“You’re hard for a man to forget.” His voice was like a well-aged scotch, smooth and hit the point. “At least this one, anyway.”
“I’d be hurt if you did.” She edged closer.
“I think you’ve been on my mind since the day I saw you playing on the rope swing here in the backyard. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t wondered where you were. What you were doing. Who you were doing it with.” His jaw clenched. “Even while I was married, I still couldn’t get you off my mind. Does that make me an adulterer?”
“When you’re only thinking of someone? I don’t think so,” she said.
“I was doing more than thinking. I was fantasizing. Your image kept me going. You’d always told me I could do anything I wanted to.”
“What do you want now?”
He blinked and swallowed. “I want you.”
“What are you waiting for?” She clutched the collar of his shirt and laid back, dragging him down with her.
“You’re a sinful woman, sweetheart,” he whispered next to her cheek.
“And you’re sin carrying cuffs and gun. It doesn’t get any more dangerous.”
He lowered his mouth to hers. Their tongues swirled in a duel of desire. She moaned as his hand slid inside her tee and cupped her bare breast in his large palm. He pulled back and trailed kisses along her jaw, down her neck and to her collarbone. “You smell so good.” His husky voice seeped through her every pore.
She dug her fingers into his shoulders. The material was a barrier. She brought her hands to the buttons and made haste in removing it. “I want you. I’ve never been on fire like this.”
He helped her remove his shirt, followed by the white tee underneath. She drank in his beauty. Broad shoulders, wide chest and the patch of glistening hair between his nipples. Starting at his collarbone, she ran the tip of her tongue along his skin until she reached one erect bud and she suckled it until he moaned.
Shifting onto her knees, she tugged her shirt over her head. His stare was on her bare breasts and the admiration in his gaze made her feel sexy.
“You’re beautiful,” he said. Her breath held as he lowered his head and suckled one nipple. She arched against his lips as tingles formed between her thighs. He must have sensed her urgency because he slid his hand down her hip, over one thigh and gently spread her knees, forming a wide V between her legs. He slid one finger inside her, then two. “You’re so freaking wet, baby.”
She scraped the tips of her nails down his back as she clung to him, wave after wave washed over her. Her sensitive breasts ached and emotion whirled in her. He brought his hand to his mouth and licked his digits. “Oh. My. God!” She was breathless as she pushed back onto the bed. Again, he buried his fingers inside her. She rolled her hips and pressed her pussy lips against his palm. He joined his touch with his mouth and his tongue swirled her clit. She was a ball of desire, aching for something only he could give.
“Liam.” she called out his name. It was a plea for release.
He drove his tongue downward, lapping her up like he would his favorite dessert. She dug her fingers into his scalp as she moved her hips in a dance of passion. Prickly sensation twirled through her and her muscles tightened. The urgency quickened and she couldn’t breathe. He gripped her ass, holding her steady as she bucked against the tide that overcame her.
“Let it come, sweetheart,” he whispered against her thigh. His breath and hoarse words unlocked the dam. Swept into an ocean of complete and utter pleasure, she allowed the feeling to envelop her in its gentleness and warmth.
He moved, and then he slid between her thighs. She rested in a cloud of desire as he stroked her with the tip of his cock. She opened her hips wider in summons. He pushed his sex forward, and in one smooth motion, he slid inside her opening. Another round of forbidden fervor dug its charming claws deep within her. It carried her past heaven’s gate and into pure ecstasy.
Each thrust grew hungrier and needier as his body searched for its own abyss. She brought her legs up and wrapped them high around his waist, giving him complete access. He filled her to the hilt, and she moaned as she thrust her hips. He ceased all movement, seconds passed then he plunged against her, buried his head into her shoulder and arched. A woman couldn’t ask for a more powerful moment than bringing a man to gratification.
They lay in each other’s arms for the longest time. Neither saying a word—none needed. Holly believed if either of them spoke it would ruin the perfect cloud that wrapped around them like a favorite blanket.
