Booked to Kill, page 16
“Someone has eyes on us,” Jack said. “I’m sure you heard Mrs. Hickman was attacked this morning when out for a jog.”
The officer nodded. “I did.”
“So they knew we were here. As far as which rooms are ours...” He shrugged. “Wouldn’t take much. This person is smart. We had connecting rooms. That might have clued them in.”
“My sketchbook,” Olivia said, wrapping her arms around herself.
“What?” Jack snapped his brows low.
“I brought it with me but left it in the room. On my nightstand. I like to keep it near in case I wake up with an idea and need to draw it out. If someone broke in and saw my sketches, they’d know it was my room.”
Officer Whitton rocked back on his heels. “That’d explain why both your rooms were tossed. My partner’s inside now, bagging up evidence. Marta doesn’t have any cameras, but I’m going to canvass the neighborhood. Check for cameras on neighbors’ houses. Find out if anyone saw anything.”
“Can we help?” Olivia asked. “We can knock on doors. I can’t just sit in a messed-up room, knowing someone is waiting to strike again.”
“Appreciate the offer, but this is a police matter. Better to let me and my partner handle everything. Last thing we need is you roaming the streets in the dark.”
Jack respected the man’s candor. He didn’t want to tell Olivia what to do, and her offer to help was thoughtful, but the tightening in his chest told him he had to hide her out of sight fast before something else happened. Hell, the person responsible for sending Marta to the hospital could be in the bushes now, ready to strike.
“Agreed, but you won’t be sitting in a destroyed room,” Jack said. “We need to find somewhere else to stay tonight. Do you have any suggestions, Officer?”
Office Whitton rubbed at his double chin. “Most places will be booked. But I can write down a few names.”
“Thank you,” Jack said, wrapping an arm around Olivia’s shoulders. Whoever was after her could be watching and no way in hell he’d give him another opportunity to get his hands on her.
Chapter 19
A dull ache throbbed against the back of Olivia’s head. She swiped a bottle of over-the-counter pain medicine from the bathroom sink of the last available hotel room in all of Cold Spring and washed two pills down with a swig of water. The day had been a roller coaster of emotions. Now, thanks to the annual home and garden show and her current luck, she’d be sharing a room with Jack for the night in the upscale boutique on the other side of town.
She braced her hands on the gleaming marble counter and stared at the reflection of the framed picture of a single red flower hung on the wall behind her. The fluorescent light bounced off the marble. She wiped the pad of her finger across the smooth surface. The room was pretty, with its creams and mauves and claw-foot tub, but she’d trade it in a second to be back at The River’s Edge, ambushed by floral patterns. A cozy space where she could be alone with her thoughts and reflect on her day.
But that wasn’t an option, and she should count her lucky stars they’d found the room they had. Driving into the city after the long day with pain creeping into her head was the last thing she’d wanted. Now she had to gather her courage to go out in the bedroom and spend the night with Jack.
A quick glance in the mirror made her wrinkle her nose. She’d scrubbed the makeup off her face and tied her hair into a braid that she’d flipped over her shoulder. Silly shivers of anticipation zipped down her spine as she left the privacy of the restroom.
Jack sat at the small sofa on the far side of the room with the phone to his ear. He sent her a smile that curled her toes. She considered the best place to sit. The couch would put her right next to Jack, and she didn’t want to be invasive while he was on the phone. The single king-size bed seemed like a very bad idea, since it was too early for sleep. A leather ottoman was situated under the window to the side of the sofa, a galvanized tray on top, which held a remote to the television she assumed was inside the cabinet against the wall.
Opting for the ottoman, she crossed the room and set the tray on the end table before sitting cross-legged on the cool leather. She propped a pillow between her back and the wall for support.
Jack disconnected his call. “That was Max. He’s been in contact with the chief of police. Too many prints around the B and B to run them all. Even just isolating our rooms.”
“Why am I not surprised?” she asked, deflated. “Nothing has been left behind at any crime scene. Guess it shouldn’t be different here.”
He sighed. “We’re bound to catch a break. I know it.”
“Until then, what can we do? I meant what I told Officer Whitton. I want to help. Sitting around doing nothing seems like a waste of time.”
Jack stared at her, a tiny tick of a smile creeping over his mouth. “What do you propose?”
She squirmed under his scrutiny and fought not to smooth a hand over her shirt. “You told Max you think this location in Queens could mean something. Let’s start there.”
“Okay,” he said. “Do you know if anyone besides Edward has ties to Queens?”
“No, but I know how we might be able to find out. Do you have your computer?”
He leaned to the side and scooped his laptop bag from the carpeted floor. “Glad I remembered to lock it up in the safe before we left. Whoever was in our room might not have taken much, but I’m sure they’d have nabbed this if given the chance.”
“Too bad my sketchbook wasn’t in the safe.” She wrinkled her nose. “Even if all that was in there were half-baked ideas and messy sketches. It creeps me out that someone would steal it. But I guess that’s the lesser of the crimes committed recently.”
