Authors: MA Comley
“Are you all right? You look a little flushed.”
Damn, she couldn’t even blame her heated cheeks on the effect of the wine since the waiter hadn’t served them any yet.
“It’s very warm in here.”
He nodded. “Let’s see what we can do about that.” He clicked his fingers, and a sommelier instantly appeared. “A bottle of Châteauneuf du Pape, if you will?”
Her eyes widened at his choice. She’d heard a lot about the wine but never thought she would ever be sampling it—not on her abysmal wage, anyway.
“Never tried it before?” Glistening amusement swam in his eyes.
“No, never. I don’t tend to drink much…” Then she added as an afterthought, not wanting to sound too pathetic, “Not during the week.”
“Ah, I see. You’re a very wise young woman. I can tell that.”
“Thank you. Do you come here often?” She immediately regretted her use of the words.
He hitched up a shoulder. “I’ve been here once or twice over the years. Top notch food. Never had a bad meal here.”
She could believe that. Bella took in her surroundings. The peaceful ambience was seductive. “It’s a beautiful place. I’ve passed it many times on the way to work. Never dreamed I would be sitting at a table, waiting to be served.”
“Prepare to be dazzled by my stimulating conversation and the restaurant’s wonderful food.” He smiled broadly.
Bella noticed how relaxed he appeared and how much more handsome he looked than he had during their first meeting. Butterflies took flight and circled her tummy, and she wondered if she would be able to digest any food she ordered.
He talked nonstop during the meal, mostly reminiscing his vast life experiences. He told her about going on safari in Africa, when the Land Rover he was travelling in broke down right in the middle of the reserve. He ended up spending two terrifying hours in the vicinity of a pride of hungry lions. Her admiration for him grew with every word.
“So, what do you like to do in your spare time? Let me rephrase that. If money were no object, where in the world would you like to visit?”
Bella pushed her broccoli spear around the plate and thought for a moment or two before answering. “I suppose I would love to go on a cruise down the Nile.”
His nose wrinkled. “Really? It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. I went once. The whole boat came down with food poisoning, including the crew. We spent the entire trip tucked up in bed. I’d never visit Egypt again.”
A stab of jealousy caught her out, and she enquired sharply, “We? You went with someone? A female friend?”
His eyes sparkled mischievously, and she bit down hard on her tongue for showing that she had a jealous streak running through her veins.
“Of course. A female friend accompanied me. What’s the point in going to all these wonderful places and seeing their beauty alone?”
“Oh,” was all she could think of in response to his slight putdown.
He reached across the table, removed the knife and fork from her hands, and entwined his fingers with hers. “Maybe we’ll travel together one day. Would you like that?”
Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. Recovering, she nodded and smiled. “I’d love that. But I insist on paying my way.”
Crap, what did I have to go and say that for? I’ll never be able to live up to his lifestyle.
He leaned forward and kissed her fingertips. “I’m sure we can come to some arrangement. I think I’m falling for you, Bella.”
She shook her head in disbelief. No one had ever “fallen” for her before. She’d been on several first dates, but when she baulked at her dates’ advances, they had ditched her there and then. This man hadn’t even tried to get past first base, but he was already telling her that he was falling for her.
He chuckled at her inability to speak. “Well, say something?”
“What can I say, except that I feel the same way, as incredible as that seems.”
“Life is incredible. It sneaks up on you and delivers unexpected pleasures when you least expect it. It’s up to us, as individuals, to pounce on those opportunities before they dissipate into thin air and are lost forever. How’s your meal?”
He’d just blown her away with his statement, and his ending it in such a blasé fashion confused her for a second. “Oh, sorry. Yes, it’s truly wonderful.”
Morris released her hands and returned to his dinner. “Good. This is the first of many we will enjoy together. You have my word on that.” He raised his glass and chinked it against hers.
•\ \ \ \ \ •\ \ \ \ \ •
When she was about to get in her car and drive home, he held her in his arms and begged her to go home with him. She found it impossible to say no and was intrigued to find out how their relationship would progress. He insisted on driving, so she left her car in the restaurant’s car park and let him drive the ten minutes to his flat.
