“Yes, this is the one. You’ve heard of it, I take it?”
“Well, of course, I’ve heard of it. There’s one in Memphis, and New Orleans, and Chicago, I think, but I’ve never been inside one. I hear it’s pricey, but the food’ll beat even Paula Deen and both her sons.”
“I think it’s better, but I’m prejudiced.”
Opening the front door, Will stood back and, with a gentlemanly bow, allowed her to precede him. He was jacked up himself. It had been a long time since he’d been here, and he was eager for Julia to meet his so-called friend.
The maître d’ greeted him by name. “Hello, Mr. Brannock. Please go in. Your usual room is ready.”
“Thank you,” he said.
“Your usual room,” Julia repeated. “Are you forgetting to tell me something else?”
“No, but I do have a surprise.”
“I can’t be any more surprised than this.”
Inside, the restaurant was as crowded as it usually was. It was also beautifully decorated: mirrored walls, white silk drapes, the tables beautifully set with the trademark silver and crystal and white tablecloths, and the soft glow of white pillar candles. He led Julia toward the glassed-in private room closed off by paned, seven-foot French doors. Their table was set and ready, the candles lit, soft violin music playing. More French doors led to the balustrade overlooking the Bellagio fountains, now in full, glorious display before them.
“Wow, your friend even lit the candles.”
Will laughed at Julia and pulled out her chair. She was loving this, he could tell. That made him happy, too. He was one happy fella tonight.
“This is feeling more and more like a romantic tryst,” she said, giving him a narrow-eyed glance.
“Just a place to eat, same as McDonald’s.”
“Yeah, right. Guess I’ll order a McRib and see if the waiter faints.”
“It’s not that stuffy here. You’ll see.”
“I do see, and it’s pretty damn stuffy. But I like stuffy, sometimes.”
“Don’t be so critical,” he told her, taking the chair beside her.
“I can’t help but notice that there are three place settings,” Julia remarked. “Is the governor joining us? Or the president of the United States? UN secretary-general?”
“No. My friend is, though.”
“Great. Maybe he’ll give me free passes to some other neat places.”
“Maybe so.”
Outside in the main dining room, a woman appeared from the kitchen wearing a chef’s hat and white coat and apron. She was meandering among the tables, nodding and talking to her guests, getting a spattering of applause as she went along.
“The chef is taking bows.”
“Yes. Would you like to meet her?”
“Sure. She looks pretty popular with the guests.”
“Good, because she’s coming this way.”
The woman was tall and statuesque, with soft, curly blond hair that framed her pretty face. She looked as if she might be in her late fifties or early sixties. It took several minutes for her to reach their door, but then she entered, shut the door behind her, and beamed down at them.
Will pushed back his chair, stood up, and gave her a huge hug. He kissed her on the cheek, and she said, “It’s about time you showed up, sweetheart.”
Will grinned, very happy to see her. Julia was watching with not a little surprise and wariness. “Julia, please allow me to introduce my mother, Betty Brannock. She owns this place. Mom, this is Julia Cass, the woman I’ve been telling you about.”
Julia’s jaw dropped, literally. She wasn’t one to be blindsided, but Will thought she had been this time. She had been complaining about his refusal to tell her about his past or his family, so he was going to tell her. He was more than reluctant to do that, of course, but he wanted her to trust him, wanted them to develop a deeper relationship, or at least have a chance to see what might happen between them. It had been a hard decision for him to make, but now that he had taken the first step, he felt good about it.
“Hello, sweetie,” Betty Brannock said, taking the chair beside Julia. “You have no idea how glad I am to see you.”
“Me? Really?”
“Really. If you’re the gal who could get Will out here for a visit, I want to shake your hand and cook you anything you want to eat. You deserve it.”
Julia laughed, and the two women looked at him. “My parents own this franchise,” he admitted. “Dad’s out of town on business at our restaurant in Phoenix this weekend. I want you to meet them so you’ll stop giving me grief about being so secretive.”
“Well, this is quite a shock, I must say.”
Betty turned to her. “So he’s being closemouthed about us again, is he? You’d think Will is ashamed of us.”
“I’m sure that’s not the case,” Julia answered quickly, but she appeared uncomfortable with the subject.
“I’ve got a good reason. I’ll tell you about it later.”
