“Well, why don’t you talk to him?”
“Because, the answer would be no. Always.”
There was a pause, and she knew her mother was working it all out. “Ah, this has to do with work.”
“Yes. I won’t ever work there again. Those people turned on me.”
“Good for you. But avoiding him is never going to work. He will keep calling and calling.” She was quiet again, and Elle waited for the next bit of bad news. “So, this Scotsman. He sounds rather sexy.”
“Didn’t we already go over this? Anyway, how can someone sound sexy?”
“If you don’t know that, then your first husband definitely failed.”
She couldn’t help but chuckle. “Mum, please.”
“I’m not upset dear. I am actually very happy that a man answered your phone.”
“We work together.”
Another pause. “So, a policeman.”
“Of sorts. He works on the task force, and they are a different breed. He’s former military.”
“I will let it go for now. I called for two reasons. One was that bothersome bastard.”
That was what her mother had called her ex from the time Elle had kicked him out of the house.
“And the other?”
“Your father is going to take a term off.”
Worry filled her. Her father did not take time off. Never. The only time he had, in her memory, was after she had survived the attack. He’d taken an entire semester off so both he and her mother could stay with her.
“Nothing’s wrong?”
“No, nothing’s wrong, but we wanted to do a tour of the States, and we wanted to come see you.”
“Really?” she asked, as she felt her mouth curve.
“Yes. It’s our fiftieth anniversary, and we want to spend it in Hawaii.”
Happiness filled her. It had been over a year since she had seen her parents. “That would be wonderful.”
“We wouldn’t stay with you.”
“Well, that’s rude.”
“We know your house is small and, hopefully by then, the sexy Scotsman might be doing more than just working with you.”
“Mum,” she said in warning, but it came out with a laugh. It was hard to tell her mother to behave. She was close to eighty, and didn’t give a bloody damn what anyone thought—especially her daughter.
“We’ll be staying with Doc. I already called him to be sure it was okay. He has that huge house and too much time on his hands. We know you have work.”
“That’s true.”
“Plus, we don’t want you to think you need to entertain us.”
“Why on earth would I think to do that?”
Her mother laughed. “You sound good, Elle.”
“How do I usually sound?”
“Hmm, a little sad, maybe. Not all that settled. But you sound very happy.”
“I am. I love work. It’s been a little busy lately, but I love the challenge again. It’s a good team.”
“Good. You deserve to be happy at work, but you also deserve to be happy with a man, Elle.”
“I don’t need a man.”
“Of course you don’t. I raised you to be independent. But wanting one...that is another matter altogether. Make sure you don’t let what happened with Gerald get in the way.”
“I’ll try.”
“Good.”
“Give my love to Dad.”
“I will. Be bad every now and then, love. Life is too short to always be the good girl.”
She turned off her mobile with a smile. Her parents had never been very conventional. They had been very good parents, but sometimes she had felt more like the parent.
Calling her father forgetful would be the understatement of the century. A legend in the field of physics, he was often in another world, one of his own making, sorting out his next idea. Her mother spoke her mind, whether it was politics or how she thought reparations should be paid to Scotland. It hadn’t been easy, but it had definitely been unconventional. By the time Elle was ten, she was reminding both of her parents when they had meetings and to take their medications.
“Is everything all right?”
She looked up and realized McGregor had opened her bedroom door. Sadly, he was no longer bare-chested.
“Oh, yes. She was just checking on me. Seems when my ex could not get hold of me, he started bugging them.”
“What the bloody hell does he want?”
His irritation surprised a laugh out of her.
“It’s work. He wants me to come back to England to work again. Seems I am missed on some serial case he’s working. I haven’t talked to him, but that can be the only reason he would call.”
“You’re not thinking of going, are you?”
She shook her head. “Hawaii is my home now.”
He nodded. “I thought we could get something to eat, since you don’t have enough to feed a dead bird in your house.”
“First, how does one feed a dead bird?”
He said nothing, but crossed his massive arms over his massive chest. She really wished he was still shirtless.
“Stop that.”
“What?” she asked.
His mouth curved in that way that never failed to make her pulse speed up.
“Undressing me with your eyes, lass. You keep doing that, and we won’t make it to breakfast.”
For a second, her brain stopped working. When it kicked into gear again, images flashed of him taking off that shirt, and laying her back in the bed.
“Eleanora,” he said.
“What?”
“Stop it. I can’t control myself if you look at me like that.”
She shook her head trying to erase the image. “Oh, sorry.”
“And what was the second thing?”
“Of what?”
“You said, first, so I assume you have a second.”
“Oh.” Then the conversation she had started came rushing back to her. Bloody hell, the man was killing her brain cells.
“Second, how did I end up in my bed with Dumfries?”
“I drove you back here and you fell asleep. I didn’t like the idea of leaving you without your deadbolt in place, so I stayed.”
He looked as if he were waiting for her to admonish him.
“And you slept in the guest room?”
