by Tia Louise
“Alone? Haven’t you heard the expression, ‘All work and no play’?” She made a pretend-scolding face before the smile returned. Her hazel eyes sparkled, a cool ivory hand slipped that almost-red hair off her shoulder. It was a very nice shoulder.
Yes, sometimes it was just that easy, dammit. “I’ve been living by it. In reverse. Now I’ve got to make amends.”
“And how are you planning to do that?”
It took all my will-power to say it. “All work and all work. And my timing feels particularly shitty at this moment.”
“I’ll say. Are you sure you won’t make an exception?”
“I can’t believe I’m saying no.” Standing, I signaled the bartender and then passed over two bills. “For this and whatever else she’d like.”
Then I squeezed her arm gently, leaning forward to kiss her cheek. “I’m willing to bet you’ll be prettier than the bride tomorrow,” I whispered next to her ear.
She shook her head, but I knew I was leaving her happy—no harm, no foul, my resolve intact. And now I was headed back to my room, pissed off dick and all.
One of the best parts of being sent to Scottsdale was all the beautiful women on relaxing spa vacations, but I steeled myself. I had to redeem my reputation with Derek and by extension Stuart. I didn’t want to hear any big-brother bullshit about how I’d screwed up a gig he’d dropped in my lap, or how I’d lost my girl and lost my edge. I’d done great work handling the Alliance case, and I was following it up with more great work. When I returned from this trip, I intended to be too valuable to lose.
* * *
Two nights down, and two highly productive mornings were under my belt. I’d landed analysis meetings with five financiers once we got back, two of which were big-wig corporate-banking types, and I’d picked up cards from five more I’d touch base with post-con. I was moving back to the top of my game. The Closer, getting it done.
Derek texted last night. We were meeting for a recon in the fitness center before lunch. I was freaking walking on air and feeling more in control than ever. My confidence was even restored about handling the Star situation. A week of distance, a return to normal office behavior, and we could put what happened behind us. Or work out a financial settlement.
The same was not true of my senior partner. I didn’t know what, but something was off with him. For starters, he hadn’t overloaded the bench press bar. He didn’t even seem to be paying attention to what I was lifting. Granted, I’d only known the guy a month, but I’d never seen him so distracted. I did a full set of eight reps and then guided the bar back to the rack—without my spotter’s help.
Sitting up, I threw the towel around my neck. “You going to tell me what’s up?” I asked after several quiet moments.
He blinked to me as if coming out of a daze. “Sorry, what?”
I watched him pick up the dumbbells and slowly curl one then the other. It was half the weight he normally used.
“What’s the case you’re working on?” I picked up my water bottle and went over to where he stood, studying his expression. I couldn’t put my finger on what was different, but he seemed more relaxed somehow. Possibly happier, definitely troubled.
He put the weight down and went over to sit on the bench. “Domestic case,” he said, not meeting my eye.
“I thought we didn’t do those.” I put my stuff aside and lifted a dumbbell.
He wasn’t working out, and I was ready to finish my set and get lunch. I’d been up since eight sitting through meetings, and I wanted to spend the afternoon by the pool or possibly hitting the links.
“It’s for a fellow I used to know,” he said. “But I’m not sure I can help him now.”
Again, I heard that tone in his voice, like he was surprised. Or bewildered. I couldn’t put my finger on which.
“Can I help?”
He glanced up at me, then stood. “I can handle it. Things just got more complicated than I expected.”
“Hey,” I threw my towel at his head, hoping to snap him out of it. “Meet me at the Bluefin Grill for lunch. We can talk about it. And about what’s going on back at the office.”
“Sure,” he said, folding the towel and setting it aside.
Something was definitely off with Mr. Control. But if I’d been sent to the desert to get my head straight, there was no reason he couldn’t do the same.
Chapter 8 – Broken Rules
It was only Day Three. My massive screw-up waiting back at the office was still hanging over my head. My focus on work and building clients was still top priority on my mind. And in walked Elaine Merritt like a stealth bomb straight to the heart.
