The Detective’s Undoing

by Jill Shalvis

  “Oh, my God,” she whispered. “That didn’t occur to you until just now, that you’re able to leave here, forever. I don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse.”

  She looked away from him, self-consciously tugging at her sweater, which revealed her still-hard nipples. “You were right.” Tipping back her head, she stared up into the sky. “I’ve held back from the people I care about most, and that’s unforgivable. I need to fix that.”

  Then with one last long inscrutable look into his eyes, she turned and started walking away.

  “Wait! Where are you going?”

  “To tell my sisters the truth,” she said over her shoulder. “I’m going to tell them everything.” Then she disappeared into the woods, heading toward the house.

  Well, he’d walked right into that one. She considered her sisters the most important people in her life. Not him. She wouldn’t think that way about him, not when he’d done his best to hold back from her, as well. But dammit, couldn’t he have also been included in that group?

  Cade sank back onto the ground, heedless of the cold, his heart racing, pulse drumming, as he realized the sorry truth. He hadn’t protected or withheld his heart at all.

  He’d fallen in love with her.

  Delia marched into the house, prepared to drop the weight of her past and Maddie’s future as the heir off her shoulders, so when she found herself alone, her shoulders sagged in disappointment.

  Where were they?

  Then she heard voices coming from their office. The wedding, she figured. With only days left, they’d be discussing flowers, food and fun, the three required F’s for a wedding.

  “We can give him the first room on the left,” came Maddie’s excited voice. “So he’s close to all the action. He’ll want that. Any eight-year-old would.”

  Jacob, Delia realized with surprise. They were talking about Jacob.

  “You can’t give a boy that option,” Zoe answered, disagreeing mildly. “Granted, he looks sweet enough, but he is a boy, and therefore trouble with a capital T. He’ll need far more supervision than that. Trust me on this, I know such things, being a fellow wild one. I think he should be near me—”

  Maddie laughed. “I see right through you, Zoe Martin. You want him for yourself. And you pretend to be so tough.”

  “I am tough.”

  “I can’t wait,” Maddie said dreamily. “A little boy. Can you imagine how different his life will be here? How much better off…”

  The voices didn’t fade as Delia moved closer to the office, but the meaning of the words escaped her as she realized it was no one’s fault but her own if they got hurt. She had to tell them the truth.

  But where to start?

  She knew how much Zoe had once wanted to be the heir. She knew exactly how badly she herself had wanted to be heir. But she had no idea about Maddie, who’d been strangely closed-mouthed about the whole thing.

  Well, she’d just start at the beginning and hope she could get it all out without hurting her sisters any more than she already had.

  “Jacob might not be coming,” Delia said quietly after opening the door and facing both her startled sisters. “I’ve lied to both of you.” She drew on her last reserves of strength, knowing she had Cade to thank for having any left at all. “The truth is, I was told months ago by the social worker on Jacob’s case I wasn’t worth enough to get Jacob—”

  “What?” Shock filled Maddie’s gaze. “You were told what? And by whom? How dare they! Your heart alone is worth its weight in gold—how could they not know that? I want a name, dammit, and I want a number, too! Just wait until I get hold of those people.”

  Maddie never swore. Delia stared at her. “His name is Scott Felton, and Maddie, murder is a capital offense.”

  Zoe gave a tight smile. “Only if you’re caught. What do they mean, you’re not worth enough, Delia?”

  “Exactly what it sounds like.” Weary, Delia sank into a chair. “Jacob comes with that large inheritance from his father, which can’t just go to anyone. It has to be managed. Edna is wealthy in her own right and can easily manage a sum like that.”

  “But you’re his sister,” Zoe pointed out. “That counts for more than wealth. Besides, you have this place.”

  “Which, until we actually make money, isn’t worth much. And actually, no, I don’t have it.”

  “Well, maybe not technically,” Zoe said, waving that off. “Not until Cade proves who’s really the heir, but what the heck does that matter? One of the three of us own it, and that’s good enough.”

