“If the authorities discover I helped you escape, my reputation will be in ruins. I could even get jail time.”
“I promise no one will know about your involvement. My plan is perfect.”
“Please guarantee you’ll never harm another innocent woman, Bret. I refuse to help you if you don’t swear your life of crime ends after you escape.”
Bret raised his hand as if his father could see him. “I swear on Grandmother Robertson’s grave. I’ll never hurt anyone again. I have learned my lesson, Father.”
“I hope you are being truthful with me.”
Again, Bret heard the doubt in his father’s voice. “I’ve got to go. The guards will be making their rounds soon. I love you, Father. I know I’m asking a lot of you, but I can’t live a life behind bars.”
He ended the call and thought about Lacy. He flipped through his saved texts until he came to the one sent to him that morning. Opening the video text, he watched the fear on Lacy’s face when she saw the rose petals on her vehicle. She was wearing her ivory cameo. The same cameo she was wearing the night she had almost been his. Snug jeans showed every curve of her round ass. She had worn her thick, blond hair down. The email brought him so much joy. The way she turned in every direction hoping to see who had placed the petals on her car gave him an intense erection. Tendrils of gold hair grazed her back, her shoulders, and her breasts.
Then Dylan stepped into the scene ruining his desire. Anger so acute he could taste it slammed into his gut. Just as Lacy had done, he searched for someone watching them. He wished he could hear their conversation. Outrage mounting, he clenched his teeth when Dylan wrapped his arms around Lacy to console her. The man had taken all he held dear, his freedom, his family, and his lavish lifestyle.
Enjoy her while you can, Bauer. A few more days and he would have his revenge. Dylan Bauer and Lacy Reynolds would rue the day they messed with him.
****
Michelle peered through the binoculars and let out an agitated breath. “I thought this would be exciting. I’m bored to death.” For two hours they had been sitting in the car doing nothing but waiting.
Scott laughed. “Surveillance can be very tedious.”
She aimed the binoculars at the second floor balcony and looked through. “These are some amazing binoculars. I can count every leaf on that plant in the red pot.” She curled her legs up under her bottom to get comfortable. Sitting in one position for hours was not her idea of an exciting date. She dropped the binoculars into her lap. “Is this what you do most of the time? Sit in your vehicle and wait for someone to do something wrong?”
“That’s about the jest of it.” Obviously as bored as her, he took a deep breath. “Sometimes a stakeout can be more dangerous. Once I was working on a case for Phillips, Robbins, and Daniels Law Firm. The criminal had been taking bribes from a city official. He discovered me in a smelly, disgusting alley taking photographs. He pulled out a pistol and took several shots at me.”
“You mean with a real gun.”
He laughed, “Yes, a real gun.”
She paused to wet her lips. “Were you scared?”
“Of course I was scared. I barely escaped with my life. I had to climb over a rusty old fence at the back of the alley. I ripped my pants and had to buy a new pair.”
Michelle laughed at his humor. “You poor baby.”
“They were my favorite pair of pants.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, you probably enjoyed the close call. Something tells me you like the danger.”
He raised a brow, accompanied by a grin he couldn’t hold back. “Only because I wasn’t killed. I’m sure I’d feel differently if I’d been shot.”
“That worries me.”
He turned his attention to the balcony to see if Tom Michaels had made an appearance. “Are you afraid I’ll die in a hail of bullets?”
She slanted a look at his profile. “Yes. Honestly, I hadn’t thought about your work being dangerous, but I guess it is. You probably investigate some very shady characters. Have you ever had other close calls?”
“Yes, sometimes when we are investigating billion dollar corporations, things get a little hairy. Some CEOs will do anything to keep their lavish lifestyle. Emotions run high when their money and family are in jeopardy.”
“You mean murder?”
To make light of the situation, Scott replied, “Yes, murder. I am in terrible danger.” His voice sounded pitiful as he tried to drum up sympathy.
