“I talked to David today. I have to be honest, he doesn’t give me the warm and fuzzies. What did you see in that guy?”
“He was nice. He enjoyed bike riding. So do I.” Savannah paused. “Did you tell me that Rebecca’s father is in town?”
Bike riding didn’t seem like a good reason for a relationship, but then, she’d never been in a successful one herself, so what did she know? “Yeah.”
“Maybe you should talk to him,” Savannah said, cocking her head to the side before taking a roll for herself.
Micki raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
Savannah leaned in to make sure Eliana was still out of earshot. “It’s nothing, but he did express an interest in me a while back. He was forward and arrogant and thought that boasting about his power as an executive would sway me. It didn’t, clearly. I called him a sniveling weasel and told him to employ his sexual prowess elsewhere. I will say, the situation didn’t do much for the relationship between Rebecca and me. What? Why are you staring at me like that?” Savannah asked.
“Um…why didn’t you tell me that? When I told you Rebecca’s father was in town, you didn’t even flinch! That’s a bona fide motive, Savannah!” Micki tried not to sound angry, but her emotions took over.
“Micki, this was years ago. I’m sure he has visited his daughter in the time since that happened. I didn’t even correlate the possibility until today when I saw that his picture was printed in the church bulletin.”
“Why was he in the church bulletin? And why were you reading the church bulletin?” So many questions.
“He was in the bulletin for making a sizable donation to the new steeple project. And I make it a point to read everything that pertains to this town. Shouldn’t you?”
Micki ignored the question. “But how could you not have considered him as a suspect? You squashed the ego of a big-time guy who was trying to hit on you. Wouldn’t he have been at the top of your maybe list?”
“I wish you wouldn’t raise your voice. I’m sorry that Gary Raye wasn’t at the forefront of my mind.”
Micki drew in a breath. “Okay, well, I’m glad you told me about that. I’ll definitely be setting up a time to speak with him. Rebecca is going to be pissed.”
“Ah, the perks of being police chief.”
Micki shot her a look. “Anyway, I’m going to set up an appointment to have more security equipment installed. Maybe we’ll catch the sonofabitch on camera.”
“One can only hope.”
The doorbell rang. Micki and Savannah locked eyes for a moment before they both moved for the door. Savannah looked through the glass and then opened the door.
“Cori? What are you doing here?”
“Your assistant hasn’t been able to find any time for you and me to meet for lunch, so I decided I’d just drop by instead. I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” Cori asked, nodding to Micki in the background.
Savannah held the door open, an invitation. “No, of course not. This is Mackenzie Blake, deputy chief of police.”
“We’ve spoken on the phone. Nice to meet you, Mackenzie. I’m sure Savannah causes plenty of trouble in this town to keep you busy.”
Micki gave her a half-smile and continued to stand stiffly. Awkward. Jealous. But did she really have a right to feel that way? This was Savannah’s ex-girlfriend, and Micki was her…nothing. Since neither one of them had the courage to actually have a discussion, they had a tentative friendship at best.
Cori turned back to Savannah, her eyes glossed over with raw appreciation. “You look beautiful as always, my dear. It’s been much too long.” She leaned in and kissed Savannah squarely on the lips.
“Yes, it has been a long time.” Savannah fiddled with the button on her cuff.
It was the most out of sorts Micki had ever seen her. It was almost amusing to see the usually rigid woman lose her stately air. Almost. There was a vibe between the two of them that Micki wasn’t fond of. Cori grabbed Savannah’s hand and led her to the study as if they were the best of friends, not ex-partners from a half decade ago. Savannah turned and motioned for Micki to follow them.
“Tell me, what is this nonsense about someone following you?” Cori asked, shaking her grown-out pixie cut away from her face.
Her eyes flashed with something wild, something untamed. Micki could understand Savannah’s attraction. She didn’t like it, but she could understand it.
“It’s actually a lot more than that,” Savannah explained, giving Cori the abridged version of events.
Micki watched her closely for any sign of a reaction. There wasn’t anything other than normal interest, though.
