“Have fun at the sex club last night?”
“I don’t know that you’d call it fun. But I did find a person of interest or two.”
“Yeah? Would one of them be the person who bit you?”
Kane’s hand snapped up to his neck and the love bite that Vanessa had left. Damn it. He’d forgotten about that.
He let his hand fall and glared at Jackson. “Lay off.”
“I thought you were a classy guy, Michaels. Didn’t you know hickies went out when I was a teenager?”
“You’re just jealous because the last woman to see your naked ass was the nurse who emptied your bed pan last month.”
“At least she didn’t want to spank me.”
“That’s not what happened. In fact—” He cut himself off before he became a complete idiot and asserted that he’d been the one in charge. “Forget it.”
He picked up a case file and tried to get into some work. He tried to call Vanessa a couple of times that day. Each time he got her voice mail. He thought about calling the club later, or maybe dropping by. She’d turned down his invitation to spend the night, but she’d done it in such a way that he wasn’t exactly sure what had happened. He’d been outside and in his car ten minutes after he’d pulled his pants up.
“Hey man, come on,” Jack wheedled. “You couldn’t expect me to let it go. Not when for the first time in the ten years I’ve known you show up not only with a bite, but that look in your eyes.”
“What look?”
“The look that means some woman’s got her claws into your brain. I’ve never seen it on you before, but I’ve seen it enough to recognize it.”
“Your bitterness is showing. It wasn’t like that.”
Jackson looked at him. “Something about her has your shorts in a knot.”
“It was nothing. Just a beautiful woman that got to me a little more than I’d anticipated.”
“Yeah? Well, I’d be careful around that woman. The ones that can make your brain numb are the dangerous ones. Just ask Yardley and the other RR victims.”
Damn it to hell. He was right.
10
A flash of flowing red silk caught Vanessa’s eye and her hand stalled. Instead of pulling out the black flared skirt she’d been thinking of for work that night, her hand came away with the dress she’d worn the night she’d broken into Edward Yardley’s safe.
She rubbed the rich texture of the material between her fingertips and came to a decision. She’d told Ophelia she was done, so why was she hanging on to the trappings of the Risqué Robber?
With fast and sure movements she gathered up the dress, the wig box from the top shelf of her closet, and the make-up kit from the floor. She shoved the items into an old backpack she’d pulled from under her bed, adding the outfits from the other robberies as well. It was past time for her to get rid of the evidence.
Things were chaotic, to say the least, at the club that night. Wednesdays were a busy night; the middle of the week, and people needed a small pick-me-up to make it to Friday. That usually meant alcohol.
She’d been in the club all afternoon, waiting for a workman to show up and fix the pipe that had sprung a leak under their beer cooler, only to be told to duct tape it until the next day.
Now she was working the bar next to Rob so he didn’t have to rush. The last thing she needed was for him to slip on the wet floor and break a leg. When Vanessa looked up and saw Ophelia striding through the crowd, she squelched a sigh. She knew that look, and she wasn’t in the mood for an argument with her boss.
When the perfectly coifed blonde stopped in front of the bar and smiled at Rob, he straightened up and waved Vanessa on. “Go on, Nessa. I’m all caught up and you don’t want to keep this beautiful lady waiting.”
Ophelia blew Rob a kiss and swept through the swinging doors to the back, ahead of Vanessa.
When they reached Vanessa’s office, she waited until Ophelia was comfortable before dropping into the seat behind her desk. “That boy’s a real charmer, Vanessa. It was a smart move, keeping the bartenders male.”
“The male customers enjoy watching the go-go dancers, but we both know that females are happier with a little eye candy around too. Especially if the eye candy flirts with them.”
When Vanessa had started working for Ophelia the only male staff members had been a couple of knucklehead bouncers who harassed the waitresses worse than the customers did. That had been eight years ago. When one of the bouncers had grabbed her by the ass as she was bent over cleaning a table, Vanessa had come up swinging, and gave the guy a broken nose.
That was when Ophelia had taken her under her wing, and started grooming her to run the club.
“What’s up, O?”
“What makes you think something is up?”
“You never come by the club anymore unless you’ve got something important on your mind.” Vanessa noted the worry in her friend’s eyes. “Are you okay?”
The woman waved a manicured hand. “I’m fine. It’s my friend I’m worried about.”
A chill skipped down Vanessa’s spine. “I’m sorry to hear that.” She braced herself to hear O’s request, on behalf of her friend, of course, that she help her get what was rightfully hers from a selfish ex-husband.
Vanessa was all for women getting half of what their husbands had in a divorce. Especially when said wives had supported the man while he went to school and built a business, only to get rid of their loyal wife in favor of a newer, younger version after they were rich.
Nessa used the skills her daddy raised her with to help Ophelia get what she deserved from a stingy ex out of loyalty to the woman who gave her a chance, and a home, when she so desperately needed one. The other three robberies had been favors for O, but that was it. She was done. She wasn’t going to put herself at risk anymore for people she didn’t even know.
“This friend of mine seems to have gotten herself into a bit of a pickle.”
