Deceived At Every Turn

by Jennifer Cole

  A second woman appeared in the doorway, looking around cautiously before stepping out and locking the door behind them. Despite the radical change in her appearance, he recognized those luscious curves in an instant. Riley sucked in a breath. Pressure quickly built in his balls and blood rushed from his brain to his rapidly hardening cock.

  Summer was clad in a pair of denim shorts, a pink t-shirt that clung to her form, and white sneakers. Her long, wavy brown hair was gone. In its place, shoulder length, straight blond hair pulled up in a ponytail. Not a speck of makeup marred her pretty face.

  He was suddenly light-headed, and after a minute finally remembered to breathe.

  All three of them looked over at him seated in his Beemer, and the little girl waved. Riley waved back and smiled at the women staring at him.

  Summer scowled at him as she strapped the little girl into the back, climbed in the driver’s seat and started her car. A cloud of black smoke shot out the tailpipe when the engine finally caught--after the fourth try.

  When he pulled in behind her as she left her driveway, Riley saw her curse at him in the rearview mirror.

  He grinned in response.

  Following her through the drive-thru of a coffee shop, Riley announced into the speaker he would pay for Summer’s order along with his own. When he arrived at the window, the server informed him the woman in the car ahead of him had paid for his order along with hers.

  After an entire week she still wasn’t going to give him an inch. He took the opportunity to remind himself this woman was his job, not his date.

  Riley trailed Summer into the parking lot of the nursing home, and from a parking spot not too far away he sat tight as she and the child entered the facility. Unbuckling his seat belt and exiting the car, he ran up and watched as they walked hand-in-hand down the corridor. Inside, he followed at a respectable distance, not wanting to alert her to his presence.

  A cheery voice greeted them from the nurses’ station. “Good morning, Harper. Hello, Olivia.”

  “Hi, Mary,” the little girl squealed. “We’re gonna see Daddy.”

  Daddy?

  “Well, you go right ahead, sweetheart.” A stout, elderly nurse came out from behind the desk. “I know he’ll be thrilled you’re here.”

  The child ran down the hall and took a left into a room at the end.

  “How is he today, Mary?” Summer asked.

  “Oh, Harper honey, there’s been no change since the day he arrived. I’m sorry. I know that’s not what you want to hear.”

  Harper?

  “It’s okay, I appreciate your honesty. I don’t ever want to be fed false hope, only truth.” She patted the woman on the shoulder and headed down the hall, disappearing into the room behind the girl.

  When the door closed to the room, Riley walked further down the hall. As he approached the nurses’ station he caught the stout woman’s attention.

  “Good morning. May I help you, sir?” He was presented the same welcoming smile Summer and the child were.

  “Good morning. The woman you were just speaking with, who is she?”

  The smile remained in place, yet her back stiffened. “I’m sorry, sir, but we have a strict policy about sharing the identities of our residents and their visitors. That would be a breach of confidentiality.”

  Did he dare stoop to such sneaky tactics? Yeah, he would. His curiosity was getting the better of him. Riley hesitated momentarily before pulling out his police ID.

  Nurse Mary’s eyes shifted toward his badge, and her smile disappeared. The only other indication he’d rattled her was the breath she’d inhaled, and held. Riley continued to study her. As she exhaled and her gaze met his again, he saw the indecision in her eyes. He could almost hear the internal struggle battling around in her mind.

  “Has she done something wrong, Officer?” she finally asked, a protective lilt in her voice.

  “No, ma’am,” he assured her in a soft tone. “You called her Harper. I was sure she was someone else.”

  “Are you here on official police business?”

  Riley hesitated. He’d flashed his badge in order to garner information from this woman, was he prepared to take one more step and lie to her?

  Something in his expression must have satisfied Nurse Mary’s question because she inhaled sharply then offered, “Harper Rainier. You’re certain she’s done nothing wrong?” It was clear she was torn with giving him Harper’s name, and betraying her confidence.

