The Edge of Night (14 page)

“I like it most of the time.” Chula Vista had a lot of culture and vibrancy. Someday she would move into one of the less volatile neighborhoods and be able to appreciate the city’s finer qualities. “The crime isn’t a plus for me, though.”

“I’m working on that.”

She smiled. “It does create a social need, and that will help me get a job when I graduate, so I shouldn’t complain.”

He leaned back in his chair. “Why are you interested in social work?”

“Someone helped me once, when I was pregnant with Jenny. She really made a difference in my life.”

Contemplative, he looked from April to Jenny. “Is her dad around at all?”

“He’s in prison.”

His brows rose at her blunt admission. “Does she know?”

“Yes.”

“And … when he gets out?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to see him, if that’s what you’re asking. I don’t want her to see him, either. Thankfully, he’s never taken much interest. I’ve tried not to say bad things about him in front of her, but … he’s a bad man.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry, too.” Not a day went by that she didn’t regret her involvement with Raul and its repercussions for Jenny. But she couldn’t change the past, and she was doing her best to make a better future.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-three.”

“You were just a kid when you had her.”

“I grew up fast.”

“How’s your mom, by the way?”

“I haven’t heard from her.” She was distracted for a moment, because Jenny had slipped on the stairs of the pirate ship. When she got up, unhurt, April relaxed. “What about you? Are you involved with the latest murder investigation?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t suppose you can talk about it.”

“No. But I do have to work tonight.” She searched his face, concerned. “You should’ve told me.”

“It’s no big deal. We have plenty of time.”

“Do you want to reschedule?”

“No way. Even the lead investigators aren’t allowed to work around the clock. Everyone puts in extra hours during a high-profile case, but we’re also encouraged to take breaks. De-stressing, they call it.”

“You wouldn’t rather be home, resting?”

His gaze skimmed down her body. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”

They were silent for a few minutes, but the mood was comfortable rather than awkward or sexually charged. When an older boy squirted Jenny with one of the pirate ship’s water guns, Noah rose from his lounge chair.

“That kid is going
down
,” he said, stepping onto the course.

April watched, laughing, while he pelted the offending child with staccato blasts from the water gun. Then he went ahead and attacked Jenny for good measure. She screamed in delight and retaliated. April, of course, had to join the battle.

They all ended up soaked.

The next few hours passed in a pleasant, dreamlike idyll. They drifted down the lazy river on clear plastic inner tubes, drinking in the sun. Jenny wasn’t tall enough for the big waterslides, and April wouldn’t dare try them, but Noah talked them into a log ride. Later, they braved the raging rapids and visited the wave pool.

As promised, Noah paid for lunch—and ice cream.

And, as April had feared, Jenny loved him. It wasn’t the ice cream, or the trip, or anything he’d paid out of pocket. It was just him. He gave her his complete attention, and he actually listened to what she said but didn’t cater to her every whim. His easygoing attitude suited Jenny’s energetic personality quite well.

He was great with her. That was it.

In the early afternoon, he offered to give Jenny a swimming lesson. She’d never had one before, and she was a little uncertain in the deep water. “I was a lifeguard at the lake every summer in Cedar Glen,” he boasted.

April imagined that he’d been popular. “I’ll bet there were a few girls who pretended to drown to get your attention.”

He grinned at her. “Actually, no. The only mouth-to-mouth I performed was on an eighty-year-old man.”

Jenny giggled, picturing the scene.

“He recovered fully, I’ll have you know. So, how about it?”

“Fine with me,” April said. “I’d love for her to learn the basics. But I think you both need some sunscreen first.”

Jenny rarely burned, but she wasn’t usually out in the sun this long. April sprayed her with SPF 15, carefully rubbing it over her face. “There you go,
pepa.
” She turned to Noah, whose shoulders already looked ruddy. Admiring his sleek muscles and golden tan, she applied the spray sunscreen to his back.

He had the kind of physique that attracted attention. She’d noticed female eyes following him all day. There were some beautiful women here, in bikinis even smaller than hers, but she hadn’t caught him returning any stares.

