Stephen Glover didn’t seem relieved at that bit of news. If anything, he was more angry.
“I could have told you he didn’t do it. Why aren’t you out there looking for who did this?”
Jason stood, tucking the folder under his arm. “We are looking, but you have to understand that we must rule out the family members first. Statistically speaking, people are generally not killed by strangers. They’re usually killed by family and friends. That’s why we have to do this. I know it feels like an invasion of privacy–”
“You can’t possibly know how this feels.”
“But this is how we find the murderer,” Jason went on as if Stephen had never interrupted. “We rule people out one by one until we have a small pool of suspects to closely investigate. I apologize for upsetting you after all that you’ve been through. Unfortunately, this is my job and sometimes it can rub people the wrong way.”
Jason left the room, leaving Zach with a fuming Stephen Glover.
“So what else are you doing to do to find this guy?” the husband finally asked. “Can I expect more embarrassing questions about my friends and family?”
“It’s possible,” Zach conceded. “If we find something in our research we may have to ask you about it. We are sorry but being polite isn’t going to catch this guy.”
Glover seemed to digest that statement before answering. Leaning forward, he tapped the table with his index finger.
“Then ask me anything you fucking want because I want this guy caught and put behind bars for the rest of his life. Just do that and I won’t care what you say to me.”
“Believe me, that’s what I want too. I’m going to find him and justice will be served.”
With any luck, before the killer had a chance to strike again.
Chapter Seven
‡
That afternoon, Leann was beginning to regret her deal with Zach regarding self-defense lessons. He’d dressed in a pair of sweat pants and a tank top, and she was reminded of just how…big…he was. He was like an oak tree, tall and solid and she was the opposite. She trusted him not to hurt her during the session but she wasn’t the most graceful person on the planet. She might simply injure herself being a klutz.
A big smile on his handsome face, Zach rubbed his hands together excitedly. “Are you ready?”
This so-called lesson was being carried out in the middle of a deserted martial arts gym where apparently Zach was a good friend of the owners, because they’d told him to “lock up” when he was done.
“I guess so. Am I dressed okay for this?”
At home Leann walked on a treadmill and sometimes played tennis so she wasn’t sure what the proper attire was for getting her ass kicked. She’d chosen stretchy shorts and a t-shirt. No tennis shoes allowed on the mats, so she was also barefoot. The germaphobe in her shuddered at the thought but Zach didn’t seem bothered in the least so it was probably fine.
His grin widened and he motioned to her t-shirt. “It’s fine. I like your shirt, by the way.”
It was plain gray cotton with a bright pink rabbit wearing work out gear, and it was one of her favorites. Every time she wore it someone commented on it.
“Thanks, I thought you might get a kick out of it. Get it? A kick?”
Perhaps she could distract him with humor and he’d forget they were here for self-defense classes.
He was holding his stomach and laughing. “Got it. That’s cute. I may have to get one just like it.”
In a much bigger size.
“I might want to mention now that I’m a little nervous about this,” she said before he could continue. “I’m kind of clumsy.”
“It will be fine,” Zach assured her. “Let’s start by warming up some, get your muscles ready to work. I don’t want you to be too sore tomorrow.”
“I am definitely going to be sore if we do more than a brisk walk. You might say I’ve been neglecting my workouts lately.”
Zach nodded as if he understood, which clearly he didn’t by the looks of him. “Work making it tough to get to the gym? I know how that goes.”
“No, you don’t,” she answered promptly with an eye roll. “Look at you. You’re in incredible shape. You’re probably one of those annoying humans that get up when it’s dark outside so they can exercise before going in to work. As a mental health professional, I worry about people like that.”
“I’ve been in better shape, believe it or not. But once you get in shape it’s easier to stay there.”
“It’s the getting there that’s the tough part,” she said knowingly. “I’ve tried before but I have trouble sticking to a workout plan.”
“Then it wasn’t the right workout for you. You need to find something you enjoy.”
Leann enjoyed binge-watching bad television shows while eating a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. Sadly, she hadn’t managed to burn one calorie doing that yet.
“That’s what in shape people always say but it’s bull. Sweating isn’t pleasant.”
Chuckling, he walked over to the corner of the room and retrieved two jump ropes.
“Then you’re going to be very unhappy in about an hour. Let’s jump rope for a few minutes to get the blood pumping.”
She could do this. Many happy recesses had been spent with her friends jumping rope. It was like riding a bike and she was eight years old again.
Except that she didn’t remember huffing and puffing this much when she was in third grade. She hadn’t had breasts either back then and having them bounce up and down was uncomfortable. After about a minute, she had to take a break to suck oxygen into her lungs while he jumped easily, not even breaking a sweat. Smooth bastard.
The rest of the hour didn’t get any easier. Zach had her gouging at his eyes, punching his solar plexus, stomping on his instep, and her favorite – kneeing him in the balls.
“Now what do you do when I raise my hands to defend my eyes?” he asked as she struggled to catch her breath. There was no doubt she was going to be sore tomorrow. And the next day too.
“Knee you,” she replied, supporting her torso with her hands on her knees. “Then plot a most painful death.”
