Reluctant Witness

by Rachel Brimble

“Why should I?”

  He arched a hopeful eyebrow. “Because I’m begging?”

  She lifted her eyes to the ceiling for a few seconds as though considering his plea before looking him straight in the eyes. Daniel’s heart kicked hard against his chest. Her eyes sparkled like emeralds.

  “On one condition.”

  “Anything.”

  “You bring plenty of chicken drumsticks thickly marinated in honey and mustard,” she said, her tongue flicking out to moisten her lips. “And for dessert, I want strawberries and cream. Oh, and not that horrible, low-fat stuff either. I want cream so thick it has to be spooned on, not poured.”

  As well as feeling like a teenager who had managed to secure a date with the hottest girl in school, Daniel found the whole tongue thing immensely erotic. He cleared his throat. “Deal. Eight o’clock,” he said, getting up from his chair. “On the dot.” He turned to walk away, then suddenly remembered something. “Oh, and Julia? Bring a bikini.”

  He smiled as she started sputtering behind him.

  Chapter Ten

  Julia opened the door to find Daniel holding a huge bouquet of yellow roses.

  “An apology for annoying you earlier today.”

  Damn him. “They’re beautiful, Daniel, thank you. Come in.”

  Turning, she headed for the kitchen, leaving him, to close the door. There was no use in denying that the flowers had just quashed her final scrap of indecision as to whether or not she would actually step outside the door with him. The bikini she’d put on under her clothes was merely a precaution.

  She filled the biggest vase she had with water, while willing her heartbeat to slow down. She’d had all afternoon to prepare herself for this, to prepare for him, but was suddenly, incredibly, inexplicably nervous. And when he spoke softly against her ear, her heart leapt into her throat.

  “You look lovely.”

  Heat covered her body in one quickly laid blanket. She squeezed her eyes shut and her thighs together. Electricity crackled dangerously between them. She swallowed. “Thanks.”

  When she moved, he stepped back and she walked to the small kitchen table and placed the roses in the center.

  “They’re stunning. You shouldn’t have.”

  When no response came, she turned to look at him.

  “Daniel?”

  He didn’t meet her eyes. Instead, his gaze lazily appreciated every inch of her body, making her feel naked and exposed. She inhaled a shaky breath. It felt good and bad, all at the same time.

  “We’d better get going,” she heard herself say, taking a step past him. “It will be dark before long.” Before she could change her mind again, she hurried into the hallway, grabbed her handbag from the bottom of the banister, and stepped out the front door.

  Enjoying the light pressure of his hand at the small of her back, Julia walked to the car and decided that whatever her mother’s feelings toward cops were, tonight they would have to be pushed to the back of her mind. After all, this was possibly the last time she would see Daniel Conway for a few months.

  And despite her bravado, Julia wanted the last night with him to matter.

  The short drive to the beach passed in silence. Julia snuck a few furtive glances at his handsome profile and was sure Daniel stole a few, too. Now, as she leaned her elbows back into the sand and looked around her, she felt the tension seep from her shoulders. With darkness settling softly around them, Julia watched him from the corner of her eye as he popped the cork on a bottle of champagne and filled two glasses.

  He held one out to her. “Enjoy.”

  “What shall we drink to?” she asked.

  “To us.”

  He touched his glass to hers and drank. She followed suit. The velvety liquid exploded against her tongue and she savored its rich golden taste.

  “So,” Daniel began, “Are you hungry? Or do you want to swim first?”

  She eyed him over the rim of her glass. “You open champagne, then decide you want to swim? No way, Mister. We can’t let champagne this good turn warm, it will be ruined.”

  “Fear not young lady, for I have thought of everything.”

  Julia bit back a smile as he wiggled his eyebrows. He turned to his holdall and produced a wine bucket, then dug into the cooler and filled it with huge chunks of ice.

  She nodded her approval. “I’m impressed.”

  “Good. Now strip.”

  “Daniel!”

