Sooner or Later (5 page)

As he suspected she would, Letty rejected him with a hard shake of her head.

Murphy groaned inwardly. This was supposed to be his vacation, a little R & R before going back into the field. Instead he’d allowed himself to be outmaneuvered by the sister of a dead missionary. He just hoped Jack had the decency not to tell the others about the mess he’d gotten himself finagled into.

A jeep careened around the corner, and Murphy recognized Ramirez. He’d worked with the dark-skinned contact a couple of years earlier. Not only was Ramirez capable of providing the necessary supplies, his information was generally accurate.

The contact slammed on the brakes in front of the curb and smiled at Murphy, revealing a row of brown teeth. Without further delay, Murphy tossed his duffel bag into the back of the jeep and leaped into the front seat. Letty had a bit of difficulty and wasn’t completely inside when Ramirez stepped on the gas and drove off. From his peripheral vision, Murphy saw Letty fall face first into the back, and he laughed silently. To her credit, she didn’t cry out or complain, although he was certain her feathers had been ruffled.

“Who’s the woman?” Ramirez asked in Spanish.

“No one important,” he returned.

“What’s she doing here?”

Murphy wasn’t in the mood for long explanations. “You don’t want to know.”

Ramirez frowned. “Is she trouble?”

“No,” he returned with a deep sigh, “just a royal pain in the ass.”

Jack Keller played back
the message on his answering machine twice, certain he’d missed something. It was Murphy’s voice all right, but Keller had a difficult time believing what his friend was saying.

He’d done it. By heaven, Murphy had actually agreed to escort the do-gooder’s sister into Zarcero. Keller wouldn’t have believed it if he hadn’t heard it with his own ears. His fellow mercenary didn’t sound any too pleased about it, either. From the background noise, he must have phoned from the airport.

Ignoring the pain in his ribs, Keller sat back, folded his hands behind his head, and propped his feet on the ottoman. He couldn’t help wondering what had brought on this bout of altruism. Jack grinned, knowing full well Murphy’s feelings about this assignment. Either this postmistress had more money than God or she’d fed Murphy one hell of a line. But that didn’t add up, either.

If this woman had that kind of wealth, she wouldn’t be working for the post office. As for someone—particularly a woman—suckering Murphy into doing something he didn’t want, well, Keller had yet to see that happen. Women weren’t a big temptation for Murphy. He disapproved of any type of distraction. Murphy claimed he’d saved Jack’s sorry ass more than once by keeping his pants zipped.

Unfortunately, Keller had learned his lesson the hard way. He’d been set up by a pretty señorita a couple of years back and damn near had the bejesus beat out of him as a result. It’d taken nearly six months for him to heal, and he’d carry the scars of that encounter all of his life. Since then he’d stringently followed Murphy’s lead. A mission was a mission.

Kansas, however, was a different story. He liked to brag about his sexual exploits, and to be fair, he’d had his share of women. He’d never quite figured out what it was about him that attracted them. One look in the mirror confirmed he wasn’t calendar material. He suspected it was his blue eyes. Women appeared to have a thing about blue eyes. Sinatra would testify to that. Brad Pitt, too.

For reasons he didn’t want to examine too closely, Marcie Alexander came to mind. He’d been in town close to three weeks now and he’d yet to call on Marcie. Ever-welcoming Marcie. He could go six months or longer without contacting her, and the minute she saw him all was forgiven.

He couldn’t remember where he’d met the blonde. Probably some bar. The hairdresser had a heart of pure gold. Unfortunately everyone knew it and took
advantage of her generosity, Keller included. It shamed him when he thought about the way he’d used her over the years.

He’d arrive unannounced on her doorstep, and she’d take him in like a stray tomcat, feed him, pet him, make love to him, and expect damn little in return. Generally that was what she got.

She never questioned the lies he fed her, and there’d been some real doozies. Once she even bailed him out of jail. Now that he thought about it, he wasn’t entirely sure he’d reimbursed her.

What he liked best about Marcie was that she never hassled him. Not with questions. Not with demands. She gave and he took. But then he figured he wasn’t the only recipient of her generous nature. Marcie was the land of woman a man used.

