“Lying about water is a serious offense,” he said with a smile, tracing her fingertips.
“Just a misdemeanor,” she corrected him. “And no one suffered from dehydration.”
He laughed and she joined him, and then, somehow they were kissing and the meal was forgotten as they indulged in each other, proving that adrenaline had nothing to do with this undefinable, thoroughly wonderful chemistry between them.
Later, when they were reheating the food for a snack, she tasted the red sauce. “Mmm. That’s good. My mom would be impressed.”
“I’ll take that as the highest compliment,” he said.
“One hundred percent,” Melissa said. “She is the best cook I know. Dad was on vacation in Italy and it was love at first sight. When it was time for him to return to the States, she came along with him.”
“How romantic.” It was the safest response. He’d felt that wild rush of love at first sight with Karen. And he could admit he’d been attracted to Melissa from the get-go, too. Was it happening again? He’d never expected his heart would heal enough for another true love. With Melissa, the thrill he remembered was brewing, along with a new sense of deep alignment.
“It’s pretty much a family legend. They raised my brothers and me in a home full of laughter and love. Lived the example of devotion, commitment and abiding love.”
“Tough standard,” he said.
She sighed. “The right partner is worth the wait,” she said, her eyes on her plate. “Your parents are still married, right?”
He set down his fork, wondering how she knew that. Then it dawned on him. “How much digging did you do last summer when Orr suggested I killed his girlfriend?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Just the basic, standard rundown. Plus, you’re local, so your family history is local, too. Grave Gulch isn’t so big.”
It certainly felt small right now. “My parents moved to Florida ten years ago. But you must know that, too.”
She avoided his gaze, studiously creating a perfect bite of her salad greens. Reluctantly amused, he waited her out.
“There are trends in criminal justice,” she said in a rush. “A basic history can reveal circumstances that might lead to delinquent or outright illegal behaviors.”
“I’ve never broken the law.” Though he wouldn’t hesitate to take whatever action was necessary if he ever laid eyes on Orr again after today.
“I’m aware of that,” she said, matching his level tone. “But Orr did throw suspicion on you and I did my due diligence. You can’t run around town accusing me of being lazy and then get aggravated when you feel challenged because I’m good at my job.”
“It’s not about feeling challenged. And I already told you about the moment I realized you aren’t lazy.”
He felt too many things at that moment, and he wasn’t eager to discuss any of them. If she knew about his parents and his lack of criminal activity, it was logical that she knew he’d been widowed. He couldn’t decide if that was good or bad.
“So tell me about your stable home,” she suggested, ending the awkward silence.
For a split second he thought of Karen and their house, which hadn’t been too unlike Melissa’s. The first piece of new furniture they’d purchased had been a rocking chair for the nursery.
“My mother’s parents are originally from Cuba but she grew up in Florida,” he began. “My father is from Puerto Rico. They met in college and followed his career as a commercial real-estate developer until they settled here, raised the family.”
Should he mention his wife or would it be old news to her that he’d met Karen in college? How should he feel if she already knew? Did he want her to know? Antonio was unsure.
“Like your parents,” he continued, “they’re still wildly in love and happier on the beach than dealing with snowstorms.” Or killers, he thought, grateful they were out of harm’s way.
“I don’t suppose you’d be willing to take a vacation and let someone else deal with Orr?” he asked.
“Not an option.” He caught a flash of deep sadness in her eyes, though she tried to hide it by starting to clear the table. “I do take vacations,” she said. “I know how to relax.”
Was he supposed to gain some insight from that? Unsure, he loaded the room-service cart with the serving dishes and pushed it out to the foyer for the staff to pick up when they had a chance.
When he returned, she was on the phone, pacing in front of the balcony windows. She moved with such a lithe grace, and his body responded to her with an intensity he hadn’t experienced in a long time. Until she noticed him watching. Then her cheeks turned rosy and she forced herself to be still.
It was adorable.
Antonio felt the realization click like a lock opening. Melissa Colton had come to mean everything to him. She was part of his life now and he wanted her to stay that way, forever.
CHAPTER 14
While Antonio dealt with the cart, Melissa was debating another glass of wine when her cell phone rang. “Chief Colton,” she said, picking up.
“It’s Joseph. They found the truck Orr was driving.”
“Where?” She darted into the bedroom, tucking the phone between her ear and shoulder while she gathered up her clothes. She could hardly answer a call in the plush hotel robe. “Did you call the others?”
“They’re on the way.”
“So am I.”
Antonio, seeing her dressing, started to grab his clothing, too.
“I’d advise against that, Chief. Let us clear the scene. After what happened at the hotel, I think staying away is the smarter play.”
“Sergeant,” she began and stopped herself. He made a good point and if she ever wanted to find a balance, she had to be willing to step back and change up her patterns. “I don’t like it, but you’re right.”
“I’ll keep you in the loop.”
“Every step of the way, please,” she said. “We need to drop a net on this guy.”
