“Who do we have here?” he asked, matching Noah’s deep baritone with one just as rich, if not even more booming.
“I’m Rain,” she said casually, opting at the last moment not to offer a last name. When she reached to touch Noah’s back and introduce him as well, Steve reached for her, freeing Joanna, and took Rain’s hand before she could touch Noah.
“Rain. A compelling name for an incredibly compelling woman,” Steve said, lowering that baritone even further. “Is it your real name?”
If she weren’t so damned accustomed to being questioned throughout her life over her first name, she might have been offended. Instead, she offered him the story she’d concocted in the academy, which was a hell of a lot more entertaining than the truth.
“Yes, it is. My mother wished to get even with my father.” She smiled, allowing Steve to stroke her palm with the pad of his thumb. “And you are?”
“Steve Porter, my dear,” he said, sounding like he could pull off the commercial for that used-car lot where she pictured him working. “And why would your mother wish to get even with your father when he gave her such a beautiful creature like you?”
Rain smiled sweetly. “Because he wouldn’t divorce his wife.”
Stunned silence lasted a mere moment before Butch snorted and then the entire room burst into laughter. Although Rain gave herself credit for offering the punch line with a perfect beat, she had to give Noah as much credit for turning around gallantly and petting her hair.
“Isn’t she the sexiest bastard you’ve ever laid eyes on?” he asked, cupping her ass and then giving it a good swat.
“She is definitely that,” Steve agreed.
The men’s comments were drowned with laughter and then everyone was talking. Ned again played bartender, getting drinks for Susie and Steve and refilling everyone else’s drink.
The tone in the room didn’t return to the relaxed state it held before the Porters’ arrival. Steve and Susie’s arrival brought life to the party and as well created a sizzle in the air that didn’t diminish as the evening progressed. Where the conversation was calm, relaxed, and only mildly flirtatious before they arrived, now everyone talked, joked, and chided one another.
Steve didn’t let go of Rain’s hand and instead held it firmly when he walked to the bar. Ned quickly offered Steve’s drink, obviously knowing the man’s poison, and then leaned against the counter, nursing a bottle of Budweiser and grinning at her like a hopeful schoolboy. Butch stood next to Steve, backing anything the man said, but Steve focused on her with those dark eyes as if his mission was to know everything about her before the evening ended.
“Butch, you didn’t do this lady justice when describing her to me,” Steve said, his back to the room, and if he pushed any closer, her back would be bent in two from the edge of the bar.
“Why do you think I invited her and her husband into our group?” Butch stood with legs spread, and his chest poofed out like a peacock ready to strut for the females. “And if I made her sound too incredible you would have raced to get here sooner. At least I got some time with her before you showed up.”
“You’re lucky you did,” Steve said without looking away from Rain. “Because she is mine for the rest of the night.”
Joanna wrapped her long, slender fingers tightly around Steve’s biceps. “I knew you’d love her, Steve,” she purred, her voice throaty as she moved in closer to him, appearing desperate to try to regain his attention. “Rain and I are already planning on decorating her new home, aren’t we, sweetheart?” Joanna’s gaze never left Steve’s when she questioned Rain.
It was the most bizarre flirting session Rain had ever seen. A competitive cluster fuck that she couldn’t imagine ending in anything passionate and fulfilling.
“Our home does need a lot of work,” Rain admitted.
“But the layout, my dear,” Joanna pressed. “I can already see it in my head. And I promise you it won’t cost a lot of money, unless of course you have it to spend.” Her shrill laughter bordered on sounding nervous.
The tension lining her eyes faded when Steve looked at her finally. She returned the gaze with such strong affection glowing on her face Rain wondered how anyone could miss it. Were these two in love?
“You’ve been over to their house?” he asked.
