Erotic Deception

by Karen Cote'

  The sarcasm gave Lily pause as his first flaw began to emerge. However, she acknowledged his attitude justified and set aside the hostility.

  “No, there are no weapons in the car.”

  A further few seconds of unrelenting scrutiny made her self-conscious of the clinging t-shirt and short yellow jean skirt. Her face aflame, Lily seriously wished she’d worn something different today. By the time he moved aside, her usual confident demeanor had bubbled with the hot-tarred pavement.

  Reaching the car, she opened the door and drew back at the smell from the airbag. She grimaced at the spilled diet soda and stained dashboard before shivering at the memory of the candy bar. She peeked around for the blasted worm responsible for this mess but saw no signs of it.

  Her purse had fallen to the floorboard on the passenger’s side and, no mystery here, the contents were scattered. Lily braced one knee on the seat and stretched across to retrieve her wallet while tugging on her skirt. Her position became even more precarious and she had to balance to access the glove box.

  * * * *

  Outside, Pete swallowed hard, dragging a gnarled hand over his gray whiskers. He turned to Jet in an obvious attempt to capture his reaction to the display. Jet glanced over, a tick in his cheek, blue eyes flickering. Without a word, his gaze hardened and his lips tightened to an ominous line.

  * * * *

  Inside the car, Lily retrieved the items and backed out muttering, “Why not put an ad in the paper announcing to Anthony where you are, Lily?”

  It would’ve saved everyone a lot less hassle. Especially the man whose car she’d flipped over.

  Imminent disaster trailed her steps as she walked the registration, insurance, and wallet to the silent waiting man. When he didn’t take them, she looked up with a bewildering tilt of her head.

  “Would you remove the driver’s license from your wallet please?” he asked.

  Uh-oh. Had his disposition worsened? Great. Lily complied.

  He took the items and as he walked away, Lily met Pete’s sympathetic look.

  “You may be in some trouble, Missy.”

  She nodded her awareness to the repercussions. “Why did he have to call a State Trooper?”

  Even to Lily, her voice sounded pitiful. The old man must’ve felt sorry for her as he came over and put an awkward, but compassionate hand on her shoulder.

  “I think he’s supposed to when it’s him involved in the accident. But don’t worry; he’ll take care of things. He’s used to dealing with situations like this.” He shot a glance at the overturned car. “Well, maybe not quite like this.”

  Joining his attention, Lily conceded the disturbing sight of the gold star insignia in crumpled surroundings. It brought her attention to the sheriff’s one-sided conversation.

  “Thanks, Denie. I’ll hold while you run it. Has Mark returned?” The person named Denie must have made some positive response because the sheriff responded, “After you call the body shop, tell him to get the Blazer and follow Walter out here.” He paused again before replying, “My car’s been involved in an accident.” He listened again and then shook his head. “I’ll be handling this on my own for now. With the Sedalia State Fair and a major spill from a jack-knifed big rig, all the State Troopers are tied up. I told them I could handle it.”

  The air restricting Lily’s lungs eased...a little. Thank goodness for small favors.

  “I’ll explain it all later,” he replied and even Lily could hear his impatience. “Right now I just need you to run the numbers.”

  A new wave of anxiety stole the short reprieve and Lily chewed on her lower lip. Would her driver’s license show anything? Maybe that police officer in Kansas City hadn’t written anything up. The memory of his anger, however, made that assumption improbable.

  What seemed hours provided the answer, as she became the focus of a sharp piercing glance. Her stomach lurched when his expression darkened. By the time the sheriff finished his call and sauntered back over, Lily’s nerve endings were a frayed mess.

  “This isn’t your first encounter with the law now is it, Miss Delaney?” he asked.

  “Dr. Delaney,” she corrected, needing the steady formality of the title. She then glanced at his injuries and hastily added, “Therapeutic, not medical.”

  The ascension of a dark brow was his only response.

  Lily’s chin lifted. “That cop in Kansas City deserved more than my bad attitude.”

