by Cindy Stark
“You make it sound like Buster is no longer here.”
“She’s not. She died a few months ago. It was a bad time for my aunt to lose her best friend.”
“She okay?”
She laughed. “She went out and bought two more Yorkies who hate it when my aunt pays more attention to me than them. Jealous little buggers.” But she said it with a laugh, and he really wanted to direct the conversation elsewhere.
“When you say ‘wounded soul’, was it right after your parents died that you moved in with her?”
She was quiet for a long moment, and he had to glance at her to make sure she’d heard him. When he did, he found her studying him with a measured gaze.
The atmosphere had chilled, and he’d obviously overstepped his bounds. “Sorry. I know you said you don’t like to talk about them. I don’t mean to keep bringing up unpleasant memories in your life. My only excuse is I’m interested in you, and I figure they’re a part of who made you what you are.”
She visibly swallowed. “The physical part, but that’s pretty much it.”
He let her silence settle between them, waiting to see if she’d give him more than that. When several minutes had passed, he reached over and squeezed her hand, trying to regain the ground he’d lost. “I’m sorry. I’ll try not to ask again.”
A heavy sigh escaped her lips, and he glanced to find her staring out the passenger window at the lead-gray skies. “My mother deserted me when I was six and left me with my father who didn’t have the ability to care about anyone beyond himself. I learned not too long ago that my mother had died of a heroin overdose the day I turned eight. For years, my father absentmindedly toted me around the country with him while he worked many…jobs. I ran away when I was thirteen. I got a job as a waitress, but someone found out how old I was and turned me in to the state. I was pretty angry at the time, but my aunt came for me. I thank God for her every day.”
His throat closed over his next words, and he had to take a moment for his muscles to relax. “Jesus, Nicole.” Hunter and Sam had given him very vague details on her thief of a father and that she’d been raised by her aunt. But there had been nothing about her life prior to that. Nothing about her mother. Even if Nicole was guilty, he felt like the biggest pile of shit for making her recount her obviously painful story. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize.”
“That’s exactly how I like it. I don’t want to claim my childhood. I prefer to pretend it never happened.”
“But pretending it didn’t happen isn’t exactly dealing with it.”
“What’s there to deal with? It happened. I can’t change anything, so why keep talking about it?”
She had a point. “I can respect that.” After that retelling, it was hard to believe she’d had any connection with her father later in life, and that she’d had anything to do with his thefts. But that didn’t mean she hadn’t had some kind of obsession with him or that she didn’t have a goal to outdo him. Her early childhood could easily have affected her that way. Not many people could suffer that kind of abuse and come out okay on the other side. Maybe she’d been determined to show him up in some way. A ten million dollar heist wasn’t something to be ignored. Then again, her father was dead now and wouldn’t have known any difference.
The fact that the pieces didn’t fit as perfectly as he’d hoped troubled him. There had to be more to the story. The best he could do now was to try to dig his way out of the hole he found himself in and win back her affection. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I’d understand if you’re no longer in the mood for puppy shopping.”
“No.” She inhaled deeply and let the breath slide out of her. “That’s exactly why we need to continue. My parents might have screwed up my early years, but I own my life now.” A forced smile tilted her lips. “I have a date with an attractive man to find a puppy, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Her outlook was genuine, he was certain, and he admired her for it. If she didn’t have that other, darker side to her, he could picture himself looking forward to spending a considerable amount of time getting to know her better. Sometimes, though, life was a bitch.
Another minute passed, and it seemed some of the tension eased in the car.
“Do you know what else?” All traces of vulnerability had vanished from her voice.
“What?”
“I’m going to enjoy it.”
He glanced at her again, finding a genuine, determined expression on her face this time. “Good for you.”
Chapter Nine
Xander parked the car at the pet store and turned to Nicole. “Last chance to change your mind.”
She smiled. “If you’re getting cold feet and want to go home, don’t blame it on me.”
“I’m getting a dog,” he repeated for the millionth time. He snorted, and then his gaze grew serious. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Positive.”
He exited and headed for her side of the car. She took his hand as they walked to the front doors, feeling lighter than she had in forever, despite the accusations looming over her head. She’d revealed the secret about her parentage she didn’t want anyone to know and nothing bad had happened. Xander hadn’t judged her, hadn’t held her family relations against her. Granted, she hadn’t told him her father had been a big time thief who’d died in prison, but she sensed that wouldn’t change his feelings about her, either.
That whole saying about one door opening when another door shut must be true. Life had certainly slammed the door in her face when she’d been accused of stealing millions, but the fates had sent her someone to fortify her and keep her from failing in the face of despair while she battled to clear her name.
As they entered the area where the adoptable dogs were held, Nicole’s gaze immediately went to the cute Border Collie sitting at the feet of a dark-haired male employee while he talked to an older lady with short gray hair. The dog looked as though someone had taken a paintbrush and had swiped black and a beautiful golden brown color over the white canvas of its fur.
