An Equation For Murder

by Jayne Nichols

  When he laughed, the smile lines at the corner of his eyes deepened. “You know, there’s something very appealing about running barefoot in the sand.” He grabbed her hand and started pulling her toward the water. “Come on. Let’s play catch with the waves.”

  With no thought to how it might look, Lillian removed her sandals, felt the damp, cool sand squish between her toes. She waited, watched silently while Sam leaned against a rock to remove his shoes and socks. He stuffed the socks inside his shoes, tied the shoelaces together, and draped them around his neck. Then he rolled up his pant legs to mid-calf. Dangling both purse and sandals together by their straps, Lillian took his offered right hand and raced with him to the water’s edge.

  The first wave rushed in to cover their feet.

  “Shit, that’s cold!” Sam bounded backwards out of the water’s reach, dragging Lillian with him. Twisting her left arm behind her back, he pulled her tight against his chest to keep them both from falling. The sudden shift of weight forced Lillian to drop the items she had been carrying and grab for his open jacket, the momentum of Sam’s retreat landing them both on their butts in the sand. He sat there, resting his arms on his knees, his gaze darting from her face to the sand at his feet. “I imagine this is more appealing when the water’s warmer.”

  Lillian laughed, then rolled to her side, tugging a sandal from beneath her. “Either that, or after your feet become numb.”

  “Guess this wasn’t one of my better ideas.” Sam stood slowly, offering her his hands. “Maybe we should just stick to walking in the sand.”

  She let him pull her to her feet, hoping it was just embarrassment that kept him from looking into her face. “Okay, but I think you should know that I rather liked the part where you tried to save me.”

  His mouth curved slowly into a seductive, knowing smile. “Me, too, Lilly.”

  Stunned by the sudden pressure on her chest, Lillian leaned down to pick up her purse. She hoped the action would hide the heat she knew had to be glaringly visible on her cheeks. Had she really said such a thing to him? Flirted with him shamelessly as if she were a much younger woman?

  Or a real woman of the world?

  Their eyes met. The moment he stepped toward her, her heart started to pound so loud she was certain he could hear it. Fear kept her lungs from inhaling a much needed breath of air. She felt lightheaded. Oh, dear God, please don’t let me faint. But when his fingers brushed against her cheek, then swept her hair away from her face, she could feel her legs begin to tremble. His fingers sifted through her hair, then came to rest on the back of her neck, his thumb stroking the tiny mole in front of her left earlobe.

  “When was the last time a man kissed you?” he whispered, his lips so close she could feel his soft, quick breaths against her ear.

  She needed to swallow, but her mouth was too dry. “I… I don’t remember.” Her tongue slipped between her lips to moisten them. “A long time ago.”

  His thumb slid beneath her chin to tip it up, his eyes locked on hers. “I want to kiss you. Right now. Right here.”

  Why was it so hard to move? To breathe? And how was it possible for a man’s eyes to be so mesmerizing?

  “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

  “I think it’s the best one I’ve ever had.”

  She stood stiff and terrified while his lips touched hers, first gently, then firmer as his mouth settled over hers. He tasted faintly of wintergreen. Refreshing and sweet. Provocative and forbidden.

  “Kiss me, Lilly,” he murmured, holding her face tenderly between his hands, his thumbs tracing the outline of her lips. “Please.”

  “Oh, Sam. I’m not sure I remember how.”

  He smiled, his lips touching first her cheeks, then the corners of her mouth. “I’ll teach you.”

  * * *

  Yanni’s Taverna was so festively decorated, they could have been having dinner on one of the Greek isles. The wait staff dressed in authentic costumes took orders from and served a varied clientele while a wandering musician played his bouzouki and sang. Occasionally, the staff would join together and perform on the dance floor.

  Through all the activity, Sam had eyes only for Lillian. She sat across from him at the table, the fingers of her right hand unconsciously tracing the pattern in the checkered blue and white table cloth. Every once in a while she would smile tentatively at him, then glance away, her cheeks flushing pink. Sam reached across the table to take her hand. He hoped she was enjoying the memory of their kiss and not troubled by it. “Do I make you nervous, Lilly?”

