Bad Habit

by JD Faver

  He placed a call to the convent and asked to talk to Sister Clem. He gazed at Teri while he waited for her to come to the phone. “Do you ever wonder what would have happened to you if I hadn’t insisted that you leave the apartment and come with me?”

  A spiral of fear snaked along Teri’s spine. “I imagine I’d be dead by now.” Her voice sounded flat and hollow to her own ears.

  “I’m glad you’re not.” He turned his attention back to the phone. “Sister Clement?” He pushed the button for speaker phone. “This is Detective Garcia.”

  “Angel?”

  “Yes, Sister.” He grinned at Teri and nodded. “How are you and the others?”

  “We’re fine. We’ve been staying at the convent when we’re not teaching.”

  “That’s good, Sister. I’ll let you know when it’s safe to go back to the apartment.”

  “Good. We miss our little place,” she said. “How is Sister Bernie? We miss her, too.”

  Teri ducked her head under Angel’s searching stare.

  “Sister Bernie is good.” Angel said. “You’ve got my cell phone number, Sister. Call me if you notice anything out of the ordinary.” He hung up with Clem and put his arms around Teri. “Don’t feel sad.”

  “Sad would be a step up,” she said. “I feel guilty.”

  “You did what you thought you had to do.”

  A prickle of anger stabbed through her. “Stop making excuses for me.” She tried to pull away.

  Angel held her firmly. “I’m not making excuses. I’m excusing you for making a bad choice. If you had gone to the police at the beginning I could have protected you.” He sighed. “But things might have turned out differently. Someone else could have caught the case and I might never have met you.”

  “I wouldn’t have met your family,” she said.

  “You wouldn’t have slept in my arms at the motel.”

  She felt her color rising. “Thank you for reminding me of my shameless behavior.”

  He grazed her cheek with his fingers and raised her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Every morning when I wake up without you, I ache for you.” He lowered his lips to hers and brushed a kiss across her mouth. “I ache for you,” he whispered.

  A wave of desire roiled up from her gut. Her heartbeat thumped in her ears like hoof beats. “Me too.”

  He gave her a little smile. “What kind of declaration was that?”

  “That---that I have strong feelings for you.”

  “Strong feelings?”

  She held up her hand, effectively ending the conversation. “Yes, but don’t push me. I can’t define how I feel. Too many other things are going on.”

  “Right.” He rose from the sofa and stood gazing down at her. “I’m going to drive by the nun’s apartment tonight and see if anyone is still staking it out.”

  “You mean Altman?” Her throat constricted when she visualized his face.

  “Or someone else. I’m just going to check it out. Do you want to come with me or stay here?”

  She sprang up from the sofa. “With you...I want to be with you.” She reached out for him and he laced his fingers with hers.

  Angel kissed her fingertips and drew her outside to his car. She felt the prickle of excitement as he pulled out of the driveway. He drove to the convent and slowed.

  After circling the block and scanning the cars lining the street, Angel parked behind the nun’s apartment and told her to stay ducked down. He slipped out and locked her inside.

  Her heart rate increased. When she was with Angel she wasn’t afraid. But she was alone hunched down in his rental car while he was checking out the apartment she had shared with three nuns. A place where a man died while hiding behind a tree waiting to catch sight of her.

  And she was afraid.

  The minutes ticked away. Teri was uncomfortable. She raised her head and peered over the dashboard in the direction Angel had disappeared. Nothing but shadows. She ducked down again.

  She rested her head on the seat, feeling naked and vulnerable. This was how she felt when she’d found Colin and afterwards when she had seen the killers in the parking garage. When had it stopped, the fear that choked her now?

  Teri smiled. The fear started fading shortly after she met Detective Angel Garcia. At first he frightened her but then he challenged her, infuriated her, intrigued her. Now, he was the enigmatic and loving talisman who kept her safe from evil.

