Clues of the Heart: Baytown Boys Series

by Maryann Jordan

  Grant said, “Well, you can add in the resort manager as well, as far as being pissy. He bent the ear of the mayor, who in turn, jumped all over Mitch the other day about closing Walter’s case.”

  The group turned toward Mitch, who said nothing, but snuggled closer to Tori on their blanket by the fire.

  “Do you think it was someone he knew?” Belle asked softly, her eyes wide. “Or could it have been someone out there just killing people and he was in the wrong place at the wrong time?”

  Mitch quickly replied, “You know we can’t speculate on an active investigation but, Belle, there’s no evidence of some kind of a serial killer.”

  “So, we should be okay?”

  Gareth picked up on her unease and reassured, “Everyone should be vigilant but, then, you should be anyway. But as Mitch said, there’s no reason to think that anyone other than Mr. Berry was the intended victim.”

  “Well, he didn’t just float up on the golf course,” Callan said, plopping down by the fire. “Kind of makes me wonder if someone didn’t have it in for The Dunes as well. Let’s face it…dropping him off at the golf course really brought things to a halt.”

  “Was Walter going to play in the tournament?” Katelyn asked, twisting back around to Gareth.

  Gareth sat up straighter, sharing a look with Mitch, Grant, and Ginny. They hadn’t even considered that angle! “Don’t know, Katie girl, but you can bet we need to find out,” he whispered.

  Turning off the downstairs light, Katelyn glanced over her shoulder as Gareth double-checked the front locks. Smiling, she caught his eye as he turned to face her, his smile matching hers. Her heart skipped a beat as electricity filled the air. The desire to have his body rock hers in the moonlight filled her senses. “I’m glad you’re staying,” she said, her voice soft.

  “Nowhere else I’d rather be,” he replied, walking slowly toward her, stopping only as his hands lifted to caress her shoulders. His thumbs moved in circles on her neck, the silky skin still slightly cool from the outdoors. “We need to get you warmed up.”

  Her gaze held his as she moved into his arms, feeling them slide from her shoulders to her back, pulling their bodies closer together. “Mmmmm,” she murmured, her cheek pressed against his chest, his heartbeat pounding in her ear.

  Bending quickly, he scooped her up, carrying her easily up the stairs and straight into the master bathroom. Setting her feet on the cushy bathmat, he bent over to turn on the faucets to fill the tub, throwing in some bath salts.

  “A bath?” Katelyn grinned.

  “I remember you said that a bath gets you warmer than a shower.”

  “I figured you had another way to get me warm,” she teased.

  “Oh, don’t you worry, sweetheart…I’ve got my ways,” he promised, grabbing the bottom of her sweatshirt and pulling it gently over her head as she raised her arms. Next came the camisole and her bra, landing in the laundry basket in the corner. She slipped off her shoes as his hands reached for her pants, the sound of the zipper slowly sliding down barely heard over the running water. His thumbs hooked into the waistband and her jeans and panties began their torturously slow journey over her curvy hips and down her legs.

  Not wanting to rush a moment of her unveiling, he knelt, kissing her thighs, nibbling his way to her knees and down her calves. She lifted each foot as he pulled them off, leaving her standing naked for his perusal.

  As he stood, he ran his hands over her curves, appreciating each inch of soft skin until he stood over her once more. Holding her hand, he assisted her as she stepped into the tub, sinking down until the hot water engulfed her, resting her head against the rim.

  She moaned in appreciation and he felt the sound in his groin. Toeing off his shoes, he slipped off his jeans as she rolled her head in his direction, her lazy grin now appreciating the view as much as the warm bath.

  “You got room in there for one more?” he asked, pulling his sweatshirt over his head.

  She eyed the play of muscles in his arms as they maneuvered the material and then gazed in awe at the muscles in his chest and abdomen. “Jeez, you’re so ripped,” she observed, her voice almost reverent.

  Grinning, he leaned his naked body over the tub and repeated his question. “Any room for me?”

