by Mia Dymond
“Hey, Dara. Everything okay?”
Jackson snickered. “You’re so whooped.”
Mace leaned forward and thumped him on the back of the head.
“Peachy,” Dara answered. “And you?”
“I’m thinking that’s a loaded question.”
“Sorry.” She released a long sigh. “I don’t mean to be so cranky. I just haven’t slept well since I discovered a corpse in my living room.”
“Nightmares?”
“No. I just don’t like being forced out of my home.”
“How about lunch?”
The several moments of silence tormented him and when she finally answered, he didn’t know whether or not to be relieved.
“Depends. Why?”
“Does my question concern you?”
“Yes”
His heartbeat thumped. The woman gave stubborn a whole new meaning. “Are you going to meet me or not?”
“I said it depends.”
“Then I guess you don’t want to hear what I have to say.”
“Guess not.”
Several more seconds of silence ticked by and he knew she had him – by the balls, no doubt. He glanced at his friends, expecting red-faced laughter at his expense. Instead, all three now focused on his conversation with something close to sympathy registering on their faces.
“Fine. I have news about the case.”
“What kind of news? Good or bad?”
“Dara, just meet me for lunch.” He ran a hand across the top of his head while Jackson and Jake exchanged a look he interpreted as being silent understanding.
“Where?”
“Is that a yes?”
“No, I asked where.”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
“Where would you like to go?”
“How about McCoy’s Fish & Chips?”
“Never heard of it.”
“It’s new. Chad highly recommends it.”
Although a familiar flash of green flashed before his eyes, he worked hard to remain cordial. “Okay. I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
“Are you driving a police car?”
“I planned on it.”
“I’ll just meet you there.”
He frowned. What the hell? “Why does it make a difference?”
“I’d rather not advertise the fact we’re discussing a case, detective. I think it might be better to keep things quiet.”
“You watch too much television,” he mumbled.
“On the contrary, I don’t. I just do a lot of research.”
Research. Damn. “Any more stipulations on the rendezvous?”
“No. I’ll see you soon.”
He disconnected the call, drew back his phone and simply stared. What the hell just happened?
“Nice place for a first date.” Jackson didn’t even try to conceal his amusement.
“It’s not a date.”
“Sounds like one to me,” Jake drawled.
“It’s not. Besides, she manipulated the whole thing and I’m going to be really lucky if she doesn’t take me out when I tell her what I’m doing.”
Ryker lifted an eyebrow. “You’re not doing it, I am.”
“Believe me, this may be one job you don’t want to brag about.”
“You’re packing, right?”
“Yes but I wouldn’t put it past her either.”
“Better you than me,” Jackson grumbled.
“Speaking of you, what’s the deal with Alex Jennings?”
“Another one?” Ryker shook his head. “Damn, you guys live on the edge.”
“What about her?” He wasn’t surprised that Jackson ignored Ryker.
“You were pretty quick to jump to her defense the other night.”
“Hey, you’re lucky I did. She was just about to take off your head.”
“True, but something tells me you didn’t mind in the least.”
“Are you done? Because you, my friend, have a date with a woman who will literally take you down if you stand her up. And, I really don’t want to have to arrest her – Alex would kick my ass.”
“Point taken.” He stood and headed for the door. “I’ll meet up with you later.”
“Much later.” Jackson grinned. “I have plans.”
Dara paced back and forth on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant while she waited for Mace, doing her best to ignore the pesky tingle in her nerve endings that she was absolutely certain had nothing to do with Mace’s news. No, screw his news – this electrical impulse had absolutely everything to do with the sexy mountain of male who sent her hormones wild. She stopped and silently mouthed his name. Mace. Her body gave a sexual shudder at the mere taste of the word on her lips, all but cursing the separation from him.
Lost in mental ecstasy, she moved to pace again but her collision with something hard and warm caused her to lose her balance and stumble forward. She raised her head long enough to see two big hands wrap her arms, pull her upright, and then smash her against a nice warm chest. Electricity raced through her veins as a familiar woodsy cologne tickled her nose.
“Why are you waiting out here alone?” he said against the top of her head.
She sighed, not really interested in her defense. “I’m a big girl, detective. I don’t talk to strangers and I look both ways before I cross the street.”
“And someone left a dead body in your living room.”
She closed her eyes, magnificently comforted by the warmth between them. Suddenly she wasn’t even bothered by his comment. “It’s a public place and in the middle of the day.”
He didn’t immediately answer. Instead, he pressed her harder against him. Her earlier tingle became an urgent throb and she flattened her palms against the rippled muscles of his abdomen while she opened her mouth against the smooth skin of his neck. “No tie,” she whispered.
“I’m not on official business.” His grip on her hips tightened and she felt a delicious pressure against her midsection.
Pressed against him, she allowed herself to bask in the intense desire that wrapped her body from head to toe, barely aware they stood in the open, until he finally broke the magical spell.
