Just the thought and his palms began to sweat. Gut instinct told him to get over there fast.
Without so much as a glance toward his silent partner, Michael started the ignition.
As he drove, he thought about the missing kid. When his marriage hadnt worked out, hed been glad Marie and he hadnt had children. Still, deep down, not having them was one of lifes big disappointments.
What if Rosies granddaughters life depended on somebody who gave a damn making the right decision?
Hell.
When he stepped on the gas, Keith swore viciously and flicked his cigarette lighter.
Three
The large windows of Yolies mansion threw long bright rectangles of yellow out onto the dark lawn as Rosie pulled up. Red and blue lights blinking, cop cars were everywhere.
Alexis, pleasePlease be okay, baby.
Rosie parked the Beamer in the driveway, got out and ran stumbling up the dark sidewalk. Besides the radio cars, several cars shed never seen before were parked on the narrow street in front of the house. Dark, shadowy figures moved about near the brilliantly lit pool house and pool.
Expecting the worst inside, she struggled with her keys and pushed the big door open.
Jennifer?
Her coppery curls bouncing and her blue eyes as bright as lasers in her olive-toned face, Alexis got up from the television set and hurled herself into her grandmothers arms, nearly knocking her down.
You didnt come home when you said, Mimi!
Rosie swallowed guiltily and tried not to think about why.
So, I went to your bed! I crawled under the covers with Lula on top so I could hide and surprise you! I guess I fell asleep, and I didnt hear Jennifer when she called me! So, guess what? She called the nice policeman! But dont give me a time-out! Please dont!
Rosie pressed the slim child close and drank in the musky fragrances of unwashed little girl, sweaty curls and peppermint breath. Her nose was running, too.
Youre okay? Youre really okay! Oh, honey Relief flooded Rosie as she searched her purse for a tissue. Finally. Something good had happened since shed turned forty.
Youre squeezing me, Mimi!
As she hugged Alexis even closer, Rosie slowly became aware of the tall, dark, lean-hipped man writing something on a notepad.
The police! She was in no shape to deal with them. When he strode into the living room and stood over her, tingles of alarm coursed through her. Then her gaze climbed a pair of long muscular legs encased in rumpled black slacks.
Familiar long muscular legs.
For no reason at all she remembered the furious rattle of palm fronds, the sound of a Mexican xylophone, the salty air that smelled of the seaand the sting of hot skin from that awful sunburn shed gotten from lying on the beach in the shade too long with Michael.
It couldnt be himNot Michael Nash!
Michael wore a brown sport coat that needed an iron. His tie had been yanked loose at his throat. There were shadows under his long-lashed, dark eyes that hadnt been there when hed fast-talked and fast-kissed and fast-petted her into riding off on the back of his motorcycle to Veracruz, Mexico, the day after theyd graduated from high school.
Michael. He had a tattoo of a cute little palm tree on his chest over his heart, which matched the one she had over her left breast. Thank God they were both clothed.
With a low moan, she stood up slowly and blew out a mortified breath. Shed dressed in such a hurry at Pierces and then at the hospital again that she was sure she looked even more of a mess than Michael did.
Michael turned off the TV and shot her his famous football star grin that back in high school had made all the cheerleaders want to sleep with him. Okay, obviously shed gone for it, too.
Alexis mustve fallen for the smile because she ran over to him and lowered her lashes much too fetchingly for Rosies peace of mind. And she was all of five.
Oh, my God!
Rosie watched in horror as he knelt. Oh, how she hated how infinitely gentle his voice was when he spoke to the little girl. You okay, sweetheart?
Alexis nodded up at him. Holding her blue blanket, she twisted it to and fro shyly.
Of all the cops in this cityyou had to be the one to come. Rosie ran her hands through her wildly tangled hair. Then she snapped, Alexis, its time for bed!
The child put her hands on her hips. Her jaw squared mulishly. Im not sleepy.
I thought you were a homicide detective, Rosie said to Michael.
So you remember? His grin twisted. I like it that you paid attention. Your babysitter called 911. I heard your name.
