by Natalie Ann
She wasn’t about to let that scent enter her house again. She was tired and needed sleep and that was something that was bound to keep her up. Not just the physical effects of it all, but the mental ones playing with her, telling her to take a risk again, go for the thrills. Don’t be the perfect girl from the perfect family for the rest of her life. What could it hurt?
“Excited to see me,” he said when she climbed into the passenger door. “Good move.”
She was going to ask what he was talking about, but then remembered she was supposed to be acting. “That was the plan,” she lied to herself, hoping he thought she was playing and wasn’t really excited to see him.
After he’d left the other night, she’d felt bad about his comment that he wasn’t good enough for her. Not her type, he’d said. She was going to say she didn’t have a type but felt it was best to not correct him. To just let it go. This was all a show. Better to not even bring the conversation up if she didn’t need to. She never had a care about types, not really.
Then why did she spend the past several years dating boring men in business suits? Because she’d convinced herself that was what she needed in her profession. That was who people would expect to see her with.
“You’ll be happy to know everything went off without a hitch yesterday.”
“Meaning what?” she asked.
“That the hot gossip going around the station is my persistence with getting you to go on a date with me. I had to make a big production when you agreed this morning after I called you.”
She was stunned when Tiffany patched him through early this morning, expecting he’d call her on her cell phone. Instead he’d called her office.
“What happened?”
“Gary went over the top about coming over to my desk on Thursday asking if I thought it was smart to pursue you. I told him there was no reason not to. That you were smoking hot and I knew you just wanted my body.”
She started to cough. “You didn’t say that!” Could he really read what she’d been hiding all along?
“Guess you won’t know, will you?”
Just great. “Then what?”
“I got a bunch of ribbing from everyone. They wanted to know how many times the cool Dr. Mason shot me down. It was starting to give me a complex, but I had to put up a good front and told them only twice, but the third was the charm.”
“Your call this morning?” she asked. “That’s why you didn’t call me directly?”
“Can’t have anyone thinking I had your cell number when you’ve been shooting me down, now could I?”
“And when I told you yes. Then what happened at work?”
“I told everyone that I knew you couldn’t resist me. I got a bunch of high fives all around. Seems you might have some admirers. Or maybe I do now,” he said, laughing.
“Because everyone thinks I’m such a bitch that no one would approach me?” she said.
He turned sharply. “Hey, sorry. No. I was just trying to lighten things up. No one thinks that at all. I’ve never heard it. You’re always talked about in a good light. Trust me. I just never knew you were a woman. Thought you were a big old fat dude. Imagine my surprise when you came out to meet me.”
“Really?” she asked, feeling a bit better. Maybe. No, she shouldn’t be concerned one way or another. It wasn’t as if it affected her ability to do her job, what people thought of her. But she was lying because what people thought of her was how she got to be so well respected. “So now everyone knows?”
“If they don’t, they’ll find out. No one else is aware of what is going on though. Some know about your tires and a select few about the snake, but no one knows that you’re my assignment.”
“I’ve never been an assignment before.” That somehow made it worse. Like a cold shower in the middle of the winter after a hot sauna. That wasn’t a good feeling no matter how many times people insisted it was.
She figured she’d insulted him the other night, and he took it in stride, but she was the one all worked up now.
“Think nothing of it. Just pretend to be into me. That’s all you need to do.”
That won’t be hard. But she sure the hell wouldn’t say that. “I guess we’ll see how good of an actress I am.”
***
Ian looked over at Cam. Something wasn’t right with her today. She was edgy and wound up tight. He wasn’t sure what was going on and was just trying to lighten the mood but realized he wasn’t doing that good of a job at it.
“Everything okay? You seem off today.”
She looked startled when she turned. “Just tired. I haven’t slept well the past few nights.”
“If you’re scared it’s okay to admit that.”
“I don’t know what I am. Scared isn’t it so much as frustrated. I went through all my patient files last night and I can’t figure out who is doing this. The only explanation is that it has to do with the Arrow case and that just pisses me off that they think I can be frightened or intimated into bending to their powers or allowing the money to try to dictate the outcome of their choosing. There have been whispers of them trying to figure out a way to get to jurors too.”
He liked the spark in her eye right now. “When are you scheduled to meet with David Arrow?”
“Next week. I’ll be meeting with the DA and prosecutor one day before meeting with David. I’m just ready to get this moving and get it over with.”
“That’s the spirit. Just want to push me along.”
“I didn’t mean it that way,” she said, almost looking appalled.
He reached his hand over and laid it on hers and she didn’t flinch, didn’t move and let him keep it there. It was enough. “I know. We’ll get through it.”
They pulled into the restaurant and walked inside. “You didn’t have to bring me here,” she said. “Even I know it’s not easy to get reservations.”
“I pulled some strings. We have to be seen where the Arrows have their reach. There is bound to be someone here that will recognize you and report back to them. Let them know you have a boyfriend and are out for the night.”
