by Jen Talty
“I won’t sleep with you either.”
He climbed the short set of stairs with ease. “That’s what you said that night.”
“That was different.” She pushed back the hair that had fallen in her face when he laid her down.
“How so?”
“Stop flirting with me, okay? This isn’t helping me.”
He scowled and sat on the edge of the bed. “That night I asked you if you trusted me.”
“That’s because you wanted to get into my pants.” She slapped his bare shoulder, letting her hand linger a moment to feel the rigid, yet supple muscles of his body.
“You wanted it as much as I did.”
“And what does that have to do with the cost of rice in China?”
“Did you trust me that night?”
“I slept with you, didn’t I?” A brief moment of joy filled her heart, followed by the same sadness that had torn her to pieces the day she’d found that check, and her life had been forever changed. She was sure he was long over her, but it was always nice to dream. Her dreams were all she had left. “That was a beautiful night, but it was a long time ago.”
“You cried.”
“Don’t you know all girls cry the first time? And besides, you cried—”
A large, warm hand covered her mouth. “I did not.” His look turned serious.
Her breath hitched. The room still smelled like candles mixed with his hot-blooded manliness, making her dizzy.
His soft lips applied the slightest of pressure against the skin on her neck, but her body begged for more. “Blaine,” she whispered, unable to form any more words. She’d never been able to get him out of her mind. The few men she’d been with she’d compared to Blaine on every level, but no one had ever stacked up, so she had simply stopped trying. He took her hands and pressed his warm lips against her palms. “Let me give you a decent massage. Your muscles could use it.”
A soft hand rippled across her skin as he helped remove her shirt. The bed shifted and creaked when he climbed in next to her. She stuffed her head under the pillow and prayed she wouldn’t cry. “This isn’t necessary.” The scars on her back were ugly, and she was ashamed of them.
“Just let me help you.”
A loud clap, followed by what she figured was him rubbing his hands together frightened her, but then warm pressure began to build on her lower back. His strong hands glided effortlessly across her skin. Across her scars.
“How long were you in the hospital?” His voice was tender, but his hands dug deep into her muscles, finding every knot.
“For a few days. Then, because of some nerve damage, I had some problems walking. I spent about two months going to rehab.”
“What does this guy really mean to you?”
There was no way she could miss the disappointment in his tone. His fingers roamed up her spine, across her shoulder blades and then back down again. She couldn’t tell him that this man snowed her completely. That she’d fallen for the man she thought Nino was. Not the man he really was.
“I dated him. I worked for him. Other than that, nothing.” She stiffened at the feel of his full lips pressing against one of her scars. She took a deep breath and could hear him mumbling something, but she allowed her body to relax so deeply that she prayed she’d be able to fake sleep long enough for him to walk away.
Blaine wrestled with his conscience. Kaylee was vulnerable, too vulnerable. He continued to knead her back, feeling all the nodules that were probably causing her more pain than the injuries themselves.
“Tell me to stop.” He continued to kiss her back, and his hands squeezed her wonderfully round behind. “Tell me to leave,” he whispered. But she didn’t move, didn’t say anything.
“I should go,” he said, staring at his hands against her skin. His copper complexion against her fair, angel-like color had always affected him in the most primal way.
Letting out an exasperated sigh, he decided he couldn’t stand it if she outright hated him in the end for taking advantage of her. It was bad enough that she looked at him with distrust in her eyes.
“Sleep well, Kaylee.” He pulled the covers up, and when she didn’t shift, didn’t make a noise, he realized she was sound asleep.
Their marriage had been good on many levels, most especially sexual. He knew she had loved him and he had loved her, but so many people had interjected their own opinions into their relationship that mistrust always reared its ugly head. Looks like things hadn’t changed much.
Careful not to wake her, he blew out the candles, then left the bed and headed downstairs. Lightning flashed through the window, but there was no rain and only a slight rumble of thunder. Spring in these parts could be hot as a July day or as cold as Christmas. Tonight was kind of in-between.
A beer would relax him and ease his ever-increasing desire for the half-naked woman who’d given him pleasure beyond his wildest fantasies once upon a time. So a beer it was.
He sat on the lonely couch, listening to the late show, and then reached for his phone. No time like the present to get a hold of Toby.
“Hello,” a familiar female voice said.
“I must have dialed the wrong number, sorry.” Blaine glanced at the caller ID, but it most definitely said Toby Whitcomb.
“You didn’t dial the wrong number.”
“Emma?” he questioned.
“What?” she asked.
He let out a chuckle; those two deserved each other. “Did I interrupt something?”
She sighed. “Do you want to talk to Toby?”
“Yeah.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You do know what type of guy Toby is, don’t you?”
“Oh yeah, I know.” Her voice sounded soft and endearing, but not toward Blaine. “Toby, it’s Blaine.”
“Yo, Dark Man, what’s up?”
“At least I don’t glow in the dark,” Blaine mused. He’d hated the term “dark man” growing up; now it just made him laugh. “You and Emma?”
“You don’t have a problem with that, do ya?”
“Not really, but don’t hurt her,” Blaine said, hoping she really did know that Toby coined the phrase, ‘one-night-stand.’
