by Jessica Gray
Then again, if the Oscars were to miraculously reappear, her mother would send Chuck away and Linda would never have to see him again. The idea definitely had merit, but needed further consideration.
Linda was so immersed in her thoughts, she gave a start when her cell phone rang and answered it without looking at the caller I.D. “Hello?”
“Linda? It’s Chuck.”
She almost toppled over. “Uhm…hi. Why are you calling me?”
“Look, I’m sorry. This morning your mother…I told her this can never happen again. I’m not interested.”
Linda’s heart thundered in her throat. “Uhm.”
Chuck seemed unimpressed by her lack of words and continued to speak. “But I would like to see you again. Can I take you out to dinner tonight?”
Linda so badly wanted to say yes, but then an icy thrill rushed down her spine. What if this is a ploy and he suspects me of stealing the Oscars?
Her hands began to shake. “Dinner?”
“Yes. You know, the meal people eat at the end of the day?”
“No. I can’t. I…” Her wrecked brain couldn’t even come up with an excuse when every cell in her body cried, Yes. I want to see you.
“If today doesn’t work, you can choose another day. Please.” His plea sounded so honest, so promising, she couldn’t resist.
“No. I guess today is fine.”
“Great! I’ll pick you up at your place. 6:30 p.m.?”
“Okay.”
“See you later.”
Linda hung up the phone, her body humming with anticipation over seeing Chuck again. She called for Courage, and he came running up to her, shaking water all over her legs as she laughed and tried to avoid getting soaked. “Thanks,” she said to the dog, giving his head a good rub. “Time to go.”
On her way home, she dropped Courage off at the office, and her heart broke a little when she saw his sad face before he turned around to join the other dogs. At the Ross mansion she sighed when she saw the garage was open – a sure sign her mother was not in the house. She showered quickly to rinse the sand off and then entered her walk-in closet, debating what to wear.
At first, she wanted to put on something beautiful for Chuck, but then she recalled what had happened that morning. She didn’t have a chance of having a relationship with Chuck, so putting forth the extra effort to dress up for him seemed pointless. And she wasn’t interested in him anyway.
She wasn’t even sure why he’d asked her to dinner, but obviously not because he liked her. The most realistic reason was that she was a suspect now. Therefore she dressed as unremarkably as possible – a pair of well-worn jeans and a dark blue blouse that bagged on her.
With one last glance at herself in the mirror, she pulled the blouse away from her stomach, hoping Chuck wouldn’t notice how overweight she was.
She brushed her hair out, slipped her feet into a pair of tennis shoes, and headed downstairs. Her mother would be horrified if she happened to see her, but what did she care? As her mother so often reminded her, she was useless and a complete failure.
Chapter 12
Chuck arrived at the Ross Mansion promptly at 6:30 p.m., and was both relieved to see Linda waiting for him on the front steps and saddened to see she was once again hiding her beautiful body beneath an oversized blouse, that maybe two of him would fill out.
Didn’t she even know how gorgeous she was? He recalled the manner her mother had treated Linda; perhaps this was her way to rebel.
“Ready to go, Linda?”
She shrugged and the pain in her eyes caught him by surprise. It was even more prominent tonight, and he wanted to embrace her in his arms and promise that everything would be fine. But the icy expression on her face, forbade any those thoughts. She’s not forgotten her mother kissing me, nor has she forgiven me for allowing it.
“How was work and how is Courage?” he asked.
Linda’s brown eyes warmed a bit before she answered, and by the time she told him about taking Courage to the beach, her face beamed and the tension gradually decreased. “He loves the ocean.”
“Really? I live on the beach. You’ll have to visit me one day. Both of you would enjoy it.” Have I just invited a dog over? I must have completely lost my mind.
Linda laughed. “We should. He even tries to jump over the surf when it comes in. It’s quite comical at times.”
Chuck watched her smile as she opened up to him, and he couldn’t believe how beautiful she was when her eyes shone with joy. Time flew; soon they reached his favorite restaurant and were seated. “Are you hungry?”
She didn’t get a chance to answer him because the waiter arrived right then with a bottle of the house wine. “Sir, would you like to sample the house red?”
Chuck nodded. “Yes, please.” He waited while the waiter poured a sample into a glass and then he savored it, nodding his approval for two glasses to be poured. After the waiter took their orders, he smiled at Linda. “I guess I should have asked if you even like wine.”
“It’s fine,” she assured him, but he picked up on some strange vibes from her.
Their food arrived, but while he devoured his steak, she barely nipped at her salad. “Don’t you like the food?” Chuck asked.
“Actually, my stomach feels a little upset,” she murmured, looking pale and nervous.
“Maybe we should get you some fresh air?” he suggested, and she nodded.
He paid and walked her out, stopping her before she could get into the vehicle by gently putting his arms around her. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Linda nodded and raised her head to look at him. The sight of her beautiful brown eyes and the rosy red lips was too much for his self-control and he dipped his mouth over hers, half expecting her to resist.
But she didn’t. Her lips opened for him and he tasted her sweet flavor, mixed with red wine, her light flowery scent rushing to his head and sending blood to his groin.
