07 It Had to Be You Page 12

  “Then painted it?”

  She nodded again.

  He looked at her collection of animals sprawled out carelessly, toppled over like carnage. “These must have taken you a long time.”

  “Years.” She shrugged at his questioning gaze. “My mom used to work a lot of nights. After my sister would go to bed, sometimes I’d stay up.” Waiting for Mimi to come home. “It was something to do.”

  “Each piece means something to you,” he said.

  “Yes.”

  “What does this lion mean?”

  “I made him when I first moved to Lucky Harbor.” She paused. “He’s my…roar.”

  A small smile crossed his lips. “You already have courage in spades, Ali.” He grabbed a piece of the packing paper, then very carefully rolled up the lion as if it was the most precious thing in the world.

  Ali opened her mouth, but then, unable to speak, closed it again.

  Without another word or glance her way, as if he knew how painful this was for her, Luke reached for another piece of her pottery. An owl. He held it up to her.

  “To remind me to try to be wise,” she said softly. “No stupid decisions.”

  “Like sex.”

  Okay, that hadn’t been exactly what she’d meant, but it didn’t matter. Her body was reacting to the way he’d said “sex,” and a shocking heat of arousal washed through her. She swallowed hard, but nodded.

  Another smile. He rolled up the owl and set it carefully in the box with the lion. Over and over again with each piece, the whole time showing a respect for her things in a way the police hadn’t.

  Ali never really expected much from the men in her life. That way it wasn’t a surprise when they didn’t come through. But Luke kept surprising her, and it was unexpected to say the least.

  He was unexpected.

  An hour later, dawn broke. Shortly after that, the sun slanted in the huge picture windows, casting them in gold. “Done,” Luke declared, tossing aside the broom in his hands.

  They’d been quiet so long that she jumped. “The garage—”

  “Was already a mess,” he said. “Leave it. Go to bed, Ali. Get some rest.”

  She looked at the boxes and bags lined up in the hall. Her things.

  His gaze followed hers. “You packed,” he said flatly.

  “Yes.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “The B and B,” she said. “Just until something pans out.”

  He stepped closer. “Why?” he asked.

  She took in the high angle of his cheekbones, his strong jaw, the column of his throat. His broad shoulders were stiff with tension. He was holding back, and it was costing him.

  “Ali, why?”

  “Because…” His hands went to her hips. God, he was beautifully made, all tough, sinewy lines and smooth skin, which she knew would be heated to the touch. And oh, how she suddenly needed to touch. She lifted her hands to his chest. “Because…”

  His eyes pinned her, his sheer force of personality making her go weak in the knees. And that wasn’t all. He wanted her. There was no question; the proof of it was pressing into her belly.

  And at that realization, she got weak in a lot more places than just her knees. But she didn’t go weak for a man anymore, no matter how much she wanted to learn her way around his body and satisfy them both. Indulging herself—just for a minute—she let her hands roam.

  Oh yeah, warm to the touch. Hot to the touch, really, his muscles smooth and hard. She could feel his heart beating beneath her hand, steady as a rock, flowing through her fingertips to mingle with her own pulse. He held himself very still, his big body just barely brushing hers. He didn’t want to take advantage, she knew that. Sweet.

  Except he wasn’t sweet. And she wasn’t feeling so sweet either. She was feeling dangerous as she kissed one corner of his delicious mouth. And then the other. Just a taste, she promised herself. “I’m going,” she said, “because of this.” And then she kissed him again, not just a taste.

  Beneath her fingers, his muscles jerked, but he didn’t make a move. That’s okay, she had her own moves. She skimmed her hands up, around his neck, into his silky hair, and then fisted it, pulling his head closer to hers.

  With a rough groan, his hands tightened on her, thumbs splaying across her stomach, rubbing her own heated skin. Pulling back a fraction of an inch, he looked down at her, his gaze dark and full of desire. It was irresistible and so was the way he watched her, his body seeming to shudder when she pressed more closely against him.