“Why does that matter?” she asked, following him in and to the table right in the center of the room.
“Don’t worry about it. Let us worry.”
“I suppose. I’m going to have a glass a wine tonight. I need it.”
“Good. Try to relax.”
He ordered a beer, wine for her, and they were waiting for their drinks when he reached his hand over, palm up, waiting for her to lay her hand in it. “You aren’t doing a very good job of portraying someone who’s into me.”
She laughed, a genuine one that reached her eyes and caused some heads to turn their way. “I thought you had to all but beg me for a date. You should be gazing at me that way.”
“You can’t tell by the look in my eye what I want?”
She opened her mouth and then shut it. “You’ve had more time to practice your undercover skills.”
He was going to argue with her but didn’t. No use making her more nervous. He got the feeling she wasn’t nervous often, but she did place her hand in his and he held it. And it felt right.
There was a lot of idle chitchat during the meal. Nothing in depth. Nothing earth-shattering. She wasn’t asking about his inner feelings and he wasn’t asking about her childhood. They were just two people on a date talking about the outside world and laughing now and again.
If he caught her eyes going to his lips when he ate, or running the tip of her tongue around her own lips when she took a sip of wine, he didn’t say anything. Just shifted in his chair. After all, they were supposed to be putting on a show and she was a fast learner, making him believe she really did lust after him.
The waiter was just picking up their plates when her phone went off and she jumped, then swore.
“What is it?”
“The alarms were set off in my house. Something is going on, we need to leave.”
“The police will be dispatched. You
know that.” He paused and looked at the waiter’s concerned stare. “Can we have the check in a hurry, please?”
“Yes,” he said, rushing off.
“The police will beat us there. You know that. Call dispatch and tell them we’re on the way. Take a deep breath. It’s fine. You’re with me. You’re safe.”
She made the call, her hand shaking. Some fear, but mostly rage, he could see. That was good. She was a fighter. He’d rather deal with that than tears any day.
“I told them we’d be there in fifteen minutes tops.”
“Faster,” he said. “No reason to hide what I do for a living. I’ll put the sirens on.”
He grabbed the check when it was handed to him and pulled out several bills.
“Let me,” she said, reaching for her purse.
“Don’t even think about it,” he said.
“Oh yeah,” she whispered when they were leaving. “An assignment. The city is paying for it then, right?”
Not quite, but she didn’t need to know. “What did they say when you called just now?” he asked instead.
“Not much. Police will wait until I get there if it doesn’t look like the doors are opened or broken into. It better not be,” she said, frowning.
He put the siren on the dash and turned it on. “We’ll find out. Take a deep breath. Remember, you’re safe.”
His Purpose
Ian pulled down her street at a speed she wasn’t used to traveling, the tires screeching, sending her pulse into a rapid beat and her body against the door. It seemed like horrible timing to have arousal mixing in with fear.
There were red lights flashing in front of her house on the two white police cars. Lots of people were milling around on their front porches checking out the show.
Now she knew what an acrophobic felt like standing on the edge of a cliff. The cold sweat that accumulates at the base of your neck, sliding down your back in drizzles, teasing you, until finally, it’s a gush of water soaking your clothing. This was still fear, right?
Her hands were shaking and her nerves were on full alert. She wasn’t sure if it had anything to do with the sexy guy she’d been trying to fake a pretend relationship with over dinner. She knew it wasn’t working, she really was into him. Now it was more about not letting on about the truth.
But here she was being brought back to reality on what his purpose was in her life right now. That there was someone out there trying to scare her. Trying to make her do something she might not want to do. Trying to torment her, throw off her mental stability.
It was working.
But she was determined to not let it show to those outside of this car. She was stronger than that.
“Give me a second, okay?” she said when he parked. His eyes were assessing her in a way she did with her patients. Trying to read what was going on. She was hoping she was better at covering things up.
“How much time do you need?”
“Just a minute.” She took a few deep breaths, composed herself as much as she could by talking herself off that cliff and back on the ground. Soft dewy grass between her toes in the spring. Fun. Flirty. A childhood memory. That worked.
“Ready now?”
“Yes. Ready to find out what the hell is going on with my house.”
He laughed at her. “Doc, you are one tough chick. Or at least good at making people believe it. It’s okay to show you’re scared.”
“I’m pissed,” she said.
“I believe that too. Let’s go.”
They got out of his car and she followed behind him as he made his way to the first officer. Everyone was standing outside since it looked as if no doors were opened or broken into.
“What do we have?” Ian asked.
“Doors are all locked up tight. No signs of forced entry in the front. No damage either. However, there is a broken window in the back. Looks like someone threw something through the glass.”
She took a deep breath. Just what she needed. A broken window that she wouldn’t be able to get fixed on a Friday night.
Ian threaded his fingers through hers. “Come on. I’ll take care of the damage for you tonight.”
