The Rookie's Assignment

by Valerie Hansen

  Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, Keira laid a hand on the edge of the sink for balance and began to pray. “Father, I really need help. I don’t know what’s right and what’s wrong. I should, but I don’t.”

  Another breath. Another sigh. “But You know. And You know how badly I want to be honest with everyone. The trouble is, I’m stuck between two truths, two loyalties. Help me? Guide me? Please?”

  The only answer she received was in the form of a couple of twittering, texting teenage girls who burst through the door and interrupted her peace and quiet.

  Perhaps that was enough of an answer, Keira thought. It was time to venture out into the elaborately decorated dining room where the others were gathering and wait there for Nick.

  If she hadn’t been so nervous that she was afraid to eat, she’d have looked forward to all that chocolate. As it was, however, the strong, sweet odor was almost overwhelming. She knew she’d have more hiccups—or worse—if she dared down a single bite.

  Later, after she and Nick had had a chance to talk privately and she’d made him understand her dilemma, maybe they could share a table and enjoy the pastries. Until then, however, she figured she’d better just hang out with the crowd and try to look relaxed. If she could manage to appear even a smidgen more poised than she felt, she’d be thrilled.

  “And totally amazed,” Keira muttered as she left the ladies’ room.

  Victoria was greeting guests at the door while Charlotte Newbright, her hostess, checked paid admissions.

  “These are for me and a guest,” Keira told Charlotte as she handed her the glittery tickets.

  “Say no more.” The chubby woman patted at her spiked hairdo and winked. “I know exactly who to watch for.”

  Keira was positive her cheeks had turned as crimson as her dress. Victoria knew. Charlotte knew. Chances were that most of the people who would be in attendance tonight also knew. Well, too bad. Keira wasn’t ashamed of being attracted to Nick and hopefully he wouldn’t be sorry to hear their names joined during conversations. That kind of thing was bound to happen in a group this familiar with each other.

  He was going to have to learn to accept small-town ways if and when they ever became a true couple. That was another element of his personality that worried her. The man was a born outsider, even in his own family. Could he ever come to terms with having his private life so public?

  “I’ll worry about that later,” Keira whispered to herself.

  Standing tall and pausing to scan the room, she spotted her sister, Fiona, beneath a bunch of red-and-white balloons that sported matching paper streamers. It was good to see her laughing and talking to some of the handsome firemen who had once worked with her late husband. Jimmy Cobb’s friends continued to look after Fiona as if they were part of her extended family, which, in a way, they were.

  Waving at Fiona she began to thread her way toward her across the crowded room, greeting others as she passed. Hanging out with her sister was probably a clear sign of apprehension but right now Keira desperately craved moral support.

  They had just met and exchanged hugs when Fiona pointed past her. “Look over there. See who just came in?”

  Keira’s breath went out of her. She wobbled slightly on her unfamiliar high heels.

  Her gaze met Nick’s and locked on.

  She saw his eyes widen and his jaw drop for a second before he recovered and started toward her.

  It was all she could do to stand still and wait for him.

  Until Fiona whispered, “Steady, girl,” in her ear Keira forgot to smile. That silly prompt broke the ice and made her grin.

  Nick was almost there before Keira realized he was not returning her expression of friendship. Nevertheless, he looked better than ever. He’d donned a sport jacket and seemed more like an ordinary man than he did a fellow officer—if you could consider anything about Nick Delfino ordinary.

  Keira couldn’t. As far as she was concerned, she only had eyes for one guy in the entire room and he was coming to a stop right in front of her.

  If Nick hadn’t started out so upset, he might have had more trouble keeping Keira at arm’s length. The woman had undergone a transformation he would never have dreamed possible. Where before he’d thought of her as very pretty and sweet, she was now the most exotically beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on.

  And she looked so happy, he hated to spoil her mood. Perhaps his planned confrontation could wait a little while longer. After all, the evening was just getting started.

  Allowing his instincts free rein he shook her hand. “Excuse me, ma’am. Have you seen my partner, Officer Fitzgerald? She’s supposed to meet me here.”

  “Is she? Can you describe her?”

  Nick could not help grinning. He just hoped he didn’t look as befuddled as he felt. His gaze traveled rapidly from her head to her toes and he tried to make his assessment humorous in spite of the fact he would gladly have stood there for hours taking in the amazing sight of her transformation.

  “Well,” Nick drawled, “to start with she’s shorter than you are.” He openly admired her. “Where in the world did you stash your sidearm?”

  “I’m afraid I couldn’t find a place to wear it tonight and it wouldn’t fit in my fancy clutch bag.” She nervously brushed her hands over her hips, smoothing a skirt that hung so gracefully it needed no adjustment.

  “Can’t say I’m surprised. That dress doesn’t look like it has a lot of spare room for a holster.”

  “Nope. It was guaranteed to knock your socks off, though. Are your toes getting cold yet?”

  “Undoubtedly.” Noticing that their conversation was garnering far more attention than he liked, he took her hand and drew her aside with, “Let’s get something to eat and drink, shall we?”

  Keira’s free hand settled at her waist. “I don’t think my stomach can handle food right now but a cup of punch would be nice. I guess I’m a little nervous.”

