“And?”
“And it’s a delicate situation and I’d like to know you’ll keep it to yourself.”
The conversation just took an interesting turn. He trusted her with something he considered important and obviously a secret. It touched her heart more than she cared to admit. But he only wanted sex with her. A man full of mystery and confusion. She didn’t like feeling that way.
“Of course. I know how to keep my mouth shut.”
His eyes narrowed, almost as if he were assessing her, weighing his decision to say something.
“Sauer came to see me yesterday.”
She set her pizza on the plate, puzzled even more. She didn’t know how close they were, clearly not as close as he was with Dee, but she didn’t think Sauer visiting was normal.
“Is there a problem? Can I help somehow?”
The hesitation in his eyes finally melted away as a sweet grin punctured his face. “I think you can.” He leaned forward. “He’s worried about Deena.”
“Is she okay?” Setting her plate on the couch near her thigh, she leaned forward as well. “Please say it. You’re making me nervous.”
Running a hand through his hair, he then set his pizza behind him on the couch. “She’s pregnant, but she doesn’t want to tell anyone, and she’s stressing herself out with worry that she’s going to be a horrible mother, which is absolutely not true. Sauer came to me to see if I could talk to her and calm her down some.”
Joy and happiness touched her heart that Dee was pregnant. The four of them, her, Dee, Zoe, and Rina had gotten in the habit of going out every Friday night for drinks and girl time. Since the ball, she had joined their group and outings. She looked forward to every week. They talked about their respective works and their husbands and about every day life. Dee had never given the impression they were trying to have a baby, or that she was pregnant.
Although, as she shuffled through her memories, she couldn’t remember the last time Dee ordered an alcoholic drink.
“You okay, Susan?”
Realizing she must’ve zoned out, she jerked her attention from the floor to his gaze and smiled. “I’m so happy for them. That’s wonderful news. Why doesn’t she want people to know? I don’t understand how you want me to help.”
“Well, Deena and I, we’re close, but we don’t talk about…that kind of shit. So I was wondering if you’d say something to her. I mean, don’t come out and say Sauer told Stitch who then told me, but…you know…do that woman thing.”
She laughed, as a sinfully sexy smile touched his lips. “That woman thing? Like we have some sort of magical powers.” He smiled with a hint of cockiness that she would know what to do. Which, oddly enough, gave her an idea. “We go out every Friday night for drinks. I don’t think she’s ordered a drink in a while. I can’t believe none of us noticed it. I’ve noticed she’s been on edge lately, but I hadn’t realized she was so stressed.”
“She has to be. Sauer and I don’t have that kind of friendship. He’s Deena’s husband, that’s about all he is to me. Just get her to confess and reassure her somehow.”
Scooting closer, she laid a hand on his thigh. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll do my best. I know Dee is your best friend.”
“She is. We’ve been through a lot. It’s kind of why we don’t talk about that shit.” He placed a hand around her waist and pulled her closer. “Now, about that sex? You still tired and wanna go to the bedroom, or will right here do fine?”
Susan looked around the small living room that wasn’t furnished with much. A TV sat across from the couch on a small stand with a stack of movies in one cabinet on the left side. There was no coffee table in front of the couch, so the pizza box sat on the floor. He had a few tattoo pictures on the walls, but nothing else filled up the room.
She reached beside her and set her plate to the floor, then she leaned closer, snaked her hand behind him, and tossed his plate to the floor. The piece of pizza slid half off the plate.
“I like it right here.”
Desire spiked in his eyes. “That’s my girl.” Then he was devouring her body as if he were starving.
That’s my girl.
If only she was.
♡
Susan let out a long sigh as she sat down at her desk. Yesterday had been a horrible day. Nothing too extreme occurred. She was bogged down with too much work, trying to process evidence for every case that existed. Detective after detective walking into her office as if she would magically have an answer for them. Each time she said no, she swore she saw a hint of disdain in their eyes. It gave her a nasty feeling that Newman was spreading lies and hatred around the precinct about her. She couldn’t figure out his deal.
