Faded Cotton (Erotic Romance)

by Lara Sweety

  Chapter 18

  “Wow.” Jen smiled gently.

  “I told you that I’m not who you thought I was.” She laughed. “Add this little vacation to things, and I have quite the life story so far.”

  “I guess we can assume at this point, that the charges that were leveled against you were just to get you into custody and bring you here,” Jen surmised.

  “Well I think that’s a piece of the puzzle, don’t you?” Laurel raised her eyebrows.

  “Yes, definitely.”

  “So what was in the package with the purple bow?” Jen was curious.

  “The diamond studs that I wear. I treasure them; they mark a turning point in my life.” Laurel smiled.

  A loud knock on the door got their attention.

  Jake LeGrande was in no mood to have additional problems on his hands. “What’s wrong, what the hell is the emergency?” He turned toward Jen, “Why are you in here?” He looked between the two women who beamed at each other. “Damn guards,” he said under his breath.

  “Nothing two smart female brains can’t handle,” stated a smiling Laurel.

  He looked at Jen’s red eyes and then back at Laurel, eyes wide. “What?”

  “Jen needs to work while she’s holed up here, and I need something to do, so I’m going to help.” Laurel went on to list everything they needed to work on Jen’s cold case.

  Jake shook his head, “Okay, but the laptop comes with an intel expert to keep you two out of trouble. It can’t hurt to have two more heads on this detail.” He looked at Jen, “And the answer is yes, I have your briefcase. Tomorrow, after lunch.”

  __________________________

  “Hi, Brian!” Laurel gave the tall Navy intelligence officer a hug, barely able to get her arms around him.

  “At your service, ma’am!” Brian grinned and popped open the laptop he’d brought in. “Who do you want to know about?”

  “Senator Laughlin, everything.” Jen butted in, insisting.

  Brian Tanner’s eyebrows lifted, but he took the directive and jumped in to find the history of the man in question. Financial records, medical records, tax records, past girlfriends, vehicles. Nothing evaded Brian’s queries.

  Laurel and Jen took over the conference room. They used the side-by-side dry erase boards to set up a web of information linking dates, names, and photos of faces and evidence.

  Jake blew in the door while the two were deep in thought, startling them, “Will this keep you two occupied for a while?”

  “Well I’m betting we can tell you who is trying to kill me before you can.” Laurel said smugly.

  Jen stood, arms crossed behind her, glaring at Jake. “I do this for a living, Captain LeGrande.”

  “Quite successfully, I understand,” he said curtly and turned to leave, still very much in official command mode.

  “Can you at least share what you know?” Laurel pressed him.

  “No. Classified.” He barked tersely. Then suddenly, softening, he said over his shoulder, “Your names are on the same hit list.” He strode out the door in a rush. God, he hated to tell them, but if it meant they would depend more on him and his men, so be it. The two women looked at each other eyes wide, eyebrows up.

  The first connection to be entertained was the fact that Jen was there in addition to Laurel and now they knew why. Neither had a connection they were aware of with the exception of being “on the same list”.

  Jen pulled out the case file on her parents’ death to review what she had already reviewed a hundred times. She decided to go back to the beginning. She listed the original possible suspects for the hit and run at the center of her web. Senator Lauglin had been the primary suspect. He was the, then-governor’s son, current senator, and was being groomed by his party as a possible presidential candidate.

  A few hours later, Jen and Laurel were both rubbing their eyes and necks, stressed from staring at the same information. “Good start. We need to walk away and come back fresh tomorrow and go over it again,” commanded Jen.

  “Agreed. Dinner is at seven so we still have time to go for a swim. I need to fix my farmers tan anyway.” Laurel said with a smile.

  __________________________

  “So I still need an escort?” Jen covered her disappointment that her escort wasn’t Adam MacClain.

  “Yes ma’am.” He nodded to her. “I’m Lieutenant Jess LeGrande. I’ll be escorting you to the beach.”

