Grave Intentions

by Sjoberg, Lori

  It’s amazing what a weekend of outstanding sex can do for a woman. She felt recharged, refreshed, and ready to conquer the lab.

  She thought of David as she pulled into the building’s parking garage, and her pulse kicked up a few notches. Somewhere along the line, physical attraction had given way to something far deeper. He was always on her mind and in her blood, an insistent craving when they were apart and a source of intense joy when they were together.

  But was it love? She considered the notion, and smiled when her heart and mind drew the same conclusion.

  It was totally illogical. Impractical.

  Maybe that’s what made it even more special.

  “Morning, Jackie,” Sarah said when she strolled into the main office. She dumped her purse in the bottom drawer of her desk and began the morning ritual of putting on her lab coat, clipping on her ID badge, and tying her hair back in a ponytail. “How was your weekend?”

  Jackie grunted. “Remind me why I had kids again?”

  “Temporary insanity?”

  Since she’d gotten up late—again—Sarah rooted through her desk until she found the granola bar she’d left there the week before. It wasn’t much, but it would hold her until lunch. “What did Lydia do this time?”

  “I’m telling you, she’s not my kid. I think she was switched at birth. Somebody swapped my sweet little angel for the creature that’s living in my house.” Jackie walked over to the coffee maker and refilled her cup. “Do you have any idea what she wants to do this time?”

  “I’m almost afraid to ask.”

  “She wants to dye her hair green,” Jackie said as she added creamer. “Green! She’s fourteen, for Christ’s sake. What next, a nose ring and tattoos?”

  “Wouldn’t surprise me.” Sarah stifled a laugh when she noticed the despondent look on her friend’s face. She sympathized with Jackie’s plight. Eventually, every parent faced the terrors of a teenager in rebellion, and now it was Jackie’s unfortunate turn at the wheel. “Oh honey, it’s going to be okay. It’s just a phase. Lydia’s a good girl. She’ll grow out of it soon.”

  “I hope so.” Jackie sighed. She leaned against the counter, giving Sarah a thorough once-over. “You’re looking pretty damn chipper for a Monday morning. How was your weekend?”

  “Great. I did a little shopping, visited my grandmother, rented a movie.” Screwed the Grim Reaper. Repeatedly. “You know, the usual.”

  Jackie sipped her coffee, eyeing Sarah with open speculation. “Nope,” she said, shaking her head. “Not buying it. Want to tell me what’s really going on, or do I have to break out the water board?”

  For a second Sarah contemplated giving in to the temptation to tell Jackie everything. Aside from Pearl, Jackie was the only other person she knew who wouldn’t blink an eye at her fantastical tales of life and death and the grim reapers residing next door. This was the same woman who once camped out in the Pine Barrens in hopes of spotting the Jersey Devil, the woman who made a pilgrimage to Area 51 in search of little green men.

  But David had trusted her to keep his secret. And as much as she wanted to share everything, she knew it was far more important to maintain David’s trust.

  Besides, there were other things she could share without betraying confidences—ones she couldn’t tell her grandmother without dying from embarrassment.

  “Well,” Sarah began, a flush warming her cheeks. “I … um … well, you know my neighbor? The blond guy next door?”

  “Oh, my God. You slept with him, didn’t you?” Jackie’s face split into a grin. “You go, girl. So much for being gay, huh?”

  Sarah cringed, hoping the lab prep boys in the adjoining room hadn’t heard. If they had, she’d never hear the end of it. “Jeez, you think you can yell that any louder? I don’t think the protesters in the parking lot heard you.”

  “I’m sorry, honey. I’m just happy for you.” Jackie topped off her coffee and then filled a second mug for Sarah. With both mugs in hand, she herded Sarah toward her desk. “So spill, and don’t leave anything out. I want to hear all the juicy details.”

  “Details about what?” a male voice asked.

  Okay, so maybe there was something capable of ruining her morning.

