Double The Risk (8 page)

Ronan treated Diego to a nasty grin. “Do you mean Irish or just Callaghans?”

Diego winced. “Never mind. Forget I asked. Who is Uncle Connor?”

“He was my father’s partner, so not really an uncle. Just a really good friend, except like a lot of my father’s really good friends, he made himself pretty scarce once the rumors started flying. None of them wanted to be tainted as bad cops.”

Because it infuriated him as it always did when he remembered how his father’s name, and his mother’s by association, had been dragged through the mud with whispered innuendos, he paced away with clenched fists. He hated showing his darker emotions to others, preferring people to see only the carefree part of him.

His new partner had other ideas. Instead of giving him space, he trailed after him. “Didn’t anyone stand up for him?”

“Uncle James. That would be Mr. Police Commissioner, sir, these days. He’s been around my brothers’ lives and mine all these years since the murders, although he’s discreet about it, if you ask me.”

“Jesus,” Diego gasped at Ronan’s name dropping. “You really are some kind of Boston police royalty.”

“Yeah,” Ronan agreed ruefully. “Except it’s like being from the part of the family descended from the executed traitor. Sometimes, I think the only people who still believe my father was a good cop are my brothers and our cousin, Regan, and her father, Jack.” With a shake of his head. “I guess you can add Finn’s boyfriend, Michael Caruso.”

Diego stepped in front of him. “You can add me to that list, too.”

Ronan was incredulous. “Seriously? You’ve known me for like a day. Why would you believe a fucking thing I say or even care?”

“I told you, I know what it’s like to have cops whispering about you when your back is turned and get the facts wrong because the truth is either too awful to face or not awful enough to interest them.”

That was the second time his partner had alluded to some trouble he’d had in what Ronan could only assume was his time as a New York cop. There was a story there, and damned if he didn’t want to hear what it was. But now was not the time. “Okay, I get that. And, thanks. Anyway, I’ll ask my Uncle Jack, who really is my uncle, if he can set up a meet with Connor. He’s still on the force, I think, although working some desk job.”

“Good.” Diego nodded. “In the meantime, let’s take this place apart. Who knows, maybe there’s another hiding place.”

Ronan grimaced. This wasn’t going to be fun. But he had his date with Cassidy later to look forward to, that is, if his partner didn’t somehow manage to beat him to the punch again.

Chapter Four

Slut
. No, that wasn’t true. She wasn’t being fair to herself.

Cassidy stared back at her face in the restroom mirror at work. Her mother would think so, of course. Her mother, however, had also thought it was fine for Cassidy to have the longest engagement in the history of humanity. She had readily backed Thomas when he’d said he wanted to wait until they were done with their residencies in separate cities. Once they were back in Boston establishing their practices, they could throw the lavish affair that both families wanted, followed by a two week honeymoon in Europe. Then they’d come back and set up house in Weston or Wellesley or maybe Lincoln, one of the nice western suburbs so that they had the perfect home to bring their 2.5 children into when the time was right. So sensible and so utterly boring and unsatisfying.

No one seemed to think it important that the two of them spend time together, share intimate moments to strengthen their relationship. No one that is except Cassidy. At most, she’d seen her fiancé once a month depending on their hectic schedules, and the need for down time to get extra sleep always trumped their seeing each other. She had spent close to four years with mostly her vibrator for company, and as dedicated and diligent as her rabbit had been, it wasn’t the same as a flesh and blood man playing her body. It had finally occurred to her that, not only was self-gratification an unsatisfying way to spend early adulthood, it was also
more
satisfying than being with Thomas. The revelation had been her wake-up call.

Being with Diego last night had been the confirmation she’d made the right decision. God, her body still hummed with the excitement he’d stirred. She’d come so fast and hard with him and had been up and ready to go so quickly, that she understood she’d never really experienced sex the way she should have. The night had been eye-opening and knee-weakening. She’d all but floated through her day with the lingering effect of what, six orgasms, seven? She’d lost count. They’d made love three times before Diego limped out and she’d come at least twice each time. Wow, talking about making up for lost time.

