Her Mother's Killer (20 page)

Rusty grinned, but dropped the subject, while Thea stared at Duncan as if he’d grown another head.

“I’ll need to go over that other stuff with you,” Duncan said. When Thea said nothing, he knew she understood it had to do with the murdered women.

“Well, I’m stuck here for awhile. My mother would throw a fit if I just up and left this evening after being so late. How about I come by your place afterwards?”

“Okay. You know the old Miller house, don’t you?”

Rusty studied him then nodded, his grin widening into a full-fledged smile. “Now, I have to dance with a few eligible ladies to make my mother happy. Thea?”

Before she could answer, Duncan cut in. “She doesn’t meet your criteria.”

“Oh? Beautiful, available. She meets mine.”

“Kiss my ass, Reckless. You know what I mean.”

“I just wanted to know if you did.” He winked at Thea and sauntered through the crowd.

He glanced at Thea while she studied Reckless as he asked one of Coach Newman’s girls to dance. Just like him to pick the daughter of the coach who’d hated him in high school. Reckless always lived up to his name.

“He’s changed a lot. Well, at least I trust him more than I would have when he was in high school.” She looked at him. “You need to quit acting like a bull in rut.”

That blunt statement raised his temper to new heights. He’d stood by and allowed her to confront Warren, and he’d let all those other men dance with her. But, by damn, the woman was pushing him over the edge. Before he could respond, Jed and Gwen approached them.

“Was that Reckless?” Jed asked.

“Yes. He was trying to come on to Thea. Why don’t you go threaten
 
him
?”

Jed shot him a warning glance.

“Threaten him? Jed, did you threaten Duncan?” Thea demanded.

“No, I didn’t. Jason showed up and interrupted me.”

“Well, either way, we are out of here. I’ve had a long day at work.”

He held his breath until she nodded her agreement. After saying goodnight to them, they were stopped at least half a dozen times while trying to reach the door. They retrieved her coat and he hurried her out to his truck. He was ready to remind the woman just who she belonged to.

* * * *

The tension grew the closer to her house they got. He avoided the subject of what went on tonight because he knew they’d fight and he decided to put that off as long as possible. Since the moment she could speak, the two of them had fought. About the time she was old enough to tag along, Jed started to proclaim what they were doing as secret but every now and then, Duncan would side with her. He thought she should feel some loyalty.

He took a peek at her rigid posture and her crossed arms. 
Yeah right.

By the time he parked in her drive, he was itching for a fight. Never in his life had a woman tied him up in knots like this. One minute he was horny as hell, the next he was ready to take her over his knee.

He followed her to the front porch and into the house. She pulled off her coat and threw it on the sofa without stopping on her way to the kitchen.

“I’m starved, how about you?” she asked. “There wasn’t much selection there tonight and I really didn’t get to eat that much. I bet you didn’t get to eat a thing this afternoon.”

She paced nervously through the kitchen opening cabinet doors. Anxiety rolled off her in waves reaching out to him, propelling him to comfort her. There was no way he could allow her to go through it alone. Some deep primal urge had him moving across the floor, taking her in his arms.

She tensed for a second, then returned the hug half-heartedly. She attempted to step back, away from him, away from what he was offering her and anger had him holding on tighter. He crushed her soft body against his, and his heart tumbled when she returned his embrace.

An emotion, something so strong, almost overpowering, surged through him. It coursed through his veins and sent his mind spinning out of control. He cupped her face in his hands and tilted her face up. Her eyes were half-closed, slumberous. Just the sight of them, looking as if she’d just awakened after a night of loving, sent heat rushing through him.

He lowered his lips to hers, her eyes slowly closing the closer he got. Her scent, apples and cinnamon and musky arousal, swarmed around him, surrounded him, aroused him even further.

The taste of her, the wine she’d drunk, the passion surging through her, sent any of the blood still left in his brain, racing to his groin. He traced her spine, delicate but so strong. His groin was heavy with anticipation and he had to have her. He abruptly broke the kiss, and grabbed her hand and tugged her upstairs.

Only the hall light shone into the dark room as he settled on the bed, her standing in front of him. He’d love to turn on the light, see every bit of her gorgeous body in detail but he knew it would break the mood.

Within a couple of minutes, he discarded his jacket and shirt and leaned back on his elbows as she began undressing. He kicked off his shoes. Just thinking of her, naked and willing beneath him had him almost bursting.

She seemed in a rush to discard her dress but he stilled her with one word.

“Slowly.”

She looked up, her eyes hidden in the shadows but he knew what they looked like. Dark green filled with arousal, simmering with desire. She turned and gave him her back. For a moment he held his breath, wondering if she would refuse.

His breath wooshed out as she peeked coyly over her shoulder. Her fingers slid over one of her shoulders. He watched, mesmerized by the motion as she pulled the dress to her forearm. She repeated the action with the other side.

She turned to face him and pulled the dress down further, freeing her arms and revealing her breasts. She’d been braless and he was glad he hadn’t known. They would never have made it home.

Wiggling, she discarded the dress, throwing it aside without a thought. She stood before him in nothing but her blush and stockings. Lust intermingled with something so unknown to him, so foreign, it almost unmanned him. A smile tugged at his lips when he recognized the feeling rolling through him. He accepted it, knowing he had no way to avoid it.

He took her hand and tugged her to the bed. She came willingly, laid out on the bed like an offering. As fast as humanly possible, he finished undressing.

