“I did. Thank you.”
She stepped by him.
His fingers slipped over her wrist and she stopped as if her feet were shackled to the floor. “One more thing, before you go. I wondered if you might have dinner with me sometime.”
“Maybe.” The perchance word had slipped from her mouth easily. Immediately, her mind reviewed all the cons regarding starting a relationship at this particular time and with this particular man and for the life of her, she couldn’t justify why she’d left the door open to seeing him again.
“Maybe?” An easy smile pulled his lips and that dimple reappeared. “At least you didn’t say no.”
She tipped her chin up. “And if I had, would you have accepted my answer?”
“I’d accept it, for tonight, but I wouldn’t stop trying to change your mind, starting tomorrow. I don’t give up easily.”
“Neither do I.”
“I can tell we’re a lot alike.” He let go of her wrist and stepped back. Instantly the other parts of her body that craved his warm touch cried out, but inwardly she told them to be patient.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said as she headed toward her group.
“How—?”
“I’ll find you.”
With his shoulders straight and his chin high, Chase strolled away. He didn’t look back as he pushed through the double glass doors she’d entered through moments before, and Emma knew without doubt her life had just changed.
***
Chase stalked past rows of crammed shelves. Books of all sizes and colors collected dust. Some books were as thick as four inches and some as thin as half an inch. He figured some people had more to say than others, or some simply said what they had to say and moved on instead of dragging out their views. If he wrote a book, it would contain a page. And one page wasn’t worth killing a tree for.
Then again, he could probably write an idiot’s guide on how to screw up an investigation. Every time he saw Emma’s face and inhaled her sweet scent his heart started to pound like a fuckin’ jackhammer.
He swallowed and promised himself whenever erotic images of Emma entered his head, he would consciously recall the faces of the three dead students. And behind them, in the background, would hover the faces of his lost friends. The guilt he carried over their loss of life was a great persuader to remain focused on the job at hand.
What had she carried in the little plastic bag she dropped?
Instinct told him Emma’s gaze no longer zeroed in on his back, and he checked to see if he was right.
She was already busy with her students. He slipped into the stacks off to his right and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. While he was texting Jolene to set up a meeting, a brunette entered the aisle. She didn’t look for a book. Her gaze remained fixed on him.
He finished the brief code text and hit send. Then he gave the woman his full attention. She didn’t appear to be a threat, but during his last stretch he’d been kicked about a little by a couple female Afghan sleepers who had been her size. He pocketed his cell and freed his hands. Acting untroubled, he leaned against the shelf that housed huge volumes on American economics.
Smiling, she closed the distance between them. “You must be Chase Hunter.”
The fact she knew his name caught him off guard. The muscles in his index finger twitched. Never a good sign. He dipped his head and narrowed his eyes, trying to get a read on her.
“Have we met?” he asked.
She laughed and let her hand drift down the zipper of her jacket, lingering a fraction of a second at breast level before heading south. “No. But I’ve heard about you.”
With that line, his spine stiffened. Was there a leak beyond “the powers” who knew C.U.F.F. had been called in? If so, he and Jolene might as well be wearing targets on their backs. He decided to keep his cool and play the coy game too.
He placed his left hand on his belt and relaxed his right hand against his thigh, ready to pull back from a kick, drop to a knee and draw his gun from the holster strapped around his leg inside his boot.
“Oh, yeah? What have you heard?”
“Just that you’re new to the school and very good looking,” she said, studying him through dark lashes that blinked twice. Her thumbnail worked against the bottom teeth of her zipper.
She stood about an inch shorter than Emma, of slightly thinner build, and she had an interesting, throaty French accent.
Chase chuckled. “I am…new. New to the school, that is. As far as good looking, my mother always told me so.” He gave her an easy smile, hoping it would lead her to believe he was buying what she was selling. “But, I never saw it. I had acne and pimples as a teenager. It wasn’t very pretty.”
