by AK Leigh
He wanted to tell her. The urge put the words on his tongue. But he couldn’t speak. It was too soon. She would bolt from his apartment and never look back. He didn’t want that. He wanted this.
Whatever ‘this’ was.
He drew in a deep breath. Unless Elizabeth indicated that she was after something more permanent or serious with him, he would play it casual.
With her face nestled against his chest, he whispered in her ear, ‘I’m glad we decided to take things slowly.’
She chuckled, ‘Me too.’
He squeezed her tight. How long could they stay like this? Would he be able to convince her to stay the night? Was that considered casual or not these days?
He peeked down at her, hoping for inspiration on how to approach the subject. As he did, he caught sight of the familiar little bump on her nose.
He smiled, ‘Can I ask you something?’
She angled her head to look at him. ‘Sure.’
He pointed at her nose, ‘How did you get this bump on your nose?’
She chuckled as she reached up to rub it, ‘That’s a funny story actually. Carrie used to be a skater girl, and one day—I think we were about thirteen?—she dared Nina and I to skate down our driveway on her board.’
He’d been right. Childhood accident.
He grinned at the face she pulled. ‘I’m guessing it didn’t end well?’
‘You guess right … about ten seconds in, the wheels hit a rock and I went tumbling forward, face first onto the concrete.’
‘Ouch.’
She nodded, ‘Ouch doesn’t cover half of it. It fractured my nose …’ She pointed to the bump, ‘And left me with this fabulous reminder.’
He smiled, and stroked the area with his index finger, ‘I think it’s cute.’
She laughed, ‘Literally the first man to say that.’
‘Well, it is.’
Her laugh calmed to a wide smile. ‘What about you? Any childhood scars?’
‘Ah.’ He lifted his elbow and pointed to a tiny scar at the edge of it. ‘Broke my arm when I fell out of a tree. I think I was nine or ten?’
‘Aww.’ She rubbed her index finger over the still bumpy line. ‘Any others?’
He shook his head, ‘Nope.’
Not counting the emotional ones from having his parents murdered, of course.
She brought a hand up to his heart and nestled her cheek beside it. He started making slow circles on her back with his fingers. They stayed like that for a few minutes.
Then she said, ‘That, uh, rubbing thing you did to my neck ... that was ... awesome. You can do that again.’
He grinned and waggled his eyebrows, ‘You’re saying you want to do this again?’
Because he sure as hell did. All night, if he could convince her to stay.
She glanced up. Her face serious, she nodded, ‘I need to get my money’s worth, remember?’
He laughed, but stopped when he noticed something.
Her eyes glistened with the same vulnerability he’d detected when she’d climaxed. His heart clamped. How could he stop her feeling like she had to protect herself?
‘I love you.’ He thought he’d said the words in his head. The sudden tension to her body and the change in the air between them told him otherwise. Fuck. So much for keeping things casual. He needed to fix this. Fast. ‘Elizabeth …’
Chapter 27
Through sleep weary eyes, she realised she was staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling. Where was she? All at once, the memories swarmed back. The sinfully delicious crème brûlée, followed by the equally irresistible Gabriel Montcoeur. They’d made love. He’d brought down her walls, eased her doubts, made her feel things that her body—and heart—hadn’t felt with another man’s touch before.
Then … he’d told her he loved her. After knowing each other for six days! Okay, it was seven if you counted the day they’d passed by each other at Café Au Lait. But still. She’d had a go at Malcolm for saying he was in love after six weeks.
At first, she’d been too gobsmacked to respond. He’d started stammering something. It got awkward and tense. After what she’d experienced with him, that was not how they were going to end the night. She’d shut him up by planting her mouth against his and jumping on top of him. They’d spent the rest of the night making love. There was no talking and no more declarations of love. Thank goodness. Because she was still trying to figure her own feelings out.
She turned on her side. Smiling back at her was the man in question. ‘Morning.’
‘Morning.’ Before it could get weird, she blurted, ‘I have a press conference I need to get ready for.’
He nodded, ‘I remember.’ After a moment of hesitation, he added, ‘Will you come back afterward so we can spend the day together?’
Just like that, it didn’t feel weird or awkward between them. For the first time in her life, it seemed like the most normal and natural thing.
She smiled, ‘I have a class at midday, but after that, I’m all yours.’
‘All mine? I like the sound of that.’
She felt her smile widen, ‘Me too.’
He slid closer to her and made eye contact. His features turned serious. Uh-oh. He cleared his throat, ‘About last night—’
‘Gabe, you don’t—’
‘Please, let me finish.’
She offered a quick nod.
‘I meant what I said ... I’m in love with you, Elizabeth.’ Her heart flipped in her chest. Butterflies fluttered around her tummy. What the heck? Was it the combination of those three words with the way he said her name, or did this all hint at something more? The something more that had come to her while they were making love the previous night: I am dangerously close to being in love with this man. She had to be sure before she said anything.
His eyes bored into hers. It was as if he was attempting to keep her there just by using his eyes. It was working. The one thing that wasn’t was her voice.
