by Alexa Verde
Came with the territory, he guessed. She was a private investigator.
“Nah.” The corners of her lips tugged up, and her eyes sparkled. “I just asked Corbin and Kitty. Don’t be upset with them for telling me, please.”
Chuckling, he shifted closer to her. Outed by his children.
He and Mirabella should join the kids and Moirah in the dining room, but he couldn’t make himself move.
He needed to ask her a few questions without their darlings within earshot. That it provided a good reason to spend more time alone with Mirabella was purely coincidental.
Wasn’t it?
“Did you find out anything about the Daisy Killer in Sydney?”
A shadow passed over her face. “Not much more than I already knew. Cantorini was identified by his dental work because the body was burned so badly. But a small part of me still has doubts. I tracked down his relatives. Someone may have noticed I’m back and be out for revenge. No wife and the girlfriend I know about has since died. His sister, Jade, still lives in Austin.”
He studied her face. He could see where this was going. “Why don’t you wait this out somewhere? You know I’m more into buying new labs and production facilities than having a dozen homes, but you could stay here. Or if you don’t want that, use one of Brett or David’s places. With the kids at David’s, there’s nothing to stop me from coming with you.”
Before he even finished talking, she was shaking her head. Yeah, he expected that reaction.
“I need to find out who’s behind this. If it’s a copycat killer or the Daisy Killer back in action, there’s a good chance he might start murdering next. I can’t allow any more girls to die the way Karli did.”
As her jaw firmed and her chin lifted, his gut clenched. Yep, this was his Mirabella.
He crushed the urge to grimace. She wasn’t his Mirabella. Not anymore. Possibly, never was.
Would she ever be?
“You’re going to visit Jade.”
Her mouth tightening, she nodded. “There are a few other people I need to visit, as well.” She usually didn’t share any details of her work with him. So she surprised him by saying, “Karli’s previous boyfriend, Ross, and his girlfriend, Scarlett.”
“I remember you saying something about him before Karli died, that you didn’t trust the guy.”
Mirabella’s eyes darkened. “And I was right. Turned out, he’d been two-timing Karli with Scarlett. Plus, he benefitted from Karli’s death. Believing they’d marry, she switched the beneficiary of her life insurance to him. Everybody else assumed she was stabbed by the Daisy Killer because of the bouquet found on her. I wasn’t sure then, and I’m still not sure now.”
“Then why...?” He didn’t finish the question.
“I couldn’t find anything definite enough to take to the police, though Ross had motives and his alibi was shaky at best.” She lifted one shoulder. “If it was Ross, greedy for the insurance, he probably wouldn’t kill again. But serial killers? They don’t stop killing until they’re either jailed or someone kills them. At the time, it felt more important to stop the real Daisy Killer.”
“Makes sense. Though a difficult choice to have to make.” He should’ve realized that, in her business, few things were clear-cut. She’d more than likely faced many morally fuzzy decisions. Somehow, that increased his respect for the tough job she did—and did well.
A long breath escaped her. Almost a sigh, though Mirabella never sighed. Her shoulders sagged. “It was. Justice for Karli versus doing all I could to save other women like her from a similar death.” She loosed a humorless chuckle. “Well, maybe not so difficult. A no-brainer really. Every victim left behind grieving parents and friends. You know how hard Karli’s father has taken it. He’s aged twenty years in the five since she died. Every life cut short by senseless violence is a waste.”
Compassion squeezed his rib cage. He knew Archie McCoy through the older man’s literacy charity. Colt had helped with fundraisers and donations, and Archie, in turn, had assisted with Second Chance at Life, the charity Colt, Brett, and David set up. “I feel for Archie, losing a daughter. He’s a good man. I know how devastated I’d be if anything happened to one of the twins.”
“Please, don’t even mention such a thing!” A grimace convulsed Mirabella’s face. “I’ll need to let Mr. McCoy know I discovered scant useful information in Australia and check if anyone else has received daisies yet. And I think I should pay Ross and Scarlett another visit, too. Ross could be the one threatening me.”
