One-Click Buy: July 2009 Harlequin Blaze

by Julie Kenner

  “Thanks, Tom. But, yeah, put my name in and I’ll go through the paperwork when I get back this week.”

  “Good news, Jarod. I was worried there for a bit.”

  “I have to go, Tom. Later,” Jarod said, hanging up.

  He couldn’t think about this now. Lacey had mentioned something about her assistant, Jackie, being hurt, and he needed to get cleaned up to go with Lacey to the hospital. He knew she feared it was her ex, but why go after the assistant?

  Pulling the shower door aside, he let his eyes wander over her supple, soapy form. He joined her under the spray and couldn’t imagine not seeing Lacey like this, in his shower, in his bed, in his life, every day.

  But that was a long leap from where they were now, and he wasn’t sure how they’d get it to work. First things first, he thought, planting a light kiss on her lips, and hoping that soon all they had to worry about was how they’d manage to be together.

  LACEY’S HANDS SHOOK as she walked down the hospital hallway, searching for Jackie’s room, so she stuffed them in the pockets of her pants. She didn’t want Jarod to see how freaked out she was.

  When they’d been making love and talking about how they could pull Scott out of hiding, she’d felt all fired up by adrenaline and desire. However, as she turned the corner and saw her friend’s bruised face, she had to maintain her composure—for Jackie’s sake—but was reminded of how dangerous Scott was. This was no game.

  Lacey walked to Jackie’s bedside, taking her hand gently.

  “Oh, Jackie, I am so sorry. Who did this?”

  Jackie shook her head. “I don’t know. Some guy. He jumped me on the way out of the office, by the alley on Third. I thought he was a mugger, but he grabbed me and asked me where you were.”

  “Where I was? But how could he expect you to know?”

  “I didn’t know… I h-had no idea,” Jackie said, tears filling her eyes.

  “Shh. You don’t have to talk about it.”

  “No, it’s okay. Thank God someone saw him, called for help, and when I looked later, I saw that the list was gone. He took everything in my bag, including the list.”

  “The list?”

  “With the names of the other people who had applied for the calendar project. He took that, though who knows why…”

  Jarod spoke softly. “He probably figured you had contact information in there somewhere. I’ll talk to the NYPD, explain, and see if they can get someone on your door in case he comes back.”

  Jackie’s eyes opened wide in fear. Lacey shot Jarod a look, but she knew he was right. Abusive men were often so determined to find their exes that they didn’t even care what happened to themselves, or to others, as long as they achieved some kind of vengeance for being denied.

  Which meant she was going to do just as Jarod said, and make it easy for the bastard—he’d gone too far this time, and she wasn’t going to let anyone else she cared about be hurt.

  She squeezed Jackie’s hand as Jarod went outside to make his call.

  “Don’t worry. This will be over soon.”

  Jackie tried to smile with a cut lip. “I know. You two… He’s pretty amazing, huh?”

  Lacey felt her cheeks warm, and couldn’t resist a smile. “Yeah, he really is.”

  “I’m glad. You deserve it after what you’ve been through.”

  Lacey stilled. “What do you mean?”

  Jackie paused at her tone, shrugging. “Just that with all the harassment, your apartment, the horrible thing on your wall, the pictures being stolen… It’s good that there’s something positive coming out of this for you.”

  Lacey relaxed.

  “Thanks. I’m just so sorry this happened to you.”

  “Hey, a few days of rest and watching TV. It’ll be fine, until the painkillers wear off. This is some great stuff,” Jackie joked bravely, and Lacey forced herself to laugh, though she felt like doing quite the opposite.

  “Where’s Kenny?”

  “He was here earlier, but he had to work.”

  Jarod appeared in the doorway, and Jackie’s eyes fluttered shut. Lacey squeezed Jackie’s hand again. “I’m going to go now, but you don’t worry—and get some rest. I’ll be back. Call me if you need anything, or just to talk.”

  “Thanks,” Jackie murmured sleepily, dozing off before Lacey reached the door.