  “Yes, ma’am, I promise she’s done nothing wrong.”

  Mary’s stance relaxed, and a small smile again lifted her lips.

  Harper Rainier?

  At once, a hundred thoughts zipped through Riley’s mind. Of course, Summer was her stage name. She hadn’t even offered him her real name. Funny, the chief hadn’t either.

  Riley was positive he’d felt a mutual attraction when he’d caught her in his arms the week before. There was definitely a magnetic pull between the two of them as he sat beside her, every night for the last week, driving her back and forth to the club. Now that he’d seen her stripped of her work persona, his cock twitched like it never had before. He reminded himself she was a stripper, and who knew what else she did for money.

  Riley wondered what exactly she did with her money. The car she drove around in was a death trap. Which reminded him, first thing tomorrow he was going to have someone from the traffic department pull her over and yank that piece of shit off the road.

  She lived in a dump, a run-down little dump, in a crappy neighborhood.

  Wait a minute, why did he care? What the hell was he thinking, anyway? He didn’t need the headache of a fling right now, no matter what his dick thought.

  Oh, but he cared all right.

  It didn’t matter how hard he’d tried to deny it, Riley wanted to know everything about her, wanted to know her secrets. He wanted to protect her, to keep her safe.

  He was becoming obsessed.

  He wanted her.

  Badly.

  Riley’s thoughts drifted back to the present when another nurse came out of a room across the hall, pushing a cart loaded with meds as well as several clipboards stacked with papers. He returned her smile as she walked past him and Mary on her way to the next room.

  “Who are they visiting?”

  “I’ve already said too much, Officer.”

  Olivia had said ‘daddy.’ Riley wasn’t ready to examine too closely why it was so important to him to get clarification, he just knew he needed it. “The little one said ‘daddy’, I was just--”

  Nurse Mary sighed. “An old friend of Ms. Rainier’s family.”

  “But the child believes she’s visiting her daddy.”

  “She also believes in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and that there is no evil in the world.” The nurse studied him with narrowed eyes, telling him she wasn’t going to share any more information with him.

  “Thank you for your time.” Riley gave her a smile before turning on his heel.

  As he walked down the corridor, he noted the room numbers and calculated which number the room at the hall where Harper and the child entered, would be.

  From the pocket of his jacket Riley retrieved his cell and pressed a series of buttons.

  “Vito’s Pizzeria.”

  Riley grinned. “I’ll take a pepperoni with double cheese.”

  “Long time no talk, my friend. How ya been?”

  “Can’t complain, Johnny. How’s Patrice and the kids?”

  Riley and John Watkins had gone through the police academy together and had worked in the same precinct early in their careers. A bullet, as well as a new wife and baby had aided in John’s decision to leave the force and run his own private investigating firm. John was a loyal friend.

  “Patty and the girls are good. Just found out we’re expecting baby number three.”

  “Congratulations. You all must be thrilled.”

  “Yeah. The girls are hoping for a brother. I heard them talking about dr
essing him up in frills and barrettes.”

  Riley laughed, lowering himself into his car. “Better keep a close eye on him then.”

  “What can I do for you?”

  “I need to know who’s in room twelve at the Metro Nursing Home.”

  “Sure thing. Give me a minute to tap into their mainframe.”

  Riley heard the clacking of keys through the phone line and retrieved his now lukewarm coffee from the holder in the console. John reminded Riley of the effervescent computer hacker from a popular criminal investigative show on television. Riley suspected some of John’s methods to gain information weren’t always aboveboard, but what Riley didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. John’s PI business was a success, and he was an asset to many precincts.

  After swallowing a mouthful of coffee, Riley bit into his donut.

  Several moments passed in silence before John spoke. “That’s interesting.”

  “What’s that?” Riley crumpled up the paper donut bag.

  “There’s no background information on the name listed.”

  “What’s the name?” Riley asked.

