Retribution Boxed Set (Books One and Two) (7 page)

He tugged Stormy’s leash from her hand and
removed it from her dog’s collar, allowing Stormy free access to his place
which she immediately took advantage of. Her dog danced around, sniffing the
carpet before she dashed down the hall.

Xander gestured with a nod of his head,
indicating Nicole should let her dog be and follow him.

The sizable kitchen was impressive. A dark wooden
table and matching cabinets combined with several lush potted ferns gave a
woodsy feel to the spotless room. “Your kitchen is cleaner than mine.” She gave
a little chuckle, but made a mental note that, if she ever decided to invite
him to her place, she needed to do some deep cleaning first.

“I have a lady who comes in once a week to tidy
up.” He slid her jacket from her shoulders and draped it across the back of a
white leather bar stool, leaving her very aware of exactly how tall he was, and
giving her another delicious whiff of his earthy cologne.

“A cleaning lady? Now, I’m really jealous.”

He gave her an indulgent smile as he removed his
overcoat and slung it across another bar stool. “Don’t be. It’s a tradeoff for
putting in too many hours at the office. As I was building my career, I always
worried about money. About the same point I started to have enough money, time
became the hot commodity.”

She watched with fascination as he shrugged out
of his suit coat and slipped the tie from around his neck.

His fingers deftly unbuttoned his cuffs as he
spoke. “Can I get you a glass of wine before I change out of these clothes?”

An appreciative sigh for the fine sight in front
of her was halfway out of her lungs before she changed it to an embarrassed
cough. “That would be nice.”

“Red or white? An interested smile tilted his
lips.

She matched his expression. “White, please.” There
was a definite undercurrent passing between them that was impossible to ignore.
It was much too early to determine if it was anything other than a spark, but
the flash of energy she experienced was addicting.

Earlier, when he’d approached her at the coffee
shop, she’d been certain she couldn’t possibly be interested in someone while
her life raged out of control. Now, she wasn’t so sure.

He removed a bottle from the fridge and poured
her a glass of wine. After setting the bottle on the counter, he reached up and
undid the first button on his shirt. She was sure he hadn’t meant anything by
it, probably didn’t realize how removing his tie, undoing his buttons affected
her, but his casual moves sent her mind in motion. She tried to hold her gaze
to his face, but failed and couldn’t resist peeking at what he’d uncovered.

“If you’re okay for a few minutes, I’ll be right
back.”

She nodded, not exactly meeting his gaze as she
picked up her wine glass and sipped. As he headed out of the room, she eyed him
from head to toe. Nice. Very nice.

Wow. Life could sure throw some curve balls. One
minute she was being questioned by the police. Next she was sitting in Xander’s
house, and her legal issues were definitely not the first thing on her mind. Perhaps
she should have her head examined.

When he returned a few minutes later with Stormy
trotting after him, it was as though he’d morphed into a different person. Gone
was the button-down shirt and sexy tie. His professional clothes had been
replaced by jeans and a tight-fitting gray t-shirt that outlined his chest and
an oh-so-very-nice set of biceps. She probably stared longer than was
acceptable, but she was quite fine blaming her behavior on the wine she’d
consumed.

She’d downed the contents of her glass while
she’d been lost in thoughts of him and of the disaster hanging over her head. While
she didn’t use alcohol as a way to hide from life, she had to admit she was
feeling a whole lot better.

“Change of plans,” he said, refilling her wine
glass and filling his. He extended a hand toward her.

She took his offering and stood, feeling the
tiniest bit wobbly. “Oh?”

He guided her to a back door that led from the
kitchen to a shady garden patio outside. Stormy dashed between them, and began
her investigation of his yard. The trees and his house blocked most of the
wind, leaving a mild breeze to swirl a few dead leaves on the bricks. “I hope
you’ll forgive me. I decided not to cook. Instead, I ordered pasta from a
little Italian restaurant down the street.”

“Oh, I see. Bait-and-switch.”

He dragged two wrought-iron chairs with
leaf-patterned cushions away from a ring of chairs that circled a fire pit and
placed them next to a table, indicating she should sit. “How do you mean? He
claimed the seat next to her, keeping his golden tiger eyes trained on her.

She took a sip of wine before placing her glass
on the table. “You bring me here under the guise of a home-cooked meal. Once
I’m settled, you pull the old bait-and-switch routine.” If he didn’t stop
looking at her like that, she was positive she’d melt.

