by Liz Talley
“Nate,” she said, removing Jimmy’s hands from her hips and stepping away. She shifted the backpack on her shoulders and prayed the gun wouldn’t fall out of the still-unzipped pocket. “What—what are you doing here?”
“I woked up already. Why you wrestling with that guy? Who’s he? Is he marrying you?” Spencer said, dropping Nate’s hand. For once Annie was glad of Spencer’s inane questions.
“No, he’s not my husband. We’re just friends.”
“Oh,” Spencer said, seemingly satisfied with her answer. He shifted his attention to the mounds behind her before stomping through the high grass surrounding the clearing, heading for his best chance at getting dirty.
She watched to make sure he reached them safely then turned back to the person who wouldn’t be as satisfied with her answer. Nate’s voice had said it all. He wasn’t a happy camper. But why should he care if she sneaked around the woods to meet up with strange guys? None of his damn business.
Jimmy stepped forward. “Guess you caught us, man. I’m Howie, her little sugar daddy.” He extended a hand to Nate, but the detective ignored it.
Annie faked brittle laughter. “Oh, Howie’s an old friend…not my sugar daddy.”
“So I see,” Nate said, stepping past Jimmy and walking toward her. He dismissed Jimmy. “So Howie can’t come to the door like a regular person?”
Annie swiped a hand across her mouth, trying to erase Jimmy’s kiss. “Um, we needed—”
“—a little alone time,” Jimmy said, moving to her side and curling an arm around her waist.
She wrenched herself from Jimmy’s grasp. “No, we didn’t.”
She looked at Jimmy hard, trying to communicate her intent to him. Even if she’d vowed not to play the flirt with Nate, she didn’t want him to think she was taken. She wasn’t sure if that was out of interest for the case…or her own. “I told you we were over, Howie.”
Jimmy hid his puzzlement well. “I don’t—”
“So you’re telling me you came out here to meet an ex-boyfriend? Here? In the woods away from everyone?” Nate’s eyes communicated the simple thought that she was a dumbass.
“Yes,” she said.
“No,” Jimmy said at the same time.
She glared at Jimmy. Nate cocked an eyebrow. “So which is it?”
Annie zipped her backpack and threaded both arms through the straps. “Look, Howie and I used to date. A long time ago. When my hard drive screwed up, I called him to bring me a new one. He works for an electronics store and gets a discount. I was going to take him to lunch, but I haven’t been able to get away. I knew he was heading up today, and since he likes history, I told him we’d meet here. I didn’t want a bunch of questions from everyone, and I didn’t think he’d take it as a sign I wanted mauling.”
Jimmy faked disbelief then anger. “I thought you wanted to be alone. You’re such a goddamned tease, Ann. You always pull this shit.”
Annie blinked. Jimmy was a good actor. “Watch your language around the kid.”
Jimmy narrowed his eyes. “All this way and used my damn discount for nothing. I only get to use it three times a year. Three times and I blew one on you.”
“You thought I’d trade sex for a hard drive? Please. I have standards.”
Nate watched them carefully. Annie felt his hard perusal. She glanced at him and noted he didn’t look convinced. Just disgusted. And that made her feel rotten.
“Always thought you were too good for me, didn’t you? But not too good to use for your own gain. I hope the damn drive doesn’t work. It’s a refurbished one anyway.” Jimmy huffed, shoving his hands into his pockets. “You’re welcome to her. She wasn’t so good in the sack noways.”
Now, that was going a little too far.
Jimmy gave her a hateful glance before stomping back down the path. He may or may not have thrown her the bird. She didn’t know because she watched Nate who thankfully took to studying the canopy of branches overhead.
“Sorry, that was a bit awkward,” Annie said, breaking the silence.
“Yeah.”
Silence fell again, only interrupted with an occasional “whee” from Spencer.
As she watched the boy roll down the hill, she berated herself for getting caught in the first place. Now Jimmy would be unable to go back to the catering gig. His cover was blown and he was useless. Second, somehow she’d lost her mojo to control situations. Maybe leaving the Bureau and playing soccer mom had scrabbled her brain and addled her ability to canvas a situation and play it to her advantage. Had she lost what made her Anna? Control, intelligence and good reaction? And if so, how the devil would she make herself indispensable to her new boss?
