Authors: Lori Foster
“It tastes and smells like licorice. Black licorice.”
“All right. I’ll keep that in mind. Right now, I’m going to talk to the night guard. Take a look at security tapes. Then I’m going to drive around and see if I can catch sight of our perp. You be sure to call me if you need anything. Otherwise…”
She paused and looked at him. “Otherwise?”
He swallowed hard and took a step back. “I’ll see you later. So you can meet my granddaddy. Are we still on for that? I’d understand if you’re calling in sick….”
She shook her head, then licked her lips, leaving a sheen of moisture he wanted to trace with his finger. “I’m not altering my life for some psycho who hides out in parking lots. I’ll see you later tonight.”
He smiled. “Tonight. Until then, remember what I said before, too, darlin’. Sweet dreams.”
“Yippee ki-yay.”
Still groggy from sleep, Molly gradually grew aware of Gator’s squawking in between the incessant buzz of her alarm clock. Sunlight filtered through her fluttering lids and she groaned. She would have grabbed a pillow to block out the noise, but even in her sleep-deprived state she was careful. Besides, instinctively she knew she wasn’t alone. Even now, a male had his face buried in her neck.
And judging by the smooth, hard surface butting against her, he was happy to see her.
Gator’s beak rasped lightly against her skin as he once again lifted it to chime, “Yippee ki-yay.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she said. “The first movie was great, but then what happened? Bruce is due another blockbuster, don’t you think?”
Gator squawked in agreement. When she was home, she rarely kept him in his cage, but it was at night that he particularly liked his perch and freedom to roam about.
With a groan, she opened her eyes all the way and reached out to smooth Gator’s feathers. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, buddy. At least one of us is.” She sat up and immediately winced. Her left eye felt as if it was on fire. She widened and narrowed her eyes, trying to get rid of the proverbial cobwebs until she could read the digital clock next to her bed. Eleven a.m.
Groaning again, Molly got up, put on her favorite robe, then brushed her teeth while examining the massive shiner under her left eye. She’d have to pile on the makeup and then maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t look as if she’d been in a street brawl. As a favor to Nina, she was attending a charitable gala at the Magnolia Plantation before work. The plantation and surrounding gardens were an elegant and popular setting for some of the area’s most upscale events. Heaven forbid she show up looking like she’d gone nine rounds in the ring with—
A loud knock on her front door made her jump.
The first thing she felt was fear.
Last night, her attacker had known her name. Maybe he knew where she lived. Maybe he was at her door right now.
The next thing she felt was rage.
Because of her abusive father, she’d spent most of her childhood living in fear, until her grandparents had taken her in. When she’d finally gotten out on her own, she’d sworn never to live in fear again. To never let a man dictate how she lived her life. She could still hardly believe her mother had stayed with her father despite his abuse. Molly had been a child then. Now Molly was nearly thirty, and damned if she would let a stranger shake her foundation so ruthlessly.
She searched for some kind of weapon when another knock sounded.
“Molly, it’s Officer Wade King.”
Her anger morphed into intense curiosity. Why was hot Officer King knocking on her door? And why was she feeling such delight because of it?
Ruthlessly, she pushed the feeling away. Stepping toward the door, she called, “How’d you find me?”
"I got your personal information for my report, remember?”
She gnawed at her lip with indecision. While every cell in her body demanded she let this man into her house, she hesitated.
Gator squawked, then flew into the room and landed on her shoulder. Automatically, she braced her arm out so he could trail down to perch on her forearm. At the feeling of his weight, her anxiety diminished slightly. But not completely.
She’d heard stories about assaults being committed by cops. Or people pretending to be cops. But she doubted Wade King had hijacked a patrol car, police uniform and all the other accoutrements she’d seen on him last night in an elaborate attempt to…w hat? Save her and then attack her in her home in broad daylight?
But she still didn’t open her door.
“Molly, why don’t you call the police station and ask them about me?”