  “I can understand that.” Nick handed her a small red plastic cup filled with cherry-colored liquid. “If I had your guilty conscience I wouldn’t be able to eat much, either.”

  “My what?”

  He had to briefly steady her hand to keep her from sloshing her drink. “You heard me. Like I said, let’s find a nice quiet corner where we can talk, shall we?”

  “Okay.”

  “And smile, Keira,” he added, urging her along with his hand at her elbow. “You look as if I’m leading you to the gallows.”

  “I do want to talk to you, Nick, but there’s a problem.”

  “I’ll make it easy for you. I already know you’ve been lying to me.”

  He felt her steps falter and tightened his hold to offer more support.

  Instead of accepting his help the way he’d expected her to, Keira jerked her arm away and nearly spilled the cup of punch.

  “It’s not like that,” she insisted. “You have no idea what I’ve been going through.”

  “Then maybe you’d better tell me.”

  Finding a small table in the farthest corner of the crowded room, Nick held a chair for Keira, then scooted his seat closer to hers so he could watch the crowd while they talked. Nobody was going to sneak near enough to eavesdrop. Not if he had anything to say about it.

  Beside him, his partner sat trembling. She was upset, all right, but that couldn’t be helped. Once she broke down and explained exactly what was going on, he’d decide what his next move would be.

  He leaned closer, noticing the scent of roses that was wafting from Keira’s silky hair and the way her eyes seemed so innocent, so astonishingly beautiful. They were bluer than a summer sky and fringed with lashes that he imagined brushing against his cheek with feathery softness.

  It took special effort to steel himself and say, “All right. We’re alone. Talk.”

  “I will.” Her sigh was audible and seemed terribly sad. “You said you already knew, so why aren’t you lecturing me?”

  “Because I want to hear the
whole story from you. Why did you keep the truth from me? You and your brothers know who tried to kill us on the beach. Am I right?”

  Keira nodded. “Yes. We were under strict orders to not tell you yet.”

  She set aside her drink and grasped his hand so tightly he could feel her nails pressing into his palm.

  “Orders? From whom?” Nick asked.

  “The chief. When Dad got the results back from IAFIS and learned that the perp was from Boston, he started wondering if you were connected. He’s trying to find out more before he confronts you but he insisted you be kept in the dark until then.”

  “Who did he say the prints belonged to?”

  “A fugitive named Anthony Carlton. But you know that, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “What’s his connection to you?”

  “Nothing that will affect my work here, especially now that I know who and what we’re dealing with in addition to the Henry murder.”

  Hesitating, he laid his other hand over where their fingers were already entwined. “I will ask for a different partner, or maybe none at all. I know my way around town well enough by now to handle further interviews alone.”

  Keira looked stricken. “Oh, please don’t do that. I didn’t want to keep anything from you. Honest I didn’t. I know you’re mad at me right now but I was going to tell you tonight. I just hadn’t figured out how to keep my promise to my father and still warn you to be on guard.”

  Nick began to shake his head as he patted her hand. “It’s not that, Keira. I’m not banishing you. I’m trying to protect you. Carlton can be ruthless. If it’s true he’s come to Fitzgerald Bay and is still here, I don’t want you caught in the line of fire.”

  “Then it’s not a coincidence,” she said, staring into his eyes. “He is out to get you.”

  “Let’s just say I’m not his favorite person and leave it at that.”

  “No way. How can I—can any of us—help you if we don’t know the whole story?”

  “I’m not looking for help.”

  “Tough. You’re going to get it, at least from me. Just tell me one thing. Are you clean?”

  Sobering, Nick said, “Yes.”

  “Then that’s good enough for me. I’m going to go tell Dad it’s time to stop playing games with you. We’re going to be straight with each other from now on, or else.”

  “Is that a threat?” Nick stood when Keira withdrew her hand and abruptly pushed her chair away.

  “Think of it as my personal promise,” she said, managing to smile even though he could tell there were unshed tears lurking behind those long, lovely lashes.

  What now? If he confessed everything, he’d have to leave town voluntarily or be run out by her relatives. If he kept up the ruse for a little while longer, he might be in a better position to speak up.

  Considering the fact that he’d been lying to her, to all of them, for weeks, a few more days wouldn’t really matter. His goose was cooked either way.

  Cupping Keira’s elbow he fell into step with her as she headed back into the fray.

  All right. Now that he knew Carlton was in the area he’d be doubly cautious. And since Keira and the other officers were also aware of the danger, he could stop worrying that they’d be too careless and get hurt.

  But what was he going to do about his partner?

  What, indeed? Nick thought, gritting his teeth. It was beginning to look as if he’d have to have a heart-to-heart with Aiden and explain part of the reasons why he didn’t want Keira involved.

  That was going to be tough to accomplish without going into Carlton’s true background but he’d think of something that would suffice. He had to. He wasn’t going to set foot on the street again until Keira had been reassigned. Until he knew she was safe from the danger that was shadowing him. He’d miss spending so much time with her but…

  Miss it? Nick snorted in disdain. It was going to kill him to be forced to step away from Keira, even for her own good, and he knew it.

