Epiphany

by Rita Herron

  Bevels’s nostrils flared, but he stepped aside. Max grinned, then reached for another Q-tips. “Oh, one more thing. Give me a sample of your DNA.”

  “This is crazy,” Bevels complained. Still, he jerked the Q-tips from Max himself, spit onto it, then handed it back to Max. He bagged it, then headed down the hallway to find Coper. He heard loud voices echoing from Coper’s office, but couldn’t make out what the men were saying. Suddenly a tall, thin man with a goatee shot out from the room in a fit of temper.

  “Stay away from here, Hank,” Coper shouted from inside his office.

  The man rushed past Max without sparing him a glance, and Max frowned. One of Coper’s dissatisfied clients perhaps?

  Max knocked on the door, then entered without waiting for Coper to reply. Coper’s expression turned icy as Max identified himself. He could tell the big, burly man was hiding something.

  But was he a killer?

  BY THE TIME Max arrived at Sheila’s house, Angelica was tired and feeling antsy. Although Stevie’s agitation had decreased slightly during the day, a lingering sadness engulfed him that broke her heart. She ached all over for him. Wished she had been the one to find her sister, not him.

  “Are you ready?” Max asked.

  “Yes, let me get Stevie.” He was huddled beneath a sleeping bag on the floor watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with Mikey. They were both almost asleep.

  Max bent and scooped him up. “Come on, little guy. Let’s get you home to bed.”

  Angelica’s heart squeezed as Stevie cuddled against Max. Although her nephew had never been around any decent men, he seemed to automatically trust Max.

  Sheila followed them to the door, carrying a plastic container. “Here, you have to take some of these homemade cookies with you.”

  Stevie smiled sleepily and offered the container to Max.

  “Thanks, kid, I’ll have some when we get to your place.”

  Stevie nodded and closed his eyes as Max settled him in the back seat. Angelica waited until they’d arrived at her town house and put Stevie to bed in the guest room before she approached Max.

  He was in the kitchen, making coffee. True to his word, he was eating a snowman cookie. She’d seen a different side of Max tonight. He’d been kind, almost tender with Stevie.

  Was it possible that Max could grow to love her and her nephew?

  Or was she letting the holiday mood affect her senses?

  DAMMIT, that SOB cop was asking questions. Snooping around. Getting too close.

  Which could only mean one thing. That the kid had seen him and had talked.

  He stewed over how to handle the situation, rubbing at the pain in his stomach. That North woman had given him an ulcer months ago. He’d thought by killing her, the constant needling sensation would subside.

  But now he had her kid to worry about.

  Where was the little guy?

  He strode to his desk, knowing where to check. The Internet. Gina had a sister. The one who kept the boy for her while she worked nights. She probably had the kid now.

  All he had to do was find her and he’d have the boy. And if the kid had told her what he’d seen, well…he’d kill the two of them together.

  Then he’d be done with the whole damn mess.

  And he’d never let another woman get to him the way he had Gina.

  Chapter Six

  As Angelica moved into the kitchen, Max’s heart accelerated. She looked so beautiful and so worried that he wanted to drag her into his arms and protect her forever.

  But that was impossible. He had to talk to her about Gina, share his suspicions.

  “Sheila was wonderful today,” Angelica said. “Her son was good for Stevie. Heck, just having a normal day was good for him.” Angelica rolled her shoulders, then thumbed her hair from her forehead, making him itch to soothe away her tension.

  Instead he had to add to it.

  “You want some coffee?” he asked, stalling.

  She shook her head. “No, thanks. It would probably keep me awake.”

  Tension rattled between them as he finished off the sugar cookie. When he licked the powder from his thumb, he saw her watching the movement. Their gazes locked. Heat rippled between them. He wanted to taste her sweetness, but he had no right. And he’d seen the glow in her eyes when he’d held Stevie. She had just spent the day with Sheila and her son, had probably heard Sheila talk about her fiancé and how loving he was to Mikey. Angelica needed the same for her and her nephew. And she probably would find someone to fill that role someday.

  But it couldn’t be him.

  “We need to talk.”

  She nodded, as if she’d been expecting his comment. “What did you find out today?”

  “I went through your sister’s financial records,” he said, cutting to the chase. “She made some large cash deposits over the past few months. Do you know how she came by the money?”

  Her eyes widened in alarm. “No.”

  “She didn’t have access to that insurance settlement?”

  “No. Not until she turned twenty-five.” A sardonic smile curved Angelica’s mouth. “I guess my parents thought she’d be grown up by then, and be more responsible.”

  Now she’d never see twenty-five. He sipped his coffee, studying Angelica. “You know what kind of place Pandora’s Box is?”

  She bit down on her lip and nodded. “Exotic dancers. A lot of horny men.”

  He winced, surprised to hear her say it. “Your sister waitressed?”

