by Jenna Jacob
~*~
Katie heard the squeak of the screen door but didn’t bother to look and see who else was joining the inquisition. A young FBI agent sat in front of her, volleying questions as if she were on a game show…except there wasn’t a buzzer to push or any prizes to be won.
The couch dipped beside her, and she turned to find Sky. Her heart fluttered as she drank in the sight of his long black hair shrouding his broad shoulders. His expression was stoic, but his dark eyes were steeped in love and worry. Her throat closed up. She wanted to sink into his arms and fall asleep…escape this ghastly nightmare and wake to find it over.
He swallowed audibly, then leaned in and pressed a sweet kiss to her temple. His show of support was exactly what she needed. Sliding her arm around his waist, she held on to his rugged body…drank in his soothing warmth, and wrapped herself in the shield of safety he so freely offered. She’d stand on her own two feet tomorrow, but for tonight, she only wanted to savor his courage.
“Miss Grant?” the agent prompted. She was supposed to be giving the man a statement.
“I’m sorry, what was your question?”
“You said before that Mr. McCarthy had several affairs with prostitutes. What was his relationship like with your assistant, Veronica Menlo?”
“She couldn’t stand him,” Katie promptly replied. “She was the only person I confided in when Doug raped me.” She saw the agent pause before continuing to pen notes on a small pad of paper.
“Why did you ask me about Doug and Veronica?” She felt Sky tense beside her. Snapping her head toward him, she clenched her jaw. “Tell me.”
Sky arched a brow at the agent, who gave a negligent shrug.
“They found some text messages on Doug’s phone between him and Veronica,” Sky quietly explained. “They were…involved sexually.”
His words slammed through her like a gale-force wind, knocking the air from her lungs. Katie bolted off the couch and began to pace back and forth. All the hours she’d spent commiserating about Doug’s abhorrent behavior with Veronica spooled through her mind. Surety that every private feeling Katie had shared had found its way back to Doug.
Though she was livid, the puzzle pieces slowly started fitting into place, beginning with the company New Year’s Eve party. Doug had been particularly mean before they’d even arrived at the posh hotel where the festivities had been held. He’d criticized everything from Katie’s makeup and hair to the designer gown she’d worn. She’d complained to Veronica in the ladies’ room about Doug’s malicious mood and remembered watching the pair at the bar later that evening. Remembered how he’d bent and whispered something in Veronica’s ear before she threw her head back and laughed. Naïvely, Katie had thought her assistant was simply kissing ass and putting on a show to appease the ugly monster. Katie’s stomach twisted. Veronica might have been the catalyst that had prompted Doug’s assault on Katie once they’d arrived back home. Her blood pressure spiked. Rage, white and hot, sluiced through her veins.
“That fucking whore,” Katie spat. “She played me. Used me. Deceived me. Veronica might as well have beaten me bloody like Doug did. Oh, god. How could I have been so stupid?”
Had it all been a setup? Had Veronica plotted to drive Katie out of the picture so she and Doug could take over the company? The room spun, and her heart hammered in her chest. Turning on her heel, she slammed into Sky’s body. He wrapped his arms around her, but she fought her way out of his grasp. The agent stood, wearing a cautious expression.
“I want to see them…the texts,” she demanded. “I want to read every single one of them.”
“They’re classified as evidence now, Miss Grant,” the agent explained.
“I don’t give a fucking shit if they’re sealed off like the goddamn Declaration of Independence. I want to read them!”
“What is it you hope to find?” Sky asked, his voice so buttery rich and calm she wanted to slap him.
“Everything. I want to know when their affair started. I want to know how Veronica could turn a blind eye to the torture he put me through…how she could stomach seeing him fucking Madeline Christopher the day I left him. I want to know if they set me up…to get rid of me.”
“Whoa. Who’s Madeline Christopher? And what do you mean, the whole office saw him having sex with her?” the agent interrupted, clearly startled by her information.
