“Sabrina could actually use your help, Ash. She thinks you disappeared into thin air. And she’s worried about you. Maybe if she just hears your voice, she’ll know you’re okay.”
“You mean a phone call?”
“Exactly.”
“Hmm…I’ll think about it.”
“I’m glad. Friends help each other, you know. That’s the way it works.” Kristin’s hopes rose. She and Ashley were actually making some progress, so she kept pushing.
“Rick once told me that bad guys always scare their victims. They’ll say they know where you live. But they really don’t. They’ll say that they’ll hurt you again. That they’ll hurt your mom or dad. But they can’t. Is that what he said to you, Ashley?”
“Why are you asking me?” she protested. “I don’t remember anything, Mom.”
But Kris wasn’t so sure. When Ashley had shared her experience musically, in the practice room, Kristin had been delighted that she’d found a way to tell her story. Ash had taken her through the whole ordeal with a unique interpretation requiring no words. No details. Her playing had overflowed with feeling in every note, and by listening, Kristin had actually felt Ashley’s emotions as she “told” the story. Her daughter had conveyed her feelings so well, Kristin had wanted to cry.
How could Ashley have revealed her experiences so well if she didn’t remember anything except vague impressions? Kris didn’t think she could. She must have other memories. Descriptions, words, actions.
“You might not want to remember. And that’s okay, honey.” She bestowed a quick kiss on Ash’s cheek. “I know it’s scary. But you and I, Ash, are a team, and I’ll try to do what’s best for you. If you need to change schools in order to feel safe, then that’s what we’ll do.”
But instead of being reassured, Ashley started to cry.
And couldn’t stop for a long, long time.
RICK’S PARENTS ARRIVED midmorning two days later, armed with brunch and wide grins.
“Have bagels, will travel,” joked Larry.
“Absolutely,” Barbara said, “and we’ll come up next weekend, too. It’s a beautiful ride.”
The thing about having a family like his was that sometimes the important messages were unspoken, Rick realized. His folks would put in six hours on the road this weekend because he’d asked. They loved him and wanted to see him happy.
“Thanks,” he exclaimed. “I really appreciate it.”
“We’re honored that Kristin trusts us.”
He thought for a moment. “It’s really Ashley, Mom. Kristin does nothing without Ashley’s okay. You must have made a great impression on the kid when you were up here on Memorial Day.”
“Must be my handsome face,” said Larry.
“I’m betting it’s your clarinet.” Barbara seemed concerned for a moment. “Did you bring it?”
“You bet I did. I thought Ashley would enjoy a duet.”
Barbara pointed at her own violin case. “And I thought she’d enjoy a trio.”
Rick listened to their exchange and realized they were concerned about a child they hadn’t even known existed a month ago—concerned because of him. The generations might be different, but it seemed most parents were the same. Kristin wanted for Ash exactly what his parents wanted for him: happiness. And like his parents, she’d do whatever it took to achieve it.
THAT NIGHT, Rick whistled the entire time he prepared for his date with Kris. Shower, shampoo, shave—definitely a shave—and cologne, but not too much. An olive-green sports shirt. Everyone said green brought out his eyes, and women always noticed the eyes. He pulled a comb through his hair. Okay. That was as good as he got. Dang, he was excited!
Dang? He caught himself. Must be Eugene’s influence, the cop from Alabama who had fallen in love with a New Yorker and followed her home. Rick had given the marriage six months. Now it was four years and one baby later. He was glad to have been proved wrong.
His own social life had been nonexistent for a while, except for an occasional drink after work with his buddies. His erratic lifestyle left no time for planning. After all, negotiating was only part of his job. As well as carrying a regular caseload like any other detective, he was on call to work with special teams anywhere in the city. Hell, why would any sane woman want to get involved with a cop—especially one with his responsibilities?
The thought troubled him. He’d like a warm home life like his parents had, like his sister had. He just needed the right woman.