Bending so he could see her face, he flipped her long braid over her shoulder. “Had enough for one day? We can practice again another time.”
Crumpling to the mat, she stretched out and closed her eyes, pillowing her head on her hands. Now this was comfortable. “Just wake me up when it’s time to go to the dance. No, better yet, wake me up when it’s time to catch my flight back to Florida.”
She thought she heard him step away so she was surprised when she felt a few cold, wet drops on her forehead, but damn it felt good. Her lids fluttered open and he was kneeling next to her on the mat, a water bottle in one hand with droplets sliding down the sides.
“Time to rehydrate. You need to drink it all.”
She didn’t argue, twisting off the cap and drinking down half of it at once before falling back to the mat. “Pure ambrosia.”
Zach sat crisscross, his own water bottle empty and tossed aside. “Are you really okay? Do I need to carry you out of here? I don’t want to have to tell Jason that I broke his sister.”
Giggling at the thought of that conversation, she rolled to a sitting position. “I doubt he’d be surprised.”
“Weren’t you a cheerleader?”
She drank down more of her water. “I was young and limber and I looked cute in the outfit. Don’t judge.”
His grin was wicked and evil. “I’ll just bet you did. Did you wear a short skirt and jump around?”
Her cheeks were red and it didn’t have anything to do with physical exertion. “Maybe. Is it important that I did?”
“Just trying to get a picture here. Are there any photos?”
“Yes, and Mom will probably entertain you with several picture albums at Sunday dinner if you ask. But I beg you…don’t ask.”
Rubbing his chin, he had a devious expression on his face. “I’ll tell you what. You
do a little cheer for me now and I won’t ask your mom for photographic evidence.”
“More deals? What is it with you?”
“I believe in win-win.”
She just bet he did.
“I think I remember one but I’m going to need a little something more. If I show you a cheer, you have to show me some of your martial arts. Maybe it will inspire me to get a black belt or something.”
It wouldn’t at all but he didn’t know that.
“That’s a deal I’ll take all day long. I’ll even go first so you can rest up a little bit.”
Already warmed up, Zach didn’t waste any time. He moved through what looked like a choreographed set of kicks and punches, rather graceful for a man his size. When he was done, he bowed and then plopped back on the mat with a grin.
“Your turn.”
“That was really, really good. You must have studied for a long time to be able to do all of that.”
He hopped back up to his feet and reached his hand down to help her up. “Years. Your turn.”
Leann wasn’t going to be able wriggle out of this one by flattering him. Dammit.
Standing straight and tall with her arms at her sides and her heart racing, she closed her eyes and thought back to all the words and moves from those days so long ago on the sidelines. The sounds of the crowd and the smell of the grass and sweat. Her family and friends in the stands cheering her on. Slowly it came back to her, her body stepping through the routine with increasing confidence, even the jump at the end. She was sure she looked ridiculous but in a million years she’d have never believed she would even remember it, let alone do it.
When she opened her eyes Zach was grinning like a loon. “You were incredible. My God, woman, you are just amazing.”
Somehow she must have thrown herself into his arms in triumph because their faces were so close…and their lips… She could drown in his soft blue gaze as their mouths drew ever closer to one another.
His warm mouth had barely brushed hers, setting off a cacophony of sensations inside of her when his phone went off, the loud ringer piercing the quiet. Jerking away, he took several steps back, his shoulders rising and falling rapidly with his breathing.
“I need to get that.”
Numbly she nodded, telling herself that it could be something about the murders. She might have believed it too if Zach hadn’t looked so relieved about the interruption.
He’d simply been caught up in the moment, and that hurt more than the workout did.
Chapter Eight
‡
The cheesy purple and gold banner hung over the entrance to the hotel ballroom, trumpeting the event that Leann Anderson had been dreading for weeks. All the pre-reunion activities had been leading up to this night.
Tremont High School Class of 2002 Reunion.
“Are you ready to do this?” Zach asked, straightening his tie. He cleaned up nicely from his usual casual slacks and jeans. Tonight he was wearing a dark blue suit that looked like it had been made just for him, molding his wide shoulders and tapering to his lean waist. Zach was a handsome man by anyone’s standards. A man that wasn’t for her. He’d made himself clear that afternoon at the gym.
Stop staring at the man, Leann. He doesn’t want you.
Still, it wasn’t his fault that he wasn’t into her. He hadn’t asked for this assignment. After her earlier humiliation, she’d vowed that tonight she would be friendly and casual. He’d never know that she’d been hurt by his rejection.
“Does it matter? We have to do this. We have two murders to solve.”
“No, I have murders to solve. You have a reunion to attend. You need to stay out of the investigation. If anything happened to you, your brothers would beat me senseless.”
“Are you afraid of my brothers?”
Chuckling, Zach grinned at her question. “Singly, no. But when they gang up on a person? Fuck, yes.”
The table by the entrance was covered with name tags and Leann found hers but almost pretended she didn’t. It had a grainy black and white photo from her senior year in high school. It was hard to believe but yearbook pictures could actually look worse.
Like when they were pinned to Leann’s cleavage.