She was so sweet, so desirable. His tongue probed inside, tasting more of her, and her sexy little moan spurred him on, deeper into her luscious mouth. Bolts of desire rushed through his veins as she responded to his kiss, sliding her tongue into his mouth and exploring every corner of it.
Every movement of her tongue caused fireworks to explode in his brain, and soon he was reduced to pure desire for the most magnificent woman in the world. He grabbed her hair to hold her head in place, while his lips smashed over hers, licking, biting, sucking. It was not enough.
He needed to feel her closer, have her body pressed flush against his. With great care he sprawled his big hands across her back and pressed her into him. Then he came up for breath and slowly trailed little kisses down her neck all the way to her – very pronounced – collarbone.
His hands slid beneath her blouse and skimmed up her sides, but the feel of her protruding ribs caused him to pause for a moment, because he was afraid she might break. The woman was nothing but skin stretched over bones. She desperately needs to put on some weight.
His hesitation proved to be a moment too long, because she must have sensed it. She took a sudden step back, out of his arms. Away from him. The feeling of loss was instant. And it confused the heck out of him.
As did the way she looked at him: her eyes darkened with shame and her face closing down. Chuck opened his mouth to ask her what was wrong, but she’d already turned away and he knew she’d shut him out – again.
On the drive back she didn’t say a word, and in a desperate attempt to start a conversation he said, “I finished all of the employee interviews today.”
“Did you find the thief?” she asked, her voice a little too eager. Something was off and it had nothing to do with his kiss.
“No, and frankly, I have no idea who stole the Oscars.”
Linda tensed up next to him and asked, “So am I now a suspect? Is that why you invited me for dinner?”
Chuck couldn’t believe his ears. Was that what she believed? That he’d used her to get infor
mation? He shook his head, “No, you’re not a suspect.”
But her question and the way she was behaving left him with doubt. She’d been acting ambiguous all evening, and he wondered if she knew something about the robbery she didn’t want to tell him. Was she covering for someone?
“You don’t have any suggestions for other suspects, do you?” He felt, rather than saw, her tense next to him and her breath stall for a moment.
With a quick glance at her face he noticed the telltale signs of guilt. Was she somehow involved? But if so, why? As the daughter of Evangelina Ross she had more money than she could ever spendHis suspicions were ridiculous. It couldn’t be Linda. Even if she needed the money, Evangelina’s jewels would be worth a lot more and had less recognition value. She had no reason to steal her mother’s dearest possessions. And yet…something was off.
“I don’t have any suggestions,” she said, her voice cold as stone.
Chuck nodded, and took the off-ramp that led to Beverly Hills. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Linda sitting stiffly, staring straight ahead, and wringing her hands. Not a man of many words, he had no idea how to revive their conversation, and they spent the rest of the journey in silence.
At the Ross Mansion he pulled up in front of the steps, got out, and opened the door for Linda. If he had hoped to repeat their earlier kiss, his hopes were sent crashing by her formal good-bye: “Thank you for dinner.”
“A dinner you hardly touched. Have a good night.” He watched her walk up the steps and slip inside the house. She never looked back at him, leaving him confused and sad.
Chapter 13
Chuck decided to chalk the night up as a complete failure and the end to a bad day, and called his sister Vivian with the hands-free device in his car.
“What’s up, Chuck? You don’t often call me at this time of night.”
Chuck grinned. “I was busy. Have you thought of a gift for Drake?”
“Ahh… calling your little sister to do the dirty work for you?”
He knew it was only a mock protest; she loved to be asked to organize presents. “You’re so much better at this than the rest of us.”
“Tyler and I have thought of a few suggestions, but in exchange for me doing all the heavy lifting you have to chip in with more than your share.”
He chuckled, imagining how she was pouting into the phone, “Short on money again, Viv?”
His sister dramatically sighed into the phone. “Life in L.A. is expensive and my job as a court reporter doesn’t allow for extravagances. So you agree?”
“Sure. Let me know how much you need.”
“Will do. Now tell me the real reason you called me.”
Chuck laughed. “Why does there have to be another reason?”
“Because I know you – now spill it. What have you been up to?”
I just had a date with the most gorgeous woman in the world and she ditched me after sharing an out-of-this-world kiss. “I have a new case.”
“Someone famous?” Vivian’s voice became all giddy.
“Kinda. But it’s not public, you understand?” He was sure she would understand. Unlike with their brother Tyler, a secret was absolutely safe with Vivian. “I’m relying on your discretion.”
“My lips are tightly sealed.”
“I’m working for Evangelina Ross.”
“The Evangelina Ross?” Vivian all but shouted into the phone, and he covered his ear with one hand.
“The one and only.”
“What? Chuck, you have to tell me…is she as gorgeous in real life as she is in the movies?”
“She’s pretty.” And a horrible person, from what I can tell.
“Oh, Chuck, that’s so exciting. I wished I could accompany you and meet her.” Vivian gushed about the famous actress until she asked, “And what did she contract you for?”
“Something got stolen.” Chuck steered into his driveway and switched off the motor.