  Jen gave him a once over. Jess. He was LeGrande’s son all right. Dark brown, almost black hair, broad shoulders, electric blue eyes that studied her closely, tall—big. Good grief, she thought, are they all built like this?

  She talked as they headed to the beach. “So, how do you feel about having a brother?” Jen prodded.

  He gave her an it’s none of your business look, but answered anyway. “I grew up just down the road from the MacClain’s. Adam and I have always been like brothers. We look alike except for the hair and eyes.” His voice had an easy, deep, middle-south melodic intonation. Jess smiled at her.

  Jen noticed he was a little more reserved than Adam. “None of this bothers you?”

  “No. Our father—Captain LeGrande, took us fishing together a lot when he was home. I spent a lot of time at the MacClain’s as a kid.” He pushed to change the subject, “I’m sorry for the way we had to extract you from the last situation.”

  “That was you?” Jen looked at him wide-eyed.

  “Please remember you weren’t hurt,” Jess said.

  “Yes, but I still had a whopper headache.” Jen rubbed the back of her head and neck as if to confirm the lack of injury.

  “Sorry.” He looked a little uncomfortable.

  “Well at least I get to stay here if you had to ‘extract’ me,” she chuckled.

  Jess LeGrande gave the beautiful woman he was assigned to watch a gentle sideways grin. He chuckled to himself; he would have to remember to give thanks for the detail.

  When she strode ahead a little to meet her swimming companion, Jess took in the view. He grinned at her gentle sway. Perfect, he thought, for once he didn’t tower over a girl. Her long legs were a testament to that. He couldn’t help but watch her flowing golden blonde hair and her gentle bounce as she tip toed into the water.

  Jess took in a deep breath and sighed. It wasn’t going to be easy having her right under his nose.

  Chapter 19

  “The water is unbelievable! It’s nothing like the rivers or creeks back home. There is tropical forest on the other side of the runway, you know.” Laurel was enthralled with the beauty of the island and sounded more like a tourist than a prisoner.

  Jen breathed in deep. “It’s been so long since I’ve had a vacation that I just don’t know how to relax.”

  “Well, under the circumstances, I can see that, but I suggest you give it a try.”

  “Laurel, is there more to the story with Derrick? Obviously, he didn’t stay.” Jen was looking for something to take her mind off of Adam—and Jess.

  “Yes, there’s more.”

  __________________________

  Derrick stayed. The leaves started to turn under the chill of late September. Laurel stood on the deck that morning, hot chocolate in hand, thinking about Derrick’s future. As much as it was going to hurt, it was time.

  Jacket zipped, Derrick came in for lunch, mail in hand. “What’s this?” He opened the package addressed to him.

  “College info. You’ve taken your entrance exams, you just need to apply,” Laurel said, facing the sink, as she finished cleaning off the last of the season’s tomatoes from their small garden.

  “Laurel, I just want to stay here.” He moved behind her to wrap his arms around her, giving her a quick squeeze.

  “Derrick, stop, please. Don’t say anything you haven’t thought through. You—can’t stay.” Laurel secretly wished the circumstances were different.

  “Can’t stay” came out very quietly. She turned to him, fighting the eventuality of sadness. “You m
ay not know it now, but in time you would.”

  “I love you,” he said nuzzling her soft neck.

  “And I love you,” she sniffed. She hugged him tightly burying her face into his chest, inhaling him. He always smelled so good. She pushed him to arm’s length.

  “It’s from the University; the law school.”

  “Law school?" He was amazed at the confidence she had in him.

  “Derrick, you went through every single contract I have. You researched everything and we made some very positive changes. Hell, you even went through my will!”

  “That I did,” he chuckled.

  “I just wanted to know you are going to be taken care of when...,” Derrick faded off and looked at her. He had been thinking about the future, he just didn’t want to admit it to himself.

  “When you go, I know,” she said quietly.

  He kissed her cheek softly. Then looking at her, he searched her eyes. She tiptoed to meet his kiss. It was a soft, comforting kiss with a hint of promise for later. He could have kissed her like that all day.

