by Tricia Jones
She popped the lip-gloss back in her bag, flicked her fingers through her short cap of hair, then with a final glance in the mirror left the cloakroom.
It was only a few tube stops and a short walk to the bar where she’d arranged to meet Saul. She spotted him through the plate glass window. He was talking on his cell phone.
For a moment she stood still and just looked at him. The conversation was obviously an intense one, causing deep creases between his eyes, a tightness in his jaw, and his fingers to drum against the table. She smiled at the way his foot tapped in unison.
As if aware he was being watched he looked up. He didn’t return her smile, but looked past her shoulder as if searching for someone. She made her way inside the bar and met him at the table. He stood and ended his call somewhat abruptly.
“Hey.” The kiss he gave her was sorely lacking in the pleased-to-see-you department, and definitely not of the we-heated-up-the-sheets-last-night-and-every-other-night-this-week variety.
“You look very serious.” Mia sat. “Something wrong?”
He ignored her question and nodded at a passing waiter. “What would you like?”
She glanced down at his beer on the table. “Wine would be nice.”
The waiter moved off, and Saul pushed back his chair. “Do me a favor and wait here a second. I’ll be right back.”
“Saul…”
But since he was already moving toward the entrance door, Mia shrugged out of her coat and placed it on the back of the chair. She took the opportunity to check her phone, still getting familiar with the different workings and applications. She missed her own phone and it had been a nuisance inputting all the information, not to mention the apps, but she had to admit it was easier to use and lighter than the old one.
The waiter brought her wine just as Saul came back. “What’s going on?”
“Just wanted to check something.” Still distracted, he took a swig of beer. His eyes had yet to meet hers, so intent was he on looking out the window.
“Is there somewhere else you’d rather be?”
His gaze came around. “What?”
“You’ve obviously got other things on your mind.”
He sipped his beer again, but now kept his attention firmly on her. “What makes you say that?”
“Oh I don’t know. Maybe because you’ve barely looked at me since I arrived. You gave me a chaste little peck, dashed off outside the moment I sat down, now you’re distracted and obviously expecting someone. All that tells me that you have other priorities right now.”
“Is that right?” Saul tapped his fingers against his beer glass. “And that would be your professional opinion?”
“It doesn’t take a degree in psychology to work out simple body language.”
“Then maybe you need a refresher course in Basic Psychology 101, Professor.”
At his heated glare, Mia suffered the full force of the feelings storming through her. She didn’t really understand what was happening. All she knew was that Saul’s preoccupation had allowed gloomy thoughts to fill her mind. Thoughts like whether he was done with her. That their brief but sizzling affair had burnt out as quickly as it had begun. That he was about to tell her it was over. If all that were true, how on earth was she supposed to deal with all these feelings burning inside her? She felt defensive, unbalanced, out of control. Everything she hated.
“Someone’s following you.”
Saul’s words snapped Mia from her depressing thoughts. “What?”
“I didn’t want to tell you at first, but now I think you should know. Come on.”
As Mia gaped at him, struggling to make sense of his words, Saul stood and grabbed their drinks. Mia reached for her coat, following him toward a table at the back.
“Saul, what’s going on?”
He looked around the bar. “It’s better back here. Less conspicuous.”
Instinctively, Mia glanced around at the myriad customers. “Who’s following me? Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” He held out Mia’s chair. “I’ve noticed him a couple of times. First when I met you in the park, then outside the Longmead Club, now here. Didn’t spot him when I took you home last night.”
A shiver went through her. “Do you think it’s him who’s sending the notes?”
“Can’t rule it out. As soon as he saw me heading his way, he drove off.”
Mia gasped. “You weren’t going to confront him?”
“Damn sure I was.” He flicked through his phone and held it out to her. “Recognize him?”
Mia shook her head. “God. Why is this happening? I’m the least interesting person I know. I rarely socialize outside work or my father’s circle of friends, and the rest of the time I’m at the university.”
“I spoke to a colleague, Dan, just before you arrived. We’ve pretty much ruled out the student prank theory. The high-end paper the notes were written on, plus the valuable jewelry sent to you points more to a colleague or someone you’ve locked horns with in the past. Think back over the research you’ve done. Anything controversial in any way? Detrimental to any persons, events, places?”
Mia considered, then shook her head. “It’s all been fairly standard and innocuous.”
“Shit,” Saul muttered, scoring his fingers through his hair. “I’m hitting a damn brick wall. The only real connection we have is Colcannon as last known owner of that ring.”
“I’ve been thinking about that and there’s absolutely no connection with him regarding anything I’ve done research-wise.”
“There’s got to be something.” He blew out a frustrated breath, then sighed and reached for her hand. At last the flicker of a smile lit his lips. “How was your day?”
“Okay. At least I think it was. My head’s spinning with all this.”
“I know what he looks like now. If he comes within spitting distance of you, I’ll deal with him.”
Because he looked so fierce, Mia couldn’t help but smile. “My hero.”
His fingers tightened around hers. “We’re going to sort this.”
