It took a moment to process his words. “You?”
“Normal procedure, actually. They should have brought me in before now.”
“Why you? I don’t understand.”
He squeezed her hand in his. “It’s normal to obtain alibis from husbands, boyfriends, guys that you’re dating.”
She’d seen enough crime fiction television to understand that.
“And since you didn’t see this guy, they need to check the whereabouts of all the men in your life.”
Judy didn’t like it, but she understood it. “I get it, I guess. I don’t have many men in my life so the list isn’t that long.” Rick still wasn’t smiling. Being questioned really bothered him. “If you knew they were going to question you, why are you so upset?”
His gaze moved to the waves below them. “The night of the attack I left my place to pick you up at six twenty, picked up flowers on the way, and pulled into your drive at ten to the hour.”
Judy swiped at her hair blowing in the wind. “Outside of the part where I never got the flowers, I don’t see the problem.”
He didn’t even laugh at the flower joke. “I drove my motorcycle. The police believe I could have made it to your office in ten minutes, give or take . . . then back to your brother’s house . . . after.”
She blinked, too stunned to speak.
“Neil and I are positive they are working hard right now to prove I could have attacked you.”
“That’s absurd.” Rick, her Rick, who had been her protector from the moment she arrived in LA, was not the villain here. “They’re wasting their time.”
“I know that. You know that. But they don’t.”
Judy released his hand and jumped to her feet. “Well I’ll tell them.”
She turned toward the house, determined to get one of the detectives on the phone. Rick reached out and held her arm. “Tell them what, Judy?”
“That it wasn’t you.” She didn’t even try to tame her hair. It blew in the wind like her temper.
He stood at her side and placed both hands on her shoulders, trying to calm her.
“They won’t listen to you.”
“I’ll make them listen. I was the only one there. I know it wasn’t you. If they focus on you they won’t look for the real asshole who did this.” Frustration made her tremble. That and anger toward the police, who were supposed to be smart enough not to go after the wrong guy. Rick was the wrong guy.
Rick lifted his chin in challenge. “Tell me how well you know Rick.”
“What?”
“I’m the detective. Tell me how well you know Rick.”
Oh, she got it now. He wanted to role play. Fine! She could do that. “I met Rick last year when he helped a poor, innocent girl escape her abusive parents.”
“You’ve been dating Rick since last year?” His questions came fast.
“No. I finished college and we met up when I moved here.”
“He works for your brother?”
“Yes. As a security specialist and sometimes bodyguard.” She puffed out her chest, happy she knew all the answers to these questions and none of them made Rick look bad.
“How long have you been dating?”
She knew he was trying to corner her with that question. Instead of being vague, she took the opportunity to derail him a little. “We’ve been flirting around dating more than dating. Our first technical date was set for the night of the attack.”
“Why didn’t you date earlier?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Trying to pry answers from my lips, Rick?”
“As much as I want the answer to that question for my own reasons, I know the detectives are going to ask. You don’t have to answer me.”
Judy’s chin pushed out to meet his attitude. She didn’t have anything to hide, and in light of everything they’d been going through, playing a game wasn’t necessary. “Well, Detective, if you really need to know . . . I grew up in a small town where it seemed every girl there went to college, met a guy, and then never did another thing in her life other than have babies and go to PTA meetings. I want more in my life, so I picked plan B. I fell in love with design on my first trip to LA during one of my brother’s premiers. I want a career. Something that will define me more than a married last name.”
Her confession sank in slowly. She saw it meet Rick’s brain and shake hands.
“Rick triggers something inside me that makes me feel like he’d derail my plan.” Her confession continued to roll. “Agreeing to a date felt like putting the pieces into place to make plan A move forward without permission.” Maybe her brush with death the week before gave her confidence, or maybe she realized, after said brush, how important it was to have someone in her life to share the good and the bad.
They stood in silence for a few seconds. Any questions Rick may have had were certainly flowing out to sea now. The wind whipped her hair around her face but she just met his green-eyed gaze and set her jaw.
One of his hands traveled up her arm and cupped her face. He stepped into her personal space and took ownership of her lips. The kiss was desperate and so damn raw, tears ran down her cheek when she closed her eyes and sucked in the essence of the man delivering it.
She might as well sign up for PTA president now. Maybe she could design a carnival booth for the elementary school fundraiser.
He kept kissing her, chaste kisses that tingled everywhere but she knew weren’t meant for complete surrender.
When Rick finally let her go, he ran a gentle finger under the bruised eye. His eyes weren’t completely dry and that warmed her more than any kiss could.
He leaned his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. The pain in his face ran over her when he started in again. “Did Rick know any of this before the attack?”
“No.”
They stood at the edge of the sea cliff, holding each other and continuing with the ridiculous questions. Each time Rick spoke his voice was more detached. Less him. “So he might have thought you were just leading him on?”
“Is that what you think?”
He shook his head. “It’s what they’ll think.”
