by Freya Barker
“Could ask you the same thing, Blackfoot.”
The bastard doesn’t even flinch, even though we both know I could take him down if it came to that. “Just dropping off the lady’s ride. Asking a few questions—that’s all.” I can tell he’s enjoying this. The glint in his eyes is unmistakable.
Shy of planting my fist in his face, there’s only one way to get my message across. With a few steps, I round him and put my arm around Kerry, tucking her to my side. The move leaves Keith standing outside and me on the doorstep with a shocked Kerry rigid against me. His eyebrows shoot up in his hairline before he lets out a chuckle and shakes his head.
“I got what I came for,” he says with a fucking wink at Kerry. “We’ll be in touch.” With a chin lift to me, he steps off the porch and gets in the patrol car.
The moment he is out of sight, Kerry shoves me hard and disappears into the house. I close the door behind me and follow her into the kitchen, where she busies herself at the sink. Her back may be to me, but anger still radiates from her body. When I pull out a stool, the sound startles her and she whips around, dish brush in hand flinging suds everywhere.
“What the hell was that?” she snarls, her eyes squinted into thin lines.
“He’s messing with me,” I tell her, watching disbelief wash over her face. “He’s got a sick sense of humor and is trying to get a rise out of me by getting in your space.”
“What the fuck?” Kerry tosses the dish brush in the sink, causing water to splash up. She takes a few steps and puts her hands on the other side of the counter. “I’m not some kind of chew toy for your joint amusement.”
“I’m not amused,” I tell her calmly. “I’m pissed right the hell off.”
“I don’t get it.” She shakes her head. “Just a couple of hours ago you had your tongue down my throat and then practically sprinted for the door. Now you’re back and...I don’t even know what you’re doing. Why are you here? What reason do you have to be pissed off? From what I can tell, you and he are no different. Bunch of overgrown egos with more testosterone than sense. Go have a pissing contest over someone else, but leave me the hell alone!”
That went well. Not exactly according to plan, though.
Once again Kerry stalks to her bedroom, but this time I follow. No way I’m going let her walk out with the last word again. She swings around when I push open the door to her bedroom, and her eyes get big when I don’t stop there but keep moving until she is backed into the closed bathroom door. Planting a hand on either side of her head, I lean my face close enough for our breaths to mingle. I press my body against hers.
“I’m not playing,” I grit out between my teeth, knowing she can feel I mean it. “I don’t get involved with people I work with, let alone people linked to active investigations.”
“Fine,” Kerry sputters, trying to push my body away but I don’t move.
“Hush. This time you’re going to let me explain and quit jumping to conclusions at everything I say.” The little spitfire snorts and rolls her eyes at that, but I’m not letting that stop me. “I want you. Fuck, woman, I wanted you the first time I saw you, but you belonged to someone else. Besides, I was working on a case you were involved with. Just like you’re involved in this case. I can’t seem to fucking catch a break with you.” I blame lack of sleep, anger at Keith for yanking my chain, and frustration with the situation for my lack of finesse.
“Me?” she spits out. “I did this? You are delusional, Damian Gomez! I didn’t ask for any of this. Not a damn thing. Not even that panty-melting kiss you planted on me earlier. You planted on me...I did nothing!” Probably not a good time, but her words put a smile on my face.
“Panty-melting kiss?” I throw back at her, and with an exasperated sigh, she leans her head back against the door and closes her eyes. The move leaves her perfect mouth slightly open in an invitation I’m not man enough to resist.
Knowing I am digging a deeper hole for myself, I drop my mouth to hers, sliding my tongue over those luscious lips.
CHAPTER 6
Kerry
“Are you going to listen now?” he says, pulling his lips from mine.
I don’t know if I can, my head is empty after all coherent thought was sucked up by that mouth. Good grief, he took me from boiling angry to whimpering with need. He takes advantage of my inability to formulate words and places one hand on the side of my neck, his thumb lazily stroking my jaw.
“Speak,” I finally manage.
