Kerry

“Are you going to listen now?” he says, pulling his lips from mine.

I don’t know if I can, my head is empty after all coherent thought was sucked up by that mouth. Good grief, he took me from boiling angry to whimpering with need. He takes advantage of my inability to formulate words and places one hand on the side of my neck, his thumb lazily stroking my jaw.

“Speak,” I finally manage.

With his forehead leaning against mine and the rasp of his thumb against my skin, I get lost in the dark chocolate pools of his eyes. I suddenly feel very vulnerable. This is intimate. More so than the punishing kiss we just shared. I squirm a bit under his intense gaze, but for all the butterflies having a party in my stomach, I can’t seem to drag my eyes away.

“I have rules,” he says softly, the deep timbre of his voice sending a little shiver over my skin. “And you make me want to break just about every one of them.”

“I don’t understand.” My voice sounds breathless. “Rules?”

“I meant what I said earlier, I adhere to clear boundaries between work and play.”

“But...” Damian’s thumb presses down on my lips, effectively cutting me off.

“When I walked into your shop the first time, I wasn’t expecting you. Took a bit for me to place you but I knew I’d seen those beautiful eyes before. You were memorable, even then, married and all. Now—fuck me—you’re unforgettable.” His words wash over my ruffled feathers and smooth them out. Without thinking, my hands come up to his chest and clutch his shirt. “I know I should walk away because of the case, but the truth is, I really don’t want to. Didn’t even have a shot the first time we crossed paths, and I’m not about to let this opportunity go. There may not be a third chance.”

“But,” I start again. “You have a girlfriend.”

For a moment, he looks utterly confused before realization sets in. “Cora,” he says with a shake of his head, his eyes closed. “It’s nothing.”

Okay. That rubs me the wrong way. I push off against his chest, but with my back still against the door and his size, I’m not getting anywhere. “It sure sounded like something. I have rules, too,” I announce, pushing myself up on my toes to get in his face. “I don’t mess with attached men. Not ever.”

A dark shadow rolls over his face and, for a moment, I wonder if I should be worried, but his hand still cupping my jaw stays gentle.

“Cora and I had an understanding for a while, until she changed her mind and wanted more. I was never on board and made that clear. She just chooses not to listen. Whatever it was has been over for a couple of months.” He leans back in and runs his nose along mine. “Like I said, it’s nothing.” His full lips skim delicately over mine, and I hum softly at the gentle tease. At the first touch of his tongue along my bottom lip, I open to let him in. This time I’m prepared and ready, rubbing my tongue along his and taking in his taste. My hands flatten on his chest and slide over his pecs, up to his shoulders, and around his neck, tangling in his lush hair. His knee presses between mine, and I find myself rubbing against his thigh, hungry for the friction.

“Fuck,” he swears as he abruptly pulls back. Again. “I’m on the clock.”

Exasperated, I drop my arms and knock my head against the door behind me. Turned on, frustrated, and not just a little pissed at the rejection. I feel him take my face in his hands. “Open your eyes, Gypsy.” Reluctantly I look at him through slits and see him struggle to keep a smile off his face. Good thing, because I’m about ready to knee him in the gonads. “I’d like nothing more than to make use of that girly bed of yours,” he says, indicating my comfy nest with layers of colorful quilts and a gazillion pillows in assorted colors and patterns. “Get a good taste of you naked, but I’d need to take my time. And time is not something I have right now.”

“You’re not helping,” I grumble, even more aroused at the thought of getting naked on my bed with this frustrating but extremely enticing man. I can feel him chuckle as he presses my face against his shoulder with one hand in my neck, the other wrapping around my waist and holding me close. “Besides, I don’t do casual sex,” I bring up a tad defensively. “Not my style.”

“Who said anything about casual?” he mumbles in my hair. 