  He tossed a cursory glance at his car before bouncing it back to her.

  “Do you make it a habit assaulting law enforcement officials?”

  The inference was unmistakable. “Today was an accident! And I didn’t physically assault that police officer in Kansas City.” Although some people might’ve taken her insult as an attack. But shoot, the man probably did shop in the small condom section of a pharmacy.

  Penetrating cerulean steel peered down at her. “What about the restraining order the Kansas City District Attorney filed against you?”

  Lily's jaw dropped. “What?”

  “You have a restraining order against you,” he repeated. “It’s usually filed when one person has proven to pose a threat against another.”

  His explanation was a little condescending, but Lily was barely listening. Had Anthony filed a complaint of her accusation of murdering Jerry? That’s crazy. Besides, it might merit a charge of slander, but a restraining order?

  Then realization dawned as Anthony's thought process slammed into her. If the police stopped her for even a minor infraction, he or she might feel compelled to notify the court, if not the District Attorney himself. Anthony must be desperate if he’s stooping that low.

  “It’s a mistake,” she said, her voice flat. “I’m the one who needs protection from him.”

  Mild skepticism appeared briefly between his narrowed dark lashes.

  “It’s true,” she frowned. “He’s my ex-fiancé with serious psychosis issues.”

  His enigmatic stare gave a moment’s study before he replied.

  “Dr. Delaney, the restraining order implicates you as the threat.”

  She adamantly shook her head. “I’m the one being threatened!” . Experience warned not to mention he also killed her brother.

  “You’ll need to take that up with the courts,” was his infuriating response.

  “And play right into his hands,” she said bitterly and then muttered under her breath. “You’re all as crooked as he is.”

  The rearing back of his head indicated he’d heard her, but at this point Lily didn’t care. She was tired, scared, and tired of being scared. Screw them all.

  “Then allow me to at least pretend to care about justice and get back to the three lives almost taken today?” he suggested in a soft dangerous tone.

  Heat rose up the back of Lily’s neck and her momentary apathy awoke to shame. In this, she was entirely to blame.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,” she said, pressing her index fingers into her temples and rubbing in simultaneous circular motion.

  “Forget it,” was his clipped response. “Why don’t you tell me what happened today?”

  Despite his command to forget it, his abrupt demeanor assured Lily that he, at least, hadn’t. But the damage was done and there was little she could do.

  She started to answer, but the explanation of the worm now seemed more ludicrous than before. Her gaze fell on the mounds of hay on the big truck.

  “Isn’t there a minimum speed limit here?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Well,” she licked her lips. “To be perfectly honest, the fault isn't entirely mine, if you think about it.” She noted the warning light appearing in his eyes and knew she was only making things worse for herself. Apparently, however, she was on a suicide mission as she trudged on.

  “That truck was barely moving. Isn’t there a minimum speed limit here?”

  “You're inferring this was Pete’s fault?” he asked with an underlying threat.

&
nbsp; Shame pushed her lips together, but for some reason, it didn’t stop the flow of diarrhea.

  “Well, he was driving as if his only intent was to race a turtle,” she said and cast a guilty glance toward the shocked older man. She stammered on, “A-And by you allowing that kind of obstruction makes us all responsible, don’t you think?”

  Have I lost my mind? It was obvious the man before her thought so.

  “Now you’re encompassing me as a responsible party?”

  “It’s possible,” she said weakly.

  “Are you under the influence of any drugs or alcohol?” he asked.

  She checked the hysterical laugh bubbling up. She could use something right now.

  ‘No,” she replied.

  “Are you in the habit of always blaming others for your problems?”

  Hot tears burned.

  “No,” she answered again.

  “Would you mind giving an honest answer as to why you tried to pass in a zone clearly marked do not pass?”

  “I wasn’t trying to pass,” she responded in a flat voice.

  “No?” He asked. “What were you doing? Playing Peek-A-Boo with your car?”