She jerked and, even though she felt slightly foolish, she walked to the phone and did as he said. A few minutes later, the dispatcher confirmed that Officer Wade King had called in and warned them to expect a call from a Ms. Molly Peterson, and that he was currently at her house. Slowly, still balancing Gator on her arm, she opened the door.
"My little friend,” Gator squawked.
Wade's eyes crinkled in a way that made her insides clench just the way they had the first time she’d heard his voice. “At least he’s not calling me a bastard today.”
He was out of his uniform and dressed casually in jeans and a short-sleeved polo shirt. Thick biceps stretched the openings of the sleeves, and she was once again struck by how handsome he was. There was a slight furrow between his brows. “I know you worked late. I’m sorry to show up here so early. I was just…”
The silence hung in the air as the possibilities went through her mind: he’d just been in the neighborhood. Or he’d just been in a hurry to finish his report and had additional questions….
“I was just worried about you." He cleared his throat. "I wanted to make sure you were all right."
She sucked in a breath.
“Sorry to show up unannounced.” He shrugged, then seemed unsure what to say next.
“You’re out of uniform.” Immediately, she felt foolish for pointing out the obvious, but she couldn’t get out of her head that he was worried about her. Was that in a protect-and-serve kind of way or something altogether different?
He looked down at his clothes and battered cowboy boots and smiled. “I got off shift a little while ago, but I was thinking about you. Wondering how you are. Truth is, I could have waited to see you later tonight, but I didn’t want to be distracted when I brought my grandfather in. I hope that’s okay.”
It felt more than okay, but she couldn’t say that, of course. “That’s fine.” She pulled the door open wide and gestured with her hand. “Please come inside.”
He walked in and looked around.
She tried to view the carriage house from his eyes. Looking at him dressed so casually, he didn’t appear to be the grandson of a socially prominent man. But he’d said as much on the phone yesterday. Also, because she hadn’t been able to sleep, she’d researched him on the internet. To say his family was affluent was definitely an understatement.
The King family was renowned in Charleston.
He was from old money. Lots of old money. His family home looked like something out of
Gone with the Wind
.
Someone like that, she’d thought, would be the type to lord his privileged background over others. That’s why, when he stepped inside her home, she waited to see the thinly disguised disdain in his gaze. Or, at the very least, some trace of arrogance. Instead, all she saw was
appreciation for the cozy touches she’d added to the carriage house. And an endearing awkwardness that almost made her think he was feeling shy around her.
But that was impossible, wasn’t it? The guy was all charm and testosterone. Why would he be shy around
her
?
“How are you feeling?” he asked, and took a step closer to her.
A step too close, obviously, for Gator suddenly shouted out, “Bastard.”
They both stared at each other a second before bursting into mutual laughter.
“Maybe I didn’t need to check on you. Looks like you’ve got your own personal bodyguard right here. May I?” He extended a finger while cocking his brow.
“Uh, well, I don’t mind, but Gator’s a little skittish around strangers under the best of circumstances and—”
But Wade was already working that magic voice of his, rubbing Gator with his finger, soothing and crooning and cajoling Gator to come to him. And to Molly’s shock, the parrot actually did. For several seconds, he perched on Wade’s arm, head tilted, staring at him inquisitively before suddenly shouting, “Yippee ki yay,” and then flying onto Molly’s shoulder.
She petted him with the crook of her finger. “Anyway, as you can see, I’m fine. We’re fine. But I appreciate you checking.”
He nodded, but his gaze darkened as he focused on her face. In his other hand, he held up a digital camera. “You made a good point about your injuries being more visible with time. I thought I’d take a few more pictures. Do you mind?”
“No. That’s fine.”
Nodding, he stepped closer, focused his camera on her and took several shots. At one point, he pushed back a strand of her hair and lightly traced the arch of her cheekbone with his fingertips. “That looks like it hurts.”
“It’s a little sore, but not too bad,” she whispered.
