Pink Neon Dreams

by Pink Neon Dreams [Evernight] (mobi)

  God, he wanted to remain, to bask in her presence and to be on hand in case she needed protection. But he didn’t want to hover, either, knew better than to smother the first fragile flicker of flame between them. The words of the beautiful poem, The Prophet by Kahil Gibran, floated through his mind, familiar and evocative, let there be spaces in our togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. It seemed good advice, Daniel thought, wise enough to follow. Whatever he’d begun with this woman, he wanted to nurture even though at the moment it seemed all but impossible.

  “No, I thought I’d head back to your place, put my stuff up, and have dinner waiting for you when you come home. I don’t suppose you’d consider closing early?”

  Head tilted, her vivid eyes met his. “I might, sugar. Are you planning to cook?”

  “Hell, no,” Daniel said with a laugh. “I’ll pick up takeout or something.”

  And take a cold shower, light some candles to make it romantic, and figure out just how the hell to handle the situation.

  “Sounds like a plan,” Cecily said. “I’ll shut down here around four and head home. How’s that sound?”

  “Bueno, querida.”

  Her delicious laugh pleased his ears. “I don’t speak Spanish,” Cecily said and he opened his mouth to apologize, but her finger covered his lips. “But I like it when you do, Daniel, so don’t quit.”

  “I won’t.” Without asking, he took her mouth and owned it. Her lips molded against his and she gave back the kiss with a sizzle. Although he’d meant the kiss to be short, a down payment for later, Daniel couldn’t resist temptation. His mouth lingered over hers, every sense engaged and smoldering. Cecily excited him, evoked carnal desire, but she impacted his emotions just as much. The kiss might’ve smoldered into open flame but a couple entered, senior citizens, the man wearing a jaunty newsboy cap, the lady in slacks and a bright floral patterned blouse. Their open delight in walking in on an embrace soon switched to pleasure in Pink Neon’s stock, so Daniel cupped Cecily’s face between his hands. “I’m leaving. I’ll see you around four-fifteen, four-thirty, okay?”

  Her smile lit up the room brighter than the neon outside. “I’ll be there, sugar.”

  He walked out into the late summer sunshine and never realized he whistled until he climbed into his sedan. In the mood for music, he sorted his CD collection and plugged in a Grace Potts and the Nocturnals album. I might’ve well picked CCR’s tune ‘There’s A Bad Moon on the Rise’ because it fits. I’m not sure what’s coming down, but troubles are on the way. Daniel reflected if he’d never met Cecily or fallen hard for her, he wouldn’t be trapped in his current situation but whatever happened, he’d meet it head on.

  And he’d tell her what had to happen, no matter how much he’d rather not.

  To deliver the unpleasant truth, he borrowed from his mother and grandmother’s playbook. Both Mama and Abuela softened harsh blows with good food, cooked and served with love. Daniel lacked cooking talent, but he could provide something tasty. Bad news always seemed a little bit more palatable on a full belly, he thought. He knew just what he wanted but not where to find it so he cruised.

  It wouldn’t be a chain restaurant or one with a lot of glitz. The kind of place he sought would be older, maybe even a little bit rundown but probably painted with bright colors. It’d most likely be off the main paths, tucked away somewhere almost unexpected. He’d recognize it when he discovered it and the people running it would speak his ancestor’s language. Delicious aromas would waft from the overheated kitchen, smells which combined garlic, onion, cilantro, tomatoes, peppers, and sizzling meats.

  Daniel didn’t find it on the first few streets or in the first thirty minutes, but he hadn’t expected he would. He spent almost an hour searching before he came across Rosa Mexicano. With a vivid deep pink exterior decorated with hand painted images of sombreros, cactus, tacos, and a few burros, the building appeared to have once housed a chain pizza restaurant. Even at mid-afternoon a number of vehicles remained in the parking lot so he parked and entered. He inhaled and nodded. The place would do.

  After a gander at the menu, he ordered carry-out. Uncertain of what Cecily liked or didn’t, he chose a variety, all ala carte. He ordered in Espanol, the familiar words easy on his tongue and asked for it all to be packed into aluminum pans, easy to reheat or keep warm. Daniel ordered enchiladas rancheros, burritos tipicos, tacquitos, and tamales. He asked for side dishes of both refried beans and rice. The chips were on the house and so was the container of homemade salsa, but he ordered some guacamole, too.