As Katie outlined the chain of events that had brought her back to Connor, the agent’s brows slashed in concentration while he scribbled notes. Sky’s face was mottled in anger, but he kept his cool and his distance while she continued to pace. It seemed strange that only moments ago, she’d felt as wrung out as an old dishrag, but now, she had more energy than she could expend.
When her story was through, the agent thanked her and left…left her struggling to harness the anger still seething inside her. Gran looked shell-shocked, as if she might crumble into a pile of dust. Katie wanted to apologize again but suddenly realized that none of this was her fault. She’d been a pawn…used and abused by people she’d trusted. The realization only ramped up her anger and the restlessness consuming her.
Sky stopped her once more and cupped her chin, forcing her gaze to his. He studied her for several long seconds before a devilish smile tugged one corner of his mouth. Hunger danced in his eyes, and as he strummed his thumb over her bottom lip, Katie knew exactly what he had in mind.
Suddenly, every anxious, angry cell in her body screamed in need. She didn’t care that the dead bodies of the people who’d conspired against her lay dead outside or that agents and officers were pounding the yard looking for clues. All she wanted was the glorious respite that only Sky could give her. With a nod of agreement, he stepped in closer, letting her feel the desire that lay hot and hard within his jeans.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Gran. Would you mind going back over to the house to check on mom for me?” Sky asked, never leaving Katie’s gaze.
“Are you kidding? Now? Are you two going to be…” Gran stammered as a chuckle bubbled from the back of her throat. “Oh, hell…of course…you two are going to be just fine. I’ll lock the door when I leave so you can have some privacy.”
Sky’s smile spread into a grin. Katie sank her teeth into her bottom lip as a flicker of doubt wormed its way into her brain. “We shouldn’t do this,” she whispered. The front door closed, and she heard the snick of the lock before his mouth descended over hers.
Flooded with the taste of promise on his lips, Katie parted and opened for him. Sky swept his tongue deep, tangling it with hers, and groaned. Sucking and licking, their mouths mated the way she ached to do with their bodies. A whimper of urgency vibrated in the back of her throat before Sky swept her into his arms and raced up the stairs.
The entire world fell away as he eased her onto the bed. Even the deep voices spilling through the open window faded to a distant hum as she watched Sky strip off his clothes. His chiseled dark skin and thick erection took her breath away.
He crawled onto the bed in that predatory way that made her tunnel clench and heart race before he slid his wide, calloused hands over her thighs. Hastily, she unbuttoned her shorts and drew the zipper. Letting Sky tug them from her hips, she shucked off her shirt and bra in a heated rush to get naked.
A soft chuckle rumbled from his chiseled chest. “A little anxious, are you?”
“Yes,” she hissed. “Fuck me hard, Sky.”
His white teeth glistened as a wide smile pierced his lips. “This might be quick, and you damn well better not scream. I don’t want every cop outside busting down the door, pointing a gun at my ass while I’m balls deep inside you.”
Katie giggled at the image his words painted, then quickly sobered as she reached up and cupped his nape. Drawing him in, she kissed him, savoring the taste and feel of his lips…his hands…and fingers as he toyed with her breasts. Sky knew how to play and prime her body…knew how and where to touch her to stoke the embers into flames…knew how
to take her to the heavens and make her explode among the stars.
Spreading her legs with his muscular thighs, Sky aligned his hot crest to her folds. Unwilling to wait, she arched into him, dragging her heels around his narrow waist and locking him inside her. Packed full, her tunnel burned as it stretched to accommodate his massive size, but she welcomed the sting. She was alive.
Sliding his hand between them, Sky caressed her clit and melted the pain into a sublime and throbbing pressure. Slowly, he began rocking in and out of her sweltering core, driving her desire as only he could. Thrusting her hips, Katie met each delicious lunge he delivered as she stared into his hypnotic dark eyes.
Suffused in his love, her heart felt as if it were going to burst from her chest. Everything she needed…wanted was right here, in his arms. Tears of happiness threatened, but she closed her eyes and focused on the pleasure surging through her body.
“Look at me, darlin’,” Sky whispered in that whiskey-smooth voice she could never refuse. Drugged on sensation, she lifted her heavy lids and was met with his loving smile.