“You’re rich. You could quit if you were really scared. Don’t expect any sympathy from me.” Michelle opened the bag of potato chips she had brought with her and offered Scott one. “Would you like a potato chip?”
“No, thank you. I usually eat fruit on stakeouts.”
“I’m more of a potato chips kind of girl.”
“I’ve noticed that about you.”
She popped a potato chip into her mouth. “What else do you do besides stakeouts?”
“I interview witnesses, testify in court, obtain and examine evidence. I have a masters in criminal justice.”
“I thought you worked exclusively for Phillips, Robbins, and Daniels Law Firm.”
“I investigate for Beth in my spare time. I admire her for walking away from the prestige and money associated with working for a corporation like Phillips, Robbins, and Daniels. It took guts. You wouldn’t believe all the drama at the firm. It’s a cut-throat business. The weak of heart never survive. I’m glad Beth got out before she became as ruthless as the other lawyers.”
“Josh was the real reason she left. He pressured her to start her own business so she could set her own hours. The stress was also taking its toil. She hated defending the guilty.”
Tom Michaels stepped out on the balcony of the Hilton Hotel in downtown Raleigh. “Here we go.” He leaned over the railing and looked down at the street below. A sultry blond wearing only her bra and panties stepped out behind him. She pressed against his back then bit him on the ear. She could see everything clear as day through the high powered binoculars. Scott snapped several photos with the telephoto lens camera before he gently placed the camera in the backseat. “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
“What’s that?”
“A lazer microphone.” Scott held the microphone out the window. “It picks up conversation through doors and walls.”
Michelle placed her hand over her mouth. “Oh, my gosh. I can hear everything they are saying.”
Scott placed his finger to his lips gesturing for her to be quiet. He switched on a tiny recorder to tape the couple’s conversation which was bold enough to make a sailor blush. After five minutes, he switched off the recorder and placed the lazer microphone in the back seat. “Our work is done.”
“Do you ever feel guilty? I mean does it ever bother you to watch people when they think no one is looking.”
“Watching people is part of the job.”
“Those photographs you just took will ruin his marriage.”
“The marriage is already over. His wife has suspected old Tom of having an affair for months. The man is a scoundrel. Not only has Tom Michaels been having an affair with his secretary, but has also hidden money in an off shore account to keep his wife from knowing just how much money he has. He is a father of three who would rather cheat his children out of the money they deserve. Believe me, he is not a nice person.”
Michelle still felt it was wrong to slip around in the shadows to get evidence of someone’s wrongdoing.
“Beth hired me to find evidence against Michaels. Tabitha Michaels is her client, a client that is paying her well. Beth pays me to get the dirt on people before the case goes to trial.”
Scott started his Lincoln. “Want to go back to my place?”
“You don’t give up easily do you?”
“It is in my DNA. My father hounded my mother for a month before she ever went out with him. She didn’t like what he did for a living.”
Michelle giggled. “You’r
e pulling my leg all the way to the barn loft.”
“No, really. I swear. Now you couldn’t tear them apart.” He leaned over and kissed her on the nose. His scent rose from the V of his button up shirt and she felt desire. Even after a day at work he smelled clean and masculine. “Well, do you want to go back to my place?”
The past two weeks had been wonderful. Scott had taken her out almost every night. Maybe it was time to take their relationship to the next level. She leaned across the console and pressed her lips against his. It wasn’t their first kiss but it was more exciting than all the others put together. She slipped her tongue inside his mouth and moaned. A lot of heat and promise went into the kiss. She felt his hunger as his hands slipped into her hair. She fell back into her seat breathing heavily.
Scott’s lopsided grin almost made her giggle. He let out a long sigh of a contented man. “I guess that is a yes.” He gunned the motor and sped away from the curb.
