“What’s in the sack? Did you bring me a present?” Cullen nudged the bag in her hand, wearing a grin of boyish expectation.
“These are Chinese hand puppets for the twins. I bought them this morning. I do have something for you, though.” She fumbled open her purse and pulled out the folded memo from Customs.
Cullen read it, nodding. “Interesting tidbit. So that’s why you weren’t home when I phoned earlier.”
“You phoned? Why? You didn’t try my cell.” Even as she made the declaration, Mei Lu took out her phone and checked it for missed calls.
Slipping his hands around her narrow waist, Cullen swayed her back and forth, apparently satisfied to simply smile down into her eyes. “I didn’t want to bother you in case you’d gone to the station for an early meeting. I don’t really know why I called. I just had an urge to tell you good-morning.”
Mei smiled as a heady feeling stole over her. “That’s a nice gesture, Cullen. I wish I’d been home to receive your call.”
“Well, if you’d stumbled over our stolen figurines I expect I’d be far less disappointed. I take it you didn’t find anything suspicious.”
“No, but I only scratched the surface. There are scores of shops to investigate.”
“You’ll go broke if you buy something from every one.”
She poked him hard in the ribs. “I’ll have you know, Mr. Archer, that I’m a damn fine bargainer. I offer that bit of information on the authority of a wizened little man I used to do business with in the Hong Kong jade market. He said that to me every Saturday.”
“Tough lady, huh?” Cullen made a show of testing Mei Lu’s arm muscle.
She batted his hand away, then moved quickly down one step the instant she heard the kids rattling the door in an attempt to jerk it open. Belinda probably wouldn’t mind seeing her father’s hands on another woman, she thought. But Bobby might not be so forgiving. And she didn’t care to spoil the day for either of them.
“Mei brought you guys something,” Cullen announced when he had finished inspecting their hands and faces to be certain they’d washed.
“What? What? What?” Belinda danced around on her toes.
“You act remarkably recovered for a girl who was sick enough yesterday to see a doctor.”
“Is that why you brought me something?” Belinda asked. “Can’t I have it if I’m feeling better?”
“Don’t be dumb,” Bobby exclaimed. “Dad said Mei Lu brought us both a present. I wasn’t sick.”
The fact that Bobby crowded forward, staring at the bright red sack covered in gold lettering, surprised Mei Lu. “Okay, here’s the deal. Close your eyes, and no peeking.”
They immediately complied and Mei Lu passed Cullen her purse, then carefully opened the sack and slipped one puppet on each hand. Calling on days gone by when she and her brother used to entertain themselves for hours playing with hand puppets, Mei Lu tapped each twin on the head. She then carried on a conversation between the puppets using different tones of voice.
Cullen liked this unexpected, more playful side of a woman he was already attracted to in other ways. As well, he delighted in observing the rapt expressions of his kids.
“We’re going to have a heck of a time finding a parking place in the zoo lot if we don’t get under way soon,” he finally said. Otherwise Mei Lu and the twins would likely have spent the whole morning making up stories for the puppets.
She glanced up, a guilty look crossing her face. “Sorry, Cullen. I guess I got carried away. May they take the puppets in the car? Unless they get too rambunctious, the puppets will keep them occupied for the ride to Hermann Park.”
“Noise in the car is something I’ve never minded,” Cullen said, pointing his little entourage toward the garage.
Unexpectedly Bobby Archer chimed in. “Mom sure hates it. She’s always yelling at us to be quiet. And she doesn’t like it if Belinda or me say that she’s making just as much noise hollering at us.”
“Belinda or I,” Cullen corrected as a matter of course. He did it so swiftly, Mei Lu figured it was a common occurrence. Again she weighed Cullen’s easy style of parenting against that of her own folks. Although, come to think of it, her father was far more lenient whenever her mom wasn’t around.
“Bobby, driving’s always made your mother a nervous wreck. It’d be better, certainly safer, if you’d cut her some slack.”
“I’ll try, Dad. But, like, when she picks us up from school and Belinda and me…have a lot to tell her, I forget.”
