An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication
www.ellorascave.com
Quivering Thighs ISBN 9781419914539 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Quivering Thighs Copyright © 2008 Ashlyn Chase Edited by Helen Woodall. Photography and cover art by Les Byerley. Electronic book Publication February 2008 With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/) This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.
QUIVERING THIGHS Ashlyn Chase
Dedication To my husband who claimed to like dangerous women when he met me. Thank goodness he meant it since I don’t think he knew what he was getting into.
Acknowledgments I’d like to thank the law enforcement forums and in particular one cop from Seattle and one from LA who helped answer many of my questions about undercover police work. I’d also like to thank Rosemarie Knox, an avid reader, who helped brainstorm this story with me. Readers know what they like to read, and I’m delighted she’s not afraid to tell me what she thinks.
Trademarks Acknowledgement The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: BMW: Bayerische Motoren Werke Borders Express: Borders Properties, Inc. Boy Scout: The National Boy Scouts of America Foundation Cadillac: General Motors Corporation Corvette: General Motors Corporation Daisy Duke: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Ford: Ford Motor Company Grand Cherokee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation Grateful Dead: Grateful Dead Productions Land Rover: Land Rover Company Maxim: Dennis, Felix Individual McDonald’s: McDonald’s Corporation Mercedes: DaimlerChrysler AG Mr. Coffee: Sunbeam Products, Inc. Mustang: Ford Motor Company Pontiac: General Motors Corporation Toyota: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha TA Toyota Motor Corporation Turtle Wax: Turtle Wax, Inc.
Ashlyn Chase
Chapter One “You’re interviewing at a place called Bump and Grind Auto Body? Are you serious?” Kendra Dempsey sensed a hearty laugh bubbling up from her diaphragm and had to stop tattooing her customer before it escaped. The walls behind her and all around the small shop displayed an array of tattoo designs to spark the imagination. But Kendra’s imagination didn’t need sparking when working on an inspiration like the dark Adonis lying in front of her. All she needed was for her miserable boss to leave and let her have her way with him. Oooo… “What do they do? Give you a lap dance while you wait for your car?” Staying in his prone position on the padded bench, Jake Marino gazed up over his shoulder at her, wearing a sardonic smile. “That would be quite the gimmick. Maybe that’s why they need more help?” Kendra couldn’t resist the strong urge to flirt with this handsome stranger but knew she was being watched. She glanced over at her nasty boss seated behind the counter. He appeared to be concentrating on a sketch so she leaned over and asked in a low voice, “So, what will you be doing? Fixing cars or lap dancing?” She couldn’t hold back any longer and burst out laughing. Her boss snapped to attention. “Lauren! Pay attention to what you’re doing.” He sat next to the cash register behind a counter showcasing all types of body piercing jewelry but she was always within his sight in the small shop. She was still getting used to her alias, Lauren Ashcroft, so the owner’s numerous reprimands didn’t affect her much. It was as if he kept yelling at someone else. “Don’t worry, Don. I lifted the needle before I marred Jake’s handsome body.” She ran a hand over the tan, well-muscled back before her, holding in a sigh. Don stopped sketching and glared at her. Frowning back at him, she asked, “What? We’re not allowed to have any fun?” “You’re not. When you move up from apprentice to full-fledged tattoo artist, you’ll be able to keep your mind on your work and have some fun with the customers at the same time. Right now, all you need to do is concentrate.” Kendra shrugged. “Whatever you say, Boss. I’ve only been apprenticing with you for eight months, now. You liked the tattoos I did on myself.” She stuck out her leg to show off her pride and joy. A group of impish monkeys holding hands, danced around her ankle. “I’m sure she’s doing a fine job,” Jake said. How badly can you screw up a tribal tattoo?” Don snorted. “An apprentice can screw up anything.”
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Kendra had to seal her lips in a tight line to keep from telling her boss to go to hell. She didn’t need the money. All she wanted was a fresh start. A chance to reinvent herself and build a whole new life. She had begun by moving to Hawaii and renting a little beach house about thirty steps from the ocean. She paid in cash a year in advance in order to avoid a paper trail and references. Not a bad start at all. But lying on the beach all day bored her. “So what made you want to become a tattoo artist?” her gorgeous guinea pig asked. “Drawing is my only talent.” Besides pick-pocketing and lap dancing but I need to keep a low profile. “You probably have others. But is drawing something you feel passionate about?” “Passionate?” She hesitated before answering. The word brought up other ideas that had been floating through her head as she inked her way across this handsome stranger’s broad back all afternoon. “Yeah. I guess it is. It sure beats doing nothing or something I’d hate.” And it makes me look like a regular middle-class working stiff, not a woman whose incredible wealth comes from some mysterious source. “I can certainly understand that.” “How about you? Do you feel passionate about working on cars?” “I guess so. I like it when everything comes together. The finished assignment…or product, I mean.” “Gotcha.” She wiped the excess ink and blood from the span of male goodness lying on her bench. It was a shame the tattoo was finished. She leaned as far back as she could and gazed at it, taking in the graceful curves and sharp angles of his chosen design. Every line looked smooth and completely filled, and he hadn’t even flinched. “I feel the same way.” Her boss came up beside her and hovered. When she looked up at him, he smiled and nodded toward Jake Marino’s enhanced back as if telling her she had done a good job. “Would it kill you to pay me a compliment out loud, Don?” He smirked. “I have to step out for a minute, Lauren. It looks like you’re almost finished but I’ll be next door if you need me. Don’t screw up while I’m gone, all right?” Kendra rolled her eyes, but said, “Fine.” Again, she had a fleeting thought about the double meaning of “screwing” and imagined herself underneath Jake Marino. Her onetrack mind and quivering pussy practically shouted that it had been too long since she’d had a lusty tumble. As soon as the door closed, Jake glanced at her over his shoulder and raised his eyebrows. “Want to have a little fun? Now that we’re alone?” Her eyes widened but she tried not to show her excitement prematurely. After all, who knew what this hunk actually meant. “Don’t worry. It’s nothing that’ll get you into trouble. But your boss is an asshole, and I think he needs to hear it one way or another.”
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“You couldn’t be more right about that, but how?” “Just add a few letters on the back of my neck, right above the tribal tattoo. Right now, while he’s gone. Can you do that freehand?” “I can do nicer calligraphy if I make a template—” “No, that’ll take too long. Just write it on there as long as it’s legible.” Kendra sat up straighter. “It’ll be legible. I’ve been told my penmanship is beautiful.” “See? I knew you had hidden talents.” His eyes twinkled with mischief. “Now write, Blow me across the back of my neck and ink it in, quickly, before he gets back.” Kendra chuckled. “‘Blow me’? Are you sure you want that on your skin for all time? You might have to give up that short haircut if you regret it.” “As long as I can cover it with a shirt collar for dressy occasions, it’ll be fine. In fact, it’ll be great. From what I hear about the guys at the shop, they’ll love it.” Kendra had fleeting second thoughts but wanted to please this guy. If my crap-ass boss finds out I have dyslexia and wrote words freehand, he’d probably have a fit. Still, if it comes with the territory I’d better get used to it. It’s a small word. It’ll be okay. “So, low on the neck and small letters. What color?” “Not too small. Black to match the design, I guess.” Kendra shrugged. “The customer gets what the customer wants.” She began framing in her free-hand scroll of letters, about half an inch high, directly onto his neck with her pen. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” “Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility for it. I imagine you have customers asking for worse things.” Kendra continued to work happily as they chatted. “You’re right about that. There was one woman whose request Don recently rejected. She wanted a tattoo on her knee that said, Insert groin here. I mentioned that she might get past the man-hater stage someday. I’d been there so I understood, but once you get some distance from the bad situation, things change. You know?” “Yeah…I guess. What other weird tattoos do people get?” “Ever heard of the dragon penis?” “The what?” “Some guys get their entire cock tattooed to look like a one-eyed dragon.” Jake’s deep laughter rumbled beneath her needle and she stopped momentarily as he shook. Taking that opportunity to wipe the excess ink from his neck, she admired her work. The lettering was gorgeous. Something about it looked odd, but she just figured it needed to be filled in. Once darker, it would look better.
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Between flirting and bouts of laughter, Kendra completed his unusual request. Once she’d gone back over the letters a second time, they stood out beautifully. By the time she was finished, another customer was due and Don still hadn’t returned. “I’d better see what’s keeping him.” “Yeah, I need to get to that interview too. What time is it?” “Five o’clock. I’ve got to get home pretty soon to feed my dog.” “Shit. I’ve been here five hours?” “Time flies when you’re having fun.” Jake sat up with his back to her. “Can you bandage me and take my money without your boss around?” She stiffened and jammed her hands on her hips. “Don’t tell me you think I’m incompetent too?” “Hell no. I just don’t want to get you into trouble just because I need to leave. How much do I owe you?” “Seven hundred.” Kendra applied the salve and admired her work one more time before covering it with bandages. “Leave the bandages on for a couple of hours. After that just use a thin coating of Bacitracin ointment until it heals. If Don has a problem with you leaving before he sees it—” “I’ll come back.” Jake jumped off the table, fished in his pocket and handed her the cash he owed, plus a fifty-dollar tip. “I was going to say, ‘I’ll tell him to stick it’.” Jake chuckled. “Call me if he needs to see it. I don’t want your boss ticked off at you because I suddenly had to leave. My number is on the apprentice waiver.” Then he winked and said, “Hell, call me anyway.” Surprised, Kendra sucked in a breath and grinned. So, the handsome hunk had noticed her too. She had almost given up on the idea of meeting anyone who interested her. This guy was exactly her type. Down-to-earth, edgy, with a streak of bad-boy, adventurous fun. Unfortunately, her type was probably not what she needed right now. Still…when had she ever needed anyone?
***** An hour and a half later, Jake had been shown around the auto body shop, interviewed and hired. It appeared almost as he would have expected. Dirty, grimy, and oddly small. From the looks of the building outside, he estimated it to be about a third larger than the bays and small office upstairs indicated. They did some basic mechanical work too which fit nicely with his cover story.
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Now in the office, all he had to do was fill out the tax paperwork. He found it amusing that his new boss made a big deal about how they ran a clean, legitimate business and how they were starting him on the “day shift”. Tim Munson may have thought he was hiring a friend of a friend but in fact they had just hired Jake Jensen, an undercover cop. His “friend” had traded leniency for information. Information that led them to believe they may have found the chop shop responsible for most of Maui’s stolen high-end vehicles. Jake finally had the opportunity he had been looking for. A chance to make a name for himself within the department—and peace within his soul. Working as a uniformed cop hadn’t brought him the respect he knew the job deserved—the kind of respect his father didn’t receive until he was killed in the line of duty. Now Jake needed to do more than apprehend two-bit criminals stupid enough to get caught or put himself in the middle of domestic disputes. He was ready to earn some medals and commendations. “You can finish that paperwork later, Jake. While the day guys are still hanging around and the evening guys are showing up, I’ll introduce you to everybody.” “Already finished,” Jake said, and he handed him the simple form filled out with the information he had memorized. “Wow, that was fast. I hope you pick up on the way we do things just as quickly.” Jake smiled inside. He loved being one step ahead of the bad guys. “I’ll do my best, Boss.” “You can start by calling me Tim.” The big man smiled, showing a missing tooth where his right incisor should have been. The office was also out of scale and designed differently than the outside of the building would suggest. He would have expected eight-foot walls all around, not a slope on either side of the room with walled-in eaves. Why turn a full room into the style of a small home with a tiny second floor? Another interesting find had hit him right between the eyes the moment he had stepped in and heard the crackling static. A police scanner sat on Tim Munson’s desk. As Jake waited for his hulking, long-haired boss to lead the way, he looked for possible hidden entrances to the eaves. They were large enough to hide a safe and a couple of guys, even “tiny Tim’s” size, easily. Once downstairs he met the all-white crew. Being used to a diverse environment in the police department and tri-ethnic island, the skew surprised him. Wondering if these guys didn’t give a damn about being racist, he decided to comment on it. “You don’t see a lot of businesses that are pure ‘Haole’ anymore.” He used the native word for Caucasian, forgetting that some considered it derogatory. Tim eyed him suspiciously. “I never said we weren’t an equal opportunity employer. We just hire the guys we get good references for.” Fred, the lanky, gray-haired grease monkey, introduced as Jake’s go-to guy on the day shift, chimed in. “You know how it is, Jake. The Haoles take care of the Haoles. The
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Japs take care of the Japs, and the Natives take care of the Natives—unless the government steps in and says otherwise.” “Yeah. Hey, it’s cool. I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m just used to seeing the mix everywhere, nowadays.” Tim looked at the floor and nodded slowly. “I know what you mean. Damn shame. Before you know it, all the island kids will be brown-skinned with squinty eyes, speaking pidgin. We won’t even recognize our own grandkids.” Just as the day shift was getting ready to leave, Fred, the go-to guy asked, “Hey, Jake. I see a bandage across the back of your neck. What happened? You get knifed from behind?” Jake laughed. “Yeah, in a way. I just added a new tattoo.” “Yeah? Where’d you get it?” “Not far from here. A shop called Budget Body Art.” “I’ve heard of it. Are they any good?” “They’ve been there for a while. I checked them out a couple of years ago.” That was true. He had once responded to a drunk and disorderly call there. “Why didn’t you get anything done back then?” “I didn’t really know what I wanted. This time I did. I wanted a tribal across my back, and the tattoo apprentice herself, spread on a bagel!” The five guys gathered around him laughed. One of them, whose name was “Animal” and who sported two full sleeves of tattoos said, “So, she must have been hot, but an apprentice? That can be dicey. Is she any good at tattooing?” “I hope so. She said her only talent is drawing. I’ll bet she has other skills I’d like. Nice body. I like the way she moves those long legs.” A guy from the evening shift named Mad Dog said, “I’ll bet you’d like to see them wrapped around you sometime.” The guys laughed and Fred slapped him on the back, almost hitting the tribal tattoo. Thank God he didn’t. Jake didn’t want to wince in front of these bad asses. He had to be as tough and crude as they were to blend in. “How’s her face?” Fred asked. “I used to screw any woman who’d take her clothes off in the dark but if I woke up to an ugly face, I was outta there before she opened her raccoon eyes.” “She has brownish hair with blonde streaks, about down to here.” Jake leveled his hand by his collarbone. “Hazel eyes, a very pretty face, and nice smile. Her top lip is bigger than the bottom one, but I like it. Kinda reminds me of a young Michelle Pheiffer, only taller. Best looking legs I’ve ever seen.” Jake made an mmm mmm sound, reinforcing a sexist attitude he didn’t really have. He imagined it would help him fit in. “I wanted to joke around with her and see more of that smile, but I didn’t want to get her into hot water with the boss. He’s a fucking asshole. Every time we had a little fun, he came down on her like a ton of bricks.” 11
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Fred folded his arms and leaned against the filthy wall. “Maybe he digs her and doesn’t want anyone else enjoying her company.” “I doubt that. He was really ticking her off. To her credit, she wasn’t rude to the guy, even though she had plenty of attitude when he wasn’t listening.” “I like my women attitude-free,” said Mad Dog. He seemed like a quiet, monotone guy and Jake wondered where his nickname came from. “Yeah, but he talked to her like she was a four-year-old trying to pour her own milk. Like he expected her to screw up, royally.” “Maybe she has.” Jake shrugged. “Only one way to find out. Want to see it?” He reached around to the back of his neck. His muscle shirt didn’t get in the way, so he worked a corner of the tape free, and ripped off the smaller bandage with one quick pull. The guys crowded around. Jake would have expected to hear some kind of lewd comment or chuckles over a tattoo that said Blow me on the back of his neck. Instead his ears met deafening silence. Maybe they were offended or thinking of the young woman who had to tattoo it on there? They hardly seemed like sensitive types, though. “Are you guys shocked speechless or something?” Animal said, “No, of course not. I guess I just never met anyone who loved bowling so much.” “Bowling?” Confused, Jake waited for more of an explanation. “Yeah. Your tattoo. Sounds like you’re into competitive bowling,” Fred said. “Are you?” “Hell, no.” What had the apprentice written on the back of his neck? A sinking feeling invaded his gut. Fred stepped away from the wall and came closer to inspect it. “Sounds like you’re challenging all takers.” Were they messing with him? Jake couldn’t hold back his irritation any longer. “What the fuck does it say?” “What do you mean, ‘What does it say?’ Didn’t you tell her what to write?” “Yeah. I said to write, ‘Blow me’!” At that declaration, all the guys burst into loud, raucous laughter. What the hell had she written? Jake glanced around the shop for a mirror, but didn’t see one anywhere. Eventually, Fred wiped tears away from his eyes and said, “I hate to tell you this, bro, but she tattooed ‘Bowl me’!” Shock waves reverberated through Jake’s midsection. She wouldn’t… Couldn’t have. “You guys better be trying to bust my balls, because if that’s what she really did—”
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“I’ll get you a mirror.” Fred strolled behind the counter and reached into a cubby underneath. Handing it to him, he said, “Here. Now look in the side mirror of that Grand Cherokee over there, and put this mirror behind your neck.” “Fuckin’ A.” Jake took the mirror and reached the SUV in a couple of long strides. Positioning his neck between the mirrors, he was reading backward, but the mistake was there in bold, black letters. Bowl Me. Jake hung his head, not knowing what else to do. The guys broke out laughing again probably because of the look on his face. Or maybe, his usual tan was turning crimson. One thing was clear, his tough-guy image would need some serious damage control—and Lauren sure as hell was going to hear about this.
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Chapter Two Kendra’s hair blew in the balmy breeze as she walked her dog along the beach. With the exception of a crappy boss her new life seemed idyllic and nobody, not even the asshole she had to put up with a few days out of each week, could ruin it for her. Watching the morning sun sparkle on the sea and listening to the giant waves, she stopped to scratch her beloved Doberman. “Hear that noisy ocean, boy? It’s loud today, isn’t it?” When he turned his head and lapped her hand, she smiled. All she had wanted when she moved here was her freedom and a dog for protection, just in case. Even if she had to keep a low profile, Kendra’s quality of life had increased and her stress had decreased immeasurably. Her dog, Brando, was a more loyal friend than any she’d ever had. Sometimes friends were as bad as enemies. In Las Vegas, one of her dancer acquaintances had given her a Poodle puppy. Because the woman knew she was dating Frankie Gobini, and thought Kendra’s dyslexia was hysterical, she named Kendra’s yappy, hyperactive puppy The Dogfather. Kendra was not thrilled and changed the Poodle’s name to Marlon. Soon it became clear she didn’t have time to care for a dog, do seven shows a week, and be available at Frankie’s beck and call, so she gave him to a nice home with kids. Kids she was afraid she’d never have if anyone found out she was a mobster’s mistress. She would have loved to be rid of both Frankie and her dyslexia, but as she resumed walking Brando, she figured one crap-ass problem was gone, anyway. At least it was the most dangerous one she did away with. Giving her new pet the name “Brando” was a good reminder of how far she had come and it suited him. As a jogger approached, the loyal Doberman positioned himself in front of her and growled until the guy moved further away. Finding a man who liked vicious-sounding dogs would prove a challenge but giving up her only faithful companion was not an option. Besides, Brando was a big faker. He wouldn’t hurt anything or anyone. Unless… She didn’t know what would happen if someone tried to hurt her and she didn’t want to find out, but she had the feeling that’s when Brando would become a real threat. Walking toward home again, she noticed some dark clouds rolling in. “Uh-oh. That looks like rain, boy. “You’ll have to stay inside and I might get rained on as I ride my bike since it’s time to get ready for work.” One of these days, she’d be through apprenticing and would look for a better place to work. Her ultimate dream would be to buy her own shop and hire workers she got along with. Maybe even get married, change her name, legally, get a real ID, kids, minivan…the whole nine yards.
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At least she considered herself lucky to have stumbled upon work she loved, out of the limelight. In another few months she’d find a shop she loved too. Maybe even a man she could love who wouldn’t tell her what to do, when to do it, and who not to tell about it. When they arrived home, Kendra bypassed Brando’s run, let him inside her three room house, made sure he had plenty of food and water and kissed him goodbye on top of his sleek head. “You be good, now. Kendra loves you.” She ran into her bedroom for her helmet and backpack, but by the time she returned to her bike the rain had started. She pictured it pelting down, stinging her exposed arms and legs in a few minutes. Great. Making one more trip into the house, she changed out of her shorts and covered her jeans and tank top with a yellow slicker so she didn’t inadvertently win a wet t-shirt contest on her way to work. When she was finally ready, she stuffed a short-sleeve black sweater into her backpack, checked the locks twice, climbed onto her bike and set off. She knew the rainy season was coming, but hadn’t yet prepared for it with some kind of covered transportation. As she pedaled, she remembered last year’s rainy season, hiding in her house with a pile of books from Borders Express until her insecurity about being discovered and the rainy season were over. She took cabs when she had to go somewhere farther than she wanted to walk or had a heavy load to bring home. She remembered a nice customer in the bookstore who’d offered to drive her home when he saw her carrying two full bags of books. As soon as she’d spotted his wedding ring, she politely refused and called a cab. There was no way she’d ever get involved with a married man again. Maybe this year, she’d have to take taxis to work in the rainy season. It only lasted a few weeks but she still hadn’t applied for a driver’s license in her new name…or another one. It was hard to know what to do on a permanent basis. She had always lived from moment to moment, by her guts and her wits. Yet by now the real Lauren Ashcroft of Dallas, Texas would have reported her license stolen. That would be dicey. She sure as hell didn’t want to face Texas laws, but an ID and driver’s license would be enormously helpful. One of the reasons she went to work for Don was that he agreed to pay her in cash, so she didn’t need a bank account or a social security number. The driving rain obscured her vision about halfway to her destination. Now she had a choice of walking the rest of the way and being late, or continuing on and possibly ending up in a ditch. Don wasn’t a patient man and had yelled at her before when she was a few minutes late. Besides, she was shivering, so she pressed on. Headlights came toward her as she entered the busy business district. Almost there. Out of nowhere a car without its headlights on, turned the corner too sharply and banged into her front tire. A stunned Kendra flew over the handlebars, bounced off the passenger’s side windshield, did a midair flip, and landed on the sidewalk on her hands and knees. The car slowed for a moment, and then drove off. She was too shocked to remember to get the license plate number.
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No one else was around. People apparently had the good sense to stay out of the rain. Cursing her foolishness and trembling, she slowly got to her feet. She hadn’t hit her head, nothing appeared to be broken, but she was sore and scraped, especially her hands. Don isn’t going to like this. Crap. Can I even work like this with my hands cut up, bleeding and in pain? Not that he’d care. He’d probably just ask me not to bleed on the customers. Sighing, she limped over to her bike and righted it. The frame seemed okay, but the front tire was bent. There was little to do but leave it where it was, limp the rest remaining five hundred feet to the shop, and beg Don’s forgiveness for throwing her bicycle under a car. At least she was fairly sure that’s how he’d see it. Okay, Kendra better drag your sorry ass into work. She limped through the front door and was surprised to see Jake standing there talking to her boss. Don scowled when he saw her. “Jesus, Lauren, not only are you late, but you look like drowned shit.” She exhaled a huge, resigned, breath and limped over to her chair where she gingerly sat down. “I was hit by a car, if you care what happened.” “You’re fuckin’ kiddin’ me.” Jake’s jaw dropped. “Are you all right?” “Yeah. Nothing’s broken. But I scraped up my hands pretty badly and my knees hurt.” She turned her hands palms-up for her boss to see. Angry red gashes and beads of bright red blood streaked across the heels of her palms. I don’t know if I’ll be able to work today, Don.” His emotionless expression didn’t change. “It don’t matter anymore, because you’re fired.” “What?” Kendra could hardly believe what he was saying. How could anyone be so cold? She was used to the occasional stony-faced men who worked for Frankie in Vegas, but they’d have at least murmured some sympathetic sounding crap if she were hit by a car. “I told you not to screw up, Lauren. Look what you did to your last customer. Jake, turn around.” Jake looked hesitant, but turned and showed her the back of his neck. “Look, Don, I don’t want you to fire her. I just need you to fix it.” Kendra wasn’t sure what he was referring to. Was he pissed that she didn’t wait for him to approve it? He just glared at her. Suddenly, her dyslexia sprang to mind and she sounded out the letters individually. B-o-w-l… Oh shit. Realization hit her like a breaking ten-foot wave. A moment of speechlessness allowed Don to berate her some more. “I’m going to have to fix this, and I can’t charge him for a cover-up since it wasn’t his fuckin’ fault. It was yours.” “I’ll fix it, Don.”
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“No, you won’t. You won’t tattoo another customer in the whole South Pacific. I’ll make sure of that.”
***** Shock rolled over Jake as tears welled up in her hazel eyes, but she lifted her chin and looked at the ceiling as if trying to hold them back. Jake’s heart broke for her. Damn. He couldn’t stand the thought of her losing the work she loved because of him. I should have known Don would come down on her overly hard. Shit. Now she was unemployed with no hope of getting another job in the same field. She’d been training for months and all that time was wasted. He should have gone to another shop and paid for a cover-up. But no, he stormed into the shop as soon as they opened and ranted about how embarrassed he had been. “Look, Don. Don’t do that to her. It’s one mistake and it can be fixed.” “Don’t feel sorry for her. She’s cost me half a day’s work.” “Then I’ll pay for it or go somewhere else.” Lauren’s lower lip quivered. She bit it, making her sexy upper lip even more pronounced. When her emotions seemed in check, she said, “I’ll pay for the cover-up, Don. I’ll even leave the shop, but don’t ruin my whole career. Like he said, it was a mistake. I should never have done something freehand without double-checking it.” She hung her head. “I have dyslexia.” Tears rolled down her tanned cheeks, but she didn’t blubber. The only way he knew she was crying was one quaver and a catch in her voice when she spoke the word, ‘dyslexia’.” She unexpectedly spun around and bolted toward the door. Jake ran after her. “Lauren!” If she hadn’t been running with a limp, he might not have caught her. When he grabbed hold of her deceptively strong arm, he had to clamp down to keep her from struggling free. Even so, the contact sent electricity into his hand and up his arm. She was beautiful, even falling apart. “Don, don’t be an ass. At least get the girl a wet towel to clean the blood off her hands.” “I don’t want anything from him,” Lauren snapped. “Not even a towel or the phone to call a cab.” Jake held on tightly while Don strolled out to the back room. “Look, Lauren. I’ll drive you home. It’s the least I can do. I didn’t expect even an asshole like him would overreact like that.” She continued to face away from him and didn’t speak, but at least she had stopped trying to pull away. The scent of Plumeria perfume penetrated his nose as he held her close. Too close. Despite the tense situation, he felt himself growing hard. He bent down to her ear and whispered, “I’ll talk to him later, after he’s calmed down and see if I can get you your job back.” 17
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“Don’t bother,” she said, sounding resigned to her fate. “I don’t want it. Just let go of me.” Jake didn’t want to let go. He’d prefer more of her soft skin in his hands, not less. He even wanted to stroke them until the friction warmed her up. But he had no right to hold her against her will so he let go, reluctantly. To his surprise, she didn’t run. They stood quietly waiting for Don who took his damn time walking to the door with the wet towel. As he handed it to her he sneered. “Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. Jake, come back to the register, and I’ll schedule you for the coverup.” Jake glared at him through narrowed eyes. “I don’t think I’ll cover it up, after all.” Then he smiled at Lauren and said, “I kind of like the way it turned out.”