He practically dove on the bed and rolled so she sat astride him. The silk of her stockings against his hips hardened him even more. His erection was nestled between her legs. Her breasts rose and fell as her breathing increased. Slowly, he slid his hand along her ribs to cup the bottom of her breast.

She was full breasted, but it wasn’t the size so much as the shape and the feel and the taste of them. He reared up, taking one turgid nipple in his mouth and suckling. Her moan, aroused and husky, pitched his heartbeat into overdrive.

He moved to the other, reveling in the taste of her, sweet yet spicy. Her hands speared through his hair, as if trying to hold him closer. He broke free and grabbed a condom from the nightstand. Within minutes he was easing his way into her tight sheath. He watched her, her head thrown back in wild abandon, her eyes closed as she slid down his length, enveloping him with her warmth.

Minutes later, her muscles tightened as she convulsed, the tremors pulling him with her as he shouted her name.

* * * *

Jason Warren stumbled out of his car searching for his keycard. He pulled everything out of his pants pocket and it fell on the pavement with a splat. His head swam with anger and the ten beers he’d had after he left that stupid ball.

“Damn woman,” he muttered.

Everything was Thea’s fault. Look at the employees at the restaurant. Every one of those idiots quit as soon as she walked out the door. She’d turned them against him, he was sure of it.

He bent at the waist to shift through his belongings still lying on the ground in a puddle from the recent rain. Finally, he found his key and shoved the rest of the items back in his pocket.

It took five attempts, but the door finally opened. He staggered into his motel room; the vague smell of must and cigarettes assaulted him.
 
She couldn’t go to a town with a decent hotel, could she?
 Hell, he’d gone to another town for a beer as the only place that served liquor was the hall were the dance had been held.

He’d decided to lay low for a few days, wait for her temper to cool, then approach her again. All businesslike this time. That’s what he’d do. Appeal to the businesswoman in her. He would coax her into agreement and then all of his problems would be solved.

He smiled. Nothing would stand in his way now. Thea was as temperamental as any artist but he knew how to handle her. And she could be handled. He was sure of it.

It was the last thought he had before the cold metal of a gun touched his temple.

Chapter Sixteen

Pleasure continued to hum through Thea as she snuggled closer to Duncan. She still lay on top of him, every bone in her body melted to mush. He had a way of doing that to her. With a touch, a look, hell, just thinking about him did it to her. She contemplated not moving for at least a day or two but Duncan’s stomach rumbled. He chuckled. A deep satisfied male type of chuckle that curled her toes.

“I guess you expect me to feed you now?” she asked.

He smacked her on her butt, then rubbed the spot. “Well, you did mention something downstairs about being hungry.”

Her whole body heated as she remembered yammering on like an idiot.

“Yeah, well, I guess I could throw something together.” She tried to move, but he caught hold of her and lifted her chin with his knuckle.

“There’s no reason to be embarrassed, Thea.”

“Well, you’re used to this type of thing, I’m not.”

“This type of thing?” His voice was neutral, without emotion. He dropped his finger.

She propped herself up on his chest. “You have to admit, you’ve had quite a lot of women. Other than my ex, you’re the only man I’ve slept with. Casual affairs are not my thing.”

He stared at her, silent for a few moments. Releasing an exasperated sigh, he slid his arms around her and pulled her down.

“After we catch this bastard, we’re going to have a really long talk. But, for now, I’m hungry.”

He deftly set her on her feet and he stood next to her. A rush of goose bumps exploded on her arms and she shivered. She grabbed a pair of sweats and a t-shirt.

After both of them finished dressing, they headed downstairs.

She rummaged through the refrigerator. “How does a sandwich sound?” When he didn’t answer, she turned to find his gaze directed at her rear end. “Duncan!”

His eyes met hers and her face warmed. “What?”

“Sandwich?”

“Yeah, sure.”

She gathered all the ingredients and went to work. “You’d think you’ve had enough.”

He chuckled. “I hate to tell you, honey, but that day’s not going to come anytime soon.”

She turned to ask him what he meant, but a flash of light alerted her to an approaching car. Tension coiled in her stomach.

“Reckless.”

She sighed. “Of course. I forgot.”

He kissed her temple and then headed for the front door.

The murmur of male voices filled the room as Rusty and Duncan discussed the case.

“Thea,” Rusty said. He was still dressed in his tux, his dark brown hair the same unruly mess and his blue eyes sparkled with speculation. “That looks wonderful. Is there anyway I can convince you to make me one?”

“Ham and cheese?”

“My favorite.” He walked toward her, his arms outstretched as if to embrace her but Duncan grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back.

“Hands off.”

She was sure her face was candy apple red and she resumed fixing the sandwiches.

“How the mighty have fallen,” Rusty said. “I want an invite.”

“An invite to what?” she asked without turning around.

“Never mind,” Duncan said. “We need to get to work.”

* * * *

Dennis Farley hated working the late shift at the Crocker Inn. Fifty was too old to be sitting up all night renting rooms. He hated it even more when they had trouble.

The desk chair moaned in relief when he pulled his considerable weight out of it. The occupant in Room 117 had called to complain that the television in the next room was blaring. After repeated calling and receiving no answer, he knew he had to walk all the way down there and check it out.

The cold northern wind slapped him in the face as he trudged along the sidewalk. The caller stood outside of his door, a tall elderly man who checked in with his niece under the name Smith. Odd that he would call attention to himself. Must be from out of town.

“Thank God. That damn TV has been blaring for an hour.”