Arrested Pleasure (4 page)

"Well? Come on, Cassie. I'm dying to find out."

She glanced up at Dani, who leaned casually against the doorframe. After a morning full of appointments, lunchtime was in full swing. Troy, a therapist, had already taken off. Nearby, Lola was making lunch plans with Becki, another spa employee.

Cassie laid down the sheets of figures and rose, stretching her stiffened bones.

She hated sitting at a desk for long stretches, which is why she preferred hands-on work rather than doing the books. But someone had to take care of the paperwork.

"Because I didn't say. He not only wasn't home, but I found out he doesn't live there anymore. He's moved in with Sharon, and they're getting married."

Dani's eyebrows rose. "Gavin is getting married? She must be special for him to propose."

"Mm . . ." Cassie glanced out at the busy street. Across the way, Markham's Deli had a line out the door already. Molly from the flower shop was loading arrangements into the back of her van for delivery. One thing Cassie enjoyed about this part of town was the eclectic businesses in the area. It helped shape the area from its former reputation as a seedy section Portlanders avoided to that of a thriving business district.

"I take it you met the new owners?" Dani chuckled. "Good thing the present was wrapped, or it could've been awkward. Can you imagine what they would have thought opening that package from you?"

Cassie glared at Dani. Her friend was having way too much with this. "Not exactly. There was someone there. I'm not sure who he is, but he's acquainted with Gavin and Sharon." Her mind momentarily filled with visions of his face and the feel of his fingers on her intimate places. She'd tried to push the memories to the back of her mind all morning, but she couldn't hold back the shivers that still rocked her body.

"He?"

She blinked at Dani's question, aware she'd lost track of the conversation. She forced herself to focus. "Some guy. Not somebody I'd ever met while Gavin and I dated."

"Oh? Good looking? Single?"

"Yes. Or . . . wait . . . I don't know if he's single. He just didn't act married."

Dani's eyes widened at Cassie's choice of words. "He didn't act married?" She sat down on the edge of the desk, a satisfied smile on her face. "Tell me more. He must have left an impression on you. Did he come on to you?"

Cassie opened her mouth, and then clamped it shut. She didn't want to let on to Dani about how she'd behaved so wantonly with a stranger. "Look, I'm going across the street to get a sandwich. You want to come with me?"

"Changing the subject, are we?"

"You could say that. I doubt I'll meet him again, so the issue isn't important anymore."

Dani stared at her for a moment. "Well, you do know where he lives and that he's a friend of Gavin's. You could . . . ." She let the words trail off.

Go to his house again? "Not a fat chance." Cassie laughed and shook her head, grabbing her Louis Vuitton purse. "End of subject. Come on, let's get lunch."

* * * * *

Gabe turned onto Front Street, amazed at how this part of town had risen from the depths of prostitution and drug dealing to become one of Portland's best-kept secrets. Shops, restaurants, and respectable businesses lined the streets, giving the area a makeover despite the surrounding buildings that still housed older generations of families. A few renovated their houses into apartments to rent to the young people just starting out.

One of the major reasons for its change was people like Rosa Miller, who had built a homeless shelter and kept strict rules about no drugs and prostitution.

He glanced at Olivia beside him, fully aware there were those who slipped in their quest for redemption, but with Rosa's kindness, Olivia would hopefully soon be on the road to reform. Jaywalkers dotted the street, causing Gabe to curse at their foolhardiness.

He turned to check to his left and realized why people wanted to cross a busy street to get across. Markham's Deli had a busy crowd due to the lunchtime rush. Chaz had taken Gabe there a couple of times, and he'd enjoyed the huge sandwiches the place specialized in. Maybe once he dropped off his charge, he'd stop and grab a bite.

"It's on the right over there." Olivia's quiet voice broke through his musings.

Unobtrusive, except for a small white sign that proclaimed it a homeless shelter for all, the house blended in with the other businesses in the block. A computer company had recently relocated to the area and processed billings out of the location. A thriving spa near the shelter urged pedestrians to come in for a relaxing massage.

