Single and Searching (22 page)

Erotic sensations fluttered through her as he pulled her into his arms. Time seemed suspended as they lay entwined, bodies and hearts joined while the moon played peek-a-boo with the clouds and the crickets lended their own music to the background. Birds fluttered down nipping at the basket and cake box, and Casey stood, opened the cake, broke off a large piece and scattered it in the yard.

Gabe had never seen anything more beautiful than the vision of her naked body bathed in the moonlight, her soft voice crooning ridiculous words to the birds as they gathered their late night dinner.

"Are you cold?" Gabe whispered, hugging Casey to him as she scooted down beside him.

Casey shook her head. "No, I'm still tingling from making love to you."

"So I lived up to your fantasy?"

"It was even better."

Gabe raked a finger over her bare shoulder. "Sweetheart, we've just begun."

Casey had no idea how there could be more, but Gabe showed her. The whipped cream she'd intended for the strawberries made a delightful appetizer when he applied it to her nipples. And of course, she returned the favor and found several more places made more tantalizing by the taste of the fluffy foam on his hard body. Then some places tasted better without anything at all, because they tasted of Gabe. Strong, masculine, heady.

Finally a light sprinkling of rain brought them hurrying inside. Gabe lit a fire and they shared a cup of cappuccino. Casey settled down on the rug and Gabe moved behind her, stroking her naked body with his own. At Casey's silent acquiescence, Gabe entered her again, and Casey surrendered completely, accepting the pleasure Gabe offered her and meeting his passion with her own.

Although a sliver of fear nagged at her as they climaxed and drifted to sleep. She had guarded her heart for years, had never allowed herself to get too attached for fear of losing someone close.

But she had given her heart to Gabe when she'd made love him. And Gabe had never mentioned love.

How would she survive if he decided to walk away?

* * *

The sharp sound of his cell phone jerked Gabe from sleep. He gently eased his arm from around her, and slipped out of bed, although he paused to smile at the picture Casey made, flushed and exhausted from their lovemaking. Some time in the middle of the night, they'd finally made it to her bed. He never wanted to leave.

A thought that scared the hell out of him.

His cell phone trilled again, and he tiptoed to the kitchen and phoned Hank.

"Thornton here, what is it?"

"Some guy named Quickchange called. He said he had some information for you on the ABC robberies. He wanted you to meet a guy named George at seven o'clock at the railroad track at Stone Mountain."

"Got it. Thanks, Hank." Gabe checked his watch. Damn. He'd wanted to spend the whole day in bed with Casey, but he'd have to leave. The case was too important. He had to make sure he cleared Casey without her ever knowing.

His heart stuttered with unexplained feelings. The need to stay with her, to confess that he wanted more than just a night in bed with her.

That he wanted her all the time. That he wanted for her to be his wife.

Sweat exploded on his brow. Yes, he could buy a ring for the letter "R". But was he ready for that? For marriage and a ready-made family?

Shaken by the idea, he put on a pot of coffee, took a quick shower, and leaned over to kiss Casey. She rolled to her back, stretched up her arms and pulled him on top of her.

"I wish I didn't have to go, but I do, sweetheart," Gabe said. "Work demands it."

Casey nodded. "I wish you didn't have to leave either. You'll call?"

Gabe's stomach tightened. Would Casey ever completely trust him? "I'll call."

Casey smiled and gave him a kiss that reminded him of their erotic evening. The scent of their loving still lingered on her body. Faint whisker burns marked the curve of her breasts.

Her taste still sweetened his tongue.

Yes, he would definitely call.

* * *

"So, you recognize these boys?" Gabe asked.

The short squatty owner of the U-Find-It Pawn Shop lit a cigarette and inhaled a drag before he spoke. "Yeah, they've been hanging around the store."

"You think they were hired to do the robberies?"

"That's my guess." George blew a puff of smoke into the air. "About a month ago, they started hangin' outside on the corner all the time. Saw 'em talking to this new guy I hired to work night shift. Here's his address. Boys call him T.J."

Gabe nodded. "Thanks. I'll check him out."

On the way back to the office, Gabe phoned Hank. "I've got a lead to check out. I'll be in later."

"Hang on a minute, Thornton. Lieutenant Harper called. He needs to see you as soon as possible."

"Okay. I'll stop by there first."

Gabe made a U-turn and headed for the station, sighing in relief. He was one step closer to ending this thing and clearing Casey.

Then he would figure out what to do with these crazy feelings toward Casey.

* * *

"Casey Jones?"

Casey stared at the police officer perched on her doorstep in shock. Jones, she hadn't been called that name in years. "Yes?" she finally managed to squeak.

"I'm Officer Ford from the Atlanta police department. I need you to come down to the station to answer some questions."

Casey clutched the door for support. "What is this about?"

The officer cleared his throat. "We have evidence that suggests you may be involved in the ABC robberies. You can either come of your own volition or I can arrest you."

Casey dug her fingernails into the door frame, her mind racing. Robberies? Why would they think she had something to do with a robbery?

The officer gestured toward the side table by the door. "You may want to get your purse, ma'am."

"Uh... sure." Casey grabbed her pocketbook, stumbled down the steps, and climbed into the police car.

Memories of being arrested when she was thirteen suddenly assaulted her and a cold chill swept up her spine. Sometimes it didn't matter if you were innocent or guilty... the system didn't always work.

Ten minutes later, the officer held her arm as she walked inside the station. Nausea gripped her stomach into a tight knot.

Tension radiated from the tall black man who approached her. "Ms. McIntyre, I'm Lieutenant Harper. I have a few questions to ask you."

"I don't understand." Casey smoothed down her skirt as the officer showed her into what looked like an empty office.

