Deadly Valentine

by Jenna Harte

  "I think you should hire a private investigator."

  “A private investigator?”

  “I think the best way to get the attention off of you, is to offer up more compelling information on someone else. And the only way that will come to light is if someone else is looking into it.”

  “More compelling than the son and the daughter-in-law lied?” He ignored the drip of his ice cream that fell on the table.

  "That is compelling, but it has to be proven." She reached over towards him with her napkin. “You’re dripping.”

  He let her clean up his mess, watching her face as she did so. He was studying her, she realized. She didn't like it. What was he seeing? Talk about feeling vulnerable.

  “I didn't imagine that when I ran into you again that I'd be embroiled in a murder mystery. Did you?”

  She decided not to tell him again that she'd hadn't imagined ever meeting him again. “No.”

  “Perhaps we could spend a few minutes talking about something other than Asa and his family.”

  “Sure. What do you want to talk about?”

  “Is there anyone, besides Deputy Dan, who is going to beat me up for kissing you?”

  Her jaw dropped. How could he move so quickly from talking about murder to kissing? “Me maybe.”

  “If it's only you, I think it’s a risk worth taking.”

  Tess went on high alert. Sure, she was attracted to him. She even considered indulging that attraction. But she didn't think she'd have the opportunity. He wasn't really interested in her, was he? Now that the opportunity was staring at her with his gorgeous green-blue eyes, she realized that she wasn't brave enough to indulge in whatever he offered.

  Jack laughed. “Don't look so panicked. I'm not so bad at it.”

  “I'm sure you aren't. But I'm not in the market for a relationship.”

  “Now that’s a waste.”

  “A waste?”

  “You’re smart, confident, beautiful.”

  “That may be, but as I said earlier, I’m not interested," she said despite the fact that the tingling in her body suggested otherwise.

  “Oh, you’re interested alright.”

  “Your arrogance is showing," she said taking a bite of ice cream to cool the heat growing inside her.

  He grinned. “It makes me irresistible.”

  “It makes you annoying.”

  Laughing, Jack reached across the small table to push a loose curl out of her face. “That too. Do you always wear it up?”

  “Huh?”

  “Your hair? Do you always wear it up?”

  “Yes, why?” Reaching around her, he pulled the pins from her hair. “What are you doing?”

  “I want to see it down. I think it will be prettier down.” He ran his fingers through her hair, sending a delectable shiver through her. She bit her lip to keep from sighing.

  “Jack.” She pushed his hand way and then used her own fingers to brush through and manage the curls he’d set free.

  “I was right. It’s prettier down.” He reached across again to play with a stray curl. Capturing her gaze with his, “You’re beautiful.”

  “I thought we agreed that you wouldn’t practice your charms on me.”

  “This is no practice," he said, his voice turning from playful and amused to serious, intent.

  Placing his hand on the nape of her neck he pulled her to him. Her slight resistance didn’t stop him from taking what he had to have. With his free hand he pulled her chair closer to his. She let out a small yelp as her chair jerked towards him. Taking advantage, he let his tongue explore her open mouth. Her brain told her to push him away, but her hormones had other ideas. She tilted her head, letting him take the kiss deeper. What could one kiss hurt after all? She broke her own rule and let the kiss take over, giving into the thrill of him.

  Even as her ice cream dropped to the floor, the kiss went on and on. She was oblivious of their surroundings. He was the only thing in her mind. He wasn't wrong when he said he was pretty good at kissing. He tasted like chocolate and sin. Even a strong woman like Tess couldn't overcome the heady temptation of such a combination. She returned his kiss, lacing her fingers through his hair and pulling him closer. She heard him groan and his hand slipped to her waist pulling until she was nearly on his lap. That was when her brain finally regained control, and she jerked away from him. That had been way more than a little kiss. Too much more.

  “Tess.” Jack dropped his brow to hers.

