Arrested Pleasure (23 page)

She'd fallen in love with Gabe. She'd lost her heart to a lying snake.

"Cassie?" Dani's voice startled her from her inner revelations.

She took a shaky breath and faced Dani. "Hey, hi there. How are things out front? Need some help?"

Her friend studied her for a long moment. "No problem, but I have an appointment in fifteen minutes and wondered if you'd watch the front. It's the last one for the day."

"Sure. Just give me a moment and I'll be right there."

"Thanks." Dani hesitated for a second. No doubt she wanted to question Cassie more about what was wrong. Finally she said, "If you need to talk about it, let me know.

You're my friend, and I care for you."

Cassie felt grateful for friends like Dani who stood behind her through the bad times and celebrated the good times. They'd met eight years ago and struck a friendship that continued through the early days of Casa de Massage. The one person Cassie could count on was Dani.

But today's events made things difficult to confide to her friend At least right now. The pain still lingered even after the tears had fallen. Her heart hurt with an intense pain, leaving her miserable inside. "Thanks. But I'm not ready." She gave her a reassuring smile. "Let me put away the sheets and towels in the therapy rooms and then I'll come up."

Dani nodded and began to walk back to the reception area.

A thought struck Cassie. "Hey, Dani?" Her friend stopped to gaze at her. "How about joining me for a drink tonight? Come up after work and we can get started."

A smile curved Dani's mouth. "You're on, sister!"

For the first time since she left Gabe at the police station, Cassie's heart lifted.

Sometimes she forgot that the only person she could count on was her dearest friend, Dani.

* * * * *

"Okay, Muriel, we'll see you next Tuesday at two." As she hung up the phone, Cassie made a few notes about Muriel's appointment. Lost in thought, she didn't hear the door open.

"Cassie."

Her head whipped up at the sound of Gabe's voice. She should've expected him to come after her, but she'd hoped it would be in a day or two to give her time to recover. Right now her mind still reeled from what she'd discovered earlier today.

More calmly than she felt inside, she pushed away from the reception desk and stood up. Still dressed in a casual dark blue suit, Gabe's attire appeared like any detective. His hand lay loose on his hip as he contemplated her.

Fortifying her nerves, she took a deep breath. "Hello, Gabe. I really don't have anything I want to say to you." She turned away and pretended to organize the filing cabinet.

"I want to explain." His steps drew closer. "Things weren't the way it appeared today. I know you're innocent."

She glanced over her shoulder at him and gave him a weary look. "But you could've discussed the issue with me." She slammed the file door shut, before turning around to face Gabe. "That's what kills me. Never once while together did you enlighten me about these allegations."

His gold-flecked hazel eyes gazed forlornly at her. "Cassie, I wanted to. I had to prove the allegations were false first before I could discuss it with you."

"The first day—did you know who I was? Is that why you—?"

"At Gavin's? No!" Gabe vehemently shook his head. "God, no. Cassie. I didn't connect your name and face until that first day I had the massage."

"But . . . you had suspicions about me then." He dropped his gaze, confirming what she'd suspected. "Why didn't the police just ask me?" Her voice rose with the frustration she felt. "Why didn't you?" Did he not trust her? Didn't he care for her feelings?

He ran his fingers through hair. He appeared tortured, his hair disheveled, and if Cassie weren't mad at him, she'd thrown her arms around him to comfort him.

"Dammit, I'm sorry. I should've at least come into Casa de Massage as a detective and discussed the complaint with you. I don't know what we thought." He shook his head, longing evident in his eyes.

He can't fool me again
. Cassie shifted to stare out at the passing traffic. The dark clouds outside mirrored the darkness inside. She needed to him to leave.

Her insides quaked with anger and depression. "You'll have to go."

"I wanted to make sure you're okay. You left and—"

"I'm fine." Cassie sat back down and began to shut off her computer. "We're about to close, and I want you to leave."

"Cassie—"

She slammed her hand down hard on the keyboard. "Leave! Get the hell out of my life."

"I want to explain!"

"Don't you understand the word 'go'?"

He stared at her in stunned silence. Even she felt surprised at the harshness of her words. To think last night she'd slept in his arms and purred while he stroked her.

