Roses Are Red, page 14
Marcus refused to step back ensuring she’d have to brush against him to get by. She did so with ease. He didn’t stop her but checked on her a half hour later. She’d left the bedroom door open and NCIS on the television illuminated her sleeping form. LL Cool J snagged his attention and he sat on the edge of the bed enthralled with a car chase. Jain’s phone vibrated on his nightstand. She didn’t stir. It took all he had not to invade her privacy, despite the detective in him suggesting any message she received could be part of the case.
An impending car crash drew him in again. The cell vibrated. Several times. His hands itched. You can’t do it. She already thinks you’re controlling. It could be Jimmy. Use your head, dumbass. Jimmy wouldn’t call her cell knowing she was with you. Marcus snarled at his internal self then switched off the TV. A cool breeze blew through the bedroom. The curtains billowed out half way across the bed like a ghost fluttering in the wind. Jesus, his linens were long. They almost brushed Jain’s bare shoulders. He drifted across the carpet frowning at the wide-open window. Even though the gentle gusts cooled the room comfortably and aired the place out after a long winter, he’d have to talk to her about leaving it open while sleeping.
The fire escape would likely make a boatload of noise when deployed but he would not let her take chances with her safety. He closed it enough and wedged the metal bar he kept under the bed between the frame and lock to prevent it from going up any further. Secure and perfectly ventilated. Unfortunately, they lived in a day and age where windows couldn’t be left open without fear of someone breaking in. Not that the glass would stop a bat if someone truly wanted inside. He stepped back from his handy work and onto a soft pile at his feet. He picked up a ball of clothes.
Jain never broke the habit of leaving her clothing on the floor wherever they dropped. His girl was a slob. A stirring of arousal shot to his dick. He placed the clothes on top of his dresser, adjusted himself, and then left the room before he did something stupid like climb into bed with her. Jimmy would undoubtedly walk in on them. Marcus headed for his desk in the living room and re-read the homicide files waiting for Jimmy to return from the impromptu shopping trip.
A banging on his door nearly landed him on the floor next to his computer. He stretched, yawned, and finally opened the door for Jimmy standing in the dark laden with plastic bags. Two more legs and he’d rival a pack mule. The other man shouldered past him and dumped everything in the foyer.
“I trust my sister is in the same condition I left her in.”
Did Jimmy suppose they would squeeze in an orgy on the staircase? “No, I have her naked and handcuffed to my bed.”
Jimmy frowned. Guy couldn’t even take a joke. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answers to.”
“Fair enough,” Jimmy replied with a tight nod.
What the hell took so long?”
“Do you know how many brands of tampons there are?”
“You spent all this time searching for feminine hygiene products? Man, she doesn’t even have…”
“Do not go there! I am barely getting used to this idea at all.”
“Hard to tell since you spent a lot of time telling me how much you don’t trust me.”
“And by the way, you were lying earlier.”
Marcus paused and thought of their exchange three hours ago. What had he lied about? When they’d spoken on the phone, he’d been honest when he told Jimmy he hadn’t slept with Jain. A mere technicality.
“Need a reminder?”
Puzzled he almost scratched his head. “Apparently.”
“When you didn’t respond to my question.”
“Jimmy. I told you, I won’t discuss this with you.”
“Believe me.” His friend visibly shuddered, probably in revulsion. “Not another damn word.”
Curiosity killed the cat but he had to know. “You were ready to rip my head off a few hours ago.”
“You were right.”
Could he get a hallelujah? Wait, he needed his phone to record this for Jain. “You’re finally going to let her live life as an adult?”
“No. She could do so much worse than you.” Marcus was sure he’d been insulted––again. “Besides, you my friend are going to pay through the nose. Do you know how much money I dropped at Macy’s in less than a minute?”
He laughed raising his glass in a silent toast. “Nothing wrong with a little retail therapy.”
“So glad you said that. I’m sending you the bill.” Jimmy glanced around the apartment. “At least I know she won’t become a pauper… I hope, considering your tastes in décor.”
While Marcus’ Uncle Mick had willed him his entire estate, the furnishings in his brownstone were bare bone. “I am going to throw you under the bus over all the crap you made me do these last few years.”
“Like I had to twist your arm. You’ve probably perved on my sister the entire time. Hey,” Jimmy left him standing in the living room shaking his head. “You got any beer?”
He nodded toward the kitchen not taking offense and wondered if Jimmy had been struck by lightning. Why had he laid down the sword? Marcus didn’t know if he could if the situation were reversed. He’d all but told the man he banged his sister and suddenly he was okay with it?
Jimmy handed him a bottle which he graciously accepted having needed this for a while today. “I can read your mind, O’Boyle. Right now you’re questioning your good fortune.”
Marcus couldn’t deny that.
“And you should because I haven’t given you my blessing, yet.”
Of course not, why should it be so easy? “Okay.”
“Marcus.” Even with the sound of a comedy blaring from the television speakers he still heard Jimmy’s soft voice like a blade slicing through grass. The green eyes the same color as his sister’s never pulled away from the screen. “You hurt my sister you won’t have to worry about friendship because you’ll be dead.”