He strapped on his leg holster, his weapon nicely hidden under his black trousers, then grabbed his wallet and car keys, and headed for the front door. The plan was for him to escort the ladies back to his house, make sure Ash was comfortable with his folks, and then leave with Kristin.
“Be right back,” he said to his mom as he passed the family room.
“Hang on a sec.” Barbara rose from the sofa and stepped closer, inspecting. “Hmm…I have a handsome son. Especially when he smiles.” She grinned.
Mothers! She made him feel seventeen.
When he saw Kris standing in her doorway, however, he was speechless. Definitely seventeen. Somehow, her everyday bangs looked extra sexy with the rest of her long blond hair arranged high on her head. Dangling earrings sparkled but were no match for the sparkle in her blue eyes. Because of him?
“You’re beautiful.” His first words of the evening popped out of his mouth totally uncensored.
She laughed and waved him inside. “We’re just about ready.”
Five minutes later, Ashley, equipped with her overnight bag, was cheerfully settling in with his parents and Quincy.
“Mr. Cooper and I are going to try playing a few duets together,” the child said before Rick and Kris left. “Clarinet and flute will blend well. And then we’ll try a trio with Mrs. C on the violin. And then we’ll all have a killer Monopoly game. So don’t worry about me, Mom. Stay out as long as you want. I’ve got my pj’s, so I can fall asleep here if I get tired.”
Ashley didn’t seem tired at all, thought Rick, simply excited with easy-to-read emotions. She wanted her mom and him to have a good time. “Monopoly’s a great idea, Ash. Just stay away from poker.”
“Huh?”
They kept the conversation light as they waved goodbye and left the house. It wasn’t until Kris was seated in his vehicle with her seat belt locked that she exhaled a long breath.
He heard her but didn’t comment, just started the engine and headed away from town.
Unexpected silence filled the car. Kris leaned back, her head against the support.
“Just the two of us,” she said. “It’s nice.”
An understatement. “Yep.”
“It’s the first time since March 11 that Ash and I have been apart willingly. I had to go to my office a few times when we stayed with my parents. She sat at the window until I returned, just watching the street.”
“She’s made great strides, Kristin, really impressive. But I’d like to suggest another first for tonight.”
She glanced at him expectantly, and he hoped not to kill the evening before it had started.
“Let’s try to leave Ash out of the conversation as much as possible this evening. Let’s make this an adult-only night. Is that okay with you?”
He held his breath. She was a fierce mother.
“Yes! Absolutely.” She paused a moment, and he realized she had more to say. “Sometimes I think about living an ordinary life again, and I wonder if that will ever happen. Maybe tonight we can simply be one man and one woman out to enjoy the evening with each other. That’s all. No problems.”
He reached for her hand. “Amen to that. Although I’m beginning to think that an ‘ordinary’ life is really very extraordinary.”
“You’re quite the philosopher, but I agree with you.”
Kristin studied him as he drove. A gorgeous profile, excellent driving skills. More important, tonight Rick seemed very at ease with himself. “Your sojourn here is turning out well for you,”
she said.
“Better than I expected. Much better.” His fingers pressed hers.
Just then, her stomach rumbled, and they both laughed. “Feed me,” she demanded.
They were approaching a crossroad, and he stopped at the red light. “Anything you want,” he said. “Any main course at all…as long as I get my appetizer.”
He leaned over and covered her mouth with his. It was a gentle kiss, but it stole her breath and made her skin tingle all over.
She heard his quiet chuckle and unexpectedly joined in. “If that was the appetizer…” She left the thought unfinished, knowing he’d fill in the blank about dessert.
“I’d like you to meet some of my friends,” he said, as he began driving again.
“Sure.”
“Dinner and dancing at Bourbon Street New York sound good?”
A jazz club. “Are you going to play?”
“Not this time. My attention tonight is on you. Only on you. I figure the quickest way to get you in my arms is to dance with you.”
