Caught in the Act Page 18

  It was muggy, even after the sun went down. She showered and changed clothes, donning a pair of white shorts and a loose-fitting animal print blouse. Strappy black sandals completed the outfit.

  She was selling information, not her body, but it didn’t hurt to look good. Kari applied shimmery lip gloss and a touch of eye makeup, trying not to overdo it. When riding the bus in downtown San Diego, a girl didn’t want to stand out too much.

  She arrived at his house as the twilight faded from the sky. He answered the door in jeans and T-shirt, his hair damp and his feet bare. She inhaled a quick breath, her heart kicking. He smelled like spicy soap and clean heat.

  “Sorry, I just got out of the shower.”

  She blushed, remembering their last conversation.

  His dark eyes traveled down her body, lingering on her bare legs. “Come on in,” he said. “Do you want something to drink?”

  Bypassing the couch, she sank into a chair at the kitchen table. “What do you have?”

  He looked in the fridge. “Beer, soda, water …”

  “Water’s fine.”

  “I might have some wine around here somewhere.”

  “I don’t drink anymore. Sasha’s addiction kind of killed the urge.”

  He nodded, grabbing two bottled waters and taking the seat across from her. Before handing her the water, he loosened the cap.

  She took a sip, wishing he wasn’t so damned handsome and polite. It was difficult to meet his searing gaze, so she stared at the base of his throat. The tension swelled between them. “I have information about Penelope’s murder.”

  His expression didn’t change, but she felt a sudden chill. Whatever he’d been expecting her to say, this wasn’t it. “Go on.”

  “M—my sister knows who did it.”

  He leaned back in his chair. “Everyone knows who did it.”

  “I mean, she knows who pulled the trigger. She overheard an argument about it.”

  A cold, dark interest sparked in his eyes. He waited for her to continue.

  “I thought you might agree to help me in exchange for the details.”

  He glanced away, drumming his fingertips on the surface of the table. “You’ll tell me now?”

  She moistened her lips, nodding.

  “What’s the incentive for me to keep my end of the bargain?”

  “An arrest, hopefully.”

  “Your information is hearsay. It doesn’t hold up in court.”

  “If Sasha made a statement—”

  “She won’t.”

  Kari realized she was going to have to spill everything. There was no way he’d agree to her terms blindly. “Is this conversation off the record?”

  “I can’t answer that.”

  The blood drained from her face.

  “I have ethical obligations—”

  “Oh, fuck you,” she said, rising to her feet. “Where were your ethical obligations when I was on my knees?”

  He cringed slightly, massaging his brow. “Kari, I’m a police officer. If you tell me about a crime in progress or a person in danger, I have to report it. I care about you and I want to help you, but I can’t promise anything until I hear the details.”

  Kari crossed her arms over her chest, her thoughts spinning. What other choice did she have? She didn’t trust Moreno. She didn’t trust Adam, either, although she knew he was the better man. He might break her heart and use her body, but he wouldn’t disregard her safety or risk her sister’s life.

  “Okay,” she said, sitting once again. “I’m sure you’re aware that my sister is Carlos Moreno’s girlfriend.” When he inclined his head, she continued. “Sasha pawned some of the jewelry he gave her to buy drugs. He must not have liked that. Chuy Pena came to my house, put a gun to my head, and demanded I pay her debt.”

  His shoulders went taut. “Did he hurt you?”

  “No, he just scared me. I told him I didn’t have the money. He said that if I brought some packages across the border for them, Moreno would turn Sasha over to me.”

  “Have you spoken to her?”

  “Just once this week. She’s essentially being held hostage.” Kari explained that she’d seen her sister at the spa with Chuy. “I’m so scared for her, Adam. She told me that Chuy has no qualms about killing women. He opened fire at the Coyote Café, acting against orders. According to Sasha, Moreno was angry about it.”

  Adam left the table abruptly, walking over to a set of sliding glass doors that led to an outdoor patio. His backyard was precisely landscaped, green and shady. The ideal setting for a family barbecue.