***** He pulled his Pontiac into her driveway and turned off the ignition. Her single story house was tiny with a well-kept yard and looked as if it might be no larger than his one-bedroom apartment. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the emergency room and get checked out, just in case?” “In case what? In case I suddenly decide to bleed to death?” Lauren had been quiet most of the way back, and it was hard to read her mood. Jake opted to believe her quip was meant to be amusing rather than bitter sarcasm and chuckled. “Let me get the doors for you. Your hands look pretty raw.” When he hopped out and jogged around the car, a large black dog emerged from under the curtain in the windowed door and growled at him. Jake hoped she’d let him open her front door for her too, despite the dog—maybe even ask him inside for a cup of coffee. He’d like to talk to her more about what happened and what she’d do for work, now. She waited and let him open the car door for her, but when he asked for her front door key she just dug through her backpack and said, “I can handle it.” He glanced over at the dog wagging his tail upon seeing her emerge from the car. “Nice dog. Is he a full-blooded Doberman?” “Yeah. He doesn’t care for strangers. I’m surprised he’s not still barking at you.” She slipped the key in the lock, but winced when she squeezed the knob. “Here, let me open that.” She stood back as he swung the door wide. She grabbed the dog by the collar and scratched behind his ear. “Friend, Brando,” she said. Jake hoped he’d get the hint. The dog seemed calm with her right there. “Um, can you come in for a minute? I want to pay you back for the tattoo. You can get a cover-up somewhere else or keep the money. Your choice.” “I’ll come in, but not for the money. Can I put on a pot of coffee and warm up?”
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“Don’t you need to get to work?” “I don’t start until they check my references. Probably tomorrow.” She nodded. “I’ll put my dog on his run while you go inside.” Her kitchen was larger than he’d expected—must take up half the house he thought. A table and two chairs edged the far wall with the usual appliances and counters on either side. Every surface looked clean enough to eat off. Jake deduced that she must be a neatnik. A woven mat covered the interior of the kitchen and a small one rested under his feet at the entryway. He took the hint and wiped his boots. “Have a seat,” she said entering the kitchen behind him. “I’ll make the coffee. If you’ll just tell me where everything is—” “I’ve got it. Thanks.” Disappointed that she wouldn’t let him help, he sat on the vinyl upholstered chair and watched. She filled a teapot with water and set it on the stove. Then she retrieved two coffee mugs from a stand that held four. Looks like I’m getting instant. A moment later she pulled some kind of contraption out of the cabinet, a long glass cylinder and some metal thing that rattled inside it. Then she set another small appliance next to it and finally a bag of coffee beans, not the cheap supermarket kind either. A girl who’s serious about her coffee. “I didn’t realize it was such a production. I wouldn’t have asked for a cup of coffee if I had known.” “No, I’m glad you did. I want some too. I need to warm up and I’m not sure I’ll be able to operate the grinder or the French press with these scrapes. I guess you’ll have to help after all if we want any.” She showed him the first hint of a smile he had seen on her luscious mouth all day. “Just so long as you don’t expect me to know how to use that stuff without directions. I’d just throw the beans in the teapot whole and put the other gizmos away.” “Come here. I’ll show you.” Jake wished he could just put his arms around her and comfort her instead of giving her more work to do, but maybe she’d let him do that later. As he came up beside her, she was pouring coffee beans into the white enamel appliance. Then she replaced the clear cover and said, “Here, push on this, hard.” Jake leaned on the top and the thing roared into action. Coffee beans were slain into a delicious smelling powder. “That’s plenty.” Lauren took the top off the grinder and inhaled deeply with eyes closed. “I just love the smell of fresh ground coffee.” “Me too. I never realized what I was missing with my Mr. Coffee and canned grounds.” Her grin spread almost all the way across her heart-shaped face.
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“Now, pour the ground coffee in here.” She indicated the glass cylinder. Jake did as he was asked, wondering how this was going to become probably the best tasting cup of coffee he’d ever have. “Just tell me what the next ten steps are, and you can go dry off and change if you want.” “Thanks. Sounds like a good idea.” She described the rest of the French press process and left him to pour the boiling water into the glass container, then squeeze it through the wire mesh when ready. Jake glanced around the rest of the kitchen and noted how not only neat, but empty it was. Either she believed in minimalism or just didn’t have very much. When the kettle screamed he poured the steaming water and finished the complicated coffee making process. If she had been working as an apprentice, he guessed she didn’t make much money, but she certainly had her priorities straight. The powerful fragrance begged to be inhaled so he did as Lauren had done—inhaled deeply with eyes closed. A place near the beach and good coffee. So what if she had to skimp on furnishings. People probably didn’t need half the stuff they owned anyway. Lauren rounded the corner wearing gray sweats, her long brown hair wrapped in a towel. “That smells wonderful. You did good, Jake.” “Why don’t you sit and I’ll pour it too.” “My…aren’t you the gentleman.” He wondered if his manners were too much. He didn’t want to blow his cover and be spotted for the Boy Scout he really was. Lauren crossed to the refrigerator and plucked a carton of cream from the shelf. They met at the table with coffee and cream. She glanced at him with a shy smile. Something he wouldn’t have expected from her. “I’m really sorry about the tattoo.” She plopped an envelope on the table and quickly went for sugar and a spoon. When she joined him, she didn’t attempt to initiate any conversation. Just added cream to her coffee, blew on it and waited while the cream and coffee swirls mixed. “So what are you going to do now?” he asked. She shrugged. “Drink coffee and talk to you, I guess.” “You know what I mean? For work.” “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I have some money saved.” She gestured to the envelope. “That’s for you.” Opening the envelope, he discovered several hundred-dollar bills. “I’m not going to take this. I already told you that.” “You should. I screwed up and now you’ll have to get it fixed which will cost you twice. Besides, I don’t need it.” “I doubt that.” She sipped her coffee silently while he tried to make sense of her. If she didn’t need the money, why was she living like this? Maybe she was one of those back to basics 20
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types, someone who actually prefers a streamlined lifestyle. Somehow he didn’t think the use of fancy European coffee equipment and Kenyan Java qualified as basic. “What are you staring at?” Jake hadn’t realized he was staring, but he must have been. “You. You fascinate me.” She laughed. “That’s the first time I’ve heard a pick-up line in my own kitchen.” “It wasn’t… Well, maybe subconsciously, but I mean—” “Never mind. I was only joking.” He took a breath, blew on the coffee, then sipped the rich-tasting, hot beverage. The aroma only enhanced the taste. Trying not to get caught as he glanced at her, he memorized her face. Her eyes shone light green and amber, complementing her hair, which may have been brown before, but now was so sun-lightened it appeared almost gold. Her nose was straight and slightly turned up, which showed off her prominent upper lip. It was hard not to think about how those lips would feel on him, but he had to shift his attention to something else since he could already feel his cock growing hard. “Look, I know I was partly at fault. I pushed you to do something spontaneously, and you wanted to map it out. Plus I really griped to your boss first thing this morning.” Oddly enough, she smiled. “What did you say to him?” “You don’t want to know. I used a lot of expletives when telling him how embarrassed I was in front of the guys.” “Oh, no. You took the bandage off at Bump and Grind Auto Body?” Suddenly her horrified expression turned into a grin—an infectious grin. He wished she hadn’t slapped her hand over it. Jake couldn’t help smiling either. “You just love saying that name, don’t you?” “I really do. Of course, if you don’t take the money, I’ll have to come by and pay you seven hundred and fifty dollars for a lap dance.” Jakes eyebrows rose automatically because of the picture his mind created, but what could he say to that without sounding like a sexist pig? Not a dang thing.
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Chapter Three Kendra had never before felt this strong a need to apologize or make up for a faux pas. The biggest gesture she had ever made was sending almost three million dollars to Tonia, and she wrestled with that decision for a couple of weeks. Finally remembering that Carlo had kidnapped Tonia’s boyfriend and that she was responsible for Carlo having chased them all the way to the Cayman Islands in the first place, she knew she had to send her the money. If things didn’t work out with her doctor boyfriend she’d have to make a living and it didn’t sound as if she had a lot of skills. It looked like things would work out just fine, though. They made a good couple and were obviously in love. Kendra had felt the pang of envy then, and she felt it now. When would her turn arrive? Her life, despite losing her job, was going well and if she simply continued on as she was, her five and a half million would be plenty to keep her alive and well for the rest of it. Jake, on the other hand, was just starting a new job in an auto body shop. He could use the seven hundred and fifty, and she had finally thought of a brilliant way to give it to him. That morning she had taken a cab downtown to a trendy jewelry store and found exactly what she was looking for. A thick, solid gold and titanium hip-hop neck chain, designed for a man. It didn’t cost as much as her tattoo error cost him, but it was a magnanimous gesture just the same. She would make up the difference with a romantic dinner, if he’d accept. Having never done the asking before, butterflies danced in her stomach. The cab found the address she had looked up in the yellow pages and Kendra gazed out the open window to see an old, faded blue building in a less than savory part of a nearby town. Sounds of electric machinery accompanied a shower of sparks inside one of the open garage doors. The noon sun beat down on hot pavement, and the only person she could see was hunched over a car, bare from the waist up. His back was unadorned and slick with sweat. She paid the fare, asked the driver to wait, and strolled up to the guy checking out the sports car’s engine. “Excuse me.” The guy jolted up and hit his head on the propped-up hood. Rubbing his head, he turned glowering, but his face changed dramatically when he saw her. She had dressed in a casual, but feminine short denim skirt and white cotton blouse, hoping Jake might enjoy the sight of her in something besides ripped jeans, shorts and sweats.
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The grease monkey’s grin revealed a missing tooth. “Well, hello! What can I do for you, miss?” “I’m looking for Jake Marino.” “Damn. I was hoping you might be lookin’ for me.” His smile remained in place, as he yelled into the dark shadows inside the shop. “Hey, Jake! Some purdy lady’s here to see you.” Jake appeared a moment later wiping his greasy hands on a rag. “Lauren! What’s up? Did you come to get your lap dance?” His grin absolutely melted her. Not to mention he wore faded, tight jeans, and oh, did they show off his thigh muscles! Unfortunately he had on a shirt but she knew what his gorgeous pecs and biceps looked like. Now, if he’d just turn around… Kendra grinned too, suddenly very glad she had decided to make an apologetic gesture. “I’d certainly take one if I didn’t have a cab waiting, but that’s not why I came by.” She dug around in her backpack and produced the box that held his gift. “I came to give you this.” Jake looked at the box, then at his dirty hands. “Would you open it for me?” She chuckled. “Sure.” Then opened the hinged box and watched his face. His eyes popped wide open and his jaw dropped. “You didn’t.” “I did.” He didn’t say anything at first…just stared at it, then at her. “Lauren. I can’t.” “You can.” “I won’t.” “Why not? I got it to cover that rotten tattoo.” His coworkers were beginning to gather and eye his bling. She hoped none of them would offer to take it off his hands or she’d have to snap the box closed and pull it away, Richard Gere-style. The one with the missing tooth spoke up. “Are you the tattoo artist who did Jake’s ‘Bowl me’ tattoo?” “No. I’m the ex-apprentice who completely blew his ‘blow me’ tattoo, and wants to make it up to him.” By now, two other guys had drifted outside. Jake shifted his weight from foot to foot, looking uncomfortable. One of them slapped him on the back. “I can think of ways I’d let her make it up to me, Jake. If I were lucky enough to get a ‘Bowl me’ tattoo.” He laughed out loud and the rest of the grease monkeys chortled. “Blow me,” Jake said to his coworker. “My neck may not say it, but my mouth sure can.” One of the others sported plenty of beautiful tattoos and chimed in. “Puttin’ your money where your mouth is, huh?”
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They all laughed again, and Kendra realized how humiliated Jake must have been. She had made him a laughingstock. Maybe she ought to leave so he could salvage his pride without her reminding everyone of his new flaw. Kendra felt her face heat with embarrassment. “I—I’d better go. I’m sorry, Jake. Really I am.” “Keep it and get your money back. Please.” Crap. That’s the last I’ll ever see of him. Without waiting for his forgiveness, she walked back to the taxi and jumped in, wishing she could crawl into the glove compartment.
***** As soon as the cab drove off, Jake’s new buddies gave him a hard time. Fred gawked at him. “What’s the matter with you, Jake? A hot girl tries to give you jewelry, offers to ‘make it up to you’ and you turn her down? Don’t tell me you’re a homo. We don’t want no sissy pants here.” Jake shot a look at Fred that he hoped was threatening enough to shut down that line of questioning, immediately. “Hell, no.” “Then why the cold shoulder?” What could I have said to her? “I don’t think it’s a good idea to let these guys see who you are? You really shouldn’t be here or seen with me, for your own protection? Get the hell out, now?” Animal crossed his massive tattooed arms above his beer belly. “What? Are you still mad at her?” Whew. An out. “What if I am? If I let her make it up to me she’ll probably want to tattoo me again, and I don’t want my whole body fucked up.” “So why didn’t you take that neck-chain? It would have covered the mistake and looked damn cool at the same time. Hell, I’d love to have something like that from a beautiful chick.” “Nah. I’m not really the jewelry wearing type.” “Whatever, guy.” Animal walked off shaking his head. Jake had already decided he’d drop by her house again sometime and see how she was doing. Maybe he should have taken the gift and brought it back to her. Instant excuse. His pride didn’t allow him to take an expensive gift or money from a woman he didn’t blame for an honest mistake—or one that was fired because of his behavior. He was just so thrown by her unexpected appearance while he was in full “infiltration” mode so he wasn’t his charming self, at all. Now, he may have suffered a setback with the guys, not to mention a certain beauty he’d like to keep in touch with. May have? Holy crap. He’d be lucky if he ever gained the mechanics’ trust and be let into their illicit scheme. And Lauren? Maybe it was for the best, but damn it. He wanted to help her out somehow. He’d have to figure out a way to salvage both situations. At 24
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some point, he might take a woman into his confidence, but right now, the less she knew, the better. All of them had returned to their work except Fred who stared at him, shaking his head. Jake had to think fast. He shrugged. “What? Would you take an expensive gift you wouldn’t wear from a woman you might want to date? I mean, if I thought I was never going to see her again, it might be a good way to end things and I could just pawn it, later. But I’d have to wear it, and I don’t want her reminded of her mistake every time she looks at me. It’s not like I can take it and not wear it if we’re seeing each other.” “Yeah. I see what you mean. I think I would have taken it and then lost it or somethin’…” “See? That’s why you’re the supervisor. Maybe I should have told her I was going to ask her out. But I didn’t want to do it in front of everyone. She’d probably turn me down. After all, I did get her fired.” Fred walked away. “I understand what you’re saying, but the guys wouldn’t have razzed you for that—much.” He raised his voice and called into the garage, “Hey guys, if Jake asked her out only to have her shoot him down right in front of everybody we’d know how it feels, right? We’ve all been through it.” Multiple groans came from behind and under the cars they were working on. Jake nodded. “Good to know. Next time a beautiful woman drops by with a peace offering, I’ll tell her to make it up to me by going out to dinner and take it from there.” There. He hoped that would satisfy the guys. He really had to do some serious poking around and they had to trust him enough to leave him alone in the shop for a little while. Why there was a third bay not in use while expensive cars sat outside was driving him crazy. Its blacked-out windows were even more suspicious. Animal’s slightly muffled voice came from under a Cadillac. “You think it’s too late with this one?” Jake shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe if I can arrange to run into her again sometime…” He had every intention of running into her again. He knew where she lived and as long as she didn’t sic the dog on him, he’d find her and explain. But what could he tell her? Certainly not the truth. He had to come up with something. If he said he’d changed his mind, she might think he was a materialistic jerk too stubborn or angry to accept a gift at the time, then in hindsight realized its value. Taking it might imply a relationship. He still hadn’t decided if having one was a good idea or not but that didn’t mean squat to a woman. She’d take it personally. Maybe he could tell her he had recently suffered a bad breakup. It wasn’t too far from the truth.
*****
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Kendra sat on the beach and patted Brando. They had just taken the longest walk ever and both of them were dog-tired. The waves usually lulled her into a state so peaceful that her mind entered some kind of meditative oblivion. Yet, this evening was different. Something was bothering her and she had no one to talk to about it. When she first arrived on the island, she was still in Las Vegas mode. She was secretive, didn’t trust anyone and isolated herself by avoiding contact with people as much as possible. Brando was her only friend. That existence served its purpose, but it became unfulfilling. Scratching Brando under his chin, she decided to tell him about it. She felt kind of stupid talking to her dog, but there was no one within earshot and no one else to tell. “Mind if I unload on you a bit, boy?” Brando glanced over at her, panting, then lay down, facing the ocean as if settling in for a nice long chat. “I wish I had a human friend. You’re a great dog, don’t get me wrong, but I’d love to hear someone else’s opinion when I talk sometimes.” She sighed deeply and crossed her legs at the ankles. “I don’t mean like Frankie. He gave an opinion and no matter what I really thought, he had to be right. He used to say, ‘When I want to hear your opinion, I’ll give it to ya.’” Kendra had imitated Frankie’s voice a little too well and chills went up her spine. “Jeez, I haven’t thought about him in a while. He’s in prison so I really don’t have to worry, but he has connections, you know?” She ran her hands over Brando’s soft fur, taking comfort in the warmth of another sentient being. “I wonder what he thinks about my vanishing act? He probably assumes the truth—that I took his money and ran, but maybe not. Maybe he thinks I’m dead. I kinda wish I had faked my death, but that’s not easy to do. The police usually figure it out, and then he’d know for sure I had disappeared on purpose. “Who I’m really worried about is Carlo.” She shivered visibly. “What if he somehow traces me to the island? Thank God he isn’t very bright on the best of days. You’ll protect me if anybody finds me, though. Won’t you boy?” “Who’s Carlo?” A deep male voice from behind startled her and Brando jumped up, barking furiously. She grabbed a tight hold on his leash just in time to prevent him from lunging. Kendra whipped around to figure out who was rude enough to eavesdrop on her one-sided conversation. “Jake?” She held onto Brando’s leash with all her might and yelled, “Down, Brando! Friend!” He kept barking, jumping and eventually started to drag Kendra across the sand. “Stop it Brando. Stop! Sit!” Jake took a few steps back. Brando growled and pulled at his leash even harder. When Jake angled off toward a couple of palm trees, Brando followed dragging poor Kendra by the seat of her pants. 26
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“Let out the leash.” “Are you crazy?” “A little at a time. I’ll stay ahead of him.” Kendra finally understood, and though she was being pulled around the palm tree on her ass, at least she slowed down as Brando was fed a longer length of leash. At last Jake made enough circles around the tree to wrap Brando’s leash around it tightly. Kendra finally had something to tie him to and tie him she did. “Bad dog! I told you…‘friend’.” She stood and brushed off the seat of her shorts. “Sorry. You startled me, and he thought I was afraid of you. What are you doing here?” “I came to apologize and ask you to have dinner with me. If that’s okay with your dog.” Kendra paused. Maybe even though he rejected her gift, he wasn’t rejecting her. Jake extended his hand, palm up, toward Brando, letting him sniff the air in front of it. “Friend, Brando,” he said. Brando stopped growling only long enough to dart toward his fingers with open jaws and snap at the hand offered him. Jake’s reflexes were quick and he yanked his hand back just in time to avoid feeding her dog finger sandwiches. “Brando! Damn dog. What’s wrong with you?” Kendra frowned. “Maybe he doesn’t understand the command. Is he trained?” “Highly. The trainer demonstrated that command with me, so he’d know I was his friend. I know he knows it. Although I’ve never used it, so maybe he forgot.” A lump rose to Kendra’s throat as she realized how lonely that made her sound. But it happened to be true. Jake seemed unfazed. “Maybe he’s jealous. He may sense that there’s another man wanting your attention.” That was a nice noncommittal way of putting it. “So, you wanted to ask me out to dinner?” “Yeah, tonight if you’re not busy.” “Tonight? The sun is already setting, so you mean like, right now?” “Well, yeah. If you want to watch the sunset, I can wait over there.” He grinned and pointed toward the street. She noticed a red convertible parked near her driveway and wondered why she hadn’t heard him. The engine must have been drowned out by the roar of the surf, or maybe he knew how to approach silently like some of the guys she knew in Vegas. They were the ones Frankie used to sneak up on certain people who caused problems. “I’ll take Brando back to the house and meet you at your car. It might be better if you drive around the block so he thinks you left.” “Like the old days. Sneaking out with the boyfriend you have to meet around the corner. I’ll pick you up in five minutes.” He gave her another sexy grin, waved, and jogged back to his car. 27
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If only my childhood were that normal. She smiled, wondering how much she should divulge of her real life to her date tonight, or any other night if things worked out. If she told him nothing, what would they ever talk about? Gazing at his tight buns, she hoped talking wasn’t his top priority. “You’ve got to learn that fucking command, Brando. Don’t blow this for me.”
***** They had been given a nice table on the patio overlooking the ocean. The sun had set and stars were beginning to twinkle in the indigo sky. Jake was impressed that Lauren had managed to put on a slinky, blue halter dress and brush her hair in minutes. So much for the theory that women took forever to get ready for a… Was it a date? Jake wished he didn’t have to do what he had decided was best. With her golden brown hair stirring occasionally in the breeze, she looked good enough to eat and he had been a hungry man for a while. Setting his iced tea on the table, he steeled himself for the monologue to come. “I’m sorry I didn’t accept your gift this morning. I want to explain.” Kendra sipped her Mai Tai, making eye contact but remaining quiet. The way her sexy upper lip curved over the straw would, if it were a date, make him wish they could skip the small talk and proceed right to rolling around on a beach blanket. She had been fairly quiet all the way to the restaurant. Of course, having a conversation while the wind roars past one’s ears might have been difficult. “I’m not very good at this, I’m afraid.” She put her drink down. “Not good at what?” Jake glanced all around the open-air restaurant. He didn’t think anyone he knew would be there. It was much too classy for the other mechanics, too expensive for the cops. If she made a scene and attracted attention, it shouldn’t matter. “I’m not…not breaking it off or anything, exactly.” She leaned back and stared at him, utter bewilderment on her face. “Breaking it off? What are you talking about?” “I told you I was no good at this.” “You’re not kidding.” She looked over at the darkening ocean and shook her head. “Why don’t you just spit it out, Jake. You’ll be doing both of us a favor. You’re either gay, married or involved.” “No! None of the above.” She folded her arms and frowned. “Then what is it?” Damn, even when she was irritated she was attractive. “Lauren, I…” Hell and be damned, his explanation for not seeing her would sound lame. One of the reasons he was having such a hard time was that he didn’t mean it. He did want to see her.
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Kendra faced him squarely. “Okay, let me try to guess again. You’re afraid of my dog.” He snorted. “No, I’m not.” She shrugged. “It wouldn’t surprise me if you were. He puts off a lot of people.” “Well, not me.” “Okay… So how about you just fess up. Why aren’t you breaking it off, ‘exactly’ and what does that mean?” Jake had a nice rehearsed speech, but he couldn’t remember a word of it. He had made up some crap about being hurt, wanting to stay casual, take it slow… Lauren sighed. Some type of deep sadness crept into her eyes. “I get twenty questions right?” “No need. Look, I was all set to say, I just went through a bad breakup so let’s take it slowly or just be friends if you want, but looking at you…sitting here with you, all I want to do is kiss you.” She raised her eyebrows and waited. When he didn’t say anymore, she asked, “That’s it?” He felt like an idiot and dropped his gaze to the white tablecloth. “Yeah, that’s it.” “Oh. Well, that’s too bad. I was going to suggest a relationship of casual sex but no real involvement other than that.” Jake stuck his finger in his ear and wiggled it, wondering if he had heard correctly. “Did you just suggest we become…” He glanced around and lowered his voice. “Fuck buddies?” She played with her Mai Tai straw and shrugged. “For lack of a better description, yeah, I guess I did.” At that moment, the waiter brought their orders. They smelled delicious, but Jake wasn’t thinking about his dinner. Preoccupied with what she had just said, his mind raced right to dessert. As soon as the waiter left, he said, “And that would be enough for you? You wouldn’t expect me to turn myself into half of a couple and take care of your emotional needs too?” She chuckled and shook her head. “To be honest, I’m not used to much emotional support.” She seemed pensive for a few moments, then took a deep breath and continued. “I’ve been on my own since I was fifteen. I didn’t get much support from day one. My parents were dead-heads.” “Are you talking about the followers of the Grateful Dead rock band?” “Exactly. I grew up in a van, traveling with two stoned people who, apparently, had forgotten to use birth control one night.” “You’re kidding.” “I wish I were.” “What about school?”
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She shrugged. “I didn’t get much support there either. We wouldn’t stay in one place long and my parents were afraid to attend a parent-teacher night. Occasionally some of the band members seemed to feel sorry for me. Jerry Garcia gave me a book. I liked the pictures. My parents thought if I had something to do, I wouldn’t bother them. So they tried to teach me to read better. Unfortunately…” “You have dyslexia,” he finished for her. “Yeah.” “Isn’t it possible that you just never learned how to read properly? Maybe you’re not dyslexic at all.” She shrugged. “Anything’s possible, I guess. But on one of their ‘layovers’, when they had to work a while to get money for gas and concert tickets, I was diagnosed at a school that had me in the dumb kids’ classes. They knew I wasn’t retarded, so they did some tests.” “What if it was a misdiagnosis? How could your parents just…” He stopped himself in time. He wasn’t supposed to get involved and it was none of his business. “It’s okay. I kept myself occupied by drawing. People seemed to love what I drew on my little sketchpads, so my parents and other fans kept buying them for me. I kept drawing and got some pointers. You’d be surprised how many dead-heads have artistic talent.” “Well, I’m glad you had something. Which brings up another topic. What the hell are you going to do now that your job’s ended?” She shrugged. “I’ll think of something. No rush.” “What did you do to support yourself before?” Her eyes shifted quickly to gaze at the ocean, and she seemed to clam up. “Look, you don’t have to worry about me. It’s not part of our arrangement—if you want to take me up on it. Trust me, I’m fine. All I need is a warm body next to me sometimes. One I can do more to than pat.” Jake felt himself stir as he pictured her stroking him in all the right places. Besides, how could he abandon her when those sad eyes told him everyone else in her life had done just that? “That sounds pretty damn good to me. Do you want to have the waiter wrap our order so we can take everything to your house?” Lauren smiled and winked. “Sure, I’d like that a lot.” She wriggled in her seat and added, “I don’t need you to buy me dinner before we sleep together. I’m embracing the casual, Hawaiian, hang-loose attitude. And I’d like to embrace more than that.” Jake zeroed in on the waiter and held up his index finger. “Check, please!”
