Lost and Found

by Tamara Larson

  Chapter 7

  Duncan cursed, and nearly toppled Jessie onto the floor in his hurry to grab the phone. He reached out with one hand to steady her on his lap as he pressed the answer button, and put the handset to his ear.

  “Reinhold,” he said into the earpiece, his voice raspy with unrelieved desire.

  Jessie looked down at her naked torso and erect nipples and suddenly didn’t feel quite so sexy anymore. She felt naked, and more than a little embarrassed. Things had gotten way out of hand, much too quickly. Losing her virginity was her purpose for being here, but without his mouth on her, she felt more than a little cheap. She couldn’t help it. She just wasn’t cut out for a one-night stand. Looking down at his bare chest, and the prominent bulge in his jeans, she wished she was, but she suddenly knew she couldn’t go through with it. She couldn’t use this man like this.

  She covered her chest with her arms and attempted to move off his hard thighs. Duncan wouldn’t let her. He held the phone to his ear with his shoulder, and placed both hands on her hips, holding her in place. He was staring at her intently as he listened to the voice on the other end of the phone.

  Finally, he said, “Alright, thanks for letting me know. I’ll be there in ten minutes. Try to hold her there if you can, okay?”

  Duncan let go of one of her hips long enough to press the end button on his phone and then threw it on the couch. “Listen, Jessie. I’ve gotta go, like right now. That was that guy from your store. Theresa is there right now and she’s with someone. Can you wait for me here? I don’t know how long this will take, but I don’t want this to be over. Will you stay?” He looked at her pleadingly, and Jessie was tempted to do just that. She could see herself, lying here or in his bed, waiting impatiently for him to return and make love to her. It would be so good. But not right for her. She would feel terrible the next day.

  “Duncan, I’m sorry, I can’t.” Duncan’s face fell, and he looked like a petulant child, denied a special treat.

  His hands fell away from her hips and she moved off his lap, adjusting her camisole, grabbing her blouse off the couch, and looking for her glasses all at once so she didn’t have to look at his hurt face. “Let’s both go, okay? Maybe I can help.”

  Duncan silently got up and searched for his shirt, his movements jerky, angry, and rushed. He pulled it on as he walked to the patio door, and called Hannibal in. The dog bounded over to Jessie, who gave the poodle a half-hearted pat on his fuzzy gray head, as she watched Duncan stalk to the kitchen to turn off the oven and then to the front door where he yanked on some battered Nike sneakers. He stood up, tugging on his black leather coat and opened the door, saying over one powerful shoulder, “Suit yourself, but we’ll have to rush. I can’t miss her again.” Jessie followed dejectedly behind, terribly unsure of herself and him.

  In the car, it was very quiet. Duncan expertly steered the sedan through heavy evening traffic, looking over at Jessie’s profile occasionally and cursing himself silently. He wasn’t mad at her, he was mad at himself. Here Theresa was, out wandering the streets, alone and probably in danger, and all he could think about was being inside Jessie, hearing her moan his name as he entered her, and making her come. He was consumed with the feel of her, the sound of her, and the smell of her. She was clearly driving him crazy, and he needed some distance from her. Anger was an excellent tool for just that.

  Duncan had never felt like this before. He hadn’t dated since high school, but even then he couldn’t remember wanting someone like this. Nothing else seemed to matter. And it wasn’t just her body and the way she responded when he touched her. He liked her. Her sense of humor, and the way she got so easily embarrassed. There was something innocent about her, something hopeful, and sweet. He’d just met her but he knew these things to be true.

  And yet he couldn’t help feeling like she’d come into his life at exactly the wrong time. He really needed to get this situation with Theresa cleared up before he’d be ready for any kind of a relationship, and that’s what he hoped to have with the sexy bookstore owner. A relationship. But until he found his missing half-sister he’d never be able to give Jessie the time and attention she deserved. Like tonight, if he hadn’t been waiting for news about the girl, he would have ignored the phone, or smashed it with his foot so he could continue pleasuring Jessie. He vowed silently to himself that until he could make Jessie his top priority, it was unfair of him to become involved with her. She wasn’t the type of woman that he could just make love to and forget. He didn’t want to hurt her like that.