“Look, he’s not anything to me.”
Nate slid his gaze to hers. “Why should it matter to me who you screw in the woods?”
“It doesn’t. And I wasn’t. I haven’t seen him in years. Don’t know why he thought this was something other than a favor between old friends.” She patted the backpack for good measure, praying it threw off any suspicions Nate had about her being involved in anything wonky. She wanted him to open up to her, to talk about the case. If he thought she was involved, she could kiss those chances goodbye. “He owed me, you know?”
“Were you using him?”
“Of course not,” she said, licking her lips. “He volunteered to get a drive for me when I said something about being down here in Louisiana and having trouble with my laptop. We’re Facebook—”
“Look, I’m not interested.”
“In me?”
A little pulse ticked in his jaw. She wanted to reach outand trace it with a fingertip, but that would be nuts.
He finally looked at her. “I’m not starting anything with you. You’re a suspect.”
“I am?”
“And even if you weren’t a suspect, I wouldn’t be interested in anything more than a little fun.”
Her heart felt as if it had snagged on something and she involuntarily lifted a hand to her chest. Why would his words hurt? Sure, she thought he was hot and her stomach flip-flopped around him at times, but he was nothing more than a pawn to be used. Nothing more than her ticket to helping crack the case so she could get a better foothold in a career path. “Who said I want you?”
His mouth tightened. “Just being straight with you. I’m not interested in a relationship.”
She couldn’t stop the anger welling inside her. “Well, good. I’m not either. I’m only nice to you because of Picou. She’s a decent person who doesn’t deserve such a jackass for a son…a jackass who presumes I’d drop my panties for any guy who comes along.”
“You call what you’ve been nice? Hate to hear what you consider down and dirty.”
“Good luck seeing anything down and dirty with me, bucko.”
His mouth kicked into a little smile. “I like you pissed off.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, stick around. I’m about to turn into a frickin’ amusement park.” She crossed her arms. She rarely got her panties in a wad, but this man irritated the hell out of her. How dare he issue a warning about a nonexistent relationship? Whatever. He was hot but not that hot. “And you’re not invited for a ride.”
At her words something flared. Like spontaneous combustion. Spark. Ignite. Burn. The air grew thick. Nate shifted, his posturing less defensive, more open. Maybe even inviting.
She could feel his heat and it her made want to sidestep like a nervous mare. It also turned her on. How could a man go from irritating to smoldering in seconds?
Her gaze slid to his. Damn. His eyes had gone all half-lidded bedroomy. When had that happened? And why did it make the back of her knees feel sweaty?
“No pass no play, huh?”
She swallowed. Heat unwound in her belly, coating her in warm, liquid lust. Her eyes zeroed in on his mouth. Those lips were very tempting, daring her to kiss the smirk away. “Special passes are granted for good boys. I don’t think you qualify.”
Those delicious lips curved
into the type of smile that plucked hidden strings in Annie’s belly. “Don’t you wish you knew if I were good?”
She opened her mouth just as Spencer yelled, “Cowabunga, dudes!” The childish jubilee ripped her from the hotness she contemplated, jarring her back to reality.
Mere minutes ago Nate wasn’t interested, so why was he tempting her? “Okay, let’s stop talking analogies here. You just said you don’t want me, so stop flirting with me.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t want you. You’re beautiful, passionate and pretty damn smart, and that’s something every man is interested in sampling.” He brushed a finger over her bare shoulder and she flinched. “I said I wasn’t interested in a relationship.”
“So you mean straight-up, no-strings sex?”
He smiled.
“Are you the stupidest investigator in the county?”
He frowned. “It’s a parish.”
“Whatever.” She glared at him. “You just said I’m a suspect. What about that, Einstein?”
His eyes narrowed and the amped-up heat between them dissolved. “Of course you’re still a suspect.”
“So why would you even contemplate trying to get in my pants?”