His gaze lowered to her mouth before he stepped back again. He took several photos of her face and palms, then said, “Do you have any other injuries that have only now showed themselves? Other than those I can see, I mean?”
She tugged at her robe lapel. “No. Nothing.”
To his credit, he managed not to look disappointed. “All right, then. If you’re sure you’re okay, I’ll be going. But please be extra careful. And if anything happens to make you uncomfortable, you still have my phone number, don’t you?”
“Yes. I do.” Relief swept through her at the knowledge that this tension between them would finally be over. But she felt disappointed, too. His face and especially that voice were hard to resist.
“Great.”
“Great,” she echoed.
“I’ll see you tonight.”
She suddenly remembered the appointment with his grandfather and felt a jolt inside her. At least she’d have some time to recover before she’d see him again. “Yes, tonight.”
He stopped at the door and turned around. “Unless… This isn’t exactly kosher. I’ll be upfront about that. You’re a crime victim and I was the responding officer. I’m glad I was there, but it complicates things in terms of—” He shook his head. “Sorry, I’m babbling. What I mean is, despite the fact it’s not something I’d normally do, I’m hoping I can interest you in some coffee before tonight?”
She was tempted. Very tempted. But then she remembered everything she’d read about him on the internet. “No. I appreciate the offer, but I’m not interested.” She lifted her chin, hoping the action would give more credence to her reply.
He stared at her for several seconds. “Are you romantically involved with someone, Molly?”
She swallowed hard. Shook her head. “No, I’m not. But I don’t think that’s—”
“No means no, and you turning me down won’t affect the way I handle your case, I promise you that, but I feel a spark between us. Something worth investigating. I’m pretty sure you feel it, too.”
Wow, talk about getting to the heart of the matter. Was he always so straightforward? Despite herself, she found his manner quite refreshing. And alluring. Which was dangerous. Hadn’t her experience with men taught her anything? “You’re wrong,” she forced herself to say. She didn’t clarify whether she was denying the spark or the something worth investigating. “Here, I’ll show you out.”
But he didn’t move. “Look, I know you don’t owe me any explanations, but did I—did I do anything to make you uncomfortable? To make you fear me?” He looked genuinely concerned. In a flash, she remembered feeling his hard body against hers last night and how he’d politely tried to hide his physical reaction from her. She’d appreciated his discretion even as she’d felt a tingling response at the knowledge that he was attracted to her. As attracted as she was to him.
She bit her lip. How could she explain she didn’t want to open herself up to being hurt by a man again without actually explaining… “No. It’s just, I’m just—I’m happy with my life the way it is. I’m not looking to complicate things.”
He pursed his lips, stared at her as if he was mulling her words over in his head, then smiled. “Well good. Because neither am I.”
Was that another spurt of disappointment she felt? “Good, then it’s settled. No complications for either of us.”
“Yes, it’s settled,” he said easily. Too easily.
For a second, she was suspicious.
He stepped out onto the porch and turned back to her. “But one thing, Molly. I’ve found that sometimes things that seem like complications turn out to be blessings. So please don’t write me off yet. Not until you figure out which one I am.”
Wade knew a skittish female when he saw one.
And Molly Peterson was definitely skittish.
With good reason. Case in point, the attack she’d suffered the night before. But he had a feeling there was something else at play. Something in her past that was the more likely cause. He could tell by the precise way she carried herself and her manner of interacting that she was an independent spirit. There was also the fact that she’d fought back against her attacker, and that she’d obviously had some self-defense training. She didn’t trust easily, yet she had a big heart. And a courageous one. She’d have to in order to do the kind of work she did. He could tell it was more than just a job to her—she actually cared about people she’d never even met.
He admired that. It had taken him far too long to drum up the courage to leave his father’s law firm and do what he truly wanted to in life. That’s why he was in his mid-thirties and just beginning his law-enforcement career. Police work was too blue collar for a family as pedigreed as the Charleston Kings. At least, that’s what his father had always said. And what Wade had always believed. Until he’d lost his grandmother, and his grandfather had become determined to encourage his grandson to do what made him happy instead of doing only what people expected him to.
