Chapter 10
The silence was pregnant as the two glared at each other. She was the first to relent.
“I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you?” He walked menacingly towards the desk and slapped his hands on the surface. “The Margo I know would not have fallen for a man because of his frigging money.”
The dig went deep, and it hurt like hell.
“How dare you,” she whispered.
“I dare because you are more than my partner. I care about you.” He told her bitterly. “What the hell did he say to you, or do to you to get you on your back?”
She shoved from the desk, her anger bubbling over.
“Get out of my office. Now!”
“Look…”
“Get out. This is my office, and I don’t answer to you.”
“You are my partner…”
“That can change at any time. Just get the hell out of my sight.”
She watched as he wrenched open the door and left, slamming it shut behind him.
Sinking down, she covered her face with her hands, despair covering her. She was not concerned that he was going to run to the commander. He was not like that. But what he said to her burned.
And he was right. What the hell was she doing?
She was playing house with a suspect and her objectivity was shot to hell.
She knew it and no doubt Brad knew it as well. She wanted to prove that Merrick wasn’t a suspect and was willing to go to any lengths to do so.
Her intercom sounded and caused her to jump.
“Yes?”
“The commander would like to see you in his office.”
“Did he say why?”
“No. He expects you to be here in five minutes.”
Her hands trembled, and she felt herself sinking into fear. Had Brad gone straight to him after all?
Firming her lips, she shoved from the desk and made her way from her office. The change in shifts had started and the squad room was filling up. The scent of bad coffee and Lysol permeated the air. Two officers had a suspect sandwiched between them, the man protesting his innocence.
A woman with a garishly made-up face and wearing a crotch high black skirt and fish net stockings was mouthing to another officer and overall, it was the general state of chaos that had in the past brought her pleasure and amused her.
But she was carrying a heavy weight and could not think beyond what was happening to her and what her commander wanted with her.
“He said to go straight through.” The woman who guarded his desk, barely looked up from the computer.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and felt her heart slamming against her ribs when she saw Brad standing by the window.
Bracing herself for the worse, she stood there facing her commander.
“Sir?”
“Please have a seat.”
“I prefer to stand, sir.” If she was going to be asked to turn in her badge and shield, she would take it standing.
He stared at her – his face expressionless.
“Suit yourself.”
“The mayor wants a press release.”
She simply stared at him and did not dare look over at Brad. She had been given a grace period, or this was a trap.
“A press release, sir?”
“I already told the commander that would be a mistake.”
She looked at Brad then and saw the warning in his gaze. He had not sold her out.
“I agree with Brad, sir. A press release would only add fuel to the fire, and we do not have enough to give to the public.”
Leaning back in his chair with the old leather squeaking, he stared at her for so long that she was tempted to shift from one foot to the next.
“You are working on Merrick Pendergast. I assume that you have made contact?”
Scrupulously avoiding her partner’s gaze, she kept hers trained on the man behind the desk.
“Contact has been made, sir.”
“And?”
She just stopped herself from shoving her hands into her pockets. “I’m making progress.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“it means she has established a rapport with the suspect and is making some headway.” Both the commander and Margo turned to stare at Brad.
“Sir, I need a little more time,” she offered, sending Brad a warning glance.
“That is what we’re running out of and if anyone else turns up dead, we’re out of time. Wrap this up and fast. Dismissed.” He waved a hand and sent them on their way.
They waited until they had cleared the offices before he spoke.
“You thought I had ratted you out.” The voice was accusatory and had her looking up at him.
“Yes. The way you charged out of my office led me to believe that you went straight to the commander.” She automatically jerked her arm when he gripped it and steered her into a storage room.
“What are you doing?”
“How long have we known each other?” He asked tightly, dropping her arm, and taking a step back.
“It doesn’t matter…”
“Haven’t I always had your back? I care about you a hell of a lot, not just as a partner and you damn well know it.”
