Shot in the Dark

by Jennifer Conner

  “I’m not saying it didn’t, but it’s hard to tell. It wasn’t the easiest night.”

  “First you sat for hours on a hard chair in the ER and then ended up with my big Swedish head in your lap when we got back here. Why didn’t you move? Toss me off on the floor, or go in and use the bed while I was hunkered down on the couch?”

  “I don’t know.” His broad shoulders shrugged nonchalantly. “I didn’t want to wake you.”

  Luci grinned, touched by the sentiment. “You know it’s all right to think about yourself once in a while.” Opening the refrigerator, she pulled some cream cheese from the shelf. She split a raisin and cinnamon bagel and spread half of it with the cream cheese. “You need to start taking better care of your body.”

  “Why? It doesn’t do me much good.”

  “Because it’s the only one you have. And I want to see your body healthy again.” When she turned, he took a step toward her.

  Devan braced his hands on both sides of her, caging her in. He was so close she could feel the push of his breath. Light streamed in from the kitchen window, illuminating half of his face; the other half remained in shadow.

  Just like his personality. Half-light, half dark… well, maybe a little more on the dark side.

  He trailed a finger out to trace her cheek. “Why do you care?” his voice softened. Devan watched her pulse beating wildly in the shallow hollow of her throat.

  Why did the nearness of this man affect her so greatly?

  “Why shouldn’t I? You’re a good man,” she said, her mouth suddenly feeling dry.

  “I’m not.” This time the words were said in a raspy murmur. His eyes darkened for a second, reflecting the internal conflict in the depths of his gaze. Then he dropped his head inches from her lips.

  The stubble of beard growth scratched her smooth skin as she tipped her head to the side allowing him access. His teeth nipped at her skin and her body tingled with electricity as he flicked the tip of his tongue along the sensitive skin of her neck.

  She could see how women found vampires sexy. Right now, if Devan was a vampire wanting to bite her neck, she’d live in eternity by his side.

  She wanted him to touch her, but his hands were still welded to the counter’s edge, not moving an inch. Luci didn’t care what he felt, she wanted to be closer. She shifted her lower body until she brushed the front of his jeans with her leg.

  His erection was hard and stiff. Her awareness of him went deep. It was as if he was testing her, challenging her to take on his shadowy side.

  Luci couldn’t pull her gaze from his eyes. They were filled with desire. His face fascinated her. She wanted to know everything about him… all his secrets.

  “What are you thinking?” she asked in a whisper.

  “I’m thinking of all the reasons why I shouldn’t kiss you.”

  “You think too much.”

  His smile was sensual and dangerous. “I’ve been told that before.” Devan dropped his head and caught her mouth with his. Slow and sexy, making love to her with his lips. His tongue met hers lightly before dipping deeper to further explore the recesses.

  Luci’s hands came up to wind around the back of his neck, pulling him lower, but still his hands didn’t touch her. Losing herself in the mind-numbing taste of his mouth, she moaned.

  His tongue took possession, teasing, stroking, asking her to take what he was offering and submit. A shiver of pure desire rippled down her spine making her nipples peak to hard pearls, aching for his touch.

  Clutching the thin fabric of his T-shirt she fought to find something steady to balance her weakening knees. The solid curves and heat of his body played under her fingertips. Skimming her hands over his shoulders and down his back to his hips, Luci pressed closer, feeling his hard length against her belly. When he bit gently on her lip, tugging it between his teeth, her heart nearly stopped, and wetness pooled between her legs.

  Breaking the kiss, Devan pressed his forehead to hers. Their breathing was ragged. The attraction between them was raw, untamed, and definitely unsatisfied.

  He closed his eyes. “This isn’t right. You didn’t ask me here so I could screw you in your kitchen. You were attacked last night.” He shook his head and turned, grabbing his cane where he’d propped it against the wall. “Get ready. I’ll wait for you in my car.”

