Authors: Ronica Black
“No.” Erin was not going to allow herself to be manipulated this way. She threw off the bedcovers and swung her feet to the floor. “I will see who I want, when I want. To hell with all of you.” She grabbed her jeans and felt around for her keys, then remembered she didn’t have her car. “Fuck.” She fumed as she headed for the bathroom.
“Mac, wait,” Patricia urged. “This is important. It could destroy your career. Please stay and talk to me. I can help you work this out.”
Erin paused in the doorway. “No, Patricia, you can’t. Because whether you believe it or not, there’s nothing to work out. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
She struggled over the words because she absolutely knew that withholding the information about Jay was wrong. But for reasons she didn’t quite understand, she couldn’t bring herself to tell Patricia, or anyone else for that matter. With a sharp sense of betrayal, she turned and walked out the door.
Erin sat staring at her phone. She opened her palm and eyed the phone number written on it in black ink. It was faded but still legible. She wouldn’t have let it wash completely off before writing it down.
Sighing and sitting back against the couch, she looked around her new home. It was a modest, well-kept townhouse, small enough to be cozy, but large enough for her to breathe. It hadn’t taken her long to find one she liked and when she’d offered a large amount of cash to move in immediately, she quickly found herself with a set of keys and her own covered parking space.
She gazed down and ran her hand over the soft fabric of the sofa. The living room furniture had just arrived the day before and she could still smell its newness. Lucky for her she had found a store that delivered quickly, ending her nights on the uncomfortable air mattress. Last night she had slept on her new sofa, and her new, large bed would be delivered the next day.
She turned her hand over and eyed the phone number again. Patricia’s words rang in her ears, but to be on the safe side, she knew she shouldn’t see Liz. She didn’t understand why the department had suspicions about her, but she didn’t want to add any fuel to their fire either. She eyed her phone again, brand new and sitting on the table next to the couch. Maybe Liz would have some answers. If not, she should at least warn her that the police were still looking at her as a suspect. So much so, that they were now willing to tie in one of their own as an accomplice.
She cringed at the thought. Was it because they now knew about Jay and knew she had failed to tell them about her? Whatever the reason, she had to talk to Liz. She picked up the phone and stared at the numbers on the buttons. Who was she kidding? She could try to convince herself that the reason she was calling Liz was to talk about the investigation. To warn her, even. But the real reason had nothing to do with the police or anything associated with them. She was calling because she couldn’t get the dark beauty out of her mind for even a second.
She pushed the talk button and dialed the number. As she waited for it to ring, she briefly wondered if she was being watched. She had checked for a tail yesterday and today and hadn’t seen anyone, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there. Her telephone had been connected just that morning and she figured they couldn’t possibly have a trace on it yet. Confident in that, she waited for the voice she needed to hear.
“Hello.”
“Hello, Liz.” Erin felt strangely unsure and shy all of a sudden.
“Erin?”
“Yes. Yes, it’s me.”
“I’m so glad.” Liz sounded genuinely happy to hear from her, and still so damn sexy with her deep throaty voice.
Feeling like a smitten schoolgirl, Erin said, “Me too.”
“How are you?”
“Fine,” Erin said quickly, trying to convince herself as well as Liz.
“I don’t believe you. You said that too quickly.”
“No, I am. Really.” She smoothed out her shirt nervously with her free hand, as if Liz could somehow see her. She looked down and eyed the new shirt, silently wondering if Liz would approve. Some new clothes, along with the townhouse and the furniture, had become her newest necessities.
“I guess I’ll just have to wait and see you to judge for myself,” Liz cooed, instantly making her blush. “How about dinner tonight?”
“Yes.” Erin stumbled over the word, the conversation moving so fast. She hadn’t even had time to ask Liz how she was doing in return.
“Wonderful. How about my place? You remember how to get there?”
“Yes. Uh, Liz?” She had to speak quickly, before she was sidetracked with more alluring dinner date conversation. “I think the police are still watching you.”
Silence.
“Is that all?” Liz asked.
“Well, no, but I really don’t want to discuss it over the phone.”
“I understand. But just so you know, this is my satellite phone. I use it for all my private calls.”
“That is somewhat of a relief.” Erin relaxed a little.
“If they are still watching me, is that going to present a problem for you tonight? Coming to my place?”
Erin thought for a moment. She had thought of nothing else the entire previous night, tossing and turning on her new couch. How would it affect her, if the department knew she was still seeing Elizabeth Adams?
“I don’t care if they know.”
“In that case, it doesn’t bother me either. I’ve grown used to their watching my every move. One more night of their pathetic surveillance won’t make a difference.”
“Liz?” Erin blurted out. “Why do you trust me? I mean, how do you know that I’m not still working undercover for them?”
“I guess I don’t know that for sure. I hope you’re not, but not for the reasons you may think. Not because of Jay or anything like that.”
“What, then?”
“Because if you are working for them, then I would know that this…your feelings toward me were just a charade. And that would devastate me.”
Erin fell silent, her mind sending no words to her mouth.
“And besides, I’ve already discussed Jay with you, and if you were really still working for them, I suspect she would already be in custody and I would be charged with obstruction and conspiracy and anything else they could pin on me.”
“True,” Erin said.
“So, you still up for dinner? Sounds like you could use a nice meal with warm company.”
How warm are you? I would love to find out.
She blushed at her own thoughts. “Absolutely.”
“Great. How’s seven sound?”
“I’ll be there.”
*
Erin walked up to the enormous front door carrying an expensive bottle of wine and a ferociously hungry attraction for the woman she was about to dine with.