Vanessa nodded, and girded herself to tell Ophelia that if she cared about her at all, she wouldn’t ask her do it again.
“She broke the law, you see, as a favor to me, and now there’s a cop sniffing around her. I’m worried she’s not seeing things too clearly at the moment.”
“Me?” Surprise made her voice squeak “You’re worried about me?”
“Of course I’m worried about you, Nessa. What do you think you’re doing letting a cop hang around here?”
“What was I supposed to do? Chase him away and make myself look even more suspicious?”
“No. Talking to him was the right thing to do. But I was led to believe there was a bit more than talk happening?”
Her heart raced. She wasn’t used to other people caring what she did. She’d grown up with only her father, moving around constantly, always leaving friends behind. When she was eighteen and showed up at The O Club looking for a job, she never thought she’d make a life out of it.
She thought of Ophelia as a friend, but she’d purposefully kept others at a distance. Warmth flooded her at the thought that Ophelia also felt the same way about her.
“It was sex, O. It’s been a while and the man was hot. It was nothing more.”
“You need to be careful, Nessa. I don’t want you to end up like your father.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have asked me to do those extra favors,” she snapped.
Silence fell over the room as the women eyed each other. Vanessa was the first to give. “I’m sorry. Yes, you asked, but I could’ve said no. Anyway, it’s over and done with, and I’m not worried about Kane.”
It was a lie. She was a bit worried. She was worried she’d never see him again. Or that if she did see him again, he’d be wrapping handcuffs around her wrists, and not in the “Let’s get naked” sort of way.
“I am worried,” Ophelia stressed. “Something must’ve led him here.”
Restless, Vanessa stood up and leaned against the desk. “He came here looking for answers, but all he has is a hunch, and
he doesn’t even suspect me. Even if he did, I left nothing behind, and there is no way any of those men can identify me. Trust me, Ophelia. We’re okay.”
Three days. He gave her three days before he strode past Jane the bouncer and her male escort. He’d hoped she’d return at least one of his calls. But she hadn’t, and his suspicion grew.
He’d gone into The O Club on Sunday night looking for a woman who was familiar with Shibari, and knew how to manipulate men into thinking things were their idea, and he hadn’t realized it until the next day that that was exactly what Vanessa had done to him.
She hadn’t tied him up, but she’d sure made him feel like everything from the first kiss in the bar to wild monkey sex in the office had been his idea.
He’d spent the whole night surrounded by the perfect suspect list, and never questioned one of them. Because of her.
It was exactly the type of manipulation he hated. It was exactly the type of manipulation that the Risqué Robber used to get her victims bound.
He’d thought about little else the past couple of days, even when he was working his other cases, he’d held out hope that his instincts hadn’t been wrong. That she had truly been interested in him and his growing suspicions were only because he’d become a touch cynical in his ten years as a cop.
He’d really wanted her to call him. If she returned one of his calls it would go a long way toward easing his suspicions and proving that she’d wanted more than to just throw the cop off track. That she’d wanted him, as a man.
But she hadn’t. And he wasn’t going to wait any longer. He wanted answers, and he wanted them now.
It was early yet and the club wasn’t too busy. There was a scantily clad girl in each cage on the edges of the stage, go-go dancers, he guessed. Rob was behind the bar and JJ was weaving her way through the thin crowd. There was a group of college-age guys near the stage, and a few single men in business suits scattered throughout the club. But Kane didn’t see Vanessa.
He stepped up to the bar and met Rob’s stare. “Is Vanessa here?”
“I’ll buzz her for you.”
Kane’s hand blocked his from reaching for the phone on the bar. “Don’t bother. I know where the office is.”
He pushed his way through the swinging doors and immediately heard Vanessa’s voice.
“I know, Ophelia. It’s done, it’s over with. You can stop worrying.”
The ringing of her office phone muffled the other person’s reply.
Kane stopped at her office door and took in the scene before him. Vanessa stood behind the massive desk, the phone to her ear and her back to the door. An older woman was seated in front of her. She wore a casual chic pantsuit, her blond hair sleek and classy, her make-up perfect. Yet he didn’t get the snooty uptight impression from her that one would expect. An amazingly sexual vibe came from her when she met his gaze briefly. Especially for someone old enough to be his mother.
Vanessa’s head swung around and their eyes met. “Yes, I see him. That’s all right. Thanks, Rob.”
So he’d called to warn her anyway.
“Hello, Vanessa.” He greeted her.
“How are you, Kane?”
11
Vanessa’s heart kicked in her chest and her mouth started to water. He looked even better than she remembered. But the look on his face wasn’t exactly as welcoming as she’d have liked.
“I have some questions for you,” he said from the doorway.
“Kane, meet Ophelia Wentworth, the owner of The O Club.” She met Ophelia’s bright blue gaze and gestured at the doorway. “Ophelia, meet Detective Kane Michaels.”
“Detective Michaels, nice to meet you.” Ophelia’s voice was soft and cultured, not showing a hint of the tension Vanessa knew she was feeling. “You look very familiar, are you related to Anson Michaels?”
“He’s my father, ma’am.”
