Undercover Marriage (8 page)

Linda stepped out of the kitchen. “I just talked to the chief. Marshal Phillips has Lonnie Bogler in protective custody. They are driving here from Minnesota. Apparently Lonnie has a phobia of flying, so they rented a car. They should arrive in St. Louis by Sunday afternoon.”

“Until then we continue to do what we can to locate our friend in the white van and find Baby Kay,” Serena said, her voice brisk. She headed toward the downstairs den, leaving Josh and Linda in the entryway.

“You two seem to be getting along better,” Linda observed.

They were settling into a more cohesive rhythm. Fondness for his pretend wife spread through his chest. “Yes, whatever you said to her the other day worked,” Josh said, grateful that Serena was trying so hard.

Linda smiled. Her gaze drifted to the fake wedding portrait hanging on the wall. “You two make a good team.”

“Maybe.” But he had a feeling once this assignment was over, Serena would prefer not working with him again. He would miss seeing her every day and hearing her voice. He would miss the way she challenged him and inspired him.

But that was the way it would have to be. And then he could go back to feeling guilty all by himself.

* * *

Saturday afternoon was sunny and humid. Serena put on another summery dress and sandals. She had to admit she was grateful for the flowing material in this mid-June heat wave scorching St. Louis. Of course, she thought, it could be nerves making her temperature rise.

That or her attraction to Josh that sizzled below the surface. An attraction she was struggling to control.

She smoothed a hand over her skirt to calm the quaking of her knees, as Josh slipped an arm around her waist and propelled her out of the air-conditioned house.

She, Josh and Linda joined the neighbors in the street. Tables were set up with umbrellas to provide shade, and several barbecues gleamed in the sun with men in golf shirts wearing the occasional “Kiss the Cook” aprons attending to delicious-smelling meats simmering on the grill.

Trina introduced them down the line. Serena memorized the names and faces, smiling with interest as she played the role of Susan Andrews, answering questions about her and “Jack” and asking general questions of her own. Several families with children as well as older retired couples closer to Linda’s age mingled about.

When Serena met the Frellner family, she immediately hit it off with Joyce Frellner. She was a robust woman with a big laugh and obviously a big heart, judging by the passel of kids following her around. There was two-year-old Kate, a dark-skinned little beauty adopted from India, and Gerard and Marie, five-year-old twins adopted from Korea. Blake, ten, and Cindy, twelve, were the Frellners’ biological children.

Taking a seat at one of the tables next to Joyce, Serena said, “We’re in the process of adopting.”

“How wonderful,” Joyce beamed. “You won’t regret it. What agency are you working through?”

“Perfect Family Adoption.”

Joyce made a face. Beside her, her husband, Thomas, whistled. “That will set you back a pretty penny.”

“You’ve worked with Perfect Family?” Josh asked as he stepped up behind Serena’s chair, his hands settling on her shoulders.

A river of sensation washed over Serena. She fought the urge to squirm out of his reach. “Susan” would welcome her husband’s touch. With that in mind, she reached up to pat Josh’s hand, loving the feel of his strong fingers firm against her skin.

“We tried, but they wanted way too much money,” Joyce said. “The other agencies we looked into didn’t have nearly the fees that Perfect Family did.”

“Perfect Family deals mostly with domestic adoptions,” Thomas stated.

“I’d heard they also handled adoptions from Mexico and Europe,” Josh said.

Thomas shrugged. “That could be.”

“Did you meet Mr. and Mrs. Munders?” Serena asked.

Joyce picked up Kate and bounced her on her knee. “Mrs. Munders. She seemed nice enough.”

A tall man with a head of silver hair carried a pitcher of lemonade to the table. “Munders?”

“Hi, Bill.” Thomas stood to shake the man’s hand. “These are the new neighbors who moved into the Zanettis’ house. Jack and Susan Andrews.”

Josh shook Bill’s hand. “We were discussing the Perfect Family Adoption Agency. It’s owned by Fred and Matilda Munders.”