On the drive over she had tried to calm her nerves and her butterflies, but to no avail. She was nervous, yes, but not just because of Liz, who would no doubt be drop-dead gorgeous and as warm and charming as ever. What made her more nervous was the fear that her own overwhelming attraction and feelings toward her would cause her to do or say something stupid and completely embarrass herself. In short, she didn’t trust herself.
She waited on the doorstep, already hearing the deep barking of the Dobermans. Liz knew she was there, having opened the gates that gave access to the driveway. Erin hastily looked down at herself, yet again examining her choice of wear for the evening. She rubbed a sweaty palm on her jeans and smoothed out her tight-fitting black V-neck shirt. She had worn her new black boots to match.
She heard Liz call out to the dogs, beckoning their silence. Then she was in the doorway, smiling as she unabashedly looked Erin up and down. “Wow. You should definitely wear black more often.” She motioned for her to enter.
Erin felt her face redden at the obvious appraisal.
“And she blushes.” Liz chuckled. “You’re something else, Erin McKenzie.”
“Stop,” Erin begged. “I’m just…”
“Embarrassed?” Liz closed the door behind them, her eyes roaming Erin’s body the way her hands would.
Cheeks burning, Erin said, “Well, yes.”
“You’re not used to compliments.” It was stated matter-of-factly.
“No, I guess I’m not.”
“Well, that’s something we’ll have to remedy now, won’t we?” Liz stepped in closer and placed her hands gently on Erin’s hips. Then she leaned in and placed a very soft, warm kiss on her lips.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said.
Erin was almost afraid to move for fear that her legs would buckle. Rattled, she finally choked out, “Thanks for the invitation. This is for you.” She held out the bottle of wine and tried not to stare at the smooth skin of Liz’s chest.
The shirt Liz had on was smoky gray and unbuttoned down below her breasts, offering a teasing and tantalizing view every time she moved. Feeling her face flush yet again, Erin focused instead on Liz’s worn jeans and bare feet.
“Thank you.” Liz inspected the wine. “It will be perfect for later tonight.” She moved past Erin and headed for the kitchen. “Make yourself at home,” she said over her shoulder.
Erin followed her down the tiled walkway into the kitchen, as did the two obedient black dogs. Their claws clapped against the tile, and their stubby tails wagged with excitement at their guest.
“I didn’t know you could cook,” Erin said as Liz sliced some red pepper and zucchini.
“I don’t do it very often, but I do know how.” She scooped the veggies up and dropped them in a wok. They made a sizzling noise as they hit the aromatic sesame oil.
“Smells great.”
“I’ve got a white wine chilled, would you like some?” Liz moved over to the stainless-steel fridge and pulled it open, exposing more alluring flesh beneath her open shirt.
“Yes,” Erin breathed out huskily, actually referring to the soft, creamy flesh of her breasts.
Liz busied herself pouring the wine, seemingly oblivious to Erin’s reaction.
“Here you go.” She handed over a glass. “Start in on that while I finish up dinner.”
Erin took the wine gratefully and adjourned to a small sitting room where she could watch as Liz moved around the kitchen like a seasoned chef, adding oils, sauces, and spices to the stir-fry.
Sipping the chilled wine, she tried to relax under the curious stare of the two Dobermans. She remembered her previous visit to this large home and how anxious she had been. The nervousness she felt now was different, more hormonally based than before. Her previous visit had had her shaking in her boots, fighting her growing attraction to the then murder suspect while trying to do her job. She no longer suspected Liz of anything, no matter what Patricia wanted to imply.
“I thought we would eat in here instead of the dining room.” Liz set their meal down on a low coffee table and took two large cushions from the sofa, placing them on either side of the table. “You mind dining from the floor?”
“No.” Erin rose from the couch. “Is there anything I can help with?”
Liz had already moved quickly back into the kitchen. With a sly grin, she said, “No. Just sit there and look beautiful.”
Erin made herself comfortable on one of the cushions, her heart beating wildly in her chest. As she glanced down at the food, she realized that in spite her budding excitement and desires, she had no appetite for food.
“Hope you’re hungry.” Liz said.
She set the serving bowls down along with her wine and spooned Erin a hearty portion of the steaming stir-fry and then served herself. She settled down on the cushion lotus style and handed Erin a pair of chopsticks.
Erin fingered the sticks uncertainly, a smile on her face. She watched Liz expertly lift noodles and vegetables with the chopsticks and slip the utensils into and out of her mouth. The sight was completely erotic.
“Your turn,” Liz said, apparently noticing she had yet to take a bite.
Erin met her eyes and then fessed up, feeling completely foolish. “I uh, I’m not sure how.”
Liz immediately scooted over to kneel next to her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed.” She gently took Erin’s hand in her own and positioned the chopsticks. “There, you see, you use this finger as a base and this one to move your main stick.”
The hot blood pounding in Erin’s ears made it difficult for her to comprehend anything she was told. Lust washed through her body as Liz’s skin brushed hers. Unable to concentrate, she asked, “Can’t we save us both some grief by letting me use a fork?”
Liz laughed and Erin felt her breath shorten as the deep and seductive sound played in her ears. Everything about the woman was turning her on. She imagined the same deep, throaty sounds pouring out of her in the throes of passion.
“Sure, I’ll get you a fork,” Liz said, completely clueless to Erin’s lustful imaginings. “But first I want to see you give it a try.”
Erin was sure her desire was displayed all over her face. Her skin burned under Liz’s intense gaze, and with her hand trembling, she held the chopsticks and grasped a drooping bite of slick noodles. She moved her hand quickly to her mouth, feeling the noodles start to slide. Leaning forward, she attempted to shove the food into her mouth before it fell but she didn’t quite make it, dropping noodles on the table as well as on her chin. As she chewed, she sucked in the wayward noodles.