“You figured right.”
It took twenty minutes to reach the club, a popular attraction in the resort area, especially on a Saturday night. People were waiting to enter, but Rick had no problem. “Dinner reservations,” he explained. “Many people come only for the music and a drink.”
The combination of a medium rare steak, double baked potato and a glass of Cabernet was perfect. Being held in the strong arms of a man who knew how to keep time to the music transported Kristin to a world apart from the everyday.
“For this evening, I’m on vacation. A real vacation.” She tipped her head back as they moved to a hot, slow, sizzling “Summertime.” “Thank you, Rick. I didn’t realize how much I needed this.”
“Same here.”
Laced with surprise, his voice caught Kristin’s attention.
“In between tales of the one that got away, the shrink at the precinct talked to me about setting boundaries between the job and my personal life. I knew the theory, of course, but…I guess when the job becomes your whole life, boundaries are almost impossible. At least for me they were.”
He leaned toward her, his mouth touching hers. “Right now,” he whispered, “nothing seems impossible.”
She pressed closer. “I’m glad.”
They walked back to their table and the conversation never stopped.
“Tell me a little bit more about your job,” said Rick. “What exactly do you do, and more important, do you like it?”
“I love it. I’ve always loved math classes best, and now I work with math every day. And my company offers lots of opportunities to move up. In fact, I was about to sit for my own licensing exams as an actuary when—” she gestured in the air “—all this happened. I work with statistics and formulas, computing risk. We like to say it’s a ‘risky’ business.” She leaned forward and whispered, “It’s a math joke. Get it?”
He grinned. “Shades of our Danny boy. Yes, I get it.”
“The bottom line is that I help compute the costs of premiums for life insurance policies.”
He held up his hand. “I don’t even want to know about the costs of premiums for cops. They must be out of sight. Thank goodness the department covers them.”
“You’ve got a point,” Kristin said, smiling. “So, let’s see…I think I need to gather a few statistics right now.” She used her spoon as a pen and pretended to take notes. “Age?”
“Thirty-five.”
“Gender?”
“What?” He looked comical. “I’ll let you answer that one.”
“Okay…” She playfully studied him across the table. “Hmm…wide shoulders, buttons on the wrong side, deep voice. Male…all male.”
“Glad you noticed.”
She’d noticed, all right, from the first time she saw him. “Years of service?”
“Twelve.”
“Medical history?”
“Perfectly healthy.”
“Good.”
He chuckled. “You’re not supposed to editorialize during an interrogation.”
“Hey, this is my questionnaire, buddy, so we play by my rules. Marital status?”
“Divorced.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure.”
“Any girlfriends hidden away?”
“No fair, no fair!” His resemblance to Danny was remarkable.
“Just answer the question, Officer.”
He heaved a mock sigh. “Not a one. No girlfriends.”
“Excellent response. How about references?”
“Do we count brilliant German shepherds?”
“Definitely.”
They both chuckled and relaxed against their chairs, enjoying their absurdity, while their hands found each other and intertwined.
“Any other lingering thoughts, questions or comments?” asked Rick. “Or do I pass the test?”
“I’m having fun.”
“Now, that’s what I call a perfect answer.” Rick nodded toward the dance floor. “Again?”
She didn’t question her luck. Most of her married friends had to drag their husbands onto a dance floor.
After two more numbers, the band took a break, and Rick led her behind the scenes, where he made introductions and was invited to sit in for a set.
“Not tonight, but I’ll call you. I’d like to fill in if possible.” He turned back to Kris for one more introduction. “Kris McCarthy, this is Mike Rio, the owner of the club. The man who loaned you the piano for Ashley.”
Mike’s gray hair was the only part of him that gave a hint of his age. Full of energy, he could have been anywhere between forty and seventy.
“I don’t know how to ever thank you,” she began.
He waved away her thanks. “Music is medicine,” he said. “Better than any pill you can take.”