  That familiar feeling of dread crept up her spine as Angelo sauntered into the room, looking as suave and smug as usual. His casual glance in Sarah’s direction might have been dismissed by most as harmless, but Sarah knew better. By now she’d grown accustomed to the watchful eye of a predator on the hunt for weakness.

  “Nothing,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t press the issue.

  “Come now, Sarah,” Angelo said, sidling close. The smell of his cologne was unusually strong that morning, overpowering her senses with citrus and sandalwood. He reached up and rested a palm on her shoulder. “From the sound of things, you had quite an exciting weekend. I’d like to hear what put you in such fine spirits.”

  “It’s personal,” she said, doing her best to be intentionally vague. She shot Jackie a silent warning to keep her mouth shut.

  Angelo arched a brow. His eyes moved over her in quick assessment, uncomfortably intimate. “Very well,” he said, sounding disappointed. “I guess I’ll let you keep your little secret for the time being.”

  “Fabulous.” Sarah checked her watch. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m running late for the lab.”

  She’d just passed her mug to Jackie when Angelo said, “Before you leave, I require a moment of your time. There are some matters we need to discuss.”

  Great. What now? She’d managed to avoid any confrontations with Angelo for nearly two weeks, ever since she ruined his favorite pair of Ferragamos.

  “Can’t it wait? Jacobsen is waiting for me in Lab Two.”

  “Not to worry. I spoke to Jacobsen a few minutes ago. He has no issue with you being a few minutes late so we can talk.” He motioned toward the corridor leading to his office. “After you.”

  Neither spoke as they walked the narrow corridor leading away from the main labs and into the administrative wing, the only sound coming from the heels of Sarah’s boots. Angelo gave his secretary, Laureen, a cordial nod as they passed her workstation and moved into his office.

  “I’d appreciate it if you left that open,” Sarah said when Angelo began to close the door.

  He frowned, but honored her request. “Very well.”

  Angelo crossed the room and took a seat behind his desk. He gestured to the chair on the opposite side. “Sit, please.”

  In the name of professional tolerance, Sarah sat down.

  “I hear your research is going well,” Angelo began, his tone cordial. “Dr. Jacobsen tells me the team is making great progress.”

  “Yes. We are,” she said, holding back a fresh rush of resentment. Even though she got along surprisingly well with Dr. Terrence Jacobsen, the notion of being second fiddle in her own lab still stuck in her craw. It was her project. Her ideas, her research, her experiments, and he damn well knew it. “If the final round of tests go as planned, we’ll be presenting the findings to Research and Development by the end of next week.”

  “Excellent.” Angelo settled back in his chair, his posture relaxed. “I look forward to reading Jacobsen’s report.”

  Jacobsen’s report. The words spiked her blood pressure a good twenty points. Sarah held back the urge to protest Jacobsen’s name being put on her research, realizing the futility in the matter. So instead she wished for Angelo to burst into flames. After all, it was the civilized thing to do.

  There was a long, uncomfortable pause in which Angelo eyed Sarah with obvious interest and she felt relieved that the door was still open.

  “I also wanted to take the opportunity to clear the air, Ms. Griffith,” Angelo finally said, a light tension filtering into his voice. “You are a valued member of my research team. I want to maintain a viable working environment in spite of our recent … differences.”

  Differences. What an interesting way to describe the situation. />
  “Fair enough,” she said, waiting to see which direction the conversation was heading.

  “I wish to apologize for my actions the other week.” Angelo’s chin inched up, meeting her gaze. “I’m afraid I gave you the wrong impression.”

  “And what exactly does that mean?”

  “Well, I believe you misunderstood my intentions. I was not making advances.”

  A fresh wave of indignation washed over her, so strong it made her ears ring. She folded her arms beneath her breasts and asked, “Oh really? And what exactly do you call it?”

  “I was merely being friendly. You must understand my culture is much more open than yours.” He spread his hands, his palms facing out in a gesture of capitulation. “I am sorry for any misunderstanding.”

  “Culture differences?” Was he serious? “You can’t possibly be serious.”

