IF I FAIL: A Jake Carrington Mystery

by Marian Lanouette

  “How do you know Sophia?” Jake asked, pulling her back into the conversation.

  “Oh, we work out together.”

  “Well, it shows…” As an afterthought, he added, “On both of you.”

  “You’re smooth, Jake, also very diplomatic.” Sophia laughed. “Jake, aren’t you going out to say hi to everyone?”

  *

  Reluctantly, he excused himself. He found Louie right where Sophia said he would be, on grill duty. With a beer in one hand, a spatula in the other, Louie wore an apron that said ‘Don’t bite the cook’. Cooking humor, Jake figured, though he didn’t know what it meant. Louie’s shorts showed off knobby knees. On his head, he wore a Yankees baseball cap. In this crowd, after a few drinks, that hat could get fists flying, he thought. Yankees or Red Sox? He also loved the Yankees.

  “Aren’t you just the height of fashion?” Jake greeted him.

  “Oh yeah, that’s me.” Louie held out his apron, took a bow. Looking around Jake, he raised his eyebrows.

  “What?”

  “Where is she?”

  “Who?”

  “You know who. So what do you think of Mia?” Louie pushed.

  “Oh, is this another one of Sophia’s set-ups?” Jake tried to pull off a frown.

  “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh, sure you don’t. You two are like a tag team.”

  “Well, this one isn’t bad. No, not bad at all. If I were single…”

  “Well, you’re not. So stay away. You’re right, this one is not bad. My God, she’s stunning, and also has a nice personality.”

  Louie studied him. “I think you’re interested. Hot damn!” Louie smiled.

  “We’ll see. I only spent five minute in conversation with her.” Though he couldn’t keep his mind off her. “In fact, I think I’ll go back to the kitchen and see what Sophia wants me to bring out. Are you almost done cooking here?”

  *

  When Jake stepped back into the kitchen, he noticed the shift in conversation. The kind of shift that normally meant the speakers were talking about the person who’d just entered the room. Good or bad? He wondered.

  “Am I intruding?”

  “No, we were just deciding what dishes should go out first,” Sophia said smoothly.

  She’s good, Jake thought. “Need help?”

  “Why don’t the two of you take out the salads?” Sophia pointed.

  “Okay, can do.” Jake saluted her.

  Marisa came back into the kitchen with her friend. “Uncle Jake, this is my friend, Gigi. I forgot to introduce her before.” Marisa smiled. Gigi lowered her eyes in a shy gesture.

  He held out his hand. “Hi, Gigi, it’s nice to meet you.” He gave her a nice, but careful, smile.

  “Hi, Mister Carrington.” Gigi blushed.

  “Let’s drop the mister. You can call me Jake.” Gigi’s face lit up.

  “Uncle Jake, you know she has a crush on you,” Marisa whispered in his ear.

  “There are no secrets here, Marisa. It’s rude to whisper when other people are around,” Sophia scolded.

  “Well, isn’t that the time to whisper? When would you do it, when you’re alone?” Marisa questioned.

  Laughing, Jake said, “She got you there, Sophia.” He winked at Marisa.

  Gigi stared lovingly at Jake.

  “Jake, you can be punished right along with Marisa,” Sophia said half-heartily. “Now take the salads out.”

  They grabbed the salads. “You handled Gigi beautifully, Jake. A girl’s first crush can be devastating,” Mia said.

  “Yeah, Marisa warned me last week. What do you think parents are thinking, naming their kid Gigi? Do they aspire for her to be a stripper? Because it’s the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear that kind of name.”

  “Oh, you know a lot of strippers?” Mia smiled.

  “Yeah, it brings back fond memories.” He paused, for effect, continued. “No, that’s not what I mean, it’s just…Never mind.” He shook his head.

  “I’m just teasing you.” Mia punched him on his arm, laughing.

  “I know, I walked into that one,” he realized. Easy to talk to, she peppered her comments with humorous remarks. Both traits Jake looked for in a woman.

  “Yes, you did.”

  “Can I get you a drink?”

