If nothing else, Sully admired the teen’s resolve and his instincts to protect his mother. He was also bang on the money where his feelings for Breeana were concerned. “Look, where is this coming from? Sure, I like your mother a whole lot and I guess it shows. But I’ve never thought about taking it any farther. And I won’t, at least not until the case is wrapped up.”
“You’re so full of it. No wonder your eyes are brown. Just leave my mom alone.”
“Sorry, but that’s not going to happen. After we catch the killer, I’m planning to ask her out on a date, like normal people do. I would like to have the chance to get to know her better. Is it such a bad thing? Your mother is a beautiful woman, Cody, even if you don’t think about her in those terms. Isn’t it possible she gets lonely from missing your father? Doesn’t she deserve another chance at happiness?”
Cody’s bark of laughter shot over the line. “I’d say you’re dreaming in 3D. As far as I’m concerned, things are fine the way they are. She doesn’t need you, Lieutenant, so go out and find yourself another conquest and take my mom’s name out of your little black book.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way, but like it or not, I’m here until your mom tells me different. Then I’ll go, but only if
she
wants me to go. In the meantime, how about we call a truce and work together?”
“Work together? What a laugh. The goon squad won’t let me get anywhere near my mom.”
Sully moved the phone away from his ear as it disconnected.
Shit!
Cody was furious and he didn’t blame him. The kid hadn’t been advised on his mother’s request to keep him out of the loop. The boy had been separated from her for two days, forced to stay with his grandfather and the MBPD uniforms guarding Jack’s house until Sully could get his Special Ops buddies in place protecting the whole family.
The kid wasn’t stupid. He sensed his mother was still in danger and he wanted to be with her. Breeana, on the other hand, wanted him out of harm’s reach. It was a no win situation and the back and forth arguments caused him a mammoth headache.
Sully’s phone rang a second time. He prepared to do battle once again as he answered the call.
Patience, my man, have patience.
“Hey, Cody, did you forget something?”
“Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not Cody.”
His brother’s voice came through the line with a chuckle.
“Hey, Theo, it’s good to hear from you. How’s the lawyering business?”
“About the same as the homicide business, I’d imagine. Booming. If it’s not real estate law, it’s corporate, estate planning, wills or prenups. What can I say? I don’t have a life, which is why I’m returning your call.”
“It’s about time.” Sully heard a beer can being liberated as the tab popped and a satisfied grunt on the other end of the line indicated his brother was taking a sip. “What are you up to?”
“Vacation, brother, mixed in with a little business. I’m taking a month at the lake, starting now, and I want you to join me for a few days. If you’ve got something going with a new lady, you can bring her along.”
“I can’t, man. I’m neck deep in a serial killer investigation involving her and the case has hit a major firewall, which is why I called you.” Sully rubbed a hand through his hair and along his bearded stubble. He could shave twice a day and still have a five o’clock shadow. “It’s not good, Theo. Someone wants her dead and he’ll keep on trying, unless I can get to him first. I’ve called in the team, but you’re the first one I’ve been able to actually speak with.”
“Isn’t that all the more reason to get her the hell out of Dodge, until everything is in place? No one will search for her here and if they do, I’m already with you, bro. I’ve stocked the fridge with enough food to feed an army, not to mention copious amounts of beer on ice.”
When Sully still hesitated, Theo dangled the carrot. “Bro, you bring her here, or I’ll come to you. But, we can just as easily make contact with the rest of the unit from my place and it might be safer for your woman. What do you say?”
What Theo said made sense. He was also a firearms and martial arts expert. It would be a relief to have an extra pair of eyes watching Breeana’s back. Between them, they could keep her safe. Added to that, the lake was isolated. The perp would have trouble following them there. Sully glanced at his watch. It was just after eight-thirty. He calculated how long it would take them to get on the road. “Let me clear it with my captain, see if I can shake loose for a few days. I’ll get back to you.”
When Sully placed his next call, Captain Jean Hébert needed some convincing. He’d go to the wall for his men, but he was nobody’s fool. “I’d like to take Dr. McGill out of the city for the weekend, Captain, to keep her out of danger.”