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Chapter Four Kendra clipped Brando’s leash to his backyard run and waved Jake over. He had waited next to his car at Kendra’s insistence until Brando-boy relearned the word, friend. This relationship might prove to be a serious pain in the ass if she couldn’t expedite that. She squatted next to the behaviorally challenged canine and held his collar with one hand while patting him with the other. “There you go, boy. There’s someone I want you to meet. He’s a friend.” She spoke the words several times in a soothing voice with emphasis on the last one. “Friend, Brando. Friend.” Jake approached slowly with his hands in his pockets. Brando’s upper lip curled and a low growl sounded menacing, so Jake stopped. “I wonder if he understands the term, ‘fuck buddy’?” Kendra glanced up at him with a sardonic smile and continued on, ignoring the remark. “Friend, Brando.” She continued to stroke the Doberman’s neck and back. At last, he stopped growling and sat back on his haunches. “Oh, thank goodness. He remembers it, now.” “I wish I had some kind of doggie treat for him to reinforce good behavior. How about if I go inside and cut off a piece of my steak for him.” “No, he should learn to behave well whether you have a treat for him or not. Besides, I don’t want every burglar with a steak to be thought of as a friend.” “Gotcha. So what now?” “Let him smell you while I’m holding him.” Jake came within inches of the dog’s snout, And in typical doggie fashion, Brando stuck his nose right in Jake’s crotch. Kendra chuckled. “Hey, Brando, that’s my job.” Grinning, Jake reached for the dog’s head. To Kendra’s relief, Brando allowed him to pat his head and neck. “Good boy,” she crooned, happily. “Let’s leave him outside until we’re sure this isn’t a fluke.” “You think he’ll ever sit in my lap?” “I wouldn’t expect miracles, Jake. He’s not exactly what you’d call a lap dog.” Jake gave Brando one more pat and departed for Kendra’s front door. She held it open for him. Once inside, Jake parked himself at her kitchen table and waited for her to feed Brando. As soon as she had given her dog a big scoop of kibble and a few more pats, she explained that she’d let him in a little later and returned to the kitchen. She tossed
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Jake a smile, unwrapped their meals and placed the expensive filet mignon on bright yellow plastic plates. “I hope you don’t mind. I don’t have any china—or a microwave. It’s still pretty warm, though.” “Right about now, I’d eat it raw. Especially when all I want to do is chow down as quickly as possible and get to dessert.” His brown eyes twinkled when he smiled his impish grin, and dark spiky lashes added to his boyish good looks. There was nothing boyish about his body though. She had seen his six-pack abs and well-developed arms before. Just because he was wearing pants didn’t mean she couldn’t visualize what bulged beneath. Kendra grabbed an open bottle of wine from the refrigerator and poured them both a glass. Not only would it help wash down their food but maybe it would quell the jitters that suddenly decided to invade her abdomen. This would be her first time with a new lover since Frankie. Her first new guy in seven years. She’d have to explore and get used to Jake’s moves and preferences, and he, hers. Frankie wanted all the kinky things he couldn’t do with his wife. Threesomes, BDSM play, anal sex and frequent blowjobs whenever he could drag her into a private place and demand she satisfy him. A year of celibacy had helped her retire that phase of life to the back of her mind. Jake didn’t seem like that. Maybe he’d be considerate and ask her what she wanted once in a while. Right now, she wanted what was behind the zipper in his pants filling her lonely, yearning center. Just knowing it was guaranteed to happen in a matter of minutes made her as hot as hell. Picturing his strong body naked and his arms wrapped around her as soon as possible, she dived into her steak almost as enthusiastically as he did. “Let’s not forget to chew, babe,” he said around a mouthful. “I don’t want the first time I hold you to be because I’m delivering abdominal thrusts.” He took a large gulp of red wine. She finished chewing and wiped the corner of her mouth with her fingers. “You mean if I choke?” He nodded and shoveled another bite of steak into his mouth. “Yeah.” She stabbed another bite. “If anyone should be careful it should be you, since I don’t know how to do that abdominal thing.” He kept chewing. As soon as he swallowed, he said, “I’ll show you.” Standing, he motioned for her to do the same. “Turn around.” She did as he asked, allowing him to slip his arms around her waist and come up so close behind her she could feel his hard cock nudging her ass. She tingled everywhere he touched her. “This is how you find the hand position. First, you feel for the bellybutton. His fingers prodded her stomach until he located hers and pressed a fingertip to it. Lay two fingers down and place your fist just above the higher finger, thumb-knuckle side against the victim’s abdomen, like this.”
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Victim? That was a word she had never liked, deciding long ago never to be a victim of her circumstances. Then along came Frankie. “And, thrust!” Kendra was shocked back into the present when a quick uppercut to the diaphragm nearly knocked the wind out of her. “Like that,” Jake said. “Holy crap. That could’ve forced my breakfast and lunch out.” “Sorry about your stomach, but that’s kind of the point. It’s a simple procedure and it might save someone’s life someday. You never know.” He returned to his seat, and continued to wolf down his dinner. “Well, thanks, I think.” Kendra shook her head as if to clear it, and sat back down. She watched Jake stuff another piece of meat into his mouth for a thorough chew. Opting for the mashed potatoes that would go down easier, Kendra just wanted her stomach full enough to avoid any embarrassing growls while they screwed around in bed. He was almost through with his steak and hadn’t bothered with any of the side dishes. She recalled hearing something about men who eat red meat being passionate in bed. Good. I’m looking forward to the next course. Kendra, even though chewing well, ate a little faster. He drained his wineglass, let out a satisfied, “Ahh…” and said, “Sorry this isn’t more romantic, but I’m ready when you are.” She finished the bite in her mouth and downed the rest of her wine. “Let’s go.” Jake took her hand and let her lead the way into her bedroom. She was glad she had just vacuumed and dusted. The Asian design she had chosen always looked very neat and streamlined as long as the gold cotton sheets were pulled tight and tucked in. An embroidered, red satin comforter, folded at the end of the bed was rarely needed in the warm environment, but it completed the look. “Nice room. You have a good decorator.” She chuckled. “That would be me. I watch a lot of home decorating programs when it’s raining and I’m home during the day.” He folded the comforter and placed it on top of a large wicker basket that served as her hamper. “So, I guess you were especially inspired during rainy season.” Jake faced her across the bed and helped her turn the sheets down. A few scented candles would add to the mood, so she lit the cinnamon and vanilla votives and then turned off the light. Nice. Almost romantic. Now let’s see what he does with it. He unbuttoned his shirt, watching her with smoldering eyes the whole time. She would be nearly naked with one pull of her dress, so she teased him by lifting the hemline about an inch at a time. He lowered his zipper, and as if he had just remembered something, he took his wallet out of his back pocket.
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Kendra bit her tongue to keep from ruining the semi-romantic mood with a joke about how he had already paid. Bad joke. As soon as he had withdrawn a square foil packet from the wallet and placed it on the bamboo nightstand, he gave the waistband a shove and his pants fell to the floor. Kendra’s hem had just cleared her panties, exposing her long naked legs. He cocked an eyebrow as if in encouragement, so she whipped her dress off the rest of the way. Relief washed over her as he smiled his approval. She knew her body had been nearly perfect when she was a dancer but without a daily, vigorous workout, some of her body was not as taut as it used to be. Her nicely rounded implants were still plenty high, but her soft thighs were no longer firm, toned muscle. Maybe she’d get more exercise if they could make this arrangement work—especially if they tried some precarious positions. Jake lowered his briefs to his dark, hairy thatch and stopped. It wasn’t so much a striptease as a challenge. Kendra answered him by lowering her bikini panties to the top of her neatly trimmed triangle, and then waited for him to make the next move. He had to pull the waistband out a way to clear his thick erection, and as if daring her to follow, he whipped them down his legs, stepped out of them, then turned to expose his taut ass as he picked up his clothes. Kendra’s breath caught in her throat while he loosely folded his pants and shirt and laid them across her rattan chair in the corner. Dear God, what a body! Without thinking about anything but touching him, running her hands over his tight, nicely rounded hindquarters, she shoved her panties down, stepped out of them, and turned to pick up her own clothes. “What’s that?” Kendra gasped and bolted upright, covering her weird butt tattoo with her hand. “Um, it’s um…” How the hell am I going to explain why that’s there? Crap. “Look, I’m sorry. I was just curious. If you don’t want to tell me about it, you don’t have to. Fuck buddies don’t get into each other’s business. I didn’t mean to upset you.” “No. I’m not upset. I’d just rather not break the spell you have me under. We can talk later.” “Right. That’s what we agreed. Less talking, more screwing.” He vaulted onto the bed, playfully, and reached for her. She fell into his arms and let him hold her, almost sighing out loud. The joy of his warm skin touching so much of hers afforded incredible relief from her long stretch of emptiness. Jake stroked her backside, from her shoulder blades, down her spine, over her ass, and back up again. If only she had let someone turn that damn tattoo into a butterfly or something. She wasn’t about to let Don cover it with a better one, but maybe she could scout out other tattoo shops while looking for an artist to fix it up.
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Thoughts of her tattoo and how it might affect a man evaporated as Jake ran his hands gently back and forth over her breasts, hips and buttocks. She closed her eyes, relaxed her mind, and let her body’s nerve endings vibrate in hyperawareness. Jake’s masculine, spicy scent filled her nostrils and she nuzzled his neck, unable to get enough. As he stroked her back and cupped her bottom, she tangled her fingers in his dark silky hair. “Kissing or no kissing?” he asked. “Depends on what you’re kissing.” That was all the invitation he needed. In seconds he had her on her back and sucked her breasts while his hand further explored the front of her body, from her neck to her thigh. Eventually he simply concentrated on her breasts, massaging one while sucking the other. Kendra’s sensitive nipples welcomed the pleasurable sensations shooting straight to her womb. Her muscles clenched as she moaned a grateful melody. After paying both of her breasts generous attention, he slid down to her thighs. She pulled her knees up and placed her feet flat on the sheet. He raised himself up on one elbow and traced the monkey tattoos on her ankle. “These are cute.” “Yeah. I had to practice on myself before Don would let me tattoo a customer. Then I had to do a few of his friends for free before I could charge for it.” “So these are your first?” “The first I ever did on a person. I tattooed a couple of rubber balls to get the depth right before I tried it on myself.” “Why monkeys?” She grinned. “I like them. They can do any damn thing they want and people can’t stop them. They get positive attention and smiles no matter what they’re up to. They can stick their tongues out or ignore you and sit in a tree eating a banana. Seemed appropriate to what I was going through at the time. You know, wishing I could be free to do and be whatever I wanted, despite what anyone else wanted.” “And to look cute while doing it.” He pinched one of her nipples and she flinched. Then she reached for his chest and pinched his erect nipple in return. He laughed. “I don’t notice you taking too much crap from anyone.” “Yeah, finally.” “You used to take crap from people?” “Just one person. My ex-boyfriend was on a power trip. He enjoyed ordering me around and treating me like his sex-slave.” “Tell you what, I’ll be your sex slave for a while. It’ll balance things out.” “All I want is a lot of good old-fashioned fucking. Lots and lots of fucking.” Just saying the words heightened her desire. She couldn’t wait to ride him—to feel him plunging inside her. It occurred to her that using the word, “old-fashioned” might be
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misinterpreted as vanilla sex. “Not missionary or anything. I like different positions, places, and oral sex. But mostly what I want to do is fuck.” “So, your boyfriend. Was he only interested in his own pleasure? Did he not fuck you enough? Was it Carlo?” Just that name sent a shock wave of fear through her. Covering it with bravado, she scowled. “No. Carlo wasn’t my boyfriend. Hey, I thought we said, ‘less talking, more screwing’.” “Sorry. I’m an inquisitive guy.” “Inquisitive is fine, unless it becomes an inquisition, then it kills the moment.” His eyes widened. “Is that what I did? Just by mentioning a particular name? Jesus, he must have done a number on you.” Kendra hated to admit that, yeah, the thought of Carlo trying to kill her did put the kibosh on an otherwise amorous mood. The one lap dance she gave to the brutal killer just to pick his pocket disgusted her and left a bad taste in her mouth. “You know what? Kissing sounds good.” He scooted up next to her until his lips hovered over hers. “Because it will make me shut up?” “I hope so.” Kendra reached around his head and brought his mouth down on hers. Her lips tingled as soon as they made sweet contact. Lord, it was so good to be kissed again. Jake took over control of the kiss right away, deepening it and sliding his tongue into her mouth. The fire between them ignited. They rolled as a unit across the bed, still kissing passionately. Kendra wanted to give herself over to the experience as freely as her monkeys danced around her ankle. No cares. No obligations. Just happy, harmless, sexy fun. She nipped his lower lip and snickered. Then she stuck her tongue in his ear and he groaned as she swirled it. Kissing her way down the side of his neck, she pretended to bite his jugular vein, like a vampire. “Oh, so it’s like that, is it?” Jake flipped her onto her back and held her wrists tight while he licked and nipped her neck to her collarbone, and all the way down to her cleavage as she giggled. He delivered a quick bite to one of her nipples and she arched in pleasure-pain. “I’m so hot and hard, I can barely stand it. But I want to wait until I’ve satisfied you,” Jake ground out. “I can’t wait. I want you fucking me now.” “You even talk dirty. I like that.” He nipped the other breast. “Not so fast, though. I have more I want to do.” “Oh? Like what? Tell me.” “I want to make you scream. I want you to come as I watch.”
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“Then let go of my damn hands and get to it, mister!” She chuckled, hoping that wasn’t too aggressive for him. It didn’t seem so as he moved his hand to her thighs. Jake licked his way around her nipples, then raised his head and stared at her with hooded eyes. It seemed the time for teasing was over if his serious facial expression was any indication of his intentions. He cupped her mons and massaged with his whole hand as he sucked her breast hard. Shivers of sheer pleasure rolled through her and Kendra moaned in joy. It had been too long with nothing but plastic between her legs. A sense of overwhelming relief nearly engulfed her, but she told herself to relax, let it carry her away and enjoy it. He turned back to her other breast and she arched as his mouth drew near. He fastened onto the distended nipple. Sucking her soundly, his fingers made their way to her apex and blood flowed into her quivering clit, aching for him to touch her there. She arched into his hand and moaned. Ripples of fire rumbled through her and she tossed her head from side to side. He sucked her other breast just as thoroughly as the first while massaging a slow, circular path around her clit, but he didn’t quite touch the magic, swollen bundle of nerves. As she writhed in agony, she cried out, “Please, Jake…for the love of God.” He let her breast pop out of his mouth and leaned back, gazing at her face with a teasing smile. His fingers found her opening and slid inside, stroking slowly in and out of her slippery center. “Please what, Lauren?” His voice was low and smooth, completely in control. “Oh God!” she rasped. “Take me. What do I have to do or say? I’ll do anything if you’ll let me come.” “Anything?” “I want you, Jake!” He barely brushed her clit twice and her vaginal muscles clamped his fingers frantically each time. Hot desire readied her to be swept to sweet release. “Take me over the edge, please.” His fingers left her center and he rose to a kneeling position between her thighs. He tapped her knees and she spread her legs wide for him. She didn’t care if he finished her off with his finger, his mouth, or the pressure of his cock. She was ready to come with the slightest touch. He opened the foil packet, rolled the condom over his erection and positioned himself between her legs, poised at her opening. “Do you want me to fuck you, now?” “Yes. God, yes,” she begged. He fingered her clit as he plunged his cock into her opening all the way up to the hilt and her cunt exploded. She jerked and cried out. He rode her hard, grinding into her pussy while holding himself up with a one-arm push-up so he could still finger her clit. She was flying and her body was completely out of her control.
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Before she touched down, another orgasm rolled right through her like the other side of a hurricane. She spasmed under his relentless attention, yet still he thrust into her without letting up. She shuddered and howled her bliss. If she didn’t focus on giving him his pleasure, she’d lose her mind. Passion and desire gripped his face. He was deep in concentration, so without a word she thrust him off her, flipped herself over and offered him her butt. He moistened her opening with the juices from her pussy and slid into her, slowly, a few inches at a time while she breathed and forced her muscles to relax, admitting him. He hugged her around the waist with one arm and pounded into her as she gripped the sheets with her fists. Dear God, was she building to another climax? She clenched her rectal muscles around his penis and he arched, then jerked into her, grunting. She fingered her clit so that when he went over the edge, he took her with him. Kendra almost left her body as her nerves short-circuited and a third orgasm tore through her sensitized core. She roared from deep in her diaphragm and trembled uncontrollably. He held her tightly and waited until she stopped gasping. Her legs still quivered, unbelievably weak. At last they gave way underneath her and Jake sank down at the same time, covering her. She slowly melted into the mattress. Kendra felt a lump in her throat and her eyes began to water. For God’s sake, Kendra, don’t cry. You’ve had sex before. But she had to admit to herself that she had never experienced a multiple orgasm…at least, not one she wasn’t faking. She covered the tears with giggles. A trick she had learned long ago. Fake a different emotion if you don’t want to be vulnerable for revealing the real one. Jake rolled off. He allowed her a short respite to breathe normally before he smoothed her damp hair away from her face, and kissed her neck. “Thank you. That was incredible!” She grinned, still breathing deeply. “You’re welcome. Thank you too.” “Anytime.” “How about again in a few minutes?” He grinned, pulling her on top of him. “You’re insatiable and I’m spent, but don’t worry. I can handle it.” “I’ll bet you can.” She angled her mouth over his and kissed him. He twisted her hair behind her head and held her there, deepening the kiss with his tongue as she reveled in fulfillment.
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Chapter Five Jake groaned as he rose from his own bed and faced the idea of going to work. After another round of their own version of bump and grind, and yet another, he’d had to go home. There was still a report to e-mail to his supervisor. Having two jobs and a relationship, even just a sexual one, would be challenging. Finally, he’d fallen asleep, exhausted, at about three-thirty in the morning. Just thinking about the part of his evening that involved Lauren put a silly smile on his face as he drove to his undercover job. On their first day together, flirting and talking about lap dances, he knew he wanted to go to bed with her, but he never imagined it would be like that. His mind, as well as another part of his anatomy had been thoroughly blown. Lauren was unusual. He had never met a woman who needed him less emotionally, or more physically. With every passing moment he thought about seeing her again. Crap. That’s not only inconvenient, it could be dangerous. Concentrate on your real job, Jensen. Investigating Bump and Grind Auto Body. By the time he pulled into the paved parking area behind the shop, he had decided he wanted to treat her better and not just see her to fuck her. He liked spending time with her. The little bit of time he had to himself should be enjoyed, fully. And, man, could he see himself enjoying her fully. He couldn’t let her get too close but he could tell her his cover story. Even without knowing his real background, he could still proudly take her to a football game, a show, or wherever she might like to be entertained. Then with whatever time they had left, they could fuck like rabbits. She could become part of his cover—if he continued to rationalize it like this. But would she want to be with him? How would she feel about him if he told her he was arrested for B&E but allowed to enlist in the Army where he learned auto repair? His cover story worked for Tiny Tim, but she might not want to date a near convict. Maybe if he could get her dog to approve, she would too. What if he fed Brando some hamburger before he knocked on her door tonight? He had been worried that Brando would start barking with all her moaning and howling, but her little cinderblock house must have been well insulated against sound. So many homes in the islands were not. Paper-thin walls would let the subtlest sounds escape—and they hadn’t exactly been subtle. He’d have a hard time suppressing his good mood around the guys today. Every time he thought of her, his cock stirred. Glancing down at his lap he groaned. Hell, I might have a hard time hiding something else today! He sat in his car a few moments longer to let the telltale bulge in his pants go down. He didn’t want to give them another excuse to rib him about being gay. Damn, that
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wasn’t the image he wanted to project at all. They sure as hell wouldn’t let someone they though of as a “sissy pants” in on their illicit operation. Someone pounded on the trunk of his car and startled him out of his reverie. When he turned his head, Animal was walking by. “You coming or what?” Jake snorted as Animal strolled on toward the back door. “Yeah. In a minute.” He had planned on being the strong silent type until the unfortunate tattoo incident. Now he had to think of a way to butch up his image and win the trust of the tough guys. He pushed the button that automatically opened the trunk and replaced the hard top over his open convertible—a major theft deterrent. It seemed ironically apropos sitting right in the parking lot of a suspected chop shop. Animal glanced back and went inside. Jake had thought that his G-6 Pontiac might buy him some respect. He hated the idea of using Lauren for that, but maybe if nothing else worked… Inside, Fred sauntered over to him and handed him a rag. “Want to wax the Beemer?” “Sure. What would you do if I said no?” “Kill you.” Fred delivered the line deadpan, then reared back and laughed. Great. I guess I’d better go into that strong, silent mode now. Jake took the rag and grabbed the jar of Turtle Wax off the shelf. When he dipped the rag into it and spread it onto the hood in a circular motion, Fred grinned. “Wax on, wax off.” Chuckles from the rest of the peanut gallery stopped him mid-wipe. Then he continued on, silently. How had he managed to change his image from a tough guy to someone who could be teased so easily ? He’d have to spend the day repairing his image and gaining the trust of his coworkers. By lunchtime, Jake had moved on to prepping and painting the vehicles. It seemed like a lot of high-end vehicles were getting painted that day. He didn’t see them come in, either. For some reason, they all appeared on the evening shift and sat out back until morning. That was enough to cause suspicion but he felt too closely watched to poke around much yet. Finally, his trial ended. He washed his hands in the stained sink, splashed some water on his sweaty face and strolled to his car without a word to his supervisor or anyone else. Jumping into his G6, he roared off. He needed to get to his apartment, write up his report, e-mail it in to his supervisor and get some grub. His stomach was empty since his only lunch was a dry turkey sandwich and coffee from the convenience store down the street. Then he thought about Lauren. She might like a nice evening out, especially since they had bailed on their dinner date the night before. It seemed too soon for a second “date” but she did say she wanted lots and lots of fucking… Besides, he wanted to see
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her again as soon as possible. He could show them both a good time and tell her about his decision. As he took an alternate route he hoped would be faster, he passed the local art museum. Remembering her love for art and his close personal friend who worked there, he guessed he might be able to get her a job. Except that they had agreed to stay out of each other’s personal business. If they were fuck-buddies, he couldn’t help her— but he wanted to. It was his fault she lost her job. He’d just have to keep the relationship light, if they wound up having a relationship.
***** Kendra shuffled to the front door prepared to bite off the head of whatever neighbor, religious fanatic or idiot asking for directions was pounding on her door. She jerked open the door wearing sweatpants and an exercise bra, hair askew and eyes half closed. “I’m sorry, did I wake you up?” Coming out of her nap-induced trance, her eyes focused and widened. “Oh, Jake. Yeah, kind of. I couldn’t imagine who was here and thought one of the neighbors was probably complaining about Brando again.” Brando jogged back and forth on his run happily. She should have known it was someone she knew since she’d have heard him growl at an approaching stranger. “No. He seems well behaved and happy at the moment. He didn’t make a sound when I came up to the door, either.” Kendra peered around the doorjamb and observed her dog’s composure. “That’s good, huh?” Then she crooned, “Brando, you’re a good boy. Yes you are. Good boy.” “Think he finally recognizes me as a friend?” She chuckled. “He’d better.” Oops. Nothing like being obvious, Kendra. “I mean, I said it plenty of times last night and yelled the command at him when you two met.” Remembering her butt ride around the tree, she smiled since her backside didn’t hurt for long. In fact, she downright enjoyed the butt-riding Jake gave her last night. Jake stuffed his hands in his pockets and glanced at her clothing. “I was just about to see if you’d like to go out for dinner, but it looks like you aren’t raring to go anywhere.” One side of her mouth raised in a sassy half-smile. “Something kept me awake half the night. I think it was some kind of jackhammer. I was catching a nap—just in case more drilling went on again tonight.” “Sounds like the sly smile is meant to tell that me I was the jackhammer in question and you might like the idea of more drilling. Sorry to hear about the lack of sleep, but not really.” He grinned. “Would you be up for dinner? I’ll wait for you to get ready and I have something I’d like to ask you.” She shrugged. “Why don’t you ask me now?” 41
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He heaved a sigh. “Might as well not make a big production out of it. You like things casual.” Kendra’s nerves prickled, already beginning to react to some kind of impending bad news. “Big production? What’s the matter?” Jake reached for her hand and she let him grasp it. His thick, warm, dry palm felt steady and calm. “Okay, here’s the thing. I thought the idea of a fuck-buddy was perfect, but it turns out I’m not sure. I like you more than an inflatable doll.” She straightened and thought about giving him a piece of her mind when he stammered and continued. “Much more. I don’t want to just fuck you. I want to take you out and show you a good time when I can.” She raised her eyebrows and wondered why all the drama. He couldn’t be talking about commitment already. “Well, thanks for preferring me over plastic, but exactly what are you asking me?” Jake rolled his eyes. “I told you I’m no good at this stuff.” “Okay, let me try. You don’t want to be in a committed relationship, but you want to go out with me.” “Yes! That’s it exactly.” “How often are we talking? I’m used to a lot of down time and I don’t think I could go out every night. Your inflatable doll on the other hand…” “No. It doesn’t have to be that often. Weekends? My days off? What works for you?” She relaxed slightly. At least he didn’t want to move in or give her all that crap about taking it slow. He just wanted to treat her decently. “That sounds okay. We can still fuck all we want, though. Right?” He stepped into her space and held her against his chest. “You’re so right.” At last relief washed over her. She stood on tiptoes so she could kiss him on the nose. “You’re cute when you’re old-fashioned. Sure. Let’s try it.” He pulled her tightly to his chest and held her around her waist as she slipped her arms around his neck. While he hugged her he talked into her hair. “Good. Because I heard about a job you might be interested in. I wouldn’t want to get into my fuckbuddy’s personal business, but my girlfriend… Well, that’s different.” She pulled back enough to look at his face and saw only sincerity in his eyes. “Girlfriend. That sounds strange. But I could get used to it. Maybe just because it’s been a while since I was anyone’s girlfriend.” “I find that hard to believe. You’re beautiful, Lauren. How come men haven’t been beating down your door?” “Maybe because my dog would eat them.” They both chuckled, and she let her hands drop from his neck. “Well, why don’t we set a date, then. I don’t have a phone,
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but I think I can remember a date with a good-looking guy. No need to call and remind me.” “No phone? That’s rare.” “Why have one if you don’t want to be bothered?” “I guess I see your point. But my days off vary. This Friday is good. I have to work Saturday. Thursday night would work too.” “Thursday night and Friday? Maybe we can start something Thursday night and play it by ear after that.” Still holding her, loosely, Jake swooped in for a short but sweet kiss. Kendra wasn’t quite satisfied with that. She hooked her hand around his head and dragged him back for another. The man knew how to kiss and his mouth was like a sweet oasis in her desert of loneliness. After several moments of deep French-kissing, they parted, reluctantly. Jake looked at her with a curious expression accompanying his smile. “I didn’t think you’d want more than a peck in public.” “You said we were going out, not married.” Kendra winked and allowed the mouth she thought was too big for her face to widen in a confident grin. “I’m going to enjoy our arrangement…buddy.” “Let me throw on some clothes and we can talk about that job idea over dinner.” He followed her inside and sat at her kitchen table while she continued on into the bedroom. “Where did you want to go?” she called over her shoulder. “Someplace casual?” “Sounds perfect. Where do you usually go?” Jake laughed. “I don’t want to go that casual.” “Let me guess. Do you eat your meals while leaning over the kitchen sink?” “Usually.”
***** Settled on the beach with their takeout food, watching the sunset, Jake sat crossedlegged on a blanket. He admired Lauren’s long legs stretched out in front of her as he took another bite of fried rice using chopsticks. Short cutoffs showed those legs off to their best advantage. Well, almost the best. He liked them wrapped around him the most. She had to use a plastic fork, but closed her eyes and made an appreciative, “Mmm…” sound every few mouthfuls. “This is the kind of Polynesian food I used to get at the Tahiti in Vegas.” “Las Vegas? Did you live or vacation there?” “I wasn’t on vacation, that’s for sure.”
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“Work?” “Yup.” “How long?” “Weren’t you going to tell me about some job?” “Ah, changing the subject, are we? Is Vegas a sore subject?” She hesitated and dug around in her takeout container, supposedly looking for another shrimp. At last she sighed. “It’s got some good memories as well as the bad.” “Can I ask what the good are?” Wistfully, she turned toward the ocean and let a slight smile steal across her face. “I was a dancer. I never felt so alive as when I was on that stage, wearing some ridiculous costume and dancing my heart out. Then the applause. Some nights we were really on. Where every step fell right on the mark and we were all in perfect sync. The applause was deafening after performances like that.” She shook her head sadly and went back to stabbing her container and fishing for shrimp. “I should have guessed. You have the body of a dancer.” He reached over and ran a hand down her smooth leg. “I’ve never seen a more beautiful pair of legs.” She chuckled, then gave him a sly smile. “Is that why you like to put your face between them?” “That and other reasons, buddy.” Jake set his food aside and unwrapped his legs so he could move closer to her. With an arm around her back, he kissed her. After it was apparent she wanted more of that, he leaned away, took her container and set it aside too. “Before we get too sidetracked, I should tell you about that job. It’s at the Museum of Modern Art…” She fisted his t-shirt and pulled him back to her lips. “Don’t need a job right this minute,” she murmured, and fastened her lips to his, entering his open mouth with her waiting tongue. They kissed more fervently than before and were soon stretched out on the blanket, tangled in each other’s arms and legs. Jake finally ended the kiss and followed it with several quick kisses to her face and neck. “We’d better get back to your place before I tear your shorts off.” “Before we go anywhere or do anything, I want my fortune cookie.” She rolled toward the paper bag and grabbed it. “By all means.” Sitting up, they settled on the blanket comfortably and Jake draped his arm over her shoulder. “You know how you’re supposed to read those fortunes, don’t you?” “How?” She broke open a cookie. “Regardless of what it says, you’re supposed to add the words in bed at the end. That’s your real fortune.”