“If I was leading him on I wouldn’t have agreed to a date.”
“Maybe Rick doesn’t know this . . . maybe Rick is a sociopathic womanizer that doesn’t like the word no. Maybe he has relationship issues of his own and he’s scared of dating you . . . of rejection.”
“That’s so stupid. I don’t know a more confident man than you. You can bottle it up and sell it and make a fortune.”
Rick smiled for the first time in their conversation. “Thanks for the confidence, Utah. But the detectives are going to come up with their own answers to these questions and work them into their theories.”
She didn’t like the thought of this . . . any of this.
“I know where you live, what you drive. I had the ability to know you were still at work and if I drove like a man on a death wish I could have made it to your work in the time that you were being attacked.”
The tips of her fingernails dug into his thick arms with every word. Deep inside she knew he wasn’t capable of hurting her. How could anyone think differently?
She started to speak and he covered her lips with a finger.
“I could have made it in and out and been in Beverly Hills for the cameras that I know are there.”
“They can’t do this.”
“They can. And unless we find another direction for them to look, they will.”
Judy wrapped her arms around him, absorbed his heat, his strength. Why had she pulled away from this man . . . ever?
They walked back to the house, his arms sat on her shoulders as he attempted to shelter her from the strong winds blowing off the ocean.
So many emotions swam inside Rick on that short walk he felt like a pot of stew filled with tons of beef and the perfect amount of vegetables to add color and spice to the blend. He knew that with time what he and Judy had going could be the most amazing thi
ng they’d ever tasted . . . ever experienced.
She hadn’t wanted to date him, not because of anything he did . . . but because of her fear of losing herself in the process. Did she not know that her drive, her spunk was what drew him to her in the first place?
Rick stopped her two feet before the front door and stepped in front of her. Words tumbled out of his mouth as if they’d just finished the conversation in his thoughts. “I’d never keep you from your dreams, Judy.”
There was no hesitation in her response. “A week ago someone tried to steal my entire life. Dating you isn’t nearly as scary. We’ll get through this.”
He reached over and pulled her against him as they walked in the house. “We have to try a real date. So far our track record sucks.”
Laughter met his ears when he opened the doors.
Worried gazes met them when they walked in the living room.
Neil looked at him while everyone else stared at Judy.
Neither Rick nor Neil had wanted anyone in the family, mainly Judy, to learn about the detectives’ conclusions before the two of them expressed them. Rick had the easy part. He spoke to Judy . . . Neil had to take on the entire family.
“You OK?” Meg asked first . . . the question directed at Judy.
Judy tilted her chin higher. “I’m fine. Ready to go home.” She looked at her parents. “To the home I made here in California, and get on with my life.”
Sawyer took a step forward. Janice caught his arm. It had to be hard for a father to let his child make her own decisions.
Rick stood back and let this play out.
“Dad . . . Mom . . . I love you. I know you want me safe but so does everyone here. Moving back to Utah means this guy won. Yeah, he didn’t kill me, but he would have killed my dreams, my life. I can’t give him that power. I belong here and I’m not going to let this stop me.”
Rick squeezed her shoulder in silent support.
Janice stepped forward and hugged her daughter. “You always have a place with us.”
“I know that, Mom.”
Sawyer made eye contact with Rick. “You need to keep my girl safe.”
Rick drew in a breath, pushed out his chest. “I will.”
While Judy said good-bye to her family, Rick shook Neil’s hand and pulled Zach aside. “We’re ready for round-the-clock supervision,” Neil told Zach. “In light of the new situation we’ll have more patrols at the house even if Rick is there.”
“Nobody thinks you did this.” Zach’s confidence made him stand taller.
“The surveillance isn’t to clear my name, but to watch for whoever might think no one’s eyes are out there. In order to catch this scumbag, you need to think like him. If he thinks all the protection is on the inside, he might roam the outside.”
Zach forced air from pursed lips. “See . . . this is why I like construction and not all this conspiracy shit. My mind doesn’t even go there.”
“By-product of the military, I’m afraid,” Neil said.
Rick extended his hand, shook Zach’s. “I’ll keep her safe for as long as I can.”
Zach stopped shaking his hand, his grin faded.
“The police will pick me up. It’s only a matter of time.”
“You’re serious.”
“Even if it’s for a long interrogation. I’ll be picked up unless this guy strikes again in a short amount of time.”
Zach closed his eyes and shook his head. “I never understood innocent until proven guilty until last year with Karen. Seemed every report on the news gave a clear explanation of a crime and the guilty party was a given. Only it’s not that way and the guilty are free to do whatever the hell they want.”
“If and when I’m taken in, Judy will be the weakest. She’ll need everyone. This guy preys on weakness or he wouldn’t have attacked her when he did. He didn’t kill her because the chase, the thrill . . .” Rick swallowed the nausea building in his throat. “The thrill of hurting her gave him more pleasure and he’ll want to do it again.”
