by Taylor Lee
It took her a moment to realize that someone was rapping on her car window. With a guilty start, knowing that her face had to be as flushed as other parts of her wayward body probably were, she lowered the window and gazed up at the smiling man leaning against the car door.
“My goodness, Enchantress, that must be some dream you were having. I knocked on your window three times before you opened your eyes!”
Knowing she looked as compromised as she felt, Viviana struggled for nonchalance. “Uh, sorry, Enrique. I didn’t get much sleep last night, and I guess I dozed off.” Horrified that her flaming cheeks likely gave him a damn good idea of why she’d had a sleepless night, Viviana gave up and drew on her considerable aplomb. Unwinding herself from the bucket seat, she opened the door and stepped out to greet the tall man who was openly grinning at her. Brushing by him, she was grateful when he turned his focus from her to her car.
“Damn, Sergeant Moreau, I don’t think I’ve seen an RX Spirit in the flesh.” With an appreciative whistle, he ran his hands over the gleaming bright red finish of her snazzy automobile and winked at her. “But then, what kind of a ride would the stunning Enchantress choose if not one that is almost as superlative as she is?”
Viviana laughed. “I’d tease you about how predictable ‘boys and their toys’ are, except that I love this car as much as any material thing I own.” She added with an impish grin, “Although I have a few outfits that rank pretty darn close to this smashing ride.”
Enrique’s eyes danced. “Might one of those outfits be a stunning black ‘half-dress’ that, according to Makers and Shakers mag, brought down the house at one of Mayor Simpson’s extravaganzas?” His smile widened. “Or perhaps that gold lamé dress you wowed me with when we first met.”
Deciding not to acknowledge their first meeting, Viviana referred instead to his “reading” habits. “My goodness, Enrique. Don’t tell me you read gossip magazines?”
With a charming shrug, he said, “I’m going to confess, Sergeant Moreau, I have become a declared Viviana groupie—as I believe your fans are called. I’ll compromise myself even further by admitting that gold lamé dress cemented your front-and-center role in my personal hall of fame.”
Viviana was more than a little surprised at Vega’s open admiration. It wasn’t as though she didn’t have her fans, but Enrique Vega was something of a star himself. She admitted that his confession added to his charm. She couldn’t help but wonder if Jax would agree. Remembering his caustic put-down of the handsome candidate, Viviana concluded that her arrogant lover would be hard-pressed to think of Enrique Vega as charming. She could almost hear his dismissive jibe. She realized she must have telegraphed her thoughts, because Vega frowned slightly.
“I hope I haven’t offended you, Viviana. I must sound a little like a stalker. I apologize. It’s just that you are a stunningly beautiful woman and an incredibly accomplished one.”
When Viviana put up her hands to stop his effusive litany, he said, “But I need to be honest, Sergeant. What has attracted me most is your passion.”
Viviana started, not trying to hide her frown. Before she could admonish him, Vega added quickly, “Don’t misunderstand. You see, Viviana, you and I are passionate about the same issues. You are as deeply concerned about child abuse, pornography, and the debasement of women as I am. Like me, you have dedicated your life to confronting these challenging issues. I’ll be honest, Sergeant, I’m hoping that at some point you might consider endorsing me. Your reputation could be enormously helpful to me in my race to become governor.”
Instead of being put off by his admission, Viviana found his honesty charming. Good grief, candidates had been sucking up to her all of her professional life. The more famous she became, the more politicians followed her. However, true to political decorum, few of them openly asked for her endorsement. Studying the serious man gazing at her, she decided Vega was an anomaly in more ways than one. As if being an honest politician wasn’t an oxymoron, he seemed genuinely concerned about the issues that drove her life.
Seeming to read her thoughts, Enrique added, “Call it intuition or a feeling in my gut, but something tells me we share more than a professional interest in the issues we fight.” He reached for her hand and squeezed it. At her frown, he raised his hands in an appealing gesture and explained, “When we get to know one another better, I will tell you a little more about my life and some of the things that have made me as passionate about these hideous crimes as you are.”