  Jarring out of her admiration, she sat up, the water teasing her nipples. “Oh, yeah. For you…anytime.”

  Stepping into the tub, he slid down behind her and gently pulled her back against his front. With her head on his chest, he had a clear view of her glorious body as the water undulated around them. Not normally a fan of a bath, he had to admit this felt amazing and as her ass cheeks pressed against his ready-to-go cock, it was even more phenomenal.

  Reaching over, she took a cloth and fragrant soap and began to lather. He reached around, taking the cloth from her, sliding it over her arms and chest. Dropping it, he used his hands to continue stroking her breasts.

  Throwing her head back against his shoulder, she pushed her aching breasts out, silently begging for more attention—he was eager to comply. Cupping their fullness, he circled his thumbs over her nipples alternating the soothing motion with a light pinch. Unable to keep her hips still, she pressed her thighs together in a feeble attempt to meet the need for pressure between her legs.

  Sliding one of his hands down over her tummy, he cupped her sex underneath the water, teasing the flesh before inserting one finger. The flutter from deep within blossomed outwards as he nuzzled her ear, his warm breath mingling with the steam still coming from the hot water. Clutching his wrists, she held on as he continued his ministrations. Playing her body masterfully, he discovered her sweet spots—the ones that made her moan, the ones that made her wiggle with need.

  Gently sucking on her earlobe as his thumb pressed on her swollen nub, she came undone, her body shivering in his arms as her orgasm consumed her, leaving her limp against his body.

  Feeling the water cooling, he murmured, “Let me get you out of here and into bed before you get chilled again.”

  “I don’t think I can move,” she mumbled, her eyes still closed.

  Chuckling, he placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her forward, slipping out and wrapping a towel around his waist before bending to scoop her up. Placing her feet on the soft bathmat again, he picked up another thick towel, the small heater in the bathroom keeping them toasty. Kneeling, he started at her feet, drying each one off as she clung to his shoulders to keep her steady. Moving excruciatingly slow, he dried off each leg, kissing as he went. He inhaled deeply as he dried her trimmed curls, the scent of her sex mingling with the fragrant soap smell as intoxicating as any drug. Standing, he dried off her abdomen before giving each breast careful consideration. By the time he made it to her neck, her legs were a quivering mess barely able to hold her up.

  Grinning, he scooped her up once more, stalking into the bedroom where he bent to throw back the covers before laying her on the cool sheets. Before she had a chance to chill, he followed her, covering her with his body.

  His heat pressed into her as she begged, “Please…I need you…I need you now.”

  With his upper weight supported by his forearms on the mattress, he cupped her face, staring into her eyes. “You never have to beg me, Katie girl. I’m here for you.” Lowering his lips to hers, he owned her with a kiss that was everything all at once. Soft and strong. Determined and delicate. Patient and primal. And she was lost to the feelings coursing through her body.

  She spread her legs for him as he settled between her thighs, his arousal nudging her ready sex. Plunging his cock deep inside at the same time he plunged his tongue into her mouth, he almost exploded at the overwhelming sense of tightness combined with the unique taste that was all Katelyn.

  Restraint cast away, he plunged as her feet on his ass and fingers clutching his shoulders urged him on. Sweat beads broke out on his forehead as he felt his lower back tighten and his balls draw up. His pelvis stroked her clit with each thrust and he felt her cor
e squeeze as her head pressed forward, her lips landing on his neck, her teeth nipping at the tender flesh.

  As her orgasm milked him, he rocked once more, groaning as the muscles in his neck corded. Continuing to thrust until the last of his cum filled her, he dropped onto her chest, barely registering the ‘oomph’ coming from her lips. Rolling to the side, he pulled her with him, so she was lying half on him, their legs tangled together.

  As their bodies cooled and their heartbeats slowed, he brushed back her sweat-slicked hair from her face, peering deeply into her eyes. “I love you, Katelyn.”

  She smoothed her fingers over his lips as her own mouth curved into a smile and a tear slid down her cheek. “I love you too, Gareth.”

