Deadly Desire (Carrington-Hill Investigations Book 2) (6 page)

“I could bounce a quarter off those babies.”
Her hand flew to her mouth as her eyes widened. She couldn’t believe she’d said that out loud.

His deep chuckle filled the air
, only to be drowned out by Sara submerging herself in the water, hoping when she came up for air that he’d be gone. Another minute went by before she broke the surface. No such luck, he was still there.

“You could try
.”

She groaned
, ducked underwater again, and kicked to the shallow end of the pool. She pushed off the wall and swam under water before submerging with strokes to swim the full length of the pool and back again eight times before she stopped to catch her breath.

****

Sara was definitely a hard woman to figure out. He’d never had to work so hard for a woman’s attention. Too bad she never acted on the comments she blurted out. What was the matter with him? Collin leaned back against the steps and sipped his beer as he watched Sara push herself to the brink of exhaustion. The white bandage on her arm was now soaked through. She had to stop sometime to catch her breath, didn’t she? He chuckled and then waited for her to come up for air. She finally came up and inhaled several big breaths, her chest quickly rising and falling as her lungs fought to refill with air.

“You always push yourself like that?”
he asked as she tilted her head back and forth, as if trying to dislodge the water from her ears.

“Only when I’m stressed
or sexually frustrated.” Sara walked closer to the steps while shaking her head. Her cheeks again pinkened, and not from her strenuous exercise. He handed her the beer he’d brought out for her, and she took a swig and scrunched her nose. Not a big beer drinker. He was figuring out all of her little quirks, studying her like she was a science project, his project.

“I have a single cure for both of your problems. Want me to show you?”

She rolled her eyes while ringing the water out of her hair.

“What happened to the arm?”

Sara fingered the bandage before waving away his concern. “It’s just a scratch.” She ran a hand over her face, and the smile that had once been there was replaced with a frown. “You have a unique case. Stalkers generally only target their victims, and yours is targeting your ex-girlfriends. She’s eliminating anyone that she sees as a potential obstacle standing in her way of the ultimate prize.” She tilted her head toward him. “In this case, that would be you, Don Juan.”

His D
on Juan attributes seemed to be lacking tonight, either that or she was immune to his charm and charisma. 

She shrugged. “
You’re one hundred percent prime, Grade A steak, not to mention successful, smart, rich, and even sexy.”

“You think I’m sexy?”

She ignored his question, took another sip, and made another face. “Since it goes against the classic stalking, I’m wondering if the killer just wants to make it look that way. Maybe she or he is trying to frame you.”

Wait
… what? Sexy…yeah, he could work with that, but she’d switched gears way too fast before he’d even had a chance to comment. He’d come down to the pool to unwind, maybe get to know Sara better. The flirting had been a bonus. Even though the murder was still fresh in his mind, he’d wanted to forget, even if for just a little bit. And she had the body that could give him just that.

Now it seemed he couldn’t wrap his head around what she was suggesting. “Those are
the only two options, stalker or someone wanting to frame me?”

She nodded and took another sip of her beer as she climbed out of the pool and
then walked over to the chair where she’d discarded her robe. He knew she had a great body even if she didn’t try to flaunt it. The black one-piece hugged her body like a second skin, giving him a glimpse of the beauty hiding beneath the suit. He lowered himself farther into the water and pressed up against the wall, reclining on the side of the pool, knowing if he got out of the water this minute even the cold air wouldn’t do anything to diminish the bulge in his swim trunks.

She slid
on the robe and tied the sash before sitting down in the chair and using the towel she’d brought out to cover her legs. “Unless you have a jealous lover out there that wants revenge, which you haven’t told me about, I’m sticking with my gut feeling, but I’ll try and keep my options open. One thing I’m almost certain of is that it started within the last month, so we’re going to need to retrace your steps and figure out everywhere you’ve been. Anyone you can think of who acted weird, any new acquaintances? Also be thinking about anyone you’ve pissed off recently, male or female.” 