  “Yes, I’ll have a vodka and tonic with lemon.”

  “Lemon, not lime?”

  “Correct.”

  “Okay, I’ll be right back.”

  A party here always reminded Jake of a wedding. Incredible food, strong drinks, good music—they always hired a professional bartender and band. Their backyard was set up for entertaining. Chairs and tables arranged in groups. Off to the side, lounge chairs clustered around the pool. To the right of the tables stood a big brick grill, equipped with a refrigerator and a side cabinet which stored dishes for outdoor use only.

  “This is some event,” Mia stated when Jake came back with the drinks.

  “Yeah. I can’t wait to see how they top these birthday parties when one of the children gets married,” Jake joked.

  “Can they top it?”

  “Sophia always says, ‘these are my children and they deserve the best. Plus, I’m Italian. I’m allowed, even expected, to entertain this way.’” Jake mimicked her voice, continuing while Mia laughed. “Louie loves these events as much as Sophia does.”

  “Yes, it shows. They’re a great couple, aren’t they?”

  “Yeah, they are. They not only love each other, they also enjoy each other’s company. That’s rare to see nowadays.” Jake looked at them when he said it.

  *

  Sophia joined Louie at the grill. He immediately grabbed her by the waist, gave her a kiss.

  “They look like they’re getting along,” Sophia said to Louie. Both tried to look casual when they looked over at Jake and Mia.

  “Yeah, I think we have a winner,” Louie whispered in Sophia’s ear while he nibbled on it.

  “Hey, hey, stop that. You said no whispering, Mom. It’s rude in front of people.” Marisa had snuck up behind them.

  “Why do my words always come back to bite me?” Sophia asked. “This is one of those times Marisa, when you do as I say, not as I do.”

  “I can’t wait to be old.” She rolled her eyes and walked away.

  “Wow, she got her point across and insulted me, all in one sentence. Our little girl’s growing up, hon.” Sophia changed the subject. “Look at them. They took the table furthest away from everyone. Do you think we should sit with them?”

  “No, I think they’re doing fine on their own. Did you notice he hasn’t taken his eyes off her? Best of all, she’s conversing, not staring or ogling him like he’s some work of art. This one’s smart. I think she’ll be a keeper.”

  “A keeper? What are we women to you, prizes?”

  “You’re my prize, the best I’ve ever won. I still, to this day, don’t know how I won you, but thank God you’re blind.” Louie kissed her.

  “Cut it out, we have guests. I won too, Louie. You’re the best.”

  Across the yard, Jake turned to see what caught Mia’s attention. Ah, Sophia and Louie at the grill.

  “They really are great together. I want a relationship just like theirs, when I grow up.”

  “Oh, you’re not grown up yet, Jake?” Mia raised an eyebrow.

  “Shit. Oh, sorry. A joke, you know,” he stumbled. “What they have, you can’t practice for, it just happens.”

  “I know. I’ve seen it happen to a lot of couples. I just haven’t been lucky there.”

  “Yeah, I know what you mean. There are a lot of empty shells out there.”

  “Yes there are. What do you like, Jake?”

  “I like a lot of things. Are you talking indoors, outdoors, recreation, work, clothes…?”

  “All right. I forgot I’m talking to a cop, I have to be exact.”

  “Can I get you another drink or some food?”


  “No thanks. I like to be in control. If I eat another thing, I’ll burst. How do you think they both stay so thin, with Sophia cooking like this?”

  “It’s always been a mystery to me. Want to dance?” She seemed surprised he asked. The dance floor had not another soul on it.

  “Sure,” she answered.

  Jake wanted to see how she’d fit in his arms. He normally wouldn’t get up to dance unless totally drunk. The band played The Way You Look Tonight, a Frank Sinatra tune. He loved Sinatra—how apropos. Later, he’d have to request a Chris De Burgh song, Lady in Red. It said the same thing, ended the same way. He’d never forget the way she looked tonight. He loved the red dress, glad when she removed the jacket because it showed the rounded part of her breasts. Not a lot, just enough to get his blood boiling.