“Hang on a minute,” the trumpet player interrupted. “Did you say McCarthy?”
“Yes,” Kristin replied.
“As in John McCarthy, who played with the Long Island Regional Orchestra?” The man’s voice softened. “He had a little girl he always bragged about.”
Unable to speak, Kristin tightened her grip on Rick’s arm. “That’s right,” he said. “John was Kris’s husband. And Ashley’s their daughter.”
The man came closer and extended his hand. She let go of Rick and clasped it. “We played together, first and second chair in the brass section. What a great guy. I was playing jazz in other bands at the same time, but he loved teaching those high school kids, and stuck with it. ‘Music now and for a lifetime,’ he always said.”
“Thank you. Thank you very much,” Kris said. “That was such a nice tribute. I’ll tell Ashley I met you. She’ll be excited.”
“Better yet, bring her around some time,” said Mike. “We’ll let her play, too.”
A SHORT WHILE LATER, they made their way to Rick’s vehicle. The mood had changed after they’d chatted with the band. Kristin felt it. She sensed that Rick did, too, even though he hadn’t said anything.
“It’s not the way—”
“I guess it’s unreason—”
She put her index finger over his lips. “It’s not the way I envisioned the end of the evening. We were both blindsided by John’s name. I’m sorry.” She peeked up at him and saw his surprised expression in the glow of the moon and the parking lot lights.
“No need to apologize, Kris. Your husband was a good man.”
“And so are you.”
Then she was in his arms, being crushed against him. His mouth covered hers, his kiss filled with hunger and need…and something else. Something more important. A promise? A yearning?
“Your daughter needs both of us now. But in the end, a true relationship is between one man and one woman.” His roughened voice reflected his emotions as clearly as his melodic saxophone did. His focus was only on her.
She caressed his face and saw his yearning, his want. She didn’t know where their relationship would go
at this point, but she wanted to find out. “As far as I’m concerned, the evening is not over. We’re still on a minivacation.”
His Adam’s apple jumped as he swallowed hard. “And I’m prepared this time.”
THE RIDE BACK to her house was quiet but comfortable. The dark country roads required Rick’s attention, but he still managed to reach for her hand several times. She certainly had no objections. The simple act of holding hands made her feel special. Protected. Perhaps even loved?
They closed the car doors with barely a click, giggling like kids eager not to be caught.
When they finally made it into her kitchen, they burst out laughing. A second later, however, their laughter ended. And at that exact moment, shyness paid Kris a visit. She, who had become an aggressive, take-charge, pain-in-the-neck woman when she had to be, couldn’t meet Rick’s eyes.
“Hey, sweetheart.” He stroked her cheek. “We’re cool. It’s okay.”
“It’s funny,” she said. “I’m standing here, feeling…I’ll admit it—I’m feeling awkward. But I know you are, too.”
He stepped closer. “Krissy, you call the shots. I have no intention of messing up whatever it is we’ve got going here.” His open gaze shone with truth, despite the vague “whatever.” Fine with her.
“You’re the first man I’ve been with since John,” she said, “and yet I feel like I’ve known you for a long time. It’s so strange….” And so exciting.
“If I’m your first, then you have nothing to compare me with…and that’s good.”
He swooped in for a kiss, and that’s all it took for words to cease and rockets to fly. As for shyness—it didn’t exist.
They clung to each other as she led him to her bedroom. Once there, they found their own truths while entangled in each other’s arms and legs…and hearts. She tingled, she shivered. His skilled fingers found the right notes as he played her body. He made her swirl through a symphony of sensations as they rose together in a crescendo to the sound of “Krissy, Krissy…oh, Krissy.”
And then they fell down, down, down from the crashing cymbals to a peaceful coda and then, finally, to a resonant chord. When she touched earth again, she stared at the special man next to her and said, “My, oh my, oh my. That was…very…nice.”
Linda Barrett - Count on a Cop Page 15