He gulped down the rest of his beer and propped his chin against his arms. She wasn’t asking for a lot
. She was asking for a damn miracle. He looked up. “Honey, you really expect for me to remember everyone I talked to in the last thirty days. I’ve been to ten fundraisers and benefits alone. I wouldn’t even begin to know how to start remembering.”

Sara chewed on her bottom lip before sliding out of the lounge chair to her feet. “Then we’ll have to wing it.”

She started walking back toward the pool house.

“Wait! What?”

Stopping at the door, Sara turned. “Make sure you lock up and get a good night’s sleep. We’ve got a busy day tomorrow, so expect to get hot and sweaty.”

She chuckled
as she disappeared into the pool house, leaving him to his thoughts.

Hot and sweaty he could handle.
Collin pushed off the wall and floated on his back. Yeah, that was exactly what he needed, a night off. A plan started forming in his head on exactly how he was going to win over the little investigator. Maybe a candlelight dinner, slow dancing, and conversation. She wouldn’t stand a chance against his charms or the seduction playing out in his head.

Chapter 7

Collin shoveled the dog poop from t
he kennel into a nearby wheelbarrow. Sweat trickled down his back as the stench from the surrounding cages threatened to overwhelm him. He glanced over at the next stall. “Hot and sweaty, you’re a riot.”

She grinned. “Suck it up
, rich boy. I warned you.”

“You could
have at least warned me that I’d be doing manual labor. Hell, I would have worn my old sneakers.” Who was he kidding? He would have talked her out of coming here to begin with. “Why are we here again?”

Sara laughed at his unease, her voice a sweet reminder of what
she’d implied. Now only if she’d just give in.

“You remember that picture they took this morning of us standing in front of the building?”

He swiped the beads of sweat from his forehead. “Yeah.”

She
gave him a mischievous grin. “I called in a favor and we’re going to be on the front cover of the society pages in tomorrow’s newspaper. I hope you don’t mind.”

She stopped shoveling and leaned against the handle of the shovel. She gestured to the stalls. “This is just
my
way of giving back to the community. I love animals. Don’t you?”

His head snapped up
, and he propped the shovel against the fence. “I could have just written them a check.” He threw his hands up in the air. “Hell, I could have hired someone to come clean out all of these kennels.”

She stepped out of her cage
, and he watched as a beautiful dog as black as midnight came running down the hall with a purple leash flailing behind his wagging tail. The dog looked healthy and loved, like he could have belonged in a family. Not like the animals he would have expected to find in the kennel. He jumped up into Sara’s arms, lapping at her face with his long pink tongue. If he had to guess, the dog was a lab and was able to make Sara smile, something that even Collin hadn’t figured out how to do on a regular basis.

Sara went down to her knees
, scratching the dog behind his ears. “I missed you too, Spike.”

The dog’s tail
whipped back and forth as his pink-and-black spotted tongue continued to assault her face, leaving slobber in its path as he continued giving her puppy kisses. Sara sat the dog down and started petting the canine, and her face radiated with a joy he’d yet to witness.
Lucky dog.
He had to figure out a way to get her to smile more. “This is why I do it.”

She kissed the dog’s head once more and rubbed the dog’s coat before she pushed to her feet. “They don’t have a lot of volunteers here
. Besides, I enjoy coming to see Spike.”

“I can see that
.” Collin stepped out of his stall and pointed to the puppy. “Why don’t you adopt the mangy mutt so you can see him all of the time without having to pick up a shovel?”

She ran her hand over the dog’s
sleek black fur on his head and around his ears. “Did you hear what that mean man called you, Spike?” She kissed him and continued to stroke down the dog’s coat. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about does he?”

Sara stood and patted his head one more time.
“I wouldn’t be able to take care of him.” She sobered. “My work takes me away at a moment’s notice, and I can be gone for weeks at a time.”

Her
shoulders sagged but only briefly before Spike jumped up at her again, as if he could sense her mood. She grinned and pulled a treat out of the smock she was wearing and fed it to him. Seemingly satisfied, Spike wagged his tale as he trotted back down the hall the way he’d come. 

