“I need to ask you some questions, Buck. Can I come in?”
Buck raked a hand through his messy hair, then opened the screen door to allow Tom entry. “Excuse the mess,” he said as he swept a pizza box and a newspaper off the shabby couch. “I don’t usually get much company.”
He threw his lanky body into the chair opposite the sofa. “So, what’s going on?”
“I want to ask you about India Richards,” Tom said.
“Who?” Buck frowned in incomprehension.
“You might have known her as Kathy Simon,” Tom replied.
Buck’s eyes narrowed once again. “Crazy chick. I met her one night at Harley’s, and we kicked it together for a couple of hours. I didn’t have anything to do with whatever trouble she got herself into, and I sure as hell didn’t kill her.”
“What can you tell me about her?” Tom asked. He wasn’t sure if he could believe a word that came out of Buck’s mouth, but for the moment he was willing to listen to whatever he had to say.
“Not much. She liked to dance, liked to drink and I thought she was going to like other things, too, if you get my drift. But she told me she had a boyfriend and wasn’t going to cheat on him.”
“Did she say anything else about this boyfriend of hers?”
“Not really. I got the feeling he might be married.”
“Did she tell you that?” Tom asked.
Buck shook his head. “Nah, it was just the impression I got, that she was just hanging out here in Black Rock until he could be with her.”
“Did she say if he was from Black Rock?”
“Not specifically, but I assumed he was.”
Back and forth it went as Tom continued to question him. By the time Tom left just before noon, he didn’t have any definitive answers, but he had more directions to explore in his investigation.
Buck had told him that on the night of India’s murder he was in Harley’s back room playing pool. Tom knew it was going to be difficult to check the alibi. The crowd that hung at Harley’s could be a tough one, and few of them would be willing to answer questions.
Tom was in his car and headed back to his office when his cell phone rang. It was Caleb telling Tom that he was back from Wichita. The two agreed to meet for lunch at the local café.
It was just before noon when Tom parked in front of the Black Rock Café. He’d skipped breakfast and his stomach rumbled with hunger. The food at the café was the best in town.
Harry Thompson, the owner, greeted Tom as he walked through the door. Harry was a walking advertisement for the quality of the food he offered. Heavyset and with a broad cheerful smile, he looked like a man who knew how to enjoy a good meal.
“Your brother is waiting for you in a booth in the back,” Harry said. “And the chicken fried steak is exceptional today.”
“Thanks, Harry. Sounds good.” Tom made his way through the tables to the booth where Caleb waited for him. As he sat, the waitress appeared and they placed their orders.
Tom relayed to Caleb what he’d found out from Buck, and by that time their lunches had arrived. “So, what did you find out in Wichita?” he asked.
“First of all, Rick Powell has a great reputation in town. Tough on crime, a stand-up guy. Nobody I spoke to had a bad word to say about him. He’s definitely ambitious. According to his coworkers, he has an eye on the D.A. position and eventually wants to get into the national politic scene. On the other hand, India Richards didn’t have that kind of a reputation.”
Caleb paused to cut into his chicken fried steak. He took a bite then washed it down with his soda and continued. “I contacted a friend of hers. Her name is Brandy Wine—no joke, that’s her real name. Anyway, she told me India ran with a rough crowd, that she always figured she’d wind up either dead or in prison.”
“Did she say what brought India to Black Rock?” Tom asked.
“A man, although Brandy didn’t have a name.”
Tom frowned. “Buck said basically the same thing. He also thought the man might be married.”
“Maybe India mistook an affair for something more important. Maybe she was pressing Mr. Married to come clean to his wife and he wasn’t prepared to do that,” Caleb said.
“Then it’s possible her murder had nothing to do with Lilly’s kidnapping.” Tom leaned back in his seat and released a deep sigh. “It seems like the more information we learn, the more complicated things become.”
He looked up and froze at the sight of Peyton coming in the door. He’d spent the morning trying his damnedest not to think about her, and there she was, bigger than life, beelining toward him with Lilly in her arms and a wide, joyful smile on her face.
The sight of her reminded him of the kiss they had shared and a small flame ignited in the pit of his stomach.
As she reached their booth she nodded to Caleb, then turned to Tom. “Hi. We were just on our way to your office when I saw your car parked outside.”
She looked gorgeous in a pale pink sundress that bared her creamy, slender shoulders and emphasized her cool blond coloring.
“What’s up?” he asked, trying to maintain his professional composure.
“Lilly and I would like to invite you to dinner tomorrow night as a thank-you,” she said.
“That’s not necessary,” he protested.
“Don’t be silly, brother,” Caleb said. “When a pretty lady invites you to dinner you should always accept.”
“Tom, please. I’d really like to do this for you,” she said.
Thanks to Caleb, Tom felt as if there was no way to decline the offer without looking like a jerk. “What time?” he asked, deciding it was easier to give in that to make a big deal out of it. After all, it was just a meal.
Her eyes lit with pleasure. “Shall we say around six-thirty?”
“All right,” he agreed.
“Wonderful. And, Tom, be sure to come hungry.” With the smile still on her face, she murmured a goodbye and walked away.
