Lucky Streak (10 page)

The minute Amber stepped inside the exquisitely decorated restaurant and smelled the delicious aroma of Italian food, she formulated an addition to her plan. Once she explained to the owner that by feeding the local police department, he would hopefully increase his lunch and dinner trade, he agreed to send over free lunch. Of course, it helped that she mentioned she was a concierge at the Boston Crown Chandler hotel and she'd return the favor by talking up his restaurant to the hotel clientele. Once day soon, she hoped her words would be true and she'd do as she promised.

Pleased with herself and her plan, Amber headed home. Close to noon, dressed in fresh clothes, she sat down at the old PC in Mike's apartment and booted it up. She printed out maps of the area and took note of the five-star restaurants in the vicinity, and then the smaller cafés. It would take time, but she'd learn the area by doing a little research each day.

Finally, she shut down the computer and stored her papers on what she wanted to consider
her
side of the bed, on
her
nightstand. Then she headed to
Mike's precinct in time to view his reaction to the spread of Italian food that arrived out of the blue.

 

M
IKE DEPOSITED
the remains of the Vegas winnings in the bank and spent the morning at the station. Although he had no real right to pry, he ran a credit check on Amber Rose and discovered no shady dealings—providing him with another glimmer of hope she wasn't running a scam on him. Though she could be using him to fund her life during a rough patch, at least she wasn't lying to him outright. By omission was another story. The woman was a bundle of contradictions. Savvy enough to make it on her own for years, dealing with a man like Marshall, yet emotional enough to be hurt by Mike's lingering anger. He couldn't let her big eyes get to him. He had to stick to his divorce plan.

“Hey, man, you've been distracted all morning. Everything okay?” his partner, Dan, asked.

Mike nodded. “Everything's fine. Just jet-lagged, that's all.” Mike had no intention of telling Dan about his marriage to Amber or the rest of the drama. The fewer people who knew, the easier it would be to put his wife on a plane and fly her out of his. Things could go on as usual with nobody any the wiser, Mike thought.

Even his father would see and respect the wisdom in that plan.

His father. Mike had promised Edward he'd call
him today, but he didn't want to answer questions about his marriage while he had a bunch of nosy cops sitting within listening distance. He'd just have to call later, from the privacy of his home.

Privacy with Amber there? Now,
that
was a joke. Mike shook his head and tried to focus on the phone calls he'd been making.

“Is there a Mr. Mike Corwin here?” someone with a heavy Italian accent asked.

Mike swiveled in his chair. “I'm Corwin. What can I do for you?”

“Lunchtime,” the balding man said as he strode over to Mike's desk.

Behind him, two women followed with bags, and they began to unload containers of delicious-smelling Italian food. “Where can we put this?” one of them asked.

“Wait. I didn't order anything.” Mike rose from his seat.

“Not to worry,” the man said. “A woman named Amber stopped by my place of business this morning. She's
mutta bella,
” he said, beaming. “And smart. She suggested I bring my food to Boston's finest and let you indulge. Then maybe you'll recommend my place around town.
Capice?
”

Dan stood beside him.
“Amber?”
he asked, obviously recognizing the name.

Before Mike could unstick his tongue from the roof of his mouth to answer, Tom, their captain,
cleared an old table. “You can put the food right here,” he said, grinning. Turning to Mike, he said, “You can explain later. For now, we're all going to enjoy.”

Amid murmurs of approval, his colleagues began to filter into the room, waiting for the restaurant staff to finish the setup. They'd even brought plastic plates, forks and knives.

Mike's stomach churned, torn between wanting to kill Amber for infiltrating this part of his life, and gratitude because he and his colleagues rarely had the opportunity to enjoy a decent lunch. Thanks to Amber, they would indulge today. And everyone in the precinct seemed thrilled with the surprise.

Only Dan, who'd met Amber in Vegas, seemed as concerned as Mike himself. “What's going on?” he asked.

Mike spread his hands in front of him.

