A Man to Trust (9 page)

Jake clamped his jaw tight to stop the curse that hung there.

She’d been a virgin?

There was a moment of silence. “Angel?” he prodded.

She glanced up at him, her eyes filled with pain. “Let’s just say it wasn’t the night of my dreams.” She turned away.

Jake could stand it no more and leapt to his feet and reached her in two quick steps. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back against him. She trembled. Whether from desire or fear, he didn’t know.

“Tell me.” He tried to soften his tone, but his voice sounded harsh.

Dammit
.

It was the best he could do with both anger and lust clawing at him.

“He showed me that I belonged to him, and no one else.”

Jake felt the tears that dripped onto his arm and tensed. His teeth gritted, filled with the urge to either fight or fuck, to release the pent-up emotions that burned through him.

But this wasn’t about him. This was about Angela and her pain. His imagination managed to create an all-too-real picture of that night in his mind.

“He hurt you?”

“Yes.” Her voice shook.

She straightened and stepped away, forcing him to release her. His arms fell to his sides.

“Then he made sure I’d never forget that he owned me.”

J.D. braked in front of a white colonial style home with blue and gray shutters, nestled under a forest of trees at the end of a cul-de-sac located in an upscale neighborhood of Port Washington. The boutique business must be doing very well, he mused, eyeing the new, bright red, GTO Mustang that sat in the driveway.

Rick had asked him to speak with Angela’s friend, Stacey, and see if he could learn anything that might help with the case. He exited the car and made his way to the front door, then rang the doorbell.

The porch light came on just before the door was thrown open and a petite woman with long, flaming red curls stepped out with a smile on her face and a bottle of wine in her hand.

“Angela, it’s about . . .” Her voice stopped when she saw J.D. standing there. She inhaled sharply, a look of confusion and a little bit of panic crossed her face.

He scowled. She should be frightened. He wasn’t in uniform. What was she thinking, opening the door to a strange man late at night with not so much as a ‘Who’s there?’ He let her flounder for a brief moment, before introducing himself. Maybe she’d think twice before doing it again.

He reached into his pocket for his badge. “I’m with the police, ma’am.” He flashed his badge.

She studied the badge, her brows furrowed delicately between dazzling amber eyes. Her lips curved. “Stacey. Please call me Stacey.”

J.D. froze, caught in the beam of her thousand-watt smile. He cleared his throat and swallowed. “I just have a couple questions for you regarding Angela Beebe.”

Her eyes widened. “Angela? Did something happen to Angela?” Her voice rose.

“No, she’s fine. If you don’t mind, could we please step inside? This won’t take long.”

A pink tongue darted out between her lips in a nervous gesture. His pulse raced with interest. She was a beautiful woman. Tiny and full figured, some might even consider her plump. She stood no more than five feet. But those five feet packed a helluva punch. Her fashionable outfit emphasized her generous curves. His mouth went dry, imagining how he’d slowly stroke her soft curves. She’d be a pleasant handful, no doubt about it.

Stacey stepped back and waved him in, shutting the door behind them. The musical sound of jingling jewelry moved with her as they made their way to the living room. She took a seat on a black leather loveseat. J.D. settled into the matching chair across from her.

“So, Officer, what’s going on with Angela?” Concern vibrated in her voice.

“Ma’am,” J.D began.

“Stacey, remember? Ma’am is my mother.” Her eyes twinkled at him for a second, before turning serious.

J.D. smiled. She was adorable, and he had a feeling bubbly just about summed her up. Even her voice was cute, with a high musical pitch. And she spoke twice as fast as normal, as though she rushed to get the words out before anyone could stop her. “Stacey, Angela is fine, but she ran into a little bit of trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“She was struck by a car two days ago—”

Stacey jumped up, which, at her height, put her chest at the level of his eyes. The deep V of her blouse showcased her generous cleavage. She was close enough that if he leaned forward he could press his mouth against the tempting swells.

“Is she okay?”

He lifted his gaze. “She’s fine. Please, take a seat.”

J.D. needed her to sit so he could focus. He’d dated a couple women over the last year and had even slept with one, awakening his libido from a long hibernation after his wife’s death, even as it had filled him with guilt. He’d been celibate again now for over five months, with not the slightest interest in bedding a woman again. Until now.

