by Ann Simas
Then she pulled off her slacks and sweater and put them away. She pulled a short denim skirt from the closet and examined every blouse and top she had, finally settling on something she’d never worn, a scoop-neck T-shirt that ended at the waist and had four little buttons running up to the neckline.
She didn’t have much in the way of exotic bras and panties, but she did have one matching set in lavender, which she quickly swapped for what she was wearing. Finally, she wiggled into the denim skirt and tugged the tee over her head. She undid the top two buttons, revealing just enough. She slid her feet into a pair of sandals then zoomed into the bathroom to let down her hair. She’d confined it in such a way that morning that it would fall in waves down her back.
As she examined her reflection in the mirror, she realized she felt sexy without going overboard. Hopefully Jack liked the result of her efforts. She dabbed on a bit of lipstick just as his knock sounded. She quickly slid the chicken into the oven and went to let him in.
“Hello, gorgeous,” he said when she opened the door.
“Hello, handsome,” she said back. Andi almost didn’t recognize herself. She’d never felt giddy in her life, never said things like hello, handsome to anyone. Jack had an amazing effect on her.
Once inside, he hung his jacket on the hall tree and drew her into his arms. He kissed her long and hard. His johnson responded quickly to the contact.
With his breath coming in heavy pants, he said, “This isn’t what you had on this morning.” His hand slid down over her hip, down to the hem of her skirt and snaked up under it, cupping a butt cheek.
“You said you liked my legs,” she whispered back, barely able to think, let alone speak.
He pulled back a bit and ogled her breasts. “You have nice boobs, too.” He lowered his head and nuzzled the tops of her breasts. “You have nice everything.”
“Jack…?”
“What, babe?”
“Dinner’s in the oven, so if you’d like to move this party to the bedroom….”
In one swift movement, his hand came out from under her skirt, slid under her tee and pulled it over her head. He tossed it aside and went after the snap and zipper on her skirt, pushing it down and taking her panties with it. With his beautifully nimble fingers, he undid her bra.
Andi was glad she’d had the foresight to close the blinds ahead of time. Standing in front of him naked was not something she wanted to share with the rest of the world.
“I haven’t been able to think of anything else but this all day.”
“Me, either,” she admitted. “That’s why I planned a meal that could bake while we, you know….” She lifted a shoulder, slightly embarrassed by her brazen behavior.
He nodded. His gaze moved from her eyes to her hair to her breasts and on to the downy vee at the juncture of her thighs.
“I got birth control pills today,” she said, “but they won’t be effective for a week, so I bought more rubbers.”
His eyes roved back up to meet hers. “Me, too.”
Andi gave him a seductive smile. “Screw the bedroom.” She reached over and pulled his shirt from his slacks and started to unbutton it.
Impatient, Jack pulled it over his head still buttoned, along with his undershirt.
Andi released the buckle on his belt and the closure of his slacks before she tackled the zipper. “You’d better do it. I don’t want catch your….”
Jack grunted and worked the zipper over his erection. He kicked off his shoes and slid his pants and briefs down, discarding socks as he went. He reached toward the hall tree and withdrew a box from the pocket of his jacket. Fumbling with the opening, he finally withdrew a packet.
Andi was no prude, but she wouldn’t have guessed that they’d have time to do it standing up in her entry way and in the bedroom before the timer on the oven went off.
. . .
Andi plated the Brussels sprouts and rice while Jack pulled the chicken from the oven. She handed him the two bowls and pulled out a platter for the meat. “Wine?” she asked.
He slid his arms around her from behind, cupping her breasts. “Is this what you wear to bed every night?”
Andi had grabbed the quickest thing she could to cover herself for dinner. The cotton sleeping shirt was basically nothing more than an oversized T-shirt. “Sometimes.”
“I like it. It’s nice and soft. Let’s me feel you up perfectly.”