  For the second time in as many hours, Delia came close to breaking. Their love never failed to blow her away. “It’s not good enough for the courts,” she said.

  “Well, it should be,” Maddie fumed. “But since it’s not, take it. Let’s put your name on the deed.” She looked at Zoe, who nodded without hesitation.

  “Absolutely,” Zoe agreed. “Let’s do it. Call Cade in here, he can—”

  “No.” Delia drew a deep ragged breath. “I can’t let you do that.”

  “Try and stop me,” Maddie said firmly, then softened. “Oh, honey, how could you not tell us?”

  “I’m sorry,” Delia whispered, closing her eyes in misery. “It seems so dumb now.”

  “Sure does,” Zoe said. “Now let’s get Cade.”

  “I…I was just with him.” Two avidly curious gazes ran over her, suddenly taking in the wild state of her hair, her damp clothing and the rosiness she still felt in her cheeks from Cade’s kisses deepening into a full-blown blush. “I mean, we were just talking…”

  Zoe crossed her arms, a wide grin on her face. “Uh-huh. Just talking. That’s why your hair is a mess—with a stick in it, I see. And you have mud all over your butt, Dee. And you call that talking, too?”

  Maddie’s eyebrows shot up as she looked Delia over. “You do have a sort of ravished look about you, honey. Did you—”

  “No,” Delia said quickly. “We didn’t. And we did talk. I’m not ever going to be heir—it’s just not possible. My father was really a man named Eddie Kitze, not Ethan Constance. Which means—” she took Maddie’s hand and managed to smile into her questioning eyes “—you must be the heir.”

  Maddie blinked slowly. “What?”

  “You’re the heir, Maddie. And I don’t think it could have happened to a more deserving woman.”

  Maddie continued to stand there, looking shell-shocked.

  Zoe hugged Maddie, her eyes glued to Delia over Maddie’s head.

  Maddie looked at Delia too. “I don’t want to be the heir. I want you to be the heir.”

  “Maddie—”

  “No, you listen to me, Delia.” Maddie’s eyes flashed with temper. “You’ve been keeping secrets, not out of meanness, but from some misguided notion you have to keep all your problems to yourself. As if you couldn’t trust us with your heart. Us! You lied, and while I know you didn’t mean to hurt us, you did.”

  Delia couldn’t have felt more like slime. “God, Maddie…”

  “I don’t want to be the heir,” she whispered, sinking into a chair next to Delia. “I want Delia to be the heir. I want Jacob here with us, where he belongs. I want…” She let out a little laugh. “I want everything.”

  Zoe dropped to her knees in front of her sisters, and the three of them held one another. “I want everything, too,” Zoe said. “And since we deserve it, dammit, let’s just get it, okay? We’ll put Delia’s name on the deed for now, we’ll take the judge by storm, and we’ll…”

  “You forgive me,” Delia said, overwhelmed with awe and love. She chuckled when Zoe smacked her lightly, then hugged her tight.

  “You idiot,” both Maddie and Zoe said at the same time, then they all laughed through their tears because nothing between them would ever change.

  They forgave her. Delia couldn’t get over it, steeped as she was in their love.

  Only months ago, her life would have been complete with just the knowledge that they would never turn
her away. But now she thought of Cade and what could never be, and she sighed deeply, holding on tight to the most wonderful sisters anyone could ask for.

  And wanting still more.

  Chapter 13

  Zoe and Ty’s wedding day arrived, sunny and breezy and glorious. To everyone’s joy, Edna flew in with Jacob.

  With the custody hearing only days away, Delia thought she’d be a nervous wreck, but having Jacob close by settled her nerves as nothing else could have.

  She stood near the altar with Maddie, both of them dressed in the midnight-blue silky dresses she’d made, waiting for Zoe to walk down the aisle of the small church.

  Across from her stood Ty, tall, dark and gorgeous, staring intently at the door at the end of the aisle. He was waiting with barely restrained patience for a glimpse of his bride.

