Weston

by Debra Kayn

  “May I ask where and who gave you the evidence you’re bringing in front of the board?” he asked, his voice gravely serious.

  Earlier, she’d talked to Tony about the best way to handle answering the question she knew would come up about Archer, and they’d both agreed. If she were to remain safe, she’d take responsibility and leave Archer’s name out of her story. Okay, Tony didn’t agree and they’d fought, but in the end, he’d remained silent, letting her make the decision on her own.

  The police department used informants all the time. Archer was working with her.

  “I gathered it while I working undercover.” She pulled her shoulders back. Always truthful; if she kept information to herself, it wasn’t lying. “The physical evidence, the recordings, and the pictures were handed to me personally for payment on the jobs I fulfilled while on duty for the Cannon Police Department.”

  “Shit.” Officer Bailey bent at the waist and braced his elbows on his knees.

  Rocki kept her gaze forward, allowing the officer time to collect himself. News of a scandal this big would rock the town of Cannon for many years, and he deserved enough time to grasp what she was telling them. The lives of every single person employed by the bureau would be tested, talked about, and run through internal affairs. None of them would walk away without feeling the effects of Detective Marcelli’s actions.

  Detective Hanara studied her for several seconds and turned to Tony. “And your involvement?”

  “I was with her while she was working undercover on the case, doing my own investigative work into Mr. Archer. I witnessed the exchange. She was given the package honestly. Because of my close involvement with the police in the county, I was aware of Detective Bangli’s true identity from prior occasions while she worked here at the academy. I stayed around to make sure she remained safe.” Tony remained sitting, his body relaxed to the others in the room, but she could sense the tension rolling off him. “When the job became too risky, I helped her stay out of sight until she could contact her superior. The first night before she could make contact with Detective Marcelli, we had a drive-by shooting at my place of residence, which resulted in the police being called and a report filed. Detective Marcelli came out of his jurisdiction to meet with Detective Bangli before he was notified she’d left the job.”

  “That doesn’t mean anything.” Officer Bailey tilted his head and looked down at Rocki. “His radio would pick up the nine one one call from dispatch. It’s out of his jurisdiction, but we all know if extra help is needed, he serves not only Cannon, but the county as a whole.”

  “True.” Rocki looked Officer Bailey in the eye. “And yet, since I’ve known him, he never responds to a call in the district’s unmarked patrol car, wearing street clothes, during off hours.”

  Detective Hanara sat and shook his head. “Give us a few moments to figure out what we’re dealing with, please.”

  Tony’s hand covered hers. She swallowed. “I’m afraid we can’t let the evidence out of our sight, sir. I want it reported, tagged, filed, and locked away in the evidence room to be copied and handed over to the department’s lawyer. I will not chance having Detective Marcelli get his hands on the package.”

  “You do know what this will do to the department, to the academy, if what you’re telling me is true?” Detective Hanara scowled.

  She steeled her spine and refused to cower under his threat. “Yes, sir, I do.”

  Two hours later, Detective Hanara, Officer Bailey, Attorney Phil Armour, Tony, and two security guards escorted her from the file room. Then she listened as Detective Hanara put out an APB on Gino Marcelli.

  Rocki led Tony out of the building. Her legs shook and she bent over to catch her breath, and Tony’s arm hooked her waist, catching her. She leaned into him.

  “Good job, sweetheart. A little bit farther and I’ll take you to the house and you can deal with what went down in private,” he murmured.

  She climbed into the passenger seat of the Camaro, buckled, and sat quietly as Tony started the car and drove them off the academy’s property. She stared out the windshield as they passed the Dairy Queen and the Cannon plaza, then drove onto the highway heading north to Bay City.

  Tony remained silent, but offered her continual support by holding her hand. She squeezed his fingers, afraid if she let go, she’d crumble.

  Once she found her voice, she’d thank him for supporting her at the meeting. She could tell it killed him not to defend and jump to her defense. Yet what he didn’t know was that without his confidence in her, she would’ve backed down.