“I went to law school with Fred,” Bill said, pulling up a chair.

“You know the Munderses?” Serena was eager to hear what the man had to say. “So you’re a lawyer, as well?”

“Retired state’s prosecutor.”

Josh’s hand tightened slightly on Serena’s shoulder. “What can you tell us about Fred Munders?”

Bill’s eyebrows hiked up. “Not much. I haven’t seen him in years. He has a mean poker face.”

“So that’s what you were doing all those nights when you were supposed to be at the library studying,” a slender woman with blond hair and blue eyes said as she joined them. “I always wondered.”

Bill took his wife’s hand. “Not every time. Besides, many alliances were made at those poker games.”

“Alliances?” Josh said.

With a dry laugh, Bill explained, “We all had ambitions. Some grander than others. Fred went into private practice. I went to the D.A.’s office. Another buddy, Simon, became a judge and another went into international law. Larry now lives in Switzerland.”

Serena reached up to grab Josh’s hand. “Judge Simon Simms?” The judge who’d signed off on the illegal adoptions coming out of Mexico that Dylan McIntyre had put together for Munders.

Bud and Burke had checked into the judge at the time, but found nothing to suggest he was involved. The conclusion the office had come to after looking into the judge was he’d been acting in good faith since the documents McIntyre had drawn up for the adoptions had appeared legit.

“Yes, do you know Simon?”

“No,” Josh answered smoothly. “He’s Congressman Peter Simms’s brother, right?”

Bill nodded. “Peter is a few years younger than Simon. I’ve only met Peter a handful of times.”

“I heard he’s throwing his hat in the ring for the presidency,” Thomas said. “What do you think of that?”

“From what I know of him he’s competent and smooth. A typical politician,” Bill answered, his tone neutral. “No better or worse than the one already in place.”

“Hamburgers are ready!” one of the men at the grill called out.

Everyone left the table except for Josh and Serena. He held out his hand and pulled her to her feet. Tugging her close, he leaned in to whisper, “We need to take another look at the Simms brothers.”

“This could be the break we’ve been waiting for.”

Trina waved to them. “Come on, you two lovebirds. Get your food while it’s hot.”

Josh grinned. “Lovebirds.”

Serena’s face flamed. “She thinks we’re kissing.”

A playful gleam entered his brown eyes. “I wouldn’t want to disappoint.”

His head dipped and his lips captured hers for a kiss that stole her breath and weakened her knees.

Splaying her hands on the hard plane of his chest, she meant to push him away but instead surprised herself by curling her fingers to grasp the fabric of his polo shirt and tug him closer.

He gave a low murmur of surprise and pleasure.

A soft chuckle to their right brought Serena to her senses. She jerked back, and was thankful for Josh’s strong arms keeping her upright. He’d kissed her for show, but she’d forgotten they were onstage. Mortification burned in her cheeks.

Linda laid her plate on the table beside them. “Oh, don’t mind me. Carry on.”

Josh’s deep laugh rumbled from his chest as he stepped back, releasing his hold on Serena. She missed his arms around her. Wanted to do as Linda suggested and carry on. But that wouldn’t be wise. This was all pretend, but that kiss...that didn’t feel at all fake.

EIGHT

T
he last of the sun’s glow disappeared over the horizon and day turned to night. A temperature drop brought welcome relief from the heat of the summer day.

Surprised by the camaraderie and contentment filling him, Josh sat with some of the neighborhood men talking sports and golf averages, but his gaze kept straying to Serena. His beautiful pretend wife.

She sat with the women, her arms full of little Kate Frellner. Serena held the child so comfortably, as if she was born to be a mother. So different from the gun-wielding, door-kicking, top-notch marshal he’d come to rely on as his partner.

Seeing her like this created an ache deep in his heart. Despite how real and right kissing her had felt, how natural and intimate their relationship had seemed throughout the day, Josh couldn’t forget this was all fictitious.