Blowing out her breath, she sat on a crate of disinfectant. “I know, but you were so angry – I thought…”
“Can you blame me?” He hissed. “You’re sleeping with a suspect and that’s a recipe for disaster.”
“I know what I’m doing,” she said defensively.
“Do you?”
“Yes.” She insisted. “He’s innocent, Brad.”
He simply stared at her.
“And if he’s not, I will personally put the cuffs on.”
“You’d better hope he is.” With that, he turned around and jerked the door open, leaving her sitting there.
*****
She was quiet and he wondered what she was thinking. The workout session between them had been intense. Afterwards they had taken a shower and now they were having a meal in the living room with the fire glowing in the hearth. He was not accustomed to her silence and was concerned, and she was picking at her meal.
“The lobster is not to your liking?”
He noticed the tiny jolt when he spoke as if she had been immersed in her own world.
“It’s delicious.” To prove it, she scooped up a forkful.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Please tell me.”
She shrugged. “This is a mistake.”
He willed himself to be calm. All day he had been in meetings, sitting behind his desk plowing through several complicated contracts and all the while he had been thinking of her.
Her smile, her witty and sharp humor, the way she carries herself, the way she fitted him like a glove and the excitement and anticipation of tonight. And under all of that was the fear that she would decide she did not want to stay with him.
“You have to see that I’m right.”
“Do I?” They had showered together in the gym bathroom, and she was wearing one of his shirts, which looked as sexy as hell on her. Her face was scrubbed clean, and he had a challenging time remembering that she was in her fifties. Shoving off the sofa, he went to stoke the fire and had sparks flying up.
She bit her lip as she watched his controlled angry movement. The conversation with Brad had nettled her and the call to the commander’s office had been disturbing. Brad was right. She should not have gotten involved. And when they find the real culprit, the man standing by the fire was going to hate her. And she could not bear it.
She should end this now before it was too late. But wasn’t it already too late?
“What the hell are you afraid of?” He came back around and sat at her feet.
“I am not afraid of anything. I am just being practical. This …,” she flung a hand at him first and then at herself. “We are polar opposites.” Putting her utensils down, she sat back and closed her eyes briefly. “I cannot give you what you want.”
“What is it you think I want?” He asked in a dangerously soft tone.
“You want me to live with you and that is not going to happen. You want a relationship, and I am not in the market for one. I do not do relationships because they are messy, and I am too old and set in my ways. Besides that, you are Merrick Pendergast, what the holy hell are you doing with someone like me?”
“Someone like you?”
“My family is tainted, and I am just a simple woman with simple tastes. I hate shopping – I would rather be stretched out and have nails driven into my palms than spend a day shopping. I hardly do housework, and I do not cook – period. I am a slob and the most important thing…” She picked up her wineglass and took a swallow.
“I do not know wines. I do not know which utensils to use, and I do not give a crap. I will only embarrass you if we go out together at your fancy events. And I hate socializing because I do not like people.”
And I am a cop who is using you to try and get to the bottom of a case. When you find out, you are going to hate me and it’s killing me.
“Are you finished?” He asked quietly, intense gray eyes on her face.
“For now, yes.”
“Let me try and address your concerns in the correct order. I have an account at Romano’s which means you never have to step inside a store. I have a housekeeper and if she is not enough, then I am perfectly willing to hire any other staff. If you want to know about wines, I am willing to teach you.
Basically, all those things are superfluous. All I want is you and the rest is just…,” he waved a hand. “It’s additives – ones that we can work around. Yes, when you are ready, I would like you to accompany me to various functions and would consider it an honor to have you next to me.”
“Merrick…”
“Let me finish.” Taking the glass from her, he scooted over and hauled her into his lap. “I am in love with you…”
“Oh God!”
He smiled grimly at her terrified expression. He had not meant to tell her so soon, in case he scared her off, but he did not care. He loved her. For the first time in his life, he was head over heels in love with someone and he did not want to keep it to himself any longer. What she did with it was up to her.