With his forehead leaning against mine and the rasp of his thumb against my skin, I get lost in the dark chocolate pools of his eyes. I suddenly feel very vulnerable. This is intimate. More so than the punishing kiss we just shared. I squirm a bit under his intense gaze, but for all the butterflies having a party in my stomach, I can’t seem to drag my eyes away.
“I have rules,” he says softly, the deep timbre of his voice sending a little shiver over my skin. “And you make me want to break just about every one of them.”
“I don’t understand.” My voice sounds breathless. “Rules?”
“I meant what I said earlier, I adhere to clear boundaries between work and play.”
“But...” Damian’s thumb presses down on my lips, effectively cutting me off.
“When I walked into your shop the first time, I wasn’t expecting you. Took a bit for me to place you but I knew I’d seen those beautiful eyes before. You were memorable, even then, married and all. Now—fuck me—you’re unforgettable.” His words wash over my ruffled feathers and smooth them out. Without thinking, my hands come up to his chest and clutch his shirt. “I know I should walk away because of the case, but the truth is, I really don’t want to. Didn’t even have a shot the first time we crossed paths, and I’m not about to let this opportunity go. There may not be a third chance.”
“But,” I start again. “You have a girlfriend.”
For a moment, he looks utterly confused before realization sets in. “Cora,” he says with a shake of his head, his eyes closed. “It’s nothing.”
Okay. That rubs me the wrong way. I push off against his chest, but with my back still against the door and his size, I’m not getting anywhere. “It sure sounded like something. I have rules, too,” I announce, pushing myself up on my toes to get in his face. “I don’t mess with attached men. Not ever.”
A dark shadow rolls over his face and, for a moment, I wonder if I should be worried, but his hand still cupping my jaw stays gentle.
“Cora and I had an understanding for a while, until she changed her mind and wanted more. I was never on board and made that clear. She just chooses not to listen. Whatever it was has been over for a couple of months.” He leans back in and runs his nose along mine. “Like I said, it’s nothing.” His full lips skim delicately over mine, and I hum softly at the gentle tease. At the first touch of his tongue along my bottom lip, I open to let him in. This time I’m prepared and ready, rubbing my tongue along his and taking in his taste. My hands flatten on his chest and slide over his pecs, up to his shoulders, and around his neck, tangling in his lush hair. His knee presses between mine, and I find myself rubbing against his thigh, hungry for the friction.
“Fuck,” he swears as he abruptly pulls back. Again. “I’m on the clock.”
Exasperated, I drop my arms and knock my head against the door behind me. Turned on, frustrated, and not just a little pissed at the rejection. I feel him take my face in his hands. “Open your eyes, Gypsy.” Reluctantly I look at him through slits and see him struggle to keep a smile off his face. Good thing, because I’m about ready to knee him in the gonads. “I’d like nothing more than to make use of that girly bed of yours,” he says, indicating my comfy nest with layers of colorful quilts and a gazillion pillows in assorted colors and patterns. “Get a good taste of you naked, but I’d need to take my time. And time is not something I have right now.”
“You’re not helping,” I grumble, even more aroused at the thought of getting naked on my bed with this frustr
ating but extremely enticing man. I can feel him chuckle as he presses my face against his shoulder with one hand in my neck, the other wrapping around my waist and holding me close. “Besides, I don’t do casual sex,” I bring up a tad defensively. “Not my style.”
“Who said anything about casual?” he mumbles in my hair.
I don’t know what to say to that. My feelings are all over the place right now. So when he finally steps back and gives me the room to escape, that’s exactly what I do, clear out the door. I stop in the kitchen, at the sink again with my back turned. I’m not sure I’m ready for what his words suggest. True, the attraction I feel for him is explosive, I can’t deny that, but I’ve just started finding my own feet again. I don’t know if getting involved with anyone is a good idea. No matter how much that idea appeals to me. All I know about him is that he’s FBI and is friends with friends of mine. Hardly enough to start anything on.
