by Nina Croft
Regan loved her family, whatever they were.
And he would never in a million years fit in.
The temperature in the room had dropped dramatically.
Across the table, Tom put down his knife and fork. “I fucking knew it.”
“No, you didn’t,” Regan snapped. “Because if you had known it, then we would not be sitting here now. You would have done what I told you to do and left well enough alone. But you had to push and push, insist he come to dinner.” She turned to Nate and pointed her finger at his chest. “And you should have just said no.”
Tom growled. “He should have said fucking no a long time before I asked him to dinner.”
Sarah giggled from beside him. “Do you wear a uniform? I’ve always thought they were sexy as hell.”
He ran a hand over his face. “No, I don’t wear a uniform.”
“And you know what that makes him, don’t you?” Tom said. “A fucking detective.”
“Tom!” his mother reprimanded.
“Sorry, Ma, but what the hell is she doing sleeping with the enemy?”
Regan rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t be so melodramatic. He is not the enemy.”
“Ha, you just wait. He’ll be running the family silver through the office database tomorrow.”
Nate couldn’t resist picking up his fork and examining the hallmark. Sarah giggled again. Regan prodded him in the gut.
“Ouch.”
“Well, don’t wind him up.”
Everyone started talking after that. He stayed out of it. He didn’t think his contribution was needed, and Regan seemed more than able to stand up for herself.
He’d often wondered what it would be like being part of a big family.
He quite liked it.
And he didn’t think he was in any actual danger.
Yet.
He caught the gaze of her father at the head of the table. His brows were drawn together. He was studying Nate, and he didn’t look happy. “What did you say your name was?”
Oh, hell. “Nate.”
“Nate what?”
“Nate Carter.”
He shook his head. “Would that be Detective Sergeant Nathan Carter?”
“Yes, sir.”
Her father turned his attention to Regan. “You’re sleeping with the man who arrested you?”
“Who told you I was sleeping with him?” She faced Tom. “You told Dad? How could you?”
“He arrested you?” Tom asked.
“He headed the case against her,” her father put in.
“So what’s he doing with her now?”
“Probably trying to take her down again,” Sam said. “He’s probably working undercover.”
Regan slapped her forehead. “Oh, for God’s sake, of course he’s not undercover. He just told you his goddamn name.”
“So what does he want with her?”
Nate definitely decided to keep quiet about that one. He had an image of Regan underneath him, coming apart for him, wrapped around him.
“And you can get that slimy expression off your face,” Tom snarled.
He closed his expression and wondered whether there was any chance of dessert. He looked down the table to where Regan’s mother sat, a resigned expression on her face. When she caught his gaze, she gave a small smile, got up, and left the room.
“What’s your father’s name?” Regan’s dad asked.
“Pete Carter.”
“Is he a detective as well?”
“He was.”
“Goddamn it, Pete fucking Carter arrested me three times. I don’t believe this. I have that bastard’s son eating at my table.”
At that moment, Judith appeared at his shoulder. A steaming bowl of apple pie and ice cream was slid in front of him. He glanced up. “Thank you.”
“You’re eating like you haven’t seen a decent meal in a long time.” She patted his shoulder and went back to her place.
He tucked in. It was great apple pie.
“How come he gets pie?” Tom asked.
“You get yours when you stop spouting off,” his mother answered, and Regan sniggered.
“Do you want to tell us what’s going on, Regan?” her father said.
“Nothing is going on. Nothing you need know about, anyway. We just met and decided to spend some time together. It’s no big thing.”
“Maybe she’s got that disease,” Sam said. “You know the one kidnap victims get, where they fall in love with their kidnapper.”
“Yeah, asshole.” Regan didn’t sound impressed. “Great theory, except one: I haven’t been kidnapped, and two: I haven’t fallen in love.”
Something twisted inside him at her words. He knew they were the truth, but there was something about saying them out loud that made him think. Of course she didn’t love him. Love had no part in their arrangement. Hell, they’d started out with her hating him, and while he didn’t believe that was the case anymore, he was sure her feelings were far from love. And his…well, he didn’t do emotions.
He put down his spoon and pushed his empty dish away from him. Then he rose to his feet and looked at Regan. “It’s time for me to go,” he said. “Will you see me out?”
She shuffled back her chair and got up, giving him a quick nod. He headed for the door but stopped beside her mother. “The dinner was delicious. Thank you.”
She patted him on the arm. “Don’t take it personal.”
“I don’t.”
“But perhaps you’re right to go now.”
He nodded without speaking to anyone else and followed Regan out of the room, down the hallway to the front door.
“Are they going to give you a hard time?” he asked.
“Probably. But I can give as good as I get.”
“I noticed.” He leaned down and kissed her briefly. “Will I see you again?”
Surprise flashed across her face. “Do you want to see me?”
He didn’t even have to think about his answer. “Yes.”
“Then you’ll see me again.”
And he turned and walked away.