  “What are you trying to say, Max? You think Gina was prostituting herself?”

  So she hadn’t been blind to her sister’s doings. “That’s what I’m asking you.”

  She heaved a weary sigh. “To be honest, I don’t know. I…she never had before. But she had been troubled lately, although she wouldn’t talk about it. I didn’t see her wearing any new expensive jewelry or clothes, though. Normally that’s the first thing Gina would spend her check on.”

  Max mulled that over. “I think the owner, Darnell Coper, had a thing for Gina.”

  “They all wanted Gina,” Angelica said, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice. “She was beautiful. Fun. Sexy.”

  He frowned. Did Angelica not realize she was far more sexy than her little sister had been?

  “Coper’s been questioned by the cops before on running a prostitution ring and gambling,” he said. “And Bevels claimed that Coper and Gina had a big argument a few days ago. Coper said that Gina wanted more money, that he was through with her milking him. That he fired her.”

  Angelica shook her head. “I can’t believe this is happening, Max. What do I tell Stevie? That his mother was…selling her body? That her pimp killed her?”

  ANGELICA COULD BARELY look into Max’s eyes. The fact that Gina might have sold her body, endangered herself and her own child, added anger to her turbulent emotions.

  There was no way she’d ever tell Stevie the truth. She’d have to fabricate another story, somehow keep the image of a loving mother alive in his mind. She could not destroy his innocence any more than it had been already.

  Max’s gaze darkened as he studied her, and she shivered, aching for him, wishing things could be different between them.

  But she refused to beg for his love.

  Or his comfort.

  He was doing a job here. And she had to accept it.

  Unable to stand the desperate loneliness growing inside her any longer, she turned and fled to the bedroom.

  “Angelica.”

  The husky sound of Max’s voice teased her to go back to him, but she couldn’t. She would not turn into her sister. Mistaking sex for love. Or harboring false hopes for happily-ever-afters.

  Because that was what Gina had done, time and time again, ever since she was a teenager. Letting physical pleasure fill the void within her.

  Inside her private domain, Angelica threw off her clothes, feeling dirty. Seconds later she stepped into the shower, scrubbing her skin with her
favorite cucumber body wash until her body tingled. She soaped and rinsed her hair, then stood beneath the shower spray and let the hot water sluice over her body.

  Max’s face flashed into her mind. Those dark, enigmatic eyes. Those powerful muscles. Those strong arms.

  The tears came then, bleeding her dry and raining down her cheeks. Although she’d known all along that she still wanted Max she hadn’t realized that she was in love with him until now.

  But she could never tell him.

  Exhausted, she towel-dried her hair, donned a thick, terry-cloth robe, patting her face dry as she went into her bedroom. A soft knock sounded on the door.

  “Angelica?”

  She clutched the robe together at the throat. “Go away, Max.”

  He pushed open the door. “Not until I know you’re all right.”

  Her breath caught at the sight of his shadow. Silhouetted by moonlight through the sheer curtain, he looked sexy and strong and…protective. God, how she wanted him.

  “How can I be fine, Max? Everything is falling apart,” she admitted. “Gina’s gone, Stevie’s hurting, and I don’t know what to do. How to handle everything.”

  Her shoulders shook as she tried to suppress her emotions. “I don’t know how to make this right for him. I can’t replace his mother.”

  MAX’S HEART clenched at the unbridled emotion in Angelica’s voice. She looked so lost and vulnerable. But the fact that she was doubting herself, shouldering all the blame and sorrow for her sister’s actions, was more than he could bear.

  He moved toward her, not thinking, only reacting. “You will love him,” he said simply. “That’s all he needs right now, Angel.”

  “I’m no Angel, Max.” Her voice broke. “For God’s sake, if I was, I could have saved Gina.”

  Tears flooded her eyes as she dropped her face into her hands. With a guttural sigh, he dragged her into his arms and held her. She cried, clutching his arms as she released the pain.

  “You did all you could for her,” he said in a gruff voice. “You loved her and her son, just like you’ll continue doing.” Just as he’d wanted his own mother to do when his old man had walked out the door. Only she hadn’t been strong enough. She’d slipped into the bottle just like her husband, and he’d lost them both.

  He cupped Angelica’s face in his hands. “Look at me, Angel.”

  She hesitated, tears glittering on her eyelashes like raindrops as she stared into his eyes. “Stevie is lucky to have you in his life.”

  Just like you would be if you’d let her.

  He didn’t take time to analyze the thought. Refused to allow himself the privilege.

  Instead he bent his head and kissed her. He was determined to erase her pain, if only for a few moments.

  She returned the kiss, her soft sigh of surrender his undoing. She needed comfort. He would give her all he had to give. Even if it wasn’t enough.