Derek had gone up to shower, and I was supposed to be getting us a table at the restaurant. I gave my name to the hostess and stepped over to the huge aquarium to wait, and just like that, she walked right up to me and introduced herself.
All she had on was a green sundress and flip-flops. I’m pretty sure she wasn’t even wearing makeup, but everything about her hit me hard, from her perky nose to her bright green eyes to her shiny blonde hair. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
Still, I fought it. “All work and all work.” That was the plan.
“Are you here for the convention?” It was the same question Barbara had posed, but the words were a thousand times more tempting coming from Elaine’s soft lips.
Her voice was clear and confident, and with the slightest hint of playfulness. Shit. I almost said No. Clearly, I came here to meet you, but I calmed those thoughts.
“Yeah,” I said, finding my control. “Are you?”
“We’re here for the spa.”
The term we, prompted me to look behind her where I noticed a pretty brunette holding back. She was clearly not interested in socializing, but I greeted her anyway. Elaine introduced her as her best friend Melissa, and I tried to be polite, but my focus was drawn back to the glowing nymph in front of me. I asked them to join us for lunch, and I could tell Elaine was interested by the way she looked at me. Melissa blocked it with some excuse, so I went for dinner. Yes.
I handed her my business card, and her eyes briefly moved from my hand to my torso and up my chest. Then she realized I’d caught her checking me out, and the faintest pink touched her cheek. Gorgeous.
A flicker of my first meeting with Kenny crossed my mind—the sweet blush, the curiosity. But again, everything was different with Elaine. For starters, she was closer to my age, and what I was feeling was not brotherly. I knew exactly what I wanted from this woman.
They were gone when Derek finally joined me for lunch. We decided to sit at the long bar that ran in a curvy circle around the center of the restaurant rather than at a table, and I couldn’t help sweeping the room for her before we sat. No luck.
“I almost started without you,” I said as the bartender put large club sandwiches in front of each of us.
Bacon spilled out of mine, which I immediately scooped up with my fingers into my mouth, getting a salty-tangy blast. Then I snagged a thick-cut French fry off my plate and shoved it in my mouth.
“Sorry,” he said. “I was answering emails.”
I nodded, chewing, waiting. “So spill it,” I finally said. “Why are you acting like you just robbed the hotel safe?”
Derek reached for the glass of water sitting on the glossy bar in front of him and took a long sip, not meeting my eyes. For a few moments he didn’t answer. Then he only said, “Something happened.”
“Something like what?” I asked between bites.
“I’ve crossed some pretty significant lines, and I’m not sure how to handle it.”
That stopped me. If I’d learned anything in the last month, it was Derek Alexander did not cross lines. I also noticed he wasn’t eating. Something major must’ve happened, but his tone didn’t match what he was saying. It didn’t add up. His words were serious, but his voice was… happy?
“What have you done?” I asked, preparing to troubleshoot.
“I can’t say. But I�
�m pretty sure it’s your fault somehow.” He actually smiled, and took a bite of his lunch then.
What the hell? I leaned back on the stool, frowning. “I’m not taking the blame for anything until I know what it is.”
He put the sandwich down and clapping me hard on the shoulder. “Just know it’s a good thing.” Then his voice dropped, and his eyes returned to his drink. “Once I figure it out, I think it’s going to be a very good thing.”
He seemed finished discussing his mysterious problem, and I took another bite, thinking about my not-so-mysterious problem. “So what’s happening back at the office?”
Derek took another sip of the water before answering. “Haven’t caught up with Susan yet,” he said. “I left a message for her to have our new secretary close up shop for the week. Told her we had a pretty big, unexpected case come up and not to worry about coming in. But we’d still pay her for the time.”
“Think that’ll work?”
