by C. D. Hersh
“Somehow I’m having trouble believing that.”
“Believe what you want, but it’s different with Alexi. I don’t want a one-night stand with her.”
“And she did?”
“Let’s just say we wanted different things.” More different than I realized if she’s asking for a new partner.
“She’s one hellava cop, Temple. If you’ve done anything to mess with that I’ll have your hide.”
“The only thing that will mess with it is if you give into her request. We’ve been together so long we read each other. You don’t want to lose that.” I don’t want to lose that. “It’ll take years for her to get that tight with someone else. I need some time to work things out.”
“You’re not going to get it. She said if I can’t honor her request, she’ll quit the force.”
What? Alexi loved being a cop. Does she hate me that much, or love me too much to bear being around me? He couldn’t wrap his mind around either idea, but the possibility that she might still love him cheered him. If so, how could she dump him? Frustrated, he raked his hands through his hair. Women didn’t make any sense.
The desk phone rang and Williams answered it. “Wait a minute, I want detective Temple to hear this, too.” He punched the speaker button. “Go ahead, Murphy.”
“We responded to a call this morning from Le Gran’ Jewels. The clerk said a regular customer, Patrick Pawling, forced his way into the store as she was opening this morning and stole the cash bag, an entire case of jewelry, and when the other clerk came in, Pawling shot him. He was DOA when they got him to the hospital.”
“Sounds like we’ve got an open and shut case,” Rhys said.
“You’d think so with such a positive ID. The guy’s on the security tapes and there’s an eyewitness,” Murphy said.
“So what’s the problem?” the captain asked.
“Patrick Pawling was in an early board meeting this morning with a dozen people who are vouching for him,” Murphy said. “He’s got an airtight alibi.”
“Alibis are meant to be busted,” the captain said.
“So he’s got a twin,” Rhys suggested.
“Checked that already. Pawling is an only child. And get this, the clerk followed him out of the store so she could tell the cops which way he went. He disappeared when he went around the corner. We’re handing this one off to homicide.” Murphy barked out a laugh. “Good luck. I think you’re gonna need it.”
The captain punched off the speaker. “Sound familiar?”
Rhys dropped onto the chair in front of the captain’s desk. “That’s one more robbery by someone who can’t possibly be the perp. So far we got a dead man mugging, stealing jewels, robbing a bank and disappearing into thin air in the john—”
“Not just any dead man,” Williams said. “Jordan’s dead uncle. And now this Pawling guy is in two places at the same time.”
“There’s no connection between Pawling and Baron. Pawling’s not dead.”
“My gut is telling me something about this one.” The captain reclined back in his chair and folded his hands behind his head. “I’m going to let you give Jordan the good news.”
“That we think her dead uncle has gone on a crime spree?” That idea was bizarre at best.
“No, that I’m putting her on a case I believe has some connection to Baron’s murder. She’s been awful gung-ho about that.”
“You sure that’s wise?”
“Don’t worry, you’ll have her back. I’m keeping you two together.”
At least he’d won one battle today, or rather a skirmish. The real battle would probably come when he told Lexi. “That ought to go over like a ton of bricks.”
“Get the file from burglary and let her know.”
“She’s not in yet.”
“She took the day off. Something about a family member coming in to visit Baron.”
Rhys opened his mouth then clamped it shut. To the best of his knowledge, Alexi didn’t have any family now that Baron was gone. What was she hiding?
“Rhys is on his way over.” Alexi hung up the phone, a mix of fear and elation slugging it out in her stomach like prizefighters.
“Do ye ken what he wants?”
“He didn’t say. Just that it was important.” What could be so important that he’d come back after the way she’d jilted him?
“Here’s yer chance, lassie, tae git yer man back.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Dinna be afeart.”
“I’m not afraid, I’m scared witless. I’m going to try to get him back just so he can reject me when he discovers what I am.”
“What ye both are.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better.”
“Dinna forget what is at stake here.”
“My heart. That’s what’s at stake.” She paced the floor. “What do you say to get a man back after you’ve told him you should have never been together in the first place? I don’t know what to do, Eli.”
“Has he said he loves ye?”
“Yes.”
“And do ye love him?”
“If I didn’t I wouldn’t have sent him away.” Fear won the first round in her stomach. “Are you absolutely sure I need to do this? What if he says no?” If the situation were reversed I’d say no.
“He’ll no refuse ye if he thinks yer soul mates.”
That might work. He’d used the same argument to try to convince her. She stopped pacing and faced Eli. “But are we? You never said the body swapping thing meant we’re soul mates, just that he’s a Promised One—a very powerful Promised One.”
“And so are ye. And as such, the two o’ ye are meant to be together. Dinna doubt that.”
That was an evasive answer. Nevertheless, she wanted to believe they were soul mates. Even if she persuaded him to come back to her, she doubted she could convince him to accept a destiny she’d been fighting against. A destiny that would complicate his life immeasurably.
Fear KO’d the remainder of her elation. Why did everything keep getting harder?
Rhys eyed Eli when he spotted him lurking in the front hall. “Is he the family you told the captain about? I thought you said last night he was an old friend of Baron’s.”
