Crossing the Line (Daniels Brothers #3)

by Sherri Hayes

  Thinking about her past boyfriends brought Paul back to the forefront of her mind. He’d been shocked about her revelation in the car. Megan was sure there were other things about her past that would shock the pants off him as well. She had two rules: no illegal drugs and no violence. Growing up, she’d witnessed her mom being battered around a few times by her dad. It wasn’t something she was willing to put up with. Thanks to her big sister, Megan never had to. Rebecca had taught Megan how to protect herself, should the need arise.

  Megan snorted. She’d given her sister such a hard time over the years. Thinking back, Megan wondered how many times Rebecca had protected her and she’d been oblivious.

  A woman’s voice came over the intercom, announcing Megan’s flight. She picked up her carry-on bag, and made her way onto the plane. Megan needed to find a way to express her gratitude for all her big sister had done for her. Considering how bratty a child Megan had been growing up, and their father’s hot temper, Rebecca might have saved Megan’s life.

  After leaving the airport, Paul drove directly to the station. It was Sunday, and as a seasoned officer, he was no longer required to work weekends unless he was on call, but he needed something to do. Saying goodbye to Megan was harder than he’d thought it would be.

  Paul sighed as he pulled into his assigned parking spot outside the station. He kept trying to tell himself that going on a date with Megan wasn’t a good idea. Then again, if they did go out on a date, if she could see they weren’t compatible, that dating him wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, then maybe she’d refocus her attention on someone else—a guy closer to her age, maybe.

  A nauseous feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. He didn’t like that idea either. The thought of seeing her with Rollins, or someone else like him, had Paul’s insides tied up in knots. “It would be for the best.”

  He tilted his head back and closed his eyes.

  Two sharp knocks on his car window jolted him upright. He glanced over to see one of the rookie patrolmen—Paul couldn’t remember his name—staring back at him.

  Paul rolled down the window.

  “Everything okay, Detective?” the patrolman asked.

  “Yes. Everything’s fine. Is there something I can do for you?”

  The young man shook his head. “No, sir. I happened to be walking by and noticed you sitting in your vehicle.”

  “Ah.” Paul rolled up the window, removed his keys from the ignition, and opened the door. He stepped out onto the pavement and pocketed his keys. “Just doing a little thinking.”

  The officer nodded. “You’re working the serial killer case, right?”

  “Yes.” Although Paul recognized the officer, he didn’t really know the guy.

  “I thought so.”

  Before the rookie could ask any more questions, Paul set off toward the building.

  Of course, that didn’t stop the officer from following. “Are you getting close to solving the case?”

  Paul didn’t answer until he was right outside the station door. He paused, and then faced the other man. “Why are you so curious?”

  “Um. I—um.”

  “Do yourself a favor. You do your job, and let me do mine.” Not giving the guy a chance to respond, Paul opened the door and went inside.

  Paul didn’t have long to ponder his conversation in the parking lot before Janey found him.

  “Hey. I thought you might be in today. Is your nanny off to visit her sister?”

  “Yes, Megan is off to visit her sister. I dropped her at the airport about twenty minutes ago.”

  Janey turned, attempting to hide a smirk. She wasn’t all that successful, however. His partner had been abundantly clear regarding her feelings on his relationship status even before Megan entered the picture.

  Needing to redirect her attention, Paul unlocked his desk and retrieved the file he’d stored there the day before. “You up for some legwork today?”

  “You thinking of running down some of those leads?”

  He nodded. “I figured we could hit some of the overlapping locations on our list.”

  With the case file tucked under his arm, Paul weaved through the desks, heading toward the station entrance with Janey following close behind. Not far from the door, he spotted the officer who’d cornered him in the parking lot. The guy was talking to another patrolman, one Paul had worked with for years.

  “You okay?” Janey asked. “Not getting sick again on me, are you?”

  Paul opened the door, and ambled out into the parking lot toward his vehicle. “You wouldn’t get that lucky, Davis. Come on, we’ve got a case to solve.”