  She looked Jarod in the eye. “This has to end.”

  “It will. They’re going to notify hospital security and get the floor guard to make more stops. It’s the best they can do. They can’t post a cop up here if they aren’t even sure it was Scott.”

  “I’m sure,” Lacey said resolutely.

  “Jackie didn’t have a good description. It could have been anyone.”

  “Of course it wasn’t just anyone—who would attack my assistant and take her work bag? He didn’t even take her money!”

  “The police can’t spare the resources unless they have more compelling evidence, is all. It’s the way of things,” Jarod explained, steering her down the hall.

  “So what do we do now?”

  “We get some food, get some sleep, and tomorrow, we play tourist until we flush out the creep. With the APB it won’t be easy for him to walk around. He’s a wanted man.”

  Lacey nodded. Walking out into the humid night, she tried to feel better, but as they headed down the dark street, she wondered if they were being watched.

  In case they were, she stopped and pushed up on tiptoes, wrapping her arms around Jarod’s neck. She then delivered a kiss that was worthy of stopping in the middle of a busy New York thoroughfare.

  “Wow. What was that for?” Jarod asked as she drew away.

  “Just because,” she answered lightly, planting another quick kiss before falling back into step at his side, hoping Scott was watching and that he got the point.

  11

  “RELAX, LACEY. You’re strung as tight as a bow wire,” Jarod said, slinging an arm around her shoulders to pull her close and plant a kiss atop her head.

  “I know. It’s just so weird to be walking out here, pretending to have a good time, enjoying a Saturday stroll in the park. As bait.”

  “You’re not bait. Not really. You’re really the hunter, remember. We’re in control because he doesn’t know we’re setting a trap. Besides, I’m here, and everything will be fine, okay?”

  He reassured her while his eyes covertly scanned the scene around them. He wanted to make sure of two things: that Scott Myers had ample opportunity to see them, and that they passed by enough less-populated parts of the park that if the guy decided to make his move, he’d do it, thinking Jarod was completely distracted and unaware.

  Surprise.

  His forty-five was snug against his hip on the opposite side of where Lacey snuggled in, and Jarod wouldn’t hesitate to use it, if that’s what it came to. Her safety was first. Jarod would make sure that Scott never bothered her again, one way or the other.

  “Do you like museums?” she asked.

  “Some.”

  “There’s the Met ahead of us, which is awesome, and the natural history museum is farther up. There’s also the zoo, and the Conservatory Garden…”

  “This park is so vast. I never really had a chance to appreciate it until now,” he observed, getting into the spirit. Children played, running down slopes of shallow rises. In another spot, a small dog chased a ball, running happily back to its owner. Lovers found a more private spot, setting up camp for the day under a large tree, the city towering in the backdrop. People carried coffees and books, looking for a place to lounge, and runners and bikers came into view as if appearing from thin air.

  Saturday morning in the park was an event all its own.

  “I wasn’t here to sightsee the last time I was here, of course.”

  “That must have been horrible. I saw it on the news. I was in California then, but I have a new understanding of it, being here, even now.”

  “Yeah, it was…overwhelming.”

  She l
ooked up at him, her beautiful eyes hidden behind enormous, purple-shaded sunglasses.

  “I can’t imagine you being overwhelmed by anything.”

  He pondered telling her just how much she pulled the rug right out from under him every time she looked his way, but shrugged instead.

  “I don’t think anyone walked away from that situation the same person they were when they walked into it.” He found he really didn’t want to talk about it, not here in the sunshine and on such a beautiful day. “But no more of that. I vote for the zoo. I haven’t been to a zoo since I was a kid.”

  “Really? I usually make it a point to visit them whatever city I’m in.”

  “I always felt sorry for the animals, cooped up instead of out, roaming freely.”

  “Where poachers and lack of habitat threaten them daily?”

  “True. The world’s not the same for anyone anymore, is it? Not even the lions, tigers and bears.”