By the time Scott parked his car in his designated parking place of his apartment building, Michelle was having second thoughts. She felt like a cat on a hot tin roof. He was so refined and perfect, while she felt she was no more than a country bumpkin. He must have felt her reluctance. He linked his fingers with hers as he led her toward the front of the building. “It’s okay, Michelle. I promise everything is going to be perfect.”
She didn’t doubt that. A man with as much confidence as he had would know how to make a woman feel special. For the past two weeks she hadn’t even thought about Chad.
The doorman greeted them and opened the door. “Hello, Scott.”
The fact that the doorman called Scott by his first name eased her worries. She kept telling herself he was not a snob.
“How’s the bursitis, Mason?”
“A little better.” He rubbed his right shoulder. “I went to the doctor for a shot.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Mason tugged on the corner of his hat. “Ma’am.”
Instead of speaking, Michelle gave him a dazzling smile. Neither said a word as they got into the elevator and rose to the fifth floor. She was too nervous to make small talk. The door opened and Michelle and Scott stepped into the hallway. Even the corridor was gorgeous. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. A huge orange vase of fresh cut flowers were on a table against the wall. There were only two apartments on the hall, Scott’s and one across from his. “Do you know your neighbor?”
“Yes, a lovely elderly couple who spend their summers in Michigan and their winters in Raleigh. Both swear the winters are much too harsh for their old bones.”
Always a Southern gentleman, Scott unlocked the door and moved to the side for her to enter. Her mouth gaped open in awe. She was a little more than impressed. “It is beautiful.” A light colored, glossy hardwood covered the floor of the huge living space.
“Thank you. I let Sherry do the decorating.”
“Why does Sherry live in a small, simple house when you live in this lavish apartment?”
“Because she is still in school. Father and mother refused to set us up in something expensive while in school. I had to live in the dorm. Because she is daddy’s little girl, she was able to talk him into springing for a small house while she completes school.”
“Are you jealous?”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “Very.”
Michelle crossed the room and ran her fingers over the cream colored sofa. “She has impeccable tastes.”
“Yes, she does.” With a wicked smile on his lips, he stated, “Wait until you see the bedroom.”
Smack in the center of the room was a black, baby grand piano. Nervous, Michelle moved to the huge piano and tapped out the simple tune her grandmother had taught her to play when she was a child. Of course her grandmother wanted to teach her more songs, but she could never sit still long enough to take the lessons serious.
“That’s a catchy tune.”
“It’s, ‘Mother Sent Me to the Spring’. The only thing I know how to play. Do you play?”
“No, the piano was Sherry’s idea. She said it would give the room a look of elegance.” Light and airy, she loved the feel of the room. Ceiling to floor windows banked the wall facing the street. “I’m afraid I’m going to break something. Is it okay if I wander around your home some?” Green, leafy plants in huge, brightly colored urns were placed next to the windows so they could catch the morning and evening sun.
“Sure. I’ll get us something to drink. Would you like some wine?”
“Yuck, I hate wine.”
“I think you’ll like my wine.”
A central hallway led to the kitchen which looked like something out of Master Chef. White cabinets lined both sides of the wall. Stainless steel appliances looked perfect with the black granite countertops. At the end of the hall was the guest bathroom. The shower, sink, and commode were white while the walls and tile were a medium blue. It was gorgeous.
To the left was a small bedroom and Michelle assumed it was the spare bedroom. It wasn’t anything elaborate with simple furniture, and a sheer cloth canopy bed. It had feminine touches. The door to the right was closed so she didn’t open it and look inside. It was the only room left so it had to be the master bedroom. She’d be seeing it soon enough.
Scott was waiting for her on the sofa. He handed her a glass of red wine. “It’s been months since I’ve consumed alcohol.”
“A little wine won’t hurt you.”
“I’m mostly a beer girl.”
“Beer and potato chips.” He tapped his glass to hers. “No one can say you are high maintenance.”
She took a sip of wine and smiled. “This is good. I guess this is the high dollar stuff.” She took another sip. “I could get accustomed to drinking wine.”
