Chapter 1
He came home in disgrace. He’d been suspended from the PPD pending an investigation. He would have gone to the Caribbean and lost himself in liquor but he was forced to return to his hometown instead. His father died, and Jonas Kirkland had left notes to his lawyer that the service should be this week.
Still shaken by what happened, Will had driven to Westwood from D.C. and went right to the house he grew up in. Entered it. The place had been closed up for a long time since his dad was in nursing home and Will couldn’t stand the stuffiness. He dropped his bags in the living room and headed out again. He hadn’t been to visit his dad for a while, and he felt guilty about that. He deeply mourned the man who had raised him.
He drove through the streets of Westwood to Al’s, a dive bar on the outskirts of town frequented by people who didn’t want to be seen. He walked inside and up to a stool and sat. He ordered a scotch and circled around to survey the clientele. When his gaze landed on one of the tables, he practically choked on the sip he’d taken.
What the hell was Katie Donovan doing in a place like this? Images of her when they were guarding his friend Diego filtered through his mind…
Katie, her jaw stubborn as she yelled at him.
Katie, her blue eyes wide with concern over Annie visiting Diego.
Katie’s confession, I was wrong about Denzi …
And finally, that scorching hot kiss in the car. But he’d been another man, then.
Still, he crossed to her. She looked up from her glass. “Kirkland?”
“Yeah.”
“What are you doing here?”
He gestured to her glass. “Same as you, I guess.”
“Go away.”
He sat instead. He could see her blue eyes were muddy with fatigue. She was only thirty-four but lines had formed around those eyes and that luscious mouth that weren’t there before. When she turned her head, he saw her hair was pulled back into a short tail. That she’d chopped all those luscious locks was the worst of all.
She sipped her drink.
“I came home for my father’s funeral.” The words had come out hoarse.
Ah, there was some warmth. “I’m sorry to hear he died.”
“What happened to you?”
A ragged expression. “I was the detective assigned to protect Diego and Annie. After two weeks with nothing happening, I made the decision to end the coverage of him and the house. Too early, it turns out. The girl from the gang got Annie. The chief blamed me.”
“And?”
“Technically, I’ve been demoted to patrol but I work behind a front desk.”
“That sucks. I don’t remember anybody questioning your decision at the time.”
“Go figure. What about you?”
“Aren’t you going to ask me about the PPD?”
“I’m not up for success stories.”
He snorted. “I’m pretty much in the same boat as you. I was demoted after the president was shot on my watch. I didn’t get to him on time. I’m suspended until the Secret Service decides if I can even stay in the protective division.”
“Seriously?”
His jaw tightened. “The brass doesn’t take kindly to protectees getting shot, especially when it’s the president.”
“I understand that.” Her tone was sarcastic.
He frowned. “Didn’t you read about it in the news?”
“Generally. They didn’t name the agents on duty.”
“Ah.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure.” The future yawned before him, empty. “You?”
She stared at him a long time. Then she stood. “I’m going to leave.” She gave him a sexy smirk. “With you. For just sex. Your place or mine?”
Before, he’d have loved getting Katie Donovan in the sack. What the hell, nothing made him feel good these days. Maybe some monkey sex with her would.
* * *
The next day at work, Kate was haunted by images of last night…
“You smell so good,” he said as he kissed his way down her body.
“I love how you’re made. So sculpted and supple.”
As he drove into her, “Katie, God, Katie.” Then she exploded. The sensations now made her shiver.
“Detective?” Mick Thomas had come up to the desk. Reception was furnished with one waist-high counter which dipped into a desk and benches across from it. “You don’t look so hot.”
“Because I’m bored, chief.”
His eyes narrowed on her. “Do your work here for a while. Then we’ll see.”
She sank back in her chair trying not to seethe.
“Here’s some paperwork. Read it then send it to headquarters.”
She snapped back, “I’m not your secretary.”
He braced his hands on the desk. “You keep this up and we’ll boot you out of the department.” He frowned. “Is that what you want?” She stared at him. “Damn it. I gave you this task so you could read the updates for the precinct. Keep up with what’s going on here.”