Today wasn’t faring much better. Still busy and stressed with her caseload, which wouldn’t be dying down any time soon, she wanted to go home, take a hot bath, and go to bed. Why couldn’t Friday be here yet? She could go out with the ladies and have a drink. She didn’t like to drink during the week, even though a glass of wine or one beer wouldn’t hurt her. She liked to reserve that for the weekends.
It was only Tuesday.
She sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly to hold back the tears that suddenly threatened to flow.
She could handle being overworked. She could handle cops rotating through her door asking questions. She could handle a messy crime scene that would take her all day to process.
What she couldn’t handle was being reprimanded and warned by her boss for something she didn’t do.
A soft knock sounded on her door.
Steeling her features, unwilling to let any tears fall or even pool in her eyes, she waved her hand. Zeke smiled through the door window, then opened the door and closed it quickly. His sympathetic smile as he sat down in the chair in front of her desk didn’t soothe her nerves as she figured he was trying to achieve.
“How are you? I heard.”
“I’m fine.”
He cocked a brow. “Really? Newman puts in an official complaint against you, and you’re just fine about that.”
She shrugged. “There’s not much I can do. If that’s the way he feels, it’s his right to lodge a complaint.”
“It’s bullshit. Ben and I come to you all the time about pushing evidence up like every other cop in this place. Sometimes you do, and sometimes you don’t. You’re just doing your job, and I’ll tell—”
“Please don’t, Zeke.” Susan cut him off. “Don’t go to Scott.”
“I don’t know what his problem is lately. He’s been tense and edgy.” He shifted in his seat as he rubbed a hand across his jaw. “I’m not going to let him do this to you. Maybe it’s petty, but I talked to Captain Ganderson today about him.”
Susan couldn’t hold back her groan, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. “About what?”
“About his behavior. About his attitude. If he’s going to try to get you in trouble for no reason, then he’s going to pay the price for his own actions.”
“I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Zeke, but don’t do anything else. Word travels fast around here. I’m already feeling some backlash from other officers and detectives. Heck, if anyone sees you in my office right now, they’ll probably agree with Newman that I’m playing favoritism.”
Zeke leaned forward. “And we both know it’s bullshit.”
Susan couldn’t hold back her smile, and she almost couldn’t hold back the tears that wanted to flow once again. She didn’t think she played favoritism. Did she move Ben and Zeke’s cases a little faster on occasion? Yes, she wouldn’t deny that. She also did it for a lot of other detectives. Sauer and Newman were one example. So for Newman to go to her supervisor and say she purposely put their cases at the bottom of her pile, that her professionalism at crime scenes bordered on rude, that she ignored him when calling for work related questions, didn’t make any sense. She couldn’t understand why Newman was out to get her suddenly. It had been two days since she last saw him at the latest crime scene, and today he dec
ides to lodge a formal complaint. Why? Why the delay? Why now?
Just…why?
Listening to Scott berate her like a small child for taking the word of one person without asking her any questions, hurt. It hurt so much she almost quit on the spot. And she loved her job. She never once thought about quitting. The unfairness of the situation almost had her blurting out she quit.
“Are you going to be okay? That’s all I want to know. If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know, Susan.”
“I’m fine, and I appreciate your concern. It’ll be okay, Zeke.”
He nodded and stood up. “I want you to know Ben and I are here for you.”
She said goodbye and wanted to crawl into a corner and cry her eyes out until all the pain from the last few days disappeared. When did crying ever solve anything? It didn’t. So she blinked a few times to resist the temptation of shedding some tears and got to work.
Twenty minutes later when her phone rang and she heard the familiar voice on the other end, she should’ve known she’d get a call like this.
“So, we were thinking we needed a ladies’ night out tonight.”
She chuckled at Zoe. “Because Zeke’s worried about me and couldn’t help himself. We never go out for drinks on a Tuesday.”