Tom watched the sway of her hips as she left. Come hungry. What she didn’t realize was that she stirred a hunger inside him, a hunger that shouldn’t be sated.
“I think you might need this,” Caleb said as he pulled out his wallet and withdrew a condom package. He laid it on the table between them.
“Jeez, Caleb, put that away,” Tom exclaimed.
Caleb grinned. “If you want it put away you’d better put it in your wallet.”
Tom snatched it up and shoved it into his pocket. “I don’t know why you think I’ll need it. She invited me for dinner, that’s all.”
Caleb leaned back in the booth with a grin. “I might not know everything there is to know about investigating crimes, but one thing I know is women, and brother, that woman has the hots for you.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Tom scoffed. “You heard what she said. She just wants to thank me.”
Caleb leaned forward, the smile on his face fading away. “Why don’t you allow yourself to enjoy whatever it is she’s offering? Haven’t you punished yourself enough for the past?”
Tom stiffened. “I’m not punishing myself for anything—this subject is now officially closed.” He picked up his fork to finish his lunch. At this moment he wasn’t sure what was going to be more difficult, solving India Richards’s murder or getting through tomorrow night’s dinner with Peyton without doing something stupid.
Chapter 7
The house was spotless and the scent of chicken and freshly baked rolls filled the air. Peyton felt ridiculously nervous as she poured herself a glass of wine and sat at the table adorned with her good dishes and silverware. Lilly was in her infant swing nearby, cooing with happiness as she swung to and fro.
This was supposed to be a simple thank-you meal, but for Peyton it was much more. With the trauma of Lilly’s kidnapping behind her, over the past day she’d been able to think of nothing but Tom.
Without the fear for Lilly that had gripped her heart, it was now open to all the feelings she’d suppressed w
here the handsome lawman was concerned.
She liked him. She liked him a lot. Her feelings for him had little to do with the fact that he’d successfully gotten her baby back into her arms. It was so much more than that.
His quiet confidence was so different than Rick’s bravado, and yet she felt so much more comfortable in Tom’s company. His quiet, steady ways soothed her, but at the same time his sexy brown eyes sparked a flame of excitement in her that she wanted to explore.
She’d thought she’d seen a flicker of desire in his eyes, especially in those moments just after they’d kissed. The truth was she wanted Tom Grayson. She wasn’t a fool enough to believe herself in love with him, not after knowing him only a couple of days, but she wanted to get to know him better, and that’s what tonight was all about.
Even though she was excited to spend time with him, the nerves that fluttered through her as she waited his arrival surprised her.
A glance at the clock let her know he was due to arrive within minutes. She had a feeling Tom was a man who would rarely be late.
Rick had rarely been on time for anything. There had always been one last phone call he needed to make, one more e-mail to send before he could give her his attention.
At precisely six-thirty her doorbell rang. She downed the last of her wine, ran quick fingers through her hair and then hurried to the door to greet him.
As she opened the door, her heart swelled at the sight of him. It was the first time she’d seen him out of uniform. He looked amazingly masculine and hot in a pair of jeans and a blue striped short-sleeved dress shirt.
“Tom, I’m so glad you came,” she said as she opened the door to allow him inside.
“Thanks for inviting me,” he replied. He looked ill at ease as he stepped into the living room. He held out a bottle of wine. “I didn’t know if I should bring white or red, so I guessed at white.”
“It’s chicken, so that’s perfect,” she replied and took the bottle from him. “In fact, I have to confess, I’ve already had a glass of wine. Come on in and I’ll pour you a glass so you can catch up.”
She was acutely conscious of him just behind her as she led him into the kitchen. She could smell the familiar scent of him, that spicy cologne that somehow smelled like a combination of sweet comfort and heady desire.
As Tom walked into the kitchen his lips curved into a smile as he saw Lilly. “It’s nice to know she’s where she belongs,” he said as Peyton gestured him into a chair at the table.
“You have no idea,” Peyton replied as she poured him a glass of wine and handed it to him. “The night I got her home I could barely let her go so she could sleep in her crib.” A new burst of emotion welled up in Peyton’s chest as she thought of how close she’d come to losing Lilly forever.
She shoved those terrible thoughts aside. Tonight was the time to be happy, to celebrate that Lilly was home and Tom was here.
“Dinner should be ready in about fifteen minutes,” she said as she poured herself another glass of wine. “I hope you like chicken cordon bleu.”
One of his dark brows lifted. “I do, but that’s a lot of work.”
“Cooking has become a hobby of mine,” she said as she leaned against the counter. “When I was seventeen I got a job in an upscale restaurant and the chef became a mentor of sorts. In our slow time he would teach me cooking techniques.”
“So why teaching? Why didn’t you become a chef?” he asked.
She could tell by his posture that he was beginning to relax. She wanted him relaxed. She wanted him to enjoy dinner with her.
“I love kids. I always wanted to be a teacher. The other jobs I had were just the means to get me money to pay for my college education. What about you? Did you always want to be a sheriff?”