She nodded, then grabbed her drink and took a fortifying gulp. “I won’t be able to concentrate on anything tonight and I have heaps of work.” She put down her glass and held her palms to her heated cheeks. “Oh God. How am I supposed to concentrate?”
He shifted closer and raised her hand to his lips where he planted a tender kiss. “How about we go back to my place, order pizza, and drink too much wine?”
Despite her insides threatening to revolt at the thought, she couldn’t deny that dismissing work and going home with Saul again was tempting. “I won’t be very good company.”
“We’ll put on a DVD.” He squeezed her fingers. “And we can go over things once more. See if anything clicks for you.”
Since this new piece of information would be worrying through her mind for the foreseeable future, trying to focus on assignments was out of the question “You’re not exactly good for my work ethic.”
“This is more important right now. We can go over things one more time and then put it away for a couple of hours.”
“And have sex?” She smiled across to him. “You’re going to distract me with sex?”
“Can’t think of a better way to distract a person.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “Oh hell, Saul. What’s going on? Who is doing this?”
“That’s what we’re going to find out.”
Saul hated the way she kept glancing around as they left the bar, and again now as the cab wove through the late night traffic toward her home. He’d eventually coaxed her into taking at least a few bites of pizza. Just as he’d coaxed her into bed. Shit. He’d needed her. He’d needed to feel her close against him, to know she was safe.
When the cab pulled to a halt at traffic lights, he took a surreptitious glance around the periphery. He didn’t want to spook her any more than he had already. He’d had no choice but to tell her someone was following her, she needed to be aware. Maybe it was no
w time to get the police involved. Put everything together and they had to take him seriously. Saul had photos of the car and the driver following Mia, and the look on the man’s face when Saul had walked toward his car intent on challenging him had sent a shiver of unease down his spine. He knew a professional when he saw one.
“Oh Lord, just as I feared. Someone’s still up.”
Saul leaned forward. Light peeked through the drawn drapes in the downstairs window. “You’ve stayed out past curfew again.”
She raised her eyebrows and pushed at his arm. “And whose fault is that?”
“You can’t blame me, at least not totally. You were the one who kept snuggling down beneath the duvet and pleading ‘just one more minute’.”
She opened her mouth to say something, then shut it again. He laughed. He loved the way she swung between a bewitching guile and outright devilment. As he pulled her in for another kiss, she glanced at the cabbie and stiffened in Saul’s arms the way she always did when they had an audience. Only he knew what a siren she was when they were alone and, hell, how he loved knowing that.
She pulled away, addressing the cabbie. “Thanks very much.”
The cabbie nodded his acknowledgement, and Saul leaned forward and pushed a note into the driver’s hand. “Keep the change.”
He barely heard the man’s “thanks, mate” as he was currently standing on the pavement facing a vexed Mia. “What are you doing?” she asked as the cab moved away down the street. “I can’t invite you in.”
“Why not? Maybe it’s time I met your father.”
“No.” Mia dug into her purse and pulled out house keys. “It’s most definitely not the time. It’s after midnight, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
“Well, seeing as he’s up anyway.”
He strode up the stone steps toward the front door before Mia could continue with her excuses. He was damned well going to make her father aware of what was happening to his daughter. The man had a right to know.
“Saul.” She flew up the steps toward him. “Be reasonable. Meet him tomorrow if you must, but not now.”
Before he could answer, the door came open.
Saul swung around and stared at the man on the other side of the threshold. He’d seen him before. Leaving the Longmead Men’s Club. With Roger Colcannon.
Chapter Ten
Mia didn’t want Saul and her father to meet. It made things tricky. It made things move on from a simple dinner date…from sex…to something more intense. It had connotations. Connotations she wasn’t ready for.
Besides which, Saul might mention the man who’d been following her. He might mention the notes, the ring. Then her father would go off like a rocket and she’d likely be locked in her room or given a protector to follow her everywhere. She’d spent most of her life teaching her father not to be quite so protective. Now this would blow everything right out of proportion.
She stood frozen on the step watching Saul and her father face off. When Saul slipped his hands in his pockets, she felt the tension move into his body. In turn her father glared back at him, folding his arms across his chest.
Great. She really needed this right now.
The two men continued to stare at each other, and she knew it was down to her to break the uneasy silence, although she wasn’t entirely sure why it should be quite so uneasy. It wasn’t the first time she’d brought a man home for a nightcap—although technically she hadn’t brought Saul home—and while her father had been cool he hadn’t been downright standoffish.
“Dad, this is Saul.” When there was no response, she turned to Saul. “This is my dad, Armstrong Freeman.”
A few more unsettling minutes later, Armstrong turned to the side and motioned them into the hall.
Any hopes of moving Saul along before he got over the threshold disappeared as he followed her into the hallway. She made for the kitchen, relieved when she saw her aunt was still up. Sylvia was seated at the table, and Mia saw the two crystal tumblers filled with brandy.
Sylvia stood as Saul came through the kitchen door. Her smile was welcoming, but the worry in her eyes was evident. Something had obviously happened. That explained the midnight tipple and the concerned look in her aunt’s eyes.