“Better yet, what kind of a psycho woman follows a man across the country and then proceeds to feed his friends and coworkers?” Dan continued, not giving Mike a chance to reply.

Not that he knew what to say anyway.

“His wife, that's what kind of psycho woman would do something like this,” Amber said, suddenly appearing beside them. “Hello, Dan,” she said, patting his shoulder. “How's married life treating you?”

“Oh, shit,” Mike muttered.

“Wife?”
Dan practically shouted. “What the hell did you do in Vegas anyway?”

Silence descended around them, broken soon after by an impromptu round of applause.

Mike could barely process his thoughts as people slapped him on the back, shook Amber's hand and complimented him on bringing back a gem of a wife—a woman who cared not just about his stomach, but his friends' too.

Only Dan watched them warily.

“I'll explain later,” Mike promised his partner.

“You bet you will. Natalie will want to have dinner with the two of you.” He shook his head. “You. Married.” He looked perplexed and confused.

“Yeah, I know how you feel,” Mike said. “Go eat.” He turned away from Dan and toward Amber. “You. Outside. Now.
We
need to talk.”

She raised an eyebrow, but let him grab her hand and pull her onto the street.

“What the hell are you doing?” he asked once they were alone on the sidewalk in front of the station.

Amber blinked at him, all soft eyes and confusion. “I thought you'd be surprised, not mad. What's wrong? You don't like Italian food?” she asked, obviously trying for humor.

Mike clenched his jaw, steeling himself against her appeal. He needed to be strong and make her understand how things should be between them until they returned to Vegas. “I don't like my private life being bandied around. Especially since I didn't plan on telling anyone we were married.”

“Oh.”

He heard her disappointment and felt it inside him. Once again, her error had left
him
feeling lower than dirt. Despite it all, the last thing he wanted to do was to hurt her.

“Look, this is a complicated situation,” he said, meeting her gaze.

“Do I embarrass you?”

He took her in with one glance. From her strappy sandals, simple sundress, to her sunny hair, she was a breath of fresh air. “Hell, no, you don't embarrass me. Those guys inside are probably frothing at the mouth with jealousy.” Unable to stop himself, he ran his hand through her soft curls.

She wet her lips and her eyes turned softer with gratitude, and hazy with that damn attraction that was always there between them. Simmering just below the surface.

Daring him to ignore it.

As if he could.

He didn't know who started it, but soon his lips were on hers, seeking her sweetness, apologizing for hurting her, showing her she wasn't an embarrassment, but a woman he desired. His tongue swept through her mouth, feeding off her delicious taste.

“Excuse me,” Dan said, clearing his throat when they didn't break apart right away. “But there are people inside waiting for an explanation. And some just want to congratulate you.”

Mike stepped back.

Amber's cheeks flushed pink. “I guess we should head back in.”

Mike inclined his head and gestured for her to walk ahead of him. Which gave Dan the opportunity to add, “And some of us just want to know if you've lost your damn mind.”

But even his partner's concern couldn't stop the grin that spread across Mike's face. Because as Edward had said, Amber was hot. And she was a challenge—he didn't know what she'd do next.

Still, Mike had to admit she was trying to make things up to him. She treated him like the center of her universe, going out of her way to please him. It was difficult not to remember all the things that had drawn him to her in the first place.

 

K
ING
B
OBBY
stared at the phone in the office of his dealership, willing the darn thing to ring.

“A watched pot never boils,” Emmy Lou said, peeking into the room.

“Go away, woman! You sound like my momma!” No wonder he had a mistress waiting for him whenever he could escape from the woman's nagging.

As if on cue, the telephone rang and he let out a whoop of glee. “Speak to me!” he demanded.

After listening for a few minutes, he barked to the man on the line, “So someone at the Chandler admits that an Amber once worked there? That's it? If I
need to do your thinkin' for ya, I got no need to pay you. Just tell 'em your boss wants to open a hotel and is interested in this old employee of theirs. Throw some money around until you git access to her employment file. I need a last name!” he bellowed, his blood pressure rising.