  Despite their history she couldn’t let Gino get away with what he’d done, even if bringing the allegations to the board cost her the promotion or her job.

  Her door opened. She blinked up at Tony, unaware that they’d arrived at his house. She let him pull her out of the Camaro and into his arms. She buried her face in his neck. Against his warm skin, within his strong embrace, she let the worry and stress go.

  Chapter Twenty

  Brute lumbered out into the living room, stretched his massive legs, saw Rocki, and whined. As Rocki moved forward and hugged the dog, Tony locked the door and waited to set the alarm. Proud of the fight Rocki won today, he reluctantly left her to open the sliding door into the backyard.

  He wanted everything secured for the rest of the night, because he wasn’t planning to get out of bed until morning. “Come on, Brute. Let’s go outside.”

  The dog remained in the front of the house.

  “Brute. Come,” he said.

  Rocki brought Brute into the kitchen and pointed to the door. “Go potty.”

  His dog trotted toward him, paused, looked back at Rocki, and then gazed up at Tony before walking out onto the patio. He shook his head. The message was clear. Brute’s concern over Rocki’s tender hold on her emotions was even apparent to the dog.

  “Got her covered, buddy,” he whispered.

  Tony stood with the door open, watching Rocki carefully. She gazed outside, deep in thought, probably over what had gone down in that boardroom at the academy. His job as a private investigator distanced him from the governing force she worked under and allowed him to see what was happening. She struggled with what she’d done. She’d turned in a shield, and guilt lay heavy on her shoulders.

  “Sweetheart?”

  Her gaze came to him. “Hmm?”

  “You did the right thing.”

  She nodded. “I should probably call my mom.”

  He strode over and handed her his cell. “The number for their hotel is in there. You can make the call and give her the news. Your mom will want to know that you’re all right. Tell her to let my dad know he can bring everyone home.”

  She leaned up on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thanks, gorgeous.”

  The tension eased from his shoulders as she walked out of the room. He could get used to her being here, looking up at him, and talking to him in that soft voice she uses when they’re alone.

  After letting Brute inside, he set the alarm then checked in on Rocki in the living room to make sure she was doing all right. The one-sided conversation he caught was intense and heartbreaking. He left her to finish her call in privacy. No matter the age, a daughter needed her mom when dealing with a crisis.

  In the meantime, he kicked the dirty clothes scattered around his bedroom into a pile, and then went into the bathroom and started the water flowing in the tub. Brute watched him from the doorway.

  “Come on, buddy. Let’s go find you a treat.” He walked out of the bedroom and into the spare room down the hall.

  On the top shelf of the closet, he removed one of the massive chew bones he kept out of Brute’s reach and tossed it on the bed. Brute jumped on the mattress and went to town, working on the ends, happy to have a little attention. Tony sat down and gave him a big scratch behind his floppy ears.

  “Won’t be long before I’ll be able to spend more time with you, take you for a run and let you ride to the garage with me on
the weekends,” he said. “The deal with Rocki will be over soon; until then Rocki’s going to need me for a little bit longer.”

  Brute looked up, seemed to study the empty doorway as if hearing Rocki’s name reminded him that she was in the other room alone, and then went back to chewing. He gave the dog a final pat and left to check the water level in the tub.

  After shutting off the faucet, he met Rocki coming into the bedroom. He held out his hand, and she walked to him. Red-rimmed eyes gazed at him and she sniffled.

  “Everything okay with your mom?” he asked.

  “Yeah.” She kicked off her heels. “I tried to talk her into waiting until tomorrow to fly home, but Mom wanted to leave right away. Your dad was calling for tickets as I said good-bye.”

  “She’s worried. My dad probably knew she wouldn’t relax until she could see you for herself and know that you’re okay.”

  She stepped away and sat on the bed. “I know. I’ve always tried to protect her from what happens at work. Going undercover and dealing with Archer afterward, well, I think she’s realized how dangerous my job can be and she’s scared for me.”

  “You’re a detective. A damn good one,” he whispered. “You can’t protect her forever.”