  She reassembled her senses, rebuilt the wall that had for three years kept her heart safe. She pulled completely away, moving her chair back to its starting position. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this.” She grabbed a napkin to clean up the spilled ice cream.

  “Leave it.” His voice was dark, rough.

  “I can’t leave a mess like this-”

  “I said leave it!” He let out a frustrated sigh. “How can you do that?”

  “What?”

  “I feel like I just had a life altering experience and you’re acting like it was nothing.”

  “It was just a kiss, Jack.”

  She saw hurt and irritation in his eyes. “That was more than just a kiss.”

  “We haven't seen each other in a long time. It's only been a few days. It can't possibly be more.”

  He stared at her as if she had grown a horn on her head. Then he rolled his shoulders and stood. “I need to go. Cora is expecting me home soon. I can walk you to your car.”

  “It's parked on Jefferson. I can get there on my own," she said surprised at the dismissing tone in his voice.

  He gave a quick shake of his head she took to mean, Have it your way. Without another word, he left.

  ~~~~

  Tess cleaned up the ice cream mess made by Jack’s devastating kiss. It had so immobilized her that she dropped her guard, as well as her ice cream. It would have been so easy to give into to him. To let him use those magnificent lips on her, let his large warm hands caress her. But she couldn't do it. She couldn't put herself in a vulnerable position.

  Still, it was mean to tell him his kiss meant nothing. The truth was it had knocked her socks off. It wasn't easy to lie to him, but it would have been too easy to get lost in him. And then what? He’d sow his oats until another more exciting woman came along. And surely one would. He lived in Northern Virginia, socialized with the elite of D.C. Woman draped themselves all over him, she was sure. They'd be prettier and more dedicated to ensuring his happiness. Tess had her career; a career that was once derailed by a man. She wasn't going to let that happen again.

  Tess shook off the mixed feelings. She'd hurt him, but it had been the right thing in the long run. She’d ended it before it started and now they could focus on business and she could maintain her safe, ordered life.

  Slipping on her coat and picking up her purse, the threw her napkins the trash and exited the ice cream shop. She turned right heading towards Jefferson Street where she'd parked her car. Any other time of year, the streets would be full of people enjoying the ambiance and activities offered in the historic district. But the cold and early darkness of winter kept most people away.

  The street lights reflected off the piles of snow still bordering the streets from a storm the previous week. As she reached the corner, she navigated around the snow bank to cross the street. To save time and get out of the cold faster, she took a diagonal route across the street.

  She was in the middle of the road when she heard the car sliding around the corner as it turned onto Jefferson Street. It righted without slowing down and made its way up the street, straight towards her.

  Adrenaline kicked in as she watched the car barrel down on her. She turned, tried to run, but lost her footing, slipping and nearly falling. Finally she found traction and took off towards the sidewalk. It was just like in her dreams; the feet were running, the heart was pounding, but the body wasn't moving fast enough.

  She heard someone yell, “Look out!” but she wasn't about to look. She didn'
t have to. She swore she could feel the car moving closer and closer. If it were an animal she'd have felt its breath on her heels.

  The wall of snow drew closer. She willed her feet to move faster. She closed her eyes and prayed for the best as she dove over the snow barrier. She landed hard on her shoulder, her temple hitting the icy pavement. Stars flashed in her eyes disorienting her. But the sound of metal on hard icy snow had her rolling on the sidewalk until she literally hit a brick wall of the building. Curling up in a ball, she hoped the car wouldn't make it over the snow bank and crush her. She waited for what felt like an eternity pressed against the building.

  “Are you alright?”

  Tess looked up to the worried faces of a man and woman. They looked as terrified as she felt. Her head throbbed and her heart beat frantically in her chest. But she was alive.