“What about you?” he asked.

Although she probably didn’t need it, she lifted her hair, letting him spray the lotion over her back.

“Stupid invention,” he said in a low voice, annoyed that no touching was required.

Laughing, she stretched out on a nearby lounge chair, watching the lesson rather than participating. Jenny kicked and blew bubbles and tried to float. Soon she was jumping off the side of the pool into Noah’s arms.

April couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so … languid. In the shade, the temperature was perfect, warm and breezy. There was nothing pressing to do, no one demanding her attention. It was positively decadent.

She closed her eyes and sighed, savoring the feeling. A moment later, she was asleep.

13

Noah should have taken them to the zoo.

They were having a great time at Wave City, but April’s bikini was driving him crazy. Dry, it was sexy. Wet, it was spectacular.

Although the fabric wasn’t see-through—thank God—it was clingy. The suit molded to the curves of her body, leaving very little to the imagination. With Jenny right there, it wasn’t appropriate for Noah to check out April’s luscious ass, or her perfect breasts, or the sweet triangle between her legs. So he tried not to stare.

It was too easy to picture her naked.

He was mildly ashamed of himself but not surprised. It wasn’t unusual for his senses to be heightened when he was working on a tough case. Close calls and dangerous situations brought out the physical side of many men. Dealing with death made Noah want to reaffirm life in the basest, most basic way.

He’d never been so tempted by a woman.

Thankfully, Jenny provided a convenient distraction. For sanity’s sake, he focused most of his attention on her. She was a cute kid, easy to get along with. She also had her mother’s quick intelligence. After twenty minutes of swimming lessons, she’d learned how to glide, kick, and float.

“I have to go potty,” she said suddenly.

Noah glanced at April. She’d fallen asleep on the lounge chair, and she looked adorable. “Okay,” he said, boosting Jenny out of the pool. “I’ll take you.”

The bathrooms were close by, so Noah didn’t bother to wake up April. After delivering Jenny to the ladies’ room, he ducked into the men’s. When he came out, Jenny was standing there, shifting back and forth on her bare feet.

“Did you go?” he asked.

“I can’t get out of my swimsuit.”

Noah eyed the crossover straps, frowning. This was not his area of expertise. He looked around for female assistance, and a pretty brunette caught his eye.

She assessed the situation in an instant, offering Jenny a warm smile. “Need some help, honey? I’ll take you.”

Jenny nodded, accepting her hand. “Thanks,” Noah said.

The brunette winked at him. “No problem.”

About two minutes later, Jenny walked out of the ladies’ room with her helper. The brunette flashed Noah a flirtatious smile. “She’s a cutie,” the woman said, looking back and forth between them.

Noah read the question in her eyes. With her dark coloring, Jenny was obviously not his. “Thanks. She’s my girlfriend’s daughter.”

“Ah. Too bad.”

He watched her saunter away, more as a male reflex than with any genuine interest. She had a nice figure, he noted absently.

“My mommy is your girlfriend?” Jenny asked.

“No,” he said. “I was just—”

“Jenny!”

Noah turned to see April rushing toward them. She looked frantic. And … pissed off. When she put her arm around Jenny’s shoulders and glanced in the direction of the saucy brunette, he knew he was in trouble.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” she asked.

He massaged the back of his neck, not sure what to say. Her reaction seemed a bit extreme. “Uh—”

“You have no right to take my daughter anywhere without my permission.”

Noah didn’t feel compelled to defend himself. He also knew better than to argue with a woman in public.

“I think we should go home.”

He nodded curtly. Now
he
was pissed off. “Whatever you like.”

They went back to the lockers and got ready to leave. Jenny didn’t want to go, unsurprisingly. For the first time that day, she turned on the drama, crying and pulling away from her mother, refusing to put on her shoes.

April looked near tears herself.

Noah didn’t have a lot of experience with little girls and temper tantrums. There was no crying in baseball, as the saying went. But he remembered something he used to do when his sister was upset.

“Come on,” he said, kneeling beside her. “I’ll give you a piggyback ride.”

