A Familiar Star (Romance Mystery) (7 page)

Oh Max, don't bother me now, Kylie screamed in her head.

"Do you mind if we go back?" she nodded in the direction of their table.

Paul looked confused but Kylie offered no answers.  She downed her drink quickly and then ordered another one.

"You keep drinking like that and I'll be carrying you out." Paul leaned back in his chair and brushed his hand through his hair in a confused manner.

Kylie just smiled at him and wiped her brow.  "Woo.
It got really warm in here didn't it?"

"That drink will dam near kill you, let alone
bring your temperature up by fifty degrees."

She laughed.
"That could be it I suppose."

The band started to play some jazz and people were getting up to dance.

"The place is getting really full, do you want to dance?"  Kylie asked.

"Y
eah sure," Paul answered.

Kylie's drink came and she took another good stiff gulp before she got up.

"Are you okay?"  Paul was a little concerned. Kylie was suddenly acting nervous and he didn't know why.

"I'm fine," she said without meaning it.

"I don't think so, come with me."

He took her by the hand and brought her out onto the balcony.
  The cool night air traced over her skin like a whisper. They walked slowly to the edge of the deck that overlooked the lake.

"Did I do something to offend you," Paul turned to her.

"No, of course not. I'm so sorry.  I don't want you to think it was you."

"Well then what happened?
There is something wrong isn't there?"

The tenderness in his
voice was nice, Kylie thought.

She put her head down and Paul lifted her chin.  She nodded and looked up at him.
  "I'm sorry.  It's just that I promised Lucy I wouldn't move too fast.  This is supposed to be an innocent evening out together."

Paul looked surprised.
"Well it is Kylie.  I'm not going to jump you. God, I wouldn't do that."

"I know you wouldn't but I also told her
that I wouldn't even kiss you tonight.” She admitted, embarrassed.

Paul laughed.
  "Is that what's bothering you?” He waited and when he got no response he continued. “Do you want to kiss me?" He said smoothly.

Kylie sighed.  S
he looked at his gentle face and thought that maybe after a kiss she would know how she felt.  “I guess it would be ok.”  She said timidly.

"I see," Paul whispered.  The glint in his eyes made her laugh.

"Well then, maybe I can remedy that too."

"How?"  She smiled.

"Well, you'll have to stand over here."

"All right." 
Kylie let him back her to the rail.

"Then relax."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to kiss you."

"But!"

"No buts, remember you told Lucy you wouldn't kiss me, I didn't promise her anything."
Paul's grin was playful.

Kylie giggled
then agreed. But the way he was looking at her now, gave her butterflies in her stomach.

"What's next?"
She said enticingly.

"Well, I think you'll need to move in closer and wrap your arms around me."

She slowly leaned forward, and wound her arms around his neck.  He didn’t tower over her the way Max did, she noted. He must have been a couple of inches shorter.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"What?  Kiss you?"

"Ah ha," Kylie nodded, prolonging the anticipation.

He nodded his head also then pulled her so close she could feel his very obvious, aroused manhood touching her abdomen.  This is not good, she thought as waves of passion began to take over.

Paul lightly touched her face.  His fingers lingered there, brushing across her lips.  She felt the heat from his hard body then closed her eyes and parted her lips.  His mouth momentarily touched hers and then retreated.  She moaned a tiny sigh.

Paul laughed and Kylie eyes opened wide.

"Are you making fun of me?  She said
, feeling quite tipsy.

"I would never do that," Paul answered in a throaty voice and a grin.

Kylie was now amusing him, making kissy faces and moaning sounds.  Paul chuckled then pulled her tightly to him, planting his lips on top of hers.  It was so sudden; she caught her breath in surprise.  When he eased his tongue inside and lightly brushed it by hers, she instinctively teased his tongue back, and ran her fingers through his thick dusty blond hair.

The kiss was getting increasingly sensual and his man
hood was keeping up with the pace.  He pulled back abruptly then whispered against her lips, "I really like you."

"I like you to
o." Kylie confessed, leaning back against the wooden rail, looking at him long and hard.

"I also think I'm drunk."  S
he said with an innocent giggle.

"What did I tell you?"  Paul teased.
“Well, there’s only one thing to do.  Let's go dance it off."

All was quiet when Paul turned off the engine of the Jeep.  The sound of crickets playing a midsummer night's tune and the slight rustling of the leaves through the trees were the only sounds to be heard.  They sat there in silence looking at the strange shapes and pat
terns the moon cast around them.

"There's something magical about the night
, isn't there?"

Paul agreed then got out of the Jeep and opened Kylie's door.

"I'll come in with you to make sure everything’s okay. I see that Max's car is not here."

Kylie looked surprised then realized if it wasn't Lucy that mentioned him, Frank probably did.

"No, he’s out for the night, do you know the whole story?"

"Yes," Paul said, then took the key from Kylie and opened the door.  He walked into the house slowly, rather prowler like, then turned on the living room light.

"I'll check the doors." He said.

Just as
Paul finished the sentence, they heard the floor board’s creek upstairs.  They both froze.  Kylie's hair stood on edge, and she didn't know what to do.  Paul grabbed her arm to steady her then backed her up towards the door.  He opened the front door and pushed her out. Then he moved towards the Jeep, bringing Kylie with him.

"Maybe it's just a mouse!"  She whispered.