  They were leaving their second stop—which failed to yield any new information—when his cell phone rang. “Daniels.”

  “Hey. It’s Megan.”

  He glanced down at his watch, and sure enough over two hours had passed since he’d dropped her off at the airport. “How was your flight?”

  “Good. I sat beside this guy who sells advertising. He’s in Nashville for some kind of convention.”

  A spark of jealousy surged through him, and Paul quickly clamped down on it. “Sounds . . . interesting.”

  She laughed. “Not really. He was nice enough, though. Oh, and he invited me to stop by the convention if I had time—he even gave me two tickets in case Becca wants to tag along.”

  “I see.” Paul closed his eyes and tried to ignore his irrational response.

  “Okay, well, I’m almost to baggage claim, so I should probably go. Becca texted that they were already in the airport waiting. I’ll text you later, all right?”

  “Have fun.” His throat clenched as he spoke those two simple words.

  “I will.”

  The phone went silent, and he removed it from his ear.

  “Everything all right with your girlfriend?”

  “She’s not my girlfriend.”

  He climbed behind the wheel of his car, and Janey slid into the passenger seat. Starting the engine, Paul maneuvered out of the parking lot and headed toward their next destination—a nail salon. About halfway there, Paul chanced a look at his partner. She wore a knowing smirk. He decided it was probably better to ignore her, so he concentrated on what lay ahead. Questioning people, looking for clues, uncovering leads—those things he understood.

  The nail salon sat on a side street not far from the local community college. Since it was Sunday, there wasn’t a lot of pedestrian traffic, but Paul had to imagine that on a weekday the area would be hopping. There were restaurants along the main drag, as well as a few small specialty stores. Megan had been down to the college a few times to pick up textbooks and the like. He wondered if she’d ever been to any of the stores or restaurants.

  “You coming?” Janey’s question brought him back to the present.

  “Yeah.”

  They spoke to the owner of the salon. She remembered two of the women, but couldn’t recall seeing the other two. It was what they’d expected, but given what they were working with, they were hoping to catch a break.

  Since they were in the area, they decided to take some time to inquire in some of the surrounding shops. Most staff didn’t remember any of the women, but they got lucky when they stopped in a little pizzeria. The man behind the counter was fairly sure he’d seen three of the women in his restaurant. It wasn’t a positive ID, but it was something.

  After finishing at the pizzeria, they decided to call it a day. It was after five and most of the stores were starting to close. Overall, it had been a productive day, and they’d be back at it on Monday morning.

  Since Paul was on his own, he dropped Janey back at the station, and then stopped off at his favorite Thai restaurant to pick up some dinner.

  Nom, the owner of the restaurant, greeted him as soon as he walked in. “Paul. It’s been a long time. Where have you been?”

  “Been staying in a lot lately.”

  Nom smiled and came around the counter to give him a hug. “Ah. Well, good to see you.”


  Before Melissa died, they had frequented the restaurant a lot. Melissa loved Thai food. They’d gotten to know Nom and several of the staff over the years. “It’s good to see you, too, Nom. How have you been?”

  “Good. Good. Can’t complain. You here to eat?”

  Paul checked his watch. Chloe usually called him before Cindy began getting her ready for bed. “I was hoping maybe I could get something to go.”

  “Of course. What would you like?”

  He gave Nom his order, and she disappeared through the swinging wooden doors into the kitchen. Taking a seat in the corner, he waited.

  The food didn’t take long, and soon he was on his way home. He was pulling his car into the driveway when he heard his phone beep, letting him know he’d received a text. His stomach did a little flip in response. Given Megan’s promise to text him later, he knew it was probably her.

  Somehow he made himself wait until he was inside the house before checking his phone. Sure enough, it was Megan.

  I’m hiding in the basement.

  He smiled. Why are you hiding in the basement?

  They r in their bedroom. It was this, or ear plugs.