“Oh my God,” Cori said when Savannah finished the story. “That sounds like a horror movie. You never dated any ninjas, did you? I’ve never heard of anyone being so elusive.”
“No, I haven’t. I’d say the most elusive partner I’ve ever been with would probably be you,” Savannah said, smiling at her. “But definitely no ninjas.”
“I can stick around town for a while if you want,” Cori said, her hand resting on Savannah’s knee. She was bold, if nothing else. “I’ve been known to take down a bad guy or two in my lifetime.”
“As a journalist?” Micki asked, leaning up against Savannah’s bar, her arms crossed over her stomach.
“Yes, actually,” Cori answered, although she didn’t tear her eyes away from Savannah. “If you look through my portfolio, I’ve had my share of breakthroughs. Who could be doing this?” she asked. She began to rub Savannah’s shoulder with her fingertips.
“Were you in town last night?” Micki asked, confused as to why she was having a sudden attack of…heartburn.
“I was. Is this an interrogation, Chief?” Cori asked, smiling brightly.
“Not at all, just friendly conversation.” Micki mirrored her smile.
“I stayed at that disgusting little bed-and-breakfast above the diner. That place has really gone to hell. I can give you my room number if you wish?”
“Yes, actually, that would be great.”
Savannah shot a glare at Micki, which Micki ignored. She handed Cori a piece of paper and pen, raising her eyebrows while waiting for Cori to take them. Cori scrawled something onto the paper and handed it back to Micki.
“I’m going to check on Eliana. Have a good night,” she said, leaving them alone in the study. Her tone clearly conveyed that she didn’t wish them a good night in the least.
* * *
Cori watched her as she trudged up the stairs. “What’s that about?”
“She’s concerned.”
“Oh, sweetie, that’s not concern.”
“What do you mean?” Savannah asked, inching away from Cori on the love seat.
“She’s into you.”
“Oh, please, she is not. She’s a professional. She’s just doing her job.” Savannah pulled at her sleeve, trying to hide the hint of a smile that threatened to form. Micki wasn’t into her; what had happened the night before was an explosion of pent-up emotions. It was highly unlikely that Micki would actually consider anything as significant as a relationship with someone like Savannah. Sex, maybe. And she wouldn’t consider a relationship with Micki, that was for sure. But was it? Savannah tried to stifle the cocktail of hope and panic materializing within her chest.
“Sure, if her job description includes falling for the victim.”
“Cori! She is not falling for me. You’re making me uncomfortable. And I’m not a victim.”
Cori laughed. “Then I apologize. She’s very attractive. I’m surprised you’re not interested.”
“I didn’t say I wasn’t.”
“So, you are?”
“I didn’t say that either.”
“Okay, well, you can be coy all you want. Obviously, you need someone to look you in the eye and say ‘will you go on a date with me’ in order to know that they want you. Which is what I did because I wasn’t taking any chances. I never should have let you go,” Cori said, her voice dripping with nosta
lgia.
Savannah sighed internally. She didn’t have time for what-ifs with someone she hadn’t wanted to be with anyway. “The past is the past, Cori. We don’t need to dwell on it. How long are you in town for? Maybe we can find a time to get together when I don’t have to get up for work in the morning.”
“For a few more days. Send me a text tomorrow with some times that work for you,” Cori said, taking the hint. She stood up and gave Savannah another once-over. “I miss you.”
“You’re sweet. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?” Savannah led her to the door and handed Cori her jacket.
Once she’d left, Savannah closed and locked the door and cast a glance up the stairs where she could hear Micki speaking softly to Eliana. Cori was fun and impetuous and exciting. Savannah’s desire for those things was long gone. She wanted something different. She wanted to be with someone who wanted her for—as corny as it sounded—her. Flaws and all. She was tired of being a conquest. For once, she wanted someone to accept her, even if they didn’t always understand her. To challenge her but not try to change her. She couldn’t settle for less than that ever again. Savannah was tired of breaking her own heart.
Chapter Eighteen
“Okay, sweetie, that was three stories; you good now?” Micki asked, tucking Eliana in like a burrito.
“Can I sleep with you and Mom again tonight?”