****
“Thank you, Mr. Vega. Or should I call you Governor-elect Vega?”
At the resounding laughter and applause from the audience of nuns and young women at the shelter, Enrique bowed slightly to Sister Eloise. “Now, now, Sister Eloise, we don’t want to tempt the fates, do we? But I genuinely want to thank you for the work you and the other nuns are doing here at the shelter. It is truly God’s work.”
Viviana wasn’t surprised at the open adoration on the faces of the nuns as well as the young girls clustering around the smiling candidate. It would be hard not to be charmed by the gracious man who’d spoken eloquently about the hard issues the nuns were trying to address at their shelter. Many of their clients were troubled young women who had been living on the street, fighting drug and sexual abuse before they came to the shelter. Viviana knew most of the girls personally. Along with Francis Fleming, she had convinced them to go to the shelter. She was touched by the way Enrique bonded with the girls. It didn’t hurt that he seemed to know life on the streets as well as the girls did.
Turning to the head nun, Enrique said, “I know, Sister, you understand what many of these young women have been through. I also hope you know that in many cases, you and your fellow nuns are truly saving their lives.” At the murmurs of assent from both the nuns and the girls, Enrique sought the gazes of the crowd of enraptured young women and said, “I admit, I have more than a political concern about the issues you are facing. You see, I also grew up in a tough neighborhood. I know what it is like to deal with hard issues. Particularly when you are young and don’t have anyone to turn to who is not involved in drugs, or gangs, or prostitution.” He hesitated, then said thoughtfully, “Looking back on the challenging times in my life, I’m grateful for the people who stepped in and helped me turn my life around. This is what these kind sisters are trying to do for you.” He added sternly, “But as much as these blessed nuns want to help you, you are the only one who can decide what your life is going to be. Do you want to be a street person, never knowing from day to day if you will make it to the next? Do you want to throw off the curse of drug addiction? The hideous life of a prostitute?” He waited for a long moment, looking at each of the young women, some of whom refused to meet his gaze. “As much as these sisters want to help you, you need to know that the choice is yours. You are the one who will decide to leave the street, to stop using harmful drugs, to turn away from supposed friends who want to drag you down to their pitiful level, have you live as difficult a life as theirs.” He stopped and, with a bright smile, held up his hands. “But I know that you do want a different life. How do I know that? Because you are here. You are not out on the street with the bad people who want you to fail. No, you are here, and with the support of these blessed nuns and with the help of each other, I know you will succeed.”
Much later, after they had been to several shelters and stopped to talk with young people on the street, Enrique turned to Viviana with a grin. “I don’t know if you are as worn out as I am, Sergeant Moreau.” When Viviana nodded in agreement, he said, “I have an idea, if you are up for it. Like you, I’ve learned that the best way to deal with the challenges we face in very challenging times is not with a straight shot of whisky, but with a blistering hard run. How about it, Sergeant? Are you up for a run to the top of Telegraph Pass?” At her hesitation, he tossed her a challenge. “C’mon, Enchantress, if I can’t beat you, I bet I can at least make it to the top without collapsing.” Looking over his shoulder at the passe
l of media who’d been following them throughout the day, he added, “At least we might be able to shake them off.”
Viviana laughed. She knew that the last thing she should do was spend any more time in the limelight with this charming man, but at the moment, she couldn’t imagine anything more appealing than running up the side of a mountain—if nothing else, to work off the myriad emotions assaulting her. Not the least of which was her mixed feelings about the candidate and the man. As skeptical as she was about politicians in general, she admitted she was thoroughly charmed by Vega. She could identify with the young women at the shelter who had gazed wide-eyed at him as though, for the first time, they were with a man who truly understood what their lives had been like.
Determined to capture the offensive, Viviana threw down a challenge. “I hate to sound like a lush, but without a strong shot or two or three of booze, I wouldn’t make it through most of my days. However, I agree, a healthier alternative is a hardcore run. Up the side of a mountain is even better.” She added with a saucy grin, “You’re on, Mr. Assistant Attorney General. Hope you don’t mind getting your ass kicked by a girl.”