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He smirked as she straightened the bowed paper message. She read it silently and burst out laughing. “What does it say?” “Your dearest wish will come true.” “In bed,” he added. She didn’t even need to look up to see the ear-to-ear grin he was wearing. “Okay, smartass, what does yours say?” Jake reached over, grabbed the remaining cookie and tore it open. The fortune fluttered to the blanket. Lauren scooped it up, read it, and howled. “What does it say?” “I’m not telling.” She jumped up from the blanket and ran toward the ocean. “Oh, no, you’re not getting away with that.” He took off after her, closing in before she reached the water. Holding her around the waist, he tried to rip the paper from her hand as she waved it wildly about. At last, he managed to snatch it away from her. Unfolding it, he read aloud, “You need friends with a good sense of humor.” “In bed.” She strained against his arm and her giggles turned into loud laughter. “You think that’s funny, do you?” Lauren began shaking her head “no” but changed it to a vigorous nod. “Well, we’ll see about that.” Jake lifted her off her feet and carried her all the way to her house as she laughed. When he had set her down on the stoop, he crushed her lips with a long, passionate, silencing kiss. Her muffled giggles ceased and turned to deep breaths. He gripped her hands and pulled them over her head, pressing all of her against the door as he devoured her mouth. When they eventually pulled apart she panted. “I think we’d better go in and sit down before I fall down,” she said, unlocking the door. His amber gaze had darkened. “I think you’d better lie down.” Kendra raised her eyebrows. “Let me just get Brando inside and feed him his dinner. I’ll meet you in the bedroom.
***** Jake sat on the edge of the bed and slowly untied her midriff-top. He glanced up at her a few times with smoldering eyes. She thought she might as well help and unzipped her shorts. The expression on his face said that he was a happy man. He took her skimpy Hawaiian print top and dropped it on the floor. Kneeling, he grabbed her cutoffs at the waistband while she lifted her hips to help. He removed them along with her panties and tossed them on top of the shirt. She let him admire her nude body for a moment, hyper-aware that her nipples had hardened and stood puckering as if waiting for his mouth. 45
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“Now it’s your turn,” she said. He moved back up to sit on the bed and let her reach for his buttons. At the same time he used the opportunity to cup her breasts and strum her nipples. God that feels good. She slipped the shirt off his arms and let it fall behind him draped over the edge of the bed. “You’d better help me whip those jeans off. Pleasure shouldn’t be one-way.” Jake grinned and stood long enough to peel off his jeans and boxer briefs, flinging them halfway across the room. He was long, thick and erect when he sat beside her again. Just looking at him in clothing aroused her, but gazing at his strong, naked body forced her to swallow hard. She closed her hand around his hard cock and stroked. He groaned appreciatively, closed his eyes and leaned down to suck her breasts. Kendra moaned in pleasure. His wandering hand found her clit and teased it. She shuddered with the thrill. The stimulation and fiery heat escalated until she could feel the trembling vibrations that usually meant orgasm was near. She forced herself to stop him. He had been so cognizant of her pleasure, so unlike Frankie. She truly wanted to give him the same kind of euphoria and knew exactly how to do it. “Jake, lie down. I’m going to give you a blow job.” He raised his head only slightly but his expression was one of delight. “I’d love that, but I can make you come this way first.” “No. I want to save it. Let me drive you crazy for a while like you’ve been doing to me, then we can both satisfy each other at the same time.” “Nothing would please me more, buddy.” He reclined against the opposite end of the bed, while she positioned herself between his knees. She kissed the end of his cock and swirled her tongue around the head. He groaned in obvious pleasure so she swirled and swirled, letting her saliva run down over his shaft, getting it nice and wet for a thorough sucking. Then she lapped back and forth across his rod, now stiff and standing straight up. Wrapping her lips around his cock, she slid her tongue down the sensitive underside of his shaft and then back up again. She could tell by his moan that he enjoyed that particular motion, so, wanting nothing more than to torture him with pleasure, she did it repeatedly with increasing suction. He moaned louder and placed one hand behind his head and stroked her hair with the other. As much as she loved his appreciative reaction, she let up when a hitch in his breathing sounded like he might be getting close and flicked her tongue across the shaft instead. It seemed to work. She let him catch his breath, then she dipped her head lower and lapped at his balls. His moans escalated louder than before. His pleasure turned her on like no one else’s. She loved sucking his hard cock, squeezing the rubbery tip between her lips, and tonguing his sac. She could keep it up as long as he could stand it. “Wait, Lauren,” he begged. “If you want to come together, we’d better do it soon. Why don’t you climb on top?”
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“I can keep going until…or we can save that for another time,” she said with a coy smile. “I like giving you oral almost as much as I like you going down on me.” Jake laughed and reached for a condom from the nightstand. “I doubt that. Now come here and let me give you a ride.” As soon as he had the rubber in place, she grinned and positioned herself above his swollen, dark rose cock and sank down over it. She was still plenty wet and engulfed him like a soft glove. They moaned in unison. She braced her hands on his strong shoulders, raising and lowering her quivering body on his impressive erection while he stroked her clit. She reared back and groaned with increasing sexual craving. There was nothing like having a special man inside who didn’t forget to pay attention to the sensitive outside. His other hand cupped and squeezed her breast and rubbed her nipple with his thumb. She moaned louder and leaned into his hand to encourage him. After giving the other side the same full attention, he pulled her forward, sucked her breast into his mouth and teased her nipple with his tongue. Soon she felt her pussy clenching and her legs vibrating wildly. Inadvertently breaking his suction, her breast popped out of his mouth when she suddenly reared back, arching and shuddering. Jake held onto her waist with his free hand and encouraged her to climax, still rubbing her clit. “Go ahead, baby. I’m right there with you.” She felt the breakthrough begin and all manner of delight rushed to follow it. Then like a dam had burst, her orgasm swept her away. Letting go of control, she screamed and rode the wave of joy all the way to complete sexual satiation. Jake was right on her heels. He jerked several times and let out a grunt each time he spasmed. Suddenly Brando burst through the door, barking, and jumped on Jake’s legs. “Shit,” he yelled as he pried the dog’s mouth open and pulled his injured foot away. “No Brando! Friend!” Kendra jumped off Jake’s cock and grabbed at Brando’s collar. Jake rolled to the side, holding his foot while Kendra dragged the dog’s still snapping mouth and bared teeth away from his ankles. “He thinks I’m hurting you!” “I’m all right!” Kendra yelled at her faithful dog. “He’s not hurting me. Kendra’s all right! Friend, Brando. Friend!” Brando backed down, but Kendra’s anxiety level shot sky high. Holy crap. What have I done? My name’s supposed to be Lauren! Maybe Jake hadn’t noticed her slip. Amid the chaos, he might not have. She soothed her dog with pats and a gentler voice, waiting until every sign of aggression had passed, then leaned over to snuggle his neck. “Let’s take you back outside.” When she returned, Jake was getting dressed. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured. “So am I, buddy.” He gathered her to him and kissed her forehead.
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“Are you angry?” “Not with you but before we fuck again, we need to put a lock on this door. And it sounds as if you have something to tell me right now.” “Uh-oh.”
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Chapter Six Jake held her hand and strolled, more like limped, down the moonlit beach. Fortunately the ocean hadn’t claimed their leftovers yet, so they were able to toss the containers in a trashcan and fold the blanket, for later. “So what’s up, Lauren? Or is it Kendra?” “I thought we weren’t going to get into each other’s business.” “I think I have a right to whom and what I’m getting into.” She sighed. “I can’t tell you everything, because I’m still just getting to know you…” He nodded, hoping she’d tell him more than she intended to once she started talking. To say she sparked his curiosity was putting it mildly. Maybe he’d find out why he’d sensed “something different” about her. “Okay, here goes. My name’s not Lauren. It’s Kendra.” He kept his facial expression even and tried not to react in any way that would close down communication. His cop instincts remained at full alert, but he kept his response neutral. He knew she had been secretive for a reason. “Kendra. That’s a pretty name.” She waited, glanced up at his face, and must have deemed it safe to continue. “Thanks. What I told you about my childhood, dyslexia, art, and dancing…that’s all true but something happened, and I had to disappear.” “Something in Vegas?” She fell silent. It was obvious she wasn’t going to confirm or deny the location and he didn’t want her to shut down. “Okay. Doesn’t matter. Go on.” “Well, the important part is this. I can’t take a nice job like one at the art museum. I have to earn my money under the table. I can’t use my social security number, credit cards or driver’s license. I even paid a year’s cash up front to get out of providing references.” “I see. I guess I really screwed up your life by getting you fired.” So, he wasn’t the only one with an alias and something to hide. The only difference was she trusted him enough to tell him part of her story and from what he was able to deduce so far, she might need someone to talk to. He didn’t know when, if ever, he’d be able to do the same. “So your real name is Kendra, and you have to hide. From…Carlos?” “It’s Carlo, but yeah. I can’t tell you why.”
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“I guess he scares the shit out of you?” She glanced up at him and nodded. “That’s a good way to put it.” Jake stopped walking and pulled her into a tight hug. “You have me now, buddy. If you see him, just let me know. I won’t let anything happen to you.” “If I see him and he sees us together, we should both disappear.” “You don’t have to run anymore. I have plenty of friends. If he comes after you, let me know and don’t leave the island. I can keep you safe and help you get rid of him once and for all.” He shook his head. “Wait a minute. That didn’t come out right. I’d be sure he was put away, not offed.” “Hey, I wouldn’t mind if you did end his miserable life.” He turned to look at her face, but she walked with her head down and didn’t look up at him. Turning around, he headed back toward the blanket and walked with his arm around her, protectively. “So, what do you have on him?” “Nothing I can prove. That’s why I took off. As far as I can tell, he has no idea where I am and I want to keep it that way.” Maybe it was better that she didn’t tell him too much. So far, he’d heard about possible tax evasion but that was between her and the IRS. He didn’t want to hear about anything more illegal than that, though. He sure as hell didn’t want to book his girlfriend. Especially when it clearly sounded like she had to do this in order to get away from a stalker. “So what makes you think he’s dangerous?” Her grip on his hand tightened. “Let’s see. He tried to kill me. A little while later, he kidnapped someone else, and last I knew, he had been taken to the hospital awaiting jail for the kidnapping. I saw my opportunity to get the hell out of Dodge, so I didn’t stick around to see what happened to him.” “Dodge as in Vegas?” She dropped his hand, looked over at the ocean and didn’t answer. “Look, it doesn’t really matter if you don’t want to tell me certain things. I can respect that but I’m already forming my own ideas and you might prefer that my picture is true instead of conjecture. Listen, I have friends in Las Vegas. I can and will help you, but I won’t do anything you don’t want. Okay?” He tipped her head up to look in her eyes. Concern for her deepened when he saw them shimmering. “When did it happen?” Jake guessed it must be recent. He’d probably get the whole story eventually. Meanwhile, it seemed likely that the guy was in jail and she was hiding under a rock for nothing. She hadn’t stopped walking beside him or shrugged off his arm so he thought taking a different tack might help. “It must be a pain for you, trying to get along without a license or ID. Maybe there’s some way we can make you a member of the human race again.”
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“Don’t worry about that part. I’m okay. More than okay, actually. I’m happy. For the first time in years, I can say that. Maybe the first time in my life. I don’t want to screw it up.” “Why do you assume you will? You’ve been hiding long enough. I’m sure by now you’ve paid whatever price…” She wrapped her arms around herself. “Not according to him. I’m sure of that.” “Kendra, you’ve given up enough time, energy and fear for this guy.” He stopped walking and when she turned, he reached out for her. She didn’t walk into his offered embrace, but she didn’t run away, either. He simply placed his hands gently on either side of her waist. “Look, I understand why you feel safer this way but what about all the restrictions you’ve put on yourself? You can’t vote, can’t get a car, a job, a checking account… Sounds damned inconvenient to me.” “I know, but I’ve learned to live simply. I like it. After some of the chaos and material bullshit I came from, it’s a welcome change.” She glanced up at the rising full moon as if nature itself were enough for her now. Jake didn’t know what to say. She had a right to lead whatever life she wanted. He had a right—no—an obligation to keep his undercover identity a secret but she had opened up. Started sharing. Isn’t that what dating is for? Getting to know one another? Were they really dating, though? So far he had told her nothing except where he supposedly worked, and that may have been too much. “How about if you talk for a while? Who are these friends? The guys you could call on in case of emergency.” What now? He couldn’t tell her about his brotherhood of cops. He shrugged. “Just friends. Army buddies. Not much to tell. I was in the Army until recently. That’s where I learned auto repair.” “Uh-huh. What else?” “Like what?” “You know, like did your parents drag you to Grateful Dead concerts?” Jake smiled, then fixed his expression quickly. His cover hadn’t included much about his childhood. He’d have to wing it. “I grew up on the mainland. In Ohio, but no concerts at all. My parents were strict. Too strict if you ask me. I did some major league rebelling in my teens.” “Yeah?” Okay. He knew what she was doing. The same thing he had been doing a few minutes ago. Keeping the conversation open, neutral, and somehow he had to shut it down. Here’s where his cover story would come in but after that, he wouldn’t know what to tell her. “Yeah, I did a little petty crime when I was nineteen, got caught one night and was given a choice between Army, Navy or jail. I joined the Army.” “What did you do?”
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He’d told Tim it was armed robbery. He had to look like a hard-ass. But to Lauren? He swept her into a long, deep kiss. The kind he hoped would leave her weak in the knees. Unfortunately, it backfired. His cock grew hard and twitched, demanding her attention all over again. But, he had to get back to his apartment to send in his damn report, get some sleep so he’d stay sharp and… It was no good. He glanced at the blanket and knew he had to have her. “Kendra, could I talk you into another tumble with a United States veteran?” She glanced down at the big bulge in his pants. “I think I can help you out. You can tell me what you did on the way to the house.” She started to turn toward the street, but he grabbed and held her. “How about right here?” “On the beach? We could get arrested.” “But wouldn’t it be fun to tell our grandchildren?” She stopped, looked shocked, then smiled and shook her head. “Now you’re just being ridiculous.” “Yeah, kind of. I don’t think we should be telling the grandkids about our sexploits, no matter how understanding they are.” “Do I have to spread my legs right here to get you to shut up?” He shot her a teasing grin. “I’ll bet it would work.” Kendra unfurled the blanket, sat on one half and tossed the rest of it over her waist like a burrito. Then she wriggled out of her shorts. Common sense finally injected itself into his temporary, lust-filled insanity. Jake, what are you thinking? What if a Maui cop drove by and realized what they were doing? Would they blow his cover? If not right then, probably back at the station when they let him go with a severe teasing. She’s actually doing it. You’ve got to stop her, but hot damn! She’s up for anything. “Hey buddy, I was just kidding. You knew that right?” “What?” She glared at him and pulled the blanket around her body, tighter. Then she stood blanket burrito and all. Marching right up to him, she said, “You’re gonna pay for that, dear.” “I hope so.” She found her discarded shorts and panties then tossed them at him. That was the very thing a nearly naked person ought not to do. Jake grabbed them and hobbled away as fast as he could with an injured ankle. She started to run after him, but stumbled on the hem of the beach blanket and lost it. Kendra shrieked. Jake turned around just in time to catch a full frontal view of her naked pussy. He must have realized playtime was over because he rushed back, making a beeline right for her. She grabbed the blanket and threw it around her lower half as fast as she could. The beach had seemed deserted a few minutes ago but she heard laughter 52
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coming from somewhere. She whipped all around, her eyes darting in every direction but couldn’t tell where it was coming from. As soon as Jake arrived, he threw his arms around her and said, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Kendra didn’t say a word. She just took a step back and held out her hand for the clothes. He handed them to her and she marched down the beach to the water’s edge. “Come hold this blanket up for me so I can get dressed behind it. I don’t want to get sand in my ass.” Jake limped over to her and took the blanket. Holding it out like a curtain, he made an impromptu dressing room to shield her from the street. Kendra heard the laughter again. Where the hell is that coming from? “Jake, who’s out there laughing?” He turned his head left and right. “I don’t see anyone.” By the time she had her panties on and one leg in the shorts, he had spotted the voyeur. “Kendra…rowboat.” A small patch of black hair popped up over the bow revealing a young native boy, grinning. Sure enough, she was shielding herself from the wrong viewing direction. “Hey kid,” Jake yelled. “If you’re really lucky, someday you might have a beauty like this of your own to look at.” He nodded enthusiastically.
***** Jake had hugged and kissed her enough to apologize for several sins. Apparently it worked since her sense of humor had returned and they sat in her kitchen laughing about it over a couple of beers. “You know, Jake, if you’re still in the mood…” “Really?” She stood and held her hand out to him. Brando had been napping, curled up at her feet and he stirred. “Wait a minute,” Jake said. “No lock on the bedroom door. Damn.” His cock had twitched in response to the suggestion. Now it wilted again. “Crap, I forgot about that too.” “Maybe we can chain Brando outside for a little while.” Brando lifted his head upon hearing his name. “He’s been out all day. Besides, it’s starting to get cold.” “You won’t mind waiting outside for a little while I screw your owner senseless, will you boy?”
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The dog opened his jaw and as his tongue lolled out the side of his mouth, he wagged his tail. Jake smiled. “He looks downright happy about it, doesn’t he?” “He liked your tone of voice. He probably thinks you asked him how he likes his steak cooked. Why don’t we go to your place?” “Ah…no. We can’t go to my place tonight.” “Why not?” Jake’s mind whirred as he tried to think of some plausible reason to keep her out of his apartment. For her own protection, she couldn’t go there in case he was found out, not only that, but he had things on display she couldn’t see. Crap. He had his father’s posthumous commendation on the wall, his certificate from graduating the academy, framed newspaper articles… What could he say to stall her? “Look, it’s a real mess. I can’t let you go there until I have a chance to clean it up.” “Are you married, Jake?” Surprised by the question, he stammered. “N-no. Of course not. What makes you ask that?” “Because I’ve been there and done that. Never want to do it again.” “Yeah, of course. I’m no cheater, Laur— I mean, Kendra.” She folded her arms and narrowed her gaze. “Then why are you acting so damn suspiciously?” Fuck. If he’d thought she was going to be so distrustful, he might not have tried to date while working undercover. He couldn’t take her back to his place and let her see a different last name on the mailbox or the house he used to share with his ex-wife. “Look, Kendra. You caught me by surprise, that’s all. One minute we’re talking about making love and the next you’re accusing me of adultery.” “Making love? If that’s where this might be going, I should have asked you right away. I have a right to know, Jake. So… Are you married? Is that why you were so stand-offish in front of the guys you work with?” “No! Again, you just surprised me. Look, if we’re not going to…whatever, I’ve got to get going. I have some stuff I gotta do.” Her gaze narrowed and she stared at him. “You don’t need to worry or be suspicious. It’s not that. I have other things on my mind, that’s all.” Eventually she looked away, shrugged and said, “Okay.” “I’ll come by after work some night.” “Sure. Whatever.” Jake had no desire to leave things this way. He yanked her up out of her chair and kissed her with a desperate hunger. She tried to pull away from him. He kept his grip firm, without hurting her and drew her closer against the hard length of his body. He was sure she could feel his cock growing and throbbing against her stomach.
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“Please, Jake,” she whispered against his lips. “I want this as much as you do.” He’d have to find another way to show her he was serious about their new relationship without taking her home. Swiftly and without warning, Jake tossed her over his shoulder and grabbed the beach blanket that lay folded over his chair. She let out a gasp of surprise that turned to giggles. Brando sat up, abruptly and growled. “It’s okay, Brando. Good boy.” “Sorry Kendra. The dog can have the house, but I have to have you. We’re going back to the beach.” “Whatever you say, Caveman.” As soon as they arrived at the dark and deserted beach, he set her down on her feet. Without preliminaries, he spread the blanket out and reached for her top. “I’ll do it,” she murmured and stripped off her clothes while he undressed. They lay naked on the closest side of the blanket and curled the other side over them. “Look at that hard little berry,” he whispered as he thumbed her nipple. “It’s begging me to take it into my mouth.” He shrugged under the cover and sucked. Kendra arched into his mouth and moaned softly as she tangled her fingers in his hair. “Don’t need lots of foreplay,” she rasped. “Just want you.” He switched to the other breast and sucked while his hand caressed his way down to her pussy. Sliding two fingers between her folds, he determined that she was plenty damp, but he wasn’t finished pleasuring her yet. He ignored her words and slid down, raining kisses all along her stomach. She wriggled beneath him and giggled as if his light touches tickled. Knowing what she wanted, he went straight for her clit and she gasped when he found her swollen nub with his tongue. Her fingers bit into his shoulders and she threw her head back, shuddering. At last she let go of one of his shoulders, slapped a hand over her mouth and tried to strangle a scream as she spasmed. When her body stopped shuddering, Jake slid upward until his face met the cool night air. Kendra closed her fingers around his cock as she panted. Her other hand cupped his sac and manipulated his balls, driving him crazy with lust. Jake knew he wouldn’t last if she tried to go down on him now. “Spread your legs.” She did as he asked, opening both her arms and legs. He eagerly let her welcome him. She watched through passion-filled eyes as he guided his erection to her wet center and pushed himself into her warmth. “Ahhh… You’re so beautiful,” he whispered as he drove himself in and out of her. She sighed. “So are you.” He chuckled, then closed his eyes and concentrated on the sensations mounting inside. Like their first time, he wanted to satisfy her completely and slipped his hand between them aiming for her clit. Without being able to raise his butt too high for fear
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the blanket would slide off, his fingers crawled between them and searched for the magic spot. “No.” She batted his hand away. Jake stopped everything he was doing. “No?” “I’ll scream during climax if you do that. Right now I just want your big cock inside my cunt. I love the push and pull of you fucking me.” Even though Jake loved her talking dirty he thought he could do a little better than that. He looked into her eyes and kissed her tenderly before he returned to his undulating rhythm. “Be careful, lover. I might never stop.” She smiled and kissed him right up until he shuddered and withdrew, shooting his cum onto her thighs.
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Chapter Seven Full of relaxed energy, Kendra woke alone in her bed and stretched. She might run Brando down the beach today instead of walking. As she pattered to the kitchen, flashes of their conversation last night entered her mind and slowly let the wind out of her sails. Discontentment entered to replace the joy she woke up with this morning. Waiting for her multi-step coffee, she slumped into a kitchen chair. He’d committed a robbery. Why the hell did she attract criminals? Jake’s past hadn’t bothered her in the throes of passion. Making love rolled in the beach blanket had been both spontaneous and fun. Jake had mad skills and she couldn’t get enough of them. She thought she might even be falling in love with him and she was sure he was experiencing fond feelings for her too. But afterward, he seemed so nervous. He even swore and said they should never have done that on the beach. If they got caught it would be a disaster. He was just so horny and yada, yada, yada. One thing was for sure. She was putting a lock on the bedroom door—today. But why the hell couldn’t they go to his place? He never explained that. What if he’s another married criminal? Oh, fuck. The one thing she didn’t want to do was end up with another man who wanted to bang her while he was tied to someone else. And what did he mean when he said he had friends who could take care of Carlo once and for all? Things weren’t adding up. Or more accurately, they were. And all of the possible totals weren’t good. Shit! Kendra’s eyes began to water. She’d been alone so long and it was such a relief to be with someone who accepted her. Someone she could talk to who didn’t push her around or make demands—just listened and made love like a porn star. Hell, he didn’t even leave after Brando attacked him. Any other man probably would have been out the door in seconds flat, never to return. She really thought she had found someone special. Why didn’t she put this all together last night? Knowing the answer, she cupped her chin in her hand. Because she hadn’t wanted to. She wanted to come so much she could hardly control it but held back. Her libido was going crazy from the moment he had kissed her so ferociously. Remembering how her moist nether regions clenched, demanding to be filled with him left her wanting him all over again. She had to break it off. Suddenly, the teapot whistled and Kendra was startled out of her obsessive trance. Fixing her coffee, she remembered his first visit. They just talked over coffee. No jumping of bones occurred. Perhaps she could find out more by having a frank and honest conversation with him. If necessary, in a public place. If he didn’t agree to that, she could always follow him home some night… 57
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***** Jake arrived at work early, hoping he’d have time to poke around if he was the first one there. The building would be locked up, but he could look for an outdoor entrance to that part of the operation that must be a hidden bay. Before he had a chance to nose around, Fred pulled up in his Corvette. One of these days, he’d go out to his car for something and look for a VIN number on Fred’s Vette. He’d bet money it had been filed off. How does a mechanic afford a mint condition Corvette? Jake got into character as he stepped out of his Pontiac. He limped over to the cherry red vehicle since Brando’s chomp still stung. “Nice ride, Boss.” “Yeah. We like it.” “We?” They strolled toward the entrance and Fred fiddled with his keys. “Me and the wife.” “Yeah? You’re married?” “Twenty-two years. Probably the only reason we’re not divorced is because I like her cooking. If I had to fend for myself in the kitchen, I’d probably die of starvation.” So, he has a wife. I wonder if she knows his place of business might not be exactly legal? As Fred yanked the door open Jake stepped aside but not fast enough and it hit the injured ankle. He winced and hopped in on one foot. “Sorry about that. What’s wrong with your foot?” Remembering the circumstances that resulted in his injury, and being in character, he thought he might use it to brag a bit. If he could tell it right, he might even amuse the guys and let them know he wasn’t gay at the same time. He still had to gain their trust and this might get him in with the cool kids. He chuckled. “You’ll never believe me. Ever been attacked by a lover’s jealous pet while you’re in the act?” Fred’s eyes popped open. “What kind of pet? A ferret? I hear they can be pretty mean.” Jake shook his head. “A Doberman. Trained to attack. He heard my girlfriend screaming as she came and thought I was killing her.” Fred reared back laughing. Tiny Tim walked down the stairs and asked, “What’s so funny?” Jake repeated the story. Tim joined Fred in a good howling laugh. When they straightened up and could speak again, Tim said, “Hell. I’m surprised he didn’t take your leg off.” “I’m pretty strong. I managed to hold him off of me until my girlfriend’s commands finally got him under control.” Fred cocked his head to the side and looked confused. “I thought you said you didn’t have a girlfriend.” “I do now.” “Who is she? The one who came by with the present?”
