Amorcito, please call me. I’m worried. I know I said I would give you some space, but I need to just hear your voice to know you are really okay.
She couldn’t talk to him, or anyone for that matter. Talking would just bring about the kind of pain that the pills couldn’t touch. This was something she had to face on her own, like always. If she started to lean on other people, she would still ultimately end up alone and on her rear end. Better to just be alone from the start. It was the fall, when they left, that hurt the most. Wasn’t that part of the reason she had pushed him away? To save herself? Which would probably turn out to be the best course of action, seeing as how there was already another girl hanging on him while he was out on the road.
One of the church ladies had been visiting her sister in La Grange and had run into Ricky at the livestock show. That night, she had emailed Vi a photo of him talking it up with some young, leggy girl. The picture had destroyed any last vestige of hope she’d had in ever really making things work with him. She should be happy for him. After all, isn’t that what she had wanted? For him to find someone else? For him to move on?
Ding, dong, ding.
Seriously? Who was it now? Surely the woman hadn’t come back. Had Brooke hired another annoying person to come out to help her, instead of getting off her high horse and just coming to see her in person? In a huff, she pushed off the sofa and answered the door. This time a very handsome man stood with a large bouquet of roses. Well...that was unexpected.
“Violeta Hernadez?” The man’s baritone voice rung her like a bell. She couldn’t place his accent but it sounded familiar.
Wow!
She swallowed hard. “Y-y-yes...I’m her.” She suddenly became aware of how unkempt she must look and quickly pulled her messy hair up into a bun, using the band that hung loosely on her wrist.
The man’s slow smile spread across his face making her knock-kneed and speechless. “Well, it’s your lucky day Ms. Hernandez, because these are for you.” He held out the flowers like a prize pig.
After a long pause she realized he was waiting for her to take them. She shook her head in embarrassment. “I’m sorry, thank you.” She brought them up to her nose and took a long breath in. They smelled lovely. The handsome delivery man eyed her with interest. It had been a while since a man had looked at her that way, and for once it wasn’t some disgusting old man, or worse yet, someone's bored husband from church looking for some behind-the-rectory fun. She often imagined what they would do if she ever called their bluff and took them up on their salacious offers.
“Special occasion?” He nodded to the arrangement, curiosity flashing in his brown eyes.
“I... I don’t know.” She reached for the card tucked into the bouquet and immediately regretted it. A sharp bolt of pain ripped through her side and she dropped the flowers to the floor, clutching her hurt shoulder. “Ahh...”
The man crossed the threshold. “Hey, are you okay?”
She shook her head, tears blurring her vision. She tried to speak but couldn’t.
A look of concern flashed across the stranger's face. He picked up the flowers and put them on the table by the door and then lifted her up and carried her to the sofa like she didn’t weigh an ounce. “What can I do?” he asked, handing her a glass of water.
She pointed with her good hand to the pill bottles on the counter and he rushed over to them, bringing back an armload. It took her a moment to go through all of them to find the one she needed: oxycodone. She popped open the top with her thumb, grateful it wasn’t a child-proof cap, and took two pills. She chewed them rather than swallowing so they could enter her bloodstream and offer their blessed releases as quickly as possible.
He handed her the glass of water and she took several mouthfuls before handing the glass back to him.
“Better?” he asked.
Sweat poured down her face and she nodded curtly. Already the pills had shaved off the edge of the pain. He disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a wet cloth and a vase for the flowers, then arranged the roses in the ancient crystal—her mother’s—and placed it down on the coffee table. Then he took the wet cloth and pressed it against her forehead and cheek. Her eyes slipped closed and she let out a little sigh. “Thank you,” she croaked.
“You’re welcome,” he said. “You gave me a little scare there.” He glanced at her shoulder that she still clutched. “May I ask, what’s wrong?”
“Gunshot wound,” she said, hoping to shock him.
The man’s left brow rose slightly, but he otherwise seemed unaffected by her admission. “Can I see it?”
