Jamie Hill Triple Threat (13 page)

He called for the pizzas, then they took the suitcases down the hall. “My room’s in here,” he indicated. “I thought we’d put the boys in the room next to mine. Then there’s a bathroom, and two more rooms at the end of the hall. Take your pick.”

She looked at him and purposely set her suitcase in his room.

He looked at her warily. “No drawer space in here.”

“Not a determining factor,” she replied, still holding his gaze.

He picked up her suitcase and took it to a bedroom across the hall. “I think this room should suit you fine. You’ll be close to the boys.”

She gave him an irritated look but decided not to push the issue at that moment. There would be time later for negotiations. “Suit yourself,” she muttered, and marched past him to the boys’ room.

“Crys…” He looked apologetic.

“Don’t.” She opened one suitcase and started refolding clothes.

He started on the other suitcase. “Seems like we just did this.”

“Hopefully this is the last time.” She remembered sorting the same clothes just a few days prior.

He looked at her. “Crys, I—” The doorbell rang, and the dog barked. Jack hesitated, then smiled. “Saved by the bell, I guess.”

“Chicken,” she tossed him a grin and followed him out.

Jack paid the pizza guy and took the boxes to the kitchen. The dinette table was basically clear. He only had to remove a few items to make room for them all.

Crystal
looked at the wall of cabinets—about twenty more than her apartment had—and asked, “Glasses?”

“Above the dishwasher on the left.”

“A dishwasher,” she said with a sigh of envy. She pulled out two glasses and set them on the table.

Jack laughed and got the milk from the refrigerator.
Crystal
looked over his shoulder into the fridge and said, “And adult beverages...wow.”

“God, yes. Want one?”

“God, yes,” she replied right back. He chuckled as he pulled out two longneck bottles of beer.

She dragged the boys away from the dog and helped them wash up before they sat down. Jack sent Zeus outside with his own dinner and joined the others at the table. “Everybody hungry?”

“Yeah!” both boys replied, and they ate heartily.
Crystal
didn’t have much of an appetite. Everyone else had finished, but she'd barely eaten anything.

“Use soap!” she called to the boys at the sink.

Jack looked over at her. “Didn’t like the pizza, or not hungry?”

“Not very hungry.”

He nodded and removed the pizza boxes and trash. He let Zeus back inside. The dog and boys took off to play again.
Crystal
smiled. “They haven’t asked to watch TV once.”

“Every boy should have a dog,” Jack replied, and opened the fridge. “Another?” He held up a beer.

“Do I dare?” She rose.

“Why not? You’re not driving, and everything is under control here.”

He twisted off the cap and she took the beer. “I feel safe here.”

He leaned back against a counter. “You
are
safe here. You’ve got an alarm, a watchdog, and me. What more could you need?” He smiled as he took a draw of his beer.

She nudged his hip on her way to look out the glass door. “I can think of a couple more things.” She looked back and smiled. “But just a couple.” She pulled out her cigarettes. “Do you mind?”

“Go ahead.” He unlocked the door and opened it about an inch. Cold air rushed in and Jack shivered. “Feels like snow.”

“Great,”
Crystal
muttered sarcastically. “I hate
Kansas
winters.”

“Where are you from originally?”

She took a puff and looked at him. “
Kansas
. That’s why I hate the winters.”

He chuckled. “You made it sound like it was better back where you came from.”

“Nope,
Kansas
born and raised. They always say ‘If you don’t like the weather just wait a few minutes, and it’ll change.’ But in my experience, the change is usually for the worse. ”

“I’d tend to agree with you there.” He finished his beer as she finished her smoke. “What do you say we try to corral those three and get them ready for bed?”

“Might as well.” She ran her cigarette under water at the sink and then threw it in the trash.

He watched her. “I don’t have any ashtrays. Sorry.”

She shrugged. “I need to quit anyway.” She took one last draw on her beer, and tossed the bottle as well.

Jack followed her to the living room, where the boys and dog rolled around on the floor. “I think Zeus will sleep as well as these two tonight.” He smiled down at them.

“Not too well, I hope.” She looked at Jack.

He shook his head. “He’s an excellent watchdog. Retired canine corps, remember?”

Crystal
nodded and remembered something else. “Jack, do you have a needle and thread?” She went to the dining room table and reached for the bag with the gutted bunny.

“Yeah, somewhere.” He rummaged through a closet and came back with a small sewing kit.

“Great.” She shoved the stuffing in the stomach of the bunny as Jack threaded the needle. “Look at you, Mr. Domestic.”

He grinned. “Somebody had to sew all those buttons back on the shirt that you ripped off the other night.”

She made a face at him and then said, “Oh yeah, I did say I was sorry about that, didn’t I?”

“I believe you did.” He squeezed the bunny’s stomach together and offered her the needle. “Care to do the honors?”

She took the needle and they worked together to repair the little rabbit. Finishing,
Crystal
snipped the thread and held the bunny up for inspection. “Not bad.” There was a smooth seam running down his chest, but he was otherwise intact.

“Looks like he had open heart surgery.”

She smiled sadly. “I guess he did, in a way. Thanks, Jack.”

“Anytime, babe.”

She gathered the boys to hit the bathroom and change into pajamas. Jack let Zeus outside one last time, and locked the house. He watched as
Crystal
tucked the small boys into the big bed, and saw Zeus settle on the floor at their bedside.
Crystal
wiggled the bunny at
Devon
, who grinned and clutched the stuffed animal to his chest. “Thanks,
Crystal
!” He gave her a hug, and she hugged back.