"What's going on here?" Dani stood at the threshold with her patient behind her, her face flushed as she glanced from Cassie then to Gabe. "I believe she doesn't want you here, Mr. Banks. I suggest you leave, or . . . ."

She let the words trail off, but her meaning was clear. Or she'd call the police.

Cassie had to laugh to herself. How ironic would this be to have the police called on a domestic dispute involving one of their own?

Gabe must've thought the same thing as he gave Cassie one last tortured look.

"We're not done, but I'll give you a few days to cool down."

A red flash of anger surged inside Cassie. He thought of this as a little misunderstanding? He expected she'd let him crawl back into her bed? Why, the nerve of him. "I think not." Her hands clenched at her sides. She couldn't let him see how he got to her.

He didn't say another word, but nodded at Dani curtly. With a long, lingering look at Cassie, he left.

Silence enveloped the room after the door shut behind him. Tears threatened Cassie's control once again. She hated what he had done, but she still had feelings for him. Aware a customer stood nearby as a witness to the whole proceedings, Cassie excused herself and made a hasty retreat to her apartment.

A carton of double chocolate ice cream waited to help her wallow in misery.

Chaz glanced up when Gabe came through the door. "Uh, oh. The expression on your face says not good news."

Gabe spit out an expletive that caused Chaz to raise his eyebrows nearly to his scalp. "You may want to watch your mouth in case Chief Stone overhears. He's been asking around for you, but I told him you left for the day. And Al clamped up. He wouldn't sign anything until he spoke with his attorney. Or so he said. Another dead end."

Gabe grunted as he fell into his chair. He picked up his mug and, despite the coffee being cold and lousy, drank the remnants of this morning's sludge. He didn't feel in the mood to face the chief, and if he had his way, he seriously would get out of town for a few days. Cassie's fury at his betrayal ate at him even though he knew he'd been an asshole and a jerk for not coming clean.

"Damn. Sorry about Al, but I don't think he's telling the truth."

"You should've let me handle things from the first with him."

"I suppose you're right." He stared at the wall.
What a day
. He shook his head.

"What does the chief want?" he finally asked Chaz.

"Well . . ." Chaz leaned back in his chair and regarded Gabe with narrowed eyes.

"Seems someone snitched on you and told Chief Stone you're having an affair with a suspect."

Gabe's body jerked to attention. "How in the hell—?"
Damn.
He didn't need the chief razzing his ass.

"Not sure who's the mole. He asked me if the news was true, and I told him you're dedicated to your job and wouldn't do anything to jeopardize a case."

"Goddamn asshole," Gabe muttered as he rubbed his eyes, weary from the stress of the day. "Someone down in filing probably wants my job."

"Perhaps, but let's play things cool, and perhaps you'll get to not only keep your job but also stay on the case."

"You mean tell him this is part of my undercover assignment?" Gabe frowned.

His friend meant well, but with Cassie's current anger, she might go to the chief.

Though he had to admit Chaz's idea sounded good. This way he'd stay on the job and continue the investigation. Find out who appeared bent on setting up Cassie or Casa de Massage.

He glanced at Chaz. "You're probably right. But that means I'll need to stay away from Cassie for a few days." He ran a hand over his face tiredly. "Jesus, she's fucking mad. She wouldn't listen to me."

"Then more the reason to wrap this up as quickly as possible. I'm with you. I think someone is framing her." Chaz swung to his computer keyboard and tapped in a few words. "I've been working on the background of her business and the area."

"What did you find out?" At least he and Chaz were on the same page and agreed on Cassie's innocence.

"For one thing, the building was originally owned by a guy who died a few months ago. He sold the block to Isaiah Winkler, who, incidentally"—Chaz lifted his gaze to him—"wants to sell the building to a company that builds parking garages, according to a notice of intent filed by the buyer. But a fly in the ointment is the current tenants must agree to move."

Gabe frowned. Interesting. Cassie appeared well established and hadn't mentioned moving. She did, however, reveal she was having business problems. Was her landlord applying some pressure on her? But what about the complaints? How did they all tie in together? Did the guy hire thugs to file false complaints?

