Chapter Five #2
“I’m perfectly safe in what I’m doing with Luke by my side,” Dominique replied. “He’s a very good bodyguard and last night I even got him to dance in the rain with me.”
Both her sisters stared at her in obvious surprise. “You got Luke Madison to dance in the rain with you?” Angelique shook her head and released a small laugh. “From what I’ve heard, that man is so uptight he squeaks when he walks.”
“You like him,” Monique said.
“I do like him,” Dominique replied.
“No, I mean you really like him.” Monique held Dominique’s gaze.
“I suppose you could do a whole lot worse than Luke,” Angelique added.
Dominique laughed. “Luke is a likeable guy. He’s my partner and nothing more. He is too regimented for me, and I’m too spontaneous and free for him. If we were romantically together, we’d probably kill each other within twenty-four hours.”
“You’re probably right about that,” Angelique said.
They all finished eating and paid, and within minutes Angelique was headed back to her shop and Dominique and Monique were back in the car and heading home.
“This was nice,” Monique said. “I always like it when the three of us get together.”
Dominique shot a quick look at her sister.
Her younger sister was the softest of the three.
She often kept her thoughts to herself. She was rather shy and quiet unless she was at work or on the dance floor at the Voodoo Lounge.
Dominique might have danced in the rain last night with Luke, but Monique definitely came alive when she was dancing.
“When are you going to find some nice man to date?” Dominique asked.
Monique laughed. “Remember, I’m younger than you so I’m in no real hurry to find a nice man.”
“You’re only a little over a year younger than me,” Dominique replied.
Monique grinned at her and then sobered.
“Seriously, Dominique, I have my work and right now that’s enough for me.
I know you and Angelique worry about me, but really, I’m doing just fine.
However, I’ll be better once Mama’s killer is behind bars and there’s true closure to the case.
Right now, it’s just a festering wound.”
“I think we’ll all do better after that happens,” Dominique agreed. They arrived at the swamp entrance, got out of the car and headed in.
When they reached Monique’s shanty, they said their goodbyes and hugged and then Dominique continued on her way. Just as she had when she’d left, she kept an eye out for anyone else who might be on the path with her.
As she walked, her thoughts went to the brief conversation they’d had about Luke. Immediately, the memory of the very hot kiss she’d shared with him warmed her from head to toe.
Surely, Luke’s kiss had seemed unusually hot only because it had been a very long time since she’d kissed a man. Oliver LeBouef’s kisses sure hadn’t been as hot…as wonderful as Luke’s had been.
Would he kiss her again tonight? A shiver of sweet anticipation shot through her. She entered her shanty and shut and locked the door behind her.
What in the hell was she doing? Why would she want a man who was definitely all wrong for her to kiss her again?
THAT KISS…THAT VERY hot kiss with Dominique had been on Luke’s mind from the moment he had gotten home from her place last night and still teased and tormented him long after he’d awakened that morning.
She had tasted of sweet, hot desire and if that lightning bolt hadn’t slashed the dark skies overhead, he had no idea where the kissing might have led.
Now that he’d tasted the sweet heat of her mouth, he was definitely tempted to kiss her again and again. But that couldn’t happen.
Nothing good would come of kissing her, except it would feed his physical desire for her and he couldn’t allow that to dictate where their relationship went. They had no real relationship except they were friendly with each other and he had the task of keeping her alive.
The other thing that had been on his mind was the note that had been left for her. Did it indicate she was in danger? His gut instinct told him no, that it probably was the work of a secret admirer. But could he trust his gut instinct?
Still, he intended to remind her that night when he saw her again that she needed to stay aware of her surroundings. There was no way to know what the note writer had in mind, so it was best to err on the side of caution.
At the moment, he was on his way into the police station to do a check-in with Daniel. It was just after lunch time and there was no hint of the rainstorm that had swept the area the night before.
If anyone would have told him that there would come a night when he would dance in the rain with Dominique Santori, he wouldn’t have believed them.
It was so far out of character for him and yet he had to admit it had been exhilarating and more fun than he could remember enjoying in a very long time.
The truth was he had to admit there wasn’t much fun in his life.