  Her gaze snapped to him in the middle of taking off her bracelet. “I know that. I’ve even taken her to self-defense classes and the firing range, so she could protect herself when I’m not around. It’s just…she’s my mom and she seems to think there’s only good in the world. I don’t want to shatter her illusion. I kind of want to keep her that way.”

  “I get that, sweetheart.” He pulled the hem of her dress up. “And, I want to keep you happy, so you’re going to get undressed and let me give you a bath.”

  “A bath, Weston?” She laughed.

  He stilled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Oh, I don’t know.” She lifted her butt off the mattress and let him sweep her dress over her head. “Maybe it’s because you’re the strongest, most bullheaded man with the sexiest smile, the biggest—”

  “Dick?” He grinned.

  She snorted. “That too. But, I was going to say the biggest shoulders I’ve ever slept on. And now you’re seducing me by giving me a bath, and”—she glanced at him—“I think I might be falling in love with you, Weston.”

  “Say it again, but drop the Weston.” He hooked her waist and dragged her naked body against him.

  Her arms wrapped around his neck. “I’m falling in love with you, Tony.”

  “About damn time, sweetheart.” He scooped her up, and cradled her in his arms.

  Tony carried her into the bathroom and put her in the bathtub. She sank to her shoulders into the water and closed her eyes. He stood ogling and thinking how beautiful and irresistible he found her.

  “No bubbles?” She peeked up at him before closing her eyes again.

  Shit. Girls like bubbles. Right. I can do bubbles.

  He scoured the bathroom cabinets, and the only thing he could find was a half-empty bottle of Brute’s flea and tick shampoo. He held the container toward the light, squinting at the writing on the side of the bottle when soft laughter drew his attention back to Rocki.

  “I don’t think so,” she said.

  He frowned. “It’s nontoxic.”

  She laughed, and he threw the bottle into the sink. Without thinking, he shucked off his clothes. He might not be able to give her bubbles and candlelight, but he’d give her his attention.

  Rocki’s eyes came open when he stepped into the water. He grinned at the look of shock replaced by curiosity. A hiss came out between his clenched teeth as he sank down into the hot water, sending a wave over the rim of the tub onto the floor.

  “You’re going to get your floor soaking wet,” she said.

  He ignored the mess. “It’ll be fine. We can throw our towels down when we’re done.”

  She leaned forward, turning, and slid into the spot between his legs, resting her back against his front. “You’re crazy, brilliant, and really big to share a bath with, you know.”

  “Lift your feet out of the tub,” he whispered. “Maybe I’ll remodel the bathroom. Bigger would be good.”

  She scooted down until the water touched her ears and lifted her feet. He palmed the top of her head and dunked her under the surface.

  She came up sputtering. “Real classy, Weston.”

  “Hang on. It’ll get better.”

  He grabbed the shampoo bottle—the human kind—and squirted a good-sized dollop in her hair. Her body softened and she let her head fall back on his chest. He used the tips of his fingers and massaged her scalp. Lather grew and he flicked his hands in front of her, sending a spray of bubbles on top of the water. He could do bubbles.

  She laughed softly. “Perfect.”

  He spread the length of her hair out on the water, taking care to shampoo each strand. The blackness in her hair darkened with the water, and he diligently separated a strand. He’d never been this intimate with a woman before…never had one stay over, much less run a bath and bathe her before. He smiled, contentment washing over him. He loved having Rocki in his life.

  She slowed him down, and made him appreciate the beauty that came along with having a woman in the house. Everything she did fascinated him.

  He was a wash-and-shake-dry guy. Rocki styled hers, spending hardly any time, and came away looking ball-achingly gorgeous. A natural beauty, she could slap on a baseball hat and he’d still want her.

  A low, feminine moan filled the bathroom. His body hardened and he bent his neck to kiss her wet forehead. “Good?”

  “Wonderful,” she mumbled.

  “Close your eyes.” He worked the shampoo around her face. “Hold your breath.”