  And then he kissed her, his tongue tracing the curve of her lips until she allowed him entry. He hooked his fingers in the hem of her tank top, slowly drawing it up, exposing her inch by inch.

  Dipping his head, he looked his fill. Drawing a long, serrated breath, he slowly traced the lines of her ribs with his fingertips before cupping the curves of her breasts.

  She loved the way he seemed to tremble when he touched her. Or maybe that was her doing the trembling from the feel of his palms searing her skin. He had a way of driving every thought from her head. Everything, except for need.

  And right then, in that moment, the only thing she needed was him. “Luke.”

  Lowering his head, he put his mouth on her breast, taking the peak between his teeth, flicking it with his tongue before tugging gently.

  He tightened his grip on her hair, and she cried out before she could stop herself.

  “Stop me, Ali.”

  Was he kidding? Her nails raked across his back for more, making him inhale sharply.

  “You’re not ready for this,” he said against her skin. “For me.”

  If she were any more ready, she’d be in flames. “Not your call, Luke.”

  With another groan, he pressed his forehead to her shoulder. “Then I’m not ready for you,” he said. “I can’t give you what you want, Ali.”

  “I don’t want anything.” But the magic spell was broken, and she stepped back, pulling her tank down, entangling her hands together to ensure she kept them off of him. “I’m going to go.”

  He blew out a breath, and then shook his head. “The B and B is in high season. They’re charging tourist prices.”

  She knew one of the owners; Maddie, the middle sister, came into the shop weekly to buy flowers for the inn. Ali thought she would give her a good deal, but he was right—it was still going to be out of her price range. “Fine,” she said, “I’ll go stay with my mom and commute from there.”

  “Have you seen gas prices?” he asked. “That’s a stupid idea. And you’re not stupid.”

  “Stop it, Luke.”

  “Stop what?”

  “I’m not staying here just because you suddenly feel sorry for me.”

  “Okay, then stay so we can have wild, up-against-the-wall sex,” he said.

  Her breath caught. She wasn’t even sure what wild-up-against-the-wall sex would feel like, but she had a feeling she’d like it. A lot. And yet she knew that he was merely trying to rile her up so she wouldn’t do something awful, like cry. “I’m not a pity case.”

  “I don’t have the capacity for pity,” he said. “Hell, Ali, stay here because…I need you.”

  Stunned, she stared up into his face, which was cast in granite. Apparently she’d met her match in stubbornness. “You need me,” she repeated doubtfully.

  As if on cue, the phone rang, shattering the early morning quiet. He pointed to the phone and then to her. See? Need you. And then he vanished down the hall without another word.

  The phone rang again.

  Ali looked at it, weighing the price of the B&B along with the danger to her bank account against the price of staying here and endangering something even more fragile—her heart.

  No contest on which decision would cost her the most. And yet she headed to the phone and used her apparently pent-up frustration getting rid of yet another reporter looking for Luke.

  Chapter 12

  Zach showed up that afternoon in a suit that em
phasized his beanpole body, a messenger bag strapped across his chest, and thick black-rimmed glasses on his nose. His jet-black hair was in spikes. His eyebrow piercing glittered as he scooped Ali in for a big hug.

  Zach’s familiar ease faded when she introduced him to Luke. Oh, his warm chocolate eyes were friendly enough, but reserved, as the two men sized each other up.

  Luke was his usual steely intense self as they shook hands, and Zach reverted to geeky awkwardness, though he maintained eye contact. Ali gave him credit for not peeing his pants.

  “So you’re licensed in the state of Washington?” Luke asked him.

  Ali gave him a long look. “Luke…”

  “Yes,” Zach said, and pushed his glasses higher on his nose. “I’m licensed in Washington.”

  “How many trial cases do you have under your belt?”

  Ali grimaced. “Luke.”

  “If Ali gets arrested, and if the case goes to trial,” Zach said, “this would be my first solo. But we both know even if it gets that far, as a first-time offender she might end up with restitution over time served. The record would be the worst part.”

  “Might isn’t good enough,” Luke said. “And how about the fact that she’s innocent?”