  On the way back to Cecily’s house, Daniel stopped at a liquor store to pick up a sweet Riesling wine. Once there, he let himself in with the key she’d provided and put the food into a low heat oven, hot enough to maintain it without drying everything out. He set the table and rooted around until he found a couple of tapers to place in the center. Then, with an hour and half or two hours until she’d come in, he took a long, satisfying shower and dressed in a button-down black shirt with clean jeans.

  He resisted the urge to drink tequila, knowing the potent alcohol wouldn’t go well with the wine he planned to share with Cecily no matter how much he sought the dulling it would provide his inner turmoil. Daniel dreaded telling her what must come next and he hoped it wouldn’t make her angry or upset. If she handled the fact I’m with FBI, she’ll deal with this. And he hoped it would be true.

  Dragging his feet doing something he dreaded wasn’t his style, so he used his FBI issued phone to call Martin. “It’s Padilla,” he growled when his boss answered. “I’ve made contact and I’ll bring her in tomorrow to talk. Got a time?”

  “Make it eleven a.m.,” Martin said. “She’s willing to come in?”

  “Yeah, no problem.” He hoped she’d agree to go, that she’d trust him enough.

  “All right, then. I’ll advise them in Springfield.”

  Daniel dragged a chair over in front of the broad front window and watched for Cecily. When she arrived, he relished the way her hips moved to the rhythm of her stride, but he noted she wasn’t smiling. Before she unlocked the door, he opened it wide and she walked inside, straight into the circle of his arms. He hugged her and she wrapped her arms around him. They stood fused together and he basked in the embrace, needing it like a drought wilted plant requires water.

  “You’re earlier than I thought,” he said when they separated, after a swift but needy kiss.

  “I couldn’t stand waiting anymore,” Cecily said. “Are you going to tell me what’s the matter?”

  He would but he’d like a few more minutes of peace. “Don’t you want to eat first, querida?”

  Her dainty snub nose sniffed the aroma from the kitchen. “It smells wonderful. You’re tempting me, sugar, and I really want to know.”

  “Let’s eat first, then we’ll talk,” he said. He wanted to enjoy the meal and the moment.

  Cecily locked her eyes with his gaze. Daniel knew the moment she conceded. “All right,” she said with a world class sigh. “But as soon as we’re done, you share.”

  “I will.”

  The food tasted even better than he’d anticipated, delicious and authentic. Although still not as fine as what his mom could produce, he found it delicious. Judging by the way she ate, so did Cecily. “I like all of it,” she said.

  Her praise made him feel ten feet tall. “I’m glad,” he said. “But surely you’ve had Mexican food before.”

  “Oh, yeah,” she said. “But Taco Bell’s nothing like this.”

  The way she smirked indicated she teased and he smiled. She added, “And, sure, I’ve eaten in several restaurants but ol’ Willard thought this kind of food was too plebian for his elegant palate. Thank you, Daniel, it’s just what I needed, something satisfying and solid.”

  He nodded as he poured the wine, red as blood into her plastic goblets. “De nada. Do you want to go outside or into the living room?”

  “It’s too hot and humid outside,” Cecily
said and rose, wine in hand.

  Daniel followed her. She curled up, feet tucked under her body, on one corner of the couch and he sat down on the opposite end. He lifted his glass up. “Salud!”

  “Cheers,” she said as they touched goblets together.

  The sweet wine pleased his tongue and he drank half a glass before Cecily reached over to touch his shoulder. “Daniel, please tell me now.”

  “My boss tells me I have to bring you over to the satellite office in Springfield, to talk. It’s not a formal investigation, not yet but he’s insistent. We’re supposed to be there at eleven tomorrow.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “Why?”

  They’d talked about it before and he had nothing new. “They don’t have any suspects so they keep coming back to you. I won’t let them arrest you, I promise. But if I don’t show up with you, it’ll get hot fast. The best way to get them off your back a little is to go away. And the bureau’s not the only problem, querida.”