* * * *
Liam sat on the corner of his desk, staring at a blank faced Jimbo. He’d agreed to come in and speak to Liam, which was surprising. He’d thought the ex-con would have disappeared in fear.
“I have you on tape tossing a pipe. You know that’s against your probation,” Liam said.
“I still can’t believe Betty has a cam in the diner.” Jimbo rolled a shoulder and sighed. “If you’re going to arrest me, then let’s gett’r done.”
Liam had to give the guy credit. He had balls of steel. “I don’t want to arrest you. I want what you know about Danielle’s murder.”
Still poker faced, Jimbo said, “I don’t know anything. I told your girl everything.” He rubbed his scraggly goatee with the back of his hand.
Liam’s first thought was to deny Holly as his “girl” but he held his tongue. What was she exactly? He couldn’t call her lover. What they shared went beyond that. Feelings like they’d shared belonged to a woman that should be his wife. It came to him with such clarity. “You okay, Chief? You look a bit pale,” Jimbo asked.
Liam drug himself back on target. “I want you to think back to anything that seemed off cue, even in the slightest before the night that Danielle was killed. Anything she said. Any behavior changes.”
Jimbo relaxed back into the chair. His brawny body barely fit in the narrow seat. “Let me get this straight. If I can help you you’re going to let the pipe slide?”
“If you help, yes.”
Jimbo threw his hands up. “But I don’t know anything.”
“Sometimes the mind has a way of forgetting things, especially if they don’t seem important.”
The other man scratched his forehead. He hesitated then shook his head. “I really can’t think of one damned thing.”
Frustrated, Liam pushed away from the desk. “Okay. You can leave, but if you think of anything, you better call me.”
Jimbo agreed and stood up. “So I can go now?” He headed toward the door.
“Jimbo?” Liam waited for the other man to turn. “Let me make this clear. If you break your probation, or even sneeze and I suspect something, I will see you back in the slammer. Holly thinks you’ve learned your lesson so you can thank her for the second chance. Just understand there are no third chances for you. This time you’ll be looking at twenty years. A man your age would have a hard time being thrown back into that environment.”
He nodded and took off like a bat out of hell. Liam watched through the window as Jimbo disappeared through the outer door. Liam smiled. He guessed Jimbo’s balls weren’t made of steel after all. Liam had definitely seen fear in the man. The threat of long-term prison could do that to most people.
Liam grabbed his keys and headed for the door himself. Now, for his next appointment. He was interested in hearing what Holly’s mom had to say.
* * * *
Liam walked into the bed and breakfast and Sue Tillman lifted her head from the check-in book. She saw him, closed the book and smiled. “Well, well. What brings tall, dark and handsome strolling into my place?”
Sue was a harmless flirt. “I’m here to see Vicki. Is she in?”
The woman batted her brown eyes. “Yes, but her male companion isn’t.” She looked around as if she were checking for listeners. Her voice was almost a whisper when she said, “One of the guest complained that Vicki and her man, James, were up past midnight arguing.”
“Did the guest hear what they were arguing abou
t?”
Sue shook her head vigorously, sending her shoulder length bob swaying. “No. Just that she didn’t get a wink of sleep.”
“Can you do me a favor?” Liam edged closer to the service desk, keeping his voice low too.
“Certainly, Liam.” Her eyes turned glossy.
“I want to surprise Vicki. Can I just go on up to her room without you letting her know?”
She leaned her head closer. “Does this have anything to do with that young girl’s death? You know the whole town is in shock.”
Liam smiled. “You know I can’t talk about the investigation. I assure you though, if I find out who murdered her, you’ll be one of the first to hear.”
“Sure. Go on ahead. It’s the Frost Suite.” She waved him toward the stairs. “If she asks, tell her there was no one at the desk.”
“Thank you, Sue. I appreciate your help.”
“Glad I could,” she said sheepishly. With that, Sue scooted through the double doors at her right.
Liam took the stairs two at a time. All of the rooms had names of famous poets. He passed the Dickinson, the Shakespeare and then he came to the Frost. He knocked twice and the door swung open.