"You picked a good place with Rosa Miller," he remarked. He slammed on his brakes as another jaywalker darted in front of his car. He cursed and then muttered an apology to Olivia. "Sorry about that. I wish people would be careful where they're going."

She nodded and smiled. "Rosa is wonderful. She has taken Sienna under her wing."

He was about to respond when two females ran out into the street. Pressing his foot on the brake, he bit out another curse. "Damn these people. If only these jerks—"

He stopped when he recognized a familiar figure. He hit the brakes hard again, nearly throwing Olivia against the dash.

It couldn't be.
He stared in astonished silence as the dark-haired beauty from the day before dashed across the street some ten yards ahead, accompanied by a red-haired female companion. He continued to watch, stunned, as she stepped onto the sidewalk and darted into Markham's.

Shit. What incredible luck
. He wondered if she worked nearby or just happened to be in the area.

"Detective Banks?"

Olivia's questioning voice and a car horn blaring behind him brought him back to the realization that he was blocking traffic. Moving the car forward, he still couldn't get his mind off the fact that he'd seen
her
again.

"Sorry. I thought I spotted someone I met yesterday." He found an empty parking place in front of the shelter and pulled in. He glanced over his left shoulder to where he'd last glimpsed his mystery woman and wondered if he would find her in the crowd at the deli.

"Thank you for the ride."

He swiveled his head back around to Olivia. She watched him, a puzzled expression on her face.

"Uh, sure. If Rosa asks you who brought you home, just tell her a friend from school."

She nodded and started to slide out of the car. She paused, giving him a smile.

"Thank you, Detective Banks. I really appreciate your discretion." Her eyes filled with tears. "I don't know what we'd do if we didn't live at the shelter."

Gabe had a pretty good idea what her options were. None, except in a seedy, rundown motel filled with pimps and drug dealers. Not a place to raise a small child.

"No problem, Olivia. However, I don't want to find you back in the precinct."

"I promise."

She closed the door and he watched as she disappeared into Rosa's house. He exhaled a sigh. There. His good deed done for the day. He smiled as got out of his car, already anticipating the expression on the face of the lady he was now in hot pursuit of.

Locking his Ford Taurus, he checked traffic before crossing Front Street, chuckling as he realized he was jaywalking like most everyone else did in the area. Well, Markham's was a good incentive, but he was after a particular lady as his quarry The crowd at the deli gathered around the counter as harried but efficient help took orders and handed out the boxes of food. He scoured the throng looking for a certain female with long dark hair and a killer body. He thought she'd been wearing a white shirt with some slogan on the front. And sexy black jeans that molded her figure and showed off her long legs.

Damn.
Where the hell is she?
He'd sworn she'd zipped into the deli. She had to be here somewhere.

Elbows poked him. He said "excuse me" several times to jostle around a customer, but still he couldn't spot her. Spying an empty chair, he jumped on top of it and surveyed the crowded restaurant. He was acting out of character, but he had to find her.

A few people stared at him, but mostly he was ignored as they were more interested in getting their food than figuring out some crazy idiot standing on a chair.

He silently cursed as he searched the circumference of the deli, from front to center and back.
Fuck.
He couldn't spot her. She had to be here. Did he imagine her running across the street in front of his car? Was he freaking out and had lost his mind?

Where the hell did she disappear to?

Or was she a figment of his overactive imagination? If he thought every woman with long, dark hair was the lady he'd brought to completion yesterday with only his fingers then maybe he needed to get laid more urgently than he'd thought.

The first signs of a headache began to pound in his head. Shaking it off in frustration, he turned to leave. He also needed a vacation if he'd started imagining things. Maybe his obsession with her had fried his brain.

Walking back to his car, he mulled his options. Top of the list were getting hold of Gavin, learning the name of his visitor yesterday, and getting the scoop on how they were connected. Never before in his life had he wanted someone as badly as he did her.

The few minutes he'd spent had filled him with an uncontrollable urge to possess her. A craving he couldn't ignore or satisfy only once.

* * * * *

"Thank you, Mrs. Markham. You're a blessing to bring us back here."

