
She clipped through the parking lot and was halfway to the stairwell when someone fell in step behind her and closed his hands around her waist. In a move that was pure instinct, she threw her head back, slammed her skull hard into the face of the idiot behind her and stomped on his instep. A satisfying grunt erupted as she spun around and crouched, lowering her center of gravity in preparation for a fight.
“What the fuck?” he said.
Shit. She straightened her stance. It was Ty. Of course it was Ty. Who else would it have been?
“Damn it, woman,” he said bending over, putting his hands on his knees. He spit some blood from his mouth and stood back up.
She’d split his lip good. “I’m sorry, but you should know better than to sneak up on another cop.”
“I wasn’t sneaking up on another cop. I was walking up behind my girlfriend to kiss her. And I said your name. Didn’t you hear me?”
The girlfriend comment momentarily threw her but she didn’t comment on it. Or run in the other direction. “No, I didn’t hear you ... I ...”
Ty turned his head and spit a little more blood. She felt bad. Really bad. Nothing about it was funny, really. His lip was puffing up and still dribbling blood. Yet she was fighting a grin. She looked down at the purse that had tumbled out of her hand. She grabbed it and stuck her hand in, rooting around for a tissue. She looked around to make sure no one was near, shifted her Glock out of the way, and tugged the tissue free.
“You gonna shoot me now? The head butt wasn’t enough?” He stared at her as she stepped closer and dabbed at his lip. “You think this is funny, don’t you?”
“Shut up, you big baby,” she said around a smile. “I’m pretty sure you’re going to make it.”
His lip had mostly stopped bleeding, but she gently smoothed a finger back and forth across the tiny cut anyway, she was dying to do the same thing with her tongue. Everything about Ty was big and rugged, from his masculine jaw with just enough growth to make him look bad-ass to his firm and fine backside. But he had the softest damn lips she’d ever tasted. And he certainly knew how to—
“You’re not listening to anything I say, are you?” he asked.
Nope. “Of course I am. We just need to get inside,” she said, nodding to the speeding cars racing by on the road next to them. “Someone could see us.”
“Hey, you’re the one who pulled a Jackie Chan on a poor, unsuspecting soul in the middle of a parking lot.”
“Come on.” She rolled her eyes and tugged on his hand, but he didn’t move.
“For someone who was paying attention, you don’t seem to have any idea what I just asked you.” He fisted her coat in his hands and pulled her close, kissed his way up her neck to her ear. “I asked you to come home with me. I thought since we couldn’t spend today together, maybe we could spend tonight. Thanksgiving dessert, so to speak.”
The deep timbre of his voice murmuring in her ear caused heat to radiate through her veins like a good shot of tequila. She barely had the brainpower to tilt her head back and eye him suspiciously, but she finally managed to pull it off. “Will there be actual dessert? Or by dessert do you just mean sex?”
“Real sugar and real whipped cream.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“Well then, looks like tonight we’ll be going to your place.”
Chapter 12
They stepped up
to the door outside Ty’s apartment. He pulled the scarf from his neck and tied it around her eyes.
“What in the world are you doing?”
“No questions and no peeking.” He guided her inside and left her near the door.
He started some soft, romantic music and fumbled around for several minutes. Finally, he walked back to her and pulled the scarf from her eyes.
No lights, just candles. Everywhere. And flowers. Four huge vases were placed around the room, with a mountain of roses in each.
“Why, Tyler McGee, I believe you have a romantic side.” Her eyes started to sting. She fought the foolish sensation as she walked to the roses and took a deep, appreciative sniff. The man certainly knew how to set a scene. Realizing that no one had ever given her roses or cared enough to create any kind of romance made her breath catch. She pivoted slowly, taking it all in. There must have been a month’s rent tied up in flowers and candles.
He walked up behind her, slid her coat off her shoulders, and wrapped his hands around her waist. “Happy Thanksgiving.” He trailed soft kisses behind her ear.
She turned in his arms and honestly was a little embarrassed at how his thoughtfulness affected her.
“Hey, hey, I’m sorry. It was supposed to make you happy, not make you cry.” He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.
She squeezed her arms around him. “I am happy, Ty. It’s just that no one has ever done anything like this.”
“I told you I could be downright romantic if you give me a chance, city girl. I realize this isn’t a hot night out on the town or anything, but my options were limited considering you’re undercover, and we can’t be seen together.”
“Ha.” She laughed and pulled her head from his shoulder long enough to smile up at him. “Cowboy, your options were limited, because we’re in a town the size of a peanut, and the most interesting thing here is a strip club.”
He chuckled. “Perhaps, but what any self-respecting small-town boy knows,” he whispered, moving them both to the music, “is that it’s not where you take your dates that’ll rock their world. It’s what you do to them once you get ’em there that’s important.”
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