Meet Your Mate

by Donna Michaels

  "I don't understand what all the fuss is about.” Mandy frowned. “It's just Carla's pet."

  "A pet capable of eating another pet.” Matthew shook his head.

  "This is not merely an escaped pet.” Jack narrowed his gaze on the women. “I want to know how the snake got in the pool, and I want to know now."

  "Don't look at me!” Mandy put a hand on her chest “He's way too heavy for me to carry."

  "No, he's not,” Danni piped up. “I saw you with him the other day."

  Mandy's frown returned. “I was just helping Carla out."

  "Yeah, by holding him while she cleaned his cage."

  "Exactly.” The blonde nodded.

  "Hah!” Danni clapped her hands.

  Arms folded, Jack studied the women carefully. “What about you, Carla? Did you put your python in the pool?"

  "Me? Hell, no.” She winced, then turned on the outdoor spigot. “Chlorine isn't good for him."

  "Then why aren't you getting that thing out of the pool?” Danni jammed a finger toward the swimming snake.

  Carla rolled her eyes and held up her wet hands. “Because sunscreen isn't good for him either, and I need to wash it off first."

  Observing the scene, Brielle tightened her grip on the towel and pondered her facts. All three women had the capability and the opportunity to drop the reptile in the drink when she'd changed into her bathing suit. So did Jack, and even Bill.

  She eyed the producer's lean arms. He was strong enough, and this snake stunt would make for great TV. Her stomach twisted. The whole incident had been caught on camera. Now the world would see...

  Wait a minute. Camera?

  "That's it!” Her gaze darted to the security cameras mounted on the house. They videoed the patio and pool.

  "What is?” Matthew asked, pouring amber liquid into a glass at the outdoor wet bar.

  "The cameras. Surely they would've captured the snake-handler.” She pointed to the devices.

  Jack unfolded his arms. “Not necessarily. If there's one thing I've learned in this investigation, it's that those damn cameras never catch anything useful."

  "But it's worth a look.” Her gaze clashed with Jack's. His eyes narrowed.

  What was his problem? Was he afraid she might discover something?

  "Yes, of course, Ms. Bennett.” He nodded, grabbing his shirt off a chair. “I fully intend to check out the footage. I was merely stating it's not prudent to get your hopes up."

  "I see.” What else could she say?

  "Here, Brielle, drink this.” Matthew shoved a glass in her hand.

  She looked at the amber liquid and frowned. “I don't—"

  "Yes, you do need it,” he cut her off. “You're hands are trembling."

  She glanced at her hands and blinked. They were trembling.

  "It's just shock. The brandy will calm your nerves.” He motioned to the glass.

  "Thanks.” She took a sip. Hot liquid burned her throat and soothed her insides.

  "Its okay, Butterscotch, they didn't mean to scare you,” Carla said, carrying the snake from the pool. “Now we have to give you a bath and get these nasty chemicals off of you.” The woman hoisted the snake around her shoulders and kissed his head. “Don't worry, we'll find out who tried to hurt you."

  "Hurt him?” Danni rammed her hands on her hips. “What about me and Brielle? We were the ones in the pool with that beast."

  "Beast?” Carla placed a hand over the snake's head. “Don't listen to her, Butterscotch. She just doesn't know you like I do."

  "Enough.” Jack yanked his shirt over his head. “Carla, you and Butterscotch come with me. Let's see if we can figure out how he got down here."

  "And Brielle and I will check out the footage from these cameras.” Matthew turned to her and winked.

  Her lips twitched. Good boy, Matthew. She could've kissed him. “Okay.” She stood, dropped her towel, then donned her robe. “Let's go."

  Jack held up his hand. “Wait. My men can handle that."

  "Your men have already left,” Matthew said, slipping his shirt on. “There's no reason why Brielle and I can't do this, is there?"

  Jack hesitated, his jaw working several times before he finally shook his head. “Go on. I'll meet up with you both when I'm done."

  "What about us? Are you going to just leave us here?” Mandy whined.

  "Don't worry. We'll be fine,” Danni said walking toward the blonde. “We get to relax, while they work."

