Tall, Dark and Deadly Books 0.5 - 3

by Lisa Renee Jones

  Slowly, a sexy grin slid onto his face as he tugged her up close and personal. “You can’t run out on your father’s party. Let’s dance a few dances first.”

  Lindsey swallowed. “And then we’ll leave?”

  He reached out and ran his hand through her hair, a gentle caress that made her ache to feel him closer. “Yes,” he said. “Then we’ll leave.”

  “Together?” she asked, needing the confirmation as much as her next breath.

  Mark chuckled. “Yes, together.”

  Lindsey let out a sigh and her shoulders visibly relaxed. “Okay then. Let’s dance.”

  He led her to the dance floor, and she melted into his arms, needing his warmth, his nearness. He buried his face in her hair. “You smell good,” he whispered by her ear.

  Lindsey wrapped her arms around Mark’s neck and pressed her body against his, wanting to be as close as their public setting would allow. “You do too,” she said softly, meaning it, wishing she could get lost in everything that was Mark and forget about the party.

  Their eyes locked and held. For the first time, she wasn’t shaken by how easily he got to her. A simple look and he had her on fire. She wanted all he was, and all they could be together, no matter how much risk that came with. His hands slid over her hips, his touch setting her on fire, making her forget where they were.

  “When are you leaving?” he asked, breaking her out of the sensual fog the music and his touch had formed.

  She wet her lips, looking up at him, trying to decide how to answer. This wasn’t the right place or time. She reached up and ever so gently traced his jaw line with her fingers. “Mark—”

  Lindsey’s father appeared by their side. “Can I have this dance?”

  She looked at Mark, a desperate question in her eyes. He gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m not going anywhere. Dance with your father.”

  She opened her mouth to speak, and Mark rested his finger on her mouth. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  She nodded, trying to take comfort in his words, offering a bright smile to her father, and slipping into his arms. “You look very handsome, Daddy.”

  He watched her closely. “I didn’t want to interrupt you and Mark. I know you have some things to work through, but I wanted to make sure I cleared the air.” He paused. “He’s a good man, Lindsey. I was a stubborn old man who gave him a bum wrap.”

  Lindsey laughed. “Yes,” she said. “You were.”

  “I just wanted to make sure none of those things I said impact how you deal with Mark.”

  His concern touched her deeply. Lindsey smiled. “Thank you, Daddy. This means a lot to me. More than you know.” She paused, wondering what she should share. “I may be too late to resolve things. I’m not sure.”

  “He’s crazy about you,” he assured her.

  She hoped he knew something she didn’t. “But that doesn’t make him willing to become involved with me again.”

  He pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. “Do you love him?”

  Her expression softened. “Oh yes, I love him very much.”

  Edward stopped dancing. “Then go tell him. Get him away from here. Go someplace private, and make him believe it.”

  Pushing to her tiptoes Lindsey, kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Daddy.” She looked at him, amazed at the changes Elizabeth had made in him. He had been lonely, much like she had. Love had made him a new person. “Wish me luck.”

  She turned into the crowd, but she didn’t see Mark. Panic started to build. With each passing second, her heart pounded harder against her chest. But then he was there, pulling her into a dark hallway. Mark. The man she loved. Seconds later, his mouth was covering hers, and he was kissing her with such passion, such emotion, she thought she might go up in flames. Their tongues and hands explored as they molded their bodies together in wild abandonment.

  He pulled away too soon and she stared up at him, her breathing erratic.

  “I want you,” he admitted hoarsely.

  She already knew he wanted her, but did he love her? Closing her eyes, she reached for courage. Her lashes lifted, and she looked into his eyes. “You asked me a question,” she said. His gaze sharpened but he didn’t say anything. “You asked when I was leaving.” She paused, trying to assess his expression, but all she saw was smoldering heat and a hint of anticipation. “I use to think home was in Washington, but now I know home is where you are.”