“Inside.” He stepped backward, turned her around, then placed his hand at the small of her back and nudged her into the restaurant.
Dara shook the cobwebs from her brain and forced herself to concentrate on her mission as they followed the hostess to their table. Once they were seated in a secluded corner with a menu, she cornered him.
“So, tell me the news.”
“In a minute.” His eyes never left the menu.
She placed her hand palm down, directly in his line of vision and spread all five fingers. “No, now.”
“Are you always this difficult?”
“Always. Spill.”
“You’d make a helluva interrogator,” he mumbled. “Can we order first?”
She regarded him silently for a moment. Judging from his reaction earlier, she had the impression this meeting just might be more than a briefing – it might actually be the mid-afternoon rendezvous he mentioned.
She moved her hand. “I’ll have the chicken salad on wheat.”
“You didn’t even look at the menu.”
“It comes highly recommended.”
“Chad?”
“Chad.”
As soon as the waitress returned to the table with two glasses of water and silverware, Dara waited patiently until Mace placed the order – and then she dug in.
“We’ve ordered. Tell me.”
He reached across the table, took her hand in his, and braided their fingers, a move that knocked her curiosity about his news right in the rear end. Instead, her heartbeat quickened and a familiar tingling began to travel the nerves toward the vee of her legs. News? What news?
“I’ve released your townhouse as a crime scene.”
“Oh.” Her voice wasn’t more than a breathy, Marilyn Monroe whisper. “Thank you.”
“All in the line of duty?”
“Actually, no. I didn’t want you to see all that again and I have a few contacts.”
He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles, causing shivers down her spine and across her thighs, and although he could’ve been reciting the alphabet for all she cared, she couldn’t shake the distinct feeling he wasn’t telling her something.
She cleared her throat to assure the throaty tone was gone. “What else?”
“What makes you think there’s more?”
“There is.”
The arrival of their food interrupted the conversation for a few seconds. As soon as the waiter placed the plates on the table and left, Dara scooted Mace’s plate away from him.
“What else?” she repeated.
“Do you need a drink?”
“Nice try. No and besides, you’re on duty.”
“Oh hell.” He leaned forward. “Give me both of your hands.”
“Why?”
“Just do it, Dara.”
“Not until you tell me why.”
“Because I don’t want you to smack me when I tell you.”
“Do I look like a violent person?”
“You did beat my chest when I caught you back at the scene,” he reminded her.
He had a point. She placed both her hands in his and almost melted at the warmth between them. He closed his fingers around hers.
“I don’t like the idea of you returning home alone, especially since we don’t know how the perp entered.”
“Me either,” she mumbled.
“So,” he continued, “a friend of mine owns a security company. His crew is installing a security system as we speak.”
She sat deathly still for a few seconds, processing the information he’d provided. Half of her wanted to shake in horror at the reality that the suspect hadn’t been apprehended and could return to her home at any given time, but the other half – the other half wanted to strip naked, crawl across the table on all fours, and show Detective Mace Turner her full appreciation.
A slight squeeze to both of her hands brought her out of her lust-filled thoughts. “Dara?”
“Do you provide this service for all crime victims?”
A sexy smile split his lips. “No.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He continued to hold her eyes hostage with his deep blue gaze and she was sorely tempted to move his hands higher up and onto other strategic parts of her body. The waiter’s return, however, prevented her risky maneuver – that and the fact that she wasn’t an exhibitionist.
Once Mace reassured the waiter everything was fine with the meal, she reluctantly escaped his hold and attempted to eat her sandwich. Except that every time Mace fed himself, she couldn’t help but plan a number of after-dinner activities he could perform with his mouth.
Finally, she pushed away her plate. “You honestly thought I’d clock you for installing a security system in my house?”
“The thought did cross my mind, yes.”
“Well, you didn’t ask me first.”
“No, you’re safety means more to me than a black eye.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “I wouldn’t have blacked your eye.”
“No?”
“Split your lip, maybe.”
He released a hearty laugh and dropped his napkin on the table. “I’ll take you there when we leave so we can learn to use it.”
“We?”
“Yes. I won’t leave you alone until we catch the perp, Dara.”
What about after you catch him? She bit her lip to keep from asking that question – especially since she really, really didn’t want him to leave her alone …. ever.
He slid from the booth, stood, and offered a hand. “C’mon, I’ll walk you to your car.”
She tucked her hand into his, incredibly anxious to feel his skin against hers once again. And once they stood next to her vehicle, she found herself ticked off that she had to release him.
“Don’t smack me,” he told her, his lips inches from hers.
“Why?” she whispered.
“Because I’m going to kiss you.”