  She gently pushed some distance between them. “Apply. I know your grade point was great and your test scores are very high. You’re brilliant, Derrick. It’s time to see how far you can go with it.” She pulled him close, hugged him tightly.

  __________________________

  Derrick was accepted easily to the pre-law program and garnered scholarships. They spent the evening going to dinner, celebrating. This time, they put their jeans aside. Derrick wore the same silk suit he’d arrived in, even though it fit him a little differently. Laurel had on a little black dress that accentuated her best features.

  She had made reservations at one of the nicest restaurants in in the city. They both knew that no matter where they went, they would cause a stir, but neither cared. No one would see their relationship the same way they did. He couldn’t help but smile at her, flirting with his eyes. Derrick chose to take the long way home, as if to put off the inevitable.

  He pulled the truck in the drive after dark and sat quietly looking at Laurel. “I’m staying until late December if you are okay with that.”

  She hung her head a second before straightening and smiling, a faint wistful smile. “I’d like that.” They stared at each other for a moment.

  “My dad has a gift for you.” His eyes brightened and he smiled, attempting to change gears. “He’s pleased with my school plans.” “Laurel this—us—it’s been good for both of us?” He looked at her intently. She nodded.

  “It’s good to hear you call your father, Dad,” she thought out loud. “So, if I accept something, for the time you have been here, does that make me a pro?” She started giggling, as he furrowed his eyebrows at her mischievously.

  “And what would that make me?” A smile crept across his face and he joined her. They laughed until a tear fell on her cheek.

  He pulled her close and kissed her forehead.

  “Does he know?”

  “I think he suspects, but I’ve never said anything to him. If he ever asks, I’ll tell him the truth. Man to man.” He squeezed her hand. “I’ll tell him that it was an incredible, passionate, love affair that I initiated and we both wanted.”

  She smiled and ducked her head to her shoulder. In that motion, the soft sweet girl showed in the tough confident woman that she had let him possess so passionately.

  __________________________

  “The end?” Jen asked.

  “No.” Laurel smiled broadly, looking out over the water at the fading sun. “Not exactly. He did stay through December.”

  “So is there more?”

  “Oh yes, there is more,” she grinned. She had left out some of the more intimate details of her time with Derrick, but she knew Jen had been getting the picture anyway. Jen was amazed at the love Laurel possessed.

  Laurel had a man that had loved her and babies and a farm to run—a lover too. Jen wondered if she could have that dream, or one like it. Jen wondered if she could have a man that was strong enough to let her pursue her dreams, have babies to love and watch grow, and a fulfilling career. She wondered if that was even possible. “Solve the puzzle, Jen,” she said out loud to herself. She knew she had to solve her parents’ death before she could even begin to attempt to answer anything for herself. “Laurel, what do you and I have in common? People, places, things, anything?”

  “Uh, apparently somebody wants us dead; Jake knows something about it, and isn’t telling.” They both giggled at her Nancy Drewish explanation.

  “What else? What differences are there between the guys?” Jen pushed.

  “Let’s see. Well, I’ve told you about Tanner, Pisano, and the rest of the guys.” She started to run down the list of men who had come to work on the farm.

  “Umm, okay, here is a shocker. Morrison is gay.”

  “A gay Navy SEAL? No way!” Jen’s astonishment was all over her face.

  “Everyone knows. The guys are cool with it. They all value him as an individual and he’s not forward about it or flaming or anything. A couple of years ago, just acknowledging it would have gotten his sexy, Mr. Model-Type guy, kicked out...or shot. Besides being so gorgeous, Robert is also very smart. He’s a pilot and is also an intelligence specialist. He’s a computer wizard with a crazy high IQ. He can fly anything, and fix anything, especially—fine-wired stuff.” She started giggling big.

  “What’s so funny?” Jen frowned.

  “He fixed a, uh, um...he fixed a vibrator for me one time.” Laurel was turning about thirty shades of red as she rolled in laughter. Jen joined her, seeing the irony of it all.

