Authors: Candice Poarch

Deadly Intentions (11 page)

BOOK: Deadly Intentions

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Brian stroked Lisa's body to a glowing fire. Dear heaven, she'd never felt this high before. With roughened fingertips, he played a magical tune, first her face, her neck, following them with sweet kisses. He slowly swirled his tongue around each nipple.

Ready to explode, she cried out.

“Like that, babe?”

“Love it.” Was that hoarse voice hers? Already she knew he was patient.

His head dipped to her stomach, his hands rubbing over her, his tongue and breath whispering against her sensitive skin. He wasn't glancing over her body the way most men did to get to the finish line. No, he took his time. Paid tribute to each area. Drawing out every emotion imaginable.

Lisa loved the feel of his skin. Smooth, dark skin. Hard muscles beneath.

When he touched her thighs her legs stiffened.

“I'm ready,” she said.

“Are you, now?”

“Don't play with me.”

“I love to play,” he said as his thumb brushed over her clitoris.

Lisa cried out in pleasure as he stroked her, and then his tongue replaced his finger. As he tasted her intimately, his fingers stroked her nipples, her thighs, building her higher and higher until she exploded in a crashing orgasm.

He climbed up her body, caressing her until she calmed.

Then he lay on his back, bringing her with him so that she straddled him. Lisa eased down on him, rubbed her hands up his chest, bent down to kiss him on his taut nipples. She caressed his thighs, anything she could reach as she rocked back and forth on him, wanting to drag every bit of pleasure out of him as he'd dragged from her.

She couldn't believe it. Desire built, until she climbed to a second orgasm. His deep moan joined her high-pitched scream as they crashed together.

Lisa collapsed on his chest. “I can't move.”

“You don't have to,” Brian said, more than a little surprised. Nothing. Nothing had touched him as much as making love to Lisa.

Finally she slipped to his side to lay flat on the bed. He drew her to him.

“I'll get up in a minute and get a wash cloth, but I need a rest first.”

“Take your time.” But soon he heard her even breathing, letting him know she'd fallen asleep.

The next day, Lisa and her sister, Vanetta, went into their grandmother's room several hours after the angioplasty. With so many people in the room, their father and uncle took their grandfather to the cafeteria to eat.

Naomi was still in intensive care and the room had that typical sterile smell. Machines beeped around her and an IV dripped from a bag. Naomi had always been the picture of health. Lisa couldn't remember a day when her grandmother was seriously ill. Now, she was far from her usual chipper self. Lisa straightened the covers on her.

Although she was all doped up on drugs, Naomi seemed cognizant of her surroundings. “How are my girls?” she asked.

“The question is how are you?” Lisa said. She pulled a chair up close and rubbed her grandmother's hand.

Naomi smiled. “I'm fine. Don't worry about me.”

That did little to ease Lisa's concern. “I love you, Grandma.”

Naomi opened her arms. “Come, give me a hug.”

Lisa felt like crying when her grandmother's warm arms closed loosely around her, when she felt the steady beat of her heart against her own chest.

“I know you love me and I love you. You know that, don't you?”

Lisa nodded as she eased back into the chair, tears clouding her eyes. She tried to blink back the tears to hide them from her grandmother, but she saw them anyway.

“None of that, now. There's too much to do for tears. I want you to do something for me. I want you to do the crab fry this year.”

“I think that's a good idea,” Vanetta said.

“Grandma, you shouldn't even think about the crab fry now. Just concentrate on getting well.”

“I am. But we must continue our family traditions. They're important. I'm not going to live forever and I don't want them to stop when I leave here.”

“Grandma, don't talk like that,” Lisa said, alarmed.

“I'm not talking about leaving now, honey, but it's going to happen to all of us one day. I'm not afraid. But for now, will you do the crab fry for me?”

Surprised, Lisa's eyes widened as her hand touched her chest. “You really want
me
to do it?”