  “I was supposed to do the job for them last week,” she continued, feeling numb. “I went to the pickup location and brought the cargo as planned.”

  “What went wrong?”

  “Nothing. They called it a dry run.”

  He turned to look at her. “This Tuesday is the real deal?”

  “I think so.”

  “How will the exchange happen?”

  She was encouraged by the questions. His voice was clipped and his manner cold, but he wasn’t showing her the door. “I was instructed to park the van behind Zócalo. As soon as they drop off Sasha, I hand over the keys.”

  He scraped his hand along his jaw, considering.

  “If you can arrange for me to get through the border, I’ll trade the keys for Sasha, and the police can follow the van to the next location.”

  “It’s risky,” he said. “Odds are good that Chuy Pena is using Sasha to squeeze you, with no intention of delivering.”

  “Then he can’t blame me for not keeping my end of the bargain.”

  He laughed harshly. “That’s not the way it works, bella. My department wouldn’t allow you to be part of the sting, either. If something happened to you, we’d be liable.” A muscle in his jaw tightened. “And I’d never forgive myself.”

  Kari was touched by his concern. Then it occurred to her that his fears had more to do with his tragic past than any tender feelings for her. The realization was like a tiny pinprick, bursting the bubble that shouldn’t have formed.

  “I have to advise you not to cooperate with Pena,” he continued.

  “Isn’t failing to cooperate just as risky? My sister could die. If we pull this off, I get Sasha back, and you get the bad guys. Everybody wins.”

  “Unless everything goes wrong.”

  “Don’t involve your department,” she said, thinking fast. “Follow me from the border and make sure the exchange happens safely. Then call for backup when the van leaves the area. Say you got an anonymous tip.”

  The corner of his mouth quirked up. “You have a rudimentary understanding of law enforcement.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “A top-tier bust usually requires an entire task force. Dozens of officers, months of planning.”

  “You can’t help me,” she said, crestfallen.

  He swore in Spanish, shaking his head. “I might be able to make arrangements with ICE or the DEA. They can hang back while you do the exchange, and move in on the secondary location.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Nothing ever is. I can’t ensure your safety.”

  She swallowed hard. “Fine.”

  He stared at her for a moment, seeming angry. “My brother was a sharpshooter in Iraq. I’ll ask him to be there.”

  “All right.”

  “As soon as you park the van, get away from it, but stay visible. Hand over the keys even if Sasha doesn’t show. Don’t go inside Zócalo, or anywhere else, with Chuy Pena.”

  A chill raced down her spine. “I understand.”

  “You still have that GPS device, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Make sure it’s charged and put it in the glove compartment.”

  “Why?”

  “So I can track it. And keep your cell phone on. Any instructions I give, you follow. This is nonnegotiable.”

  “Of course,” she murmured, feeling shell-shocked. He’d planted the GPS, not More
no. She supposed she should be relieved that Adam was a sneaky, thorough son of a bitch. No mama’s boy rule follower would agree to this plot.

  They discussed a few more details and he told Kari to call him on Tuesday morning during her jog. She picked up her purse on the way out the door, her hands shaking. She’d been worried about her sister for years but had never taken action. Although the constant hand wringing was unproductive, it had become … comfortable. She was used to it. There was nothing comfortable about grabbing the bull by the horns.

  After her troubled teen years, Kari had grown up fast. She’d made nothing but sensible decisions since then. Sometimes she felt like she was trying to counterbalance Sasha’s screwups. As her sister sank lower, Kari set her sights higher. She’d become a homeowner at twenty-four and a successful businesswoman at twenty-five.

  Looking back, the climb had been exhausting. She was tired of being a workaholic good girl. Her scramble for financial stability hadn’t led to happiness. Although she knew her father would have been proud, she didn’t want to end up like him, a victim of cardiac arrest. What she truly longed for was a close family and a loving relationship.

  Adam walked her to the door, hesitating before he opened it. A moment ago he’d been Officer Cortez, stern and serious. Now the hard glint in his eyes had eased a little. “I’m sorry for lying about my mother,” he said, surprising her. “That was over the line.”