  “I’d tossed it in the trash can,” Laurel tried to catch her breath. “He’d retrieved it and fixed it. Handed it to me one day, out of the blue, and stated, very matter-of-fact, “I fixed it for you.” The look on my face had to have been priceless. After that, I didn’t throw anything away without asking Robert first!”

  They both rolled again, laughing so hard they were hitching with tears running down on their face and sides hurting. They would stop to look at each other and start roaring again. They were doubled over in tears, laughing so loud that it brought Jess and some of the other guards on the run.

  “Are you two okay? Everything good?” Jess said looking concerned, but keeping a cool, official demeanor.

  Jen looked at Laurel, who couldn’t speak from trying to contain her laughter and replied. “Yeah—everything is just fine—everything is fixed perfectly.”

  Laurel fell over on her side and busted out laughing again, with Jen trailing her.

  Jess and the other two guards looked at each other quizzically, shaking their heads and started back off to their posts.

  “Women.” Jess said under his breath.

  “Oh my gosh, oh lord, my sides hurt.” Laurel said still giggling. “I think I’m going in to get ready for dinner. I think this sun has my baked brain.” They doubled over in laughter again.

  __________________________

  Chapter 20

  Dinner that evening became a story-telling event. It was as much a family reunion as gatherings get, or perhaps a roast of sorts; many of the stories were about Laurel. Jen was taking it all in; she was feeling more like part of the family with every meal. No longer dreading her time with the group, she slid easily into the conversations.

  “So you think that’s funny, huh?” Laurel grinned, taking the goading and laughter well.

  “It was hilarious! Here she was, flat on her back after just giving me a speech about not getting bucked off.” Brian was laughing heartily.

  “Laurel taught me how to ride. I’m so tall, but Laurel found a mare that was perfect height and temperament. I love it, learned to rope, too. Then she figured she’d show me how to break a horse.”

  “She was on this sorrel filly, pushing her to a lope, and the filly started bucking really hard. All of a sudden, she was off the back of her, sailing through the air. She landed flat on her back, all the air knocked out of her. She—couldn�
��t—breathe—or—speak!” Everyone laughed at the thought of Laurel being unable to talk.

  Adam piped up, “Mom’s done some funny stuff. She used to love going to school fundraisers. One winter, she went as a 1920’s flapper. The dress was covered in beading. She didn’t realize that it had started to unravel. By the time she figured it out, her whole, uh, anyway, it was bare and there were beads everywhere. Problem was, she was in the middle of a special dance with the mayor. She had on a thong, so everyone got a show!”

  “Here, here!” Jake grinned and brought his glass up for a toast. “To the best show in the state of Missouri!” The group roared.

  “It is the Show-Me State!” Morrison added. The sidesplitting laughter continued.

  Seth piped up, “The first time we cooked together when she was teaching me to cook, she burned a cake because she forgot to set the timer. It smoked up the whole house.”

  “Yeah, but you gotta admit Seth, she still did a damn good job. Your creations are amazing.” Ben Pisano was a big fan of Texicana, Seth Stater’s restaurant and bar outside of Fort Worth. After any case he worked in Texas, he found himself at Seth’s door before returning to his post as an Army investigator.

  “How did you get to know Laurel, Seth?” Detective Jen was always working the puzzle.

  Seth smiled, “I was literally homeless. I was bumming a burger off her in Summerville, and she asked me if I wanted to work for the hamburger. I wound up working for it and stayed.” He chuckled.

  “Seth stayed through college and culinary school, still calls it home. He was gone to France for a while to study.” Laurel beamed at him.

  Rachel grinned, “So do I—call it home. I was already there when she brought Seth home. I hated him for all of about three days.” Seth turned to his wife and kissed her on the cheek.

  “Naaah, she was all starry-eyed from the minute she laid eyes on him. Took them quite a bit to figure things out though. I think I replaced a TV remote and a window over that one!” Laurel chuckled. “Jen, our family loves hard and fights just as hard or harder.”