“Of course you. Cornell will help you, but you're in charge. You've cooked them with me enough to know how I do things.” Cornell was married to her cousin, Gabrielle, and owned Personally Yours. He delivered boxed dinners, a popular service on the mainland. He usually helped Naomi with the crab fry.

“Don't you dare give him my recipe. He's not ready for it yet.”

“But . . .”

“And I also need you to organize the historical booth and be in charge of it on Founder's Day. You don't have to stay all day, just make up the schedule,” she said, obviously tired. Her strength was waning.

“Grandma, let's deal with that when you're feeling better.”

“Just listen. I won't be able to manage it this time. The women on the committee will help you, but don't let them run it,” she said in a stern voice. “It's our family's history and I want one of us to be in charge. Make sure there's room for Barbara's information. We're including more information on Barbara's family, the Rochesters, this time.”

“But, Grandma . . .”

“Can you do just those things for me, Lisa?”

“Of course she can,” Vanetta said.

“Our family's traditions must continue, girls. They can't stop simply because I'm in here. You understand that, don't you, Lisa?”

Lisa regarded her grandmother's worried frown. This was the one person she couldn't refuse. Not her grandmother. Other people, maybe. But Naomi was the one person who always had her back. Was she up to the task?

Lisa nodded. “Okay, Grandma. You can count on me. I'll do it. I'll do my best.”

Naomi sighed, relieved. “Good. I can rest easy now that that's taken care of.”

“Grandma, don't talk like that.”

“Like what? I'm fine. Just need to rest. You go on to work. I don't want you taking too much time off. The doctors have everything under control with me. Besides, Hoyt and your mother are going to spend the day here.”

“We're tiring you out,” Vanetta said. “We're going to leave so you can rest.”

Lisa didn't want to leave, but her grandmother had already closed her eyes. Lisa glanced at the monitor's reassuring beep. She kissed Naomi on the cheek and stroked her arm before she backed out the door, her heart aching with worry as she turned to leave.

She said a short prayer, thanking God for bringing her grandmother through the surgery and asked His blessing to keep her well. She felt better after that. The one thing she'd never forgotten to do was pray. She walked on past others who were visiting their loved ones.

“You okay, Lisa?” Vanetta asked.

Lisa nodded. “How about you?”

“I'm okay. I love her, but you were always closer to Grandma. I'm worried about you.”

Suddenly, panic seized Lisa and she felt like she was having a heart attack herself. She breathed in deeply, but it didn't seem to help. She stopped in the hallway and leaned against the wall.

“What's wrong?” Vanetta asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. Lisa heard the panic in her voice.

“Vanetta, I can't fill Grandma's shoes.”

“She's not asking you to, but you can fry crabs, stand in the booth and talk about the family's history. It's all written out.” Vanetta placed an arm around Lisa's shoulders and urged her down the hallway. “You go to the event every year. You've even helped Grandma set it up and talk to people,” she said, with confidence Lisa was far from feeling. “You can do this, Lisa. Grandma knows you. She wouldn't have asked you to do it if she didn't believe you could.”

Lisa glanced at her imploringly. “Maybe you . . .”

“She asked
you,
” Vanetta said. “And you can do it. Don't underestimate yourself.” She glanced at her watch. “I have a meeting in an hour. Jordan is out of town and he's put me in charge of the hotel. I don't know how Wade feels about that. He has to be resentful.”

“He'll get over it. You're one of the owners. You have a right to be there.”

But Lisa's mind wasn't really on Wade. She'd just started a new business. Her favorite person in the whole wide world was sick in the hospital. Too many things were being thrown at Lisa at once and she didn't know if she could handle it all.

“Just one thing at a time,” Vanetta said. “You can do this.”

Lisa nodded. By the time she caught up with her parents and grandfather, she'd calmed somewhat.

“How's Mama?” her father said.

“She's sleeping,” Vanetta told him.

“The doctor said she came through the angioplasty well,” her mother reassured them.