“And when you get used to the idea of my adoration, I want to marry you.” He held on tight as she started to jerk away. “I will wait until you are ready and I hope one day soon, you will say it back to me.
But for now, I want to hold you, be with you every single day.” His hands drifted up to cup her face. “Let me love you darling. I do not care where you come from or anything like that. All I want is you.”
Her throat burned; her body felt as if it was melting from the inside out. She could not hear these words. She was a fraud. And very soon he would know it.
“Say something.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” she whispered hoarsely, “you do not know me. You do not know who I am.”
“Then show me.” He murmured, thumbs caressing her cheeks. “There is nothing you tell me that I am not willing to hear and adjust to. I am here, darling, and I am not going anywhere.”
She curled into him and could not stop the tears.
He wrapped his arms around her, cradling her against his chest as she sobbed.
He was not used to her being so vulnerable and felt an aching tenderness invaded his very soul.
Margo was thinking that for the first eighteen years of her life, she thought no one cared about her. She had been a scrawny kid and a sickly one as well and no one had wanted to take that on, and it stung. She had been forced to become tough and put on a veneer of coldness just to survive.
She never showed emotions, had learned to hide what she was feeling. Now this man had come into her life and was showing her that it was never too late for anything. But it was off – the timing sucked. She could not accept his love or anything else he had to offer.
Lifting her face from his chest, his eyes scanned her wet cheeks and eyes washed with tears.
“I have to ask, is it a good sign that I have brought you to tears?”
She laughed shakily and blinked. “I will let you know. Do me a favor?”
“Anything.” He said solemnly.
“Make love to me.”
“With pleasure.”
*****
“It’s like a museum.” She murmured as they made their way through the winding driveway. She had called to ask him what the required dress code was, and he had told her to wear anything she felt comfortable wearing.
“In my world, that means combat boots and jeans.”
“How about dress pants and a nice sweater? I could order something from Romano’s, and you dress at my place.”
“No. I wear what I have and if it’s not pleasing to the eyes of your family, then to hell with them.”
He had not cared one way or another what she put on, but his family, especially his sister-in-law were snobs. He had told them he was bringing someone by for supper and they had been trying to find out who it was.
“It’s been in the family for several generations.”
“You moved out.”
He parked at the base of the wide porch steps and stared at the place he still considered as home. Bright lights blazed inside, giving the mellow white and gray bricks a kind of homeliness that never ceased to amaze him.
“I wanted my own space, and Maurice was starting his family. I figured he wanted space as well.”
He opened the door just as the wide double doors were flung open and a man dressed in all black, stepped out and stood waiting.
“Is that – no way! A butler!”
He grinned at her stupefied expression and she did not notice when he took her hand to help her out of the vehicle.
“He is in charge of the household and has been with the family since I was a child. His name is Boris.”
“He does not look like a Boris.”
He gave her a quizzical glance. “What does a Boris looks like?”
“Big and brawny with a lot of hair. This guy is skinny and with hardly any hair.”
“You are weird.”
“Wait!” She started to jerk her hand away, but he held fast as they mounted the steps.
“Mr. Merrick.” The man beamed at him and transferred his watery blue eyes to Margo.
“Boris, please meet my …” He turned his head towards her, a small frown on his brow.
Margo solved the problem by responding. “His sex partner.”
To his credit, Boris’ stoic expression did not change, and she had to bite back a laugh when she felt the pressure of Merrick’s fingers digging into her palm.
“My lady, Margo Sullivan.”
“Very pleased to meet you Ms. Margo.”
“The family is waiting in the main living room.” He stepped back so that they could enter the huge foyer with the soaring ceiling and Margo tried her best not to goggle. Boris took their jackets and folded them carefully across one stiff and polished arm and stood there waiting until Merrick took her arm and led her down the hallway.
“Please behave,” he whispered.
“I cannot make any promises. This place is impressive.”
“Want the tour?”
“I don’t think we have the time. And did you have to refer to me as your lady?” She hissed.
