Erotic Deception (10 page)

“It’s all part of the job.”

She air toasted his response with the bottle and took a drink. She lowered the bottle and glanced down at the label, pushing at the edge with her thumbnail.

“Well Sheriff Walker, you’ll be happy to know your job just got easier. I was going to wait a day or two to head back to the city, but in light of this most recent development I might as well leave tomorrow.”

When seconds ticked by without a response, she glanced up. His bronze mask revealed nothing.

“Is that wise?” he eventually asked.

She shrugged. “My brother did a lot of good things for the city. His memory doesn’t deserve to be tainted like it is.” Her lips parted in a half smile. “Besides, I went to work at my brother’s facility straight out of college. As a psychologist, I need a recommendation to find another job and since Jerry’s business is the only place I’ve ever worked, I can only benefit from clearing his reputation and the work we achieved there.”

His eyes flickered. “You’re going up against the District Attorney on your own? What about your own safety? Or do you not consider him a threat any longer?”

“He trashed my apartment,” she said wryly. “I think that’s indicative of his mind set.”

Anger replaced his previous catatonic expression. “Do you have proof?” She shook her head and he let out an exclamation. “All the more reason not to confront him on your own.”

“I’m not,” she said and at his questioning look decided to elaborate.

Lily wasn’t crazy about opening up her personal life, but Jet deserved some explanation.

“Since you told me you lived in Kansas City for a while, I’m sure you’ll recognize the name, Bailer?”

His brows rose. “Not within my social circles, but I’ve heard of Patrick and Barbara Bailer.”

“Well, several years ago before I took back my maiden name, that’s what I used to call myself.”

As expected, he looked stunned. “You were married to their son, Fred?”

“Yep,” Lily popped the word. “So, although not exactly friends, they are in high places.”

Jet studied her. “That explains the Lexus and how you can afford to take time off from work.”

“I got some money,” Lily conceded. Compensation in lieu of motherhood.

Jet’s ever hawk-like gaze didn’t miss a thing, but even he couldn’t know the extent of her bitterness.

“Why didn’t I hear about Fred’s marriage?” Jet asked. “It should’ve been in the papers.”

“I was the skeleton in the closet.” Lily couldn’t believe how detached she’d become talking about her past with Fred. “And if you thought you didn’t run in the same circles, my perimeter couldn’t be more square. When things didn’t work out, Fred’s mother couldn’t wait for our divorce so she could pretend I never existed.”

He mulled over the information she’d imparted. “In that case, do you think they’d want to help you with Capriccio?”

Lily noted he hadn’t asked if they could help. Everyone knew the mere mention of the Bailer name could open bank vaults.

“His parents won’t be eager, but Fred will help me.”

A blue spark appeared behind his eyes to jolt Lily out of her stoicism. That wasn’t jealousy. Was it? She hid her confusion behind a sip of beer.

“I always thought Fred was gay.”

Lily sputtered liquid over the front of her robe. Between coughing and laughter, she said, “That is so not true.”

A smile was playing around Jet’s own mouth and then he shook his head. “Why else would he let someone like you go?”

Chapter Six

Her mouth mimicking that of a guppy’s, Lily dipped her head to hide the sudden wave of tears. It’d been an inane remark tossed out on a whim, but it was no less impactful. She hadn’t realized until then just how alone she’d felt or how hungry she’d become for human decency.

Embarrassed and in an attempt to camouflage her emotions, Lily rose from the chaise lounge. With forced nonchalance, she stepped the few feet into the kitchen.

Keeping her face averted, she cleared her throat and made light of the situation.

“You’re only saying that because I told you I was leaving tomorrow.” She pretended to study the small selection of alcohol. “Let’s celebrate my departure with something stronger than beer.”

She hadn’t been aware he’d joined her until strong hands turned her around. He put a hand under her chin and studied her face.

“I would’ve thought you were used to hearing things like that,” he said. “Then again I’m finding there’s nothing typical about you.”

A fresh surge of tears bubbled up.Jet groaned and lowered his head.

* * * *

She tasted like milk and honey. Jet lingered over the soft-pillowed fullness, savoring their texture. Everything sacred to his self-preservation told him to stop and get out of there. He couldn’t. As much as he’d promised himself, he didn’t have the strength.

He increased the pressure and was rewarded by her sweet response. Soft hands slid up his chest and erased what little space was between them. Her fingers journeyed around his neck to twist into the hair above the back of his collar. He pulled her in closer and her own soft moan escaped into his mouth. His head swam and needing some stability for his weakened knees, he backed her in the direction of the chaise lounge.

Who knew what would’ve happened next if his cell phone hadn’t beeped. Still, it took a few more beeps for him to drag his lips away and he drew in deep ragged breaths before answering.

“Sheriff Walker,” he said turning away.

* * * *

In mystified incredulity, Lily raked her shaking hands through her hair. One second she’d been feeling sorry for herself, in the next she’d been luxuriating in his embrace.

Kissing him was no longer a mystery and it paralleled the one and only time she’d Bungee Jumped. This time, however, there hadn’t been a safety rope to catch her. And darn if she didn’t want to repeat it.

“Thanks, Nathan,” Jet was speaking into the phone. “And good job. I’ll follow up with you tomorrow.”

He wrapped up his conversation and Lily’s heartbeat quickened when he turned to face her.

“That was the guy who took your 911 call,” he said quietly.

“Oh.” Awkward seconds beat off the clock and Lily struggled to fill the void. “How many people do you have working for you?”