“Why now, when you’ve been back a year?” That was the question he hadn’t thought of till later, after she told him about the daisies left at her office.
“I wasn’t advertising I was back before.” She shrugged. “If it’s Ross, maybe because he’s afraid now that I’m back in the investigation business I’ll want to dig into Karli’s case again. Whoever it is, whether Ross, a copycat, or someone out for revenge, my ads did put out the ‘Here I am, come get me’ sign. And my line of business doesn’t exactly make for popularity. There’ll be more than one person with a reason to threaten me.”
Mind whirling, he eyed her. Were those empty threats, or was her life in danger? If the person sending her threats had killed once, they’d kill again. He couldn’t let her do it on her own this time. Even if there was no chance of them being together again—his heart squeezed painfully at the thought—he couldn’t bear the possibility of losing her.
And he couldn’t let Corbin and Kitty get their little hearts broken again, either.
“Reconsider letting me hire a bodyguard for you, please.”
“Thanks, but no thanks.” Huffing, she gave a decisive headshake. “I’m a bodyguard.”
Again, that independent streak he couldn’t understand.
His jaw clenched as he suppressed a wave of anger. Giving in to anger never helped anyone, and he knew it well. The acrid tang of smoke filled his nostrils, the memory of fire and fear when Dad set the house blazing, leaving him and Brett parentless.
That’s where uncontrolled anger led.
But he couldn’t stand by and watch Mirabella risk her life, either. “How can I talk some sense into you? I want to help you.”
Her gaze softened, softening him in turn. “If you want to help me, keep taking care of the twins.”
“The twins need their mother. And I… I need you, too. I don’t want you to have to leave again.” Admitting it wasn’t easy. Raising his head, he met her eyes.
“Me neither.” So much feeling curved her lips and warmed her gaze. So much like the way she used to look at him, back when their love was fresh and clean and new. His longing to kiss her became nearly unbearable. How was it possible she caused such opposite emotions to surge through him?
Not that he did emotions.
Of course not. Somehow, around Mirabella, he had to keep reminding himself of the fact.
But listing everything that separated them did nothing to reduce the desire to brush his lips against hers. He took a step nearer, ready to draw her into his arms. Sweet anticipation tingled through every cell of his body, fizzing like a shook-up cola.
“The table is set!” Corbin bellowed from the kitchen.
“Mom and Dad, you have to wash your hands!” Kitty’s much higher tones held far more insistence.
Perfect timing. Physical attraction wasn’t enough to base a relationship on. He should have learned that lesson from their marriage. Yet still, loss twanged his senses. And “Mom and Dad”. The first time he’d heard one of the kids say the words strung together like that.
It sounded good.
Really good.
Seemed Corbin wasn’t the only one who wanted them together as a family again. And he didn’t mean just Kitty, either.
Forcing a smile as he glanced toward the ceiling, Colt spread his hands. “Well, just listen to that. Only seven, and the girl already orders me around.”
And he didn’t mind one bit.
“Just wait until she
’s fifteen.” Mirabella chuckled as she stepped back from him and turned toward the dining room. Was he imagining her chuckle and her words sounded every bit as forced as his smile surely looked?
A bond had formed between them again, fragile and tenuous, but a bond nonetheless. He wanted to wrap his arm around her shoulder, draw her closer, make that connection stronger. He almost had to form his hands into fists to stop himself from reaching out to her.
“Dad, Mom, please hurry up! We’re hungry.” Corbin’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
“We’ll be right there!” Mirabella called.
As he strode toward the dining room with her, his mind stayed busy. He’d have to come up with some way to protect her. He could easily take a vacation from the lab, and his managers could run the company in his absence. He spent so much time in the lab not because he had to, but because the research consumed him.
Something else consumed him now. Mirabella. The need to keep her safe. So he’d spent as little time as he could with her since her return. That had to change. If he spent as much time as possible with her till whoever threatened her was neutralized, the presence of a bodyguard or two to protect him would be easy to explain.