I don’t know what to say to that. My feelings are all over the place right now. So when he finally steps back and gives me the room to escape, that’s exactly what I do, clear out the door. I stop in the kitchen, at the sink again with my back turned. I’m not sure I’m ready for what his words suggest. True, the attraction I feel for him is explosive, I can’t deny that, but I’ve just started finding my own feet again. I don’t know if getting involved with anyone is a good idea. No matter how much that idea appeals to me. All I know about him is that he’s FBI and is friends with friends of mine. Hardly enough to start anything on.

I hear him walking up behind me, but I don’t turn around. I shiver slightly when I feel his fingers pull my hair away from my neck, pressing an open-mouthed kiss there.

“Have dinner with me.” His breath strokes the shell of my ear, and for a minute, I forget my own name.

“Can’t. I have work to do. The store to clean and lists to make.” With considerable effort, I manage to distance myself enough to formulate words. I’m avoiding and I know it, but I need a bit of time to get my head straight.

Damian puts his hands on my shoulders and eases me around to face him. “We’ll see, I’ll check in with you later. See how you’re doing. And don’t go alone,” he insists, getting my hackles up again, but before I have a chance to protest, he leans down and gives me a hard kiss. By the time I have my wits about me again, he’s already by the door. “Gotta go—and Gypsy? Not alone,” he repeats over his shoulder, then he’s gone.

Bossy. If he thinks I’m just going to follow his orders, he’s got another thing coming.

DAMIAN

“Hey, Bro!”

I’ve barely left Kerry’s driveway when my sister calls. “Bella, what’s up?”

“Not a whole lot, except I have a job interview at the hospital in Durango the day after tomorrow!” Her excited squeal makes me smile. My sister has had a hard time since her douchewad ex-boyfriend bailed, leaving Bella with a giant mess on her hands. I never liked the guy. A doctor at the same hospital in Farmington, where my sister was an EMT, Philip Presley had apparently slept his way through the bulk of the female staff behind her back in the seven years they’d been together. When one of the residents he’d been trying to pull into a hall closet against her will went to her boss to make a claim for sexual harassment, a slew of other women came forward. Poor Bella had to find out from hushed conversations in the halls of the hospital. Philip was suspended and disappeared that same day, taking as many of his belongings as he could from their joint apartment. The wagging tongues, pitying eyes, and constant questioning as to his whereabouts by the administration and law enforcement had finally worn Bella down. She had a nervous breakdown and moved back in with my parents, while taking a leave of absence. That was six months ago.

I knew she had an eye on a position in Durango. She and I have always been close growing up, and when she showed up for a visit a couple of months ago, she’d mentioned she might look for a job here.

“That’s great.” I’m smiling at her excitement. “When are you coming up?”

“I was thinking of driving up tomorrow, spend some time with you. Do you have a bed for me?”

“Always. You know that, but you’ll still be at least a twenty-minute drive north of town. That gonna be okay? I mean, I can get you a hotel room in town, if that works better?” I offer, but it’s met with silence on the other side. “Bella?”

“I just want to spend some time with you,” she says quietly, but I know my sister, there is more going on that she’s not telling me. That’s fine, I’ll get it out of her when she gets here.

“Of course. Do you want to swing by the office when you get into town? I’ll bring you a key. Give you some time to settle in.” I’ll have to remember to grab a spare from the kitchen drawer tonight.

“Damian?” Bella interrupts my thoughts. “Thanks,” she says, a little hitch in her voice, but before I can find out what is going on with my sister, she has hung up the phone.

The office is busy when I walk in. I’m surprised to find James Aiken waiting for me. “Hey—I thought you’d be back at Quantico?”

“I came back,” he states dryly. “My leads keep pointing here.”

I sit down at my desk and give James my full attention. “Durango specifically?”

“Colorado specifically, but Durango has come up a couple of times now. The message was first, and early this morning word came in on another intercepted communication.” He hands me a sheet of paper.

DRO package not secure

“Then,” he continues. “I find out through the pipeline one of the bookstores you have on your list was broken into last night.” He looks at me with an eyebrow raised.

“True,” I admit. “We were out on an arrest with the Durango PD last night when the call came through to them. They’re investigating, but I’m keeping track of it.”