He was as dumb as a box of rocks to let Serena get so close. Because deep down inside he knew that if he fell for her, it would change his world. He would never be able to just be her coworker. He would want it all: her love, marriage, the house and kids. He’d want the life they were fabricating. A life that would come with too high a price. He couldn’t risk it. Couldn’t risk what it would take to have it all. It would be better for them both if he shut down his heart altogether.

But he couldn’t do that and be a convincing husband.

He wished Daniel were here. He’d know how to handle this. From the moment they’d met, Daniel had been the voice of reason in Josh’s life. With him gone, Josh was having to rely on his own judgment and logic. Which he didn’t question when it came to the job. But in regards to Serena? He was floundering.

The party started to break up. Families said good-night and drifted off to their homes. Linda had long since retired. Josh helped Trina’s husband, Darrell, put the tables and chairs back in their garage. Josh was loath for the evening to end. The wall between him and Serena would go back up when they weren’t onstage.

As much as he knew that was what should happen, what would be the best thing for them professionally and emotionally, he did not want to go backward when seeing her with the kids tonight, kissing her, having her by his side was chipping away at his need to stay detached.

“You and Susan should join us for a round of golf tomorrow after church,” Darrell said as they walked out to the sidewalk where Serena and Trina stood talking.

“I’ll speak to my wife.” The words rolled off his tongue with such ease. Alarm bells clanged in his head. He wanted to call Serena his wife in real life. But that wasn’t possible. He had to get a grip. She might have thawed some toward him, but his guilt over Daniel’s death would never allow him to find happiness. Especially not with the sister of that man he’d let down.

When he reached Serena’s side, she took his hand. His heart squeezed with tight longing and regret for what could never be as their fingers folded over each other.

“Trina invited us to attend their church with them in the morning.” The excitement in Serena’s eyes tugged at him. Though it had been a while since he’d attended a formal service, he would go to please her.

He sucked in a breath but felt as if he was choking as realization slammed into him with the force of a baseball bat. He would do anything for her. Anything she asked. Which didn’t bode well if he wanted to stay detached and unemotionally invested.

“That’d be great,” he answered, hoping no one heard the strangled tone to his voice. He couldn’t have Serena guess his feelings for her were changing...deepening. “And Darrell invited us to go golfing with them in the afternoon.”

Serena laughed, the sound soft and alluring. “I’ve never golfed.”

“The club offers lessons,” Trina said. “Of course you’d have to join. We could sponsor you.”

“That would be nice,” Serena said. “Thank you. We’ll talk about it.”

Darrell put his arm around Trina. “Come on, hon, I want to catch the last of the Cardinals game.”

The couple said good-night, and then retreated to their house. Josh and Serena stayed on the sidewalk for a moment, their fingers entwined. The sounds of night surrounding them like a symphony. The call of a whip-poor-will was answered by the hoot of an owl. An unseen animal rustled in the bushes. The racket of a cricket frog competed with a cicada, setting an irregular rhythm to the night, to his heartbeat.

“It’s peaceful here,” Serena said. “A good place to raise a family.”

His pulse spiked. Yearning pierced him. He wanted what he’d been denied growing up. A normal, functional family. “Yes.”

His voice sounded more like a croak.

“Trina was asking me about your background.” She turned her gaze to him. “I realized I don’t know that much about your real background, other than you were born in Arkansas.”

“Yep. In Lamar, population sixteen hundred.” He couldn’t keep the bitterness from creeping into his voice.

“Daniel said your father had passed on when you were young.”

Josh stiffened. He didn’t talk about his father. That was a subject better left swept under the rug. “Yes.”

“I’m sorry. That must have been hard on you and your mom.”

He let out a humorless laugh. “You have no idea.”

She tilted her head to the side and peered at him as if he were a puzzle she needed to solve. “Does your mother still live in the house you grew up in?”