  “Not so much nervous as aware.”

  “I hope that’s good.” The hot, honey sweetness of her mouth still lingered even as the flavor mixed with the wine on his tongue, and he wanted to kiss her again. And again.

  Lillian picked up her glass of wine, twirled it by the stem, then raised her eyes to look directly at him. “Yes, I believe it is. It’s been a very long time since I’ve felt so alive.” She touched the rim of her glass to his. “Thank you, Sam.”

  He smiled at her. It had been a long time for him, too. “My pleasure.”

  After the waiter had served their dinners, a stout, gray-haired gentleman appeared at their table. He raised Lillian’s hand to his lips and kissed it. “Ah, Mrs. Moore. It is so good of you to come again. I see you have brought a friend this time.” He offered his hand to Sam. “I am Yanni Apostolou, the owner of this fine taverna. Is this your first time dining with us?”

  “Sam Weiss. Actually, I’ve been here several times, but it’s been awhile. You have an excellent restaurant.”

  Yanni bowed slightly, his face beaming while he gazed at Lillian, then turned to Sam. “You are having a celebration, yes?”

  Sam glanced hesitantly at Lillian, but she had no trouble answering. “Yes. I just received a terrific grade on a very difficult math test.”

  “This is wonderful. And you choose my humble taverna.” He pressed his hands together prayerfully. “I am honored. Now you must let me know if anything is not to your liking.”

  Lillian smiled. “Everything has always been wonderful, Yanni.”

  “Well, then. Eat, eat. I will have Christo bring you a bottle of our best Greek wine. On the house.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Not the retsina. That tastes like kerosene.”

  Sam was still laughing as Yanni rattled something to their waiter in Greek. A moment later another bottle of wine appeared at their table.

  “He likes you,” Sam said, then refilled their glasses.

  Lillian shook her head, laughing. “Of course he does. I’m a regular customer.”

  Sam raised his glass for a toast. “Congratulations, Lilly. I’m very proud of you.”

  She touched the rim of her glass to his, her cheeks blushing pink. “If I did well, it was because you used examples in the word problems that made sense to me. And, it would seem, to everyone else, since all our grades climbed a notch.”

  “You know, you may be right.” He leaned back in his chair and studied the glint he saw in her eyes. “I want you to be able to apply the math you’re learning to your daily life. You use it all the time, even when you don’t realize it.”

  “Like planning for a dinner party?”

  He nodded. “Or determining what club to use when you’re a hundred and sixty yards from the pin.”

  “Really? How about computing how long it will take a car to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco at seventy-five miles per hour?”

  “Nope. For that I use my G.P.S.”

  “No fair.” Lillian wrinkled her nose at him, and he almost leaned across the table to kiss it. She smiled at him, lifting the wine glass to her lips. “Will you show me how to use it?”

  “I’d be happy to.” He folded his arms, resting them on the table. His gaze locked with hers, his heart racing in his chest. “Any time.”

  He wasn’t sure how long they would have stared at each other. Only that he would have been happy to look into her eyes all nigh
t. And into the next day. And the day after that.

  Forever.

  Dessert, a custard the waiter called bougatsa, was delivered by the owner himself, accompanied by the bouzouki player who serenaded them with a haunting Greek love song. Surprised when Lillian took hold of his hand, Sam slipped the man a generous tip, encouraging him to sing another song.

  “I don’t know what the words mean, but I like the dreamy look they put in your eyes,” Sam confided after the man had finished his second song and drifted toward another table. “I hope you were thinking about me and not him.”

  Lillian’s light gasp turned into a sexy laugh that had him wishing they were somewhere alone where he could…

  “Will there be anything else?” Yanni asked, then began to collect the empty plates on their table. “Another bottle of wine, perhaps?”