“What do you know about this place? Could this be a distribution point for them? And what about the owner?” He shoots off a barrage of questions that ruffle my feathers.

“A simple bookstore slash coffee shop. New and secondhand books of all kinds and a handful of signed or first edition fiction books. Those were taken, by the way, along with the computer. A secondary alarm appears to have scared off the burglar, and other than a busted glass cabinet and a ransacked office, there wasn’t much more immediately apparent.” My tone is clipped, something that doesn’t go unnoticed by James. The eyebrow goes up again.

“And the owner?”

“Kerry Emerson, I actually just spoke with her. She’s waiting for the all clear from the detective in charge before going in to take a good look around to see what’s missing.”

“Okay,” he calmly says. “But what about Ms. Emerson’s background. Any flags?”

“None,” I answer far too quickly. “She owns a store in Cortez and opened this one, as well as an online store, just a year or so ago. She’s had dealings on two occasions with the auction house and is preparing detailed lists for me of the shipments. I have no reason to believe she is in any way involved. She’s been forthcoming and helpful.” I snap my mouth shut before I say more than I should. Still, James Aiken didn’t get where he is today because he’s a stupid man.

“You know her.” It’s not so much a question as it is a statement.

“Friend of a friend,” I offer. “She also was involved in a case I was working on a few years back.”

“I see,” James mumbles. “So this woman has been involved with the law before?”

I’m on my feet with my hands firmly grasping the edge of my desk in an effort not to haul out. “As a victim of kidnapping.” I can’t quite keep the volume down on my response. James just quietly stares at me until I finally let go of the desk and sit back down.

“Tell me about it,” he says, and I do. I spend the next twenty minutes outlining the circumstances of Kerry’s involvement in that old case and her connection to Gus Flemming’s investigative unit. James knows Gus well since his company occasionally is hired on by the FBI, either independently or as part of a taskforce.

“Very well. Stay on the local PD for some answers and see if you can get a copy of those fingerprints they’ve lifted. Won’t hurt to run some comparisons beyond what AFIS stores. And as for the girl...” He leans forward in his chair. “...Make sure you don’t let your sharp eye be clouded by a pretty face.”

I barely manage to keep myself in my chair. “Do you have any reason to believe I would?” I grit out between clenched teeth. Never have I, or my work ethic, been questioned like that before. Then again, I’ve never felt quite this protective before of anyone related to a case. Maybe I should’ve stuck to keeping those boundaries straight—already the impact of crossing them stares me in the face.

“Calm down,” James says as he pushes up from his chair. “Of course I don’t. All I’m saying is you make sure the waters are clear before you dive in. That’s all.” He tucks away his binder into his briefcase and moves to the door. “By the way—I’m at the Hilton Homewood Suites. Call me when you have something.” With that he pulls the door shut behind him.

With a deep sigh, I drop my head in my hands. Doing well so far, already two of my colleagues can read me like a book. Dammit. The sound of the door has me lifting my head.

“Rough morning, boss?” Luna smiles as she sets a take-out coffee in front of me and drops a report next to it. “Don’t get excited about the coffee delivery; Jasper went and got a tray. I just volunteered to deliver it since I wanted a word anyway.”

I gratefully take a sip of the hot brew. “Thanks.” I give her a curt nod and pick up the report. “What’s this?”

“Jasper looked into Willoughs for me. I told you that other than making my skin crawl with his obvious come-ons, something about him seemed forced, uneasy. That’s Jasper’s report on his findings.” She indicates the single piece of paper.

I look up at her with my eyebrows raised. “There’s hardly anything here. It reads like a resume instead of a background.”

“Exactly,” Luna answers. “Family history, work history, straightforward financial records, property titles: It’s all clean as a whistle. The man doesn’t even have a traffic violation to his name, it’s just not natural for a fifty-two-year-old millionaire to be spotless.”

“I agree. So what are you suggesting?” I want to know.

“I’m thinking a perfunctory background check is not enough.”

“Is Jasper busy?” I ask.

“He’s in a telephone conference.”