She laughed sweetly as she stepped closer. Her shoulder lined up where his hand had rested on the shelf. Had she bought his story or did she still play with him?
“Well, you don’t have those problems now, do you?” Her mischievous, yet haunting gaze, drifted down over him, to his boots, and then slowly meandered upward until it reached his belt then her gaze snapped up to meet his, full force.
She stood close enough that he could smell her exotic, spicy scent. If he wasn’t careful and ready, she could deliver a round kick to his kidney.
The woman had no fear. His read on her was all over the place: friend, foe or someone in-between. Stepping back was not an option. He planted his feet.
“I’m at a disadvantage here,” he said, offering a friendly smile. “Who told you about me? And you know my name but—”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to creep you out? And clearly, I have.” She thrust her hand into the space between them. “I’m sure I came off like a stalker, but I’m not. I’m truly a nice person.” As she spoke, the painted nails on her other hand splayed across her chest. “I’m Emma’s roommate, Nanette. Nanette Yves.”
Connecting the dots, relief washed through his taut muscles. He believed the eyes had a union with the soul, and he kept his gaze trained on her hers while he enclosed the soft skin of her hand with his.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know Emma had a roommate.”
“She’d didn’t mention me? I’m hurt.” Her cherry-red lower lip pouted.
He knew when he was being baited by the fairer sex and Nanette certainly tried to impress him. Why? Was she testing his interest in Emma on behalf of her friend? “Well, we really haven’t talked much.”
“This morning and just now.” She pointed over her shoulder. “She told me about your meeting this morning, and now, while heading to meet up with my tutor, I saw the two of you talking. By the way she described you I knew you were you.” Her smile grew on the tail of a giggle. “And you are. You, I mean.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Emma and I are really close. We share everything.”
He wondered what “everything” implied. “Really? Everything?”
Her hand landed on his forearm and again she giggled. “I meant things like clothes and our feelings. We’re women. Best friends do that.”
“Oh. I was getting a little nervous. I mean I didn’t get the impression Emma was into—”
“Oh, definitely not.” Nanette’s hair fell in waves across her shoulders as her head shook furiously. “Emma’s a one-man woman. Like me. I could only love one person, ever. I’m very loyal.”
She continued to hold on to his arm which led him to believe Nanette was either hitting on him, or a hugger. His sister was a hugger. She gave everyone a hug. He told her many times hugging those she didn’t really know could have serious consequences. “That’s good to know she’s that type of person.”
“So do you want to get a coffee?” She squeezed his arm and then let it go. “We can chat about Emma.”
At that same moment, his cell vibrated against his hip. He pulled it from his pocket and glanced at the display. Jolene. He pressed the side bar and shut the phone down. When he looked up he saw something in Nanette’s eyes that made him uneasy.
“I’d really
like to, but I need to be somewhere. Speech class. I was just heading there.”
Her eyes remained on his. “Speech class, uh? I hated that class.”
Had she seen Jolene’s name on his phone and thought he was already seeing someone? Play it cool, he reminded himself. “I’m not looking forward to it either. I thought I’d get it out of the way.”
“Good plan. Is the class in the Rosemount Building?”
“Yes, I believe it is.”
“Ok. I’ll walk with you.” Before he could edge past her, Nanette grabbed his arm and walked side by side with him down the aisle. “We can chat on the way.”
He glanced down at her. “Aren’t you meeting your tutor?”
“Duh.” She slapped a palm to the side of her head. “Right. Sorry. We’ll have to get together for a chat and coffee another time.”
At the aisle’s end, Chase said, “Sounds good. Maybe you could get Emma to join us. She seems reluctant to go out with me.”
“She is totally into her studies. I’ve told her over and over a test tube won’t keep her warm at night in her old age, but she insists she has all the time in the world. My philosophy is to live for today, because you never know what tomorrow will bring, or if you’ll even be around to see another sunrise.”