“Sure thing,” Joseph promised.
Ending the call, she looked up at Antonio. “They found the pickup truck,” she said. “No sign of Orr yet.”
“Are you staying or are we going?”
That use of “we” sent butterflies swarming in her belly. “Staying.”
He straightened his robe and crossed the room to her. “Good.” He kissed her, his lips soft and sweet against hers. “I suggest more wine, in front of the fire.” He bumped her nose with his. “I’ll show you my pecs.”
It was impossible to argue with a man who made her laugh.
“It’s not forever,” he said, his voice low as he nuzzled her neck. Was he talking about her staying up here, out of the way, or was he referring to their amazing sexual connection?
Her heart picked apart every syllable, searching for meaning and significance. The fact was, sex didn’t make a relationship. Attraction and chemistry and some crazy near-death vibes could be all he wanted.
She wanted so much more from life. For her life. The thrill of hauling in bad guys wasn’t enough anymore. When she went home, the house had a stagnant feel, as if it was merely holding its breath for a real family to walk in and liven up the place.
At one time, she’d dreamed of filling a home with children. One of four, she was used to the noise and camaraderie and sibling shenanigans. Then she just kept getting older, and while she was healthy and fit, her job wrecked every relationship.
Her mother had told her if the man was right, her career wouldn’t matter. In Melissa’s experience there wasn’t a single man in Grave Gulch willing to play second fiddle to the police work. Except Antonio had said “we” as if he planned to accompany her to the call if needed.
How did she interpret that?
She shot him a sheepish smile, shaking free of her troubling thoughts. “Wine and pecs, it is.”
She acc
epted the glass he handed her and took a sip. “That’s smooth.”
“One reason it’s a favorite. It’s from my brother’s vineyard.”
She felt her chin drop. “Your brother has a vineyard?”
“Up in Traverse City.” He winked. “That didn’t show up in the background check?”
“I’m a police officer, not a snoop,” she said.
“You say tomato…”
She knew he was joking, but it was often close to the truth. “Come over here.” He held out a hand. “Sit with me and enjoy the fire.”
He pulled two chairs closer and moved an ottoman, urging her to prop up her feet and relax “You make it easy to put work away,” she said with a sigh.
“Years of practice,” he admitted. “At least a decade before I found any balance. You have a demanding career.”
“The same could be said for you.”
“Until Orr, the fatality risk was minimal.”
She wanted to laugh, but it was a little too soon. “Is that why you built this suite? To manage risk?”
“It’s good to be prepared. We cater to high-end clients and they can be paranoid.”
“I’ve always admired people like you who can be casual, have fun and not hurt themselves or others.”
He paused, staring at her. “Is that a compliment or a dig?”
“Compliment,” she said in a rush as her cheeks heated with embarrassment. “I get accused of being too serious, too focused.”
She rolled the wineglass between her palms, sipped again. “Sorry. I admire your balance. My personal and professional goals have been at odds lately,” she blurted out. “It creeps up on me when I’m tired or stressed.”
“And you’ve had plenty of stress these past days,” he said.
“With more to come.” But the wine and the fire and the man beside her were helping.
He leaned forward, elbows to knees, his wineglass held loosely in his hands. “Melissa?”
“Hmm?”
“What is it you really want, sweetheart?”
You. By some miracle, she managed not to blurt that out. “The balance you’ve found,” she said after a moment. “From over here it looks fabulous.”
“My balance isn’t all that great.” He sat back, scrubbing a hand through his hair. “You know why I was in the courtyard when Orr found me?”
She shook her head, half-afraid of the pain in his gaze.
“I go out there to think. It took me twenty years or so, but I built that garden last summer based on a plan I made with my wife. Her ashes, and the ashes of the child she carried, are scattered there. They died due to a complication with the pregnancy.”
Her heart cracked for him. His choices suddenly made more sense. No commitments or emotional ties meant he couldn’t be hurt like that again. “I’m so sorry.” She set her wine on the table and just held his hand, offering comfort. Her love for him and her longing for a family might well be more of a burden than Antonio could bear.
“Some balance. When I lost her, I poured myself into work rather than face the empty house.” He squeezed her hand, tried to smile. “Orr figured out that she inspired that garden. I should’ve said all of this to the officers earlier, but I couldn’t. He said he would kill me and make it look like a suicide.”
“No one would’ve believed that,” she said. “We would never have let that story stand.”
His smile was sad at the edges. “I told him the same thing.” He pulled her up into his lap.
She ran her fingers over the soft bristles of his beard. “An empty house is a hard thing sometimes.” They watched the fire for several quiet minutes as a contentment filled her. “Being here with you is nice.”
“And more fun,” he said.
She appreciated his attempt to lighten the mood. “And more fun,” she agreed, her gaze on the fire. “You know what you want, what’s important,” she murmured. “I admire that. There are days I go home alone after a shift and the satisfaction I felt on the job fizzles when there’s no one to share it with. Does that ever happen to you?”