Nicole squeezed Xander’s hand. “There he is,” she whispered. As they approached, the dog jumped to his feet and began wagging his tail. It was as though he knew they’d come for him. Xander released her hand and walked forward, crouching in front of the excited pup. The dog didn’t bother with sniffing Xander and licked his face instead.
“So sorry,” the employee said when he realized what had happened. “Technically, he’s still a puppy and gets easily excited when he likes someone.”
“I can see that,” Xander said with a laugh as he lifted the dog’s chin, looking him in the face. “Hello, Apollo.”
The dog’s tail thumped harder.
“You’re the people from Portland?”
“Yep.” Xander stood and addressed the man. “I’ve come for my dog.”
Definitely a man who’s used to getting what he wants, Nicole thought as she watched Xander interact with Apollo and the employee. She liked that about him.
The employee laughed. “Love at first sight?”
Xander looked over his shoulder at Nicole. “It happens.”
She gave him an amused smile, pretending she hadn’t wondered his true intent when he’d said that directly to her. “They don’t call it puppy love for nothing.”
He stared at her for an unsettling moment and then grinned. “How much?” he asked the employee.
The man took that moment to make his sales pitch. “A hundred and fifty. That includes the cost of neutering him and his current shots. We send him home with the collar he’s wearing, but he’ll also need dog food and a leash if you don’t already have them.”
Xander cocked a brow at her, and she stepped forward. “I told you.” She turned to the employee. “Do you happen to know what kind of dog food he was eating at the shelter? We don’t want to upset his tummy with new food.”
“I do, actually. We supply the shelter with food at cost. If you want to follow me, I can help you get everything you n
eed.” He handed Apollo’s temporary leash to Xander, officially transferring ownership.
“I’m sure you can,” Xander mumbled under his breath, but Nicole could tell he was genuinely happy with his new dog. Apollo was equally excited with his new owner.
The happy mood quickly turned frantic once they reached the car. Xander opened Nicole’s door, and Apollo leapt in.
Xander glanced to Nicole. “I should have thought about how we’d get him home.”
“It’s all right.” She grinned. “I’m fine if he wants to ride on my lap. It’s not like Stormy hasn’t done the same.”
“Are you sure? I feel kind of bad.”
“You know I love dogs. It will give us a chance to get to know each other, and he’s not that big.” Although he certainly wasn’t much of a puppy anymore.
“If I’m going to have a dog, I guess I’d better think about getting a different car. It’s not going to be much fun if only Apollo and I can fit.”
Xander called his dog out of the car, and he immediately responded.
“Looks like he knows who’s in charge,” Nicole said as she sat in the space he’d currently vacated.
“We’ll see about that.” Xander bent over and scooped up Apollo, placing him on her lap. The dog greeted her with a slobbery lick across her face. She groaned and wiped off her mouth as Xander laughed and shut the door before walking around to the other side. Before he could get his door open, Apollo hopped off her lap and claimed the driver’s seat.
Xander opened his door and gave an exasperated huff. “What? Now you think you’re going to drive?”
Apollo responded with a bark.
“I don’t think so. Get over there.”
Nicole patted her lap. “Come on, boy.”
He paused for a moment, gazing up at Xander as though begging to keep his current position. “Go on.” Xander pointed to the passenger seat. Slowly, Apollo stood and crossed the console to Nicole’s lap.
She laughed. “You broke his poor, little doggie heart.”
Xander rolled his eyes as he sat in the car. “I see how it’ll be. He’ll pout, and you’re going to give in to him.”
She giggled and wrapped her arms around Apollo’s soft body, holding him to her. “You poor baby. He shouldn’t be so mean to you, should he?”
Before she could shield herself, Apollo gave her face another swipe with his long tongue. She wiped her cheeks and lips with an open palm, groaning as she did.
Xander laughed. “Is that how you get the girls to kiss you? You jump right in and don’t give them an option? I’ll have to give it a try.”
She shifted a sideways glance at him, giving him a playful warning. “Don’t even think about it.”
“No? What would you do if I did?”
“I…” She couldn’t very well tell him she didn’t want him to kiss her because she’d been thinking about it nearly every second since their encounter last night. “Just drive.”
A cocky grin appeared on his sexy lips, and Nicole turned her head to hide her own smile.
“Could I convince you to spend a couple of hours at my place helping me get the little guy settled?”
“Afraid to be alone with the beast?”
“You’ve seen what that tongue can do.” Even as Xander spoke, Apollo had his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth as though it was too much for him to contain. “I’ll make you lunch.”
“Like you made me dinner?”
“Hey, you enjoyed it. What difference does it make how it came to be on your plate?”
She narrowed her eyes, pretending to weigh his arguments, when all along she knew she couldn’t say no. “Fine. But only because I can’t resist a cute puppy.”
