Answering the Call

by Ali Vali

  “You’re seriously banning me?” Nicole sounded like she was talking to a small child.

  “You crossed a line, so yes. Don’t make me get Sept involved in a more official capacity.”

  “The way she ran out of here leads me to believe you’re not as close as you seem to think.” Nicole ignored her warning and came closer.

  “That’s usually her reaction so she doesn’t bash someone’s face in,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “Don’t mistake it for noninterest.”

  “Whatever you say. I’ll be in touch.”

  “Communicating or touching is the last thing we’ll be doing, Ms. Voles. I meant what I said about you not being welcome here.” She grabbed Mike’s collar and led him back to the yard. “Don’t come near me again.”

  She closed and locked the gate, trying to decide who she wanted to strangle more, Nicole Voles or Sept. “I can’t believe you left,” she said softly as she sat and petted Mike. “And where the hell did you go?”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Tell me what’s wrong?” Della said as she drove back home with a very pissed Sept next to her. It’d taken threatening her with a drive-by to get Sept in the car, and something was clearly not right. Considering she’d walked out of the restaurant, Della couldn’t believe Keegan had done anything to provoke this reaction. “I’m going to bug you until you tell me, so you might as well save yourself the nagging.”

  “Della, I love you, but I’m tired, and I’m not in a talkative mood.”

  “It’s Gran, remember,” she said and rubbed Sept’s shoulder. “And tired is something I can help you with.”

  It wasn’t too far to her house, and she was glad Sept followed her in willingly, then into her guest room. She took out fresh towels and pointed to the shower. “Go ahead, since being clean will help you feel better. Once you take a nap, you’ll see that whatever’s bothering you won’t be so horrible.”

  “Thanks,” Sept said and kissed her cheek. “A nap sounds great.”

  “I’ll make you a sandwich, so don’t fall asleep until I get back.”

  It was nice to have someone to fuss over again as she set things out to make Sept a pressed panini. Sept came out before she was done and sat at the counter, appearing as if she’d been awake for days. Fatigue like this had a way of inflating inconsequential things.

  “Eat it all, and if you want you can tell me what happened,” she said, pouring a craft beer Sept liked, which she now kept in her refrigerator for whenever she and Keegan came over for dinner. “Or you can tell me to buzz off.”

  “My phone died today, so I went by the restaurant to talk to Keegan and show her I was okay after the hellish day I endured,” Sept said, then took a huge bite of the sandwich.

  “That was thoughtful, sweetheart. My granddaughter doesn’t try to show it, but she worries about you every time you walk out the door.”

  “I know, and that’s why I went. But I didn’t expect she’d be kissing Nicole Voles when I got there,” Sept said, pushing the plate away and seeming disgusted. “Maybe I should go.”

  “Eat that,” she said, pushing the meal back, “and then you’re going to bed.” Sept didn’t seem to have any fight left in her after that, so she went willingly when she guided her back to the bedroom. “I’ll give you ten minutes to strip and get in there, or else I’ll see for myself what my granddaughter finds so irresistible about you.”

  Sept laughed finally, so Della stepped out to clean her kitchen before coming back and finding Sept asleep. The pile of clothes that smelled faintly of smoke was left on the floor, so she kissed Sept’s forehead before gathering everything for the wash. “If her clothes are wet, she’s stuck here,” she whispered as she glanced at Sept one last time before shutting the door.

  “Hello,” Keegan said, and the roughness in her voice meant she was upset.

  “Hello, my darling,” Della said, plucking Sept’s tight boxers up by the waistband and dropping them into her washer. “First off, Sept’s fine, and she’s at my house. And secondly, her phone’s dead, so she’s not totally ignoring you.”

  “Is she mad?”

  “She’s not thrilled, but at the moment she’s out like I hit her with a cast-iron skillet, which gives you time to explain what happened.” The shoes she’d put on to attend their weekly dinner in Keegan’s kitchen felt good off her feet as she retreated back to the kitchen, and she smiled at Keegan’s snort.