  Next to Ty stood Cade, the best man, also tall, dark and gorgeous. And staring.

  At her.

  She lifted a brow, questioning, but he didn’t move, just kept looking at her, and it was such a deeply personal questing stare she could do nothing but return it. She felt as though she could see so much in his eyes—hope and happiness and passion. And strength—strength he’d share with her whenever her own faltered.

  Yet he was leaving; he had to be. He was done with the case and she knew he wouldn’t, couldn’t, ever be happy in one spot.

  Zoe appeared then, and Delia’s attention was momentarily diverted. Yet, beautiful as her sister looked in the gown she’d created, as wonderful and touching as the ceremony was, Delia couldn’t get her mind off Cade. The way he was watching her, warming her with his sensual knowing gaze.

  What was he thinking as he looked at her like that, as if she was the only woman in the world?

  Ty and Zoe held hands as they spoke their vows, their gazes filled with such wonder and love that Delia had to look away, or the deep ache inside her might consume her.

  She didn’t want Cade to go, maybe she’d never wanted him to go.

  He was intelligent, funny, passionate, and the most caring man she’d ever met. He was on her mind from the moment she awoke in the morning until she fell asleep at night. She dreamed about him and got up with the memory of his taste, his touch, and instead of being satisfied, she wanted more. She wanted all of him, and it wasn’t just a physical wanting, though her body yearned and burned.

  With all her heart she wanted him to stay.

  Forever.

  The thought made her gasp out loud, and Maddie shot her a surprised look, but Delia regained her composure quickly, for it was foolish to wonder what it would be like to have Cade forever.

  Ty leaned close to Zoe and kissed her hard and long. Cade and Maddie laughed and clapped, Edna looked touched, and as the kiss dragged on, Jacob wore an expression between feigned disgust and happiness. Delia smiled, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away from Cade.

  Later, after everyone had left the church and they were at dinner together, Cade pulled Delia aside and gazed deeply into her eyes. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

  His words stole her breath. “You’ve seen beautiful women before.”

  Not denying that, he laughed softly, sexily, and blocking her from the others with his body, he stroked a work-roughened thumb over her jaw. “What’s on that gorgeous mind of yours, Delia? It’s not another woman.”

  “Yes. Yes, it is,” she whispered. “I want to know about your wife.”

  His thumb stilled. “I’m not comparing the two of you, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “Because there’s no comparison?”

  “Because you’re so different.” He sighed when she only waited for more. “I loved Lisa. We were high-school sweethearts. Best friends. We were…comfortable. Cozy.” His gaze waited for hers. “What you and I have, Delia, has never been cozy.”

  “No. Not cozy.”

  His eyes heated and he touched her again, making her shiver.

  “Would you ever be happy staying here?” Shocked and horrified at herself, she scrambled to backpedal. “Never mind. Just…never mind.” When she tried to step away, he stopped her.

  “I didn’t know you thought of me like that,” he said, clearly surprised.

  “Yeah, well, don’t let it go to your head.” Determined to let nothing ruin this day, Zoe’s wedding day, she again tried to turn away.

  And again he stopped her. “Just because I’ve avoided commitment since my family’s death doesn’t mean I don’t know the meaning of the word,” he murmured, watching his fingers on her arm as he ran them down to her fingers to link their hands. Then he raised their joined hands to his lips. “I don’t know what to do about you, Delia. God help me, I just don’t.”

  What did that mean? Whatever it meant, he wasn’t offering undying love, that was certain. And anyway, she didn’t need it. She had everything that mattered. Her life was perfect as it was, or it would be after the custody hearing.

  She tried to pull away once more, afraid to let him see into her eyes, because all she felt for him was there, leaving her far more vulnerable than she’d ever been in her life.

  “Delia—”

  “No, don’t.” And with a tug, she broke free.

  Jacob was at the table when she got there, watching her carefully, and she smiled at him.

  “You look funny,” he said, his brow puckering. “You’re not going to…cry or anything, are you?”