  He leaned against the wall and let his head fall back, his eyes rolling shut. Fear wrapped around her heart. He didn’t want her. His sudden retreat made her feel like she had been slapped. Of course, she deserved rejection, but she so didn’t want it to be reality. Feeling the tingling of tears, the rush of painful emotions, she turned to leave.

  Mark’s hand snaked out and grabbed her wrist. When she turned, he was looking at her with an emotionless mask. “Why now?” he demanded in a low voice that seemed almost angry.

  Jerking her arm away was the first thought she had, but she couldn’t find the strength. She needed to be alone to think and cry. “Let me go,” she whispered.

  His face filled with harsh determination. “Oh, no, sweetheart. You’re not getting off that easy,” he said as he tugged her against his body. Lindsey refused to look up at him, choosing to stare at his chest. “Look at me, Lindsey,” he demanded.

  “No,” she said stubbornly. “Just let me go.”

  “Is that what you want?” he asked harshly, but then softened his voice. “Tell me, Lindsey.”

  She dropped her head to his chest as the first tear streamed down her cheek. Angry at her lack of control, she swiped at it. “No,” she whispered with her face buried in his shirt. Then she forced her gaze up to his. “That’s not what I want, but obviously it’s what you want. I told you I wanted to be with you, and you went cold on me.” She wiped another tear away with a rough swipe of her hand. “I put it all on the line, as hard as that was for me, and you—”

  “You put it all on the line?” he demanded. “How about me? You’re the one who walked out on us, Lindsey.” His eyes were dark and turbulent. “I don’t want to count on you⎯correction⎯I won’t count on you again and then have you turn your back on me. I can’t do this again. Not like before.”

  And then she understood. He was afraid she was still undecided. She hadn’t convinced him how serious she was. Quietly, she asked, “Remember my nightmares?” He nodded slowly, his eyes holding a question. “They weren’t about the murders. I’ve been having them every night since I went back to Washington. At first I thought we hadn’t gotten the right guy, that my subconscious mind was warning me there was still a murderer loose.” She looked down and tried to calm her shaky voice by inhaling and exhaling. When she felt able, she looked back up at him and continued, “And they really were warning me, but not about what I thought. All along they were about you and me. About me being afraid of you leaving me.”

  He let out a heavy breath. “What are you saying, sweetheart, because I need you to be real clear with me. No guessing games and no maybes.”

  Her lips trembled as she spoke her heart. “I’m saying, I love you, Mark Reeves. I love you so much it hurts every minute I’m not with you.”

  Mark’s hands cupped her cheeks. “There is no in-between this time. Are you sure?”

  Tears streamed down her face. “I love you, Mark. And I want to be with you every day of my life. I even want to work by your side, if you’ll let me. You were right, you know? I’m an attorney. It’s what I have always wanted to be, but it took you to help me see it.”

  He kissed her then, so tenderly, so perfectly full of love that Lindsey felt dizzy. Before he said the words, she knew. She had known a long time, but she had been afraid. He raised his head, his knuckles softly caressing her cheek , his eyes potent with emotion as they met hers. “I love you, Lindsey Paxton.”

  She smiled through her tears. “You have no idea how glad I am to hear you say those words. I was so afraid I waited too long. I was such a fool, Mar
k.” She grabbed his hand and kissed it. “I’m sorry.”

  “I know how you can make it up to me,” he teased.

  She laughed through her tears, loving how easily he made her smile. “Well, I hope it’s with hot sex.”

  “That is the best offer of apology I’ve ever heard.” Mark wrapped his arms around her waist, his eyes dark with emotion. “Marry me, Lindsey,” he said tenderly. “Spend the rest of your life with me, and make me the happiest man alive.”

  Lindsey wrapped her arms around his neck. “I would be honored.”

  He kissed her again, a long kiss that sealed their future. “Let’s elope, tonight. We’ll go back to Vegas.”

  Lindsey stared up at him, surprised. A slow smile filled her face. “I like Vegas, and I love you, so let’s do it.”

  PRELUDE

  One Dangerous Night

  Blake’s journey begins...

  The first meeting...

