“Thank you again,” Julia said, truly meaning it. Betty Brannock’s company was easy to enjoy. “I really had fun tonight.”
“I know I’ll see you again soon,” Betty said with a conspiratorial smile. Then she turned back to Will. “Y’all come out again when your daddy’s in town. And your sister, too. Colleen misses you. Why, she was complaining the other day that she hasn’t seen you in months.”
Julia looked at Will and started to mention his penchant for busty airline employees, but he looked a little sheepish so she remained silent. And enough was enough. No more teasing him about flight attendants. He gave his mother one last peck on the cheek, and she told them both to take care. Then Will and Julia watched his mother drive away, her scarf blowing jauntily in the wind.
“I like her very much,” she told him with complete honesty.
“She’s a great lady. I miss her a lot.”
“Then why don’t you come out here more often? The TBI doesn’t have you on that tight of a leash, do they?”
“Depends on the case. It was lucky for me that Maria showed up here. You know, kill two birds with one stone, and all that.”
Julia laughed. “That’s not the best analogy when talking about your family.”
“No, I guess it’s not,” he said, grinning a little. He had a great smile, but it didn’t last long. He grew serious and said, “It’s good to hear you laugh, Julia.”
“We haven’t had much to laugh about since we met, I’ll grant you that.”
Their eyes searched each other’s faces, both solemn, both fully aware things were changing between them—had already changed. The kiss had proved that everything was different. Tonight was going to be a test, and Julia was afraid it was a test she might fail, despite all her best intentions. She broke eye contact and tried to forget the longing she saw in his eyes.
Their elevator ride to the penthouse was silent. Two young couples got on with them on the twenty-ninth floor and rode to the thirty-second, with lots of giggling and excited chatter. The four were having a wonderful time, and by the way they were groping each other, their night was headed to even more fun later on.
When they entered the Grand Lakeview Suite, Julia walked through the opulent marble entry hall into the living room. The view of the glittering lights of Las Vegas stretching out below was breathtaking. A couple of lamps had been switched on, giving a soft glow to the room. The fireplace was burning, and music was playing somewhere, soft and romantic. Julia wondered if Will had arranged that, anticipating his seduction. She hoped not. She hoped so.
Will strode into the living room and dropped the card on the table in front of the fireplace. “The maids always turn on music and turn down the beds.”
That answered her question. “Very cool. This is quite an experience.”
“How about a nightcap? Some wine, maybe.”
“Sure. I guess I should check in with Tam, though.”
“Do it tomorrow. She’ll call right away if anything turns up. We’re off the clock.”
Julia hesitated. If there was one thing she wasn’t used to, it was considering herself off the clock. The same could be said for Will. She knew that for a fact, from all the weeks working so closely alongside him. Oh God, she did want him in the worst way. She wanted a serious romantic relationship. She wanted him to grab her, crush her to him, and make love to her all night long. She had been fighting it, denying it, but now was the time. She was confused. Up until last night, he had been the one who had been standoffish. They’d decided it had to be professional and that’s all it could be at the moment. But then what did he do? Turned around and introduced her to his family and treated her to an overnight stay in heaven. What the devil was going on inside his head?
Will expertly opened a bottle of merlot and poured it into two stemmed crystal goblets. He handed her one and sat down across from her. They both stared into the fire. Julia frowned. She was not used to all this secretive drama and the kiss-me-like-crazy-then-run-like-a-rabbit routine.
“Look, Will, I’m not the type of woman who dances around problems. I think you know that. I think you know how I feel. You grabbed me and kissed me like I’ve never been kissed before, and then you treat me like the Queen of Sheba, or Beyoncé or somebody—bring me to meet your mama at the Bellagio, no less. Whom I really like, by the way. So, what’s it going to be, Will? Is this strictly professional, or something else we’re going to get into without much further ado?”
