Claire laughed and wished she had better luck with men. Unlike some women she’d known, she simply wasn’t attracted to gay men. She only wished she could meet some equally entertaining and charming male who liked women and wanted to have sex with them.
Oh, well. Win some, lose some, never had a chance with the rest. At least he’s keeping my mind off the case and work, which is more than I can say of my last two dates.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sean turn around on his barstool after ordering another mineral water. Now there was someone who generated great chemistry with her. Unfortunately, he was as unavailable to her as Billy, though for dramatically different reasons. Life really was a bitch sometimes. Still, she was having her best evening out in months. It would be stupid to ruin things by whining over what she couldn’t have.
From the corner of her eye she caught a movement at one of the tables. Aidan met her eyes and raised an eyebrow at her, asking for a signal of some kind regarding her impressions of Billy. She studied her date for a moment, reviewing his broad, open features, blue eyes, and thick black hair. He grinned at her, and she knew this was not the cold-blooded killer they were looking for.
He’s too young.
Claire frowned and wondered where that thought had come from. Before she could track that idea down, she sensed Sean staring at her, waiting for a signal of some kind.
The natives are getting restless.
She excused herself to go to the rest room. Once inside, she spoke to the microphone discreetly clipped to her bra.
“He’s not the one. I don’t know why, but I think he’s too young. And his smile is open and real, nothing like the image I’ve had in my head all this time.”
Ignoring a woman who gave her a strange look for talking to her boobs, Claire stopped to touch up her lipstick before she returned to her date.
“I ordered the appetizer platter for us both. It should be out in a minute,” Billy said. “Do you want to dance while we’re waiting?”
Claire looked out at the dance floor, where a dozen couples were moving to a fast-paced song with a pounding beat. Since this was the first night she didn’t have a headache, she grinned at Billy. “Let’s go.”
He took her hand, and they squeezed themselves onto the tiny floor. She laughed when Billy swung her into a spin, then proceeded to jump around her in an energetic, if slightly graceless, circle.
Ten minutes later, flushed and breathless, Claire and her date returned to the table. She’d completely lost herself in the driving rhythm of the music and the throng of other dancers. In fact she’d forgotten why she was there. While Billy ordered her a frozen margarita, she glanced idly around.
As her eyes moved past Sean, she wondered why he shot her such an irritated look. When he turned his head and made no further contact, she mentally shrugged and glanced to the next table.
Aidan had moved. Now he was sitting next to someone at a table in the middle of the room. When the waiter moved, Claire smiled as she recognized Olivia. Livvie just wasn’t the sort to sit back and let others do the work of watching out for her friend. Aidan didn’t look happy at having to do damage control, or whatever the police called it when they dealt with people who didn’t salute smartly and say “Yes, sir.”
“This is a great place,” Billy said. “I’ve heard of it, but never been. Do you come here a lot?”
“I’ve been here a few times. It was recommended to me by a friend,” she said, refusing to let her eyes slide toward Sean again.
“I feel like I’ve been to every restaurant in the city since joining Camelot. This has to be one of the best places yet.”
“You’ve been out on lots of dates through Camelot?” she asked, conscious of the need to gather information on Billy, if only to eliminate him from the list of suspects.
“Dozens. I just can’t seem to find the right girl. Maybe…I don’t know, maybe I’m trying too hard. Sometimes I’m not sure I even want to be dating at all.” He picked at a piece of bruschetta from the appetizer tray.
“Why do it then? If you’re not interested in a relationship, why force things with a dating service?” Claire asked carefully. She doubted that Billy understood the real reason behind his inability to “find the right girl.”
“My mother is pressuring me to settle down and get married. I’m from a rural community outside of Dubuque, where guys get married out of high school and then go into whatever blue-collar occupation their father is in. They certainly don’t go to college, or move to the nation’s capital to live in roach-infested apartments and work for practically nothing.”
Claire smiled. “I’m a long way from the Garden District of New Orleans, myself. All my friends from school, except my best friend Olivia, have been married for years and have at least one child.”
“Tell me about it. I’m the oldest of three, and yet both my brothers have wives and kids already.”
“There’s nothing wrong with choosing to focus on your career. The wife and family will come later, if that’s what you really want.”
“That’s what I keep telling my mom, but she’s got this idea of the perfect life for me. I just don’t think it’s the same as my idea.” Suddenly he looked older, uneasy. “Hey, have you seen the new modern art exhibit at the Weir Gallery?”
Claire didn’t blink at the change of subject. “The one with live tropical fish built into each sculpture? No, but I’ve heard of it. I wondered what was eventually going to happen to the fish, since they’re sealed into the artwork.”
“They’re going to die in there. It’s Fitz’s commentary on the futility of modern life. He’s saying that no matter how beautiful the prison, we are all trapped and dying by degrees. I think he’s also highlighting the death of beauty in postmodern art. You know, that there seem to be pockets of color and splendor, but in reality they’re fleeting and unsustainable.”
“That’s fascinating. Not many people understand and appreciate modern art. I can never find anyone to go to new exhibits with me. I tell my friend Olivia that she has to look beyond the shock value to see the statement beneath, but she doesn’t buy it.”