Vicki had a rough night, he guessed. She looked haggard. Her frizzy blond hair needed combed and her make-up was smeared. When she saw him, he could have sworn he saw a flicker of dread other than the usual batting of eyelashes. “Hard night, Vicki?’
She tugged her robe belt tighter and smoothed palms over her hair. “Of course not. Although, I wasn’t expecting you. What do I owe this pleasure?”
He saw Vicki’s smile, but what he knew he couldn’t see was the ice dripping off her heart. She’d always made his hair stand on end. Maybe it was because she’d made it clear to him on more than one occasion that she liked younger men—much younger. He’d seen enough of her cleavage it made him quiver with disgust than it ever did with interest. “I need to speak to you. You have a minute?”
Although she had control over her emotions, he could see the doubt in her gaze. Her cool facade slipped. He had a feeling that whatever she and James had argued about was serious enough it had damaged her wall of show. “Sure.” She stepped back, allowing him to pass.
The Frost Suite was the best room in the place. He even liked its lavish decor. Dark wood and paint, leather couch and chair, and a king size bed.
“Is this about my daughter, Chief?” she asked.
“Partly,” he answered. Vicki’s thin brow curved. “As you may already know, Holly has had a number of vandalisms as of lately. Would you happen to know anything?”
Several emotions flitted across Vicki’s face. “Are you suggesting I had something to do with the damage?”
He shrugged. “It seems convenient. If you tortured her enough, she may just skip town again and leave the house to you.” As much as Liam disliked Vicki, he hated to think she could be involved. He couldn’t shake the strong feeling she wasn’t innocent in the events. He just couldn’t prove it—at least not yet. If he arrested her on his suspicion alone, she’d hire a rich attorney who’d have her walking papers within several hours. He could see Vicki being greedy enough to use scare tactics to get the house and money, but he didn’t see her as a murderer. Somehow, the occurrences didn’t seem committed by the same person.
“Did Holly send you here? Does she believe I’d do such a thing?” Vicki asked.
“Holly has no clue that I’m here, or that I think you and your husband could be involved in the occurrences.”
With her gaze steady, Vicki laid her palms on her hips. “I am not involved in any such thing. I refuse to speak to you another minute about this subject.”
“Then let’s talk about the other reason why I’m here,” he said.
“You mean something besides Holly? I figured you may want to explain to me why you’re taking up with her again.” She slowly walked across the room, stopped in front of the large mirror above the couch and smoothed her fingers down her cheeks.
“There’s nothing personal about this visit, I assure you. You’d be the last person I’d have a chit-chat with.” He didn’t feel the need to hide his animosity. He guessed Vicki already knew she wasn’t on his list of favorite people. He’d never forget how she’d swept in and out of Holly’s life. Each time leaving her a little more disappointed than the last time.
Vicki turned and caught him with a slanted expression. He could see by her cool frown she didn’t like his candor. She wasn’t used to people standing up to her. “At least she can be proud she has a lover who doesn’t screw and tell. Very valiant of you, I must say. But you do realize you and Holly have no chance of ever making it work.” She moved closer to him. “She has a taste for the rich.” She chuckled.
“Like I said, I’m here on business.”
A charming smile slithered across her lips. “What business, Liam?”
“The murder of Danielle.” He watched her closely but didn’t see any awareness.
“I’ve heard of the girl’s demise. How sad. She was young and had her whole life ahead of her.” Liam heard the words but there was no compassion in Vicki’s cold green eyes. “I can’t imagine why you’re here. I didn’t know the girl.”
“Can I take a seat?” He didn’t wait for her answer. He chose the chair, but she didn’t sit down. Instead, she reached for a decanter.
“Would you like a drink?” She held the bottle up.
“I’m on duty,” he stated. It was an easy excuse but he didn’t need to tell her he wouldn’t have had a drink with her no matter time of the day it was.