“Trust me. When you taste Mama Maria’s linguini
with chicken piccata, you won’t know the difference. Besides, can you blame me
for wanting to focus more on you than cooking? I’d much rather be staring into
your beautiful green eyes than garlic cloves and pasta.”

A feeling of lighthearted happiness bubbled
inside until it spilled onto her lips. “A deceiver and a charmer. I imagine a
lot of women would fall for that one.”

His eyes zeroed in on hers. “Would you?”

She inhaled, trying to keep her concentration. “I
don’t know. I guess we’ll see.”

“I guess we will.” He watched her over the top of
the rim of his glass as he took a sip of wine.

Her heart stuttered before dashing into overdrive.
She knew he was flirting, knew these were probably pick-up lines he’d used on
many unsuspecting women before, but she didn’t care. His words, the sexy way he
spoke, left her feeling more alive than she had in a long time. “Thank you.”

He arched his brows. “For what?”

“For inviting me here. For letting me escape into
your haven of solitude. For flirting with me so outrageously so I can forget my
problems for a while.”

He snorted then. “What? You think I’m doing this
for you? A spark of attraction flared in his eyes. “Believe me. Having you here
is purely selfish on my part.”

Another smile lit on her lips as a pleasant
warmth spread through her body. “I don’t even know what to say to that.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Just sit there and
let me pamper you a while. You need it.”

Xander closed his front door after generously
tipping the delivery driver from Mama Maria’s. The tantalizing scent of garlic
filled the air as he moved from his foyer to the kitchen. He gathered plates
and utensils, before glancing out his back door to the woman who occupied a
seat on his patio.

Now that Nicole had agreed to see him, it seemed
as though she’d dropped her shield. He’d been prepared to do whatever it took
to win her over, but flirting with her, making small talk had come far easier
than he’d expected. He only hoped he wasn’t overdoing it. His whole line about
not cooking so he could look into her eyes was a little over the top, but she
hadn’t seemed to mind. In truth, as he’d been changing his clothes, he’d
realized if he were to cook a decent meal, he’d have to be focused on what he
was doing as opposed to trying to read her expressions and learning when she might
be telling the truth and might be lying.

Then again, she did have beautiful eyes. Spending
hours trying to figure her out wouldn’t be a hardship.

In all actuality, he’d really scored when he’d
picked up this assignment. Christian’s last job led him to pal around with a
drug dealer who’d lost most of his teeth and had numerous scars on his face
from abusing drugs.

Xander set the food containers on a tray with the
plates and napkins and headed outside. Nicole glanced up as he joined her, the
corners of her eyes turning up as she smiled. To describe her as beautiful had
been an understatement.

She stood and helped distribute plates and
utensils as he opened the containers. “That smells wonderful,” she said, as she
moved closer and peeked over his shoulder to see what each container held.

The smallest brush of her breast caressed his
arm, and suddenly every nerve inside him stood at attention. He shifted, moving
out of her way, and handed a container to her. “Here, you can put the noodles
on our plates if you’d like.” He needed to keep his focus on her crime and what
her father had done to his.

She took the plastic bowl and busied herself
doing as he asked with no clue as to the kind of affect she had on him. Maybe
working with a drug dealer had been the easier job after all.

When they both had their plates and were settled
again, he began his subtle interrogation. “Have you always lived in the
Portland area?”

She shrugged, not meeting his eyes. “I moved a
lot when I was younger, but I’ve been in the area since my high school days.” She
looked up at him and smiled. “How about you?”

“I’ve been in Portland since college. Graduated
from Portland State.”

“I went to Pacific Northwest.”

“The art school?”

She twisted linguini on her fork and nodded. “I
always wanted to be a graphic designer.”

“How did you end up working for First Freedom
then, especially in their finance area?”

She rolled her eyes and shrugged. “They called me.
Or a headhunter-type person did. Someone called, saying they’d gotten my
information from the college alumni department, and they wanted someone who
could be an administrative assistant slash graphic designer. It paid more than
I was making at the time, so I said yes. In the end, they really didn’t have me
do any graphic designing, just answering phones and mostly being a gopher for
everyone in the department.” A sad expression crossed her face. “And now I
don’t even have that.”

If Xander didn’t know better, he’d feel sorry for
the green-eyed witch. She certainly had the poor waif routine down well. “This
must be impossibly tough for you.” Especially getting busted.