Will kept staring into the fire, for so long that Julia was about ready to slap him upside his head. Talk about a roller-coaster kind of guy. Since Bobby died, she’d tried to date a few times, but found she just couldn’t risk an emotional attachment again. She just didn’t want to get involved with anyone. And, true, she shouldn’t get involved with Will, either. So why was she pushing it? What the hell was the matter with her?
When he finally spoke, his voice was so low that she could barely hear it. “I guess it’s going to have to be strictly professional.”
Julia stared at his chiseled profile, backlit by the darting orange flames. She felt absolutely foolish, ridiculous, dumbstruck; the truth was, she wasn’t as insulted as she was disappointed. So, as it turned out, Will really was what she’d thought in the beginning—a man who went through women like water through a sieve. No deep feelings, no relationship, except for the physical act whenever he was in the mood for it. Anger shot through her. Burned through her body like caustic acid. Okay, so be it, jerk.
Carefully placing her goblet on the table, she stood up. “Whatever you say, Will. You’re probably right. It would be a mistake for us to get together tonight. We’d both regret it.”
Will didn’t answer, just set his jaw at a steely angle and stared moodily at her. She watched his facial muscles working hard under his tanned skin as he gritted his teeth, but he didn’t say anything else. Julia shook her head, turned, and walked into her bedroom. She shut the door quietly behind her, but she leaned against it and fought back tears. She should’ve slammed it like a hurt and jilted teenager. That’s what she wanted to do. She felt so silly. She never came on to men. But, damn it, he had started all this with that no-holds-barred kiss, and then he’d come off this morning like he was angry that they hadn’t gone further than a few kisses. She shouldn’t be angry; she should accept this as for the best. But she was angry. She was furious.
Cursing him under her breath, she kicked off her shoes and stripped off the slinky black dress that should have turned him on and hadn’t, and then slung it down on the shiny hardwood floor with as much strength as she possessed. Okay, if that’s what he wanted, that’s what he’d get: cold, cool, collected, on the case, no other thoughts in mind. Damn him, he’d started something, then cut bait as soon as she took it. Breathing in and out, nice and deep and steamy, she tried to calm herself, let the anger subside. He’s right, of course. That’s the way it should be. There was a vicious, cold-blooded killer on the loose in Chattanooga. That’s what she needed to concentrate on; that’s what was going to be her focus. They’d be professional. They’d do it exactly by the book. He’d never lay a finger on her again—no way.
The palatial bathroom she chose was all mirrors and marble and glass doors. The shower was huge and luxurious, with enough showerheads to bathe an elephant and its calf. She turned them all on, hot as her poor skin could take it, and stepped into the pounding water and cloud of steam and let it wash away the rest of her anger. Truth be told, a cold shower probably would’ve been more appropriate. She shut her eyes, made the water a bit cooler, and raised her face into the spray. One thing was for sure—a cold shower was in order with all the lurid thoughts she’d been having since last night.
It wasn’t until Julia felt his hand on her shoulder that she realized Will was in the shower with her. She jerked around, and there he stood, right behind her, still fully dressed. The hungry look was back in his eyes, so intense that her lips parted. Regaining her wits, she put her palms against the wet shirt clinging
to his molded chest muscles, stopping him where he stood, not sure what he wanted—what she wanted. He’d rejected her a minute ago, only to show up now. He didn’t push forward against her, just stared into her eyes.
“I want you. I want you so badly I can taste it.”
Julia swallowed, unable to move. “You just said you didn’t want to do this.”
“I tried to do the right thing. I can’t do it anymore. I don’t have the strength.”
“If we do this now, there’s no going back.”
“I don’t care.” A long, torturous pause. Then he said the magic words. “I love you, Julia.”
Julia melted a little inside. Now that was more like it. She cupped his jaw in her palms, felt the strength in it, but also the trembling as he held himself back. Then she leaned into him, giving him the permission he needed, and he was pulling her wet, naked body against him. She went up onto her toes, trying to reach his mouth, and their lips came together, hot, eager, searching. Her mouth opened to his tongue, and they let loose all the emotions that had been building up for days. Will went down on his knees, the spraying water wetting his hair, and she pushed it back as his warm mouth closed over her nipple. She cried out, the sensation ripping through her body and deep into her core, barely aware of the warm water streaming down over her bare flesh, his hands pulling her against him.