“I’d be happy to go with you to any exhibit you want. We don’t have anything like it in Iowa, so I’m trying to soak up as much as I can.”
“I’m trying to picture what people in Dubuque would say to a series of paintings featuring a blue dog,” Claire said.
“My granny Ruth would probably say, ‘What, did the artist run out of brown paint?’” Billy imitated a crotchety old woman’s voice, making Claire laugh out loud.
Several tables away, Sean heard the delighted laugh. Gritting his teeth, he looked toward her table, where she and her date were leaning forward and talking animatedly about modern art.
Sean hated the stuff. If he wanted to see a painting of a soup can or a tennis shoe sculpture, he’d make one himself at home and save the ten-dollar admission ticket.
Checking his watch, he saw that more than an hour and a half had passed since Claire’s arrival at Très Chic. Surely she’d figured out by now that Billy Green was gay and clueless. Being gay absolutely didn’t fit the profile of their suspect. Unless Claire was attracted to sexually conflicted Iowa farm boys, Sean couldn’t see any point in continuing with the evening’s operation.
Sean’s mood got worse as the evening went on. Claire and Billy made multiple trips to the dance floor to jump around with the other diners, though he noticed they returned to their seats during the slow numbers. After their meals arrived, the two swapped plates around like old friends. Sean was forced to listen when they engaged in a long and lively discussion of the selections on the dessert tray. He practically ripped his earpiece out in annoyance as Billy described the blueberry crème brûlée as “orgasmic.”
Sean looked at Aidan, who was talking to Olivia while eating pasta and keeping Claire in sight at all times. When Claire and Billy headed out to the dance floor again, Sean decided the hell with it and ordered a bunch of appetizers to eat. Maybe
he should join Aidan and the little redhaired mama tiger. Not that he minded Olivia being there as long as she stayed out of the way. She provided some cover for Aidan as he sat observing the other diners, and she didn’t cost the operation nearly as much as a police officer would have.
Sometime before eleven Claire gave the signal that she and her date were headed back to Camelot. Since Sean was alone, he would follow Claire’s taxi, which left Aidan and Olivia to go ahead and get into position. Sean easily kept the cab in sight as it drove through the empty streets. He listened to the casual conversation Claire and Billy were having, this time about Billy’s longtime desire to learn how to scuba dive.
To Sean’s disbelief, Claire let Billy dismiss the cab once they had reached Camelot’s building. Instead of leaving, Billy led her over to take a seat on the low wall surrounding a fountain next to the lobby entrance. They continued their conversation about scuba diving, with Claire relating some of the experiences she’d had in the Caribbean.
When the discussion turned to great vacation destinations and the geopolitical considerations behind selecting a safe yet exotic location, Sean slowly banged his head on the steering wheel of his sedan.
After midnight, Claire began to yawn, even though she wasn’t the least bit bored. Billy took the hint and said he had to be up early in the morning, but asked if he could see Claire again.
“I’d be happy to see you again—as a friend,” she said.
“But I thought we were getting along great.” Billy watched his shoes as he spoke, but in all he seemed to be more relieved than upset at her choice.
“We are. I had a great time tonight.” Claire felt ten years older than her date as she tipped his chin up to look in his eyes. “But I don’t get the feeling that you’re attracted to me as a woman, just a friend. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“I want to be attracted to you,” he said desperately. “My mother would really like you.”
Claire winced. Talk about damned by faint praise. “That’s very sweet of you to say. But maybe you should worry about pleasing yourself in your choice of dates, not your mother.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll never be happy unless you live your own life. I think you know it. I think that’s why you defied your family and local traditions to make a new start in Washington, D.C. Don’t chicken out now, Billy. You’re doing the right thing.”
He stared at her for a long moment. “You’re right. I just…I’m not ready to break all those ties yet.” He smiled sadly. “I guess I’ll say good night, then. Are you sure I can’t drop you somewhere?”
“No, thanks. My stuff is inside, and there’s a security guard at the desk. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay. I’ll see if I can get tickets to the Fitz exhibit, and maybe we can go together. As friends.”
“I’d like that. Good night, Billy.”
She gave him a warm hug, friend to friend. He returned it the same way. She stood at the entrance to the Camelot building and waved as he got into a cab and drove away.
Poor kid. He’s so messed up inside he doesn’t know which way to go. I hope he finds a good man who understands where he is and helps him get somewhere happier.
“What the hell was that all about?”
Claire started at the angry voice behind her. Turning, she saw Sean standing with his arms crossed over his chest.
“It’s called a date,” she said. “Dinner, dancing, conversation. It’s something the civilized members of society engage in on a fairly regular basis.”
“Date, my ass. The guy’s queer. Can’t you see that?”
“Thank you for your Neanderthal summary of Billy’s confused sexuality. It’s because of people like you he’s spent his whole life in the closet.”
“Oh, bullshit. I work with gay officers all the time, and some of them are damn good cops.” He rubbed his neck uncomfortably. “I just didn’t know if you knew Billy was—what’s the latest psychobabble—sexually conflicted?”