  “Did she really collect those figurines?”

  He nodded slowly. “I added the new one to her collection. My dad keeps everything in the house the way she left it. He … misses her.”

  Kari’s throat tightened with sympathy. Judging by his hoarse voice and pained expression, Adam missed her, too. How painful it must have been for him to lose the two women he loved most. “How long has she been gone?”

  “Less than a year.”

  “My mom died when I was eight,” she said, commiserating. “I still miss her.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “So am I.”

  He raised his hand to her face, brushing his thumb over her cheek. She wanted him to kiss her. Relinquishing control of Sasha’s fate had only increased her anxiety. But she knew a temporary way to ease it.

  His gaze moved from her mouth to the living room couch, and he dropped his hand. “That was …”

  Fantastic? Amazing? Incredibly hot?

  “Inappropriate.”

  “Totally,” she agreed, taking a step back.

  “We shouldn’t—”

  “I know.” She flattened her palms on the wall behind her, a blatant invitation for him to come forward.

  He just looked at her, studying her parted lips and half-lidded eyes. Kari was glad she’d worn sexy lingerie. Her nipples pebbled against the cups of her bra and an ache formed between her thighs. When he didn’t take the bait, she turned her head to the side, exposing the fluttering pulse at the base of her throat.

  He closed the distance between them, bracing his hand on the window frame. When he lowered his head, touching his lips to her neck, she smothered a moan. “I hope your brother-in-law isn’t planning to stop by again,” she said, breathless.

  With a flick of his wrist, he locked the door.

  Then they were all over each other. He crushed his mouth over hers and she twisted her fingers in his hair. Their tongues met, caught, tangled. Groaning, he slid his hands over her bottom, cupping her to him. She wrapped her legs around his waist, making mindless sounds of pleasure as he thrust against her.

  Maybe what they were doing was wrong. But that was probably what made it feel so good. She should be thinking about her sister, not sex. The stakes for Adam were even higher. He could get in serious trouble for touching her and he knew it.

  The fact that he couldn’t seem to stop himself excited her. Her shameless mewling excited her. His stiff erection, strong hands, and avid tongue excited her.

  “Bedroom,” he said, dragging his mouth from hers.

  “Yes.”

  He picked her up and carried her there, just like in the movies. Kicking the door shut, he tossed her down on the mattress. She let out a breathy laugh and clutched the sheets, watching him. When he pulled his shirt over his head, her throat went dry. The man had a killer body. Hard pecs, nice biceps, taut stomach.

  She stared at his distended fly, mesmerized.

  “Are you going to undress or should I rip your clothes off?”

  Her startled gaze rose to his face. Was he serious? Although the idea intrigued her, she was too frugal to allow it. Giggling, she yanked off her shirt and fumbled with the zipper of her shorts, wriggling out of them.

  “How’s that?” she asked, still in her matching bra and panties. The caramel-colored fabric was very sheer, revealing more than it concealed.

  His gaze lingered on the cleft between her legs. “Keep going.”

  While he unbuttoned his fly, she reached behind her and unfastened the clasp at her back. Her breasts trembled as she freed them, her nipples drawn tight. He shoved down his jeans and shorts, kicking them off.

  Again Kari was distracted by his erection. It was impressive.

  He put one knee on the mattress and climbed over her before she remembered what she was supposed to be doing. Instead of tearing her panties to shreds or thrusting right through them, he settled next to her, kissing her swollen mouth. Then he kissed her collarbone, her pouting nipples, and her quivering belly.

  She was shaking with need, embarrassingly aroused. Her panties were damp, clinging to her sex. When he looked at her there, she snaked her hand down her stomach, cupping her palm over the telltale wet spot.

  He didn’t seem concerned by her belated shyness. Smiling, he kissed the back of her hand, sliding his tongue between her fingers. A neat trick. In a few seconds, her hand relaxed and her fingers fell open, giving him access. His tongue rasped against her clitoris, teasing her through the gossamer fabric.