“Really?” A hint of laugher sparked in her voice. “And how does he feel about you being a police officer instead of joining the family firm?”
A small smile played at Kane’s lips. “About how you’d expect, ma’am. I take it you know him?”
“Yes. The bastard is my ex-husband’s attorney.” She shot Vanessa a telling look as she stood up. “I should be going now.”
Vanessa moved around the desk to give her friend a quick hug. “Thanks for coming in, O. I promise I’ll make sure everything we talked about is secure.”
There was worry in Ophelia’s eyes when she stepped back from Vanessa. “I know you will, dear. Just please be careful.”
“It was a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” Kane stepped aside so that Ophelia could exit the room.
When she was gone, their eyes met. Vanessa’s stomach knotted and she waved him into the office. She needed to get things back on track. She had wanted to return his calls. She’d wanted it so much that she knew he was trouble. Not just to her physical freedom, but to her emotional freedom as well. Kane wielded more over her than the power of the law.
“You have some questions for me?” she asked.
“You said if I refrained from interrogating your customers you’d answer all my questions.”
“So I did.” She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I haven’t called you back. I’d planned to, but the time just never seemed right.” Yeah, the timing of them even meeting had been all wrong. Why couldn’t she have met him last year? Before her dip back into illegal activities.
Kane’s face tightened and she knew that he, too, had doubts about exactly what was going on between them. Well, she’d never been one for beating around the bush, the best defense and all that. “Are your questions about your investigation then? Or about us?”
“Is there an us?” He arched an eyebrow.
“I’m not sure,” she replied honestly. “Part of me would really like there to be, but I’ll be honest, you scare me.”
A flush crept over his cheekbones and he crept closer to the desk. “I’m sorry about that. You said you were all right, and I never meant to be so rough…I just sort of lost control.”
Confusion drifted in her mind for a brief minute until a light bulb went on in her head.
“No! Not because of that. That was wonderful. I love the fact that I can make you lose control. You don’t strike me as the type of man who lets that happen easily.” She gave him a small smile.
God! She was such an idiot! What the hell was she doing even bringing this up? She was supposed to be chasing him out of her life. Not inviting him deeper into it.
“I’m not,” he said as he shifted his stance. “So how do I scare you?”
Vanessa cringed inside. She’d opened up a can of worms there and wasn’t sure how to close it up again. “Poor choice of words. I just meant…I’d like to get to know you better, but I’m not very good at this sort of thing.”
“What sort of thing?”
“I don’t do commitments or attachments very well.” She bit her lip for a moment, trying to stem the flow of words that seemed to be coming from nowhere. “I live in the real world where the divorce rate is skyrocketing, and the marriages that are still together are unhappy ones. I believe more in sexual pleasure than loving satisfaction, yet…you make me imagine lazy Sunday afternoons curled up on together on the sofa watching movies.”
There. She’d done it. She’d opened herself up to the rejection she knew was sure to come. He might be the only man that had ever made her feel more than a sexual attraction. But how could a man like him, from a high-class family of lawyers—yeah, everything she’d sensed about him had clicked into place when O had placed him as one of those Michaelses—ever fall for a woman like her?
A con man’s kid that grew up to be a thief.
Kane’s heart was beating triple time. She’d had thoughts of them together? In a relationship? Damn! He wasn’t nuts then. There was definitely something strong between them.
But she still hadn’t called him back. And he still felt the sting of manipulation.
He gaze
d into her eyes and forgot all about his suspects. “I don’t know what’s going on between us, Vanessa.” He backed up from the desk and sat himself down in the chair there. “On Sunday night I thought there might be something there, too, but now I’m just not sure.”
Her head dipped and she seated herself. Her posture was straight, thrusting her perky breasts out, making him highly aware of the fact that he’d been too out of control to even get a taste of them the other night. His dick twitched and he forced the right words out of his mouth. “I don’t think getting involved personally right now is the smartest thing to do.”
When she met his gaze again, her dark eyes were shadowed, and his chest tightened. He could’ve had her. She’d basically offered herself up to him, and he’d pushed her away because of his innate sense of suspicion. He could literally see her pulling away.
“I like you, Vanessa, but you’re right. We really don’t know each other. We need to slow things down for now.” He rested his ankle on his other knee, which hopefully hid his reaction to her nearness.
“Okay,” she nodded. She placed her hands on the desk in front of her and gave him a tight smile. “You said you had questions?”
He asked her about a few of her customers. How much she knew about them personally. Did she ever think they could be into illegal activities? When she replied she didn’t think any of her club’s members could possibly be the Risqué Robber, his surprise must’ve shown on his face.
“I do read the newspaper, Kane. When they mentioned the unique way the knots were tied and you showed up asking about female clients experienced in Shibari, it wasn’t difficult to put together.”
It was a smooth answer that made sense. So why did his gut tell him there was more to it than that?
“If you don’t think the robber could be any of your members, what about your staff?”
Her face froze. “My staff? You think it’s one of my staff?”
“Tell me about JJ.” Fear flashed in her eyes and Kane’s gut clenched. She definitely knew more than she was letting on.
The Cop Page 4