“What? No, let me guess… “ Vivian was an avid reader of mysteries, crime, and thrillers, and even though she lacked Chuck’s power of observation and uncompromising attention to detail, she’d proven helpful in the past, juggling ideas with him.
“The diamond necklace she wore for the Academy Awards?”
“Nope.”
“Hm… oh, no. Her Oscars?”
Chuck was baffled. “How did you know?”
“Because I’m awesome and brilliant.”
He chuckled into the phone. “…and arrogant and obnoxious.”
But she didn’t even listen to him and fired a myriad of questions at him. “So, who do you think did it? The butler? The maid? The husband? A secret lover?”
“Whoa, there…” Chuck said.
“No! I have it. The daughter took them,” she said, triumph evident in her voice. “See, I solved your case.”
“I don’t think so. The daughter hates her mother.”
“One more reason. If it’s not a disgruntled employee, it has to be the daughter or son. In the mystery books I read, the thief is always the person least likely to be suspected. It has to be the daughter.”
“You and your books. I hate to break it to you, kid, but real life doesn’t follow the storyline of a book. Things are different in real life. And Linda is much too nice to be the thief.”
Vivian was quiet for a moment and then asked, “Linda? Tsk.”
He raised a brow and looked puzzled at his phone before asking, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You like her.”
“No, I don’t. Not like that.” But Vivian wouldn’t relent. It was different from the usual teasing between siblings. He realized his sister must have picked up on his true feelings for Linda by his tone of voice. But he wasn’t ready yet to admit anything. “I just met the woman. There’s nothing between us. And by the way, I’m not the settling-down type.”
It was a lie. He definitely was the settling-down type, he just hadn’t found a woman he wanted to settle down with – until yesterday.
Vivian laughed through the phone. “I think you protest too much.”
“Have you been reading something besides crime mysteries?” he fired back.
Now it was Vivian’s turn to sputter. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just asking.”
“Well, I think your culprit is the daughter. Especially if she truly hates her mother as much as you think she does. What better revenge than to take something that is meaningless to anyone else, but means the world to her mother?”
Chuck finished the call with his sister, but her words had struck a chord. But Linda was so sweet. He couldn’t see her being a cold-blooded thief.
A smile crossed his face. If she’s a suspect, I’ll have a reason to see her again.
Chapter 14
Linda woke up with a stale feeling in her mouth. She’d tossed and turned all night, wondering what had possessed her to kiss Chuck. Not that the kiss hadn’t been awesome, because it had been.
For a short moment she’d believed he found her attractive – until he’d noticed how fat she was. His hesitation when touching her ribs was all the evidence she’d needed. Blood was rushing to her face even now as she remembered that shameful moment.
Why do you care anyway? It’s not like he really liked you. The dinner, the kiss…it was all just to get information from you to help him solve his case.
But even as she thought those words she knew they were a lie. Chuck Armstrong was an honorable man, and his integrity shone through every one of his actions. He might be curt, but every word he said was true. As much as she rationalized that getting involved with him would be a bad thing, her body thought otherwise.
She placed a hand over her stomach, trying to quell the butterflies appearing whenever she thought of him. Chuck. Did you see how he looked at you? Nate said he only has eyes for you. Nah, an attractive man like him had better things to do than hang around with a fat and ugly girl like her.
Shaking her head, she ro
lled off the bed and dressed for work. She was the first one to arrive and fed all the therapy dogs before she spent long moments cuddling with Courage in the garden. Half-heartedly she tossed the ball for him, but he seemed to understand she didn’t want to play and stayed by her side licking her hand.
Some time later Nate showed up for work and found her sitting with her arms wrapped around her dog’s neck. “Hey there. You’re here on time for a change.”
Linda crunched her nose and then blurted out, “He thinks I’m fat.”
Nate raised a brow and came over to sit down next to her. “Are we talking about Mr. Hottie?” When she nodded, he asked, “Did he actually say so?”
“He didn’t have to,” Linda said, remembering how he’d slid his hands below her blouse. His touch had tantalized her and left searing fire in its path, until he’d touched her rib cage and hesitated. Fat. He’d been shocked by all that flab. She hissed, “He thinks I’m disgusting.”
Nate put his arm around her shoulder and said, “We’ve discussed this before, sweetie. You’re not fat. If anything, you’re much too thin. Most men want a little extra to hold onto.”
“No, they don’t. They want what they see in the magazines and I’m not that.” She sagged even more and leaned into Nate, while Courage had put his head in her lap.
“No,” Nate agreed. “Right, you’re not that. Have you eaten lately?”
“Not really.”
“Sweetie, you know I love you, but you’re falling back into your old behaviors. Don’t you think you should go to one of the anorexics anonymous meetings again or–”
Linda scowled at him. “To tell complete strangers how useless I am?”
“No, to get the help you need to stay on track. You’ve come such a far way, but I’m afraid you’re relapsing. All that drama with your mother hasn’t helped.”
She sighed and he continued, “Remember that you only have to please yourself, and no one else. You are a wonderful person and I love you the way you are.”