  He warned her this time and she went under the water on her own. He used his hands and quickly worked the soap out of her hair. When she came up for air, he realized that in his hurry to get in the tub and get naked, he’d forgotten the towels.

  “Scoot up, sweetheart. I need to get us some towels.”

  She rubbed her hands over her face, turned, and blinked rapidly up at him. “You’re kidding.”

  “No. I forgot to set some out,” he said.

  She rolled her eyes. “You have a lot to learn about women.”

  Before he could ask her what she was talking about, she pulled herself to her feet, flipped the stopper lever to open, and turned on the shower. From his spot below her, he eyed her body until a faceful of spray shot down on him.

  She grabbed his hand. “On your feet, big guy. Let me show you how women like to wash, because we never stop at only a bath and call it good. We like to wash off with clean water.”

  He proceeded to stand there and watch her put conditioner in her hair. He groaned, rubbing his abdomen as her head went back, exposing her slim neck, her breasts thrust higher. He laid his hands on her hips, riveted by the water drops rolling all over her.

  “Hold out your hands,” she said.

  He shook his head. “Don’t want to.”

  “Oh, trust me.” She dropped her gaze to his chest. “You’ll like this part.”

  She removed his hand, placed a bar of soap in his grasp, and gave him instructions to work up a good lather. When she deemed the job done, she raised her arms, and whispered for him to wash her.

  It didn’t take him long to learn he really loved how women took showers. He’d have to remember the rules. Shower after bath. Shampoo before conditioner. Soap on hands.

  By the time he’d soaped up her legs, spent a considerable amount of time between her thighs and lower stomach, he was breathing hard and sporting an even harder erection. Rocki eyed him sleepily and planted her own soapy hands on his chest. He stood still, letting her spread the bubbles over his body. Pleasure and pain mingled as his cock hardened. When she lowered her hand, he grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

  “Can’t wait,” he murmured, finishing the job of washing himself, spraying off under the water in record time. “Th
at’s how guys shower.”

  She laughed. “Dually noted.”

  He opened the glass sliding door, lunged out of the tub, and retrieved two towels, handing one to Rocki. After giving himself a few swipes to dry off, he flung the towel to the corner of the bathroom and led Rocki into the bedroom.

  “Tony, my hair.” She dragged her feet. “I need to comb the snarls out while it’s wet.

  “Leave it. I love snarls on you, sweetheart.” He grasped her hips and lifted upward.

  She screamed in surprise, threw her legs around his hips, and locked her hands behind his neck. Then he fell backward, holding her to him as his back hit the bed and Rocki landed square on top of him, where he wanted her.

  “I want to be inside of you.” He skimmed his hands up her thighs and watched her take his hardness in her hand before lowering herself on his length.

  He groaned at the erotic sight, the warmth, and her body squeezing him. He raised his hands to her breasts. His thumbs honed in on her nipples, tweaking, rolling, and rubbing. He could die in the plushness of her breasts alone. The perfect shape more than filled his hands, and her hard nipples tempted him to taste her.

  Even though he wanted to slow down, spend more attention on her, he knew Rocki was too tired for a drawn-out evening, no matter how much her beautiful brown eyes said differently. He wanted to relax her, not wear her out more. Despite the lax jaw, the heated gaze, he was struggling to keep the pace to please her.

  He flipped her over and took top position, burying his mouth in her neck. “Hold on, sweetheart. We’re going fast and big.”

  Then he fulfilled his promise.

  She gasped when he cut off her next breath with a kiss. She quivered underneath him as he thrust. He muttered against her lips, “Unbelievable.”

  “Oh God…” Her rapid breaths caressed his cheek. Her hand came up to dive into his hair, holding him close.

  “That’s it, sweetheart.” His voice rumbled through his body as he fought for control. “Take it all.”

  Never had he met a woman who reached in, grabbed his soul, and flourished every bit of her attention toward him, even when her own life was blowing up around her. One look and he wanted her. One touch and he wanted to possess her body. One whisper of her soft voice and he wanted to keep her forever.