He took the glass and placed it on the table. “I don’t want you to be drunk the first time we make love. I want you to remember everything.” He took her hand and tugged. “Are you ready to see the bedroom?”
Too nervous to speak, she nodded her head. She had never been so tense. Sex had always been enjoyable. Hugh and Chad had both been great lovers. Nevertheless, she wanted her first time with Scott to be special.
He opened the door and stepped to the side. He bowed and with a flourish, gestured her inside. “Did Sherry do the decorating?”
“She did but she tried to do my bedroom in a masculine décor.”
The sheer size of the room had her searching for just the right words. “It’s very nice. I love the unusual furniture.” Michelle moved to the dark dresser and ran her fingers over the shiny surface. Pieces of art adorned the walls. She didn’t know art, but she was sure they were expensive. She doubted he ever purchased anything other than the most excellent. She felt so inadequate.
“How do you like the bed?”
“It’s big. I could get lost in a bed that big. Everything is big.” Michelle stared at the king size bed with the ceiling high headboard that matched the other furniture in the room.
“It’s Christopher Guy.”
She glared at him. “Like I know Christopher Guy.” Again she was reminded of their differences.
“Do you think it makes a difference?” His eyes roamed over her with interest. “You have other attributes.” Scott sat on the edge of the bed and patted the place next to him. She tried her best not to look frightened out of her wits as she walked the short distance to the bed. He was on her the moment her butt hit the mattress. Flat on her back she felt his warm breath on her lips before he gave her a gentle kiss. “You taste good. Your lips are sweet as wine.”
With nimble fingers, he quickly pushed each button through the hole of her shirt. He opened her shirt biting her gently through the lace cups of her bra. Bracing above her, he reached around and unsnapped her bra. In one swift movement, he removed her shirt and bra. His eyes were clouded with arousal as he took his time admiring her body. “I knew you had awesome breasts.” The way he looked at her made her blood tingle. He moved down her body, kissing the upper cur
ves of her breast before his mouth closed over a hardened nipple. He took his time tantalizing the sensitive orb. He rolled the other in his hand as he continued his sweet torture of her nipple. She writhed against his mouth feeling weak and dizzy. His head came up and his soft whisper caused her to tremble with need. “Perfection.”
He claimed her mouth in a kiss so passionate she lost her breath. Acting on impulse, she clutched handfuls of his hair. He groaned into her mouth and she completely melted pressing against him.
Now his hands were rough and restless as he tugged at the snap of her jeans. He managed to get them undone then unzipped, pulling them and her panties over her hips and down her legs at one time. His hands gripped her bottom. “I could bounce a dime off your ass it’s so tight and round.” Dark, demanding eyes focused on her.
He moved away long enough to frantically strip out of his clothes, and was back on the bed in mere seconds. His hands moved over her as his lips returned to her mouth to kiss her long and hungrily. He continued the kiss ravishing her mouth. Raw, wicked need consumed her. His kiss was almost painful as his teeth scraped and nipped. No one had ever treated her with such brutality. He satisfied his need to taste.
Fingers digging into her flesh, he eased her thighs apart, finding her wet and ready. She raised her knees angling her hips for him to slide his fingers deep inside. “Oh, Scott!” Her head thrashed from side to side as his touch became exquisite. Her orgasm was quick and intense. She gasped in shock as his fingers kept stroking, kept bringing her higher and higher. It was like nothing she had ever experienced in her life. He gave her a moment to catch her breath.
She ran her hands over his chest and whispered, “I guess you work out?”
He kissed each corner of her mouth then whispered, “I do. Maybe you’d like to work out with me sometime?”
“I’d love to.” His hands smoothed her back, the swell of her hips, the length of her thighs. His lips returned to hers and she let the heat and need overtake her. Her blood pressure spiked when his hands gripped her hips.
Blood of the Falls (Twelve Oaks Farm Book 4) Page 20