He led her by the hand and guided her through the lounge, to the magnificent view of the Thames, which reflected the moon’s magically bright glow. “This is why I bought this place.”
“It’s amazing.” She turned to face him.
Morris wrapped his strong arms around her, almost crushing her in the process. “You’re amazing,” he said.
She sighed breathlessly.
He bent to kiss her. Then without saying another word, he took her hand and walked through to the bedroom, which was the ultimate in bachelor-pad masculinity. His sheets were black, the carpet was black, and even the walls and the furniture were black. But it didn’t look cold or dreary. Instead, it looked stylish, as if it had been successfully lifted right off the pages of a design magazine.
Morris lowered her onto the bed, and with a few deft movements, he managed to disrobe her. She let out the breath she’d been hanging onto as his fingers worked their magic. He asked, “Everything all right? Do you want me to proceed?”
“Of course. Everything is just…wonderful.” Her hands began to clumsily search for the buttons on his shirt, but he tapped her fingers away.
“I want to feel you naked beneath me before I take my clothes off. You’re beautiful. I can’t believe you’re going to be all mine.”
The thing was, neither could she. The way his eyes were eating into her flesh sent a shiver shooting through her.
Oh, how I’ve longed to be loved and adored this way.
Once they were both naked, their lovemaking was frenetic and wondrously breathtaking.
He cradled her in his arms and ran a gentle hand over the curve of her breast as he spoke. “That was wonderful. You didn’t disappoint at all. Not that I thought you would.”
“It was truly magical. Better than I could have ever hoped it would be. You’re a fantastic lover,” she added shyly. She’d never uttered that word before, and it tickled her tongue.
He laughed. “It has been said before, many times. Tell me, how many dates have you had with the agency?”
She sank her fingers into the hairs on his chest. “You’re my third date,” she lied.
“Did you sleep with the others?”
She sat up and stared down at him. “No!”
He smiled and settled her back down beside him. “All right. I was only asking. There’s no need to snap my head off.”
A chuckle followed his chastisement, and everything between them was fine once more. “I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologise, little one. We’re just getting to know each other. It’s going to be wonderful learning about you and your needs and desires. Where do you see yourself ten years from now?”
“I haven’t really thought about the future,” she admitted, tilting her head up to look at him.
“Then you must start. Our future is in our own hands. I can see our partnership growing to such an extent that we exclude all others from our lives together.”
What a declaration that was.
It wouldn’t bother her in the slightest if she cut herself off from those surrounding her. She craved excitement and could tell that she was about to get it by the bucketload with her adorable new man. She felt herself falling deeper into the love zone, where she’d never contemplated visiting before. “Sounds idyllic, just you and me enjoying each other’s company, without intrusion. I’m so lucky to have found you, Morris.”
“I’m the lucky one, darling.” He pulled her close and kissed her until she almost stopped breathing. Then he made love to her with an urgency that left them both gasping for breath. She cuddled up to him, satisfied and elated to have found such a kind and considerate man who loved her for her. They drifted off to sleep, their arms wrapped around each other.
Bella woke a few hours later to find herself alone. She sat up and surveyed the room. He was nowhere to be seen. She listened for signs of him using the bathroom, but again, nothing. His dressing gown hung on the back of the bedroom door, so she slipped it on and went out into the living room. He was standing naked at the window, with the French door open wide and the cool breeze lifting his hair. She crept up behind him and put her arms around his chest.
Startled, he almost shot over the balcony. Turning sharply, he slapped her hard around the face, not once, but twice. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she touched her stinging cheek. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You stupid, bitch. Don’t ever creep up on me like that again. I hate surprises. You hear me?” He sneered, digging his fingers into the tops of her arms.
She winced and looked down at his fingers.
What the hell has happened to him?
What have I done to upset him so much?
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
His face moved closer to hers, and his lip curled up. “And for Christ’s sake, stop fucking saying you’re sorry.”
“I’m so…” she began before realising her mistake. His fingers dug harder into her flesh, and she cried out. “You’re hurting me.”