He snorted, then scooted to the far end of the sofa. “Come sit here and show me what you’re thinking.” Placing the computer on his lap, he lifted the screen and his fingers pressed on a few keys.
Before she talked herself out of being so close to him, she hurried over and sat. She tucked her bare feet beneath her, and her knee brushed against his leg. “May I?” she asked, dipping her chin toward the computer.
“Be my guest.”
She arranged the laptop and opened the internet browser. “You have your list of suspects, all of which I’m friends with. But Christine is the only one I know really well. I would know if she had ties to Queens.” She spared him a quick glance. “She doesn’t.”
Grinning, he held up his palms as if in surrender.
She bit back a laugh. “I am friends on social media with both Edward and Mason. I figured we can poke around on their profiles and see if anything stands out.”
“Solid plan. People are always putting stuff on social media that ties them to crimes.”
She signed into her account and brought up Edward’s profile. Scrolling down his home page, she read his updates and studied his pictures. “Anything stand out to you?”
Jack peered over her shoulder and his breath tickled her ear. “Not really. He hasn’t posted in a while. Doesn’t seem too active.”
She kept scrolling, searching for a hint... Something to scream out Hey! I’m a killer!
“You mentioned Edward had failed in his previous businesses. What happened?” Edward might have given her a big break, but she’d been naive to trust him without doing her research. Regardless of where things went, she needed to know more about the man in charge of her career.
“His first art gallery went under because he just couldn’t sell anything. Looks pretty straightforward. The second, he took out a loan from an unsavory individual. Not paying wasn’t an option. He pulled an insurance scheme. Claimed artwork was stolen and reported it to the insurance company. Got the money, paid off the lender, but couldn’t reopen.”
“So you know for sure that the break-in at the gallery was a scheme? That no one bought my paintings?” A pang of regret beat through her. For a minute, she’d made the biggest sale of her career. Had it all been fake?
“We can’t be sure. The insurance company is looking into things as well. They’re wary of Edward. I hope, for your sake, he didn’t try the same stunt twice.”
“Me, too.” Not finding anything of interest on Edward’s page, she clicked over to Mason’s. Inspirational quotes about never giving up and pictures of what looked like his family littered his feed. “Looks like he spends a lot of time with his grandparents.” She smiled as she shifted through the photos. Her grandparents had passed when she was younger. She envied the time Mason seemed to get with his.
“None of the locations are tagged,” Jack said. “Any of them look familiar?”
She shook her head. “Most look like they’re in someone’s home.”
“Not Mason’s?”
“I wouldn’t know,” she said with a shrug. “I’ve never been there.”
“Interesting.” He drew out the word, annunciating each syllable.
Closing the lid, she narrowed her gaze at Jack. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Come on, Liv. You don’t really buy this guy’s ‘I want to be your friend’ act, do you?”
The hint of jealousy in his voice made her insides quiver. “Of course, I do. Mason has never asked me out. Never even hinted at wanting to be more than friends. Why would I doubt that?”
“Because of the way he looks at you.” Jack met her stare head-on, a spark of interest lighting his eyes.
A warm blush settled on her cheeks, but she refused to glance away. “And why would you think Mason looks at me in any special way?”
“Because I saw it with my own eyes. And I hated it. I don’t want anyone looking at you that way.”
She swallowed hard and forced a tight laugh. “Oh really?” she teased. “Is that why when I kissed you earlier, you blamed my head injury?” The memory of that first kiss was tainted by his reaction. As if instead of outright rejecting her, he came up with some silly excuse to pretend the kiss hadn’t happened at all. She’d fought to put that rejection behind her all day, but now, with the soft light around them and words flowing freely, she couldn’t let him off the hook so easily.
Wincing, he dropped his gaze. “Not my best moment. You caught me off guard, and I didn’t want you to regret it.”
“I don’t.”
He cradled her hand between his. “I regret my response. Do you think I can have a do-over?”
Her heart pounded, and she moistened her lips with her tongue. With her gaze locked on his, she nodded.
He moved forward, eyes closing as his lips brushed against hers.
All the air left her lungs, and she melted against him.
He moved his free hand up the edge of her jaw and settled it on the back of her neck, intensifying the kiss. His tongue parted her lips.
She opened her mouth, letting him in. A fierce hunger came to life inside her. She wanted to taste him, touch him, love him.
The thought was like lighter fluid on a fire, bursting the flames licking inside. Her core throbbed, and for once, her head was in line with the needs of her body. Jack was a man who had stood beside her, protected her, listened to her. He validated all the emotions she’d battled since they’d met. She wanted him in her life, and not just for tonight. And for the first time in a long time, the idea of another man warming her bed filled her with joy and anticipation—leaving no room for guilt.
Moving on impulse, she shifted to straddle his lap. She wanted to erase the distance between them. Wanted to feel every inch of his body against her.
His hands met at the center of her back. One moved up her spine until his fingers loosened her braid. Moving his mouth to her jawline, he pressed kisses over her skin until he reached her neck.