  The blonde's furrowed brow smoothed. “You're right.” She smiled. “Have fun working.” Settling onto a chaise, the hand model closed her eyes with a contented sigh.

  "Well, I have to get to the studio. We got some great footage today,” Bill said, holding up a duffel bag.

  Yeah, at my expense.

  Brielle fought back a snort. What a day. The camera had been both foe and friend. She knew going into this job her privacy would suffer so there was no sense worrying about the world seeing her bopping around nearly naked. But those same cameras might've also caught the perpetrator releasing the snake and that would blow the case wide open. She hid a smile. Her over-exposure would be well worth it.

  "Come on. I'll show you were the security room is,” Matthew said.

  She already knew its location, but kept her mouth shut. Eager to look at the feed, she allowed Matthew to take her hand and pull her into the house, past Jack and the snake-toting brunette.

  Carla cast a stern look their way. “You two behave in there. This isn't a date. Matthew's supposed to take one of us out later tonight, so stick to the rules. Keep it strictly business. You understand? No unsolicited time together.” She stroked the snake draped over her shoulders like a feathered boa. “Don't make me come in there after you."

  Brielle stilled. Should she question the brunette? Her gaze shot to Jack. Eyes narrowed, he just stared.

  Well, if he wasn't going to respond to Carla's words, she would.

  "Is that a threat?” She asked quietly.

  All eyes turned to the brunette.

  Carla smiled sweetly. “No, it's a warning. Since you're new around here, I'll cut you some slack."

  "Gee, thanks. I do appreciate it, but there's no law against getting better acquainted, is there? You all have a few weeks on me.” Playing up her roll, Brielle untangled her fingers from Matthew, slipped her arm through his and moved closer.

  Carla's eyes narrowed to match Jack's.

  "There's no need to look at me like that. I promise I won't do anything you wouldn't do.” She turned to Matthew and smiled. “Shall we?"

  "Do you think that was wise?” Matthew asked when the security room door closed behind them and his cameraman.

  "Yes. We don't want anyone else to waltz in here,” she said, looking at the wall of monitors.

  "I'm talking about egging Carla on."

  She glanced up. “Oh, that. Yes, I think it was the right thing to do."

  "But if she's the perpetrator, then more than your wardrobe and swim might get tampered with.” Matthew dropped into a chair and ran a hand through his hair. “I don't like the direction things are going."

  "Now you listen to me, Matthew Anderson. You have no control over what this psycho is doing.” She squeezed his shoulder and took a chance on her uncle being right about Phil and her ability to talk openly in front of the cameraman. “I'm not here as a contestant, remember? I'm here to find out who's making the threats. I have no problem using myself as bait if I have to. It's my job. Okay?"

  "Okay.” Matthew exhaled, and placed his hand over hers. “I know my parents hired you, but I still don't want to see you get hurt."

  Her reply died in her throat when the doorknob began to turn. Matthew's gaze followed hers and before she could blink, he yanked her onto his lap and covered her opened mouth with his overfriendly lips.

  Chapter Six

  "Sorry to interrupt,” Jack's cold voice swept through the room, disrupting her pulse.

  Brielle jumped to her feet. “We were
just ... aah..."

  "Save it. You don't have to explain yourself.” He approached them, his mouth thin. “I just thought you two were in here to help with the investigation. Maybe you should get a room."

  Matthew laughed. “We are here to help."

  "Great. Then perhaps, Brielle, you could fix your robe? You may not mind being an exhibitionist, but I've seen enough.” He waved his hand toward her.

  She glanced down. Damn! Her parted robe gave the impression Matthew had been exploring.

  Heat flushed her face as she adjusted her robe and retied the belt. Her fingers stilled. Wait a minute. What did it matter what they'd been doing? She was supposed to act like a contestant trying to win Matthew's heart.

  "Exhibitionist?” She yanked the sash tighter and raised her chin to hit Jack with a level gaze. “I supposed from where you stood, it could've looked like that. But from where I was sitting,"—she smiled at Matthew—"I was just getting to know your brother better."

