The Steve Williams Series Boxed Set

by J. E. Taylor

  Jennifer sighed and nodded. She reached up on her tiptoes and gently pressed her lips to his, wrapping her arms around his neck. Their tongues slowly intertwined in a kiss that took his breath away and seemed to fill her lungs again.

  Steve flipped the streams of water off and they separated, each grabbing a towel and wrapping it around their soaked skin. Jennifer scooped up the steam-saturated clothing and dumped it in the washing machine. Steve leaned against the doorjamb, the towel hanging precariously around his hips as he ran his hand through his wet hair.

  “Thank you for being here today.” She led him into the kitchen.

  “I’ll always be there when you need me.”

  Jennifer blushed. “Promise?”

  “I promise. Do you still have my bathing suit here?”

  Jennifer nodded, and then the color in her face faded. “It’s in the closet.” She looked back toward her room.

  Steve headed toward the bedroom.

  “No, don’t!” Jennifer ran after him, the panic resurfacing.

  “It’ll be fine,” he said walking into the room. The closet door was cracked.

  Jennifer began to shake. “I closed the door, Steve.” Her voice shook.

  Steve glanced from her to the closet and pulled the door open. “Just a closet.” He flipped on the light. “See?” He spotted the swim trunks. When he reached for them, he felt the cold draft drift along the back of his hand. He picked up his shorts and turned back toward her, slipping them on under the towel. He stepped out of the closet and closed the door. “There’s a draft in the closet.”

  “There isn’t an air-conditioning duct in there either,” Jennifer answered taking his towel and tossing it over the chair at her desk.

  “Hmm,” Steve said, and focused his attention back on her. “You hungry?”

  Jennifer rummaged through her drawers and found some clothing. She slipped her underwear on and tossed the towel over the chair. She fidgeted with his obvious gaze on her. “Stop staring.”

  He grinned. “Sorry.” He looked out the window. “Are you hungry?” he asked again.

  “Yes,” Jennifer answered once she zipped up her shorts and adjusted her shirt.

  He glanced back. “Want me to make you something?”

  Jennifer raised her eyebrows, amused. “You cook?”

  “A man’s got to eat.” He swatted her on the behind as he walked past her.

  Steve’s cell phone rang. He grabbed it off the counter in the dressing room, checking the number before he opened it. “Hello?”

  “Hey, Steve, it’s Bill. I’m sorry about this morning.”

  “You were a little drunk.”

  Bill laughed. “A lot drunk,” he said. “I just get protective of her. Tom was my best friend.”

  Steve was quiet. He traded a look with Jennifer and gave her a nod and a smile. “You sure that’s all it is?” he asked Bill.

  “Yes,” Bill said without hesitation.

  Steve knew a lie when he heard one and this was a whopper. “Apology accepted,” he replied. “I have to go. Later.” He flipped the phone shut and sauntered down to the kitchen.

  “Who was that?” Jennifer asked.

  “Bill,” Steve answered with no further explanation. “What are you in the mood for?” He opened the refrigerator.

  “Surprise me.” She sat at the counter.

  Steve surveyed the contents of the refrigerator and glanced at the clock. It was a little after eleven. He hadn’t had anything substantial for breakfast, so he decided brunch was in order and whipped up a vegetable omelet for the two of them. He rummaged through the drawers until he found the silverware and grabbed two forks and knives. Bringing the omelet over to Jennifer, he set it down between them.

  Jennifer pulled the plate toward her. “What are you having?” she asked and burst out laughing at Steve’s wide shocked eyes. “I’m kidding.” She pushed the plate back between them. She cut a piece and put it in her mouth. “This is great.”

  Steve shrugged. “It’s just an omelet.” He looked around the kitchen again. “This is a great place to cook.” He smiled. “I’d love to have a kitchen like this someday.”

  “I hate cooking,” Jennifer admitted. “I burn just about everything.”

  Steve laughed. “Well at least one of us likes to cook. Eating out gets expensive.”

  Jennifer nodded and took another bite, but her smile soon faded. “Why do you think I’m seeing that place in the closet?”