I hear him walking up behind me, but I don’t turn around. I shiver slightly when I feel his fingers pull my hair away from my neck, pressing an open-mouthed kiss there.
“Have dinner with me.” His breath strokes the shell of my ear, and for a minute, I forget my own name.
“Can’t. I have work to do. The store to clean and lists to make.” With considerable effort, I manage to distance myself enough to formulate words. I’m avoiding and I know it, but I need a bit of time to get my head straight.
Damian puts his hands on my shoulders and eases me around to face him. “We’ll see, I’ll check in with you later. See how you’re doing. And don’t go alone,” he insists, getting my hackles up again, but before I have a chance to protest, he leans down and gives me a hard kiss. By the time I have my wits about me again, he’s already by the door. “Gotta go—and Gypsy? Not alone,” he repeats over his shoulder, then he’s gone.
Bossy. If he thinks I’m just going to follow his orders, he’s got another thing coming.
DAMIAN
“Hey, Bro!”
I’ve barely left Kerry’s driveway when my sister calls. “Bella, what’s up?”
“Not a whole lot, except I have a job interview at the hospital in Durango the day after tomorrow!” Her excited squeal makes me smile. My sister has had a hard time since her douchewad ex-boyfriend bailed, leaving Bella with a giant mess on her hands. I never liked the guy. A doctor at the same hospital in Farmington, where my sister was an EMT, Philip Presley had apparently slept his way through the bulk of the female staff behind her back in the seven years they’d been together. When one of the residents he’d been trying to pull into a hall closet against her will went to her boss to make a claim for sexual harassment, a slew of other women came forward. Poor Bella had to find out from hushed conversations in the halls of the hospital. Philip was suspended and disappeared that same day, taking as many of his belongings as he could from their joint apartment. The wagging tongues, pitying eyes, and constant questioning as to his whereabouts by the administration and law enforcement had finally worn Bella down. She had a nervous breakdown and moved back in with my parents, while taking a leave of absence. That was six months ago.
I knew she had an eye on a position in Durango. She and I have always been close growing up, and when she showed up for a visit a couple of months ago, she’d mentioned she might look for a job here.
“That’s great.” I’m smiling at her excitement. “When are you coming up?”
“I was thinking of driving up tomorrow, spend some time with you. Do you have a bed for me?”
“Always. You know that, but you’ll still be at least a twenty-minute drive north of town. That gonna be okay? I mean, I can get you a hotel room in town, if that works better?” I offer, but it’s met with silence on the other side. “Bella?”
“I just want to spend some time with you,” she says quietly, but I know my sister, there is more going on that she’s not telling me. That’s fine, I’ll get it out of her when she gets here.
“Of course. Do you want to swing by the office when you get into town? I’ll bring you a key. Give you some time to settle in.” I’ll have to remember to grab a spare from the kitchen drawer tonight.
“Damian?” Bella interrupts my thoughts. “Thanks,” she says, a little hitch in her voice, but before I can find out what is going on with my sister, she has hung up the phone.
The office is busy when I walk in. I’m surprised to find James Aiken waiting for me. “Hey—I thought you’d be back at Quantico?”
“I came back,” he states dryly. “My leads keep pointing here.”
I sit down at my desk and give James my full attention. “Durango specifically?”
“Colorado specifically, but Durango has come up a couple of times now. The message was first, and early this morning word came in on another intercepted communication.” He hands me a sheet of paper.
DRO package not secure
“Then,” he continues. “I find out through the pipeline one of the bookstores you have on your list was broken into last night.” He looks at me with an eyebrow raised.
“True,” I admit. “We were out on an arrest with the Durango PD last night when the call came through to them. They’re investigating, but I’m keeping track of it.”
“What do you know about this place? Could this be a distribution point for them? And what about the owner?” He shoots off a barrage of questions that ruffle my feathers.