“That’s it. I want to watch the color change…tells me I’m doing things right.”
A sly smirk curled on her lips. Even in their most intimate moments, he wasn’t shy about pulling out his playful side. Somehow it seemed to connect them even deeper. She was at ease with him…and could be herself…flaws and all. Not once had he ever tried to change her or mold her into something she wasn’t.
God, she loved the man…loved him so badly it hurt.
“Oh, you’re doing better than right. Now shut up and kiss me.”
A sexy, roguish smile tugged the corners of his mouth. “I think you need more than kisses, my bossy little minx. You need a spanking or two.”
As he slanted his lips over hers, driving into her clutching core with strong, deep thrusts, Katie hoped one day she might be brave enough to ask for a swat or two. The thought of his wide hand sending a sting over her ass only served to soar her higher to those spine-melting stars.
As his fingers worked their magic over her throbbing clit, she surrendered her all—body, mind, heart, and soul—knowing she’d always be safe, protected, but most importantly…loved.
Release roared to a peak much too quickly, but by the way Sky’s face contorted and his body tensed, she knew he was struggling to hold back, too. Katie let the blistering flow consume her, and with a grunt, he followed her over, as well. Cupping his ass, she held him deep inside as she uncontrollably gripped and released his cock. Arching and writhing, she rode the shards of ecstasy scraping through her.
Still coupled together, Sky rolled to his side and took her with him. Brushing back the sweaty strands of hair from her face, he stared into her eyes. Sated and complete, she marveled at the power of knowing exactly what she’d needed…what they’d both needed. He understood everything about her, as she did him. As she slowly floated back to earth, Katie realized how precious and rare the kind of magical connection they shared truly was. Whatever it took, she was determined not to throw it away a second time.
Voices from beyond the window bled through her bliss, and the wheels in her brain began to turn like the cogs of a windmill. As if trying to stop the churning reality from piercing through, Sky kissed her as he slowly eased from inside her, then wrapped his arms around her.
“Close your eyes and rest, sweetness. I’ll be here when you wake,” he promised, snuggling her close against his body.
“I love you,” she murmured, letting her eyelids slide closed.
“I love you, too.”
When Katie woke, sunlight streamed through the windows. The voices from outside were gone, and so was Sky. After rolling out of bed, she grabbed her robe, peeked out the window, but all she saw was an unfamiliar SUV and bright yellow police tape cordoning off Doug’s car.
She headed downstairs, hearing voices coming from the kitchen. She sucked in a fortifying breath and entered the room. Sky was sitting with the agent who had questioned her the night before, along with another man who’d shucked off his suit coat and sat staring at the screen of a computer with cables and wires attached. Sky stood and moved toward her before he wrapped her in his arms. He flashed her a slow, reassuring smile as he led her straight to the coffeepot. She almost laughed…he knew her too well.
“Where’s Gran?”
“She’s at my place, helping with Nina and making sure Mom rests.”
“Why did you let me sleep so long?” Katie asked, filling her mug.
“There wasn’t anything you could do. Besides, you needed sleep.”
The screen door slammed, and Katie jumped. Spinning on her heel, she felt her heart race until she saw her lawyer, Reed Landes, stride into the room. Tucking his cell phone away, he caught sight of her and smiled.
“Reed,” she exclaimed. “When did you get here?”
“Late last night. Your grandmother offered me the guestroom. I slept like a baby. There’s something to be said for country life.” Reed’s lighthearted demeanor faded as he narrowed his eyes and studied her closely. “How are you holding up?”
“So far, so good. What’s been happening? Did they find the guy who killed Doug?”
Reed shook his head. “Nothing yet. They’re still digging into Doug’s contacts and correspondence. I’ve been fielding a few questions from Agent Tuck over there.” He nodded to the man who’d been sitting with Sky. “But I’m sure he has plenty more for you.”
Great.
The young-looking FBI agent stood and smiled. “Good morning, Miss Grant. Do you mind if we step into the other room? I actually do have a few more questions, and we might be more comfortable there.”