“With no one there to train her or give her assignments, there’s no reason for her to go in. Try not to worry about it. As soon as I catch up with Sue, we’ll work out some plan for getting a replacement.”
I nodded. “At least the texts have stopped.”
“Hopefully this will just be a somewhat stressful learning experience for you.” He shocked me by smiling again, then he stood and put his napkin on the bar. “I’ve got to do some work. See you later.”
“At eight.” I stopped him. “I made dinner dates for us. Be back here at eight.”
“What?” I couldn’t figure this guy out. Now he seemed angry. Whatever. He’d get over it when he saw Melissa. She was pretty hot, if somewhat quiet.
“Two very lovely ladies I met before you came down are joining us for dinner. Trust me, you’ll like them.”
His lips pressed into a frown. “Are they here for the convention?”
“They’re here for the spa.”
Something flickered in his eyes, like vague disbelief. “The spa?” He nodded, saying, “I’ll be here,” before taking off again.
“At eight,” I repeated, my thoughts already skipping ahead to tonight and seeing Elaine again.
* * *
Dinner could not have gone better if I’d planned every second. Elaine and Melissa showed up just minutes after Derek and I’d taken our seats, and after some strange hesitation on Melissa’s part, we all were sitting and sharing glasses of cava. I wouldn’t have ordered the Spanish sparkling wine, but Derek’s choice turned out to be exactly right for the evening. Elaine’s eyes shone along with the crystal and the drinks. Everything about her was radiant and beautiful. She was amazing. Her lips parted, and I wanted to taste those lips. I wanted to hold her in my arms. I wanted her in my bed.
“So what do you do to be so buff?” She asked, touching my bicep.
“We’re private investigators,” I said, catching her hand and holding it. She didn’t pull away. “And we’ve done complete background checks on both of you lovely ladies.”
It was a joke, I didn’t even know her last name, which she was quick to point out.
“Liar!” she cried with a laugh, and if I weren’t already into her, I’d have fallen then.
At that moment, Melissa stood and excused herself. I hadn’t been paying attention to the other end of the table. She’d been talking quietly to Derek, and I couldn’t imagine he’d said anything to upset her.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
“I’m just not feeling well,” she said, holding out her hand. “I’ll have dinner in the room. Please stay and finish your meal.”
“You don’t have a key!” Elaine was instantly out of her chair, and my stomach dropped. My night with her could not end so soon, but of course, she had to go after her friend. Shit. Melissa hurried out, and we were all on our feet. But Derek saved my night. He touched Elaine’s arm.
“I’ll check on her,” he said. “Stay and enjoy your dinner.”
“But…” Elaine looked at him for a moment and then in the direction her friend went. Her brow pulled together and she studied him a moment. “I don’t know…”
“I’ll make sure she gets back safely.”
She nodded briefly, and he took off faster than I’d ever seen him move. I didn’t care, the only thing I wanted was for Elaine to sit down again and not worry.
“He’s retired Marine,” I said with a grin. “You know how those guys are.”
Her green eyes flickered back to mine, and her face relaxed into that beautiful smile. “Always has to be the first on the scene?”
“That’s the motto,” I said, hoping to ease her mind. “He’ll be sure she’s okay. Trust me, he’s a good guy.”
“And I’ll check on her in a few minutes,” she said, lifting her glass.
We each took another sip of cava, and she rested her cheek on her hand. “How long have you two been partners?”
“Only about a month.” I placed my arm on the back of her chair. “But my older brother was his business partner for years before me.”
She sat up straighter when our waiter appeared. I ordered a steak, and Elaine asked for whatever the spa selection was for dinner. The fellow left, and she turned back to me.
“Were you a Marine, too?” Her eyes traveled to my lips, then to my chest, and finally back to her hand resting on the table.
“National Guard.” Leaning forward, I slid my fingers under hers. “My brother was a major jarhead all during high school. He signed up the minute they let him in, but I only planned to get money for college. Of course, we both were sent overseas.”