Chase knew why he leaned toward the same line of reasoning, but he wondered about Nanette’s past and what made her think that way. Had she lost someone close to her?
He knew it was insensitive, but if the truth was going to be uncovered and justice served, he needed to dig. “Like the girl who died.”
“Yes. Exactly.”
“I understand she was a friend of Emma’s. It must be hard, losing a friend that way. Was she a friend of yours too?” Her eyes widened and he knew he’d stumbled across something.
“Emma told you they were friends?”
“She told me she knew her. I assume they were friends. Weren’t they?”
“Not really. I didn’t care for her much myself.”
“Hmmm. I got the impression Emma really liked Denise. That was her name, right?”
“Yes. Denise. Emma liked her fine, I guess. Emma gets along with everyone, but Denise was a bit competitive. Denise certainly thought of Emma as a rival.”
“A rival? In what way?”
“Denise wanted to be Professor Langson’s ‘pet student.’” She made air quotes with her fingers as she said the last two words. “But Emma was his go-to person. Denise and Emma were both up for the same grant money offered by an alumni for a current chemistry student. Professor Langson recommended Emma’s work. Emma got the funds. Denise wasn’t at all happy.” Nan glanced toward the wall clock.
“Look. It was nice meeting you. I’ve got to go,” she said, backpedaling. “If you want to get that coffee, I’m free tomorrow between noon and one. I’ll meet you in The Lair.
“Sounds good.” Chase watched as the woman walked toward the study area. Nanette waved to Emma before disappearing around a corner.
His gaze traced Emma’s profile as she spoke to a student. Jealousy between adversaries could’ve led to death.
***
A little after nine p.m., Emma swung her apartment door wide, glad the day was over and she was home, away from inquiring stares. People looked at her with interest, some with pity. Though they must have empathized on some level, they had no idea how she felt about anything, especially about finding Denise the way she had.
Nanette appeared all comfy in her pink—with black trim—silk pajamas and oversized cotton socks her mother had sent her the week before. She lay on the couch, watching one of her favorite television series, called something like Dancing with Someone Famous or Someone Who Used To Be Famous. Emma didn’t see the attraction of the show, but Nanette rarely missed the darn thing.
“Hey, Emma, you’re home. I must say you look happier than you did earlier today. Did the children play nicer?” Nanette’s gaze flickered toward her for only a second before it shifted back to the screen. Nan’s usual evening glass of milk and four cookies, sat on the coffee table.
“Not all, but I’m learning to ignore them.” She pushed the door closed, set the lock, and dropped her bag on the floor under the coat stand.
“Ignoring idiots is a great lesson to learn and will save you from suffering through a lot of sleepless nights.” Nanette reached for a cookie, while keeping her eyes glued on the pair ending a roaring twenties dance routine.
Emma laughed under her breath as she shrugged out of her light jacket. “Good to know because I didn’t sleep much last night.” She kicked off her boots and sat them next to her bag. “By the way, I did it.”
“Did what?” her friend asked while munching a cookie. She raised her hand in a what’s-going-on gesture. “What the freakin’ hell are these judges thinking tonight? Their timing was all off,” she said while she continued to rant at the 48-inch flat screen.
“I ran into Chase Hunter,” Emma said, ignoring Nan’s comment about the judges’ scores. “You know, the guy I told you about this morning.”
Nanette muted the TV and scurried into a sitting position at the end of the couch and pulled a throw around her legs. She wore her hair piled on top of her head and it was held in place with a single clip. The ends stood out like a rooster’s feathers. Nan scooted up on the cushion. “Really? What happened?”
“He was at the library checking out study groups.” Emma rounded the back of the couch and took a seat.
“That made finding him easy.”
Emma considered her friend’s curious smirk for a second. Was Nan happy for her? “He asked me out.” She smiled, recalling the attraction she’d recognized in Chase’s blue eyes.
“And you said?”