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“Yeah. I told you I’d run into her again.” “So you banged her already?” Tim slapped him on the back. “Nice work. You ought to give some of these guys lessons. If they’re sexually frustrated, their work goes to hell.” Jake shook his head. “I had nothing to do with it. She propositioned me.” “You’re kiddin’.” Tim scratched his head, his long greasy hair stuck together bobbing up and down with the movement. “In that case, I’m even more impressed.” Fred laughed. “Hey, she needs a job, right? Ask her if she’s for hire. This place can give her all the business she can handle.” Jake almost reacted like himself. He wanted to push Fred up against the wall and tell him what he thought of his suggestion with some colorful language. But this was supposedly his shift supervisor and he needed to get in good with these guys. What the hell could he do? “Look, I don’t want to bust your balls or anything, but she’s my girl, not some cheap hooker.” “Yeah. Forget I said that.” He nodded. That was probably as close to an apology as he’d get from someone like Fred. Jake’s initial reaction surprised him. The woman had gotten under his skin. Damn. That isn’t good. Fred cleared his throat. “Listen, Tim and I were talking about your girl losing her job and about how she needs to make some money. You’ll have to be cool with it, of course. She’s an artist, right? Animal could teach her to use the airbrush for custom paint jobs.” “I promise they’ll be decent to her, or I’ll let her bring the dog to work.” Tim smiled his toothless grin. Jake saw an opportunity to test the “complete honesty” of the shop owner. “Ah, yeah. Well, she needs a job where she can be paid under the counter. Long story and it’s not mine to divulge.” Tim nodded and said he’d think about it. Animal walked in just as the phone rang. He grabbed the extension on the back wall as he was walking by. “Bump and Grind. Animal speaking.” Jake’s eyebrows shot up. “He actually answers the phone like that?” Fred shrugged. Animal held the receiver toward him. “Hey, Jake. It’s for you. It’s a female.” “Hey, Animal. Give that me receiver first,” Tim said. Jake, shocked speechless, just watched him grab the phone as if a train wreck were imminent.
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“Is this Lauren? Yeah, this is Tim. Jake’s boss.” He laughed. “No, you’re not interrupting him. I just wanted to talk to you about a job. I understand you need one and it might be tough to find with your—um, special circumstances.” After a long pause, he asked. “Are you still there?” Jake slapped a hand over his forehead and turned away. “No, it isn’t hard. It doesn’t pay much, but you’d get to see Jake all day.” Jake groaned inwardly and hoped she was just being polite. She’ll find some reason to turn it down, of course. Won’t she? “Yeah, we used to have a girl to answer the phone and book appointments. She also straightened up around here and kept the coffee pot full. I know it doesn’t sound very exciting, but I know you did tattoos. Animal could teach you to use the airbrush and you could give him a break from doing all the—” Jake turned back to him, hopeful that she’d made some kind of excuse. “Great! I’ll get Jake to pick you up Monday and you can try it out. See if you like it and I know we’ll like you.” He laughed and listened for another moment. “I’m sure that arrangement won’t be a problem and don’t worry about the guys. They won’t care. They’ll just be glad for the eye candy.” Damn, damn, double damn and a half! Now what? “Oh, yeah. You called for Jake, didn’t you? Here he is.” Tim handed the receiver to Jake with a satisfied smile on his face.
***** That evening Kendra replayed their phone call in her mind. His voice had become abrupt when she told him she wanted to talk. All he said was, “I’ll pick you up at seven”, then hung up. For a guy who supposedly loved his job, he sure acted surly when he was there. Or was it something about her? “Brando, I’m nuts about this guy. But I have to find out if he’s married. What am I going to do about him?” As usual her dog just wagged his tail and gave her his best, “Feed me, Kendra,” look. Oh well, it was almost time for Jake to come over anyway. She’d feed Brando now and maybe meet Jake outside. No need to relive the unfortunate incident again until it was a little further in the past. Tonight she hoped Jake would take her to his place. All she had to see was that he lived alone. Suspicion could be assuaged with one look—or a home phone number, yet he hadn’t even given her his cellular number. After pouring Brando’s expensive food into his dish, she grabbed a sweater, went out to her front stoop and sat down. She didn’t wait long before the Pontiac pulled into her driveway. Jake was as prompt as ever. She knew that if he wasn’t married, he’d be
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perfect. A little indiscretion in his youth didn’t make him a criminal, she had decided. And he served his country for several years since then. Kendra jumped up and bounded over to his car, hopping into the passenger’s seat. “Hi. I thought I’d save you a trip to the front door.” “Thanks. So, where did you want to go to talk?” “How about a drive-through. Then we can talk in your car and it can be private.” He backed out of her driveway and headed downtown. “Sounds serious.” “It could be or not. Depends on the answer to my question.” “What’s the question?” Kendra looked over at him and noticed he was wearing a scowl. “It’s not just a simple question I can ask on the way to dinner. It requires sort of a lengthy explanation.” He turned toward her, his eyes wide. What’s that look? Fear? “You need a lengthy explanation from me?” “No. Not at all. I need to give you an explanation about why I need to ask the question.” “Oh.” He visibly relaxed. “I have to admit you’ve got me curious as hell. I didn’t know there would be a pop quiz today.” “Sorry. I wouldn’t worry too much. It’ll be a question you can answer, easily and it’s just a true or false question.” He shrugged. “I’ll do my best. Meanwhile, I have a question for you?” “Yeah?” “Do you really want to work at Bump and Grind? The guys can be as coarse as hell and the place is a greasy mess. I can’t see you being happy there.” “But that’s what convinced me.” That and maybe finding out more about you. “I can handle the guys. Jeez, I had to do it all the time in Vegas. And something you don’t know about me yet is that I can be sort of a neat freak. I’d consider it a challenge.” Jake focused straight ahead and said nothing. Maybe he was thinking of other excuses to make her second-guess her decision. If he made too big a fuss that would raise more red flags. “I’ve heard that couples can get too much of a good thing if they work together. And if they’re not getting along it becomes a very bad idea. I need this job, Kendra.” Was that concern for our relationship or concern for his privacy? At that moment, he pulled into McDonald’s drive-through line and she let it slide. Once they had collected their food and found a shady spot to park, looking out at the nearby supermarket parking lot, Jake turned off the engine and twisted his body
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three-quarters of the way toward her. She avoided his gaze and handed him his burger and fries. “Spill it.” She had her hands on his soda and teasingly tipped it slightly. “Well, okay, if you say so.” “Not the drink, Laur…Kendra.” “It’s probably better if you call me Lauren if I’m going to be working at B & G.” “See there’s another complication. An alias. You don’t think Carlo has moved on by now?” “No. I don’t. But we’re getting off the track. What I need to know, beyond the shadow of any doubt, is if you’re married. The reason I’m asking is because my last boyfriend was married and by the time I found out it was way too late.” “Too late to what? Break up with him?” “Frankie wasn’t the kind of guy you broke up with.” “Frankie? I thought his name was Carlo.” Kendra bristled at the very thought. “No. Forget Carlo, will you?” “Why? I thought he was the one who scared you?” “He is…but not for that reason.” She shook her head forcefully. “We’re getting away from my question again.” “Okay, sorry. No. I’m not married. I swear.” She offered a half-smile. “Are you willing to prove it? Can you take me to your place?” Jake faced forward and took a big bite of his burger. She waited as he appeared to be mulling it over. Finally he swallowed and said, “No. I can’t.” “Why not?” He dropped his head and closed his eyes. When he looked her way again, his eyes locked with hers. “I understand you might have a hard time trusting men after this guy hurt you, but listen to me. I’m not married.” Then it occurred to her that maybe he was ashamed of his place. Or maybe he was homeless! Or what if he still lived with his mother and didn’t want to be thought of as a mama’s boy. There were all kinds of explanations he could have besides being married. She had been so focused on that one, she’d never thought about others. But his eyes weren’t lying. She nodded. “I believe you.” “Good. Now why don’t we talk about more pleasant things?” He bit off another chunk of his burger and mumbled around it. “What did you do today?” “I lay on the beach like a big slug, obsessing about you being married.”
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He snorted. “That was futile, wasn’t it?” Then he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “Don’t worry your pretty little h… Oh, sorry. That was going to come out kind of patronizing. I’m glad I caught myself.” She chuckled and smiled as relaxation finally seeped into her. She felt silly for wasting her day like that. Finally hungry, she bit into her chicken sandwich. They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes. When she finished, she swiped one of his French fries, dunked it her chocolate milkshake and ate it. “Hot damn! You’re the only other person on Earth who knows that God created French fries for dunking in milkshakes! I think we should get married.” Kendra chuckled and ate up his teasing smile. He was so damn sexy, not to mention all kinds of fun in the sack. But he blew hot and cold. Why was he so cold to her around his coworkers? “Well before we do that, I have one more question. Why are you so different when I talk to you at work?” He shrugged. “Because I’m working. Tim told me right off the bat that they don’t like employees screwing around and wasting time. I assumed that meant personal calls and visits. You know how he feels about employees not getting along. Why the hell did you have to take that job, anyway? It’s not like I want to get into a fight, but it’s bound to happen at some point. Relationships just aren’t smooth all the time.” “Oh. Yeah, I guess so. It’s been a long time since I had a relationship with someone I could argue with.” So far, everything was checking out. Maybe she could try to trust him. After all, she thought he’d leave after her dog attacked him. He seemed to be honest, dependable. Not her type at all—but that was a good thing. “Jake?” “Yeah?” “I didn’t put a lock on the bedroom door yet. Where can we go to fuck?” He grinned and reached for her hand. Stroking her palm with his thumb, he whispered, “I know of a deserted warehouse, and I think I can find a way in. Your screams might echo, though. Can you be quiet?” He kissed her knuckles in an oldfashioned gesture. Did he know that kind of thing would melt her heart? As quickly as he picked it up, he dropped her hand and peeled out of the beach parking lot. How the hell does he know about deserted warehouses? Is his criminal career over or not? “Wait a minute. I don’t think that’s a good place to go. What about breaking and entering? Weren’t you busted for that already?” He slowed the car. “Uh, yeah. But this place wouldn’t qualify. It’s really abandoned. Nothing’s there to take, and no one cares enough about the place to press charges. Homeless people haven’t discovered it yet as far as I know. I’ll check it out first.” She stared at him, silently. When he glanced over, he looked nervous and she confronted him. “You came up with that lie pretty easily. It even sounded believable,
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the way you told it so smoothly. And how the hell do you know about abandoned warehouses? Do you store your ex-girlfriend’s dead bodies there or something?” “Only if they ask too many questions.” “Better take me home, then.”
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Chapter Eight He pulled into her driveway and shut off the engine. “And you’re one to talk about lies, Lauren-Kendra. Why won’t you tell me about Carlo? If he’s not an old boyfriend obsessed with you or a delusional nut-bag stalker, who is he? Why won’t you go to the police? What’s he after? And while you’re at it, explain that weird tattoo on your ass.” Kendra sucked in a breath. Her mind went blank for a moment. How did he manage to turn it around on her? “Look, Jake. I thought we were supposed to stay out of each other’s business. I told you I didn’t know you well enough yet. I didn’t lie. I omitted some information. I even told you I was leaving parts of my story out.” When he remained quiet but kept staring at her, she fidgeted. Maybe it would be okay to tell him a little more. “Okay, I told you I was a dancer in Vegas. I was dating Frankie at the time.” “The married guy.” “Yes, and as much as I didn’t want to be in a relationship with a married man, I didn’t feel safe breaking it off. He’s a scary dude. But now he’s in prison. Good riddance.” “Did his going there have anything to do with you? Did you testify against him? Or get Carlo in trouble?” “No. Nothing. I was afraid to say a word. His wife divorced him as soon as he was arrested and she testified, but she disappeared right after that.” “What do you mean, she disappeared?” “No, I didn’t mean ‘offed’ as you would say. She’s alive and well. Just living in another city.” “So what about the tattoo?” Damn, I have to lie. Might as well use the lie Frankie told me at first. “Right before he was arrested, and he was pretty sure it was only a matter of days, he took me to a tattoo parlor out of town and marked up my ass to keep me from doing anything nude—even though it pays better. He considered my body his property and didn’t want anyone seeing any more of me than they’d already seen in my stage show.” Okay, so she was lying again. But if she didn’t, the truth could get her into a lot more trouble. “So how did you meet him? Strip club?” “I told you I was a dancer, but I wasn’t a stripper. I worked a show at one of the hotels. Frankie got me that job. When I met him, I was desperate. I had just been mugged, raped and dumped in the desert. He saw me in a heap by the side of the road, picked me up in his limo and brought me with him to Vegas. 65
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“I needed a job and a place to live. He said he’d try to help and that I had the body of a dancer. I told him I could do just about anything to survive. He paid for lessons and six months’ rent on an apartment. Of course he put the moves on me, big-time. He said he’d take care of me if I’d ‘take care’ of him. I thought he was looking out for me and I knew I owed him more than I could pay back.” Jake snorted. “But I really liked him—at first. How can you not like someone who saved your life and gave you a better one? I didn’t find out he was married until he kept taking me to a hotel room to fuck and if we had dinner, it had to be room service. I was never taken out publicly. I had to do all the kinky things his wife wouldn’t do. He even loaned me out to a friend and watched, once.” Jake raised an eyebrow. “He claimed I liked it too much. It felt like I was cheating on him even though he set the whole thing up.” “What a nice guy.” She stopped and felt heat rising to her cheeks. What would he think of her after everything she had just said? Before he had a chance to react, she turned it back on him. “Why can’t you tell me any of your secrets? Like where you live and why we can’t go there? Maybe you can at least tell me why you can’t tell me.” He stared at the dashboard. “Shit.” “Is there something there you don’t want me to see?” “It’s not that.” She waited. When nothing more was forthcoming, she folded her arms. “What is it, then?” He let out a long sigh. “I’m not at liberty to say.” Her back stiffened. Not at liberty to say? Then someone was telling him not to talk about it. Who the hell was it, and did it have something to do with her? “Like you’re sworn to secrecy? Maybe a government agent? Or a private detective or something?” Silence. “Just tell me one thing. Are you with me because of some ulterior motive?” “No! I like you and this has nothing to do with you.” He said it so immediately and sounded so confident, she believed it was the truth. He calmed down a bit and slid his arm around her shoulder. “No, not at all. In fact, a relationship is damned inconvenient right now. I hadn’t expected this at all. Let’s just stick to our original agreement and stay out of each other’s business. Keep our time together separate and private from our outside lives. That’s why I thought I could do this. Our arrangement, the way you laid it out, sounded ideal to me.”
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That’s right. That’s all I was supposed to be. A quick lay, and I shouldn’t forget it. It smacked of being used again and the old hurt rose to her throat almost choking her. Yet, that’s what she had wanted too. But just like he had said, he wanted to know who and what he was getting involved with. So should she. Maybe if she had known more about Frankie before getting involved with him… But of course, she wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t. Life sure could take some weird turns. Kendra took a deep breath and prayed she wouldn’t say too much. “My boyfriend’s in jail, but he has friends too. One in particular, Carlo, is pretty pissed off at me.” “So he wants revenge?” “Yes.” “Still? It’s been a year.” Jake’s penetrating stare forced her to turn away. “I’m not buying what you’re selling, Kendra. There’s more to it.” His emphasis on her name said she had told him too much already. Shit. “All right. Swear to me you had never heard of me and knew nothing about me before we met for your tattoo, and that you’re not still upset about it and getting your own weird kind of revenge.” Jake grunted. “Upset about it? Hell no. The guys joked about starting a bowling league but stopped ribbing me after the first time they saw you. It turned out to be a pretty cool story.” Kendra laughed, both relieved and hopeful. “Bowling league? Do we even have a bowling alley on this island?” “I’ve never seen one.” Flirting might prove a good diversion. Aiming her bedroom eyes his way, she gave it her best shot. “So are you as good a bowler as you are a blower?” “Not really. I’m out of practice.” He glanced at her, wearing a sexy grin. “You wanted to take me out. Why don’t we go bowling if there’s an alley somewhere? Meanwhile, we can both practice our blowing. Right now if you like.” She leaned in close and trailed a finger down his chest. “Nice try, but I know what you’re doing.” She licked around his ear. “Oh yeah? What’s that?” “Getting me to think about having sex with you again, so all the blood will run from my brain to my other head, and I’ll completely forget what we were talking about.” She sat back and let out a deep breath. “It was worth a try.” “I think I’m done in for now. Just get a lock on the bedroom door soon. Better yet, I’ll bring one with me next time I come over.” “You’re coming over again? Even though I won’t tell you any more about my situation?”
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“Yeah, but I need you to answer one thing right now.” “I will if I can.” “Is Carlo in law enforcement?” Kendra let her head drop back against the headrest and let out a riotous, robust laugh. It took quite a while to ease down to giggles, and she wiped at her eyes, still grinning. “Okay, so I take it he’s a bad guy. Just wanted to be sure I’m on the right side of the law if I end up helping you.” “I thought you didn’t want to get involved in my life.” “That’s not necessarily true. I didn’t want you to get involved in mine. What I have to do can be… Well, the less you know, the better.” “Dangerous?” Yeah, right. If he wanted her to believe he was some kind of CIA operative, she wasn’t that gullible. How many auto mechanics do espionage on the side? Even if his fear of putting her in danger was true, she had faced plenty of danger before and her survival skills were still intact if she needed them. “It could be. Look, I just want you to stay away from me when we’re not on a date. As for Bump and Grind, can’t you quit or something?” I need a car. I think it’s time to follow Mr. Jake Marino home some night.
***** Kendra took a cab downtown with her bicycle sticking out of the trunk. Picking it up off the side of the road was the last thing she was worried about, but Jake had insisted. Obsessing about one errand in particular, she put it off as she took care of the others. Should she buy a car? Rent one? Use her own name and driver’s license or should she use Lauren Ashcroft’s ID? She had already checked the local newspaper for private sales, but there was nothing decent being sold individual to individual and she’d still need to put some name on the title. First stop was the bicycle repair shop. The shop owner discouraged her from waiting while her bike was being repaired, saying, “It be done bumbye.” Still getting used to Pidgin, the colorful mixed-up English spoken by natives, Kendra had to ask again. “When?” “Bumbye. Wen it fixed. Bodda you?” “Oh! Bye and bye. Ho. K’den.” She didn’t understand much but had learned enough to say, “Okay.” She wouldn’t manage to pin him down to a time, anyway, so went on about her business. Next stop was the jewelry store. It was a shame to return Jake’s gift, but if he didn’t want it, he didn’t want it. She was so sure he would, she didn’t even save the receipt. Accepting jewelry had been a way of life for her in Vegas. Frankie made up for a host of sins by buying her shiny baubles. Oh, I didn’t tell you I was married? Here’s a diamond bracelet. 68
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Shaking her head at the memory, she walked into the store dejected. As soon as she had strolled up to the glass counter, a well-dressed woman met her there wearing a big smile. Kendra held out the box containing the gold and titanium hip-hop chain. “I need to return this.” The woman’s smile faded. She opened the box, checked the condition of the chain and asked for the receipt. Kendra took a deep breath and hoped she could return it without one. “I was just here a few days ago. I can’t find the receipt but an older gentleman waited on me.” She glanced around the store and saw the elderly man coming out into the showroom from the back, cleaning his glasses. “There he is.” “Bill. Do you remember selling this to her?” The woman held up the neck chain. The salesman perched his glasses on his nose and looked at the piece. Then he looked at Kendra and smiled. “Oh yes. Nice to see you again. Is everything is all right with your purchase?” “It’s fine, but the man I gave it to didn’t want it.” The man and woman gasped, horror-stricken. “It was a gift, and he refused it?” Kendra nodded. She couldn’t help noticing how the two salespeople looked at each other, as if wanting to shake their heads and cluck their tongues. Must be some kind of superstition. The Islands had hundreds of them. “What happens if a man refuses a gift?” “Oh, nothing.” The woman wasn’t making eye contact and set the box with the chain in it on the register behind her. “Can I show you something else now, or would you rather use your store credit later?” “Store credit huh?” The woman nodded. “Why not?” She missed some of the nice items she had left behind. She had oodles of money and could always cheer herself up with new jewelry, even if she had to buy it herself. “Let me look around for a bit.” “Do you know what you’d like?” “No, I really have no idea.” “Perhaps you’d like to look at something that’s very much in vogue with young women now. It’s called the right-hand ring.” The woman led her to a case with some of the most beautiful sparkling diamonds and precious gems in rings from antique-looking filigree to ultra modern streamlined settings in both white and yellow gold. Some looked like cocktail rings littered with hundreds of small diamonds making a huge pile of sparkle. She liked some of the others with large colored gems in the center, flanked by diamond baguettes. “Why is it called right-hand?” Kendra had heard of left-handed scissors, but never right-hand rings. 69
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“Well, it’s a ring a successful woman buys for herself. It says, she’s able to buy whatever she wants and doesn’t need to wait around for a man to give her a ring.” That’s it, then. Apparently Jake had put the whammy on her by refusing her gift and now she was going to be single forever. Not that some parts of that life weren’t attractive. She didn’t care if she never attended a PTA meeting, but… Her shoulders slumped. “Of course, if you can’t afford one of those…” The woman began strolling further down the case when Kendra stopped her. “No. I want to see this one.” She pointed to the biggest rock in the cabinet. A ruby flanked by diamond baguettes, almost as large. The woman smiled and hurried back, drawing her cabinet key from her pocket as if Kendra might change her mind. When she’d decided on the pricey ring, she told them to hold it for her. She’d have to go and get the money. She returned quickly before she could talk herself out of it. When they insisted on her name to write up the bill of sale, she hesitated. Jake said she was safe by now and he was probably right. Besides, she was paying for it in cash. No paper trail and they’d eventually forget her name. She gave them her own name in case buyer’s remorse brought her back for a refund and she had to prove her identity with a picture ID.
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Chapter Nine Carlo, irritated by the interruption of the ringing telephone, stopped rubbing his facial scar, picked up the loud, offensive instrument and barked, “Hello” into the receiver. How dare anyone interrupt my drinking hour…or hours? Well, okay…from noon on. “Carlo, I’ve got good news.” “Mel? Is that you?” “Yeah. Your girl finally slipped up. We’ve found her.” Carlo sat up straight, his whiskey sloshing onto the worn carpet. What did it matter? He’d get a new rug and sell this place once he collected what was left of Frankie’s money and disposed of Kendra. He’d get a rug on his head too, and a boat, and a house in the Caribbean, and whatever the hell else he wanted and deserved for his trouble. “Where is the little bitch?” “Hawaii. Specifically, the island of Maui. You’ll have a nice vacation once you’ve found her and taken back what she stole from you.” Hawaii. It doesn’t get much better than that. “It took you long enough. Has she been hiding out there all this time?” “No way to know that. All I can tell you is that she’s there now. All cash transactions over ten grand have to be reported to the government. Looks like she probably didn’t know that.” Carlo let out a growl. “What did she buy with my money?” “Something from a jewelry store and a car from a Toyota dealership. They reported a sale of sixteen thousand for a used vehicle.” “Shit. So she laid low for a whole year, and now she thinks she’s safe. How do I find her before she blows the rest of the dough?” “The store was in Lahaina, Hawaii. I kept digging and found a Kendra Dempsey had registered a vehicle.” Excited, Carlo set his drink down, stood and began pacing. “You got any details? Address? Plate number?” “I’m tracking more stuff down now. I’ll give you everything I’ve got in a few minutes. I thought you’d want to know as soon as I had a lead. At least you can book a ticket to Maui and start packing.” “Hell, yeah.” “Don’t forget my percentage. We’ve got people in Hawaii too, you know.” “Don’t worry, Mel. You’re worth every penny. I’ll see that you get what’s comin’ to ya.”
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“That’s what I’m afraid of. Don’t they call you the Whacker?” He smiled nostalgically. “Nah. I’m all done with that.” Unless someone like Kendra really pisses me off. “Good. Glad to hear it. Now how much do you think my take might be?” “She took off before I found out how much she had, but I know Frankie put plenty away in that Cayman Island account and she took off with all of it. You should get fifty grand out of the deal, at least.” “Fifty grand? You agreed to ten percent! I thought you said he had millions?” Carlo paused and gazed out the window at the dry, Las Vegas landscape. I won’t be missin’ this dry barren desert. “Yeah, well I don’t know how much the bitch has already spent. I know I’d be livin’ high off the hog if it was me, and you couldn’t find her after she landed in the United States for a whole friggin’ year.” “Look, I expect my take to be a big sum. I’ve spent fifty G’s on your vendetta already. Don’t forget who fronted your fancy Boston lawyer to get you out of jail in Grand Cayman and get you off kidnapping, extortion, attempted murder…” “They had no evidence.” “They had depositions. He had to use some of his dirtier tricks and risk his own reputation while he questioned the credibility of some pretty credible witnesses. You’re lucky they didn’t give a damn about returning to the Cayman Islands or the money. I don’t think you know how lucky you are or how grateful you should be to me.” “And I’m sayin’ I’ll be as grateful as we agreed on.” Carlo leaned forward as if trying to intimidate the telephone. “Ten percent of whatever she’s got left.” “If she’s been spending cash to avoid using credit cards and checks in order to stay under our radar, she hasn’t bought too much. These are her first large purchases.” “Yeah, yeah. You get me everything you’ve got, so I can find her fast before she spends any more of it.” “Don’t fuck up and scare her off.” “If you don’t fuck up and give me bogus plates and addresses, you won’t have to worry about my part.” “Good. I’ll call you soon. Don’t leave yet.” Carlo stormed off to the bedroom, wondering just how stupid they thought he was.
***** “So, how do you like your new job, Lauren? I’m sorry we won’t be able to start you on the airbrush until Animal gets back.” Tim smiled as he walked down the stairs from his office. “He’s out getting a couple of shells for you to practice on. You’re staying busy though, I see. It looks like you’re already tidying up the place.” She wore her hair in high pigtails, a black, sleeveless t-shirt and jeans, covered by a canvas apron. Jake had told her she looked like a cross between cute little girl and
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female butcher but she didn’t care what he thought. If her appearance in her cleaning lady duds scared him off, she wouldn’t want to hang onto him anyway. Someday, lover, if I have my way, you’ll see me first thing in the morning at my scariest. A bucketful of sudsy water sat in front of her. “It’s a neat-freak’s dream.” Tim reared back and guffawed. Mad Dog slid his pallet out from beneath a car to see what was going on. “She says the shop’s a neat-freak’s dream, guys. I think we’re gonna like her.” Jake just snorted. The phone rang and she strode to the desk to answer it. “Bump and Grind Auto Body, Ken… Can I help you?” Crap, I need to remember what my name is here. I almost blew it. She flipped the appointment book open. The customer on the other end told her he only needed a small dent banged out and the door repainted. “Yes. We can handle that. What day is good for you?” Jake stopped waxing a Mercedes and watched her. Tim listened attentively too. If anyone might make her nervous it should be her boss, but he seemed to like how she was handling things so far. However, Jake listening in on every one of her conversations demoralized her. I do know how to answer a frickin phone. She asked him the make and year of the vehicle and exclaimed, “A brand-new Land Rover? Gee I’m sorry to hear that. Is it a rental?” He sighed and said he owned it. “No? Too bad. How’d it happen?” Tim stepped into her space. “Let me speak to him, Lauren.” “Sure.” She handed him the phone, then twisted her ring off her finger and placed it on the counter. She noticed Tim’s eyebrows rise at the sight of her stunning righthand ring. Pulling on rubber gloves, she turned to Jake and asked, “What do you have that I can really scour this place with?” “A belt sander.” She stuck one hand on her hip and smirked. Smart-ass. “What else ya got?” “There’s a stiff brush I use on tire tread sometimes. It’s on the shelves by the back corner.” It didn’t look like he had any intentions of going to get it for her. “I’ll find it.” She went off in search of the brush and wiggled her tush past him. By the time she returned, Tim finished the conversation by saying, “Yeah, we’ll pick it up for you tonight,” and as soon as he’d hung up, he called Jake over. “So, Jake. How busy are you tomorrow night after work?” he asked. “I’m free. As soon as I drop Lauren off, I can come back and…” “No, you don’t need to go out of your way. I’ll follow you in my car, then we can go out for a beer and talk.” Lauren’s shoulders drooped. Damn. No nookie tomorrow night. Then she noticed her ring was missing.