  Steve paused. “I don’t know.”

  “This was different. There was no one else in the vision. Just that thing; and I could have sworn it looked directly at me.” She shivered and then something else triggered. “There was a pentacle carved into the moss.”

  Steve stopped, his food hanging on his fork, halfway to his mouth. “A pentacle?” He put the fork back on the plate.

  Jennifer stared at the half-eaten omelet. “I’m not sure it was a vision, either.” She slowly raised her eyes. “I think it was happening right then and there.” She took a deep breath. “It was laughing at me.” She visibly shivered.

  Steve picked up his fork without commenting. It was just a little too bizarre for him to believe. He continued eating in silence, dissecting her story several different ways. Every way he turned it in his mind, it always came back to the fact that she was somehow the center point of what was going on.

  “Jen, if I showed you those pictures,” he began, without looking at her. He leaned back and pushed the almost empty plate away. Glancing at her, he walked out of the kitchen and onto the balcony.

  Jennifer put the plate in the sink and followed him out. “Finish what you were going to say.”

  Steve shook his head. “I don’t want to put you in the middle of this thing,” he said, looking out at the lake. “I want you as far away from it as possible.” He turned to her.

  “I think I’m already in the middle somehow,” she said, echoing his thoughts.

  “I don’t want you to be.”

  She ran her hand up his arm and he covered it with his. “I’ll do whatever you need me to.”

  Steve glanced over at her. “I’ve already used you enough.” He looked back out at the lake.

  “What are you talking about?” Jennifer removed her hand stepping away.

  Steve closed his eyes. “There you go again.” He shook his head slightly and began to laugh.

  “How have you been using me?” The hurt in her voice made his eyes open.

  He leveled with her. “You’ve kept me close to the primary suspect in our case.” Jennifer took another step away and Steve grabbed her arm. “I’m in love with you, Jen.” He didn’t release her arm. “That isn’t part of the job.”

  She tried to yank herself away, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he stepped to her, wrapping his arms around her. Her furrowed brow and pouty lips along with that spark in her green eyes made him smile.

  “You aren’t the primary suspect, babe. You just happen to be roommates with his girlfriend.”

  Jennifer blinked. “Billy?”

  Steve nodded. “Yes. And last night was just another indicator that I’m looking in the right place.”

  “I can’t believe Billy is involved in this. I’ve known him for close to seven years now,” she balked. “He and Tom were friends in high school.”

  “The majority of the missing persons list were rush candidates or pledges of Beta Theta Pi and Bill has been the fraternity president for the last two years.” He took a deep breath. “Before he became president, the run rate was one or two missing persons a year, which, technically for a college town like this, is normal; however, those were also related to the fraternity.”

  He looked into her eyes. “That’s where I come in. I look young enough to be a dropout trying to get my shit together after what happened with Peg. I gain the sympathy of the fraternity president because he can relate—he lost his best friend a few years before in what looks like a legitimate car accident.” He shrugged. “Then the curve b
all was thrown. Your name came across in the report.” He lifted his hand to her face and ran his fingers down the line of her jaw, stopping under her chin. “And my God, what a curve ball you are.”

  He leaned over, tilting her face up, and kissed her. “Our little game was fun, but it put a strain on the friendship I had built with Bill over the summer. I was losing his trust and confidence.” He ran his thumb over her lips. “Little did I know putting an end to our game would blow up in my face.”

  Jennifer tried to move away, but he kept her against him. “What do you mean blow up in your face?”

  “Jenny, Bill wants you.”

  Jennifer raised her eyebrows as a surprised laugh escaped. “He’s with Tracy.”

  Steve tilted his head with a shrug. “He may be with her, but he wants you. And that scares the shit out of me.” He kept eye contact with her, his hand still on her face.

  “Why does that scare you?”

  He shook his head. Strong and pure emotions played in the depths of his heart. “I have no tangible reason, just a very uneasy feeling.” He ran his thumb over her lips again. “And that instinct has never been wrong.”

