Backing away, she put her hands up to stop him. “For now, it’s best we keep our association professional.”
His ego collapsed. “Perhaps you’re right.”
“Good-bye, Mr. Libertini. If you’ll excuse me, we’re supposed to meet a friend.” She stepped around him and made a hasty exit.
Anne shrugged. “I guess we’re leaving. Thank you for the drink, Parker.” She scampered to catch up with Haley.
“Well, that was interesting,” Parker said. “I’ve never seen a woman resist your charms before or put you in your place” He snorted, and sipped his ale. “Too bad. I was just getting to know her friend and didn’t even have a chance to get her number…Mr. Libertini.”
“Very funny.” Eli slipped on the pair of Louis Vuitton sunglass he wore on a strap around his neck. He folded his arms over his chest and watched Haley sashay off. “She wants me to tie up some loose ends that have emerged since her husband’s death. She’s a disaster waiting to happen. I sure hope I can help her.”
Parker clapped Eli’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s get you another ale. My treat.”
Eli fixed his attention on a hulking musician, leaning against a tree as he stared at the women. “Parker, there’s something off about that guy. He’s watching Haley. Has been for a while. Does he look familiar to you?”
“Not really. But I’ll check him out if you want.”
“I’d appreciate it.” If there was anything shady about the man speaking with Haley, then Parker, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department, would find it.
Parker whipped his iPhone from his pocket and snapped a photo of the musician. “Now, let’s get out of here before Haley gets the impression you’re not only interested in helping her, but in helping yourself as well.”
“Is the lawyer still looking in our direction?” Haley asked Anne through a frozen smile.
“Yeah. And he looks…confused.”
Haley snickered. “As he should be. An arrogant man needs to realize there actually are women on this planet who don’t fall all over themselves to be with him.” She sidled up to a good-looking blond musician leaning against a tall maple tree. The fellow had been ogling her during her exchange with Eli, and she hoped speaking with him would get a rise out of the pesky lawyer.
“There you are. I’ve been waiting for you,” she said loud enough for Eli to hear. She lowered her voice. “Pretend you know me.”
“No problem. It would be my pleasure.”
She peeked over her shoulder at Eli to make sure he was watching. He was. She smiled and wiggled her fingers at him. Linking arms with the stranger, she led him away and out of sight of Mr. Libertini.
Haley let go of the stranger’s arm. “Thanks so much for helping me out.” As she turned to leave, he grabbed her arm firmly, drawing her back to his side. “Hey, not so fast. What’s your name?”
Oh, crap. She hadn’t counted on this. “Uh…Haley.”
Anne yanked her away from the man’s grip. “You remember the fellow she was just talking to? He’s her boyfriend. They just had a little tiff, is all. You know how it goes.”
“My loss. But if things don’t work out between the two of you, my name’s Dillon.”
Chapter Three
After spending the day in the dusty heat of the Renaissance faire, Haley stood under the spray of a tepid shower, trying to wash the grime from her body. She turned the spray to pulse, upped the water pressure, and welcomed the water beating on her back. God, it feels good.
But her mind involuntarily drifted back to Eli. Damn. No amount of shampoo or body wash could wipe away thoughts of him. Seeing him without the three-piece suits he wore in court caused her to consider the man rather than the jackass she’d faced during negotiations. She was still pissed, but had to acknowledge he’d only been doing his job, so she couldn’t hate him too much.
Funny thing about Eli. When they had met a decade ago, both were goofy college kids on spring break. The fling they’d shared was fast, hot, and over as quickly as it had started. Remembering his passion, a smile tugged at her lips. She’d totally thrown herself into enjoying uninhibited sex with a gorgeous hunk she’d thought she’d never see again. That was the way she’d wanted it—sizzling, wild, and anonymous.
Who’d have thought her husband’s lawyer would turn out to be her former one-night stand? Heat rose from her feet and traveled throughout her body before settling in her cheeks. Surely, he didn’t remember her now. Too much time had passed. But considering she’d never surrendered to such carnal need with anyone before or since, not even her husband, she’d never forgotten Eli.
