Hart To Hart (22 page)

“Jesus, El. You don’t want me to go off, do you?”

Why was it okay for her to be on the edge and not him? “You’re the soldier. Suck it up.”

She went back to work, rolling his balls and dragging her tongue down his length. Because she could only fit half of his dick in her mouth, she clasped the lower half and pumped her fist again. He groaned and grabbed her wet hair and tugged.

“I forgot how wicked your mouth was.”

She smiled and lost suction. Damn. This was her chance to bring him to his knees. She bet every criminal Vic ever brought to justice would line up to see him beg. And beg he would. Five years was a long time, but some things she’d never forget—like how to drive him wild with need.

Using every technique she’d ever learned, she dragged her tongue up and down his length, swirling it around and sucking hard. The tension on her scalp increased. She was loving this. From his moans and the hint of cum on her tongue, he was about to lose it. It would almost be worth it to have him blow.

“Enough,” Vic gasped. “I have to have you.”

“Patience.”

Vic withdrew from her grasp and lightly tapped her nose. “Patience, my ass.”

He pressed her against the wall, aimed his cock at her pussy, and drove up into her. Explosions detonated everywhere. Sparks flew. Oh, my fucking Lord. Ellie cupped his face and kissed him with more passion than she ever had before.

His hands roamed over her hips and up to the sides of her breasts as he pounded into her over and over again. She couldn’t get enough of him, and only broke the kiss when she needed air. He plastered his chest against hers and as his cock exploded, he dropped his head on her shoulder, taking her over the edge with him. It was as if they were holding hands in a free fall.

The power, the lust, and the emotion were so strong that her mind blanked. He held still and eventually the pulsing slowed.

Vic withdrew and stepped back. “Okay, maybe I’m too old for this. I think that took five years off my life.”

Ellie didn’t know why that was funny, but she laughed and couldn’t stop. Vic joined in, and side-by-side they planted their backs against the wall then slowly slid down to the floor.

“Aren’t we a pair?” she asked.

His picked up her hand and kissed each knuckle. “That we are.”

Chapter Twenty

E
llie was in
the back room painting when Sharon knocked. “I finished my work. You said you wanted to go clothes shopping?”

“Fantastic. Yes.” Ellie had already gotten a paint stain on this shirt, and she needed a few more tops she didn’t mind messing up. “Let me rinse my brushes and then tell Vic we’re doing a girls’ day out.”

“Cool.”

Ellie used the bathroom sink to rinse her brushes, and then wiped the porcelain clean. This setup wasn’t ideal, but it worked. After she returned her supplies to the back room, she gathered her purse and coat and headed into Vic’s office.

He looked up, smiled, and took off his glasses. She wished he’d keep them on as he looked scholarly, but he said he was self-conscious. Men. Go figure.

“Sharon and I are going to do a little clothes shopping. I don’t imagine we’ll be too long.”

“I’m glad you’re making friends here.”

She bit her tongue. He was trying to make her see she could have a life in Rock Hard. While that might be true, she also had a job and friends in Virginia. It was the only place she’d ever known. “I’ll text you when we’re done so you don’t worry.”

“I appreciate it. Just keep your phone on.”

She remembered that he could always locate her because of her phone. That comforted her. “Will do.” She shoved her hand in her purse and extracted her keys. He hadn’t asked to borrow her rental even though his shoulder had healed enough for him to drive. She didn’t want him stranded should something come up. “Just in case.” She dropped them on his desk.

“Thank you.” He winked. “Be vigilant.”

“Always am.”

Ellie left with Sharon, ready to enjoy a day out. Sharon drove, not only because she’d parked in front, but also because she knew the roads.

“I’m thinking we’ll head over to Dayton. They have a nice mall.”

“How far away is it?”

“Thirty minutes, tops.”

Ellie wasn’t sure Vic would want her to be so far away, but Sharon did have her gun. “As long as you park close to the entrance, I don’t think Vic would mind.”

Sharon reached over and clasped her hand. “You’re safe with me and Annie.”

Ellie laughed. When they arrived at what Sharon called The Mall, Ellie said nothing. Ten single-story stores in a row wasn’t her definition of a shopping mecca, but for now, it would do. One consolation, it would be hard for anyone to sneak up on them. As long as they’d come this far, Ellie was going to enjoy shopping.

*     *     *

Vic was making
good progress on the potential candidates when his cell rang. He smiled. It had to be El telling him she was on her way home. She’d been gone a few hours already. He wasn’t worried, though. He’d checked her location several times. They were in Dayton. Not his first choice for haute couture, but what did he know about women’s clothing?

The call wasn’t from El’s phone. He didn’t recognize the number. Tension rippled through him. “Hello?”

“I have your daughter.” The voice came out distorted.

His heart nearly exploded.
Stay cool and
think
. Vic had checked on Charlotte’s location when he’d looked up El’s. His daughter was in Billings where she was supposed to be. Trent said he was calling his cousin every few hours to make sure all was okay.

“What do you want?” He’d play along. It didn’t help that his heart wouldn’t stop banging against his chest, which made it very hard to talk.

“I want you in exchange for your daughter.”

It wouldn’t be the first time a criminal had asked for such a swap. “Let me speak with her.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t do that.”

That was because he didn’t have her. Vic wanted information about this guy. “Were you the one to set the garage on fire?” He knew damn well it was a porch, but maybe this clown didn’t.

