by Debra Webb
After searching half a dozen drawers she finally found a pair of panty hose. She breathed a sigh of relief and plopped onto the foot of the bed to pull them on. She knew it was old-fashioned but she just felt naked without her panty hose.
The chime of the doorbell made her jump. Her heart bolted at the realization that it was likely Todd. And, to her dismay, her thumbnail went straight through her hose.
“Oh, damn.” She heaved a disgusted breath. The mega run was at the calf, no way in the world to hide it.
She scanned her dresser and bureau drawers. She hadn’t even bothered to push some of them back in. Stuff hung out in every direction.
What had happened to the order in her life?
Neat and organized had always been her best traits.
Further proof that she had no business getting involved with a man like Todd. His bad habits had rubbed off on her. The next thing she knew she’d be walking around with one side of her button-up blouse hanging out of her waistband. She gasped. And having sex someplace besides a bed.
The doorbell chimed again, propelling her into action. She peeled off the panty hose and threw them to the floor. Before she surrendered and went downstairs, she dug through a couple of drawers once more just to see if she’d overlooked another pair of hose.
Nothing.
She stepped into her shoes and did what she had to do.
Resigned herself to going to work half-naked.
Downstairs, Todd had apparently gotten impatient or worried and started to pound on the door.
For a moment she toyed with the idea of making him sweat a minute or two longer. But if he busted down her door, she’d just have to have it repaired.
She jerked the door open and it was all she could do not to laugh and cry simultaneously when she got a good look at him.
Alarm ruled his expression. Last night’s five-o’clock shadow had turned into the morning-after stubble. Sleeping in the car had left his shirt slightly more wrinkled than usual. His hair was tousled in that appealing-as-all-get-out bed-head look. All in all, he looked like the sexiest man on the planet come to take her away from the humdrum of everyday life. Too bad she knew that wasn’t the case.
Frustration roiled in her tummy. And since when had she spent so much time thinking about sex?
“You okay?”
She planted one hand on her hip. “Don’t I look okay?”
He braced his broad shoulders against the door frame and that blue gaze slid down the length of her, lingered on her bare legs, making her shiver, then roved back up to her face. “You look great.”
If she hadn’t seen the approval in his eyes, she might have believed he was pulling her leg, no pun intended. But he was serious and that had her feeling all warm and tingly again.
But she was mad at him.
He’d used her attraction to him to get information out of her. Hadn’t he?
Or had she been the one?
She couldn’t remember—who kissed who?
Who started the whole thing?
Never mind. It didn’t matter.
She was angry and no matter how amazing he looked or how much he flattered her, she wasn’t going to let him off the hook.
“I need you to call in sick or something,” he said as if he’d just given her an update on today’s weather.
“What? I can’t do that.” She hadn’t missed a day of work in her entire career. Never missed a day of college, either. Absolutely never. She couldn’t call in sick unless she was bedridden or contagious.
He stepped inside, closed the door behind him. She couldn’t help herself: she backed up a couple of steps. The disappointment on his face told her that the move had signaled just how she felt about him and last night.
Was she wrong to let him shoulder the brunt of the guilt for that momentary lapse in sanity?
“Delia Neely has been accessing the funds from Milestone via a number of ATMs. I have the locations. Several are centered around a particular location and Braddock thinks we should check it out. Flash Molly’s and Delia’s pictures to see if anyone has seen either one of them.”
Serena’s pulse quickened. “So Delia is still in town? She could be the one who took Molly?” All they had to do was to find Delia and follow her to wherever she was staying. And maybe they would find Molly.
“That’s possible. But her payments from Arthur Miles and her abrupt departure from her last place of residence may not have anything to do with Molly. Landon could still be the one. But we need to follow this lead, to eliminate Delia as a suspect if nothing else.”
Serena nodded. She understood. “I’ll make that call.”
AFTER STOPPING by the Colby Agency for the needed photos, Todd drove across town. Delia had used her debit card at two local markets in the area and one ATM, on more than one occasion.
There was every reason to believe she frequented this neighborhood for one reason or another. Maybe to visit a relative, maybe because she’d taken an apartment here.
“Where do we begin?”
Serena stared at the buildings along the street. No single-occupancy houses. Mostly apartment buildings and a few low-rent office buildings. Nothing to write home about.
“We’ll start at the end of this block and work our way to the next cross street.”
Her gaze bumped into his and he saw the uncertainty there. Not about what they were about to do, but about them, and last night. He hated that he’d let that happen.
“Should we split up, try to cover more territory that way?”
He shook his head. “No. I don’t want you out of my sight.”
However she felt about that she kept it carefully hidden, but she didn’t argue.
They moved from building to building and asked anyone who would answer the door if they’d seen either of the women.
By noon they’d covered about half the area he’d outlined on the map. The remaining blocks were considerably less appealing visually and not exactly what one would call welcoming. Not a neighborhood where one would want to stroll after dark.
“This is going to take forever.” She peered at the map in his hands. “We really should split up. I’ll be fine. I have my cell phone. I can call you if I run into trouble.”
