by Marci Bolden
“Thanks. And”—he looked at Alexa—“thank you for finding her.”
Alexa didn’t respond as they watched David leave. Only once the door closed did Dean finally turn to face her. Putting his hand to her cheek, he was going to kiss her, but she dipped her head and peered at his mouth.
“You need ice on that lip.”
“Wait.” He stopped her before she could leave him. Instead of kissing her like he wanted, he rested his forehead to hers. “I’ve been an emotional train wreck the last few weeks. I’ve lashed out at you twice now. I’m usually calmer than that. I don’t mean to take it out on you. I’d never mean to take it out on you. I’ll do better. That’s what I wanted you to come here for. To promise that I’ll do better.”
Resting her hands on his hips, she leaned back. “Look at me,” she whispered. “Look into my eyes.”
He did. He stared into her beautiful, dark, analytical gaze. She stared back. He didn’t know what she was seeking, but she seemed to have found it. She gave him that sweet, comforting smile he’d grown to love, and she brushed her nose against his as she stroked his cheek.
“Let’s ice your lip,” she whispered, “or I’ll never get what I came here for.”
Dean smiled, finally feeling like the mess that had become his life was starting to sort itself out.
13
Alexa slid a pancake onto Dean’s plate as he sipped coffee and pressed his phone to his ear. Sandra Cawling had called before heading to the police station to visit with Mandy. Alexa couldn’t hear her side of the conversation, but the scowl on Dean’s face let her know the conversation wasn’t what he wanted to hear.
“Listen,” he said, “the most important thing is getting her to agree to rehab. If she continues to refuse to testify, take that off the table. We can approach it with her later.”
Alexa agreed with his suggestion and hoped Sandra did as well. Getting Mandy off drugs and out of the reach of her extortionist was the most pressing issue. The scumbag who had done this to her would get what was coming to him. Alexa had already decided that, and she had no doubt she’d have the HEARTS on her side. They’d get the evidence needed to send him to jail, with or without Mandy. Although having her cooperation would make life so much easier.
“Thanks, Sandra,” Dean said before ending the call.
“Well?” Alexa pressed when he groaned miserably.
He dragged a hand over his face as he did when he was processing bad news and blew out his breath. “Well, my sister is being her usual stubborn self. She won’t give up the name of the guys who did this to her. She insists she wasn’t being sold. She won’t cop to anything. Oh, except stealing from me, but she insists she did that all on her own and the guy who was waiting for her outside knew nothing about it. They let him go.” He tossed his phone down, and Alexa immediately took his hand.
“Hey. Calm down. He’s not getting away with anything. I’ll find him.”
Dean pressed his lips together. “I hired you to find my sister. You’ve done that.”
“This isn’t about saving Mandy now. This is about saving every other vulnerable woman who crosses his path. You really think I’m going to leave a predator out there when I can stop him?”
Pulling her hand to his mouth, he kissed her knuckles and sighed. “You really think you can find him?”
Narrowing her eyes, she playfully asked, “Do you really think I can’t?”
Smiling, he shook his head. “I have complete faith in you.”
Returning his grin, she asked, “Do you think Mandy will talk to you?”
“I doubt it.”
“Would she talk to David? I need to know how he found her last night. Then I’ll follow her steps backward until I find the man who had her at the gas station.”
“Sounds like she and David had gotten close. She might.”
“Would you call him? Ask him to try.”
He looked at his watch. “I will. After we eat and take a shower. I want to spend some time with you before this consumes me again.”
She smiled and ran her fingers over his beard. “You know, when I said you should never shave again, I was being facetious.”
He covered her hand, pressing her palm against his hairy cheek. “I have considered trimming. But I won’t shave. I know what pleases my woman.”
Though his tone was teasing, his words wrapped around her heart and settled there. His woman? She liked the sound of that. A lot. “That’s a good thing to know,” she whispered. “How’s your lip this morning?”
He deliberately ran his tongue over the bruised flesh. “Functional.”
“Functional is all I need.” Rounding the counter, she slid her arms around his neck. “Sleeping next to you was wonderful, but you know that’s not why I came running over here at midnight, right?”
“No?”
She shook her head.
“Was it to save me from getting my ass kicked?”
Chuckling, she shook her head again.
He rested his hands on her hips and pulled her body against his. “So why’d you come running?”
Closing the distance even more, she pressed her cheek to his, sighing with the instant pleasure that rolled through her, not just at his nearness but at the prick of his facial hair against her sensitive skin. A quivering breath left her lips. “Tell me more about pleasing your woman.”
“Oh, fuck,” he said under his breath, making her smile.
He slid his hands up her thighs, under the T-shirt she’d borrowed, and tugged her panties over her hips until they fell down her legs, crumpling at her feet. Alexa stepped out of the lacy material as he lifted the hem of her shirt. And just like that, she was naked before him and his mouth was latched to her nipple. Digging her fingers in his hair, she rolled her head back and said his name on a sigh.