  They arrived at the bookstore in less than fifteen minutes. Usually, Duncan would open the car door for a lady, but she was already out by the time he got there. They hurried in, sending the bell over the door clanging. Duncan scanned the interior of the store, but didn’t see Theresa—just Clay, standing behind the counter, staring at the pair in puzzlement.

  “They’re gone,” he said, shrugging his shoulders, and giving Jessie a questioning eyebrow.

  “What do you mean, they’re gone? I thought you were going to try and keep her here,” Duncan said fiercely. Approaching Clay menacingly, he ran his hands through his hair and looked like he wanted to kick something, preferably Clay.

  “Well, I’m sorry, but my freeze ray is being serviced right now, Detective Rude much. How did you expect me to keep them here exactly?” Clay asked, hands on hips, he came out from behind the counter and poked Duncan in the chest.

  Duncan looked like he was going to haul off and punch the smaller blond man, but Jessie intervened. “Clay,” she said, placing a hand on Duncan’s back. “How long have they been gone? Did you see which way they went?”

  Clay noted the placating hand with a pointed look and turned away from the irate detective with a disdainful sniff and spoke to Jessie. “You only missed them by a few minutes. You might be able to catch them. They were headed west. I watched them for as long as I could. The guy she was with was hard to miss. He was big, and had long, dark hair—your typical Caveman type.” He gave Duncan a meaningful look, but the detective was already headed for the door.

  Jessie sank down on one of the chairs, and waited for Clay’s interrogation.

  “I can not believe you!” he exclaimed, angrily shaking his finger at her in agitation. “You were with him tonight, and didn’t even tell me about it. I should have known when I called you earlier tonight, and you weren’t home. Here I thought you were off bringing food to homeless people or reading to orphans, but instead you were off boffing the very intense detective’s brains out.” He turned his back on her and crossed his arms dramatically.

  “We were not boffing. At least I don’t think you’d call it boffing. It was kind of boffingish, I suppose.” Jessie got up and put her hand on Clay’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Clay. I didn’t tell you I was going to his place because I knew you’d make me even more nervous.”

  “Oh my God! You were at his place? What happened? Tell me everything.” Clay, his anger quickly forgotten in the face of new gossip, turned around and hugged her, picking her up and swinging her around.

  Duncan chose that moment to come back into the store, just in time to catch Clay and Jessie embracing. Duncan already thought of Jessie as his, and the impulse to state his claim was almost overwhelming. He wanted to tear the pretty blond man away from her and pummel his face until he wasn’t quite so pretty anymore, but he reined in his anger and just glowered at the couple.

  “I couldn’t catch up with them,” he said, addressing Jessie and completely ignoring Clay. He couldn’t even bare to look at him without feeling his temper flare. “I’m going to walk around a bit downtown and see if I can spot them. Can I call you later?”

  “I’m coming with you,” Jessie said, defiantly, moving away from Clay and walking past Duncan to the door. “I can look in one direction while you’re looking in the other. We can cover more ground that way. While we’re looking, maybe you can tell me exactly what’s going on here. It’s pretty obvious that Theresa is more than
just another missing person to you.” She waited impatiently for him with her hands on her slim hips.

  “Clay, don’t you have a date tonight? You should close up and get going, shouldn’t you?” She looked at her watch meaningfully. “Didn’t you say it was Sissy Boy Night at Odyssey? Half price Crantini’s will be over in another twenty minutes and you want to stock up, don’t you?” Both men gaped at her bossy tone for a moment and then followed her out the door, Clay setting the alarm and closing the iron security gates behind them and then heading off toward Davie Street with a mouthed “Call me” to Jessie behind Duncan’s tense back.