“Thank God,” her grandfather said. “I better be getting back up there with her. Don't want her to wake up alone.”

“Yeah, I'm coming, too,” Lisa's father said. The men left and only the women were seated at the table.

“Are you all right, Lisa?” her mother asked.

“I'll be okay,” she responded.

“Your grandmother will be just fine.” Her mother wiped her mouth with a napkin and placed it on her plate. “Maybe I should have Charles drop by. Take your mind off your worries.”

“I can't take dealing with him right now.”

“Honey, you need a diversion.”

If only she knew,
Lisa thought. She'd already had a diversionâand what a diversion. She moaned. She'd thrown herself at Brian big time last night and she should be embarrassed, but it'd been so long since she'd had sex, and longer still since she'd had great sex. The vibes that flowed between them were so strong that she just couldn't resist. Tell the truth, she'd never had it like that before. She felt more relief than regret. Lord, that man knew how to handle a woman's body.

He'd wanted to talk that morning, but Lisa didn't want that great experience mixed up with false platitudes and promises he never meant to keep. They had one thing in common and one thing only. She was after the bowl. He wanted to solve his grandfather's housekeeper's murder. No need to get feelings all mixed up with fantastic sex. She could keep him just for thatâat least for a little while. Besides, men never meant what they said, anyway. Lisa must have zoned out for a while, because she finally heard Vanetta talking.

“Let Lisa deal with her own love life,” her sister said. “It might not be a good time for a new relationship. Or maybe he's not the right guy.”

“I'm only trying to help, dear.”

“She knows. But no one can choose for her. It's something she has to do for herself.”

Lisa stood. It did no good arguing with her mother. She'd stopped trying. She let her mother talk, and then she'd do her own thing, which was usually the wrong thing, but still . . . right or wrong, she had to make her own mistakes.

“Let's go, Vanetta. I've got a million things to do.”

“Where do you want me to take you?” Vanetta asked.

“Just drop me off at the motel. Brian will pick me up from there.”

Brian wished he could get a few things settled with Lisa. But it was the wrong time to discuss anything, with her grandmother's illness. He couldn't burden her with their personal situation. Not that she wanted to talk about it, anyway.

He hoped she had enough sense not to go out with the Adonis her parents had picked for her, not when she was sharing his bed.

Making love hadn't been his decision, even though he'd wanted her almost from the time he'd met her. Oh, yes. Against his better judgment he'd wanted her.

Lisa wasn't the Adonis type of girl. She wouldn't last with anyone that smooth and polished because
she
wasn't smooth and polished. She needed someone more earthyâlike him.

He dialed the number of the man who'd sent his grandfather the bowl.

“I'm calling to see if the golden bowl my grandfather purchased was sent to him.”

“I sure hated to part with it, but times are tough right now,” the man said. “The bowl was sent months ago by a special courier. The housekeeper confirmed the package had arrived. Are you saying it hasn't?”

“Unfortunately, the housekeeper was murdered recently,” Brian told him.

Brian heard a quick intake of breath. “I'm sorry to hear that. How horrible. Give me a moment and I'll give you the exact date the bowl was delivered.”

Brian held on and waited.

“Yes. A Harriet Woolsley signed for it.” He recited the date.

“Thank you,” Brian said before they hung up.

The bowl had been at his grandfather's for a long time. Why would somebody kill Harriet now when they could have gotten it any time if they'd only done a little research?

Justin parked in the garage of the Virginia Beach Marriott, where he was sure Greg's room faced the ocean. Why couldn't the asshole stay home?

Tootsie had lied to him. He'd spent the night thinking. She had to have the bowl. He was going to kill that damn Tootsie when he got his hands on her. A week ago, he would have beat her ass for double-crossing him that way, but now it had gone too far. His credibility was in question.

He rode the elevator to the eleventh floor and rapped his knuckles against the door. It opened immediately. Greg had probably been pacing as he waited. Justin shut the door behind him.