Listening to his grandpa Paul was the best decision Wade had ever made. Even the more mundane aspects of police work interested him, and he had a personal goal to make detective within the next few years.
“We going hunting, Wade?” his grandfather asked now.
Wade turned to look at his grandfather, who sat beside him. He really didn’t understand the whole hunting thing. Except for his obsession with that topic, his grandfather seemed fully functional. Cognizant. Even so, despite the fact Grandpa Paul was a guest at the gala this evening, Wade had tried convincing him to skip it. Grandpa Paul, now spiffed up in his custom tuxedo, had insisted. The event raised funds for the SPCA, his grandmother’s favorite charity, and his grandfather was on the board of directors. In truth, his absence would probably have caused more gossip than a little eccentric talk about duck hunting. Wade would just have to stick close by. They’d make a quick appearance, then get home to change before he took Grandpa Paul to see Molly.
“Wade? I asked if we’re going hunting.”
“Not yet, Grandpa. First we’re going to the party at the Magnolia Plantation, remember? After that… Well, I have a lady friend I want you to meet.”
“That so?” Grandpa Paul muttered. “And who’s this friend you’re talking about?”
Wade grinned. “You remember the girl I told you about? The one I met yesterday and want your opinion on?”
“Ah, that’s right. You’ve always had a keen eye for the girls, Wade. I’m sure she’ll be wonderful.”
Wade couldn’t argue with him. He already thought Molly was pretty wonderful, and he hardly knew anything about her. He wanted to know more.
The car slowed, and the partition between the driver and the passenger sections of the limo lowered. “We’re here, Mr. Wade. Would you like me to pull around the front or the back?”
He looked at his grandfather, who was staring out the window. “The front tonight, Samuel. Two Kings wearing their tuxes? We might as well give the ladies a thrill and make a production of it, right?”
Samuel chuckled. “Yes. Plus your father will be pleased.”
“You know I’m always looking to please my father, Samuel.”
Samuel just shook his head and laughed.
Before the driver could step out and open his door, Wade opened it himself and helped his grandfather out of the limo. Grandpa Paul looked good. His tall frame was straight and robust. His coloring healthy. His silver hair distinguished and styled. But then he mentioned those ducks and… Wade winced. He truly hoped the psych evaluation Molly conducted later tonight ended with hopeful news. His grandpa was one of his favorite people, and to think he might lose him, if only mentally, made him sick.
Governor Charles Whitaker greeted them as soon as they walked in the lavishly decorated plantation foyer. “Good evening, Paul. Wade. So lovely to see you here.”
“Good to see you, too, sir.”
“I believe you’ve met my daughter, Nina.”
Wade nodded and shook the hand of the pretty blonde standing next to the governor. She was as classy and beautiful as ever. It still threw him a little that she was Molly’s friend. Not because Molly wasn’t worthy of Nina’s friendship, but because Wade had once thought himself romantically interested in Nina. They’d exchanged a few flirtatious conversations and he’d considered asking her out not too long ago. Things had changed since he’d met a certain spitfire brunette yank. While he still appreciated Nina’s beauty on an objective level, he had zero interest in pursuing her. Instead he had his sights on her friend.
To his shock, said friend suddenly materialized in front of him.
“Molly?”
Her eyes widened and her “Wade?” was confirmation enough that he wasn’t hallucinating. Even so, his brain struggled to reconcile the image in front of him with the woman he’d talked to earlier. That woman had been bare-faced and in a robe, the bruises on her face stark in the morning light. This woman was made up to the nines, her lips glossy, her eyes heavily lined and her bruises almost fully disguised under her foundation and blush. She was wearing a simple, body-hugging blue gown that managed to be both modest and incredibly sexy.