Concern radiated from every pore as she took a seat. He brought her up to speed on the situation. Her soft feminine gasps only intensified his interest.

J.D. gave her a minute to digest the information. “Can you tell me anything about Angela’s husband?”

Her eyes flashed with anger. “He was a bastard.”

He quirked a brow. “How so?”

Stacey glanced away. “I don’t think it’s my place to say.”

“This is a police investigation, Stacey. I need you to tell me everything you know.”

“Why don’t you ask Angela?”

“I need you to answer the question, please.”

Her eyes narrowed and her full lips thinned. She stood and walked to a china cabinet, retrieved something and turned back to him, one hip braced on the cabinet. The struggle on whether to answer his question, or not, flashed across her expressive face like a neon light.

She reached back and gathered her wild locks, taming them into a ponytail holder as she studied him. Without the mountain of hair falling around her face, he was able to admire her flawless complexion and soft lines of her neck. She looked sweet and delectable, and he wanted to taste her.

Stacey sighed and returned, taking the seat across from him again.

J.D. shifted uncomfortably as his body came alive for this tiny little redhead. “Stacey. Would you please tell me what you know about Scott Beebe?”

She met his gaze. “Scott beat her.”

He grimaced, although he’d half-expected the answer. “How do you know that? Did you ever see him hit her?”

“No. I didn’t really get to know Angela until after Scott’s death. I mean, we both attended the same health club, but it wasn’t until after his murder that we became friends.”

“What did she tell you?”

“Angela told me it was his way to control her. She’d tried to leave him a couple times, but he always managed to find her and force her back.” Her eyes met his, and fury radiated from them. “He would punish her for running.”

So, she’d tried to leave him. Was that what she was hiding? But why? “What kind of punishment?”

Stacey shook her head. “I don’t know. Angela would never tell me.”

“Do you know why she never went to the police?”

“No. She just said she couldn’t. If I pushed her on it, she would become upset and wouldn’t speak to me for days. When she threatened to quit working at my boutique, I stopped asking. I didn’t want to lose her friendship.”

“Did you ever meet Scott?”

“No.”

“Is there anything else you can remember that might help understand who’d want to hurt her?”

“No. I’m sorry, that’s all I know.”

“Okay.” J.D. stood to leave. “Thank you for your cooperation, Stacey.” He smiled at her, liking the soft blush that rose to her cheeks.

Stacey peered up at him from under her lashes. Her wide eyes were a mesmerizing light shade of golden copper and a window to her feelings. Her worry and fear shone from them as brilliant as an exploding star. “Where’s Angela now? Can I see her?” Her lips pursed.

J.D. had the urge to gather her in his arms and comfort her.

What the hell?

With difficulty, he steeled himself against the emotion. “We’ve moved her to a safe location until after the trial.”

“I’d like to see her.”

J.D. shook his head. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”

“Why not?”

He didn’t have a good answer for that and he still wanted to remove the anxious expression from her face.

Why not? What could it hurt?

“I’ll see what I can do.”

She smiled, her face hopeful. “Thank you, Officer.”

“You can call me J.D.” He gave her a smile, fully intending to contact her when he wasn’t on duty, to ask her out.

“Okay, J.D.,” she said with a blush that matched the red of her hair.

A surge of hope shot through him. Maybe he actually had a shot with her if he played his cards right.

Jake bit back a curse.
Show her that he owned her.

The words echoed in his mind. He gently turned her around so she faced him, scanning the length of her. She was a lot of woman. Tall, lean, and healthy. No fragile flower, he couldn’t imagine her being easily subdued. His teeth gritted. Scott Beebe had been a big man and could have hurt her in any number of ways.

Sonofabitch
.

“What did he do?” His voice came out in a low, angry tone.

Angela shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

When she tried to step away, his grip tightened. She winced.

Shit!

Jake dropped his arms and raked his fingers through his hair, unable to think through his fury at the implication of her words. He felt like a total ass when she reached up to rub where his hands had been. Her large green eyes watched him warily.

Self-loathing filled him. God knows what she’d endured at the hands of her goddamn husband, and here he was laying hands on her. “I’m sorry, Angel. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

He caressed the barely visible mark that blushed across her skin where he’d manhandled her.

She shook her head. “You didn’t.”