He shook his head. “Forget it. We stay together.”
She didn’t like it, but she let it go at that.
Two hours later they hit pay dirt.
“Yeah, I know that one.” The guy behind the counter tapped Delia Neely’s picture. “She’s got a room here.” He picked up the picture and stared at it a bit longer.
“Are you sure it’s her?” Todd didn’t like the way the guy kept looking at the photo as if he wasn’t really sure.
He tossed the picture back to Todd. “Yeah, it’s her. The face seems a little different, but it’s the same blond hair. The only thing is, I never seen her eyes. She’s always wearing sunglasses.”
Todd and Serena exchanged a look. Since Molly had dark hair like Serena, noticing the blond hair of Delia wouldn’t be difficult. The eyes could have been the defining factor. Molly’s were dark brown like Serena’s. Delia’s were hazel, more green than brown. Not to mention Molly was very pregnant.
“Thanks.” Todd considered his options and just how far the manager of this dump would be willing to go. The dilapidated motel rented by the hour as well as the day, which spoke volumes in itself. “Look, is the room across the hall from the blonde’s available?”
The manager’s gaze narrowed. “You some kinda cop?”
“No. Nothing like that.” He looped his arm around Serena’s shoulders. She stiffened but didn’t resist. “She’s an old friend of ours. We just want to surprise her, that’s all. We do this kind of thing all the time.” He shrugged one shoulder. “You know, play games.”
Todd let the innuendo hang in the air.
The manager’s face split into a grin. “Yeah, I know what you mean.” He reached behind him and grabbed a key. “That’ll be fifty bucks.”
T
odd selected a one hundred dollar bill from his wallet and placed it on the counter. “I want to be sure our little surprise stays a surprise.”
The manager grabbed the bill. “You got it, pal.”
Todd curled his fingers around the key and gave the guy a wink. “If it works out the way I hope, I’ll leave another in the morning.”
The manager snickered. “How about I ring your room when she comes through? This is the only way in or out except for the emergency exits, which don’t open from the outside.”
Todd gave him a nod and then ushered Serena toward the stairs. She didn’t ask any questions until he’d reached their room on the fourth floor.
“Are we just going to wait?” she whispered with a covert glance at the door across the hall.
Todd considered the door, as well, then unlocked their own. When they were inside with the door closed he said, “I want to see if she returns alone. Maybe follow her when she leaves again. If she’s involved with Molly’s disappearance, we have to know the location of the hiding place or who she’s working with.”
“What if Molly’s right across the hall? All tied up or drugged?”
He sympathized with her anticipation. She wanted to find her friend—her sister. She wanted Molly to be safe and for life to go back to the way it used to be. He wished he could save her all the heartache that was likely to come. Even if Molly was fine, things would never be the same again. Kidnap victims, especially those who were held long-term, didn’t just go on as if the nightmare had never happened. There were side effects.
“If she’s not and we break in anyway, we could jeopardize the location. Delia may have the room bugged. She might receive a warning if whatever security she has in place is breached. Remember, if Landon or Miles is in on this, they have the kind of money that would afford all the high-tech gadgets.”
Her brow furrowed in confusion. “I just can’t get right with the idea that Miles is in on Molly’s abduction.”
“He’s the one paying Delia, right?”
She nodded but didn’t look convinced.
“Remember, this could be about bringing Landon down. Miles could be jealous of his recent strides in stem cell research.”
The sound of squeaking bed springs from the room above them interrupted whatever she’d intended to say next.
Their gazes lifted to the dingy, cracked ceiling.
The intensity of the sound increased. And then came the chorus. A woman’s cries of pleasure. A man’s responding groans.
Serena looked away, folded her arms over her chest and scooted even closer to the door as if preparing for escape.
Todd considered taking off his jacket. It was a little warm in here. He glanced at the air-conditioning unit on the other side of the room. It would make too much noise and he needed to be able to hear anyone coming in the hall. He couldn’t be one hundred percent sure he could trust the sleazy manager.
So he just stood there, sweat breaking on his skin, as the noise from upstairs reached a crescendo.
The woman started to squeal even more enthusiastically, then came, “Oh! Oh! Oh! You’re a god! A master!” Followed by extreme grunting and inaudible mumbling by the man.
Todd tried his level best not to look at Serena, but he couldn’t help himself.
She rolled her eyes. “Please. Like any guy who would be caught dead here could be called a god.”
Serena realized what she’d said as soon as the words were out of her mouth. Todd looked puzzled for about half a second then he just looked the other way.
Well, hell, she hadn’t meant to be rude. Surely he understood how she’d intended her comment.
“I didn’t mean you,” she felt compelled to say. “I was referring to the usual clientele.” She tugged at the neck of her sweater. Was it hot in here?
“That’s okay, I know what you meant.”
Funny thing was, he didn’t sound as though he understood.
“Men.” She huffed and braced against the door to shift her weight from her feet. “You’re all such babies. Any sort of criticism about your manhood, real or imagined,” she added with a pointed look at him, “just devastates you.”