His first thought was he was happy to see her. His next thought was he’d be even happier to see her out of her gorgeous dress and back in her simple robe. Or better yet, unclothed altogether.
Nina looked back and forth between them before she smiled. “Molly, I didn’t realize you and Wade had met.”
“We haven’t. I mean,” she said, blushing, “we only met today.” She looked at Nina pointedly. “Er, last night.”
“Oh. Ohhhhh,” Nina said, her eyes widening.
Obviously, despite Wade telling her that he knew Nina, Molly hadn’t mentioned him to her friend. Was it because of his grandfather and his request for discretion? Whatever the reason, it made his warm feelings for Molly grow even warmer.
Next to him, his grandfather cleared his throat. “Where are your manners, Wade? I’d like to be introduced to your lady friend.”
Wade jerked. “I apologize. Molly, this is my grandfather, Paul King.”
She smiled, and the expression lit up her face like sunshine on a cold winter’s day. “Mr. King. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Wade has spoken very highly of you.”
The caring way she spoke to his grandfather made him swell with joy.
“The pleasure’s all mine, ma’am,” Grandpa Paul said, as he reached for Molly’s gloved hand and lifted it to his lips.
He could tell his grandfather spoke the truth. Approval emanated from every pore. Wade had to work hard not to stare at how delicious Molly looked, not to acknowledge how damn jealous he felt that his grandfather had gotten to kiss even the back of her gloved hand.
“Ah, there’s Tyrone, Wade,” his grandfather said. “Talking with your father.”
Wade nodded reluctantly. “If you’ll excuse us,” he said to Molly, “My grandfather wanted to find an old friend of his straightaway.”
“Of course. Have a wonderful time,” Molly said.
“I’m hoping so,” Wade said under his breath. Not many women surprised him, but she had, showing up at an event like this. And the way she’d gone from simple beauty to glamorous, like flipping a switch? He couldn’t wait to find out what other surprises she had in store for him.
“Well, well, well. You’ve certainly been keeping some hot secrets, haven’t you?” Nina murmured. Molly’s friend looked like a million bucks, literally. Like Wade, she came from old money. People at the clinic couldn’t believe Nina had chosen to intern there instead of at some high-profile, ritzy research hospital.
“No. Not at all,” Molly rushed to reassure her. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Please, Molly. You’re trying to conceal it, but it’s written all over your face.” Her friend arched her brow. “You and Wade King?”
She tried to make her face unreadable, to hide how anxious being that close to him made her. “Me and Wade King what?”
“I’d heard he quit his father’s law firm and is dabbling with a new career.” Nina sipped her Chardonnay. “So he’s your police officer, huh?”
“Don’t say it like that,” she said, even as her stomach heated at the thought of him being hers. “He’s the patrol officer I told you about. The one who stopped that man who attacked me.”
Nina shivered suddenly, pulling Molly in for a hug. “Thank God Wade was there. I mean, I know you’ve learned to take care of yourself, but it sounds like the guy was much bigger and stronger than you. How are your hands?”
Molly looked down at the white gloves covering her abraded palms. “They’re doing okay. But I might have to leave in a little bit.”
“You just got here. You can’t abandon me yet, no matter how nervous Officer Wade King makes you.”
“He doesn’t make me nervous.”
“He would if you could see how he’s looking at you right now. He looks positively…hungry, darling, despite all the waiters carrying around smoked salmon, braised beef and caviar.”
Automatically, Molly turned in the direction that Nina was looking. Sure enough, Wade was standing with his grandfather and two other men, one who resembled Wade so much he could only be his father, but his attention was on Molly. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes lit with an intense glow. She suddenly couldn’t breathe. She heard a buzzing noise in her ears and was barely able to make out Nina’s next words.
“In fact, you’re looking pretty starved yourself, Molly. Come on, let’s get you what you need.” Nina tucked her arm into the crook of Molly’s and led her toward Wade.