At that, it was Betty Brannock’s turn to look startled. “Well, I’ll be. That’s a first. You’ve obviously made quite a good impression on my son. God bless you for getting him out here. We miss him terribly.”
Will said, “We’re out here on a case, Mom, but I wanted you to meet Julia. She’s J.D. Cass’s sister.”
Betty smiled. “I’ve heard a lot about J.D. I’ve seen his picture. He’s a good-looking man. Will says he’s a fine agent. Are you with the TBI, too?”
“No, I’m a detective with the Chattanooga Police Department. I’m a liaison on this case. I’m new in town. I spent most of my career in Memphis and Nashville.”
“We’re originally from Alabama.”
“It’s quite a change living out here in the desert, I suspect.”
Betty glanced over at Will. He didn’t react. He knew his mother knew better than to reveal the reason behind their move. It was one of the hardest things his family had ever had to do.
“Yes, it was pretty drastic,” his mother said, cryptically enough to suit him. “We’re used to it now. Will’s sister flies in often. A lot more often than you do, Will.” She looked accusingly at him. “Did you know that Will has an older sister, Julia?”
“The pilot?” Julia asked. “I believe I’m wearing one of her dresses. Hope that’s okay. Will said it was.”
“Of course. Colleen won’t mind at all. She flies for Delta. I’m surprised he told you about her. Will and his daddy are both pilots. Not me. I hate flying. I’d rather get in some awesome car and drive, any day.”
His mother kept watching Will, her blue eyes twinkling with their usual mischief. “I heard your first impression of Will wasn’t exactly stellar. He’s never brought any other woman out here to meet us, if that makes you feel any better.”
Will felt the heat rise in his face and quickly changed the subject. “How about us ordering now? What’s the specialty tonight, Mom?”
“Anything you want, sweetie. You, too, Julia. I’m cooking for you myself. I’m glad to get the chance.”
“When’s Dad getting back?”
“Tomorrow night, if all goes as expected.” She turned to Julia. “Our restaurant there is in Scottsdale. We have a condo there, too. At the Landings.”
“I’ve heard lots of good things about your restaurants,” Julia told her. “But I’ve never had a chance to have dinner in one.”
“Well, you do now. You’ll be my special guest. What do you think of your suite?”
“Yes. It’s beautiful, Mrs. Brannock.”
“Please, call me Betty. The owner of this hotel happens to be a dear friend of mine. He wanted one of our restaurants bad enough to give me exclusive use of a high-roller luxury suite as one of the contractual terms.” She laughed. “He didn’t mind. We’re making him a fortune.”
Julia smiled and returned her gaze to Will. “Will’s just full of surprises today.”
“Well, that’s a shock. He usually hates surprises.”
“I’ve noticed that he watches his back. He won’t tell me where he lives, either.”
“He has a tendency to be closemouthed. If you’re here, I think he’s beginning to come around to you.”
“Hey, Mom, I am sitting right here, you know. Enough about me. Let’s order. I’ll have the biggest T-bone steak you have, steak fries, and a salad with your special house dressing. Chocolate peanut butter pie for dessert.”
“And what can I make for you?” Betty asked Julia, smiling.
“What do you suggest?”
“The specialty tonight is chicken and dumplings. We’ve also got barbecued ribs and fried chicken. Mashed potatoes and white gravy. If it’s Southern and mouth-watering, we make it.”
“I’ll take the fried chicken. Do you have bread pudding?”
“You bet I do. Homemade, with sunshine sauce on top. That’s one of Will’s favorites, too. Sit here and enjoy yourselves. It’ll be right out.”
Will watched his mother thread her way through the tables, again receiving applause. “Julia, you are not going to believe how good her food is. She’s a genius in the kitchen. She does the cooking. Dad handles the business end of things.”
Julia raised her stemmed goblet full of ice water and took a sip. She gazed at him over the rim. “Why don’t you visit her more often? She seems like a very nice lady. She misses you.” She gestured at the busy restaurant outside the French doors. “And you certainly live like a king while you’re here.”
“I have my life in Chattanooga. I come out here as often as I can. She liked it better when I worked at the LA field office.”
“You worked in LA? I didn’t know that. Then again, I didn’t know anything about you until today.”
“I’m a private person, but so are you. Admit it.”
Julia looked down and traced a floral design on the white damask tablecloth. “True. About some things, anyway.”