  “Casey Finnigan,” John replied.

  “Isn’t that a character from a kid’s show?”

  John chuckled. “Two separate puppets actually. Give me a minute. I’m going to dig a bit deeper. Cross reference with the attending physician.”

  More tapping of the keyboard clicked over the phone line.

  “I found something. It’s almost as if this guy’s identity is a secret, or supposed to be anyway. Alexander Rainier,” John said. “Seems he was a detective with Metro. That’s all they have on file. Want me to run a background check on him?”

  Riley could hear John’s fingers still batting the keys, and contemplated his friend’s offer.

  “No, thanks. Not right now, but I might get back to you.”

  “All right. Want to share what’s up? This a case you’re working?”

  “Not directly,” Riley answered, but it would seem things were getting complicated.

  Having a name definitely answered a few questions. Unfortunately, Riley also felt as though a chair had just been kicked out from under him.

  “Thanks a lot, John. I owe you.”

  “Just come by for dinner. Patty and the girls would love to see you.”

  “You got it.”

  After ending the call, Riley waited behind the wheel of his car for the object of his thoughts to appear. A short time later Harper and Olivia came out and jumped into their car.

  Riley followed them across Metro and into the parking lot of a day care center. Harper made eye contact with him as she helped Olivia out of the backseat and into the building. His body went on full alert with arousal.

  Finally feeling the need to succumb to sleep, Riley called Smith and told him to pick up Harper’s tail at the day care facility.

  * * * *

  When Harper came out, she immediately spotted the familiar blue unmarked car. She scanned the parking lot for Riley’s black Beemer and stifled a sigh of disappointment when she realized he was gone.

  You’re being ridiculous. You don’t have time for a relationship . There was too much going on in her life, with Olivia and Alex and the club.

  Harper climbed into her car and went about her business for the day.

  * * * *

  The cold water pelting Riley’s heated skin did nothing to ebb the painful swelling of his cock. After stroking himself to relief in the shower, Riley crawled under his cool, cotton sheets and closed his eyes.

  Unfortunately his mind wouldn’t shut off. Christ, he’d had a raging hard-on from the moment Harper walked through her front door that morning. His stomach had flipped and his cock jerked, causing him to actually forget to breathe when he saw her. Never before had his body reacted to a woman like that.

  The feelings of sexual arousal Harper brought out in him made him nervous. He had too much going on in his life to be bothered with a woman. Work and things at home kept him busy enough. She’s a stripper, he reminded himself, and he didn’t need the baggage that went along with a woman like that.

  What about Detective Alex Rainier? The man had to be her husband. A hot, young woman like Summer--ah, Harper, he corrected himself--couldn’t possibly be on the singles market.

  Exhaustion won out, and Riley finally fell asleep.

  His cock, however, decided to take over and torment him in his slumber.

  Chapter 5

  Riley pulled in front of Harper’s house at ten sharp. She came out the front door ready for work, wearing a brunette wig, a red leather miniskirt and a white camisole. The outfit left little to the imagination. Her face was painted with dark makeup, masking her natural beauty. By the light of the moon, glitter sparkled all over her exposed flesh.

  She no longer looked like the gorgeous woman he was falling for.

  What? Where in the hell did that come from? Riley chastised himself.

  Oh yeah, there was no question she was hot, and sure he’d had an erotic dream that afternoon about sliding himself into her wet heat while she screamed out his name in ecstasy. But she was married, had a kid and was a stripper. Not his type, even if she wasn’t off limits.

  Bullshit.

  “Down boy,” Riley spoke to his stiffening cock as he got out of his car and walked around to open the passenger door for her.

  “You’ve driven me back and forth from the club for a week. I hope you’re getting paid mileage, cop.”

  Riley visibly cringed as she used her pet name for him. “I’m not.”

  “Are you feeling okay, Riley? You really look like hell.”