  Why is he taking so long? Her gut clenched with apprehension. Surely something hadn’t happened to him, not to Angel. She raised her head again.

  A man was standing beside the car parked directly in front of Angel’s. He was tall and thin with wispy brown hair crawling back from his forehead. His nose was long with a thin bridge. He stared at Teri.

  Panicked, she ducked down on the seat.

  A moment later, the driver’s side door was wrenched open. Teri gasped. The fear drained from her when Angel slammed the door behind him.

  “Sorry. Did I scare you?” He started the car.

  “Not you,” she said. “That guy.”

  “What guy?”

  “The tall man standing beside the car in front of us.”

  “By the black Mecedes? There’s no one in sight.”

  Teri raised her head and scanned the surrounding area. Angel was right. The man was nowhere to be seen.

  “Was it Altman?” he asked as he pulled out into the street.

  “No. It wasn’t him or the other man either. This man was just standing by the car and he saw me.”

  Angel was silent, his brows drawn together as he pulled out into the street. “He probably wasn’t even connected to this case.”

  She shivered in spite of the warm night. “I know, but he was so creepy.”

  Angel grinned at her. “Not all creepy looking guys are really creeps.”

  “Don’t make fun of me.” She punched his arm. “He saw me and it was like he recognized me.”

  “It’s possible he thought you were hot.”

  “I know what you’re trying to do, but it’s not working. You’re trying not to scare me, but I was scared the second you got out of the car. That man recognized me!”

  “Okay, Teri. I believe you.” Angel drove for a few blocks in silence. “The man you saw wasn’t one of the men who killed your...Colin?”

  “No, but he didn’t look like a San Antonio native. Just like you, his clothes were from New York. Trust me, I know clothes.”

  Angel turned into Brackenridge Park. It was dark and shadowy with brightly lit areas. He drove around the narrow twisting lanes, glancing in the rear-view mirror from time to time.

  “No black Mercedes?” she asked, turning in her seat.

  “Just making sure.” He pulled the car into a dark, brushy area and turned off the lights, but kept the engine running with the air conditioner on.

  Angel removed his holstered weapon and his shield from his belt and tucked it into the glove compartment.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  He pushed his seat back all the way and turned to Teri. “I’m making out with my girlfriend.” He reached across and unbuckled her seatbelt.

  Strong arms enveloped her and dragged her across the seat. She found herself sprawled against Angel’s broad chest.

  He raised her chin and regarded her face by the dim glow of the dials on the dashboard. He kissed her forehead, her nose and her lips.

  Teri slipped her arm around his neck, wishing the kiss would never stop. She felt his hands graze her body, sliding over her breast, her waist, her buttocks.

  “You’ve done this before,” she said.

  “Maybe,” he said, his voice smoky with desire. “I thought you should experience a great San Antonio tradition. Making out at Brack.”

  “What would we be doing if we were still in The City?” she asked, settling against him.

  “I’d take you to my apartment and cook for you. And then I’d make love to you for hours.” He kissed her temple. “A
nd in the morning, I’d watch your face as the sun crept in through my curtains. I’d hold you and never let you go.”

  Teri couldn’t catch her breath. She was grinning but she felt lightheaded. “What does your apartment look like?” she asked when she could breathe.

  “One bedroom on the third floor of a brownstone. Unfortunately, it looks like a single guy lives there.”

  “A guy?”

  “A working cop who doesn’t spend much time there. It could use a woman’s touch. Are you trying to resist my attempt at seduction?”

  “I don’t think so,” she said. “I have a condo.” Teri unbuttoned his shirt and stroked his chest with her fingertips.

  “I know you do,” he said. “I’ve been there. When you first went missing I entered your place to see if you were lying on the floor.”

  She jerked her head up. “Dead? You thought I was dead?”

  “Not necessarily. I was just following up all the leads.” He kissed her again. “Your condo looks like the photos you had all over the place. Very slick.”

  “You didn’t like my decorating?” She pulled away slightly. “What was wrong with it?”