Will knew she was probably thinking about her partner’s death. She was reliving it again, so he tried to change the subject. He knew how she felt. He relived the biggest trauma of his life, over and over again. It never stopped.
“So what do you think of the Bellagio so far?”
“I think it’s way above my CPD expense account.”
“Thanks to Mom and Dad, I get a free ride around here.”
“Do you have an interest in these restaurants?”
“I’m on the board of directors. It’s family owned, so there’s just the four of us.”
“I bet your parents wish you and your sister took more interest. Maybe they could make you a cook’s apprentice.”
“I cook better than you might think. I’ll prove it to you one of these days.”
“At your house?”
Will hesitated. He’d never taken anybody to his place in Chattanooga, not even J.D. Then again, he hadn’t brought anyone to meet his mother, either. Julia was different. He had feelings for her, and he was tired of fighting them. They had a lot in common, more than she knew or expected. But he wanted to tell her the truth about his past, and maybe this was the place to do it, the night to do it. He did trust her, and trust sure as hell didn’t come easy for him.
Chapter 20
The ebullient and effortlessly friendly Betty Brannock sat down at a table laden with her beautifully displayed and delicious home cooking and ate with them. Betty had removed her apron and chef’s attire, and now wore a gorgeous copper-and-brown beaded shell under a black suit. Her high heels were the exact coppery shade of her shell. She wore a wrist-full of gold and diamond bracelets, and diamond studs and gold hoops in her ears. Julia noticed, though, that she wore only a particularly lovely wedding band and a sparkling diamond anniversary ring on her left hand. But no doubt about it, Betty Brannock was a very stylish woman. Judging by what had been said, Julia had a feeling that Will’s parents had an excellent marriage.
Listening to Will and Betty talking about his dad, Julia took her first bite of the crispy, golden-brown chicken fried to perfection and almost slid off her chair in ecstasy. It had to be the best chicken she’d ever tasted. She told Betty as much, and Betty bestowed upon Julia that glowing smile of hers and patted her hand. Julia was hungry and let herself enjoy the meal. After all, she had some interesting company. Not to mention the personal revelations Will was throwing at her, right and left. Finally, finally, he was opening up, letting her really see him for who he really was. That’s what she’d wanted since she’d met him.
As Julia watched Betty playfully kid around with her son, she found she really liked the woman. Even after this brief acquaintance. Betty absolutely adored Will, that was clear to see, and Julia could also sense how much his mother missed him. But tonight’s Will was the biggest surprise. He acted like a different person with his mother. He was so much more at ease seated there in the Taste of the South; not so much on guard and alert to everything and everybody around him. He actually appeared relaxed; well, probably as relaxed as Will Brannock could ever be, anyway.
The evening wore on, and Julia found that she was enjoying herself, more than she probably should. Mother and son joked around and were openly affectionate, and Julia found that she, too, was smiling a lot, caught up in the banter and easy conversation. She watched Will cut into his steak, realizing with some shock that her feelings about him had evolved, become deeper and more heartfelt. She admired him as a partner, true, no question about that. And she’d vowed never again to get involved with a partner.
Bobby Crismon’s face flashed through her memory, dampening her high spirits, bringing sadness. But even so, now it was too late to pull back and nurse her grief. Will Brannock had definitely invaded her heart. The way she’d let him touch her last night, the kisses—that was proof enough that she already cared more than she should about him. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, none of that intimacy would have happened if she hadn’t wanted it to. She had coveted it, all right, last night and lots of other nights. Savored the idea of it and lay awake thinking about it. He cared about her, too. All day he had done everything he could to show her. Why else would he bring her to meet his mother? And the warmth in his eyes when he looked at her was something that put butterflies in her stomach. Sometimes it wasn’t just warmth; it was naked, undisguised hunger. She understood that, all too well. Sometimes she felt that ragged kind of hunger herself. She felt a shiver ripple over her flesh, with just the anticipation of what might happen between them, if she let it, if she could bring herself to forget what had happened when she’d allowed herself to get involved with Bobby.
The rest of the dinner passed with sociable chat and good spirits, and Julia felt relieved to have a respite from thinking about the murderous Tongue Slasher and his deadly crimes, if only for one evening. She had thought of little else since the first murder, as had Will. She was glad Maria Bota might be able to identify the killer, but before she could, they had to find him.