She steeled her expression and sighed. “The tough
part is going to be when I try to make a rent payment with no job.”

He nodded, studying her, looking for any chink in
her armor. There had to be something.

He kept the conversation to small talk while they
finished their meal, keeping her wineglass refilled and easing her into a nice
relaxed state, but now it was time to dig a little deeper. “You mentioned you
don’t have family to support you. Just an aunt.” He piled dishes and empty
containers onto the tray. “Where is the rest of your family? Your parents?”

She eyed him directly. “They’re both dead.”

He already knew that, but the way she spoke, like
she was warning him not to delve into that subject intrigued him. “What
happened to them, if you don’t mind me asking? He was never one to heed a
warning.

A quick flash of pain, real or fake, crossed her
face. “It’s a long, not very happy story that I prefer not to think about.” She
glanced at her watch. “Besides, I’ve taken enough of your time. I should go.”

He’d hit a raw nerve, no doubt. She started to
stand, and Stormy jumped to her feet, prepared to follow her. Xander placed a
hand over Nicole’s. “Do you have to go now? I’m happy to drive you whenever
you’re ready, but I’d really like it if you’d stay a while longer. This house
can get pretty lonely at times.”

She seemed to consider his request and then the
tension left her shoulders. “I understand. My place can be kind of empty
sometimes, too. Stormy helps.” She reached down and scratched her dog’s ear. “Maybe
you should think about getting a dog? They’re great company, and it’s nice to
have someone waiting for you at home.”

The affection she had for her pup was genuine,
that much he could tell. “Maybe I will.” He’d actually considered the idea off
and on during the past year. “Maybe you could help me pick one out.”

Her eyes brightened. “I’d love to. There’s a pet
store not far from here that lets the local shelters bring in puppies on Saturdays
to help find them homes. Have you thought about what breed you’d like to get? If
you work long hours, you’ll want one that’s okay being left alone for long
periods.” She glanced toward his back door. “Might want to consider getting a
doggie door, too, so it won’t have accidents.”

He couldn’t help but grin. She might be a
multi-million dollar thief, but she definitely had a soft spot for animals. “I’d
love a dog like Stormy. Australian Shepherd, right?”

“That’s right.” She seemed impressed with his
knowledge of canine breeds, which was a point in his favor. The more she liked
him, the more likely she’d divulge information. “She’s a very good dog.” Stormy
seemed to recognize that she was the subject of the conversation and barked as
though to join in. Nicole rubbed her coat as Stormy’s tail thumped against the
side of Nicole’s chair.

“Tomorrow is Saturday.” Now that he’d found an
in, he intended to exploit it. “Would you want to go then?”

“Only if you’re not afraid to be seen with me in
public. Might want to think about that after what happened at the coffee shop.”

He caught her gaze and held it. “People don’t
scare me.”

She snorted. “I wish I could say the same. There’s
at least one person out there who terrifies me.”

He nodded, not knowing what else to say. If she’d
been telling the truth, he would have been frightened for her. “I’m going to
talk to my friend. Have him do some investigating.”

“Who is he? Why is it you think he can help when
the police haven’t been able to?”

“He’s a former cop.” Or at least Sam would be at
some point in the future. “He knows people. People who can look into things
without being questioned.”

She nodded, but didn’t seem completely convinced.
“I suppose it’s worth a shot. At this point, I’ll take all the help I can get. Please
make sure he keeps things above board, though. I don’t need any more trouble.”

“Besides, if the police have you as a prime
suspect, they might not be considering other avenues.”

Her brows drew together in a frown. “That’s what
my aunt said, too.”

“Sounds like she’s a smart woman.”

A wistful smile turned her lips. “She’s the best
thing that ever happened to me. I hope this whole disaster I’ve become
embroiled in doesn’t affect her too much.”

“You said she’s been sick?”

“She was in a serious car accident eight months
ago. Broke both legs, and her recovery has been slow. She’s the strongest lady
I’ve ever met, but she doesn’t need to be worrying about me.”

A sliver of sympathy shot through him for the
woman who’d raised the beauty sitting next to him. If she was an innocent
bystander, then Nicole’s crimes were all the more heinous.

A strong breeze rounded the side of his house
sending the trees into a crazy dance, forcing them to drop more red and yellow
leaves. He raised his gaze skyward, confirming the early evening light had been
smothered by dark clouds.

Nicole widened her eyes. “I think the storm is
finally coming in.” A few splatters of rain punctuated her words.

