Mint Juleps and Justice Page 13

  She reached forward and patted Marsha Mellow’s neck, almost losing her balance as she tried to sit back upright. “Thank you, pretty girl.”

  It was late afternoon by the time they headed back home. They’d left the trailer there, so the return was much more comfortable, and after all the fresh air, Brooke slept most of the ride home. She sat up when the truck stopped moving. “You didn’t have to bring me home. I could have driven from the office.”

  “You were asleep. Kind of. I saw your head jerk up three or four times.”

  “Mmmmm, guilty as charged. I am pooped. Thanks for the door-to-door service,” she said sleepily, trying to stifle a yawn.

  “I’ll come by in the morning and give you a ride to your office.”

  “Or you could stay,” she said, grabbing her bag and heading for the door. “I could fix you something to eat. It’s nearly dinnertime.”

  Mike walked her to the door. Brooke unlocked and pushed it open with a hip, dropping the overnight bag just inside.

  Stitches came running across the yard, with the neighbor’s daughter chasing behind her. “For a dog that can’t half hear, she sure is intuitive. She knew as soon as y’all drove up,” she said.

  Stitches ran up the steps to greet Mike.

  He petted the dog, then lifted her in his arms and stepped in front of Brooke. She was a step higher than him so they were eye to eye for once. He casually reached his free arm around her, his hand crossing over behind her resting on her butt.

  Brooke tried to hide the pleasure of his touch as she thanked the girl for watching Stitches.

  When the neighbor finally turned and walked away, Brooke swatted at Mike playfully. “You were tickling my butt. That’s not funny.”

  “It was kind of funny. Admit it.”

  “I’ll do no such thing.” She couldn’t help but grin at his silly charm. “Are you going to stay for a little while?” She didn’t want this weekend to end.

  “I’m going to take a rain check on that. I’ve got to go pick up Hunter. Get some rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  She leaned back, keeping a little space between them. “Thanks for the getaway. It was good. Really good.” She hoped he thought so too, because she just put herself all out there.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Water bubbled around Brooke as she languished lazily in the hot tub. After Mike had left she couldn’t stop thinking about him. She’d been unexpectedly anxious to see him the next day when he’d come to take her to work, since her car was still at the office. She could’ve easily walked the short distance, but seeing him had far more appeal. She’d replayed the weekend over and over in her mind all night and the lack of sleep had made for a long workday. Exhausted, she even skipped out on the Monday-night yoga class at Happy Balance.

  Tonight the weather had been perfect for a relaxing escape in the hot tub, and she was glad she’d decided to put all her chores aside for a little me-time.

  The reflection from the setting sun colored a rainbow across the deck.

  “Rainbow, good luck,” she said, feeling the immediate wash of happiness. It would be a perfect evening, after all. The wine wouldn’t hurt either. She took a sip, breathed in a deep breath, and relaxed, then put the Blackstrap Manassas CD in the player and sank down into the bubbling water.

  Stitches was curled up on the deck within eyesight. It was nice to have absolutely nothing better to do.

  Brooke closed her eyes and listened to the music, then tipped the wine bottle, letting the deep-red liquid gurgle into her glass for a second time. One of her farmers had given her the vintage when she’d told him she was leaving. It was a nice gesture even if she was more of a beer kind of girl. She couldn’t tell the difference between good and bad wine. It had even been her experience that the cheaper the wine was, the more she liked it.

  Her thoughts kept racing back to her time with Mike. Especially now, because somewhere along the way her guard had dropped and she was having feelings for him that she wasn’t ready to have.

  The sun dipped lower in the sky and it must have been close to seven because the lights had just come on in the garden. Stitches barked, and at first Brooke thought she was barking at the lights, but then she noticed the dog focused on the back gate.

  Brooke sloshed water over the side of the hot tub as she moved to the other side to try to get a view.

  Stitches stomped her paws, giving it her all, but no matter how much yipping and stomping she did, she didn’t look too menacing.