  “How do you walk in those shoes?”

  “Practice.” She snuggled closer.

  “Very sexy,” he whispered into her hair.

  “Thanks, even if they are killers. I’d wear them anyway. They make my legs look great.”

  “They’d look great in a burlap bag.”

  “Wow, thanks on behalf of my Jimmy Choo’s. Your comment made them worth the price.” She laughed. Jake couldn’t figure out why women named their shoes.

  They danced most of the night away. They talked, they laughed. Neither noticed most of the guests were gone. Sophia and Louie came over to them. Sophia cut in on Mia, to dance with Jake. Louie cut in on Jake, to dance with Mia.

  Jake had the grace to look embarrassed. He checked his watch. Eleven p.m., way past his host’s bedtime. “Are we keeping you up?” he asked Sophia.

  “No, I just never got my dance from you tonight, Jake. Normally, I have to beg you to dance. What’s up?” She grinned.

  “All sorts of things, Sophia, all sorts of things. Pretty smart not telling me you were trying to fix me up again,” Jake said in her ear.

  “Well, we didn’t want to scare you away. Looks like the two of you are hitting it off?”

  “Time will tell, but, yeah, she’s great. Thanks.” Jake worked his way back to Mia. He exchanged partners with Louie for the last dance.

  “Do you guys want help cleaning up?” Mia asked.

  “Oh no, just take off. We’ve got this,” Sophia said.

  Louie mumbled, “Why’d you turn them down? We could use the help. I want to get you upstairs. How about we clean up tomorrow?”

  “Absolutely not, Louie. It won’t take anytime at all to clean up. This way tomorrow we can stay in bed late—finish what we start tonight.” She gave him the eyes.

  He laughed. “Okay, hurry up. Bye guys.” They watched him start to clean up.

  “Bye, Louie,” they said in unison.

  Sophia walked them out to their cars. “You both drive real careful. I don’t want you to get pulled over or anything.”

  “We’ll be fine, Sophia, thanks for everything. I had a wonderful time,” Mia said.

  “Anytime, Mia. Good night, Jake.” She gave them both a kiss, turned around and walked back inside. Jake watched her close the front door.

  “You have a real affection for her, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do. She’s a warm, wonderful person.”

  “She is.”

  Jake helped her into her car.

  “Mia, would you like to go for a drink?”

  “It’s getting late, Jake, maybe some other time.”

  Disappointed, Jake closed her door then walked to his car.

  Chapter Six

  He heard her start her car. Turning back for one last look, he watched her window lower.

  “Jake?”

  “Yes?”

  “I could do one drink. Where would you like to go?”

  “Why don’t you follow me? I live around the corner. We can drop your car off there, take one car.”

  “Okay, lead the way.”

  Jake pulled into his driveway on the left. Mia pulled in alongside him. He got out of his car, walked over to hers, and opened the door, offering her a hand.

  “We’ll take my car, okay?” Jake stared down into her eyes as he helped her out of her car; he watched a conflict play over her face. “What’s wrong?”

  “Do you…?”

  Her lovely white skin turned a deep shade of red when she blushed—he liked it. “What?”

  “Do you want to grab the drink here?”

  My lucky day, he thought. He hit his key remote, and opened the garage door in lieu of a response. “Do you want to put your car in the garage?”

  “Taking a lot for granted, Jake?” Mia tilted her head up, challenging him.

  “No. It offers protection for you and the car.” He rubbed his hands up and down her arms.

  “Always a cop, huh?”

  “Yes, first and foremost. I can’t be anything else. Is that going to be a problem, Mia, before we go any further?”

  “No, it’s not a problem, Jake, or I wouldn’t be here.”

  Jake blew out his breath. “Okay.”