  Lillian glanced hesitantly at Sam. “Thank you, Yanni, but it’s getting late, and I have to be getting home. I have lots of homework to do, and my math professor is very strict.”

  Sam considered arguing in his own defense but simply raised his eyebrows instead.

  “Everything was wonderful, Yanni,” Lillian assured him. “Thank you.”

  Yanni set the stack of plates on the table. “You are too kind,” he said, then reached for her hand and pressed the back of it to his lips. “You will both come again soon?”

  “Of course.”

  Yanni signaled their waiter for the check, then placed it into Sam’s outstretched hand. “It has been a pleasure to serve you, Mr. Weiss. Good night, Mrs. Moore.”

  “He likes you,” Sam insisted as soon as Yanni was out of ear shot. Before Lillian could respond, he took her hand and kissed it. “And as more than just a customer.”

  Lillian scowled at him. “He’s married, has five children, eleven grandchildren, and one great grandchild.”

  “I don’t care.” Sam stood, then removing his wallet from his back pocket, placed a ten and three twenties on the table. “I still say he likes you, and I’m quite jealous.”

  “You’re joking.”

  Sam sighed. “Possibly.” He smiled at her. “But then again, maybe not.” He didn’t say anything more until he held the restaurant door open for her. “Are you going to tell me that your husband was never jealous?”

  She appeared to think about that for a moment. “No, I don’t think so,” she said, taking his offered arm. “I never gave him cause to be.”

  “Were you ever jealous of him?” She shook her head. No time needed to answer that one, he thought. “Did he ever give you cause to be?”

  “All the time.”

  Sam didn’t know what to say to that. Couldn’t imagine Lillian’s husband wanting anyone but her. He certainly didn’t. Especially now after having shared their first kiss on her favorite beach. All he could think about was her, and he didn’t like to think that Russell Moore had hurt her.

  “My car is over there,” she whispered, pointing toward the BMW parked under the only light in the lot. Stars twinkled brightly in the sky in the absence of moonlight.

  Nodding, Sam placed her hand in his, threading his fingers through hers, and brought it to his lips. While they walked hand in hand toward her car, he considered how to ask for another date. He was so out of practice at this sort of thing, and even though he felt certain she would say yes, he still worried that she wouldn’t. He suspected their age difference concerned her. He supposed that should bother him, too.

  But it didn’t.

  As they approached the car, she must have pressed the lock release button because his heart tripped at the sound of the double beep. She tossed her handbag onto the passenger seat and turned to face him.

  “I’ve had an absolutely wonderful time tonight, Sam. Thank you for asking me.”

  “Thank you for saying yes.” He ran his hands slowly along her arms before pulling her close to him. She stiffened slightly, and he was suddenly afraid she wouldn’t let him kiss her. Maybe she was afraid he wanted more. That was true, but he wouldn’t press her tonight. Hard as that would be, he’d wait until she was ready. “I had a great time, too.”

  When he felt her relax, he tipped her chin up so he could study her eyes in the light. Eyes such a deep blue, he thought he might drown in them. Her bottom lip quivered as he bent his head to kiss her. Just a taste, he assured himself, to last him until the next time.

  But it wasn’t enough. Not for him, and surprisingly, not for Lillian either.

  The instant her arms circled his neck and her fingers threaded through his hair, he knew he was lost. When her mouth opened beneath his, he let his tongue linger along her bottom lip before slipping inside. A mixture of flavors assaulted his senses. Oregano, wine, and honey. Enough to make his head swim and his heart pound. Whatever he’d taught her earlier in the evening, she had learned it well.

  If they didn’t stop now, he would drag her into the back seat of her car and…

  Sam stepped back, breaking the kiss reluctantly. His fingers caressed her cheeks, flushed with what had to be the same wild and wanton desire he felt. Her eyes were slightly glazed, and he waited for his lungs to begin functioning again while he tried to think of something sane and sensible to say.

  “Wow.” Not exactly original, but the word certainly fit the moment.

  Lillian leaned her head against his shoulder. “I couldn’t agree more.” She gazed up at him and smiled. “You’re a good teacher.”