“Good night, sweetie. Good night Mark, honey. Have happy dreams.” She planted little kisses on the tops of their heads, and turned the nightlight on in their room. “Okay?”

Both boys nodded and said “Goodnight. Goodnight Jack.”

“’Night, you two. Sleep well. Zeus is watching out for you.”

The boys snuggled beneath the covers. Jack slid his arm around
Crystal
’s waist and led her out. He flipped the hall light off. They were alone in the dark once again. She leaned back against the door jamb to his room, and he put his forehead against hers. “Are we really safe here?” she whispered.

“I think we are.”

She slid her arms around his neck. “Then let’s go to bed. I think we both could use some distraction.”

He smiled at her almost despondently, and she knew his thoughts were not running along the same lines as hers. “Never mind!” She shoved him away, certain her face had flushed bright pink with embarrassment. She stomped into her room and tried to shut the door but he stepped in the threshold.

“
Crystal
, wait. I don’t want you to misinterpret—”

“Misinterpret what?” She almost screeched at him. “The kisses we’ve been sharing the past few days? The way you touch me? The feeling of your body pressed against mine?” She glared at him. “I think there’s been little room for misinterpretation. You acted like you wanted me. Now that I’m here, throwing myself at you, you act like you don’t.”

He gripped her forearm and spoke directly into her face. “You know I want you. More than I’ve ever wanted anyone in my life. But nothing has changed,
Crystal
. I’m still a cop working on a case that involves you. If anything, the stakes are higher now. Someone violated your home. I have to stay on top of things. I have to protect you and the boys.”

“And you don’t think you can protect me while I’m sleeping in your arms? Because that seems like the safest place in the world to me.”

He paused and she could see he forced a stern look. “I can’t let myself get distracted. If you were in my arms, not only would I not get any sleep, but I wouldn’t be focusing on what I
need
to be focusing on. I’m sorry, Crys. I really am. But my first priority is to keep you safe.”

She glared at him for another moment, then her shoulders sagged and she nodded. “Oh, all right. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

“Thank you for understanding.” He smiled at her as he moved into the hall.

“Yeah, I’m a frigging saint.” She took a step back and let the door slam between them.

* * * *

“Hey, it’s snowing!”
Crystal
heard Jack’s voice carry down the hall the next morning. She threw the covers over her head in protest.

The excited murmurs of the boys were followed by the scurry of footsteps from their room to the back door.

There was a light rap on her bedroom door, and Jack stuck his head in. “Good morning.”

“Did you say snow?”
Crystal
asked from under the covers.

“Yep,” he replied. “Come look. It’s beautiful out there.”

She lifted the blanket and looked under it. “Actually, it’s beautiful in here, too. You’re just too stubborn to notice.”

He laughed out loud. “Oh, I noticed all right. So much that it’s almost painful.”

She lowered the blanket from her face and smiled at him. “I can take away all your pain.”

He grabbed a robe off the foot of her bed and held it out to her. “I’m going to close my eyes. Get up and put this on.”

Crystal
smiled as he closed one eye and squinted through the other to watch. She stood up and snatched the robe from him. “Lost your chance, buddy. You don’t know what you’re missing.”

He looked up and down her flannel pajamas and laughed. “Lucky for me I’ve got a damn good imagination. I think I know. And I hate myself for being so noble, I really do.”

“You should,” she tied the robe around her waist and slipped her glasses on her nose. “Let’s go see this snow that’s got everybody all riled up.”

They joined the boys at the back door, and watched Zeus frolic in the winter wonderland.

“
Crystal
look!”
Devon
called. “Snow!”

“Zeus loves it,” Mark told them.

Jack stepped up behind them. “Zeus loves you guys,” he told the boys, and turned to
Crystal
. “I caught him sleeping between them on the bed last night.”

She chuckled. “He’s a great dog. I know you guys would love to join him out there, but you’ve got school.”

Jack spoke up. “Snow day. School's been canceled.”

“Yay!”
Devon
hopped up and down, and Mark gave him a high five.

Jack told them, “Go to the bathroom and then go watch TV for a few minutes. I’ll make pancakes for breakfast.”

“Pancakes! What a great day!” Mark hollered again, and they ran off.

Crystal
gave Jack a suspicious look. “There’s not enough snow to cancel school. What are you up to?”

He headed into the kitchen and got out the coffee pot and stuff to make pancakes. “They weren’t going to school anyway, just like you’re not going to work. You should call Moe and let him know what happened. Give him my cell number if you want, but don’t tell him where you are. Just tell him you’re safe.”

“You’re scaring me, Jack. You think we’re in danger, then?”

He shrugged as he continued working. “I can’t say for sure, babe. But I’m not taking chances with any of you.”

“So what are we supposed to do? Sit here and watch TV and twiddle our thumbs all day?”

He looked at her. “Pretty much. All complaints must be lodged in writing, in triplicate. Double spaced, please.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “For how long, do you think?”

“Um, gee, my mind-reading powers are on the fritz. Must be the snow.” He stirred the batter and poured pancakes onto the griddle.

She lit up a cigarette and watched him. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, and he looked damn good to her. “You’re pretty cute first thing in the morning, even if you’re not very funny.”

“My ass,” he snickered at her, flipping the pancakes.

She sighed as she walked behind him to pour two cups of coffee. “Yeah, I do like your ass.”