  “Yes.” She looked up the street in time to see the car turn on to Washington Street. It hadn't slowed down. It hadn't even had its lights on.

  "Stupid driver," the woman said.

  “I've called 9-1-1,” the man said. He pulled off his coat and put it around Tess.

  She let him help her up, wobbled a bit, and then steadied herself by leaning against the brick building. She touched her hand to her temple and could feel the warm ooze of blood. She couldn't decide what hurt more, her head or her shoulder.

  “Are you sure you're okay?” the lady asked.

  “Yes. I think so.” She could hear sirens blaring as they made their way to her.

  “Good thing this snow bank was here,” the woman said. “That guy could have killed you.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Tess sat behind her desk. Her face was bruised and her shoulder hurt, but she wasn't going to complain because she was alive. Armed with a large mug of coffee laced with Ghirardelli chocolate, she focused on Mrs. Crosby's estate plan.

  “Hey,” she heard her administrative assistant Regina say peeking through the door.

  “Yes.”

  “There is a very fine man out here who is prepared to bribe me in order to see you.”

  Jack.

  “How much is he willing to pay?”

  “So far we're up to $500 and a week of babysitting.”

  “If I tell you I'm busy do you think he'll go higher?”

  Regina smiled. “Maybe ... hold on,” she turned as if she was listening to someone talking to her. When she turned back she said. “It seems that Valentine's Day is early this year. He wants me to tell you he has chocolate from Scharffen Berger. Did I say that right?”

  “From Scharffen Berger?"

  “Tell her I've got the bittersweet and nibby,” she heard Jack say.

  “If it were me, I wouldn't need chocolate. He's yummy looking all on his own,” Regina whispered.

  “How about the $500?”

  “Well, he's here to see you not me, so the $500 is my consolation prize.”

  “Give me five minutes and then let him in.”

  When Regina shut the door, Tess pulled out her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk. Digging in the bag, she found her compact. She wasn't able to cover her bruise completely, but a little more powder blurred the edges.

  When she was done, she put her purse back and pasted a professional, serious look on her face. But it was hard. She loved Scharffen Berger chocolate. The way to your heart is through chocolate, she remembered him saying. Ice cream she might be able to resist, but if he was going to use Scharffen Berger chocolate, she was doomed.

  The door opened and Jack sheepishly poked his head in. “I owe you an apology. I was a jerk walking out like that last night.”

  She didn't get up. She knew she would forgive him, after all he had chocolate. But that didn't mean she couldn't make him work for it.

  He gave her crooked smile. "Men don't like to have their prowess minimized."

  "So I noticed."

  He turned up the wattage on his smile showing his dimple. "It's never happened to me before."

  She didn't doubt it. "I'm glad I could help you learn a little humility."

  He must have decided it was safe as he stepped into office. His smile faded though as he got closer to her. "Is that a bruise?"

  Her hand instinctively went to her face. "I was in a little accident."

  "What?" He started to move around her desk, setting the box of chocolate down. She rose and moved away, but he was determined to reach her. He stepped to her, placed his hands on her shoulders to turn her to him. She flinched from the pain of his hand on her sore shoulder.

  "What happened?"

  "A car lost control and nearly hit me."

  "When?"

  "Last night."

  "After we had ice cream?"

  "Yes."

  "Tess, I'm so sorry."

  "It's not your fault,” she said.

  He reached up, gently caressing the bruise on her face. "If I hadn't been such an idiot and left you-"

  "We may have both been hit," she finished. "I'm okay."

  "How did it happen?"

  "It was just an accident."

  "Are you sure about that?" came a voice from her door.

  "I’m sorry Ms. Madison," Regina said as her attempt to keep Daniel out failed. "I tried to tell him you're with a client."

  "It's okay," she said to Regina. "Daniel if you could wait a moment."

  "I'm here to see you both," he said as he strode into the room. He was in full detective mode.

  "I thought you weren't on the case," she said.

  "This isn't about Asa," he said. "Not directly anyway."

  Whatever it was, Tess thought, it wasn't good. At least not for Jack if Daniel's menacing eyes were any indication.