“A simple bookstore slash coffee shop. New and secondhand books of all kinds and a handful of signed or first edition fiction books. Those were taken, by the way, along with the computer. A secondary alarm appears to have scared off the burglar, and other than a busted glass cabinet and a ransacked office, there wasn’t much more immediately apparent.” My tone is clipped, something that doesn’t go unnoticed by James. The eyebrow goes up again.
“And the owner?”
“Kerry Emerson, I actually just spoke with her. She’s waiting for the all clear from the detective in charge before going in to take a good look around to see what’s missing.”
“Okay,” he calmly says. “But what about Ms. Emerson’s background. Any flags?”
“None,” I answer far too quickly. “She owns a store in Cortez and opened this one, as well as an online store, just a year or so ago. She’s had dealings on two occasions with the auction house and is preparing detailed lists for me of the shipments. I have no reason to believe she is in any way involved. She’s been forthcoming and helpful.” I snap my mouth shut before I say more than I should. Still, James Aiken didn’t get where he is today because he’s a stupid man.
“You know her.” It’s not so much a question as it is a statement.
“Friend of a friend,” I offer. “She also was involved in a case I was working on a few years back.”
“I see,” James mumbles. “So this woman has been involved with the law before?”
I’m on my feet with my hands firmly grasping the edge of my desk in an effort not to haul out. “As a victim of kidnapping.” I can’t quite keep the volume down on my response. James just quietly stares at me until I finally let go of the desk and sit back down.
“Tell me about it,” he says, and I do. I spend the next twenty minutes outlining the circumstances of Kerry’s involvement in that old case and her connection to Gus Flemming’s investigative unit. James knows Gus well since his company occasionally is hired on by the FBI, either independently or as part of a taskforce.
“Very well. Stay on the local PD for some answers and see if you can get a copy of those fingerprints they’ve lifted. Won’t hurt to run some comparisons beyond what AFIS stores. And as for the girl...” He leans forward in his chair. “...Make sure you don’t let your sharp eye be clouded by a pretty face.”
I barely manage to keep myself in my chair. “Do you have any reason to believe I would?” I grit out between clenched teeth. Never have I, or my work ethic, been questioned like that before. Then again, I’ve never felt quite this protective before of anyone related to a case. Maybe I sho
uld’ve stuck to keeping those boundaries straight—already the impact of crossing them stares me in the face.
“Calm down,” James says as he pushes up from his chair. “Of course I don’t. All I’m saying is you make sure the waters are clear before you dive in. That’s all.” He tucks away his binder into his briefcase and moves to the door. “By the way—I’m at the Hilton Homewood Suites. Call me when you have something.” With that he pulls the door shut behind him.
With a deep sigh, I drop my head in my hands. Doing well so far, already two of my colleagues can read me like a book. Dammit. The sound of the door has me lifting my head.
“Rough morning, boss?” Luna smiles as she sets a take-out coffee in front of me and drops a report next to it. “Don’t get excited about the coffee delivery; Jasper went and got a tray. I just volunteered to deliver it since I wanted a word anyway.”
I gratefully take a sip of the hot brew. “Thanks.” I give her a curt nod and pick up the report. “What’s this?”
“Jasper looked into Willoughs for me. I told you that other than making my skin crawl with his obvious come-ons, something about him seemed forced, uneasy. That’s Jasper’s report on his findings.” She indicates the single piece of paper.
I look up at her with my eyebrows raised. “There’s hardly anything here. It reads like a resume instead of a background.”
“Exactly,” Luna answers. “Family history, work history, straightforward financial records, property titles: It’s all clean as a whistle. The man doesn’t even have a traffic violation to his name, it’s just not natural for a fifty-two-year-old millionaire to be spotless.”
“I agree. So what are you suggesting?” I want to know.
“I’m thinking a perfunctory background check is not enough.”
“Is Jasper busy?” I ask.
“He’s in a telephone conference.”
“I want him to dig deeper as soon as he has a chance. I want telephone records, credit card accounts, anything and everything Jas can get his hands on. Once we get a clearer picture, I’ll go visit the man,” I instruct Luna.