She flushed. “Then thank you.”
He strode away, mad probably. Why did she keep needling him? Did she want to be fired? The answer was unclear.
She transferred her thoughts to her plans. She’d seen in the news that calling hours for Jonas Kirkland were held tonight. Will’s father. Should she go? She finished work in time. Nah. She and Will just had sex. He left her house before she woke up.
But three hours later, Kate walked into the designated room at Cobb’s Funeral Home. She’d changed out of her uniform—dark blue pants and a light blue shirt—into khaki capris and a linen blouse. She’d used the blow dryer on her hair. It rarely looked presentable these days but when she glanced in the mirror, she saw a glimpse of the woman she used to be.
Diego and Annie Rodriguez and Jackson Kane and Maisy Shepherd flanked Will now. His face was drawn. He’d told her somewhere along the line that he’d loved his father. That he’d been forced to put him in a nursing home because of his Alzheimer illness. That had been hard for Will but he had no alternative.
Will caught her staring. He said something to Diego and then strode toward her. “Hey.” He squeezed her arm. Left his hand there. “I’m surprised you came.”
“Isn’t it okay?”
“Of course it is.”
“You snuck out this morning.”
“I did not sneak. I had a million errands. You were sound asleep. I set the alarm for seven so you’d get up for work.”
She nodded. “You’re sad, Will. I’m sorry you lost your dad.”
His jaw tightened. “Yeah, I am too.”
Starting to feel uncomfortable, she drew away. “You should get back to your friends.”
“All right.” Even though he was grieving, he arched a brow. “That was something else, though, last night. Wasn’t it?”
“I was blown away.” She squeezed his hands. “Now go.”
“How about a repeat tonight?”
“Um, sure. Just sex though.”
“It’ll be late. Ten or so.”
“That’s okay.”
He walked away. God, she wished he wasn’t so handsome. His blond hair was combed back, his blue eyes the color of the sky. His shoulders looked a mile wide in the suit. The whole package could make her swoon, if she was into that sort of thing.
What the hell was she doing? She made her way to the door, darting in between people. When she got to her car, she had a foreign emotion, one she hadn’t had since the fiasco with Annie. She wanted to be with this man.
* * *
“You didn’t have to invite me over. I have plenty to do.”
Annie said, “You need company.”
He gave a weak smile. Most days he woke up morose. About his Dad, his job.
Diego came into the living room from the kitchen; he’d cooked Sunday dinner. Both he and Annie knew everything, as he’d called Will right after the president was shot. Diego dropped down close to Annie. These two were still lovebirds. She leaned over and took Will’s hand in hers. “I haven’t talked to you since the Secret Service ordeal. I’m so sorry, Will.”
He couldn’t help but be real with these two. “Thanks. I’m having a tough time handling it.”
Diego said, “Then your father died.”
“Really bad luck.”
“Remember when he caught us with those two girls in the big shed behind your house?”
“Naked as jaybirds. All of us.”
“He didn’t even yell. My Papa would have raised hell.”
Will sighed. “Yeah. He was a great man.” He swallowed hard. “I met with the lawyer today. He left me all the property and a 500K insurance policy.”
“Holy cow.” This from Annie. “I told Diego to ask you if you needed money. I guess not.” She squeezed his hands. “I’m glad you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Yeah. I guess I have options now.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’m suspended with pay until they decide if I can ever go back to a protective detail. I’ll never guard the president again, though. And there’s a chance that no bigwigs will want me on their detail.”
“I’m so sorry.” Diego scowled. “ Eso es ridículo .”
“Not so ridiculous in their eyes.” He blurted out, “I glanced away for a few seconds and the shot came. I didn’t have time to dive in front of him.”
“That must be awful for you, buddy.”
“When I think too hard about it, I can barely breathe.” He shook his head. “I’m not pleasant company today. Too many bad things in my karma right now.”
“Hush. I made your favorite dish,” Diego said. “That Mama used to make.”
Just then the stove’s buzzer sounded.