Just then a dark-haired, handsome man came up just behind Wade. Recognizing him, Molly gasped. She pulled her arm away from Nina’s and walked in the other direction.
“I see you’ve got your eye on Nina again,” Wade’s father, Thomas King, said. “That’s good. Despite her philanthropic little hobby at the local clinic, she’d make an appropriate match for you.”
Wade barely refrained from rolling his eyes. To his father, an appropriate match had nothing to do with love, common respect or shared interests, but pedigree and political clout. Until Molly had mentioned Nina the night before, Wade had forgotten Nina had interned at the clinic. Even if he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have taken his concerns about his grandfather to her. He liked her, but he didn’t know her well enough to know if he could trust her with sensitive information like that. Yet he wholeheartedly trusted Molly, a woman he’d only recently come to know.. He knew she’d be discreet.
Even if he wasn’t being so himself.
Hell, discreet was the last thing he was being.
With the way he was looking at Molly, he might as well club her over the head and drag her into the nearest bedroom. He couldn’t seem to help himself. That’s exactly how primal he was feeling. His attraction to her was unbelievably strong, and it was only his duty to his grandfather that was keeping him from doing something about it.
Because despite her wariness, he knew she was attracted to him too.
She kept sneaking little glances at him, and he wanted to answer the curiosity in her gaze with more than just words, but again, this was neither the time nor the place. Soon, he thought, he’d have to explore his connection to the little yank more thoroughly.
Quite thoroughly.
“Can you believe Nina invited that little bitch here?”
At the venomous words, Wade frowned. He turned to the speaker, Elliott Grange, the governor’s nephew, who was standing just behind him.
“Elliott,” Grandpa Paul snapped. “Language.”
“I’m sorry, Paul, but Nina’s friend is a gold digger on the prowl. I should know. She was trying to dig her claws into me a few months ago before I finally had to ditch her.”
Wade stared at Elliott. He’d never liked the man, and he immediately recognized his words for what they were—sour grapes. There was more to it than that, though. Elliott looked positively dangerous as he glared at Molly.
Wade sized him up. He was about the same height as the man who’d attacked Molly in the parking lot. Despite the anger and suspicion swirling through him, Wade grabbed two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and handed one to Elliott. He caught his grandfather’s gaze, and Grandpa Paul winked before turning away to speak with Thomas.
Damn, looked like his Grandpa was his usual sharp self. Wade was relieved as he turned to Elliott.
“So who is she? And how come I’ve never heard of her?” Wade asked.
Elliott snorted. “Maybe because you do everything you can to avoid coming to these types of functions. I’m surprised you’re here now. Molly Peterson’s an old college friend of Nina’s, recently moved to Charleston after her grandparents died. They were in the movie business in Hollywood before moving south.”
He said “movie business” with a distinct sneer. Cocky little shit. Like he’d accomplished anything besides learning how to spend his father’s money and bossing around people whose respect he hadn’t yet earned.
“She’s pretty,” Wade said, tossing out the bait.
“She’s okay. Nina’s a whole helluva lot more beautiful. But the bitch has nerve, thinking I’d want anything to do with her.”
“You tell her that?” Wade asked.
“I sure did.”
Elliott must be the guy Molly had dumped. No wonder Molly had been reluctant to go out with Wade. With his comment about his grandfather being of a certain social stature and needing to exercise discretion, she probably assumed he was no better than Elliott. That annoyed him a little. Not enough to make him give up on the pull between them, but it irked him. Oh, maybe on the phone she would make that kind of assumption, but they’d met face-to-face. She’d seen for herself that he worked the streets, in a job as blue collar as anyone’s. He’d have hoped she’d give him the benefit of the doubt, but it looked like Little Miss Independent needed a lesson in not judging others just as much as Elliott did.
Well, maybe not quite as much.
“You’re such a prick, Elliott,” Wade said, leaving the other man staring at him openmouthed. “You always have been and you always will be.”