Chapter Thirteen
Nate closed the office door behind him.
He rubbed a hand around the back of his neck, trying to get his head together. But he had no clue what he thought about this.
He’d been promoted.
The promotion was effective immediately, and he supposed he had things he needed to do. Like go down to personnel and get a new badge. It would be something to show his dad, anyway.
Detective Inspector Carter. One of the youngest ever promoted to that rank in the department. His father hadn’t made DI until he was thirty-eight. Nate should be proud. They’d sung his praises in there. His conviction rates were the best; his dedication to duty—especially in view of his dad’s situation—was second to none. Some of these guys had worked with his dad. Nate had known them from way back, when he was a kid, and his dad would bring him to work with him when he had nowhere else to put him.
They had hinted that maybe he needed to spruce up his appearance, as he would have more interaction with the public and the media in this new role. He would be expected to present the smart face of the modern police force to the world.
Just the thought made him yawn. He didn’t want to be smart. He liked being scruffy. Oh God, maybe he needed a housekeeper. He’d be earning better money; he could probably afford one, at least part time. That’s why other guys had wives. They made sure their men looked polished when they left the house in the morning.
But Regan liked him scruffy.
Why the hell had he thought that?
Regan also liked him naked.
Those thoughts weren’t appropriate right now. But better than thinking about buying a suit.
He’d have a team, though as the newest DI, he wouldn’t have much choice as to who they gave him. There were a couple of guys he’d like, and he’d put in a request. Phil as his current partner would no doubt stay with him. Phil was going to be pissed�
�he’d thought he had this promotion in the bag. Phil definitely had a wife who sent him out all nice and well-groomed each day. He could be the media guy on Nate’s team. He’d like that. Schmoozing the press. The idea filled Nate with horror.
He just couldn’t seem to feel…happy about it all.
Maybe there was too much going on in his life right now for him to take it in: his dad, Regan…
It had been a week since dinner with Regan’s family, and things appeared to have settled down between the two of them. They saw each other every day, even if only for half an hour. But there was something going on beneath the surface, something he couldn’t quite grasp.
He hoped her family wasn’t giving her a hard time. She hadn’t mentioned them again and had shut him down when he asked.
As he entered the open-plan office, a cheer rose. The news of his promotion had spread before him. Phil walked up to him, doing his best to look pleased as he slapped him on the back. “Congratulations.”
“You’ll get it next time,” Nate said.
“Yeah.”
Nate wanted to suggest that if he spent more time doing actual detective work and less time worrying about his image, he might succeed. But now was not the time.
“Hey, we’re going to take you out and get you pissed tonight. And that’s not optional.”
He knew that. It was tradition. But he’d arranged to see Regan. And he realized that he’d much rather spend the evening with Regan, not even necessarily in bed, than get drunk with his work colleagues. A sign of old age perhaps.
“Can you pick me up at the hospital?” he said to Phil. “I want to go tell my dad. It might cheer him up.”
“Eight thirty.”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
When he was finally alone again, he got out his phone and called Regan’s number. She picked up straightaway. “Hey, babe.” She sounded pleased to hear from him.
“I just got promoted.”
“You did? That’s fabulous.”
“Yeah. But it means I can’t make it tonight. I’ve got to go out with the boys to celebrate. It’s tradition.” He didn’t have to justify himself to her, but somehow, he wanted her to know that he’d rather be with her.
“Bummer. I was looking forward to tonight. I had something special planned.” She sighed. “But I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“No, wait,” he said, without really thinking. He wanted to see her today, not tomorrow. “I’m going to see my dad first, tell him the good news. Would you come with me?”
She was silent for a moment. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. The promotion and seeing me with a pretty girl will blow his mind. Or at least, make his day.”
“Okay then. I’ll meet you at the hospital.”
“Seven thirty.”
“I’ll be there.”
…
Regan was perched on the wall outside the hospital when she spotted Nate approaching on foot. He didn’t look particularly thrilled with his new promotion, but she knew enough about the inner workings of the metropolitan police to recognize this was a big deal. He was young to be a detective inspector, but he was good at his job. He wasn’t just dedicated, but had a sixth sense about things—an eye for the bad guys that made him excel and stand out above the others.
But right now, he had a small frown on his face and was hunched over, his hands shoved in his pockets as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. And she supposed he did. She couldn’t even begin to think what she would feel like if it were her dad in that hospital. His father was all the family Nate had. Just the thought made her want to go and hug him.
He’d told her that the hardest part was over. Both he and his dad had accepted it and come to terms with the situation. All the same, it must be painful.
He caught sight of her then, and his face lit up. She was glad she had come. She’d been of two minds. After all, Nate’s meeting her family had gone down so well. Not.
She was still dealing with the fallout.