  “Nothing at all. Everything was beautiful and it looked like you. Pale and luxurious.”

  “I sense disapproval.”

  “Don’t twist my words,” he said.

  “Then, what are you saying?”

  “Your place looks like the public image of Teri Slaughter. Here, with me now... You don’t seem like that woman. You’re beautiful but you’re down to earth and real.”

  “I think I’m the victim of stereotyping.” Teri moved back to the passenger seat. “You decided that I was a snotty bitch because I was a model and had a nice place. You thought I’d be cold and aloof.”

  Teri turned her face to the window, staring out into the inky night, hurt that Angel could think badly of her.

  #

  Angel stared at her across the width of the vehicle. “You could be right, Mia.” He crawled over to her and, reaching between her legs, grabbed the lever and shoved her seat all the way back. “I looked at your photographs a thousand times and I thought you were gorgeous.” He reclined her seat and settled himself on top of her. “But I thought you lived in an ivory tower.” He kissed her again, trying to convey the intensity of his need. “I judged you by what you left behind, mementos of a lavish lifestyle I could never share.”

  Her mouth looked pouty, driving his level of passion one notch higher.

  She gave him a sharp glance through narrowed eyes. “What made you change your mind?”

  He grinned and ruffled her hair. “Who said I changed my mind?”

  “Beast!” She pinched him, managing to pull his chest hair.

  Angel grabbed her wrist and kissed the inside, feeling her pulses throb against his lips. In one move he rolled her on top of him. He heard her intake of breath as he pressed her against his erection.

  Teri reclined against him as he kissed her neck and raised her knit shirt to nuzzle her bra. She pulled the shirt off, tossing it into the back seat.

  He laced his fingers through her hair and cupped the back of her head to draw her to him. Slowly her lips melted against his. He kissed her until she couldn’t breathe. She tore her lips away and gasped for air as he kissed her neck gently nibbling her skin. He touched her breast, circling her nipple with his thumb through the pink lace.

  Teri arched her back, taking obvious pleasure in his touch. He trailed his fingers down over her ribs and flipped open the snap on her jeans. She unzipped them as Angel slid his hand inside.

  “Are these the pink ones I bought you?” he asked, fingering the silky panties.

  She giggled. “Yes.”

  A bright shaft of light illuminated the interior of the vehicle and then extinguished.

  Teri covered her breasts, momentarily blinded.

  Angel heaved her into the driver’s seat and reached into the glove compartment to recover his gun. He flipped off the overhead light that would have come on when the door opened and stepped out into the warm, humid night. Locking the door, he closed it soundlessly; leaning against it to make sure it latched.

  He squatted, low to the ground, peering into the darkness. His ears were alerted to every sound. His car idled smoothly. Crickets chirped and the frogs they called peepers sang their odd song. He could smell animal odors from the nearby zoo.

  He made his way around the car. No other sounds. No movement.

  A car door slammed some distance away and an ignition turned over before it pulled out onto the winding road without its lights.

  Angel returned to his rental car and knocked on the driver’s side window. “Teri, it’s me.”

  She unlocked the door and moved to the passenger side.

  The air conditioning blasted his now damp clothes but he welcomed its chill. He slipped the car into reverse and backed onto the roadway, turning away from the direction the other car had taken.

  When they reached Broadway, he glanced at her face. She looked pale and scared, her hands gripped together. A flood of remorse filled his chest. Mentally, he cursed himself for being a fool.

  “I’m sorry, Teri.” He turned north on Broadway and hooked a tight right into a residential area. He drove around the darkened streets until he felt sure they weren’t being followed.

  Angel turned the lights off and coasted to a stop under a large oak, its branches sheltering the street below. “I’m an idiot. I put you at risk.” He expelled a deep breath. “I accused you of making poor choices and now I’m doing it.”

  Teri’s head came up and she turned to look at him. “What are you talking about, Angel?”