“No. Mom and I moved to Naples, Florida, after...” He couldn’t finish the thought let alone say the words. He kept his past private. The pain was too hurtful, too raw, even after all these years. He’d opened up to Daniel because Daniel wouldn’t let it go; he’d kept pushing until Josh had spilled the story. Josh sent up a silent plea that Serena wouldn’t be as tenacious.

“How did your dad die?”

He took a step forward. “We should go in.”

She held fast to his hand, rooting him in place. “Hey, wait. What’s wrong?”

He faced the house, afraid to look at her, afraid that even in the muted light coming from the streetlamp she’d see the pain he fought to quell. “Discussing my past won’t get this job done.”

She released his hand and moved to stand in front of him. “Maybe not, but I’d like to know who I’m putting my trust in.”

His breath caught. Did she trust him? He had to be sure, but his heart hammered in his chest, afraid to hope. Could he hope she might forgive him, even though he could never forgive himself? “But are you putting your trust in me, Serena? Can you let go of what happened to your brother? I know I can’t.”

She looked away for a moment and took in a shuddering breath. When her gaze swung back to him, the shadows cast by the streetlamp hid her eyes. “I’m trying to.”

That was progress, at least. Though he wasn’t sure if he was relieved or more scared by the possibilities of what that could bring.

“Thank you for your honesty.” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw, the bristles of his beard scraping his skin like this conversation was scraping his soul. “I failed Daniel. I won’t fail you. I promise.”

Her mouth quivered. “I’d like to believe that.”

Doubt dripped from her words like drops of poison to his soul. Daniel’s murder would always stand between them, a barrier that could never be breached.

The door to the house opened. Linda stepped out onto the porch and waved them in.

Thankful to have a reprieve from the conversation and the tide of rising guilt building inside of him, Josh tugged Serena up the stairs.

“I think I have something.” There was no mistaking the excitement in Linda’s voice.

They followed her to the den, their hands entwined. Josh savored the feel of her smooth palm encased in his. Savored the connection building between them, if only for these precious moments.

“Don’t keep us in suspense—what is it?” Serena asked, letting go of Josh’s hand to stand next to Linda at the desk.

The loss of her touch ached clear to his marrow.

“This.” Linda held up a photo. “It’s from the picture you snapped of the baby collage in Mrs. Munders’s office.”

Josh peered over Serena’s shoulder. The fresh flowery scent of her shampoo clung to her hair and teased his senses. The photo in her hand was of a smiling, dark-haired woman holding a baby in her arms. “Okay. What are we looking at?”

Linda held out a magnifying glass. “Look at the baby’s cheek.”

Serena held the glass over the baby’s face. She sucked in a noisy breath. Surprise washed over Josh. “A strawberry mark.”

“Just like Emma described.” Serena’s enthusiasm brightened her face. “We just found Baby Kay.”

“Who’s the woman?” Josh asked, his gaze going to Linda.

“I’m running her image through facial recognition. If she’s in any national database, we’ll find her.”

“She has to have a driver’s license somewhere in the U.S., right?” Josh said.

“Hopefully,” Linda replied. “But she could be in another country for all we know.”

“We could ask Mrs. Munders,” Serena said, setting the photo on the desk.

“If we don’t have this woman’s ID by Monday morning, we’ll go to Perfect Family and find out who she is and where she has Baby Kay.”

“And reunite Lonnie with her child.”

“That, too.” The hope in Serena’s face spread through Josh like sunshine on a cold winter day. He hoped she wouldn’t be disappointed. Lonnie had handed over her child to Emma and never returned. Yes, the young girl had been afraid, according to Emma, but why would she take off like that and trust her baby to a complete stranger? They wouldn’t know the whole story until they had Lonnie in front of them.

Serena touched his arm. “Walk me to my room?”

