Cat 'N Mouse (17 page)

“That’s sad. I think you’re a lot of things, Sam O’Malley, but an inconvenience is not one of them.”

She settled into the crook of his arm and yawned, pushing her buttocks back into his groin. Heat raced through his body and he suppressed a groan. Well, he tried to any way and she laughed out loud.

“Behave yourself or I’ll send you back to your bed.”

“I bet if Rebecca, Ms. Queen-of-everything-there-is-to nip-and-tuck, was lying next to you instead of me, you wouldn’t be threatening to send her back to bed.”

Sam burst out into laughter. “I’ve no interest in Rebecca.”

He thought he heard her say you better not or something along that line. Moments later he heard her deep even breathing. She fell asleep with a smile on her face and her buttocks exactly where it was.

It was an hour before he carefully untangled his legs from hers and got up. He had to force himself to get up. She was so warm and soft and smelled so pretty. He had to climb over her and as he did, she pushed back further into the sofa and mumbled as if missing his presence.

Sam thought about her dream. What if it wasn’t a dream? What about the man that was stalking her and her recurring dreams? Could the two be connected? If so, then her father would be involved. What if he was trying to prevent her from remembering her dream? She did say the dreams started when she moved out of the estate. He reached for the cordless on the kitchen counter and punched in the number.

“Jamie Wright.”

“Hey, it’s Sam O’Malley.”

Sam had worked with Brooks Investigations back in Boston and was hoping for a little help on a background check. Jamie worked for Marklynn Brooks who ran the agency. He’d helped Marklynn find her missing sister and was hoping to cash in an IOU.

“How is the Sunshine State, and what are you doing up at this ungodly hour?”

“Hot. I’m on a job and was looking for some help.”

“What kind?”

“Background. Extensive background check. I mean everything you can get your hands on. Have you heard of Warren Prescott?”

“Who hasn’t? He’s a heavy hitter in corporate mergers and acquisitions.”

Sam hadn’t until he moved to Florida, but didn’t say anything.

“Someone is stalking his daughter.”

“You’ve moved up in the world.”

“If that’s what you want to call it.” Sam’s gaze fell on Alexandria on the sofa just as she kicked off the blanket. Remembering how her legs felt intertwined with his, he turned away from the distraction. “Also, I need any information you can find out about his late wife’s death. It happened twenty years ago.”

“Are you serious?”

“Afraid so.”

“What do you want with a twenty year old stiff?”

Sam filled Jamie in on the last couple of days.

“You think Prescott has something to do with the stalking?”

“People do strange things in the name of love. He’s the center of her world and I want to be absolutely sure before I accuse him of anything. Can you keep this quiet?”

“When you start poking around with the likes of Warren Prescott, someone is bound to notice. I’ll do my best.”

When Jamie hung up the phone, Sam heard another click on the line. He turned the phone over and used his thumb to pop open the slot where the battery was located.

“What the…”

A
lexandria stretched inching back into the sofa. No Sam. What did she expect? Disappointed, she pushed up off the sofa and got up to brush her teeth.

The hall washroom door was ajar and she peeked in as she passed. Sam’s gun was on the sink and she could see his silhouette through the frosted glass shower door. It appeared he’d just gotten into the shower. He turned toward the bathroom door as if sensing her presence and she drew back against the wall holding her breath. She didn’t move until she heard the shower then raced to her room.

She had hoped he would’ve been out of the shower by the time she returned to the kitchen fifteen minutes later but he wasn’t. If he asked if she was lurking outside the washroom door she could always plea temporary insanity.

The smell of strong coffee filled the air. Sam had set the automatic coffeemaker. She hated his coffee. He liked it strong and drank it with a gallon of cream.

As she reached for the carton of orange juice in the refrigerator, her eyes drifted toward the washroom. Steam floated into the hallway. In her mind she could picture him standing under the shower the water cascading down his body…powerful arms. He’d carried her in his arms, held her in his arms.

