Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“What about—”
“Yeah. Rex is here,” he said, reading her mind. “And not just as a patron but as a benefactor. Hell, it looks like Rex helped fund the place. There are cash notations next to names, including Rex and . . . oh shit.”
“What?” She leaned in close.
“Martin Harrington, Faith’s father, is in here.” He slammed the book closed. “It’s like a bird’s-eye view of the sex lives of the men in Serendipity.”
“Eww.”
He nodded in agreement. “Let’s break this down. What do we know?”
“We’ve confirmed that the Winkler place was a brothel and the old boys’ network kept it going.” Having finished her sandwich, Cara pushed her plate away and took a long drink of her water.
Mike, too, took the last bite of his sandwich and added his plate to hers. “What about the money in the evidence locker?”
“We know marked bills were found in both the trunk and the evidence locker, so we know there are ties to the Winkler place. We know many prominent men in Serendipity were involved, and we know whatever it is has been over for years,” Cara said.
“So we have more information now than we did before, but we’re still at a dead end, and unless we want to question every man on this list and bring all this dirty laundry to light after thirty years, we’re still at a dead end. And the only two people we have asked aren’t talking.”
Cara rose and placed her hands on his shoulders, massaging the tight knots, engaging all her senses as she worked her fingers through his shirt and into his skin. “All you can do now is wait until you feel Simon’s strong enough to push for answers.”
Which put this case back on hold.
“The mayor left a message this morning. Hell, she called last week.”
“Just tell her you’ve reached a dead end. It’s not a lie.”
“It’s not the truth, either.”
She stilled her hands and leaned her cheek against his. “We haven’t found anything that needs to be revealed.”
He inclined his head. “And I bend the rules all the time when it suits me. And it suits me now. I just need to know.”
“I get that.” She kissed his cheek, savoring the masculine scent and the rough stubble against her lips.
His appreciative groan rumbled through her at the same time his cell phone rang. “Dammit.” He grabbed his phone. “Yeah.” He listened to the caller on the other end. “Thanks, Erin. I’ll let her know.” He disconnected the call and turned to face her.
“What?”
“Bob Francone made bail.”
Cara sucked in a startled breath. “Because it wasn’t the first time, I thought they’d keep him locked up. But I’m a cop. I know better.” She kicked the leg of his chair, but he was still sitting in it, and the pain seared through her toe. “Ouch. Shit. Damn!”
“Hey.” Instead of letting her continue taking her frustration out on herself, he scooped her into his arms and carried her out of the room.
“Hey! Put me down. I have to call Daniella and let her know.”
“Erin already did. That’s her job, remember?”
“Then she needs protection.”
“Which we can’t give her. Her job is off a federal highway and she’s staying with someone who lives outside Serendipity. But she has a restraining order—”
“Which means nothing, and you know that!” She wriggled in his arms, but he held on tight. “Quit moving,” he said, pressing his lips against her neck and licking her there.
She sighed and let out a soft moan. “If I do, can I call Daniella?”
Mike groaned. “Cara, you can’t take care of everyone. You can’t control what’s going to happen. Sometimes, you just have to let things be.”
She cuddled into him, her actions speaking more of trust than lust, and it scared her. “Mike?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Can I call Daniella now?” she asked.
Chuckling, he answered. “If I agree, can we end up in bed?”
Chapter Fourteen
Cara spent the rest of the week working and remembering the amazing sex she’d had with Mike on Monday afternoon. He’d kept her in his arms, picked up her cell off the counter, and waited as she’d called Daniella, got voicemail, and left a message. Next thing she knew, he couldn’t keep his hands off her—and vice versa. He lay over her, skin to skin, and breathed her in. She felt him inhale and groan, his entire body shaking. Then he made love to her.
She knew the difference. He took control as usual, but the reverence in his touch was different; the way he caressed her with his lips, his hands, his mouth—was different. When he entered her, his gaze drinking her in as he thrust deep, he owned her. She knew it even if he never would.
Now, on Friday, her day off, she could barely concentrate, but she’d promised Alexa they’d go dress shopping for Joe and Annie’s upcoming wedding. Cara wasn’t a girly-girl who loved shopping, unlike Alexa, who enjoyed the whole process even if she didn’t get off work much to indulge. They drove to the nearest mall, twenty minutes away, and Cara let Alexa do her thing. She pulled a variety of dresses for each of them, choosing an assortment of colors, lengths, and shapes. Cara wasn’t big on bright colors, so between her friends’ choices, she tossed in some basic black too.