Hell's Belle (25 page)

I looked briefly at the muscular, sweaty men grinding away on the floor. The image was superimposed over by the memory of Jacq’s eyes, desperate and blazing with magic. An easy choice. I headed outside. Jacq was waiting with arms crossed, leaning against her silver car’s low hood. She didn’t say a word as I approached, the unlocking car’s beep and the club’s muffled music and faint laughter the only sounds breaking the empty night.

Jacq’s silence continued on the drive to Gandsai. I didn’t blame her for being angry, didn’t even try to dissuade her as we rolled through pine-bordered empty back roads, stopping once for a group of deer to bound across the blacktop. I simply laid my head back and closed my eyes. It was well past two a.m. when we stopped in front of the wards, which were locked down tight.

We sat there for a minute, looking at the silent house and starry sky, the Corvette’s engine purring in the dark. Then Jacq turned off the car. I put my hand on the latch then stopped, turning toward the motionless auburn-haired beauty. I could let her walk away. For both our sakes, I should do just that. But something in me wouldn’t allow it.

My hand fell to my lap.

“Please,” I placed my hand over Jacq’s where it gripped the gear shift, “stay.” Her muscles leapt, but she only blinked, clenched her jaw, and looked away. I removed my hand but made no effort to leave. Somehow I knew that if I let her go now, when we met again in the morning something would have irrevocably changed. I racked my brain for some argument, some explanation. If the brooding woman sitting across from me had been sulking, this would be easy. She’d get angry then get over it. I’d been around Luke plenty when he was in a sulk and knew the signs. This was different, which both relieved and worried me.

Jacq was processing, weighing what she knew, making a decision. Such adult behavior was refreshing…and frightening. I knew once her mind was made, hell or high water wouldn’t change it. My heart twisted.
Was that panic?
I didn’t like how another’s choices could so affect my emotions, but it was too late to change that. At least for now. I could deal with my wonky, calamitous heart later. At this moment I needed Jacq to hear the facts before she set her feet onto a path of no return. If only I could again feel what she was feeling.

Closing my eyes, I sought the connection we’d had at The Blue Moon. It was weak but there. I tried to bolster it using my own internal magic, unsure if it would work. I felt her hurt, her confusion…her deep longing. I nearly sighed, understanding the last emotion well. Then my mind was catapulted out, tossed over a wall that hadn’t been there moments before. My eyes popped open.

Jacq sat gazing at the shadowed woods, seemingly unaware of my brief intrusion into her psyche. But I swore I saw her lips twitch. I closed my eyes again, focusing. Yes, this connection was like my magic but different. And like magic, it could be shielded against. I was familiar with the concept, having once trained with Serena, but my skills were beyond rusty. I felt the barrier’s edges. Jacq
was
blocking me, erecting a wall to protect her mind…and maybe her heart. Well, we’d simply do this the old-fashioned way.

While Jacq considered whatever it was that had her so deep in thought, I considered her. Her profile was shadowed—the wards’ swirling blues and greens hiding her expression. If I could see her eyes this very moment, what emotions would I see? Anger? Sadness? Despair? Part of me wanted to know. Part of me didn’t.

We sat there in silence for several minutes. I leaned my seat back, closing my eyes. If need be, I would sleep in the car.

I’d just settled in for the long haul when she twisted toward me, grabbed my shirt, and pulled me over the console. I squawked. It was a terribly unladylike sound. But, hey, she surprised me. I thought she was leaning in for a kiss, but she pulled me tightly to her chest. I’ll admit to being a wee bit disappointed in receiving only a hug. Still, Jacq’s heat, her scent and the feel of her strong arms around me were intoxicating.

I’d just started to enjoy myself when she pulled away, releasing me in a flop back into the passenger seat. Dazed, I didn’t even hear Jacq exit the car. I sat there, lost in the pleasant sensation of her body pressed to mine. Jacq had never once spoken, but she hadn’t thrown me out. She’d hugged me, and she was coming into the house. It was definitely a step in the right direction.

Through the windshield I looked at the woman who’d so recently taken a predominant spot in my own thoughts. She stood by the wards, both hands tucked into her trouser pockets, the magic’s light haloing her body and hiding her features.
Once again, waiting for me.

I moved mechanically from the car. Jacq quietly walked beside me toward the dark house. If only I could believe that the hug had solved all our problems, but Jacq’s thoughts were now hidden behind a curtain of seriousness that said otherwise. As I opened a ward door, it hit me.

