He was feeling a little too good to care about much of anything, but that look in her eyes made him a little leery.
“Damn, buddy, not only did you get lucky last night, you’ve got a serious admirer. Porn poetry last night, a rose, and now this?”
He flushed, glaring at her. “Don’t you have anything better to do than notice what’s going on in my life?”
Adele grinned. “Hey, I was parked across from you last night. I couldn’t help notice the fact that you had a book on your truck. And an interesting one. After the rose yesterday. Your shit-eating grin today.” She shrugged and said, “I almost wonder if you aren’t getting some on the sly.”
“Would you shut the hell up?” he snapped, glancing around, hoping nobody had been paying that much attention. The last thing he needed was work getting back to one of Lexy’s brothers…
Then he glanced over at his desk and saw the box.
A fist hit him in the gut when he realized what it was.
A red gift bag. With a name on the side that every fucking soul in the area knew.
Estella—an upscale sex shop just down the street.
Very upscale.
Very classy.
Very nice.
And all she sold was sex stuff.
Lingerie.
Toys.
Snatching the bag off his desk, he shoved it down on the floor and then leaned over his desk. “Who in the hell brought this in?”
Adele shrugged. “I don’t know. It was here when I got in.” She rested her elbow on the arm of her chair. “I’m thinking, judging by your reaction, you don’t think it’s your wife.”
He swallowed, shoving his hands through his hair. His hands were shaking, damn it.
Shaking.
This was not what he needed right now. Things were finally easing up with him and his wife. Taking it one day at a time. That’s what they were going to do. Take it one day at a time.
But if she got word that somebody was leaving him sexy little gifts…
Although…hell.
Her office wasn’t far from here.
Maybe…?
Grabbing his phone, he punched in her number.
“Marshall Family Law.” Jodi Watson’s voice was pleasant and cheerful—the woman had worked for Alexis since the day she’d opened her office.
“Hey, Jodi…ah, it’s Garrett, is Lexy available?”
“Hi, Garrett…yes, she is. She just walked in.”
A moment passed before he had his wife on the phone and he was excruciatingly aware of the red bag on the floor. It was like an accusing little stain, although he hadn’t done a damn thing.
“Hey there, handsome,” Lexy said, her voice low and warm.
He’d woken up before she had. And he’d taken advantage of the fact by spreading her legs and reacquainting himself with her body. He’d always loved that body of hers…had missed it so much.
Just listening to her voice made him harden. But his heart was a heavy, guilty weight in his chest.
“Hey, Lexy. Ah…I was wondering…did you come by the station today?”
“Nope,” she said easily. “I got held up in traffic after I swung by the post office. Just got in and I’ve got a client due here in just a few minutes, too. Why? What’s up?”
The red bag seemed to get bigger and bigger, damn it.
Who in the hell had brought it in?
“Nothing, baby,” he murmured. “Nothing at all.”
Alexis hung up the phone, smiling at little.
One thing that hadn’t occurred to her. What he might think if he didn’t realize who was leaving the gifts for him.
So how was he going to handle it?
“What’s that devious little smile for?”
“Garrett doesn’t know the presents are from me,” she murmured, turning to look at Jodi.
The other woman’s brows arched. “Ahhh…so who does he think they are from?”
“I don’t know.”
With a small frown, Jodi asked, “Do you think…” She stopped and then rubbed her brow. “Sweetheart, you know I want nothing more than for you two to be happy again, but you’ve had a rough few years. It’s possible that he’s got somebody else who…well.”
Alexis felt a chill rush through her, but then she brushed it off. “No.” A few days ago, maybe even yesterday morning, it might have been a bigger worry. But if Garrett had somebody else that interested him, then last night wouldn’t have happened.
He was a lot of things but not a liar.
She knew that much about him.
“No.” She shook her head and smiled at her friend. “It’s okay…I appreciate the concern, but it’s okay.”
The look on Jodi’s face tugged at Alexis’ heart. “If you’re sure.”
She was.
Garrett shoved the contents of the red bag into his pocket without looking at them, then he crumpled up the bag.
He’d look at it when he was in the damn bathroom.
He was already painfully aware of a bunch of people staring at him.
And…shit.
Zeke was there.
Zeke. One of Lexy’s older brothers. What in the hell was he doing here?
“Hey, Garrett,” Zeke said, pausing by the desk.
Adele was watching them both, amusement in her eyes, although for once, she was quiet. Damn that woman.
“Zeke,” Garrett said, wondering if any of the guilt he felt showed on his face. Although why in the hell did he feel guilty? He hadn’t done anything…
But the bag in his pocket, whatever had been in the bag—
“Anniversary?”
Garrett jerked his attention back to the man in front of him and cleared his throat. Zeke had taken after his dad, while Alexis had favored their mother. Zeke was darker-skinned, with a tall, powerful build and somehow, Garrett suspected the man might not believe him if he told the guy he had nothing to do with whoever was leaving these…things…on his desk.
“Ah, I got caught up in wrapping up the Bayside case all day,” Garrett said tightly. “We ended up celebrating a day late.”