  “No, but the world’s also filled with people who protect all of us—like you, for instance.”

  He didn’t have anything to say in response to the blatant admiration in her voice, and it touched something deep inside of him when she held on to his arm more tightly and pressed her cheek against him.

  “I guess it’s a little bent to say I’m enjoying myself, even considering the circumstances,” she said with a rueful laugh as they made their way to the zoo. “Pretty sad when even luring out a felon is a way for us to spend time together,” she joked, but didn’t really think it was funny.

  “No way, I’m enjoying this, too. In fact,” he said playfully, pulling her over against a huge boulder to their left, “let me show you how much.”

  He removed her sunglasses and shoved them in his pocket, pushing hair back from her face. He looked at her closely, noticing faded freckles across her cheeks, adding interest to porcelain skin. She had some bright flecks in the green of her eyes, and as he studied her, he smiled as pink tinted her cheeks.

  He took his time, able to see their surroundings, so he could take a moment to commit every feature to his memory.

  Mindful of a nearby family, he leaned in, bracing his hands on the rock behind Lacey, pressing soft kisses all over her face until she was laughing, but also breathing a little more quickly. He found her mouth and slid his tongue lightly over her upper and bottom lip, no other parts of their bodies touching at all, though they were begging to.

  “It would take forever for me to kiss you in all the ways I think about doing,” he said, balancing his forehead against hers. “You know this isn’t the end of this, right?”

  She cupped her small hand around his face in a gesture so sweet that he was embarrassed to admit he turned to mush.

  “I’d like that, but you know, maybe it’s just the circumstances, the urgency of it all. I don’t expect any promises, Jarod,” she said, but he held his hand up to stop her.

  “I’ve had my share of one-night stands, and in fact it’s all I’ve known, more or less. I figured that’s what we were doing, too, but I know better now. I want more. I don’t know how, but we’ll work it out, won’t we?”

  Her face became radiant in the sunlight, and while he knew marriage to a cop was a stupid bet—thinking about his parents’ relationship disintegrating—there was no way he could live without Lacey. He’d go for the captain’s position, and get it. It would give him a more normal schedule, and he could find more weekends, vacation time, to make it to New York, if that’s what it took.

  “I’m just so glad none of this touched you.”

  “You’ve touched me,” he said, feeling silly, but it was true. There was no way he was telling her about the pictures reaching Tom—with any luck, that wouldn’t amount to anything. Except some embarrassment that his friend and his boss had seen some pretty intimate moments in his life.

  The thought reminded him of why they were there, and he pushed back from the rock, handing her glasses to her.

  “To the zoo?”

  She smiled, full on, and Jarod realized he was going to have to get used to a whole new set of emotions being around this woman.

  “Lead the way,” he said, grabbing her hand as he did a quick check of their surroundings. Nothing.

  Could they be completely off base? He reminded himself to be patient. It was still early. Maybe their stalker was off to a slow start.

  LACEY COULDN’T BELIEVE what a fantastic time she was having. She felt on top of the world as they made their way slowly through the zoo, watching the animals, sneaking into secret places to steal kisses and sometimes a little bit more.

  This was real, she thought. It had come out of nowhere when she’d least expected it, but what she felt for Jarod was growing in leaps and bounds every second, and it was real.

  So what did that mean? Did she give up everything she’d worked for and move to a small town in Texas to be a wife and mother?

  No. That wasn’t her style.

  Did he come to New York? He hadn’t mentioned anything specific, just that he didn’t want what they had to end. But she had a feeling Texas was a part of him, just like his job.

  So, a long-term, long-distance relationship?

  She had friends who made it work, in fact, who flourished in those situations, but she’d never considered it for herself. She wanted the whole enchilada, her career, and the man in her life to be around to cuddle up with at night, to discuss the events of the day, and not on the phone.

  But she also wanted Jarod and she supposed she’d do what she must to have him.

  In spite of the complications, she felt ridiculously light. It was midafternoon, and they strolled slowly from the zoo, taking the long way, stopping to sit in the stretch of shadows created by trees as the sun passed overhead. Casually touching, they were always making some contact.