“Give me an update,” Greg ordered.

“I think it's changed hands. I'm trying to track it down.”

“Changed hands? Again? You moved so slow the last owner sold it before you could get it.”

Justin nodded. “I checked the house. It wasn't there and the old man's somewhere in Africa. His grandson doesn't have it either. He wouldn't leave it with anyone else.”

“How the hell did you let that happen?”

“I told you I'm on top of it,” Justin said.

“On top of it? The damn bowl was there and you let it slip through your fingers. You're on top of nothing.” Greg swiped his hands across his face. “If I don't get that bowl by Nick's birthday, you're going to pay.”

“I told you I have a lead.”

“You keep in contact with me every step of the way. I want to know everything you do.”

As if Greg was going to search for it himself. He wouldn't know where to begin.

“Okay,” Justin said, and left. He'd had about as much of that asshole as he could stand.

Now Justin had to find Tootsie.

Lisa saw Brian pull up in front of The Cove around the same time she and Vanetta arrived.

“Lisa, come in with me,” her sister said. “I have the name of someone who's looking for a cleaning service. I meant to put it in my purse but forgot.”

Lisa told Brian she'd be out in a few minutes before she followed Vanetta inside. A couple of limousines were parked in the driveway. Gardeners were working in the flower beds. Farther out, golfers were playing on The Cove's picturesque golf course. Lisa wondered how much business was being conducted out there.

Inside, she spotted Jackie chatting with Wade. Jackie laughed and he nodded toward Vanetta. Jackie then turned and smiled at them. Lisa wondered why she was even there and not at the hospital visiting their grandmother.

“Hey, I'm on my way to see Grandma,” she said when she approached Lisa. “Have y'all seen her yet?”

“We're just coming from the hospital,” Lisa said.

“How's she doing?”

“She's in good spirits. She was sleeping when we left.” Vanetta glanced at her watch. “Take care, Jackie. Wade, are you ready?”

“Sure.” He nodded at them and walked off with Vanetta.

“So why are you here?” Lisa asked.

“I asked Wade if there were any job openings here.”

“Are there?”

“Nothing. You'd think a place as big as this would have something.”

“It's not that large, just exclusive,” Lisa said. It was more an elite place for business travelers to stay with all the amenities: an eighteen-hole golf course, an Olympic swimming pool, a business center, luxurious rooms, and a five-star restaurant. Everything a businessperson would need. You had to be a member of the club to even stay there. At the rates they charged they couldn't hire cleaning persons who were half-stepping with the rooms.

“Now that you're here, can I talk to you a minute?” Jackie asked.

“Sure. What's up?” Lisa asked with reservation. She had a feeling she knew what Jackie wanted. They sat on a love seat in front of the fireplace in the lobby.

“That your new man?” Jackie asked, nodding toward the door where Brian had just come in. He went to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. Lisa's heart jumped.

“We're just friends.” As long as he didn't get all crazy and start expecting things she wasn't giving.

“I need a job. I'm desperate.”

“I . . .” Lisa sighed. She started to say that she didn't have anything, but how many times had Grandma, her sister, and even Aunt Anna and Gabrielle given her chances? What if people had stopped believing in her? Where would she be? She wished Wade had given Jackie a job here, but Jordan wouldn't tolerate anybody slacking off. The first time Jackie showed up late or a room wasn't cleaned properly, he'd have her butt hustled out the door so quickly dust would fly. But somebody had to believe in Jackie, like somebody believed in Lisa. And it looked like that somebody had to be her.

“Okay. But I'm going to schedule you to work with me so you'll know how I want things done. I can't have any slacking off, Jackie. The work has to be done right.”

She scoffed. “I know how to clean a house.”

“This isn't just house cleaning. This is my business, Jackie, and I need it to grow. I have to clean to certain standards so customers will spread the word to their friends. All my workers know to clean the house the way I want it done.”