“Yeah,” Belinda reiterated as she and her brother climbed into the back seat and laid aside the puppets while they buckled in. “If we’ve got important stuff to say, we need to tell Mom between school and our driveway. Otherwise, there’s no chance, ’cause she goes to the club to play tennis or meet her friends. By morning Bobby and me always forget what the teacher said.”
Mei Lu noted that Cullen didn’t correct Belinda’s grammatical error. She also saw him glance in the rearview mirror and frown. Mei wondered if Cullen didn’t know about his ex-wife’s habit of dropping the kids and taking off for the day. If so, he didn’t make an issue of it.
Cullen drove the way he did everything else. Calmly and with confidence. Mei wasn’t sure why the fact hadn’t registered when she’d ridden with him to the nightclub. But she supposed that after last night’s brief chat with Crista, she was letting herself relax about spending leisure time with him.
“No one would ever accuse you of being a chatter-box,” Cullen said suddenly, casting a sidelong glance in her direction.
“It’s the result of years of conditioning and constant reminders that good Chinese girls are seen little and heard less.”
Cullen glanced at the mirror again, which allowed him to check on the children. In the back seat the noise level of their puppeteering had greatly escalated. “Either I started off wrong, or I need lessons in how to accomplish that feat.”
“No. Take it from me, Cullen. Your method makes for a happier childhood.”
“You just referred to Chinese girls. Did your brother have more privileges than you did?”
“My first instinct is to say yes. But on second thought, I’d have to say no. My parents definitely held Stephen to higher standards.” Mei considered how she’d defied her father’s wishes by leaving Ling Limited, whereas her brother had such a need to please Michael that he’d marry someone he didn’t seem to love in hopes of a favorable nod. Mei Lu knew she’d never do that.
“Maybe it’s different with twins,” Cullen mused in an undertone. “I find myself bending over backward to ensure that neither Jana nor her folks can ever accuse me of unfairness—of treating the kids differently.”
“Would they do that?”
“That’s a good question. It could just be in my head—but I think they would.”
Neither he nor Mei Lu said more, because just then Cullen turned the corner and they were facing the park’s entrance.
“Kids, put your puppets away and try to spot an open parking space.”
“There’s one,” Bobby cried, stabbing a finger toward the right side of the car. “In the next aisle, Dad. Someone just tried to pull in with a van, but I think he didn’t fit.”
“It might just be that the cars on either side are parked too close to the lines. We might not fit, either.”
But they did, with room to spare.
“It’s really changed around here from what I remember,” Mei Lu said. “I won’t even say how many years it’s been since I visited with my fourth-grade class.”
“You taught fourth grade?” Belinda asked.
“No.” Mei Lu laughed. “I mean I was in the fourth grade.”
Bobby squinted up at her. “That must’ve been about a hundred years ago, huh? We come every summer. If you wanna know anything, ask Belinda or me.”
“Son, you just insulted Mei Lu,” scolded Cullen. “First, never insinuate that anybody’s a hundred years old. And you need to be doubly careful saying anything
like that to a woman. They’re touchy on the subject of age.”
“I don’t mind telling my age,” she said to the boy, who’d begun to scowl. “I’m thirty-one, Bobby. To someone who’s eight, I imagine that seems old. Not that there’s anything wrong with being old. I’m Chinese. We believe the old are wise. And we appreciate and respect wisdom.”
“You’re cool,” the boy said, moving alongside Mei to take the hand his sister wasn’t clinging to. “Mom won’t tell anyone how old she is. I can’t figure out why it’s such a big secret,” he said, not quite loudly enough for his father, who was in line buying their tickets, to hear.
“At the zoo, everyone’s allowed to be a kid again,” Mei Lu said indulgently. Then, for what remained of the morning and the early afternoon, they all did laugh, act zany and in general have a good time.
“I should’ve asked how long you planned to stay,” Mei Lu remarked, surprised to check her watch and see that it was nearly four o’clock. “I hate to spoil anyone’s day, but I need time to drive home from your house, Cullen, and then get all the way back downtown for a work-related assignment.”