She threw back her head and used her fingers to free the long strands of her hair. His mouth dipped over her collarbone, and a moan of desire purred from her mouth and set her hips in motion. It’d been so long since she’d felt like this—since she’d wanted the feel of a man against her. Inside her. But Jack was special. He’d broken through her heartbreak and grief and showed her that her life still held promise. Even in the midst of turmoil.
Jack entwined his fingers in her mess of hair and moved his other hand to rest on her ass, pressing her against him. Urging her movements harder. Faster.
Pressure built inside her core, flames flying higher and higher. The feel of his rock-hard girth rubbed against her. She grabbed fistfuls of his shirt and yanked it over his head. Her mouth watered at the hard muscles of his chest. Slowing her rhythm, she roamed her palm over his pecks, his abs, dipping her finger into the waistband of his pants.
He hissed out a breath. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
“More than anything.” Her voice came out wispy and hoarse. Urgency pushed her to her feet. She didn’t want him to question her again. Didn’t want him to play the protector role, fearing she was moving fast, acting on impulse. She snatched the hem of her T-shirt and tossed it over her head.
Jack groaned. “My God. You’re killing me.”
Confidence growing, she hooked up a brow and bit into her plump bottom lip. The way he looked at her—like she was the most beautiful woman in the world—sparked a wickedness she didn’t know she had. “You like that?”
Still seated, he anchored his hands on her hips and pulled her to him. “Mmm-hmm.” His hands fanned around her waist. He skimmed the pads of his thumbs over her stomach, inching lower until his fingers disappeared inside her little black shorts.
She held her breath and threaded her hands in his hair. Her muscles tightened as she waited for more. Her mind whirled. She’d never been with anyone but Dave. Nerves danced in her belly.
He lifted his chin, moving the lacy pads of her bra to the side with his teeth as his fingers continued their path to her throbbing center. His tongue moving to lick circles around her nipple.
“Oh. My God.” Pleasure built inside her, the sensory overload making her crazy and chasing all other thoughts from her head. She wiggled her hips, trying to move his fingers closer to her clit.
He chuckled and moved his coarse whiskers over the sensitive skin on her tummy.
She moaned. “Please. Put me out of my misery.”
He moved one hand to cup her soft mound and pressed a finger inside her, making her gasp. “Is this misery?”
She pushed her hips forward. “No. It’s so good. More.”
A second finger joined the first, moving in and out in a slow, excruciating rhythm. “Your wish is my command.” With one smooth motion, he slid his fingers from her warmth and stood, crushing his mouth to hers. His fingers moved inside her as he maneuvered her backward toward the bed.
When her knees hit the mattress, she reached behind her and unclipped her bra, throwing it to the floor. Cool air hit her nipples, and they puckered. Standing at attention, waiting for Jack’s touch.
Slipping his fingers back inside her, Jack pumped his fingers faster as he laid her down on the bed. He used his free hand to slide her shorts and panties down her legs, and she kicked them off. Her mind raced and her heart galloped. Sweat dotted the back of her neck and the sweet feel of ecstasy burst inside her.
Jack moved his hand, and the absence of his touch sent shock waves down her spine. His hand found her breast and he rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger.
She pressed his chest, giving her space to pull at his gym shorts. As much as she wanted him inside her, she needed to give as good as she got. Had to show Jack how much she wanted him.
“Want some help?” His voice was rough and husky. His breath coming out in ragged pants.
She nodded, watching him remove his clothing as she propped herself up on her elbows. Desire heated her core, and pressure expanded her chest. She’d waded through a host of emotions and found herself on the other side—lying in front of a beautiful man who filled with her happiness.
“Give me a second,” Jack said, crossing the room to his duffel bag.
She didn’t mind the show. The muscles of his body moved and flexed like a jungle cat as he grabbed a little foil package and turned toward her with the sexiest grin she’d ever seen.
He flashed the condom. “You sure?”
“Get your sexy ass over here.” She’d already had an orgasm, but the anticipation of feeling his body pressed against hers, his dick inside her, had her already craving another.
He crawled over her, and she took the condom from his hand. His mouth found the delicate area behind her ear as she ripped it open. She closed her eyes, getting lost in the pleasure his mouth brought, then closed her fist around his penis.
His body tightened and mouth stilled.
She moved her hand up and down, squeezing lightly.
With his hands on either side of her, he hovered above her. Gaze latched on hers. “I want to be inside you. Now.”
His words brought a fresh heat wave over her body. She maneuvered the condom onto the tip of his cock and slid it over his impressive shaft.
He pushed her knees open and pressed the head of his erection to her center, breaking the barrier until her warmth surrounded him.
She let out a cry of pleasure as he filled her. Her arms wrapped around his neck, nails scraping over the flesh of his back as he pumped his hips. She stared into his eyes, the connection never breaking between them as strange magic stirred inside her. Each move, each pump, each mind-numbing motion spiraled her pleasure higher and higher, filled her heart more and more, until another orgasm wracked her body.
He groaned and took her mouth in his. The kiss intensifying as his muscles shook and he pummeled into her faster and faster until he yelled out her name and collapsed. He wiped a sweat-soaked strand of hair from her face, then pressed a kiss to her forehead. “That was amazing.”
