by Emery, Lynn
“Just how far do you plan to take me, woman?” Lee pretended to be out of breath.
Andrea turned around suddenly and pulled him into her arms. “How far do you want to go?”
Lee kissed her. “You know the answer to that.”
She slipped out of his embrace and tugged him by the hand. “Then come on.”
They went a few feet farther before entering a clearing. An expanse of dark green grass stretched to the edge of another section of Bayou Blue. The water made a gentle lapping sound against the bank. Swamp oak and ash trees surrounded by thick shrubs farther back provided patches of shade. A warm breeze blew, rustling the leaves of bushes and trees.
“Here we are,” she said. “One of my favorite play-grounds when I was a kid.”
“You were lucky. All I had was a few clumps of yellow weeds and concrete,” Lee said.
Andrea spread the blanket on the grass near a large oak tree. She sat down and patted the spot beside her. “Well, now you’re here with me.”
Lee dropped the insulated basket on the blanket and sat down next to her. “A big improvement.”
“It really was bad where you grew up, huh?” Andrea rested her chin on his shoulder.
Lee paused before answering. He tried not to think about his childhood too much. His mother had turned to alcohol and drugs to escape. His younger brother, Chris, had turned to a gang for security.
“Yeah, pretty rough. High crime rate, high unemployment, lots of despair, everything you see in those gang movies.”
He could have added that his mother and brother had suffered a real tragic ending. Instead he pressed his lips together. The less he said the better.
“And it still bothers you.” Andrea massaged his arm to comfort him.
“I’ll carry that life with me forever. But at least my son doesn’t have to live it,” Lee said with conviction. “He’s going to have better opportunities and a safe environment.”
“Children need stability.” Andrea wore a pensive expression.
“Yeah, my ex and I finally grew up and put Jake first. No more sniping at each other in front of him, no more custody drama.”
“That’s great. Being caught in the middle is awful,” she murmured.
“What about you? Growing up in Bayou Blue must have been just about perfect. Small town, big, loving family around you.” Lee thought of how different their lives had been.
“Not perfect, not at all,” Andrea said. “My mother and I have a kind of truce these days. But we’ve had our share of battles. My daddy … Their marriage wasn’t exactly a good one.”
“I’m sorry, baby. I guess the big city doesn’t have a monopoly on misery.”
“No way.” Andrea looked up at him. “I think it’s wonderful the way you put Jake first. Boys need positive male figures.”
Lee suspected she was thinking of Denny. Guilt pricked at him like a fine, sharp needle. He rubbed his cheek against her dark hair and made a silent vow to help the young man as much as he could.
“Hey, we’re way too serious for this picnic,” he said in a playful tone.
She smiled at him. “You’re right. No more heavy social commentary.”
“So what do we talk about?” Lee said, brushing a dark, curly tendril of her hair away from her face.
Andrea gazed up at him. “We don’t have to talk about anything.” Her full mouth curved up in a seductive smile.
“I like the way you think, lady,” he whispered, and kissed her hard.
Andrea lay down, pulling him on top of her. “You taste so good,” she mumbled, her lips pressed against his. She guided his fingers underneath her T-shirt.
Lee caressed her breast through the lace bra until her nipple hardened. “What if someone—” She smothered his words with an urgent kiss.
“Nobody will find us,” she whispered. “Now, hush and give me what I want.” She pulled her T-shirt off in one graceful move.
His breath caught at the sight of the white lace bra against her cafe au lait skin. Without taking her eyes off him, she undressed completely.
“Are you sure some fisherman won’t stumble on us?” Lee took off his clothes quickly despite his words. He was on fire to have her. He removed a condom from his pocket and put it on.
Andrea shook her head slowly. “Private property. Besides, no one can see us from the bayou through the thick brush.”
She went to him and their bodies melded together like two pieces of a puzzle. A breeze across the water did nothing to cool their heat.
“I’ll never be able to look at an oak tree the same way,” he murmured. He gasped when she rubbed against his erection.
