Chapter 12
Alexia
“Your boss is correct. You suffer from the feelings of being completely inadequate in both your job and your personal life. You can’t sleep if you think you’ve wronged one of the victims, when in fact all the bad stuff that occurs is rooted in the ridiculous system of justice.
On top of that, you’ve failed in the passion department.
Think about it. When was the last time you were on a date?
And that didn’t go so well. But you need to give yourself a break. ”
My fork was midair where it had been poking through the limp salad before. Now there was less than zero interest in the tasteless food. Meanwhile, my bestie of several years was gobbling up her pasta dish with gusto.
“Are you going to finish that or do you need me to find some barbarian to join you? Maybe I can talk to the chef and he has a whole chicken leg you can gnaw on together.”
She lifted her head while forking in another huge mouthful. “What?”
Shrugging, I did my best to keep from laughing at her, which prompted a hateful look, something else I adored about the girl.
“I skipped breakfast, okay? I was due to rake a count over the coals for how he treated a painter. Your lack of a decent sex life isn’t anything you haven’t admitted before.”
“Okay, fine, but hearing such condemnation of every aspect of my life at this moment isn’t exactly what I need. It’s been a rough few days.”
Sandra laughed. “A standard line for you. I’d think you’d be celebrating after learning that the execution date had been set.
That way you can put the past behind you.
Or you could have had you not purposely looked up the agent who rescued you.
That sounds like something I’d do.” She dropped her fork, grabbing her napkin instead.
Where she could shovel food down like a burly man, she was dainty when wiping her mouth.
I knew the routine. She was reading me like most people would do a book.
The moment she wrapped her fingers around her wineglass, I sat back in preparation for her soliloquy on the changes my life needed. Meanwhile, something caught my eye. Just briefly, but I took a deep breath in response, forced to pull my attention back to the table when she grabbed my arm.
“Unfortunately, the past doesn’t want to cooperate with me. Trust me. I’ve tried to let it go.” The nightmares alone prevented me from making any real headway.
“You honestly believe the real killer is still out there.” Sandra’s face was pinched as always happened when we discussed a single element regarding the case. She’d talked me down from more than one precarious ledge over the years.
“I don’t know. Maybe I was hoping Maverick would convince me otherwise.” Or maybe just the opposite. The jury was still out on that one.
“You’re on a first name basis now, I see.” Her grin was wildly infectious.
“He’s a very personable man.”
“Ah, which is why you suddenly called and wanted to go shopping for a new dress.”
I tossed my head from side to side while making a face. “Ha. That’s for the office party.” An office party that it would seem I was being required to attend. Maybe I was wrong, but Betty’s reactions to some of what I’d told her continued to trouble me.
Maybe everything was having a toxic effect at this point.
“You mean the by invitation only party considered a social event of the year that I’d die to go to, but my best friend is forsaking me for a date with a man.”
Her exaggerated huff blew her long dark hair from her eyes. “Are you finished yet?”
“I’m very serious. And did your handsome hero manage to dispel your fears?”
“Unfortunately, no. He just put more questions into my mind than answers.” Including why he had someone trail after me if he wasn’t worried about what I’d told him. And after I’d explicitly told him not to have some off-duty officer following me.
The wild roll of her eyes caught my attention. My bestie was nothing if not dramatic. As an art critic, she used her expansive command of the English language to often obliterate budding artists and haughty gallery owners alike.
“Tell me more about Maverick Callahan. He sounds fascinating and very… very sexy.”
“He’s an honorable man.”
“Ah, I see what you’re doing. You refuse to think of him as your fantasy man. How are you going to handle the date?” When I didn’t answer her right away, she laughed. “You haven’t asked him yet.”
“I’ve been a little busy, the party the last detail on my mind.”
“You better get cracking. Men take more time to get ready for these things than women do.”
She had me laughing again, which was exactly what I needed. “Maybe so.”
“You’ve been so different the last few weeks, distant. That’s why you shocked the hell out of me.” Sandra leaned over the table, shaking her head as she studied me. I could tell the girl was about ready to launch into providing a list of what vitamins I needed.
Drugs might be the answer, but were far less wholesome.
“Yeah, well, Betty urged me to take the afternoon off.”
“Ah. You weren’t but so interested in spending time with your bestie.”
