Hart To Hart (19 page)

Chapter Seventeen

V
ic almost laughed
at the way El growled at the end of her plea. Using every ounce of restraint, he eased in, loving the way her pussy fit him like a glove. It was as if they were meant for each other. Wanting to last as long as possible, he edged his way in as he nibbled on her ear. She grabbed his arms, and he couldn’t help but flex his muscles.

“How about putting some of that strength into pounding me hard? I need the release now,” she begged.

“Demanding, aren’t we?”

“Damn right I am.”

El lifted her hips and his cock drove straight to the end. Jesus, what she did to him. He fucked her hard and fast, just the way she wanted it.

“Vic, yes. Don’t stop.”

She opened her mouth once more and drew him in. He wanted to pretend all her hot passion was because she loved him again, but he knew better. Their scare tonight had brought them together—but for how long? Vic sparred with her, dipping and plunging as he drove into her velvety smoothness.

El raked her nails down his back then broke the kiss to scream her release. When she tightened her hold on his cock, he let go, and his hot seed spurted. He dipped his head to her neck, trying to memorize the elation coursing through him. Not wanting to put too much weight on her, he rolled off and rested, waiting for his heart to calm.

“Let me clean you up,” he said as soon as he was able to talk.

Vic walked into the bathroom and when he returned with a warm cloth, El was already dressed in her gown. He couldn’t blame her. It was cold in the room, but he planned to warm her up very soon.

*     *     *

Ellie never should
have turned to Vic last night, but she’d needed him. To be honest, she seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Could it be that he’d changed? Or was the pressure getting to her? She liked to think it was the latter. Vic had a new life here and she was just starting hers in Virginia.

“Ready?” Vic asked.

It was time for them to go to work. “Sure. Do you think I can ask Sharon to go shopping with me for some paints? Sitting all day isn’t my style.”

“We’ll see what she has to do, though she might be able to protect you better than I can. While she probably sucks in hand-to-hand combat, she won’t let anyone get a drop on you.” If he hadn’t smiled, she’d have been worried.

“It’s broad daylight. You think he’d try something?”

“No.”

She wanted to believe him.

When they arrived at his office, Sharon looked up and smiled. “You’re here! Glad no more tragedy happened over the weekend.” Papers were strewn on her desk, looking as if she might be busy for the rest of the day. Darn.

“Actually, our daughter had a little incident, but I’ll let El fill you in. I have a lot of research to do in light of the fire.” He leaned over and kissed El on the cheek.

The casual way he did that told her things had gotten a little out of control. Vic was no longer tentative around her. While she enjoyed the relaxed time with him, she didn’t want him to believe they were back together.

“Fire? Holy shit. Sit down and tell me everything,” Sharon said with renewed energy.

Ellie wasn’t sure she wanted to relive her fears, but perhaps retelling it might not make what happen seem so bad. “I don’t know all that much, except that the person after us tried to burn down Detective Lawson’s cabin—with them inside.”

Sharon sucked in a breath. “That’s horrifying. Are they okay?”

“Yes. No one was harmed. Just scared.”

“I bet. Does Vic think it’s the same person who tried to run him off the road and who shot at Charlotte?”

“He won’t comment except to say your Fire Marshal is on the case.”

“Ah, hunky Max Gruden. He used to be a cop, you know.”

“Vic never said.” Ellie wondered what else he never mentioned. She pushed back her chair. “I should get out of your hair. Looks like you have a lot to do today.”

“Nah. These are old papers. Makes the boss think I’m doing something.”

Ellie laughed. She needed that. “Would you be up for a little shopping then?”

Sharon’s eyes widened. “What are you looking for?”

“Since I have no idea how long I’m going to be here, I’d hoped to get some Acrylic supplies. Vic said I could use the back room for my art.”

Sharon grabbed her purse. “Let’s go. I’ll just tell Vic we’re headed out.”

That was easy. “Thanks.”

Once Vic gave his blessing, they were on their way. This small town was such a far cry from Washington, D.C. with all its congestion and one-way streets. “Is this rush hour?” she asked. It was eight-thirty, yet not many cars were on the road.

Sharon laughed. “Rush hour? Rock Hard wishes it had a rush hour. Pretty much the streets look like this all the time, unless it snows. Then people wait for the snowplows before doing anything.” She headed down Second Street and pulled in front of Charley’s Crafts. “Here we are. I’m not sure how much he carries.”

Ellie really didn’t care about the quality or the color selection of the paints. Creating art was her way of reducing stress. First, she looked around inside to make sure there wasn’t anyone she recognized. She’d yet to figure out if the person after her was someone she’d met before. Just women milled about and Ellie calmed. Sharon followed her to the art section and Ellie found just what she wanted, including a cheap easel. “This is perfect.”

“Great,” Sharon said. “What are you going to paint?”

“I’m not sure but something will strike me.”

They paid and headed back to the office. Sharon carried the easel and Ellie grabbed the bag with the paints, brushes, and canvases. When they walked in, Detective Trent Lawson was there with Vic.

“There she is,” Vic said with a smile. “Get everything?”

“Yes.” What was the detective doing here? Her throat seemed to close up. Did he have news of Charlotte?

“Since Trent was headed back to town, I asked him to get you a burner phone so you could call Charlotte. I would have picked one up, but my chauffeur was out shopping.”

“Funny man.” She turned to Trent. “Thank you, but why aren’t you with her?” Had he sent her off by herself? She couldn’t think straight anymore.

