Riddle (18 page)

              His face remained expressionless. “Do you need me to take you home?”

              She hesitated a moment and Kort broke in. “I’ll take her. It’s okay.”

              Tony continued to look at her, obviously waiting for her to reply. “It’s okay Tony. You should stay and have fun. There’s no reason for your whole night to be ruined.”

              He nodded briefly. By this time Mandy realized something was wrong and joined them. Noticing the mark on Grace’s face she asked, “What happened?”

              Once again Grace related the story. Her head had begun to clear by this time. “I’m taking you home,” Mandy said authoritatively. “Let’s go.” She shot a look at Tony then at Kort. Taking Grace’s arm she drew her toward the parking lot. Waving at her friends she continued to pull Grace toward the exit.

              “What really happened?” she hissed. “Do you know who it was?”

              “No.” Grace whispered. She considered telling her about Kort but she was still trying to sort it out in her own mind. Glancing back she saw that Kort, Tony, and Norma were following them. “Mandy, do you mind if Kort takes me home?”

              Stopping short Mandy stared at her. Then she gave a small laugh. “Uh-huh. I won’t say I told you so.” Looking back at Tony she told Grace to let her handle things. Although she felt a little better she was happy to leave it to Mandy. “Kort,” Mandy called, “I feel funny leaving my friends. Would you mind driving Grace home?” Then she smiled sweetly at Tony. “You can join me and the girls. We’re headed for the Ferris wheel.”

              Kort immediately stepped forward and once again slipped his arm around Grace’s shoulders. While Tony told Mandy he didn’t want to intrude and Mandy reassured him Norma stood by feeling her anger growing. Tony decided he would go with Mandy and her friends and as they headed off Grace promised to call Mandy later. She was treated to a knowing grin from Mandy. Norma followed Kort and Grace to the parking lot desperately trying to think of a way to distract Kort. Seeing his arm around Grace infuriated her. “He should be holding me,” she thought bitterly. “Sympathy seeking bitch.”

              Reaching Kort’s truck Norma made her move. “Maybe she should go to the ER and be checked out. Let me take a look at her.”

              Grace didn’t want Norma to touch her. Something about the woman made her extremely uncomfortable. “I just need to go home.”

“I can drop Grace off at her apartment,” Norma offered standing close to Kort. She’d caught the looks that had passed between them since the fun house. Something had happened in there. Whatever it was she did not like it. She’d waited years for Kort to come home and she was not going to let some stranger who would be gone in a few weeks get in her way.

Kort’s eyes searched Grace’s face for an answer. He wondered if he was reading something into their contact that wasn’t real. The answer was there. She held his gaze.

“No Norma. It’s okay. You have to get up early tomorrow and I’m headed that way. I need to pick something up at the store.”

Norma felt the headache start. “Are you sure? It’s no trouble at all.”

Kort turned to her and smiled. “It’s not a problem, really. You go on and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Lights were flashing behind her eyes. She stood on tiptoe and her lips grazed the corner of his mouth. “Well call me when you get home so I know you’re okay.”

“I think I’ll be alright Norma.” He opened his truck door and Grace got in. Her hands were shaking slightly, her palms sweaty. 

Over and over Grace asked herself what she was doing. Back in the fun house when they had been standing so close together something flipped inside of her. One minute he was helping her to the funhouse exit and then everything changed. Then he was kissing her and she was kissing him back.

As Kort got into the driver’s seat Norma came up to the door. “Really Kort. Call me when you get home.”

“Okay. You get in your car now so I know you’re safe.” They watched Norma get in her car. Neither of them spoke. The air was electric and Grace was positive he could hear her heart pounding. They rode in silence to the apartment complex and Kort pulled into an empty spot.

Shutting off the engine he turned to look at her. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

Grace nodded but didn’t say anything. They quietly mounted the steps and her hand shook as she tried to put the key in the lock. Kort’s hand covered hers and guided the key into the lock. The door opened a crack. She looked up at him, his hand still covering hers. They moved simultaneously and she was in his arms and his mouth covered hers hungrily. His body was hard against hers, his arms encircling her. Backing into the apartment she pulled him in with her. Kicking the door closed Kort fell back against it still holding Grace tightly.

They didn’t speak but began undressing one another frantically. Slipping her shirt over her head he ran his lips down the side of her throat and his hands slipped up under her shirt, hot against her skin. Reaching behind her back he struggled to open her bra. Finally the clasps released, freeing her breasts into his hands. Her nipples hardened beneath his touch. Grace ran her hands over the hardness of his chest and then slid them down to the front of his jeans. Kort gasped as her hands found him. Groaning he lifted her easily into his arms and carried her to her bedroom. They explored one another with the kind of desperation newly discovered desire creates. When he moved over her she welcomed him eagerly. They rose and fell on waves of passion; Grace made small excited cries until Kort moaned loudly and they fell exhausted beside one another.