  But coyness didn’t suit her, and when Daniel stripped off to reveal his swimming shorts beneath, Julia laughed and removed her own clothes to show that she, too, had come prepared. Daniel let out a low whistle, and Julia felt her insides quiver but secretly hoped she hadn’t gone too far.

  She put her hands on her hips, smiling mischievously. “Did I do something I shouldn’t have?”

  He gestured with his finger, pointing up and down her bikini-clad body. “That’s...that’s...”

  “Goodness, me, Detective Inspector, are you all right?”

  “But…but there’s nothing to it!” he sputtered.

  She looked down at her body in mock surprise. “This

  old thing? Don’t be silly—I’d wear this swimming with my mom.”

  She left him standing there open-mouthed and sprinted toward the water, wearing a huge grin. But he was too fast and when he grabbed her by the waist, Julia didn’t know whether to cry out in surprise or scream with delight. He carried her into the water and when the cool waves touched her bare skin, she clung to his body heat.

  When she’d stopped laughing enough to look into his eyes, what she saw there sent tremors through every part of her body. His eyes reflected everything she was feeling. Emotions swirled and battled in their depths—lust, need, laughter, joy...love. Julia’s heart soared.

  They spoke at the same time.

  “Daniel, I—”

  “Julia, there’s something you should know,” he said, as he held her firmly in his arms.

  The sounds of the water lulled, the waves hushed and the birds circling overhead flew silently away. His gaze wandered over her face.

  “I’m falling in love with you.”

  The shock of him saying it out loud robbed her of speech. Instead, she kissed him and knew that this was it. His admission, said so easily, so simply had just made what she was feeling, what was happening between them real. The salty taste of him slid over her lips and her hands automatically lifted to hold his strong jaw. Her heart beat hard beneath her ribcage, her body hummed with the need for him.

  How long they kissed, Julia had no idea, but knew she had never felt such joy, such heartbreak—or faced such a difficult decision.

  He loved her.

  And she loved him. She shivered. Suddenly out here just the two of them alone in the ocean, Julia could feel her brother looking down on her. But she didn’t feel his anger or disappointment, all she felt with astonishing clarity was his permission. She could feel it seeping through her skin, deeper and deeper into her heart.

  She held the moment, strained to hear him against the pure joy of being in Daniel’s arms, feeling his body pressed so tightly to her own. Or maybe she was imagining Phil’s approval so she could continue this journey with Daniel guilt-free?

  She pressed her lips harder to Daniel’s, sought his tongue with hers and clung her legs a little tighter around his waist—and prayed Phil would fight through the conflicting fears and hopes battling through her mind until she could hear him telling her exactly what she should do.

  Only once their skin had started to wrinkle did they walk hand in hand from the water. Collapsing onto the blanket, Julia looked at the black, velvety sky above them. Night had fallen without her noticing. She turned her head, watched Daniel’s chest fall and rise beside her and wondered what was supposed to happen next. It seemed Phil had left her to find her own way.

  Her gaze wandered up his body to his face—and felt her cheeks heat to catch him watching her.

  “So, do I get to seduce you now or after
we’ve eaten?” he asked, quietly.

  Her mouth twitched. “Who says you get to do that either way?”

  She sat up and reached for her glass of champagne from the cooler. But before it touched her lips, Daniel had taken it from her hand and put it back.

  He smiled and her heart turned over. Damn him and that sexy smile. Her mind raced, her heart jumped, but she did absolutely nothing to stop him. He leaned over her and his lips touched hers. She closed her eyes and breathed in his exquisite masculine scent as he brushed his fingers down the side of her face, her neck, her collar bone. She pressed her lips firmly against his, her tongue pushing hungrily into his mouth. She wanted him. Oh, God, she wanted him.

  Leaning back until she lay flat against the blanket, Julia drew him down with her. His chest pressed hard against her breasts, his torso flat against hers. And when he inched her legs apart to place one muscular leg there, Julia’s breathing quickened.

  “Do you really want this?” he asked, looking deep into her eyes.

  “Of course I do.”