Tonight she had a date with bachelor number two, and Ronan pushed her underused sexual buttons every much as his partner did. It was hard to believe she was going from practically a wallflower to a woman of infamy in twenty-four hours.

She was making some last minute adjustments to her make-up. Unlike her date with Diego, this one was planned, and she wanted to look her best. The only problem was that she felt a bit uncomfortable going out with someone else so quickly no matter how much she reminded herself that playing the field was perfectly legitimate. It wasn’t as if she’d pledged undying love or even exclusivity to Diego.

The tricky part was that he and Ronan were partners. She didn’t want to drive a wedge between them, however inadvertently. She had already decided she needed to come clean with Ronan before they started their date, in case he had a problem with it. Hiding it did no one any good. If he had a problem with it and wanted to cancel their date, she’d accept his decision with good grace.

With a last minute fuss with her hair, she left the women’s room and grabbed her stuff. Ronan had said he’d meet her in the lobby. She stepped into the elevator and ignored those angry butterflies threatening to take wing again. Slow even breaths calmed her down enough that she was able to put a relaxed smile on her lips as she stepped into the lobby.

She stopped for a half a second and caught her breath when she spotted him. He had the Irish rogue look down pat with his dark wavy hair and easy grin. He’d dressed up a bit for her, wearing khaki slacks and a button down shirt. He’d been checking his phone, but now he focused all of his attention on her as she approached. The expression on his face said he was not only glad to see her, but he really saw her and not some random woman. The intensity of his gaze unnerved her and reminded her of how Diego had looked at her the same way. Which led to her remembering she was about to say something that would wipe the smile from his face.

“Hi,” she said when they were only a few feet away.

“Hi, you look beautiful.” His grin morphed into a heated smile.

“Oh, thank you.” She flushed with the compliment. She’d dressed for the occasion, putting on a less than practical sleeveless sundress for the day with a drop waist and a hem cut on the bias for easy walking. She’d worn sneakers during work but now had on strappy gold sandals with a short spiky heel. Date clothes. She hoped he didn’t ride a bike, too.

“Shall we go?” He held out his hand, as if to usher her to his side. When she hesitated, his smile dimmed. “Is something wrong?”

Cassidy wet her lips and noticed how Ronan’s gaze followed the movement. “I need to tell you something before we leave. It might change your mind about tonight.”

“I doubt it, but please go ahead.”

“I went out with Diego last night. It was a spur of the moment thing, and…”

“I know. He told me this morning.”

“He did? What exactly did he tell you?”

“That he’d dropped by on the chance that you were free and asked you out to dinner.”

“Oh. Um, okay. Was that it?” Jesus, what was she asking him? Did she really want to know if Diego bragged about having sex with her? Besides, while she didn’t know him well, she couldn’t believe Diego was a fuck and tell kind of guy.

“That was it.” Ronan frowned slightly. “He didn’t give me details, and I didn’t ask for any. It’s none of my business what you two did last night.”

Well, that was awfully mature of him. It flew in the face of everything she thought she knew about men. “Then it doesn’t bother you?”

“The only thing that would bother me is if you’re only going out with me tonight because you’re too polite to cancel.”

“Oh! No,” she was quick to assure him. “I want to go out with you.” She felt her cheeks heat up and had to fight to keep from cupping them with her hands. She was so not good at this femme fatale stuff.

Ronan’s megawatt smile was back. “Great, let’s go.”

This time when he held out his hand, she stepped up to his side. Her body tingled when his palm lightly touched the small of her back, guiding her out of the building. He led her to a sedan that gleamed in the waning sun. Someone had been through the carwash recently. As he opened the door for her, she smiled her thanks and couldn’t help noticing that his pants were a little snugger than they had been.

Well, good. She was glad she wasn’t the only one aroused by their brief and chaste contact. “So, where are we going?”

Ronan glanced at her as he maneuvered out of the parking lot. “Do you like seafood?”

Raising her eyebrows, she turned to look at him. “Is that a serious question?”

Ronan shrugged. “Sure. Just because you’re raised with something, doesn’t mean you develop a liking for it. I’m not a big fan of the boiled dinner, for example.”

“Oh, I love corned beef and cabbage.”