Vi felt her cheeks grow hot. It suddenly hit her that it might be ill-advised for this strange man to be in her home like this, as she lay alone and vulnerable. She didn’t even know his name for heaven’s sake. What was I thinking, letting him inside?
A slow smile crept across his face. “I was kidding.” He held out his hand to her. “My name’s Fernando, by the way.”
Vi shook his hand. “Thank you for your help Fernando, but I think I should probably go lie down.”
After a short pause he rose from his place on the sofa and cleared his throat. “Is there anything I can do for you before I leave?”
She shook her head. “No, just close the door behind you, please.”
He eyed her for a moment. “Does it lock automatically?”
“No, I’ll lock it later.” Her eyes started to droop as the meds kicked in.
“That doesn’t sound safe. Anyone can just come in.” He met her gaze.
She smiled. “It’s a small town. I think I’ll be okay.”
He frowned. “All right, I’ll let myself out. Take care of yourself, Ms. Violeta.”
The front door closed with a reassuring click and she relaxed a little more. The pain had her making all kinds of bad choices. She would need to be more careful in the future. It was then that she remembered the card. She plucked it from its nest of baby’s breath and pulled it out—a short message in nice neat script.
All of your problems can disappear. Just say the word, and I’ll make it happen.
XOXO
Your secret admirer
Vi tossed the note on the table. She hoped it wasn’t from that creepy cop. The one Brooke had flirted with when they got caught setting off the Kings’ house alarm after their little breaking and entering adventure. It seemed like forever ago when her BFF had insisted they spy on their new neighbors. What a mess that had turned out to be.
Brooke panicked when the investigating cop had asked for her number. So of course she gave him Vi’s instead.
The pervert still called at least once a week. Vi had saved his number in her phone under Creepy Cop so she wouldn’t accidentally answer when he called. Anyway, unless her secret admirer was named oxycodone, or came with magical healing properties, she couldn’t imagine how he could solve her problems.
She popped another pill and lay back down. The drugs worked fast and soon she was sound asleep—dead to the world.
“Vi! Wake up!” Her body shook and it took her a moment to realize someone was shaking her awake.
An acidic taste stung her mouth. Ugh...vomit. She sat up with a groan. “What?”
Annabeth loomed over her. “Vi, what happened?”
“Nothing, I’m probably just coming down with something.” She swiped at her mouth with the back of her hand and stumbled up from the sofa to clean up the mess she had made.
Annabeth glanced about the room until her gaze settled on the bottles of. “Vi—”
Vi held up her hand. “I’m fine. Really.”
Annabeth rose from her haunches and started to tidy up the mess in the room. Her fingers touched the bouquet of flowers. “From Ricky?”
Vi’s head throbbed. She took a deep breath and turned to face Annabeth. “No, I don’t know…” She rubbed her temples with her fingers and closed her eyes shut. “I really don’t feel well. Can you please maybe come back another time…?” The effort to be kind t
ook a lot out of her.
Annabeth frowned, her hand falling from the flowers. “I just came to help. I’m sorry I bothered you.”
Annabeth turned on her heel and took off through the open door.
Maybe I should lock the door...
Chapter Ten
Annabeth
Monday morning crept up on her out of nowhere, like a tiny ninja. Over the weekend, Annabeth and Marcus had spent long days and nights working to find out anything they could about the mystery house and its owners. The home was paid for by an offshore investment corporation with one employee, Sara Reyes, the same person the vehicle was registered to. Marcus did some not-so-legal hacking into the various Herald Springs utility companies and pulled up enough billing information to surmise that the home was indeed being lived in... Being a spy could be exhausting. She was almost happy about getting a break from her PI work and going back to being a teacher and student at the University.
She had just enough time for a quick smoke before Ligia came to pick her up and take her to school. Right after she had lit her cigarette and taken the first lusty drag, her phone rang with an unknown number. Fin had taken to calling her now on burners that couldn’t be traced. Each call was from a different Sim card.
