Beautiful Bounty (The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros. Book 1) (13 page)

“Gary Caldwell. My ex,” she stated vehemently looking downcast and away from Nikko.  “I know it was him because when the police were approaching, and the people in line began to murmur their suspicions because there were so many officers and custom officials with dogs, I turned to Gary, and he looked terrified. He was already backing away.”

“Really?” Her attorney’s voice sounded pleasantly surprised. “Tell me about

Gary?”

“I told this to the police, but they didn’t seem interested,” she confessed.

“They wrote nothing about that in the police report. That I find strange too. I will most certainly be calling the prosecutor today about that. What else should I know about Gary?” Mr. Stimson didn’t sound pleased that the police ignored putting this information in their report of their initial interview with Ronnie. He was taking notes while she spoke.

“Well, he does smoke pot, or did. And his family is connected.  They don’t know about him smoking pot on occasion though. Well, not that I know of. But, I have seen him do it a few times. I’d thought he stopped. In fact, I had demanded he stop.  It was one of the reasons we broke up last year. His grades were slipping and I suspected he was using again this year. I nearly ended it, but he swore he wasn’t using right before our trip. But, I’d noticed these last few months he had been sleeping more, missing classes, in fact he never would have graduated without me.”

“You didn’t cheat?” her attorney asked, looking up from his pad of paper.

“No! I wouldn’t do that. But before tests and exams I’d review with him, orally tell him what I knew and what I thought would be on the test. He scraped by. I’d also read his papers and give him suggestions.”

“Okay, this is good. The prosecution can of course argue you were a mule for your lover.”

Nikko winced at those words, but tried to hide it when Ronnie looked over at him briefly before returning her attention to her attorney.

“Has he been arrested that you know of? I need his address, and the location of his hang outs.”

Ronnie gave him the information. To her knowledge, he had never been arrested. Her attorney asked about Gary’s friends and family as well. He was there over two hours and time flew as he quizzed her more about Gary and his friends. He took copious notes, his pen flying across the yellow legal pad.

Nikko, too, was listening quietly filing it all away so he could report in with his brother. This Gary Caldwell sounded like a real ass, and he cringed at the thought of this guy being Ronnie’s lover. The slime ball, pot head, let his girl take the rap for his stupid attempt at scoring some cheap drugs and having his own little stock pile. Fucking ass bag. What a no good mother fucker!

Nikko gave Ronnie a supportive smile when the attorney asked about her spending habits. Wanting to know about them in case the prosecution discovered she had more money than she could explain through college loans and scholarships, and her tutoring. When she told him about her frugal lifestyle, he seemed quite satisfied.

“Well, I think I have enough of a start here,” Mr. Stimson concluded as he began to pack up his papers, reaching for his briefcase.

Lou got up, and thanked him as he rose. Nikko and Ronnie followed suit both standing as well, stretching their legs after sitting so long. Mr. Stimson clicked shut his briefcase.

“If there is anything else you think of, call me.” He handed her a card with his office number, and his private cell phone number circled. “The best defense, Ronnie, is a good offense. And you have given me a lot of information. One, I’m going to hire someone to go to Maine and dig into this Gary Caldwell. Two, I’m going to roar like a lion down at the police station as to why the arrest reports make no mention of this Gary fellow you were traveling with, and your other companions for that matter. I’ll threaten bringing the press on to that fact to make them use some police monies to look into that route. They hate the suggestion of police ineptness getting leaked to the media, so I think they’ll hustle there. It’s all about planting reasonable doubt, Ronnie, and there is a lot of that in this case. And number three, I’m going to customs at the Port of Tampa, and get some video footage of that sneaky bastard leaving you in the lurch. That just might be our best piece of evidence yet.”

“Oh my God, that would be great. I hadn’t even thought of that,” Ronnie exclaimed as Lou’s hand squeezed her shoulder.

“I can’t promise the angles will be good, or quality, but if we get anything showing him slinking away, that will definitely be an ace up our sleeve.” He winked at Ronnie while he shook Lou’s outstretched hand.