"A pretty big mouse."

Paul unlocked his glove compartment and pulled out his revolver.

Kylie felt sick with nerves.

"Stay here."

"Like hell I am!"

The fact was
, Paul didn’t know what to do with her. “All right stay behind me then."

"Well I'm not going in front of you," she whimpered.

"Are you sure Max is not home?"

"Pretty sure, he said he was working
, and his car’s not here."

Paul silently opened the front door again, this time staying close to the wall.  When he turned the corner
, he saw a figure shrouded in black at the top of the stairs.  The figure turned swiftly and ran, opening the terrace door and slamming it shut.

"Is there any way off the terrace?"

Kylie could hardly speak the words.  "You'd have to jump."

"Stay here."

Paul moved quicker than Kylie thought possible.  In a flash he was at the top of the stairs and she could hear him edging his way to the terrace door.  The door opened and then Paul was running back downstairs.  Kylie thought he was being chased and froze.  He ran past her and stormed outside.

Kylie
stood in silence, listening to the exaggerated pounding of her heart.  What in the hell just happened!

Paul snuck around the side of the house.  It was a bright night, but to whose advantage
, he thought.  Everything looked like someone hiding.  He walked with his revolver in front of him, checking the ground around the terrace.  This guy was pretty desperate to jump off.  It wasn't the highest fall, but if you weren't lucky you could really hurt yourself. 

A cloud passed in front of the moon and the shadows turned black.  Paul continued to search, crouching as he moved, stopping occasionally to listen for any sounds the intruder might make.  A motorboat started up on
the lake.  He turned and saw that it was coming directly from the dock.  He jumped over the wall of wild roses and raced down to the water.  It was too late.  The damn boat was fast and the driver was experienced.  He stood on the shore checking to see where it was going and tried to make as much of an identification as possible.

Kylie sat in her car with the top up.  She felt only mildly
secure; after all, it was a convertible.  She slipped down as far she could go in the seat, and with every sound she sunk lower still.

With the dark of night closing in around her
, she found herself clutching the steering wheel so hard that her hands hurt.  Shit, what if Paul needs my help, she thought.

The wind intensified and Kylie closed her eyes tight, her head was still spinning from all the alcohol and she felt sick.

"Kylie!"  Paul shouted.

Kylie nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Thank God!"  She said

"There you ar
e.  Are you okay?"  Paul was a little out of breath.

"Yes I'm fine, just shaken up a bit."

"I need to call Frank, let's go inside."

The house seemed secure except for the broken lock on the patio door. Two other detectives arrived in no time at all
, and they started searching the grounds and the house, picking up anything out of the ordinary.  Kylie tried to stay awake to listen to the gathering of information but was too tired.  The last she heard was Paul arguing with Roscoe, his boss, about what, she didn't know.

"We can’t just wake-u
p everyone around the lake Paul.  We've got four guys out there right now taking care of it.  I agree with you, it's someone from around here but we still have to be rational and investigate thoroughly before scaring the shit out of people in the middle of night. Plus there’s a public dock on the other side of the lake, it could have been a boat from over there. We’ll send someone to take a look before we do anything else."

Paul looked frustrated then noticed Kylie falling asleep on the bar stool.

"Hey, before you fall off, I think you'd better get some shut eye."  Paul supported Kylie around the waist and walked up the stairs with her.  "These guys are almost finished."

"Did they get fingerprints?
" Kylie said in sleepy voice.

"Yes detective
, they did.  I'll tell you what, I'll get rid of them, lock up and come say goodnight.  Okay?"

Kylie was too tired to wash her face.  She took off her clothes, pulled on a big t-shirt and then sank down into her fluffy comforter.  In what seemed like a second, she heard a knock on the door.

Paul peaked inside and Kylie slowly lifted her head from the pillow.

"What time is it?"  She said sleepily.

"It's four o'clock. I'm going to sleep downstairs.  I just wanted to make sure you were fine."

Kylie's head was still spinning and her thoughts were melting into a dreamlike state.

"Come here," she patted the bed then rolled to the other side to make room.

Paul smiled.  "All right but no funny business."

"Ha!"  Kylie guffawed then propped up on one elbow.  "Did that freak you out as much is it did me?” She managed to say.

"I guess it always does.  It's not the first time I've had to chase someone and I guess it won't be the last.  Does it bother you?"

"Do you enjoy it?"

"Hell yes, I guess I get a big rush from it."  Paul stretched back and smiled
, thinking about the thrill of the chase.

"As long as you enjoy it."
Kylie looked at him admiringly.  "Your pretty damn brave you know."

"Well so are you, I think..."

"Let me get this straight," she interrupted him.  "You think hiding in my car was brave?  I should have been out there with you fighting, spitting, scratching,"

He laughed and then tenderly brought h
er hand to his mouth.  "And you’re also very crazy you know."

"I suppose that's an unusual complement
, but I'll accept it," she smiled.

"I'll complement you better than that," he said
, moving forward and tracing a hand across her silky panties and up the back of her T-shirt.

"You're the sexiest woman I've ever met in my life.  You killed me on that dance floor tonight."

Kylie giggled and felt the heat building up in her warm body.  Paul's hands wandered across her skin until he almost touched her breasts.  She pulled back unexpectedly.  "We'd better get some sleep," she said quickly.