He’d been in town a while now, and he could have gotten laid every night of the week if he’d wanted. Trouble was, he didn’t feel like paying for what most women would give away free. He’d never experienced much trouble convincing a lady to spread her thighs. What he didn’t like was the expectation that went with it.

Just the other night he’d gone home with a stacked blonde, and after the usual tap dance to the bedroom, he’d spent the night. The next morning she’d asked if he’d fix her toilet for her. For the love of heaven, her toilet, and then she’d gotten all bent out of shape when he’d refused. Apparently she’d felt that since she’d pumped him dry, he owed her.

The more he thought about it, the more inclined he was to contact Marcie. He could use a little of her
tender, loving care. She’d never been particularly beautiful, but what she lacked in looks was more than compensated for by her body. His mouth watered just thinking about her breasts. Lush and full, they were probably the finest specimens he’d ever laid eyes on, and he’d seen more than his fair share.

He loved it when they were in bed together and he’d be flat on his back and Marcie would lean over him. He’d play with her nipples, tease her unmercifully with his tongue until she’d whimper and whine. Only then would he give her what they both craved. Heaven almighty, the woman knew how to satisfy him, and she wasn’t looking for him to work on her toilet afterward, either.

The decision made, Keller headed out the front door. If he timed it right, he’d arrive at Marcie’s beauty shop before she closed down for the night.

By the time he started his car, Keller was wondering if he’d hold out long enough to make it over to her place. The way he felt right then, the chair in the lunch room in the back of the shop would suit him just fine.

Keller sighed with relief when he turned onto her street and saw Marcie’s shop. A lot of things had changed in nine months, and he’d half feared she might have gone out of business.

He parked on the street, stopped off at the flower shop a couple of doors down, and picked up a bouquet of spring flowers. The roses were prettier, but a lot more expensive. Marcie wouldn’t know the difference and certainly wouldn’t care.

The bell above the door chimed when he entered
the shop. He was greeted with the faint acrid scent of perm solution. A young blond woman behind the counter eyed him with open curiosity.

“I’m looking for Marcie,” he announced, flashing the girl an easy smile. His timing couldn’t have been more perfect. There seemed to be a lull in business.

The girl ran her finger down the appointment book. “Are you scheduled?”

“I’m an old friend,” Keller explained. “If she’s in, I’d like to surprise her.”

“She’s here.” The girl gestured with her head for him to go on back.

By then Keller was so eager, he nearly trotted to the rear of the shop. He pulled back the makeshift curtain and gifted Marcie with a smile potent enough to melt glacial ice.

“Hello, dahlin’.”

She sat at the table, her feet propped up by a chair, eating popcorn. Her eyes widened with surprise mingled with delight when she saw who it was. “Johnny.”

Another sin. Keller had never gotten around to telling her his name was Jack. What the hell, Johnny was close enough.

“You look fabulous.” He told her that everytime he saw her, especially after a lengthy absence, only this time it was true. She’d done something different with her hair. It was shorter, curlier, blonder. He’d miss burying his hands into the thick, waist-deep length, but this style suited her much better.

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

He set the flowers on the table and reached for her,
lifting her out of the chair. Before she could protest, and he knew she wouldn’t, he had her in his arms.

Her mouth was as sweet as he remembered. She tasted good, damn good. Better than anyone in a hell of a long time. She smelled faintly of lilacs instead of stale barroom smoke, as fresh and clean as summer itself.

One kiss didn’t come anywhere close to satisfying him. Before she could tell him how much she’d missed him, he had her backed against the wall with his tongue halfway down her throat. She squirmed against him, her eagerness stroking his pride and his manhood. Soon he was so damned hard, his erection throbbed against the metal teeth of his zipper. This was even better than he expected. For the life of him, Keller couldn’t remember why he’d waited so long to contact her.

“In a minute, baby,” he whispered between deep kisses. He wanted to see and taste her breasts before he gave them what they both wanted.

He had three buttons of her pink uniform unfastened before he heard her.

“No, Johnny.”

He was sure he’d misunderstood. “No?” He must be hearing things. Her body was telling him one thing and her lips another.