“Not planning on it. However, you’re the one who said you hoped she rotted in hell.”
“I was pissed,” Blaine said. “How long has this been going on?”
“None of your business.”
“Well, I’ll be scalped.” Blaine ran his hand through his hair. “More than a few days?”
“Try months, man. If you say one jackass thing or tease me at all, I’ll do something so bad, you might have to actually put those handcuffs on me.”
“I’ll leave that privilege for your father, which sort of but not really leads me to why I’m calling.”
“Kaylee,” Toby said.
Blaine turned the volume on the television all the way down. “Someone shot at her tonight.”
“That sucks.”
Toby was always one for simple and direct verbiage. “She used to work for Nino De Luca.”
“Nino De who?”
“A crime family out of Chicago. Anyway, she’s running from something, and I need your help.” Blaine scooted down onto his side and propped his head on his elbow.
A belly laugh bellowed in Blaine’s ear. “I thought you cops had no use for us low-life P.I. guys.”
“I’d like to use your other abilities.”
“That’s just gross, man.”
“Get your head out of your ass. I want to hire you as Kaylee’s bodyguard.”
“You don’t have to hire me to do that.” Toby’s voice turned serious. “Emma thinks she hiding something, but I haven’t been able to get her to break client confidentially whatsoever.”
“She never will.” Regardless of how horrible their short-lived relationship had been, hating the woman wasn’t worth it, and if she made Toby change his stripes, well, more power to her. “Also, since you’ll just be hanging around watching, maybe you could do some di
gging. See what you can find out about what Kaylee has been doing for the last ten years.”
“You really want me to open that can of worms?”
“I need to know.” Blaine paused for a moment. “And make sure nothing happens to Kaylee, okay? I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“Not a problem. Look, I’ve got a beautiful woman getting naked in my bed. I’m hanging up now.”
Blaine wasn’t going to comment on that. He shut the phone and glanced toward the window. “Everybody’s getting some but me,” he groaned and then pulled the covers up to his chin.
When Blaine had left for work the next morning, thankfully, Dave’s car had been gone. He didn’t think he’d be able to handle a smile on his boss’s face as he came out of his mother’s house, but he didn’t begrudge the man either. Actually, he did. He begrudged anyone who had a sex life.
The sun shone brightly through his half-opened blinds at the station house. There had been frost on the ground, and the weatherman were calling for snow. In the distance, he could see dark clouds rolling in.
A tap at his door caught his attention. His boss leaned against the doorjamb.
“Got some good news for me?” Blaine asked Dave.
“The ballistics on the bullet found at your place didn’t match Rutherford’s gun,” Dave said.
“Did the medical examiner release the body?”
Dave nodded and said, “He died from trauma to the head. If it wasn’t for the bullet, they’d rule it accidental. They’re supposed to contact Kaylee and Hadley this morning.”
“Toby’s going to keep an eye on her.”
“Good,” Dave said. “She tell you anything noteworthy?”
“Not much, but she’s definitely hiding something.”
“You can say that again.” Dave glanced around the office as an uncomfortable silence overtook them. In all the years Blaine had known Dave, they’d never been awkward with each other. Until today. “I need to talk to you.”
“Save it, Dave. If you make my mother happy, then I’m happy.” He was in no mood for a big talk about them being grown-ups and having so much in common. He might begin to despise the man if he had to go through that.
“I hope I make her happy. I’m in love with her, but that’s not what this is about.” Dave handed him a file. “Kaylee was engaged to this De Luca guy. He tried to file a missing person’s report, but when the cops went to her apartment, they found she’d ended her lease, packed up all her stuff, and told neighbors she was moving to New York. She’s not considered a missing person, but Nino’s got money. Lots of money. Lots of connections.”
Blaine opened the file. A paper clipping of Nino De Luca and his happy fiancée, Kaylee Walker, stared back at him. She really had never changed her name back. He wasn’t sure if he was happy about that. Or resentful that she had his name while engaged to another man.
“She did tell me she was involved with him,” he said as he flipped through more clippings. “But not this involved.”
When he got to the one where she’d been attacked by a burglar, he pounded his fist on the desk. “She told me the attack was meant as a warning. You should see the scars on her back.”
“That is one hell of a warning.”
“I asked Toby to do some digging. Mind if I give him all this?”
“Go ahead. All public record.”
“What else have you found out?”
“De Luca claims that he thinks Kaylee’s attacker might have kidnapped her for ransom or something. He’s put out a few press conferences, and I’m sure he’s got a bunch of hired hands scouting for her.”
Blaine rubbed his hand across the scab forming on his bicep. “I think we met them last night.”
Dave took a seat across from Blaine. “Either De Luca put a hit on her father to get to her. Or he was at the right place, but the wrong target. Or, we’ve got two sets of bad guys here.”
Blaine rose and strode to the window. The sun was hiding behind a cloud, and he could hear the wind howling in the distance. Snow was definitely on its way. “I think we really need to cover both angles. If it’s Nino, he’ll keep coming. If it’s someone else, I bet my next paycheck it’s related to information regarding her biological father.”