“Nice try, Agent Hart. It was Detective Lawson’s front porch. And, yes, I did.”

Bile raced up his throat. “Who are you?”

“Meet me at the picnic tables at Harmes River Park in thirty minutes. Bring the cops and Charlotte dies.” He disconnected.

Vic’s mind raced. The stalker was the only one who could know so much, yet there was no way he had Charlotte. Damn. He immediately dialed Trent’s private number, hoping this creep hadn’t somehow figured out where Charlotte was.

“Hey. Can I call you back?” Trent asked. Noise sounded in the background.

“No. The stalker called. He said he has Charlotte. Is that possible?” His words rushed out.

“No.”

“You sure?”

“I just called Annetta. Charlotte is at the station house in Billings. What did he say?”

Vic told him then checked his cell for the time. “I have to leave now or I won’t make it in time.”

“Fuck. I’ll organize everyone on my end. When you get there, stall if you have to until we arrive. He doesn’t have your daughter so there’s nothing he can do even if you come in with a squad of cops, guns blazing.”

“I want this fucker alive. I want to know who he is and why he’s targeting my family.”

“We’ll meet you there, and we’ll get him. I’ll have every exit sealed off if he attempts to run for it.”

Vic blew out a breath, appreciating that Trent had his back. “Thanks.”

As soon as he disconnected, Vic shrugged into his vest. No telling what this fucker had in mind. He slid on his gun belt and added an ankle holster for his knife. Vic was certain he was missing something. Since his retirement from the FBI a year ago, he had softened. Mentally, he raced through how he wanted to do this. He debated going in the back way and hiking in the last mile, but that would take too long. However, since this guy did not have Charlotte, what difference did it make?

Logic intruded. The difference would be the stalker might go after El next, and that would be horrible. After he donned his jacket and hat, he headed out the back. Ellie’s car was parked in the second row. With each step, his anger built.

Only when he’d gone ten feet did the sound of snow crunching behind him enter his brain. As he spun around, something hard smashed him in the side of the head and he dropped to the ground, his vision black.

*     *     *

“What do you
think of this top with these jeans?” Ellie said, as she modeled her outfit for Sharon.

“They look great together.”

“I don’t look too fat?”

Sharon laughed. “You’re asking me, Miss Skinny?”

Ellie really enjoyed Sharon’s company. She was a no-nonsense woman who didn’t seem to take shit from anyone. “I am.”

“I’m sure the boss will think you’re hot.”

“That’s not why I’m buying it.”

Sharon rolled her eyes. “Keep telling yourself that. I can practically smell the chemistry between you two. I’ve never seen the boss so happy.”

She didn’t need to hear that. Vic did seem happy despite all the crap that was going on in their lives. She’d admit that a large part of his good cheer might be from having her back—if only for a little while. “Me neither. But enough about me and Vic. Tell me about your new beau.”

“Darryl isn’t really a beau. He travels too much, but when he’s passing through town, we do have a good time, if you know what I mean.” Sharon smiled, looking like Charlotte used to in high school when a boy she liked paid attention to her.

Ellie decided she’d take both the top and the jeans and slipped them off. “Got a picture of this hot man?” Women loved to share.

“I think I do.” Sharon pulled out her phone and scrolled through the photos. “Here he is. I love when he wears a suit.” She grinned and held up her cell.

Ellie took a quick glance. “Nice.” She’d planned to look away, but there was something familiar about the guy. “How old is he?”

Sharon laughed. “Now you sound like my sister. He’s thirty-eight.”

“Sweet.” Ellie dressed back in her clothes. “As long as he treats you well, that’s all that matters.”

“He sure does. I’ve never met a man who’s more interested in me and what I do. I couldn’t have asked for anyone finer.”

Vic’s words came back to her. He’d found four men who were relatives of the criminals he’d put away. “Sounds like Vic. Let me see if he tried to call. He’s is such a worrier.”

Ellie wanted to find a way to check her phone without looking obvious. The photo of Darryl seemed familiar. She pulled out her cell and scrolled through the pictures. When she reached the third one, Ellie’s legs weakened.

“What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I have.” She handed the phone to Sharon, hating to disappoint a woman she’d come to like. “Who does this remind you of?”

She checked out the picture. “How did you get a photo of Darryl?”

Ellie wished she remembered what this guy’s name was. “These are my possible stalkers. They have relatives who Vic put away.”

“Motherfucker. I’ll kill the SOB.”

Ellie held up a hand. “Let’s not be hasty. It might not be him.” But she was pretty sure it was, though. “Can I see the picture you have again?”

“Sure.” Sharon handed it to her.

“Oh, shit. I remember now. That’s the guy I met in the bar. I might have had too much to drink, but I do remember he said he sold some kind of energy-efficient windows and that he was married with three kids.”

“He has a wife? Son of a bitch. Why me?”

She could think of a few reasons. “Could it be he wanted to learn about Vic’s habits?”

“Shit.” She balled her fists. “If this is true, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“It’s not your fault. You didn’t know. I’m calling Vic and telling him. The good news is that Darryl might be our stalker. Identifying him is most of the battle.” Ellie pressed the call button. It rang. And rang. “He’s not answering.”

The machine picked up. “Hello, this is Hart’s Investigations. I’m unable to answer this call so please leave your name and number and I’ll get back to you.”

Ellie wasn’t certain what to do. The beep sounded. “Vic. It’s me. My stalker is Darryl…ah.” She looked over at Sharon.