Jolene purposely arched her brow high enough to be seen above her sunglasses. “Now, what kind of sidekick would that make me?”
“Pretty shoddy, I guess.”
“Well, I don’t do shoddy.” She snapped open her seatbelt and put her shoulder to the door.
“I didn’t think so, Marshal.”
She quickly climbed out of the vehicle. In less than twenty-four hours— trying hours, filled with the stress to quickly solve the mystery of the unclaimed child—the sexy chief was becoming an obsession for her. She couldn’t stop looking at him, studying every muscle of his toned body; or drawing in enough of his scent. Good God! Male musk poured from him.
Even during the few hours they’d spent apart, he had remained in her thoughts. In the shower this morning, she had thought about his face, his body—and she’d longed for him to be there with her. Her body ached with a deep-seated need to have him possess her mouth and breasts.
Norris sauntered around the front of the vehicle and came to her side.
Jolene quickly refocused on the case and checked the second-story windows for any movement behind the crisscrossed curtains. The quicker this was over, the quicker her fantasy might become a reality.
Her shoulder only reached his muscular forearm as they walked up the slate walkway. The roses planted at the front of the house sent their perfume wafting on the sea breeze. The only sounds they heard as they approached the house were the traffic behind them, the sound of clashing waves in front of them and the crunch of the pebbles under their feet.
“When I was growing up, the homes along here were wooden shacks,” she said quietly and climbed the porch steps beside him. “Their paint was faded and in some places blasted totally away by the sand and sea. If only I knew then what I know now about property gains, I’d be sitting pretty. Look at this place. It’s gorgeous. What do you think they rent it for?”
“With a hundred yards of private beach, it could be a thousand dollars a night.”
She let out a low whistle. “Damn. I should’ve gone into real estate.” She stepped to the side of the front door.
Norris rang the doorbell and the In The Good Old Summertime melody played from within.
She leaned down and peeked in the window. From what she could see the living room opened to a dining room. She shifted forward and saw the Atlantic through the French doors in the dining room. “I don’t see anyone.”
The door chimes ended their melody.
She turned to Norris. “Are you sure this is a rental? The furnishings look high end.”
“One forty-two.” He pointed to the black house numbers on the porch column. “Route 177 is considered Crane Lane.”
“Who would build a place this beautiful and not live it themselves?”
“Someone who has more money than the U.S. Treasury and uses everything they own to make more.” Norris rang the doorbell again. “I’m sure their clientele are also rich.”
“I would guess so.”
Inside the house the chimes played a different tune: Take Me Out To The Ball Game.
“Maybe they went to a game or to the store for groceries,” Norris said.
She lifted her brow. “Really? If they rent this place they’d just go out to dinner.”
“Too early for dinner.”
“It’s not.” Jolene pulled her cell from her pocket. “It’s nearly five.” Her phone vibrated in her hand signaling she had a text message. “It’s my sister. She wants me to call her.”
“Lia?”
“Don’t know. Give me a second.”
“I’ll check around back while you make the call.”
They walked off the porch together and then split up. Jolene took the path back to the Jeep and stood near the rear where she could see Norris pass by the hydrangea shrubs. She heard a noise and focused on the rear gate he approached. Beyond the gate a huge gull darted into the air, carrying what appeared to be a half-eaten candy bar.
She let out the breath caught in her lungs and hit the speed dial number for Martina.
“Martina, it’s me. Is there something wrong? Is Lia okay?”
“She’s fine. I only wanted to know if I should expect you for dinner?”
“Of course.”
“Are you still at the coffee shop?”
“No. Chief Stiles and I are checking out a couple leads. I should be there soon to help you.”
“Oh...”
“Oh what?”
“I thought maybe you might be having dinner with the chief. You know working late. He is one good-looking man. And single.”
“Martina, I am very aware that he is single. Stop the matchmaking. I’m not interested. I simply rode along with him to check on a few things.”
“What did you learn?”
Why did the general public find the underworld so exciting? If they had to work one of the cases, most of them would triple the locks on their homes, or maybe not ever come out again. She rolled her eyes even though her sister couldn’t see her. “You know I can’t tell you anything.”
Jolene heard Norris’ cell and turned to see him answer it.
“Who would know if you did?” Martina responded, sounding disheartened. “I wouldn’t say anything to anyone.”
“You’d tell Simon and then he would tell someone else because he wasn’t sworn to secrecy by me. No. The case is off limits. End of discussion.” She could hear kids yelling in the background. Their cries grew louder.
“Okay. Okay,” Martina responded to one of the children pleading for her attention.
“I’ll be home as soon as we’re through here. It shouldn’t be too long.” She heard the child whine again and Martina’s firm response to hold on a second. “Sounds like you had a busy day. Why don’t I pick up pizzas for dinner?”
“Sounds wonderful. I could use a break. And bring Chief Stiles to dinner.”
“I’m sure he has better things to do.”
“Who has?” Norris’ deep voice sounded right behind her.
Jolene jumped and turned to find her face almost touching Norris’ chest. She hadn’t heard his approach because of the commotion at Martina’s.
