Forbidden Attraction: A Contemporary Romance Box Set

by K. C. Crowne

  “Yes, you are,” Riggs laughed. “And I heard you guys just solved a huge case over in the Glendale area.”

  “Yeah,” Avery said, his voice boastful. “A big case full of a shit ton of paperwork.”

  “That’s always the way,” Riggs sympathized. “We won’t keep you for too long. We just wanted to find out if you’d heard anything about the theft.”

  “Oh, the theft. You mean the one from the evidence room,” he said, his voice pitching just a bit higher. “The one where a whole lotta money went missing before anyone logged the cash.”

  “That one,” I said, staring at him.

  “As far as I’ve heard, Ferrel did it,” he said, smiling and spreading his hands wide. “I mean, we don’t really pay much attention to that kind of stuff in vice.”

  “That kind of stuff?” I asked. “You mean stuff like a fellow cop was potentially set up by another cop?”

  “You know, over the years, I’ve seen a lot of shit between cops,” he commented offhandedly, his eyes darting to the window and back, though he wasn’t looking me in the eye. “It wouldn’t surprise me. I don’t really know all the guys over here, but I do know Ferrel was a pain in my ass when he was in vice. Maybe he pissed someone off over here.”

  “What kind of ‘shit between cops’ are you referring to, Captain?”

  “Oh, you know,” he said smoothly, waving a hand. “Shit’s constantly hitting the fan. Someone always wants to push the blame onto another guy.” He eyed me as if he thought I were incompetent. “You sure Ferrel isn’t guilty?”

  “We’re actually pretty positive,” Riggs announced, drawing his attention. “But we can’t bring him back until we get the real perp.”

  “Yeah, gotta keep him safe,” he said, letting out a deep breath. “I wish I could be more help to you. I got a lot of paperwork from that last bust, so I gotta get outta here if that’s all.”

  “That’s all. For now,” I said pointedly. “Do me a favor, if you hear anything, holler over here.”

  “Of course,” he said, standing and walking from the office without another word.

  I got up slowly, walked to the door, and shut it, turning and looking at Riggs. Avery gave me the creeps, and I’d felt gross just being in the office with him. Riggs looked like he felt the same.

  “Anybody else need a shower after that?” I joked.

  “Tell me about it,” he said, shuddering. “So, I guess we just sit back and wait. I think if it’s him, he’ll act pretty quickly, especially knowing we’ve cleared Ferrel.”

  “I agree,” I said, standing up. “I’m gonna call Ferrel.”

  I left the office and pulled out my phone, walking into an empty interrogation room. I didn’t want to take the chance of anyone hearing me. Martin answered after the third ring.

  “Any news?” he asked in lieu of a greeting.

  “Actually, yes,” I said. “Expect something soon.”

  “A name?”

  “You don’t need a name right now. Just keep your eyes open,” I said, hanging up.

  He already had all the cause to take the guy down that he needed. He didn’t need a name on the off chance we were wrong.

  “Hello?” I called as I stepped into my dad’s house that evening. “Where are you guys?”

  “Back here!” I heard Jenny call, and I headed for the backyard. I stepped out on the porch and stood next to Dad, who was watching Jenny rake the backyard, which was covered with leaves. “What’s goin’ on back here?”

  “You said Jenny wanted to make some money,” he reminded her. “I asked her if she wanted to make more after she did such a good job on the front yard.”

  “Hey baby!” I called, and she looked up at me and waved.

  “Hey, Mom! I’ll be done in a bit.” She returned to her work, and I chuckled, glancing at Dad.

  “Guess we’re staying here for a bit,” I said with a laugh.

  “Want something to drink?”

  “You got any scotch? I could use a drink,” I said, sighing.

  “I do, but only one, young lady,” he announced.

  I laughed again, rolling my eyes as I followed him inside. “Of course, Dad.”

  He grabbed two glasses and poured us both a small amount. I hid my little smile; Dad was making sure I didn’t drive drunk to my house with his granddaughter in the car. As if I would, I thought, giggling. He glanced at me.

  “What’s funny?”