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“What the hell happened to my ring?” She pointed to the empty spot on the desk and glared at the two men standing there. “I just set it here a minute ago.” Jake reached into the front pocket of his jeans and pulled out the ring. “You should really be more careful with your valuables.” “Jesus. You nearly gave me a heart attack.” “You’re welcome.” Kendra and Jake fired looks at each other that could have stopped a stampeding elephant in its tracks. Tim placed a hand on each of their shoulders. “Now, don’t start that shit. Any lover’s spats you two have don’t belong in my shop and on company time. Got it?” They both stared at the floor and nodded as if they were siblings scolded by parent. I wonder if he’d have returned my ring if I left it there all day and the thief wasn’t narrowed down to two people? I wonder if he was pissed off because he got caught? Now she had to rethink her position on his criminal past. Crap. Kendra dropped the wire brush into the sudsy water and didn’t apologize when some of it splashed on Jake’s boots. “Come on, Lauren, let’s get you a locker. You should have one anyway now that you’re part of the family.” Great. The family. Just the term I didn’t want to hear again as long as I lived.
***** Carlo spotted the red Toyota Tundra still wearing its temporary license plate sitting around the corner in the driveway of a neighboring tiny cottage. Why would she register it to one address and park it at another? And what was that shiny new convertible doing in her driveway this morning? Both excitement and anger overtook him at the same time. Even if she bought a car and gave it to someone else, he’d found the dirty double-double crosser. Now she was going to pay. The door to the little cottage opened and he slunk down in his seat. Even watching from across the street, he recognized her as she stepped out carrying two plastic bowls. The hair was different. Her mousy brown had some pretty golden streaks now and they looked natural. She didn’t need the stunning wigs to look presentable—or at least what Frankie considered presentable. Her skin was beautifully tanned too. It suited her. Too many entertainers in Las Vegas stayed pasty white from sleeping indoors all day and performing at night. Before the door slammed shut behind her, some guy followed her out. What the hell? And he was holding onto a leash. A dangerous-looking dog followed the two of them. Fuck. He had seen dogs like that. Up close and very personal. His balls ached just thinking about it. Once, when trying to sneak up on a rival mob boss, a pair of them had run him off the fenced-in property. He almost lost his balls trying to climb over that fence before the damn dogs made hamburger out of him. 74
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The guy handed the leash to Kendra and smiled as she tied the stupid animal to a run. Carlo knew what to do. A little poison kibble in one of those bowls should do the trick—but not until he was ready to strike. He didn’t want anything to tip her off and make her run again. It was hard enough finding her the first time. The couple stopped to kiss before the guy opened the door for her and she climbed into the car. Shit, they looked blissful. That should be him and some big-boobed blonde like Tonia. Of course he wouldn’t be caught dead in a Toyota pickup truck or even a Pontiac. He’d have a brand-new Corvette, or a maybe a Cadillac. Hell, it didn’t matter as long as it didn’t give away his penis size. When the guy turned around to get into the driver’s seat, Carlo could see he had some kind of tattoo on the back of his neck. Grabbing his binoculars, he slunk back into the shadows and tried to make out what it said. Even with a lousy inner-city education he could read the two words he was looking at, but what did they mean? Bowl me? What kind of dork puts ‘bowl me’ on his neck for the rest of his life? Suddenly the meaning dawned on him. He must be some kind of bowling fanatic. Well, that was good to know. He’d simply start hanging around the bowling alleys to find out when this guy was tied up in a tournament or something and then he’d take care of the dog and go after Kendra—when she was alone.
***** Jake had tried to find her another ride home from work, but she wouldn’t hear of his paying for a cab and none of the other guys were going that way. He couldn’t drop her in front of her house with Tim right behind him. Somehow he had to find a way to drop her nearby without giving away her true location. What if they discovered who he really was and went after Lauren? Damn, I was afraid something like this might happen. “Is there a friend’s house I can take you to? I feel badly about sending you to an empty house all alone.” Kendra stared at him as if he’d sprouted a mango tree on his head. “I’m quite used to spending evenings alone, Jake.” He nodded and drove on silently, meanwhile racking his brain for an alternate plan. Maybe telling the partial truth would help. “Look, I don’t know these guys very well. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but you just never know. It’s good to be cautious sometimes. Is there some other place I can drop you off besides your house?” “What are you saying? You don’t trust the boss to know where I live?” Jake shrugged. “I’m just trying to think of you. I thought maybe you’d be more comfortable with his not knowing.” “You are sounding kind of paranoid but now you’re making me paranoid. If you think there’s a chance he might not be trustworthy…” He glanced over at her. She still wore a look of bewilderment. “I don’t know, but I’d feel better taking precautions.”
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“Fine. There’s a house behind mine where I can cut through the backyard and use the gate or climb over the fence. It’ll just look like I’m going to the back door. I hope they don’t call the cops on me.” “If they do, say I turned down the wrong street or something.” She crossed her arms and turned back toward the windshield. “The turn is coming up then. It’s the next street after the stop sign.”
***** Jake had followed Tim to a restaurant parking lot. Confused, he stepped out of his car and strolled over to his boss. “What’s this place?” “This is where my future ex-wife works.” Tim slapped a wallet size photo of a beautiful blonde who looked about twenty-five years old on the hood of his truck. “Shit. Sorry, man.” Jake wondered if tonight’s special assignment would turn out to be more about a domestic dispute than stolen cars. He had really hoped Tim was going to put him on the night shift. “It’s not a done deal. It all depends on whether or not she passes the test.” Uh-oh. “What test?” “I think she’s been screwing around. I want you to try to pick her up.” Jake had to wonder who was really being tested. “Why me? Why not hire a PI?” “Because she doesn’t know you and I don’t want to pay some slimeball to take pictures of her while she shops and does errands. Not yet, anyway.” “So this is a one-time thing?” “Maybe. Maybe not. My other reason for asking you in particular is, you’re a goodlooking guy, she’s a good-looking woman, and I need to know she’s not interested in seeing you or any guy who might hit on her. Know what I mean?” Jake leaned against his car and crossed his legs. “Is this really going to help?” “Yeah. I need to know. Flirt with her and see if she lets you pick her up. I figure she’d be likely to go for a handsome son-of-a-bitch like you. Don’t worry. I’ll make it worth your while if you have to spend a few nights wearing her down.” Jake shrugged. If Tim were testing him and not the soon-to-be ex-wife, he’d probably better not ask too many questions or have a moral dilemma. He might be trying to see if his employee was greedy enough to do a little dubious night work. Jake’s greed was all about the success of his undercover assignment. If he were to do this little favor for his boss, maybe he’d ask him to do some bigger, badder favors in the near future. “Sure, Boss, but what do I do with her if she agrees to go someplace with me?”
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“Call me Tim, not boss, remember? Makes me feel like a gangster.” He laughed and Jake wondered if it was some kind of inside joke. If that reaction turned out to be truth spoken in jest, then he was on the right track. As much as he’d been Jonesing to get in with his boss and trusted enough to be included in their dirty dealings, maybe he could find out where he lived by following the soon-to-be ex-wife home some night. Then at least they’d be even. If Tim knew where Kendra lived, even if it was only the right neighborhood, he wanted to know where Tim’s wife could be found. He hated to think that way but his relationship with her could bring on definite complications if his cover were blown. When he’d asked Kendra if he could take her to a friend’s house she said such an immediate and definite “no” he hadn’t pushed the issue, but he’d ask about it later. Maybe she had no friends, but after a year on the Island? That didn’t seem possible. “So what’s your wife’s name and what times and days does she work?” “Melanie, but she goes by Molly. She works evenings, three to eleven. She’ll be on for the next four nights. I know this might cut into your time with Lauren…” “No, don’t worry about that. She’s not the type to whine about my not spending enough time with her.” “Cool. Sounds like you got yourself a good woman. Look, I’ll give you a hundred bucks for tonight and fifty for each night you have to come back until she either agrees to go out with you or tells you to get lost.” “But Tim, why don’t I just follow her to see if she’s meeting someone else. I’m not interested in trying to pick her up.” The big man slapped him on the back and chuckled. “That’s what I like to hear but I want to know how easily she might agree. Hell, she might even have the nerve to take you back to my place. We’re separated right now. You can always get an attack of conscience and back out at the last minute. Read that as a polite way of saying, you’d better.”
***** Three days later, Carlo sat, fuming, in his rented white Ford sedan down the street from where he thought Kendra lived. She’d really been pissing him off by letting the dog stay in the house all day. So what if it was raining? It matched his mood and he was getting sick of it. He was supposed to be enjoying a lovely Hawaiian vacation after he stalked his prey and got his money. She hadn’t left the neighborhood except to go out with her boyfriend. He finally decided to follow the two of them and was shocked to see that she had a job. He hoped that didn’t mean she’d blown all the money already. That night, he’d followed behind a truck that stayed behind the Pontiac all the way from the garage, and then her boyfriend dropped her off on the wrong street. He had watched her stride down the
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driveway and around behind the little bungalow. Carlo mumbled to himself, “So, she gives one address to the DMV, parks her car at another one and now she’s going into a third place? Jeez, where does this bitch live, anyway?” So he waited and watched. A poison steak wrapped in a plastic bag on the seat next to him had been waiting to be used for three days and was beginning to stink to high heaven. He had to get her away from that damn dog, but they’d been inseparable all this time. She had to go grocery shopping at some point, right? Soon he’d follow her in her truck and she’d be fair game. Carlo absolutely believed whatever money she had left was probably his. She must have been living the good life for a year here in paradise. Maui wasn’t cheap. He was goddamn sure she wouldn’t take his cut of Frankie’s money from him. So what if he’d tried to cut Kendra and Frankie’s ex-wife, Tonia, out of their shares. It had turned out differently, hadn’t it? From all he’d been able to figure out, Tonia was happily remarried to some Boston doctor and she took off without any of the money. He couldn’t believe she’d go all the way to Grand Cayman and then chuck it all for love. Bah! Kendra wasn’t like that, for damn sure. She had to have most of the wad. Carlo wouldn’t rest until he’d relieved her of the “burden” of having that much money. Maybe she’d share it with him. If he presented the alternative, it might seem like a sweet deal. He could count on her to be selfish enough to do whatever she had to do to hang onto it. All he had to do was make himself part of the deal. She was a gorgeous girl with some incredible assets. Frankie sure knew how to pick ’em. No matter where she lived, he’d find her vulnerable at some point. He wasn’t a patient man but he’d waited a year already. What was another few days. Sooner or later, he’d have his revenge as well as his payoff. Sooner or later.
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Chapter Ten Kendra knew she wasn’t the most patient woman on the planet, but she hadn’t seen Jake other than at work for several nights in a row. The job was going well, and she had enjoyed the heck out of airbrushing spare parts but she missed Jake’s sweet side when it was just the two of them. When she asked him what he’d been up to and mentioned that she’d placed a lock on the bedroom door, he tried to joke with her about just wanting him for his body. Pacing around her kitchen night after rainy night had been making her a little crazy but she sure didn’t want him to know it. She had, of course, thought of all the things she might have done to piss him off, starting with taking the job he didn’t want her to have but that was his tough luck. She’d never let a man control her important decisions again. If that was all it took to push him away, so be it. At last he’d agreed to grab some takeout chicken on the way to her house and have dinner with her. Maybe if she played her cards right she could find out what had been keeping him away. “I’d better go in first. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.” “Why? Because of Brando?” “Yeah. I’m not sure if he remembers you.” Jake rolled his eyes and waited outside the screen door. Brando met her as soon as she stepped inside, wagging his tail vigorously. He made no move to bark or charge at Jake. He just sniffed in the general direction of the dinners he was holding. “See, he remembers me just fine, don’t you boy?” “I guess he does. Come in.” He entered and patted Brando on the head. “So why did you think he wouldn’t remember me? Are you saying I’ve been ignoring the two of you?” “Of course not.” Kendra reached into the cabinets for a couple of wineglasses. Trying to sound nonchalant, she asked, “Do you want red or white?” “Neither. I’m afraid I can’t stay too late and I don’t want to drive if I’ve had a couple glasses of wine.” Damn. There goes my plan to get him tipsy enough to talk. “Fine. Soda?” “Sure, whatever kind you have.” She poured red wine into her own glass and crossed to the fridge to get a can of cola for Jake. He was already unwrapping their meals. “So can you stay long enough to test the lock on the bedroom door?” She gave him her best coy smile.
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“If by that you mean get laid, the answer is yes.” How romantic. She bit into a drumstick and chewed slowly as she tried to think of another approach. She sure as hell didn’t want to discourage the sex by asking too many questions. She knew how he felt about that and she’d missed him in her bed. Jake hated the fact that he now had to keep his tough guy persona up all the time, especially with Kendra. She deserved better. Maybe one day she’d figure that out and dump his ass but picturing her in bed with another guy made his blood boil. Had she just asked him a question? She looked at him expectantly as she sipped her wine. “What did you say?” “Never mind. It’s not important.” “Of course it is. Tell me what you said.” He took a big bite of his chicken breast, hoping to delay an answer until he’d had time to think. “I said, thanks for looking after my ring for me for me the other day.” He nodded and chewed. Whew. Something innocuous. Dodged a bullet that time. “So, what made you think it was valuable?” He chewed some more, shrugged and once he’d determined this was another innocuous bit of conversation, swallowed. “It was a giant rock and sparkly. What can I say? Where’d you get it?” “Uh, it’s an heirloom. Something my grandma passed down to me.” His radar tripped again. “I thought you grew up with dead-heads? Wouldn’t they pawn something like that to keep up with the tour?” “Crap,” she muttered under her breath. Jake cocked his head. “‘Excuse me?” She took another sip of wine and sighed. “Okay, it was a gift from Frankie. I just didn’t want to bring up his name.” “So you lied?” “Why not? You do.” Jake ripped off another hunk of chicken and chewed. She waited, saying nothing. She obviously expected him to. He cocked his head and stared at her. When she still didn’t elaborate he decided on a noncommittal comment. “I already said there are some things I can’t tell you.” She crossed her arms and frowned. “One thing I can tell you though, is how very much you mean to me.” Funny, but that came out more easily than he’d expected. She relaxed visibly and smiled. “You mean a lot to me too, Jake.”
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He tossed the chicken bone onto his plastic plate and wiped his fingers. Without further preliminaries he stood, scooped her up into his arms, and carried her to the bedroom. Kendra chuckled and slid the dead bolt across the door. He lowered her to the bed, leaning over her, feeling predatory. He slid his hands up under her top and caressed her soft breasts in handfuls. “I’ve missed these beauties.” “They’ve missed you.” She pulled her top up to her chin exposing her bralessness, not that he hadn’t noticed. His cock hardened painfully. Jake dived for the closest one and devoured it. He sucked hard and thoroughly while she held his head to her breast and moaned. His hand found the other one and squeezed. Damn he wanted to fuck her right now, but she’d been waiting. She deserved the full treatment. Kendra reached for his waistband, popped the button and opened the zipper. Jake grabbed the condom out of his pocket and then helped her pull his pants down. He hurriedly opened her jeans for her and she wriggled out of them while he kicked off his boots and got rid of his socks and greasy, battered jeans. T-shirts flew in different directions and before they knew it they were frantically kissing, naked, arms and legs tangled together, rolling back and forth over the bed. “Dear God, I’ve missed you,” Jake said, pausing as he lay on top of her. Kendra whispered, “Missed you too.” Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, then she grasped the back of his head and dragged his lips over hers while licking his parted mouth. He crushed his mouth to hers. Their tongues explored, swirled, retreated and found each other again. It was all Jake could do to hold himself back from mounting her that minute. Since it was as much for her pleasure as his own, he swept his hand down her side and cupped her buttocks. He made sure her clit was in the right spot, held her tight against his erection and rocked back and forth in the motion of fucking. Her head rolled back on the blanket and she moaned louder. Jake savored all her reactions to his relentless thrusts against her pussy. With her eyes closed, a look of pleasure-pain gripped her face. She began to shudder and inhale deeper breaths. Could he make her come this way? Hell, if he weren’t careful, he’d come this way! Going without sex for a few days after reawakening the beast between his legs had overly sensitized his sex. His greedy cock soaked up every stimulating stroke. His entire body ached with anticipation but Kendra looked like she was close to toppling over the edge. To stop and reposition himself now would be cruel. She clutched the bedcovers, let out loud shuddering moans, then screamed and spasmed beneath him. Suddenly a giant thud landed against the door and then another. Kendra’s climax was lasting longer than he’d expected so Jake called out, “It’s okay Brando. Kendra’s all right.” If nothing else, the dog helped to break his concentration so he could hold off his own orgasm until she finished.
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At last she went limp and panted like Brando after a long run on the beach. She opened her eyes and grinned. Without waiting for permission Jake slid down to her pussy and began tasting her folds. “You don’t need to…” Kendra arched and let out an almost pained-sounding moan as he zeroed in on and lapped her swollen clit. Each lick rebuilt what he had just shattered. She cried out. Her head thrashed from side to side and her thighs vibrated wildly. At last, she bucked and howled. Another set of thumps assaulted the bedroom door before Kendra finally settled down with a deep sigh. “Wow. I really needed that, but my dog is going to bruise himself if you make me scream again. Can you fuck me without making me come?” Jake wiped her juices from his face with the back of his hand, then nodded. “Even though it’ll be quieter for you this time, I’m sure this is going to be intense for me, I’ll try to keep it down.” He grinned and settled on his knees between her spread legs. Jake picked up the condom and rolled it on. Pulling her flexible legs up over her shoulders, she grinned and said, “Did I mention I was a contortionist? Dear God. I hope she isn’t kidding. His cock prodded her wet, heated opening. She held her legs straight up and opened them wide while he guided himself in. He plunged in all the way, then stopped. Grasping one of her ankles, he transferred that leg over his head until both legs rested on one shoulder. Kendra was tight anyway, but this tightened her passage that much more. He held her legs together while he withdrew and thrust into the narrowed opening. “Ohh…heaven.” Jake found his rhythm, fucking her scrupulously. She moaned in gentle pleasure. His temperature rose and he began riding her hard. As the amazing friction between his engorged cock and her slick, tight channel pushed his pleasure to a higher peak than ever before, he knew he was going to come and come hard. To his surprise, Kendra placed a finger over her clit and rubbed recklessly, going for her third climax. He watched her find her rhythm for only a moment before he felt his first surge of orgasm overtake him with a violent shudder. His eyes and face scrunched as wave after wave crashed over and through his body, shattering his composure like never before. He made noises that, other than the word guttural, he couldn’t have described if he wanted to. Then Kendra cried out, spasming around his still gushing member. “God!” Jake felt as if his orgasm had taken him on the roller coaster ride of his life. He rode Kendra in ecstasy to the very last aftershock. Never had he had such a long, hard release. When he had finally stopped shaking, he pulled out and nearly collapsed. Brando scratched at the door and whimpered. Jake rolled until Kendra lay on top of him and he hugged her to his chest. “Dear God, Kendra,” he breathed. “I’ve never ever…” Panting gave him a moment to think but even time couldn’t produce the words he wanted. “As I know,” she whispered. “I love fucking you too.”
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“No.” He pushed the hair out of her face. “I fucking love you.” Her eyes popped open and she stared at him intently as he chuckled between deep breaths. “You love me?” “Yeah, I think I do.”
***** “Tim, I’m pretty sure you’re worried for nothing,” Jake whispered. “She refused my advances every time I tried.” Tim looked across the garage at Kendra, trying to scrub the oil stains off the cement floor. He shook his head and his mouth curled in a smile. “Maybe your attempts are halfhearted because of Lauren. Look at that dedication. Mmm, mmm.” Kneeling, bent over like that, her “Daisy Duke” cutoffs looked as if they might reveal a few cheek peeks. No wonder the guys love her. Jake had barely heard him. He was listening to the jealous little voice in his head screaming at his boss for leering at his girlfriend. “Oh, yeah, Lauren.” He shrugged, trying to play it cool. “I doubt it.” “Maybe you’re losing your touch, then.” Jake laughed. “Nope. The ladies love me. Hey, Lauren! Nice ass,” he yelled. There, two messages for the price of one. She looked over her shoulder and rolled her eyes at him. He grinned, and so did she before she went right back to scrubbing in the same position. Tim patted him on the shoulder. “Yeah, real smooth. What she just did is known as a grin-fuck. If that’s the kind of thing you’re saying to my wife, no wonder she’s ignoring you.” “Naw, I’d never say anything like that to a stranger.” “Well, be nice to that girl you’ve got, all right? You’re a lucky son-of-a-bitch and I don’t want to see her cry.” Well, that’s good news. Maybe Jake didn’t need to worry about something happening to Kendra if his real identity was discovered. “Look, why don’t I just follow Molly some night. If she goes straight home, then okay, but if she goes to someone else’s place, you’ll not only know what’s happening but where and possibly who if I can give you an address and good description.” “Yeah, that’s worth a try at this point. Again, you might have to follow her a few nights in a row before she hooks up with the guy.” “What if it’s a woman?” Jake asked. Tim’s eyes grew huge. “Jesus, I’d want to know that too. Maybe I could get in on the action.” He let out a booming laugh and walked off toward the back door, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his front pocket. 83
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***** Kendra had been floating on air since Jake’s declaration of love. Part of her worried that he was just joking. She hadn’t been able to return the endearment and he hadn’t repeated it. Trust had always been hard for her and now he had something to do for a few nights in a row again. She tried talking to herself out loud as she walked Brando, hoping anyone who heard her wouldn’t think she was nuts. But she was going a little crazy. “He kisses me as soon as I climb into his car in the morning and calls me honey when we’re alone. Then we work together all day and it’s buddy again. Tonight we went grocery shopping together and he was all over me in the cereal aisle. When he dropped me off, he helped me carry in the groceries and I thought he was going to stay for dinner and…well, you know—the thing that you can’t watch. But instead he gave me a long, deep kiss, and said, ‘See you later. I’ve got stuff to do in the evenings for a while.’” Kendra shook her head and turned back toward the sidewalk. “Maybe he’s just going to night school and too embarrassed to tell me he dropped out and has to get his GED or something.” She paused before crossing the street and thought she caught some movement near a tree out of the corner of her eye. “Great. Now I’m not just talking to myself, I’m seeing things too. This man is driving me mad. So what should I do about him, Brando?” Her dog veered away from the opposite sidewalk and she let him lead the way. She thought he had been leading her home, but instead he took her to her neighbor’s parking space and sniffed at her truck. “You want to go for a ride?” He left the car and trotted home. “I guess not.” Confused, Kendra thought about her reason for buying the vehicle in the first place. She was going to follow Jake. By the time she opened her kitchen door, she had talked herself back into that plan. What would it hurt? She still had her red wig. He’d never know. It was probably an easy explanation and once she knew what it was, everything would be all right. Right?
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Chapter Eleven Kendra donned her wig. While running a comb through it, she flashed back to the life she’d known only a year ago. Was it only a year? It seemed as if ten or twenty years had passed, or that the person in the mirror looking back at her might be someone else. What a miserable life it had been. She not only had to wear this damn hot wig because Frankie wanted her to, but she couldn’t date anyone else and he’d never marry her. If the bastard hadn’t left her so much money, she’d never have forgiven him for all those wasted years. Now she simply had to be sure she wouldn’t wind up in the same situation. She’d heard about history repeating itself enough. She had to be careful of her tendency to be attracted to bad boys. Frankie was one of the baddest. He was involved in drugs, prostitution, money laundering, you name it. At some point he would have traded Kendra in for a younger model. What is it they say? When a woman turns forty she gets traded for two twenties? Jake had rough edges too. He was even better looking than Frankie on the one hand, but didn’t have Frankie’s millions on the other. Money wasn’t an issue anymore, thank God. She had plenty for both of them. Wig in place, sunglasses, nondescript clothing and she was good to go. But where, she wondered, was she going? Her plan had been to invite Jake to “stop by” on his day off and when he found she wasn’t at home, she’d follow his car at a discreet distance. Later she could say she had to run to the store or something. She attached Brando to his run, gave him a pat on the head and said, “Be a good boy. I’ll be back in a little while.” As she climbed into her truck, she thought she noticed a familiar looking car. The same white sedan had been parked down the street all week. It could be a visitor, she supposed. It wouldn’t be uncommon to have houseguests happy to crash at a friend’s place—especially a friend who lived in Hawaii. Well, that wouldn’t be happening to her since she had no friends on the mainland or anywhere else. Just as the door to the white sedan began to open, she was totally distracted. Jake, prompt as usual, pulled into her driveway and jumped out of his car. Damn he looked good. Well-fitting jeans, hair clean and styled, and a collared shirt. Maybe he was planning to take her out and didn’t want his embarrassing tattoo to show. Damn, now I feel guilty. Okay, guiltier. He rapped on the door and walked over to give Brando a few pats on the head. When no one came to the door, he glanced over his shoulder, returned to the door and knocked again. Waiting patiently, he tucked his hands in his pockets, pulling his jeans even tighter across his perfect ass. After a while, he walked around the house. He’s 85
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probably getting ready to look in windows. Crap. Now he must think I’m dead in there and no one will notice until my rotting corpse begins to stink. She heard a couple of raps on the windows and slunk down in the front seat of her truck. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe she was being stupid. Maybe being stupid is better than falling for a married criminal again. That would be really stupid. Finally, he gave up and returned to his car, wearing a confused expression. He beeped his horn and sat in the car for another minute. Wow, he must really want to see me. Well, of course. Having the most incredible sex of one’s life will do that to a man. At last he pulled out of her driveway and slowly drove away. She had the feeling he was searching the streets, hoping to spot her walking by. What an ass I am! She was just about to rip off the wig and sunglasses and run after him when he turned the corner. Damn Kendra, it’s now or never. Follow him before you lose his trail! She started up her truck and hightailed it to the corner, turning in the direction he had. She could see him up ahead and despite another car charging up behind her, there was no one else on the street. Focusing exclusively on the black Pontiac ahead of her, she made the same series of lefts and rights until he wound up on the main drag out of town. Okay, so maybe he didn’t live nearby. But he could be headed anywhere. Maybe he was going to the mall. Maybe a Kava bar. Maybe even up in the mountains for a hike. No, he wasn’t dressed for that. Soon after he left the highway, he entered a small apartment complex and she had to pull to the curb on the street. Following him into the parking lot and just sitting there would look suspicious. It would look suspicious enough if she sat there by the sidewalk too long too. What was she supposed to do now? Hmm… She hadn’t really thought that far ahead. Jake jogged up a set of stairs and used a key to open the door to an apartment on the second floor. Okay, that must be his. Either that or his and his other girlfriend’s place. Fuck. She had to stop thinking that way before she drove herself crazy. She was already half crazy for doing this. She was about to drive away when she caught sight of him leaving his apartment. Okay, so the low-speed chase is back on. He pulled out past her as she pretended to put lipstick on in the rearview mirror. Then she went after him. This time he led her to a low-rent district. Like really low. She wondered if his Pontiac would be all right if he left it anywhere near the place. He pulled up on the lawn beside a crappy house, if you could call patches of dead grass a lawn. When he got out of his car, he went around to the side. Well, if he has a girlfriend here, I’d bet I have a few more dollars than she does. Kendra drove by to see where he went and spotted him looking in the windows. What the… How many apartments does he visit? Maybe he’s just watering a friend’s plants while the guy’s away. Yeah, it really looks like the owner’s concerned with his landscaping. Stop making excuses for him, Kendra! If he’s a lying scumbag, it’s best to know about it!