  Hot women, fast cars, and living on the edge pretty much summed up Blake Walker’s life for the past two years. All of which were simply diversions, ways to distract himself until he had the ultimate prize he sought...revenge. Though at the moment, the leggy brunette who’d just sashayed into Denver’s ‘The Rooftop Lounge’ inside the ritzy hotel his client had booked for him, her hair pinned up, and her sexy curves tucked beneath a prim cream colored skirt and blouse, had his eye.

  Blake draped his arm on the back of the booth he was lounging in, devouring her with his eyes, while he nursed a beer he didn’t want. He’d seen enough booze and drugs in his days at the ATF to last a lifetime, enough death along with those things, to last a lifetime. No. Not enough. It would never be enough until the murdering son-of-a-bitch cartel leader, Alvarez, was ten feet under. Then there would be enough death and not a second sooner, and since that attitude didn’t set well with his higher-ups, he’d decided working with his brothers at Walker Security sounded pretty damn good. Of course, his brothers Royce and Luke weren’t keen on murder either but based on how they felt about their new spouses, he’d bet his weight in gold they’d change their mind if it had been their fiancée killed in cold blood.

  The woman scanned the dimly lit modern room, taking in the carved out circular booths like the one he was in and the mini-round tables with candles flickering on top, until her eyes found him, and he sensed a hint of trepidation in her. He almost snorted. She was working for a guy named ‘Richter’, a high-up in one of the many corporate shells Alvarez used for money laundering, and she actually seemed to size up his long dark hair and leather jacket with disdain. He knew her type, the ones who justified their work in the world they were living by hiding it beneath righteousness or naivety. In her case, she came with a dose of prickly and prim, no doubt, for effect. Oh yeah, he knew her type all right, and didn’t like them, but as her eyes met his a jolt of awareness rocked him. There was something about this woman. The idea of tearing away the mockery of her properness and forcing her to admit what she was appealed to him in a big way. After all, he needed intel, and what better way to get it than halfway to orgasm with the promise of going all the way. Get fucked or do the fucking. He wasn’t getting fucked anywhere but the bedroom, and by choice, ever again.

  She tore her gaze from his and his lips quirked as she scanned the bar yet again. Despite her rather successful attempt to look uneasy, he had the distinct impression she was counting heads, like he had. He did the inventory in his head again with her. A couple in the far right booth. Another in the far left. A middle aged drunk telling his troubles to the bartender and two girlfriends chatting it up at a center table. She wasn’t naive, this one. She knew what she was doing. Finally, her attention slid back to him, her only prospect for the meeting her boss had arranged.

  He arched a challenging brow at her. She straightened her spine and marched towards him. He watched her walk and didn’t hide his admiration. He wanted her uncomfortable. He wanted her to slip up and tell him things she wasn’t supposed to tell him.

  “Mr. Wright?”

  Blake gave a nod. “That’s right,” he joked, playing on words. “But call me Blake.” He used an alias for his last name but found sticking to his real first name was safer than not. It made little slips of tongue less likely. “And you must be-”

  “Tiffany Snow,” she said, but there was something awkward about the way she said her name that made him question it being real. Of course, the fact that it sounded like a porn star didn’t help him keep his mind off undressing her.

  “I thought Rachel Merit was coming.”

  “She was suddenly tied up so you got me.” She motioned to the seat. “May I?”

  “Be my guest.” He lifted his beer. “Drink?”

  “No,” she said, slipping her briefcase and purse from her shoulder. “I don’t drink.”

  He barked out laughter.

  Her brows dipped. “What’s funny about that?”

  “More ironic than funny considering who your boss is.”

  “I wouldn’t know what that means. I’m new to Newport Industries.”

  “How new?”

  “One month.”

  “And you were sent to meet with me? You must have exceptional skills.”

  “I’m efficient.”

  “How efficient?”

  Her eyes, a milk chocolate brown a shade lighter than his own, held his. “I guess you’ll have to decide that when we complete out business.”

  Whoa Mama. There was an invitation if he ever heard one. So Alvarez had sent him a present to fill his fancy hotel room with. Wasn’t that something? “I guess I will.”