  “No,” she gritted. “I don’t consider driving a car as playing a game.”

  “Yet I remind you once again, several lives were put in jeopardy today,” he stated.

  Lily rubbed shaking hands over her face in defeat. “I know and I’m sorry, but I was distracted by a worm in my candy bar and-”

  “A what?” he cut her off.

  Exactly. She repeated it anyway. “A worm.”

  “You put worms in your candy bar?”

  “What,” she frowned and then shook her head. “No, I don’t put worms in my candy bar. I bought it from a store a few miles back.”

  “They sell worms in candy bars?” he asked and Lily couldn’t tell if his sardonic disbelief was real or not.

  “No,” she responded again, feeling her patience start to thin. “I suppose the candy was old.”

  He cocked his head to the side. “Alright, let’s presume you’re not making this up—”

  This time Lily cut him off. ‘Who in their right mind would make up a story like that?’

  “Good question,” the sheriff concurred in derision, “I’m guessing next you’re going to tell me the worm was driving?”

  Lily’s mouth tightened. “Listen, Sheriff. I’m sorry I wrecked your car, but it was an accident. And as I mentioned, if the truck in front of me hadn’t been going so slow this wouldn’t have happened.”

  His lip curled. “I thought we were blaming the worm now.”

  Nearing the end of her tether and not sure why she continued to argue the very-moot point, the last thing Lily needed was his belligerent sarcasm.

  “Can we wrap this up?”

  Ice-blue chips reflected his less than appreciative response to her attitude.

  “Where are you headed today?”

  Her lips twisted. “Here.”

  “Where exactly is here?”

  She suppressed a caustic response. “Windom Hills Lake Resort.”

  “Are you renting a cabin?”

  “I believe it’s a house.”

  His eyes traveled over her curves, down to her long legs and back up again.

  “Why Windom Hills? It’s not exactly Club Med.”

  Dismay over her predicament, coupled with his insulting remark and perusal made her own response less than respectful.

  “That's none of your business, Sheriff.”

  With a menacing step, he leaned in and whispered, “Lady, you've made everything about you my business today.”

  It was the final straw. First, she’d had to endure the loss of her brother. Then she’d found out the man she was going to marry had killed him and threatened to do the same to her. With the horror of a worm, whose very existence was in question, followed by an accident she’d certainly caused, and the impending legal ramifications which would bring about the imminent discovery of her whereabouts, she now had to endure this man’s relentless aggression? All rationale and common sense disintegrated.

  “Which goes back to my earlier question,” she challenged. “Why aren’t you monitoring the roads better instead of being in everyone’s business?” In her need to lash out at someone, she took enormous satisfaction at catching him off guard. “If you’d been doing your job instead of driving around with your thumb up your ass, I wouldn’t have been stuck behind that monstrous contraption for what seemed an eternity and you wouldn’t have wrecked your vehicle.”

  Pete’s mouth dropped, but Lily was too far gone and incensed to care.

  “Now it’s my fault again?” Disbelief made the sheriff’s voice rise to match hers.

  “Well, I’m glad to see you’re finally taking some responsibility,” she announced irrationally.

  “Things are beginning to make sense,” he gritted through his teeth, reaching behind him. “You’re not only dangerous, you’re nuts. Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”

  Not taking into account he’d arrest her, Lily backed up in wide-eyed horror.

  “You’re going to handcuff me?” she asked aghast.

  An anxious Pete stepped in, “Now hold on a minute, Jet. There ain’t no cause for that.”

  Ignoring Pete, the sheriff advanced toward Lily, his lip curling.

  “Maybe you want to coerce me against it by hiking up your skirt again.”

  “By hiking up my skirt…” she asked, thrown off by confusion. “What are you talking about?”

  “Are you going to deny trying to make things easier on yourself by wiggling your assets in your car earlier? Exhibitionism is against the law in this county, Ma’am.”

  She sucked in a breath. “You’re the one that’s crazy,” she choked out in rage. “I wasn’t wiggling anything.”