Micki shook her head softly. “Not tonight, honey. We have to try to keep everything as normal as possible, okay? We can’t live like we’re scared all the time.”
“But I am scared.”
“I know,” she said, brushing the hair off of Eliana’s forehead. “But you’re perfectly safe, I promise. You know your mom and I would never let anything happen to you. Try to get some sleep. If you really can’t sleep, call us, and one of us will come in, okay?”
Eliana nodded sullenly, but Micki could see the heaviness in her eyes. She’d be out before Micki left the room.
Walking back to the guest room, Micki could hear Savannah and Cori saying their good-byes at the door. She listened for a wet smack or any other unseemly noises. She didn’t hear any, but the silence she heard indicated a hug might have been involved. Gross.
As the door shut and she heard Savannah fastening the chain, Micki dropped down onto the bed. They still hadn’t talked about the night before. Micki was trying to convince herself that their high emotions had turned into lust, and it would probably never happen again. The gnawing in Micki’s stomach told her it was likely something different, but she didn’t want to acknowledge that. It was too dangerous. And it left way too much room for disappointment.
“Is she gone?” Micki asked when she heard Savannah in the hallway.
“Yes. She left a few minutes ago. You were less than friendly.”
Micki shrugged. “Have to treat all suspects the same.”
“Is she really a suspect?” Savannah asked, tightening her lips.
“Yup.”
Savannah shook her head, kneading the back of her neck with her fingers. “Are you staying in here tonight, or…”
“Do you want me to?” Micki asked.
“Not particularly.”
Micki nodded, trying not to look as relieved as she felt. In the midst of the investigation, throughout the day, she couldn’t help but look forward to bedtime. With Savannah. All of her plans of sleeping apart for clarity had sailed out the window like the fuzz of a white dandelion. What she wanted to do trumped what she should do. And she had no intention of trying to uncover what, exactly, that meant.
Once Savannah was done with her nightly routine of lotions and creams, she pulled the covers back and slid in next to Micki. The soft light of her lamp cast unidentifiable shadows all around the room. Micki lay comfortably on the Snuggly Soft Sleep Better Cooling Gel Luxury pillow, her feet crossed at the ankles.
“So, do you get any of the old feelings back when you see her?” Micki asked, berating herself as the words spilled out of her mouth. She didn’t need to be such a jealous child about it, yet here she was.
Savannah laughed, setting her earrings down on the nightstand. “No, actually, I don’t. Cori is a memory—a wonderful, exhilarating memory—but that’s all she is. A memory.”
Micki scowled but was grateful for the response. She could have done without hearing how wonderful and exhilarating Cori was, though.
“Are you jealous?” Savannah asked, propping herself up on one elbow.
“No,” Micki scoffed. “Come on, be real.”
“Mmm-hmm,” Savannah responded, smile still firmly in place. “What was it you called me last night? A coward?” She asked the question quietly, her voice oozing with sex. Micki sat up a little, clearing her throat.
“It was just—”
Savannah slid closer, draping one leg across Micki’s torso so she straddled her. She took the ends of Micki’s hair in her fingers and twirled them, her eyes burning a hole right through the cobalt looking back at her. “I think it’s safe to say that I’m not the coward in this scenario.”
Oh, what the hell are you doing? Micki closed her eyes and cupped both hands around Savannah’s thighs, pulling her snug against her body. A bolt of heat jolted through her, quickening her pulse. “So, you’re trying to prove something, then? Your fragile ego needs to demonstrate its authority?” Micki slid her hands around, massaging Savannah’s lower back, letting her hands trail lower, lower. Savannah muffled a moan and stared back at her, eyes afire.
“My fragile ego needn’t demonstrate anything, Chief Blake,” Savannah whispered, the slightest movement of her hips firing waves of electricity through Micki’s veins. “The way you submit is almost laughable. If you think you’re in control here, feel free to get up and walk away.” Savannah ran the tip of her tongue along the length of Micki’s neck.