He pulled up behind the police station and parked in the lot, then entered through the back door. He didn’t see any other officers as he walked down the long hallway toward Daniel’s office.
Most of them would be out on patrol, except for Gus Smith. The older officer was near retirement age and also suffered from severe arthritis in his hips. He worked the day shift as the receptionist.
Luke went into the murder room and set the baggie-clad note on the table and then continued on down the hallway.
When he reached Daniel’s office, he knocked on the door. Daniel immediately called out for him to enter and Luke did just that. “Hey, boss,” he greeted Daniel.
“Luke, how are you doing?”
Luke sat in the chair in front of Daniel’s desk. “I’m doing all right. I just figured I’d do a quick check-in even though I don’t have anything to report. Thankfully, the rain kept Dominique from trying to follow Pierre last night.”
“Yeah, Angelique had breakfast with her sisters this morning, and Dominique shared with them about your night activities.” Daniel raised a brow as a wry smile curved his lips. “Dancing in the rain, Luke? I didn’t know you had it in you.”
The warmth of a blush filled Luke’s cheeks. He hadn’t intended sharing that fact with anyone, especially Daniel. “Yeah, I didn’t know I had it in me, either. It started to rain and she grabbed my hand and pulled me outside and before I knew it, we were dancing.”
The smile on Daniel’s face fell away. “A word of advice, Luke. Remember, she is just a job. I’ve known you for years, and I really don’t think she’s the type of woman you need in your life.”
“I’m not looking at being a lifelong partner with her, and believe me, she really is just a job to me, although we are friendly with each other.” At least, thank God, she apparently hadn’t shared the fact they had kissed.
“There is one other thing that happened to her yesterday.” Luke told Daniel about the note she had received.
“It sounds to me like she’s picked up a secret admirer, but I did tell her she needed to stay aware of her surroundings and who she allows to get close to her.
I also brought the note in to see if we could lift any prints from it.
I left it on the table in the murder room. ”
“I’ll have Clay grab it,” Daniel replied.
Clay was their number one expert in fingerprint retrieval.
“In the meantime, there isn’t much we can do about the note, however, you were absolutely right to tell Dominique to watch her surroundings and hopefully the writer of the note is nothing more than a lovesick individual who means no harm. ”
“Let’s hope,” Luke replied. “Anyway, that’s my report for the day. Anything new on Mystique’s murder case?”
Daniel frowned. “Unfortunately, no. We still have no leads to follow at the moment.”
“If I really see Pierre dig up the missing client book, do you want me to make an arrest right then and there?”
“No, I want you to call for backup and then we’ll take him down,” Daniel replied.
“Got it. And on that note, I’ll just get out of here.” Luke stood.
“Any plans for the afternoon?” Daniel asked.
“Yeah, a nap. I don’t think it’s going to rain again, so Dominique will want to follow Pierre again tonight.”
“Then have a good nap. I imagine you’ll need it,” Daniel replied.
“Thanks, and I’ll see you tomorrow.” Luke left the office and walked back out of the building and into the summer heat. As he drove home, his thoughts were a jumble.
His physical desire for Dominique battled with his sense of duty. Then there was the note she received that might or might not portend some sort of coming conflict.
If it truly was from a secret admirer, when they made themselves known to her, would she be thrilled about the person’s identity?
Would it be from someone she was excited to date?
That thought sparked a surprising touch of jealousy inside him…
a jealousy that had no place in his thoughts or in his relationship with the beautiful woman.
By the time he was home, he was ready for a nap and it didn’t take him long to fall asleep in his recliner. He slept with no dreams and awakened about two hours later, just in time to make dinner.
He had decided to cook tonight, and had a nice steak marinating in his refrigerator. That along with a baked potato was dinner.
After eating, he cleaned up the kitchen and then went to his bedroom to change into his night-stalking clothing.
Once he was dressed, he left the house to head to the swamp.
It was a bit earlier than usual. However, he’d rather wait for night to fall at her house with her company instead of sitting in the silence of his own place.
As he drove, a sweet anticipation filled him at the thought of spending more time with her. She’s just a job, he reminded himself. But he’d never enjoyed a job as much as he was enjoying this one.