Jackie sighed. “You sure have changed.”

“Jackie, I have to make this work. It's important.” She touched Jackie's hand. “Look, somebody gave me a chance, believed in me. I'm giving you a chance. I believe you can make it.”

“Yeah, yeah. I'm going to set up another appointment with the psychic. You gonna come with me? She can tell us about Grandma.”

“I've got a few things to do for Grandma. I don't have time.”

“You got so much to do you can't even take out a little time to go with me? What Magdelena said is already coming true.” She nodded toward Brian, who was glancing at area brochures. “You already got yourself a fine-looking man.”

“You know I don't believe in that crap.”

“But Magdelena is good.”

“I can't, Jackie.” Lisa stood. “I'll give you a call.”

“You gonna introduce me to your friend?”

“Sure.” They walked over to where Brian was standing. Lisa introduced them and Jackie left for the parking lot.

“Lisa?” Wade approached her. “Vanetta asked me to give you this.” He handed over an envelope.

“Oh, thanks.” Jackie had her so rattled, she'd forgotten about the new potential client.

Brian handed Lisa a cup of coffee. “Thought you could use this.”

She smiled her thanks. “Want me to drive?” Lisa asked Brian as they exited the hotel.

“I've got it.”

Lisa slid onto the seat and Brian drove off.

They talked about Naomi. Afterward silence reigned as Lisa mentally clicked through the new accounts she could work with Jackie. That meant extra work for her, but she couldn't put Jackie on a job with another worker and expect her to train and evaluate Jackie's work. Training was Lisa's job.

“Where to?” Brian asked.

“I need to pick up my car. I have to work the rest of the day.”

“Then I'll see you tonight.”

Lisa called the new client and they scheduled a time for her to come by for an interview.

“What are you going to do for the rest of the day?” she asked Brian when she hung up.

“Check up on a few leads. I talked to the guy my grandfather bought the bowl from. It was definitely delivered.”

“Then the thief stole it.”

“We didn't see it there. And my grandfather hasn't been around to store it anyplace. So I believe it was stolen.”

Lisa sighed. For every step forward she felt as if she were taking two steps backward.

“I know this isn't a good time, but we need to talk about last night,” Brian started. He knew Lisa didn't want to discuss their lovemaking, but they couldn't avoid the subject indefinitely.

“I thought it was women who always wanted to discuss things the next day. You don't have to make any false promises. I'm not asking for anything.”

“I don't make false promises.”

Lisa sighed. “I'm not looking for a relationship. The bowl is the only thing between us. Although I wouldn't mind having sex with you again,” she said.

Brian thought about it. It was obvious that Lisa had been hurt in the past. It wasn't going to be easy for her to trust again. He wished that he wasn't working blind here, that she'd open up more.

“What if I want a relationship with you?” he asked after a moment.

“Then we can end this thing right now.”

“I'm a one-woman man and I won't take it lightly with you fooling around with another man. Even if we don't have a formal relationship.”

“I'm not going to let you dictate what I can and can't do. I want sex with you. That's it. It's too dangerous playing the field. So you don't have to worry about me fooling around. Besides, I don't have the time or the energy for more than one man.”

“As long as I'm the only one you're having sex with, I can deal with it. For now.” He parked in front of his motel room. They both got out. He met Lisa at the hood, gathered her into his arms and kissed her long and hard.

He gazed into her eyes, making sure she was as affected by him as he was by her, before he limped to the door.

Wow. Lisa pressed a hand to her chest. Pensively she watched Brian's back as he paused to open the door to his room.

What a kiss. She tried to throttle the dizzying current racing through her. She couldn't deny what she felt, but his possessiveness disturbed her. Would he give in to her demands? Or was he waiting to press his wants at a later time? He didn't seem the type to follow, but she wasn't going to change her mind about their . . . what was it? Affair, friendship? Uneasy, Lisa went to her car.