His pulse jumped. Not once in the past six nights had she made such an invitation. An anxious chord threaded through him. For a heartbeat, he wondered if this request had anything to do with the kiss they’d shared earlier, and he just as quickly dismissed the idea. No, it was a precursor to more questions about his past, questions he didn’t want to face. He’d have to keep her distracted, not allow her an opportunity to probe into his past.

An unexpected smiled formed. “Sure, I’ll walk you to your room.”

Her gaze narrowed as if she could read his thoughts. He met her gaze steadily, daring her to call him on whatever was going on in that sharp mind of hers.

However, she didn’t say a word but turned on her sandaled heels and headed up the stairs. He followed, enjoying the way the hem of her skirt flirted with her knees. She had well-defined calves, slim ankles.

As she drew to a halt at the end of the hall just shy of the door to her room, she pivoted and said, “We were interrupted earlier. You never answered my question. What happened to your father?”

Intent on distracting her, he reached out to tuck a lock of her auburn hair behind her ear. “You should wear dresses more often. You have great legs.”

Her eyes widened. Even in the dim light of the hall he could see the blush staining her cheeks. “Thank you. How old were you when your father passed?”

Placing a hand on the wall beside her head, he said, “Twelve. I like your hair this color.” With his free hand he ran his fingers through the strands skimming her jawline. Her hair was soft and silky.

She swallowed and pressed her back against the wall. “That’s young. Was he ill?”

He shrugged. “No.” He wound a clump of her hair around his finger and tugged her close. “I enjoyed spending time with you today. We were convincing.” So much so that he’d even had a hard time not believing she cared for him.

“Me, too. With you. We were,” she squeaked. “If he wasn’t ill, then how did he die?”

Closing the gap between them until his mouth hovered over hers, he whispered, “I’m going to kiss you.”

Their gazes locked. Yearning flared in her eyes. This may have started out as a strategic tactic, a way to keep her questions at bay, but the longing streaming through his veins made him realize just how dangerous an error he’d made. He was giving her too much power, relinquishing too much of his control, laying it at her feet. It wasn’t smart. They were coworkers. She blamed him for her brother’s death. Guilt had a stranglehold on him, but his heart was desperate to break free and run wildly straight into her arms. He couldn’t help himself.

Her hand came up between them. Her fingers rested on his lips. “Tell me about your father. Then you can kiss me.”

A deep groan escaped Josh. “You drive a hard bargain.” He didn’t want to go there. Couldn’t go there. But the promise of another kiss was alluring, tantalizing.

“And you think you’re clever, but I know you too well, Josh.”

His gaze on her mouth, he asked, “What does that mean?”

Her hand fell to her side and her lips twitched. “I know you think if you act all gooey I’ll forget what I want to know. That’s not going to happen.”

Tenacious. Just like her brother. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t talk about my father. Ever.”

The stubborn set to her jaw had him backing up. A sick feeling in the pit of his stomach made him shudder. She could easily find out the answers on her own. Maybe he should let her. Then he wouldn’t have to see the pity, the revulsion on her face when she discovered the truth. “If you want to know so badly you can look it up. Have Linda do the research—that’s what she’s good at.”

Serena caught his hand, her expression softening, beseeching him to confide in her. His heart sputtered, as longing to do just that swept through him like a tornado, wreaking havoc on his carefully constructed defenses. “I wouldn’t invade your privacy like that. This is your story to tell. I’d rather hear it from you.” She stepped closer, her sweet scent surrounding him, setting his senses on fire. “If you’re going to let me in, Josh, then let me in.”

He wanted to let her in so badly. He wanted to bury his face in her hair and spill his guts. But if he had an ounce of self-preservation, he wouldn’t. Inhaling deeply through his nose, he slowly blew the air out in an effort to calm his racing heart. “My father died in prison.”

* * *

Shock reverberated through Serena but she forced herself not to react. Keeping her expression as neutral as she could, she asked as gently as possible, “Prison? What was he in for?”

Josh swiped a hand over his face, looking suddenly tired and drawn. “Embezzlement.”