  Brooke’s cell phone danced and vibrated across the deck just out of reach. She dried her hand on a thick towel at the edge of the hot tub and leaned out to answer it. “Hello.”

  “Hi, Brooke.”

  His masculine voice warmed her immediately. “Hi, yourself.”

  “Whatcha doin’?”

  “Sippin’ wine in the hot tub,” she sang out in tune to the song that filled the air.

  “Wine? Alone? Either you have a problem, or I’m interrupting. I’m not sure which I hope it is.”

  “You’re not interrupting, but I’m getting a pretty good buzz.”

  “Is the gate unlocked?”

  “Sure…” Before she could finish the sentence she realized the call had ended and her heart began to pound.

  She quickly pulled the scrunchie from her hair. It tumbled past her shoulders, the ends licking the bubbling water.

  Brooke threw the scrunchie across the deck. Stitches ran after it and brought it back to her. “Hell of a time for you to become a retriever.”

  Mike walked through the back gate. Even from a distance he was easy on the eyes. He wore a white dress shirt with the sleeves turned up, tucked into khaki shorts, and Top-Siders with no socks. For a working guy, he sure did sport a good tan.

  Stitches spotted Mike and dropped the scrunchie to run to him. Like an instant traitor, Stitches did her happy dance, spin, and a handshake.

  Mike patted Stitches on the head, and then kept moving toward the deck.

  His gaze caught Brooke’s immediately. It wasn’t dark yet, but it would be soon.

  Nervous energy made her breath quicken and her lips tug into an awkward smile. She swallowed hard as he took the three steps to the gazebo part of the deck and kicked off his shoes.

  “You should’ve brought your swimsuit.” Her voice shook nervously. He looked incredible. “The water’s great.”

  Mike squatted by the hot tub and picked up her wine glass.

  Her eyes locked on his.

  He swirled the red liquid with finesse and then took a long sip from the glass. He lifted the glass toward her with a nod. “That CD playing. I recognize that music.”

  “It’s the one you gave me, Blackstrap Manassas.”

  He smiled. That dimple accenting his cheek. “Were you thinking about me?”

  She tried to look away, but even as awkward as the moment felt, she couldn’t. “Maybe.” Her voice was almost a whisper.

  “I’ve been thinking about you too.” He stood and pulled the wallet from his pocket and unclipped the phone from his hip, dropping them both on the towel she’d dried her hands on just moments ago.

  Brooke’s muscles tensed. Was he really going to—

  His blue eyes held hers hostage and if she weren’t in the hot tub and hot already, she knew she would be now. Sure as heck he was going to do it.

  Mike leaned down and sat on the edge of the hot tub, dangling both of his legs into the water. But he didn’t stop there. He stripped off his shirt and tossed it next to his things, then slid down into the water next to her.

  The sheer size of him coupled by the quick entry caused the water to splash up to her chin.

  Brooke’s mouth fell open, nearly choking on the gulp of water she’d swallowed in surprise of his quick and unexpected move.

  Mike slipped the expensive watch from h
is wrist and laid it next to the cell phone.

  Brooke was speechless.

  Mike wrapped his arms around her, gliding her easily through the water into his space.

  “I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” he said in a hushed tone.

  She didn’t resist. Oh, who was she fooling? She didn’t want to resist this.

  Mike slowly pulled her closer and placed his mouth over hers.

  The warmth of his kisses coursed through her body. Her eyelashes fluttered against Mike’s cheek. She smiled as they kissed, unashamed of being caught peeking, because he was too.

  He pulled away first, resting his cheek on top of her head. “I’ve been dying to do that.”

  They sat in the bubbling water inches apart, neither saying a word for what seemed like a long time. She pressed the button, sending the water into a churn to mask the pounding of her heart.

  “I want you, Brooke.” He breathed the words into her hair.