  “That bitch kissed me at the worst possible time, not that there’ll ever be a good time, and my clueless fiancée ran out of here before I could explain. If she were here, I don’t know if I’d kiss her or hit her with a raw fish for thinking I’d do that to her.” Keegan’s tone had gone from upset to sounding like she was speaking through gritted teeth.

  “Sweetheart, in her defense, she’s exhausted, and she was worried about you. Cut her some slack and get over here.”

  “I’m double booked tonight, Gran.”

  “That was the wrong answer, so try again,” she said. Keegan and Sept could have a competition as to who was more stubborn. “I’ve already called your mother, and I’m changing now. Between the two of us, I think we can run any kitchen,” she said, getting up and heading to her closet. Get your ass over here. I’ve got a naked cop in my guest room who needs a hug.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “About the naked part, the hug, or the kitchen duty?” she asked, finding comfortable shoes and a more casual outfit.

  “All of it, I guess.”

  “I’ll never lecture you about marriage, but I’ll tell you what I told Melinda. Never get out of bed angry, and don’t completely lose yourself to make someone else happy. Someone either loves you for who you are or they don’t. You have until she wakes up for that first one. Don’t squander the chance. Sept loves you, and more important, she always will.”

  “Thanks, Gran,” Keegan said, sighing. “But this doesn’t mean I won’t bring a fish with me.”

  Keegan left, trying to calm down on the ride over, and finally sensing a calm in her soul when she saw Sept asleep. She got undressed and slowly eased in next to her, smiling when Sept immediately rolled over and put her arm around her middle. Most mornings she woke up to Sept behind her holding her. It was good to know they probably spent most of their night in the same position.

  She kissed Sept’s palm before placing her hand back on her abdomen and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, it felt early, but it was light outside. Thankfully Sept was still behind her, but she didn’t feel completely relaxed, which meant she was probably awake. She moved to face her, but Sept held her in place.

  “I’m sorry I left last night,” Sept said, flattening her hand over her stomach. “I should’ve known better than to think you’d invited that, and I should’ve stayed and explained a few things to that aggressive asshole. If you did invite that, it’s perfectly acceptable to lie to me.”

  “I told Gran last night that I was either going to kiss you or smack you with a fish. That comment makes me lean toward dead-fish smacking,” she said, turning around. The way Sept smiled at her made her forget any anger she felt. “Nicole told me about the explosions, and you didn’t answer your phone.” She clung to Sept, remembering that helplessness. “I was upset, and she ambushed me by pretending to be comforting.”

  “She was facing the door,” Sept said, kissing her forehead. “Seeing me might’ve prompted the ambush, so comforting had nothing to do with it.”

  “That bitch,” Keegan said with heat. “Jacqueline said she’d been flirting with me the first time she came in, but I thought my sister was full of shit. She sees flirting in every situation.”

  “I’m sorry. The first time she was flirting with you?” Sept moved her hands down and stopped at her ass. “I don’t remember hearing about that.”

  “You were in the middle of that first murder case, and I didn’t want to burden you. I’m also rapidly losing interest in this conversation.” She threw her leg over Sept and sat up to
straddle her.

  “I don’t want to be possessive, but you’re mine, and I don’t ever want to share.” Sept placed her hand on her hips and sat up as well so she could kiss her. “You’re mine,” she said, rolling them over and hovering over Keegan.

  “All yours, baby, you know that.”

  “I’m so in love with you,” Sept said, tracing her cheek with her fingertips. “It makes me nuts to think I’d lose you, and I’ve never felt that way about anyone.”

  “You’re never going to have to worry about that, baby.” She placed her hands on Sept’s face and arched up to kiss her. “I need you.” She bucked her hips, a hint for Sept to roll over, and she did just that. “I need you inside me.”

  “God,” Sept said as Keegan maneuvered her onto her back.

  Keegan didn’t need a lot of foreplay, so she threaded her fingers with Sept’s and pressed her sex down on Sept’s abdomen. “Do you feel that?” she asked as she rocked her hips. “That’s how much I want you.”