“I want him to dig deeper as soon as he has a chance. I want telephone records, credit card accounts, anything and everything Jas can get his hands on. Once we get a clearer picture, I’ll go visit the man,” I instruct Luna.

“Sure you don’t want to check him out first?” she asks.

“No. I trust you, I trust your instincts and if you say something is off, then it is.” Luna lowers her head to hide the smile. She’s a great agent but occasionally suffers from insecurity. Needlessly.

“Thanks, boss,” she says as she walks out.

I turn around and push through the door leading to the small balcony off my office. The view is stunning. Our office is set on a cliff at the end of Rock Point Drive, in a small industrial park, on the edge of Durango. From my vantage point, I overlook the valley with the Animas River flowing almost right below me and beyond it the historic downtown. Standing here feels a little like being on top of the world. I was born in Farmington, where my family still lives. I desperately wanted to leave when I was young and headed to Boston, where I joined the police department after I finished the academy. I’d been hungry, but I could never settle in the big city. When an opportunity to join the FBI came along, I jumped at it. I had fifteen years in the field when I was offered the La Plata County field office, and with my roots in the Four Corners area, I didn’t hesitate. As far as I’d been running from my home, I suddenly felt a strong need to be closer. I never expected the weight and diversity of the case load this office would carry. Ironically, now that I’ve reached this point in my career, I find myself losing focus. The distraction being a fiery blonde, beautiful bookstore owner.

The buzz of my phone on my hip pulls me away from the view. “Gomez,” I answer and hear a familiar voice.

“Damian?”

KERRY

Refreshed from my shower after an already eventful morning and a call from Detective Blackfoot giving the store the all clear, I head out to do some damage control. A quick conversation with my insurance company ensures me that a local appraiser will be by the store at noon to assess damages. I want to get there before he shows, so I can have a look around, even though they told me to leave everything as is.

The police tape is still up when I pull into my parking spot. One of my neighbors, Bill Franklin, is standing outside the door of his hardware store.

“I see you had some excitement?” the friendly older man asks with his hands on his hips. “Should’ve called me, missy. There’s a reason I gave you my number.” I had totally forgotten he made sure I entered his contact information in my cell phone shortly after I opened the store. Not that I would’ve contacted him in the middle of the night. He has enough on his plate taking care of his sweet wife, suffering from advanced COPD, and managing his store all by himself. He doesn’t need me to interrupt his much-needed rest.

“Must’ve been young kids,” I tell him as I walk up, trying to minimize the concern clear on his face. “Took a couple of books and my computer and took off before security and the cops got here.”

“Scared the bejesus out of me this morning, girl.”

I feel instantly guilty to have given him a scare, something that could’ve been prevented if I’d thought to give him a head’s up. “I’m sorry, Bill. I wasn’t thinking clearly, I should’ve given you warning,” I apologize.

“It’s all good,” he rumbles kindly. “Some detective left a short while ago and ensured me you were all right. He also gave me your keys.”

I hadn’t even thought of the spare keys I left with police. I take them from Bill, put my other hand on his arm, and give him a squeeze. “Still—I’m sorry it gave you a scare.” He just shrugs.

“Annie made a banana loaf last night. Gave me the leftovers to bring in. I’ve also got a fresh pot on,” he offers, tilting his head to his store.

“I’d love a cup while I wait for the insurance guys. I just want to have a quick look around and write an exact list of what’s missing and damaged,” I tell him. “I’ll be over shortly.” With a little wave, I duck under the yellow tape to unlock the door.

The first thing that hits me is the thin layer of dust on every surface. They’d evidently been thorough taking fingerprints. With a bit of luck, the appraiser won’t take long, and I’ll have the afternoon to get the place cleaned and ready for business tomorrow. Hopefully.

I head straight for my office to find the lists I’d made for Damian, detailing the shipments from the auction house. My inventory is on the computer that is missing, but those lists will give me a good start on the books that were in the display case.

Half an hour later, I realize what I’m looking for is no longer here. Odd. Maybe I’d already given him the information? I can’t remember. Only one way to make sure.