  They walked in from the garage to his living room. Jake reached around Mia to lower the garage door. He would swear that was his only intention. Instead, he took her in his arms, kissing her passionately. She wrapped her arms around him, resting her hands on his lower back. A long, sweet kiss; engaging lips, tongue, and teeth. Soft, full lips caressed his mouth. Her tongued teased his with a promise of more. Jake thought he’d swallow her whole. He pulled back, looked into her eyes. An incredible woman, he thought. Leaning into him, she kissed him back with a mind-numbing, hot, passionate kiss filled with promise. His vision blurred. They stood there for another five minutes, continuing to embrace while kissing.

  “Why don’t we sit in the living room, get comfortable?” Breaking the embrace, Jake tried for some measure of control. Taking her hand, he led her to the sofa.

  “Sounds good,” Mia said, breathlessly.

  “Umm, do you want a drink?”

  “Sure, what do you have? Vodka or wine?”

  “Either. Which do you prefer?” He concentrated hard on her answer because his body continued to respond to her other signals.

  “The wine’s good. Do you have white?”

  “Yes, pinot grigio?” Jake looked over at her, felt himself stir once again.

  “Yes, my favorite,” Mia answered, wandering around his living room.

  *

  A warm, cozy room done in different shades of blues with hints of green, beige, and mauve showcased the fireplace, the room’s main focus. Imported stone from floor to ceiling highlighted the mantel’s marble top in the same blue and mauve tones. The floors were a highly polished hardwood covered by a beige oriental area rug with hints of blue, green, and rose.

  A well-decorated room, neither masculine nor feminine, just comfortable. The windows, covered with quilted blue and green shades with a mauve valance, brought the room together, along with the warm beige walls.

  Mia ran her hand over the fabric on the back of the sofa. Silk brocade, she mused. The navy sofa sported green and beige pillows; the fabric he had chosen for the two chairs and ottoman combined all the colors of the room. To prove it was a guy’s room, a 65 inch HD TV graced the wall. End tables, with marble tops to match the hearth, sat by each chair. Lamps with beige shades sat on the end tables. The couch continued the theme with two end tables and a coffee table with the same matching marble top, supporting larger lamps with mauve shades.

  Mia took the glass of wine Jake handed her as he walked into the room. Making room for him to sit next to her, Mia moved to the right. The warmth rolling off both of them would heat a house in New England for the winter, she thought. They each took a sip of wine, knowing it wouldn’t ease the craving for each other.

  “Your living room’s beautiful. Did you have a decorator?” Mia sipped her wine, pacing herself.

  “No, basically I did it myself. If I got stuck, I asked Sophia for help. She argued about my color scheme, telling me it wouldn’t work, but I like it.”

  “So
do I. It’s unusual.”

  “Thanks.”

  She let Jake take the glass from her hand, and place it on the table. He took her in his arms, kissing her again. Same reaction. Heat traveled through her, around her.

  Mia thought if he kept kissing her in this way, she’d forget her own name. Never had a kiss turned her on so much. Her whole body had come alive with the kiss by the door. Hot burning lava spread through her body, traveled down her throat, shooting straight to her core. Her whole life, it had taken hours of foreplay to get her this hot and ready for sex. Not even her ex-fiancé made her feel this way. She knew at the party—the instant they made eye contact—he did it for her, both physically and mentally. She was deeply attracted to him, and the heat of the kiss punched right through her, melting the Antarctic iceberg she’d hidden her emotions behind since her broken engagement. Boy, did she need to take control. Now she struggled—her mind’s reason against her body’s passion. How far did she want to go tonight? Would this be a purely physical relationship? What would he think if she just jumped him now? They were adults, did she want to stop? It had never been a question before.

  “Mia, I could lift you up right now, take you to bed. Nothing would make me happier. I know this is going to sound stupid or like a play…I want to move slow. We’ve a connection I’d like to explore some more before we move forward. It’s pretty intense and scary. If you know what I mean?” Jake finished.

  Mia looked at him, speechless. No man had ever cared enough to say anything like that to her before. Was Jake playing her? Fighting off advances became tedious. Some wanted her money. Others wanted the prestige her name and money could supply. She assessed Jake. Ruggedly handsome, eyes of deep green—emerald green, she thought—a strong muscular frame, a body that almost had her begging to get laid.