"For what?" Micah straightened up.
"For being Micah." A smile danced on her lips. "Are we ever going to get together?"
Micah chuckled. "A few days ago, I would've said no! Now I am thinking it's likely. I think I am going to like the woman you will become."
Deidra smiled happily. "That's something to work toward then."
***
"Alls well that ends well," Natasha said packing her bags and looking around the apartment. "We caught the varmint and took him off the streets. Mount Faith University is safe once more."
Taj was sitting on the settee, looking at her sorrowfully. "I wish that you didn't have to go."
"Me too." Natasha flung one of her shoes into the bag and sat on it, zipping it up. "I like hanging with you, Taj, but the Assistant Commissioner vetoed the unfair transfers of me and Harry and already they have asked us to be on a case. This time it's a big one. They need evidence against a drug dealer called Nanjo. They want to put him away for a long, long time."
"If we were to make our arrangement more permanent how would this work out?" Taj asked, missing her already.
Natasha looked at him seriously. "I could always come back up here for school. I would relish being a real student this time while I do my Masters in Forensic Psychology. Maybe I can even teach…leave the force."
"Yes," Taj kissed her. "Make sure you come back to me in one piece."
Natasha put her head against his shoulder trustingly. "I promise to come back in one piece."
"And when you do," Taj whispered, "we really have to get married."
Natasha's grin lit up her face. "Oh yes. I accept that order."
THE END
Continue scrolling for an excerpt from Private Dancer, Book 3 in the Bancroft Series.
Here's a Look at the Next Book in the Series:
Private Dancer
"Nanjo! Yow Nanjo!" One of Nanjo's cronies, Natty shouted. Sidling up to him his black eyes gleaming. "I think you should know that there is a suit in here looking for Cat."
Nanjo stiffened perceptibly. He had been drinking and laughing with his friends from Columbia but now his mood suddenly turned dark like the Guinness in his glass.
"Is it the police?" He asked softly almost menacingly.
He paid certain key members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force to leave him alone. He always knew when there would be a raid on his nightclub and he always knew where to hide his drugs and firearms.
He didn't expect trouble now but he had also learned not to trust the police to leave him alone. They had certain branches of the police force that were so notoriously secretive even the higher ups didn't know what they were doing at any given time. Those were the ones that annoyed him. His thoughts shifted back to Cat. Why would they be looking for Cat?
Cathy was his main woman on the side. He liked to think of her as his chief mistress. She stirred feelings in him that his toughened streetwise heart couldn't put into words. He looked at the stage where some women were sinuously winding themselves around a pole and his eyes zeroed in on Cat.
She was dancing without enthusiasm, almost lethargically her eyes looked like they were far away.
He frowned in the semi-dark. What was her problem? He had taken her out of the apartment that she had shared with four other dancers and set her up into a swanky little flat in midtown.
She should be grateful because he didn't treat all his side women so nice but there had been something about her from the start.
Why would a man be looking for her?
His teeth clenched. He didn't share and if Cat believed she was going to cheat on him, he would kill both her and the man.
"Where is he?" Nanjo growled at Natty who was still looking at him expectantly.
"Over there." Natty pointed at a guy who was dressed like he was a banker complete with jacket and tie. The man looked uncomfortable his eyes skittering away from the stage in discomfort and he wasn't ordering any drinks. He looked like one of them uptown preppy types who was unfamiliar with his surroundings and hated it.
Nanjo relaxed. He was no police. He got up stretching his neck and went over to the table where he sat.
Nanjo's big watch chain rested on the table before he could sit down and the guy jumped at the sound of the gold hitting the wood, and looked at him apprehensively.
"The name is Nanjo." Nanjo said huskily. "Heard you were looking for Cat."
The guy relaxed slightly and then nodded. "Yes. I am. I heard that she was here. I got this address from her grandmother."
"Oh, she's here." Nanjo said nodding slowly. "What's your name?"
"My name is Adrian Bancroft." The young man said in a refined tone of voice. Almost like a television announcer on the Weather Channel.
Nanjo contemplated him with distrust. "Why would an uptowner like you want to see Cat? She's not a regular girl and I am not selling her for no price."
"Ahem," Adrian cleared his throat. He had not fully recovered from the impact that this place was having on him. When he had gotten the address for Cathy's workplace from Miss Icy, he had been alarmed when she casually said that Cathy started work at nine in the night. The address was in the middle of Half Way Tree in Kingston's business district and it was beside a well-known restaurant. He had thought that she was on the night shift for a restaurant but what he had stumbled upon here was no restaurant, though the place had an eatery of sorts.
There was a round bamboo enclosure, which had seats around the bar section which sold jerk chicken and roast fish. But it was the warehouse like building which seemed to be of interest to most of the patrons and when he had entered, he had been shocked to realize that it was a night club of sorts or a strip club judging from the number of naked women he could see dancing around poles. Some of them were fully naked and looked so young. He had asked one guy at the door a hulking monster in dreadlocks that looked like a bouncer where he could find Cathy and now he was faced with another one called Nanjo.