“Next to Baron, Eli is the closest thing I have to family.”
Jealousy surged through him. I should be the closest thing you have to family. “Didn’t take any time for you to get cozy, did it, old man?”
“Leave Eli alone, Rhys. He hasn’t done anything to you.”
He wondered about that. Things had gone to pot right after the Scotsman arrived last night, everything except the sex.
“What’s this about, Rhys?”
“Police business. Specifically, Baron.” He nodded his head toward Eli. “This conversation needs to be private.”
“Anything you have to say about Baron can be said in front of Eli.”
“You’ve known this guy less than twenty-four hours and you trust him with everything?” That really ticked him off.
“It’s complicated. You’ll just have to trust me on this one.”
Rhys stepped toward her. “Like I trusted you when you said you wouldn’t be sorry in the morning?” he whispered.
“Eli, would you leave us alone for a minute?”
“Aye, lassie. Take yer time. I’ll be out in yer garden sniffing the roses.”
“She doesn’t have any roses, old man,” Rhys shouted as Eli exited through the patio door.
“Come in, Rhys.” Alexi waved him inside. “We need to talk.”
“I’ve heard that line already today. Didn’t like it too much.”
When he didn’t move, she tugged on his arm. He shrugged her off. She couldn’t just kick him out, ask for a new partner, let a virtual stranger into her life, and then expect him to accept everything like nothing had happened. He had his pride.
“Please, come in.” Her hazel eyes pleaded with him. “I need to tell you something and I don’t want to do it
on the front stoop.”
His anger melted some and he followed her inside. Contriteness on her part might make it easier when he told her they were going to remain partners. He expected she’d argue about it.
She sat on one end of the sofa and patted the cushion next to her. Obstinately, he chose the far end, placed his Stetson on the back of the sofa, and set the file from the office between them, a flimsy manila barrier to protect his heart.
She looked across the length of the sofa, her face drawn with anxiety. “I’m sorry, Rhys. I handled this morning very badly.”
He snorted derisively. “That’s an understatement.” Wild, soul-melding sex and then less than eight hours later, I’m getting the heave ho.
“You’re not going to make this easy, are you?” Alexi rubbed her brow with her fingertips.
“Make what easy? I don’t even know where you’re going with this conversation. If you’re planning to tell me you want a new partner, you’re too late. Captain Williams already did the dirty work for you.” When she had the good grace to appear ashamed he felt vindicated. “Where did that come from, Lexi? You said we could remain partners.”
“I didn’t say that, I just nodded.”
“Are you going to split hairs?”
She hugged her arms close to her chest and shook her head, staring at the sofa cushion. “I’m sorry. I did lead you on, but just because I had to get you out before I changed my mind.” She stared deep into his eyes. “I don’t want to talk about what happened. I just want to make it go away.”
“Like you wanted me to go away?” Rhys gathered the file and stood. “The captain sent me here to tell you that we have to continue to work together, but if this is going to be your attitude, I don’t want any part of it.”
Alexi jumped to her feet and blocked his exit. “I don’t mean I want you to go away. I just wish I hadn’t said anything this morning.”
He stopped. Tears brimmed in her eyes.
“I do love you, Rhys. And I’m sorry about what happened.” She bit her lip and looked down at the floor.
They stood so close together he could see the muscles at the corner of her eyes twitch and hear her anxious swallows. The smell of her perfume tinged with sweat wound around her. What was she afraid of? What other horrible things did she have to tell him? Rhys braced himself for more heartbreak.
“I want you back, if you’ll have me.”
His breath caught and then hissed out like a leaking balloon. He’d expected a confession of infidelity or that he’d driven her to become a lesbian because of last night. Instead, she wanted him back.
“Rhys, did you hear me?”
“Yeah, I heard. I’m just not sure I believe. Convince me.”
She took a deep breath then the words poured from her like an open tap. “I thought I couldn’t live without you, and I couldn’t bear to be near you and not be with you, that’s why I told Captain Williams I wanted a new partner. And I lied about the partner thing because I knew I couldn’t be just a partner or a friend, and being friends with benefits was out because we both wanted more.”
“You’re rambling,” Rhys said, trying to keep the smile beginning to curve his lips under control.
She inhaled, then blew the air out in an exasperated sound. “I think you were right about the soul mates. Because after you left I knew I couldn’t live without you. And I knew I’d made the biggest mistake of my life letting you go.”
“And,” Rhys prompted as he let his smile grow.
Alexi’s fear left, crowded out by pride. Great. He’s going to make me grovel. She forced the next words out. “And you were right and I was wrong.”
Rhys’ smile broadened. “That’s a good start. What else have you got?”
“Last night was the best sex I’ve ever had?” she said, uncertain what he fished for.
His face split into a grin. “Now you’re getting close.”
“But that doesn’t mean I want to do that all the time. It’s really creepy.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
She doubted that. But if that’s what it would take to bind him to her and the Turning Stones, that’s what she’d do. He stepped closer, brushing against her. Shivers rushed over her body, flooding her soul with an ache. It seemed like he’d been gone for years, not hours.