Or he could be her bodyguard.
She’d send someone hired to protect her away, but if tagging along with her wherever she went was what it took to keep her safe, Colt would do it. Whether she wanted it or not.
Preferably, because she wanted it. Forget pretending it was for the kids’ sake. He couldn’t lose Mirabella again, either.
Though he didn’t particularly like the idea of bribing the other tenants in the complex where she lived, he might have to go that route to keep her safe at night, if she insisted on going back there. He could make a handsome offer to the management or simply buy the building. It would give him the opportunity to place bodyguards in the apartments close to Mirabella’s.
Eventually, she’d figure it all out. But in the meantime, it should keep her safe. Only one problem with the apartment plan. It needed time to set up. Time he didn’t have.
Not when the killer could strike again at any moment.
Chapter Eight
As Colt and Mirabella entered the dining room side by side, her eyes widened, and she threw him a surprised glance. Because he’d had it decorated to match the colors she’d chosen for the dining room in their original house, colors she called foodie colors? The soft butter-yellow walls and sage-green drapes?
For the twins’ sake, that’s all. They needed sameness, continuity. No other reason, like hoping she’d live here with them.
Well, he’d told himself not, anyway.
The children turned expectant gazes on them. They already sat at the table, but hadn’t touched the food.
“At last. Can we eat now?” Corbin demanded.
No wonder the kid was impatient. Colt breathed in the mouthwatering aromas of the pot roast and fried potatoes. Moirah’s pot roast was almost as good as her barbecue ribs.
The cook stood by, waiting for him to approve the meal. He smiled his appreciation. “Thank you. It looks wonderful. Would you care to join us for lunch?” Though he didn’t believe in being too formal with his staff, he needed to be careful, too. A while back, after her husband died, Moirah had a crush on him. He didn’t want to give a wrong impression.
But with Mirabella here, it should be safe.
“No, thank you. I have lunch plans, sir.” Brown eyes glowing, she beamed at him.
“With Jackson,” Kitty whispered.
Oh yes. Colt had forgotten that his cook/housekeeper and his chauffeur/gardener were now an item. He was glad for them and thankful it saved him from any more awkwardness due to Moirah’s advances. He should’ve noticed she’d dressed up a little more today, and her shoulder-length chestnut hair was more carefully coiffed than usual.
Jackson deserved a raise.
“Enjoy your lunch. I’m sure we will enjoy your wonderful cooking, too.”
“Thank you, sir.” Moirah left, her high heels clicking against the hardwood.
“I hope Jackson and Moirah get married. Do you think they will?” Kitty asked.
“Important question. Not.” Corbin rolled his eyes. “Yeah, probably. Now can we eat?”
Barely stopping a chuckle, Colt glanced at Mirabella. Her shoulders shook, and laughter lit her eyes, making her even more beautiful. “Of course. But let’s say grace first.”
His faith wasn’t exactly strong. Lukewarm at best. But he’d resolved to raise the children as a Christian parent. Mirabella agreed, saying they could grow in their faith together with the children.
They could have, if she’d stuck around.
Pushing the bitter thought away, he took Kitty’s tiny hand and then wrapped his fingers around Mirabella’s slender ones.
The silence stretched. He should be focusing on thanking God for the food, not for the sweet sensation of holding his ex-wife’s hand again. He should be reminding himself, yet again, that attraction wasn’t enough to base a marriage on.
He knew it wasn’t enough. Their failed marriage proved it. But maybe, just maybe, it was a good place to start over from.
Colt cleared his throat to speak. He’d allowed the silence to stretch too long. Before he could, his son jumped in.
Corbin looked from Mirabella to Colt, and his upturned nose crinkled. “I’ll say grace. Ms. Ashley taught me. I mean, Aunt Ashley.”
“She isn’t miz anymore,” Kitty whispered. “She’s a missus. And she isn’t really our aunt. Only an aunt by marriage.”
“Ah, close enough.” Corbin shrugged.
Ashley, Brett’s new wife and the twins’ nanny, inspired both households with her strong simple faith. She didn’t preach her faith. She lived it.