  Luci watched him limp down the hall, banging the front door behind him when he left.

  Cool air washed over her heated skin as the door slammed shut. Touching her fingers to her lips, she could feel the chapped roughness from his beard.

  His kiss made her feel as if she was standing on the edge of a hurricane-force storm while Devan tried to prove to himself he didn’t want her.

  His plan hadn’t worked.

  Chapter Six

  After retrieving her car from the Naughty Latte, Luci’d followed Dev straight to the station. With turned heads and raised eyebrows, every eye at the downtown headquarters watched them enter the front door and weave through desks.

  Before the accident, if Dev sauntered in with a beautiful blonde on his arm, his co-workers wouldn’t have thought twice about it. But now, he figured they thought Luci was only there to make a statement, nothing more. Brady and Wallace must have had a good laugh spreading stories about him offering to take her to the ER and then home.

  Dev wanted to put his arm around Luci’s waist, pull her a step closer, and tuck her under his broad shoulder.

  What am I doing? Trying to stake a claim on air? There was nothing between them. She was the victim of a crime he was assigned to.

  But that kiss back in her kitchen?

  Holy crap.

  When he’d stepped into it, taking her mouth, he’d been out of line and expected her to come to her senses and slap his jaw sideways. He’d run many scenarios through his mind before he’d done it, but couldn’t seem to stop himself.

  He’d ramped up the heat, telling himself he was in control by keeping his hands firmly planted on the counter. But when she’d rubbed herself against his straining cock, his head nearly blew off.

  Dev couldn’t remember the last time anything felt that good. He’d broken the kiss or he would have come in his pants like some pimply-faced teenager.

  Raising a hand, he draped it over her shoulder. She looked down at it, smiling.

  He was pretending she was his. What did he care if the entire department thought he’d gotten lucky last night?

  God, I’m such an asshole, Dev thought, dropping his hand to take her elbow. She deserved better than him.

  Brady sauntered toward them, as Dev guided Luci to sit on a worn chair next to his desk.

  A grin broke over Brady’s meaty cheeks. “Morning, Ms. Lombart. I had court this morning so I thought I’d stop by. Looks like the detective took good care of you last night.”

  Luci crossed one shapely leg over the other, and pointed the toe of her black leather shoe. Even in jeans her shapely legs seemed a mile long. “It’s nice to hear your concern, officer…” her eyes trailed over to his badge, “Brady. That’s right, I’d forgotten your name. Detective Burke offered to pick me up this morning so I could get my car and then followed me here, making sure I was safe. He’s a real gentleman. You don’t see many gentlemen in this day and age, do you officer? Especially in LA. It’s nice to have met a man like Detective Burke who treats a lady with respect.” Luci had a warm smile on her face, but her words held an edge from Brady’s innuendos.

  Dev was shocked. She was protecting his reputation?

  He tried to keep his mouth from dropping open as he picked up a stained and battered porcelain cup from his desk. Walking a few feet, he drew coffee from the large urn into his mug.

  When he turned, her eyes were on him. “Uh, would you like a cup?” he asked, motioning with his head.

/>   “Sure. Thanks.”

  “It’s not very good,” he warned her, as he filled a white Styrofoam cup. “I’d put some sugar in it if I were you.”

  “Two packs of sugar? Hot and sweet?” She tipped her head and smiled again, referring to his nightly espresso order. “So that’s why you always order your lattes with sugar.”

  Hot and sweet. That was her, not the damn sugar packets.

  Dev sat behind his desk, sticking piles of files haphazardly on top of an organizer. He booted up his computer, - waited until the screen loaded and pulled over a pad to jot notes on. Flipping her case file open, he scanned the data.

  “Ms. Lombart.” She raised an eyebrow at the formal use of her name, but didn’t say anything. No distractions. No mistakes. “Start at the beginning, from the time your shift started and through the robbery.”