“It’s ready. You two sit and I’ll serve it.”
“Okay. I’ll help clean up.”
“That’s Annie’s job.”
Dinner consisted of a rice and tomato casserole. The familiar spices of chili sauce and Worcestershire brought back eating at Diego’s house when they were kids. That was when his dad was alive. Even though he moved away, he knew his father was there for him. Now, he didn’t have that anymore.
Afterward, he and Diego went out to the patio. The warm air enveloped them. “I like spring.”
“Yeah.”
“Want to talk more?”
“No. I’m tired.” Of talking. Of the loss deep in his gut.
“Why don’t you stay overnight? You don’t have to go home to that house with so many memories.”
I’m not . But he couldn’t even tell Diego that he was seeing Katie again. For just sex. This would be the third time he’d be with her. “Nah. I want to be alone.”
“Not good for you.”
“Yeah, well, it doesn’t matter.” He stood and Diego joined him, walked inside, said goodbye to Annie and left their house. They stood on the porch waving to him. He was jealous as hell of what they had together. At one point he wanted that. But he doubted he’d ever have it now. These days, he wondered if anyone could love a loser like him.
* * *
Kate sat at the counter while her Dad basted a turkey. Its scent filled the whole kitchen. “That smells wonderful.”
“Yeah.” He did a bit of stirring and tasting from the pots on the stove top, then turned to face her. Sipped his beer. “You look like hell, Katie girl.”
“I’m not getting much sleep.” Which was true. The three nights Will came to her place they’d doze off then wake up and have sex again.
“Still in a funk because of your demotion?”
“Of course I am.”
“The police department is strict.” Her Dad was a retired cop and one of her brothers was climbing the ladder in the police force. The other brother, Hank, was a computer guy in Syracuse. “But you’ll get through it. I still have hope you’ll get back to where you were.”
She didn’t. “Tell me about Mary and Henry.”
“Even after two months, they’re still on cloud nine about the new baby.” He frowned. “Haven’t you talked to Mary? She’s your best friend.”
“I went to see her when she had Henry. But I haven’t talked to her lately.” Actually, it had been too long. “Maybe I’ll go out and see them some weekend.”
“We can go together.”
“Dad, you don’t have to keep me company.”
“You shouldn’t be alone now.”
She thought of Will but tried not to show any emotion. Luckily, Patrick, the eldest sibling arrived with his wife and sons. He was tall and slim, and she had to go up on tiptoes to hug him. “You okay, peanut?”
Everybody had nicknames for her.
She hugged Lee Ann, a schoolteacher, who she liked a lot, then turned to the kids.
“Hey, don’t I get hugs from you two?” she said to them.
“We’re too old to hug.” This from Frankie who was ten. The littlest, Tory, was six.
“That doesn’t include me. Come on, both of you.”
They rushed over and hugged her.
The house got boisterous as they sat in the living room and chatted. It distracted her dad from her problems. For that, she was thankful.
* * *
Will knocked on Katie’s door at ten that night. She had a small apartment in a multi-home building and it wasn’t, well, a very decent place to live. She opened the door. Sweat beaded on her head and her clothes were damp. “I just got back from a run. I need a shower. Come in and wait.”
Once he got inside, he pulled her to him. “I like sweaty.” He picked her up and brought her to the living room. The furniture at least was good quality. They undressed hurriedly. Then he took her on the couch.
And the floor.
And in bed.
It was just sex.
* * *
Kate sat at her desk, once again bored. So far she’d read four reports and answered questions when people came into the precinct earlier in the night. Only in a small town would the citizens have such easy access to the police.
She was reading a menu to see what she wanted to order for her dinner, when two patrol cops brought in a pair of women—about eighteen, dressed in skimpy tops and short shorts; they were probably street workers. The other was a guy she vaguely recognized.
The two patrol officers roughly pushed the girls to the bench, about a foot apart. “Sit there,” Zeke Landry ordered. She knew him. He wasn’t a good cop which was why he was still on patrol in his mid-thirties. And she’d heard rumors that he abused his wife. “We’ll book the john.” He nodded to the pros. “We’ll deal with you two later.”