Collin
rose, stepped up behind her, and started massaging the knots in her neck. She moaned and closed her eyes. “Sara, I know it’s only part of the ruse, but I enjoy spending time with you.” She stiffened under his ministrations, but he kept working at relieving her tension anyway. She’d eventually get used to him touching her, but a bigger test was coming. One that included much more than a back massage. “Don’t go reading anything into it. I just think that it would be nice if we were friends. That’s all.”

She stepped out of his reach
, and his hands fell to his sides.

“I think we’r
e done here.” Her voice cracked as she spoke.

“Done as in no way we’ll be friends
? Or done here as in no more shoveling and you’re ready to go?”

She gave him a w
arm smile. “Done as in I stink and need a hot shower, so let’s leave.”

He grabbed both shovels
, carried them out the back door, and rinsed them off before returning them to where they belonged. “It’s probably good we’re leaving. We still need to pack.”

“Pack for what?”  She reached behind her to undo the smock, but he brushed her hands aside and untied the knot for her. His fingers brushed against the soft skin of her neck as he lifted it o
ver her head. The scent of strawberries from her shampoo drifted to his nose as he briefly leaned against her back before stepping back and removing the one he had worn. He hung them both up on the pegs.

“We have a
benefit fundraiser in Quinton, Alabama for a cancer organization,” he replied, pleased at how nonchalant he sounded at the thought of their first big test of being a couple, even though it was fake. “Didn’t you even look at the schedule Regina gave you?”

Her brows drew together as he placed his palm on the small of her back and steered her out of the kennel. Unable to hide the amusement of watching
her chew on her bottom lip, he leaned over and whispered, “Don’t worry. We aren’t sharing a hotel room, and we’ll have a chaperone for this trip.”

“Oh
, honey, I’m not worried.” She winked. “I am more than capable of keeping you in line, but I think with everything going on, that we need to make you less of an available target. We just need to be seen together making out and for the picture to make the papers. After that, you’re services won’t be required for me to do the rest.”

He shook his head. Even though she was right, his showing up at the events meant more. It was his way of helping. “
My schedule shouldn’t matter. I’m not the killer’s target.” He held open the SUV door for her. “You are.”

He shut the door and slid into the passenger seat.

“Yeah, but I only need one really good sexy showing to entice the stalker to want to take me out, and I can do that with my hands tied behind my back.”

She revved the engine and pulled out of the drive.

“Maybe since we’re going out of state the killer won’t follow us. Maybe it will be a peaceful weekend and we can relax.”

“And maybe pigs will fly and the killer will turn herself in. Collin, obsessed people don’t stop just because you crossed the state line.”

****

Sara leaned back into the leather seats of the private jet, courtesy of Lexi’s billionaire husband. She’d spent the rest of the evening avoiding Collin while she packed. She’d checked in with Marco, Lexi
, and Catherine. Lexi had reminded her that, a few short months ago, it had been a family member actually embezzling from her fake husband. It was her best friend’s words that reminded Sara that everyone needed to be considered a suspect. Sara let her gaze rove over to Regina. What did she really know about the woman? Nothing, except that Collin trusted her. Regina knew his schedule like the back of her hand. She had the information at her fingertips. Was it possible Regina wanted more from him? She made a mental note to discuss it with Collin when they reached the hotel. Until then, Sara would watch her as carefully as she would any other suspect.

Regina’s glare met Sara’s watchful gaze. Neither one of them spoke a word
. They didn’t have to. Regina was sizing Sara up just as much as she was Regina. The woman was all legs and blonde; everything that Sara wasn’t. She was refined by the look of her perfectly polished outfit and pumps. Initially Sara had thought high maintenance, but now she wasn’t so sure. The only thing really off about the young assistant was her eyes. Her impeccable makeup did little to cover the bags sagging beneath her young eyes. Was it from a night of partying or something more? Her eyes were glassy. From a sleepless night or crying? Sara couldn’t tell. Yep, the assistant’s background would require more scrutiny. Sara would uncover any skeletons in the woman’s closet. It was just a matter of time.