The three of them lingered over dessert and coffee and talked about the magnificent hotel and the sights and sounds of Las Vegas. More interesting, Julia listened to the stories Betty told, of Will as a child, of his childhood in Gulf Shores and Biloxi, but Julia also noticed that there was a shadow of sadness in his mother’s voice when she related those childhood memories; sadness that Will tried to alleviate with a gentle hand on her shoulder or a squeeze of her hand. Julia was pleased to see his compassion, but she couldn’t help but wonder what might have happened to cause such melancholy in their eyes.
They talked until late and finally left as the restaurant was closing up for the night. They walked Betty outside to the entrance and stood with her as the valet brought around her car. Julia smiled when she saw the large red 1959 Cadillac convertible with its huge fins and white leather seats. Will’s mother pulled out a trendy brown-and-gold paisley silk scarf and a pair of big stylish sunglasses. She put them on, be it nighttime or not.
Apparently sensing Julia’s thoughts, Betty said, “The lights on the Strip are bright enough for me to show off my new shades, don’t you think?”
“Sure. Thank you for the wonderful evening, Mrs. Brannock. I am so glad I got to meet you.”
“Now what did I say about that Mrs. Brannock stuff. It’s Betty, you hear?”
Julia smiled, and Betty turned to Will. She gave him a long and heartfelt hug, and didn’t release him for a few moments, as though she didn’t ever want to let go. Then she gave Julia one, with just as much warmth and sincerity.
“Be patient with my Will, Julia, dear,” she whispered in her ear. “Someday I suspect you’ll know all his secrets. Then you’ll understand.”
“Thank you again,” Julia said, truly meaning it. Betty Brannock’s company was easy to enjoy. “I really had fun tonight.”
“I know I’ll see you again soon,” Betty said with a conspiratorial smile. Then she turned back to Will. “Y’all come out again when your daddy’s in town. And your sister, too. Colleen misses you. Why, she was complaining the other day that she hasn’t seen you in months.”
Julia looked at Will and started to mention his penchant for busty airline employees, but he looked a little sheepish so she remained silent. And enough was enough. No more teasing him about flight attendants. He gave his mother one last peck on the cheek, and she told them both to take care. Then Will and Julia watched his mother drive away, her scarf blowing jauntily in the wind.
“I like her very much,” she told him with complete honesty.
“She’s a great lady. I miss her a lot.”
“Then why don’t you come out here more often? The TBI doesn’t have you on that tight of a leash, do they?”
“Depends on the case. It was lucky for me that Maria showed up here. You know, kill two birds with one stone, and all that.”
Julia laughed. “That’s not the best analogy when talking about your family.”
“No, I guess it’s not,” he said, grinning a little. He had a great smile, but it didn’t last long. He grew serious and said, “It’s good to hear you laugh, Julia.”
“We haven’t had much to laugh about since we met, I’ll grant you that.”
Their eyes searched each other’s faces, both solemn, both fully aware things were changing between them—had already changed. The kiss had proved that everything was different. Tonight was going to be a test, and Julia was afraid it was a test she might fail, despite all her best intentions. She broke eye contact and tried to forget the longing she saw in his eyes.
Their elevator ride to the penthouse was silent. Two young couples got on with them on the twenty-ninth floor and rode to the thirty-second, with lots of giggling and excited chatter. The four were having a wonderful time, and by the way they were groping each other, their night was headed to even more fun later on.
When they entered the Grand Lakeview Suite, Julia walked through the opulent marble entry hall into the living room. The view of the glittering lights of Las Vegas stretching out below was breathtaking. A couple of lamps had been switched on, giving a soft glow to the room. The fireplace was burning, and music was playing somewhere, soft and romantic. Julia wondered if Will had arranged that, anticipating his seduction. She hoped not. She hoped so.
Will strode into the living room and dropped the card on the table in front of the fireplace. “The maids always turn on music and turn down the beds.”
That answered her question. “Very cool. This is quite an experience.”
“How about a nightcap? Some wine, maybe.”
“Sure. I guess I should check in with Tam, though.”
“Do it tomorrow. She’ll call right away if anything turns up. We’re off the clock.”
Julia hesitated. If there was one thing she wasn’t used to, it was considering herself off the clock. The same could be said for Will. She knew that for a fact, from all the weeks working so closely alongside him. Oh God, she did want him in the worst way. She wanted a serious romantic relationship. She wanted him to grab her, crush her to him, and make love to her all night long. She had been fighting it, denying it, but now was the time. She was confused. Up until last night, he had been the one who had been standoffish. They’d decided it had to be professional and that’s all it could be at the moment. But then what did he do? Turned around and introduced her to his family and treated her to an overnight stay in heaven. What the devil was going on inside his head?