  Paul laughed out loud as he removed his food from the bag and laid it out on the table. That bad huh?

  U have no idea.

  Although Paul had nothing against texting, it wasn’t his favorite way to have a conversation. Hitting the call button, he waited for Megan to pick up.

  Her laughter echoed through the phone. “I wondered how long it would take you to give up and call me.”

  He rolled his eyes. “So, other than hiding in the basement, how’s your visit so far?”

  “Not bad. They picked me up, and then we went to get lunch. Oh my goodness, Paul, Rebecca has the cutest belly. It’s not as big as I thought it would be. It looks like she has a basketball stuffed inside her but we can only see half of it.”

  “Rebecca’s pretty fit. That’s probably why.”

  “Yeah, I guess. I mean she still runs every morning and stuff.” Paul could almost see Megan shrug.

  “That would do it.”

  “The house has changed a little, too. Becca moved her things in, of course, and then she took over one of the rooms on the first floor and turned it into an office. Oh, and the room across from their bedroom—the one Becca stayed in before—they’re turning that into a nursery. It’s covered in jungle prints.”

  Megan sounded happy, even if she had started the conversation off with a complaint.

  “Glad you went?”

  She didn’t answer right away. “Yeah. I mean, there is no way I could stay here long-term if the last half hour is any indication, but . . .”

  “But you missed your sister.”

  “Yeah.”

  The word hung in the air, and Paul could tell she wanted to say something else. Instead, she remained silent. He let it go, and asked another question. “So do Rebecca and Gage have any plans for you tomorrow?”

  “Gage has practice, so I think Becca and I are going shopping. I tell you, this baby has done something to her brain. Becca never liked to shop. Ever.”

  A flash of Melissa coming home loaded down with packages after a full day of shopping filled his mind. “Babies change a lot of things.”

  “I guess I just didn’t realize how much. Not that they didn’t change things, but people. I mean Becca is still my bossy, overprotective sister, but she’s different, too. I guess that’s a good thing.” Megan sighed. “So anyway, tell me about your day. What did you do after you dropped me off at the airport?”

  They talked until Chloe called, and then Paul reluctantly said goodbye to Megan. He spent another twenty minutes on the phone with his daughter as she told him all about the day she’d spent with her grandma and grandpa. When he hung up, Paul realized he’d only eaten about half his meal. He’d been so caught up in his two phone conversations that he’d forgotten to eat.

  Standing up, he carried his cold food to the microwave and shoved it inside. Although his stomach was rumbling, begging for food, Paul couldn’t regret the way he’d spent his evening.

  Chapter 15

  “Sorry about last night.”

  Megan looked up from the stack of baby blankets she’d been perusing. Rebecca was holding a bottle with little yellow bears in her right hand, a sheepish look on her face.

  “What are you apologizing for? Ditching me, or making so much noise I had to spend most of the evening in the basement?” Megan grinned to lessen the harsh impact of her words. She wasn’t mad at her sister, but she hadn’t relished spending three hours hiding in their basement either. It wouldn’t have been so bad had she been able to talk to Paul the entire time, but she hadn’t. As it was, she’d ended up watching reruns of CSI. It was the only thing decent she could find on television.

  Rebecca placed the bottle back on the shelf. “Both, I guess. I mean we didn’t mean . . .”

  “You’re still newlyweds. I get it.”

  Her sister rubbed a hand over her growing belly and smiled. “It’s just, ever since I entered my second trimester I can’t seem to control myself.”

  Megan snorted. “And you could control yourself before?”

  “Okay, you’re right. Gage has always been able to . . . well . . .” To Megan’s surprise, Rebecca giggled. It was weird, but good, too. Her sister was happy.

  “Yeah, I get it.” And Megan did get it. Those two make-out sessions with Paul had her craving more of his kisses. She could only imagine what it would feel like to have him inside her . . . surrounding her.

  Walking over to a rack filled with little socks, Megan sighed. She missed sex. Battery-operated boyfriends had nothing on the real thing.