  Jessie and Duncan walked the streets of downtown in silence, looking for some sign of Theresa. It was a Monday night, and downtown sidewalks weren’t terribly crowded, but there were enough people to fill the tables at most of the sidewalk cafes, and the usual homeless people in doorways and on corners. Duncan flashed Theresa’s picture at many of them, asking if they’d seen her and thanking them for their time. Jessie was impressed by the polite way he spoke to everyone, and she kept sneaking glances at Duncan, admiring the way he carried himself. People seemed to part for him like the red sea. It wasn’t just that he was bigger than most everyone they passed; it was his energy and intensity that they responded to. She felt very safe next to him. He held her elbow and glared at anyone who came too close to her.

  “So, that guy isn’t your boyfriend,” Duncan asked after a about a half hour into their search. He didn’t look at her. His tone was purposely casual and Jessie got the impression he really cared about her answer.

  “Did you actually think I’d let you maul me in the store if I thought my boyfriend might be coming in? What kind of women have you been dating?” Jessie asked angrily, pausing to look in the window of a sub shop. She thought she saw a familiar blond head, but moved on when it turned out to be a man.

  “Maul you? I didn’t maul you. And what was I supposed to think when you acted so weird when he came in. You jumped away from me like I was dipped in shit or something.” Duncan said, throwing up his hands in exasperation. He looked over at her for the first time since leaving the store, and noticed that she had her arms crossed and was rubbing at them like she was cold. She was still wearing just the thin, white, sleeveless blouse she’d arrived at his place in. He shook his head in disgust and paused, pulling off his leather coat and placing it around her shoulders without asking.

  Jessie stopped and watched him do up the zipper and roll up the sleeves like she was a five-year-old. The coat hung to her knees and smelled like leather, rain, and him. She wanted to be defiant and shrug it off, but it felt too good—toasty warm from his body—like an embrace from him. “Thanks,” she said, and reached up with one hand to touch his cheek tenderly.

  He stared into her eyes for a moment and then his gaze skittered away from her like he was embarrassed and he said quietly, “As for the women I’ve been dating, There hasn’t been anyone. Not for a long time.”

  They started walking again as Jessie digested this new information. He didn’t have a harem of gorgeous women? It just didn’t seem right. He was exactly the kind of man women said they wanted: funny, intelligent, passionate, not to mention rich and gorgeous. Okay, so he was a bit volatile. There wasn’t any doubt in her mind that Duncan could be dangerous if provoked. He’d proved that tonight when he’d reacted so strongly to the news that Theresa was gone. Jessie could easily imagine him wrapping his powerful fist around her friend’s skinny neck and squeezing if Clay had been anymore antagonistic.

  Knowing this, Jessie wasn’t even vaguely threatened by Duncan. He’d been heartbreakingly gentle with her both this morning and later at his apartment. She wondered if any other man would have been so patient with her. She wasn’t an expert, but she was pretty sure that most men would not be content with making out on their couch for an hour without some kind of culmination.

  Looking back on her decision to go to his place, she shook her head in disbelief. What kind of women went alone to the apartment of a man she’d just met? Cop or not, it was a TV movie waiting to happen. He could have been a serial killer or a date rapist or a Satan worshipper looking for a virgin to sacrifice and yet she hadn’t hesitated to meet him. It was crazy, but she trusted him implicitly, already. Volatile or not, he was everything she’d ever dreamed about, which both thrilled her and scared her to death.

  “What about Theresa?” Jessie finally asked, after they’d walked a few more blocks. She looked up at him expectantly, noticing how the neon signs reflected off his dark hair and made his eyes appear black instead of blue.

  “Theresa? You think I dated Theresa?” Duncan asked angrily, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk to confront her. “What do you think I am? A pervert? She’s only seventeen. I’m thirty and don’t have a taste for little girls, as you should have noticed by now.”

  Jessie faced him and placed her hands low on his chest, rubbing in what she hoped was a soothing manner. His face was as hard as granite, and he wouldn’t look her in the eyes. People at a nearby café stared at them and she pulled Duncan into a nearby alley. “I’m sorry, Duncan. I had to ask. She’s more than another runaway though, isn’t she?”