  She nodded and looked down at her hands between her knees. “I work at the Naughty Latte espresso stand on the corner of Lankershim Boulevard and Ventura. I’ve been a barista for one year. I work the evening shift, four to nine, Tuesday through Saturday.”

  Dev typed the information into the program. “Do you normally work alone?”

  She shook her head. “No, we always work in teams of two. It’s company policy for safety. But Becky, the other girl, was sick. She came down with a bad cold and a headache. I told her to go home, and that I’d close the stand.”

  “Did you think the man who committed the robbery might have been a customer last night? Had you seen him in the drive-thru that night?”

  She shook her head. “No. They were all regulars.” She paused and took a sip of coffee before continuing. “Right before eight, there was a knock on the back door. I was expecting a shipment of milk and knew it would arrive before closing, so I didn’t think it would be anyone but the delivery man. When I opened the door, I couldn’t see the man’s face clearly. It was dark. The light was burned out and Bill, the owner, hadn’t replaced it.” Her gaze dropped. “The man shoved the door open and turned off the interior light, pushing me inside.”

  Where had the bastard been? The streets were busy but most of the businesses were closed. If Dev had been aware of his surroundings, like he should have been he might have noticed something out of place. The robber must have been watching from somewhere close by to know when he’d driven off. He’d probably watched the two of them talk.

  But Dev’s mind had been concentrating on Luci’s tits and how she was flirting with him… not on being a cop.

  His voice hardened, “What next?”

  Her eyes turned a darker shade of blue with a look in them that said he knew what happened next. But she drew in a breath and continued as color bloomed in her cheeks. “He turned me around so I couldn’t see him. It all happened so quickly. He had cuffs in his pocket. He jerked my arms behind my back and put them over my wrists. Then he…” she paused, tears brimming in her eyes, “he sliced off my bikini top with a knife.”

  She hadn’t mentioned the knife in her report last night. He’d seen her top discarded with the straps cut. What had he thought the guys used, his teeth?

  He’d seen his share of death as an LA cop. Luci could have been harmed much worse. She could have been killed.

  “He wasn’t speaking English,” she said.

  “You mentioned that in the report last night. You thought he was Russian?”

  She nodded. “I tried to get a clear view of him, but he pushed my face down and rubbed his pants against me.” Her voice dropped, “He had an erection. That was when I knew he wasn’t just there for the cash.”

  Dev had questioned many, hell, hundreds of suspects in the years he’d been a detective. He’d seen the worst mankind did to each other, and this ramped up his determination to catch her attacker. Luci’s nightly conversations with him at the Naughty Latte were Devan’s only glimpse of his old life. He wouldn’t let a two-bit hood take that from him.

  It was a by-the-book interview… but when he heard the tremble in Luci’s voice, he wanted to slam something, break a window, anything to stop the pain in her eyes.

  “There was a rap on the window. It was Del. He’s a regular. When the man saw him, he swore in Russian.”

  “Are you sure it was Russian? Can you repeat the words?”

  “I’m sure he spoke Russian. I have a Russian friend. Then he grabbed the cash box from under the counter and ran out the door.”

  “And he also took your purse?”

  She nodded. “I hadn’t realized it at the time, but later, after the ambulance left. I couldn’t find it.”

  “The man was about 5 foot 9, blond hair.” He leaned forward on the desk. “Is there anything else you can remember?”

  “He wore cowboy boots. Wait!” Luci’s eyes brightened. “I do remember something. He had on a short-sleeved shirt, and I could see his forearms. He had tattoos. Octagon symbols mixed into a vine.”

  Dev raised his own arm and pointed to his skin. “On this side of his arm?” he asked.

  “Yes. It was large, at least six inches total. It wasn’t black, it was more blue… it was hard to tell in the dark.” She closed her eyes. “The details are murky. I can’t remember them clearly.”

  He picked up a pen and tapped it on the desk. “I want you to contact your credit card companies as soon as we’re finished here.”