Cullen studied his watch, even lifted his wrist to his ear to test it. “Where has the day gone? Kids, we have time to stop at one last habitat, as long as it’s on the path leading back to the parking lot. Check your zoo maps. Decide in two seconds, or Mei Lu and I will.”
The kids pored over the map. “The gorillas,” Bobby shouted. “Yeah, or the baboons,” Belinda tossed out. “Can we see both, Daddy? They’re on the same path.”
“Mei Lu?” Cullen turned to her with a furrowed brow.
“Why not, if we pass both of them anyway?” She was stunned when the children ran up and hugged her before darting on ahead.
Cullen looped an arm around her neck, easing her into the curve of his body. It left Mei with a cozy feeling of belonging—a contentedness that intensified after Cullen rubbed his cheek along her hair and brushed a kiss across her temple.
“Thanks. You gave each of them their wish. The minute I said they had to agree, I bit my tongue and pictured ending our day with an argument. Their mother would’ve made a big stink about me saying they had to pick one exhibit, but then letting them visit two.”
Mei Lu reached up and held his hand, which he’d draped over her shoulder. “They’ve been really good today. There were so many kids in the park, and most of them ran wild. Did you hear some of them? You’re lucky, Cullen.” She squeezed his fingers.
Mei couldn’t identify the change that crept into his eyes. But he urged her to the side of the path and this time kissed her full on the lips. The kiss was gentle and sweet and unrushed. A sluggish warmth filled her and Mei experienced a languid tugging low in her abdomen. She had no difficulty recognizing the need. At the zoo, for pity’s sake. With Cullen’s children and a thousand others around.
“To be continued,” Cullen murmured, releasing her slowly and with noticeable reluctance.
Mei found it beyond her capability to do more than smile stupidly and nod. The kids ran back then, assailing them with tales of gorillas and baboons. They bubbled all the way home, giving Mei an opportunity to collect her scattered senses. She was coolly in control again by the time they parted. Still, her heart tripped over itself when Cullen stole a final kiss, and said, “Promise you won’t spend all day tomorrow poking through shops. Come to my house for lunch, okay? I won’t take no for an answer.”
She accepted his invitation. Driving off, Mei Lu was secretly glad Cullen had insisted on the next day’s meeting.
CHAPTER NINE
THE TOYOTA’S ENGINE started choking and running rough four blocks from Mei Lu’s home. She muttered kind, encouraging words and patted the dash, but still barely coasted to a dead stop three houses away from her duplex. It was as if the motor had died and no amount of coaxing could breathe life into it again.
Climbing out, Mei slammed and locked the doors. She stomped home, aware that the clock hands ticked ever closer to the time she should be dressing for the gala.
She dished up Foo’s food while juggling a phone at her ear. The auto club said they’d send a tow truck to transport her car to her service garage, but it’d be an hour. “Okay,” she said, heaving a sigh. “I have an appointment downtown, and I’ll be leaving the house about then. May I leave a note on the car for your driver.” She was relieved when the dispatcher said she could. She’d leave another note inside the car for the mechanic.
While she paced the length of the phone cord, she discovered that Abby had called and left a message. Mei wished she had time to return her friend’s call. Not tonight, however.
Resigned to traveling to the gala by cab, Mei Lu stood under a steamy shower—where it dawned on her that between paying cash for the puppets and insisting on paying for her own lunch at the zoo, she probably couldn’t scrape together enough for cab fare. Not that she could get a cab clear out here during rush hour, anyway. But if she could make her way to the Contemporary Art Museum, she knew her bank had a branch with an ATM at the end of that block.
Wrapped in a towel, she began a frantic search for any spare change in pockets or otherwise lying about. When all was said and done, she’d amassed a mere five dollars.
Well, that left her with no choice but public transportation. Darn, she hated the thought of riding a city bus all dressed to impress. But it was clearly her only other option.
She called for an updated schedule and learned that if she could be ready in half an hour, she’d make a bus that stopped just two blocks from her place. It connected to another one that passed the museum.