Since meeting him, she kept imagining what it would be like to be with him. But he kept her at arms length. Last night was the closest they had ever been together, laying next to each other and she wanted to get even closer. How was she actually going to do that when he kept pushing her away?

“Hi.”

Alexandria jumped about ten feet almost spilling the orange juice. She didn’t even hear him come out of the washroom.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded putting the juice back in the refrigerator and closed the door. He had on his jeans. It was zipped but not buttoned. He rubbed his wet hair with the white towel he had around his neck. His eyes were dark, intense, staring at her.

It was as if there was some kind of magnetic force pulling her toward him. Her legs took on a life of their own. She floated toward him. It had to be because she didn’t feel her feet touching the floor.

She wanted to touch him. Needed to touch him. She stopped in front of him and her hands, like her feet, couldn’t be controlled.

His skin was damp, hot against her hands. She rose up on the tips of her toes and his hand circled her waist, holding her against him. Lips met lips. Tongues were reintroduced.

Their first kiss was nice, but this was incredible. She felt like she was floating away. He took his time slowly exploring her mouth while his hand burned across her skin. The nightshirt was getting in the way and she wanted it gone along with his jeans.

She liked the way he smelled, all male. Liked the way he felt, hard and smooth rolled into one. His muscles tensed under her touch.

“I’m sorry.” He pulled away. “This can’t happen.”

“Why?” Sam shook his head and turned to walk away, heading for his room. “Don’t walk away from me.”

Oh, she was angry. Angry at herself for initiating something she knew wouldn’t go anywhere. Angry because he rejected her for the umpteenth time and she wasn’t going to let him off the hook without an explanation. Maybe there was someone else.

“Don’t make this harder than it is.”

“Oh, so you’re not made of stone after all?”

“Don’t do this.” His voice sounded strain.

Frustrated she asked, “Why? I know you want me and I want you. What’s the problem?”

“I’m here to protect you. We need to keep our relationship on a professional level.” His reasoning was not in line with his explanation. His muscles were taut and tense.

“Oh, I think we’re beyond that, don’t you?”

The phone started to ring. She grabbed the cordless. “Hello?”

She heard heavy breathing on the other end of the line, then silence. Laughter followed and she exploded.

“You think you’re so tough hiding behind the phone. You know where I live. Why don’t you come and get me? And I’m not talking about crawling in like the cockroach you are when I’m not at home. I’m talking about showing your face!”

Silence.

“I don’t think you can. Want to know why?”

Silence.

“Because you’re a coward!”

She slammed the phone down on the counter and Sam rushed to her side.

“Alex—”

“No. Leave me alone.”

•  •  •

Coward?

Cockroach?

It was because of O’Malley why she called him a coward. She had to learn to respect him, and she would with her bodyguard out of the way. O’Malley had to go because that would be the only way she would respect him.

He thought he could see her at the Foundation yesterday, but he couldn’t get within a foot of her because O’Malley was there. He shook with anger. The man must die. It was the only way he can be with his
Princess
.

His cellphone rang and he ignored it. He knew who it was. He didn’t take orders from anyone anymore.

Since Alexandria didn’t love him anymore then she had to die. Perhaps he should give her one more chance.

She could change. She might change and love him again, but not as long as O’Malley was in the picture.

•  •  •

Sam pulled into the parking lot at Robyn’s Nest two hours later. He didn’t release the child security locks. That’s one feature he liked. Alexandria couldn’t leave until he was ready. He’d gotten the silent treatment since the creep called.

He had to be missing something, but what? The man always called when he and Alexandria were in the middle of something. The first call came after she found the iguana then when they were in the middle of an argument. It was as though the creep was trying to keep them apart. Sam didn’t need any help in that department. He was doing fine on his own.

His observations led to more questions. Especially about this latest call. Did the man say something that could identify him? The only way to determine that was to get Alexandria to talk to him about it. That was like trying to draw water from a stone, but it needed to be done, even if she didn’t want to talk to him about it.

“Tell me about the call this morning.”