“Yeah, and sometimes you need to vent to your friends about how some men are complete douches. You know how much Dee loves to say that about Newman. She’s never liked him.”
Susan wasn’t up for a night out with her friends. A quiet night alone with her troubles, soaking it up in the bath sounded more like her style at the moment. But Stitch’s request to help concerning Dee popped in her head. She could make tonight more about Dee rather than about herself. Even though she hadn’t seen or talked to Stitch since Sunday, she wanted to do this for him, and for Dee, if she was struggling with her pregnancy.
“Okay, I give in. I’ll meet you guys at Rockster’s at seven. Sound good?”
“Well, considering I wasn’t going to take no for an answer, yep, it sounds good.”
Susan hung up with Zoe feeling a little better, a little lighter inside. She wanted to cry once more. Because it was so wonderful to have great friends. Those three ladies were always there if she needed them. To help pick her up when she was feeling down.
She would be okay. She wouldn’t allow Newman to hurt her and bring her down, which he was clearly trying to do. So instead of tonight being about her, she’d make it about helping Dee see what kind of wonderful mother she was going to make.
Then she could call Stitch and share the good news. Right now, she needed any excuse to see him.
This sex only stuff sucked.
Chapter 6
Taking a long swig of beer, she tried not to roll her eyes as the concern in her friends’ eyes made her uncomfortable.
“Honestly, ladies, I’m fine. Thank you for coming out tonight with me, but I’m fine.”
Dee scoffed. “Newman’s acting like an asshat, potentially ruining your chances at making the supervisor position, and you say you’re fine. Don’t bullshit us, Susan.”
Susan knew Dee never held back what she thought, and she had said some pretty blunt statements before, but for some reason, her words sounded harsh. Too harsh.
“What Dee meant is we’re here for you.” Rina smiled gently with a side-glance to Dee. The small warning in her eyes to Dee had her grinning.
“I know that. I appreciate it. There’s nothing I can do, so there’s no need for me to worry. All worrying is going to do is make me go out of my mind.”
“So you’re going to ignore the problem? You’re just going to let that asshole get away with ruining your reputation?”
Zoe placed a hand on Dee’s arm. “She’s not ignoring the problem. Zeke made a formal complaint against Newman today with Captain Ganderson.”
Susan wasn’t sure when she should steer the conversation away from her problem, since she didn’t want to keep talking about it, and to the fact Dee was pregnant. When Dee shook off Zoe’s hand a little too roughly, Susan figured now was a good time.
“Zeke should’ve made that complaint a long time ago. I don’t know how many times I’ve told Sauer to say something about him. His attitude has been terrible and I hate some of the things Sauer tells me. He’s such a softy about him, saying he’s his partner and friend and he’s going through a rough patch. He’s a douchebag. Plain and simple.” Dee scrunched her hair and pressed her lips together into a tight line.
“Why don’t we all take a shot? I think that might make me feel a little better.” Susan threw them a smile to ease the sudden tension swirling around the table.
Zoe nodded enthusiastically at the idea, Rina shifted uncomfortably, which Susan knew she couldn’t have one being seven months pregnant, and Dee’s face turned an ashy-white before glancing away from everyone.
“I don’t feel like a shot,” Dee said a lot quieter than her words from moments before.
Susan hated to push her to her limits, but she had to. Stitch was counting on her, and Sauer was counting on Stitch. She didn’t want Dee to worry either.
“You’re drinking water right now. Are you feeling okay? You always have a drink with us.” Susan scrunched her face into contemplation, as if she was actually thinking it through, when she already knew the answer to what she was about to imply. “In fact, when’s the last time you had a drink with us?”
Dee’s eyes narrowed. “I’m here every Friday.”
“Right, but I can’t recall when you last had a drink.” She feigned a surprised look. “Are you…” Her words died, as she suddenly felt horrible for playing Dee like this. She knew Dee was pregnant, but it felt wrong and deceitful, and that’s not the kind of person she was.