Zeke’s eyes narrowed. “Man, my mom would have beat my dad if he tried to pull a stunt like that—job or no.”
“Lexy is making me make it up to her,” Garrett said. Then he looked back at his desk and snatched up the first file that came to hand. “Look, man, I’d love to catch up, but I need to get to work on this.”
Zeke nodded and Garrett shoved back from his desk, heading out of the bullpen.
It wasn’t until he was out of sight that he looked down.
When he did, he realized it wasn’t a work file at all.
It was the fucking folder that held all the information for an upcoming golf scramble. Somebody was trying to con him into handling everything. He dumped it on a nearby filing cabinet. He’d already told them he wasn’t doing that mess.
“Shit.”
He paused only long enough to get rid of the red bag and then he headed for the restroom.
Empty. Finally, one thing going his way.
Locking himself in a stall, Garrett pulled the tissue-wrapped lump out of his pocket. He should have been more careful, but the sight of it stunned him and he dropped it like it had scalded him.
The black silk sash fell into the toilet.
As it soaked up the water, he stormed out of the stall, shoving the door open so hard, he damn near knocked it off its hinges.
Adele grinned as he disappeared and then looked at Zeke. “He hasn’t figured it out and he’s scared shitless.”
“He’s an idiot. But I don’t blame him for being scared. If he thinks some unknown woman is leaving him gifts and he’s worried about Lexy finding out…”
Adele shrugged. “Hell, it’s not like he’s banging anybody else. He’s stupid in love with her.”
“Shit.” Zeke shook his head. “You don’t know my sister. She might not hurt him, but she’d still be pissed. And he’s the convenient target. Besides, if he does think
he’s getting presents from some secret admirer, he needs to come clean. Hiding it is not helping.”
He glanced at her. “What did she give him?”
“Something from Estelle’s. And no. I didn’t look.”
“You want me to do what?”
Her brother Zeke stared at her. The look on his face was pained to say to the least.
She smiled at him, leaning a hip against his desk as she popped open the jar of M&Ms on his desk and helped herself to a handful.
Zeke was her best chance here. If she went by the station, somebody would tell Garrett she’d been in.
And she wasn’t ready to clue him on that fact yet. Adele had already helped her once. Bethany had. She was running out of options. She couldn’t hit up James, because he worked out of a station on the other side of town. If anybody saw him in there, the whole thing would be blown.
But Zeke and Garrett worked out of the same house.
“Come on, Zeke. This is the last one.”
Her brother glared at her. “You know, you’re freaking him out. He’s scared to death he’s got some tramp flirting with him.”
Alexis smiled. “Well…he does. I just happen to be the tramp.” She popped an M&M into her mouth. “Come on, Zeke. It’s the last one.” She wondered what he’d thought about the silk sash. That one had been purely her idea, not a play off anything, really, unless she counted the times she’d teased him into using his cuffs on her. She couldn’t do it often, because they left marks on her, but still.
What had he thought? She’d have to ask him.
Maybe once tomorrow came. Tomorrow…and the last present.
One more present…
* * * * *
“Meet me in the elevator at 1:45.”
He’d left her the card and she’d laughed a little.
It was her birthday and she’d been getting little presents all day.
The elevator in the old building where she worked wasn’t exactly the most romantic spot, but it was private. It was about the only privacy they’d get for the next day, too, since he was working a double shift. He had to be in at three and wouldn’t be home until about the same time she was leaving.
As she slipped into the elevator, the sight of Garrett waiting for her was enough to make her heart slam against her chest, even as it did other, more intimate things, all throughout her body. Her nipples tightened and if she’d been wearing panties, they would have already been wet. But she’d slipped them off and tucked them inside her purse.
They were coming up on six months of marriage and she still felt as if she was on her honeymoon.
“Hey.”
He leaned over her and hit the button to shut the door. “Hey, yourself,” he whispered, dipping his head to press his lips to her neck. “You’re going to have to talk to the landlord about this messed-up elevator. It’s stuck again.”
“It is, huh?”
“Yeah.” He slid a hand down her skirt and tugged it up. “We should find a way to pass the time.”
Alexis grinned at him. “I guess we should.”
“Lexy…you lost your panties.”
“Oops.”
He laughed against her mouth as he slid a hand between her legs. “That’s an odd thing to misplace, angel,” he whispered, cupping the heat of her in his hand.
She hissed as he pressed the tip of his finger to her clitoris, stroked it and then teased lower, lower to circle the entrance of her pussy. “Silly me. I’ll have to be more careful.”
“Silly. But don’t be more careful…” He groaned as he pushed his fingers inside her. “You’re so damn hot, Lexy. You’re burning.”
“Garrett…”
She gasped as he screwed his fingers in, out, twisting his wrist with each thrust. Rocking against him, all but desperate, all but crying for him already.
And then he stopped. “Now without me, angel,” he muttered. “This fucking sucks…so tired of never seeing you lately.”