He supposed he owned the place because the other guy had said he was going to ask the owner.
How had Cathy come to this? That a man was actually suggesting that she was a bargaining piece in a high game of flesh.
He considered Nanjo again. He looked hard and dangerous. Decked out in his jewelry with earrings along his ear, tattoos up his arm and neck.
He was also ridiculously patient. He was watching Adrian while he searched around in his head for something to answer him.
"I am just an old friend." Adrian said, "I just got back from the States and I thought I should say hello to her, see how she was doing."
Nanjo looked like he was bored with him by the time he finished his explanation.
He indicated to the stage with his hand. "Cat is the third girl on the right."
Adrian looked up at the stage again where several girls were and then at the third girl on the right properly. She had on a sleek black wig almost reaching her hips and she was partially naked. Her breasts were bare for all the men to see and ogle and she was dressed in black fish net stockings. She was making an obscene movement around a pole.
"No," he whispered, completely forgetting that Nanjo was keenly observing him. "But the Cathy I know..." his voice trailed off as he saw the wicked glee in Nanjo's.
"The Cathy you know was a country bumpkin. Clueless, naïve," Nanjo spat. "I changed her…took her in…made her realize what she was missing."
Adrian tore his eyes from the platform. The music had suddenly gotten louder and the smoke in the place was choking him. He got up. "I am sorry to waste your time...er...Nanjo."
Nanjo nodded confident that Adrian was no threat to him and Cat. "That's a'ight. I'll tell her you stopped by. I'll tell her tonight when we are in bed. But wait," he sneered, "some times we don't even reach the bed."
Adrian stumbled out of the nightclub and dragged off his jacket staring at it as if it were contaminated. It had been chilly earlier. Early January in Kingston was always a bit chillier than usual. He had headed straig
ht from the airport to Miss Icy's place in Arnett Gardens one of Jamaica's ghettos. She had looked at him as if she had seen a ghost. His last meeting with her before he left Jamaica five and a half years ago had not been a positive one. They had had a shouting match about Cathy's future on her doorstep.
This time when he showed up, she had sighed in defeat, given him Cathy's number and her workplace address, and asked him urgently to leave the community before dark.
He looked back at the big metal doors he had just come through. He hadn't even heard the clang as it shut after him.
He shouldn't have come. If this wasn't a sign for him to move on, he didn't know what was.
OTHER BOOKS BY BRENDA BARRETT
The Scarlett Family Series
Scarlett Baby (Book 1)- When the head of the Scarlett family died, Yuri had to return home to Treasure Beach for the funeral. What he didn't count on was seeing Marla, his childhood sweetheart and his best friend's wife. And when emotions overwhelm them and a few months later Marla is pregnant, Yuri wants the impossible: his best friend's wife and the baby they made together...
Scarlett Sinner (Book 2)- Pastor Troy Scarlett realizes the hard way that some sins are bound to be revealed, like the child that he had out of wedlock with his wife's mortal enemy from college. His wife Chelsea was not happy with the status quo. She was not taking care of the son of the woman she had so despised from college. And she could not get over the deep betrayal that she felt from her husband's indiscretion.
Scarlett Secret (Book 3)- Terri Scarlett had a soft spot for her friend, Lola. She was funny and sweet and they looked remarkably alike. But when Lola's Arab prince demands his bride, Terri foolishly exchange places with her friend and they meet up on a world of trouble.
Scarlett Love (Book 4)- Slater always looked forward to delivering packages to the law firm where he could get a glimpse of the stunning female lawyer, Amoy Gardener. Unfortunately, for Slater a woman like Amoy would not take him seriously, especially when she found out that he could not read!
Scarlett Promise (Book 5)- Driven by desperation Lisa Barclay decides to make some extra money by prostituting herself after being kicked out in the streets. Her first customer turns out to be a popular government senator and then to her horror he dies...
Scarlett Bride (Book 6)- When Oliver Scarlett's missionary work in the Congo region was coming to an end, he had a decision to make, marry Ashaki Azanga and save her from being the fourth wife to the chief of the village or leave her to her fate and get on with his life...
Scarlett Heart (Book 7)- After receiving a heart transplant shy librarian Noah Scarlett started to take on character traits that were unlike him and he kept dreaming of a girl named Charlotte Green...
Rebound Series
On The Rebound--For Better or Worse, Brandon vowed to stay with Ashley, but when worse got too much he moved out and met Nadine. For the first time in years he felt happy, but then Ashley remembered her wedding vows...
On The Rebound 2- Ashley reinvented herself and was now a first lady in a country church in Primrose Hill, but her obsessed ex friend Regina showed up and started digging into the lives of the saints at church. Somebody didn't like Regina's digging. Someone had secrets that were shocking enough to kill for...
Magnolia Sisters
Dear Mystery Guy (Book 1)- Della Gold details her life in a journal dedicated to a mystery guy. But when fascination turns into obsession she finds herself wanting to learn even more about him but in her pursuit of the mystery guy she begins to learn more about herself...