Vega laughed resoundingly and held up his hands in mock defeat. “Given who the girl is, I can’t think of a more delightful race to lose.”
Chapter 15
Jax looked up from his desk when she entered. A quizzical expression played across his face that morphed into an ironic grin. “Ah yes. If it isn’t the Enchantress herself.” He waved his hand expansively, then pointed to the chair in the front of his desk. “I’m surprised to see you, Sergeant.”
Viviana tossed her head and gave him a cheeky grin. “Why is that, Chief Hughes? I understood that I am a member of your department. Granted, a lowly one but not yet banished to former officer status, correct?”
Jax’s eyes narrowed but a smile tugged at his full lips. “If spending the entire day away from your office was grounds for banishment, you would be in trouble, Sergeant Moreau. However, given that not showing up for work is your usual modus operandi, why would I expect anything else?” He nodded to the television that was set to a local news channel but with the sound off. “Besides, it’s not as if I have to ask where you were today. All I had to do was turn on KSJN for a blow-by-blow description of what appears to be a full day of interesting activities. None of which, I might add, were here at the precinct.”
He rose to his feet and rounded the desk toward her. Reaching for her hand, he pulled her up close to him and kissed her lightly on her cheek. Viviana wasn’t surprised at the rush of sensation skittering up her spine. She knew Jax would find out that she’d spent the day with Vega, but she hadn’t realized that the local twenty-four-hour news channel had made it their top story. Feeling defensive, she stepped back and met his gaze.
“You knew I was meeting Vega, Jax. I told you that before I left this morning.”
“So you did, Sergeant.” Glancing at his watch, he added, “However, I didn’t know that your meeting would consume the entire day or that it would be headline news.”
Viviana shrugged and tried to walk around him, but his hand on her arm stopped her. She raised her chin and shrugged. “Obviously, I didn’t know that either, Jax, and I certainly didn’t expect that KSJN would make headline news of it.”
Jax frowned slightly. “Hmm. Really, Sergeant? You are news wherever you go. Why would you not expect the news whores to be titillated by the Enchantress spending the day very much in the public eye with none other than the upstart candidate for governor of California?”
Releasing her arm, he stepped back and waved her toward the chair in front of his desk. “But please, Sergeant, sit down. You must be tired. From all reports, you have had a whirlwind day of activity, including an exhausting five-mile run. At least you were in good company. According to the media, you clearly outran the gubernatorial candidate, although I suspect the view of your spectacular ass in your abbreviated running shorts made his runner-up position tolerable, if not fucking pleasant.”
Viviana snorted as she crossed in front of him and plopped down in the chair he’d pointed to. She glared at him. “Really, Jax, you don’t have to be an ass about it. How was I to know that the media whores, as you rightly call them, would find such banal activities worthy of day-long coverage?”
Jax walked over to the liquor cabinet and reached for a bottle of Maker’s Mark and two glasses. He filled them with a healthy shot of the amber liquid and handed one to her. Sinking onto his seat behind the desk, he studied her through narrowed eyes, then raised his glass in a toast. A slight smile quirked his lips. “I’m surprised that you didn’t expect day-long coverage. I can assure you, Sergeant, Mr. Vega very much expected it and counted on it. After all, what could be more titillating to the voracious newshounds than the Enchantress spending the day with a guy who is gunning for the highest office in the state?”
Deciding that her best defense was offense, Viviana gave a scornful toss of her head. “I presume you are implying that the only reason Vega approached me was to take advantage of my relationship with the media?”
Jax snorted in response. “Oh no, honey, I’m not implying it. I’m stating it as a hard, cold fact.” He raised his hand when she reared up on her chair. “Settle down, tiger. You know very well you’re a star, a media darling, with a hard-earned and well-deserved star power reputation. I don’t want anyone to use that power to their advantage. Particularly an ambitious political candidate attempting to bask in your aura.”
Viviana glared at him. “So you think the only reason Enrique is interested in me is that he wants to take advantage of my aura, as you call it?”
