by Debra Webb
The least she could do was act like a grown-up about it instead of falling apart just because the man who had kissed her like she’d never been kissed before wasn’t the knight in shining armor with whom she was destined to ride off into the sunset.
And then she laughed. When the laughter started, she couldn’t stop it. Two women were dead, and she was upset because her bodyguard wasn’t as enamored with her as she was with him.
A knock at the door had her wiping the tears from her eyes.
“You okay in there?”
Was she okay? Absolutely not. Would she be okay? Probably.
Squaring her shoulders and wiping her cheeks, she crossed to the door and opened it. “I’m perfectly fine.”
He searched her face with those incredible blue eyes, and she realized that he really was worried about her state of mind.
Amber laughed. Startled at her reaction, she pressed her fingers to her lips and muttered, “Sorry. I think I’m hysterical.”
Concern lined his face. “Maybe I should get you another glass of wine.”
Barely suppressing a second outburst of side-splitting laughter, she held up her hands stop-sign fashion. “No, no. Really, I’m fine. I just...I just...” She burst into tears. “Oh, God. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
Could she do any more to embarrass herself? She simply could not get it together.
Sean pulled her into his strong arms and hugged her close. “Everything’s going to be all right,” he promised softly. “I’ll keep you safe.”
She drew away and shook her head. “I know the police will find Thrasher and whoever else is involved, and this will all be over eventually. That’s not the reason I’m upset.”
He squeezed her arm and smiled. “You’re scared.”
A burst of anger flared inside her, instantly drying the ridiculous tears. “I am not scared.” She wasn’t. She really wasn’t. Not at the moment anyway. She had him...for protection.
He held up his hands in surrender. “Sorry. I’m only trying to help.”
Calm down, Amber. It isn’t his fault you’re having trouble holding it together.
She smoothed a hand over her blouse and reclaimed her composure. “I apologize. I don’t know why I fell apart there for a moment. I’m fine—I assure you. I should probably call it a night a little early.”
Under no circumstances did she trust herself alone in the same room with him just now. She was on some sort of emotional roller coaster, and she had no idea where the tracks ran out. Ending up in bed with him was not where she wanted to crash-land tonight.
His face changed as if an epiphany had occurred to him. “Is this about that kiss last night?”
Her jaw dropped. The very idea that he would call it that kiss made her inexplicably angry. “What about the kiss? It happened in a moment of...a moment of neediness. It wasn’t a big deal.”
He frowned. “Ouch. I thought it was a huge deal.” His gaze dropped to her lips. “I really hoped we might go for an encore.” His gaze slid up to hers. “If you’re as interested as it felt like you were.”
A multitude of new sensations cascaded over her, shaking her newly regained composure. “I told you I don’t do one-night stands.” Even as she said the words she couldn’t stop looking at his lips.
Before she could dodge the move, he had closed the short distance between them and forked his fingers into her hair. “Good, because I have no interest in a one-night stand with you.” He pulled her mouth to his but hesitated before kissing her. “I want a whole lot more, starting with this.”
He kissed her, his lips applying just the right amount of pressure. No matter that her mind was set to protest, her body melted against his. Her hands slid up his sculpted chest and curled around his neck. He cupped her bottom and lifted her into him, showing her the intensity of his desire.
“Say the word,” he murmured against her lips, “and I’ll stop.”
“Don’t stop.” She kissed him hard, tangled her fingers in his hair and held his mouth firmly against hers.
He lifted her against him and carried her to the bed. They fell onto the plaid quilt together. He took his time undressing her and helping her nervous fingers undress him. It had been so long and she was so excited she couldn’t seem to make her fingers work.
When they lay skin to skin, he slowed things down even more. He kissed her gently, tracing her face with his fingertips. She did the same, loving the ridges and planes of his handsome face. The high cheekbones and square jaw, the straight nose and strong brow. The silky feel of his blond hair and the amazing blue of his eyes.
He whispered sweet words to her as he kissed his way down her throat. You’re so beautiful. Your skin is so soft. Your hair drives me crazy. He traced every inch of her with his lips and fingers, and she repeated each move with hers. By the time he moved on top of her, spreading her legs wide, she was gasping for air, her entire body pulsing with need.
They made love twice before moving to the shower and making love a third time. Afterward he dried her hair and teased her body to the point of insanity all over again. He brought her to climax again with those magic fingers and those equally skilled lips, and then he held her tight until she drifted off to sleep.
Friday, October 21, 6:30 a.m.
SEAN WOKE TO the sweet scent of Amber. He smiled and resisted the urge to wake her. He wanted to make love to her again, but he had to be sure she wanted to go there. Last night had been an emotional one for her. He didn’t want her to look back and see one minute of their time together as a mistake.
He was serious when he’d told her he wanted more than just one night together. If he was lucky, she would want the same. The idea of a serious relationship had been the furthest thought from his mind. Since Lacy, he hadn’t wanted to feel this way again. Amber Roberts had shattered his defenses and stolen his ability to resist without even trying. He was pretty sure she had been as surprised by the development as he was.