“Once they get her names they should check the Department of Records,” Emmy Lou suggested.

King Bobby hadn't realized she was still there, damn nosy broad.

If he hadn't knocked her up when she was young and she hadn't threatened to take him for all he was worth, he'd be long divorced by now. Emmy Lou liked being King Bobby's queen. Good thing she came in useful once in a while.

“Good idea, sweet cheeks,” he said. Then he repeated her words to his guys out in Beverly Hills. “Next time you call me, I want concrete information!” he bellowed so they'd know he meant business.

After hanging up the phone, he pulled out his bankroll and peeled off a number of hundreds, then waved them at Emmy Lou. “Why don't you go shopping. I have work to do.”

Emmy Lou smiled, pleased, and snatched the cash from his hand.

“I won't be home for dinner,” he said to his wife's retreating back.

She wouldn't care.

Mentally, she was halfway to the mall already. With money in her pocket, she wouldn't be home early tonight, either. She'd call her friends, hit the stores, head to an expensive dinner and come home toasted.

“Whoo-wee!” He picked up the phone and dialed his lady friend.

If his yahoos found that Amber's information, the King would be gettin' lucky tonight. In more ways than one.

A
MBER ATE DINNER
alone that night, after Mike called to tell her he'd be working late as a last-minute favor for a friend. She was disappointed, but she'd just learned something else about her new husband. She already knew he was a man who cared for his family and now she discovered he was also a good friend. Both were traits she could admire.

Mike was so different from the sleazy characters she'd met on the poker circuit, and he was more settled than most of the guys she'd encountered in Beverly Hills. They'd been aspiring actors or models, men with more love for the face they saw in the mirror than any woman. Not that she'd given any of them a chance.

It wasn't that Amber didn't believe in happily ever after. She did. Her family had a healthy history of love and fidelity. Her grandparents had been happily married for a lifetime and if what she'd heard of her parents' courtship was anything to go by, they'd been deliriously in love. Her mother had
given up her career as a showgirl to have Amber and she'd planned to stay at home with her. Only, she'd died while giving birth to her daughter.

Amber shook her head, bringing her thoughts back to the present. To herself and to Mike. In L.A., she'd thought she'd been too busy for a relationship, but she realized now she'd just never met a man who made her want that happily ever after for herself.

Until Mike.

He had longish, dark hair she loved running her fingers through and beautiful blue eyes she could get lost in. And within him, there was a sense of honor and decency she wanted to emulate.

Mike Corwin was the best kind of man. She wanted to be worthy of being part of his life.

This afternoon, she'd loved the chance to do something nice for him, like arranging lunch. And though he'd been upset with her intrusion, the reaction of his fellow cops had helped smooth things over. They'd enjoyed the meal she'd sent over and they'd all eagerly wanted to meet his new bride.

Though Mike had wanted to keep their relationship a dirty little secret, she'd seen the hint of pride in his eyes when they'd referred to her as his wife. It had helped ease her hurt, she admitted to herself. When she'd seen the yearning in his eyes, desire meant for her alone, that hurt had disappeared. And when he'd kissed her, she'd known she was doing the right thing. Now all she had to do was convince him.

A relationship took work and commitment and Amber was willing to give it both. Once Mike understood she'd never betray him again, Amber believed he would give the same.

She'd ordered in a small pizza and had just finished cleaning up and freezing the extra slices when her cell phone rang.

She picked it up from where she'd left it on the counter. “Hello?”

“Amber, it's Sydney.”

At the sound of the voice of the concierge from the Crown Chandler hotel, a sick feeling spread through Amber's stomach. “Hey, what's up?”

“I got that information. I'm sorry, but a new employee gave you up. Those Texans waved some bills around and the guy pulled your employment file. I'm not sure what details they have, but they got a long look. I'm sorry,” she said again. “He's been fired for violating confidentiality, but that can't undo the damage.”

Amber closed her eyes and shook her head. “It's not your fault. I appreciate you getting back to me.” At least now she knew where she stood. “Talk to you soon.”