  “Can I go?” she asked, throwing the empty cup in the trash.

  He pressed save, then minimized the screen and grabbed his cane. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

  Her face was still tight, but she managed a smile. “See, it wasn’t a complete white lie I told Officer Brady. You are a gentleman.”

  Dev didn’t answer, only blew out a snort through his nose.

  When they reached the side parking lot, Luci turned and jingled her keys in her hand. “I know you won’t take money for carting me around last night, so I want to fix you dinner—tonight. I don’t have to work. Be there about seven. You can bring the bread. I’ll make pasta. Everyone likes pasta.”

  Smart girl, she hadn’t worded any of her last sentences in the form of questions. So what was there to say ‘no’ to?

  Dev tried to think of a way to back out, but then shut his mouth, shocking himself with the fact that he really wanted to see her again. “Okay,” he finally said.

  “You know,” she shrugged, adding, “in case I have a meltdown in the shower again. It would be good to have you there. I can’t afford the extra cost on my water bill.” She made light of it, but he could see she was probably still scared shitless being alone by herself.

  The overhead sun lit golden highlights in Luci’s blonde and pink hair. Her skin was so perfect, it looked like caramel satin. Her lips were full and pink without gloss.

  He reached and stroked his thumb down her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into his caress like a cherished lover. He wanted to kiss her again, but even he wasn’t dumb enough to do that in broad daylight outside of the station.

  That would really get everyone’s tongues wagging.

  Her wide blue eyes drew him in. “Don’t forget the bread. Do you want me to write you a reminder on a sticky note?”

  Dev tipped his head back and laughed. “No, I think I got it. Do I need to write you a reminder to call the bank as soon as you get home?”

  Her short hair flipped from side to side as she shook her head. “Got it. So now that we’re set… I guess I don’t need to give you directions, since you know where I live.” She looked reluctant to leave as she stuck the key in the lock of the door. “See you tonight.”

  Dev turned on his cane and limped toward the back stairs. He could take a few hours of comp-time this afternoon. He had a thousand hours of vacation time built up that needed to be used. He’d go home and take a nap. He hadn’t gotten much sleep… as usual.

  He’d
get cleaned up. Maybe buy some flowers and a nice bottle of wine.

  Stop. This wasn’t like a date. What the hell was he thinking? It was just something Luci was doing to thank him for the one night of his life he decided to be a do-gooder.

  Anyway, he’d have to see how far he got searching the data she’d given him. He’d check the files on the other robberies and see if he could tie them together.

  Feeling his stomach growl, he pulled four quarters out of his pocket and hit the button on the vending machine for peanut-butter-filled crackers. If he was hungry, those were one of his vices.

  One of many… along with baristas who had blue eyes the color of the Caribbean Sea.

  He was getting soft in his old age of twenty-nine.

  Dev’s body felt strong, both legs powerful. Luci was under him, naked. He nipped kisses down the nape of her neck as she writhed under him, making mewling sounds of pleasure.

  Heat licked at every inch of his skin as he pounded into her willing body and felt her sex clench around him. As he sucked the nipple closest to his lips, Luci arched off the mattress. She stroked a hand over his bare butt and pulled at him to drive deeper.

  She melted into him as sweat slicked their bodies. He wanted to see all of her, but couldn’t quite make out the lines of her body. His cock throbbed.

  Am I in my bed or hers? Did it fucking matter? All that mattered was he was having sex with the hottest woman he’d ever laid eyes on.

  Using his legs, he quickened the pace, driving farther as passion fueled him. He was so close, his balls were tight and his cock was as stiff as a rod.

  One more thrust into heaven…

  The alarm on his phone beeped at maximum volume, jerking him awake. Groggily Dev grabbed it, ready to toss it across the room. But then he’d have to spend full price to replace it… like before.

  He groaned and sat up. He looked down at the clothes he’d discarded next to the bed where he’d fallen face down to take a nap.