  “You have nothing to be afraid of,” Jennifer said, as though she thought he was scared she had the same feelings for Bill as he had for her.

  Steve smiled. She really was sweet and naïve sometimes. “I’m not afraid of losing you to him, I’m afraid he’s gonna hurt you.”

  Jennifer laughed. “Billy would never hurt me,” she said pushing away gently.

  Steve disagreed with her, but didn’t argue. He glanced at the hot tub. “Want to change and try that out?” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m already in swim trunks.”

  Jennifer disappeared into the apartment. She came back a few minutes later in her bathing suit and helped take the cover off. They slipped in the hot bubbly water.

  “I really need to learn to keep my pants on and my mouth shut around you,” Steve said. He shook his head and threw his arm around her shoulders.

  Jennifer glanced at him, furrowing her eyebrows. “Why?”

  Steve inhaled. “Because information just tumbles out when I’m with you and that really isn’t good. You’re not an agent with the bureau.” He stopped and sighed, leaning his head back on one of the cushy headrests. “I’m not supposed to discuss the case with anyone but my boss.” He tilted his head toward her. “By discussing it, I could compromise the case. What’s worse, it could put you in danger.”

  “How so?”

  Steve shook his head. “I never thought about the ramifications if you slip up.” He pulled his arm from her shoulders and studied his hands. He shrugged and looked at her. “I know you wouldn’t intentionally say anything, but…”

  “Steve, I’m not going to say a word to anyone.”

  “Not even Tracy?”

  Jennifer shook her head. “No, not even to Tracy.”

  Steve kept her gaze. “But you told her we slept together.”

  Nodding, Jennifer said, “Yes, I did.”

  Steve raised his eyebrows. “Why?”

  “Because she’s my best friend and girls talk about that stuff.”

  Steve grinned and looked away.

  “She knew you wanted to get me in bed,” Jennifer smiled. “You weren’t very conspicuous about checking me out.”

  “Yeah, well…” He shrugged.

  The apartment door swung open. “Jen?”

  “We’re out here,” Jennifer called.

  Tracy and Bill stepped onto the balcony.

  “Hey, I thought you had class,” Tracy said to Jennifer.

  “I did. But I had an asthma attack.”

  Tracy raised her eyebrows. “Another one?”

  Jennifer shrugged; she hadn’t had one since Tom’s death. She looked over at Steve. “I called Steve and he knew what to do.”

  Tracy shifted her gaze to Steve. “You’re certainly handy to have around.” She batted her eyelashes, bowing her back slightly to show off her frontal endowments. “What else can you do?”

  “He can cook,” Jennifer said and smiled.

  Steve felt the heat rush to his cheeks. He didn’t like this kind of attention.

  “Mhm, at least I know you won’t starve to death.” Tracy glanced over at Bill. “I’m gonna change and join them.” She disappeared, leaving him looking after her.

  Bill glanced at Steve and Jennifer and without a word he headed inside to find Tracy.

  “See,” Steve whispered in Jennifer’s ear, nodding toward the door.

  “See what?”

  Before he could explain, Tracy popped out onto the balcony. “Do you like to cook?” Tracy asked as she slid into the hot tub opposite Jennifer and Steve.

  Steve nodded. “Yeah. You?”

  Tracy nodded. “But I hate to bake.”

  Steve chuckled and glanced at Jennifer. “I understand she’s pretty inept in the kitchen.”

  Bill’s laughter reached them and he appeared in the doorway. “That’s an understatement,” he said, sliding into the water next to Tracy. “She once tried to cook for Tom and nearly set the kitchen on fire,” he explained. “What were you trying to make?”

  “French fries,” Jennifer mumbled.

  “Thank God your parents had that fire extinguisher in the kitchen,” Bill laughed. “She tried to put out the grease fire with water. What a mess. Tom grabbed the extinguisher and put the fire out before the entire kitchen went up in flames.”

  Steve looked curiously over at her. “You didn’t know water makes a grease fire spread?”