Andi grinned over her shoulder at him. “I like your boxer briefs, too. They let me feel you perfectly.” She wiggled her butt against him for good measure before she picked up the platter and turned to hand it to him. “Let’s eat. We need the energy for later.”
Jack laughed. “Who says there’s going to be a ‘later’?”
She glanced down at his tented groin, her eyebrow raised. “Red or white wine?”
“I know it’s gauche with chicken, but I like red.”
“Me, too.” She reached for two wine glasses and grabbed the wine bottle from the cupboard.
While they ate, they discussed their respective days and Jack again invited her for dinner at Lorenzo’s on Saturday. “Giustino and his brothers play every Saturday night for a month, four times a year. They’re really good.”
“Do they play anywhere else?”
“They do special gigs like weddings, anniversaries, big parties. This is just a sideline for them because they all have fulltime jobs, but I think you’ll enjoy them.”
“I’m looking forward to it, barring any fires or hostage-taking.”
“God help us if that happens again,” Jack said. He popped another Brussels sprout into his mouth. “You’re a good cook.”
“Thank you.”
“No, I mean it. You’re a really good cook. I hate Brussels sprouts and I ate every single one of mine and had seconds. What did you do to them?”
“Just blanched them, then tossed them with butter and salt.”
He looked at the empty bowl. “Really? That seems too simple.”
She grinned. “Simple but tasty.”
“Umm.” He eyed the front of her sleep shirt. “I know something else that’s tasty.”
“I thought you wanted to discuss the other possible victims….” Andi broke off, her breath almost taken away by the heat in his green eyes when he looked back up.
“Later.”
“I should…clean up the kitchen first.”
“Later. I’ll help.” He pushed back his chair and went around to her, his hand extended.
Andi didn’t have a chance in hell of resisting.
. . .
Andi in her sleep shirt and Jack in his boxers, they ate strawberries ’n cream ice cream in front of the fireplace. “I forgot to mention something,” Andi said, giving her spoon an extra lick.
“Why? You been otherwise occupied?”
“You might say that.” She turned her head toward him, suggestively licking her lips.
Jack groaned. “You’re a terrible tease.”
She gave him a sly smile.
“Two can play at your game, lady.”
“Oh, yeah?”
Jack polished off his ice cream and plucked her half-full bowl from her hands. Before she knew what was happening, her night shirt was up around her hips and Jack was situated between her legs. “Yeah.”
“The rubber?” she reminded him.
“Not yet.” He pushed the shirt up higher and proceeded to kiss and lick his way around her belly.
“Jack!”
His mouth roved lower and Andi almost forgot what they’d been talking about…oh, yeah. Her appointment with Dawna. He didn’t know about it yet.
In retrospect, she should have waited until he finished what he’d been about to start, but her brain wasn’t working on all its cylinders.
Jack was on his knees, glaring down at her, before she even realized his hot breath wasn’t warming her girl parts anymore.
“What? Why did you stop?”
“You just told me you made an appointme
nt to have your teeth examined by a murdering dentist and I’m supposed to continue having my second dessert?”
Andi stared at him uncertainly. “Well…yes.”
“Well…no,” he snarled at her. His gaze dropped to where his mouth had just been. “Get up. I can’t think when you have your legs spread apart like that.” He pushed himself to his feet and stalked to the kitchen sink, where he splashed cold water on his face.
Andi followed him, pulling down her sleep shirt as she went. “Why are you so angry?” She placed a tentative hand on his back.
He swung on her so quickly, cold water from his face and hair sprayed her. “I’m not angry, Andi. I’m fucking pissed! What were you thinking, making an appointment with Stimack?”
Andi stepped back, alarmed by his reaction. “I thought it might help—”
“You’re always helping, aren’t you? You are not a cop, Andi. You’re a goddamned civilian. When are you going to get that through your thick skull?”
He couldn’t have hurt her more if he’d slapped her. Andi took two more steps back. “Jack, at least let me explain what—”
“I don’t need an explanation. I need to you to butt out and leave the investigating to me. Understand?”