  He tangled his hands in her damp hair, angled his head and deepened the kiss, tasting, exploring. Remembering the heavenly bliss of their lovemaking. Renewing the erotic sensations he’d never forgotten as he stroked her back, then lowered his hands to her hips. Her curved backside fit into his palms. He wanted to feel her naked.

  A second later he nipped at the neckline of her robe with his teeth, then slid it off her shoulders. Bare skin met his mouth as he licked and teased a path down her neck. His body pulsed with need as he lowered his head and captured one nipple between his teeth.

  “Oh, Max.”

  Her sultry voice intensified his raw hunger and he sucked her harder, pushing the robe to the floor so he could see her in her naked glory. Her hands reached to his shoulders and he paused. Thought she might stop him. But she tugged at his shirt, popped open the buttons, hurriedly undressed him.

  Seconds later they lay panting together, hands roaming freely, voices whispering and coaxing, their breathing rapidly growing more labored as he slid on a condom, moved above her and thrust himself inside her. The elated groan she emitted made him go faster. Deeper.

  He accepted the inevitable. Savored the wild kisses and moans she offered as he filled her and rocked inside her. And when she cried out his name in ecstasy, he threw his head back and let his own pleasure ripple out, bringing them closer as they reached the pinnacle together.

  ANGELICA FELL ASLEEP cradled in Max’s arms, for the first time in days, feeling safe. But she awoke an hour later to find he’d left her bed, and loneliness engulfed her. The sheets still lingered with the scent of his body, the pillow was still warm where his head had lain. Her body still tingled from the erotic way he’d touched it.

  But staying all night was not an option for Max. At least, not as a couple.

  And she had to accept it.

  Besides, she wouldn’t have wanted Stevie to wake up and find them in bed together. She’d cautioned her sister over and over about giving Stevie false impressions.

  And hadn’t she only a little while earlier vowed not to make the same mistakes Gina had? Not to mistake physical pleasure for love?

  Still, she hugged the pillow where Max had lain to her cheek, savoring the memory of his tantalizing kisses. Tomorrow, he’d go back to work, try to catch Gina’s murderer.

  And she’d try to find a way to help Stevie and to make up for all he’d lost this Christmas.

  HE STARED at Angelica North’s town house through the fog-coated window of his car, warming his hands against the heater as he contemplated what to do.

  That damn cop was with her and the kid.

  Killing a cop would be stupid. Especially since all he had was suspicions. No real proof of anything yet. Just lots of questions.

  But shutting up the kid was imperative.

  It looked as if the cop intended to stay the night.

  But the minute the woman and kid were alone, he’d be ready and waiting.

  Chapter Seven

  Angelica sighed, weary. The last two days had passed in awkward moments of sexual awareness, shared close proximity and tension. Although the bouncer’s DNA had matched the saliva on Gina, he’d admitted that he’d slept with Gina earlier in the day. He also had an alibi for the time of the murder. He’d been at the club the same as Coper and Inkling, although Max suspected that one of them might cover for the other. The photo the reporter had taken had also appeared in a local paper along with a small paragraph hinting that Stevie had witnessed his mother’s murder, making them both more nervous. And the day before, she and Stevie had buried Gina.

  Max had been calm, compassionate, understanding, and a rock of Gibraltar for both of them. Although he hadn’t come to her bed again, as if he’d purposefully planted renewed distance between them.

  Max dished up a plate of pancakes for Stevie as she entered the kitchen. He shot her a wary glance, part regret for still being around or for their lovemaking, she wasn’t sure. Her face heated and she averted her gaze, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

  She sipped the hot brew and studied him as he dotted two eyes on Stevie’s pancakes, then drew a smiley face. Stevie grinned up at him and dug in with gusto.

  She wondered if Max realized how natural he was with the little boy. He didn’t have to speak to communicate that he could be trusted. Stevie instinctively understood that Max would protect them.

  He was the male role model Stevie had needed his entire life.

  She wished she could give her nephew a father for real, too, but no sense dreaming of the impossible. Her heart belonged with Max, but his wasn’t available.

  “What’s on the agenda for the day?” she asked Max.

  He crooked his head away from Stevie. She flicked on the small TV she kept in the corner to the video of Frosty the Snowman and, thankfully, Stevie glued his attention to the story.

  “I already phoned Sheila and my captain. She’s going to check out Eddie Germane.”

  “I’m worried, Max,” Angelica said. “What if he comes back and wants Stevie? I have to do something about obtaining legal custody.”

/>   “I told Sheila to find out Germane’s intentions. And I’ve already called the authorities to put the ball into motion for you to apply for full custody.”

  Her heart fluttered at his foresight and the fact that he’d taken on her cause so quickly.

  “Max.” She touched his arm, unable to voice how much his gesture meant. “I don’t know how to thank you. I tried to persuade Gina to put something in writing a long time ago about guardianship of Stevie, but she refused.” Her stomach pitched. “What if that district attorney finds out? He’ll really think I’m guilty.”