  His heart pounded at her words, his thumb gently sweeping away her lone tear. “I can’t change your past, but I want to be your future.”

  “You’re never in comparison with my past…” Licking her kiss-swollen lips, she added, “I once told Jillian and Tori that I had no idea if Philip and I would have even made our relationship last into the adult world. So, don’t you see? I did love him…but as a very young woman. But now, I’m older…wiser…and definitely know what I want.” Smiling again, she slid her hand from his shoulder to cup his strong jaw. “And what I want is you.”

  This time their kiss sealed not only their lips, but their hearts as well.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “I’m being sued!”

  Katelyn looked up as the distressed woman burst through the door, looking so different from when she had first met her. Leaping up from her desk, she rushed over. “Eleanor, what do you mean? Who’s suing you?”

  “That, that, that…oh, my God!” Bursting into tears, she plopped down in one of the chairs.

  Katelyn hurried, “Let me get you some water,” and rushed to the back, slamming into Gareth as he came out of his office.

  His hands grabbed her shoulders to keep her from landing on her ass. Bending to look at her face, he said, “What’s wrong? Who’s out there?”

  “Shhh,” she whispered. “It’s Eleanor and she’s crying. She says she’s being sued.”

  Rearing back, he repeated, “Sued? By who?”

  Shrugging, she replied, “I don’t know. We didn’t get that far. I’m going to get her a water from the fridge and then let’s bring her back to the conference room.”

  Nodding, he headed back into his office to grab his laptop as Katelyn went to get Eleanor. Once settled, Gareth asked, “Eleanor, what’s happening? Katelyn said you are being sued?”

  Eleanor took a sip of the water and dug a tissue from her purse. Wiping her tears, she said, “I know you can’t do anything, but I just needed to tell someone. It’s all so awful…it’s not like I haven’t been through enough, and now this.” Sniffing, she lifted her head and said, “I got a summons this morning. I’m being sued by Carrie Reynolds for a percentage of Walter’s estate.”

  Gareth and Katelyn looked at each other, shock registering on both their faces. “But…but why would his receptionist sue?”

  Anger laced through her voice as Eleanor said, “Because she claims to be not just his receptionist…but his daughter!”

  As soon as Eleanor left, Gareth called Mitch. “Are you available? Eleanor Berry was just here and her new information may impact your murder investigation.”

  Nodding to Katelyn, he said, “Lock up. We’re going to the police station.”

  “You want me to go too?” she asked in surprise.

  “Yeah…I want your input as well.”

  Inwardly pleased, she grabbed her notes and within five minutes they entered the police station. Mildred Score, the station’s indomitable receptionist and dispatcher, waved them back and they entered the work room, seeing Mitch, Grant, and Ginny already inside.

  “Burt and Sam are out on patrol, but we wanted to hear your news as soon as possible,” Mitch said, as he indicated for Gareth and Katelyn to sit.

  “Carrie Reynolds, the young receptionist at Walter Berry’s accounting firm, is suing Eleanor for a percentage of his estate, claiming that he is her father.”

  At that statement, the three officers looked as shocked as Gareth and Katelyn had when Eleanor told them.

  “Daughter?” Grant repeated as though he heard wrong.

  Nodding, Gareth replied, “Yes. She claims she is Walter Berry’s daughter from a previous relationship between her mother and him almost twenty-one years ago.”

  Rubbing his hand over his face, Mitch leaned forward, his eyebrows lowered. “Eleanor had no idea?”

  “No, this came as a complete shock to her. She’s upset…it obviously happened a long time ago, but they were married at the time, so it means he had an affair. She doesn’t understand why he would have kept this from her.”

  “But he must have kept it a secret from the others at work as well, because they would have certainly mentioned it,” Katelyn supposed aloud.

  “How might this information fit into the murder investigation?”

  Gareth rubbed his chin, “I don’t know, but I’d like to interview her—“

  “And her mother,” Katelyn interrupted, gaining the attention of the others. Looking at Gareth, she said, “She was crying at the funeral and now we know it was for a man she was once intimate with…had a child with. Who knows what other underlying emotions are there? Anger, rejection…even greed.”