“Holy shit! Susan has a point. Are you pregnant?” Zoe piped in, her eyes round with shock. “You are, aren’t you? I keep trying to think back, and Susan is so right. I can’t remember when you last had a drink with us.”
The pressure in her chest for being so devious started to lessen. Not by much, but enough that she didn’t suddenly spill her guts about what Stitch told her. She couldn’t hold back the smile as she watched Rina’s face glow with happiness and tears start to form in the corner of her eyes.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Zoe. Quiet down.” Dee shifted in her chair as she refused to make eye contact with anyone.
“Don’t bullshit us, Dee.”
Susan almost burst out laughing at Zoe’s loud comment that she clearly didn’t try to keep down. She always loved how Dee could voice her opinion without thinking about it. And she especially loved when the tables were turned and Zoe gave as good as she got.
“I’m not…It’s…” Dee’s voice started to crack.
Rina, who sat on the other side of Dee, placed a calm hand on her shoulder. “What’s the matter? You know you can tell us anything and we’ll understand.”
Dee looked around the table, pausing a little too long on her, before taking a deep breath. “Okay, I’m three months pregnant.”
Zoe let out the loudest squeal, several patrons glanced in their direction, and then she grabbed Dee into a big hug. Rina was next, offering her congrats and a small hug. Susan didn’t know whether she should stand up and hug her, or say the words of congratulations, because every time their eyes met, it’s as if Dee knew what Susan was up to. It hurt to think she hurt her friend, even if it was in her best interest.
In the end, she stood up, grabbed a hug, and whispered her words of congrats.
“Why didn’t you tell us sooner? Why don’t you seem excited?” Zoe’s voice fell to a whisper. “Is everything okay with the baby?”
Dee cracked a smile and laughed a little. “The baby’s fine. Everything’s fine.”
“Then what’s the matter?” Rina asked in her sweet, soft voice.
Just like that, Dee spilled it all. Her concerns about becoming a mother, whether she’d be good enough, or turn out like her own mother, who had more concern for herself than she ever di
d for Dee. Like the good friends they were, they tried to beat it into her head that she’d be a terrific mother. They also gave her hell for keeping her pregnancy a secret for as long as she did. Well, mostly Zoe gave her hell for it. Rina was her quiet, soft-spoken self. And she felt terrible for outing her secret the way she did to say much else.
By the time they left Rockster’s, it was eleven o’clock and Dee’s eyes looked a little brighter, as if a small weight had lifted off her shoulders. For that reason alone, Susan couldn’t feel terrible for doing what she did, because it helped Dee. That’s all she wanted to do.
She had parked close to Dee. Before she could open her door, Dee stopped her.
“I don’t know how you knew, but…I really want to be mad at you right now, and at the same time I want to hug you. And now I kinda wanna cry.” Dee’s eyes filled with tears. “These damn hormones are killing me.”
Susan burst into laughter, as did Dee. As they hugged each other, one lonesome tear slipped out. She wiped the evidence before she let go of Dee and looked her in the eyes.
“You’re going to be a beautiful mother. Never doubt that. I mean, look at you already. You’re stressing how horrible you’ll be, when to me, that’s a sign of a great mother. So concerned about your little one. You have all of us to help you through these tough times. Call me if you ever need to.”
Dee smiled as she wiped her eyes. “Ditto, Susan. This shit with Newman is wrong, and you keep saying you’re fine, but I’m not so sure you are. Don’t ever hesitate to call me.”
They hugged one more time, which was very unusual for them, but Susan just chalked it up to pregnancy hormones. If Dee needed a dozen hugs, she’d do it. Anything to help her friend.
As she got in her car and started it, she hesitated with what way to turn. Left to home? Or right to Stitch’s?
It was late. Dropping by unannounced might not be the brightest idea.
But hey, she accomplished her goal, and it had been two days since she last saw him. She needed a Stitch fix.
Honestly, any excuse would do.
♡
Susan had to control the impulse not to slam on her brakes and jump out of her car in a high-speed run.
One Taste of Sin (A One Taste Novel Book 4) Page 6
