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Wrapped in Mick’s arms, Alma gazed longingly at him. He kissed her, easy at first, much more urgently as the heat spread. “Come with me.” She led the way to her bedroom. How victorious it would be to have another man on Rex’s side of the bed. To have another man’s essence warm the rumpled sheets.
They stopped midway into the room. Mick lifted off her T-shirt. Stepped back to see her better. Alma brought her hands up to cover her bare breasts.
Gary smiled. He took hold of her hands. “This is just between us. What we do behind closed doors is nobody’s business but ours. You don’t ever have to feel embarrassed with me.”
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BJ paused to read the last paragraph. She had typed the name Gary in place of Mick.
She drank tequila, pondered the meaning of the misstep.
Recognized she needed a release. The handsome and charismatic homicide detective named Gary Northcutt could give it to her.
* * *
From the driveway of Sonnier’s house, Gary wondered if anything out of the ordinary had happened as he scanned the windows. BJ sounded strangely calm on the phone.
The minute he opened the door she threw her arms around his neck. He didn’t fight the feelings when she kissed him, or when she took him by the hand and led the way to the master bedroom. Drawing closer, Gary slowed his pace. The house belonged to someone else. Someone he’d known for a long time. BJ seemed to understand. She bypassed Sonnier’s room, and continued on to one of the other bedrooms.
He cupped the back of her head, pressed his lips hard against hers. She leaned in closer. Caressed his back. In a rush of emotion they tore at each other’s clothes. She wrestled with pulling his shirttail free. He fumbled with the buttons on her blouse. Stopped to kiss her madly. Falling backward onto the bed, she reveled in the sensations coursing through her. He stretched out beside her and she became completely uninhibited. Breath hot and moist. Bodies damp and sticky. She was all over him like a wild animal. Hot jolts of passion exploded within him, sweat burned his eyes and blurred his vision. Her calves cramping and a stitch in her side, panting heavily she moved away from him.
Gary stayed on his back, crossed an arm over his eyes, gasped for air. I haven’t made love like that since... since never. He looked at her. She’d fallen asleep. He turned toward her. Pushed back the hair from her face noticing the change in her features when she’s relaxed.
She’s beautiful and young and dangerous. An intriguing combination.
“Or is everything about you just an illusion?”
Lying with his cheek against her forehead, he closed his eyes. Fantasized about taking her to a cozy ski resort where they would cuddle up in front of a crackling fire with soft instrumental music playing in the background, and scented candles flickering shadows on the walls.
It was the one desire he never shared with his wife after learning she’s materialistic not romantic. He had a feeling Genette’s been seeing another man. How fitting it’d be if she had hooked up with BJ’s husband. The two deserved one another. Up until now, Gary had remained faithful. He is, or was, a one-woman man.
BJ had told him about Frank’s ongoing love affair with Isabella Jakson.
At first it angered him. Now he was grateful to the rat bastard. He never could’ve gotten this close to her if her husband had been treating her good. Damn, he never would’ve even known she existed if Donovan cared for her. As bad as he was toward her, though, she displayed a sense of loyalty to Frank.
Gary dozed off.
BJ got up. She brushed her long black curls in slow, measured strokes.
He opened his eyes a little. “Why do you wear the blond wig? You have beautiful hair.” He fell back asleep.
She stared at him by way of the mirror. “I want to stay in character until I finish my book.”
BJ deliberately let the brush fall on the dresser.
Gary fully woke up. “You okay?” He yawned. Sat up, looked at his wristwatch. Almost dinnertime. “A strange thing happened a while back that I meant to tell you about.” He shoved his legs into his trousers. “It was the night I left you at the hotel. Driving home I felt myself dozing off, and I couldn’t feel my foot on the gas pedal. Next thing I knew, I was about to veer off the side of the road. Before I plowed into the river this really big raven landed on the hood of my car. I stomped on the brake, and he flew up and away. I snapped out of the trance or whatever the hell I was in. The only part I can’t figure out is how I hurt my leg?”
“Edapo,” she whispered, angrily.