Andi stared at him wide-eyed. She’d never seen Jack in a temper before, never imagined how hard it would be to have him looking at her like he wanted to strangle her instead of give her another mind-blowing orgasm.
“I’m sorry, Jack. I didn’t think—”
“Do you ever?” he demanded. He reached for the dish towel and scrubbed it roughly over his face and hair.
“That’s not fair! You know I’m not stupid!”
“You’re right. I do, which is why I can’t believe some of the stupid stuff you do!” He hurled the dish towel in the general vicinity of the counter. “I need to get out of here. I have to cool off before I say something I’ll regret.”
“I think it’s too late for that,” Andi said, fighting to hold her tears back. “Close the door behind you when you go. I’ll come out and lock it when I hear you leave.” She turned on bare feet and moved with as much pride as she could down the hall to her bedroom. She closed the door softly, though she really wanted to slam the shit out of it about six times.
Once there, she went directly to her bathroom and locked the door. She sat on the commode and let the tears fall.
How could something so wonderful, so beautiful, turn to absolute crap so quickly? And all because she’d made an appointment to see Dawna Stimack about a trumped up sensitive tooth.
Why in the world would Jack react so strongly to that?
It was a question that kept Andi awake most of the night, pondering possible answers.
Mid-morning the next day, she finally figured it out. With help from Sherry.
Jack had some explaining of his own to do.
CHAPTER 24
Tired, angry, and irritable, which was totally unlike her, Andi kept to her office.
Those emotions didn’t even take into account her heartbreak. That, she was desperately trying to compartmentalize. For her own sanity.
Around ten-thirty, the vague smoky scent she’d come to associate with Sherry permeated the air briefly, but seemed to dissipate without communication as a more pungent smell of smoke filled the air, pressing in on her. Poor Andi. Men do have a way of breaking your heart, don’t they? Don’t give up on Jack.
“From what?” Andi demanded, keeping her voice low so she didn’t draw attention from co-workers.
Dawna Stimack. The old soul you’re looking for is Merry Stiles. Sherry will tell you all about it.
“Wait! Why can’t you tell me?”
Merry was my daughter, Andi. She’s waiting for me.
As explanations went, it wasn’t much, but Andi understood and accepted it for what it was.
“Are you still here, Sherry?”
This is not the way it’s supposed to happen, Andi. I hear you and I’m so sorry. I should have warned you to stay away from Dawna.
“I’m a big girl, Sherry. I can take care of myself.”
That didn’t help me. What are you planning?
Andi outlined her sensitive-tooth story.
I don’t know what that will accomplish. Proceed carefully, Andi. You don’t want Jack to end up grieving like Vaughn is.
“Dawna is never going to meet Jack.”
Never say never. Merry Stiles worked for Dawna. Before Dawna set her sights on Vaughn, she met Merry’s husband, Dirk. Jack could be next. He’s trying to protect you, you know.
Andi waited, expecting more, but the smoke smell had vanished. She called Sherry’s name repeatedly, with no response forthcoming.
“Well, damn,” Andi muttered. “Jack as my personal Secret Service detail? That is so not going to happen.”
She worked through lunch, somehow managing to be productive until mid-afternoon. The person who passed over at that time had a simple message for her: She keeps trophies, Andi.
Andi had no trouble deciphering who she was.
. . .
In her car, Andi dialed Vaughn. She got right to the point. “Two questions. Have you noticed anything of Sherry’s missing and when was the last time Sherry saw Dawna?”
He was silent for several moments before he said, “Sherry said Dawna was always admiring her jewelry.” Another pause. “Are you free right now? I’ll go through her jewelry and see if I find anything amiss. You can review Sherry’s calendar, see when she last met with Dawna.”
“Given Friday afternoon traffic, I probably can’t get there until five-thirty.”
“I should be finished checking by then. We’re ordering in pizza for dinner. Can you join us?”
It wasn’t like she was going to have another night of hot sex with Jack. “Sure.”
