“Mmm, I doubt that. Since there was no investigation, I can’t imagine anyone would have kept a copy, but I’ll find out.”
“Thanks. And can you check on the security system as well? Della Peters from the beauty salon said Yost knew Teresa never made it inside that night, because the security system would have recorded her entering.”
“It would have, had it been armed. That was one of the first things we checked. Yost said he forgot to arm it.”
“Then he’s a liar, liar, pants on fire.” I made a mental sticky note to that effect, in case I forgot later. “Thanks for the info.”
“You’re welcome. And, no offense, but shouldn’t you have found her by now? I mean, isn’t that what you do?”
“I’m working on it. Don’t push me.”
She sniffed. “Okay, just don’t forget about this.”
“Never.” I knew what was at stake for anyone in law enforcement. Making a name for oneself got you noticed. Took you places. And I wasn’t just talking about the Sizzler.
Cookie and I made plans for the next day as I drank two huge glasses of water. The natural tears I’d been using to moisturize my eyes were losing their efficacy and my mouth was full of cotton. Too much coffee, too little sleep. I needed to rehydrate.
“So, I’ll keep on the Yost case,” she said, writing down some ideas, “and you’re going to try to see Rocket.”
“That’s the plan. At least we can find out if Teresa Yost is still with us.”
She took the cup of coffee I’d just made out of my hands. “You need to get some sleep.”
“I need to soak in a hot bath, hydrate myself from the outside in.”
“That’s a good idea. Maybe it’ll relax you so much, you’ll fall asleep whether you want to or not.”
“Are you on my side, or what?”
An evil grin spread across her face as she called out to Amber. “Come on, hon.”
“Mom!” Amber said without ungluing her eyes from the TV screen. “This movie just started.”
“It’s almost your bedtime.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “She can stay.” I leaned in and whispered, “She’ll be asleep in no time.”
“True. But are you sure?”
“Of course,” I said, shooing her out the door. “I’m just going to soak a bit, then join her.”
Amber was watching one of the horror movies I’d rented. Come to think of it, that movie might keep her awake. At least it would keep one of us awake.
“I’m going to take a quick bath, kiddo,” I said, leaning over the sofa and kissing her forehead.
“Don’t make the water too hot. My teacher says it gives you old-timers.”
After squelching a snicker, I said, “I don’t think hot baths have anything to do with Alzheimer’s, but I’ll take that under advisement.”
“Okay, but my teacher says,” she warned. I could see why Cookie threatened repeatedly to sell her to the gypsies if she weren’t so cute.
Chapter 7
I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.
I stripped down and sank into the tub, cringing when the scalding water slid up my legs and torso. A sultry heat settled around me, the steam seeping into my skin, and my lids started to drift shut almost immediately. My mind wandered aimlessly to greener pastures. Pastures with a four-poster bed perched in a field of grass with fluffy down pillows that just begged to be slept on. And baby ducks. For some reason, there were baby ducks. I rubbed my eyes, forcing myself back to the present, and led a dampened strand of hair behind an ear. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. If I was going to make it another night without sleep, the last thing I needed was a hot, relaxing bath.
I washed quickly and immersed myself fully in the water to rinse off, looking from beneath it at the glint of light before resurfacing. Reluctantly, I pushed the stopper with my toes to let the water drain and stood to get a towel, which I draped over my head to wring the water from my hair.
The drain gurgled as the water stirred at my feet. I felt something solid there and slowly lowered the towel. A telltale heat rose like steam around my legs, and Reyes materialized in front of me, his powerful shoulders glistening as water sheeted off them. He locked a hand around my throat and leaned me back against the cool tile wall, so at odds with the blistering heat that radiated off him. His expression was hard and unforgiving.
And before I could say anything, that familiar need gripped me. I steeled myself, fought it, but it was like fighting a tsunami with a spork. He stepped closer as his gaze locked on to mine, his deep brown eyes almost inquisitive under his spiked lashes.
I felt him nudge my legs apart with his knee. “What are you doing?” I asked, gasping as the heat penetrated my core.
Without answering, he pulled the towel out of my hands and tossed it aside.
“Reyes, wait. You don’t want to be here.” My palms rested on his rib cage. “You don’t want to do this.”
He leaned in until his full mouth was almost on mine. “No more than you want me to,” he said, daring me to argue, his breath like velvet over my lips. He smelled like a lightning storm, like earth and ozone and electricity. His hand rose to hold my chin captive as the other slid between my legs. My stomach lurched with the contact, the center of my being so sensitive to his touch, I almost came right then and there.
A knock sounded at the bathroom door and I looked over with furrowed brows.
“Not yet,” he said in warning, his fingers diving inside me, drawing me back to him.
I gasped and clutched on to his wrist to push him away. Instead I pulled him deeper, clawed at him, begging for release.
He pressed his steely body against mine and leaned in until his mouth was at my ear. “Stay with me,” he said, his deep voice rich and smooth. He released my chin, took hold of one of my hands, and led it down the solid wall of his abdomen.
The knock sounded again and I felt myself being ripped away from him.
“Dutch,” he said as my hand encircled his erection, but water rushed up and around us like a flash flood until I was literally fighting for air.
I bolted upright, sending bathwater splashing over the edge of the tub as I remembered where I was.
“Okay?” I heard a voice say. Amber.
“What, sweetheart?” I said, wiping water from my face. “I didn’t hear you.”
“I’m going home. My cell’s about to die and I have to call Samantha. Her boyfriend broke up with her, and the world is apparently going to end.”
I struggled to catch my breath. “Okay, hon. See you tomorrow,” I said, my voice too airy.
“’Kay.”
I forced myself to calm, to get a grip on reality, to unclench my fists and free the sopping towel I’d dragged into the bathtub at some point. Then I eased up and perched my chin on my knees as I waited out the storm trembling through me.
This was getting ridiculous. If I’d bound him, how was he still entering my dreams? What the hell was that about? Not to mention the fact that I’d fallen asleep in a bathtub. I could’ve drowned.
Freaking son of Satan.
My phone chimed, letting me know I’d missed something. I reached over with a shaking hand and grabbed it off the vanity. My sister, Gemma, had sent me a text. Three, in fact. She was having car trouble, couldn’t get a hold of Dad, and wanted me to pick her up at a convenience store just outside of Santa Fe. I tried to call her as I stepped out of the tub, but an annoying voice cut in, saying her phone was either off or she was out of the calling