Her eyes opened, and she stared at him in surprise. Holding his breath, he hoped regret wouldn’t be the next emotion he saw in those beautiful green eyes. A smile widened across her kiss-swollen lips, and happiness was what he saw in her gaze.
“Good morning,” she whispered.
He grinned. “It’s a damned good morning.” He brushed her lips with his own. “I was thinking we’d make pancakes. You like pancakes?”
She nibbled at his lips with her teeth. “I haven’t indulged in pancakes in forever, but I’m not really ready to get out of bed yet.” One delicate hand slid along his hip until those cool fingers found his arousal. “It feels like you’re ready for something besides breakfast.”
He teased a rosy nipple with his tongue. “Always.”
They made love slowly. Her soft whimpers made him want to go faster, made him want to plunge hard and deep into her over and over, but he refused to hurry. He wanted to show her how important she was to him. How much he adored every part of her. How much he wanted to know her innermost thoughts and secrets.
His body arched with the building need as she cried out his name. He could hold back no longer. Still, he set an easy rhythm and pace, determined to make this last.
* * *
AFTER A SHOWER and a long morning walk, they were both ready for breakfast. She made the pancakes from a box of mix he found in the pantry. He brewed the coffee and rounded up the syrup.
“I don’t know what your family does for the holidays,” he ventured.
She licked her finger, making him smile. “Barb and Gina insist on hosting the family for Thanksgiving this year. We’re eating lunch at one, so Barb and Gina can have the evening meal with the Colemans.”
“That works out perfectly,” he said, grabbing his courage with both hands. “Maybe you can come to dinner here with me and my family.”
The
smile started at one corner of her mouth and spread across her face, and the whole room lit up. “I could do that, if you’re sure your family won’t mind.”
He downed a bite of pancake. “My family would be ecstatic. I warn you, though, they’ll jump to conclusions. If you’re not careful, my mother will start suggesting wedding venues.”
Amber’s tinkling laughter filled the air and made his heart glad. “I’m an expert at changing the subject.”
He bit his tongue to prevent asking her if she had given up on the idea of weddings. He damned sure had—or he’d thought so. Funny, the notion of marriage didn’t feel so difficult to imagine anymore. The realization should terrify him. Strangely it didn’t.
Silence enveloped them for a minute or two. Sean recognized reality had intruded. They weren’t kids punch-drunk after a night of incredible sex.
She set her fork aside. “What’re we really doing, Sean?”
All of a sudden he didn’t know how to answer that question. This—whatever it was—had happened so damned fast.
She nodded. “I can’t answer the question, either.” She exhaled a big breath. “I really like you. You make me feel things I haven’t felt before, not even when I was wearing an engagement ring. I just don’t know what it means.”
“I’m in the same place.” He shrugged. “I swore I’d never make this mistake again.”
“Is that what this is? A mistake?”
The hurt in her eyes tightened his chest to the point where he couldn’t draw in a decent breath. “I hope not.” All that bravado he’d felt earlier abruptly deserted him. “I honestly don’t know.”
Obviously his answer wasn’t the one she’d wanted to hear. “Wow. Okay.” She stood and carried her plate to the sink.
Damn it. He grabbed his plate and joined her there. “I just meant—”
She backed away. “Let’s not do this right now, okay?”
He piled his plate on top of hers and set his hands on his hips. “Is this your way of protecting your feelings? You just blow it off and walk away?” That was exactly what she was doing. Maybe instead of arguing he should take the easy way out and forget the whole damned thing.
“You’re the one who called it a mistake.”
Before he could respond, his cell in his pocket vibrated. He dug it out and glared at the screen. The boss. He dragged in a calming breath and answered. “Hey, boss. You have news?”
Sean listened to the update and tried to feel relief. Didn’t happen. “Thanks. I’ll let her know.”
He ended the call and tucked his phone away. He had a bad feeling that what he was about to tell Amber would be the end of whatever this was. “The BPD found Thrasher. He’s dead. He left a note apologizing for all he’d done.”
Chapter Fifteen
Birmingham Police Department, 11:00 a.m.
“Peter Thrasher appears to have committed suicide. We can’t officially call it a suicide until we have the autopsy report, but based on the ME’s examination at the scene and the note he left, the preliminary call is suicide.”
Lieutenant Chet Harper opened the folder in front of him and passed an eight-by-ten photo to Jess. Next to Sean, Amber tensed. He’d tried a dozen times on the way here to apologize for not being able to explain himself, but she refused to talk. She had been vulnerable, needy. He should have protected her without allowing personal feelings to get in the way. How could he make her see what he meant if she wouldn’t hear him out?
He was supposed to be a professional. He was supposed to keep her safe. He’d fallen down on both counts and he’d taken advantage of her need to grab on to life with both hands. He had to find a way to explain to her that the mistake he’d meant hadn’t been what she thought.