  He gave her an odd look, as if affronted by her reaction. “Really, Sarah, there is no need to act rude when I am merely attempting to mend fences.”

  “You mean cover your ass. You know what you did was wrong. If you really want to mend fences, admit what you did and apologize.” When he said nothing, she shot up from her seat. “This is pointless. If you have no intention of giving an honest apology, then we have nothing further to discuss.”

  Angelo bolted from his desk, beating her to the door.

  “Let me go.”

  “We haven’t finished speaking.”

  “I disagree.”

  She tried to move past but his arm shot out, blocking her path.

  “If you don’t move that arm in two seconds,” Sarah said through clenched teeth, her voice low enough not to be heard by Angelo’s secretary, “I start screaming bloody murder.”

  Angelo’s face burned bright red, his handsome features twisted with unspoken fury. He bent low, so close she could feel his breath against her skin. “You display a startling lack of common sense, Ms. Griffith. I’m in a position to make your life extremely difficult.”

  “Did it ever occur to you that I just don’t care anymore? You hired me based on my research, not my bra size. If the trials are successful, your company stands to make a fortune. I doubt you’re stupid enough to jeopardize that.”

  “Jacobsen can finish the project.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. Are you willing to take that risk?”

  They glared at each other, each waiting for the other to flinch. After what seemed like forever, Angelo’s arm slid away from the doorjamb, allowing her the opportunity to leave.

  “This isn’t over,” he said when she passed, the venom in his voice sending a chill down her spine.

  “You don’t think he’ll do anything stupid, do you?”

  Bless his heart, David looked genuinely concerned. His muscles were tight with tension, and he had the overprotective look of an alpha wolf defending his territory. It was endearing and primeval at the same time.

  “No, at least not the way you’re thinking,” Sarah replied, trying to put his mind at ease. “I seriously doubt he’d try to hurt me. But he will take the first opportunity to ruin my career. I’ll have to watch my back from now on.”

  David scowled. “Jackass. I should have ripped his lungs out when I had the chance.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m a big girl; I can take care of my own problems.” Still, she couldn’t shake the sense of foreboding. A few weeks ago she would have dismissed the notion as silly superstition, but now she wasn’t so sure.

  Approaching from behind, David wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against his chest. He felt strong, and warm, and she immediately melted against him. “Tell you what. Why don’t we go out for a little while?”

  “But it’s a weeknight.” Not to mention she had work to do. She’d brought home the past week’s test results, which needed to be collated, sorted, and catalogued. If she jumped on her laptop by eight, she could get everything entered into the database before eleven.

  “So?” His head dipped low, nuzzling her neck, and all thoughts of work evaporated. “Come on, Sarah. Just one little drink. Maybe two.” He nibbled his way down to the hollow of her neck, his mouth hot against her sensitive skin.

  Well, maybe she could squeeze in thirty minutes—okay, an hour, tops. But they didn’t need to leave the apartment for what she had in mind.

  “I know a better way to take the edge off.” She ground her hips against him and was rewarded with a throaty growl.

  “We have plenty of time for that later.” David released his grip and she almost whimpered. “Seriously,” he said as he fished his keys from the front pocket of his jeans. “I’d like to actually take you someplace, so you don’t think I’m only after one thing.”

  The fog of lust lifted, leaving her with an acute case of work-related anxiety. “I don’t know,” she said, thinking of the hours of work parked on her hard drive. If she didn’t do it this evening, she’d have to find time first thing in the morning. “I have a ton of work to do tonight.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll get you home in plenty of time. I have an appointment at eleven seventeen, which means I have to be on the road with Adam by ten at the latest.” He smiled at her, warm and inviting, and she decided she’d find a way to get everything done. “Come on, live a little.”

  Sarah blew out a sigh, feigning exasperation. “Okay, you win. But I want a girlie drink with one of those tiny umbrellas.”

  “You got it.” His smile widened, looking happier and more relaxed than she’d ever seen him, and at that moment she knew she’d do anything he asked. “I know just the place. It’s a little out of the way, but I’m sure you’ll like it.”