With Ashley, his brother had found a genuine love to last a lifetime. Would he?
Problem was, he already had.
Mirabella. Beautiful, headstrong, I’ll-do-it-by-myself Mirabella. His throat constricted as they all bowed their heads.
Corbin started, “Dear heavenly Father, thank You for this food and please bless it and bless the hands that prepared it. Thank You for all Your blessings. Please keep Mom, Dad, and Kitty, Uncle Brett and Aunt Ashley—who isn’t really our aunt—and Moirah, Jackson, Zack, and Fred and all our friends safe in Your care. Please make sure our mom doesn’t leave us again and, please, will You make us a family again, too? We ask this in the holy name of Your Son, Jesus, amen.”
“Amen,” everybody echoed.
When Mirabella pulled her hand from his, he caught her blinking fast again, as if she tried to blink away moisture in her eyes. That didn’t look like his ex-wife. Mirabella never cried. But this was the second time today he’d seen her do it.
Either she had something in her eyes, or she’d changed.
She’d told him she wasn’t the same woman he’d married, as if it was a bad thing. But if she’d become more open, learned to trust him more, that change could only be a good thing.
He silently echoed a line from Corbin’s prayer. Please, Lord, will You make us a family again? He wasn’t sure if he was asking God to do it or asking if that was what God intended.
So hard to discern God’s will for his life. Maybe what he really should be saying was Lord, Your will be done.
The kids dug into their food.
Corbin had piled his plate with nothing but meat and potatoes, so Colt added some cauliflower and carrots to his son’s plate. “Eat your vegetables, too.”
“Sure, but I’d rather give them to Kitty. She loves them, right?” Corbin made an innocent face.
Colt struggled not to smile. “Your love for your sibling is admirable, but there’s enough for everybody.”
“Oh, I know what we’ll do with the extra cauliflower. We’ll give it to the soup kitchen.” Munching on her veggies, Kitty came to her brother’s rescue.
Mirabella chuckled and whispered to him, “They really are so adorable. Even cuter than they were as toddlers.”
&
nbsp; “Oh yes.” Love expanded his chest. Again, he felt the connection to his ex-wife, even stronger now.
They shared an overwhelming love for their children, and it bound them together, no matter what they felt for each other. Could they start over? Could he forgive the past and let go of his suspicions? Could she trust him enough to let go of her secrets?
He needed a wife he could trust. A wife who had equal trust in him. Right now, he and Mirabella had neither. But, Lord, Your will be done.
He busied himself with the delicious pot roast and crunchy fried potatoes. Moirah always got the hint of saltiness and spice in the potatoes just how he liked it. Better add some vegetables to his own plate to set a good example for Corbin. Then he helped Kitty to more vegetables and extra nut sauce.
He’d talked to the best dieticians he could find to make sure his daughter had a balanced diet and all the nutrients she needed in order to grow up healthy. Forcing her to eat animal products got him nowhere. At six, she’d insisted on becoming a vegetarian, and she’d taught him quickly to respect her wishes.
“Thanks, Daddy.” Kitty munched on a carrot chunk, smothered in the nut sauce she assured him was delicious. Then she whispered to Corbin, “I told you it would work.”
Colt gave into his curiosity. “What would work?” Corbin’s mischief combined with Kitty’s innovative mind had led them into a few predicaments that had given Colt palpitations.
“I told Corbin that I think Moirah likes Jackson.” Kitty fluttered her eyelashes with innocence while she sent a piece of broccoli into her mouth.
Mirabella rolled her eyes. “And you made sure Jackson heard it. And then later Corbin told you Jackson likes Moriah when she was within earshot.” As always, she put two and two together fast.
“Sometimes people need a little help.” For some reason, Corbin looked at Colt while he said that and then at Mirabella, before stuffing his mouth with more meat.
Mirabella wiped a dribble of gravy from her son’s chin.
“M–o–m.” Stretching the word to three syllables, he pulled a face, but let her.