Will expertly opened a bottle of merlot and poured it into two stemmed crystal goblets. He handed her one and sat down across from her. They both stared into the fire. Julia frowned. She was not used to all this secretive drama and the kiss-me-like-crazy-then-run-like-a-rabbit routine.
“Look, Will, I’m not the type of woman who dances around problems. I think you know that. I think you know how I feel. You grabbed me and kissed me like I’ve never been kissed before, and then you treat me like the Queen of Sheba, or Beyoncé or somebody—bring me to meet your mama at the Bellagio, no less. Whom I really like, by the way. So, what’s it going to be, Will? Is this strictly professional, or something else we’re going to get into without much further ado?”
Will kept staring into the fire, for so long that Julia was about ready to slap him upside his head. Talk about a roller-coaster kind of guy. Since Bobby died, she’d tried to date a few times, but found she just couldn’t risk an emotional attachment again. She just didn’t want to get involved with anyone. And, true, she shouldn’t get involved with Will, either. So why was she pushing it? What the hell was the matter with her?
When he finally spoke, his voice was so low that she could barely hear it. “I guess it’s going to have to be strictly professional.”
Julia stared at his chiseled profile, backlit by the darting orange flames. She felt absolutely foolish, ridiculous, dumbstruck; the truth was, she wasn’t as insulted as she was disappointed. So, as it turned out, Will really was what she’d thought in the beginning—a man who went through women like water through a sieve. No deep feelings, no relationship, except for the physical act whenever he was in the mood for it. Anger shot through her. Burned through her body like caustic acid.
Okay, so be it, jerk.
Carefully placing her goblet on the table, she stood up. “Whatever you say, Will. You’re probably right. It would be a mistake for us to get together tonight. We’d both regret it.”
Will didn’t answer, just set his jaw at a steely angle and stared moodily at her. She watched his facial muscles working hard under his tanned skin as he gritted his teeth, but he didn’t say anything else. Julia shook her head, turned, and walked into her bedroom. She shut the door quietly behind her, but she leaned against it and fought back tears. She should’ve slammed it like a hurt and jilted teenager. That’s what she wanted to do. She felt so silly. She never came on to men. But, damn it, he had started all this with that no-holds-barred kiss, and then he’d come off this morning like he was angry that they hadn’t gone further than a few kisses. She shouldn’t be angry; she should accept this as for the best. But she
was
angry. She was furious.
Cursing him under her breath, she kicked off her shoes and stripped off the slinky black dress that should have turned him on and hadn’t, and then slung it down on the shiny hardwood floor with as much strength as she possessed. Okay, if that’s what he wanted, that’s what he’d get: cold, cool, collected, on the case, no other thoughts in mind. Damn him, he’d started something, then cut bait as soon as she took it. Breathing in and out, nice and deep and steamy, she tried to calm herself, let the anger subside.
He’s right, of course. That’s the way it should be.
There was a vicious, cold-blooded killer on the loose in Chattanooga. That’s what she needed to concentrate on; that’s what was going to be her focus. They’d be professional. They’d do it exactly by the book. He’d never lay a finger on her again—no way.
The palatial bathroom she chose was all mirrors and marble and glass doors. The shower was huge and luxurious, with enough showerheads to bathe an elephant and its calf. She turned them all on, hot as her poor skin could take it, and stepped into the pounding water and cloud of steam and let it wash away the rest of her anger. Truth be told, a cold shower probably would’ve been more appropriate. She shut her eyes, made the water a bit cooler, and raised her face into the spray. One thing was for sure—a cold shower was in order with all the lurid thoughts she’d been having since last night.
It wasn’t until Julia felt his hand on her shoulder that she realized Will was in the shower with her. She jerked around, and there he stood, right behind her, still fully dressed. The hungry look was back in his eyes, so intense that her lips parted. Regaining her wits, she put her palms against the wet shirt clinging to his molded chest muscles, stopping him where he stood, not sure what he wanted—what
she
wanted. He’d rejected her a minute ago, only to show up now. He didn’t push forward against her, just stared into her eyes.