She leaned back and dropped her feet on the coffee table. “I said maybe.”
Nanette’s fingers curled into the throw. “Maybe?”
“Yes, maybe. I’d like to know a little more about him before I say yes.”
“Really, Emma.” Nan leaned over and grabbed her glass of milk. “It’s a date. Not marriage.”
“I know. The fact is I’m really attracted to him, but if he’s not the type of man I can see having a future with, then what’s the point?”
“I’m confused. Most people go out on dates to learn about the other person, but you, you want to do research beforehand to see if you’re a match.”
“Makes sense to me.” Emma snatched up a cookie, broke it in half and popped a piece into her mouth. The sugar on her tongue reminded her of how hungry she was. She hadn’t been able to eat more than a few bites all day, but now, thinking about Chase Hunter, she was starved.
“Then why not join a dating site? They match you based on research.”
She swallowed. “Their research. Not mine.”
“You’re such a control freak. You know that though.”
“Yes. I do. And I’m fine with being that way.”
“Are you?” Nanette’s eyes searched her face.
Emma wanted to be a free spirit like her friend, but when it came right down to it, she always took the clearly marked path. However, something inside told her she should throw caution to the wind where Chase was concerned. “Well, maybe not this one time.”
Nan sighed. “So when are you going to call him?”
“I’m not.”
“Did he say when he’d call you?”
“He doesn’t have my number, so I doubt that will happen.”
“You didn’t give him your number?” Nanette’s rooster tail swayed from side to side as she shook her head. Tsk, tsk.
“No. I didn’t think about it and he didn’t ask. He should’ve asked, if he really was interested in me. Don’t you think?” Her pulse rate picked up a bit.
“I wouldn’t worry about it.” Nanette reached over and squeezed her arm. “I have a feeling this guy will find you again tomorrow.”
“That’s exactly what he said. He’d find me.” Emma looked at Nanette suspiciously. “Is there something you’re not tell
ing me?”
“No. Why?”
“I have this feeling I’m being set up.”
“Not by me. You know me better than anyone. If I wanted you to meet a guy, I’d bring him home and say here he is.”
And she had, Emma recalled. Nanette had introduced her to Peter a few months ago. Peter had been totally not her type. She chuckled, brushing away her unsettled inklings. “You’re right. I’m going to make a sandwich. I didn’t have dinner. Do you want anything?”
“Thanks. No. I’m going to watch the end of this show and then I’m going to bed. Today has been a long day. By the way, I cleaned out the tub like I said I would.”
“Great. How are the jeans?”
“Good as new.” Nanette winked and then turned back to her show.
Emma made her meal, said goodnight, and carried her plate filled with a tuna sandwich and grapes into her room. An hour flew by. She took a shower in the spotless tub and as she slipped into bed, she heard the front door of their apartment open and close. She opened her bedroom door and tapped on Nanette’s closed door. No answer. She opened her door and found her roommate gone, along with Nan’s favorite camera which always sat on its perch on top the highboy dresser.
Emma shook her head. Nanette certainly did go where the wind took her. It wasn’t unlike Nan to change her mind about anything, especially turning in early.
Even so, she wished Nan would let her know when she left and tell her where she was going. She didn’t want anything to happen to her friend.
Chapter Nine
Chase switched on the lights and entered the tiny apartment above Knepper’s garage. His eyes swept the shadows before he closed and locked the door behind him. Doing so was a habit he’d developed while serving, one which had saved his life and the lives of others on numerous occasions. Then he checked the tiny bathroom’s shower stall.
Confident his space was secure, he emptied a cold Italian sub, a breakfast sandwich, a bag of chips and a six pack of Rocky Mountain’s finest from a paper sack and placed them on the table. The aroma of onion and fresh-cut deli meat caused his stomach to rumble, reminding him that the last time he’d eaten was around one. As much as he’d like to sit down and dig into the fresh sandwich, he needed to check in with Will.
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