She tore at the front of his pants, shoving her hand inside his underwear and grasping his cock in her hand. “Talk later,” she demanded. “Sex now.”
“Yes. Sex now.” He boosted her into his arms. “Put me in, girl,” he muttered, hooking her legs over his arms. “Put me in…”
Her breath caught as she lowered her gaze and watched, tucking the head of his cock against her entrance. As he started to press inside, she groaned, feeling the stretch and give of her flesh.
“That’s it…” He dipped his head and took her mouth, demanding and hungry. “That’s it, so damn hot, you burn me. Burn me up, baby.”
She mewled against his mouth as he sank deep and started to surge against her.
Hunger, so deep and true, mixed with the love in her. It was the sweetest, most amazing ache. The climax danced just out of reach and she pushed a hand between them, seeking out the swollen bud of her clit, whimpering under his kiss as he moved harder, faster. “That’s it, Lexy…come,” he growled. “Come…”
His cock pulsed inside her—she could feel it, the head of it rasping just right there—
She came with a broken sob and not a moment later, he was right there with her, the heated of splash of semen jetting inside her and still he moved. “My girl,” he whispered her neck. “Damn it, I love you.”
Long moments passed before she could breathe without gasping, and it was going to be even longer before she could move without her muscles feeling as if they were going to just melt away. But she was too aware of where they were and she pressed against his chest. “We really do need to talk to that landlord,” she mumbled.
“Yeah. You should do that.” He nuzzled her neck. “Hey, I forgot to bring you your present.”
Alexis snickered. “I thought you just did.”
* * * * *
Meet me in Room 145.
That was what she’d written on the note she’d placed inside the envelope.
All damn day, she’d worried he might not come and now…now she was waiting. It occurred to her that he might not show up.
At least not unless she outright called him and told him who was sending him all those sexy little surprises.
Alexis was having fun, though, playing the secret admirer to her husband. They hadn’t had fun in a long while.
Not since the baby—
“No. Not the time to think about it.” She slid off the bed and paced across the room to stare outside. The conference hotel was just down the street from the station and her room’s location was ideal. She could see him coming, if she watched. She’d asked to see the room before she reserved it and it had been just perfect.
Before that long-familiar pain could unbury itself, she focused on here. On now.
The pain of losing their child wasn’t ever going to go away, she knew that.
Closing her eyes for a moment, she rested her head on the glass. She missed that little girl…she’d missed out on finding out who she would have been, missed out on holding her. But the grief had torn a hole in her marriage and it was well past time to move beyond this.
Stroking a hand down her white, silk chemise, she rested a hand on her belly and focused on Garrett. On her husband.
They’d forgotten themselves and that was the problem.
This time was about them. That was what the gifts were about…what the past two days had been about. For her. To have fun with him again. And yeah, he hadn’t figured out it was her, but she’d clue him in.
They could take a little while to start having fun with each other again. Rebuild their marriage, and once it was stronger, they could maybe talk about the things they’d lost…and see about building that path again.
But first…he needed to show up.
Turning around, she stared at the room. It wasn’t overly fancy. It was a nice room, a large king-size bed with a fat, fluffy white comforter that she’d already drawn back.
She’d brought candles with her and she’d already lit them. The air was scented with them and their glow made the room seem softe
r, more intimate.
Music played in the background, instrumental, rich, seductive and poignant.
All that was missing was Garrett.
Turning her head, she stared out the window.
It was past time for him to get off work.
He might not come.
If he wasn’t here by six—
Her heart skipped a beat as she saw a familiar head of hair. Dark russet, gleaming under the street lights. Fat flakes of snow were falling down as he strode toward the hotel, a grim look on his face.
Grim and set.
“The man does not look pleased,” she murmured.
And Alexis started to laugh.
Chapter Five
Meet me in Room 145.
The card had been on his desk when he’d arrived at work, and he’d been there damn early, too. After another wonderful, amazing night with his wife, he’d set the alarm for five in the morning, telling her he had to get a jump on work.
It wasn’t a lie. He did, because he desperately needed to wrap up these cases—that transfer wasn’t happening until he’d done so, but he also wanted to be there so he could face whoever was leaving these damn…things on his desk.
But it had been waiting for him.
A simple, ivory envelope. It hadn’t been addressed so he couldn’t get at whoever had sent it just by the handwriting. And the note inside it had been printed from a computer. He was tempted to check the fingerprints, but he’d managed to stop himself.
No.
He was going to head this off, once and for all. He’d find whoever it was and tell her to stop it.
Just stop it.
That was all he wanted to say and then it would be done and he could tell Lexy about it, explain things.
That was what he was going to do.
His gut was in knots just thinking about it, but he needed to do it. They were trying to get their marriage back on track and he couldn’t expect that to happen if he was hiding something from her. So that was what he had to do tonight.
He’d stop and buy her something on the way home. He even knew what. One of her favorite writers had a new book out and he’d pick it up for her. Maybe a couple others, too. It wasn’t really overkill, he thought, if he was trying to work his way back into her good graces after being an ass for so long.
Sexy Little Secrets Page 5