Ten years ago, they’d lived on opposite sides of the country—he in Connecticut, she in California. Hell, she was so positive they’d never run across each other again, she hadn’t even give him her real name. She’d introduced herself as Clarice.
His devilish, smoky brown eyes were lined with thick lashes, his wide smile enhanced by a single dimple perched near the left side of his full lips. His long, dark hair was tied back in a ponytail that covered the nape of his neck. Who’d have thought this wild, uninhibited law student, who’d introduced her to such lust, had just been named one of the wealthiest, most eligible bachelors in Orange County, California?
Is he seeing someone?
Where did that thought come from?
She stepped out of the shower, dried with a thick towel, and wound it around her long hair. Slipping into a fluffy pink bathrobe, she padded into the kitchen to pour a tall glass of Merlot.
On her way to the plush gray sofa that filled most of her small living room, she stopped at the counter. She set her wineglass down next to the sealed box from Allen’s office. When the box had been delivered yesterday morning, she’d been too busy getting ready for the Renaissance faire and didn’t have time to check its contents. She sighed, weary at the prospect of unearthing more bills Allen had racked up. She opened the box, and flipped through the stack of bills waiting to be opened. The sheer number of sealed envelopes addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Monroe made her throat tighten. They had been legally separated. He was dead. There was no way she could pay the bills off.
After the first box of mail arrived from Allen’s office last week, she’d called a few of the creditors–the ones who weren’t already calling her, hounding her for payment—and explained her plight. But they were running businesses and wanted their money.
If only Allen’s latest secretary-main squeeze had turned over the bills sooner, Haley could have worked something out with the creditors.
If only Allen had been her ex-husband, instead of her husband, when he died, none of these bills would be hers.
If only…. If only…. Lately, her life had become full of if onlys and what ifs.
She downed the rest of her wine, and flipped through more bills. Damn! Another credit card late notice.
According to the separation agreement, her name was to be removed from his credit cards. Obviously, that hadn’t happened. Or Allen had obtained credit in her name only, which would be easy since he knew her social security number and her mother’s maiden name. Damn him. Angry tears stung the back of her eyes. How could she have been so naïve to believe he would honor the terms of their agreement?
She lifted her wineglass heavenward and toasted her late husband. He’d threated to ruin her and from the looks of it—even from the grave—he’d succeeded “Touché. You’ve won this round, but the battle’s not over yet.”
Setting the wineglass on the counter, she scrutinized the pile of lawsuits waiting to happen. She clenched her jaw. As much as she hated to admit it, this was one problem that wouldn’t go away by itself. She needed help. She needed Allen’s lawyers—Libertini and Farthing. Thank God, Eli Libertini had agreed to help straighten out the mess.
Drawing in a breath, she weeded out the bills, added them to the stack she’d already prepared from the previous box, and stuffed them into her small faux-leather tote. She’d bring them to the office tomorrow and plow through them, organ
ize them, and call his former lawyers.
But, tonight, she wouldn’t worry about the bills—or anything else. Tonight she’d enjoy a glass—or two—of wine.
***
Eli stayed longer than he intended at the Renaissance faire. Afterward, he accepted an invitation from some old friends to pub hop. Unable to shake his cop persona, Parker appointed himself the designated driver and confiscated the keys to Eli’s Jag.
When they finally rolled in at one in the morning, Eli was slightly drunk and still in costume—except for his chest armor.
“Want a beer?” he slurred, dropping his armor in the corner of the living room.
“Sure. Why not?”
After Parker tossed the keys into the mosaic ashtray on a table in the hallway, he followed Eli into the galley kitchen.
Eli pulled two bottles of Bud from the fridge, handed one to Parker, kept the other, and the party continued.
Damn Haley. Though it had been half a year since they had faced off during sometimes hostile negotiations, the wounded look in her green eyes when he’d walked into the conference room with Allen still haunted him. Recognition had led to realization, and her eyes had grown wide with disbelief and anger. He was the enemy—her estranged husband’s lawyer. God, he’d wanted to die. The expression on her face had gone from shock to hurt to hatred.