Grace’s head rested on his chest and she could hear his heart still racing, his breathing just beginning to slow. He gently kissed the top of her head. Snuggling closer she let the musky male scent of him fill her. Kort pulled the covers over both of them and they lay still until sleep took them both.

In the darkness outside Norma watched as they embraced at the door. She watched as they went inside. She waited but no light came on. After a few minutes she began to angrily pound on her steering wheel. “No! No!” she screamed as tears poured down her face. “You bitch!” She sat sobbing, staring at the window of Grace’s apartment. Slowly the sobbing slowed then stopped. Opening her glove box she began rummaging through it. Her hand closed around the handle of a screw driver.

Norma got out of her car closing the door softly. Hurrying across the parking lot she looked around to see if anyone was watching. Kneeling beside the rear tire of Kort’s truck she plunged the screwdriver into it. It was harder than she had expected and it took a few good punches to break through.

The sound of an approaching car startled her and she squatted close to the ground praying it would pass by without anyone seeing her. A few seconds later she heard a car door open and close and the double chirp of an automatic door lock. Controlling her breathing she waited as she heard footsteps mounting stairs, then silence. Norma made herself count to one hundred before she moved. Looking around and seeing no one she scurried back to her car.

In minutes she was pulling out of the parking lot and back onto the main road. She swiped at her face with one hand smearing mascara across her cheeks. By the time she reached home she had calmed down considerably.

“It’s nothing,” she told herself. “It’s a one night stand. She’s leaving soon. It’s nothing.” By the time she got into her house she had decided there was nothing to be worried about.

Going into her bedroom she pulled the sheet they had slept in up to her face and breathed in the scent. He was coming back to her. This was where he belonged. She could tell how he felt when he made love to her. Everything was fine.

Miles away, they slept deeply, their bodies entwined, their breathing slow and regular. Once during the night Kort woke long enough to change positions slightly. The moonlight shining through the window cast a glow on Grace’s pale skin, white against his own darkness. He leaned close and kissed her shoulder softly. A smile touched her lips as she drew him in again, sighing as his body molded to hers. He fell back into a sound sleep, warm in her embrace.

Chapter 31

Kort woke first the next morning. Easing his arm from under her he looked for a clock. Not finding one he slipped out of bed and padded into the living room where his jeans lay in a crumbled heap on the floor. Fishing his phone out of his pocket he saw it was almost nine and he had over twenty missed calls. He searched his memory wondering if he was supposed to work. No it was Sunday. They never worked on Sunday. A sound behind him made him look up to see Grace standing in the bedroom door, her hair tousled like a bright red halo around her head, a thin robe held tightly around her body. He was suddenly aware of his own state of undress and began to slip into his jeans, one hand against the door for balance. Before he could get even one leg into his pants Grace had dropped the robe and stood naked in the morning light. There was no mistaking the invitation in her eyes and he readily responded.

Their love making was slow and deliberate, as they took time to explore one another in the light of day. Grace marveled at his muscular body, the tightness of his abdomen, the power of his arms and legs. He was surprised by the strength beneath the silkiness of her skin. Holding her arms above her head he joined his body to hers. Her eyes widened in surprise. She had only been intimate with David and it had always been good but the excitement she felt now was something new and electrifying. It wasn’t long before their passions rose again and exploded in a rush of fervor that left them both gasping. Afterward Kort held her close, something David had never done.

Briefly Kort thought about the fact he not used a condom again. “I really need to start carrying them with me.”

Grace lightly traced the thin line of hair on his chest down toward his belly. He grabbed her hand and laughed softly. “Behave.”

She laughed huskily. “I am behaving.”

“You’re not satisfied?”

Her eyes shining she responded softly. “I’ve never been so satisfied.”

He looked down at her eyes which appeared a deeper, richer green. “You are so beautiful; I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful.”

Her cheeks turned pink and she hid her face against his chest. But he put his fingers beneath her chin making her look up at him.

“Don’t hide. Never hide.” His lips touched hers lightly and she felt as though a bolt of lightning ran through her body.

Looking up at him she traced his full lips with her finger. The sensation tingled the length of his body and he caught her finger gently between his teeth. “I’ve never…” she struggled for the words to describe how he had made her feel but nothing seemed enough.

His mouth covered her in response. Moving away so he could look into her eyes again he murmured, “I know.” Squeezing her tightly for a moment he asked, “Do you mind if I take a shower? Then I’d like to take you out for breakfast.”