  “Nothing, but I do have something to talk to you about.”

  “Shoot.” I lifted my drink and downed it, and he stared at me. “Whoa, it must be bad. Do you need another?”

  “No, no, I’m good,” I said hoarsely, shuddering from the heat of the drink burning down my throat. I looked at him and said quickly, “I’ve been seeing Martin Ferrel.”

  He frowned, confused, and said, “Okay. Good?”

  I glanced out the backdoor to make sure Jenny was still out in the yard. “Martin Ferrel is Jenny’s dad.”

  Dad sat back, his lips pursing as he nodded. “Okay. Is that a good thing?”

  “I haven’t decided yet,” I revealed. “But he does want to get to know Jenny.”

  “She’s been asking about her father, you know.”

  I frowned as well. “She’s asked me a couple times, but I didn’t know she’d said anything to you.”

  “Just offhandedly,” he said. “Asked me if I knew him.”

  “Well, he found out about her and wants to meet her,” I told him, explaining that I’d told Martin about his grandmother’s interference and the whole tale.

  “So what are you gonna do?”

  “What do you think?”

  He shook his head and waved his hand at me. “No, no, no. I’m not tellin’ you what to do, girl. You tell me what you’re gonna do.”

  I laughed at his dramatics, then sobered and shrugged my shoulders. “I’m gonna talk to Jenny first. This case should be over pretty quickly, so I’ll plan dinner with her Sunday and see what she thinks.”

  “Sunday?”

  “Yeah, um, I need a favor,” I said, smiling cheekily. “I’m pulling an all-nighter Saturday. Could Jenny stay with you?”

  “Sure thing, but is this gonna be a regular thing?”

  “No, no, and if you have plans I can ask if she can stay with her friend,” I rushed to assure him.

  “It’s no big deal, but I am planning a poker tournament here next weekend,” he informed me.

  “We will not get in your way, I promise.”

  “Then Saturday is free.” He cleared his throat and sipped his drink, finishing it. “And about this Martin Ferrel, is he a good man?”

  “He is, as far as I can tell.”

  “And you’re dating him?”

  My cheeks bloomed with color. “Um, sort of. We haven’t had time to date yet because of the case.”

  “But you’re going to?”

  “Yes, I think so, and even if we don’t, I think Jenny deserves to meet her father.”

  “I think you’re right, honey.” He winked at me.

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  Martin

  I finally would have some company; Saturday had arrived. I’d decided to make this stakeout a sort of date with Rene, so I was outside grilling some steaks, waiting on her to get to the house so we could eat and wait for any movement. Not the best situation for a date, but I would hopefully be able to take her on a real date soon.

  I wanted more than anything to talk about Jenny, to learn more about her. I had no idea what I would say to her. I’d never been around kids, didn’t know how to talk to them, so I’d be lost at first. But I was excited about the idea of meeting her.

  Focus, I told myself as I flipped the steaks and listened to the sizzle. I’d never meet Jenny if I went to prison, or worse, was killed in an altercation of some sort because I wasn’t paying attention.

  Lopez was watching the area from Joe’s just in case, and I didn’t want to fail her because of inattention. I’d introduced them and give
n an update on the new development. To my surprise, he took a liking to her, telling her she reminded him of his daughter. I was just glad he hadn’t threatened her. At least she would get to drink some old bourbon while she scanned the cameras from across the woods.

  I was happy there might be a break in the case and that I didn’t have to spend the day alone. I was willing to jump on any lead that we could get, and I was damn sure ready to do some real police work.

  I inhaled the scent of cooking steaks, feeling the sun beat down on me and listening to the birds singing in the trees. For a moment, I almost forgot why I was at the cabin in the first place. I could almost convince myself I was just on a well-deserved vacation and knowing that Rene would be there with me made it even better. I heard her car rolling up the driveway, and I smiled as she drove up and got out.

  I already felt calmer and more secure knowing she was close. I hated the fact that I couldn’t be around her, protecting her when she was off running the investigation. Not that she needed my protection; she was a badass cop in her own right. I felt a twinge of pride at the thought.