  David opened the door for Sarah, not sure if women these days found the gesture charming or sexist. He figured she’d let him know one way or the other.

  She smiled and said, “Thank you,” and he was relieved by the knowledge that some women still appreciated a man with manners. “How did you find this place?”

  “I used to come here to unwind, before the tourists discovered it.”

  Back in the day, it used to be called Sweeney’s, a college hot spot famous for nickel beer and women of questionable moral integrity. Several owners later, it was a sports bar, filled with pool tables, dartboards, and flat screen TVs. Neon signs adorned almost every window, advertising the brands of beer on tap, while every square inch of wall space was plastered with sports memorabilia. The bar was crowded but the tables were mostly empty, something that would change in another couple hours.

  David led her to a quiet corner and pulled out a chair.

  “You keep this up and you’re going to spoil me,” Sarah said, giving him a quick peck on the lips before taking her seat.

  “You keep looking at me like that and we won’t be here long enough.” Already, he regretted picking a place so far from the apartment. He’d have a hard time keeping his hands off her during the long drive home.

  The waitress had just delivered their first round of drinks when David heard a familiar voice in his periphery.

  “Well, well, well, what have we here?”

  Shit. Just his luck.

  He turned in his chair and caught sight of Ruby as she sauntered toward their table.

  Tonight, she wore tight denim jeans and a blouse cut so low it bordered on indecent. Her boots sported three-inch heels, and the handcuffs on her belt were probably not there for cosmetic purposes. She’d chosen a simple burgundy choker, the fabric woven in an intricate pattern that did a good job at concealing the ugly scar underneath.

  “What are you doing here?” David asked, working hard to mask his surprise. This wasn’t a common hangout for reapers, which was part of why he’d chosen it. He’d been hoping to avoid introductions for a little while longer. Not that he was ashamed of Sarah, but because he wasn’t sure how everyone would react.

  He recovered quickly, sending Ruby a silent warning to be on her best behavior. “I thought you’d be hanging out at Shackles tonight.”

  Ruby shrugg
ed. “You know how much I enjoy variety.” Her eyes cut to Sarah, and a sly smile lit her features. “Hello there.” She held out a slender hand, her nails painted to match the choker. “I’m Ruby, an old friend of David’s. And you are … ?”

  “Sarah.” Her expression was notably neutral as she shook Ruby’s hand. “Sarah Griffith. Pleasure to meet you.”

  “Pleasure’s all mine,” Ruby drawled before shooting a questioning look in David’s direction. “So what brings you two here tonight?”

  “Just winding down after a long day at the office,” Sarah said, her demeanor surprisingly calm. A lot of women got defensive when another beautiful woman invaded her territory, but she seemed to be taking Ruby in stride. She rose from her seat and hitched her purse over her shoulder. “Why don’t I let you two catch up while I visit the ladies’ room?”

  Before David had the chance to object, she pressed a kiss to his cheek and headed toward the back of the bar.

  Ruby plopped down on the unoccupied chair, picked up Sarah’s drink, and took a healthy swig. “She’s cute.”

  “Cute is what you call a kitten. She’s beautiful.”

  “Beautiful?” Ruby arched an immaculately defined brow. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you use that word to describe anything.”

  “First time for everything.” His eyes never left Sarah as she crossed the room, his heart feeling too big for his chest when she turned back and flashed him a knowing smile. He didn’t know what he’d done to deserve her, but he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

  Ruby’s mouth dropped open, her expression suddenly changing to one of sheer astonishment. “Oh. My. God. You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

  Was it that obvious? David shrugged, trying hard not to tip his hand. “I enjoy her company.”

  “You are!” She kicked his shin under the table. “You know you can’t pull one over on me. After thirty-five years, I can read you like a book.”

  Damned if she didn’t have him pegged. Not that it really surprised him. They’d been through a lot together, bearing witness to the best and worst each had to offer.