After pulling my arm free, I took a sip of my chardonnay. “Very funny. I’m attempting to keep my eye on the ball. While extremely remote, there’s a chance an innocent man could be put to death and you’re curious how my sex life is going?”
Shit. Big mistake made on my part. Why hadn’t I caught myself? When Sandra’s eyes opened wide, I knew she had no intention of letting my faux paus fade away.
“Ooh-la-la. You slept with him. Why didn’t I see it before? Your nervousness. Your sudden agreement to purchase a dress, which usually takes an act of God. I take back everything I said about you being a prude. You’re one hot mama.”
“Stop it. He was the FBI agent on duty. I read his book and his words intrigued me.”
“On duty?” Her laugh could easily be heard throughout the restaurant. “Nice try, girl. I know all the gory details. Remember?”
Her exclamation drew the attention of the man Maverick had hired.
“Honey. He’s been your greatest fantasy. Come to think of it,” she added while tapping her fingers on the table, “your only fantasy. I know with absolute certainty he’s a hottie. You have the dress. You have the perfect reason to ask him out. Just do it. What will it hurt?”
“You mean other than my level of professionalism?”
She rolled her eyes again; she usually did so more than once when we were together. “I think the statute of limitations has run out. You’re allowed to enjoy time with a sexy guy. It doesn’t matter who he was a million years ago.”
“How do you know he’s sexy? He could be an old man with gnarled fingers for all you know.”
I’d be damned if she didn’t grab her huge purse off the back of the chair, the one large enough to hold her kitchen sink, and riffle through the items inside. When she pulled his latest hardback edition into the light, I cringed.
“You bought his book?” My voice was strained. Now my heart was skipping beats from the wild fluctuation of my pulse.
“Of course I did. You were extremely excited when you were providing details. You piqued my interest. When I noticed the photograph on the back, I was even more intrigued. Besides, this entire scenario is better than any contrived drama. And look at that face. Look at it.” When I didn’t obey her, she shoved the book into my face. “Admit it.”
“Fine. He’s handsome.” He was more than just a handsome man. He was debonair and rugged, gifted with sophistication while being wrapped in several dangerous elements. Just seeing his impish smile did crazy things to my lady parts.
“Now that we’ve established you at least want to sleep with him, which is a clear indication you’re not dead, then tell me what he had to say about your concerns.”
I’d told her just enough on the phone to entice her into accepting my offer for lunch. “That the phone call was likely from a copycat and that there were files of evidence on the man sitting behind bars indicating he was guilty so I could stop worrying.”
“There you go,” Sandra said and pushed her plate away, waving her hand as if she’d settled everything.
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning you can feel free to date your hero.”
I rolled my eyes as the waiter arrived to take our plates. “Isn’t that a little forbidden?”
“Maybe when you were sixteen, but you’re all grown up.” When she winked, another wave of heat found my face. Which she noticed.
Her laugh turned into both of us giggling, which prompted the not so mystery man to study us. I’d be damned if he wasn’t taking notes. What on earth was he planning on reporting back to Maverick?
The vintage of wine I preferred?
“Yes, I am.” I don’t know why the man’s presence annoyed the hell out of me, but it did.
“So you are sleeping with him.”
I chewed on my bottom lip, trying to ascertain how I wanted to handle the situation. The best thing to do was to have a nice, long chat with Maverick. However, I knew enough about his personality to know he wouldn’t give up that easily. “We just talked.”
“All night long.”
Offering a not so nice look, I couldn’t keep my eyes off the guy. He was even doing a piss poor job at pretending to find whatever was on his phone interesting. He’d ordered water and a cup of soup, another dead giveaway that he was on the job.
“What are you looking at? Is there someone following us?”
“I think so and don’t look just yet. There’s this guy just a few yards away. He’s definitely studying every move we make.”
Sandra narrowed her eyes. “Who is it? Maverick?”
“Oh, hell, no. He hired someone to watch out over me. I noticed him earlier when I left my house. At first, I was nervous, but he had that haphazard look about him.”
Sandra purred. “No serial killer vibes, huh?”
“Exactly. The bouncer dude in a really bad suit is sitting three tables behind us. Trying to act nonchalant.”
“That’s hot as shit.”
“Being followed? I don’t think so.”