Joanna searched Steve’s face as if she wanted to say something but then thought better of herself. Her smile faded momentarily but then broadened wider than it was before. “As soon as Butch told me about the Kaynes, I stopped by. Rain and I are practically neighbors.” Joanna let go of Steve and moved to lean on the bar next to Rain. She ran her fingernail down the side of Rain’s head, combing her hair with one finger. “Rain’s even been over to get in the hot tub with me.” The invitation in Joanna’s eyes was as obvious as her desire for Steve when she batted her eyes at him. “Maybe next time you can come join us.”
Steve moved in closer, putting his arm between her and Joanna, until he’d pushed Joanna backward and blocked Rain’s view of the room. Then lowering his mouth to her neck, he nibbled while his hand squeezed her breast.
It was hard as hell not to stiffen or push him backward but at the same time not to appear too anxious to have him maul her. Rain imagined Noah, the way she felt when he first touched her, how his expression darkened as he slowly seduced her. Steve didn’t possess a fraction of Noah’s charisma, or his ability to appear infatuated, instead of on a mission. It was a damned good thing that Steve wasn’t the cop here. No one would ever buy into this man’s sincerity. She honestly tried figuring out why the entire room sucked up to him when he was rude, arrogant, and smelled of cheap cologne.
“Do you play without your husband, Rain?” he whispered, speaking so quietly it was quite obvious he wished to arrange a tryst and possibly got off on doing it under everyone’s noses, including his wife’s.
Rain stared into those dark eyes and saw the cold-hearted bastard for what he was. “Never,” she informed him, and then smiled at the instant disappointment on his face. “And I don’t approve of anyone who does anything without their spouse knowing, either.”
Steve’s disappointment faded as quickly as it appeared. Straightening, which made him stand possibly an inch or so taller than she, he crooked his finger over the top of her strapless dress and between her breasts. As he tugged slightly, she felt the material stretch over her breasts and threaten to lower if he put more effort into it.
“Damn good answer, my dear.” His crooked smile offered a bit of boyish charm. But he’d already shown his true colors, and his sudden relaxed nature and glint in his eyes didn’t sell her at all that he’d been joking, or anything other than sincere with his question. Steve lazily shifted his attention to Joanna, although he didn’t move his finger from Rain’s dress. “No one likes a slut, right, darling?”
“I don’t know,” Rain said before Joanna could figure out whether she was being insulted or not. Rain wrapped her fingers around Steve’s wrist, feeling his pulse thump strongly against her fingers, and then removed his grasp on her dress. “Sometimes a bit of sluttish behavior has its rewards.”
Rain stepped around Steve, wishing she could see his reaction to her comment but not daring to give him a moment’s more attention. Instead she walked around Butch, placing her hand on his shoulder. For the first time that night, and possibly since she’d first met him, he looked distracted, possibly worried.
“Are you having fun?” she asked smoothly and quietly. “Ready for another beer?”
“We can’t have you waiting on me, gorgeous.” Butch reached for her glass. “Allow me to freshen your drink.”
Her cocktail was more watered-down than gone, but she relinquished her glass to Butch and moved to join the ladies. Susie sat on the coffee table, her back to Rain. Brandy and Jan were on the couch, though, and possibly could have witnessed Steve’s bold moves. The women looked past Rain for only a moment, seeing what she wished she could see, and that was Steve’s reaction to her snubbing him.
“Here you go, my dear,” Butch said when he brought her fresh drink to her. “Ladies, refills?”
“Most definitely. More wine!” Jan held up her glass, her eyes already looking a bit glassy.
And as the alcohol flowed, so did the promiscuous nature.
Although curious whether everyone would end up naked in a pile or pair off and disappear, Rain wasn’t in a hurry for that part of the evening to happen. She enjoyed talking to almost everyone here and wanted to learn as much as possible. And what she needed to know she would find out through conversation, not in how they acted between the sheets. As tasty as her cocktail was, she sipped slowly, and when she glanced Noah’s way she noticed he was still on his first drink. He and Ted stood to the side in a fairly serious conversation. Steve didn’t pursue her further, instead seeming content to molest Joanna at the bar. Rain made herself comfortable on the couch with the women, while Butch plopped his stocky rear on the solid-looking coffee table and wrapped his arm around Susie. She looked like a small child as she relaxed against him.