  His face grew more concerned as he approached Tess. He reached out and lightly touched her bruise.

  "Why didn't you call me?" he asked. She felt Jack stiffen next to her. To diffuse the situation, she moved away from both of them.

  "Why would I call? It was just an accident. I'm a little bruised, but okay. It will teach me not to jay-walk."

  Neither man laughed.

  "I'm not so sure it was an accident." His eyes glanced over to Jack.

  "It was dark and icy," Tess said.

  "The driver didn't have his lights on," Daniel said.

  "So maybe he was drunk too," she replied.

  "Witnesses reported that it looked like he was trying to hit you."

  "Why would anyone want to kill me?"

  "Well, you were a witness of sorts to a murder the other night," Daniel said.

  "Not anymore than anyone else who was there."

  "According to the statement you gave Officer Lowen, you had been at Sorenson's Creamery. I stopped by to talk to Mr. Sorenson. He says you were with a man who made a pass at you and that you weren't happy about it. There were angry words and the man left. The description of the man sounds a lot like you, Mr. Valentine."

  "You really think I tried to kill her?"

  "You're the common denominator between Asa and her."

  "You're not buying this, are you?" Jack asked Tess.

  Tess was trying to process the idea that perhaps the car was trying to hit her. It hadn't occurred to her at the time. And yet as she thought about it, it didn't seem like it made any attempt to slow down or avoid her. And then it simply drove off.

  Jack's voice grew angrier. "You're way off base, Dan. I didn't make a pass. I kissed her and she kissed back!"

  Daniel jerked in surprise.

  "We disagreed on how much that kiss meant, which annoyed me," Jack finished.

  “The last time you argued with someone he ended up dead," Daniel said by way of recovering. "Do you own a dark four-door sedan?"

  The whole idea that someone may have purposefully tried to run her down, sent a chill down her spine. And for a second she had to wonder, who would want her dead. Jack was the only person she knew of who was upset with her. But to kill her over a kiss? That didn't seem like Jack.

  "I'm sure you've accessed some DMV recor
ds that indicate I do own a black sedan."

  "Can I see it?"

  "It's right outside." Jack looked to Tess. "I think you both should see it."

  Tess wished she had put her coat on before going outside to inspect Jack's car, although the cold blast of air had cleared away the fog that had settled with the idea of being the target of a murder and perhaps that murderer was Jack. Except that now, even before seeing the car, she knew it wasn't him. Jack had flashes of temper, but he didn't strike out. Even when she knew him years before, she'd always been impressed at how quickly his temper would fade and how he never seemed to hold a grudge. Not that he couldn't be compelled to kill. But she was sure he wouldn't kill her over a careless remark about a kiss.

  Jack stood on the side walk with her although some distance away as Daniel walked around the car.

  "You've got a pretty good dent back here," Daniel said.

  "Unless Tess' attacker was driving backwards, I don't think that's the dent you're looking for. But if you want to impound the car only to be told that the dent and paint is consistent with backing into a mail box go ahead. Oh and of course, I can produce the ticket Cora got when she did it. "

  Daniel ignored Jack as he continued to look at the car. When he finished, he stepped up on the curb next to Tess.

  "Satisfied?" Jack asked.

  Tess knew his comment was directed at her as well. He'd noticed her hesitation. He'd known she'd considered Daniel's hypothesis and he was not happy about it.

  "For now," Daniel said.

  "So tell me, Dan, is this little witch hunt because you want to discredit me; keep me away from Tess, or do you really think someone tried to kill her?"

  Daniel's jaw clinched. "I suspect that it was no accident."

  "What are you going to do about it?" Jack demanded.

  "I'm doing it already." He turned to Tess. "I’m going to find out who this is."

  "I'm thinking this is a good time to remind you that you think this accident is related to Asa's murder. So when you find the guy who tried to kill Tess, you'll probably find the murderer," Jack said.

  Daniels phone rang. He looked at the screen. "I have to take this, Tess, but we'll talk soon. I'll see you tonight, as usual."