He nodded, looking even more defensive. How did she miss that this man was so sweet? He was big and loud, just like most Scotsmen she knew, but he was so incredibly thoughtful. Now that she thought about it, she realized how nice he was to all the women who worked at TFH, but he had avoided her for months, thanks to her prickly behavior. Elle didn’t know a lot of men who would have driven her home then stayed there because he was worried for her safety. Most would take the opportunity to advance his case for sex.
She rose from the bed, and walked to him. Cupping his face in her hands, she brushed her mouth over his. When she pulled back, he looked stunned.
“Thank you. And I insist on taking you out to breakfast. Why don’t we hit Kono’s for some breakfast bombers?”
He cleared his throat. “Sounds good.”
“Let me get dressed. It should only take a few minutes.”
He nodded. “Dumfries, come.”
Dumfries jumped down from the bed and followed his master out the door. Elle closed it behind them then turned to go into the bathroom. For the first time in a long time, she was going to just go with the flow and see where it got her. With a sexy Scotsman by her side, she figured it would at least be interesting.
Chapter Twelve
Thirty minutes later, they were seated at Kono’s. They’d both ordered bombers, or what they called breakfast burritos, and were now enjoying the cool breezes and the Kona coffee. Graeme leaned back in his chair and gave his dog a look of disgust.
Elle had insisted on sitting outside. She hadn’t wanted to leave Dumfries in the truck. As if the dog who braved the streets of Bagdad wouldn’t be able to survive a few minute
s in a truck with the windows down and the temp in the low seventies.
Now, he sat beside Elle claiming all her attention. Graeme grumbled under his breath, as he took a sip of his coffee. The dog was stealing all his thunder, the wanker. Graeme rolled his shoulders. His neck was killing him, and his back felt as if someone had stabbed him. A man of his size sleeping on a twin bed was never a good idea. That is, when he got any sleep. Most of the night he had been staring at the ceiling thinking about the thin wall that separated him from Elle.
Dumfries looked over at him, his tongue hanging out in pure dog bliss, as Elle sunk her fingers into his fur. He sneered at Dumfries, knowing it made him an idiot to be jealous of the attention Elle was giving him, but he couldn’t help it. He was so hung up on her, even his dog made him jealous.
“You keep doing that, he’s going to expect that from me, and then he will be disappointed,” he said.
Elle slanted him a look. “I have a feeling that Dumfries doesn’t hurt for attention.”
He grunted and looked out over the parking lot. It wasn’t too busy this early in the morning. Everyone’s concentration was on getting to the beach.
“Do you always do that?” she asked.
He turned back to her. She looked good this morning. Rested. She’d thrown on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt—something he had never thought he’d see her wear. He’d imagined she always dressed up when she left the house, but instead, she was wearing a pair of flip-flops, and had foregone makeup. He liked the look on her.
She had combed her hair but left it wavy. The breeze shifted through her hair, pulling her short curls to and fro.
“Graeme?”
He blinked. “Sorry. It’s habit from being in the Marines.”
She nodded and took a sip of her coffee. “Of course. All cops have that sort of watchful eye. I remember when I went out with Adam a few times—”
“You went out with Adam?” he asked, his voice rising a little louder than he had meant it to.
She cocked her head to the side and studied him. Even Dumfries was giving him a look of disgust. Now he knew he sounded jealous.
Graeme cleared his throat. “Sorry. I didn’t know you dated.”
“We didn’t. When I moved here, I think he felt a little sorry for me. Doc had introduced us. I wasn’t working much, just part time at a free clinic. In fact, I think Doc wanted me out of the house. He’s too accustomed to living on his own. So he called up Adam. More than likely he begged Adam to take me out.”
“Oh.”
“So, as I was saying before you accused me of dating Adam, Adam watched things, as did my ex. But you watch an area like Del does. Sort of looking for any possible attack. Must be the military background.”
He nodded. “It’s a hard habit to break.”
“I don’t think that you should break it, especially considering the work you’re doing now. I have a feeling it was one of the reasons Del hired you.”
He nodded. “I didn’t think I would have a chance. I had some policing in my military background, but that is a little different than investigation.”
“Yes, but we don’t just handle murders. We handle terrorism as well, and you’re good at that.” Then she cocked her head and studied him for a second. “I wonder if that is part of the reason he assigned this case to you.”
“So that I can cut my teeth leading on an old case?”
She shrugged. “It takes some old fashioned detective work to get it done. It makes you look at a case in different ways. It’s sort of the way I have seen him work with everyone else.”
He didn’t know what to say to that, but there was a good chance she was right. Graeme wasn’t about to complain, though. Working the case meant more time with Elle.
Then his mind went back to her comment earlier. “And I didn’t accuse you of dating Adam.”
She didn’t say anything, but her eyes were dancing over her cup, as she took a very dainty sip of coffee.
“I want to thank you for being so sweet last night, Graeme.”
“That’s me. Sweet guy.”