Andi swung by her place, since it was on the way, and quickly changed into jeans and a sweatshirt, in the hopes of playing on the floor again with the kids. Their sweetness and innocence was exactly what she needed right now.
She also grabbed her laptop and the file she’d started on the possible other victims and made it to Hemmer’s one minute sooner than her projected arrival time.
. . .
Andi spent thirty minutes playing with Sherry’s children. Ashley and Etta trotted out all their birthday gifts. Micah and Trevor ran around them in circles with their arms out, pretending they were airplanes. Fortunately, the family room was large and kid-friendly.
The little ones argued over who got to sit next to Andi. She solved the problem by changing seats every five minutes. Vaughn laughed and told her she was crazy, and maybe she was, but playing musical chairs kept her from thinking about Jack. After dinner, the five of them sprawled on the floor around an illustrated copy of The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh. Andi read, they listened, Dotty cleaned up the kitchen, and Vaughn went back upstairs to recheck his inventory of Sherry’s jewelry.
An hour later, the children were tucked in bed and Dotty announced she was going to watch a movie in her room, then turn in.
Andi and Vaughn went to the home office-slash-library where she set up her laptop and connected wirelessly to his printer. Vaughn closed the door so their voices wouldn’t carry to anyone who might not have fallen right to sleep. He pulled a chair over so Andi could sit next to him while they perused Sherry’s calendar. “She got hit in the mouth the first Sunday in August. Because it was an emergency, Dawna saw her the next day.”
As they went through the pages, he used pink Post-it arrows to mark those with notations for dental appointments. On three different days, they found lunch reminders with Dawna. Those he marked with yellow arrows. “I have to admit, I only remember Sherry meeting Dawna for lunch once.” He pulled out his iPhone and scrolled to the calendar. “On August fifteenth, I was in Denver.” He whipped his finger across the screen to advance. “On September 3, I was in Phoenix.”
He put down his phone and leaned back in the chair, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Either I forgot
these two lunches, or she didn’t mention them to me because she knew just hearing Dawna’s name was beginning to grate on me.”
Andi paged back to the first lunch date in Sherry’s calendar, reading the other entries. She moved forward, reading every entry.
Vaughn pushed his chair back, stood, and went to retrieve a wooden box, roughly a foot square and two inches high, from a table near the door. “I don’t understand why she would subject herself to sharing a meal with Dawna when she really didn’t care for her.” He seemed to be mumbling to himself, rather than talking to her.
“Vaughn?”
Obviously distracted, he said, “Yeah?”
“On September 4, there’s a notation that says, ‘Lost pin V gave me for anniversary.”
She looked up at him. Vaughn was staring down at her. “That’s what was missing from her jewelry box! After dinner, I went up to search our drawers to see if she’d tucked it away in a different place. I gave it to her the week before for our seventh anniversary. It was an Art Deco piece she’d been admiring at a local antique store.”
Andi studied the calendar again. “Sherry had lunch on the third with Dawna. She noticed the pin was missing on the fourth. Where did she usually wear it on her clothing?”
“On a lapel or over her heart.” His voice caught. “It was a bouquet of Akoya saltwater pearls and diamonds, with diamond stems, all set in platinum. She wore it every time she went out. She said” —he swallowed twice, in an apparent effort to get his emotions under control— “they were the most beautiful flowers I ever gave her.”
“Did you get to see her before she left for Bellevue?”
“No,” he said, his voice strangled. “I was due back on the sixth. It’s a buddy thing five of us do once a year in Phoenix.” He turned tortured eyes on her. “Jesus, maybe if I’d been here, she wouldn’t have gone to lunch with that freak….”
“It wasn’t the lunch that killed her,” Andi reminded him softly.
“Why did you ask if anything of Sherry’s was missing? What do you know?”
“This afternoon, a Smokie said to me, ‘She keeps trophies.’ I have no doubt the voice was referring to Dawna.”