  “Of course she’s innocent,” Zach said simply. “It’s Ali.”

  Ali smiled at him, sent Luke a hard look, and brought Zach to the kitchen table, where they discussed the case at length. Zach asked questions that might have had her head spinning, except he had a way about him. Sweet. Calm. It allowed her to concentrate on the task at hand, telling him all they’d learned about the comings and goings the night of the auction.

  Zach looked over his notes. “So you took your pencil pot back without looking inside it.”

  “Yes, except it wasn’t exactly mine. It was his, a little bit.”

  “How little?”

  “One hundred percent.”

  Zach looked up from the iPad, expression wry. “You mean you stole it.”

  “Well, if you want to get technical, yeah. I stole it. I guess I shouldn’t admit that to my attorney, right?”

  Zach smiled gently at her. “You can tell me anything, Al. I’m not a cop.” He slid a silent Luke a long look. “And the only cop in the room is off duty.”

  So Zach had done his own background search.

  Whatever Luke thought about being baited by Zach, he kept it to himself. He was good at that.

  It was a lesson Ali would be well served to learn herself.

  The next morning, Luke was woken just before dawn by a text from his commander.

  Need you back for internal review on Reyes case. There’s prep work the size of the California debt. Stop with the small town PI shit and get your ass back here.

  Luke thumbed his way to the browser and searched for the latest reports. It wasn’t pretty. The first article he pulled up called the SFPD a complete failure. Luke tossed the phone aside and tried to tell himself he didn’t give a damn. But he did. Only a week ago, his job had been everything to him, his entire being wrapped up in the reputation and ego of it. That had been who he was.

  Now, far from San Francisco, he didn’t feel like that same guy.

  He’d lived the fast-paced, adrenaline-rushed job for years, and he’d thrived on it. But he wasn’t thriving anymore. It wasn’t the danger he faced on the force, or the darkness of the things he saw, or the slogging knee-deep through shit on a daily basis.

  He missed life here.

  He’d left Lucky Harbor, exiled himself really, and not looked back. And in doing so, he’d cut himself off from the happiest times of his life. In coming back, he underestimated the pull that the wild, hauntingly beautiful, resilient Pacific Northwest had always had on him.

  Now there was something else pulling at him as well—the equally wild, hauntingly beautiful, resilient Ali Winters.

  Rolling out of bed, he pulled on swim trunks. Out back, he balanced his board on his head and took the steep stairs down to the water.

  The harbor was quiet. By the time he’d set the board in the water, the sky had lightened from black to purple. The water was icy cold and would clear his head.

  Or kill him.

  He pushed off and began paddling. And then there was nothing but the sound of his board skimming through the water, the occasional splash of a zealous fish, and the chirping birds that were waking with the dawn.

  Alone.

  Quiet.

  It was the closest to heaven that he could imagine. He paddled out past the pier and harbor and into the open water. He pushed himself hard, until his heart pounded and he couldn’t catch his breath. It felt good. Here, in the zone, he couldn’t think, couldn’t obsess, couldn’t regret.

  An hour later, muscles quivering, he stopped, panting as the sun beat down on him. He cooled down by making his way back slowly, enjoying the early morning. As he entered the harbor again, he passed the pier and the Ferris wheel, and saw a female jogging along the water’s edge. She was built like a Victoria’s Secret model, and her long blonde hair flowed behind her.

  Melissa Mann.

  Shading her eyes with her hand, she took him in, a wide smile crossing her lips. “Well, look who the tide dragged in,” she purred as he slid up on the beach and got off his board. “Heard you were back,” she said, “and looking for trouble.” She waggled a brow and gestured to herself. “Meet trouble with a capital T.”

  He had to laugh. She was right. She was trouble with a capital T. The very best kind of trouble. “How’s the salon going?” he asked.

  “Running it now,” she said proudly. “Come by sometime. I’ll give you a buff and shine.” She smiled. “On the house.”

  He smiled too, knowing that they both understood he wouldn’t. “Heard you were at the auction the other night.”