  It was good.

  She had almost completely forgotten about why they’d come there in the first place, and it seemed that maybe they’d made a mistake. Scott wasn’t stupid, and perhaps he wasn’t going to be lured out while she was with Jarod—he’d wait until she was alone. She shared as much with Jarod as they walked.

  “If you’re saying I should leave you alone to deal with him, forget it,” Jarod said resolutely, his expression hardening.

  It tweaked her a little. She appreciated his protection, and she certainly didn’t want to take on Scott by herself, but she was still an independent person, making her own decisions.

  “I’m just saying, you have to go back to Texas this week, and he’s probably waiting for that.”

  “He doesn’t have the time—he’s an escaped felon, and all of those circumstances are going to push him to act fast, and make a mistake. Trust me, I’ve been here a million times.”

  “I know, but I know Scott. He’s not stupid.”

  Picking up on her tone, he nodded. “So what are you saying?”

  “Maybe we could part ways? I’ll walk home on my own, you could go to pick up some food or something? I’ll stay out in the open, among people, so I’ll be safe, and I have my phone. We can see if he shows then.”

  “I don’t like it. It makes you too vulnerable. He’s desperate, and desperate men do crazy things.”

  “Jarod, I’d be perfectly safe on midtown streets, and maybe you could follow behind, then, or we could have a signal.”

  “A signal?”

  The way that he asked that made her feel as if he wasn’t taking her seriously. She didn’t like it and said as much.

  “Listen, I get your point, but do I tell you how to take pictures?”

  “What? What does that have to do with anything?”

  “You have your area of expertise, and I have mine. I’ve seen what can go wrong with the best-laid plans, when we send in civilian volunteers with wire taps, Kevlar and a SWAT team backing them up and things can still go wrong. It’s never predictable.”

  “But here we are, walking around trying to get him to notice us. Isn’t that just as dangerous?”

  “Not with me sta
nding here with you.”

  She had to smile, knowing she was beating her head against a wall, but she really liked the wall, so it was hard to fault him.

  “Okay, but can we duck in here? I have to use the ladies’ room,” she said, nodding to the diner they were passing.

  “Sure. I could use a little something anyway.”

  “We just had lunch a while ago.”

  “Man needs to eat, and I’m curious about knish… I saw someone order them yesterday and they looked good.”

  Lacey laughed, and offered a kiss as they found a booth. “I’ll make a New Yorker out of you yet,” she vowed, heading to the ladies’ room.

  On her way out of the bathroom, she stopped to check her phone to make sure she hadn’t missed any calls, and stiffened as the hairs on the back of her neck stood—someone was right behind her.

  Something hard and sharp was pressing into her back, and coldness ran over her skin, chasing away anything but panic and numbing fear as the point dug in.

  He’d found her.

  JAROD LOOKED AT THE CLOCK. He knew women could take a few minutes in the bathroom, but his instincts were buzzing. Something was wrong. Cursing and throwing some money on the table just as the waitress brought the food he’d ordered for himself and Lacey, he got up and made his way to the back.

  Dammit, he should have known. She was right. Myers had waited for her to be alone—and Jarod had let his guard down, thinking they were safe. He should have known better.

  Striding along the narrow hallway, he knew he was right as he saw Lacey’s sunglasses thrown recklessly on the floor. He picked them up, pushing down the fury and tangle of emotions that threatened to cloud his thinking.

  Spotting something else out of the corner of his eye, he saw her lipstick—he knew it was hers, recognizing the case she’d used earlier in the day—lying on the floor near the back door of the diner. She was leaving him a trail, and he just hoped he was in time.

  LACEY DIDN’T KNOW what was going on. The man who had her clearly wasn’t Scott, and that had rattled her more than if it had been her ex. She struggled, having taken a self-defense course when she moved to the city, and she knew she had to fight for herself. Fighting back was often enough to discourage a would-be attacker.