Norris’ earthy scent immediately sent her blood rushing through her veins. She looked up and with her eyes traced the line of his full lips. Lips she’d fantasized about while showering that morning. A daydream which had left her body quivering.
“You. M-my sister asked if y-you...” she stammered.
“I’ll chill a couple bottles of wine,” Martina said and then disconnected the call.
Jolene stared down at the phone that prevented her fist from closing. She was going to kill Martina.
“Asked what?” Norris prodded when she said nothing.
Jolene unclenched her jaw and smiled. “That was my sister.”
“I know. You told me.”
“Yeah. Right.” She felt heat rising in her cheeks and ducked her head. “Who called you?”
“Pickett. So far no one at the hotels and B&Bs recognized Lia so they’re going to start combing the restaurants.”
Jolene frowned.
Norris pushed his sunglasses back further on his head. Concern dulled the familiar brightness in his eyes. “Is everything okay at your sister’s? You look distracted.”
She shook her head. He had enough on his mind without her adding to his stress. “Yes. All is well. Did you find anyone at the back of the house?” She pointed to the path around the house.
“No. The place is locked up tight. I found a bucket and was able to stand on it and see over the fence. The place, beach included, is deserted. I’ll check back later and see if anyone is around then. Are you ready?”
“Sure.” The afternoon had not provided any answers and that disappointed both of them. Time ticked away and their chances of learning anything new diminished each hour.
Dropping his sunglasses back on his nose, he stepped back and opened the passenger door for her. Once she was settled inside, he rounded the rear of the vehicle and
climbed into the driver’s seat. He started the Jeep, but before he put it in gear he turned to her. “Are you sure everything is okay at your sister’s house. You look worried.”
Jolene smiled. “Everything’s okay. The kids kept Martina busy all day. I told her I would pick up pizzas for dinner so she doesn’t need to cook.” He was a detective, for goodness sakes. Norris must have realized he was the one she referred to when he overheard her tell Martina he probably had plans. He would need to be dense not to and, so far, Norris had proven himself quite perceptive.
“Want to join us?” she asked quickly before she changed her mind. “It’s short notice. You probably have other plans.”
“Other than going in to the station, I don’t.”
“Then why not join us?” The idea of spending time with him appealed to her. Then she remembered dinner time at the Gomez table was like feeding time at the zoo.
What she was worried about? She wasn’t trying to impress him. He wasn’t potential boyfriend material.
“Only if you let me pay for the pies.”
Norris popped the clutch and the Jeep lurched forward, pushing her back on her seat.
“That is not what joining us means.”
“That’s my offer.”
“We’ll split the bill.”
He waited for on-coming traffic before he pulled out and crossed over the northbound lane of Route 177 and headed south into town. Then he glanced her way. “I can see now how this relationship would go.”
“What relationship?”
“Us.”
“Us?” Was it the warm breeze caressing her cheeks or had the warmth come from within? She didn’t blush ever, but Norris seemed to make her do that easily.
“Yeah, ‘us’ as if we’d hooked up yesterday the way Jackie Hackman intended us to.”
“Oh, right. I forgot about her.” She had forgotten about their matchmaking hostess.
However, hooking up with Norris was definitely rising on her want-to-do-on-this-vacation list. It wasn’t like she got the opportunity to hook up with a hot guy every day. The hot guys she worked with on the C.U.F.F. team were off limits.
She picked up her purse and put her gun and badge inside then dropped it back on the floor.
“I try to avoid her.” Norris passed by a few cars slowing to make turns for local shops which sold everything from colorful swimwear to guaranteed authentic shark teeth. “I bet Jackie was overjoyed to learn we’re working together. I’m sure Rose has told her.”
That peaked her interest. Why would a stranger be happy over her involvement with Norris? Jolene shifted on her seat so she could easily see Norris’ face without getting a Charlie horse in her neck. “Why would us working together make her happy?”
Norris’ fingers stretched over the steering wheel and then tightened around it. “She’s been trying to set me up with the right woman ever since—”
Hmm. Was Norris about to share something of his past? “That many women, huh?”
“Yeah.” He had a nice chuckle. Deep and sexy. It matched him.
“Do you ever want to get married?”
His eyes slanted toward her. “You asking me?”
“No.”
He laughed at her alarmed expression.
“I don’t know. Maybe.” He shrugged. “I guess I haven’t found the woman to make me want to. How about you?”
“Once.”
He threw a double glance at her. “You thought about it once or you met the right guy once?”
“Both.”
“Ah.”
She saw disappointment darken his expression and knew he thought the guy she spoke about was waiting for her somewhere. “He died. He was killed in an operation. Saving me.”
She didn’t know why she told Norris about Stefan’s death. She just felt she had to. However, she hadn’t disclosed, the how, why and who had killed him.
She had secrets too.
CHAPTER NINE
Norris watched Jolene wipe sauce from Lia’s chubby cheeks and hands. For a kickass federal agent she handled the child patiently and with tenderness while Lia tried to play with Jolene’s charm bracelet.