* * *
Marcus climbed the steps to his bedroom and left Jimmy sacked out on his couch. He wouldn’t sleep on a blowup mattress in the office if his sister had been just across the hall with a man either. Not that he intended on doing anything other than sleeping. It wouldn’t take much to get him in the mood, but big brother in the other room deterred him. Besides, he didn’t want Jimmy shooting him the evil eye at breakfast.
Picking up Jain’s bad habits, he stripped and kicked his clothes toward the dresser. She lay in the center of the bed fast asleep, snoring lightly. He pulled back the covers, peeled off her shirt and slid in next to her pulling her into his arms. A yawn escaped, but he was wide-awake. The events from the day cycled through his mind. He’d have to go to the morgue in the morning. She snuggled closer and he had to ignore the surge of arousal. He’d like nothing more than to carry out the plan his dick masterminded.
“Shhhh.”
Huh? He lifted his head. Her eyes were closed and her breathing remained heavy. Who’d have guess she talked in her sleep? He lay back on the pillow.
“Marcus, you know what you did.”
At the coherently whispered sentence, he raised his head again. Her scrunched nose and furrowed brow visible to him in the dark.
“What did I do?” He shouldn’t be taking advantage of her while she slept and called himself every kind of asshole. You know she’s been hiding something from you. Doesn’t make it right.
She said nothing and he thought the conversation finished. Her head rubbed back and forth on his shoulder. “The background checks.”
His eyes narrowed. “How’d you find out about that, Jain?”
Asshole. Asshole.
“Hmmmm. About what?”
“The background checks.”
“Someone told me.” Her slumberous voice chimed.
“Who?”
“Who, what?”
His heart pounded. She’d awakened during his interrogation. “Nothing.”
“What time is it?”
“Late. Go back to sleep.”
“Where’s my brother?”
Now she wanted to play fifty questions? “Sleeping on the couch.”
“Why?”
“I guess my office was a little too close for comfort.”
“Huh?”
Did he really have to explain it? “Think about it, Jain.”
“Oh….OH.”
“Go back to sleep. Please.” His dick ignored the command he’d given it earlier. He knew in two seconds he could easily forget about Jimmy and make love to her, but he also couldn’t be that insensitive. Even if he told himself he was only trying to get the trauma out of her mind.
“I can’t.”
“Try.” He insisted.
“Do you know how much I have slept these last few days? I’ll be sluggish at work tomorrow.” She threw off the covers, sat up, and turned on the light. He hoped she’d didn’t plan to prance downstairs naked. “Did you take my shirt off?”
“Mmm hmmm.”
“Why?”
“Why not?” Wasn’t it obvious he wanted her naked in bed with him? “I’m not sure you going to work tomorrow is such a great idea.”
“I have to. The union will only back me for a death in my immediate family.”
Bereavement policies hadn’t occurred to him.
“Besides, I am only a few weeks in, they might consider replacing me. Katarina will head up the line. According to her, I don’t deserve this chance.”
He frowned then recalled her mentioning Katarina. “Who is Katarina, again?”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “She’s the lead I am understudying for.”
“Why would you say she’d head up the line?”
“We don’t get along. I’m not sure why.”
“Sounds like she’s jealous.”
“She’s a bitch.”
She’d never talked like this about anyone. “What’s going on?”
“I told you before. She’s made some snide comments. Everyone else offers condolences and Katarina sends a nasty email basically telling me to go back to my day job.”
Women, particularly in show business had a mean streak a mile wide. He remembered his early days on patrol in the Theater District. Some of those women….whew. Stuck up and full of themselves. Jain better not ever turn into one of those girls. “Want me to check for parking tickets?”
A sheepish smile crossed her face. He knew she contemplated it for a half second. “No. I can handle it. She is just trying to psyche me out so that I would suck.”
He stroked her arm. Goose bumps rose on her skin. “I’ve heard you perform many times. I’m no expert, but you don’t have anything to worry about.”
“Why aren’t we talking about the elephant in the room?”
Landmine. “Which one?”
“Oh, okay.” She pulled away and dragged on a T-shirt.
Marcus felt the wall go up between them. What the hell was wrong with him? He had no problem hinting to her brother that he’d fallen for her, but when the time came for him to admit his feelings, he couldn’t do it. Had Jimmy been right? Maybe he didn’t love her. Maybe he was incapable of loving anyone. His heart pounded. The only sound filling the awkward silence. She stretched the shirt and covered her knees, another shield. Would she move into the other room next?
You’re an idiot, boyo. I know. You have feelings for the girl. I know. So tell her something. Am I really having this conversation with myself? What the feck?
“Marcus?”
The curtain shimmered in a gust of cool air once again billowing halfway across the room. He shook his head twice then looked at her. One thin brow arched and she had the oddest expression on her face.
“I…”
“Will you two shut the hell up already? I can hear every damned word you’re saying!”