There was a distinct pause on the other end of the line before Hébert spoke. “How many from the homicide team are going with you?”
“None, sir.”
“What? How do you expect to see danger coming without your squad riding shotgun?” Hébert asked. “Have you suddenly developed ESP? Look, Sully, you know as well as I do it’s impossible to predict what the nutcase is going to do next. How do you know he won’t follow you?”
“He might, but I’ll be ready if he does. I’m hooking up with my brother, Captain.”
“Ah, I guess that changes the odds in our favor. How is Theo, by the way? Being a lawyer must seem pretty tame compared to his…other interests.”
“I’ll give him your regards, Captain.”
“What about your squad? Can they handle things without you for a few days?”
“They won’t need to, sir. I’ll be in constant contact by cell phone, and I’ll request a police chopper in an emergency.”
“Fine, you may proceed. And Lieutenant?”
“Sir?”
“Keep Dr. McGill close, but not
too
close.”
In other words, keep my dick in my pants.
“Right. It’s under control.”
Liar!
Breeana entered the sunroom as he disconnected. “My brother called a few minutes ago. How would you like to head to the mountains for a few days? We can swing by your father’s to pick up Cody and be on the road within the hour.”
She sank to a bar stool and shot him a guilty look. “I forgot to tell you. Cody’s not here. He and Dad left this morning with the hockey team. School finished yesterday for the summer, and there’s a tournament in Toronto all weekend. I’m sorry, I should have said something. It’s just I thought it was safe, since they’ll be out of the city.”
“It’s not the end of the world, and it’s not your fault. The Mallard Bay cops should have kept me in the loop. I guess the idiots are over there guarding an empty house. Still, let’s not take any chances. A buddy of mine on the Toronto force owes me a favor. I’ll give him a call and set things up. He’ll arrange around-the-clock protection for Cody and your father while they’re in his jurisdiction.”
****
They eased onto the highway an hour later. Sully’s glance cut between the rearview mirror and the lanes stretching ahead of them. Breeana said nothing as he drove the Tahoe deep into the mountains. He pulled off on secondary roads from time to time to search for anyone following. No lights crept up on them out of the dark, and he seemed satisfied.
Bruiser and Bear panted in the back seat.
“Will your brother mind the dogs coming along?”
“Not even a little. Theo owns the island and his house is the only one on it. Believe me, once he gets a load of these guys he’s not going to mind, unless they drink his beer.”
Breeana almost choked on his last comment. “Um, they have been known to take a slurp or two. Dad’s a bad influence, I guess.”
He chuckled. “Maybe I should pick them up their own six-pack, just to be on the safe side.”
“You’re really funny. I think they can survive for a few days without it.”
Pulling into the docks at Silver Lake, Sully grabbed their bags while she freed the dogs from the confines of the back seat. Noses to the ground, Bear and Bruiser sniffed their way from one end of the boat landing to the other. Then they waded into dark water, their silhouettes outlined by a crescent moon in an almost cloudless sky. The parking area was grass. A family of deer stood off to one side near the edge of forest. The scent of pine wafted in the air. Breeana filled her lungs with it, glad to leave the smell of the city behind. A few moments later and pinpoints of light rounded a distant bend of shoreline. The boat altered course and roared toward them.
“There’s Theo,” Sully said from behind her.
His breath ruffled the curls at the back of her neck. It took all of her willpower not to lean into him. She was better off if she didn’t get too close.
Fess up, girl, you drool every time he gets within breathing distance.
“How can he drive so fast in the dark? Isn’t he worried about crashing into something?”
“There’s no way it would happen,” Sully chuckled. “My brother’s got eyes like a cat.”
The Bayliner docked and Breeana and Theo introduced themselves. The dogs leapt into the bow and the boat reversed thrust. Sully drew her beneath the convertible top as they travelled down the winding twists of lake. She relaxed for the first time in a long time, settled into a bucket seat, and watched the brothers with interest.
In the dim dashboard lighting, she could see Sully and Theo were strikingly alike. Yet, she would recognize Sully anywhere. She was attuned to him now—his broad step across a floor, the clean male scent of him, how his mouth quirked with a grin, or his brows furrowed in a scowl, and the low cadence of his baritone. His traits were indelibly stamped on her brain, and maybe in her heart.