Neil patted Rick on the back. “The problem is this guy might hit her one too many times and end his pleasure.”
Zach grew white. “Maybe we should keep her under house arrest.”
“Is your sister going to go for that?”
Zach glanced across the room. All of them followed his eyes only to see Judy lift her gaze to them with a shrug.
“No. Judy won’t let this guy have that kind of power.”
Chapter Sixteen
The building might have been in the exact same place and hadn’t been modified by paint or construction in the short amount of time she’d been away. But it was different.
Judy stared out the window of the passenger side of her car.
Rick pulled the car up to the curb and cut the engine.
“We’ll take this one step at a time.”
Her answer was a nod.
“Today is walking through the door, getting through the stares and questions. I’ll be on your floor before five to take you home.”
“I can meet you down here.”
“Humor me.”
Fine. Humoring Rick until she found her sea legs again was OK by her.
“Let’s do this,” she said as she pushed from the car with her purse in her hand.
He walked around the front of the car and placed a hand on the small of her back. “Ready?”
She’d brushed her hair around the section that was removed to stitch her up and knew that scar was hidden. Long sleeves were useful to hide her arm and the carving the butcher left with her. A little foundation, a lot of concealer, and it didn’t look as if she’d had too many nights without sleep.
They walked together inside the building. Already the air conditioning was working overtime to keep the heat outside.
The lobby consisted of a security desk with a guard that stood behind it watching everyone as they walked in. He’d offer a good morning and addressed many people by name. There wasn’t a checkpoint that only employees of the building could walk past, and she and Rick sailed by the security guard without any words.
She didn’t notice the stares until they stood by the elevators waiting for the lift.
“Is that her?” someone whispered behind them.
Rick must have heard the question, too. His hand kneaded her lower back and he inched closer.
Inside the elevator was worse. Besides her and Rick there were seven more people crammed in. All except one person kept glancing her way.
The slow, steady climb, with several stops along the way, took way too long.
Rick led her from the elevator and onto the floor that belonged to Benson & Miller Designs.
Nancy popped her head up from the reception desk and opened her mouth like a guppy. She swiped the headset from her head and walked around the desk. “Oh my God . . .”
Rick stood back as the woman wrapped her arms around Judy as if they were the best of friends.
“We heard . . . we all heard.” Nancy stood back. “Are you all right?”
“I’m better now, thanks.”
“My ex loved using his fists. I know it’s not the same, but if you ever need to talk.”
“Thanks, Nancy.”
Nancy slid her eyes to Rick for the first time. “Wow . . . boyfriend or bodyguard?”
He glanced at Judy and started to answer.
“A little of both,” she answered for him.
Those dimples made an appearance and he winked.
“Do you have a brother?” Nancy asked.
Judy felt laughter in her gut.
“Just me,” Rick answered.
Nancy fanned herself and turned her back so only Judy could see her face. He’s hot, she mouthed.
Judy walked into her office, giggling.
Her cubicle hadn’t changed much in her absence. It was tidier than she left it and in the corner sat the tube holding the plans she’d been taking home the night of the attack. Her gaze caught the tube and held.
�
��This is your desk?” Rick asked.
“Yeah.”
The tube hit the ground first. Over her staccato breaths, she heard it rolling away.
“Babe?”
Shut up, bitch.
“Judy?”
His breath was on her ear, blowing against her hair. “You’re not so tough now, are you?”
She squeezed her eyes shut and when she opened them, Rick was there, leaning over to force her to see him.
“You back?” he asked.
She nodded. “I remembered something.”
“What?”
“He said, You’re not so tough now, are you? I remember being confused. His words didn’t match what he was doing.”
“You’re not so tough? Are you sure that’s what he said?”
“Positive.”
“Do you remember anything else?”
Something else was there, tickling her head and scratching at her memory. Then it was gone.
“That’s it.”
Mr. Archer walked by her cubicle and stopped. “Judy?”
It was strange hearing her real name from the man’s lips. “Mr. Archer. Hi.”
“It’s good to see you back.”
“Thanks.”
The man actually smiled. “If you need anything . . . or need to leave, just let someone know.”
“That’s generous of you, Mr. Archer, but I’ll be OK.”
Mr. Archer looked at Rick then back to her. “Well, if it changes. I know José is backing up so you can pick up with him. We have someone new in the mail room, so don’t bother there.”
“Sounds good.”
Rick stood and offered a hand. “Rick Evans.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“Steve Archer.” They shook hands.
“Mind if I took a look around, Steve?”
“Not at all. The police already did. I don’t think they found anything in here.”
Rick leaned back on his heels. “I won’t take long.”
Mr. Archer walked away, leaving the two of them alone.
“You won’t blend walking around the office.”
“I don’t want to blend. I want everyone in this place to know my face.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips to hers. “I want everyone to know I’m your boyfriend.” He kissed her again. “I want them to know they will be messing with me if they mess with you.”
Taken by Tuesday (Weekday Brides Series) Page 14