“Won’t you have to release that evidence to the prosecution?” Nikko interrupted for the first time.

“By all means, and if it’s good enough video evidence, they’ll start digging too. I’ll punch holes in their case until they drop it, or in court I will make them look like a bunch of bumbling keystone cops who dropped the ball. Either way works fine by me.” He shook Nikko’s hand and began to head towards the door reminding Ronnie to call him if she thought of anything else.

She promised. When he left she felt better than she had in a long time. She had a defense.  He was planning a great offense. And she had a smart attorney too.

When Ronnie’s attorney left a little after noon, Lou suggested they have a light lunch. Ronnie looked at Nikko eyes asking him if he wanted to stay without words, and although it looked like she wanted him to stay, he felt she probably needed some time to herself to process all that had happened. He also didn’t want to push his luck with her mom.

“I’d like to, really, but I need to go make some copies of the paperwork my brother left with me, and I do have a few phone calls I’d like to make.” He softened the look of disappointment that crossed her face by winking mischievously and adding, “But how about, I pop in tonight, maybe take you out for a milkshake!”

Ronnie tried to contain it, but burst out laughing despite her mother’s confusion. “Really? A milkshake! That’s the best you can come up with.” She rolled her eyes at her mom, who just smiled politely and went to the kitchen. Ronnie walked Nikko to the door after he waved goodbye to Louisa across the expanse of the living room.

“I’ll see you later, I guess,” Louisa called out shrugging her shoulders and began to fix a sandwich plate for her and her daughter.  She watched Ronnie follow Nikko outside.

Lou could tell these two had some kind of connection, and although she was worried Ronnie would be tempted by the handsome young man’s charms, she seriously hoped she wouldn’t fall for the guy. The timing was just not right for this. But on the other hand, he was also a distraction, and perhaps she thought more glumly, as she peered in the refrigerator for the fixings for a salad, he could get her mind off her problems every now and then. Her daughter had a rough road ahead of her. She just didn’t want to think about what she could possibly face, so set to work chopping the vegetables for the salad.  She needed to eat healthy, keep up her strength and had not one, but two children to consider now.

Ronnie followed Nikko outside. She was still laughing at him.

“Well, what else could I have said?” he teased back, “The truth? I want your daughter, Mrs. Russell. I want the chance to be alone with her. I’ll pick her up later; I’ll take her for a ride in my car, and see how far I can get. A milkshake seemed more innocent, friends going out for a sweet treat. Your laughing at me, I’m sure, made your mom quite suspicious. Now she’ll figure milkshake is code word for ‘I’m taking your daughter out for a night of passion, and I’ll bring her home sore and tired, but feeling great.’”

At first Ronnie was shocked by his blunt manner and took a step back. Then laughed at the ludicrousness of the entire situation. Here she was, contemplating his offer, a man whom she had sworn off last summer, and yesterday. But a good night’s sleep, a couple of refreshingly honest conversations, had her seeing Nikko in a different light.

“Is it the truth?” she asked huskily.

Nikko heard the question, but her tone threw him off. His pulse beat a little faster. He didn’t want to push. And hell yes, it was the truth. “Only if you want it too,” he answered holding back. She just looked at him, brown eyes staring into blue. Seeing him for the first time.

She was tempted.  God, help her.  Her mouth was suddenly dry.  But his statement, although said in jest, reminded her he was a playboy, a very handsome one whom she found way too attractive. The kiss this morning had been a mistake, one she initiated, and maybe now regretted. He was getting harder and harder to resist.

If they had consummated their passions last summer, who knows where she’d be now. She never would have taken Gary back. She questioned why she ever had. In their small circle of friends, it had been more for companionship than anything else. All of their other friends were already coupled up, and it had been convenient. She’d been planning to break up with him after graduation, find a job far away, and just break it off cleanly. He’d never leave Maine, or his family. His father owned a lumbering company that cut down trees and prepared them for sale, and he was planning on pursuing that as was expected of him.