Sully had promised to wait for sex until after the case was solved. She knew he meant every word. Breeana regretted the agreement but, then again, she blamed herself with her prim and prissy attitude. Well, except for the night of the fire when she hadn’t been thinking clearly. Her hormones had raged that night. She would have slept with him for sure, if he’d asked. Now she worried she would exceed her use-by date and he wouldn’t be interested in her at all.
Another half hour and they sat on a screened deck extending from the living room along three sides of Theo’s wood and glass home. The house smelled delicious, a mixture of wood smoke and piney breezes. A magnificent view of Silver Lake shimmered below her in the moonlight. Breeana sighed with appreciation while nursing a Brazilian coffee.
She barely noticed as Sully filled Theo in on the murders in Mallard Bay and the attempts on her life. His brother listened, only stopping him with the occasional question. An hour went by before Sully pushed from his seat on the couch to refill their drinks in the kitchen. Theo used the time to question her about Cody, her veterinary practice, and her life in general. She guessed it was his way of steering the conversation away from himself. He seemed to have something unpleasant on his mind.
Placing another Brazilian coffee in front of her, Sully sank to the couch beside her again, his hand claiming her thigh, his calloused fingertips working their magic. A spark of heat ignited her core and radiated like a flash fire throughout her body. Breeana clenched her thighs and brushed his hand aside. He winked at her, shot her a bad-boy grin, and slid his arm across the back of the couch to caress her nape.
Oh my, does anyone have a fire extinguisher?
Apparently unaware of her discomfort, Sully turned his attention back to his brother. “What’s got you acting like your balls are in a vise?”
“You remember Sarah Davidson?”
“She’s the old gal who owns the next island, right?”
“That’s her.”
“I remember now. What’s going on?” Sully clamped his teeth together as if bracing himself for what was to come. “Has something happened to her?”
“I’d say so. She died two nights ago.” Theo paused to take a sip of beer. His hand shook as he placed the beer stein on an end table. “Her death looks suspicious, bro.”
“Shit. Is there anything I can do?”
Theo grimaced. “Not yet, but thanks for asking. The provincial cops are conducting an investigation. Let’s see what they find out first.”
Chapter Ten
Sully awoke the next morning to the sound of a woodpecker
rat-a-tat-tatting
against the oil drum outside his bedroom window. Still half asleep but instantly wanting her, he shifted and stretched across the bed to snag his woman for some good loving. Except, she wasn’t his woman and she wasn’t there.
Of course not. You’d have to be having a physical relationship for her to be in bed with you, you moron!
Breeana had slept in one of the other guest rooms last night. But he knew he had gotten to her when he’d caressed her thigh. Hell, he had given himself a major jones with that little maneuver. He had also set himself up for a late night dip in the lake before he could get his body settled down enough to sleep. So much for his promise to his captain. He’d tossed it overboard without so much as breaking a sweat.
Sully pulled on shorts and went in search of Breeana. Sounds of laughter floated up from the dock. He poured himself a coffee and sauntered barefoot outside to the deck. Sunshine reflected off clear water as he zeroed in on her, a flash of yellow bikini and tantalizing flesh skimming the waves. At the sight of her, instant arousal arced through him.
Hell, I’ve got it bad
. He glanced away from her in order to get his body under control, again wishing she had been in his bed when he’d opened his eyes this morning. But, life wasn’t always fair.
She swam with Bear and Bruiser, diving down when they got too close and bobbing to the surface in a different location. The killer dogs were into the game, yipping and tongue-lolling while they attacked the waves and charged after her through the water.
“Hey!
Mermaid or not, you’d better not let those beasts catch you, or they’re going to drown you out there!”
“There’s slim chance of that happening, Sully. If I need help, I’ll holler.” Her laughter rippled across the bay as she dove deep to steer clear of the dogs.
Theo, clad in cut-offs and sunglasses, lounged on an Adirondack chair on the wharf with his Glock by his side as he scanned the horizon. “Sully, it’s about time you rolled your old carcass out of bed.”