The officer looked on with curiosity, then said, “I thought it was just a rumor. Guess not.”
She knew it was in reference to the “relationship” she and Ian had budding. She never thought she’d be that big of a topic of discussion before. Even when she rebelled, it was all kept quiet. That was the thrill, not being caught.
“Hand over your keys to me. What’s your alarm code?”
“Why do you need that?” she asked, crossing her arms.
“I need to shut your alarm off and I’m going in the house first. An officer can stand out here with you, but you aren’t going in that house until I know it’s safe.”
She wanted to argue but then reminded herself of that cliff she was standing on when they pulled down the road, and fished her house key out, then handed it over. She leaned into his ear and whispered her code to him. Should she have inhaled the scent of him as she did it? Probably not. But like a gambler in Vegas, she was drawn into her addiction without thought or reason.
Ian opened the door, followed by two officers while another one stood outside with her. Standing guard, she knew and fought off the annoyance over that.
The bullhorn ringing through the air ceased. Her neighbors were probably thrilled over it. She wondered how many cold shoulders or sarcastic comments she’d get now.
Most weren’t happy when she moved in and they realized what she did, fearful she’d be seeing clients on the street. She assured them that wouldn’t happen and asked that they keep the fact that she was their neighbor on the quiet side of conversations.
She’d lived here for three years and not a whisper of a problem...until now.
“He’s a pretty great guy.”
Cam turned to look at the officer and realized it was a woman. She’d been so lost in her own thoughts that she didn’t notice the hair pulled back under the cap or the boy-like body in uniform. The voice was the only indication of the officer’s sex in the shadows of her backyard right now.
“He is,” she said. What was she supposed to do? Dispute it? It’d be a lie.
She wanted to ask the officer if she knew from experience but didn’t. That’d be pushing it.
Then again, they were supposed to be portraying a relationship, so wouldn’t it make sense if she was jealous? No. She’d never ask that if the relationship was real, so she wasn’t going to now.
Even if she was curious. Even if she desperately wanted to know.
“All clear,” Ian said, stepping back outside.
She walked over to him, the lights on in the kitchen now. Glass was sprayed on the floor like cleaner from a bottle, pieces of it on the island that she and Ian had sat at just days ago. On the floor was a large rock with writing on it.
Ian stopped her as she went to bend down and pick it up. “Let us get some pictures first.”
“I want to see what it says,” she said.
“We will in time. It won’t make a difference if you read it now or in ten minutes.” He walked over and opened her fridge, then handed her a bottle of water. “Sit down and take a few deep breaths. You’re putting on a good front for everyone, but you don’t need to,” he said ushering her to a table off the kitchen. “You can show what you’re really feeling.”
“I’d rather not. Then there’d be a bigger mess to clean up.”
He chuckled and then shocked her by leaning down and kissing her quickly on the lips. “My kind of girl.”
Her eyes popped open. If she were looking in a mirror, she’d bet she looked like a cartoon character right now. The urge to yank him forward and plant a real one on him was massive. “What was that for?”
“As your boyfriend I should try to comfort you, right? Appearances,” he reminded her and then walked away.
***
The minute everyone was out of the house, Ian went back to where Cam was si
tting. When he’d looked over and seen the fear on her face as they raced down the road, he’d reminded himself to pull it together.
This was a job. This was his assignment. He wasn’t supposed to let feelings get in the way. He wasn’t supposed to show if they did.
That was when mistakes were made. That was when lives could be lost. He wasn’t losing one this time. Not even close.
“How are you doing there, Doc?”
“You could call me Cam in front of everyone, you know. Otherwise no one is going to believe our ruse.”
“Oh, they believed it. Trust me,” he said.
He wasn’t a psychologist at all, but anyone in their right mind saw her lean against him when he grabbed her hand. Then when she pressed her side against his and laid her hand on his chest as she whispered her code in his ear. Yeah, those were perfect moves.
“That’s good.” She took another deep breath, her chest rising and falling. The one he’d been trying not to stare at during dinner in her peach sweater. Like two fresh Florida oranges ready for picking catching his eye.
“I don’t suppose you’ve got any plywood here,” he asked, trying to refocus.
“I used the last piece last week during my craft night. Sorry.”
He laughed again. “I want to get your window boarded up. I’ll make a quick call.”
“Let me guess, you know people.”
“My father is a contractor. He’ll come over and help me get this covered up. Probably could get your window replaced Monday morning too if you’d like.”
“If he could, that’d be great. I wouldn’t know who to call and I’m sure no one could do it that fast. I appreciate it, Ian.”
He nodded. “Why don’t you go change, turn the TV on, read a book. Do something to take your mind off of this while I get it cleaned up.”
“Be honest with me, what do you think the message on the rock meant?” she asked.
It was bagged and taken away, but not before she took a picture of it herself. “Do the right thing” had been written in bright red marker.
“That’s your area of expertise,” he said.