“Bye.”

Amber disconnected the phone. If nothing else, King Bobby now had her full name. Of course, the only way he could track her down was if he discovered she was now married.

To do that, he'd have to get information on her at the city hall where her marriage license had been filed. If he got Mike's name and address, she was dead meat.

She bit the inside of her cheek. First thing tomorrow morning, she'd have to find out if anyone had recently requested information on Amber Rose at city hall.

If the worst happened, she'd have to come clean with Mike. She shook her head, fighting frustrated tears. Just as she was starting to make a little headway with him, he'd discover she'd been keeping things from him. After that, he'd never trust her again. And she'd never get another chance with this special man. That possibility scared her more than anything.

She refused to let that happen. Pulling herself together, she renewed her search for Marshall, making phone calls with no luck. When her former partner went underground, he was better than a gopher, she thought, disgusted.

Well, she'd done all she could for tonight. Instead of worrying, she turned her attention to Mike's father. She'd promised to call Edward, and so she looked through Mike's phone book for a number she could reach him at.

Once she'd made sure Mike's dad was okay, she'd wait up for her husband to come home and make him a happy, happy man. Before her world crumbled down around her come morning.

 

I
T HADN'T TAKEN LONG
. Amber was looking for him already. Marshall tossed his precharged, prepaid, disposable cell phone onto the bed. According to his sources, there hadn't been a single one of his haunts Amber hadn't contacted. Marshall would have been pleased if not for the fact that that his contacts had also informed him that big Texas bag of wind, King Bobby Boyd, was also looking for him and asking questions.

That thought made Marshall break into a cold sweat. He wasn't hiding without reason. King Bobby had enough clout with powerful, dangerous men to put the fear of God into a guy who'd never believed in any higher power except his own good luck.

This mess was stressing him out. He stripped and walked across the bedroom naked, intending to take a long, hot shower in the bathroom of the house he was currently inhabiting. Marshall had all sorts of contacts and this residence belonged to a friend of a friend, who sometimes traveled different gambling circuits when the heat was on in Vegas. This was one of those times, so the house was empty. After paying off the houseboy, Marshall had let himself in and prepared himself to wait this mess out.

They were nice temporary digs except that he was bored. He had too much time on his hands, worrying about whether King Bobby would find him and break his legs—or worse. He knew he could
stay underground as long as he needed to without being found. What he wasn't sure of was whether he could trust Amber to keep her mouth shut about their scam if King Bobby managed to track her down first.

Marshall let steam fill the shower stall and thought about Amber. He didn't feel too bad about letting her take the heat. King Bobby was a southern gentleman. He wouldn't hurt a lady, he'd only bully her into telling him Marshall's whereabouts. Since Amber didn't know where he was, she couldn't reveal a thing.

She could, however, tell King Bobby he was a class-A con, confirm the King's hunch about Marshall cheating that night, and cause him to go on the run. Because King Bobby wouldn't mind calling out his goons to hurt
him.

Marshall could call Amber back on her cell and warn her, but she was already furious with him. She'd never believe him and she'd sure as hell never tell him where to find her.

So he wouldn't call her.

Yet.

Nor could he look around for her. She had too many contacts. If he asked questions, he was bound to arouse suspicion. Or run into King Bobby, who was on the same path.

But Marshall wasn't stupid and there was a much easier way to find his beautiful Amber. He'd just let
King Bobby do all the work. The man was already hot on her trail. All Marshall needed to do was keep an eye on King Bobby without being seen. The Texan would lead Marshall right to Amber.

He'd show up, remind her of how special their bond was, how lucrative their partnership could still be. By the time he located her, she'd be bored with her cop husband and ready to come back to Marshall.

If not, he'd just have to make her see the error of her ways.

 

M
IKE WASN'T AVOIDING
A
MBER
. He wasn't. The fact that he'd volunteered to cover someone's shift tonight when he could have gone home to his wife didn't mean a thing.