“When did my manhood enter the discussion? I thought we were talking about him?” He gestured to the ceiling.
Serena waved a hand back and forth as if to erase his comment. “Forget it.”
Was he touchy today or what?
“I wasn’t the one who got all emotional after a simple kiss,” he quipped.
Her mouth gaped. How dare he bring up her moment of emotional vulnerability! “I thought I could confide in you.” What a total jerk! “You took advantage of the situation.”
He leaned toward her, his own fury streaking across his face, making her heart beat faster. “And then you got all annoyed because I questioned you about it.”
She scoffed. “I got all annoyed? Please, you were the one grilling me like a brand-new prosecutor on his first hot case.”
“Keep your voice down,” he whispered fiercely. “I’m trying to help you find Molly.”
She’d had it with him. “I’m going over there.”
He grabbed her by the wrist. “No, you’re not!”
Just then both parties overhead started to scream with orgasm.
Serena glared at Todd, who’d jerked her closer to make sure she didn’t escape him. “Let me go.”
“Just calm down,” he rasped.
For maybe three seconds she thought about slapping his face. And then she did the absolute last thing she could have imagined even if she’d lived a million years.
She grabbed him by the ears and pulled his mouth down to hers. She kissed him hard. Didn’t let go even after he clearly surrendered.
He kissed her back, plunged his tongue into her mouth in an act of possession. She moaned, shivered from head to toe. She’d dreamed about this all night. Hadn’t been able to sleep for thinking of him.
His hands were under her sweater…on her breasts. Heat erupted every place he touched. But it wasn’t enough.
She trailed her hands down his chest and to the closure of his jeans. She wanted to touch him there, wanted to feel him in her hands. Her fingers fumbled with the button and then the fly. He shuddered deliciously, emboldening her. Her movements more frantic with each passing moment, she shoved his jeans and underwear down his hips, felt him thump against her. She cried out, found him with her needy fingers and stroked, encircled him. He felt so smooth…so hot. How had she lived this long and not touched a man this way? She wasn’t a virgin, but there had only been two lovers for her and both those times had been over in an instant with little or no foreplay.
He growled like a wild animal, hiked her skirt up to her hips and ripped off her panties. And then he grabbed her by the bottom and lifted her off her feet. She wrapped her legs around his waist.
He pressed her back more firmly against the door, or maybe it was just his added weight, but she loved the feel of him so close. His mouth hadn’t left hers…he kissed her over and over. He nibbled at her lips, made her ache to taste more of him.
His fingers traced her intimately and she gasped, struggled to stay still. She wanted to buck into his touch, to beg him for more. He guided his tip to her and plunged inside in one forceful stroke. Her breath left her…her heart seemed to stop.
“Look at me,” he murmured between ragged gasps for air.
Panting as if she’d run ten miles, she lifted her gaze to his and felt her heart melt like a pat of butter in a frying pan. She loved the way he looked, loved the disheveled way he dressed, the earthy way he smelled.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered. “I…” He swallowed hard. “I…”
She pressed her fingers to his lips. “Don’t talk.” As much as she loved his voice, she didn’t want to talk…didn’t want to be sweet little Serena. She wanted to be wicked. She wanted to let that side of her that she never showed anyone bloom with all the wickedness she could muster.
He grinned sheepishl
y and then he moved, just an inch or so…the slightest shift of his hips and she started to come undone.
She’d didn’t last long…he didn’t, either.
They were both too desperate for each other….
And she melted a little more…relished her very first orgasm.
Chapter Fourteen
Todd didn’t want to move…it felt right to be like this with Serena. He brushed his lips across her cheek. She shivered, the sensation rippling all the way through her body. He’d never realized how something as simple as that could affect him….
“I’m…” She moistened her lips. “I’m not sure what to say.”
He smiled, couldn’t help himself. There was that innocence peeking out again. She tried to pretend that she was this strictly professional woman who never let her hair down, but she was incredibly hot. He liked that he’d been able to tear down those defenses of hers.
“You don’t have to say anything.” Another smile tickled his lips. “Except maybe ‘you’re a god’ if you’ve a mind to.”
A smile flirted with her lips. “I’ve never done anything like this before. I liked it…a lot.”
“I know.” He did—that she’d never done it before, that is.
Across the room the old rotary-type phone jangled.
His gaze met Serena’s. As much as he regretted having to do this…he withdrew and settled her on her feet. She headed for the bathroom while he pulled himself together in time to snatch up the receiver before the third ring.
“She’s on her way up.”
“Alone?”
“Yep.”
Todd dropped the receiver back into the cradle and moved into position by the door. He withdrew his weapon and hoped he wouldn’t need it.
“Is she here?”
He glanced at Serena. Her hair had fallen loose around her face, making her look even younger and so sweet he could hardly drag his attention back to business.
Keeping an eye on the peephole, he braced himself as a figure came into view. Dark glasses. Blond.
He pulled back. “Check it out.”
For one second Serena froze. What if Delia had already done the unthinkable? Maybe that was why she received payments from Arthur Miles.