I really missed that one dimple.

Our feet crunched over the gravel drive, and I asked, “Would you like some cocoa?” I needed something to keep me awake or I’d never make it through this. And I could bribe her with mini-marshmallows. I was old-school. Bribery was always a good idea. Unless it involved vampire hookers, a wad of hundreds, and a federal judge. Then bribery was a bad idea. A very, very bad idea. But unless there was a hooker hiding in the pantry, we were safe. At least, for the night.

“Yes.” Jacq’s whiskey-smooth voice was hesitant.

We moved into the kitchen. Like the night we’d met, Jacq sat at the table, watching me. Had that been only four days ago? I shook my head in wonder. So much had happened since then. While I warmed the milk, I laid down a set of photos identical to the ones I’d given Fera. They were of Fera and the men who had been following her. They also included the picture of Jacq and Fera kissing. This wasn’t to put Jacq on the defensive (the skeletons in my closet were much larger—and more hairy—than hers). I wanted to clear the air. Even if Mynx was right and they didn’t mean anything, I’d been spying on Jacq. Although unintentional, it made me feel guilty. And I had enough that I deserved to feel guilty about without adding this.

Jacq straightened, browsing the photos silently. “How long has Mynx been following Fera?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Aunt Helena was likely upstairs, sleeping soundly, but I knew that Jacq was being quiet more to set the tone for our discussion than for fear that we’d awaken my aunt. After this evening’s events, my heart wanted to treat Jacq with kid gloves. Maybe she needed to do the same for me.

I stirred the milk and watched her in the window’s reflection. “Since Fera gave me the case. She was certain someone was following her. Nicodemus has been so careful, always one step ahead of the Council—I knew she had to be right. After our meeting, anyone following Fera would have known my face, so I asked Mynx to do the honors while we continued our end, searching for Isabella. My gut said catching Fera’s tail would lead us to Nicodemus faster than anything else considering how well he hides his tracks. It hasn’t yet but I’m hopeful. Mynx’s surveillance led her to Carlisle and his helpers, and Carlisle’s given us the location of Nicodemus’s next vessel, Brittan. Nicodemus will put someone to watch Brittan before grabbing her. We follow that person back to him.”

Jacq smiled, but looked puzzled. “It’s a good plan, but how did Mynx breach Fera’s anti-locator spells? The sheriff is very good at what she does.”

“A modified GPS tracker. It didn’t so much breach the spell as go around it. Mynx is
also
very good at what she does.” I smiled but it slipped away as I added, “Since my mom’s disappearance we all carry one.” Mine was currently attached to a suppression amulet strung around my neck. It rested near the cold spot that was my heart.

“Mynx won’t catch Fera a second time,” Jacq challenged lightly.

Remembering D’s declaration that the two had run off together, I murmured to the milk, “Perhaps Fera’s already good and caught.”

“Perhaps, but not by me,” Jacq said very seriously, watching me intently. “About this…” She pointed to the photo of her and Fera kissing. “It isn’t what it looks like. We knew we were being watched and tried to be discreet in our exchange of information.”

“I know. I figured that out when Fera ran after Mynx faster than a redneck going to a mud flap sale.” I added the sugar and cocoa to the now steaming milk, ignoring her snorted laugh. “Anyway, you don’t owe me an explanation. We’ve danced and, as my late-Grams might’ve said, ‘exchanged long looks.’ But I don’t have any hold on you.” I stirred the cocoa then turned to face her. It was imperative that Jacq understand. Every woman has her pride. I’d recently brought mine out and dusted it off, but it was too soon to see how well it would hold up under a full-blown assault. I leaned back against the counter, bracing my hands on the cool tile.

“It matters what you think about this.” Jacq gestured at the empty air between us. “You’re right, we don’t have a hold on each other, but…” She paused. “When this is over, I hope…” She stopped again and cleared her throat. For the first time since I’d met the thrilling, often infuriating detective, there was a slight flush to her cheeks that had nothing to do with exercise and good health. I frowned. Could she be sick?

“Do you have a fever?” I stepped to Jacq and felt her forehead. She was awfully hot. Realizing what I’d done, I dropped my hand and stepped back. The woman didn’t need mothering. Still, she had a way of neutralizing my good sense.

“No,” Jacq growled softly, and a shiver ran down my spine.