He slid his hand between her legs, pressed his fingers deep inside her, and then kissed his way up her neck. “This is how I want to start every day,” he whispered in her ear before nipping at the lobe. “You naked and ready for me.”
Alexa grinned. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Standing, Dean kissed her lips firmly. “I’m going to grab a condom. You bend over that barstool and wait for me.”
“Say please.”
He cupped her ass, squeezing as he pulled her against his erection. “Please. I’m begging you.”
“In that case…” She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the padded seat, and looked over her shoulder. “Like this.”
Dean took in the scene she’d created and heaved a sigh. “I may never let you move again.”
Alexa widened her smile. “That sounds promising.”
He ran his fingers down her spine. “Stay.”
She spread her legs farther and bent over more, giving him better access to her body. She listened to his rushed footsteps headed toward the bedroom, the drawer of the nightstand opening, and his hurried return. Her heart pounded with anticipation as he crossed the room to her. Closing her eyes, she gripped the edge of the barstool. She’d told him the first time they’d made love that she wasn’t the submissive type. She’d been wrong. She hadn’t been the submissive type. For him, she thought she’d do just about anything.
Biting her lip as he slid deep inside her, she laughed at how easily her convictions changed where Dean was concerned, because, in that moment, she knew she’d do anything for this man.
That feeling, and the sensation of him making love to her, kept her spirits sky-high as she showered and readied for work. She would prefer to stay in his bed all day, but she had reports to write to wrap up Mandy’s case and officially stop working for her lover. She also wanted to talk to HEARTS about taking some time to find the bastards behind the trafficking ring that had lured Mandy in. She’d do it on her own time if needed, but she suspected her team would be more than happy to help out.
“You look amazing,” Dean said as Alexa leaned close to the bathroom mirror, dabbing at her lipstick.
She couldn’
t stop the smile that spread across her face. “Keep up the sweet talk, Mr. Campbell, and I’ll have to get naked again.”
“Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep.” He crossed the room and nuzzled her neck. “I reached out to David. I’ll let you know what I hear from him.”
Turning, she put her hands to his face. “Everything’s going to be okay, Dean. Even if Mandy doesn’t turn in the men who did this. She’s safe now. She’s going to get help. Focus on that.”
“I am. And on you. And us. Only good things from now on.”
Giving him a quick kiss, she pressed her head to his. “I don’t want to leave, but I have to get to the office before the morning meeting. Our afternoon meeting wasn’t very productive, so we have a lot to catch up on this morning.”
She smiled, thinking of the previous afternoon. Though she’d been heartbroken thinking her relationship with Dean might end before it really began, she’d loved sitting around the table drinking on the clock with her team. They’d never done that before, but she thought maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing to suggest again someday. The women didn’t spend as much time bonding like that now that Holly was engaged and Eva and Josh had gotten back together. She really hoped she could add herself to the list of teammates who would be too busy spending time with a significant other to commit to drinking with the ladies. She loved her team, but being like this with Dean was everything she’d been missing.
Stepping into his arms, she hugged him as tightly as she could. “I’ll check in with you later.”
Dean kissed her head. “Have a good day.”
Leaning back, she smiled up at him, and her heart filled when he looked down at her in the way that made her heart sing. The way she’d always wanted someone to look at her. She bit her tongue before she said something silly and foolish and scared him away. She had a tendency to do that—jump the gun and say something committal that made men run for the hills. She wasn’t going to sabotage this relationship. Not this one. Not this time.
So she pulled away from him and gathered her things before heading for the door.
“Hey,” she called before stepping outside. She held his gaze as he shoved his hands in his pants pockets. “There’s no telling how many unsavory people know that Mandy’s house has a key hidden just outside the door. Change the lock. Today. Please?”
“Will do.”
“Thank you.”
“Lex?”
She looked back, taking in how absolutely adorable he looked standing there. His hair was still damp from their shower and poking out in a million directions, his beard was filling in, and when he smiled, his eyes filled with that warmth that won her over every time.
“Tell Abuela I’m taking care of your dinner tonight. Pretty sure it’s my turn to feed you for a change.”
Her cheeks hurt from how wide her smile had spread. “I’ll let her down gently. Change this lock,” she said on her way out.
She didn’t stop smiling all the way to the office, and when she walked in, Sam glanced up and squealed.
“Oh. Em. Gee. You guys made up.”
Alexa laughed but didn’t answer as she headed straight for the conference room. “I’m late. I know. I’m sorry.”
“Morning sex?” Eva asked. “Because that’s why I was late.”
“Just rub it in,” Tika muttered.
Dropping into the seat she always took at the conference table, Alexa tried to wipe the blatant happiness off her face. “We really don’t need to picture you and Josh getting it on. The dude is like a brother to us. Keep that to yourself.”
“So you don’t want to know how he—”
“No!” Alexa screamed.
Eva laughed but simmered down as Holly and Rene walked into the room. Now that everyone was there, the meeting would get started.
“May I start today?” Alexa asked.
“Go for it,” Holly told her.