Kate asked, “What’d they do?”
“They got in a cat fight over this guy and had knives,” Landry told her. “They should be fine sitting there.”
The other cop was younger and Landry had gotten him as his partner. And sidekick. His badge read, Jeff Lawrence. “Not sure we should leave them, Zeke.”
The john squirmed and yanked at his restraints.
The women glared at each other.
Kate said, “I can handle it.” When the two of them practically dragged the guy under his arms through the door to the squad room, she faced the women. “Don’t try anything, ladies. I got a gun.”
“Fuck you,” one of them mumbled under her breath. She couldn’t hear what the other said.
Kate sat up straight, alert now. She watched them, but they ignored her. The phone rang. She picked it up while keeping her gaze on them.
“Westwood Police Department, Officer Donovan speaking.”
“I need to talk to Captain Thomas.”
“Who’s calling, please?”
“Tell him his wife needs to speak with him.”
Oh. “Sorry Mrs. Thomas. I didn’t know it was you. I’ll patch you—"
One of the women bolted up and hurled herself at the other. Woman number two was caught unaware. Number one grabbed her by the arm and flung her to the floor.
And drew a knife.
Kate dropped the phone, threw back the chair, leapt over the counter. She grabbed the number two’s tattooed arm. The woman turned on her. “What the hell?” She waved the knife at Kate. “You wanna get some of this too?”
Kate grabbed for the handle of the knife. Number one attacked and the second woman took a slice out of Kate’s hand.
“Arrgh!” she hissed at the fresh pain. Despite that, she caught the woman and she grabbed her wrist, twisted it until the weapon fell to the ground.
The patrol officers came out of the precinct proper. They corralled the women and cuffed them.
“What happened, Donovan?” Landry asked after they were taken care of.
“Your two culprits started a knife fight.”
“Fuck, you are incompetent, Donovan. No wonder you’re riding the bench. You should’ve—"
Captain Thomas burst into the front area. Observed the scene. “Hell, you’re bleeding, Donovan.” He rushed to a dispenser on the wall and brought her back a bunch of paper towels. She covered the wound.
Then he turned on the men. “Landry, Lawrence, my wife could hear you yelling over the phone. She called me on my cell. In my office now. Both of you.” To Katie he asked, “You okay?”
In truth, lightheadedness made her vision blur for a few seconds. Then she saw that the cut had soaked the paper towels. “I think I need to get this checked out.”
Grabbing his phone, he pressed three numbers. Said, “Captain Thomas from police headquarters. I need a med car at the precinct.” Then he turned to her. “Go sit in the lounge. Can you make it alone?”
“Uh-huh.” She got to the door. Opened it and walked inside. Other cops stared at her as she made her way to a couch and sunk down on it. She closed her eyes, thinking about her bad karma. There was definitely a black cloud hovering over her.
* * *
When Will arrived at Katie’s house the next morning, the sun was shining bright and the air warm. He found the door ajar. Hesitating, he thought for a second. She knew he was coming over at ten because he’d texted her last night to confirm.
He called out, “Katie?”
“Back here.”
He walked inside and strode through the small living room off to the right. The place was tiny. And shabby with smudged and peeling walls. He’d only seen it in the dead of night. Its appearance was worse in the daytime.
She was sitting up in the bed, naked, covered up to her breasts with a green sheet. “Hey, Will.” Her hair was damp from sweat and she had dark smudges under her eyes.
He crossed to the bed. “You okay?” She was pale, too.
“Yeah, sure.”
He noticed her left hand lying on the white sheet. Frowned. “You’ve got a big bandage around your hand.”
“Yep.” She touched her chest. “I’m ready.”
“Tell me what happened first.”
Her brows furrowed. “We don’t have that kind of relationship.”
“I’m not having sex with you if you’re hurt.”
“It’s my hand, not my cunt.” She was trying to shock him into sex. She didn’t.
Sitting down on the side of the mattress, he watched her. “Tell me.” His voice was hoarse. He didn’t know why. “Or I go.”