  “What would you call it? Soliciting an ad for yellow underwear?”

  Her green eyes blazed before she allowed her lips to curve sweetly in pent-up hysteria.

  “For your information, Sheriff, my underwear is not yellow. Where’d you get your investigative skills, Detectives for Dummies?”

  Dead silence fell like a thick fog. Somewhere in the back of Lily’s hysterical frame of mind, she realized she’d just insulted an officer of the law over her underwear.

  Chapter Two

  The sound of vehicles brought a look of relief from Pete and he moved between the two still glaring at each other.

  “Here they come, Jet. Here they are, right here, yes-siree. Right here.” Pete babbled, obviously hoping to break up the tension. It took a moment, but eventually Jet dragged his gaze away and drew in in a deep breath.

  “I see ‘em, Pete,” he said, glancing over at the new arrivals. “Why don’t you go on home before your wife starts to worry?” And then he muttered, “You’ve been through enough today.”

  “Will you be needin’ some kind of statement from me?” Pete asked as if still wary of a potential eruption.

  Jet shook his head. “Not right now. If I do, I’ll drive over to your place tomorrow.” He looked over at the two men emerging from the wrecker and narrowed a glance back at the woman in front of him. “Stay put and don’t move.”

  The little vixen raised her chin and squared her shoulders in defiance and Jet waited for the second battle to erupt. Just as quickly, she relaxed them in defeat. Good, maybe she realized who was in charge here.

  With one more wave, Pete got into his truck and took off, evidence he was eager to hand the situation off to someone else. Jet’s ill temper didn’t dissipate as he crossed the road.

  He realized threatening her with handcuffs had been childish, but striking her hadn’t seemed a viable option. Not only was it against the law, he’d never hit a woman in his life.

  But coming face to face with another car with such few options had been unsettling to say the least. Combined with the helpless feeling of his car rolling over, he admitted to being shaken up. And he hated feeling scared.


  The accident could’ve turned out much worse with several lives taken. And then she’d made up some cock-eyed story about being in danger before changing her tactics by blaming the accident on him and Pete? What a whacko.

  Jet had worked in Kansas City as a detective prior to moving back home to Windom Hills. Of course, he knew the District Attorney and his family. He also knew they weren't exactly the model citizens he, himself, could admire. But what would be the point in filing a restraining order against someone unless they were deserving of it?

  A niggling sensation teased at his brain before he shoved it away. Corruption may have filtered into his decision to leave the Kansas City Precinct, but the Anthony Capriccios of the world were no longer his problem. He had no intention of allowing any disruptions into the quiet existence he'd achieved since those crime filled days. Unexplained dead bodies and gang-infested, child-killing losers were a part of his past. He intended to keep them there.

  He also didn’t need someone like Lily Delaney walking about in his neck-of-the-woods either. Windom Hills wasn’t like Kansas City. In the City, beautiful women numbered as many as the stars. In the galaxy of so many, few stood out. The good doctor was one of those rare ones. As if she’d just stepped off a damn New York Runway. Hell, if he could still be attracted to her in spite of all that had happened today, it didn’t bode well if she lived in the same place where he ate, slept and drank beer.

  If a woman couldn’t use what attributes she possessed she went for the mind-numbing techniques such as helpless-female-crap. Manipulative and deceitful, that’s what they were, grabbing onto whatever advantage at their disposal. He’d been well versed in that knowledge.

  He flexed his hand. It ached. His knee stung and damn, just look at his car. What a mess.

  Walter, the owner of the sole body shop in town, was inspecting the wreckage. His son Mike was staring at the upside down patrol car, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. A carbon copy of his dad, he was short and stocky with buzzed blonde hair. He also shared his dad’s knack with anything on wheels.

  “Whew, Jet,” Walter exclaimed. “You didn’t tell me it was your car.” Consternation turned to concern at noticing Jet's injuries. “Hey man, are you okay?”