Sara flipped open the newspaper in her lap, intent on checking to see that
she and Collin had indeed made the society section. Her grip on the paper tightened. Staring at Sara was a portrait of Congressman Benton’s family with a redhead smack dab in the middle. Not just any redhead, but the same redhead that had been tied up in handcuffs at the shady club with Senator Boyles a few short nights ago. Sara speed-read the article, and her hand flew to her mouth as she gasped. “Oh….” She shook her head. “This can’t be happening.”

Collin clo
sed his laptop and leaned over her shoulder. “What’s not happening?”

She couldn’t disclose her last assignment, but she wouldn’t have to
. She handed him the paper. “Congressman’s Benton’s daughter, Natasha, was found murdered last night.”

His brows dipped as he took the paper from her hand. His shoulders slumped as he read the article. Evid
ence that the news bothered him for a different reason than it bothered Sara. No one spoke a word as the plane landed and they got into the SUV’s that were supposed to carry them to the hotel. 

They rode in silence
. Sara’s mind was racing with questions on Natasha’s disappearance and death. She needed to talk to Marco. Chances were he’d already read the papers and was aware of the connection but she needed to know what was going on.

Collin had been true to his word. They did have separate rooms
, but he’d made sure that hers adjoined his, only separated by a door with a lock on it. The rooms were more like suites, each having a separate bedroom and lounge area with a television. More fancy than any place she would have chosen.

She hung her dress up in the closet and glanced down at her watch. They had several hours to kill before the benefit. A knock sounded on the door separating her
room from Collin’s. She unlocked it and pulled it open. Collin was lounging against the doorframe on the other side.

“I’m going across the hall to Regina’s room to go over my schedule
, and then we’re going down to get something to eat. It’s as good a time as any to start flaunting our relationship. Don’t you think?”

“How about you come get me when you’re ready to go eat? I need to check in with Marco and take care of a few things.” 

****

“Oh my god…it’s you! It’s you!”

For the third time that evening, Sara leaned back in her chair in the swanky five-star hotel restaurant and watched as Collin smiled adoringly at the flocks of young teens surrounding the table. Sara bit her lip to resist mocking the women. The low lighting, meant to give off a romantic mood, made it difficult for her to watch their movements as they pulled out markers and magazines with Collin’s picture plastered on the cover, all wanting autographs and photos. Some wanted his signature written on what little breasts had formed, as if they were at a heavy metal concert.

Sara leaned into Collin. “Don’t even think about it. Child molestation is a crime in this state.”

Collin choked on his water and cleared his throat.

The flash
es of the camera bulbs were almost blinding. Somehow all of Alabama had figured out where they were staying, and that wasn’t going to be good for security or keeping horny women under control. Collin was what she called a triple threat: sexy as sin, undeniably rich, and from what she could tell…a decent guy on top of it all. She couldn’t imagine a single woman on this earth that would turn him away if he pursued her. As it stood, he had it all and his title as the world’s most eligible bachelor added a bit of glam to his already glamorous life. Who wouldn’t want to be rubbing elbows with the hottest guy in the universe?

Regina leaned over and patted her hand. “You’ll get used to it.”

“Not in this lifetime.” Sara would never get used to sharing her date with the entire female population, and some of these women were beautiful, stunning even. Sara shook her head. Dealing with it for a few weeks was plenty, and if this was any taste of things yet to come, she really needed to step up her game and find the killer. Sara let her gaze rove over the rest of the restaurant. She stopped on a woman wearing a hoodie and jeans standing just outside the shadows with her head down. The hoodie was effectively blocking her face; a few of her blonde strands poked from beneath the hood. Shy, maybe; suspicious, definitely. Sara placed her napkin on her plate and rose. “Excuse me.”

She went to move around the table
, never taking her eyes off the woman standing near the exit. Collin caught her arm and she hesitated before glancing down at him. His questioning gaze held hers. She looked back toward where the woman once stood to find that she’d vanished.

Her eyes scanned the restauran
t and she never spotted her again. She sat back down. Tension filled her shoulders as an unease settled in her gut. She leaned into Collin and whispered, “You’re a sitting duck. We need to move.”