  FIFTEEN

  Keira made a beeline for her father, quickly working her way through the throng by ignoring everyone she passed, Nick right behind her. When she reached Aiden, he was pontificating about the great job he’d do if he were elected mayor to carry on his father Ian’s legacy.

  “Excuse us, please,” Keira said, slipping a hand through her father’s elbow and holding tight. “I need to borrow our future mayor for a private chat.”

  It didn’t surprise her at all when the man he’d been addressing seemed greatly relieved.

  Aiden cast a warning glance at Nick. “I don’t mind talking to you, Keira, but I thought you said you wanted this to be private.”

  “Nick is included,” she said flatly. “Let’s step out the back door onto the deck, shall we?”

  “You’ll freeze.”

  “She can have my jacket,” Nick said, slipping it off and draping it over her shoulders as the three left the dining room. It didn’t escape her notice that he’d kept his hands on her shoulders when there was really no need to hold the coat in place.

  Aiden stopped abruptly, closed the door on the party and faced them. “All right, Keira. You have my attention.” He eyed Nick as if he were a rabid animal about to bare his fangs and go for their throats.

  “Nick knows,” Keira began before her father interrupted her with a string of unintelligible mutterings.

  Nick spoke up to end the chief’s tirade. “She didn’t tell me a thing. She didn’t have to. I happened to talk to a buddy of mine back in Boston this evening and he mentioned getting a hit on the prints the FBPD sent. When were you going to tell me about it?”

  “As soon as I was sure you weren’t mixed up in something shady,” Aiden replied. “Now I suppose we’ll never know.”

  “I know,” Keira insisted.

  “Oh? How?” Aiden arched a brow.

  “I know Nick is clean because I asked him.”

  Her father laughed wryly. “Good for you. I guess that’s as much proof as we can expect until I hear back on my latest query.” His gaze was steady and Keira was proud to see that Nick didn’t wilt under that kind of pressure the way she often had, especially as a child.

  “I take it you’ve asked for Carlton’s rap sheet,” Nick said flatly.

  “Yes. Is there anything you’d like to tell me before it arrives?”

  “Only that the man is dangerous. Now that I know he’s around, I think you should reassign Keira.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” the chief said. “I’ll put her on desk duty.”

  “No!” Keira blurted out.

  Both men answered in unison with a loud “Yes.”

  “You’ll have use of her patrol vehicle,” Aiden added. “Hopefully it won’t be for long. Strangers in this town usually stand out like lumps of coal on a snowbank. We’ll get him. And when we do, I plan to ask him plenty about you.”

  “Fine,” Nick said. “You do that.”

  “I will.”

  Had the conversation taken place between someone like Hank Monroe and Nick, Keira would have expected one of them to have threatened to throw a punch. Since these antagonists were, for the most part, behaving themselves, she decided it was high time to end the confrontation.

  “Okay,” she said, forcing a smile, “now that that’s settled, we can all go back to the party.”

  Aiden huffed, pivoted without comment, jerked open the door and left them alone on the wooden decking.

  Keira felt Nick’s arm tighten around her shoulders as she shivered. Instead of following the older man inside, however, he turned her so they were face-to-face.

  “Your dad and I are right, you know. It is dangerous.”

  His gaze was steady and calming, so much so that she closed the distance between them the barest amount and placed her palms flat on his chest as she said, “I know.”

  “We will catch Carlton. And when we do, I want you to remember that all my actions were for the greater good.”

  “Of course they
are. I know that. I…” She lifted her chin and their lips drew closer, so near that she could feel his warm breath on her face.

  Keira froze. Waited. Closed her eyes in anticipation. Nick was going to kiss her. She knew it. She just knew it. She was already in his arms. He was holding her close. All he’d need to do was tilt his head just a tiny bit to one side and…

  Suddenly, he thrust her away.

  When she managed to focus past the fog of emotion, she could see he was disconcerted. Might he think she was too free with her affection? Certainly not. She had never behaved in any way except professionally around him.

  Well, except maybe for the time when she’d saved his life on the shore and had hugged him for a little too long. An experience like that, brought on by cheating death, hardly counted in the overall scheme of things.

  As Nick stood and gazed at her, she was overcome with affection and concern. The man almost seemed stricken, as if he were suffering instead of judging her to be lacking in some way.

  What would she do, what did she do, whenever her nieces or nephew exhibited similar emotional distress? That was easy. And natural. And so right that Keira refused to question it.

  She cupped Nick’s warm cheeks, pulled him closer and simply kissed him.

  That was when everything changed.

  Nick was lost and he knew it. One touch of the lips he’d yearned to taste and he was a goner. Tightening his embrace he leaned over Keira and deepened their kiss.

  Although she was returning his show of affection it took her a few moments to truly respond. When she did, it was so amazing it took Nick’s breath away. This was a kiss like none other he had ever shared. It was tender.

  When he finally broke contact and straightened he could tell that he was not the only one who had been stunned. All he could say was, “Wow.”

  Keira’s eyes were misty, her mouth soft and trembling.

  “You can say that again.”