Then she was jerking his buttons open, and he impatiently stood and shrugged off his shirt. Hard, sculpted muscles flattened her breasts as their wet skin met and slid together, both his hands tangled in her wet hair. Her hands went to his belt, and then he was finally naked, too, and their bodies came together. She felt his palms on her thighs, pulling her legs up around his waist. He backed her against the wall, and their mouths attacked each other. Then he was inside her, and he took her with him down onto the marble floor. Warm water still streaming over them, Julia grasped him around the neck with both hands, holding on tightly, moving with each of his deep thrusts. Her eyes were squeezed shut, overcome by sheer pleasure, and she moaned in desire, clutching his hair with her fingers as he found his way to the side of her neck, his tongue licking at her wet flesh. His mouth moved lower, taking one nipple then the other into his mouth and sucking until deep, erotic, electrifying sensations streaked like flame along her nerve endings.
The pleasure built until she couldn’t stand it, and then it happened. The climax gripped them both, their bodies going rigid as they held on to each other, letting it happen, letting the ecstasy go on and on until they shook with the sheer, wracking pleasure of it.
Afterward, Will held Julia on his lap and smoothed back her hair. They sat there without speaking, her head on his shoulder, their lips and tongues still exploring each other’s faces and mouths, doing all the things they’d both dreamed of since they first met.
Finally they stood and washed each other slowly and gently with the scented soap, turning each other on again as warm water sprayed over their nakedness, sensual, slick, slippery. Their bodies slid together, joined again, and moved slowly, until the sensations climbed, climbed to that final, exquisite moment again, and the pure sexual gratification exploded inside them both, shaking them to their cores. Weak, overwhelmed by what they had experienced, they held each other.
Two hours later, they sat together again in the living room, on the white couch facing the huge glass windows where the fountains still shot white geysers high into the air. They both now wore the long, white terry cloth robes embroidered with the Bellagio logo. They clinked their champagne glasses together, sipped, then tasted the wine off each other’s lips. Julia opened Will’s robe and touched the scar she’d seen earlier on his shoulder, then kissed it. “This looks like a bullet wound. What happened?”
At her question, Will stiffened noticeably, and Julia drew back, surprised. He abruptly let her go, stood up, and walked away to stand in front of the windows, his back to her, all of Las Vegas glittering in the distance. Julia watched him, hoping he wasn’t regretting their lovemaking. How could he, as wonderful as it had been? He couldn’t have faked the tenderness he showed when he’d made love to her again in that big, soft bed—the gentleness, the whispered words of love. There had to be something else, something that was troubling him. So she sat silently and waited.
“I’m sorry, Julia,” he said softly, turning around and facing her. At that, Julia tensed, set down her glass, and waited for him to continue. “I shouldn’t have pushed you away earlier tonight. I didn’t want to. But I didn’t want to hurt you. I didn’t want to put you in danger.”
“What are you talking about? Tell me. Nothing can be that bad.”
“You just don’t know.”
“Then tell me. Please.”
“I’m trying to protect you. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“So you don’t want to continue this relationship?”
“Yes, of course I do,” he said quickly. “This is what I’ve wanted for a long time. And it was everything I thought it’d be—more, a lot more.”
Pleased by his words, Julia watched him. His words were coming out hard, as if he’d never given voice to his fears before. “Then why? What are you afraid of?”
“I’m afraid that the people who are trying to kill me will kill you instead.”
Nothing he could have said could have stunned Julia more. “Kill you? Are you serious? There are people gunning for you?”
Will remained silent, but Julia could see the pain on his face. She asked again. “Are you talking about this case? The Tongue Slasher?”