Now, Haley was back in his life. But not in his bed.
So many years had passed. His thoughts drifted to ten years ago when he was a senior at Columbia. It was spring break when he’d spotted her in a bar in Palm Springs. Man, she was hot. Back then, something had drawn them to each other. They had hooked up, and their one-night stand had been so incredible, it had stretched into a long weekend of wild sex. Then he’d had to fly home.
At the time, he’d told her his name was Larry, a nickname from high school. Back in Connecticut, he’d tried finding her on social media and struck out. Little wonder, considering she’d introduced herself as Clarice.
They never saw each other again. Until facing off during legal proceedings.
To this day, the angel with long red hair and large green cat’s eyes hadn’t changed one iota.
“Earth to Eli. Earth to Eli.” Parker jarred him out of his reverie.
Shaking the memories out of his head, he said, “I’m sorry. What were you saying?”
“I was saying nothing. You’ve got to snap out of this funk and stop beating yourself up over Haley. No damn woman is worth it. Not even one as pretty as her.”
“But she didn’t deserve what happened. I’ve got to figure out a way to make things right again.”
“You mean you’ve got to figure out a way to bed her again.”
Eli shrugged. “That, too.”
***
Eli woke with a start when his tortie cat, Liza, jumped on his chest. His stomach churned. The light streaming into the bedroom stung his sensitive eyes.
“What time is it?” Squinting his bleary eyes at the clock on his nightstand, he figured it was nine o’clock. He raised himself on his elbows and stared down the length of his body. Good Lord, he’d slept in his Renaissance outfit. Had he passed out on top of the bed covers? He wiggled his toes and breathed a deep sigh. At least he’d removed his boots.
Liza rubbed against his leg and purred.
“Mornin’, girl.”
Two years ago, the local animal shelter had sponsored an adopt-an-abandoned-cat drive. He’d gotten caught up in the cause and adopted Liza. It was love at first sight. She had grown to be a trusty confidant, a female who never argued and loved him unconditionally.
He flopped back down on his king-size bed and swiped his hand across the other side. “Whew.” That was a relief. He was alone. “Next year, if I tell you I want to go to the Renaissance faire—or even mention it—you have my permission to scratch my eyes out.”
The feline companion walked across his chest and stared into his eyes.
He snapped his eyelids shut. “I was just kidding.” Easing his eyes open, he glanced around the bedroom. “I didn’t bring a woman home with me last night, did I?”
The cat kneaded his chest, walked in a circle, and flopped down.
“Sorry to do this, sweetheart, but I’ve got places to go and things to do.” He lifted Liza and set her down next to him.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he snarled at the alarm clock and debated whether to get up or try to catch another half-hour of much-needed shut-eye.
From the doorway, Parker said in his best Dr. Frankenstein impersonation, “It’s alive.”
“Barely.” Eli kept his gaze on the floor. It was a good thing he’d arranged for a long weekend ahead of time. If he had been expected to show up at the office, he’d have to ask his assistant to reschedule his appointments.
“Now that you’re awake, I need to get going. You, my friend, may be a man of leisure who can show up for work any damn time you please and not worry about a dress code, but before I go to the precinct, I need to get out of this ridiculous outfit and jump into a hot shower.”
Eli laughed. “I imagine you’d make quite a statement showing up in that getup.”
“Right. I’d rather make it a long weekend, but I’ve got too many loose ends to tie up. Besides, bud, I’m not hung over. I cut myself off and grabbed your keys when you started downing ale like water. I didn’t want to haul my friend to jail.”
Still not sure he made it to bed alone, Eli asked, “You sure we didn’t hook up with anyone last night?”
“Man, if you don’t remember, you’d better quit drinking.”
Eli raked his fingers through his hair and drew in a ragged breath. “Oh God, who?”
“No one, man. You got yourself all spun up over Haley.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “I made us a couple of cups of coffee.”
“Thanks, Park. I need to jump in the shower and clean myself up before I drop you off. Is that okay with you?”