  He gasped in surprise, then caught himself. She’d used his name. That was a nice change. He liked the way his name sounded on her soft, full lips. When he didn’t answer right away, Harper stared at him for a silent moment before lowering herself into the leather seat of his car.

  “I didn’t get much sleep today,” he mumbled in answer as he dropped behind the wheel.

  “I’m sorry. You know, if you stopped babysitting me, your routine would get back to normal.”

  And if he just fucked her, he’d be able to get his mind back on his job, he thought wryly.

  “Don’t worry about me.”

  Harper shrugged and stared out at the dark streets on their way to the club.

  They rode in silence.

  * * * *

  When her last set was finished and they arrived back in her driveway, Harper let out a groan as the sky opened up.

  Great . The wig on the top of her head was already on its last legs. The downpour would ruin it for sure, and she couldn’t afford to replace it right now.

  Glancing over at her chauffeur, who could barely keep his eyes open, she watched him pull on the handle of his door and stumble getting out. She waited for him to come around and open her door. Riley removed his jacket and held it over her head as she stepped out of the car.

  Once she unlocked and pushed the front door open, she glanced over her shoulder at him. The man, although visibly exhausted, was sexy as sin.

  “You look like hell, Riley,” she said quietly. “Come inside and crash on my couch tonight.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Don’t worry, cop, you won’t catch anything being inside my home.”

  “No, thank you, I’ll be fine in my car.”

  “It’s storming out there.” She grabbed a fistful of his t-shirt, pulled him inside, then shut and locked the door behind them. “Don’t be obstinate.”

  She flicked on the light and stifled a gasp. Riley’s white t-shirt was soaked and clung to him. Her eyes explored the exposed, well-defined muscular chest the lucky wet fabric caressed.

  Oh, my Lord . She swallowed with effort. A dusting of dark curls covered the contours of pectoral perfection, with a thin trail leading the way down to six pack abs--her mouth watered--and even lower. Tingly fingertips were eager to run through the soft mass. Erect brown nipples beckoned for her touch.

 
Gathering all the self-control she could muster, Harper managed to hold herself back from giving in to her desperation to taste him. Although wanting nothing more than to grab Riley and lick all that delicious rainwater off his flesh, she dropped her gaze to the floor and squeezed her eyes tight. Get it together, woman.

  She needed air, and to change her panties. Fighting the arousal consuming her, Harper took Riley’s coat from him, hanging it on a hook beside the door, and led him into the living room. Needing a moment to put her raging libido back in its place, she disappeared briefly and came back handing him a towel.

  * * * *

  Riley was stunned by his surroundings.

  The living room was immaculate. Tastefully decorated with a light feminine touch. He noticed numerous pictures of Olivia throughout the room, but none of Harper or her husband. Two overstuffed, tan suede sofas were the centerpiece of the room, with a beautiful wooden coffee table and two end tables accenting the other furnishings throughout the space.

  “The kitchen is through there, and the powder room is the first door to your left down the hall.” Harper pointed through a couple of archways. “Please make yourself at home. If you don’t mind, I’m going to take a shower and wash all this crap off. I’ll be out in a few minutes.” She smiled, then vanished down a small hallway.

  Riley was surprised as he wandered around Harper’s house. The exterior wasn’t much to look at, but the inside was spectacular, right off the pages of an interior design magazine.

  An invigorating, enticing feminine scent assaulted his senses. It was everywhere.

  Her scent.

  He inhaled deeply, committing it to memory.

  This wasn’t simply a house, it felt like...home.

  Drying himself off, Riley wandered into the kitchen to help himself to a drink. Water, juice, milk, he didn’t really care. He needed something to bring moisture into his suddenly dry mouth. He found himself thinking about Harper in the shower. Her soapy hands running over her body, warm water cascading over her skin as it washed away the suds...

  When he closed the fridge door, he was brought back to his senses, greeted by the ‘security system.’ He took a few steps back.

  “Easy, guys. Nice dogs,” he muttered.