I stepped farther back, bumping into the stove. The smell of warm milk and sweet chocolate roused me. I turned and lowered the stove’s temp, half-smiling as Jacq let out a loud breath.

She said, “I’m not sick…I’m nervous. You, cher, don’t have the patent on blushing…just yet,” she teased.

From over my shoulder, I mock glared at her. The resulting smile and one obstinate dimple took any sting out of the comment. Then I realized what she’d said.

“
Nervous?
” I squeaked, spinning to face her, suddenly smiling at the humor of it. I couldn’t resist teasing back. “Are you sure? I don’t usually make people nervous unless I have a knife to their throat or a Taser to their balls.” I had to stop a little thrill as I considered why I might make her nervous. Jacq’s confession was confusing. But more confusing was my reaction. It had changed drastically in the last few days. The fact that I no longer cared as much about my previous objections was sobering, and I forced myself to hold tighter to those reasons. I’d almost forgotten that there could never be anything beyond friendship between us. A warm smile and a hot body wouldn’t remove the fact that I wanted love and a future that couldn’t happen with an immortal. But I couldn’t resist one more humorous poke at the big bad blushing policewoman. “And I haven’t pulled any weapons on you since the night we met.”

Jacq chuckled. “Cate?”

“Hmm?” I cut the heat off and turned again to look at her. All traces of laughter were gone.

“You’re very distracting.”

My eyebrows rose. “I try my best.” We smiled. I grabbed two ceramic mugs.

“You’re distracting, but I haven’t forgotten what I wanted to say.”

The words were low. A sudden shiver of anticipation ran throughout me. I met Jacq’s eyes. Everything was forgotten but the pure longing there.

“When this is all over, I hope you’ll have a hold on me and me on you.” She leaned toward me, trying to bridge the gap between us yet fighting to allow me the distance I needed. I found myself holding my breath, waiting for the words I saw forming on her lips. “What I’m trying to say is that I want to date you.”

“You want to
date
me?” My voice was soft, my shock so great that I nearly whispered.

My low words seemed to hang in the air. The house shifted, creaking in the silence that followed. I wasn’t sure what I’d been expecting, but that wasn’t it. The fires of hell or a row with my ex-husband might not have been able to melt my frozen soul and warm my cold heart, but five minutes with Jacq was moving me from icicles to puddles. There was nearly none of that cold shell, which had been protecting me, left. And this woman’s words had just caused another piece to break away.

“Don’t sound so surprised.” Jacq smiled. This time the smile reached her smoky eyes, transforming the shy suitor into the confident, flirtatious immortal I’d first met. She stood, inching closer with each spoken word. “You’re beautiful…smart…and drive everyone around you nuts.” She stopped less than a foot away. At my look, she grinned and leaned toward me. “I mean that in a good way, cher. Why? Isn’t date the proper term?”

I shook my head mutely.

“We could go out. Dinner? I know you like to dance.” Jacq’s smile widened, crinkling her eyes.

At each offer, another chink in my frigid armor fell. We were suddenly standing too close, her heat and scent wrapping around me. I grabbed the cocoa and cups, sidling to the sink. I poured the hot liquid, put the cups down, then rinsed away the drops that my shaking hands had spilled, putting off my response for as long as possible.

The woman was bloody asking me out.

I bit my bottom lip then turned to Jacq, passing a steaming mug. She stood near the stove, staring at me. Waiting.
Always waiting.
I looked into her eyes and nearly drowned in the rioting emotions, finally free, reflected therein. Lost, I set the mug down on the counter before I spilled it and ended the night with one more embarrassment.

“No. Yes. I mean…” Stammering, I turned back to the sink, not able to look at her. Her thoughts were so often hidden. Now Jacq’s stark honesty, her earnest eagerness, were difficult to see. I felt like someone living in a clouded world experiencing her first sunny day. I was in need of some sunshades.
Or Slone shades
. I almost giggled at the absurdity, my mind retreating to a safer, more surreal place. But as much as I wanted, it couldn’t stay there. I forced myself to consider her question.

We were from two very different worlds. How could someone like me pair with someone like her? It no longer seemed important that she was a woman when there were much larger issues. Like the fact that when I eventually became a silver-haired woman dying in my bed, Jacq would still look as young and beautiful as she did today. The idea of her sitting beside me, holding my withered, frail hand in her young, strong one as I passed into the next life was more than I could bear.