  The group simultaneously leaned back in their chairs, the implication hitting all of them. Mitch appeared thoughtful as he said, “I need to talk to both of them but,” he looked across the table and added, “Katelyn, I want your input as well.”

  Unable to hold back her grin, Katelyn glanced over to Gareth, pleased at his smile as well. “Can we talk to them separate from you? After all, Gareth and I have no authority over them so we don’t present a threat.”

  “That could be a good idea,” Ginny piped up. “They might get more out of them initially. As soon as we start questioning, they could lawyer-up.”

  Mitch agreed and, with a nod, said, “Okay. Do it today and get back with me. If they have cause, I want to know about it.”

  “This is getting real, isn’t it?”

  Gareth looked over at Katelyn, seeing the tension lines on her forehead. Uncertain what she meant, he waited to see what would follow. He had already learned that she needed time on her own to process what was on her mind. Then, and only then, was she ready to talk about it.

  After a moment of comfortable silence, she added, “What we’re doing matters…it can affect lives.”

  Another moment of comfortable silence followed. “At first, I was just excited to be looking for clues as to where Walter might be, thinking he might be with another woman. I like Eleanor and didn’t want to hurt her, but I got caught up in the thrill of the search. Then, when he turned up dead, I realized how serious it all is.”

  Turning in her seat to face him, she said, “This isn’t just trying to fit some clues together…this deals with people’s lives…their hearts.”

  Reaching across the console, he laid his hand, palm up, on her thigh. She immediately placed hers in his, linking their fingers and clutching tightly.

  Responding, he said, “Remember that we are not going in accusing anyone of anything. We’re simply on a fact-finding mission, still working for Eleanor right now. We don’t determine the outcome, or what has happened in the past.”

  Sighing heavily, she nodded, her mind still in turmoil as she watched the gulls flying over the bay bridge.

  “Come in. I would say welcome, but I’m not sure that’s appropriate.”

  With that curious greeting by Cindy Reynolds, Gareth and Katelyn walked into the Reynolds’ home and immediately viewed Carrie and her father standing in the comfortable living room. Once introductions were out of the way, they all sat, each observing the others.

  Katelyn noted Carrie’s pale face and her hands continually clasping and unclasping in her lap. Her face was pinched, her eyes darting frequently over to her
mother. Jerry Reynolds sat comfortably by his wife’s side, his arm draped around her shoulders as Cindy sat ramrod straight, her tight-lipped expression matching her daughter’s. Cindy’s blonde hair was perfectly coiffed, in contrast to Carrie’s, which was in a ponytail. A quick glance around the room showed family pictures of the three of them over many years.

  Gareth began, “For disclosure purposes, my client has given me permission to give her name. We are working for Eleanor Berry and she has now been served with papers claiming Carrie is Walter Berry’s daughter. We’re here just to find out more facts, if you will talk to us.”

  “Mr. Harrison, I have nothing to hide—”

  “Hmph,” Carrie snorted. The others looked over at her, but she remained silent.

  Cindy proceeded again, “I now have no reason to hide, and will answer your questions.”

  Nodding slowly, Gareth offered a slight smile before beginning. “If you don’t mind, can you tell us, in your own words, how the paternity claim has come about?”

  “It’s quite simple, actually. I met Walter at a business dinner when I was a senior in college. We had a relationship that lasted for a few months. He never told me he was married and I was naïve enough to not consider it. When I graduated, I was offered an internship and since we were not a formal couple, it was easy to leave and move to California at that time. I was already there when I realized I was pregnant.”

  “And you never told him?”

  Plucking an imaginary piece of fluff off her pants, Cindy blushed slightly before looking back up. “Quite frankly, I was not in love with Walter. He was not a man I saw myself marrying. Oh, he was quite charming and was truly a good man…just not what I wanted.” Shrugging, she said, “I was young and decided to have my baby on my own. I was offered a job back here in Virginia after the internship, but never ran into him again.”