Micki’s muscles were pulsating beneath her touch, and she hissed in her breath, angry at herself for proving Savannah’s point. But she felt so. Fucking. Good. There was no point in trying to convince herself that she could walk away. She was tempted to pose the same question to Savannah but feared that Savannah’s obstinacy might win out, and she really would leave the room, arousal be damned. Fuck it.
Micki placed her hands on the sides of Savannah’s neck, pulling her closer, feeling her breath mingle with her own. She prolonged the moment for as long as possible before any resistance melted away, and she brought their lips together with such intensity that she felt her head swim. The soft, sweet boldness of Savannah’s mouth sent every tangible thing around her into a milky haze; the only things that existed were her lips and tongue. They kissed hungrily, openly, feral. Micki was positive she had never been this turned on in her entire life.
“Come here,” she whispered hoarsely, pulling Savannah down on top of her, her legs still wide open against Micki’s midsection. They began rolling their hips against one another, the delicious friction eliciting both moans and curses. Micki swiftly slid Savannah’s nightshirt up the length of her back, exposing Savannah’s breasts against hers, still restrained by the maddening fabric of her tank top.
“Jesus,” she breathed, adoration mingled with explosive provocation. Savannah parted her lips, breathing deeply. She reached for Micki’s hand and brought it up to her chest, inviting Micki to taste the forbidden. Micki moaned, her fingers exploring and teasing, and oh God, was she wet.
Their mouths met again, furiously tasting each other, licking and biting and dissolving into a wet heat that neither of them could pull away from.
“Mom?” Eliana called out from down the hall.
“No!” Micki moaned, quickly clamping a hand over her mouth. Savannah flopped against her, visibly deflated and still breathing heavily.
“Yes, Eliana?” she choked out, her voice thick and full.
“I need you. I’m scared.”
Savannah closed her eyes. Micki threw her head back on the pillow. Fuck. Fuck.
“I’ll go,” Micki said, gingerly scooting off the bed. She was di
zzy and shaky. Savannah squeezed her hand as she walked away, falling back onto her pillow. “Don’t fall asleep.”
Holding on to the wall for support, Micki pushed open Eliana’s door. Her body was still tingling. “What’s up, El?” she asked, running a hand through her hair.
“I heard a noise,” Eliana told her, her eyes wide. She still had the blankets pulled tightly to her chin.
“What kind of noise?”
“A loud one. Outside,” she said, motioning to her window.
Micki walked over to the window, leaning her hands on the windowsill. She nodded and looked back over at Eliana. “The neighbors just rolled their trash barrels to the curb. Loud and stinky,” she said, ruffling Eliana’s hair. “Nothing to worry about. And we’re right down the hall.”
“Are you sleeping in Mom’s room again?”
Micki froze, unsure how to answer the question. “I don’t think I’ll be sleeping in there, Eliana. I was in her room before I came in here. We were talking. About work stuff. Boring. It’s way past your bedtime, honey. Get some sleep,” she told her, giving her a quick kiss on the forehead.
“Okay, I’ll try. But if I can’t sleep, I’m calling you back.”
“You got it. Night.”
As she exited the little girl’s bedroom, Micki felt a gut punch that nearly doubled her over. She flattened her palm against the doorframe for support. Why was she acting like Eliana’s second mom? She’d always liked the kid, and they had a great rapport when she saw her at Rebecca’s or when Eliana would come to the station to say hello after school. But they were pals. This felt more like…parenting. Sure, they’d all bonded since Micki’d been staying over, and things were quickly taking on a strange routine, but something felt different. The fact that Savannah hadn’t even blinked when Micki said she would be the one to go comfort Eliana was nothing short of shocking.
Nerves began to creep in as Micki made her way back to Savannah’s bedroom. She was still aroused and desperately wanted to finish what they had started, but the niggling fear that was pushing against her rib cage made her pause. They didn’t have to define anything. Two people could certainly just hook up with no strings attached. Happened all the time. Micki crinkled her nose. Somehow, she knew there was no possible way to just “hook up” with Savannah Castillo. It wasn’t an option, and the flutter in Micki’s stomach told her that she didn’t want it to be an option. But that didn’t mean Savannah wanted anything more.
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