  She’d gotten to me, despite my best intentions, and I found myself increasingly okay with it. We shared a child, and I hoped that we could share a relationship.

  I nodded my head to her as she smiled at me, as she was no longer wearing her usual power suit. She had on a tight pair of jeans, a pink sweater, and low-top Chuck Taylor’s. Her hair was pulled tightly back in a ponytail, and her cheeks were pink from the sun. It reminded me of the day at the gym, when she had tried to get away from me, but I hadn’t let her out of my sight. That was the day that had started it all.

  A tingle ran through my chest as I thought about her getting angry at me over the stuck towels. And now look at me. All of that conniving to seduce her and there I was, getting ready for a damn picnic.

  “Hey,” she said, kissing my lips quickly. “That smells good.”

  I smiled as she walked past, going into the house with a couple of grocery bags of food. As I watched her walk away, I was blindsided with a thought. After all was said and done—when I got my gun and badge back, and when the perp was put away for good—I still wanted to be with her. Not just be with her, but live with her, grow with her. Marry her? Jesus Christ, I’m losing it over this woman.

  It wasn’t just about the sex, even though we did have some incredible sex. It was about more than that. It was about having an adventure together that didn’t involve police work, talking about our days, going on trips, going on dates, relaxing and watching movies, and everything else a typical couple did. Watching our daughter grow…

  Having her in my life had become a normal thing, something I couldn’t imagine not having. Sitting alone in that cabin had given me a lot of time to think, and she had been on my mind the entire time. I’d never really had a real relationship with anyone. Now, though, being with her, wanting her, I could imagine something serious and long-term coming.

  I couldn’t imagine the future without her. It was a strange feeling, something a bachelor playboy like myself wasn’t used to, but I didn’t mind the thoughts at all.

  “Don’t overcook those steaks,” she said, drawing me from my thoughts.

  “Cute,” I said, laughing at her jab.

  “I set the table out here for us,” she said, nodding to the plates and sides set up.

  “Perfect,” I replied, plating the steaks and walking over to the table.

  I kissed her before sitting down to eat. We sat there for about an hour, talking, laughing, and eating. It almost felt like we weren’t on a stakeout, like a dirty cop wasn’t hunting us down.

  Afterward, we cleaned up everything and took it all into the house. I put the leftovers in the fridge and rinsed off the dishes, stacking them in the dishwasher. Rene had settled into the couch with her laptop, messaging Lopez using her hotspot. We would get settled in for the night and wait for our perp to make a move on us.

  “Lopez says all clear for right now,” Rene announced. “She’s on duty all night over there, so she’ll let us know as soon as she sees anything.”

  “Good,” I said, watching the night arrive out the window.

  The mood of the day was changing, and the fact that I couldn’t see past the woodpile anymore made me nervous. Rene grabbed one of the books Joe had given me and began to read, but I couldn’t sit down. I was excited to possibly put an end to the nightmare.

  I looked at the guns and ammo on the table and laughed. My grandmother’s house looked like a mob scene in a movie. Only this time, the good guys had the guns, and the bad guys were on the outside. I was so wound up, I started to pace the floor, moving back and forth between the windows and the kitchen.

  “You’re going to run a hole in the floor,” Rene commented, not looking up. “Why don’t you come sit down?”

  “I can’t,” I said. “I’ve been cooped up in this place for too damn long. The idea that the perp is out there somewhere, waiting to try something stupid, is too nerve-wracking for me to put aside.”

  “Well, you’re making me fucking nervous with the damn pacing,” she grouched. “Look, he either shows or he doesn’t. Haven’t you ever been on a stakeout before?”

  “Yeah, when I was watching the bad guys, and not the one being watched. This is different.”

  “Well, you need to think of it the same way, because this pacing isn’t helping anyone,” she said. “We both need to keep our heads on our shoulders. You know better than most people that a nervous cop with a happy trigger finger can get someone hurt.”

  “I don’t even have my gun on me,” I reminded her. Sure, I had the .45, but not my service pistol with which my shooting was much straighter.