Mei Lu got busy pulling out and examining possible dresses. There was the black one she’d worn to the nightclub. A firehouse-red floor-length gown, which she put back immediately. She did the same with a green sequined chiffon that was way too showy. Reaching into the storage bag again, Mei discovered she’d pared her choices down to one dress, made of eggshell-colored satiny charmeuse. The inset V-neckline formed three-inch straps that doubled as cap sleeves. The dress itself skimmed her curves as the material fell from a built-in bra. If she’d ever bought a dress that felt as if she were wearing nothing, this was it. She slipped it on, relieved to find it still fit.
Next, she ran a brush through damp hair, and threw a small tape recorder, her money, ATM card and badge into a skimpy satin purse. She had no room for the Taser. But her assignment was just to listen in, not to take anyone down tonight. Snapping the purse closed, Mei straightened, wondering if she could get away with wearing a trench coat. In this dress, almost any evening wrap risked getting her run in for standing on a street corner. She could hear the guys from the vice squad now, joking about her working decoy.
Of all nights for her car to conk out.
“Foo, sorry I keep running out on you every night. This is why so many cop marriages fail. You, at least, don’t complain about late meals.”
Mei had debated whether to wear jewelry. She didn’t want any punks jumping her at the bus stop over a little bit of gold. At the last minute, she tucked a small pair of pearl studs in her purse, hoping she’d remember to put them on once she got into the museum.
She had a hand on the outer door when she remembered she hadn’t written the notes to leave with her car. Back to the desk she flew and scribbled instructions to the tow truck driver and another note for her mechanic.
As soon as she stepped onto the porch, she knew the night was too warm for the trench coat. Yanking it off, she dashed back into her bedroom and chose, instead, a short ecru cape.
As she got outside again, the tow truck arrived. The driver caught her in the act of leaning into the Toyota to place the mechanic’s note on the dash.
A young, muscle-bound, gum-chewing guy in his mid-twenties climbed from his truck and whistled. “Hey, babe! Seems you got yourself some trouble. Don’t know where you’re headed, but how about I give you a lift?”
Mei eased out of the car, taking care to pull down her skirt, even though it ended several
inches above her knees. She actually considered his offer for all of two seconds. Had she been dressed for a normal workday, and had he not leered as he wiped his hands on a greasy rag, Mei might have accepted.
“Thanks, but I have time to catch a bus that will deposit me downtown where I need to be.” That was stretching the truth, but why be rude?
“Okay, doll. Suit yourself. This the car that let you down?” He finally quit eyeing Mei’s dress and turned his attention to the Toyota. “Phew, I wouldn’t let my girlfriend drive this piece of junk.” He blew a bubble with the gum he’d been chewing. When it popped, he muttered, “Unless you’ve gotta have those pricey duds for, uh, work, you’d be better off spending your dough on new wheels.”
Mei knew by his suggestive tone where he thought she worked. Her first inclination was to let it go. But what right had he to judge anyone? Drawing even with him, she flashed her badge. “I’m a cop. All cops own cars like mine. Makes it easier to do surveillance. By the way, you’re double-parked.” Returning her badge to her purse, Mei Lu strode off. She knew exactly how long it took Mr. Smart Mouth to hop back into his truck and pull it to the curb so he could hook onto her car. She grinned all the way to the bus stop.
She reached her destination having to fend off only two additional propositions. One from a man too drunk to stand without reeling. The last as she left her bank. A bald hulk on a low-slung Harley, stopped at a red light. She delivered a dirty look and again hauled out her badge. Lover-boy did a U-turn and tore out so fast, she decided to phone his plate in to the station. Dispatch said he had warrants, and promised to send a cruiser to the area to locate him.
At the museum, she handed over her ticket to a perky brunette.
“Welcome. Turn right and take the first set of stairs for the exhibit. Hors d’oeuvres, cash bar and entertainment are at ground level to your left.”
“Thanks,” Mei Lu murmured, accepting a program. “Where’s the ladies’ room?”
The ticket-taker uttered a small, sympathetic laugh. “Lounges are at the back of the room on every floor. I only laugh because they’re always my first priority, too. My husband says he can’t understand it. By the way, I love that knockout dress. If I could wear that and look like you, I doubt my husband would complain about anything.”
She Walks the Line (Harlequin Super Romance) Page 15