“I wonder what happened to Elaine and Oscar?” Brandy asked, and then finished off her wine.
“Maybe she couldn’t find another dress to wear,” Jan offered, and started giggling.
“Oh, hon, be nice,” Brandy said, although she snickered, too.
“Elaine spilled catsup on her dress right after she got here,” Jan told Susie. She got up and walked behind the bar, then returned with a box of wine. Refilling her glass and then Brandy’s, she placed the box next to Butch at the edge of the coffee table. “She was so upset when it was obvious we couldn’t wipe out the stain. I’m sure it was a brand-new outfit.”
“It was a beautiful dress,” Brandy added. “Do you think we should call and check on her?”
“No.” Susie spoke so quietly that it seemed odd when she answered with such conviction. “We’ll give her a call tomorrow and make sure she is okay. And when you do, be sure and extend the invitation to our next event.”
“Oh!” Jan bounced on her side of the couch and Rain almost fell over against Jan. “Have you decided where our next party will be?”
Rain straightened, confused for a moment but sure she hadn’t missed any of the conversation. Both Jan and Brandy watched Susie like every word that might come out of her mouth needed to be put to memory. Butch rubbed Susie’s bony shoulder with his thumb and looked down at her with fondness. Maybe Rain’s first impression of Susie was premature. Her large eyes and gaunt, petite figure sure made her look like the mousy, neglected house wife. And although she still looked that way, along with her soft-spoken words, everyone looked at her like she was the decision maker of the group.
“I think it would be wonderful to have our next gathering at Rain’s house.”
Rain blinked and looked quickly at Susie. “My house?”
Susie’s large eyes still looked spooked, but there was something else lingering behind her timid-appearing demeanor, something Rain swore wasn’t there before.
“I’ll have to get back with you on that,” Rain offered politely. “We’re still unpacking and organizing. I’m not sure we’re ready for a party.”
“It will be a month from now. That is enough time, don’t you think?” Again those large eyes seemed to glow with something that was hard to label.
If Rain hadn’t watched Susie all evening, seen how she almost jumped when her husband touched her, she would guess the look was sinister. Could this petite little thing aim a gun at someone’s head and pull the trigger?
“Joanna helped decorate this room,” Jan told Rain. Jan gestured by holding out her wineglass, but when some dribbled over her hand she brought the glass to her mouth and downed half of it. “She’s an incredible interior decorator.”
“And Patty can pull up homes on the Internet that are offering virtual tours. It’s a wonderful way to get decorating ideas.” Brandy frowned. “Didn’t you say she told you she was on her way over a couple hours ago?”
“Elaine told me that when she first arrived. Patty called her right after she left a showing.” Jan looked down at her glass for a moment and then focused on Susie. “Maybe Patty and Elaine and Oscar hooked up without the rest of us,” Jan suggested, making it sound like to do so would be akin to a criminal act.
“You’ll find out tomorrow when you call. Elaine and Oscar are new to our group. We won’t take offense to any of their actions.” Susie straightened and pressed her hands into her lap, almost looking pristine. “I can’t imagine why Patty isn’t here, though.”
Brandy made a coughing sound and stood, and Butch looked up at her, frowning. She patted his head and then reached for Susie’s empty glass. “Hon, may I get you another drink?”
“Yes, thank you.” She rested her hand on Butch’s leg when his wife left to go to the bar. “This is a very good party, Jan.”
Jan looked like someone just handed her an award.
“Thank you,” she said on a breath, and drank more of her wine. “You’re having fun, aren’t you, Rain? And where is your husband?” She turned and looked at Ted and Noah standing over by the stairs. “Why are you ignoring me, Ted?”