“How about if we take a shower together and then we go for breakfast?”

He offered no argument and soon they stood beneath the pulsing water in her shower, lathering one another and letting the warmth of the water run over their bodies. Part of him wanted to take her back to bed, to feel her heat envelope him once again. He noticed her cheek was only slightly discolored from her fall the previous evening and he touched her face softly.  Turning her so her back was against his chest he poured some shampoo into his hand and began washing her hair. He gently massaged her head before rinsing it clean. He knew they would have to talk about what had happened between them and where it might lead. But for that moment he wanted to touch every inch of her. He kissed her shoulder and his lips traveled to the side of her throat, stopping where her pulse beat. He slipped his hands around to the front of her body and ran his hands down over her breasts and across her belly until he reached her warm center. Grace moaned slightly and pressed her back harder against him feeling his desire rise against her. “We’d better stop or we’ll be having lunch instead of breakfast,” he said huskily.

Grace laughed softly. “Right now I’m not sure that’s such a bad idea.” Then sighing she said, “But I suppose we need to eat sometime.” Looking over her shoulder she wiggled her bottom against him, a grin lighting her face.

He spun her around and kissed her hungrily before moving his mouth to catch her ear lobe between his teeth. She felt the warmth of his breath as he whispered in her ear, “Breakfast or bed?”             

Shivering slightly she responded shakily, “Breakfast. I guess.”

As they dried off and got dressed Kort heard his phone buzzing again. “Sometimes I wish I had never gotten that thing,” he shook his head. Norma was calling again and he felt a pang of guilt. She was probably worried. Looking up he saw Grace studying him.

“Let me guess. Norma.”

He didn’t have to respond for her to know she was right. Sitting down on her bed she asked the question that had troubled her since the previous evening. “What exactly is your relationship? I can tell she’s attracted to you, maybe even more than attracted.”

Kort sat down beside her. “We’ve been friends since high school.” He stopped, considering how to explain their relationship. “I know she’s always been attracted to me.” He hesitated again. “We never dated, it was never like that.”

“Does she know that?” Grace stared at him.

Briefly he considered lying, but the lie died on his lips. “We slept together a few days ago. It was the first time. I shouldn’t have let it go that far. I knew it then. I know it sounds so false but it really did just happen.”

Grace felt a pang of jealousy, but seeing the discomfort on his face she pushed it away. “We all do things we think twice about afterward. Do you love her?”

Kort rubbed his hands over his face. “No. No, I don’t. I mean, I care about her. She’s one of the few people who stood by me and believed in me when Desiree was killed.” His eyes met Grace’s. “I’m not making excuses but I almost felt seduced and it was flattering.”

“So what happens now?” Grace sighed. “I mean do we keep this a secret?” She wanted to ask if it was a one- time thing, if he had just been carried away by the heat of the moment. Did he feel as though she had seduced him too? On the other hand she didn’t want to know if he had slept with because he was flattered by her desire for him.. Even now Grace felt her body growing warm at his nearness. She questioned if it was just good sex for her or was she starting to feel something more for Kort?

Kort tangled his fingers in her hair and pulled her face close to his. “I don’t think this could be a secret.” His mouth covered hers and his kiss was deep and hungry. Moving his mouth near her ear he whispered, “I don’t know where this is going but I hope it’s going somewhere.”

Grace felt goosebumps rise on her arms and her heart was beating so hard she could hear it. She moved back so she could look into his eyes. It was ridiculous to think she was falling in love with this man. She hardly knew him, he was an ex-con who had been convicted for murdering his last girlfriend, and she knew very little about him. Yet, here she was, warm all over and wanting him to take her again. “I hope so too.”

“So, how about breakfast?” Kort grinned at her as though he knew exactly what she was thinking and what she wanted.

“If you insist.” She grinned briefly before growing serious. “We need to talk about what happened last night at the fair. Someone definitely knocked me down on purpose. Whoever it was also kicked me. I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t managed to crawl away.”

Kort’s face darkened. “Do you think it was Tony?”

Grace looked thoughtful. “I really don’t think so. He and I had gotten separated and I’m pretty sure he was well ahead of me. Did you notice anyone coming in behind us?”

Kort shook his head. “I wasn’t paying attention.” Inhaling deeply he let the breath out slowly. “Let’s go ahead and get breakfast. We can talk while we eat. Do you have to work today?”

She shook her head. “I’m off.”

After they dressed they headed downstairs to Kort’s truck. When he saw his flattened tire he stopped short. “Son of a bitch!” he swore softly. Squatting down he ran his hand over the cut rubber. There was no doubt in his mind someone had done it on purpose.