The gray-haired buxom owner of Markham's smiled and nodded as she handed Cassie and Dani their sandwiches.

"When I saw you two out there with the large crowd and knew you only had a short lunch break, I thought it was a neighborly thing to do." She settled herself into a chair across from them. "Besides, this will give us a chance to catch up."

"Sure. Cassie can tell us about the man she met last night."

"Dani!" Cassie frowned at her friend. "Honestly, I will probably never see him again." Her face warmed in embarrassment,
Damn her for bringing him up
.

"You met a young gentleman, Cassie?" Esther Markham asked, a curious expression on her face.

Giving Dani a warning look, Cassie nodded. "I went by Gavin's to leave him a little something and found out he'd moved. Plus, he's now engaged to Sharon.

Anyway"—she pulled off a piece of meat and nibbled on it—"another person was there.

We chatted and"—she glared at Dani—"that is all. End of story."

Mrs. Markham smiled. "I'm glad you've moved on after the breakup." She studied Cassie for a few seconds. "This new person. A friend of Gavin's? Someone you're possibly interested in?"

"No. He's just . . . ." She hesitated, lost for words. How could she describe this stranger to her friends? Did it matter since she'd likely never see him again?

"I think Cassie should call up Gavin and find out who he is," Dani said between bites of her dill pickle. "He must be a hunk if he has you in a dither."

Cassie stared at her. She'd thought the same thing about contacting Gavin. But that might bring further questions. Possible answers she hadn't decided on herself.

Why had she let a total stranger touch her so intimately? Usually she initiated the lovemaking in a new relationship. With him last night, he had forced her—willingly she conceded—to kiss him in return and played her body like a master.

Cassie mentally kicked herself. She needed to get over this. Call up Gavin and casually mention she'd stopped by. Oh, by the way, who is staying in your house?

"I'll call Gavin in a few days and ask him. Also let him know his friend . . . tenant

. . . or whoever he is, has his present."

"Present? You're giving men presents?" Mrs. Markham asked.

Beside her, Dani snickered and almost choked on her sandwich. Cassie gave her a warning glare. No doubt Esther Markham wasn't into giving men cock rings and would be shocked to learn they even existed.

"It was just a little . . . token of our past friendship. Like a gag gift. We were more friends than . . . ." She almost said lovers and winced inwardly. This conversation wasn't something she normally had in the elderly lady's presence.

"Ah." Mrs. Markham rose and poured herself another cup of tea. The noise of the lunchtime crowd reverberated from the other part of the building. She lived in the back, while her sons resided upstairs. Enrique and Tony ran a smooth operation under the skillful direction of their mother. At the age of seventy, she worked in the background, leaving the day-to-day operations to her sons.

Cassie glanced at her watch and shoved her plate away, realizing she needed to get back to the spa. "It's almost one. Lola is probably getting ready to open the doors to the spa again. We better leave since we have several appointments this afternoon. This was a nice break and as usual, great food." She rose and smiled at Esther. "Thanks for bringing us back here, Mrs. Markham."

"Anytime for my favorite girls." The smiling restaurant owner nodded toward the front. "My boys are good men. They just need the right wife. If you're interested, say the word . . . ."

Cassie and Dani glanced at each other. About once a month, Esther Markham made the same statement and every month they told her the same thing.

"Thanks, Mrs. Markham, but we're not in the market to get married and stay home to raise kids. Your boys will find the right women soon."

Her face fell for a moment and then she beamed at them. "I understand. If you change your mind . . . ."

Cassie soothed her, not wanting to disappoint their friend. "I'm sure. If we're looking for some good Italian men, Enrique and Tony will be the first men we check out."

Mrs. Markham clapped her hands together. "Wonderful!"

Cassie smiled at Dani. "Come on girl, let's go pound some stress out."

She definitely needed to work off some stress today. She couldn't seem to get the mystery man out of her mind.

Cassie stretched and yawned. She'd stayed late working on the books for her business, finally heading to bed shortly after midnight. She almost hated to get up, but knew she couldn't linger much longer in bed.