“I’m not an idiot. Of course I could see he was gay.”
“Okay. Some women can’t, that’s all.”
“I’m not one of them. My gay-dar is highly functional.”
Some of the tension seeped out of Sean’s shoulders. “Then why didn’t you end the date when you figured it out?”
“That would have meant turning the cab around on the way to the restaurant. I thought you wanted me to get more of an impression of him as a potential suspect.”
“Is that why you were bumping and grinding on the dance floor all night with him?”
“No, I danced with him because I liked the music and was having fun. You know, you should come out of your cave more often. Then maybe you’d understand the concept of showing a lady a good time.”
He slanted her an icy look. “We both know that I’m more than capable of showing you a good time.”
Claire sucked in a breath. It was the first direct reference either one had made to the night they’d almost made love. His words literally had her reeling. Then she remembered the microphone stashed in her bra, recording every word of their conversation and relaying it to Aidan and anyone else who cared to listen to the surveillance tape.
Pointing to her chest, she silently tried to communicate the situation to Sean.
Sean stared at her in complete disbelief. He reached a tentative hand out to her breast, only to have her smack it away. She pressed her own hand over her chest in an attempt to muffle her words.
“The microphone is still on,” she said between clenched teeth.
“Fuck.”
Sean had taken off his earpiece once the cab had pulled away from the curb. But he’d be willing to bet that Aidan still had his receiver activated, which meant that he’d gotten an earful.
Claire and Sean shared a pained look. She rubbed her head like she suddenly had a headache.
“Turn it off,” Sean said quietly. “I’ll erase the end of the tape before we turn it in to Evidence.”
Claire disconnected the microphone, reaching deep between her breasts in order to disengage the recording device. “I’m sorry. I can’t get used to living under a spotlight. I have to forget about the microphone or I’d go crazy. Are you sure you won’t get in trouble erasing some tape?”
“The information isn’t relevant to the investigation,” was all he said. He’d have some explaining to do with Aidan, but it wouldn’t be a problem.
“I’ll go get my things,” she said. “Olivia can give me a ride home.”
“We’ll follow you.”
Without another word Claire turned and went up the stairs to the lobby. She passed Aidan, who told her Olivia was waiting inside. She knew by looking at his face that he’d heard every word.
Aidan continued past her down the stairs and crossed to Sean. “Do you know what you’re doing?” Aidan asked bluntly.
Sean tucked his hands into his front pockets. “I’m not doing anything. Things got a little out of hand one night. It won’t happen again.”
I wouldn’t bet the farm on that one, Aidan thought. “Olivia’s worried about her.”
“Why?”
“She said Claire is a very private person and it’s not easy for her to be under constant surveillance. I agree. She sure as hell doesn’t need the additional stress of fighting with you.”
“I know.” Sean sighed. “I try, but sometimes I can’t stop the words in time. Watching her being pawed by losers….” He shrugged.
Aidan studied his cousin. “You’re the most disciplined person I’ve ever known. Work with her instead of bickering. Hell, if you’re nice to her, at least you might get it out of your system.”
“And then what? I get removed from the case for sleeping with a witness? Or worse, I get her hurt—even killed—because my mind isn’t on the investigation?” Sean shook his head. “Won’t happen. Besides, neither one of us is looking for that kind of entanglement right now. It’s under control.”
“The kind of red-hot chemistry
you two have isn’t known to be convenient and timely and tame,” Aidan cut in. “That’s why it’s called an ‘entanglement.’”
“I said it was under control. Look, can we drop this?” Sean asked, gesturing to the women coming down the stairs.
Aidan shrugged and got into the car, preparing to escort Claire and Olivia home for the night. Sean didn’t speak again.
Chapter 41
Washington, D.C.
Tuesday morning
Claire sat next to Afton in the offices of Camelot. Sean and Aidan would soon be there, but Claire was too annoyed to wait for them. Besides, their damn earphones had told them everything she was going to tell Afton.
“Date number four was an absolute, total, and complete disaster,” Claire said.
“Come on, surely last night wasn’t that bad.”
“It was worse.” She began to describe it but stopped when Afton’s assistant showed Sean and Aidan into the office and shut the door behind them.
“Hey, Afton, Claire. How’s it going?” Sean asked cheerfully.
Approaching the desk, he set down a high-heeled shoe sealed in a zipper bag in front of Claire. “You can have your shoe back. We aren’t going to be pressing any charges, so we won’t need it as evidence.”
Claire practically snarled at him as she snatched her shoe off the desk. Sean pressed his lips together to suppress the laughter dancing in his eyes.
Mouth open, Afton looked at both Aidan and Sean. “Shoes? Charges? What’s going on?”
“Nothing, at least as far as the investigation is concerned. You might want to take Dr. Petrov out of your catalogue, though,” Aidan said carefully, rubbing a hand around his mouth to hide the smile there. He took a seat between Claire and Sean and carefully avoided eye contact with his partner as they both struggled not to laugh out loud.
“Why?” Afton asked.
Both men snickered.
When the Storm Breaks Page 19