He continued, ‘I’m not admitting this to scare you or put pressure on you. I’m telling you so you know where I stand. I want you and I want this. What you want and how you feel about me is up to you. You can let me know. In your own time. Agreed?’
She had to lick her lips to make sure she could still move her mouth.
Once she was sure she could, she heard herself say, ‘That would be okay with you?’
‘Of course.’
‘What if I can’t say … those words … for a while yet?’
‘Doesn’t change the way I feel about you.’
‘Wow.’
‘What?’
She shrugged, ‘I’m so used to men pushing me on this stuff.’
He tugged her closer, ‘I don’t ever want to pressure you.’
She couldn’t help smiling, ‘Thank you.’
***
He said nothing, deciding to offer her a noncommittal smile instead. He’d had a lot longer to fall in love with the middle Farris sister than she was aware. She embraced him. When her arms squeezed him, he felt a lump of guilt lodge in his throat.
How could he tell her he loved her, and let her believe he was this great guy for accepting it when she couldn’t say it back, yet lie to her? Now he had time to process it, there was quite a bit he was keeping from her: his reasons for being here, the length of time he’d been in town, and how long he’d known who she was: long before the campus gossip hadn’t gotten to him like she assumed.
You couldn’t base a long-term romantic relationship, which is what he wanted from her, on a foundation of lies. He would have to tell her everything.
He pulled away and locked her gaze, ‘You are amazing.’
She grinned, ‘You are amazing too.’
‘There’s something I have to tell you.’
I hope you understand.
She checked the alarm clock on the bedside table then looked back at him, ‘I’m sorry, but is it going to be quick? I really have to get going. I’ve got that press conference, remember?’
He rubbed the back of her hand, ‘It can wait.’
‘You sure?’
‘Yeah.’
He wanted to allow plenty of time for her to vent and ask questions, as well as give him time to explain why he’d done it. Which, now he was thinking about it, didn’t make as much sense as it had. He’d let fear stop him. What a stupid excuse. Would she see it that way too? Would she be able to understand and forgive him?
‘Okay. We can talk this afternoon.’ She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
***
Lizzie felt a nudge to her ribs. It was followed by Carrie whispering in her ear, ‘You’ve got that weird look on your face again. Cut it out. We’re talking about a murder for crying out loud.’
Lizzie covered her mouth, ‘Sorry.’
After a pause, Carrie asked, ‘How was the sex?’
‘Jesus Christ.’ Thank goodness she still had her hand over her mouth. Once she’d regained her composure, she lowered her hand and muttered back, ‘Fantastic.’
‘I knew it.’
Lizzie grinned.
Carrie reminded her, ‘No smiling.’
Lizzie forced her expression to blank again then focused on Nina, who was at the dais speaking to the media. ‘We are covering all possible leads and are confident we will have a suspect shortly ...’
Chapter 28
Don Silkstone
His stomach churned and hardened with each word the elder Farris triplet spoke. They were not going to ruin this for him. Clay Baronie was going to pay for his crimes. Nothing would stop him from keeping his final promise to Maryann.
Maybe it was time for him to intervene in a more blatant way? Throw Clay at the police as the only possible suspect. But how?
He rubbed a hand over his forehead in frustration. A moment later, a plan formed; a risky plan. Worth it if it paid off.
First, he would have to get to Port Douglas to check Baronie’s movements. He frowned. How could he keep an eye on the sisters and be in Port Douglas at the same time? What about the other part of his plan?
No. He needed to remain in Cairns.
As for the Baronie surveillance problem, there had to be someone he could get to monitor the man on such short notice. Especially for the right price. Money bought everything.
He knew better than to use the laptop the hotel provided, despite their assurances the hard drives were wiped after each guest had checked out. Instead, he pulled out his mobile, loaded the internet, and typed into the search engine: private detective Port Douglas.
Chapter 29
In the afterglow of their lovemaking that afternoon, Gabe kissed Lizzie’s forehead. When she smiled, it went right to his heart and lodged there. Though he didn’t want to leave her side, he felt clammy and sticky and needed to freshen up. That, and he needed some time to himself to figure out a way to tell her what he’d been avoiding since she’d left that morning. ‘Do you mind if I jump in the shower quickly?’
‘Go for it.’
He pulled the covers aside, ‘Help yourself to some coffee and food if you like.’
‘Thanks, I will.’
He kissed her once more, this time on the lips. Seconds before he entered the bathroom, he stopped to look back at her. She was staring after him. In fact, if he wasn’t mistaken, she’d been checking out his bare arse.
He laughed. ‘Like what you see?’
One corner of her mouth lifted, ‘Very much so.’
‘You can join me in the shower if you like?’
She shook her head, ‘Another time. I am in desperate need of some coffee.’
With that, she pulled the covers aside and stood. The sunlight filtering through the gaps in the drawn drapes framed her naked figure in such a way that he couldn’t help staring.
His focus was pulled upward by Elizabeth chuckling. ‘Like what you see?’
He grinned, ‘Very much so.’
She waved a dismissive hand at him, but her tone was playful when she ordered, ‘Get in the shower, you.’
His smile widened, ‘Yes, ma’am.’