  Her sister threw a few items in their cart and continued down the aisle. Megan followed close behind, still lost in her thoughts, and wondering what Paul was doing right then.

  “So are you seeing anyone?”

  Rebecca’s question brought Megan up short.

  “Um. Not exactly.” While she wasn’t ashamed of her feelings for Paul, she had no idea how her sister would react to such information. Rebecca hadn’t been thrilled when Megan made the decision to move in with Paul and Chloe in the first place.

  Megan should have known her sister wouldn’t let a vague answer go unchallenged. “What do you mean, not exactly? Is there someone you’re interested in? You’re not chasing after another bad boy, are you?”

  “No. I’m not chasing after another bad boy.” Megan sighed, this time loud enough for her sister to hear while she played with the button on the cutest little suit she’d ever seen.

  Rebecca placed her hand over Megan’s and squeezed. “I just want you to find someone who will love you and make you happy. That’s all.”

  “I know. And I’m working on it. Promise.”

  They stood there for a long minute before Rebecca let go of Megan’s hand and started moving forward again. Rebecca didn’t say anything for a long time, but Megan knew her sister well enough to know that Rebecca’s silence only meant she was choosing her words carefully.

  For the next half hour, the two women weaved their way through the store, picking out a variety of items Rebecca and Gage would need once their baby was born. It wasn’t until they were in the car and on their way back to the house that her sister broached the subject of Megan’s love life again.

  “Can you do something for me?”

  “Becca, you know I’d do just about anything for you.”

  Rebecca grimaced, which should have been Megan’s first clue.

  “What?” Megan asked.

  “Promise me that when you figure it out with this guy, whoever he is, that you’ll bring him to meet me.”

  “Um—”

  “Look, I’m not asking because I don’t trust your judgment or anything, but . . .”

  “But my judgment has sucked in the past.”

  Rebecca laughed. “Well, when you put it that way . . .”

  Megan chuckled, and turned in her
seat to give Rebecca her undivided attention. “I know you’re worried, but don’t be.”

  “Says the girl who ran off with a guy that she’d known for a week, and had me worried I’d find her in a ditch somewhere.”

  “Hey! I was eighteen.” As much as Megan knew Rebecca was justified, it burned her when her sister threw her past in her face.

  “And now you’re only twenty-three.”

  Megan tried to keep her cool. It wouldn’t do any good to yell at her sister. If anything, it would only make Rebecca think she was right.

  Taking a deep breath, Megan waited until she knew she could respond without anger coloring her tone. “Becca, I love you, and I know you worry about me, but things are different. I’ve changed. You’ve changed. You have a husband now to worry about. And a baby on the way that’s going to need all that protective mothering you’re so good at.”

  Rebecca swiped at a tear that rolled down her cheek. “Is that your way of telling me to butt out?”

  Megan smiled. “Kinda. Yeah.”

  For the longest time, Rebecca didn’t say anything. She drove through the streets of Nashville, letting a heavy silence linger between them. As they turned onto Gage and Rebecca’s street, her sister cleared her throat. “I can’t make any promises—habits are hard to break—but I’ll try not to be so overbearing, okay?”

  Leaning across the center console, Megan placed a quick kiss on her sister’s cheek. “Thank you.”

  Rebecca shook her head and laughed. “I still want to meet him. I mean, if he’s important to you . . .”

  “I promise that if things become serious then I will let you meet him.”

  While she could see that Rebecca wasn’t entirely happy with the outcome, Megan was glad her sister seemed willing to let it go—at least, for now. They unloaded their purchases from the car, made some lunch for themselves, and then curled up to watch a movie in the theater room Gage had set up in the basement. It felt normal, something neither Rebecca nor Megan got a lot of growing up.

  Around three o’clock, Gage bounded down the stairs, announcing that he was home from practice. His hair was still damp from the shower he took, and even Megan had to admit he looked good. As soon as Rebecca laid eyes on him, she pushed herself up from the couch, and ran over to him.