Sniffling, Jenny climbed aboard.

April tossed her daughter’s shoes in the tote bag and followed them out to the parking lot, her mouth thin. Maybe she didn’t appreciate the interference. He got the impression that she wasn’t used to letting anyone help her.

Jenny slumped against his back, exhausted from too much fun in the sun. By the time Noah pulled onto the freeway, she was asleep in her car seat.

He glanced at April, wishing the date hadn’t ended this way. If he didn’t say something to smooth things over, he knew he wouldn’t get another chance to go out with her. But—why apologize when he hadn’t done anything wrong?

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly.

And those two simple words changed everything. “Don’t be,” he said, feeling like a jerk. “I shouldn’t have left with her.”

“No. I overreacted.”

“You looked so peaceful, and I didn’t want to bother you …”

“It’s okay,” she said, giving him a wobbly smile. “When I woke up, and she wasn’t there, I … panicked.”

“Of course you did. It was stupid of me.”

“She’s never been around a man before, other than her uncle. I know I’m overprotective, because of some … issues in my past. It took years before I’d leave her alone with anyone, even family members.”

He wanted to kill whoever had hurt her. “I’m sorry,” he said, wishing the world wasn’t full of abusive assholes. “I don’t expect you to take my word for it, but I’d rather die than touch your daughter. And I’d cut off my own hand before I used it to harm a woman.”

She nodded, acknowledging his statement. “This is why I was hesitant to go out with you, Noah. You seem too good to be true, and I don’t let my guard down easily. If you’re just looking for sex—”

Jenny made a noise in her sleep, her head lolling to one side.

“I’m not,” he said, lowering his voice.

April looked out the window. He wasn’t sure she believed him. It was difficult to be convincing when sex was at the forefront of his mind. The hungry looks he’d been giving her all day didn’t help.

For the remainder of the drive, he questioned his own motives. He was taking a professional risk by dating her, and he’d never done anything like that before. Beginning a “complicated” relationship—with April
and
Jenny, for they were a package deal—wasn’t the wisest course of action.

He shouldn’t have asked her out.

The more time he spent with her, the more attached he became. Maybe he should walk away now, before things got … sticky.

At her house, Noah carried Jenny inside. While April put her down for a nap, he took the car seat out of his truck and placed it on her doorstep. Then he waited for her in the living room, his hands in his pockets.

Any minute now she was going to come back and say she was sorry but she couldn’t see him anymore.

And he was going to let her.

–––

April tiptoed out of Jenny’s room, shutting the door behind her. She paused in the hallway, turning on the air conditioner full blast. The mechanical whir would drown out their voices, should Jenny awaken.

She usually didn’t take naps, but the day had been long and eventful. April assumed she would sleep for another hour, at least.

Noah was waiting for her in the living room. She felt a pang of regret for the way she’d acted. He’d been wonderful with Jenny today, and she’d repaid his kindness by freaking out, scolding him, and demanding to go home. When Jenny started to throw a tantrum, April had almost broken down in tears, too.

He probably never wanted to see her again. And yet he was still here. Too polite to leave without saying goodbye.

“Would you like a drink?” she asked tentatively, fisting her sweaty hands in her skirt. The cotton fabric inched up her thighs, drawing his attention.

“Sure,” he said, clearing his throat. “Water’s fine.”

She filled two glasses with ice and purified water. As soon as she sat down, he took the space next to her on the couch, draining half his glass in long swallows.

“Thanks.”

They were silent for another moment.

“To pick up where we left off,” she began, feeling self-conscious. “I was talking about my trust issues?” He nodded, listening.

“I’ll probably always be overprotective of Jenny, and I might never get completely comfortable around you. When we’re alone, I mean.” She hazarded another glance at him. This was so embarrassing. “My behavior the other night was kind of strange. You see, I’m usually a little more … reserved with men.”

His gaze dropped to her mouth, as if he was remembering their kiss. She couldn’t help but replay the scene herself. He was so close she could smell him, a heady mix of male skin and summer heat.