She pivoted toward the kitchen. He watched her for a few seconds as confusion swirled in his mind: Will telling her chase her away? Or will it bring us closer if I am open and honest with her? He needed to clear his head. He pulled his attention away then left her alone.
***
Fully dressed, and with a steaming coffee in one hand, Lizzie wandered around Gabe’s apartment. Unpacked boxes were stacked up along the walls. It was almost as though he hadn’t been there long. But he’d told her he’d been there for a few weeks already. Maybe he was just a slow unpacker, or unorganised?
She wrinkled her nose as thoughts of her messy unit came. Who was she to judge him when it came to those things? She reached a computer desk. Papers and notebooks were scattered across it. At least this area was messy and well used. She smiled and turned. As she did, she felt her jumper catch on something. She stopped, but it was too late. A notepad toppled to the floor. She sighed, placed her coffee cup on the desk, and bent to pick up the fallen item.
It was open on a particular page. Something caught her eye before she could close it. An old newspaper article … with familiar faces on it. Her heart beat hard. No. It couldn’t be. She lifted the notebook to inspect the article closer. It was one that had been written roughly six months earlier. When they’d finished their previous case. That meant … Gabe had known who she was for a lot longer than he’d let on.
Her heart pounded louder. Why had he lied? What was he hiding? Was he stalking her? Using her for a story, like she’d first thought? How could he have done this? Tears threatened at the corners of her eyes. She wiped them away. He didn’t deserve them.
‘I needed that.’ She spun at the sound of his voice then saw his eyes dart to the open notebook. His previously bright smile darkened.
She held up the notebook. ‘Why the hell do you have an article about my sisters and I in this?’
He took a step forward and opened his mouth to respond.
She stopped him by holding up her hand and barking, ‘Stay where you are.’
If he really was a loony tune, she needed ample room to make an escape. She glanced at the front door. There was an unobstructed path should she need to take it.
In a low tone, he said, ‘I can explain.’
She scoffed, ‘Don’t try to tell me you got a copy the past couple of days. The colour of the paper suggests you’ve had it since it was first printed.’
Having a sister who worked in the field of forensics could prove helpful for some things.
‘That’s true.’
‘So you knew about my sisters and I before I said anything to you at the university that day?’
‘I did.’
Anger at being lied to heated her throat. ‘Are you stalking me?’
‘What? No, I …’
He glanced down in a clearly guilty manner. It was the thing he was hiding. Whatever it was she’d detected that day on their walk around the campus.
‘You’ve been lying to me since the day you arrived and you expect me to just take your word that you’re not a crazy psychopath?’
‘I’m not, Elizabeth. Come on, you know me.’
She shook her head, ‘No. No, I really don’t … and if you’re not a stalker, the only other explanation for having this article is …’ She hesitated, not wanting to say it out loud. Voicing it made it even more plausible. She swallowed and blurted, ‘It’s because you were getting close to me just for a story.’
‘Oh come on. What story could I possibly be after?’
‘I don’t know.’ A thought occurred to her, ‘The Baronie murder.’
‘What about it?’
‘You’ve worked on it from the beginning. Maybe your paper sent you here to get close to me to get further information. And the stint at the university is simply a ruse.’
He drew in a deep breath. ‘Elizabeth, as far as I know, it wasn’t announced that you were working on the case u
ntil three or four days after I arrived in Cairns.’
Okay, so anger didn’t provide the most plausible explanations for things in the heat of the moment. Still, whatever the reason for the article, it was unsettling and odd.
Wait. Did he say …
Her hands came to her hips. ‘Did you say three or four days after you arrived?’
‘Yes.’ His features blanked. He’d realised what he’d just admitted to. Another lie.
She let rip. ‘You told me you’d been seeing me around the campus for a few weeks!’
‘I know, I panicked, I—’
She held up her hands then swiped them in the air in a cutting action. ‘Enough. I’ve heard enough.’
‘Please, Elizabeth. I didn’t do it to hurt you—’
‘Oh, so that makes it okay does it?’
‘No, it doesn’t. I was going to tell you everything, including the reason for the article.’
‘Oh, really? When?’
‘This morning. Remember I said I had something to tell you?’
‘A likely story.’ How could he expect her to believe him after all the lies? The fury pounded in her heart. How dare he do this? She’d trusted him; she’d let her walls and doubts come down; she’d dared to open her heart to him. For this. ‘You were just using me.’
‘No I wasn’t.’
‘But you were lying to me.’
‘Yes.’ He lowered his gaze. ‘But …’
The hurt crept up her throat and out with her words, ‘But what? You’ve practically been stalking me. I should call Nina and have you arrested. You creep!’
He looked at her with compassion etched on his features, ‘I’m sorry I’ve hurt you. I wish I’d told you the truth from the start. Please, sit down and I’ll tell you everything.’
She looked away, but didn’t move from her spot. ‘You have two minutes then I’m leaving.’
***
He edged closer to her. Where to start? ‘Initially, I didn’t tell you because I was scared you would dismiss me straight away. As we’ve gotten to know each other better, each time I tried to tell you, something happened that stopped the opportunity. I tried to tell you again this morning, but you had to go to the press conference.’