She swallowed her coffee. “Well, you are.”
He didn’t want to be in the sweet guy territory. Those were the guys who you called when you needed a friend to take you to a family wedding. He would rather be the one at the wedding.
Fuck. Where did that thought come from? He pushed the thought away. He wasn’t one for marriage, not yet, and not to a woman who would barely talk to him less than ten days ago.
“I was wondering if you’re going stag to the wedding?” she asked.
Damn. Did she already think of him that way? Before he could answer, the waitress returned with their food. He gathered his thoughts and waited until the waitress had left.
“Why do you ask?”
“What?”
“About the wedding. Why did you ask?”
She cut into her burrito with extra care. “I was wondering if you wanted to go with me?”
Dammit, he was right. He was in friend status. She had put him in that sweet guy territory, and he would never get out of it if he didn’t fight it. Fighting it, though, could lead to an argument, and then she wouldn’t think of him as a friend. So he ground his teeth together before he spoke.
“As a friend?” he spat out.
She looked up at him with wide eyes.
“Well, we are friends,” she said carefully. “But, I was actually asking you on a date. It’s just that everyone was talking about how Cat and Drew are going to the wedding. Charity doesn’t want a date, because well, she’s Charity. So, I thought maybe I would ask you. If you would rather not go—”
“No. I want to go.”
“I know you are going. The question is if you want to go with me. But I understand if you do not.”
“Yes, I want to go with you.”
She gave him a shy smile.
“Good. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a close friend’s wedding. I have been to some colleagues’ weddings, but, you know, not one where people will know more about my personal life.” She shrugged. “I just wanted to go with you.”
If he thought he felt good when she smiled, he almost passed out with happiness at that comment.
“That would be brilliant,” he said. “Can I ask why you changed your mind?”
“About dating you?”
He nodded.
She sighed. “I’m not really sure. Maybe it was talking to my mother this morning, who told me you sounded very sexy.”
“Is that a fact?”
“Don’t let it go to your head, McGregor.”
He chuckled. “Hard not to.”
“Mum’s been worried because I haven’t really dated since my divorce. She keeps saying it’s been over six years since the divorce was final and I need to get out. I wasn’t really ready at first, then work got in the way. It’s hard to explain to people why you’re on call or why you like hanging out with dead bodies.”
“Why do you like hanging out with dead bodies?”
She smiled as she chewed her food, then swallowed it. “My mother says she blames it on my father, since he’s the scientist, and I think that is part of it. I love my father, but he isn’t that easy to communicate with. When I showed an aptitude for science, it gave us a connection. But, then, he says my mother ruined it, because instead of researching, I turned to work with the public. So, they sort of blame each other.”
“But why do you like this specific work?”
“I guess I like to think I’m helping. I am good at my job, but like my father, there are times I’m not good with people.”
“Bollocks.”
“No, it’s true. Well, I am better now, but when I went to university, I had issues dealing with people. I am not that good with the bedside manner. But I was already leaning towards being a medical examiner.”
“I think you work fine with people.”
“Now, and on a smaller level. Plus, I am twelve years older than when I started working. I wa
s definitely more awkward back then. Why do you do it?”
“I left the Marines because I was burned out. Too many deployments to war zones. But, I had skills that were handy, just not as a police officer in Scotland. I wanted something I thought would challenge me. Then, also a vacation to Hawaii. As soon as I came here, I was hooked. I heard about the job through some friends and applied. I can use the skills I learned when I was in the military and be challenged.”
She nodded. “Makes sense. I gather your mother is not happy you are here?”
He shook his head. “She’s mad at my sister for living on the other side of Edinburgh, but she understands. She said I was always on the move.”
She nodded. “So, I was thinking that maybe a timeline would help with the case.”
The quick switch in topics almost caught him off guard.
“Yes?”
She started back in on her burrito. “Maybe if we can figure out what was going on in both cases, we can find the connection.”
She took a bite of her burrito as he studied her. “How do you think?”
“We don’t know what links the two killings.”
“Other than the gun.”
She nodded. “We need to figure out just what the hell connects it from thirty years ago. Katsu had to have a connection to the case back then.”
“He was too young.”
She nodded. “But it doesn’t mean that someone he knew in his life didn’t have a connection to it.”
“And working on a timeline could give us some context. Like who could have that connection, friends or family.”
“Exactly.”
“That is bloody brilliant,” he said.
She smiled. “Thank you.”
“No, really. Del should bring you in on more cases.”
“He does talk to me about some of them, especially if he needs some help with the forensic psychology of a crime.”
“And he doesn’t want to mess with the FBI unless he has to. That makes sense.”
“He does not like to share cases,” she said with a chuckle.
“If we’re going to work today, I think we need to stop off and get some food. You have nothing at your house.”
She nodded. “I’ve been so busy, it’s been hard to shop.”
He settled in to eat his burrito, happy with the plan for the day...and the wedding date. It definitely was a nice turn of events.
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