She moistened her lips, wanting his mouth on hers so badly she could taste it. “Anyway, this is all irrelevant, I’m sure. I just wanted to finish explaining why I reacted that way. Thank you for a lovely day, and I’m sorry for—everything.”

His eyes met hers. “So this is goodbye?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t argue with her, but he made no move to leave. She sensed his reluctance, and his disappointment, and his desire. They stared at each other for a long beat, poised at the edge of an unknown precipice.

Her chest rose and fell with every breath, and she was aware of the still-damp swimsuit against her pebbled nipples.

His hands flexed against his thighs, and she felt an answering tug between her own. She wanted him to touch her. Everywhere.

April wasn’t sure if he leaned in or if she did. One moment they were agreeing it wasn’t going to work out. The next he was kissing her senseless. His mouth was hot, agile, hungry. She moaned, touching her tongue to his, twisting her fingers in his hair. His hands spanned her waist and squeezed, burning through the fabric of her dress.

He kissed her over and over again, as if he couldn’t get enough of her mouth. She arched her back, wanting to feel more of his body. He complied on instinct, pressing her down on the couch, crushing her breasts to his chest. When the ridge of his erection settled into the apex of her thighs, he groaned.

She wrapped her legs around his waist and dug her fingernails into his shoulders, gasping against his mouth.

His fingertips danced over the tie at her back, tugging it loose. She felt her bikini top fall away and her dress inch down. He broke off the kiss to stare at her exposed breasts. The skin beneath her bikini top was a shade paler than the rest. Her nipples were small, tight beads. She’d never experienced anything more erotic than watching his eyes darken with lust for her.

Before his head descended, she braced her hands on his shoulders. “Wait,” she said. “I can’t … do this … here. Not with my daughter home.”

“Let’s go to your room. I’ll be quiet.”

“The bedsprings squeak.”

“Who needs a bed?”

She tried not to picture him lifting her up against the wall, pinning her with slow thrusts. “No bedroom. No sex.”

“Okay,” he whispered, his fingertips trailing down her throat. He bent his head to moisten one nipple, then the other, sucking gently. Surveying his work, he blew on the wet, puckered tips, wrenching a gasp from her.

“Noah—”

“This isn’t sex. It’s just … touching.” Repositioning himself, he slid his hand underneath her skirt. With a quick tug, he untied her bikini bottoms and brushed his mouth over hers again, drinking her protests. His fingertips found her, hot and wet. He let out a hissing breath.

“That feels like sex,” she panted. When he dipped one finger inside her, she moaned, spreading her thighs a little wider.

“How about this?” He moved his slippery finger up to her clitoris, circling it lazily.

“That feels … better than sex.”

“What if I did it with my mouth?”

She thrashed her head back and forth. “I’ve never—oh, my God.” He pushed her skirt out of the way so he could get a good look at what he was doing, but he didn’t go down on his knees. He flicked his tongue over her nipples and continued to caress her heated flesh, tracing her opening with his fingertip, strumming the taut pink nub.

“Oh, my God,” she moaned again, biting down on her lip. She was going to come.

The surprising part wasn’t the orgasm itself. She’d had those before. Even Raul, who’d been a selfish lover, had managed to bring her off a few times. But he’d labored over the task, treating it like a nuisance on the rare occasions that he bothered.

And he’d never put his mouth on her.

Noah showed more tenderness and more aptitude in a few languid strokes than Raul had offered in their entire relationship. His attention was rapt, attuned to her responses, and his fingers were so well placed …

“Oh, God,” she gasped, gripping his forearm. She blurted out something in Spanish.
Right there, don’t move, don’t stop
.

When she started to shudder, he covered her mouth with his, swallowing her cries of pleasure.

April came back down to earth in slow increments, realizing that her dress was bunched around her waist, exposing everything above and below. Noah removed his hand slowly, his fingers slick. His eyes were half lidded, hungry with arousal.

Lifting his fingertips to his mouth, he tasted her.

Shocked by his behavior and appalled by her own, she scrambled into a sitting position, tugging her dress into place. Her heart was throbbing dully, her brain sluggish. “You—I—that was a bad idea.”