  Sept let her hands go and reached between her legs, seeming to need to see how wet she was. The feel of Sept’s fingers stroking over her clit made her tilt her hips forward, chasing more pressure. “Don’t tease, baby,” she said, reaching down and gripping Sept’s wrist. “Go inside.”

  The way Sept touched her was maddening at times, since she slowed when Keegan wanted fast and softened when she needed firmer. “Don’t be in a hurry,” Sept said, and she groaned. “I want to enjoy this.”

  “But I’m so ready.” She leaned down and kissed Sept, smiling when she kept her hand between her legs. “Come on. You know you want to,” she said and moaned again when Sept’s now-wet fingers stroked her hard and fast but only for a moment.

  Sept moved the angle of her hand, and when Keegan lowered herself, she didn’t move and locked eyes with Sept. “I’m so sorry, honey,” Sept said with a slight smile. “I’ll never walk away again.”

  “I only need you to believe there’ll never be anyone else. I’d never do that to you.”

  “I believe you, and I love you,” Sept said, lifting her hips slightly off the bed and driving her fingers deeper. “Now let me love you.”

  It reminded Keegan of their first time in the morning light, only this time she knew exactly how Sept felt about her and what she thought of her body. There was no more hiding what she thought were her imperfections. Sept made her feel sexy and wanted because she was right in that you couldn’t hide that. Before Sept, she’d dated more than one person who’d wanted skinny since it was their idea of perfection, but now she knew how much Sept loved her curves.

  She rocked her hips and held her breasts so Sept could see how hard her nipples were. That seemed to prompt Sept into action, and she sat up without moving her hand and kissed her. “You are so beautiful,” Sept said, placing her other hand on Keegan’s ass and tugging her closer. “You feel so good like this.”

  She held on as Sept kissed her neck and pumped her hand as much as she could. She was disappointed she wouldn’t last very long, but she couldn’t hold back. She also couldn’t hold in the groan that came out as the orgasm hit her full force. “Baby…baby, uh, just like that. Please don’t stop.”

  “Never.” Sept leaned back slightly to be able to move her hand better. Keegan knew from experience that Sept was strong enough and had enough stamina to go all day, but this was it.

  “Yes—yes—yes.” She pumped her hips forward into Sept’s body and stopped moving. The orgasm was so good she slumped against Sept and wished they had time for a nap. “You’re so good to me, babe.”

  “The way I look at it,” Sept said, lying back and holding her in place, “I have to keep you happy and marry you before the rest of the world figures out how great you are.”

  “Yes, the world is trying to beat down my door to get at me.” She snorted at the joke.

  “Should I remind you, Sparky, that a woman I’d love to pistol-whip kissed you last night?” She smiled as Sept massaged down her back to her butt and stayed there.

  “That doesn’t count since I’m not remotely interested.” The smile she was used to seeing on Sept’s face was there when she rose a little, and she traced the still-dark eyebrows. “And I made an observation this morning.”

  “Besides your revisionist explanation, you mean? I didn’t say anything about your interest, but the interest of others.”

  “I don’t want to talk about that bitch right now, so pay attention.” She pulled the hair at the sides of Sept’s head and laughed. “You, Detective Savoie, have an infatuation with my ass.”

  “You’re only now figuring this out?” Sept knocked her off and pounced on her so she lay on her stomach. She shrieked when Sept reached down and bit her butt cheek before kissing the spot. “If you think telling me to kiss your ass is a punishment, think again. Your ass is a masterpiece.” Sept took another bite, and this time when she laughed loudly the door opened.

  In all the months she’d known Sept, she’d never seen her move that fast as she dove for the sheet to cover them both. Thankfully Jacqueline stood in the doorway with a smug expression and her arms crossed. “Gran sent me up to see what all the screaming was about and to let you know breakfast is ready.”