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Sighing, she figured she’d better wait somewhere else. If he spotted the same truck outside both places he might catch on. Close by was a convenience store. That would be a good place to wait. The setting sun in her face was beginning to make her sleepy. That and sitting in a hot truck for quite a while. At last she saw his black Pontiac pull out of the side street and head off in the direction of the highway again. Stupidly, she hadn’t thought about the possibility of his going back to her place and looking for her again. That’s probably where he was going. Horny guys were predictable like that. Well, she’d just have to take a shortcut she’d found and beat him there—and then try to pretend she wasn’t as confused as hell. Jake showed up as predicted about five minutes after she arrived home. Kendra opened the door and tried to look surprised. “Hey!” “Hey, beautiful. I was here at the appointed hour, but you weren’t. What happened?” Nothing like getting right to the point when I haven’t made up a good excuse yet. “Oh, you know what happened? It’s the funniest thing.” She proceeded to the refrigerator, thinking on her feet, as they say, while he walked in. “Can I get you anything?” “No thanks. What happened?” “I—uh… I ran into a friend downtown and we got to talking. I hadn’t seen her for a long time, so we had lots to catch up on. She’s here on her honeymoon! I mean she and her husband, of course. All the way from Boston and we ran into each other here in Lahaina! Imagine that.” You’re babbling, Kendra. Wrap it up. “And well…I just lost track of time. I’m really sorry, Jake.” She threw her arms around his neck and said, “I’m glad you came back, though,” and kissed him soundly on the lips. He seemed to relax and smiled slightly. “Me too. I was worried about you. I wanted to take you to the museum for a traveling art show. Today’s the last day, but…” He glanced at his watch. “I’m afraid if we leave now they’d be closed by the time we got there.” She felt like a heel. A double heel. A four-inch stiletto heel “her friend” Tonia would have worn. “Oh, I would have liked that. Well, maybe we can do something else now that you’re here.” “Okay, how about we go shopping? Let me buy you a cell phone so I know you’re okay if that happens again.” “Oh, no. You don’t have to do that.” “Yes I do. I worried about you all afternoon. Suppose you’re sick and want to let me know not to pick you up for work?” “I never get sick.” “Humor me.”
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She heaved a sigh and rolled her eyes. “All right, I’ll get one. You don’t have to buy it for me, though.” “Are you sure?” “I’m sure.”
***** A quick trip to the nearby mall and Kendra had a cell phone. She felt different now that she was connected to the civilized world again. Like her isolation was finally over. With a bounce in her step, she jaunted into her house with Jake right behind her. “Now let’s get naked and do what you came here for.” He straightened and frowned. “Is that what you think? That I only came over tonight to get into your bed?” She shrugged. “Why not? That’s where we usually end up.” Jake looked at the ceiling and clenched his fists. “I don’t know what’s up with you anymore. One minute you want to take it slow and casual, the next you’re acting possessive and grilling me about whether or not I’m seeing anyone else. Christ I thought someone was following me today and even thought it might be you. Now you’re looking at me like I’m out of my mind—I don’t know what—” “Are you?” “Am I what? Out of my mind?” “Seeing anyone else?” He slapped his hands over his ears and reared back, growling in frustration. He sounded a little like Brando, sending out a warning. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe it’s hormones.” “Oh.” There. That would shut him up. “So can you stay the night?” “Uh, no. I have a little something to finish up tonight.” Might as well go for it and use the PMS excuse if he blows up. “What are you finishing up? A woodworking project?” Jake just stared at her—then charged. Her eyes flew open in shock until he picked her up off the floor and held the back of her head, crushing her to him in a bruising kiss. When he finally released her he said, “If you won’t accuse me of having ulterior motives, or anything else for that matter, I’d like to make love to you now.” “Oh,” she squeaked. He set her down and loosened his grip so she could breathe. Jake positioned his hands on his hips. “Do you think you can do that?” “Do what?” “Make love.”
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She hesitated, looking into his eyes for further information and saw nothing there but a straightforward, sincere guy looking back at her. Suddenly his sexy chocolate eyes seemed to melt with heat. “Jake. I know you don’t want to be questioned or accused of anything, and I’m not… I just want to understand what you’re saying. Are you talking about fucking or making love? And don’t try to tell me they’re the same thing, because they aren’t. At least not to me.” He paused and searched her face. As if he’d come to a decision, he bent his head and placed his forehead against hers. Staring into her eyes, he spelled, “Maaakke looooove.” “Oh…” She grinned slowly. “Yes, I can do that.” Perhaps for the first time in her life, Kendra felt what it was like to have her body worshipped. Jake didn’t rush. He kissed the tips of her fingers and laced his hand with hers. Then he cupped her face and kissed her tenderly on the lips before angling his head to delve into her open mouth and deepen the kiss. His thick black eyelashes set off a glow in his eyes when he pulled back and gazed at her. He held her in one arm while he unbuttoned her blouse, slowly revealing her white lace bra. Before reaching for her breast, he stopped. “Kendra…there’s something I need to tell you.” He took a deep breath after uttering the words every woman hates to hear from her lover, especially if she’s opened her heart and made herself vulnerable. The way he suddenly avoided eye contact told her this wasn’t going to be good. “Well, tell me, dammit! Don’t leave me hanging here.” “I have a child.” Whoa! That’s one comment she hadn’t expected. But maybe that’s where he’d been going whenever he disappeared. If he had a child, that meant there was also a mother. Was there a nasty divorce? Or was it so amicable that a chance for reconciliation exists? Kendra’s mind whirled. Jake waited while the news sunk in. “Are you…all right with that?” He stroked her chin with the back of his finger and waited another moment. “Ah, yeah. I’m just surprised.” “I know. Maybe I should have told you earlier. I didn’t think a fuck-buddy needed to know about her…but things are changing.” “You have a little girl?” “Yes.” He beamed. This man obviously loved his child. “She’s three and a half.” A daughter. Jake was a father. She’d bet he was an excellent father too. “Where is she?” “She lives on Maui, but not in Lahaina. I wanted you to know in case you saw anything…you know, suspicious?”
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“Like pictures of her at your place?” He nodded. “And drawings on the refrigerator. I don’t see her as much as I’d like, but when I do I like to take her places. What if you saw us at the aquarium? You might get suspicious. I was getting worried about that too.” Jake has a daughter. Kendra finally smiled. “I love kids.” “You do?” She nodded. “Yeah, I really do. It was a sore spot in my previous—arrangement, I guess you could call it. It wasn’t much of a relationship.” “You wanted kids and he didn’t?” “Not exactly. He wanted kids very badly. He just didn’t want mine.” She looked away and let out a deep breath of resignation remembering the hurt. “His sainted wife couldn’t carry them to term and apparently they’d had a few miscarriages. It pissed him off when I suggested he divorce her and marry me. I guess I wasn’t good enough to be the mother of his children.” She rolled away from Jake and stuffed a pillow under her head. After a brief silence, Jake stroked her back. “I’m sorry. You know, of course, that the guy was an asshole, right?” “Yes, I know that beyond the shadow of any doubt.” Suddenly it occurred to her that she hadn’t asked about the little girl’s mother. Hmm… Maybe she was making progress with her jealous streak. She rolled back to where she could see his face. “And where’s her mother?” “My ex-wife lives with my daughter. She’s Hawaiian and moved back to her small village.” “Your daughter must be beautiful. Do you have a picture of her?” “She is, and yes, of course, but I don’t have a picture with me.” “Why not?” He seemed uncomfortable for a moment, then just shrugged. “I’d rather see the real thing.” Things weren’t quite adding up again. Those two places he visited today didn’t belong to his ex-wife and furthermore… “What possessed the father of a little girl to get a tattoo saying, ‘Blow me’?” He laughed. “I wanted to spend more time with the gorgeous tattoo artist. I figured I could get a cover up or laser if off before she learned to read. But now I don’t have to. It says, Bowl me, remember? Now I just need to learn how to bowl.” She smiled, relieved that he’d obviously wanted to go out with her from the start. “Yeah, how could I forget? So when will I get to meet your little girl?” “I—ah. I don’t know. Let’s play it by ear, okay?”
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Kendra nodded. “Sure.” She could understand not wanting to introduce another person into a child’s life unless you were pretty sure they were going to stick around. She ran her fingers through his hair. “Wow. You’re a daddy.” “Uh-huh. And now that you’re in my life, I’m in love with two women. Just thought you should know that.”
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Chapter Twelve Jake hated to leave, but it was almost time to follow Tim’s wife after she got out of work. He and Kendra had made love in a whole new way—tender and slow. Very slow. Their one coupling took the rest of the evening. Surprised by how sensitive and gentle his little hellcat could be, he drove away with a contented smile on his face. She’d actually kissed every inch of his face—even his eyelids! No woman had ever done that before. A few miles down the main road, he stopped at a traffic light. A pair of high headlights, probably belonging to a truck, came up behind him rather quickly. He thought he might have to pull forward if the guy didn’t hit the brakes soon. Fortunately the truck stopped just short of his bumper and Jake frowned into his rearview mirror. It wasn’t a guy. The long, wavy hair and narrow shoulders illuminated by a car coming up behind her indicated it was most likely a woman. Not again. Better give her some room. When the light turned green Jake sped up and drove a little faster than he normally would. Just as well, that way he wouldn’t be late and miss his opportunity to catch Tim’s wife getting into her car—or someone else’s. She’d been squeaky clean, so far. Tim might be getting all upset for nothing. Jake knew he’d never be like that with Kendra. He didn’t see her doing that, though. She’d been on the other side of a triangle and so had he. They both knew the hurt that caused. Kendra’s jealousy seemed to be easing too. That was a relief. Now if he could just get her out of Bump and Grind Auto Body, all would be well. His investigation had been frustrating too. It seemed as if Tim was always around. He’d dropped by Animal’s place earlier to see if he might be storing used parts there, but saw nothing. Jake was just coming up on the restaurant when Tim’s wife drove out of the parking lot. He slowed down long enough for her to pull out in front of him and followed. So she got out a little early tonight. That proves nothing. Eventually the car made a series of turns and doubled back. Where is this woman going? Did she forget something at the restaurant? Snapped out of his reverie, Jake realized the car he was following had its left blinker flashing. He transferred to the left hand lane just as the other two cars behind him did. That was odd. Tim’s wife was headed toward the mountain roads. Did she know she was being followed? Jake cursed himself for not switching cars over the last couple of nights. He could have spent Tim’s money on a rental. Wondering if she was leading him on a wild goose chase or going to visit a “friend” Jake kept a watchful eye on her as she drove for what seemed like an hour and then headed up a narrow, winding mountain road. Shit, she’s taking the Hana highway! The
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other two cars still followed behind him. What if Tim was having him followed to make sure he was doing his job? Well, so what? That’s exactly what he was doing. Crap, this road is dangerous during the day, never mind at night. The only light on the road other than their headlights came from the moon. He didn’t want to turn on his high beams and blind the woman in front of him. Telling Tim he’d driven his wife off a cliff wouldn’t be easy to explain. Well, at least she was using her high beams, so if he stayed close behind her his visibility might be a little better. The few and far between driveways appeared suddenly and were sometimes blind due to the heavy vegetation. Some wound up or down the hillside, so if he stayed too far behind he could lose her that way too. Damn, this road narrowed down to one lane up ahead. With pull-offs every eighth of a mile or so, it required both skill driving forward as well as in reverse should they meet another car along the way. The woman at the head of the line proceeded a little faster than he would have liked. Faster than he’d have allowed if he were a uniformed cop. Maybe she was trying to lose him but she could lose her life in the process. The two cars behind also sped forward, until a neat line of headlights could be seen climbing the hill. Maybe anyone coming from the other side could— Crap! Tim’s wife slammed on the brakes. Jake had no choice but to slam his on too. Dreading the sound of crunching bumpers, behind him, he braced himself. Smash! Sure enough that red truck and white sedan didn’t stop on a dime like he did. Just as Jake got out of his car, the one at the head of the line snuck off into the night. “Hey,” he yelled. “Stop. You just caused a three-car accident!” Apparently the driver didn’t care. The woman in the truck behind him sat there and leaned toward the glove compartment, probably fishing for her insurance information. The guy in the last car stepped out, carrying a gun. Jake had been headed down the hill when he stopped, put his hands up and slowly backed away. “Whoa, mister. It was just an accident.” “Yours mighta been an accident,” he said with a menacing grizzly voice, as he advanced, “but mine was an on purpose.” The armed man came up even with the truck’s open window and said with a sneer, “Hello, Kendra.” “Shit!” The woman slid across the seat and out the passenger’s side door before the man could level his gun at her. “Jake,” she yelled. “Get the fuck out of here. That’s Carlo!” Kendra? Even in this light he could see the woman running up the hill had long, red hair in a sort of eighties, “big hair” style. That couldn’t be MY Kendra. Then he spotted it as she ran past his headlights. The dancing monkey tattoo around her ankle. “Kendra!” The big man, presumably Carlo, loped off after her, shooting as he ran.
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Jake dived for his glove compartment and retrieved his hidden weapon, then took off after both of them, muttering “fuck”, under his breath. Kendra had made it to a break in the mountainside due to a stream and plunged into the deep vegetation beside the road when Jake caught up with Carlo. The older, heavier man aimed the barrel of his gun at Jake but kept running after Kendra. A shot exploded from the pistol, but Jake was unhurt. He aimed at Carlo’s legs and fired off a shot. It must have sailed between his legs since he still ran, firing his weapon. Jake had to duck to keep from being hit in the face with a red wig clinging to a tree branch, and then another shot rang out and whizzed by his ear. It was clear that this was a drop or be dropped situation, so Jake fired at the perp and he went down.
***** Kendra struggled against his tight grip on her arm. “Let go of me, you ape.” “Get in the car.” Jake pushed her toward the passenger’s side as he let go. When she didn’t move he gritted out, “Jesus Kendra, I don’t know if your friend is disabled or if he just fell down. I’m not in the mood to save your ass again, now get in the damn car.” “He’s definitely not my friend.” “No kidding.” Kendra glanced back at her truck, now sandwiched between two other vehicles and knew there was no other way out of this safely but to go with Jake. He might be mad as a hornet but she knew he wouldn’t kill her. Once she was in and seat-belted, Jake took off in the same direction he had been heading before the accident. He scowled and glanced over at her a couple of times. “What were you doing behind me?” She didn’t answer. What could she say? She was on her way to the grocery store and took a wrong turn? “You were following me, weren’t you?” After a short pause he yelled, “Tell, me dammit.” After an uncomfortable pause, he said, “Don’t lie to me. I just put my life on the line for you.” “Okay, yes. I was following you.” “Why?” “I think you know why.” “I thought we’d turned a corner. I thought you trusted me, thought you might even love me. Christ, how could I be so wrong?” “You’re not wrong.” After a long awkward silence she broached the subject she knew would probably set him off, but if he wanted to know why, she’d tell him. “So what’s your deep, dark secret, Jake?” He brooded a little longer so she prompted him with a “Huh?”
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“Why should I bother? You wouldn’t believe me anyway.” “Try!” This time he resorted to silence. “If you want to be with me, and you can’t tell me, don’t talk about trust.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared out the windshield into the darkness. He didn’t say anything for a long time. When he came to an adjoining road, he turned back toward civilization and said, “I’m not sure we should take this any further.” “Yeah, we’d wind up on the other side of the island if we kept going that way.” Jake looked over at her, his jaw clenched. “I meant our relationship.” Kendra was afraid that’s what he meant but hoped she was wrong. Hoped that if she gave him an out, pretending not to understand, he’d take it. With his mouth set in a hard line, he faced forward and looked as if he was through talking. He’d made up his mind. “Is there anything I can do or say to salvage this?” He didn’t answer. Didn’t look at her. Didn’t even blink. “Well, I guess that’s it, then.” Tears welled up and burned the back of her eyes. She wouldn’t let them spill. She breathed a little deeper and tried to think of anything but her new life and love, now extinguished like a cigarette that was lit a moment before the bus arrived. She’d use her brand-new cell phone to call Tim tomorrow morning and say she wasn’t coming to work—ever again. How could she see Jake every day and try not to cry. She’d blown the best thing ever to happen to her.
***** Tears fell freely as Kendra cuddled with Brando on her bed. Mentally berating herself over and over all night hadn’t helped matters. The only things missing were a flogger and lash marks on her back. “What’s wrong with me, Brando? I thought I’d finally found the one, then I went and screwed it up.” Kendra ran her hand over Brando’s supple coat and compared it to the short thick hair on Jake’s head. The head she’d never again cup and pull toward her mouth, her breasts… Friggin’ Jake! Why couldn’t he just tell me what he was doing? Brando began to whine and she knew he probably needed to go out. Sunrise through red curtains filled her room with pink light. “Okay, boy.” She pried herself up off the bed and pattered out to the kitchen. “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” she said. She looked down at herself and sighed. She hadn’t changed her clothes from the night before. So what? Saves time and there’s no one to impress.
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Grabbing Brando’s water dish and bag of food, she got everything ready to take him outdoors to his run. She mentally checked off the things she needed to do. Call Tim. Open checking account with a bank that has branches all over the Islands. Find another place to hide until knowing what happened to Carlo. She attached Brando’s collar to the run and gave him a few pats as he wolfed down his breakfast. “I love you, boy. You know that, right? Wherever we go, we go together. You and me.” She hoped that was true. Tears threatened to spill again so she hurried inside. Taking up some of the time before she had to call Tim, she washed up and changed clothes. Since she planned to go to a bank, she’d need to look nice. Memories of the debacle in the ladies’ room at the bank in Grand Cayman almost made her smile. While she went butt-cheek to butt-cheek with Tonia, Raphael read the account numbers tattooed on them and committed them to memory. Yet, the whole thing went to hell in a hand-basket when another female had discovered them. Had she not raised a ruckus, they’d have walked out with the money right into a well-armed Carlo lying in wait. In a weird way, that one woman was responsible for her being here with over five million dollars. Remembering Carlo, Kendra decided she’d open an account in Lahaina with as little money as possible. Then she’d get a cabbie to take her to another bank to make a large deposit—just to be sure she wasn’t followed. After that, she and Brando would either take the ferry or a puddle jumper to another island. If she paid in cash no one would know where she went. It would be a lot to do in one day, so she’d call Tim and start packing right away. Suddenly she heard Brando barking up a storm. His growling and barking grew louder and more furious as she ran from the bedroom to the kitchen door to see what the hell was happening. “Jesus, the neighbors…” Flying out the door, she spotted a large steak lying on the ground first and jumped over it, charging toward the sound of Brando’s furious barking. He had something treed. “Brando. Heel!” Brando would have none of it. He stayed at the bottom of the tree and kept barking. Then she spotted movement, halfway up her Norfolk Island pine. Carlo! And he was shaking like a little girl. “Call off your mutt, Kendra!” She crossed her arms and gazed up at him. “He’s a purebred Doberman Pinscher, Carlo. Not a mutt.” “Well, whatever the hell he is, call him off.” “Why would I want to do that?” Carlo looked exasperated. “So’s we can talk, doll. You know. Remember the good old days? What they call reminisce—I think.”
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“Brando, hush! Stay!” Brando obeyed immediately, sitting at the base of the tree quietly. “I know exactly what you want Carlo and it has nothing to do with reminiscing.” “Look, doll. We need to come to some kind of agreement or somethin’. I’m sure you don’t want to run from me for the rest of your life. Just give me my share and I’ll be on my way.” “Like hell you will. You forget Carlo, I know you.” “Then you know I always honor my agreements.” “Oh, like you honored your agreement to Frankie—to see that Tonia and I received our thirds? If you were willing to cross him, you’d have no problem crossing me.” “Well, I woulda done somethin’ nice for ya, but you knocked me out with a telephone and tied me up with the cord.” “Now why do you suppose I did that?” “I have no idea. I’ve been meaning to ask ya that.” Kendra rolled her eyes. “I believe you tried to cut my skirt off with a knife. You were going to cut that tattoo right off my ass. After that you’d go and do the same thing to Tonia. Anything to get all that money for yourself.” “Hey. No way. I’d never do that to Frankie’s gals.” “Oh, so you were trying to rape me? I’m sure Frankie would have had absolutely no objection to that.” Kendra was having some good sarcastic fun. She only wished he’d fall out of that tree so Brando could finish him off. “So, I guess you lost your gun. Otherwise I’d be dead by now.” “Aw, baby, no. You got me all wrong.” He squirmed and rubbed his butt. “So how long are ya gonna keep me up here, huh?” She shrugged. This justice couldn’t be savored long enough as far as she was concerned. “Well, I have a quick errand to do, so I think I’ll leave you right there with my dog until I get back.” “You gotta be kiddin’ me.” Kendra just smiled, grabbed the steak and returned to the house.
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Chapter Thirteen Jake wrestled with himself all night. He hadn’t been totally blameless as far as Kendra’s suspicions were concerned. What kind of legitimate boyfriend refuses to take you to his house or tell you what he does in his spare time? I’m an idiot. Still, trust was a big part of any lasting relationship. Why hadn’t she trusted him when he asked her to? Her past, or what she’d told him of it, sounded pretty bad and Carlo was certainly a legitimate threat. Could Jake trust her with his secret identity as an undercover cop? Would she expect him to drop everything to help her? Why the hell didn’t he do more to keep her out of Bump and Grind? Crap. Carlo’s finding her could have been partly his fault too. He tried to convince her that she could use her IDs, Social Security numbers, and that anyone who’d been looking would have written her off by now. So why hadn’t Carlo? What was really driving him? Jake glanced at the clock realizing it was time to leave for work and he still didn’t know what to do about Kendra. Was he going to be responsible for her losing another job? This poor girl had had nothing but problems since he entered her life. Jake inhaled deeply and decided to go talk to her. If she didn’t want to be with him as his girlfriend or see him at work after last night, he wouldn’t blame her. Hell, she may have taken off again. Either way, he had to know. Every time he closed his eyes, his mind traveled back to that hope that he’d finally found someone special and a relationship that would last. He remembered the two of them making love so tenderly that his heart almost hurt. He drove a little faster than necessary to get to her house, hoping she was still there. Entering her driveway, he spotted Brando at the end of his run. Thank God she didn’t take off. She’d never leave her dog behind. “Brando! Here boy!” Brando sat immobile, staring at the fence in the backyard, whimpering. Branches from the pine tree littered the ground. What the hell? He jogged to Kendra’s door and banged on it. Somehow he wasn’t surprised that no one answered. He banged again and placed his ear on the door but heard no movement inside. He flipped open his cell phone and hit the speed dial. He let it ring several times until it went to voice mail. “Hey, babe. Call or text me as soon as you can, okay? I’m sorry about last night. I-I want to fix it.” Glad he had programmed his number into her speed dial as well, he hoped that only that much of a message would prompt a call back.
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Finally on his way to Bump and Grind, his cell phone vibrated against his belt. Jake pulled over, just needing to hear Kendra’s voice. Instead he received a text message. It said—Hostage. Take Brando plz. “Shit.” Desperate to find her, Jake texted back—Where? He waited for what seemed like eons before she answered—Don’t come. “Fuck!” he yelled and spelled out—Carlo? A few moments later she texted—Yes. His thumbs pressed buttons as fast as he could—Where? You need me. She answered—No. “Damn it!” Jake’s stomach clenched. What now? He knew she probably didn’t want him to get hurt. But why would she text him if she didn’t want help? What the hell could he do? He texted one more message, quickly before he hung up so he could call the police station to find out what was going on—I lv u.
***** Kendra texted the words—lv u 2 and slipped her cell phone into her pocketbook. Carlo had taken her wallet and her right-hand ring and now wasted valuable time liberating all the other customers and tellers in the bank of their cash and valuables. Thank God Carlo’s an idiot. When he had found her in the manager’s office opening a checking and savings account, he’d assumed she was making a big withdrawal. He sat beside Kendra and held his weapon to her side, forcing the bank manager to hand over all the money she had. Furious when all he got was a few hundred dollars, his face turned red and he began to raise his voice. Soon a teller came to the door to ask if everything was all right. He growled at her to go back to work. When she didn’t, he told her to get in and close the door. She ran. He leveled his weapon at the two women and told them to put their wallets and jewelry on the desk. Then he swept the valuables off the desk and deposited them in his pocket, including Kendra’s ruby and diamond ring. A moment later the security guard peered in the window and yelled, “Everybody get down!” Carlo wasted no time shooting at the window as he ran out of the office and into the bank. “Carlo, don’t!” Kendra yelled. He had all the tellers stand with their hands on their heads. The security guard and three customers he made lie face down on the floor. Then he waved his gun at the two women in the office, made the manager yank out her telephone cord and said if anyone moved, he’d kill them.
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Isn’t that just like Carlo? If he doesn’t get what he wants one way, he tries something else— like an impulsive, unplanned bank robbery. This should go well. Even though no lumps or bumps besides wallets showed through the lightweight clothing, Carlo searched each person. As he did that, he told the tellers to empty all the money in their drawers and leave them open. Then he told the manager to come out and gather up all the tellers’ money on her way to the vault.
***** Jake observed two police cruisers fly past him with lights flashing and hoped they were on their way to help Kendra, but there was no way to know. He continued to hold, impatiently waiting for his supervisor. At last he picked up. “Lieutenant, something’s going down. A friend text messaged me saying she’s being held hostage.” “Whoa. Is this Jake?” “Lieutenant, there’s no time to lose. Can you just tell me if you’ve heard anything about a hostage situation yet?” Jake held his open cell phone closer to his ear in order not to miss a word. “I’m heading toward a hostage situation now. Bank holdup. But you can’t help, Jake. Unless you have information you can give me.” “Where? What bank?” “Never mind. You’re still undercover aren’t you?” Jake sighed. “Yeah. If I’m right, the perp’s name is Carlo and he’s probably armed. He’s been after the hostage for some time and caught up with her last night. I don’t know the whole story between them, but he wants her bad. When I tried to help her, he didn’t hesitate to shoot at me.” “So this might be an abduction rather than a simple robbery?” The lieutenant cleared his throat. “Thanks Jake. That might be helpful. What’s the hostage’s name?” “Kendra. Listen, I’d really like to be there. I might be able to—” “Has this got anything to do with your case?” Jake wracked his brain hoping to find some kind of tie-in but there didn’t seem to be any. The only thing that tied Kendra to Bump and Grind was him. “No, sir.” “Is your cover intact?” Jake looked at the sky as dark clouds rolled in. A storm was brewing both outside and in. “Yes, sir.” “Then keep it that way. Showing up at a crime scene to help the cops is a bad move. You know that.” Damn. Resigned, he said, “Yes sir,” one more time. By the time he pulled into the parking lot at Bump and Grind, he was in a surly mood. He had placed his cell phone in his pocket so there was no way he could miss the 100
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vibration if she called again. And if she needed him, he’d drop whatever he was doing and go. He strolled in the back door, feeling as gloomy as the overcast sky. “You’re late,” Tim said. Jake grumbled some lame excuse about oversleeping on his way to the coffeepot. “What’s with the attitude? And where’s Lauren?” Tim marched over to where Jake poured his coffee, but clapped a hand over the mug, apparently demanding an answer before Jake earned his coffee. Jake turned to face him. The big man’s eyes showed more concern than anger. “I don’t know where Lauren is. She wasn’t home when I got there.” “Did you two have a lover’s spat?” Sheesh, he’s not going to give up. “Sort of. It’s all been straightened out, though.” “Maybe not. If she wasn’t there, maybe you missed something. Women don’t tell you everything they expect you to say or do. Then they hold it all in and either pout or scream it out at you later. Either way, you’d better find her. I need her artistic and organizational skills more than your pounding out dents right now.” Shock waves woke him out of his depressed stupor. Was that a threat? “What are you saying, Tim? If I can’t find her, I’m out on my ass?” “If you cost me a good employee you might be.” “Crap.” Jake considered the options and went with the only one that might take care of two problems at once. He lowered his voice. “Listen, between us, I think Lauren’s in some kind of trouble. Could I listen to your police scanner?” “Jesus Christ, you’re kidding me!” Fred rolled out from under a vehicle and Animal looked up from his pinstriping job. “Hey guys. Jake thinks Lauren’s in some kind of trouble. We’ll be right down if we find out anything.” “Shit,” Animal muttered. Fred pulled out a cigarette, apparently deciding to take a break. “Hey, if she needs help, just say the word. I know people, if you know what I mean.” Jake nodded and followed Tim as he dashed up the stairs. He’d never seen him move so fast. The scanner crackled with excitement. Jake heard the ten-code requesting backup— and the address. Jake grabbed a pen and paper off Tim’s desk. “Where’s fifty Island Palm in Lahaina?” Tim pulled up a map search engine on his computer and typed the address into it. When the directions came up along with the map he said, “It’s First Palm Bank. Take a right at the split.”