“Don’t worry, Ms. Hart. She’s with my cousin, who’s a cop. Charlotte is perfectly safe.”

She shook her head. “You said that before.”

His face colored. “You’re right, but at least she wasn’t harmed.”

Damn. “I’m sorry. I’m still upset over everything that happened.”

“I understand.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a number. “You can reach Charlotte here.”

Just having the ability to speak with her daughter helped lower her blood pressure. “Thank you.”

Vic pointed to the back room. “Why don’t you call her now? You’ll feel better.”

“I will.”

Ellie hurried to the back, her hand actually shaking. She closed the door for privacy and dialed the number. When her daughter answered, tears welled in Ellie’s eyes. “Charlotte?”

“Mom? Is that really you?”

There weren’t any chairs in the storage room, so she sat on a small file cabinet. “Yes, it’s me. How are you holding up? I heard you saved the day.”

Charlotte groaned. “Me? No. Trent put out the fire. He was amazing. I saw some lights outside the window and I called his name. He was like Superman. He was dressed and out the door so fast, I didn’t have time to hide.”

Superman—Charlotte’s favorite hero. Ellie wasn’t sure she liked the way her daughter seemed to idolize this cop. It didn’t matter she probably would never see him again. “Did you call him Trent?”

“Yes. He’s only like nine years older than I am.”

“Only?”

“Dad’s five years older than you.”

She was about to say that she and Vic were older but then remembered she’d met her future husband when she was only twenty-one and he was a very mature twenty-six. “So you like the detective?”

They used to have these kinds of conversations in the past, especially when Charlotte was in college. The familiarity was nice.

“Haven’t you seen him? He’s hot.”

She stilled. “Did something happen between you two in the cabin?” Charlotte sounded too happy.

“Mo-om. No. Though if he’d been interested, I’m not sure I would have turned him down.”

It was Ellie’s face that heated. “Just so you’re okay. How’s his cousin?”

“She’s nice. How are you and Dad holding up?”

Ellie recognized the change in topic. “We’re good now that you’re safe and out of harm’s way.”

“Just good? I can hear something in your voice. Ooh. Did you two hook up?”

Charlotte had always dreamed of being a family once more, but Ellie had no desire to discuss her chances of getting it. It would only lead to disappointment. The image of Vic carrying a young Charlotte on his shoulder surfaced and she smiled.

Then she changed direction and pictured the two of them together where he used to cuff her to the bed and tease her unmercifully. She worked to banish that erotic image. No good could come of it.

“I’m not sure what you mean by hooking up, but we’re not fighting, so that’s good.” There was no way she’d tell her daughter that she and her father had been having out-of-control sex.

“Uh-huh. Oh, Mom. I’m sorry. Gotta go. Annetta is calling to me.”

Thank you, Annetta. She must be the cop. “You can call me anytime on this line.”

“Okay. Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too, sweetie.” Ellie hated to hang up, but it was for the best. She wasn’t ready to admit even to herself that Vic was getting under her skin.

Voices sounded in the main entrance near Sharon’s desk, implying the detective was still there. As long as she had some time, Ellie wanted to check in with Wendy and then Hilton. She better use her regular phone or Wendy might not answer. Her friend would be working at her old art store at this time and not answer an unfamiliar number. Given the time difference, Wendy might even be at lunch, which would allow them to talk in private.

Ellie dialed and Wendy picked up right away. “Ellie? How are you?”

“I’m fine.” She gave her friend the rundown, leaving out nothing but her growing attraction to Vic. She knew what Wendy would say—go for it.

“Oh, my Lord. How is Charlotte doing?”

“I can’t really tell. She seems quite taken with her bodyguard and not all that thrilled to have moved once again. I’m sure it will hit her soon that her life was in danger not once but twice.”

“Does Vic have any leads?”

“Not yet, but he’s working on it. How’s class going?”

“Good, but Cal called to say he wasn’t coming for a while. Something about an emergency. To be honest, I’m kind of glad. He creeps me out.”

Ellie tried to count the days to see if Cal could have followed her to Montana. He always complained that he was broke, so she doubted he’d spend the money to fly there. “Did he say what kind of emergency?”

“Nope, just that he wouldn’t be back for a while.”

“Okay, thanks. How’s Hilton doing? He’s not used to manning the store.” A small smile lifted her lips. “I wonder if he even knows how to use the credit card machine.”

“Funny you should ask. He, too, said he had something he needed to take care of.”

She didn’t like the sound of that. “Who’s at the gallery then?”

“He asked Ronnie Maloney to come over.”

Ugh. “I didn’t know they’d patched things up.” Hilton had first asked Ronnie to go in with him to start the gallery, but he’d turned Hilton down.

Her friend groaned. “I know nothing, and I ain’t asking.”

Wendy was smart. “I appreciate the input. I won’t keep you but call if something new comes up.”

“Will do. I miss you.”

Ellie smiled. “You have no idea how much I miss you, girl. Hugs.”

“Stay safe.”

As soon as Ellie hung up, a heavy weight sat on her shoulders. She had to tell Vic about Cal’s and Hilton’s disappearing acts. She thought they’d already crossed both names off the list, but after what Wendy told her, the possibility existed that one of the men was her stalker. Just when she believed it couldn’t get much worse, this had to happen.

When she stepped from the room, Trent had gone. Sharon looked up. “Everything okay? You look pale.”

There was no reason to give Sharon all the details. “I’m fine. I need to speak with Vic for a minute. Is he free?”