Chapter Four #3
“Not at all,” he said. “Actually, I find it all quite fascinating.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Are you lying to me, Chief LeCroix?”
He laughed, the low deep sound pleasant to her ears. “No. I don’t lie. I might have my flaws, but lying isn’t one of them. My officers will tell you I’m always brutally honest.”
“All men lie,” she replied as a small shaft of pain stabbed through her. Certainly Jason had lied to her. He’d lied every time he’d told her that he loved her. He’d lied to her every time he encouraged her with their talks of a wonderful future together.
“If you really believe that, then it’s a damned shame,” he replied soberly. “Now, unfortunately I had to speak with your sisters today. I needed to get their take on who might have attacked you.”
“What did you learn from them?”
“Damn little,” he replied. “Neither one of them could think of anyone who might want to attack you. Have you had any more thoughts about it?”
“I’ve thought about it all day long, but I still can’t think of anyone who would want me dead.
” A sudden shiver walked up her spine as she thought about the attack that had happened.
Thank God she had awakened when she had.
If she hadn’t, there was no question in her mind that she would be dead.
She touched one of the bandages on her arm.
“Do they hurt?” he asked softly.
“A little,” she admitted.
“Maybe we should have called the doctor for some pain meds for you,” he said.
“I wouldn’t have taken them. I’ll be fine. They’re going to hurt for a little while, but eventually they’ll heal up just fine,” she replied.
“I can’t wait to catch the creep who did that to you,” he said, his bright blue eyes slightly narrowed. “But right now, I’ll confess that I’m pretty much at a dead end concerning your assault. However I’ll continue digging into it until we find the person responsible.”
He then went on to tell her the people he’d interviewed concerning her mother’s murder. So many questions and still no definitive answers. “Pierre is still at the top of my suspect list, but unfortunately, right now, I don’t have enough evidence against him to make an arrest.”
“Maybe you should talk to Jacque LeBlanc,” she said.
He frowned. “Who is he?”
“He’s a gator hunter. He’s kind of a mysterious guy. Nobody in the swamp knows very much about him, but it’s rumored that he knows a lot about what goes on around here.”
“How do I find this guy?” he asked.
“I’m not sure. I know he’s friendly with George, so George might know where he lives. It’s just a thought,” she said and reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I’ll definitely check him out and see if he knows anything about the murder or about the attack on you,” Daniel replied. “And that’s where we’re at right now.”
“I still haven’t found the book of Mama’s. I’m really starting to believe it was taken by whoever killed her, although I can’t imagine why anyone would want it.”
“I’m requesting a search warrant for Pierre’s shanty. When we went to speak to him before, we stepped inside. But we need to tear the place apart. If the book is there, then that might be enough evidence to bring charges against him. Now you’re all caught up with where we are.”
“Thank you, Daniel. I appreciate you checking in each evening,” she replied. Surprisingly she’d come to look forward to his nightly visits. Certainly, she wanted to be updated on where the investigations stood, but tonight she had enjoyed the strictly social talk they’d had.
Then there was the wild physical attraction she had to him. It was an attraction she hadn’t felt for a man in a very long time.
“I’ll just get out of here and leave you to the rest of your evening,” he said and stood from the sofa. She rose as well and walked with him to the front door.
When they reached it, he turned back to her. Once again, she found herself standing far too close to him. Her heart stepped up its rhythm and even though her brain told her to take a step back from him, she remained in place.
“Are we still on for fried fish tomorrow night?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” she replied.
His gaze seemed to be trained on her lips. “Angelique, I have a wild and crazy desire to kiss you.”
“I have a wild and crazy desire to let you kiss me,” she replied half breathlessly.
He gathered her into his arms and then his mouth claimed hers. Flames of desire instantly swept through her as his lips plied hers with a fiery heat. She opened her mouth to allow him to deepen the kiss.
Their tongues swirled together in a heated dance, and she raised her arms to encircle his neck as he pulled her closer and closer still to him. Their bodies fit together perfectly.
The kiss continued for several long, breathtaking moments, and then he finally released her and took a step backward. There was a hunger still burning in his eyes as he held her gaze.
“That was completely inappropriate,” he said, his voice a bit huskier than usual.
“I don’t agree,” she countered. “What was inappropriate about it? What’s wrong with two single, consenting adults sharing a kiss?”
He frowned and raked a hand through his thick, dark hair. “It…it just doesn’t feel right, given our positions.”
“It had nothing to do with our positions,” she replied. “You’re a man and I’m a woman, and it simply had to do with the fact that we wanted to kiss each other.”
He grinned then. “You are one stubborn woman. Do you ever lose an argument?”
“Rarely,” she replied with a smile of her own. “Now, good night, Daniel, and I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“Good night, Angelique.” With that, he turned and walked out into the darkness of the swamp. She closed and locked the door and then raised a hand to her lips, where the imprint of his very hot lips still lingered.
She then went back into the kitchen to eat the meal she’d fixed for herself. She warmed it up in a saucepan and then ate. Once she was finished, she cleaned the dishes and then went outside to shut off her generator.
She stood for a few minutes at her railing and watched the near-full moon play on the water. As usual, it was absolutely beautiful. The tall trees on the bank were reflected in the water and it was picture-perfect.
However, it wasn’t long before the hair on the back of her neck rose and a deep sense of disquiet filled her. She looked around the area, but saw nothing and nobody. Still, she felt as if somebody was watching her and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike again.