"Make yourself comfortable, Ma'am. You're going to be here for a while." He pointed to a straight vinyl chair sitting next to a long scarred wooden table, but Casey remained rooted to the spot. The need to run bolted through her.

The Lieutenant faced her, his arms folded, his dark eyes boring into hers. "We have information from a witness stating that you were seen at a crime scene."

"What crime scene?" Casey's body swayed, and another burly officer guided her into a chair.

She slumped down, her head spinning as the police began to drill her with questions about her whereabouts the night of each robbery.

Casey answered the questions as best she could, her first reaction of shock turning to anger and last, worry. Just being implicated in a crime, the publicity and trial if it came to it, could jeopardize her custody of Henry S. "I don't understand why you think I'd be involved in any of these crimes," Casey said. "I'm a single mother and a writer, not a thief. "

"Our resources show that you've had some financial instability the last couple of years."

Casey struggled to hold onto her temper. They had looked into her bank records? "Well, yes, I'm a writer so money isn't always stable, but I have a new project that I'm sure is going to sell and do well."

"But you recently adopted a child and children cost money."

Casey was appalled. "That doesn't mean I would steal to support him. "

"But you might have paid some teenagers to steal the merchandise for you. After all, people get desperate sometimes."

Casey shot up from the seat. "That's ridiculous. I'm a good mother, a good role model."

"That's not what your juvenile record shows." The cop stood and glared at her with narrowed eyes. "Now, sit back down, Ms. McIntyre, while we check out your story. I assume you have witnesses to corroborate your whereabouts on each occasion. I've sent for Gabe Thornton. He should be here any moment, and we can continue."

"Gabe? What does he have to do with this?"

"Thornton has been investigating this case for the paper. I believe the lead came through him."

What?

Casey gaped at the man in shock. The ABC story was the one Gabe was working on? The reason he kept leaving her?

Tears burned the backs of Casey's eyes. The burly officer opened the door and Gabe walked into the room. His eyes flickered with surprise, then he clenched his jaw as his gaze rested on her.

"Gabe, what's going on?" Casey asked, suddenly frightened. She wanted to run to him and hurl herself in his arms, but he stood rigid, his expression a mask.

"I'm sorry, Casey. Don't answer any more questions without a lawyer."

Lieutenant Harper cleared his throat. "We haven't arrested her yet, Thornton. But look at these photos we got off of the surveillance cameras near one of the pawn shops."

He opened a folder and produced several pictures of her talking to three young kids who looked like thugs.

"The boys have confessed," Harper said. "Although so far they have refused to give up the head of their ring. "

The breath rushed from Casey's lungs. "Gabe, this is a mistake. Tell them it's crazy. I don't know these guys. I've never even met them."

Gabe knotted his fists by his side. "Please, Casey. Just be quiet. You need an attorney."

The Lieutenant turned back to Casey, suspicion slanting his mouth into a thin line. "It'll be best for you if you tell the truth now. We can cut a deal."

"I am telling the truth," Casey said through gritted teeth.

"Maybe sitting in a cell for a while will convince you to talk." Lt. Harper turned to Gabe. "Thanks for your help, Thornton. We'll take it from here."

The blood roared in Casey's ears as she struggled to put together the pieces. Gabe had answered her ad, her alphabet ad. He had been investigating the alphabet robberies.

Because he thought she was behind them...

She clutched her stomach as the truth dawned. That was the reason he'd been dating her?

She searched his face, hoping, praying he would deny the accusation, but regret and guilt darkened his eyes instead.

Dear god. She had made love to him and given him her heart.

But he had lied to her. He had used her for a story. He had suspected she might be a criminal.

And now she was going to be arrested and lose Henry S. forever.

Chapter 10

She'd given him her heart.

Her body.

Her soul.

But Gabe didn't love her. He had only used her to further his career.

Casey blinked back tears as recent conversations echoed in her mind: conversations about his work, the investigation, conversations where he'd had every opportunity possible to tell her his suspicions. No, instead, he'd sneaked behind her back. He'd romanced her, sent her gifts, and seduced her—all for a story.

"Casey?" Gabe moved toward her, but Casey shrank back in the chair, steeling herself against the emotions clouding his eyes. What was he doing? Feeling guilty now that he'd cornered her?

Well, good for him. He should feel guilty. She'd given him her love, and he'd stomped on it.

"Thornton, what were you doing holding out?" Lieutenant Harper demanded. "I forget sometimes you're a damn reporter. You wanted the whole scoop before you filled me in, didn't you?"

Gabe ran a hand through his hair, never once taking his eyes off of Casey. Casey straightened her shoulders and met his look with cool eyes.

"I told you there was no need to question her," Gabe said. "She's too disorganized and messy to be a calculated thief."

Casey's hurt subsided for a split second and she fumed. "Messy? At least I don't separate my vegetables."

"I don't do that anymore," Gabe argued. "I've been practicing."

Casey crossed her arms, barely resisting the urge to slap him.

Harper waved his hands. "Listen, I don't know what the two of you are jabbering about, but I'm trying to catch a thief."

"So am I." Gabe punched the photos with one finger. "Have the lab analyze these photographs. They've been doctored. "

Casey closed her eyes as his words sank in. Damn him. It was about the story for him. Maybe this would win him his Pulitzer.

Lieutenant Harper slammed his hand on the table. "Thornton, what's going on? You know Miss McIntyre was arrested for stealing when she was a juvenile. She's using an alias now, and she adopted a child in an attempt to gain access to the woman's trust fund."

Casey's heart pounded. "That's not true," she said, her breath catching as hurt stabbed her. "I love that little boy more than anything in the world. His mother was my friend and I promised to take care of him. I don't care about the money."