As if a light switch had been turned on, he released his grip and gathered her in his arms, running a soothing hand over her head and down her back. “It’s me who should be apologising. You scared me. I think I must have been sleepwalking. I do that occasionally.”
With the back of her hand, she wiped the tears that had settled on her cheeks. “It’s okay. It was my fault. I woke up and was scared when I didn’t see you lying beside me.”
“Forget all about this. Let’s go back to bed, and I’ll make it up to you.”
She smiled broadly as he took her hand and walked her back into the bedroom. It wasn’t long before his sensitive touch returned and wiped away the memory of his angry outburst. She felt safe again.
CHAPTER SEVEN
L
orne spent the morning twiddling her fingers, waiting for Katy to call about the laptop. Forensics had promised to squeeze it in as a favour to Katy. The case couldn’t progress until they found out what was in Karen’s files. She started pacing the kitchen.
“Can’t you do something useful? Like make lunch or something?” Tony teased, whipping her on the backside with a tea towel.
“I suppose that would be a smart idea. What do you fancy? Cheese on toast?”
“Sounds great. With added onion and Worcester sauce?”
“Of course. Go and see if Charlie is ready to eat, will you?”
“I guess I don’t have to ask where she is. If I thought that agility course would keep her out of our hair for this long, I would have constructed it months ago.”
Lorne laughed. “You don’t mean that. I hope it’s not going to prove to be much of a distraction for her. I’d hate her neglecting her duties to the other dogs.”
“She’s taken more than a shine to Rusty. That’s for sure. Maybe we should consider her keeping him.”
Lorne bent down and stroked Henry. “What do you think about that, boy?”
He yawned and flopped back on the tiled floor, expecting a tummy rub.
“That dog is so laid-back, he’s telling you he wouldn’t mind.” Tony walked past her and out the back door.
“We’ll let her wait a little longer before we break the good news, eh?” She leaned forward and cuddled her furry best friend. “No dog could replace you, hon.” He licked the side of her face and looked over at his bowl.
Lorne stood up, her knees cracking in the process, and laughed. “Are you hungry, too, mate?”
Henry licked his lips and sat up. Before she had a chance to put his meat and biscuits in his bowl, the phone rang.
Lorne answered the phone in the lounge. “Hello.”
“Are you sitting down?”
“I am now. What’s wrong, Katy?”
“First of all, I have good news. Forensics have managed to get into the laptop.”
“That’s brilliant. I sense some bad news coming my way. What is it?”
Katy exhaled a heavy sigh. “Karen’s body was fished out of the river earlier today.”
Unexpected tears misted her eyes, and Lorne was rendered speechless for a few seconds. “My God!”
“Yeah. Which means that this will now be treated as a murder enquiry. We’ll have to hang on to the laptop, I’m afraid.”
“Christ, of course. Any clues as to how long she was in the water? Was she killed before, and her body dumped? Or did she lose her footing and fall in?”
“We’re not sure on anything right now, Lorne. I’ll keep you informed as and when I get any news.”
“Has her sister, Stacy, been told yet?”
“Yes, someone told her within half an hour of the body being found. We identified her by using the photo you showed me over the weekend.”
“I’m glad I could be of help in one way, at least. Anything else I should know? Like where was the body found?”
“Lorne, you can’t proceed with this case.”
She puffed out her chest and straightened her back. “I know I can’t officially, Katy. Just humour me, will you? Where was she found?”
Katy lowered her voice to tell her the exact location and then said, “I’m just informing you, Lorne, that from your point of view, the case is closed.” Katy spoke to someone else, “Yes, sir, right away.” Then she returned her attention to Lorne. “Look, I’ve got to go. I’ll ring you later when I have a spare minute.”
“Okay. I appreciate the call.”
Lorne hung up and sat there with the phone in her hand for another five minutes, contemplating if she could have prevented Karen’s death. She heard footsteps coming up the hallway and looked up to see Tony standing in the doorway.
She held up the phone and then replaced it in its docking station. “Karen’s dead.”