  Her teeth scraped her coral painted kissable mouth. He could think of a lot of places he’d like that mouth. “I understand you have a file for me?” she inquired.

  The file being dirt on a certain businessman her boss wanted to blackmail, a test to see if Blake was worthy of bigger and better things. Blake would have felt guilty about just how thorough his file was if said business man wasn’t a lowlife thief. “And you have money for me?”

  “If you’re owed money, I assure you it’s in the package. I’ll just need the file first.”

  “It’s in my room.”

  Those lush lips parted. “Your room,” she repeated.

  He leaned in closer. “Some things are better done in private. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  Seconds ticked by, and the air thickened, charged. There was more to this woman than met the eye, and he found himself wanting to discover every inch of that more, and then some. “My boss did stress discretion,” she finally said, her voice just a bit breathless.

  “Well then,” he drawled. “Let’s be sure and give it to him.” He tossed money on the table and pushed to his feet, before offering her his hand to help her up.

  She stared at his hand a moment, playing the cat and mouse game, oh so well. She wasn’t a mouse though, this one. More like a wildcat, he was willing to bet, and looking forward to finding out.

  She retrieved her things before standing up, ignoring his offer of help. “Lead the way, Mr. Wright.”

  Oh, he intended to. If she was willing to sell her body and soul to a murdering monster for a paycheck, he wasn’t going to feel guilty about using her for everything she might have to offer.

  The Exchange...

  They stepped onto the elevator alone, and his little would-be good-girl secretary that wasn’t, turned her back to the right wall to face him. Blake punched in the floor of their destination and leaned casually against the wall. She was wearing a thin dress and it was winter in Denver, Colorado. Where was her coat?

  A couple pushed into the car just before the doors shut, separating the two of them, then backing against the wall so that they could still make eye contact. He sized up the couple -- middle aged, corporate types -- both wearing wedding rings he didn’t think they gave each other. He dismissed them as no threat almost immediately, refocusing on Tiffany -- if that was really her name.

  They might not be alone but the awareness was there between
them nevertheless, that charge he’d already felt in the air intensifying with each passing second in a way he hadn’t experienced with a woman in far too long. Why it was this one he didn’t know, but he figured it was simply the high of how close he was to Alvarez. Finally, he’d found his mockery of a corporate shell, and he was inches from locating him.

  Two floors passed and the elevator doors opened. Blake motioned to the newfound informant, who didn’t know that’s what she was about to be, silently letting her know this was their floor. She pushed off the wall and headed into the hallway. He joined her, resisting the urge to touch her. Not yet. Soon. Very soon.

  “I’m at the end of the hall,” he commented.

  “Of course,” she said quietly.

  He cut her a sideways look. “Of course?”

  “I’ve never known anyone to be at the door by the elevator,” she supplied. “Have you?”

  He shrugged. “I never gave it much thought.” But he had. The location of the elevator for fast escape was always a consideration, as was the long walk to what was likely a one night stand, in which you question how smart your actions were. Only he wasn’t questioning any such thing. She was, though. Where she’d been cool and confident before, he sensed barely contained nerves that didn’t quite match the persona beneath the exterior he’d assumed. What was it about this woman that didn’t quite compute as right? And why the hell did he suddenly want to comfort her? He resisted the urge to scrub his jaw, aware of her beside him, of the feminine, alluring way she moved. Of the soft scent of some sort of flower -- jasmine or honeysuckle -- or some sweet something he’d never liked until now.

  At the end of the hall, they stopped at his door to a room he’d intentionally had changed in case the original one had been bugged. Not that he couldn’t debug or defunct anything electronic he chose to, but safe was always better than sorry.

  Impatience wasn’t a trait he favored, but his blood ran hot for this woman and his hand moved quickly to swipe the key. On some level, he recognized this was an invitation for trouble. He shoved the idea away as ridiculous as he opened the hotel door and motioned her forward. She didn’t hesitate. In fact, she rushed forward, seeming eager to get out of the hallway.