  “She’s my sister. My half sister. I’ve been looking for her practically non-stop for the past two weeks.” He ran both hands through his hair in a frustrated gesture. “Listen, I’m sorry if I lead you to believe otherwise, but I didn’t know this was going to happen between us.” He glanced down at her hands against his stomach. “I just thought it would be easier if people thought this was just a routine missing person’s case.”

  “You were her guardian? She ran away from you?”

  “No, she was living with our grandmother in Ontario. I haven’t seen or talked to any of my family in eleven years. Theresa left two months ago without a word, and the fleet of private detectives the old lady hired hasn’t had any luck tracking her down. That’s why she called me. After all this time, she thought I could help.” Duncan’s voice was bitter, and Jessie suddenly realized how alone the detective was in the world. After her parents died, she’d thought she was the loneliest person in the world, but at least she had Jamie. Duncan didn’t seem to have anyone. No family, no women, just a dog. Only the thought of his reaction to her pity stopped her from wrapping her arms around him and comforting him like a hurt child.

  “Why didn’t she call the police?” Jessie asked.

  “Publicity. Grandmother is paranoid about the Press. There was a scandal when I was born. My mother never bothered to ask the name of my father. It got leaked, and Grandmother never recovered from it.”

  Jessie wondered why the Press would care so much about his family, but didn’t want to pry. “So she thought private detectives would be more discreet than the police?”

  “Yeah, she figures she pays for discretion. With cops there aren’t any guarantees.”

  “So you’ve been looking for her ever since? By yourself? Even though you haven’t had any contact with Theresa since she was a child?”

  “Yeah, what choice do I have? She’s my sister and she needs me. Even if my grandmother is a nightmare, I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to Theresa. Not if I could do something to prevent it.”

  “But what about tonight?” Jessie couldn’t help asking. He seemed so dedicated, it just didn’t make sense to her that he would take time out from something that was obviously so important to him to spend time with her.

  “What about tonight?” He asked quietly, unclenching his hands where they’d been fisted at his sides, he placed them gently on either side of her face. “You mean our date?” Jessie nodded, mesmerized by the tender look on his face. “I don’t know, Jessie. Usually, all I can think about is work. I hunt men. That’s what I do. It’s all I ever do. Lately, it’s been Theresa. It doesn’t make any sense, but since this morning, since meeting you, kissing you, I’ve been different. I’m distracted. I can’t afford to be distracted.” He looked like he was going to kiss her for a moment,
but pulled away at the last possible moment, and put his hands behind his head. He walked a few steps away from her and looked morosely down the dingy alleyway with his back to her.

  Jessie watched him. His head was down and his shoulders were tight with tension and confusion. She desperately wanted to touch him, take some of the pain away, but couldn’t summon the courage. Instead, she said softly, “Is it really so terrible to want someone?”

  Duncan whirled around and looked at her, eyes blazing. “Are you kidding? It’s a fucking disaster. I missed her tonight because all I could think about was being with you. That’s why I acted like such an asshole before. We’ve only known each other a day and I’m already losing focus. What will I be like in a week? A month from now? How about a year?”

  “I’m sorry,” Jessie said, starting to walk away. Tears were stinging her eyes and she didn’t want him to see. “I didn’t mean to make things so difficult. I just wanted to spend some time with you.” After the dimness of the alley, the neon on the street was dazzling, she put her hand up to shield her eyes and suddenly he was in front of her, looming over her and blocking the unkind light. He grabbed her by both shoulders, pulled her to him, and kissed her fervently, trying to communicate all of his frustration and desire through his lips and tongue.

  Jessie returned his passionate kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. After a few moments, she became vaguely aware of clapping coming from the direction of a nearby café. She tried to pull away in embarrassment, but Duncan’s mouth clung to hers, and he shifted his arms lower so he could lift her high on his chest. With her feet dangling several inches off the pavement, Jessie kissed Duncan until they were both breathless, but smiling.

  Chapter 8