Her snort echoed off the walls. “You wouldn’t want to mar that pristine reputation you have, would you?” She poured herself a full glass then closed the bottle of bourbon. As she moved across the floor, the copper colored liquid sloshed. He wondered how many she’d had already that morning. By the looks of the half-empty bottle, she’d been drinking for a while. She stumbled to the couch and plopped down. “Now why are you here again?”
“I’m talking to everyone who saw Danielle the day she’d died.”
Her hand remained steady as she brought the liquor to her lips and sipped. She swallowed and hesitated before saying, “You must be mistaken. I didn’t see her. We didn’t run in the same circles, if you understand what I’m saying.”
“What do you mean ‘circles’?” he asked.
“Well, people talk. She was known for her drug use, right?” she took another long sip then ran her finger along the rim.
“You can’t believe everything you hear. You know how rumors can fly when it comes to drugs and alcohol.” He dropped his gaze to her glass.
Her mouth dropped. Yeah, she got his meaning.
Setting the glass onto the coffee table, she laid her hands into her lap. Her smile was forced. “As I said, I didn’t see her.”
“You were at the diner at seven o’clock that evening. You and your husband. By the way, where is he this morning? I’ll need to speak with him as well.”
“I—I don’t know,” she answered.
Liam wasn’t one to gain on another’s downfall, but he didn’t mind seeing Vicki flustered. Her face turned pale and her fingers trembled. He wondered what she was hiding? “Did you have a conversation with the victim?” he asked.
“Besides ordering chicken, no.” She gained her tight composure.
“Did you see her talking to anyone?”
“No. I didn’t pay her any attention. I had no idea she’d be murdered that evening. Otherwise I would have warned her.” Her voice reeked of sarcasm.
Liam knew she wouldn’t tell him anything he didn’t’ already know. “I guess we’re finished here. Unless, of course, you have something you’d like to add?”
He could see her muscles relax. “No, I don’t.”
Liam got up. He was ready to get out of there probably as much as she was ready for him to leave. When he started to move toward the door, Vicki caught him by the elbow. He looked down at her red painted nails against his shi
rt. “Change your mind?”
Her expression could have melted an iceberg. He couldn’t deny she was an attractive woman, but he knew it ran only skin deep. He felt sorry for all of the poor souls who’d bent and broken under the woman’s evil hearted dirty deeds.
She took a short step forward. Her breasts rubbed against his forearm. He jerked and pulled back. His resistance didn’t seem to deter her. “You know, Liam. You’ve grown into a handsome man. Not that you weren’t as cute as a button when you were younger, but now you’re all, well—I’d say you’re all masculine and fit.” The tip of her tongue darted out to slide across her lower lip.
Liam felt heat rise from his toes into the pit of his stomach. It wasn’t a desirable feeling. In fact, it was completely the opposite of anything he’d ever wished he would feel. He’d had a bad case of the stomach flu once and this reminded him of the misery. “I guess I should thank you and be on my way.” He tugged his arm free of her touch and headed for the door as if he were a bullet aiming for its target.
“Liam?”
Shit! He turned. “Yes?”
“Can you do me a favor?” she asked.
He had to bite down hard to keep from telling her the truth. He had no desire to do anything but leave the room. “I really should be getting back to the office.”
Reaching up, she tugged the robe down over her slender shoulders. She wore a white satin gown that curved low enough on her chest to give ample view of the tops of her large pale breasts. He dragged his gaze away and focused on her face. “I’m not sure what—”
“Look. Tell me if it’s bad.” She pivoted on bare feet. Lifting her long hair, she revealed her lean back exposed by the lack of material. Then Liam saw the bruising, blue entwined with spots of black, marring her otherwise pale skin. He quickly made his way across the room so that he could see the mark closer.
“What happened, Vicki?” The words fell from his lips as he continued to examine the hand sized purplish streak on her left shoulder. His stomach twisted. He put the pieces together. She’d had a fight with James. The awkwardness in her behavior. The bruising. It all led him to believe the worst possible scenario.
Sin With Cuffs Page 14