So you volunteered?
His eyes darkened, and she felt a little scared.
Something like that. He lowered his voice, but not before she caught the edge in it. Fond memories.
Why did he look so serious? Why was he studying her so intently with those cops eyes of his? As if shed committed a crime?
She tried not to think about Pierce. Arent there enough bad guys to keep you busy?
Maybe I prefer bad girls.
Im a good witch, Alexis said, and batted her lashes at him.
Yes, you are, darling, Rosie agreed, glad of the distraction. The best little witch ever to ride a broom with her very own Blue Binkie. But its time for all good witches to go to bed.
As Michael continued to watch Rosie, his grin made her feel feverish and anxious.
She was forty, for heavens sake. A grown-up. A grandmother. She was too old to get the chills because of him, of all people.
Michael shifted so that he faced her. She grew even warier of his penetrating gaze.
I thought cops were supposed to be doughnut addicts with weight problems. When are you going to get fat and old?
You look good, too, Rosie. So good, you make me remember palm trees andthat night last year.
She flushed. Dont!
He grinned. What are youforty?
She lifted her chin. Dont remind me.
Palm trees? Alexis whispered eagerly. Can we go to the beach, Mimi? I love the beach.
Hush. She had to get Alexis to bed and Michael out of here fast before he grew bossy or inquisitive, or her hormones started acting up.
Ive got some guys outside making sure everything is all right, he said, in that deep, oddly tense, authoritative tone shed never liked. They walked Jennifer home. I stayed inside watching cartoons with Alexis to wait for you.
He glanced at his watch and then at her again. Maybe it was just her, but she thought his detective eyes glinted suspiciously. So, where were youso late?
There was an emergency. Im a nurse. II had to go in to work, she said, finger-combing her hair as he continued to watch her, still in that too-assessing way of his.
Your babysitter seemed to be expecting you much earlier. I think Alexis and she got nervous
Jennifer knew I had to work. Rosie felt herself flushing guiltily. Then she bristled. What business was it of his? For a second or two she considered telling him about the break-in two days ago, but that would only prolong the encounter.
She glanced pointedly toward the door. Well, Alexis is safe and sound now, so, again, thank you.
She glanced pointedly toward the door. Well, Alexis is safe and sound now, so, again, thank you.
A beat passed.
He didnt budge. Not even when Alexis rubbed her eyes again.
Look, I really do need to get her to bed, Rosie said desperately. You know the way out.
He was still watching her in that way that so unnerved her when he said, I called the hospital, and your supervisor said you were off all day and that you came in briefly around twelve-thirtyand that
Because of her fear and guilt, Rosies temper blazed out of control. She felt her face grow hot. But instead of saying anything, she took Alexiss hand and hurried her upstairs. But as she ran, she was aware of him standing there, not moving, his keen gaze burning into her back.
In her bathroom, she strained her ears trying to hear the door close behind him. When she thought shed heard it, she tried to forget him.
Not a chance of that! Not when Alexis turned to her, bright-eyed and curious. Are you in love with him, Mimi?
What?
Are you?
When she shook her head, Alexis, who was clearly in the midst of her first crush, smiled and then gushed in a confidential tone, Good. Because I am.
Oh, GodUnwanted memories swamped Rosieher arms laced around Michaels young, lean back as they roared toward Mexico, the wind gusting against their skin; his long naked body on top of hers at that secluded beach with the palms after hed taken her virginity. Last of all she remembered the compassion in his eyes as shed poured her heart out to him in that bar last year after hed ticketed her. When shed finished talking, shed leaned across the table and kissed him as if he were the only person in her whole life whod ever really mattered. His answering kiss had been equally tender and hot and all-consuming.
Nobody else had ever made her feel as if she was the only one.
Rosie yanked the brush through Alexiss hair and then washed her face, but she was too tired and upset to bathe her.
Tomorrow, first thing in the morning, after a nights sleep, well bathe together, she said, forcing a bright smile.