He only arched a brow at her. “I might mention that you called yourself my sex partner.”
Before she could respond, they were veering to the right and entering a large room with an enormous fireplace. The polished wooden floor with a lovely butter colored patina shone like glass.
Three men were standing near to the fireplace with drinks in hands. From various photographs, she could pick out who was who.
Maurice Pendergast looked even more unimpressive in person than in the photos and was a pale shadow of his dynamic brother. The two young men were tall, taller than their dad and had the same shade of dark hair and piercing gray eyes which told her it was a family deal.
Jason looked jittery and was moving from one foot to the next restlessly.
Michael was charming and had a genuine smile that welcomed her openly. A sudden movement caught her eye and Janey Pendergast moved forward – glided rather, the stunning red gown molding her voluptuous curves. Diamonds glittered at her lobes and around her neck and her lustrous blonde hair flowed over one shoulder.
“Darling.” With arms outstretched, she completely ignored Margo and came towards Merrick.
Margo started to move away, when he clamped a hand around her waist, holding her to his side. Bending, he kissed his sister-in-law’s cheek, before turning to the rest of the family.
“I would like you to meet Margo Sullivan.” He announced with a smile. “Darling…,” he added deliberately, making it clear who she was to him. “Meet the family.” When he called their names, they stepped forward to greet her.
Maurice was cool and reserved, making his opinion of her clear. Jason was sullen and uncommunicative, but Michael took her hand and kissed the back of it gallantly. “Welcome to our home.”
“Thank you.”
Janey swept her blue gaze over Margo’s black dress pants and black and white sweater with a disparaging look and gave her a cool nod.
Merrick was about to offer her something to drink when a maid slid into the room and announced dinner.
The dining room was huge as well and formal, with an elegant breakfast nook to one side, a floor to ceiling windows with a stunning view of the lush grounds and a dazzlingly white gazebo. A table stood in the middle of the floor that could easily seat twenty people.
Flower were everywhere, on the table, the credenza in one corner of the room and in alcoves all around the space. Taking her hand, Merrick kept her next to him, but still Janey, playing the less than gracious hostess managed to find herself at the opposite side of him.
She caught the annoyed look on her husband’s face as he slid into his seat at the head of the table.
The conversation at the start of the meal was mainly centered around the business while Margo listened with interest as she tasted her creamy spinach soup and found it to her liking. She also had time to make her impressions.
Jason was definitely on something. She recognized the signs. The restless tapping of his fingers on the white tablecloth, the hunching of his shoulders and his sullen expression and she wondered if the family were deliberately being obtuse.
Michael was charming and explaining that his girlfriend or fiancée was away for work. She decided that she liked him. He was genuine and charming, and his smile came easily. Maurice on the other hand, divided his gaze between her and his wife, his frown getting heavier.
She could not blame him. Janey used every opportunity to touch Merrick and behaved as if they were the only two people at the table.
Margo wanted to deck the woman and pull out her phony blonde hair by the roots.
“So, Margo my dear,” Maurice spoke over the conversations going on, “what is it that you do?”
She was prepared for that question, but it unnerved her just the same when they all stared at her.
“I was a photographer and now I am an aspiring novelist,” she said smoothly as she cut into her veal.
“Aspiring? What genre?”
“Historical romance.” Picking up her hand off the table, Merrick kissed the knuckles and ignored her effort to pull away. “She has yet to show me what she is writing.”
“A quirk of mine.” She turned a sweet smile at him. “It’s bad luck to share too early.”
“And where did you two meet?” This was from Janey who was staring at her in disbelief.
“At the gallery a few weeks ago.”
Both husband and wife stared at Merrick in shock. “You mean you only just met?”
“Yes.” He challenged them with a glance as he linked his fingers with hers.
“Uncle Merrick, you work fast.” Michael said with a grin, his eyes sliding towards Margo. “But I can see why.”
“Precisely.” Merrick grinned at him in approval, and they resumed eating.