She fascinated him. She was so different from any other woman he’d ever known. He was interested in knowing everything about her. That didn’t mean he was entertaining any real feelings for her except a deep curiosity.
He reached the swamp entrance and parked and then got out of his car and headed in. The sunlight was still fairly bright overhead but it wouldn’t be long before twilight fell.
He walked briskly, more comfortable since he’d become more familiar with the path to her place. As always small animals scampered in the brush and insects buzzed and whirred in the air.
Maybe tonight would be the night she would give up this dangerous job she’d set for herself.
What if Pierre hadn’t buried the book? Luke still didn’t understand why the man would have wanted Mystique’s client book to begin with, but the facts indicated the book had been stolen on the night of the murder.
And Luke did believe Pierre was their murderer.
He shoved all these thoughts out of his head as he reached her front door. He knocked. “Dominique, it’s me.”
He heard her unlock her front door and then she opened it and gestured him inside.
As usual, even though she was once again clad in the tight black jeans and a black T-shirt, she looked stunning.
Her hair was pulled back at the nape of her neck, emphasizing her high cheekbones and beautiful features.
“Hi,” he said as he walked over to the sofa and sat.
“Hi yourself,” she replied and sat next to him, bringing with her the wonderful scent that he now identified as hers alone.
“How was your day?” he asked.
“It was okay. I had breakfast with my sisters, which is always nice. After that I worked the lunch shift at the café and I got back here just after four. How was your day?”
“Fairly quiet. I spent the morning doing a little cleaning and then this afternoon I went into the police station and spoke with Daniel. I also dropped off the note you got for fingerprinting.”
“Hopefully they’ll find some. Still no movement on my mother’s case?” she asked. Her beautiful eyes held his gaze and he wished he could tell her something, anything that would take away the haunting he saw in the depths there.
“Nothing,” he finally replied. “But that doesn’t mean something couldn’t break loose at any time.”
Her gaze turned skeptical. “And tomorrow gators will learn how to speak English.”
“My scenario is much more realistic than yours,” he replied with a small laugh.
She grinned at him, that impish smile that always charmed him. “Let’s hope you’re right.”
“The day that gators speak English, I’ll jump in the swamp and eat only insects.”
She laughed. He loved the sound of her laughter. It was low-pitched and musical. For the next hour they small-talked. He learned several more things about her.
Her favorite music was old rock and roll, the same kind he liked. She loved shrimp while he preferred a good burger. She believed in UFO’s, and he wasn’t sure he believed in extraterrestrial beings.
All too quickly, she was ready to leave the cabin and head out to Pierre’s shanty. “I wish you didn’t believe this was necessary,” he said as they walked out into the darkness of the night. She paused at the top of the bridge and turned to him.
“But I do think it’s necessary,” she replied softly.
Her eyes glowed in the moonlight. “It’s been over two months since Angelique found our mother dead…
murdered in her bed. Over two months with no closure.
Over two months with no justice. Luke, I have to do this, otherwise I’d go crazy just sitting and waiting around for something to happen. ”
“Then let’s go,” he said gently. She smiled at him gratefully and together they went across the bridge and into the tangled greenery of the swamp.
He followed her on the path to Pierre’s place. When they reached it, they crouched down behind the bushes where they had hidden the last time.
Lantern light spilled out of Pierre’s window and shadowy movement let him know the gator-hunter hadn’t left yet. Like the last time, as they waited for Pierre to make a move, he couldn’t help but be far too aware of Dominique’s nearness.
His physical desire for her reared up and he had to consciously tamp it down. It had no place in their relationship. They were merely friends doing a job together, and that was all. He just had to keep her from harm, and that was the beginning and the ending of their relationship.
It wasn’t long before Pierre left his shanty. He carried the same items he had before and he seemed to be in no hurry as he took off down a path.
Luke and Dominique followed him closely, keeping brush and trees between them. They hadn’t gone far when Luke accidentally stepped on a dead tree limb that snapped loudly.
Pierre stopped in his tracks, his head swiveling slowly from right to left. Damn. Luke froze in place, as did Dominique as the gator-hunter seemed to look right at them.