He leaned back in the chair and his eyes held the warmth of memories. “When I was eighteen years old I was flirting with the other side of the law,” he admitted. “I thought I was a tough guy and was always ready for a brawl. The sheriff at the time was a close friend of my father’s, and my dad arranged for me to work with him part-time on the weekends. It was the best thing my dad ever did for me. When I was twenty-one I became a full-time deputy, and when I was twenty-eight I became sheriff.”
“And what a wonderful role model you’ve become for your siblings,” she said.
“Yeah, law enforcement in Black Rock has definitely become a family affair.” He finished his wine, and Peyton began to put the meal on the table.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked.
“Absolutely not,” she replied. “You just sit there and relax.”
It took her only minutes to get everything on the table and join him there. As they ate, Lilly smiled and babbled, perfectly satisfied in her swing and with her mother in sight.
The conversation continued to flow throughout the meal. She was delighted by the stories Tom told of growing up with his brothers and sister. His obvious commitment to and love of his family only made him more appealing.
She shared with him the loneliness she’d felt as a child, growing up virtually alone in a world of adults behaving badly. “I remember one particular night when we were homeless and my mother left me alone in the car. It was in a scary part of town where the only people on the streets were thugs and prostitutes. I hid in the backseat beneath on old blanket and prayed that I’d still be alive in the morning.”
Tom gazed at her, his eyes dark and filled with concern. “How old were you?”
“Nine. That night I swore to myself I’d have something better when I grew up, that I wouldn’t make the same choices my mother made and that my husband and any children I had would be the most important things in my life.” She grinned. “I managed to get it all a little bit backward and got the child before I got the man.”
By that time they had finished eating and Tom insisted he help her clear the table. Instantly the kitchen seemed to shrink as he filled it with his presence. By the time they’d finished clearing things from the table, Lilly had fallen asleep in the swing.
“How about some coffee?” she suggested as she put the last plate in the dishwasher.
“Sounds good,” he agreed.
“Why don’t you make yourself comfortable in the living room and I’ll put the coffee on and put Lilly to bed.”
“Why don’t you take care of Lilly and I’ll make the coffee?” he suggested.
She nodded. “Sounds like a plan.” She scooped the sleeping baby up and left the kitchen.
As she walked down the hallway holding Lilly she thought of the man in her kitchen. Throughout the meal she’d been intensely aware of him, the memory of the kiss they’d shared replaying over and over in her head.
The hunger she felt for him was like nothing she’d felt for Rick. This was stronger, more intense, and she wondered if it was because of the kidnapping, because of India’s murder.
She was struck with a feeling of how important it was to grasp every moment of life, to reach for what you wanted because life was too short. She wasn’t in love with Tom, but she was in serious lust, and right now that felt like enough.
Gently she placed Lilly in her crib, kissed her on her sweet cheek and left the room. She had no idea what to expect for the rest of the evening, but she was eager to see how the night would unfold.
The minute Peyton carried Lilly out of the kitchen, Tom set about making the coffee and mentally cursed his younger brother. The condom Caleb had given him burned in his back pocket, but it didn’t burn as hot as the desire he’d fought all through the meal.
The burn had begun the moment she’d opened the door. Dressed in a blue sundress that perfectly matched her eyes, and with her hair pulled back at her nape exposing dainty ears and the lovely length of her slender neck, she’d taken his breath away.
There was something about her that broke his heart just a little bit. Maybe it was because he could so easily imagine her as that small, frightened girl struggling to survive in a world where she didn’t be
long.
But it wasn’t sympathy for what she’d gone through that boiled the blood in his veins, that made him think about running his mouth down the length of her neck.
It was the evocative scent of her, the press of her breasts against the blue material and the slender, curvy bare legs beneath her dress that had him half dizzy with desire.
It would be absolutely wrong to make a move on her. He knew what she wanted most in her life, and Tom wasn’t and could never be that man. She wanted a man who would love her, and Tom had no love to give. But that didn’t mean he had no desire to give.
He was pouring the coffee when she returned to the kitchen. “She’s a good baby,” he said as they carried their cups into the living room and sat side-by-side on the sofa.
“She’s a great baby,” Peyton replied. “She rarely fusses and has been sleeping through the night for a while now.”
“Has Rick been back to see her since she got home?”
Peyton nodded. “He drove in yesterday morning and spent a couple of hours playing with her.”
“Any chance you two will get back together?” He half hoped she’d say yes. Rick seemed like a stand-up guy, and that would put an end to what Tom felt, where she was concerned.
She laughed. “No way. Neither of us have any desire to get back together. Rick will probably always be in my life, but only as the man who is Lilly’s father.”
“I found the man who had that altercation in the parking lot with you,” he said. Maybe he wouldn’t notice the heat radiating from her and the heady scent of her perfume if he talked about work.
“It wasn’t a real altercation,” she countered. “But who is he?”
“His name is Buck Harmon. He lives in a neighboring small town, and he knew India.”
Her eyes widened. “Did he have something to do with the kidnapping? With India’s murder?”
“I don’t know yet. According to what he told me, he met India at Harley’s bar and they hung out together for a night. He says he had no idea that she was going to kidnap a baby, and he sure doesn’t know who murdered her, but I’m checking him out.”
His Case, Her Baby Page 8