  Jack grunted. “Good thing I came in when I did or you might have discovered Matthew's ... shoe size."

  "Jack!” His brother frowned.

  "Twelve and a half,” Brielle shot back.

  "Hey, you're right. How'd you guess?” Matthew glanced at his bare feet.

  She shrugged. “It's a gift."

  Matthew and his cameraman laughed.

  Jack scowled. “As enjoyable as this conversation isn't, can we get down to business?"

  "Of course. But you started it.” She folded her arms across her chest, daring him to reply.

  "Okay, you two. Let's call a truce and look at the feed.” Matthew twisted to face the monitors.

  Five minutes later, he sighed and Brielle swallowed a curse.

  "I told you not to get your hopes up,” Jack said, resting his backside on the console. “These cameras have yet to be of any help. Someone knows their way around this equipment."

  "I see what you mean.” She nodded, unhappy to find the cameras had mysteriously turned off until just before she'd walked onto the patio with Danni. Once again, anyone could've done that. “Do you plan to process this room for prints?"

  Jack shook his head. “Why bother calling Franco's men back? This has happened before and there are never any prints. He said the perp most likely wears gloves."

  Her senses screamed. This room needed to be processed. And if he knew it'd happened in the past, then this room should've been processed before they went in. Was Jack hiding something? She remained silent and quickly scanned the room.

  Matthew rose and frowned at the screens. “This stinks. That snake couldn't have just magically appeared outside. One of those cameras would've shown him coming down the stairs or being carried down."

  Something small and thin glinted from under the chair he'd just vacated. She clenched her jaw. Should she draw attention to it? No. Jack was a suspect and not a person she could trust with evidence.

  "I'm sure one of the cameras would have,” Jack answered his brother and glanced at the floor.

  Her heart stopped.

  Don't see it. Don't see it, she willed, holding her breath as she watched Jack's gaze zero in on the object.

  "There's my stylus. I wondered where I dropped this.” He stooped to retrieve the evidence.

  Damn! Her fists curled. How convenient. It belonged to him. She forced her fingers to relax. Evidence may have been lost, but she wouldn't blow the opportunity to question him.

  "So, Jack, tell me.” She turned to face him fully. “When exactly did you lose that? Were you in here earlier?"

  "Brielle, you don't seriously suspect my brother, do you?” Matthew's astonished voice hit her ears.

  "Yes, I do.” She eyed Jack's stiffening posture and tight lips. “Correct me if I'm wrong, Jack, but wouldn't anyone associated with this show be a suspect?"

  He didn't blink—didn't move—but glared coldly at her. She refused to shiver or drop his gaze.

  "Well?"

  "You're right, Ms. Bennett. Everyone is a suspect, but since I know I am not the one threatening my brother, I chose not to waste time investigating myself.” Scowling, he held the object to her face. “This is the stylus from my PDR, see?” He pulled out a personal data-recording device from his shirt pocket and slid the stick into a slot. “And yes, I was in here earlier, going through footage to see if we could determine who'd ruined your clothes."

  "And did you?” Unaffected by his hardened tone, she continued to hold his glare. He could also have been tampering with the equipment.

  "No. The cameras had been shut down then too.” His eyes dared her to pin that on him.

  Her mind worked feverishly. She could either take him at his word or suspect him. Given her track record, she chose the latter. “How convenient."

  "Yes, isn't it, though?” He scoffed, jamming the PDR back into his pocket.

  "So we've established that you were in here earlier, picking your teeth or whatever with your stylus."

  Matthew's laughter interrupted her.

  She spared him a glance before zeroing back in on Jack. “You found the cameras turned off, switched them back on, then continued on your merry way?"

  His eyes narrowed. “Something like that, yes."

  She had more questions, a lot more, but could tell he was beginning to wonder why your-average-dance-instructor wouldn't let it drop.

  Reluctantly, she jumped back into character. “I'm sorry, Jack. I know you must think I'm crazy, but having my clothes turned into a pizza topping and my swim invaded by a breathing weapon tend to do that to me.” She forced her hand to tremble as she deliberately pushed a strand of hair from her face.