  Jennifer shook her head, her face bright red from more than the steaming water. “I do now,” she pointed out. “Thanks a lot, Bill.”

  Steve put his arm around her shoulder and planted a kiss on her lips. “I’ll have to remember never to let you in the kitchen unsupervised.”

  Jennifer smacked him lightly with the back of her hand. “Bite me.”

  Steve brought her hand up and placed it playfully between his teeth with a grin. She yanked it out, laughing. Steve stood up. “I’ll be right back.” He excused himself, stepping out of the hot tub, grabbing the towel she had brought out and drying off the best he could. He disappeared into the apartment.

  Tracy looked over at Bill. “Are you hungry?” she asked.

  “I’d love a sandwich and a beer.”

  Tracy stepped out, wrapping a towel around her before heading inside.

  Bill turned toward Jennifer.

  “I never got the chance to thank you,” Jennifer said.

  Bill’s eyebrows shot up. “For what?”

  “For setting me up with Steve.”

  Bill looked over his shoulder and then back at Jennifer. “I’m not so sure about him, Jen.” His eyes drifted over her body.

  Jennifer shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “Why not?”

  “He’s been around.”

  Jennifer glanced in the apartment and then back at Bill. “So he told me,” she said.

  “And you’re okay with that?” Bill asked.

  “I could care less what he did before he met me.”

  “Okay.” Bill said, but the thin press of his lips told her otherwise.

  “How’s pledge week going?” Jennifer asked, wanting to change the subject.

  “We’ve got some pretty interesting characters this year.”

  “Are you camping again for initiation?” That had been a long-standing tradition of Beta Theta Pi.

  Bill nodded. “Yep.” His smile broadened slightly, like a wolf just before it takes down its prey.

  Chapter 24

  Tracy stood in the dressing room, and when Steve came out of the bathroom she said, “If you’re serious about Jen, you’d better get your ass in gear and get her a ring.” Tracy passed him and closed the bathroom door.

  Steve stopped halfway through the dressing room. He turned and waited for Tracy. “I’m not so sure she’d accept a ring right now,” he said when she came out of the bathroom.

  Tr
acy laughed and rolled her eyes. “Have you seen the way she looks at you?”

  He shrugged, feigning innocence but he knew exactly how she looked at him, and it drove him half out of his mind.

  “You’re the one,” Tracy said, emphasizing the last word. She grinned. “And from what I see in you, it’s mutual, so why not cut to the chase?”

  “Wow, you don’t beat around the bush at all.” He ran his hand through his hair and tossed out the next question, “What kind of ring do you think she’d like?”

  Tracy beamed, overjoyed by the question. “I knew it,” she said and dragged him into her room, snagging a catalog for a well-known jewelry shop in New York from a pile on her dresser. She flipped through the pages quickly pointing to the things that were Jennifer’s style. “There.” She stopped on an ad for a simple gold band with a single round firelight cut diamond. “That’s her style.”

  Steve looked at the book and flipped the pages. He found a gold band that had diamonds embedded all the way around. “Think she would like something like that as a wedding band?”

  Tracy looked at it and shook her head. “It would overwhelm the ring. But if you got this one, it would go perfectly.” She pointed to the accompanying solitaire with diamonds surrounding it.

  “Isn’t that too flashy?”

  Tracy looked at the combination and shook her head. “Elegant, not flashy.”

  Steve grinned down at the picture. “You mind?” He pointed at the page.

  Tracy shook her head and watched Steve rip the page out of the magazine. “You’ve got that kind of money?”

  Steve shrugged. “This gives me an idea of what to look for. You wouldn’t happen to know her ring size?”

  “Five and a half,” Tracy answered.

  “Thanks.” He looked around and then laughed. “My clothes are in the washing machine.”

  Tracy took the page and put it on her dresser. “I’ll get it to you before you leave.”

  “Thanks. Do me a favor and keep this between us, okay?”

  Tracy nodded. “I figure if you two want to tell people, you will. It’s not my place. Besides, you didn’t give her a ring yet, so there’s nothing to tell, right?”