Mia introduced Saul. “Can I get you something?” Sylvia asked. “Coffee, or maybe brandy if you’re not driving.”
“Coffee’d be great. Thanks.”
With the air so taut with tension, Mia would have preferred something stronger, but nodded when her aunt lifted the coffeepot in her direction.
Armstrong remained standing, his arms tightly folded. Saul seemed equally tense and it was apparent the two men would not become BFFs anytime soon.
Mia caught her aunt’s attention and widened her eyes as an invitation for help.
As usual, Sylvia sprang into support mode. “For heaven’s sake you two. Sit down. And close the door Armstrong, there’s a draught coming down that hallway that will freeze the coffee before I can even pour it.”
Both men looked reluctant to relinquish their position, but Saul lowered himself into the chair beside her.
“So, you’ve had a good evening?” Sylvia asked. “Did you eat, or can I get you something?”
“We ate,” Mia responded quickly, not wanting to have her aunt prepare sandwiches or late night snacks. The sooner she could get Saul out of here the better. She’d no doubt have to face the third degree, but could hopefully wangle out of that until morning.
When Sylvia served coffee, she again motioned to her brother to sit. There was no denying the suspicious looks that passed between the two men and again, Mia thought how oddly her father was behaving. It was also out of character for Saul, or perhaps he always reacted this way when he met his lover’s fathers.
“Has something happened?” Mia asked when even her normally chatty aunt remained silent. Sylvia shot her father a nervous glance. “Something has.” Mia moved forward in her chair. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Sylvia’s laugh was full of nerves. “Nothing’s happened. We were just chatting and didn’t realize the time.”
Mia wasn’t entirely convinced. “Well, will somebody please say something? You can cut the air with a knife around here.”
Saul’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Maybe I should just go.”
Annoyed and irritated by her family’s lack of bonhomie, Mia put her hand on his arm. “I invited you in for a nightcap.” She wondered where the lie had come from. “I’d like you to stay and finish your coffee.”
The tension beneath her hand didn’t soften, but Saul sat back a measly inch. Realizing her father had no intention of leaving them alone, she turned to him. “Saul’s a photojournalist. He’s from New York and over here for a few weeks to cover a story.”
Her father didn’t acknowledge Mia, but cast another hard look at Saul and again, Mia wondered what the hell was going on.
She addressed her aunt. “Saul’s sister is interested in antique dolls.”
Sylvia was interested in collectables herself, but when she only nodded Mia felt the last threads of her temper snap. There was absolutely no reason for her family to behave like this and she wasn’t about to feel embarrassed and uncomfortable about bringing someone home.
Maybe it really was time to start thinking about her own place. She was half inclined to ask Saul to stay the night, because if her father wanted to behave so appallingly she’d give him good reason.
Except it wasn’t her way. No doubt her father and Aunt Sylvia knew she had sex, but she didn’t think it entirely respectful to shove it in their faces. For that reason she’d always gone to the man’s place, just as she did with Saul.
Yes. Perhaps it was time to think about moving out.
Silence ensued, and the only sound in the kitchen was the rumble of hot water moving through the radiator and the odd chink of china against the table. Mia looked at Saul.
He returned her gaze and as if no words were needed, pushed away his coffee cup and stood. “
Thanks for the coffee,” he said, addressing Sylvia. “It was nice meeting you.”
Sylvia stood too and again offered Saul a polite smile. “You’re welcome.” She gathered up the cups and took them to the counter.
Mia stood and caught her father’s gaze, nodding toward Saul as if prompting her father to make some gesture.
When Armstrong stood, Mia’s satisfaction was short-lived when he came around the table in front of Saul. “Perhaps you’d follow me into the sitting room for a moment.”
Mia frowned. It was as if her father and Saul shared some secret information. The two men moved off and Mia went to follow, but her aunt stepped in front of her and closed the kitchen door after the two men.
“What’s going on?” Mia demanded. “Dad’s acting as if Saul is public enemy number one and Saul’s looking at Dad as if he feels the same.”
“Just leave them be for a few minutes.” Sylvia turned Mia by the shoulder and motioned her to sit again. When she did, her aunt took the seat nearest the door as if to ward her off should she make a break for it.
“I’ve a right to know what’s happening.”
Sylvia thought about it for a moment. “How much do you know about that young man?”
“As much as I need to.” Mia shot her chin into the air again. “And if you and Dad had been more forthcoming, you’d know a whole lot more yourselves.”
Sylvia chewed her lip as if deciding what to say next. “Have you ever thought it strange that he turned up at about the same time you started receiving those notes?”
No, she hadn’t. Not really. “What are you saying? That he’s the one sending them to me?”
“No, I’m not saying that. But you have to admit that the timing is a little suspect.”
Although Mia felt the sudden urge to defend Saul, she took a moment to think. Saul had appeared on the scene a little after she’d started receiving the notes, and he was there when the ring had arrived. And what were the chances of him turning up at the very auction where she’d bid for the pendant?