“Please, call me Katie. And I’m sorry… last night was a blur. Your name is Tuck?”
“Actually, Gage…Gage Tucker, but everyone calls me Tuck. Please do the same. Over there with his nose in the computer is Simon.” The other man glanced at her and smiled before settling his focus back on the monitor once more.
They left the other man at the kitchen table before the rest of them trailed into the family room. “We have the toxicology report back on Mr. McCarthy,” Tuck began. “Do you know how long he’d been using heroine?”
Katie choked on her coffee and her eyes grew wide. “Heroine? He was using heroine?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good lord. I knew he was doing cocaine, I caught him snorting some in his office a while back, but I had no idea he’d stepped up in his addiction.”
“You didn’t notice the needle marks on his arms?” Tuck asked with a hint of disbelief.
“We didn’t… I…” Katie stammered. “Doug and I stopped sharing a bed six and a half months ago. I never saw him out of his clothes since January.”
“Do you have any idea who he might have bought his drugs from?”
“Not a clue.” A sour taste lay on her tongue.
“Do you know if he had affairs with other clients besides Miss Christopher?” Tuck asked.
“I don’t know.” Katie’s skin crawled as the vision of walking in on Doug and Madeline flashed through her skull.
“Okay. I’d like permission to tap your cell phone, just in case you get any unusual calls,” the agent asked rather vaguely.
Katie nodded. “Sure. I think it’s in my purse, but I don’t…” Glancing around the room, she tried to remember when she’d last had her phone.
“I took it out of the pocket of your shorts last night,” Sky explained. “They’ve got it wired up in the kitchen. I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“Of course not.” She shook her head.
As if on cue, her cell phone began to chime.
“Thomas Knoll,” Simon called out from the doorway.
Tuck stood. “He’s your creative director, right?” Katie nodded. “We need you to answer that.”
As they all hurried back into the kitchen, she barely recognized her phone. Numerous thin, black cords had been attached to ports she didn’t even know the thing had.
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“It will record both sides of the conversation, but I have it set up on speaker right now. I need everyone to be quiet, please,” Tuck quickly explained as he nodded to Simon, then instructed Katie to answer.
She closed her eyes and focused on trying to stay calm.
“Miss Grant. Thank god I got in touch with you.” Thomas sounded winded. “I went by Veronica’s apartment this morning when she didn’t come into work again, and the place is crawling with cops. I’m afraid something terrible has happened.”
“What did the police tell you?” Katie asked, donning her executive voice once more. She wanted to ask how he knew where Veronica lived but left the questions alone as dread curled in her belly.
“I was so freaked out I didn’t stop to ask. I’ve got a bad feeling about this, Miss Grant. Mr. McCarthy isn’t in the office today, either. Phyllis can’t reach him at the house or on his cell phone. She’s getting worried. He’s supposed to be in a meeting right now. Something fishy is going on. Have you heard from either of them?”
She arched her brows at Tuck. Katie didn’t know whether to tell Thomas that both Doug and Veronica were dead.
“Tell him,” Tuck mouthed with a nod.
“Yes. He came to my grandmother’s house last night.”
“Is he still there?”
“Well, he’s at the morgue. He’s dead. So is Veronica,” she stated coldly.
“That’s awful.” Thomas screamed in disbelief. “Who killed him?”
“No clue.”
“Wow. I wasn’t expecting to hear that.” Thomas exhaled, sounding shaken. Suddenly, his voice turned frantic. “You could be in danger, Miss Grant. Where are you? I’m on my way. I’ll help keep you safe.”
“Excuse me?” she blurted, scowling at Thomas’s bizarre offer of protection. Beside her, Sky’s body tensed, and she could feel the anger pouring off him. Tuck waved his arms furiously while he nodded like a damn bobble-head doll. Thoroughly confused, Katie couldn’t imagine why in the world the agent wanted Thomas to come to Connor. He was far too urbane to have anything to do with the deaths. Forcing a calmness she didn’t feel, she cleared her throat.