  She didn’t reply, she couldn’t…she didn’t have the air left to eke out a word. She moved from his side, shifting toward him in the hot bubbling water. Becoming the aggressor, she kissed him full on the mouth, her tongue teasing his, softly nibbling his bottom lip.

  What had gotten into her? She was questioning herself, but her body wasn’t slowing down. Only separated by the thin wisp of Lycra, a thrill rushed through her as her skin brushed against the fabric of his shorts in the warm water.

  His hands began a busy trace of her every curve.

  The humid steam rising from the water could have as easily been from them as the water. The heat of desire made her bangs fall damp against her forehead.

  Mike’s face was shiny from the steam. His hand slid along her leg, tickling her. She squirmed as his long fingers teased the edge of her suit.

  Brooke gasped, nuzzling in the crook between his neck and shoulder, partly in desire, partly hiding a shy feeling about what was happening in the open outdoors.

  They had come too far to turn back.

  “Can we go inside?” Mike’s voice was urgent.

  She wanted him more than anything. Without a word, she climbed out of the hot tub, grabbing a robe from one of the hooks inside the gazebo. Nervous, and still breathless, she tossed a matching robe from the hook his way and led the way inside.

  Mike didn’t waste a second. A big splash flooded the deck as he leaped out of the water. He pushed his arms into the sleeves of the robe. His shorts were soaking wet and leaving a splashing path as he walked. He pulled the robe tight, then stepped out of his sopping wet shorts before racing to her side.

  Brooke couldn’t take her eyes off him. He looked so big, so strong…so good. She turned the doorknob and stepped inside, holding the door open for him.

  Mike walked up behind her, slowing her to a stop as his hands took hold of her shoulders, and he dropped kisses in the crook of her neck from behind. His big hands worked her neck and shoulders.

  The kisses made her want to break into a run to the bedroom or just drop to the floor right there. Too much to take—too much to ignore.

  A shiver went through her as the cool air of the house doubled its effect on the wetness of the swimsuit.

  His hands and fingers raced over her body.

  Wiggling out of the swimsuit wouldn’t be sexy, so she left him at the bedside to strip down in the bathroom. When she walked back out, she held the robe in front of her. The room was dark, but the night-light in the hall cast a glow that accented his sharp jawline. She saw him smile when he looked up and saw her.

  From the bed, he reached out to her. She moved forward and let him take her into his arms.

  Mike tried to pace the arousal that was making him want to get to her sweet spot in a hurry. He took the robe from her hands and ran it across her damp body, rubbing her dry with the soft terry, then guided her back against the bed.

  He stretched out next to her, roaming her every curve with his mouth, then settled his cheek against her soft inner thigh.

  Brooke pushed her fingers through his thick hair while he kissed his way up to her belly and every sexy curve of her body and back down again. She squirmed, pressing herself up against him.

  She reached for him, guiding his face to meet her parting lips, her breaths matching his with each kiss.

  Their breathing grew heavier, hearts pounding, as they both moaned in anticipation of what was to come. Mike rolled Brooke over flat on her back, pausing only a moment as he smoothed her hair out on the bed around her, tracing his hand over her face, her lips. He held the arch of her foot in his hand, bending her leg, getting closer to the point that would fill both their needs.

  “I need you.” He’d fought the feelings, pushed them aside, thinking they couldn’t be real, but they were. She made him feel alive again.

  She nodded, and mouthed something that never made it into words. Instead, she pulled him back into a kiss.

  Her back arched as if she had no control of her body as it danced its own rhythm to his every move.

  A perfect beat, and it climbed in intensity, and then in pace.

  “Oh, Brooke.” He caught a breath midway, colors splashing across the blackness of his eyes tightly shut.

  He held her. Letting her ride the waves of pleasure as long as it would take, and loving the feeling of her letting go.

  Breathless and sweating, she relaxed into his arms.

  Her head rested in the cradle of his arm. At that moment she knew what it meant to be made love to. “You’re unpredictable,” she added, “in a very good way.”