“I get the crime family connection, considering she’s obviously running from something, but what’s the big deal about who her father is anyway?”
“I’m not exactly sure, but what if it’s someone whose career or family would be ruined?”
Dave let out a soft roll of laughter. “It’s the new millennium; no one gives a shit these days.”
Blaine turned to face his boss. “Someone like Reverend Hicks would give a shit.”
“You can’t be serious? Straight-laced Jack? Come on, Blaine. He’d never cheat on his wife.”
“Stranger things have happened.”
“I can’t let you pursue this. You have nothing to go on and frankly, I think you’re just looking for a reason to believe she’s not tangled up with the mob.”
The sky outside grew dark, and the wind rattled the window. “You have to agree that we need to look at every possible angle.”
“That’s not the point. Kaylee is still on the suspect list. She has a lot to gain from her father’s death, and she was the last to possibly see him alive.” Dave let out a huff of air, frustration written all over his face.
“If she’s up there, then so is Jack. Maybe he didn’t think Rutherford had changed his will just yet. Maybe there was a heated argument and Rutherford threatened to expose Jack’s infidelities to his wife. Either way, Jack is out millions for his church. That’s motive right there.”
“I’ll give you the possibility, but damn it, do it by the book.”
Blaine knew he couldn’t go and speak to them, officially. “It’s been a few months since I’ve gone to church—”
“Try years, son.” Dave shook his head. “Don’t give me reason to suspend you.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Blaine had seen that concerned look on his boss’s face before. When Blaine had come back and started working for him the second time, Blaine was truly lucky to have a job. No one would hire him because he was a loose cannon ready to blow.
“Just remember who you answer to,” Dave said before disappearing into the hallway.
A few things had changed, but Blaine still preferred to bend the rules just a smidgen, just to get the job done. That would never change.
Just then Blaine’s cell phone rang. Glancing at it, he saw Toby’s number. “What’s up?”
“It would appear Kaylee talked Rachael into driving her to the police station.” Toby laughed. “She’s got an extra key in the tire hub. I’ll stop her, but you better get your ugly ass out here.” The phone went silent.
The woman was going to make him nuts.
7
Kaylee stared out into the evening sky as she listened to a screeching voice lecture her about being on the run from the cops. How it would be better if she just stayed put and let her closest friend and the rest of this sleepy little town help her. Kaylee couldn’t believe hiding out with the Assistant Chief of Police was going to protect her from the mob, especially since they already knew where she was hiding.
“Are you listening to me?” Rachael snapped.
“Every flipping word.”
“But you’re not going to take my advice, are you?” Rachael slammed her car into park and gave Kaylee the evil eye. “You realize you’re making yourself look guilty.”
“Great, now you believe I killed my father.”
Rachael reached out and held Kaylee’s forearm. “I don’t believe that, but running won’t help you. You’ve got to stop. Even Rutherford was tired of it.”
“What do you know about my dad?” Kaylee yanked her arm free and glared at Rachael. “You act like you’ve talked to him about this.”
“I sold him some furniture from my shop a while back. He mentioned how much he missed you. How he wanted you back in his life. He was
looking for you.”
“My father bought some furniture from you? He was never interested in change.” Kaylee blinked. It wasn’t the furniture so much as the fact that he’d confide in Rachael. That Rachael would even listen to him. Growing up, Rachael had thought her father a total asshole.
“I worked him over.”
“How’d you do that?”
“That’s a long story, and I won’t be telling it to you unless you show up at my place for dinner one night in the near future.”
“Thanks, Rachael, but I’m not staying.”
The sun was hidden by dark storm clouds, and the leafless tree branches flapped in the wind. She figured she’d have about a half hour to get back to Blaine’s, get her stuff, and head for the hotel. She couldn’t stay with Blaine another night. She couldn’t put his mother in danger either.
“Thanks, Rachael.” Kaylee opened the door to the sports car and stepped onto the pavement.
“At least stay for my parents’ annual barbeque. My new boyfriend is going to be there, and I’d love for you to meet him.”
Kaylee froze at the mention of the kind Reverend Hicks, who wasn’t so kind. He’d always treated her like some kind of heathen or possibly the devil himself. Once, he’d even told her she was just like her mother. Of course, Kaylee had been pregnant and unmarried at the time, which made people wonder if she was schizophrenic.
“Well, lookie at who we have here,” Toby’s voice rang out.
When she turned, Toby had successfully put his car, if you could call the rusted pile of metal a car, behind her SUV. She was blocked in, and without a doubt, Blaine knew by now she was here.
“Hey, Toby.” She scurried over to give him a hug. “Please let me leave,” she whispered. “I need to get out of here.”
“Damn girl, and to think I’m taken.” He squeezed her bottom shamelessly, ignoring her words.
“You’re taken? By what?” She cupped his bearded face and narrowed her eyes. Toby had always understood her; she hoped that was still the case.
He smiled and rolled a toothpick sticking out of the side of his mouth with his tongue and shook his head. “No can do, babe.” He leaned his broad body against her car. “I think we should all go out tonight.”