Jimmy’s voice carried up through the ancient vents Marcus hadn’t replaced in the brownstone. He would get a quote tomorrow. Though they did nothing but talk, Jain’s face was beat red again, and they hadn’t talked about a single thing he’d wanted to. Things slowly burning a hole through his gut. He climbed out of bed and shoved a pillow in front of the grate along with his laundry basket to hold it in place. Jimmy in the house didn’t bother him. Jimmy eavesdropping on bedroom activities? Not good.
“Lay down.” Tonight wasn’t the night for discussion. When he confessed his feelings to her, it would be to her alone with no one listening in. A pillow would only muffle sound so much.
She settled between the sheets. “I told you. I can’t sleep anymore.”
“Normally I would have some witty remark about making you tired, but under the circumstances.” He nodded toward the ventilation shaft. “It’s probably not a good idea.”
He turned off the light and curled up against her back.
“So if he…”
He squeezed her side and kissed her ear. “Feel that?”
“Is that your nightstick or are you just happy to see me?” She snickered and smashed her face into the pillow.
“Disgusting Jain! Disgusting!” Jimmy's exasperated voice echoed into the bedroom.
Marcus flicked off the light. “Good night, John Boy.”
“Up yours!”
* * *
Jain stood on the steps of Marcus’ brownstone outfitted in her brand new wardrobe as her brother chucked his bag in the cab and came back up the stairs. He tugged her into his arms and she had to wipe a tear away. Her older brother slash surrogate father had to return to his own job not having been called in to consult with the murder investigations plaguing Marcus.
“Any time you want to come home…”
She was glad he didn’t finish his statement because a small part of her might be ready to take him up on her offer. She shook her head. “New York is my home.”
His lips thinned but he didn’t say anything more. He and Marcus shook hands on the sidewalk then pulled each other into a bro hug. “Remember what I said, O’Boyle.”
Jain looked at her brother and her…she didn’t even know what to call him. She cast a glance up at the sky. Clear blue. Not a cloud marring its brilliance. The cool May morning air crisp and refreshing. A perfect spring day, except for her brother using his best friend’s last name. Never a good sign for Jimmy to address someone by their last name. She held her breath, waited for the tension she’d noticed last night to return. It didn’t. Marcus nodded. Jimmy nodded. Some unspoken guy code passed between them. She didn’t need the manual to know it had something to do with her.
Jimmy opened the cab door and turned back, his left arm rested on the roof. “Jain, I’ll call you tonight.”
She waved and tried to smile. They watched the cab drive out of sight. Marcus wrapped an arm around her shoulder giving her a light squeeze. “It’s going to be okay.”
Was it? Her fingers clenched into a fist. She told herself the events of the last few days enraged her and not because she wanted to call her brother back.
They walked inside the apartment. His muscular arm remained heavily thrown across her shoulder as they made their way into the kitchen. Marcus made them both another cup of coffee. “I have to leave for work soon.”
“I know.” She bent inside the refrigerator seeking cream. “Like you said. It’s going to be okay.”
When he didn’t respond, she turned. He leaned against the counter staring at her. Arms folded. Legs crossed. His bent frame still overwhelmed her. Big like a teddy bear, capable of turning into a grizzly.
“What’s on your schedule for today?”
Her jaw locked. “You promised not to do this.”
“I said no such thing.”
The crispness of his suit, wet hair, darker from his earlier shower and lack of scruff didn’t diminish his dangerous appearance. Her sexy beast went from the tender it’s going to be okay to the seriousness of let’s get down to business. She gnawed the inside of her cheek. The buffer had left the city.
“You did. Last night.”
“I promised not to control your every move.” He pulled away from the counter and cornered her against the table. The same thing she’d done to him yesterday. “But until we catch this son of a bitch, don’t believe for one instant I am going to let you walk out the door and not know where you are every second of the day.”
I’m not in love with your sister. “You’re only doing this because I’m Jimmy’s sister.”
“Think again.” He countered.
Chapter Fourteen
Marcus entered the Chief Medical Examiner’s municipal building to find Sam Toretti lounging against the wall scrolling through his cell phone. His partner apparently couldn’t find the time for working the crime scene but managed to be first in line outside Ennio Barosi’s office.
“You’re up early.”
“Couldn’t sleep. Kept envisioning Jain’s roommate.”
Could the man go one day without finding some excuse to bring her into conversation? “Her name was Cara.”
“I know.”
“Then don’t refer to her as Jain’s roommate. She has a name.”
Toretti swiveled his cup around. “I’ve never personally known any victims or witnesses to violent crimes.”
He cocked his head and tried to guess Toretti’s thoughts. He didn’t know Jain and probably knew even less of Cara Martino. Toretti’s perceived personal feelings toward Jain bothered Marcus. Was he missing something, or was this jealously rearing its green head?
“How is she anyway?”
For anyone not to ask how Jain faired under the circumstances would have been odd. Even Lt. Palmer did, but Toretti inquiring just struck a nerve and irritated the crap out of him. “Despite the shock, she is fine.”
“What did big brother have to say about that?”
Marcus hit the elevator call button not liking Toretti’s pointed questions. “He knows she’s in good hands.”
They entered the lift proceeding to the basement. “What––”
Marcus hit the emergency stop. The alarm bell rang. They’d only have a minute. “What’s with all the questions?”