  “I was. Everyone was.” She cocked her head and studied him a moment. “You’ve got quite a cop face on, Luke. Why don’t you just ask me what you want to know?”

  “You’re sleeping with Ted Marshall.”

  Melissa laughed. “Somehow, I don’t think that’s jealousy I hear.” She was still smiling. “You’ve been gone a long time. There’s a new dog in town. He’s a thoroughbred, but a dog is still a dog.”

  “And by dog you mean…”

  “Just what you think. Ted’s single and enjoying the life. Maybe our…enjoyment was mutual a few times.”

  “He had a girlfriend.”

  “Ali Winters? He always said that they were just roommates.”

  “That doesn’t bother you?”

  “What, that he’s really only exclusive with his own dick?” She smiled again and shrugged. “He’s actually pretty careful. He’s got political ambitions. He likes it that everyone likes him. Plus, it’s not like I’m looking for a relationship. He’s a good guy, not to mention hot. And he always springs for dinner first.”

  “On the night of the auction, did you see anyone else with him?”

  Melissa gave him another smile. “I don’t kiss and tell, Luke. You know that.”

  He ignored the reference to the one and only night the two of them had shared, back when they’d been nineteen and drunk as skunks on the pier behind the Ferris wheel. “Did you even see the money?” he asked.

  “Nope. He did put a big briefcase in the bottom drawer of his desk though. I saw that.”

  “He lock it?”

  “The police asked the same thing. I don’t remember either way.”

  “After,” he said. “What happened after?”

  “Aubrey came in, and she got all pissed off, asking Ted what he’d have done if someone had seen us.” She rolled her eyes. “Like he’s running for president or something.”

  “Then what happened?”

  “We left separately. He insisted on that. He really does like to keep his private life private.”

  Which was tough shit, because “Teddy’s” life, private or otherwise, was about to be blown wide open. “Thanks, Mel.”

  She smiled. “Was I helpfu
l?”

  “Yes.”

  She looked him over for a long beat, taking in his wet gear. “If you need anything else, Luke, you look me up.”

  He smiled at her, but he wasn’t going there. He had a different woman on his mind.

  Back at home, he got out of the water, carried the paddleboard up the stairs, and leaned it against the deck. He looked up at the house. Today was day two of Ali’s enforced leave, thanks to Russell’s taking off to Vegas, and Luke had no idea what she might be doing. Not that it mattered, of course. It didn’t. Not in the slightest.

  Shit. It mattered. It mattered a whole hell of a lot.

  He grabbed the towel he’d left for himself on the deck. He was rubbing it over his wet head when he realized he could hear voices coming through the kitchen window. Glancing in, he saw Ali at the island cooking something that smelled amazing and had his mouth instantly watering. On the other side of the island, cozied up on one of Luke’s barstools, sat Zach. Ali was listing off characteristics of Leah Sullivan, and why Zach should ask her out.

  “She’s funny,” Ali said, “and has a great personality—”

  Zach groaned. “Great personality? That’s the kiss of death right there.”

  Ali’s eyes narrowed. “What does that mean?” she asked in a tone that would have had Luke changing course pronto.

  But Zach apparently wasn’t versed in the Don’t Go There Department. “You know,” he said. “When you say someone has a great personality, it means that they’re…not hot.”

  “Wow.” Ali shook her head. “And here I thought you were better than the rest of your gender.” She shrugged. “Your loss, because Leah’s totally hot.”

  “Yeah? How hot?”

  “Forget it, you’ve ruined it.”

  “Aw, man.” Zach wasn’t in a suit today. Instead he wore skinny-cut, black jeans, an equally tight-to-his-scrawny-chest black button down, and a bright pink tie that matched a few pink streaks in his dark, spiked hair. He still looked twelve. He eyed the omelet Ali was cooking, licking his lips like he was starving.

  Ali flipped it onto a plate, pushed it to Zach, and then turned to the door as Luke let himself in.

  “Hey,” she said. “Yours is next.”