Alexis set Blue Binkie on the counter and squirted a blob of jewel-blue toothpaste on her brush, and for once didnt argue, so Rosie got to splash cold water on her own face in relative peace.
I want to sleep with you, Alexis said when they were finished.
Yes, Id like that, too. Rosie wiped a bit of shiny blue off the corner of Alexiss mouth. Well have our very own slumber party. How Rosie had longed for such closeness to Carmen, Alexiss mother, when Carmen had been young. But it hadnt happened back then, and it still hadnt happened.
Someday.
When they closed the bedroom door, Rosie gently tucked the little girl, Blue Binkie, several books that she demanded, and three of her favorite stuffed animals under the covers of her king-size bed. When Alexis rolled over, hugging her blanket and shutting her eyes, Rosie tiptoed downstairs, intending to turn the lights out, lock up and set the alarm.
Instead, she nearly screamed when she saw Michael sprawled on the couch, writing in his little notebook.
I thought youd left.
He looked up, his eyes hard with suspicion.
Cute kid, he said, forcing a mildness in his low tone. Real cute. Reminds me of you. I envy you. I never had kids.
Quickly, she glanced at him and at her family pictures right behind him, and then away. Had he looked at them?
Deep breath. Deep breath.
You have to go, she said. Now.
Why the hell are you so afraid of me?
Whos afraid? I was just worried Alexis might wake up and get scared.
Theres no need to be afraid of me, you know.
Right. Im not.
Besides, I thought we kind of clicked again last year.
At the reminder, a ripple of tension raced down her spine. Maybe if she went on the attack, he would leave.
Look, I was going through a rough time last year. You were pushy as hell. You took advantage. I made up my mind a long time agothat you and Iwerent right for each other.
He slammed his notebook aside and sat up straighter. Oh, right, blame me for what happened. Revenge fantasies cause you to chase your old boyfriend down with your Beamer, and then when I ticket you and prevent you from doing murder or whatever you intended, you reach under the table and grab
Okay! I dont need a replay!
What was Ia revenge fuck?
Oh! Is that what you told everybody you knowthat I threw myself at you?
It damn sure would have been the truth. What about the revenge part? Is that why you did it?
She marched toward him, intending to pound his wide chest. But as soon as she entered his space, she grew jittery and halted. Suddenly she was too afraid of his power and her own vulnerability after all that had happened tonight. Besides, anytime she saw him, guilt about the past swept her.
He lifted his hands in mock surrender. Okay. Okay. Im sorry I said that. And about what happened last year, I was a self-servinger, pushy jerkTo let you feel me up right there in the bar. And then to kiss you back when you kissed me.
Just when her blood came to a rolling boil again, he paused.
To let me?
Rosie, be fair. The sex was your idea. You knew how easy it was for you to stir me up in high school, he stated. And youd learned a lot since then. I was going through a rough patch with my wife, too.
Your wife? Youyou dog! I cant believe this! Oh, yes, yes she could. After tonight, she could believe anything. Men were scum. You were married?
Was.
This was bad.
She gulped in a breath, almost strangling. She knew she should drop it, but she couldnt. You shouldve stopped at that first kissor at least by the second.
So should you. The truth is, you sort of pushed, too. I mean, your hands were doing all those things under the table.
But you were married.
Not anymorethanks to you.
What? Youre blaming me? Oh!
When Marie and I were making up, Im afraid I told her about us.
Marie? Her names Marie, too? And whats this us? There is, I mean was, no us.
I tried to explain that to her. Stupidly, I thought I should try to be honest when we started over.
And you were dumb enough to tell her about us?
Us. There! You said it, too!
Images of what shed done with Michael sprang into vivid color in her imagination. This was a nightmare. She couldnt believe Michael had turned up the same night shed seen Pierce again.
How much did you tell her?
Too much.
Everything. Hed told his wife everything!
Why had she picked Michael to sleep with instead of some stranger? The point had been to reassure herself she was still even capable of sex after the number Pierce had done on her. Period. Shed wanted no attachments. Who better than a man she knew she had to be done with?