“You haven’t convinced me yet, Lexi.”
What else could she say? Mentally, she ticked off her arguments: apology, soul mate, lies, confessions, mind-blowing sex. What was left? “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
He tipped her face toward him and gazed into her eyes, his irises sparking golden fireworks. “I’m not the logical one,” he said in a voice husky with desire. “Quit using your tongue to talk.”
“Oh, that kind of convincing.”
Rhys’ cell phone buzzing in his pocket sent an unexpected thrill through his thigh and brought him up for air. He cleared his throat before answering. If that was the captain calling he didn’t want him to get the wrong idea.
“So what did she say, Temple?” The captain sounded annoyed.
“She’s okay with being my partner.”
“And the case?”
“We haven’t ironed that out yet. It took a lot of convincing to get through the partnership agreement.” Technically, that wasn’t a lie. He’d let her convince him, physically, to the point of distraction. If she hadn’t crawled on top of him when they sprawled on the sofa, he wouldn’t have been able to keep from sweeping her into his arms and into the bedroom. “But I’m sure she’ll agree to that, too.”
“Keep me posted,” Williams said and hung up.
Alexi rolled off his chest to a seated position and tucked her shirt back into her jeans. “Agree to what?”
He gathered the case file papers strewn next to the couch. “The captain wants us to work on a case he believes is related to Baron’s killer.”
Alexi yanked the papers from him. “At last! Something concrete to go on.”
“I wouldn’t get too excited,” he said as she thumbed through the paperwork. “I think Williams is calling a long shot.”
Her face paled when she got to the last report. “He’s killing now. That’s not good.”
“Who?” What did she know that she wasn’t sharing? “Who’s killing, Alexi?”
She ignored his question and shoved the papers back into the manila file. “Go back to the office, Rhys, and search for anything more you can find on Pawling. Check the fences for some of these jewels.”
“Aren’t you coming?” He stood and straightened his clothes.
“I need to take care of something with Eli. I’ll be there as soon as we’re finished.”
“I don’t like leaving you with him, Lexi. What do you really know about him?”
“He’s who he says he is. Trust me. I just need to tie up some loose ends, and I promise I’ll be down to the station.”
Taking the papers, he kissed her good-bye. “Call me if you need me.”
“I won’t need you.”
He didn’t believe that for a minute. She was planning something. He just didn’t know what.
Chapter 29
Shaw flipped his razor on and buzzed off the salt-and-pepper five-o’clock shadow on his chin. This was the third time he’d shaved the damned thing off today and it wasn’t even noon. He emptied the razor into the trashcan then limped to the kitchen. And that was the other thing—why hadn’t the limp disappeared when he’d changed back into himself? He could cover the limp by telling Lulu he’d twisted his knee at the job, but how the hell was he going to explain a beard—not the color of his hair—that kept growing back?
He dumped the morning’s take onto the kitchen table, sorting out the prettiest pearls for Lulu—a pearl and diamond three-strand choker that fastened in the front under a walnut-sized diamond. Then he chose a set of earrings to match, put them in a box, and tied it with a pink ribbon. He scooped the rest back into the bag to fence later.
This had been his bigges
t haul so far, and except for the guy he shot, which was the stupid dude’s own fault, it went off without a hitch. No cops. A clean getaway. And enough cash to cover everything Lulu wanted. He dropped the engagement set into his pocket, and the money and the pearls into a fancy gift bag, and headed for Lulu’s.
When Lulu peeked into the gift bag, she squealed like a third grader. “You did it, Danny! Oh, my gosh! You did it!” She stuck her hand into the bag and rifled through the cash. “How much is here?”
“About 10K. Give or take. I might have more coming, too.”
“Ten thousand dollars?” Lulu’s eyes widened until the whites were visible around the entire iris. It made her look like one of those plastic Cupie dolls. “What did you do? Rob a bank?”
“Jewelry store.” He grinned, answering without missing a beat.
Lulu giggled and playfully slapped him on the arm. “Silly. How did you really get it?”
“Working my fingers to the bone. Multiple jobs. Night and day. Just so my babe can have the wedding she deserves.”
“You’ve become a money-making machine, Danny. I’m so proud of you.” She got a glimmer in her eye he’d come to recognize. “Know what, Danny?”
Shit, I’m screwed now. She’s gonna want something else. “What?” he said, trying to hold off the rollercoaster barreling into his belly.
“With you making money hand over fist like this, we ought to buy a house. Wouldn’t it be great to move into our own place after we get married?”
“I got an apartment. Won’t that do?”
“It’s okay for a bachelor, but we want to entertain our friends when we’re married.”
“We ain’t got any friends, Lulu.”
“I got coworkers and relatives. We need a cute house to invite them over. When we’re out in the suburbs in our cozy bungalow with a white picket fence and a rose arbor at the front gate, I’ll bet we can make lots of friends. You can get a grill and we’ll throw barbeques for the whole street.”
“How the hell am I supposed to afford all that? Do you think I’m made of money?”