  “God,” she groaned.

  He hooked his fingers in the waistband of her panties, stripping them off without damaging a single thread. Lowering his head once again, he licked the bare lips of her sex, tasting her.

  Whimpering, she closed her eyes. She wanted to lift her hips and press her pulsing clit against his mouth.

  “Show me what you did in the shower.”

  Her eyes flew open.

  He kissed her fingertips, one by one.

  Indulging him, and herself, because she was desperate to be touched, she put her hand between her splayed thighs, dipping one finger inside. When she removed it, slick from her arousal, he brought it to his mouth, sucking gently.

  Her sex throbbed, demanding the same attention.

  She rubbed two wet fingers over her ultrasensitive clitoris, straight-up masturbating right in front of him.

  “Wait,” he said, replacing her fingers with his tongue, mimicking the exact motion.

  Oh God. She spread her legs wide and raked her hands through his hair, caressing the base of his skull. Never in her life had she felt anything so pleasurable. He slid one of his own, larger fingers into her tight sheath and continued to flick that clever tongue against her. She screamed out loud, shattering into a thousand pieces.

  When she opened her eyes, he was studying her. “How was it?”

  “Horrible.”

  He laughed, his teeth flashing white against his dark complexion. His erection prodded her thigh, leaving a pearly drop on her skin. She wrapped her hand around his shaft, stroking him up and down. He was deliciously hard.

  Groaning, he gripped her wrist. “Don’t make me come in your hand.”

  Another bead of moisture seeped from the tip. She bent her head to him, licking it away. “How about my mouth?”

  He sucked in a sharp breath, shaking his head. “I won’t last a minute that way.”

  “So?”

  “Please. Let me have my dignity.”

  Laughing, she rolled away from him, toward the nightstand. “Condoms?”

  “Top drawer.”
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  She opened it. And found a framed photo of Penelope Mendes, staring back at her. The candid head shot depicted her lovely smile and warm brown eyes. Her pretty perfection was like a slap in Kari’s face.

  “This is an interesting contraceptive device,” she said, glancing over her shoulder. “Very effective.”

  Adam’s gaze moved from Kari’s naked bottom to his nightstand drawer. The lust in his eyes faded a little, and his head fell back against the pillows. “Fuck,” he said, clenching his hands into fists.

  “Suddenly that’s the last thing I feel like doing.”

  “I can explain.”

  “Don’t bother,” she said, fumbling for her shirt. She tugged it on and tried to rise from the bed.

  He threw his arm around her waist, holding her down. “Wait.”

  Kari wasn’t in the mood to be dominated. “Let me go.”

  “Give me two minutes. Please.”

  “Let go!”

  Cursing in Spanish, he released her.

  She scrambled off the mattress, throwing his jeans at him. “Make it quick.”

  “The last woman I went home with looked like her,” he said. “After she fell asleep, I kept staring at her. Thinking about Penelope.”

  “This is supposed to make me feel better?” Kari asked.

  He arranged his pants over his lap, sighing. “It was a breaking point. I stopped tailing Moreno and picking up women. I didn’t want to sleep with anyone unless it meant something. Until I was over her.”

  She crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking away. “How long has it been?”

  “Six months. That’s why the condoms are underneath the picture, Kari. I haven’t used them, or looked at her face, since before Christmas. I was so caught up with you just now that I forgot the photo was even in there.”

  Taking a deep breath, she met his eyes. “Are you still in love with her?”

  “I thought I was,” he said, holding her gaze, “until I met you.”

  Her anger dissolved, replaced by a terrifying elation she couldn’t suppress. He rose from the bed, wrapping his strong arms around her. She felt his heart thumping hard against hers. “Don’t hurt me again,” she whispered, looking up at him.

  He didn’t make any promises. That was good, because she wouldn’t have believed him. Instead, he soothed her with a simple kiss. If nothing else, his passion was sincere. She knew he wanted her, and badly. This wasn’t an emotionless one-night stand.