Nice & Naughty (8 page)

“Don’t give that ugliness a clever name, Jade. It only glorifies the rude act.”

“Right,” she said with a slow nod. “Okay, then. The detective is here to ask a few questions in relation to the recent series of unfortunate events.”

Before the other woman could call her out on the smart reply, Jade looked back at Diego. “Detective, this is Marion Kroger. She volunteers here at the library part-time, and she’s the chairwoman of Diablo Glen’s Friends of the Library group.”

“Detective,” Marion greeted stiffly after bending low to push her handbag to the very back corner under the desk. “Does the sheriff really think it necessary to assign an officer for just one crime? Especially one as frivolous as this seems to be?”

Frivolous? Jade thought of the mess in her bedroom. The torn books, the lingerie strewn everywhere. Of how hard it had been to sleep there, in the room that’d once been her haven. The creepy feeling of being invaded, of violation. That didn’t even take into consideration the two thongs and red satin panties that were missing.

Those, she figured, would cost her a few months of teasing, a lecture from her mother and probably a few heavy-breathing phone calls after they were publicly displayed.

Unless Diego solved the case first. She wasn’t sure which she wanted more. For him to catch the creep before her panties were draped over Joseph’s head in the town-square manger. Or to keep him around long enough for her to have her way with him—a few dozen times.

“I’m sure when all is said and done, it’ll be found that this whole thing is some holiday hoax,” Marion continued dismissively, primly restacking the books Jade had already sorted on the counter.

“The burglaries are real,” Diego stated. “And thanks to the recent vandalism and destruction of property, the case has been upgraded from petty theft to an aggravated misdemeanor.”

“Destruction? Vandalism?” Hands so freckled with liver spots they looked tanned, paused. Kroger gave Diego a hard stare, then folded her fingers together. “I didn’t realize the problem had escalated to that degree. If this keeps up, we’ll need an entire fleet of policemen here to protect us. What are you doing about this, Detective?”

“That’s what Ms. Carson and I were discussing. The mayor suggested she help me out.”

“Then what are you still doing here?” Marion asked Jade, giving her a shooing motion with her fingers. She looked around, ducked her head beneath the counter, then straightened and pushed Jade’s purse into her hands. “Go. Help the detective. Do whatever it takes to catch the nasty little thief.”

Well, then. No guilt trip over a short workday, no bitching about the books that hadn’t yet been sorted. Jade made a mental note to jot that down in her diary. It was a first, after all.

“Shall we?” she said to Diego, giving him a flirty look through her lashes. She’d be happy to give him a few other things, too, once they were in private.

The same spark of interest that’d made her tummy flutter earlier flashed in his eyes again before it was quickly banked.

He was such a challenge, clearly interested but just as obviously determined to resist the attraction.

Wouldn’t it be fun to see which one of them won?

7

W
HICH
WOULD
BE
LESS
PAINFUL
? Bellied up to a rock? Or wedged between a hard place? Diego had his orders, from two bosses, no less. And both sets of orders sparkled like crystal. Solve the case, follow the rules and enlist Jade’s help. Hello, rock.

When the crotchety old woman added a hiss to her glare, as if questioning why he was still breathing her air, he forced his feet to follow Jade toward the back of the library and what he was sure was a waiting hard place.

Clearly ignoring his concern about spending more time with her, he settled his gaze on the sweet rear view. Her shirt was too big and baggy, despite the cinched belt around the waist, to give a good look at her butt. But there was something hypnotic about the sway of her slender hips, the way those boots reached so high up her legs. His fingers itched to trace a path between the black suede and the full curves of her butt, draped under that crisp cotton.

Fantasizing now about which pair of panties he’d discover if he did, Diego barely noticed they’d left the building until the bright December sun smacked him in the face.

Blinking, he glanced around. A redwood pergola arched over the slate patio. Dormant winter branches climbed the posts, empty flowerpots were dotted here and there between benches. At the far end, opposite the door, was a small play area and covered sandbox.

“So, His Honor, the mayor, would like me to help on this case. But what about you, Diego? What do you want from me?” she queried, her look as innocent as her tone was naughty. Echoing the naughty, she stepped closer.

Close enough that he could smell the sweet spice of her perfume. Could count the row of tiny red gemstones curving around her earlobe, getting smaller as they rose toward her temple. Close enough that all he’d have to do was breathe deep to feel her breasts against his chest.

A fit she might not mind checking out herself. She looked as if she wanted to lap him up in a saucer, her eyes as satisfied as her cat’s. But there was something else in her gaze. Something hesitant, almost afraid. Like she wanted him, but was worried that he might want her, too.

Nothing said
I want you to take me now, but stay the hell away
like that kind of look. The latter lined up perfectly with the warning siren going off in his brain. But the finger triggering that siren wasn’t his. It wasn’t Kinnison’s or even Applebaum’s. It was his conscience. Rarely let out to play, it was screaming
Nice girl
. And guys like him should stay away from nice girls.