“I think you’re right. Perhaps we should move
this party indoors.” He stood and picked up the tray.

She followed suit, grabbing their glasses and
rousing Stormy from her slumber at Nicole’s feet. “Thank you, Xander, but it’s
time for me to go. I’ve drank more wine than I should have, and I’m sure you’re
tired of hearing about my woes.”

Damn it. “Are you sure?”

The warm smile that tilted her lips, reached out
to him, and he had to shield his heart. “I should go. I promised my aunt I’d
call her, and it’s getting late.”

“I’d be willing to brave another trip to the
coffee shop and get you a latte.”

“You’re definitely a man used to getting his way,
aren’t you?”

Was he? Her statement momentarily caught him off
guard. “At least tell me I’ve charmed you enough for you to agree to go puppy
shopping with me tomorrow. It is Saturday, and I’m sure cute, little puppies
will do a much better job than me of keeping you distracted.”

She seemed to consider his request and then
nodded. “I’d love to.”

*        *        *

The windshield wipers moved back and forth,
filling the quiet car with swishing sounds as Xander drove her home. Nicole
supposed he was as lost in his thoughts as she was in hers.

She was surprised how much their date had
distracted her from the relentless nervous chatter she’d been burdened with
since the questioning. Even when they’d talked about the theft, things hadn’t
seemed quite so bad. Maybe having someone to talk with had helped more than
she’d realized.

He’d been the perfect date, attractive, attentive
and enjoyable. She wasn’t so sure about his friend that he thought might help
her. Having a complete stranger rooting around on her behalf seemed kind of
shady, but she was certain whoever had really committed the crime was using
every bit of arsenal available to stay undetected.

“How do you suppose the person who really did
steal the money was able to get into First Freedom’s building without being
noticed? They have a video of me entering the building. Wouldn’t the real thief
be on the video, too?”

Xander shifted his gaze to her face for a quick
moment before he refocused on the wet streets. “I would think so. Maybe that’s
something my friend can look into.”

She nodded. It couldn’t hurt to have several
people viewing the video. “Do you think whoever did it worked there? It could
be someone I know.”

He turned the steering wheel as they reached an
intersection near her home, his jacket rubbing against the leather seats of his
car. “It does sound like an inside job. Do you know what kind of security they
have besides cameras?”

“They have a night person who comes on duty about
eight. Up until then, I think it’s just cameras. Usually, there are plenty of
people and janitorial staff around.”

“Who did you see that night? I guess it doesn’t
matter because they have video footage, but did you come across anyone who
could testify against you, or who could testify there was someone else in that
area?”

Her heart sank. “I didn’t see anyone. It was
strangely quiet to be honest.”

“Maybe we can find out who was on staff.”

“There has to be
someone
who saw
something
.”
A chilling thought raised the goose bumps on her arms. “Do you think this
person specifically targeted me, or was I unlucky enough that he chose my
computer and even unluckier that I went back into the building after hours?”

Xander narrowed his eyes. “Good question.”

“And what if I’d run into him while he was at my
computer? Emotion raised her voice a bit. “Would he have made some excuse and
not stolen the money, or would he have…” She couldn’t say it.

Xander cleared his throat. “You can’t think about
that.”

“But what if?”

He shook his head. “There are many white collar
criminals who think nothing about heisting millions, but they would never
physically harm someone.”

“Unless desperation drove them to it.”

He folded her hand in his and squeezed. “You’re
going to drive yourself insane if you get caught up in what-ifs. Let’s stay
focused on the facts at hand.”

She blew out a shuddering breath. “I’ve been so
caught up with the whole police questioning thing that I hadn’t considered what
might have actually taken place that night. But you’re right. No sense worrying
about what didn’t happen.”

He pulled into a parking space not far from her
building. “Is this your house?”

“Yes. I’m surprised you found it so easily.” She’d
only given him her address and had then become distracted by her thoughts and
hadn’t realized they’d arrived.

He shrugged. “I used to work not too far from
here. I know the streets pretty well. Let me get your door,” he said as he
exited, the rain still spitting from the sky.

He opened her door, letting Stormy out and
extended a hand to her. She stepped into the drizzling weather. Her dog lowered
her ears as the water pelted her, and she ran for the covered entrance to her
building.

“Let’s make a run for it. I don’t want you
getting too wet.” He held her hand as they dashed across the sidewalk. The feel
of his hand around hers comforted her and excited her at the same time.