  Head tilted, he regarded her through his still0narrowed eyes. When he made no effort to speak, she continued with the kiss up. Her stomach soured. This skill sickened her.

  "I know that doesn't excuse my behavior, accusing you of wanting to harm your brother.” She paused when his eyes flashed. Did she hit the truth or was she way out in left field? “I'm sorry. It's just when I saw you pick up that stylus, it put you in here with the tampered cameras and...” Bile rose in her throat and prevented anything else from getting out. She swallowed, hating to have to make nice to a suspect—and her attraction to him didn't help.

  "No apology necessary.” His words were a surprise. “You're absolutely right. Establishing someone's presence in here—in this case, my presence—is cause for alarm and no reason to apologize."

  She cocked her head. Did he just forgive her or admit something?

  "Now that that's settled, Brielle, I want you to know how sorry I am that you've had such a rough day.” Matthew grabbed her hand and her attention when he kissed her knuckles.

  Did Jack just mutter? She smiled, unwilling to dissect why that made her happy.

  "You two want to be alone? Don't let me stop you. I'm out of here, anyway. I need to have Franco run some prints I lifted from Carla's room."

  "Did you find anything else?” Matthew asked before she had the chance.

  "No, not a fiber out of place, and I'm sure these prints are Carla's or one of the other girls. But I'll have them checked anyway.” He stopped at the door and turned. “Look, Brielle, if you didn't do this—"

  "I didn't."

  "Then you might want to reconsider staying.” A brilliant blue gaze bore into hers. “That's two threats against you now. If there is another, it might not be as harmless."

  Freeing her hand from Matthew, she crossed her arms over her chest. “Thanks for your concern, but I'll be fine."

  "I'm concerned for all the contestants.” He grabbed the doorknob before turning back to face her. “I don't know what it is yet, but something's not right about you, Ms. Bennett. Your reactions to these threats aren't normal."

  Alarm swam through her veins. Damn. He'd picked up on her lack of fear. She needed to throw him off the scent. “Why? Because I didn't cry and ask for my mommy?"

  "Yes.” His lips twitched.

  "Then you're right. I guess I'm not normal. I'm so
rry if you think that's the only type of woman in the world, Jack.” Her chin rose. “When someone pushes me, I push back."

  He eyed her for a long minute, then nodded and left the room.

  "I think he likes you. I've never seen a woman puzzle him like you do.” Matthew chuckled and sat down.

  "Well, bully for me, but I'm not here to confuse your brother.” Although that did hold possibilities. She shook her head and walked to the door. “I'm here to solve this case."

  Jack remained uppermost in her mind, and not entirely because of her suspicions or this job. Her mind and body argued over the man as she shut the door and smacked into Danni.

  "I'm sorry. I didn't see you.” She steadied the girl.

  "It's okay. I was just coming to see if you found anything on the tapes."

  Gaze narrowed, Brielle dropped her hands. Had Danni been listening to them? If so, then why hadn't Jack seen her?

  "I was also coming to tell you the studio finally delivered your clothes. They're hanging in your closet.” She waved toward the stairs.

  "Lovely. I can hardly wait.” Brielle's sarcasm brought a chuckle from the other woman's lips.

  "Yeah, and I'd like root canal,” Danni mocked and together they laughed on the way to Brielle's room.

  * * * *

  That woman was one tough cookie. And a beautiful one at that, the dark-clad figure observed from a secret place. I had fun with her today, but it's time I changed my focus.

  Jack approached from the kitchen, his steps deliberate. “Matthew,” he called, looking at his watch.

  I thought he'd left? That man is proving to be a pain in the— Backing against the wall, the figure sank deeper into the shadows as Matthew came out of the security room.

  "Jack? You're still here?"

  "Yes,” Jack said, coming to a stop. “The studio delivered Brielle's clothes."

  The dark figure smiled.

  "It's about time. I felt bad for Brielle, stuck in that robe all day.” Matthew shook his head.

  Well, it's your fault her wardrobe got wrecked. If it hadn't been for Matthew and this show—