Rain swore Jan’s husband scowled at his wife. The two men walked over to join them, though. She glanced over at Steve and Joanna and noticed Joanna’s dress was now hiked up and she was completely naked from the waist down. She sat on a bar stool with her legs wrapped around Steve. Rain didn’t care enough as to what the two of them might be doing and returned her attention to those around her when Ted reached for his wife, pulled her to her feet, and then took her place on the couch. Jan looked ready to berate him some more, but he pulled her onto his lap. Rain wasn’t sure whether she should move or stay put when she noticed Noah put his hand over his shirt pocket.
He met her gaze as he pulled out his beeper.
“Don’t tell me you’re on call or something,” Ted said, looking up at Noah.
Ted ran his hand down Rain’s bare leg and adjusted Jan on his lap. “Don’t you dare let him drag you away from us so early,” he said lightly.
“Hopefully a phone call is all I need to make.” Noah pulled his cell off of his belt and didn’t offer any more explanation as he headed up the stairs.
Rain itched to follow him. She couldn’t think of any good reason why Noah would be paged, but if his supervisor was calling out of warped curiosity, Rain wanted to be there when he talked to her. Rain would swear Brenda felt a bit too protective of Noah, not only from what she’d overheard during their conversation after their first night at the house but as well from when Brenda grew so unreasonable during their meeting at the station. It was as if she searched for a reason to insist Noah be assigned to someone else on this case.
Rain patted Ted’s hand and then stood, working her way around legs until she reached the stairs. She ignored Steve when he turned around, with a raging hard-on creating a tent in his pants.
“We’ll be back down in a moment,” she said, excusing herself and then hurrying up the stairs to find Noah.
ELEVEN
Noah glanced over his shoulder at the sound of someone approaching quietly behind him. It amazed the hell out of him how after he had moped over Laurel for months after canceling their wedding, Rain seemed to be creeping into space he swore no woman would ever get near again.
“What is it?” she whispered, her long dark hair sweeping over her bare shoulders. The strapless dress she’d tried on earlier and he’d insisted she wear tonight was by far the sexiest thing he’d ever seen a woman wear.
“I don’t know yet.” He looked over her shoulder, half expecting at least the prick to show up and demand to know what was going on.
The light over the stove was on, and when he moved farther from the stairs to the basement, heading down a hallway, lamps in the living room provided the only other lighting on the main floor. He found the bathroom, though, and closed the door after Rain entered. Then lowering the lid to the pot, he sat on it, looking at her concerned expression whil
e returning Brenda’s page and calling her.
“We have a code blue,” she said flatly, without bothering to say hello.
“Who? Where?” He glanced down at a heater vent in the floor. Voices from downstairs drifted through it. He didn’t focus on what they said but instead tightened inside, waiting to hear the worst.
“The victim was identified as Patricia Sue Henderson. She was shot in the side of the head and found dead in her car at her place of residence.”
“Son of a bitch,” he hissed, and looked up at Rain, who stood with her arms wrapped around her waist like she would be sick. He knew he read concern on her face, though. Patty is dead, he mouthed.
“God damn it,” Rain whispered, turning away from him for a moment and frowning at the wall. She glanced back at him, and he knew he read hope when she looked at him. “Are we going in?”
“We can’t.” He ached to scour the crime scene before the local police messed with it, but doubted they would make it in time. “There’s no way we can be seen over there.”
She nodded once and then walked out of the bathroom, leaving him alone when she closed the door.
“It appears the victim was just leaving,” Brenda told him. “Her car was running and in neutral. She was shot once to the temple and was found dead in her driver’s seat, head on the steering wheel, which kept the wheels from turning. But the car rolled out of the driveway and was blocking the road. The tires stopped against the curb across the street.”
“And no witnesses? Have they matched a bullet?”
“Time of death is being marked at approximately eight this evening, pending the autopsy confirmation. None of the neighbors saw anyone unusual, or usual for that matter.” Brenda sounded disgusted, but he felt her aggravation. People these days would run to their front porches to watch a fight, or a horrific storm, but ask them to notice anyone in their neighborhood who didn’t live there and they were clueless. “There was a dish of fruit salad in the passenger seat and her cell phone shows she called two people within an hour prior to her being shot.”
Long, Lean and Lethal Page 17