A low moan was the only response she could muster as his lips landed atop hers in a gentle massage. And when he moved his hands to grasp her hips, she buckled hers around his neck and pressed him flush against her while her lips savored the soft pressure of his assault. Lost in ecstasy, she opened her mouth and welcomed his tongue inside while electricity traveled the length of her body, zapping each and every nerve ending she possessed. Her legs became wet noodles and if it weren’t for the hold he had on her, she would’ve melted to the pavement. Oh yeah, Alex was exactly correct in her assumption – Detective Turner definitely knew his way around a woman’s body. No doubt.
With one final small peck to her lips, he lifted his head and broke the magical connection. She was afraid she may have to go back on her word not to hurt him.
“Wow,” she said instead.
He grinned as his eyes sparkled. “I was thinking more like hot damn, but that’s just me. Get in the car before we get arrested for lewd behavior.”
“I’ve been arrested. It’s not that bad.”
“In.” He chuckled as she unlocked the door and climbed inside. “I’ll follow you. Don’t break the law.”
“You realize I could help you crack this case, don’t you?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Seriously, I have resources.”
“I don’t doubt that, but finding the suspect is my job. Your job is to stay safe and out of the way.”
She pursed her lips in silence and shut the door. Lucky for him that kiss had been out of this world or she might have had the wherewithal to argue.
He tapped on the window and motioned for her to lower it. Releasing a heavy breath, she obliged.
“I mean it, Dara. I want you to stay out of the way.”
“Fine,” she agreed as she started the car’s engine.
“Good girl. Go on, I’ll catch up.”
She shifted into reverse and backed out of the parking space, rolling up the window as she turned onto the street. She glanced in her rearview mirror and smirked when she saw him pull out behind her. I’ll stay out of your way, Detective, but I still intend to solve your case.
***
No! No! No! This was not supposed to happen! He planned for Dara to come to him; Turner had no right to distract her with a kiss! The situation was getting completely out of hand and he needed to gain control – direct her attention away from the detective and back onto him.
He drummed his thumbs against the steering wheel as she led the way out of the parking lot. As much as he hated to believe it, he felt Dara might be falling for the detective and his smooth moves. Couldn’t she see the other man was simply trying to lure her away from the investigation? Although he hadn’t meant for her to become a suspect, he sorely disliked Turner’s method of keeping her away. He wrapped his fingers around the steering wheel and squeezed. Perhaps he had given Dara’s intelligence too much credit – there was no logical reason for her to fall victim to the detective’s deceit. Obviously, she wasn’t thinking clearly. He would have to work harder to recapture her attention.
Sooner rather than later.
***
Tucked into the usual booth at Hannigan’s, Dara glanced around at her circle of four friends and released a much-needed sigh of relief. DRAMA nights were one therapy she couldn’t do without and this time Bri’s presence proved to soothe her even more.
“Okay, Dara,” Annie said as she reached into a basket of tortilla chips, “since Alex isn’t here, fill us in.”
Regan frowned. “Where is Alex? I figured she was just late.”
“My money’s on Detective Stewart.” Marnie smirked. “Again.”
“Jackson?” Bri lifted an eyebrow. “Why?”
Marnie shru
gged. “She left with him after Mace arrested us.”
“Arrested you?”
“Yep. Someone suggested we drop by the townhouse to take another look around and we ended up breaching a crime scene.”
Bri moved her straw around the edge of her glass and glanced at Dara. “Did you enjoy the handcuffs?”
“Ha ha on you, he didn’t use them.” She gave the other woman a smug smile and kept her next thought under wraps. What a shame.
“Thank goodness,” Marnie groaned. “Riding in the police car was humiliating enough.”
“You guys should’ve seen her.” Dara released a hearty laugh. “She slumped down so far in the seat she practically squatted in the floorboard.”
“Glad you found it humorous,” Marnie grumbled.
Bri glanced back at her. “And how was the ride for you?”
“Oh, Dara didn’t mind at all,” Marnie answered for her. “She and Detective Turner argued the whole way. By the end of the drive, I’m sure he was thankful for the cage between them.”
Both Annie and Reagan sat wide-eyed, obviously stunned or better yet, insanely curious.
Bri lifted both eyebrows. “Mace hauled you to the station in a cruiser?”
Marnie nodded. “To jail. To a cell complete with several other colorful prisoners.”
“Detective Turner assumed he proved a point,” Dara added.
“But?”
“What do you think, Bri?” Marnie mumbled.
“There’s more?”
“Not yet.” Marnie folded her arms across her chest. “Dara has a plan.”
“Sorry Dara, but this is way better than your novels.” Annie leaned forward. “What’s the plan?”
“I’m going to solve the case.”
For several seconds, the table fell silent. Not one eyelash blinked. Not one hair moved on any of the four heads.
Bri finally broke the silence. “Need some help?”
Dara couldn’t stop the whoosh that left her lungs. “That would be wonderful.”
“Uh Bri, what about Jake?” Marnie unfolded her arms and reached for her drink.
“I’ll keep it to myself. He knows he can’t pry a secret from me. And if I need to, I’ll call Liberty. With all of our brain power, we’re bound to come up with something.”