  “I was only teasing about the seduction, but now I’m serious. More serious than I’ve ever been in my life.” He paused, his gaze dropping to her lips before meeting her eyes once more. “But if you want me to stop...”

  He let the sentence hang in the air. She lifted a hand to brush the hair that had fallen into his eyes.

  “If you stop now, I may have to seriously hurt you.”

  Grinning, he took her hand and pressed a kiss to its palm. “God, you’re fantastic.”

  Feeling gloriously sexy, Julia stretched her arms above her head knowing right now this was exactly what they should be doing. Whatever happened between them from here on in, she wanted Daniel to make love to her, wanted to feel him deep inside of her even if she could only experience it this one precious time. She sighed happily as he nibbled at the tender skin at her shoulder before making a tantalizing path toward her breast.

  But when he inched back the wet bra of her bikini, the game became intense and her smile slowly slipped. He replaced the cool night air that nipped at her breast with the warmth of his breath and the heat of his tongue. She sucked in a breath as he skillfully sent waves of sensation coursing through her body.

  His leg lifted urgently against the material between her legs and she lustfully returned the pressure. Dropping her hands, she scored her nails through his hair, across his shoulders and down his muscular back, savoring the rush of his breath against her nipple.

  She reached for him and pushed him gently to the side. Once they were lying side by side, Julia inched her hand down his chest, through the spattering of hair beneath his navel and reached inside his shorts. She smiled. Things were getting better and better. He followed her lead by trailing a hand slowly down her stomach and sliding a hand toward her panties.

  He stroked her and it was as though he’d lit a match. Heat rose and warmed every inch of her body. Flames licked deliciously around his fingers as she increased the pressure of her own hand. He groaned and that inflamed her further.

  He shifted his weight and she removed her hand. She opened heavy eyelids to see him pull a fleece comforter and one solitary foil packet from his bag. Not caring that he had thought what was happening now was inevitable, she grinned.

  “I didn’t...” he began.

  Shaking her head, she lifted a finger, beckoning him back beside her. She slipped out of her panties and pulled him down to her. He arranged the comforter over them and encased them in their own private cocoon. He took off his shorts and ripped open the packet.

  Smiling, Julia curled her fingers around his and took the protection. Seduction had disappeared, raw need was rife—Julia rolled it onto him before letting her hands linger and stroke once more.

  “Now, Daniel. I want you now.”

  She lay back and he hovered above her. His eyes searching hers, his body strong and rigid. And then, he was inside her, filling her, moving back and forth with a controlled and patient rhythm. Any remaining iota of Julia’s reserve vanished as she gripped his buttocks in her hands, pushing him deeper and deeper…

  Until he took her to the place she wanted to be.

  ****

  Daniel tapped the scribblings Julia had found at the store up and down against his desk. Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes. There had to be something more to link Derek to either the betting shop, the boat or to one of the debt agencies in Kendlewood.

  Later, much later, after his and Julia’s lovemaking, the conversation had returned to the case. Julia was still adamant she’d seen the type of paper that had been written on somewhere before—but could not figure out where. But this time he was more patient with her, and didn’t leave her in the dust while he flew off to find answers.

  Daniel pushed away from the desk, and got to his feet. He wasn’t going to bring Derek’s killer to justice sitting in his office all day. He opened the ever-growing case file and removed the client list he’d requested from Bainbridge. There was no record of Derek having visited the Dial-A-Debt office, but Daniel’s gut was still telling him that he had. He snatched up his keys, pocketed the paper Julia had found and headed out the door.

  It was nearing the end of the day when Daniel pushed open the agency door and went inside. Bainbridge’s secretary smiled up at him.

  “Good afternoon, sir. May I help you?”

  Daniel glanced at Bainbridge’s empty desk. “Gillian, right?”

  “Yes, yes it is. Can I help you?”

  Daniel smiled. “I’m Detective Inspector Conway, I came in last week and spoke to Mr. Bainbridge. Is he here?”

  “He’s with a client in the interview room. Can I make an appointment for you, Inspector?”

  “No, that’s fine. I’m happy to wait.”