“The way nature intended it to be,” she whispered with a soft laugh.
Lee held out as long as he could. Andrea drove him deeper into a lustful frenzy by licking his lips as she rocked against him. She nibbled on his shoulders, moving her hips faster, then slower. With an explosive moan, Lee lifted her.
“Now,” he rasped.
As Andrea lowered herself slowly, he moaned at the shock of hot velvet closing around him. He clutched at her and thrust hard. They made love hard and fast, with no slow buildup this time. When Andrea came, her muscles tightened around his penis. She whispered his name over and over. The sensation sent him into a frenzy. His orgasm exploded, leaving him shaking in her arms.
“I’ve never felt it like this before,” he said, his voice husky with emotion.
“Loving you is beautiful,” she murmured, and kissed his neck.
They stretched out on the blanket spoon fashion, with her back tucked against his chest. They lay quietly for several minutes, both pondering the wonder of what they’d shared.
“I wish I could freeze this moment and stay right here with you forever,” Lee said softly.
“No worries, nothing but carefree days of fishing and making love.” Andrea squirmed in his arms. “Only one problem.”
“What?” He nibbled her earlobe.
“We probably wouldn’t fish that often.” She laughed.
“Now, that’s a problem I’d like to have,” Lee said, laughing with her.
“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll get the clinic straightened out and we’ll have more time together.” Andrea sighed happily.
Lee’s laughter died at the mention of the clinic. There was no escaping reality, not even in such a magical moment. He had come to Bayou Blue for a serious purpose. A purpose that would end this little bit of heaven much too soon.
“That’s what we need, more time,” Lee said quietly, and held her tighter.
Chapter 16
Three days later his partner sat across from him in his apartment just outside New Orleans. Lee’s mind twisted with indecision. He’d given in when he shouldn’t have. Now he had to find a way out. He should have avoided Andrea and concentrated on the case. Why couldn’t he have walked away? No mystery there. He’d looked into her eyes and leaving was not an option. Every detail of their lovemaking came back to him vividly, hot memories that burned him even now. The way she wrapped her legs around him left him weak. He wanted to taste her sweetness all the time. Not a minute of the day passed when he didn’t think of Andrea.
“Well?” Vince’s deep voice broke through his musing.
Lee shook off the haze he was in and looked back at him. Vince sat on the patio chair across from him, wearing a frown of disapproval.
“She’s not in on it,” Lee said defensively.
“Uh-huh. And that’s your totally objective opinion,” Vince tossed back. “Yeah, right.” He took a long sip from a can of beer.
Lee sprang from his chair and paced. “I shouldn’t have told you about us,” he muttered in irritation.
“You told me after I put two and two together, my brother,” Vince said. “I figured something was up. Two months on one simple case. In and out, that was the plan, remember?”
“Sheriff Boudreaux wanted me to stay in,” Lee growled. “It wasn’t just Andrea.”
“C’mon, you’re talking to me. You’
ve tied up more complicated cases in less time.”
“This is different.” Lee stared across the small patch of ground that was his urban backyard.
“Damn! Don’t tell me, you’re in love,” Vince said with a sour note in his voice. He drew a huge hand over his face.
The word “love” sent a chill up Lee’s spine. He didn’t want to talk about his feelings for Andrea, not even with his closest friend. Besides, he could not face the thought of what would happen in the future. All good things came to an end. What he’d shared with Andrea went way above good, to beautiful. In the light of day Lee realized the pain would be that much more intense. At this point the best thing he could do was wrap up the case without hurting either of them too much. That meant he would protect Andrea from the whole ugly mess. He spun around to face Vince.
“Look, I can finish this in three weeks.”
“I say two.” Vince held up three thick fingers and ticked them off as he spoke. “You’ve met with the small town scum wanna-bes. You know what the kid’s been up to. Give Sheriff Whatsit the info and let him take it from there.”
“I don’t know if I can.” Lee rubbed his chin.