Ronan grimaced. “I’ll be sure to let my Uncle Jack know to put you on the invitation list for dinner next St. Patrick’s Day. You can have my portion.”

“Hmm. I can’t wait.” She licked her lips. The little grunt that passed his lips told her she’d hit her mark. “Anyway, in answer to your question, yes, I love seafood, especially shellfish.”

“Good to hear because I am jonesin’ for lobster. And given the balmy night, I thought we’d go to a little place I know up in Rockport.” As he said it, she realized he was heading to Route 93 north. “If you don’t mind the drive.”

“I don’t mind. I enjoy riding in the car when I’m not the one driving. I’m like a dog that way,” she added with a laugh.

“A dog is not what comes to mind when I think of you, Cassidy.”

She laughed again. “I guess that’s good to hear. Still, if I were a dog, what kind of dog would I be, do you suppose?”

He looked at her skeptically. “Is this like a Barbara Walters interview?”

“Sure, why not? We can get to know each other by asking silly questions.”

“Okay, I’ll play along.” He hummed for a few seconds as he contemplated his answer. “I guess you’d be a poodle.”

“A poodle, why? I don’t have curly hair.”

“True, but poodles are very smart dogs.”

“Oh, I like that. They’re often pampered, too, though.”

“I wouldn’t mind pampering you if you were my poodle. In fact, I’ll amend my choice by saying that you would be a teacup poodle.” He glanced at her slyly and with enough heat in the brief gaze to make her reach for the vent and turn it to blow directly on her face.

“Really?” she choked out.

“Yup, I’d keep you curled up on my lap.” He shot her a wicked smile. Her only response was a sharp exhalation of breath. “Your turn.”

Well, Jesus, how was she going to top that little sexual innuendo? She racked her brains for a breed that fit the sexy charmer. Try as she might, though, nothing fit to her satisfaction until she thought outside the box. “You’re not a dog at all.”

“No?”

“No. You’re a cat. Not a house cat, a big cat, like a panther. Sleek and cunning and able to sneak up on your prey and pounce before they even know you’re there.”

Ronan was silent for long seconds. Finally, he cleared his throat. “I don’t think we should play this game anymore. My pants are uncomfortable as it is, frankly, and I really would like to get to Rockport in one piece. What was residency like?”

Cassidy couldn’t keep the smile off her face. She liked making a man squirm. Who knew dating could be so much fun? She took pity on him, though, and launched into the ins and outs of medical training. He listened to her, too. She could tell because he interrupted every once in a while, asking relevant questions. There was something very attractive about a man who listened.

Before she knew it, he pulled into the crushed stone parking lot of a small restaurant. It was quaint and a bit crowded, which meant the food was probably good. The hostess greeted Ronan warmly, as if he was well known to the place. So far everyone she saw with him seemed to know and like him. He was that kind of guy. The hostess found a table for them in a corner of the open veranda and handed them simple one page laminated menus.

“I’m having a two pound boiled lobster with a side of potato salad,” Ronan said without even looking at the menu. “How about you?”

Cassidy shrugged. “Sounds good to me.”

The server arrived to take their drink orders. Ronan went with beer, but Cassidy wanted a clear head, so she asked for iced tea. They ordered their food, too, as they’d already decided. Now that they were face-to-face, she felt a little awkward. Before Ronan could pick up the conversational ball, however, she decided that he’d heard enough about her and wanted to hear more about him. “Tell me about your family.”

Ronan’s expression became guarded for a second before the easy smile came back. “Not much to tell. I have one older brother and one younger one, both cops, although Finn’s badge is still shiny new.” He paused when their drinks arrived, then continued. “You may have heard that our parents were murdered eight years ago.”

Stunned at the news, Cassidy blinked back at him, trying to dredge up the social niceties that had been drilled into her by her mother. Instead, she blurted out, “That’s horrible!”

Ronan took a long swallow of beer. “Yeah, it was and it is. It’s still unsolved.”

“I would think the police would have worked overtime to find who’d killed one of their own.”

“You’d think, yeah. The thing is, my parents were barely in the ground before the rumors started that my father had been dirty and was killed when he tried to double-cross the mobsters who were paying him.”