Except that by the time he got in around midnight, Amber was fast asleep and he didn't have to talk about her visit to the station today. Instead, he walked into his bathroom, and could only marvel at how quickly she'd made herself at home.

His countertops were now filled with feminine things—creams, shampoos, conditioners and other assorted items he didn't recognize.

He picked up one bottle, opened it and sniffed, inhaling an unfamiliar, feminine scent. An arousing scent.

As an only child, he'd never had to share his space before and Amber's takeover should have felt like an
intrusion. Except it didn't. She'd made herself at home and he didn't mind.

He found an odd sense of peace being part of a couple, even though being alone had never bothered him before. While he and his cousins, Derek and Jason, had had to deal with the stigma of being a Corwin man, the women—like Jason's sisters—had married and thrived in love and life. In Mike's father's mind, that fact had also proven the curse was alive and well, kicking male Corwin butt.

Mike headed back to his bedroom to discover Amber had claimed her night table with a box of tissues, a paperback book, what looked like lip gloss and a stack of papers. He grinned and settled into bed, wearing nothing but boxers. He wasn't about to change his routine for the female sleeping beside him. He propped one arm behind his head and stared into the dark, not at all tired despite the late hour. As he breathed in deep, her scent wrapped around him, awakening him even more.

Go figure. Mike hadn't been determined to remain a bachelor, but until now the lifestyle had suited him fine. So why did he
like
all the feminine touches Amber provided in his apartment?

He punched up his pillow and rolled onto his side, hoping to somehow take the edge off his arousal and fall asleep. Suddenly Amber sighed and wrapped her arm around his waist. From behind,
she cushioned him in head-to-toe contact and warmth, snuggling in with another deep sigh.

He shut his eyes, but how could he even think of sleep when he was surrounded by a new female in his bed and his life?

An enigma named Amber, full of surprises and secrets.

 

M
IKE AWOKE
with a morning hard-on and Amber's hand on his groin. Helluva wake-up call, he thought. The woman was obviously put on this earth to make him a very happy—but insane—man.

Mike knew he should get some answers from Amber while he had her cornered here, but he couldn't think about anything except the warmth racking his body. He rolled over to find Amber staring at him, sultry heat in her gaze and a smile on her lips.

“Morning,” she murmured.

“Morning,” he said gruffly.

“How was work last night?”

She wanted him to think, let alone have a coherent conversation while her hand was wrapped around him?

She slid her grasp up and down the length of him and he groaned.

Amber grinned. “I take it you like that?”

He pushed her hair back off her face. Even first thing in the morning, while tousled and sleepy, she was too damn appealing.

“What's not to like?” Encouraged, she picked up the pace, making damn fine use of her palm and her fingers, taking him closer and closer to the edge of climax. He knew it wouldn't take much for him to come.

But he didn't want to fall alone. “Hang on.” He reached for his nightstand, opened the drawer and retrieved a condom, making quick work of the foil and sliding it on.

He turned to Amber, who had pulled off her soft negligee and now lay naked and waiting for him. One of the things he found special and refreshing was the honest way she gave herself to him each time they made love. She seemed so open and honest with her body and even her soul. It made the lies and omissions seem out of character. Every time he touched her, he wanted to believe in her again.

Pushing those thoughts aside, he straddled her and looked into her eyes. Warm, welcoming eyes that matched the softness of her body as he slid inside. She was wet and ready, as he knew she would be, accepting all of him quickly, her gaze never leaving his face.

She bent her knees and pulled him in deeper and the sensation was so incredible, he couldn't keep his mind focused on anything except the building friction between their bodies. Heat licked at him like rising flames attacking him from all sides.

He threaded his hands through her hair and began
to glide in, then out again, possessing her, taking her faster and faster still.

Amber was lost. Everything inside her was concentrated on the pressure point between her body and Mike's. His every thrust brought her closer. Waves pummeled her, bringing her higher as the feelings inside her tightened, coiling, building with each hard, demanding push.

She matched his rhythm easily now, knew what would make her feel best as she rolled her hips, seeking deeper, more intimate contact until suddenly she was
there.