Zach’s gaze lingered on her chest. Maybe he didn’t dislike her after all. He appeared to like what he was seeing without being a creep about it. “Nice…picture.”
Way to send me mixed signals.
“It’s horrific and you know it. My only comfort is that most everyone’s photo is going to be this bad.” Leann’s nerves ratcheted up a notch as her gaze darted around the room. “Now what’s the plan? Do I need to steer you to certain people or are we going to mingle casually?”
“Let’s start mingling casually and if I see someone I want to talk I’ll either say something directly or nudge you in that direction. Deal?”
“Sounds fine.” She nodded to the smiling woman heading straight for them. “That’s Jenna Marshall. You might remember her from last night.”
For the dozenth time, Leann had second thoughts about even being at this reunion. If she hadn’t promised Jason to bring Zach she probably would have skipped the entire party tonight. She’d remembered why she hadn’t spoken to most of these people in fifteen years.
She didn’t like them much. They probably didn’t like her either.
Visiting the past was a stupid thing to do but here she was – rubbing elbows with people she’d rather not see again. Most of them, anyway. She was happy to see Jenna, despite not keeping in touch as well as she could have. Leann hated electronic communication, preferring face to face.
Pretty blonde Jenna looked especially lovely tonight. “There you two are. I’ve been looking for you everywhere. We have a table near the bar. Come join us. Everyone is having a great time and there’s champagne.” Hugging Leann, she gave Zach a flirty smile. “Just try not to drink too much tonight like you did graduation night. Remember how you ended up puking all over the back of Drew’s truck?”
Why yes, Leann did and she was so happy that Jenna had brought that moment up right in front of Zach.
Why do I care what he thinks?
Because you do. You like him even if he doesn’t like you.
“I could do without memories like that.”
Jenna just laughed. “Remembering the stupid things we did is half the fun. Now smile and show all the people here how great your life turned out and how fabulous you look. Lots of people are going to want to see you tonight. Now, let me take a look at you.”
With all the people milling about in the entryway of the hotel ballroom this was hardly the ideal spot, but Leann knew from experience that Jenna was like a dog with a bone when she got an idea in her head. Better to give in on the small stuff and then dig her heels in on something bigger.
Obediently taking two steps back, Leann looked down at the black silk slip dress she was wearing. She’d spent way too much time picking it out but she was happy with how she looked in it. The dress was held up with spaghetti straps that highlighted her year-round Florida tan and showed a hell of a lot of leg, ending at mid-thigh. Silver sandals with a four-inch heel gave her more height than her usual five-foot-five.
“You look gorgeous,” Jenna pronounced with a big smile. “Doesn’t she look beautiful, Zach?”
Leann wanted to dig a hole and crawl away, but Jenna and everyone else thought that Leann and Zach were a real couple.
“She does, indeed. You both do,” he replied gallantly. “Now which way are we going, ladies?”
Straight to the bar. Chattering and giggling, Jenna led them to a long table filled with Leann’s former classmates. There were several open bottles of champagne on the table and it looked like they’d been drinking for awhile.
Henry Chambers, a guy who had sat behind her in geometry, stood up with a grin on his face.
“Is that Leann? Wow, you look great. Come sit by me.”
Oh fuck no. The way Henry was swaying on his feet told her he’d ha
d at least one too many, probably more. And hadn’t he married at some point? Was his wife here or was he divorced?
Zach’s arm tightened around her waist. “Sorry, Leann’s with me. Sweetheart, can I get you a drink?”
She needed to remember to thank him later. Henry had always given her a strange vibe and it wasn’t a pleasant one.
“Dirty martini and make it a double, please.”
Leann had a feeling it wouldn’t be her last drink tonight.
* * *
The ballroom was a crush of bodies, the largest crowd yet at any of the reunion functions. After mingling for awhile, Zach found himself on the dance floor with Leann. It was a good way to get a good view of all of the guests without looking like he was watching them. He wasn’t flush with rhythm but he had a few moves that kept him from being totally lame. Leann, on the other hand was fantastic, her body movements graceful. He didn’t want to enjoy being this close to her but he couldn’t help himself. She was an attractive woman and his love life pretty much sucked because all he did was work.
He’d almost kissed her at the gym this afternoon and he was equal parts relieved and regretful. He did desperately want to kiss her but he was having trouble reminding himself that she was off-limits. Jason would geld him with a dull spoon if Zach touched his little sister. Thank God his phone had rang because he hadn’t been about to stop. Her lips had been far too tempting.
Trying not to think about how her body brushed against his and how his pulse raced whenever she was in the room, Zach asked her question after question about the people in attendance. Anything to get his mind out of the gutter and back onto the case. He couldn’t seem to drag his gaze away from the curtain of fiery red hair, the mouthwatering curves shown off to perfection in that black dress, and most of all that creamy skin that begged to be touched and caressed. Every time she twirled, her skirt lifted and revealed a tempting amount of thigh that almost had him on his knees in worship. It was only through hard won self-control and the memory of his employer that kept him from pulling her a little closer or maybe trying to steal a kiss in the shadows.
Reunited With Danger (Danger Incorporated Book 6) Page 5