He looked confused. It almost made her want to smile. Almost. Part of her was peeved he wanted to treat her like a Guadalajara whore. Part of her thrilled to the idea of scorching the sheets with him.
“I don’t know. I’m a man?”
“Seriously? That’s your excuse for being a chauvinistic, incompetent asshole? That’s the reason you’re using for tossing away your career? You’re horny?”
“Damn. You turned mean fast.”
“Yeah. Because I don’t like being treated like I’m easy. I’m not.” She watched him shift back and forth in his loafers. She’d hit a nerve. “Somehow I thought you wouldn’t treat me that way.”
Her words were an arrow piercing his armor. She saw him deflate. “Ah, hell, I don’t know why I’m doing this.”
He grew still and his brown eyes got that vulnerable look in them, the one she’d glimpsed only fleetingly when he’d been around his mother several mornings ago. That softness drew her to him more than any heat.
He dropped his hands to his hips, sliding them into the pockets of his khaki trousers, and sighed. “Look, I’m not good at saying I’m sorry, but in this case, I’ll be glad to grovel. That wasn’t well done of me. Guess I’m rusty around women.”
“Yeah, like I need a tetanus shot,” she said, allowing lightness in her voice.
“Possibly.” He glanced at her. “Sorry I overstepped…acted like an ass.”
Annie nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yeah,” she said, pulling her gaze from his and searching for Spencer. She saw his head bob behind one of the mounds. A stick quickly followed, before being launched into the air like a crooked spear. Boys and sticks. What was with that? “People say and do stupid stuff all the time. I’m used to it, and frankly, I’m a testament to screwing things up, so I try not to hold grudges.”
He nodded, but didn’t say anything else. Again, silence sat between them, but this time it didn’t feel so thick.
“Any chance we forget about my being an idiot?” he asked. His dark eyes didn’t beg, but the velvet depths were steadfastly contrite. “Do a rewind?”
Spencer came bounding over, waving the stick. Annie’s gaze met Nate’s. “Sure.”
Then she gave her attention to the boy, who professed to have found a “real live” Indian spear. “Of course it is. We’ll have to show it to your mother. She’s coming home early tonight and said you’d watch another movie and eat popcorn.”
Spencer bounced and Annie caught Nate’s smile at the boy’s glee. “Cool! You going to watch it with us, Annie?”
“Nope, cowboy. Annie’s off tonight.”
She felt Nate’s interest again, and knew she could have done what Ace had suggested. Hell, she could have gotten exactly what she wanted—a hot tumble with Nate and an opening to get primo info about the case from him. But she couldn’t use herself like that. She’d have to find her leads the forthright way—snooping around.
She placed a hand on Spencer’s sweaty neck and steered him back toward the path, but Nate’s grasp on her elbow stopped her. “I still need to interview you for the record, Annie. That’s the reason I’m out here.”
His touch seared her, but she reminded herself of her conviction. “Sorry, I need to get back.”
“Won’t take long.”
“Annie, I gotta go poop,” Spencer called out.
“See? Spencer’s got to make potty,” she said.
Nate frowned. “I’ll walk you back.”
“Fine.”
He didn’t look happy, but, really, when did he ever look happy? Not much, in her limited experience. She plowed back toward Beau Soleil wondering what was so important he’d bothered to track her down in the woods. But, of course, she had an inkling.
Sterling had done a decent job of building her cover, but she knew any investigator worth his salt could poke a hole in her flimsy story. Nate fit the bill.
Last night she’d thought about tossing her undercover identity with the Cajun detective. Heaven knew she hadn’t done a good job of earning his trust, and lies seemed to trip on her tongue where he was concerned. Honesty with Nate would be refreshing, but she needed to clear it with Ace first. She didn’t want to screw up anything within her probationary period. She needed that steady paycheck.
Spencer was thankfully quiet. The crackle of the newly fallen leaves and the bustle of a hidden forest were the only accompaniment to their journey toward the large yellow-bricked house. When they emerged at the side of the property, she turned to Nate. “I’m not trying to hamper your investigation, but I’m meeting someone in an hour and I need to shower. Would it be okay to bring Spencer with me and meet you at the station tomorrow?”