“There’s nothing to tell. I told you. He started breathing hard then ended up laughing and I lost it.” She pulled at the door handle, and then sat back in her seat, staring straight ahead.

“Fine. Let’s talk about what happened between us this morning.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. I know the rules. Number one: I stay on the third floor. Number two: Inform you if I need to go between floors. Number three: Inform you when I need to go the powder room, and Number four: You are off limits so you can do your job without distractions. Are there any other rules I should be aware of?”

She was angry and it was his fault. For a moment he thought of telling her it had nothing to do with her. It was him and his messed up life. He couldn’t take an aspirin without wondering if he would fall back in that dark hole again. And the biggest deal buster of all, he couldn’t keep her in the lifestyle she was accustomed to. He racked his brain trying to find the right words that would make the awkwardness between them go away. Nothing came. At least nothing he thought she wanted to hear.

“I didn’t think so. Open the door.”

Sam unlocked the doors and Alexandria got out of the vehicle and started toward the building. He had to hurry to catch up with her.

Something was wrong. Sam felt it immediately as they stepped off the elevator on the third floor. Robyn had her arm around Mr. Robinson’s shoulder as the man sobbed outside Tiana’s room.

“Robyn?” Alexandria’s demeanor changed and she ran toward them. “What’s wrong?”

Sam knew Tiana had died. He didn’t need anyone to tell him that.

“Tiana’s infection progressed to fatal pneumonia,” Robyn said. Her eyes were red and she sniffled.

“Can I see her?”

“No. She’s—” Alexandria pushed toward Tiana’s room. Robyn looked at Sam and shook her head, her eyes pleading silently asking for his help.

Alexandria, let’s get—”

“Don’t…” Alexandria said, but Sam held onto her arm preventing her from entering the room. When she looked beyond Robyn’s shoulder and saw the body of the little girl all covered up with a white sheet, she pulled out of his arms.

“I’m sorry,” Robyn said, sadness filled her voice. “Tiana died early this morning.”

“You should’ve called me.”

“Sweetie—”

“You should’ve called!”

•  •  •

Pain.

It surrounded Alexandria and she couldn’t breath. Her head started to spin. Tiana’s smiling face appeared before her. She had promised the little girl that she would get better and fulfill her dreams. She had no right to make such a promise, but she did. Death cheated Tiana out of her dreams, just like it snatched her mother away.

Her mother’s face appeared before her, lying in a pool of blood at the bottom of the stairs. Alexandria broke away from Sam and ran into the stairwell. She didn’t stop until she got to the sixth floor then collapsed against the railing sliding down on the cement steps sobbing.

In the distance she heard voices. Sam’s mostly, ordering someone to the door of the sixth floor and not to let anyone into the stairwell. Footsteps echoed up the stairs toward her, but she didn’t look up. Her head rested on her arms folded across her knees.

“I just want to sit with you,” Robyn said and sat down next to her in silence. That was good because Alexandria didn’t want to talk. She didn’t want to go home either. Robyn knew this and as a great friend, she let her cry, then cried with her.

The day flew by in a blur. Most of the morning she’d spent in the stairwell until Sam told her, or rather ordered her, to get some lunch in the cafeteria. In the afternoon she sat with Tiana’s father in the family lounge on the third floor staring out the window.

Sam came to the lounge at four o’clock and told her it was time they left. She couldn’t leave, not until Mr. Robinson left the Foundation. That didn’t happen until ten o’clock that night. She was ready to go half an hour later.

The twenty-minute ride home seemed to take forever. Usually Sam drove like an Indy race car driver but tonight he took his time. Silence stretched out between them like miles of desert sand. No one volunteered to break the silence.

When they arrived at the condo she headed straight for her room. Her sanctuary.

“You’ll feel better if you talk about it.”

“With who, you?”

Sam snagged her arm just below her elbow, cutting off her quick escape to her bedroom. They stood there staring at each other. The simple touch made her skin burn sending heat up her arm radiating through her body. The attraction she felt for him was stronger than anything she had ever felt before. She’d never felt that for anyone. Not even Damien.