Jess passed the photo to Sean, yanking him back to the present. The preliminary report indicated Thrasher appeared to have taken an overdose of over-the-counter sleep aids. The empty bottle had been found in his pocket. Apparently when he’d abandoned his car, he’d hitched a ride to the greenhouses where he grew flowers. One of his employees, a worker who spoke little or no English, had given him a ride. The employee had no idea Thrasher was embroiled in a murder investigation. He claimed Thrasher acted like he always did. When they had arrived at the greenhouses, Thrasher had told everyone to take the rest of the week off with pay.
“Forensics found evidence from both victims, McCorkle and Pettie, on Thrasher’s computer. He and Adler were sharing the videos via a cloud service.”
Jess studied the forensic report before passing it to Sean. “Is there any possibility the evidence was planted?”
Sean had been about to ask the same question. As badly as he’d screwed up with Amber, he hadn’t forgotten the case entirely.
“Are you suggesting that someone may have set up Thrasher?” Amber asked. “The potential third killer you mentioned before?”
“That’s exactly what I’m suggesting,” Jess confirmed. “Thrasher knew the BPD was looking for him and he goes to a greenhouse and puts himself to permanent sleep? Why not just disappear? Did he call anyone on his cell? This is not typical behavior for a serial killer, and I’m always suspicious of an alleged suicide note that ties everything up in a nice, neat little bow.”
Chet Harper shook his head. “We haven’t located his cell. We’re hoping to have his cell phone records later today.” Harper directed his attention to Amber. “The case will remain open until we’ve tied up the last of the loose ends, but we’re confident Adler and Thrasher murdered McCorkle and Pettie. It’s difficult to say who actually did the killing or if it was a joint effort. As for the potential third perpetrator, we’ll either rule out the scenario or we’ll find him.” When he turned back to Jess, he flared his hands. “Any additional input you have is always extremely valuable to the team.”
“I agree with your conclusions to a degree.” Jess surveyed the photos and reports now spread across the table. “But we’re missing something.”
“One other thing.” Harper reached into another folder and removed a report. He passed it to Amber. “The toxin that made you sick was azalea leaves. Someone chopped up the leaves and added them to your tea. Do you have a regular tea routine?”
Amber looked from the report to Harper. “I have a cup every evening when I get home from work.”
“Adler and Thrasher would have known that routine,” Harper said. “Since Thrasher worked with flowers and small shrubs, we checked the greenhouses. He was growing a variety of azaleas. The lab is attempting to determine if the leaves in your tea came from a plant in his greenhouse. The azalea leaves may have been added to your tea to disable you. One or both men were likely watching, prepared to act when the time was right for abducting you.”
Sean gritted his teeth. The son of a bitch’s carelessness with Amber’s life made him want to beat the hell out of something...or someone.
“Did you find evidence that similar methods were used with McCorkle and Pettie?” Jess wanted to know.
“We’ve got the ME’s office taking a second look,” Harper confirmed. “Dr. Baron believes the screening tests wouldn’t have picked up all potential plant toxins. She wants to run additional tests.”
“I understand that the case is ongoing,” Amber spoke up. “But are you saying Emma Norton and I are no longer in danger?”
Sean turned to Amber. She kept her gaze away from his. He’d made a mess of this morning and now she couldn’t wait to get away from him. Damn it.
Harper and Jess exchanged a look. Harper said, “As far as the department is concerned, any threat these men posed no longer exists, but we are still investigating the possibility of a third person’s involvement.”
“I’m not completely comfortable with the facts in front of us,” Jess said with obvious caution, “but to our knowledge the source of the threat is gone. If there is a third killer invol
ved, he may believe he’s tied up all the loose ends and will escape any consequences.”
“But we can’t be sure.” The words were out of Sean’s mouth before he’d taken the time to think through the statement.
All eyes were on him now. He might as well say the rest. “We can’t say that Amber is no longer in danger until we rule out the third killer scenario.”
A beat of silence echoed in the room.
“No doubt,” Jess said, backing him up. “Amber.” She turned her attention to the woman beside Sean. “The choice is yours. If you’d like to continue our security services a few days longer, we’re more than happy to do so. Lieutenant Harper, I’m certain, will have more answers soon.”
“I won’t stop,” Harper assured her, “until we know for certain. You have my word on that, Ms. Roberts.”
Sean braced for Amber’s decision.
“The cameras have been removed from my home,” she said. “Adler and Thrasher are no longer a threat.” She took a breath. “At this point, I feel secure on my own. I’ll, of course, be watchful.” She met the gaze of everyone at the table except Sean. “I appreciate all you and the BPD have done to bring a swift conclusion to this nightmare.”
“Amber,” Sean protested, “you should—”
“Get back to work.” She stood. “I’ve had way more time off than I’m comfortable taking.” She flashed a smile at Jess and Harper but still refused to even glance at Sean. “Thank you again.”
“If you change your mind,” Jess offered, “call. Day or night. We’ll be there.”
Amber gave her a nod and started for the door.