The little girl was a mess with sauce from dimple to dimple. She’d eaten as if she hadn’t had anything to eat for days, which he knew wasn’t the case. Earlier Martina had told Jolene that Lia ate all day long between meals, juices and snacks.
It was just shy of a miracle Lia hadn’t managed to get tomato sauce on the little dress Jolene had changed her into before they sat down to dinner.
When she lifted the child off her chair, Norris noticed the toned muscles in Jolene’s arms flexed, reminding him of her strength when she’d battled the ocean swells to reach Lia.
Once put down, Lia didn’t hesitate a second to join the other children in the play area. Norris chuckled, watching her long chestnut hair swinging back and forth. Her little twig-like legs wheeled into the middle of the action like she’d done so a million times.
Placing her here with Martina and her husband Simon, instead of keeping her at the station or with a social worker, had been the best decision. The little girl was happy and fed, and by the way she acted, he’d swear yesterday had never happened to her.
“Whoa, did you see that flash?” Jolene laughed, staring after Lia.
“You’d think she be exhausted after what she’s been through.” Martina began clearing paper plates from the table. “She and Clara have been going non-stop since this morning. I made them lie down after you left, Jolene, but they didn’t sleep. Not one wink. They talked and talked and talked, and then they started to play in the room. I finally told them to go back outside before they woke Fina.”
Fina was a four-year-old foster child who seemed to have some developmental issues. Though he ran after the other children, he tended to hang back and watch them play.
“I wish I could bottle their energy,” Simon said, picking up his beer and taking a gulp.
“I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard that expression.” Jolene wiped down the chair rails with a dish towel.
Norris rose and grabbed one of the empty pizza boxes from the grill station behind him and held it open for Martina to deposit the used plates. “What would you do with all that money?”
Jolene grinned. “Maybe I’d buy that house on Crane Lane.”
The way her whiskey eyes sparkled when she was happy made him forget about the world. She must feel relaxed, like he did. And the ceiling fan above them kept a balmy breeze swirling around them, making the place more than comfortable.
“What house?” Martina looked between them.
Jolene glanced his way before answering her sister. “A beautiful place we passed by today. They’ve built a lot of big houses out on Crane Lane.”
“I worked on a few of them.” Simon leaned back against his chair.
The man’s shirt was undone midway down his chest and Norris could see Jolene’s brother-in-law kept in shape.
“What do you do, Simon?” Norris put the box back on the counter and sat down.
“I’m an electrician.” Simon pointed to his glass. “You sure you don’t want a cold beer?”
Norris shook his head. “Nah. Thanks, but lemonade is fine. I need to stay sharp.”
“Right.” Simon lifted his beer in the air. “You’ve got a big case going—”
“We can’t talk about it, Simon,” Jolene interjected and then dropped onto the chair across from him. She gave him an I’m-sorry look before picking up her wine glass and slanting it toward Simon. “So, don’t go asking questions.”
“That is not what I was going to do, little sister.” Simon made a face at Jolene before he picked up the bottle of wine and poured her another half glass. “I know the rules. I guess you don’t need to be sharp?”
“I can handle a glass of wine,” she clipped.
When Norris first met Jolene, she seemed a lone wolf, much like himself, but she was very comfortable in the family surroundings. From what he’d gat
hered during the conversations over dinner, she and Martina were the only siblings but they had a dozen first cousins. Simon was one of six children which meant they had huge family gatherings. They spoke freely about so many people but the only time Martina mentioned her and Jolene’s parents, Jolene changed the subject quickly, pretending she hadn’t heard Martina’s comment. He wondered if Jolene and her parents didn’t get along, and if so, why?
Everyone had family disputes. He had his own mother issues, so he let his question slide away to enjoy the banter that now included Martina.
Norris’ phone vibrated on his hip. He looked at the screen while Jolene and Simon continued a friendly game of mockery. His spine stiffened when he saw SA Carter’s text asking for an immediate return call. Could Carter possibly have the DNA results already? Norris hadn’t expected to hear anything until tomorrow at the earliest.
Norris looked at his hosts and held out his phone. “I’m sorry but I need to make a call.” For a second his gaze connected with Jolene’s before he rose from the table. With the slightest nod of her head, she indicated she understood the call had something to do with Lia’s case. Her expression remained serious for only a split second before she turned back to Simon, cutting him off at the knees with a seemingly horrid remark about his choice of power tools.
Norris walked to the driveway and stood next to his Jeep and made the call. When it went to Carter’s voicemail he ground his molars.
Hearing children’s laughter, he smiled and glanced toward the family party in the backyard. Then he dialed the station. Ted answered on the second ring. Normally, the older man was gone by eight, but it was near nine and he was still working. Norris guessed Ted was trying to make up for his mistake by putting in the extra hours. “Hey, it’s me. Have Pickett and Frank reported in yet?”
“Yeah. About ten minutes ago. I’d just picked up the phone to call you when SA Carter walked in.”
Norris’ pulse kicked up. Had his men found something and told Carter before telling him?
“What does he want?”
“To talk to you, I guess.”
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