  Daniel lowered himself into one of the overstuffed armchairs and picked up a magazine from the low-level table.

  “Would you like a coffee, Inspector?”

  He smiled. “That would be great.”

  Twenty minutes later, Bainbridge emerged from behind a closed door at the back of the office. The way he smiled down at the harassed young woman who walked out with him, turned Daniel’s stomach to stone. Debt agencies. They were loan sharks, no matter how they tried to jazz it up. Bainbridge was pond scum. The woman he urged toward the door was so thin and wringing her hands so badly Daniel was convinced a serious nervous breakdown wasn’t too far away.

  Bainbridge basically made his living tipping desperate people over the edge and leaving them to fall. It gave Daniel huge satisfaction to watch Bainbridge’s smile dissolve when he saw Daniel sitting there calmly drinking coffee.

  “Inspector Conway. A pleasure to see you again.”

  He walked forward, his hand extended. Daniel put down his cup, stood, and shook it. Cold. Clammy. Just as he’d expected it to be.

  “Could you spare a few minutes, Mr. Bainbridge?”

  “Of course. Shall we go into the interview room?”

  Daniel walked across the thick carpet and entered Bainbridge’s office ahead of him. He waited for the click of the door, then spun around. He bore down on Bainbridge before the man had time to come up with a barrage of transparent excuses.

  “What would you say if I told you we have found evidence that Derek Palmer did do business here?”

  Bainbridge pulled back his shoulders. “I’d say you were lying.”

  “Interesting. And what would you say if we’d also found out that Mr. Palmer was not murdered but in fact, attempted suicide as a result of his debts?”

  Color rose in the other man’s cheeks. “If that has happened, Inspector, it would not be my fault.”

  “Even though you’re in the business of stretching people’s loans to such an astronomical amount that they’d never pay them off even if they lived to ninety-eight years old?”

  Bainbridge brushed past Daniel and walked to the opposite side of the room. He crossed his arms. “We offer a service, Inspector. We do not go canvassing for business
on the street, people walk in here of their own free will.”

  Daniel smiled. “So you don’t advertise? You don’t increase your client’s credit limit regardless of whether they ask for it?”

  Bainbridge lowered himself into one of the chairs circling the conference table. “What are you trying to say? I’m to be blamed for the whole country’s debt problem now?”

  Daniel studied him. The eager enthusiasm to help from a few days before had vanished. Bainbridge’s tone was arrogant, cocky, and just the incentive Daniel needed to deliver his final blow. He stepped forward and slapped two hands on the table. Bainbridge flinched.

  “You’ve got two minutes to tell me what dealings you had with Derek Palmer before I place you under arrest for obstructing the course of justice. If you choose not to, I will close this business down today and contact every client you have and find out what diabolical rates you offer. Once I’ve done that, I will see that you come under such a deluge of crippling publicity you’ll never recover.”

  “You can’t do that. I’ve got rights!”

  Daniel smiled. “Give me the information I want and you won’t need to find out either way, will you?”

  Bainbridge’s face was livid with color. Daniel continued to glare, his jaw tightly clenched, lips curled back from his teeth. Bainbridge’s eyes widened as dots of perspiration shone at his temples. Finally, he threw his hands up.

  “Fine. But I am not to blame for that man’s suicide. I want that made perfectly clear.”

  Daniel pulled out a seat and sat. “Just get on with it,” he said, crossing his arms. “I couldn’t care less what you want right now.”

  Bainbridge exhaled a heavy breath. “Derek Palmer came in looking for a loan of £30,000...”

  “£30,000?”

  “£30,000. He was very honest about the reason for his debt. He told me he had an out-of-control gambling problem and needed the money to pay back someone he owed before they got heavy-handed.”

  Daniel held up a hand. “So he wanted money from you to pay someone else?”

  “Yes. He was scared out of his mind. But I had to say no. Whatever you may think of me, Inspector, I do not encourage people with serious addiction problems to borrow money in order to buy time. I told him to get help, let his family know what sort of trouble he was in.”