  “And knocking was a problem?” Sept asked, standing up and dropping the sheet, giving Jacqueline a peek at her perfect body. “Meet you in the shower,” she said before walking away.

  “I brought you and the amazon goddess a change of clothes.” Jacqueline plunked the garment bag onto the bed and scratched the side of her mouth. “And if I’ve never mentioned this before, fuck me, she’s gorgeous.”

  “That she is, so commit this morning to memory. No more free shows for you or anyone.”

  * * *

  “Thank you, Gran,” Nathan said as he finished his third serving of grits and shrimp.

  Della stared at him for a minute before smiling and nodding. “You’re welcome anytime.”

  “Don’t tell him that. You’ll never get rid of him,” Sept said, and Keegan kicked her under the table. “Did you check on the guys from last night?” she asked Nathan, knowing her fun was at an end.

  “They were all moved to regular rooms early this morning, and the chief assigned an officer at each one’s door. There’s plenty of stitches and a few broken ribs, but overall, the doctors say they were all lucky.”

  “Yeah. Those piles were so full of construction debris they could’ve easily been skewered more than once,” she said, and Keegan stood and put her arms around her from behind. “Let’s start at the lab today. Then we’ll meet with the team again.”

  “Your dad called and said the chief wanted a quick meeting to review what we have so far. He’s got everyone and their brother working on the two fallen officers’ case, but he knows they’re related to our murders.” Nathan smiled at Jacqueline as she cleared the table.

  “That only helps us if they find something. We need a break, and I don’t care where it comes from,” she said, and Keegan held her closer. “Their deaths were so unnecessary, and they both left young families behind. More than one little kid won’t know their father.”

  “The whole force is pissed about this, and if this guy knows what’s good for him, they’ll turn themselves in. They’re chancing getting shot on sight if we can prove anything.”

  “We’re dealing with a psychopath, so turning themselves in isn’t in their makeup. Let’s go see what we can do about dropping them in a black hole.” Sept reached up and put her hand over Keegan’s. “Sorry to eat and run, but we need to get going. Gran, thanks for everything, including last night.”

  “Anytime, even though I might have to burn those sheets,” Della said, and Sept shook her head. “Be careful, and don’t forget to ask questions, especially if they concern your personal life.”

  “I won’t forget, and I love you for reminding me.” Sept kissed Della’s check, and Keegan tugged her into the sunroom.

  “Did you get enough sleep?” Keegan pushed her into a chair and sat on he
r lap.

  “I did, and I’ll be home early so you can fuss if I look tired,” Sept said as she combed Keegan’s hair back. The thick blond strands always smelled like lemons and flowers. “Will you call me if Nicole Voles comes back?”

  “I told her she wasn’t welcome, but if she thinks I’m kidding, I’ll call you.” Keegan kissed her softly, and she wished for another long weekend where she could take the time to build the passion between them. “I love you, so come back to me in one piece, okay?”

  “And you keep your lips to yourself, baby. I’m the jealous type, but only because I love you so much.”

  “My lips and my ass are all yours, Detective.”

  “You’re a great motivator, my love.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “There was another explosion last night, and I need to know what the fallout was,” Nicole said icily into the phone. Her contact in the NOPD didn’t want to cooperate any longer, and none of her threats were working.

  “Look. Do whatever you have to, but I’m not telling you shit. If you decide to turn me in, all they can do is fire me for giving you the information I’ve already turned over. Fritz Jernigan ordered a complete information blackout unless it comes from his office. That means everything, so if I talk to you again, they’ll find me.” The guy sounded desperate, but Nicole didn’t care. “Considering what happened, he’s liable to prosecute me.”

  “Believe me, if I talk to him, his prosecution will be successful. I want those notes, and you’re going to get them for me.”

  “Hold your breath, lady. It ain’t happening.”

  She gripped the phone when he hung up, but it wasn’t the time to give in. She just had to throw more money at him, and things would be fine. It was hard to stay angry while listening to her father cook breakfast. Her mother had finally decided to go home and allow them their fun.