  “What is and what happens then?”

  Here’s where it gets sticky and tough. “Depends on how it goes,” he said. Daniel chose each word with care. “If they think you answer their questions and they can’t make any connections, it’s good. You’re off the hook and I ask for a long vacation, a real one this time so we can spend more time together. The other problem is someone did kill your ex and whoever it is knows you didn’t. If they think you can point a finger in their direction or figure out their identity, they’ll want you out of the way, too.”

  She stared at him with huge eyes, filled with tears. “So what do we do?”

  Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. His mother and grandmother always said so, but he plunged ahead anyway. “You’re going to help me figure out who really iced your old man and then I’m going to take you somewhere safe until it’s all worked out.”

  The wine glass wobbled in her shaking fingers and she put it down, empty. Cecily lunged across the couch toward him and he put his drink down, too. She wrapped around him and clutched tight as if the world crashed around their heads. “I’m scared,” she whispered. “Will you hold me?”

  “Para siempre,” he whispered. “Always, querida, always.

  Chapter Ten

  Fear clutched her heart with a closed fist and sucked all the air out of her lungs. Cecily half-expected he’d tell her something like this, but the reality hit home with more force than she ever dreamed it could. Her short-lived freedom seemed on the verge of coming to a halt. All I wanted was to get away from that bastard, have a life of my own and I did, for a short time. All I dreamed about in a man, in a lover, I’ve found in Daniel, but everything’s threatened now. Willard’s reaching out from the grave to fuck me one more time—that’s what it feels like - revenge.

  Nestled against Daniel’s chest, his arms wrapped around her, she felt almost safer, safer than she would’ve under any other circumstance. If the FBI had sent anyone else, she’d be in deep shit and still might be. Her body quivered involuntarily and she snuggled tighter against him. Right now it wasn’t about their amazing sexual attraction or the sensual pleasures he sent through her. She needed his comfort. Several minutes passed before she realized he’d been stroking her hair and talking to her in a low, calm voice. It took another few moments to understand what he said. Between endearments in both Spanish and English, he asked her if she were all right.

  “I’m okay,” she said, after she gathered enough breath to speak. “I’m terrified, though.”

  “Don’t be.”

  “I can’t help it.”

  “It’ll be fine, Niña. We’ll work it out together.”

  “I hope so.”

  “I know it.” She could hear the emphasis he put on the word and understood he meant it.

  It required a lot for her to bring out the next words, but she wanted to tell him, needed him to know. “I trust you.”

  His arms cinched closer and his lips brushed her cheek. “I won’t let you down,” he said.

  “I don’t want to close Pink Neon tomorrow,” she said. “But I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?”

  “No,” he said. “And you may have to close it longer. I’m sorry, if that helps.”

  “A little,” she said. “I’d never be able to deal with this if you weren’t here. I’m glad you are.”

  “I’m sorry I brought this trouble to you, querida, but I’ll do everything I can to make it turn out right,” he said.

  Cecily lifted her head so she could view his eyes. In their dark depths, she read a powerful emotion, one greater than the anguish she’d recognized when they met. It smote her with its strength and struck her square in the heart. All of a sudden it didn’t matter how short a time she’d known Daniel or how they met. Forget all the self-made experts on love and romance. They don’t know and I do. It doesn’t matter how short a time we’ve known each other, because we’ve connected deep and experienced shit most couples don’t for a long time, years, even in a lifetime. I think he loves me and oh, holy God, I think I love him, too.

  If she hadn’t been such a rank novice at love, she would’ve figured it out sooner. But love had nothing to do with her marriage and high school had been too damn long ago. She’d been immature then anyway. Cecily wouldn’t even try to deny how she burned for Daniel’s touch or how hot he made her body but there was more. And had been since the first day when he asked her to sing. That moment resonated with intense feeling and everything since maintained the level of emotion. The way he cuddled her now said ‘love’, not ‘lust’. I could live without him, but I don’t want to. I want him by my side. I like him. He makes me smile, he gets me to laugh, and his presence comforts me. If this isn’t love, then fuck me—I’ll never figure out what is.