“Who would do this?” Grace asked as she looked around the parking lot.

Standing up, Kort shook his head. “Who knows? I’m not the most popular guy in town.”

“Maybe they thought it was someone else’s truck.”

“For some reason I doubt that. Well I may as well get it changed.” He pulled off his jacket and handed it to Grace. “It won’t take too long.” He mentally thanked his father for being one of the OCD people who always kept a spare on hand. Concerned it hadn’t been maintained he was relieved to find it had in fact been kept up.

Sitting on the curb Grace offered to help. Kort chuckled at the offer. “I think I’ve got it.”

“Are you laughing at me?” Grace joked.

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “I would never think of it.”

She stuck her tongue out at him playfully. He just shook his head and went back to changing the tire. Half an hour later he ran upstairs to wash his hands and Grace waited in the truck. As he walked through her bedroom his phone went off again. He wasn’t surprised to see it was Norma. “Sooner or later I’m going to have to deal with this,” he thought. But that wasn’t the time. As he walked toward the truck he smiled broadly seeing Grace sitting in the passenger seat waiting for him. As she looked up and caught the expression on his face her heart flipped. He got into the truck next to her and leaned over to kiss her softly on the lips.

“What’s that for?” she asked breathlessly.

“Because…” he almost told her he loved her but caught himself. He started the truck and drove slowly to the exit. Parked at the end of the lot was a Sheriff’s car. Grace’s head turned as they passed it. “I think he lives here. That car is here a lot.”

Kort paid no attention, still trying to put his emotions into perspective. The day was sunny and clear. His life was falling into place. He had a job. He had a woman who seemed to care for him. He should be feeling great. But there was a nagging uncertainty that lingered at the back of his mind. Beside him, Grace breathed in deeply smelling the freshness of the pine trees that lined the road. A small smile touched her lips as she turned to look at Kort. As though he felt her looking at him he glanced at her quickly before looking back at the road. “That’s a rather contented smile.”

“Umm. I am content. I could just sit here and let you drive forever.”

“Without breakfast?” He wondered if she meant it. She had planned to leave Riddle soon. Had she changed her mind? Did he want her to change her mind? Where was this leading? Grace seemed to have settled into this so easily but his mind was swirling with questions. On top of that he felt as though he was close to finding out who had killed Desiree. Too much was happening too fast.

He pulled into the diner’s parking lot and turned off the engine. Part of him wanted to ask Grace where they stood. A larger part of him was almost frightened by what her answer might be.

Shoving it all to the back of his mind he smiled at her. She leaned toward him and kissed his mouth. “I guess it’s going to pretty obvious there’s something going on with us.”

“I guess so. Is that okay?” His voice was husky. Amazingly he wanted her again.

Her breath was warm on his lips. “That’s just fine.”

They walked into the diner where Mandy was behind the counter. Seeing them she went out to greet them. Wagging her finger at Grace she said, “You were supposed to call me.” Then she straightened. Looking from Grace to Kort, she murmured, “Holy crap. I was right.”

“Mandy.” Grace said warningly. “Can we get a booth in the back please?”

Mandy took two menus from Molly’s hands and led them to the back. As they sat down Mandy laughed softly. “I don’t like to say I told you so but…”

Kort grinned at her. “Can we get a couple of cups of coffee?” Turning on her heel she went to get their coffee, her ponytail bouncing. Kort reached across the table and took Grace’s hand. “Are you sure this doesn’t bother you?”

“Not at all. Besides everyone apparently knew we were attracted to one another anyway.”

“Do you think Tony suspected? Did he say anything last night?”

Grace shook her head. “He said he was confused by me. But he also told me he doesn’t have a lot of people he can talk to. Kort I think he might talk to me if I have more time with him.  I don’t believe he killed Desiree. But he may know who did, or at least he may think he does.”

Mandy set two cups of coffee on the table. “I’ll be your server. Have you decided what you want for breakfast?” She grinned.

Kort looked thoughtful before he asked, “You can’t guess? I thought you were psychic.”

Grace’s mouth dropped open. “Kort!”

But Mandy was laughing. “I’m not psychic, I’m observant.”

“In that case I’ll take the Big Breakfast Special,” Kort looked over the menu. “And a large orange juice too please.”

“You must have worked up an appetite,” Mandy noted keeping a straight face.

Grace put her head in hands and groaned. “I’ll just take toast and bacon.”

“No eggs?” Mandy pressed. She winked at Kort who winked back.

“No just toast and bacon.” Looking up at Mandy she added, “And please no more smart aleck remarks. It’s too early in the morning.” Laughing Mandy went to put in their orders. Grace looked at Kort. “Does she embarrass you?”