“We’re a small community so there’s only Nathan, Mark and Denie, my dispatcher. You met her at the office your second day here.”

Another pause followed before he filled in the silence.

“Nathan wanted to verify he’d sent me to the right place. You didn’t identify yourself when you called in earlier.”

Lily swallowed. “I got spooked and dropped the phone,” she explained.

Jet nodded, which meant he’d seen her pick up the phone earlier. Did the man miss anything?

“Luckily, Nathan recognized your phone number from when you called in before.”

“The basement,” she said flatly and made a face. “I’m sure you’ll all be relieved when I leave tomorrow.” A sharp pain tugged at her and she turned away. “How about that drink?”

He looked as if he was going to say something else and then heaved a heavy sigh.

“Scotch would be great, if you have it. Neat,” he replied and walked toward to the small couch.

Lily poured his drink and then one for herself. She took them over to where he was sitting.

He reached out to take his and glanced up at her with that laser-like intensity.

“Leaving tomorrow is probably best for all of us,” he muttered

“Thanks,” she responded wryly.

“Come on, Lily.” Humor lit the back of his eyes. “You know as well as I do, with the right provocation, this thing between us will escalate if you stay here.”

It sounded like an accusation and in defense, she moved a few feet down to resume her own seat.

“Are you inferring I’d be the one to provoke it?” She asked not without some heat. “You were the one who kissed me.”

“Guilty,” he confessed and wisely switched the subject. “Getting back to your plans for Capriccio, how effective do you think it will be?”

“Anthony hates losing. He won’t go down without a fight.”

“And you think Bailer can protect you?” Jet asked.

Lily moved her shoulders. “I’ll have to take that chance.”

His mouth tightened. “What if he can’t? What then?”

“I don’t get to play with what ifs.”

“What if you moved to a different city?” he pointed out in contradiction. “St. Louis is a great place to start over.”

She huffed out a laugh. “And let a guilty man get away with murder? No way. Besides, I refuse to hide for the rest of my life.”

Anger flashed across his face and in a controlled move, he tossed down the entire contents of the scotch she’d poured. He set the glass down on the nearby coffee table and leaned forward to brace his elbows on his knees.

With his head bent, he spoke to his hands. “You could stay here and communicate with Bailer by phone. Let him resolve the situation before you move back.”

The words were uttered with such obvious reluctance; Lily suddenly lost the desire for alcohol. She plopped her glass down on the floor beside her and flung back against the couch.

“You just said you wanted me to leave.”

He turned to look up at her. “I believe I said it was better if you left.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Semantics.”

The lines around his eyes crinkled and he leaned back to join her, putting his shoulder perilously close to her long splayed-out hair.

She sought out a topic to take her mind off how near he was.

“So what about yourself. Do you have any family?”

“A sister. My mother died a few years ago,” he said, frustratingly brief.

Was she imagining it or did he not want to talk about his personal life?

“What about your father?”

He shrugged. “I never knew him.”

No elaboration there, either. She tried again.

“Is your sister the reason you moved back to Windom Hills?”

“One of them.”

He cut off further questioning by the simple action of picking up a lock of her hair. He rubbed the golden silk through his fingers and darn if it didn’t turn her limbs to Jell-O.

“Is this color real or is it from a bottle?”

The heat in his gaze burned away any offense at his question. Helpless, Lily could only nod.

“We’re in trouble, Lily. Damn it,” Jet swore softly and clasped his hand around her neck to draw her toward him.

Lily sighed and her eyes slid closed, this time ready to savor the firmness of his mouth.

At first, it was feather light. Then he began playing first with a modest increase before receding. His tongue darted out to skip along the seam of her mouth and the erotic tease ignited Lily’s desire to taste more. She rose up to press against him, but a hand on her rib cage checked the movement. In confusion, she backed away, but he wouldn’t allow that either. His lips remained poised above hers, a hand stroking at the base of her breast.

“Be sure about this, Lily,” he whispered.

He was delegating this decision to her. What was there to think about? Her attachment to him was overwhelming with strong emotional elements. Love? Rational people didn’t fall this quickly. It had to be that entire hero-worship thing.

Anyway, who knew the next time she’d come this close to a little happiness? Tomorrow they’d say goodbye. No harm. No foul.

Her heart called up a soft cry for protection, but she drowned it out and buried her face against his neck. With his scent assailing her nostrils, she touched her tongue to the smooth skin.

Jet stiffened, but didn’t draw away. Encouraged she pressed her mouth over the wet area and sucked. Jet’s throat contracted in a swallow and the pressure of her mouth intensified.

He groaned and pulled her chin up muttering against her lips. “I think you left a mark.”

“Mmm, sorry.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and opened her mouth to receive the soul-destroying kiss she’d been craving. The swirl of his tongue made her dizzy from the tantalizing dance and she trapped it to gently vacuum the tip.

He broke contact and said in a thick voice, “Baby, that mouth of yours is lethal.”

He grabbed her hips and straddled her over his lap
. Oh yeah.
She inched up to get closer, but her knee collided with his holstered gun.

“Undo the buckle,” he said huskily, pushing her back to give her space to access it.

Lily clumsily fumbled with the front of the duty belt and heard Jet’s muffled curse and laughter.

“On second thoughts, better let me do it.”

After unfastening the belt, he shifted forward to pull it from behind him and Lily threw her head back at the frontal collision.

“Steady,” Jet soothed before casting the heavy belt aside.