“No, you don’t know if you want to,” Vince replied.
‘Two weeks starting when?”
“Monday.” Vince nodded when Lee glanced at him sharply. “Yep, I mean tomorrow.”
“That’s it. I just disappear.” It sounded so cold and final when Lee said it out loud. But that was what he wanted, right?
“I’m not totally heartless. I can see you care about this lady. Two weeks is stretching it, but you can break it off gently.” Vince shrugged.
“Yeah.” Lee walked back to him and sat down heavily.
Vince lifted the can to take another swig, but paused with it halfway to his mouth. “You are going to stop seeing her?”
Lee shook his head slowly. “She’s not like the rest, Vince. I know this sounds like a stupid line from some stupid love song, but Andrea is special.”
Vince sighed and put the can down on the table. He drummed his fingers on the tabletop for several seconds. “I wasn’t gonna say anything, but—”
“I know what you’re going to say. Don’t let a sexy body make me lose my head. Letting women tied to a case get to you is the first fatal mistake for cops and private investigators.” Lee rattled off the admonition Vince had given numerous times over the years.
“That’s not it. I got kinda worried about this so-called simple case getting too dangerous. I did some checking up on the principles.” Vince paused, his jaw clenched tight.
“You don’t need to go behind me like I’m some rookie,” Lee said with a scowl.
“I know that,” Vince snapped. “Stop being so damn touchy. We’ve watched each other’s backs since day one.” Lee raked his fingers through his hair. Vince was right, of course. More than once they’d delved deeper on each other’s cases when they had a lead that would help. “Sorry, man.”
“Forget it,” Vince said, and waved a hand in the air. “But you ain’t gonna like this.”
Vince wore a deep frown as he leaned forward. A cold chill, this time fear, went through Lee despite the thick Louisiana heat.
“What?” Lee said, his throat constricted.
“I finished the background on Mandeville and Andrea Noble. He’s no dummy. I had to really dig deep,” Vince said.
“And he’s up to his neck in shady dealings. I suspected as much.” Lee shrugged.
“Mandeville’s interest in the clinic is more than just as a concerned citizen. He’s majority owner of a medical supply business that sells to the state, including the Bayou Blue Health Clinic.”
“I’m not surprised. So he wants to make sure he keeps a fat contract.” Lee began to relax, but Vince’s expression stopped him. “There’s more?”
“He’s ripping them off,” Vince said. “The usual stuff, billing more than they should.”
“Some of his political enemies are trying to get him?” Lee remembered the snatch of conversations he’d overheard at Mandeville’s office.
“That little clinic could bring him down. All they have to do is find one loose thread to follow and the whole scheme could unravel.”
“With his money, he’ll survive.” Lee lifted a shoulder. “And I never thought his motives were pure anyway.”
“He can’t afford another scandal and a criminal investigation. Some of his empire hasn’t bounced back yet. He was heavily invested in Asian markets. Top notch lawyers charge a lot of money.”
“So he hired me to investigate.” Lee nodded. It only confirmed his low opinion of the man.
“Good way for him to keep one step ahead,” Vince said.
“No wonder he was so eager to have me follow up on the gang connection. He wants time to clean up his mess and get attention away from the contracts.” Lee rocked back in his chair. “I knew he wasn’t just interested in helping the poor.”
“Not hardly,” Vince retorted.
“What goes around comes around. Mandeville will get his sooner or later. Besides, Andrea won’t let him rip off that clinic. She’s too dedicated to the patients,” Lee said.
Vince let out a puff of air. “Lee, she’s his daughter.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Lee’s eyes narrowed. He let the chair fall forward.
“Andrea Noble is John Mandeville’s wrong-side-of-the-blanket daughter. I’m sorry, man.” Vince fell back in the chair. He seemed drained from the act of delivering bad news.
“Are you sure?” Lee clenched his hands into fists.
“It’s not on her birth certificate, but I tracked down Louis Noble’s sister in Lake Carlos. Course nobody talks openly.”