  “Stepping into the hot tub in my clothes seemed like a pretty macho move at the time, but now I don’t have anything dry to wear.”

  That wasn’t what she was talking about, but it had been a sexy move. Ever pragmatic, her response was a safe one. “We can toss your shorts in the dryer. That is, as long as the neighbors didn’t steal them off the back porch while we were uh—otherwise engaged.”

  “Not a high-crime area, I checked it out,” Mike added.

  “Of course you did.” They climbed out of bed, wrapping themselves in the robes to head for the deck to rescue Mike’s clothes and put them in the dryer.

  They sat on the couch in the dark, quiet except for the clang of the metal buttons from his shorts in the dryer.

  Brooke spoke first. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  She groaned. “Not that. Well, thanks for that too, but thanks for being in my life. For trusting me in yours and making me feel safe with you in mine.”

  “You are very special, Brooke Justice.” Mike squeezed his arm around her, resting his chin on top of her head. “Can I stay?”

  “You better.”

  “Thanks.” He kissed the top of her head, taking a deep breath in of her scent, exhaling slowly. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you tonight. I swear my truck just drove in your direction.”

  She snuggled in tighter. “I’m glad.” She hadn’t stopped thinking about him either. She thought about the rainbow she’d seen. This evening was more than perfect. She’d have to move rainbows up a notch on her lucky rating scale if this was the kind of good luck they promised.

  The buzzer on the dryer went off, breaking the silence.

  “Clothes are dry.” Mike squeezed her shoulder tenderly.

  “I’ll grab them, and meet you back in the bedroom.” Brooke got up and headed for the laundry room.

  Mike stood. “You ready for dessert?”

  “Oh, I’ve always had a healthy appetite,” she said as she walked away.

  When she walked back into the bedroom she’d abandoned the robe and was wearing only a smile. She draped his clothes on the chair next to the bed, then slid beneath the covers. Her body curved against his, leaving no space between them.

  Mike wrapped his arms around her, his body reacting immediatel
y to hers. “I think I just became a big fan of dessert.”

  “Me too,” she answered and pulled his hand toward her.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Goto held his breath as he watched Mike Hartman walk around to the side gate of Brooke’s house. He pulled his hat down and slipped lower in the seat and looked at the plastic digital clock stuck to the dashboard.

  He tugged a pencil from over his ear. He’d stolen the Virginia Lottery pencil after he’d picked his Lucky Six numbers, or maybe they were free for the taking anyway. There’d been a whole cup of them. He took down a few notes in the spiral notebook, and started the car to leave. As he approached the stoplight, he fantasized what it would be like if Mike were in that car just ahead of him.

  His heart raced every time he got this close. Fleeting thoughts danced in his mind. Jumping out and shooting him right there in the driver’s seat, spraying his guts across that pretty girl’s face, wouldn’t really get Hartman to suffer enough. He chased those thoughts away. They were dangerous thoughts. Once it was done, it was done. There would be no second chances. He had to get it right the first time. He had every intention of making it slow, and painful, and so bad Mike Hartman would sell his soul to the devil to get out of the situation.

  Goto decided it was time for a little road trip down memory lane, but he’d need more gas and he was getting short on cash. He glanced at the fancy sports car in front of Hartman’s girlfriend’s house. There was bound to be some cash in the console of that sweet ride.

  He turned around and headed back to her neighborhood. He parked about three doors down in front of a house that was for sale. The street was quiet. The only thing he heard was his own breathing as he made his way down the street and up her driveway. Knowing Hartman was in the house with her made the deed all that more exciting.

  Goto slid his hand under the door handle and readied himself for a quick escape in case the car had an alarm. One click and the door opened. He scooped a handful of change from the console. Perfect! As he eased back out, he noticed a beach chair in the back of the car. He could use some furniture of his own. He slid the brightly colored chair out, taking it too.