“You all know Mandy has been arrested. She isn’t talking about the men who did this to her, but Dean is willing to let that part of the deal go if she keeps pushing back. He really just wants her in rehab. Her stepbrother confessed to being her pot dealer, but someone else supplied her with meth, which was probably what led to her downward spiral. Since we were hired to find Mandy and we have, this case is closed. However…” She let the word hover. “I want to find the bastards who did this to her. It’s not like any of us are surprised that there are human trafficking rings operating in our city, but I feel obligated to shine a light on this particular one. I want permission, and maybe a little help, bringing these fuckers down.”
Holly nodded her agreement. “I think we all want this stopped. Feel free to use our resources. I’ll help any way I can.”
“This could be the first step.” Rene opened the manila file she’d carried into the room. “We were all a bit too distracted yesterday to worry about this, but here are a few pictures of the guy who was waiting for her outside Dean’s house as well as his car and license plate. The car is registered to—”
Alexa gawked at the photo as her stomach tightened. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“I’m guessing you recognize him?” Rene asked.
She tossed the picture down and nodded her head. “I gotta talk to Dean. This isn’t over yet.”
Dean opened the door, and a smile broke across his face when he found Alexa standing there. However, his happiness faded like the sun on a cloudy when she pulled her tortoiseshell sunglasses off and met his eyes.
“Oh, shit,” he muttered. “What now?”
She held up a folder. “Rene snapped a few pictures of the guy who picked up Mandy after she left the other night.”
“Her handler?”
“Well, we assumed it was her handler, but maybe he was just…someone she trusted.”
She stepped in, and he put his hand low against her stomach to stop her from bypassing him.
“Kiss me hello before ruining my day.”
She pressed her lips to his, and he soaked up the moment, convinced the drama he thought had ended was about to continue. She dropped onto the sofa and patted the seat next to her.
“Can we just run away?” he asked, only half kidding. “Right now. Let’s just pack our bags and go.”
She drew a breath. “You have no idea how much I wish we could. But if we don’t get to the bottom of this new information, Mandy may walk out of rehab and right back into the mess we’re trying to save her from.”
Dean sat and planted his elbows onto his knees as he dragged his fingers over his eyes and moaned with frustration. “Is this nightmare ever going to end?”
“It will.” She ran her hand over his back, but for the first time, that didn’t seem to ease his stress.
“Let me have it. Whatever it is.”
She opened the file and handed him a photo. His heart dropped to his stomach as he closed his eyes and sighed. The image was grainy from having been blown up, but the face was undeniably his stepbrother. David had been waiting in the car outside his house while Mandy had lied and manipulated and stolen.
David had been the man arrested alongside Mandy, the man she had refused to identify. The man who, presumably, had been the handler overseeing her as she’d been sold online to strange men.
Stay calm, he told himself. Breathe and stay calm. “He was here. Last night. Blaming me for what she was going through.”
“We don’t know the full situation. She may have reached out to him when she got back to town. She may have told him she just needed to stop by and get a few things. He may not have known.”
Dean ran his hand through his hair. “Do you believe that?”
“I’d like to confront Mandy, if it’s okay with you,” Alexa said instead of answering him. “I think it’s better to try to get information from her. I don’t think you should let David know about this.”
“He was fishing for information, wasn’t he? Trying to find out what I know.”
“I don’t know, Dean. But I think the best w
ay to find out is to corner Mandy and make her think he’s turned on her. I’ll get what I can from her, and then I will take this to David and see if I can play them against each other. If there’s anything to play, that is. He really might not have known.”
“I don’t know how much longer I can go through this,” he whispered as a sense of defeat rolled over him. It was him against his entire family, it seemed. Even the person he was trying to save didn’t want him involved. He was losing steam. His determination was fading.
Alexa wrapped her hands around his arm and rested her chin on his shoulder. “I can stop giving you updates if you want. I can keep this all to myself unless I absolutely have to bring something to you.”
He let her suggestion sink in. “I might take you up on that. It’s getting to be a bit too much. I thought we were nearing the end.”
“I’m sorry.”
Covering her hand, he sat back. “What if Mandy won’t see you?”
“I’m going to talk through this with Sandra. She’ll have better insight on how to get through to your sister. Do me a favor. Stay away from your family—all of them—but most especially David. I need to find out what is going on without us tipping them off.”
“This is so fucked up.”
Resting her head on his shoulder, she entwined her fingers through his. They sat like that, not speaking, as he soaked in the latest bit of information she’d uncovered. Finally she sat up and kissed his cheek.
“I need to go,” she whispered. “Are you okay?”
“I will be.”
“What time should I be here for dinner?”
He had to think about her question before remembering he’d promised to take care of her tonight. “Uh, let’s plan to eat at six.”
“Want me to bring anything? Need more candy for the trick-or-treaters?”
Hugging her against him, he kissed her head. “No. I just need you,” he whispered, honestly wishing they could run away, at least for a while.
She stood, but he held her hand, not letting her leave.
“Remind me that I’m in the right, here,” he said.