  “I know,” she said. “If tomorrow doesn’t go well for me, then you’re going to risk your job, aren’t you?”

  Daniel shrugged, hands splayed wide. “Maybe but it doesn’t matter. In the long run, it’ll all work out.”

  She didn’t want him to throw everything away for her sake. “It’s your career. You shouldn’t trash it for me.”

  “I’m not,” he said, tone even as a knife edge. “I believe you, yes, but it’s also about what’s right. If my superiors can’t see that, they’re wrong.”

  His integrity impressed her, but she still said, “You’re still putting everything you’ve worked for on the line, for me. I appreciate it, more than I can say.”

  “It’s my call,” he said with tenderness, his face softer than she’d ever seen it. “I’d do that and more for you.”

  Cecily cupped his cheek with her hand. “I know you would. And, sugar, I’d do whatever I could for you, too.”

  The vulnerable look vanished when he grinned. “Would you?”

  “Yes.” Damn it, she’d do anything he asked.

  “Then I’ve got something in mind.” His voice dropped lower to a near whisper, but what it lacked in volume, it gained in power.

  “Like what?” she said as her body heat increased. Her skin radiated warmth or so it seemed.

  His mouth moved closer, mere millimeters from her lips. “It starts something like this…”

  Like a night flying insect drawn closer by light, she leaned forward and their lips met. Cecily’s pulse quickened as his mouth caressed hers, his lips cherishing and relishing hers with slow heat. Daniel suckled her flesh with gentle motions, light as the brush of a rose petal but fiery as a cayenne pepper rubbed against her mouth. His breath against her parted lips evoked a sensual shiver running from her mouth down her spine with an electrical charge. Her body changed at his touch as her bones turned from stone into candy, pliable and soft. Lost in the moment, Cecily gave everything to the kiss and let her worries fade to black. They kissed for a long time, each movement, every sweet nibble providing pleasure.

  Her fingers managed to undo the buttons on his shirt and stroke his chest. Daniel’s big hands held her face between them and his fingers strayed into her hair. In time he slid a hand up
her blouse and fondled her breasts. With skill, he managed to undo her front clasp bra and free her tits. Her always sensitive nipples perked up at his first caress, and he shifted position so he could move his mouth from hers down to the vale between her breasts. He kissed her there, soft and gentle at first, then with a little force. When she felt the sharpness of his teeth, she knew he’d leave a love bite.

  Overwhelmed with a rush of desire blended with emotion, Cecily cradled his head against her chest. In response, he unleashed his tongue and used it to lick a heated line from between her breasts to one nipple. She whimpered in response and he pulled back. “Te deseo, querida,” he whispered. “Let’s go to bed.”

  They untangled and made their way there, pausing to kiss and to stroke. Along the way they shed most of their clothing. By the time Cecily stretched out on top of her neatly made bed, she wore nothing and neither did he. Daniel lowered his lean body onto hers and she bent her knees to make room for him. He slid into her smooth and easy, a gentle glide which delivered intense delight. His cock filled her space and expanded, each motion notching up her pleasure another degree. As she tightened the walls of her box to give back some of the wonder she experienced, he worked in and out with the precise movements of a sewing needle used with skill. Cecily matched his rhythms with hers and they moved, in unison like a shared melody, two bodies in counterpoint.

  Need forced them toward release, but she resisted, wanting to draw out the delight as long as she could. In response, Daniel increased his pace and stepped up his actions. The resulting contest of wills sent her into shivers and she retaliated with a few tricks of her own. When she hit her climax, he joined her and they came together in a crazy blending, a heated flood complete with noise. She cried out and so did he. Erotic spasms erupted over her body and she writhed with the impact until everything shuddered to a slow stop.

  Gasping, they faced each other, limbs curled tight until they could breathe again. Daniel stroked her from the crown of her head all the way down her nude body to her feet. Sated, her sensual needs met, his touch still radiated heat and sent live current where it touched. On another level, it evoked deep emotion. Three words she’d never said and meant to a man flirted with her lips. Cecily almost said them but caught herself. Maybe this wasn’t the right time, she mused. They would face a lot tomorrow, maybe harder obstacles afterward. If it’s right, if it’s real, it will keep.