Her laugh came as easily as her smile, and my thoughts traveled ahead to when I might have a chance to kiss her.
“What was that like?” she asked.
“It was actually a lot better than I expected. I liked the teamwork, the friendships, the rush. It can be addictive. Stuart keeps going back.”
“Are you here to stay?”
Studying her lovely face, I didn’t say definitely. “When I started with Derek, it was that or going back. But I’m ready to focus on my life here.”
Our dinner arrived, and the server put a plate with leaf salad, couscous, cashews, and what looked like beets in front of Elaine. I had a filet mignon, asparagus, and baked potato, and I caught her eyes drifting longingly to my dish.
Once the waiter was satisfied we didn’t need anything more, I leaned forward. “What the hell did you order?”
Her loud laugh was unexpected and awesome. I fell a little bit more, if that was even possible, as she quickly put her slim hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry!” she said, shaking her head. “I was thinking the same thing!”
I couldn’t help but laugh, too. “What is it?”
“I think this is what they call raw foods,” she said, finally regaining some control. “Isn’t it the worst? We’ve been getting it all week.”
“Are you on a diet?” I cut a thick slice of steak and studied her trim waist before putting it in my mouth. It was perfectly cooked, slightly salty, and had the texture of velvet.
She shook her head and stirred the couscous with her fork. “It’s part of the spa regimen. Cleansing or something.”
I put my fork down. “You’re not going to eat that.”
Her guilty expression told me she just might. “I had a hamburger and fries for lunch,” she whispered. “Melissa and I sneaked out.”
Picking up my knife, I cut another thick portion of steak and slipped it onto her platter of rabbit food. “Have some of this. They’ll never know.”
“You’re a bad influence.” She bit her bottom lip before forking the steak and putting it in her mouth. Then she leaned back and groaned. “That’s amazing!”
“I might enjoy watching you eat my steak more than having it myself.”
“I’ll help you decide.” She scooted closer, and I was ready to pass my plate to her.
“We’ll split it,” I said.
Her soft blonde hair spilled around her shoulders, which were bare
in the strapless dress she wore, and I thought of a half-dozen other ways to get that groan from her again. Fun ways.
The rest of dinner was spent discussing her work as a middle school English teacher, a profession I still couldn’t envision her doing.
“Sixth graders are the best,” she said, her eyes drifting thoughtfully. “Seventh is the most challenging.”
“More than eighth?”
“Yes. Eighth graders are getting ready for high school, they’re nervous and sentimental… Seventh is like the middle-child years. Lots of attention-grabbing.”
We finished my steak in half the time, and I sat back, enjoying the wine and lightly touching the skin on her upper arm as my hand rested on the back of her chair. She leaned toward my touch, and I was ready to ditch the bright, white dining room for something more intimate.
“Let’s take a walk,” I said, signing the bill.
“Oh, you didn’t have to pay for dinner!” She reached for me, but I caught her hand, lacing our fingers. “I’m not letting you pay for that plate of… whatever it was.”
“Raw foods.” She picked up a peppermint as we stood.
Our hands parted as she led the way through the restaurant, and all I could think of was touching her again. I hadn’t been able to stop finding ways to touch her the entire meal, but she didn’t seem to mind. Actually, I’d noticed her touching me the few times my hand left her.
When we were finally outside the restaurant in the wide hall leading to the conference center, she stepped toward me, catching the crook of my arm. I pulled her close and led us out the side door into the warm night. A wide path ran around the perimeter of the golf course near the hotel, and I knew from my first night here it led past a series of fire pits down to one of the smaller pools.
We stopped at a first that was unoccupied and watched the flames a moment. Like all the others, chairs and a loveseat were situated around it, and Elaine slid her hand down to mine, gently pulling me to take a seat.
The small orange coals were warm, and she turned so that her back was against my chest on the loveseat. My arm was over her shoulders, and I lifted a golden lock of her hair, sliding it back and forth.