“There’s no way to confirm thirty-year-old gossip,” Lee snapped. He glared at his partner.
Vince’s expression was sympathetic despite Lee’s anger. “Louis Noble married her mother and adopted Andrea, thinking she was his. When he found out the truth, he started drinking heavily and doing cocaine. He went on a binge and crashed his car. The sister is still bitter about it.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s true,” Lee protested. He got up and paced. “Maybe they never liked Andrea’s mom. Maybe—”
“Charlene Noble and Mandeville quietly settled her claim for child support when Andrea was born. Mandeville’s rich daddy wrote a check for seventy thousand dollars.” Vince drew an envelope out of his shirt pocket.
Lee took the photocopy of the court record and read it. His fury grew with each sentence. Charlene had agreed not to press any further claims in exchange for the money.
“Damn it, I should have known.” He held the papers so tight, they crumpled at the edges.
“I didn’t find any evidence Andrea’s hooked up with Mandeville to pad prices. But—” Vince broke off as though unwilling to make the final accusation.
“She might even have an interest in some of Mandeville’s businesses.” Lee’s mind raced ahead at the possibilities. “Hell! I’ll bet she’s known all along that I’m a private investigator.”
He laughed bitterly, a sour taste in his mouth. Andrea had succeeded at beating Lee at his own game. Those whispered words of passion were an act. Most of his life he’d run from women who wanted more than he could or would give. This time it was the other way around. He’d fallen in love with a woman who didn’t care for him at all. Vince’s voice finally pierced the rage that fogged his brain.
“Lee, listen to me. I’m not sure she knows about you. Mandeville is a crafty snake. It could be in his interest to keep her in the dark,” Vince said loudly to get his attention.
Lee paced and thought hard. “But why wouldn’t he tell her?”
‘To protect her or himself. And another thing, Andrea and her mom might have their own agenda. This thing is like the twisted plot of some southern gothic novel.” Vince threw up both hands. “Just give the sheriff what he wants and forget about the Addams Family.”
Lee’s expression hardened along with h
is heart, or at least he tried to harden his heart against her. But one thing he did know. He would kick her to the curb for sure. He’d learned long ago to cut his losses with beautiful women who lied.
“Yeah. I’ll bag more than one crook before I’m through.” Lee’s jaw hurt when he clenched his teeth.
Vince stared at him intently. “Meaning?”
“I’m going to help put those gangstas in jail and ex-pose Mandeville’s scam,” he said.
“And what if Andrea is involved?” Vince pressed.
Lee rubbed a hand over his face. He closed his eyes and thought of holding her in his arms naked beneath a bright blue sky. She’d definitely gotten through his cynical armor. He had to get over it. Fast.
“Whatever happens, happens. The board hired me to find out exactly what’s going on, and that’s what I plan to do. I’ll get the job done,” he said, his voice strained.
***
Andrea laced her fingers together and rested her hands on the top of her desk. She studied Denny’s sullen expression. This was not at all the reaction she’d expected, and certainly not the one she would tolerate. The informal meeting had started off on a cordial note. After twenty minutes of her trying to get a straight answer about discrepancies she’d found in the inventory, Denny had become irritable. Now both stared at the printed reports like two chess players planning their next move. “Well?” Andrea said to break the silent standoff.
“I don’t appreciate it. Okay, so maybe I did get in a little trouble when I was young. That’s no reason to act like you want to search my house or something.” Denny gestured with both hands to dramatize his outrage.
“I didn’t accuse you. I’ve said that a half dozen times in the last five minutes.” Andrea spoke in a level tone even though her temper was steadily rising. “But you know one of my priorities is to improve accountability with inventory. Especially when it comes to drugs.”
“Like I haven’t been giving up my nights and weekends to get the place straight!” Denny blurted out. “This is the thanks I get.”
“I know how hard you worked.” Andrea ground her back teeth.
“I can’t help it if the place got run into the ground. I wasn’t in charge. Awright?”