  “I’m acting like a lovesick schoolboy and not like a cop. I’m not protecting you.”

  Her voice came soft in the darkness. “I’ll point out that I’m still alive.”

  “No thanks to me. I could have gotten us both killed back there.”

  “Maybe you are an idiot, but you’re my idiot.”

  Angel grinned in the darkness. “Thanks. Was that as close as I’m going to get to a declaration of love?”

  “For now. Let’s try to get through this thing alive.”

  “Deal. Would you feel safer if I take you to a hotel or home...to my parent’s home?”

  “Take me home.”

  Angel turned the lights on and propelled the car forward. In spite of their peril, he felt inordinately happy that she cared for him and that she wanted him to take her home.

  #

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Angel kept an eye on the rear view mirror and circled several blocks randomly before pulling into his parent’s driveway. He had endangered Teri. He felt like a complete fool.

  He led her through the back door and made sure it was locked securely behind them. The lights were low and the family had gone to bed.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “Any water?”

  “This isn’t a bottled water kind of family. I can give you tap water with ice.”

  She glowered at him. “There you go again with the stereotyping. I just need cold water.”

  He sighed. “Teri, I wasn’t trying to stereotype.” He filled a glass with ice and held it under the tap.

  “Sorry.” She accepted the glass from him. “I’m tired and feeling very vulnerable.”

  “Let’s crash. We’ll figure it out tomorrow.” He turned out the lights behind them, checking to make sure the front door was locked and bolted before following Teri up the stairs.

  She opened the door to his former room and turned back to him. “Angel...” Her voice was soft. “I don’t want to sleep alone. Do you think your mother would understand?”

  Angel nudged her inside and closed the door behind him, tossing his jacket on the back of a chair. “I hope she will, Mia. She knows all about love.” He twisted the lock on the door. He relished the idea of holding Teri in his arms while she slept.

  “Good.” Teri pulled the knit shirt off
over her head and let it drop to the floor.

  Astounded, he stared, his mouth open. He didn’t know how to react. Wordlessly, he sent her a one-sided smile.

  Teri unzipped her jeans and stepped out of them. She stood, gazing solemnly at Angel. “That is, if you still want me.”

  “Want you?” He swallowed a bundle of razor blades at the back of his throat. He held her gaze as he hurriedly shed his clothing. His dreams were about to come true. They regarded each other for a moment before Angel opened his arms.

  She wrapped both arms around his neck and rained little kisses on his face as he lifted her off her feet.

  He kissed her shoulder, his stubble of beard rasped against her skin. He drew in a sharp breath as she drew her legs up around his torso. “Teri, I...”

  “Not now, Angel. I don’t want anything to stop us from doing what we’ve both wanted since we met.” She gazed at him tenderly. “Just for tonight, you’re not the cop and I’m not the witness.”

  He hesitated, torn between duty and desire.

  Teri tilted her head and smiled at him.

  He swallowed. “This is going to change everything between us.” He took two steps to the bed and lowered her onto it.

  “Good. Maybe you’ll stop being so bitchy.” She giggled at the look he gave her.

  “I am never bitchy.” He climbed onto the bed beside her and traced his fingers over her silky underwear. “Nice panties, lady.” He slid the pink bikinis off and rolled her onto her back.

  He trailed a line of kisses from the side of her neck to her lips. He grazed her thigh with his fingertips. As Angel caressed her he felt a tight band loosen around his heart.

  Teri kissed his shoulder, tasted his skin. Angel drew in a sharp breath as she trailed her lips along his collarbone delivering nibbles and kisses. She scratched his skin lightly with her short nails, thrilling his senses with her desire.

  Angel kissed her lips, explored her mouth. Teri embraced him, pulling him closer as she wrapped her thighs around him.

  When their bodies coupled Teri gasped out in pleasure.

  “I love you Teri,” he said. “You better be in love with me.” His voice was smoky with desire as he pressed himself deep inside her.