Her father wanted her to move back home where she could be monitored. She’d half expected him to have her fitted with one of those ankle tags, to keep tabs on where she went, one that would explode if she ventured too near a policeman. Half of the rest thought she needed some sort of psychiatric help. One had even suggested a hit on Nate. She’d presumed they were joking. But just in case, she’d told them that if any harm came to one hair on Nate’s head, they would all suffer a painful end.
She jumped down from the wall and walked toward him, giving in to her urge and hugging him hard. “Congratulations, Detective Inspector Carter.”
“Thank you. You look pretty today.”
She’d actually gone to some effort for once after his comment about his dad seeing him with a pretty girl. She’d wanted to look her best. She was wearing a blue linen shift dress that skimmed her knees and blue high-heeled sandals, and she’d curled her hair and left it loose. She’d even put on some mascara and lipstick. “You like?”
“Too much. I want to take you home, to bed, and never leave.”
“How would you manage to catch all those bad guys?”
“Someone else can do it.”
She glanced at his face. “Are you all right? You seem a little…subdued. I thought you’d be totally thrilled.”
“I don’t know what it’s all for anymore.”
“Hey”—she punched him on the arm—“get a grip.”
“Yeah. Come on. Let’s go show off my shiny new badge and my shiny new girlfriend to my dad.”
She followed Nate in through the hospital and into the private room. There was a definite family resemblance, but the man on the bed looked so frail compared to his son, who was full of energy and vitality. It was sad to think that this man had once been the same. That they could all come to this, with just a twist of fate.
The nurse had told them today was one of his better days and his mind was clear.
Nate brought a chair from the corner to the bed and gestured for her to sit down. “Hi, Dad, I’ve got some good news.”
“Son.” He glanced past Nate to where Regan sat waiting to be introduced. “And you’ve brought someone to see me?”
“This is Regan Malloy. I told you about her.”
“So you did.”
She reached down and squeezed his hand. “Hi, Mr. Carter.”
“Regan Malloy? You Pete Malloy’s daughter?”
Oh dear, was this going to be a problem? But he didn’t look angry, just intrigued. She nodded.
His gaze flickered to Nate and back to her. “You’re kidding me?”
“No, sir. He remembers you well.”
He chuckled. “I remember him, too. I arrested him at least twice.”
“Three times, he says. Maybe I’ll ask him to drop in and you can talk about old times,” Regan offered.
“Yeah, that would be fun.” He looked at her, smiling. “You’re a pretty girl, Regan—a hell of a lot prettier than your dad. And I’m sure you’d never give my boy any reason to arrest you.”
She smiled sweetly. “How do you think we met?”
He laughed. “Maybe I’d best not know the details.” He turned to Nate. “I like her.”
“I like her, too.”
“So what’s your news?”
Nate pulled his wallet from his back pocket and flashed his badge.
“You made DI? That’s amazing. I didn’t make DI until I was eight years older than him,” he told Regan, gesturing to his son. She could tell he was proud of Nate.
They stayed for another half hour. Regan remained silent for the most part, letting Nate’s dad reminisce about the past and his time as a detective, how life on the force had changed, and not in a good way, in his opinion. When it was time to go, she leaned over and kissed the old man, though he wasn’t that old. It was hard to believe he was only sixty-five. “I can see where Nate got his good looks,” she said.
“Keep hold of this one,” he said to Nate, “and make
sure she doesn’t follow after her old man.”
Regan patted him on the arm. “I promise to be good.”
“Come on, I have to get out of here,” Nate said as the door swung shut behind them. “I hate fucking hospitals.” He grabbed her hand and hurried her out of the building, only slowing down once they were in the fresh air. “That was the first time I’ve heard him laugh in so long. Thank you. The night was worth it just for that one thing.” He squeezed her hand. “You know, it’s strange how small things come to matter when you have no control over the bigger things.”
“I know. It was the same in prison. Life was one big pile of crap and the little things started to matter. A letter in the post. A phone call. So why do you hate hospitals? Is it just because of your dad?”
“I remember coming here when my mom died,” he said. “I guess I never really forgot about it.”
“How old were you?”
“Five. She died of a miscarriage. She’d always wanted a big family, but after me, she had miscarriage after miscarriage. The doctors told her not to try again, that it could kill her… My dad told me all this when I was older. All I knew at the time was that she was sick, and then she wasn’t coming home.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s just the way things are.”
“Shitty.”
“Sometimes.”
They sat on the wall where he’d met her. She should go. She didn’t want to be here when his colleagues picked him up, didn’t want them to recognize her and cause trouble for Nate. But she couldn’t bring herself to leave him. He looked so lost again.
“How did your dad manage? After your mom died, I mean. It must have been hard.”
“God knows. He had no other family. That’s why they’d both wanted lots of kids, because they were only children themselves. I think he paid a neighbor to look after me when I was small, someone who had kids of her own and could use the extra money. Once I started school, I pretty much looked after myself. He’d take me with him to work a lot, though. I decided I was going to be a detective when I was six. After that, I never wanted to be anything else.”