Diego wondered if this was how he was going to go. Not a nice, clean bullet through the head or something that’d look heroic written up in the newspaper. Nope, he was going to die of sexual frustration brought on by a conflict between his body’s desperate cravings and those nagging voices in his head. The voices wouldn’t be so bad if they were in line with his own finely tuned sense of right and wrong. Instead, he had tight-ass nagging boss voice and avuncular old mayor with a worrisome resemblance to a talking cricket in a top hat.

As always when he was conflicted, Diego fell back on intuition. And his intuition was telling him that Jade Carson was as sweet as she was gorgeous, would be as wild in bed as she was amusing out of it. And that she was trouble, through and through, for a guy who planned on cruising through life alone.

Chilled for some reason, he stepped back, putting some distance between him and Jade. Something flashed in her big green eyes. Hurt? It was gone so fast, he couldn’t tell.

It shouldn’t matter. He shouldn’t care.

But all he could think about was finding a way to bring joy back to her eyes, to make her feel happy again. Hell, he had to bite his tongue to keep from asking her if she wanted to talk.

To talk?

If his dick wasn’t hard enough to drill railroad spikes right now, he’d wonder if he was turning into a girl.

Clearly, Jade was a serious threat to his sanity.

Diego steeled himself with the reminder that he was a loner. A hard-ass who didn’t do relationships that required more depth than a paper plate. Bad news to any woman who considered a future past rolling out of bed in the morning.

Good enough. All he had to do was ignore that flash of heat, that almost kiss, those unnamed emotions in her eyes. As long as he did, she would keep her distance. Good girls were predictable that way.

Satisfied, and yeah, maybe a little smug, he prepared to fill her in on how he wanted this town-liaison role to work out.

Before he could say anything, she closed that distance between them again. He froze.

“I made you uncomfortable, didn’t I?” Her smile pure mischief, she reached out to give his upper arm a sympathetic pat.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Nerves he hadn’t realized he had exploded. Unfrozen, he took three steps back. Then another one just for good measure.

“You are uncomfortable. Nervous even.” Her smile widened, delight dancing in her eyes. “It’s not like I licked you or anything.”

What the hell? Was she reading his mind and delighting in trying to blow all his preconceived perceptions to pieces? Diego could only shake his head. “You are one hell of a confusing woman. Did you know that?”

“Me?” She batted her lashes.

“It’s not a good thing,” he groused.

“Oh, but it is. You’re so by-the-book, I’ll bet you categorize, organize and file every single thing and person away in your mind. I like the idea of not fitting into a tidy little slot somewhere.”

Diego frowned. “I’m not uptight.”

“I didn’t say you were.”

“That description sounded pretty damn uptight to me.”

“Was it wrong, though?” she teased.

Not sure if it was frustration over the unquenched thirst she inspired, or if it was ego demanding he show her just how un-uptight he was, Diego lost it. He actually heard his control snap like an overstretched rubber band.

He reached out and grabbed her by both arms, easily lifting her off her feet to pull her close again. She gasped. But she didn’t look scared. She looked intrigued.

That was good enough for him.

“How uptight is this?” he growled just before his mouth took hers.

Jade’s body melted against him, so slight, so soft. Her arms rested on his shoulders for balance, her fingers lax. Her lips, sweet and yielding, didn’t move.

Okay. So maybe he’d read her wrong. Or maybe this was how good girls kissed. Since she was his first, he didn’t know.

She tasted delicious. Like warm honey with just a hint of something dangerously addictive. Needing one more sip before he let go of the fantasy, he ran the tip of his tongue slowly over her lower lip. Then he gave a gentle suck.

As if he’d turned a magical key, she went wild. Her fingers spasmed, then dug tight into his shoulders before sliding behind his neck to tangle in his hair and grip his head.

Her mouth opened, welcoming and eager. Diego dived into the deliciously warm depths, wanting to eat her up in fast, greedy gulps. Her tongue met his in an erotic dance. His breath sped up, his pulse raced. And his body hardened like steel. He needed more. Wanted it all.

His hands were still gripping her arms, though. His fingers ached to touch her. To feel her soft curves, to slide down the length of those gorgeous legs. To explore every hot, sexy inch of her body.

But he’d have to put her down to do that. And he wasn’t sure he could force his fingers to release her. He’d never wanted anything, anyone, the way he wanted Jade right now. It was as if he’d suddenly discovered the most important, powerful elixir of life. Kissing Jade made him feel as though he could actually have happiness. Real, lasting happiness.

A bell rang out, faint but insistent.

Diego surfaced fast. As if someone had grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and yanked him out of the pool of magical elixir. He shifted, softening the kiss and tuning in to their surroundings again. Or, as Jade’s tongue enticed his back into her mouth, trying to.

Why had he thought he should slow it down? He couldn’t remember as the taste of her filled his senses again.

The phone chimed again, accompanied by a buzzing this time. Loud, grating and way too insistent.

“Shit.”