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Jake jumped up and ran for the door. Tim was right on his heels calling out, “What’s going on? Do you think Lauren’s at that bank?” “Don’t know,” Jake yelled over his shoulder as he took two steps at a time, trying to lose his boss. “Yes you do, damn it. Fred, lock up the shop and follow us.” Jake stopped and whirled to face the others. “Us? You guys can’t help. Trust me.” Tim ran ahead of him, through the back door toward Jake’s car. “Sorry, Jake. You’re not the only one who cares about what happens to Lauren.” Jake hadn’t taken the time to close his top, figuring the impending storm might make a good excuse to get outside if he needed to take a deep breath. Or make for a faster getaway. Not a great decision as it turned out. As big as Tim was, he managed to leap over the door and wedge himself into the passenger’s seat. “Let’s go, Jake!”
***** Patrol cars surrounded the bank. Barricades had been erected to keep out the onlookers. Jake planned on keeping his distance but not for safety’s sake. As soon as they arrived Jake leaned over Tim’s lap and grabbed his gun out of the glove compartment. He tucked it in the waistband of his jeans and with jaw clenched, frowned at Tim, challenging him to say anything about it. “Wish I’d thought of that,” Tim mumbled, without raising an eyebrow. He struggled to lift his body out of the seat as Jake bounded out of his car and walked toward the sidelines. Eventually, the other three mechanics joined him. “We can get closer, Jake. Just use Tiny Tim as a shield and follow him through the crowd.” Tim glared at Fred, apparently taking exception to wisecracks about his size. It did put a good idea in Jake’s head, though. “No, I think this is the best spot if he comes out. I want a clean shot at the bastard from the side if Lauren’s in front of him, but Tim can block the cops from seeing me in case they frown on vigilante justice.” “Understood,” Tim said and he moved into place beside Jake, shielding him from view. Perfect. “Here they come,” someone announced and several cops raised their weapons, aiming them at the double glass doors. Jake felt the automatic pull of his training to do the same and had to consciously tamp it down. Instead he adopted a stance foreign to him and probably looked pretty silly too. Feet slightly apart and thumbs in his waistband, Jake felt like a hayseed. Yet this would allow him to draw his gun quickly if he needed to. Carlo held a terrified Kendra in front of his body as Jake expected he would. His gun rested smack against her temple. Her white-knuckled fist clutched a sack that Jake 102
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imagined was full of the bank’s money. Still holding her across the collarbone, Carlo had her open the door and yell in a shaky voice to the cops outside, “Guns down, or he’ll kill me!” “Lower your weapons,” the captain ordered. Only a few steps stood between Carlo and a white Mustang. It must have been part of the bargain they’d already made. The driver’s side door was open, next to the sidewalk and the engine purred. As soon as he’d yelled enough promises to kill her if anyone moved a muscle, Carlo and Kendra walked awkwardly down the steps. Jake’s right hand itched to grab his gun and pop Carlo where he stood, but he had to be sure his actions wouldn’t get Kendra hurt or killed. He couldn’t live with that. As soon as they made it to the car, Carlo yelled out, “If anyone moves, she gets it. If anyone follows us, she gets it. Got it?” He then ducked and pushed Kendra ahead of him into the car. His gun remained trained on her as she scurried across the seat to the passenger’s side. The captain yelled something about releasing the hostage unharmed as Carlo jumped behind the wheel, slammed the door shut and began to speed off. That’s when Jake took aim and blew out the tire. The crowd gasped at the sound of the shot. In the moment that Carlo had to grab the steering wheel with both hands to control the car, Kendra jumped out the passenger’s side door and rolled across the pavement out of harm’s way. As soon as she leapt to her feet she took off between two buildings and the crowd cheered. Unfortunately, Carlo brought the car to a stop and jumped out after her. Jake prayed that his lover with her long, lithe legs could easily outrun the beer-bellied mobster. “Gotta go,” Jake whispered to Tim and all four of them raced for the cars. Jake easily beat Tim to his and turned the ignition with no intention of waiting for the lumbering giant. He set his gun on the passenger’s seat and just as a shot rang out in the distance, he peeled out of the parking lot.
***** Kendra had never had to run for her life. Lie and steal, sure, but never run like she didn’t care if her heart exploded. At the moment she was trying to do the fifty-yard dash “faster than a speeding bullet” since that’s the only way Carlo could catch her. One shot had already pinged off a dumpster in front of her. Where the hell was she running? If she made enough twists and turns, she might lose him long enough to hide somewhere, but where? Nothing came to mind. On the other hand, she might run right into a fenced-off alley if she wasn’t careful. Jake. Christ, if she was lucky enough to get away, Carlo might go after him to find her. She’d have to be sure he’d never know where she was. She’d only put him in
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mortal danger again. Why was she thinking of Jake at a time like this? Because she wanted to run right into his arms at the moment? Definitely. The heavy scent of plumeria wafted past her nostrils and all she could think of was the horrible possibility that she’d never smell the lovely flowers again. Never brush Brando’s shiny coat again. Never kiss, touch or make love to Jake again. A fresh burst of speed pushed her into the open. The town square and its famous Banyan tree stood proudly before her. This area was much too open and she had no idea if she had enough of a lead to make it to the town hall. And then what? Run behind it and swim? Boats. The marina had plenty of boats. If she could make it to one, maybe she’d find a kind soul willing to stash her in the hull and drop her off at the next island. Then she’d disappear all over again.
***** Dejected, Jake arrived at the shop long after the rest of them had returned. He’d searched every side street, hoping she’d see him from her hiding place and jump into his car. Every movement, every item on a clothesline blowing in the soft breeze made his heart leap into his mouth. Her MO was to run and hide, but she’d have to come back for Brando. Jake planned to stake out her place whenever he could. He’d dropped by to be sure the dog was there and had everything he needed before he left the familiar beach town. One of Kendra’s first attempts at airbrushing a hood lay abandoned in the grass. He knew how the empty metal shell would have felt if it were sentient. Slowly he emerged from his car and thought about the days ahead. If he could crack this case soon, maybe he’d take some time off and look for her. The guys didn’t know he was back yet. Maybe he could take a better look around outside before anyone saw him. Jake checked every vehicle in the lot for VIN numbers first. Nothing looked filed off or altered. He wrote down all the plate numbers, figuring he could run them later. Then he headed over to that damned third bay. If he weren’t trying to be so careful, he’d try to pry it open. The closed door seemed to mock him as he studied the lock. He started to walk away until, without warning, the door slid upward and Tim stepped out. “Jake. What are you doing out here?” He tried to get a casual glimpse inside as he spoke. “I just needed to walk off some frustration before going to work. The way I’m feeling now, I might grind a hole in somethin’.” Tim strolled over to Jake and sympathetically clapped him on the back. “Come in to my other office.” Fuck. He’s finally inviting me in?
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Jake strolled into the “infamous” third bay, trying to act casual. Confusion overwhelmed him as he glanced around what looked like a studio apartment. “What’s this?” Tim lumbered over to a sturdy recliner, flopped into it and put his feet up. “Welcome to my home away from home. I didn’t want to lease a place since I’m trying to get back with my wife and I save the rent by living here, but it isn’t zoned for residential.” Shit. That’s what he’s been hiding here all this time? So where’s this big operation? “You know, Tim,” Jake said, jokingly, “I thought you were hiding a chop shop operation or something in here.” Tim guffawed. “Hell no. If I were going to do that I’d own an auto parts store down the street. Can you see a cheap sob like me sharing the profits?” Jake felt strangely relieved. “Hey, you never know. You’ve got to admit, the building looks strange. The inside doesn’t match the outside at all.” “Yeah, well I didn’t figure most people would notice.” Well someone noticed and called the police to launch an investigation. But what would I bust him for? A zoning violation? Tim shrugged. “I built a couple of eaves upstairs to stash some of the stuff she might not miss, but if it came to a divorce, I didn’t want my wife using my mementos as leverage.” Jake nodded. That explains the eaves. Can’t really bust him for stealing his own stuff either. “Listen, the rest of the guys are keepin’ quiet about this place, and now that I know you, I’m sure I can trust you to do that too.” “Yeah, I guess I can understand that. But I don’t think you need to worry about your wife anymore. She wouldn’t let me pick her up and the few times I followed her she went straight home.” Tim’s face beamed showcasing his missing tooth. “Glad to hear it. Maybe there’s still a chance for us.” That was all the confirmation Jake needed. He’d done the right thing. The only reason she drove up that hellacious road was probably to lose him. “Yeah, I hope you get what you want.” Jake dropped his gaze to the floor, wondering if he’d ever wind up with what he wanted. “So, about Lauren… When I got back here I listened to the scanner for a while. It seems they haven’t picked her up or found this Carlo guy.” “Crap. Um, do you think I could have a few days off to look for her?” Tim heaved a sigh. “Listen, I really do need you here. I’m sorry about saying I needed her more than you. I say stuff I don’t mean when I’m upset sometimes.” “Don’t worry. I’d already forgotten about it.”
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Tim sat up and pushed himself out of the chair. “I have another idea.” He proceeded to a bedside table holding a telephone and opened the drawer. “The small business owners’ organization I belong to has contacts all over the islands.” He pulled out several pages of what looked like computer printouts and waved them. “Let me send out a description of her and see what happens.” Jake stood. “Yeah, that would be great, but I’d still like a little time off…” Now that I know what this place isn’t, I don’t need to be here. I can quietly disappear to look for Lauren and file my report. “Tell you what… Take the rest of the afternoon. Maybe I’ll have some news for you by tomorrow.”
***** Kendra had found her way to Oahu and she didn’t even have to promise anybody a lap dance. If hiding out on Maui proved too difficult, maybe she could lose herself in Hawaii’s largest city, Honolulu. If she hadn’t picked Carlo’s pocket, she’d have arrived with no money whatsoever. Fortunately her light-fingered skills hadn’t deserted her. She’d waited until Carlo was quite preoccupied, one hand snaked across her throat, the other holding a gun to her head. He had inched toward the door while glancing behind him for anyone trying to pull any “funny business” as he had called it. Kendra’s funny business in his jacket pocket netted her a couple hundred dollars and her right-hand ring back. She’d need more than a couple hundred dollars to survive until she could be sure Carlo was locked up, so she went in search of a pawnshop. The nearest telephone book she could find was in a hotel lobby near the marina. Scanning the list, she noted plenty of choices but had no idea where these places were. “Excuse me,” she said to the clerk who had loaned her the book, “I’m looking for one of these places within walking distance.” The clerk rotated the yellow book so he could read it and turned his nose up at the pages. At last he placed a finger on one of the ads. “I don’t know where any of these places are, but this address is about a block over and probably several blocks to the right.” “Of course,” she said, and left his pompous establishment quickly. It had been quite a while since Kendra had been treated with anything but the utmost respect. Even the guys at Bump and Grind were nice to her in their rough-edged way. Sad memories of Las Vegas surfaced. Frankie couldn’t have treated her with much more disrespect. He flaunted her as his showgirl mistress while his unsuspecting wife waited at home. He disrespected both of them and seemed damn proud of himself while doing it. Carlo’s disrespect sprang from envy and bordered on psychotic. Yeah, the faster and deeper I can disappear, the better.
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She found the pawnshop and assessed it through the window first. It was about as she’d expected. Minimal décor, stacks of electronic equipment, and a guy who looked like a bouncer who sat behind a long, locked jewelry cabinet. After stepping inside, she realized the cabinets housed not only jewelry, but guns too. For a moment she thought about buying a handgun. If Jake hadn’t been there and armed when Carlo chased her into the forest, what would have happened? She shuddered at the thought. The guy looked from his Maxim magazine and stood, smiling. A gold tooth in the front gleamed. “Can I help you, Miss?” “Ah, yeah. I have a ring…it’s a very rare natural ruby. Not lab-created. There are some good-sized genuine diamond baguettes too. Emerald cut. It was very expensive.” The guy held out his hand. “Let’s see it.” Kendra fished in the pocket of her shorts while the guy gave her the once-over. Maybe it should be called the twice over since he had already looked her up and down. The ring shone and sparkled in her hand. Suddenly a deep regret washed over her. She really did love this ring and if it were the only piece of jewelry she ever purchased for herself, she’d be perfectly content. With a sigh, she handed it over to the man with a jeweler’s glass ready in his hand. He gazed through the tiny spyglass at her ring. It sparkled brilliantly as if showing off. Kendra glanced at the other jewelry in the cabinet and didn’t see anything that would compare. “I’ll give you three hundred for it.” “Three hundred? Are you out of your mind? That ring cost me almost fourteen hundred dollars. Natural mined rubies are very rare in modern jewelry. The mines are nearly tapped out.” “I don’t see any certificate that says it’s natural and there’s no way to tell if it’s natural or manmade other than that.” “But each diamond is worth ten times that much!” Kendra slumped over the counter, with her head in her hands. “Christ Almighty!” “Listen, you seem like a nice girl. I’ll tell you what I’m going to do…” The man straightened his posture and smiled with one side of his mouth as if about to offer her a pearl necklace—and not the kind found in his cabinets. “I’ll give you three thousand, if you’ll have dinner with me.” “You’ve got to be kidding me. A bribe?” He shrugged. “Take it or leave it. You won’t do better at any pawn shop in Hawaii.” Kendra weighed her options. She could use the three hundred dollars to take cabs all over the island and probably find out that what he was saying was true—or she could fill her empty stomach and get more money simply by eating with a big, ugly brute. She heaved a deep breath and made her choice.
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“Five thousand, no touching, just dinner.” He raised his eyebrows and stared at her. His feelings about the counteroffer were impossible to read. Finally he nodded. “Be back here at six o’clock, sharp.” “Okay.” She spun on her heel and wandered out of the store feeling as if she’d won a small victory, but the war had just begun.
***** By dusk, Jake had given up searching in vain. He’d found no trace of Kendra or Carlo. Darkness wouldn’t aid his endeavor and he needed to make arrangements for Brando. The poor dog would be missing his owner, terribly. He hated the idea of passing him off to a kennel, but his apartment was hardly large enough for a Doberman. Besides, he was used to having the run of the yard and long walks on the beach. Maybe he could hang onto him for a day or two and place some kind of doggie personals ad? I’m loyal, protective, love kibble and long walks on the beach. He sighed as he turned onto Kendra’s street. Yeah, Brando would miss her for a few weeks, but Jake would miss her forever. Growling met his ears before he could see into the fenced yard. It wasn’t a normal growl and Jake stepped on the gas. As he roared up to the property, he saw why. Brando had someone face down, his mouth full of that someone’s ass. Jake grabbed his handcuffs and gun from the glove compartment and jogged over to the strange scene. “Whoa boy. Who’ve you got there?” Brando shook his head without removing his teeth and the large male figure moaned as he lifted his head. “Carlo! Good boy, Brando! Excellent work. Hang onto him for just a few more minutes while I—” “Call off your fuckin’ dog! Now!” “It’s not my dog.” Jake fished his cell phone from his pocket and punched a number on his speed dial. “I’ll fuckin’ kill ya. And then I’ll gut this dog, and stick Kendra’s head inside and…” Jake cuffed him, quickly, then grabbed him by the hair and lifted his head so he could see his beady eyes. “You’re going away for a long, long time. Someplace where you can’t bother Kendra anymore.” A voice on the other end of his cell phone answered, “Lahaina Police.” “Hi Paul. Jake here. I’ve got this morning’s perp from the bank robbery in custody. I need you to send a patrol car to pick him up.” “And an ambulance,” Carlo yelled. “Do you need an ambulance Officer Jensen?”
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“No. The perp’s screaming about a flesh wound. I want him behind bars. We can get a doc to make a house call if we need to.” The voice on the other end of the phone chuckled. “That’s funny. I’ll dispatch a couple of patrol cars. Where are you?” Jake gave the address and waited until he heard the sirens. “I told them to make plenty of noise so the citizens know we got him. You’ll get credit for the collar—unless that’ll blow your undercover case.” “Thanks, Paul. I don’t need credit. All I need is to see this guy locked up for life and then some. See you back at the cop shop.” With that he flipped his phone closed and smiled. You can come home now, Kendra. As if reading his mind, Carlo yelled, “You’ll be sorry you got mixed up with that broad, Jake. I have friends, you know.” “Yeah, I can imagine you’re real popular. The thing is, I have friends too and they’re on their way here, right now.”
***** Late in the evening, Jake’s cell phone rang and he grabbed it from the coffee table. Brando sat up looking as anxious to hear from his owner as Jake was. As he answered, he clicked off the mindless TV show he’d been half-watching. “Jake, we got a hit.” The words didn’t register at first, then he recognized Tim’s voice and guessed at what he meant. “Someone’s seen Lauren?” “Yeah, a buddy of mine runs a pawn shop in Honolulu. He’s not even part of that business organization, but he said he had dinner with a girl matching her description, tattooed ankle and all.” Jake’s casual posture straightened as he pictured his Kendra having dinner with another man. Then he remembered she ran with nothing more than the clothes on her back. He pictured her letting a kind stranger buy her a meal instead of starving and silently thanked whoever he was. “Are you sure Tim? Did he say the tattoo was of monkeys holding hands and dancing?” “Yeah. She called herself Fran, though. You know anyone she knows named Fran?” “No. I think the bank manager’s name was Frances, though. I, uh, heard they interviewed her at the police station so I tried to find out more. Nobody could tell me where she might have gone, though.” Unfortunately Jake didn’t know anyone she knew. But naturally, if she was trying to run again, the last thing she’d do would be to tell anyone her whereabouts and use her own name—or her former fake name. And I thought I might have a problem keeping two identities straight. “Okay, so where can I find her now?”
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“That’s the problem,” Tim said. “She’s probably still on Oahu but refused to tell the guy where she was staying. He said she walked off in the direction of the ferry, but he didn’t follow her…said he didn’t want to get kicked in the nuts if he did.” Jake laughed. “Yep, that’s my girl. He probably picked up on her independent spirit right away.” “He only got my email after he came home and didn’t know I was lookin’ for her.” “Well, that’s more than we had. Thanks, Tim. Listen, I’ll need to take tomorrow—” “To go to Oahu. Yeah, I know. Go ahead, but be sure you find her and bring her back. This place is as boring as hell without her. Talk to Jim at Treasure Pawn Shop.” “Yeah. I will.” He hung up the phone and scratched Brando behind the ears. “I think we know where she went, buddy.” The nickname he’d first used for Kendra fit her dog a lot better and he felt ashamed for calling her that, even in jest. Jake picked up the phone and called the airport. He’d take the earliest flight he could get the next morning. If he knew his girl, she’d be within walking distance of the beach, wearing ankle socks and sunglasses, probably sporting a brand new hairstyle. None of that would matter. Jake knew the sway of her hips, her graceful long legs, the light covering of freckles on her arms—and he couldn’t wait to have those arms and legs wrapped around him in ecstasy again.
***** Kendra had hoped there would be some word in today’s newspaper about apprehending the bank robber that got away from Maui’s finest. The motel she stayed in the night before had a decent TV but all the news programs she could find involved local Oahu news. Before she checked in she found a clothing store where she bought a pair of long jeans to cover her tattoo, big sunglasses to hide her eyes and if she found a small beauty shop that wouldn’t charge an arm and a leg for a cut, she’d go much shorter. She had a picture in her mind of a cut with long swept bangs in front, but that almost looked like a boy from the back. Suddenly she had an idea. Maybe if I tape down my boobs? Nah, that’s going a little too far. As she reclined onto her elbows and stared out to sea, a figure approached in her peripheral vision. She turned, expecting to see someone draped in shell necklaces wanting to sell her something. Her eyes popped and shock kept her anchored to the sand. “Jake?” “Well, if it isn’t the love of my life.” “What… When… How did you find me?” “Found the tour guide who gave you a ride over here—and the guy who bought you dinner last night. You can run but you can’t hide, sweetheart. Especially from your friends and the cops.” 110
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She sat straight up, her gaze darting in each direction. “Friends? Cops? Where?” Jake halted right in front of her and folded his arms. “Right here. That’s my big, fat secret, honey. I’m an undercover cop and I was investigating Bump and Grind.” “Holy crap! No wonder you wanted me out of there. Are they in some kind of trouble?” Jake plopped himself onto the sand beside her and sat Indian-style. “No, they’re in the clear. But they’ll be in desperate trouble if you don’t get back to work soon. They’re dying of boredom without you.” She stared out to sea and steeled herself against any arguments. “I can’t go back there until Carlo stops trying to kill me.” “Carlo? The Carlo that Brando apprehended by sinking his fangs in his ass? The Carlo who’s sitting in jail waiting to be arraigned this morning? The Carlo who’s going to spend the rest of his life locked up?” At last Kendra grinned. “Brando huh?” Jake shrugged. “Well, I helped a little. I used the phone while he was busy hanging onto Carlo’s ass.” “Oh, Jake!” She launched herself at his neck and hugged him hard. He surrounded her with both arms and held her just as tightly. “It’s over sweetheart. You don’t need to run anymore. And if you ever decide that you do, Brando and I are coming with you.” “I love you, Jake.” “Even though I’m a cop?” She leaned back and eyed him suspiciously. “Well, it might come in kind of handy, I guess. Like if I get a parking ticket or something…” “Yeah, right. Like I’d fix a ticket for you. My advice? Don’t park in stupid places.” She grinned again and leaned in to kiss him. He tackled her, held her against the soft sand and devoured her mouth. After a long fervent kiss that had her aching for more, Kendra pushed on his chest slightly. He pulled back and looked at her with raised eyebrows. “I have a motel room and check-out time isn’t until eleven.” He grinned, scooped her up in his arms and said, “Point the way.”
***** Jake and Kendra snuggled together in the motel’s king-size bed. She sprawled comfortably over his chest and legs while he ran a hand over her damp skin. “Damn, woman, do you know what you do to me?” She grinned. “No, but I know what you can do to me again.” “What’s that?”
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She tipped up her head so she could see his eyes. “Pretty much anything you want to.” “Really? Because what I want to do is tie you up so you can never leave me again.” “Sounds kinky, but you really don’t need to do that to make me stay.” “Okay, so what do I need to do?” Kendra took a deep breath. What she was about to say would be a risk, but it was one she had to take. She felt as if she were on the diving board of a pool she’d wanted to swim in for as long as she could remember. A pool labeled, normal life. Being half of a Mr. and Mrs. with children, a dog and a lovely home. Now, she had to either dive off that board and hope the pool was filled with water, or chicken out and wonder what he would have said before he knew the rest… “Jake?” “Yeah.” She propped herself up on one elbow and gazed at the man she loved so much it made her ache. “Do you really want to know what you can do? I mean, to keep me with you? Really?” His brows furrowed as if sensing the importance of what she was about to tell him. “Yes, sweetheart. I do.” Funny that he just said, “I do.” I hope he’ll say it again in a church. “This is what I really want.” She took another deep breath and decided to just spit it out. “I want you to marry my ass.” He leaned back and roared in laughter. He kept laughing until tears formed in his eyes and he wiped them away with the back of his hand. She was just about to tell him how insulted she was when, at last, he composed himself enough to cup her head and kiss her, hard. “I’ll not only marry your ass but I’ll marry the rest of you too.” They stared at each other and grinned until Kendra decided it was time to put all her cards on the table. “Before we make any plans, I’m afraid I have one more big, fat secret to tell you.” “How big?” “Oh…it’s big,” she said. “Is it bigger than a parking ticket? Like something I’ll have to arrest you for?” “I hope not.” Jake sat up. “Kendra, honey, don’t tell me if it’s something I can’t—” “I have five million dollars buried under Brando’s dog house.” Jake’s jaw hung open and he stared at her without blinking. “Wait a minute. I think I have sand in my ears. Did you just say you buried five million dollars?” “Yup.” “So that’s what Carlo was really after.” 112
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“Yup.” “Where did you get five million dollars?” “It was a gift from Frankie. Well, actually three million was my gift. Carlo’s and Tonia’s split was the same. Tonia got hers, but Frankie told me to keep Carlo’s third for betraying him. I was holding onto Carlo’s third at least until I could convince him to settle for that instead of taking the whole thing and throwing my dead body in a dumpster.” “So, you’re telling me you’re rich?” “Yup.” Confusion covered his face. “So why did you put up with Don’s guff? Or deal with a bunch of grease monkeys ogling you all day? Why work at all?” “I wanted to appear normal. You know, blend in.” “Christ! And I felt so guilty for getting you fired.” “Want to retire early, Jake?” He straightened and looked at her coolly. “Why? To be a kept man? Or would you feel better if I didn’t work in law enforcement?” “No. That’s not what I meant. Cop, mechanic… It makes no difference to me.” She shrugged. “Are you sure? My ex-wife was paranoid I’d get hurt and kept me from working undercover until we divorced. Being tied to traffic duty really drove a wedge between us.” “Your life is your life. Do you like undercover work?” “I’m really not sure anymore. Actually, it was kind of a pain in the ass staying in character—especially when you came along. I also like to have my time off. As it was, I was always on duty in one way or another. I was thinking I might like to go into a K-9 unit someday. What do you think of Brando earning a paycheck with me? The kid’s got talent.” Kendra laughed. “I’ll have to ask him. So, is that what you were doing in the evenings when you couldn’t see me? Police work?” “Yeah. That and following Tim’s wife around. He wanted me to play private detective to see if she was cheating on him.” “And was she?” “I don’t think so. But to tell you the truth, I was getting to the point where I really didn’t care. Three jobs took me away from you far too much.” He tipped her chin up and looked into her eyes. “It was hard to do what I had to do, knowing I was driving you crazy.” She smiled. “I’m glad it was hard for you to lie to me. No more lies, okay?” He nodded and smiled. “I have one errand to do while we’re here.” “What’s that?”
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“I have a ring for you. It’s supposed to be a rare ruby with humongous diamonds on either side. This guy named Jim is holding it for me. The place is around here somewhere. Do you think you can help me find it?” She hugged him around the waist and he toppled onto his back pulling her on top of him. “So, you’re going to let me marry your ass, huh?” She grinned and kissed him on the nose. “Yup. And the rest of me too. I love you, Jake.” “I love you too, Lauren, Kendra, Fran— Any other aliases I should know about?” “That’s all of them. Well, all the first names, anyway.” She gave him an embarrassed grin. “Hey, what’s my new last name going to be? Are you really Jake Marino?” “Nope. Jake Jensen. So, you want to be Kendra Jensen?” “Hell, yes. And I don’t want to be anyone else, ever again.”
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About the Author Kidnapped by gypsies as an infant, Ashlyn Chase was left on the doorstep of the Massachusetts home in which she grew up—at least that’s what her older siblings told her. It seems that storytelling runs in the family. Ashlyn worked as a psychiatric nurse for several years, holds a degree in behavioral sciences and has been trained as a fine artist, registered nurse, hypnotherapist, and interior designer. Writing is one career she wasn’t formally educated in, yet by sheer determination she’s become a multi-published, award-winning author. Most writers, whether they’re aware of it or not, have a “theme”, some sort of thread that runs through all of their books, uniting the whole mishmash into an identifiable signature. Ashlyn’s identified her theme as involving characters who reinvent themselves. It’s no wonder, since she has reinvented herself numerous times. Finally content with her life, she lives in beautiful New Hampshire with her true-life hero husband and a spoiled brat cat. Ashlyn welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Ashlyn Chase Being Randy Demolishing Mr. Perfect Vampire Vintage Wonder Witch
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