“No problem. There’s no special time I need to be at work. Just as long as I show my ugly mug and shuffle some paperwork. I’ll go get your coffee. Be right back.” He disappeared down the hallway.
“Great.”
Eli pushed himself off the bed and lumbered to the dresser. He grabbed a pair of discarded jeans from the floor and a long-sleeved navy T-shirt from the top drawer along with a pair of socks. In the bathroom, he dropped his clothes on the vanity and turned on the light. He flinched when he noticed the man staring back at him in the mirror.
“Holy shit, what happened to you?” He looked like he’d just awakened from a month-long binge. Bloodshot eyes, unshaven face, and a scowl that would frighten Stephen King.
He splashed cold water on his face and reached inside the shower stall to adjust the nozzle to ball-busting. Shedding his knight costume, he stepped in.
“Here’s some coffee and your phone. I’ll be in the living room.” Parker set both items on the vanity and left.
“Thanks.” The hot water beating on Eli’s shoulders invigorated him, awakening his senses. A quick shower was exactly what the doctor ordered. He soaped up, squirted shampoo on his hair, and washed away the dirt and sand from the faire—and the fuzziness from his brain.
Feeling refreshed, he stepped out. He sipped the lukewarm coffee, and checked his iPhone for important calls. No call from Haley. For some reason, he was disappointed. Frowning, he stared at his phone as if willing her name to appear on the screen.
He dried himself, brushed his teeth, and dressed in record time. As he left the bathroom, the aroma of toasted bread greeted him.
In the kitchen, Parker leaned against the counter, munching on a bagel. “Hope you don’t mind if I helped myself, but I needed to get something solid in my stomach.”
“Not at all.”
“You have any plans for today?” Parker asked.
“Thought I’d hit some balls at the driving range. You sure I can’t talk you into joining me?”
“Sorry, man. Another time.”
“F
rom there, I’ll pick up some breakfast somewhere and head to the office. I want to do a little snooping on the web, see how much I can find out about Allen…and Haley.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
Busted, Eli chuckled.
“Watch yourself, bud. You don’t want to be accused of cyber stalking.”
“I’d still like you to run a check on the guy Haley was talking to. I swear I’ve seen him before.”
Eli filled Liza’s bowl with cold water and dropped in an ice cube because she liked them. Topping off her dry cat food bowl and giving her a quick pat on the head, he headed out the door. Parker was close behind.
Chapter Four
Haley dumped the contents of the tote on the antique desk in her office. She fisted her hands and glowered at the pile of bills bearing her name, along with Allen’s, staring back at her.
She pulled a chair over and settled in. Cursing, she shuffled through the late notices and threats from collection agencies and banks. How had he gotten himself, and now her, into such a mess?
“Thanks for screwing up my credit, Allen!” Angry, frustrated tears threatened to roll down her cheeks. “How could you do this to me?” Both their names were on the accounts. But he was the one who’d run up the debt and then turned around and dropped dead eight weeks ago. There was no way she could pay off the debt. She leaned back in the chair and massaged her temples, trying to rub away the financial dilemma she’d inherited.
The three glasses of Merlot she’d enjoyed last night had turned around today and bitten her in the butt. She opened the bottle of Advil displayed prominently on her desk and popped a couple of capsules into her mouth before washing them down with lukewarm coffee.
The sound of a lock disengaging made her heart jump. Chimes hanging over the front door of her antique shop rattled. She straightened her spine and cocked her head toward the door.
“Is that you, Kate?” Haley shouted.
“Yeah. Where are you?”
“I’m in the office. Come on back.”
Kate, her business partner and co-owner of Timeless Treasures, entered the office, carrying a small brown sack containing her standard breakfast—a blueberry muffin. She and Kate were the same age, twenty-eight, and resembled each other so closely, people often mistook them for sisters. Kate, a serial dater, had a new boyfriend, someone Haley hadn’t met yet. Haley still hadn’t mustered up the courage to dip her toe in the dating pool again.
Lost and Found (Beyond Fairytales) Page 2