  “No.” Swallowing hard, she forced another smile.

  The fact that Cade was indeed the prince she’d been looking for all her life didn’t escape her and certainly didn’t help her already-bruised pride.

  She didn’t want to need him as much as she did, didn’t want to need anyone.

  The restaurant had a small dance floor and a three-piece band. But they were good, and it wasn’t long before Ty dragged Zoe out onto the floor for a dance.

  Cade watched them for a moment, locked in each other’s arms and apparently lost in each other. The way Ty held Zoe, the way she looked at him, stirred the emptiness in his own heart.

  Automatically, without even realizing what he was doing, he searched out Delia. And found her, quietly watching him. The now familiar confusion hit him, the one that always came when he looked at her.

  Her light eyes were clear and warm. The soft flickering glow of the candles gave her skin a pearly luster. Her glorious hair, loose and wavy to her shoulders, shone.

  Delia by candlelight.

  He’d never seen anyone lovelier.

  Slowly, almost against his will, he moved toward her. Her eyes widened when his intent became clear, but his Delia, his strong valiant steady Delia, held her ground.

  “Come with me,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her up.

  “What are you doing?” she asked in an alarmed whisper, glancing back at Maddie, who just smiled serenely.

  Cade smiled, too, and didn’t let go of her, so that short of making a scene, she had little to no choice other than to follow him. She managed to throw a smile back to Maddie and the others, but he could feel how stiff she was.

  “Relax,” he murmured in her ear, drawing her close for a slow dance he knew would be pure torture.

  “I can’t!”

  “Sure you can. You just take a deep breath and—”

  “No, dammit! I mean, I can’t dance!”

  He laughed, but when she went even stiffer, he eased back and looked at her. “You’re not kidding?” For some ridiculous reason tenderness filled him. It meant that no one had ever held her quite like this, which shouldn’t have been so thrilling. The music obliged him, became slower more sensual, and there in the dark they began to move to the beat.

  “I don’t know what to do,” she whispered, clearly flustered. “Or where to put my hands…or my feet.”

  “Just ease up against me…yeah, that’s it. Put your hands here…” He wrapped one around his neck. “And here…” He entwined her fingers with his, drawing her against him. Ignoring the shaft of heat that caused,
he smiled into her tense face. “This is supposed to be fun, you know.”

  “Fun,” she muttered, but she swayed with him, holding him as if she liked it in spite of herself. “We’re awfully close.”

  “That’s the idea.” He held her gaze as she blushed. Then she tucked her face into the crook of his neck, which was just as good because now he could feel her every little breath, which seemed to be coming faster and faster.

  Cade could have drowned in the pleasure of it.

  We’re awfully close.

  It’d been a problem for both of them since the first time they’d met. But he found that he no longer had the will to fight that closeness, that he actually wanted to savor it, go with it. For him, it was like coming out of a dark tunnel, one he’d been in for eight long years. It was like feeling the warmth of the sun on his face after a cold and bitter winter.

  His body gravitated toward hers until there wasn’t an inch of space between them as they moved to the music. Her fingers were curled in the ends of his hair, stroking lightly in a caress he wasn’t sure she was even aware of; but he was, so much so that he had to close his eyes. But all that did was intensify everything. The feel of her soft body against his firm one, the easy flow of her movements, the heat those movements generated.

  When he rocked, she rocked, and she let out a little sigh, losing the last of her resistance. He nearly groaned out loud. Her touch felt good, too good, and the feel of her arms around him only added to the sweet pain. He buried his face in her hair and held on tight, wondering if she could feel his heart racing, wondering if she knew he was as hard as a rock.

  Just then she looked up at him, her gaze filled with wonder, and an awareness that made him catch his breath.

  She knew.

  Slowly she slid her hips over his. His arousal throbbed.

  “Delia.”

  In answer, she did it again.

  Oh, yeah, she’d definitely noticed.

  “I think I’ve got the hang of this slow-dancing thing,” she whispered, drawing back as the music ended. “What do you think?”