Jax grunted dismissively. “Face it, baby, you are without a doubt a superstar. And for an ambitious political candidate? You are catnip to a voracious cat on the prowl. Hell, aligning with you is better than hooking up with Beyoncé.” Before she could answer, he said with a mirthless grin, “Oh and, by the way, I don’t think for a moment that is the only reason the asshole is sucking up to you.”
Viviana startled, then said quickly, “Really, Jax, the guy is married—”
He interrupted her dryly. “And?”
Before she could answer, there was a brief knock before Mick O’Reilly burst into the office. Clearly surprised to see her, he said, “Damn, sweet cheeks, here you are. I was just coming to see if the chief knew what his naughty girl was up to today.” Glancing at the silent television with the flashing images of her and Vega, he turned back to Jax. Seeing both of their tight expressions, he chortled. “Well, I guess I don’t have to ask that question, do I?”
Jax allowed a smile to quirk his lips and nodded to the irrepressible detective, cutting off what was sure to be more outrageous teasing. “Yes, Detective O’Reilly, you are correct. Sergeant Moreau and I were just beginning to discuss her day’s activities. As you no doubt have surmised, those activities didn’t include working on SJPD issues. But please, come in.”
He rose from his chair and strode to the bar. Retrieving a glass, he poured a double shot of Maker’s Mark, then handed it to O’Reilly, who’d sunk into the chair next to Viviana. At that moment, another rap on the door signaled the arrival of Greg Bannon. His frowning perusal of the room quickly became a smile. Glancing at Viviana’s stony expression, he raised an eyebrow and said to Jax, “Uh-oh, I see the news has traveled fast. May I join you?”
Jax flashed a genuine smile. “Please, Commander Bannon, come in. It’s a rare treat to have my entire crack VCU team in my presence. Even the hard-to-snare Enchantress has deigned to join us. Before you sit down, Commander, grab that bottle of Maker’s Mark on the counter and another glass.”
Greg poured himself a stiff shot of the scotch, then raised the bottle to the others. Topping off each of their proffered glasses, he yanked up a chair and said with a wink at Jax, “Guess I don’t have to ask what the agenda is, correct, boss man?”
Jax settled back in his chair, then tossed an ironic grin at Viviana. “Rather than turning to issues as mundan
e as the gang war, which has already accounted for eleven deaths due to fentanyl-doctored H, how about you fill us in on your activities today, Sergeant Moreau. From what I can tell, they were more entertaining than mere police business.”
Viviana’s chin went up farther and her eyes flashed dangerously. She breathed an audible sigh and shrugged. “Anything is more entertaining than police business, but it so happens that was what I was doing most of the day.”
“Hmm. Perhaps you should expound on that, Sergeant. If anyone knows how misleading the media can be, it’s yours truly. However, I find it hard to believe that they would run six hours of fake news. At least what I watched today seemed appallingly real, if repetitive. You want to tell us what part of your media blitz involves the case you are supposedly working on?”
Viviana smacked her glass on the edge of his desk and prepared to rise. Jax’s low warning stopped her. “Uh-uh, Sergeant. I’ll let you know when this meeting is over.”
Stunned at the fiery sensations strafing her, Viviana forced herself to sit back down in her chair. She acknowledged that the adrenaline crashing through her had turned her legs to mush, making a dramatic exit unlikely at best. The quiet anger in Jax’s dark green slate-hard eyes belied the smile curving his lips. She knew all too well that Jax would think nothing of embarrassing her further in front of Mick and Greg. In fact, he was clearly daring her to make a scene. It took every ounce of restraint she had to respond coolly.
“But of course, Chief Hughes. Like all of your lowly subjects, I understand that you rule your dominion with an iron hand. Far be it from me to think that I can come and go as I please. Foolish woman that I am, even I know that.”
Jax’s lips curved in a smile and he said with a wink, “Excellent, Sergeant. Now that we have the pecking order in my dominion established, the rest of your team is eager to hear your update on our case. Tell us, what breakthrough did you achieve that KSJN failed to report? Don’t tell me you and the dashing attorney general managed to get a meeting with Manuel Ortiz.”