He continued to berate himself as she went to the refrigerator, then reached inside and pulled out a bottle of water.

“Want one?” Her voice held a shaky quality.

“No.” Jake waited until she shut the refrigerator door and turned around. Her dark lashes shadowed her cheeks and she studied the bottle in her hand. Her bottom lip trembled.

He went to her and placed a finger under her chin, tilting her head up so he could look into her eyes. Pain hid there.

“I need you to tell me everything. It’s the only way I’m going to be able to figure out what the hell is going on.” His tone was gentle, coaxing. He brushed her cheek softly with the back of his hand. “To protect you.”

She licked her lips, opened her mouth. For a moment he thought she was going to tell him. Then her lips pressed into firm lines and her back stiffened, a look of determination entered her eyes. He knew the moment had passed. A curse formed on his lips but he held it back, not wanting to frighten her again.

She brushed past him and headed back to the living room, then plopped onto the love seat. “I don’t want to talk about my marriage. What other questions do you have?” She put the water bottle to her mouth and took a long drink.

Jake knew when to choose his battles and it was time to concede, for now. But he wasn’t giving up. She’d tell him everything eventually. He just needed to bide his time.

He took a seat next to her. “Is there anything you can remember about Scott’s business? Anything at all?”

She gave her head a slight shake. “Scott rarely talked about business around me.”

“Daniel Collins was his partner?”

“I don’t know if he was a partner, or just worked for Scott.” She shuddered. “Although, I always felt Daniel was dangerous. The way he’d watch me . . .”

Jake tensed. She was right about that. Collins had been dangerous, a murderer and a rapist. “Did he ever touch you?”

She shook her head.

He let out a relieved breath. “Anything else you remember?”

Her eyes focused on a spot over his shoulder. “Well—” Her brows drew together.

“What? What do you remember?”

“There was this one time that I walked into the den unexpectedly, right before Scott’s death. He was there with a man.” She paused, her gaze meeting his. “A well-dressed man, not a thug. They seemed to be in a heated argument that stopped the minute I came in.”

“Do you remember what this guy looked like?”

She nodded again. “Yes, sort of.”

“Great. I’ll arrange for a sketch artist first thing tomorrow.” Maybe this was the lead they’d been waiting for.

Angela studied the sketch in her hand. “Yes. That’s him.” She glanced up at Jake and handed the sheet of paper to him. “Your sketch artist is really good.”

Jake took the composite sketch from her and placed it on the coffee table. “No,” he said. “Your description was really good.” He reached down and took her hands, tugging her to her feet.

Her body brushed his as she stood, and he inhaled sharply. She met his passion-filled gaze as anticipation swept through her. Her heart raced when he palmed her face with both hands and lowered his mouth to hers.

“Angel,” he murmured as his lips covered hers in a heated kiss.

The feel of Jake’s soft lips against hers sent ribbons of heat fluttering through her. He backed her up until she was pressed against the wall. With one hand cupping the back of her head he kissed her, the other hand slid up her thigh, and under her nightgown. Her skin burned when he lightly skimmed across her belly, moving up in slow possessive caresses until he covered her breast with a large warm palm. He massaged first one, then the other, as he plundered her mouth. His thumb caressed her tips until they swelled and her center cried for the same sensual ministration.

The feel of his erection pressed intimately at the juncture of her thighs drove her passion higher.

‘
Yes,’ she gasped.
Wanting him to take her against the wall and show her the pleasure he promised with his kisses.

“Angel,” Jake murmured against her lips. His hand made slow gentle caresses down her body until he reached her panties. She gasped as he slid his hand under them to touch her most sensitive area. She moaned with ecstasy when he filled her with two fingers in one sensual thrust.

Pleasure shot through her and she rocked against his hand seeking more. His lips trailed tiny kisses across her neck, and back up to capture her mouth.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered in her ear.

Jake dropped to his knees, tugging her panties down as he went. His tongue replaced where his fingers had been, as he delved into her, thrusting and caressing in an intimate kiss of passion. Her legs buckled, the only thing stopping her slide to the floor was Jake’s hand on her belly, holding her up against the wall. His other hand spreading her legs as he pleasured her.

His warm mouth wrapped around the delicate flower between her thighs and he sucked gently, sending her rocketing into an intense orgasm.

“Jake!”