“Hello, Fin.” Could he detect the hint of irritation in her voice?
Fin chuckled in her ear. “Don’t say I never got you anything, love.” His sinister words in Annabeth’s ear sent a chill down her spine. “I hope you like it.”
“What did you do?” Her heart pounded faster.
“You’ll know soon enough.” Fin obviously loved this little game he was playing—his words coming out in a hiss. She’d had enough of his talk; she was ready for some action. Mostly, she just wanted to wrap her hands around his neck and squeeze until the lights went out in his snake-like eyes. The line went silent. How dare he!
She shoved her phone into her back pocket and put out her cigarette in one of the potted plants. The poor cosmos flowers were a crispy ghost of their former selves. She and Marcus hadn’t even attempted to keep any of the plants in their spacious backyard alive through the blistering fall heat. The dead flowers made her think of the case—equally neglected.
Their client, Mr. Morgan, hadn’t been pleased during their last conference call. “You know how much is at stake here. Don’t disappoint me.” His tone let her know he meant business. He had contracted with them earlier that year in hopes that they would be more efficient and creative in their efforts to find the men who killed his daughter. The local police and the F.B.I. had long since hit a dead end. For that and so many other reasons, Annabeth was committed to seeing this through to a successful end.
Marcus’s wheelchair made cracking and popping sounds as he rolled over the tiny landscaping pebbles that had blown onto the backyard patio. He had on a pair of loose cargo shorts that touched the edges of his casts and a crisp white t-shirt that hugged his hard upper body. “Hey babe, you done getting your fresh air?”
She tugged the end of her loose peasant blouse so it concealed the pack of cigarettes and lighter in her front pocket. She wasn’t ready to address that particular elephant with him yet. “How are you feeling this morning?”
The early morning sunlight reflected off his jet black hair. His fingertips raked through the tangled forest of hair and an amused smile crept across his full, kissable lips. “Great, babe. Thanks for asking.” He tugged her down hard onto his lap and his mouth captured hers, taking her breath away. But just as quickly as he’d started, he abruptly broke off their kiss. “You need to stop smoking, Anna.”
Her shoulders stooped. He was right. Maybe they could find a more mutually enjoyable stress reliever to replace the cigarettes. “I know. I’m sorry I started back up. I just...”
His fingers combed some stray strands of hair behind her ears. “I know, babe.” His sure arms wrapped tightly around her, holding her close. “But you know what? I have some good news that might cheer you up a little.”
“Oh?” She relaxed into his embrace.
“Yeah, I did a little poking around and I found a connection between the house and a couple of local businesses.” His eyes twinkled as they so often did just before he revealed something he knew would make her happy.
She sat up on his lap and gave him her complete wide-eyed attention. “Well...? Are you going to tell me or not?”
He raised his left brow slowly, almost suggestively, and shrugged. “I might.”
“Marcus!”
A slow smile spread across his chiseled features. “The Reyes family owns several businesses.” His long fingers snaked their way under her shirt and splayed across her bare skin, making her shiver.
“There might be even more, but for now I was able to link him to an umbrella organization called Ran Corp. They have a laundromat that’s been closed and boarded up the last six months, a tech company that makes accounting software, and a local yard service company.” His fingers stretched up her bare back and along her side. Gooseflesh broke out along her arms.
“Oh…?” Her voice shook.
“And you are never going to guess who the V.P. of the tech company is?”
The only person she knew that had ties to a local tech company was Jesse’s wife, Heather. But that couldn’t be who Marcus was talking about…or could it?
“Who?”
“Jesse’s wife, Heather.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that. Do you think she is involved?”
“I don’t know yet, but we’ll figure all that out soon enough. You know what I do know for certain? That I need you.” Despite the fact that they were in their backyard for all the world to see, he slid his calloused hand around and cupped her bare breast, making her gasp. “Marcus—”
His eyelids dropped to half-mast. “It’s been such a long time, Anna.”