* * *
Several days later, Nicole woke to the ringing of her cell phone. She glanced at the bedside clock as she picked up her phone, mentally reprimanding herself for sleeping in until nine. With no job, she’d had a hard time forcing herself to go to bed at a decent time, and then it was hard not to sleep in.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Camden? Cecil Barton here. Do you have a moment to talk?”
Nicole sat upright in bed, the sound of her attorney’s voice jerking her into a wide-awake state. “Of course. Is something wrong?”
“I’m not entirely certain.” He paused long enough to set her heart racing. “I received a call today from the police asking if we’d retained a private investigator. Apparently, someone has been poking around and asking questions. I checked with the person I recommended to you, but he said you hadn’t called.”
“Uh, no, I didn’t call him. I do have a friend who said he might have someone look into things for me.”
Another long pause. “Do you know the name of this friend?”
“I do not.” Xander hadn’t mentioned him again or whether or not he’d agreed to help. “As far as I know, my friend may not have contacted him yet.”
An extended sigh came across the phone line, and she knew she’d displeased him. “So, you don’t know whether or not he’s licensed?”
She frowned. The way Mr. Barton spoke made her feel like an idiot. “I don’t.”
“Ms. Camden, I know you’re hesitant to spend money, but if you’re going to hire an investigator, I highly suggest you call the person I recommended.”
“It’s not that I’m hesitant to spend money. I just don’t have it to spend.” And every day that passed without her having a job, left her in worse financial shape.
“I’m going to have my associate call and discuss options with you. He may be able to come up with a viable solution that’s agreeable to you both.”
“Okay.” Although Mr. Barton made a ton of sense, she wasn’t ready to agree with him before she talked to Xander. “Have the police finished going through my computer? I’d really like to have my stuff back.”
“I’ll call for a progress report today.”
“Thank you, Mr. Barton.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll be in touch. In the meantime, please, do yourself a favor and don’t hire an amateur.”
Nicole hung up feeling like she’d been schooled. She stared at her phone for a minute, and then cursed because she’d forgotten to ask about the surveillance video. She’d been so busy defending her choices, it had escaped her mind.
She’d wait until she’d decided what to do about an investigator before she called back, and instead, she dialed Xander’s number.
“Good morning, Nicole.” His deep voice rumbled across the line.
She paused in her thoughts, as a smile spread across her lips and a lovely warmth tingled through her body. “Good morning.” She forced her brain back in control over her emotions. He sounded wide awake, and more than likely, he’d been at work for several hours.
How did she put this? “I just got a call from my attorney. The police called him, wondering if I’d hired a private investigator.”
“That’s interesting.” A hard edge overlaid his smooth, sexy voice.
“Did you contact your friend? Has he been poking around?”
“I did, and there’s a good chance he’s been asking questions, although he’s usually more discreet.”
Uneasiness crept up inside her. “I don’t want this to come out wrong. My attorney thinks I need to hire someone he knows and not use your friend.”
“Why?”
“He implied he’s an amateur and that he may somehow make things worse for me?” She ended her sentence on a question, not really sure what to believe anymore.
“Who is your attorney?” Xander sounded pissed.
“Cecil Barton.”
He didn’t respond right away, and she wished she could see his expression.
“Look Xander, I appreciate your friend trying to help, but maybe it would be better for the police to handle this.”
“And you think they are?”
She sighed, her frustration coaxing her emotions to the surface. “I don’t know. I really don’t know what to think right now.”
“Sure. I can cook dinner for you this time.” If nothing else, seeing Xander would do wonders to lift her spirits. Spending time with him had been the only bright spot in her increasingly dark days, and she wanted more.
Much more.
* * *
As soon as Xander ended his call with Nicole, he took a moment to close his office door. Without hesitating, he punched in Sam’s personal cell number. His friend answered on the second ring.
“I thought I was the one handling the Camden case.” He stood next to the window, glancing down at the winding river.
“You are.”
He turned from the scenic view and sat back in his chair. “Then why are you interfering?”
“What are you talking about? Yes, I’m working it in an official capacity, but you’re doing all the behind the scenes stuff.”
“Nicole just phoned. It seems her attorney received a call from the police department wondering if she’d hired an investigator.”
“What?” He sounded incredulous. “I haven’t called her attorney, although I did receive a note that he’d like me to call him regarding the personal property that had been removed from her apartment.”
“What about your guys? Would any of them have called?”
“I doubt it. I’m the lead investigator on this case. I can’t imagine they would without provocation, and I don’t believe any of my men are aware of your involvement. You haven’t been making waves, have you?”
“Hardly. My main focus has been cracking Nicole. I did briefly talk to a few people in First Freedom’s building, but I didn’t identify myself as an investigator. More like a nosey client.”
Sam snorted. “Did you ever stop to think maybe this was her way of getting you to back down? Maybe she’s afraid she’ll draw attention to herself if she flat out refuses your help. But, hey, blame it on the lawyer, and she has the perfect excuse.”
“Shit.” He couldn’t believe it. He’d been subtly conned by the con. Damn, she was good.