“It’s been nine months since I last saw you.”

“I told you before, baby, I travel for business.”

She closed her eyes and breathed hard and heavy. “Then what’s this?”

He slipped his hand inside her uniform and sighed audibly when he cupped her breast. Her nipple pearled
instantly. “Pleasure, sweetheart, pure pleasure.” He kissed her again before she could say anything more. When he finished, they were both breathing hard.

“This isn’t such a good idea,” she said. Again her body claimed it was the best idea either of them had had in a hell of a long time.

“I’ve missed you.” To prove how much, he gripped her hand and placed it over his erection. “See?” he whispered.

“I don’t think you heard me,” she said, and it was clear she wanted him as much as he did her. “This isn’t a good idea.”

“Marcie, what’s wrong?” He nuzzled her neck, sucking and licking, doing all the things she enjoyed most. At least he thought it was Marcie who enjoyed this kind of love play. Faces tended to blend together in his mind.

“I’m not the same person I was before.”

Keller groaned and lifted his head reluctantly. “You got married?”

“No….”

Relieved, he kissed her again, deeper this time, persuading her in ways words never would.

“Johnny…” She sounded as if she were about to weep.

“You’re engaged?”

“No.”

Kissing away her protests, he bunched her breasts with both hands. It took him far longer than it should have to realize there wasn’t as much there as had been previously. Slowly he lifted his head, and his eyes found hers.

“I had breast reduction surgery.” She answered the question before he could ask.

Personally Keller couldn’t understand why she’d go and do anything so silly. He wanted to tell her that, but she started talking as if she intended never to stop.

“You can’t flitter in and out of my life any longer. I’ve never been anything more than a convenience to you, Johnny. You’re here one day and gone the next. You never let me know when you’re coming or, worse, when you’re leaving. The last time—” She stopped abruptly and seemed to strengthen her resolve before she said, “I refuse to be used any longer.”

“Use you? Me? Honey, that’s not true.” He put on a hurt look, but that didn’t seem to faze her.

“A bouquet of flowers isn’t enough to make up for nine months of silence.”

“But I’ve already explained—”

“You’ve barged in and out of my life for the last time,” she said, cutting him off. “It’d be better for the both of us if you left now.” Her eyes flashed with conviction.

“Fine, if that’s the way you feel.” He had half a mind to remind her there was plenty of what she gave away.

She lowered her head. “Good-bye, Johnny.”

He turned around, intent on walking out the door, letting her think it was no skin off his nose. They’d had some fun together, could still, but she wasn’t willing. So be it. He jerked back the cloth curtain and happened to glance back. Marcie stood with her shoulder braced against the door, her head lowered and her bottom lip trembling.

“Do I owe you any money?” he asked.

“No.”

Hell if he could remember if he did or didn’t. “Good-bye, Marcie,” he said softly. With that he left the beauty salon.

An hour later he sat in a bar, feeling more than a little melancholy. He didn’t know what the world was coming to these days. He hadn’t had a cigarette in three years, but he needed one now. After downing the last of his beer, he walked outside.

A whore, dressed in leather pants and a halter top, leaned against the side of the building. Catching sight of him, she offered a coy smile.

“Looking for a good time, honey?” she asked.

It was a sad commentary that Keller had to think about the answer. Sure, he’d been after a good time, but he’d wanted it with Marcie.

“I don’t know,” he said, playing her game. “What are you offering?”

With her hand planted against the swell of her hips, she sidled toward him, her cherry lips easing into a sultry smile. “I’ll give you anything your little heart desires,” she whispered, then laughed softly, “and then some.”

“What is this, a slow night?”

“You want it slow, you got it slow.”

For the life of him, Keller couldn’t dredge up the enthusiasm. All he could think about was Marcie and the feel of her as her sweet body had rubbed against him.

“Another time,” he said.

“Hey, you’re missing out on the best time of your life.”

Keller doubted that. The best time had been nine months ago with Marcie. He wouldn’t be any kind of man not to know she’d wanted him. Damn, he’d like to know what had gotten into her.

Marcie. By heaven, he’d have her again just as soon as he figured out a way to change her mind.