  He laughed. “You’re an excellent student.” His lips brushed lightly along her cheek. He wanted her, was almost certain she wanted him, too. If they both felt like this, how wrong could it be? They were adults. It wasn’t like he was preying on a teenager. “Where do we go from here?”

  “Now, I think we both had better go to our separate homes.”

  Sam nodded. She was right, but that didn’t ease the suffering he currently felt pulsing between his legs. Luckily, that swelling wasn’t visible under the parking lot light. “I want to see you again.”

  “I’d like that, too.”

  He waited while she slid onto the seat, inserted her key in the ignition and started the engine. “Be careful, Lilly,” he instructed through the open window.

  “I will,” she said, smiling at him when he stepped away from her car. She lifted her hand to wave. “Good night, Sam.”

  Sighing heavily, Sam strolled toward his bike, his gaze following the taillights of her car while it exited the parking lot. It was going to be a long night, and no cold shower was going to bring him any immediate relief, either. He mounted the bike, only too aware how painful his trip home was going to be.

  He rode slowly by the restaurant door where a familiar figure waved to him from the open doorway, then tapped his pipe on the stair railing before going inside. How long Walter Dodd had been standing there smoking, Sam couldn’t begin to guess.

  But it was probably long enough to observe a passionate kiss under a parking lot light.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Lillian closed the door between the garage and the kitchen and leaned against it. She couldn’t quite get her breath. Sam had kissed her. She touched her lips just of be sure, certain she could still taste the remnants of his desire. And her own.

  Hot, pulsing fire that had found its way to the very core of her being.

  Oh, Lillian. What have you done?

  She closed her eyes, her left hand clutching the locket. He wanted to see her again. Not as a student. As a woman. Unconsciously, she nibbled at her lower lip. How long had it been since she’d wanted a man? And not just any man. This man.

  Too long, Lillian Moore. Much too long.

  It had taken every ounce of her good sense not to invite him to follow her home. She had to slow things down. She had to think, and above all, stop this trembling. Her whole body was quivering, nose to toes, and she was powerless to stop it. Wasn’t certain that she wanted to. It was a feeling like none other she had ever experienced.

  Warm and soothing. Delicious and wanton. Exciting and danger
ous.

  Sex. It had certainly been a long time since she’d felt that need. She was well over the age of consent, so what would be wrong with having a little sex? Especially when it could be with someone like Sam? No, not someone like Sam. Sam.

  But while she wandered through the kitchen and up the stairs to her bedroom, she knew what was wrong with it. Sex alone was like getting a C. The lowest grade possible to pass the course. The least she could do. To score an A, another ingredient was required. Something that had to be earned to make it special.

  Love.

  Lillian knew she would not be content with anything short of an A.

  But what about Sam? If all he wanted was sex, he had any number of choices right there in his Math 50 class room. All he had to do was smile and act interested. Sylvia Peters would be first in line to jump into his bed, happy to get a C. Lillian had spent enough time with Sam lately to know he didn’t want a C. Like her, he wanted something more and would not be satisfied with anything less than the best he could get.

  Sam would want an A.

  What Lillian feared most was that he would eventually want that A from someone much closer to his own age.

  * * *

  Jorgé had just raised the nearly empty bottle of beer to his mouth when a shadow swept across the table. The swallow of beer already on his tongue lodged in the back of his throat.

  A hand reached out to slap his back. “What’s the matter with you, man?”

  When the choking spasm had passed, Jorgé scowled up at the intruder. “You shouldn’t sneak up on me like that.”

  “Hey, it’s a bar, my friend. Lots of people here.” A slight-built man of indeterminate age took the seat next to him. “Look around.”

  “Yeah, well, Rudy, you coulda said something.” Jorgé finished his beer and slammed the bottle down on the table.

  “You okay, amigo? You seem a little tense.” Rudy smiled, settling back into the chair. “I got just the thing to relax you.”

  “That won’t help.”