She rolled her eyes. “All right. Two pros got into it at the precinct. I was on night duty and the lazy cops who brought them in left the reception area to book the john. The girls got into it and I tried to stop them. One of them still had a knife.”
“Fuck, didn’t those officers search the women?”
“You’d think. But they’re assholes.” She shook her head. “This’ll cause me problems.”
“Did Chief Thomas blame you?”
“No. His wife had called the precinct. The chief wasn’t answering his cell. I was about to put her through when all hell broke loose. She finally got in touch with Thomas on his cell. She told him what was happening and he raced out.”
“That’s bizarre. Why will it be more trouble for you?”
“Because the assholes will punish me for making trouble for them. I don’t know how, but they will.”
He thought of something. “How’d you get to the hospital?”
“911.”
“Did you go alone?”
She smirked. “No, the medics were with me.”
“Don’t you have family?”
“Yeah, I got two brothers and a Dad. I’m planning to keep this from them.” She sat up straighter and he saw her wince. “Look, I need to blow off some steam. No more talk.”
“All right.” He climbed on top of the bed, fully clothed and pulled down the sheets.
“What are you doing? Take off your…”
Instead, he kissed her. A long and complicated kiss. Then his mouth traveled down her body. He hadn’t gotten to search her like this before. He appreciated her full breasts. The curve of her spine. He nosed into her curls. When he took her with his mouth, she moaned into the still room. He kept it up until an orgasm toppled her over. He hadn’t been able to savor the sweet sounds she made when she came as they’d had fast, hard sex every other time. As soon as she tumbled down he started all over again.
Will drew back after the second time she climaxed. Her eyes were droopy. He wondered if she’s gotten any sleep at all.
“Your turn.” Her words were slurred.
He watched her, conflicted about what happened here. One thing he was sure of. “Nope, not tonight. You’ll probably fall asleep during my turn. ”
“No I…” She yawned. “I…” Another yawn.
He climbed off the bed. Pulled up the covers. “Go to sleep. You owe me one, Donovan.”
“Okay.” Her eyes closed immediately and she zonked.
Will didn’t get any release, but for some reason, he felt a little better.
* * *
The next morning, he’d been up for a couple of hours when his doorbell rang. Shit, he didn’t want to see anybody. He was still disconcerted by last night’s encounter with Katie. He pulled open the door.
And his mouth dropped. It took him a minute to regain his composure. “If it isn’t hot shot Agent Jill Tramane. From the PPD.”
“I heard about your father’s death.” She took in a deep breath. “Would you let me in, please?”
He stepped aside and she walked into the foyer. “This your father’s house?”
“I grew up here. Not like you in your fancy mansion and political family.”
“I’ve had some perks come my way.” She faced him. “I did come to give my condolences, but I wanted to see you too.”
“That wasn’t the impression I got before I left D.C. You ditched me like I was a leper.”
“You were. A Secret Service leper.”
Now that hurt.
“But they’re investigating your actions. So I thought maybe you’d come back to D.C. and we could take up again.”
He cocked his head. “What if I’m found negligent?”
“Do you think you were?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. It’s what the agency decides.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“But if it did, would you still want me in your life.”
“The way we’ve been.” Casual. Not committed. “I might.”
“You’re something else, Jill. You always were myopic about yourself. Can’t you see how insulting your request is?”
She moved in. Up close. And kissed him. A skilled, practiced kiss. She knew what he liked.
And he was totally unmoved.
She stepped back. “Did you rekindle an old flame here?”
He stuck his hands in his pockets. “I did.”
“Ah. So you don’t need sex.”
“Hardly.”
She huffed out a breath. “I thought you’d be glad I came here.”
“You mean that you deigned to come here.”
“I’m not lowering myself to you.”
“In any case,” Will said. “Whatever happens with Secret Service, you’re out of the picture, Jill.”
Her face blanked.
“I realize this probably never happened to you, but I don’t want you’re offering.” He crossed to the door. “It’s time for you to leave.”
“Hmm. I guess I was right. You are damaged goods.”