Her heart hammered as his talented hands brought her to state of arousal. Apparently he was willing to overlook the cigarette taste in her mouth now as he traced the outline of her mouth with the point of his tongue.
A girlish giggle escaped her lips. “Two days is not a long time.”
He shrugged and started to tug the blouse over her head. “What can I say?” He paused and raked his eyes over her nakedness. “I can’t get enough of you.” His voice dropped low and she felt its resonance in the pit of her stomach.
“We’re outside! Anyone could see!”
He roughly tugged her legs around him and started to wheel the chair back into the house. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight. Her shirt lay left behind on the burned out grass. She could feel his rapid heartbeat through his thin white t-shirt that clung to the rock hard planes of his chest. His body had benefited from the six week long strict physical therapy regimen.
Once they crossed the threshold into the house he parked the chair in the middle of the kitchen. She peeled off his white shirt and pressed her naked flesh against his. He gasped against the curve of her neck and sank his teeth into the tender skin on her shoulder. She shoved him hard and scrambled off his lap to stand up. His gaze stayed on her as she popped the button to her shorts and started to wiggle out of them.
Ding, dong, ding.
Annabeth’s heart thundered in her chest. “Oh, no!”
Marcus laughed a little as she quickly slipped into her shorts and his T-shirt—tying off the length in a knot at her hip.
“Hey, that’s mine.” He reached out to tug the knot but she darted away from his grasp. “It’s Ligia. We’re carpooling this morning.”
Marcus adjusted his shorts. “Isn’t that cozy.”
She swatted at him, but grabbed her wrist and pulled her down to kiss him. His free hand cupped and squeezed her ass, making her jump back and yelp. “Marcus!”
Ding, dong, ding.
“Stop it!” She wiggled away from his insistent grasp. “Go take a cold shower and get back to your research. Let me know where the money trail leads you.”
His gaze dropped down to her
breasts, which made themselves known through the thin fabric. “You going out like that?”
Annabeth shrugged. “Maybe my students will pay attention to the lecture today.”
Marcus’s jaw dropped. “Anna!”
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
She glanced down at her phone. Ligia.
Hurry up. We’re going to be late!
Annabeth shoved her phone into the back pocket of her shorts and snatched up her shoulder bag. “I’ve got to go. I’m going to be late. We can resume this when I get back tonight.”
She didn’t dare get within his grasping reach. He didn’t care if she was late or not; he just wanted her—but the way the investigation was going, she couldn't jeopardize her job at the University. Besides, the anticipation would build throughout the day, making for an explosive homecoming.
Ligia stood impatiently on the front stoop, all but tapping her foot. “What took you so long?” Her gaze zeroed in on something and wide smile cracked across her youthful face. She pointed her bright pink nail at Anna’s neck. “Ahh...say no more. Good for you!”
She gracefully hopped down the steps toward the SUV that her parents had gotten for her after the incident at the party a few weeks ago. “Your man’s a total hottie! I wouldn’t ever leave the house if I were you.”
Annabeth’s cheeks got hot and she dropped her gaze down to hide her embarrassment. She undid her hair from its messy bun so it cascaded down her neck and passed her shoulders—concealing the love bite. She wasn’t one to kiss and tell. Her sex life was her business and no one else's. She opened the heavy door of the car and hopped inside. The black leather interior scorched her skin and stuck to her leg.
Ligia cranked up the air conditioning, but the car was slow to cool off.
“How’s everything going with the investigation? Are you any closer to catching those creeps?” Ligia looked worried as she pulled out of the drive.
Annabeth clicked on the seat belt and held onto the bar above her head as the young girl took the turns too fast and wide. “Okay, I guess. We’re making progress.” The less Ligia knew about all that, the better. The young woman had been too involved with things already. Annabeth gripped the bar extra tight and her foot automatically tapped where she wished a passenger’s side brake was installed.
Texas and Tiaras (The Book Cellar Mysteries 2) Page 6