“The views take the sting out of it,” he said.
She started to get up, to leave the melancholy behind, but his arm around her waist held firm. “What is it you want, Melissa?”
With her fingers in his hair, the answer just tumbled past her lips. “What my parents have. That partnership and closeness. Kids.” She caught herself. “I don’t mean to trample on a sore spot.”
“You aren’t trampling anything. Tell me more.”
He was easy to talk to in this moment, with the darkness outside and the glow of the fire and warmth of the wine. “I want it all, and no one wants it with me. The police gig gets in the way.”
“Wait.” He brought her face around to meet her gaze. “Men have said that to you?”
“Yes. And I do understand no one wants to be the runner-up to a city all the time.” She sighed, moved back to her own chair. “I had three years under my belt with the GGPD when I met the guy I thought was the one.”
Antonio smiled. “I remember that feeling.”
“That’s the whole point, right?” she said, keeping it light though jealousy of the woman he’d loved prickled like a rash under her skin. “He was a contractor. He understood the ever-changing schedule. For over a year we managed the missed dates and cold dinners and had a great time.
“Then one morning I went into the bathroom, peed on a stick and while we were waiting for the results, he’d drafted my resignation. I wanted a husband and family. He wanted a wife and children. In his head, that meant I’d quit the force and stay home.”
“That’s not a partnership,” he said.
Agreeing with him, she almost let out a cheer. “It does work for plenty of families.”
“But you weren’t done with your career.”
“Not even close back then. I’m still not,” she admitted. “It’s probably time to stop wishing for the impossible and make a new dream.”
“Were you pregnant?”
His question made her heart ache all over. “No.” Although the negative result still stung some days. “Good thing, too, since those three minutes made our conflicting goals crystal clear.”
She stretched her toes toward the fire. “I know we weren’t expecting any of this to happen. I do understand it doesn’t mean anything in the way of serious commitment.”
“Melissa.” He sat on the ottoman, stroking her leg from her ankle to her knee and back again. “I care for you, in and out of bed.” The sparkle in his eyes was irresistible. “I enjoy spending time with you, though I wouldn’t mind fewer crises. But I don’t want to hurt you. I want to be clear that I’m not built for relationships anymore.”
Melissa watched the fire reflected in Antonio’s eyes. She caressed his jaw, the texture of his trimmed beard teasing her palm.
She should say no. A fling with Antonio would only delay and derail her goals of husband and family. Although…who was she kidding? There wasn’t anyone on the horizon willing to compete with her career. She deliberately released those intangible dreams for the very real and present pleasure sitting right in front of her.
Whatever had brought her to this point, she couldn’t resist the desire Antonio created. Tomorrow would have enough problems of its own.
She touched her lips to his, let herself go into his arms. Giving all she had to him, to this moment, she forgot goals and threats looming outside the suite. He was all she needed right now and she wanted to be all he needed, as well.
Taking things slow, as if they had nothing but time in this safe cocoon, they made love in front of the fire, desire cresting in soft waves. Content and sated after, she cuddled close while he told her about purchasing the original Grave Gulch Hotel and turning it into this exquisite property that brought tourists to town. When she shivered, he carried her to t
he bedroom while she giggled at the two of them.
Laughter faded to sweet sighs as they snuggled under the covers, his strong body at her back, his arm heavy across her waist as she listened to his even breathing.
But she couldn’t sleep. Her mind went round and round on why Bowe had manipulated evidence in at least two cases, the cycle interrupted only by ideas on how to catch Orr. This city relied on her to keep order and peace. She wouldn’t let them down.
Antonio started to snore lightly. This time with him might be temporary, but it was good for her. Not just as a distraction. It was nice to have a friend, someone who knew her as she was right now. Someone with his own expectations and goals. Yes, they were wonderful together, not just in bed. She vowed she would stay his friend, even after they were done.
Their conversation gave her hope that if he could understand her career goals, someone else might, as well. Someday. Her heart wished for today to be the day and Antonio to be the man, but that was a dangerous wish that could bring this all crashing down on her head too soon.
Careful not to disturb Antonio, she slipped out of the bed. The plush hotel robe was cozy around her body as she left the bedroom. Her phone was charged and she checked her messages, finding two from Troy.
It was just past midnight, but only an hour had passed since his last attempt to reach her. He often worked as obsessively as she did when following a case. She called him back, prepared to leave a message.
Waiting for the phone to ring, she carried the empty wineglasses to the dishwasher in the kitchen. The space was so well-designed that a person really could be at home here for an extended period of time. If she dared to imagine life with Antonio, suites like this one would be a decadent perk, but she would want a true home to return to. Immediately the view from the deck of his lakeside home popped into her mind and she willed it away. Growing more attached would only make it harder when this ended.
Harlequin Romantic Suspense January 2021 Page 43