She shook her head, if only. Nikko was looking at her curiously. He was waiting for an answer. Yes, if only . . . he wasn’t so damn handsome. She needed to remind him of her situation.

“Well, although a milkshake does sound yummy,” she rubbed her belly mocking him, to make the blow of her next words easier to take, “you could have just said, I need to go fill my brothers in on all the info I got from sitting in on the conversation between lawyer and client, and then I’ll be back to keep a vigilant eye on the possible flight risk.” She was stalling. His invitation was there, clear as day, open and waiting. All she had to do was say yes.

His eyes narrowed in disappointment. Too soon, he thought. He saw in her eyes she was shutting down again. The ice princess was back. Damn, this girl ran hot and cold, and switched gears so fast he couldn’t keep up. But he couldn’t fault her now, not with the situation she was in. He gave her his most stunning smile and also gave her the truth.

“Yes, I do need to speak to my brothers, true. Do I think you’re a flight risk?” He paused long and hard to let her wonder. “No, I don’t think you’ll run. Your mother would lose her house. And, you wouldn’t do that to her.”  He already sensed how important her family was to her. They shared that.

Uncomfortable under his gaze, Ronnie looked down at her feet momentarily. When she looked up, his smile was replaced with an expression of regret. A warm feeling welled within her chest, and she decided to be honest with him.

“I’m sorry Nikko, my emotions are just all over the place. I shouldn’t have led you on. I know I kissed you earlier, but we really shouldn’t…” She sighed and ended abruptly, not sure of how to finish.

He didn’t even give her the chance though. “Why?” He asked point blank. His blue eyes searched hers. She just stared at him blankly not knowing what to say. He began to approach her, still staring into her brown eyes. His hands went up to skim her arms, and she shivered under his touch. He was mere inches away. “Why?” Again the question. He dropped his voice down to a husky whisper, making her skin feel warm and cool at the same time.  “Why?” he asked again in a breath that mimicked the whisper of the summer breeze.

“Because,” she stammered. She couldn’t think with him so close, so near.

Gary never made her feel like this. Gary never . . . And that was it. With Nikko . . . she couldn’t think clearly. She pushed herself back from him.

“Because, I need to have my head and wits about me, and with you around, I can’t think straight. You confuse me. Just your nearness. And, to you I am just another conquest, a notch on your belt, like the redhead I saw about to give you a blow job in the parking lot. Like Linda from Big Jimbo’s, and however many countless others there may have been. And honestly, Nikko,” she begged him to understand what she was trying to say, “I’m not that kind of girl. I don’t have casual affairs.” She turned abruptly to head back into the house.

He reacted by instinct and stopped her even though she had thrown him for a loop, a real curve ball.  He was confused. With his hand on her shoulder, she stopped and slowly turned to face him as he spoke, “What? Wait. Last year?” he asked. He saw what looked like a flash of pain cross her eyes, but wasn’t sure. It was gone in an instant, replaced by anger.

“Yes, when you and I were going to meet up later, but you found someone else. If I am being really honest about it, I was hurt. I mean stupid. I don’t know. I thought you liked me. Thought we could have a fun summer. I know it was just one night, but damn, an hour later and you’re fondling someone else, and letting her . . . “ Ronnie winced and looked away not able to meet his gaze any longer.

Nikko’s eyes widened in horror. “Whoa, letting her! I was trying to push her away. She was drunk, and she was all over me. Not the other way around. I wasn’t interested in her in the least. I was, I still am, very interested in you. And, I know you are a good girl.” He took his hand and lightly cupped her chin to bring her eyes to him. “And Ronnie, if I have to be honest here, I’ve never been THAT interested in anybody before. And so you know, I also went home that night, alone and very frustrated. Very disappointed. I tried to get Monica to invite you over when she returned from her honeymoon, but she and Vic had so much going on when they got back. Then Ana came by with her newly adopted daughter, Jessica, nearly every other day. They mentioned you were leaving soon, and so I let it go. Please believe me.” His words were said so sincerely, they threw her for a loop.