Bad Girl Blues (Book 2)- Brigid Manderson wanted to go to med school but for the time being she was an escort working for her mother, an ex-prostitute. When her latest customer offers her the opportunity of a lifetime would she take it? Or would she choose the harder path and uncertain love with a Christian guy?
Her Mistaken Dreams (Book 3)- Caitlin Denvers dream guy had serious issues. He has a dead wife in his past and he was the main suspect in her murder. Did he really do it? Or did Caitlin for the first time have a mistaken dream?
Just Like Yesterday (Book 4)- Hazel Brown lost six months of memory including the summer that she conceived her son, and had no idea who his father could be. Now that she had the means to fight to get him back from the Deckers, she finds out that the handsome Curtis Decker is willing to share her son with her after all.
New Song Series
Going Solo (Book 1)- Carson Bell, had a lovely voice, a heart of gold, and was no slouch in the looks department. So why did Alice abandon him and their daughter? What did she want after ten years of silence?
Duet on Fire (Book 2)- Ian and Ruby had problems trying to conceive a child. If that wasn't enough, her ex-lover the current pastor of their church wants her back...
Tangled Chords (Book 3)- Xavier Bell, the poor, ugly duckling has made it rich and his looks have been incredibly improved too. Farrah Knight, hotel heiress had cruelly rejected him in the past but now she needed help. Could Xavier forgive and forget?
Broken Harmony(Book 4)- Aaron Lee, wanted the top job in his family company but he had a moral clause to consider just when Alka, his married ex-girlfriend walks back into his life.
A Past Refrain (Book 5)- Jayce had issues with forgetting Haley Greenwald even though he had a new woman in his life. Will he ever be able to shake his love for Haley?
Perfect Melody (Book 6)- Logan Moore had the perfect wife, Melody but his secretary Sabrina was hell bent on breaking up the family. Sabrina wanted Logan whatever the cost and she had a secret about Melody, that could shatter Melody's image to everyone.
The Bancroft Family Series
Homely Girl (Book 0) - April and Taj were opposites in so many ways. He was the cute, athletic boy that everybody wanted to be friends with. She was the overweight, shy, and withdrawn girl. Do April and Taj have a love that can last a lifetime? Or will time and separate paths rip them apart?
Saving Face (Book 1) - Mount Faith University drama begins with a dead president and several suspects including the president in waiting Ryan Bancroft.
Tattered Tiara (Book 2) - Micah Bancroft is targeted by femme fatale Deidra Durkheim. There are also several rape cases to be solved.
Private Dancer (Book 3) Adrian Bancroft was gutted when he returned to Jamaica and found out that his first and only love Cathy Taylor was a stripper and was literally owned by the menacing drug lord, Nanjo Jones.
Goodbye Lonely (Book 4) - Kylie Bancroft was shy and had to resort to going to confidence classes. How could she win the love of Gareth Beecher, her faculty adviser, a man with a jealous ex-wife in his past and a current mystery surrounding a hand found in his garden?
Practice Run (Book 5) - Marcus Bancroft had many reasons to avoid Mount Faith but Deidra Durkheim was not one of them. Unfortunately, on one of his visits he was the victim of a deliberate hit and run.
Sense of Rumor (Book 6) - Arnella Bancroft was the wild, passionate Bancroft, the creative loner who didn't mind living dangerously; but when a terrible thing happened to her at her friend Tracy's party, it changed her. She found that courting rumors can be devastating and that only the truth could set her free.
A Younger Man (Book 7)- Pastor Vanley Bancroft loved Anita Parkinson despite their fifteen-year age gap, but Anita had a secret, one that she could not reveal to Vanley. To tell him would change his feelings toward her, or force him to give up the ministry that he loved so much.
Just To See Her (Book 8)- Jessica Bancroft had the opportunity to meet her fantasy guy Khaled, he was finally coming to Mount Faith but she had feelings for Clay Reid, a guy who had all the qualities she was looking for. Who would she choose and what about the weird fascination Khaled had for Clay?
The Three Rivers Series
Private Sins (Book 1)- Kelly, the first lady at Three Rivers Church was pregnant for the first elder of her church. Could she keep the secret from her husband and pretend that all was well?
Loving Mr. Wright (Book 2)- Erica saw one last opportunity
to ditch her single life when Caleb Wright appeared in her town. He was perfect for her, but what was he hiding?
Unholy Matrimony (Book 3) - Phoebe had a problem, she was poor and unhappy. Her solution to marry a rich man was derailed along the way with her feelings for Charles Black, the poor guy next door.
If It Ain't Broke (Book 4)- Chris Donahue wanted a place in his child's life. Pinky Black just wanted his love. She also wanted him to forget his obsession with Kelly and love her. That shouldn't be so hard? Should it?
Contemporary Romance/Drama
After The End--Torn between two lovers. Colleen married her high school sweetheart, Isaiah, hoping that they would live happily ever after but life intruded and Isaiah disappeared at sea. She found work with the rich and handsome, Enrique Lopez, as a housekeeper and realized that she couldn't keep him at arms length...
Tattered Tiara (The Bancrofts: Book 2) Page 12