"Can we get a hold of the agreement Cassie has on the building lease?"

Something had to be in the papers. Isaiah Winkler might be trying to break the lease.

Chaz picked up the phone and started dialing. "I have some contacts who owe me a few favors." He sent Gabe an encouraging smile. "I'll call them in."

While his partner placed his call, Gabe reflected about what he should do to make things up to Cassie. Maybe if he ended up being the knight in shining armor when he solved her problems, she'd forgive him and let him back into her life.
Right.
All he could do is grovel and hope for the best. He missed her sweet body and tantalizing smile. She left him wanting to kiss and make up . . . in the worst of ways.

Chaz slammed the phone down. "Okay, my friend said he'd find out what he can do and get the info back to us in the next day or two. In the meantime, let's get to work on those names."

Gabe nodded, temporarily pushing aside the pain of losing Cassie. He had to help her out, even if it destroyed any chance of a future with her.

* * * * *

"Are you okay?" Dani's voice startled Cassie, who was deep in thought.

It was now after six. Everyone except Dani had left. She'd barely slept all night, but Cassie dragged herself out of bed this morning and had operated in a haze doing her work by rote. She was tired, but still in more of a shocked daze. How dare Gabe think she'd operate a whorehouse at her spa?

Cassie pushed herself away from the desk. Lola wasn't working today—her daughter was in town—so Cassie was staffing the desk, as well as doing her own work.

In a way, keeping busy kept her mind off the pain inside.

"I'm only tired. I think I'll take a hot bath and go to bed early." In the back of her mind, she'd hoped Gabe would return and explain his reasons for not trusting her. But he hadn't.

Dani nodded, and then her face brightened up. "Hey, how about a drink up the street at the Mango Tango?"

Normally Cassie would've jumped at the offer to cut loose, but tonight she didn't have the energy. "I don't think so—"

"Oh, come on. Get out. Show Gabe Banks you're not crying over his departure."

Dani sniffed and shook her head. "Men can be unforgivable louses at times, but it's up to us women to stick together and show them we don't care."

Cassie smiled at Dani's analogy. She was right. The best medicine for a hurt pride and a broken heart had to be a night out with friends.

"Sounds good. How about dinner at Lucien's first and then onto the Mango Tango? We haven't stopped there in a while."

Dani grabbed her purse. "Come on, pal, let's lock up and head out."

Cassie smiled at her friend's enthusiasm and reached for her bag. It'd be good to get out and get her mind off Gabe.

* * * * *

Gabe stared up at the window of Cassie's apartment. He clutched a bag of fresh donuts in his hand. A peace offering. Hopefully after a couple of days—and nights—

apart, they could finally talk.

He shivered as the cool mist hit him in the face. Although not officially raining, if the dark clouds hovering overhead were any indication, then it soon would be.

Gabe had spent the last two nights tossing and turning in his lonely bed, trying to make sense of where his relationship with her should go. He missed their heated kisses. The closeness after making love.

He missed Cassie
.

He glanced at the time. She should be out of the shower and inhaling her first taste of coffee. He fingered the key Cassie had given him last week. She probably forgot she gave this to him, how she'd waved it at him and told him to use the key.

He looked around and, except for muted voices from the homeless shelter, no one stirred outside. He slid the key into the hole and noiselessly unlocked the door. This was probably illegal entry, but he suspected Cassie wouldn't press charges, and he wanted a chance to talk to her for a moment.

They hadn't yet located the men who'd made complaints against Casa de Massage. It hadn't taken long for Gabe and Chaz to come to the conclusion they never existed. A phony setup meant to bring down Cassie. The copy of the building agreement hadn't yet shown up, but he'd bet a month's salary something in the contract was being used by Isaiah to boot Cassie out.

He paused on the landing and looked up the stairway. Not a sound from upstairs. He knew the door at the top would be unlocked. He'd chastised her about this a couple of times, fearing someone breaking in downstairs would proceed upstairs to her apartment.

Slowly he made his way up the stairs. A trickle of dread rolled up his spine. He couldn't smell the coffee brewing that she always had going first thing in the morning.