Furious for losing control, and for being interrupted before he could lose more of it, Diego set Jade down with a thud. Ignoring her shell-shocked look, he stomped a safe two yards away.

“That’s my cell phone. I have to take the call.”

“Huh?”

His ego swelled almost as big as his dick at the sex-fogged confusion in her eyes.

The phone buzzed again. He glanced at the display.

Kinnison.

It was like getting kicked in the ass in an ice bath. And, he realized, exactly what he needed. A reminder to keep his hands, mouth—and any other body parts—away from temptation.

* * *

W
ATCHING
D
IEGO
TALK
on the phone, Jade’s body trembled with the aftershocks of desire. All she could think of was how much she wanted Diego, covered in hot fudge and whipped cream. She’d never felt this way before. Anticipation, excitement, heat, they all tangled together.

It was too fast, though.

Wasn’t it?

Her mind pointed out that sex, even fling sex with a passing hottie who fit every single one of her fantasy requirements, always had repercussions. Responsible women made sure they could handle the repercussions before they dived off the deep end. They thought through the consequences.

And they made sure they were dressed appropriately. And since all Jade’s good lingerie was being washed—again—she was stuck in granny panties and a torn cotton mustard-yellow bra. Pretty much the unsexiest undies she owned.

There. Shaking her hands as if she could fling off the sexual tension, she gave a decisive nod. That should keep her from giving in to temptation.

Feeling like one of the teenage girls she often lectured, Jade tried to at least look calm. Sure, her stomach was dancing. Her pulse was racing. Maybe anticipation was doing questionable things to the bagel she’d had for breakfast. But she didn’t have to look as if she was freaked out. Faking It with Fashion 101... Look good and people believe you
are
good. Or in this case, look confident and he wouldn’t realize her toes were shaking.

While a part of her wondered when she’d become obsessed with sex, or at least sex with Diego, the rest of her—the parts that weren’t racing, dancing or threatening to spew—tried to remember everything she knew about being strong and empowered. About taking charge and going after what she wanted.

Clueless that he was front and center in her obsessive mental debate, Diego ended his call and tucked his phone into his pocket. She watched him stride across the slate, legs long and lean in dark denim. Here he came, temptation in a leather jacket.

She tilted her chin high, pulled her shoulders back and pressed one hand against her stomach. Strong and steady, she was ready to face down temptation. How’s that for empowered? she thought as she mentally patted herself on the back.

“We should get to work.”

She frowned. What happened to temptation?

“Work?” She peered at his face. Closed, distant and almost chilly. Her gaze slid to the phone he was tucking into his pocket. Had someone died?

“Work. I need to solve this case and get back to my own life,” he said.

If he’d sounded angry, or impatient, she’d have been able to dish it right back. But he simply sounded...gone.

The way he’d be as soon as he solved this silly Panty Thief case. Gone, back to his own life. His exciting world. His career and his dreams.

And Jade would be here.

Same life.

Same town.

Same unfulfilled existence.

Pressing her lips tight together to keep the sudden tears at bay, Jade rubbed her hands over her arms, wishing she’d thought to grab her jacket.

“You okay?” he asked, closing the distance for a brief second to sound concerned.

“I’m fine,” she said, shrugging as if it’d knock the tension off her shoulders. “Just chilly. I have an extra coat inside, though.”

“C’mon, then.” He gestured toward the library door. “Get it so we can go talk to people. You said you’d be able to ease the way so they’d open up to me, right? Fill me in, gauge fact from fiction?”

“Sure thing,” she murmured absently, stepping into the dimly lit back room and making her way to the employee break room where she kept a spare jacket.

Suddenly—and she didn’t care how illogical the idea was—she was sure Diego was more than just a hot, sexy temptation for incredible sex. He was inspiration, and for more than kinky positions. Empowerment meant grabbing ahold of what you wanted, taking risks and learning new things.

She didn’t know what she might learn from him, what he might spark in her. She just knew he represented freedom. Excitement. She might have to settle for a life without her fantasy career as a stylist, but here was a chance to have a few of her other fantasies.

The sexual ones.

She just had to figure out how to convince him to strip naked and start making those fantasies come true.

* * *

T
HREE
HOURS
LATER
, she was still figuring.

“I think that’s it,” Diego decided as he flipped through his little police notebook. “We’ve talked to all the victims and their families, as well as everyone who discovered the stolen goods. Was that the entire population of Diablo Glen?”

“Well, a large part of it,” Jade agreed, keeping step with him as he strode down the sidewalk of Main Street. “There are about two dozen people out of town for the holidays. Visiting family, vacations, that kind of thing. And there are a few families who live out on the edge of the city limits, but we’d have to drive to see them.”

Nonplussed, he shook his head. “I can’t believe you can get from one end of town to the other without needing car keys.”

“We can’t have spoken with everyone. What about all the rest? The ones you waved to in stores, the diner. Gathered at that big building on the edge of the park. All prettied up to look like it’s made of candy? Was that the town hall?”