“No, this has nothing to do with our case. It’s about something that happened to me when I was a boy.”
“Will, you’re beginning to scare me. Who’s after you? Why?” But everything suddenly made sense to Julia: all his secrecy, his extreme caution, not mentioning his home, family, past life. He was finally going to tell her what was going on. Now, though, she was almost afraid to hear what he would say.
“I was only eighteen when it happened.”
Julia’s every nerve quivered on edge, now that he was on the verge of revealing all his secrets. It was going to be bad. Very bad. She could feel it.
“We lived in Mississippi back then. In Biloxi. Dad had a restaurant there, one inside a casino, one a lot like the Taste of the South. I worked there—everybody in our family did—cooking, waiting tables, or busing the dishes. Colleen was a hostess. I was learning the business. Dad wanted me to take it over when he retired.”
The story was coming out very hard. Will did not want to do this, relive it, Julia could tell that, but he was going to. He wanted her to know. He wanted the secrets between them to end. So did she, but she felt terrible for him. The emotions flickering across his face were tortured, almost too painful to watch. She wanted to rush over to him, to hold him and help him get through it, but she didn’t. He wouldn’t want that. She waited for him to get himself under control.
“That night I was taking a break out back in the alley. I saw a murder go down.”
“You witnessed it?”
“Yes, and that made me a material witness in a murder case.”
“Oh my God.”
Will gave a wry smile. “Yeah. Turned out that the hit man sang to the FBI, told them that the casino owner was behind the hit. His name was Oscar Kraft. The FBI charged him with conspiracy to commit murder, put them on trial together, and asked me to testify. So I agreed.”
“And Kraft came after you.”
“Yeah. They sent me threatening letters. You know, the usual intimidation tactics. So I had to go into protective custody until the trial.” Pure agony took hold of his face, and Julia braced herself, sensing the worst was coming next. Whatever it was, it was a deep, festering wound inside Will, one that was killing his soul. So raw that even now it clogged his throat, making it difficult for him to get out the words.
“They got my little brother instead. Bryan. He looked a lot like me. A little shorter. One night when he was coming out of a movie theater, they shot him down l
ike a dog. Shot his girlfriend, too. She survived. Bryan didn’t. He had just turned sixteen when he died.”
Julia’s heart hammered out of control. Of all the things he had told her, this was the most horrific, and the last thing she had expected to hear. Again, her instinct was to get up and hold him close, comfort him, but something about the stiffness of his stance told her not to, that he wasn’t finished. “I’m so sorry, Will. That must have been terrible for you and your family.” She thought of Betty, the lovely, smiling, affectionate woman who had lost her innocent young son to violence.
“I testified anyway. I wanted to get that bastard. And I did.” Will began to pace the floor in front of the fireplace, then stopped and braced a hand on the mantel, staring down into the flames. “After the trial was over, I still got threats. The Feds wanted me to go into witness protection and disappear for good. That’s not my style. Not even back then was I willing to go into hiding. But I was afraid they’d go after me again and get my parents instead, or my sister. They’re vicious enough to kill anybody in their way.”
The hurt in his voice was so naked now, so heartbreaking that Julia had to go to him. She moved up behind him, put her arms tightly around his waist, and laid her cheek against his back. “You were afraid for the people you loved. I would’ve done the same thing.”
“The only way I knew to keep them out of danger was to disappear, put out word through the FBI that I was dead, killed for my testimony. So that’s what I did. I avoided my family, broke off with the girl I was dating back then, and joined the army. I volunteered for special ops and black ops missions for the next nine years. Once I opted out, I joined the FBI. First in Los Angeles and then St. Louis. And then I joined the TBI in Chattanooga.”
Will pulled her to the sofa and sat down beside her. “So there you go, Julia. That’s my life history, as sordid as it is.”
“I’m so sorry, Will. I can’t imagine how awful that must have been for you. If something like that ever happened to J.D., I don’t know what I’d do. He’s been my protector, my only family, for most of my life.”
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