Nate shook his head. “I’m out tomorrow. Just for the day.”
“Oh.” Curiosity nudged her, but she held her tongue.
“You and Spencer should come with me. What I have to do won’t take long and then I can take Spencer on a swamp tour. Didn’t he want to see alligators?”
“Yes!” Spencer shouted. “Yes! Yes!”
Annie placed a firm hand on Spencer’s shoulder to prevent him from tromping her foot in his zestful jumping. “If it’s work-related, we’d be in the way.”
Nate shrugged. “Not really, and it would give me time to interview you. Two birds and all that.”
Spencer stomped. “I want to go see the alligators, Annie. You promised.”
She looked at Spencer then back at Nate. “I’m not sure we should allow this to get too personal…”
“That’s up to you. I’m going down to Bayou Lafourche to a town called Galliano. I have a quick errand then we can do the airboat. It’ll be educational, and you’ll have Spencer safe with law enforcement—at least for a day.”
Annie had no other recourse but to agree. Another day spent putting together puzzles and practicing Spencer’s handwriting and numbers sounded mind-numbing anyway. And then there was Nate. Big, gorgeous Nate with his broad shoulders, dimple in his left cheek and quiet strength. So tempting to sit beside him as he drove, soaking in his aura, listening to his low gravelly voice, fantasizing she was just a girl hoping for something with a stand-up guy who wouldn’t choose anything or anyone over her. “Okay. As long as his parents agree.”
Spencer whooped and took off toward the porch where Picou stood in crane pose. Or that’s what Annie called it.
“Tomorrow,” Nate said, tossing his mother a wave and walking toward his car.
Annie watched him go. The view was nice, but it was more than that. More and more, she felt herself being pulled toward Nate. Not to mention, deep down she still wanted to believe in love, family and a pretty ribbon tied around a happily ever after.
Past mistakes didn’t define people, but they damn sure made it hard to believe in fairy tales
.
“Annie!” Spencer’s voice carried across the lawn. “Hurry up. You gotta come wipe me!”
Lovely.
* * *
ANNIE STOOD IN FRONT of the three-way mirror Tawny had brought in and sighed. “I don’t know, Mrs. Keene. I don’t think I can walk in these heels.”
The actress gave a much-put-upon sigh. “Tawny. And those are the newest Louboutins. They lift your ass. Practice walking in them.”
It was a command.
Annie tottered across the bedroom, trying to maintain a steady stroll. She wore heels upon occasion, but never ones that were four inches with a sexy strap around the ankle. She turned, teetered and thrust her arms out for balance. She weebled, she wobbled, but she didn’t fall down.
“Not bad,” Tawny said, tossing the blouses she’d discarded onto a wingback chair in the corner. “Much better than the whole Mother Teresa thing you had going on. What were those shoes? Orthotics?”
“No. Serviceable flats.”
At that, Tawny snorted. “You’re funny when you want to be, Annie the Nanny.”
Annie suppressed an eyeroll and studied herself in the mirror. She had to admit, she did look semihot. Thanks to leaving her fake ID on the dresser in her room. When Annie had slipped through the kitchen earlier to retrieve it, Tawny caught sight of her in the knee-length gray skirt and powder-blue sweater set and literally shrieked. Tawny had pointed one long red nail Annie’s way and forbidden her to leave the house looking like Sister Agnes—whoever that was—and whisked her upstairs for a personal clothes consultation. She’d gone through Annie’s closet in thirty seconds before insisting Annie borrow something from her fall collection.
Annie had had little say in the matter.
And for once, the actress reacted friendlier to her. Annie suspected it had something to do with her leaving for the night and Tawny having her family to herself, including the handsome husband. Annie had finally figured out Tawny’s behavior—the woman wanted her husband, and anyone or thing that interfered was treated to instant dislike. His work and Annie included.
Annie turned the toe of the silver pump inward. “You sure these match? I think my flats would work.”
“Of course they match. Metallic colors are neutral and patchwork is all the rage. Besides there’s silver thread woven in the flower on the shirt.”