  “I know,” she replied. “I have your gun, but I’m not handing it over until you calm the hell down and stand or sit in one place for a while. I don’t need you accidentally shooting me.”

  “You know,” I said, walking toward her, “I can definitely think of a few ways you could settle me down. You know, expend some of this nervous energy.”

  “Why does it not surprise me that all you can think about is getting laid?” she said, shaking her head. “Men are unbelievable. I can see it now, my legs up in the air, you fucking me and in walks the perp, staring at us with a camera and a gun.”

  “I can do it with my gun holster on if that makes you feel better.” I laughed at the annoyance clear on her face.

  “That doesn’t sound safe in the least,” she jeered. “Besides, now is not the time for us to be going off into another world. We need to stay vigilant. With the clouds out tonight, we can’t rely on those cameras to catch every movement. We have to look out for ourselves too.”

  I grunted and started pacing again, knowing she was right. I needed to keep my wits about me, and being balls deep in Rene wasn’t going to help me do that. I walked over to the window and stood to the side, peering through the edge of the curtains. Everything was calm outside. Too calm. There wasn’t even a breeze out there. It felt almost eerie, like the calm before the storm, and it weirded me out.

  I continued to walk back and forth, almost grabbing a beer but deciding alcohol wasn’t any better an idea than sex. It was getting later, and still, we hadn’t heard a peep. Rene turned off the overhead lights and flipped on the table lamps to make it look like we’d gone to bed. I sighed and walked over to the big recliner in the living room and plopped down. It was my favorite chair and had helped calm me ever since I was a little boy. I propped the footrest up and leaned back, folding my hands over my chest and closing my eyes. Before I knew it, I passed out.

  I was sleeping hard, not even waking up to the sounds of Rene on her computer. It wasn’t often that I slept that well, usually dealing with dreams about what I had seen at different crime scenes. Since I hadn’t been doing any real police work lately, I didn’t have anything left to dream about. After what seemed like hours, snoring in the recliner, I woke up, feeling Rene shaking me.

  I slowly opened my eyes and looked up
at her, sensing something was happening. She was standing over me, her gun drawn and a finger over her lips. My heart leaped into my chest as I slowly sat up and pushed the footrest down carefully. The blinds were drawn and there was no light coming through from the outside. We sat in silence, listening for any kind of noise.

  I gripped the arms of the chair, feeling the adrenaline pumping through my body, remembering again what it was like to be a cop. The only difference was our lives were at stake.

  Just as that thought blew through my mind, there was a loud thump out back. I looked at Rene, who was standing with her gun pointed toward the kitchen.

  Rene

  “What was that?” he whispered.

  “I don’t know,” I said, creeping toward the kitchen. I scanned every inch but saw nothing and no one. “Nothing in here.”

  I walked back into the living room and stood beside Martin, flipping through my phone. I could tell he was trying to get his head straight after being woken up suddenly. He looked at me as I let out a deep breath.

  “Lopez texted me,” I said. “There was movement behind the cabin. She couldn’t make out what it was, but she said that it was definitely not a deer. It was moving slowly and methodically. Joe’s cameras picked it up, but all they could see was the heat source.”

  “So, either our perp has arrived, or Sasquatch came to visit,” he joked. “Let’s hope it’s the perp because I don’t wanna be out here with Bigfoot.”

  I snorted a quiet laugh. “We’re going to go check it out, but we don’t know what this guy is armed with,” I reminded him. “There’s Kevlar on the table and your gun is already loaded. The captain gave it to me before I left for the day. He said he’d rather have you shooting with your department issue than explaining a private weapon.”

  “I feel better with my work weapon, anyway. I’ve used it for years.”

  “Go ahead and gear up. I don’t wanna miss our chance.”

  I watched him walk carefully over to the table and pull on his vest and pick up his gun. He checked it and grasped it with two hands. He looked at me and nodded toward the kitchen. I shook my head and started to slowly walk toward the back door. The kitchen was clear, so I knew the perp was still outside, but I wasn’t sure what the hell he was doing out there.