“I made it worth their while,” he said as he reached for the coffee pot and filled a cup for her. Then he patted the bed beside him. “Come sit with me.”
She picked up her cup and let her nostrils flare with the scent. “I love the smell of hot coffee,” she said, then took a sip of the steaming beverage. “I can’t believe I’m not hung over this morning.”
Mark chuckled. “You were tipsy, not sloppy drunk.”
Lindsey surveyed the selection of fresh, plump strawberries, bagels, and cream cheese with approval. “This is perfect,” she said and plucked a juicy strawberry from the tray and bit into it.
Juice dripped down her chin, and before she could get to a napkin, Mark leaned forward and licked it off. “And deliciously messy,” he finished for her, and then leaned back into his former position and picked up his cup.
As if nothing had happened. Lindsey was completely speechless. The intimacy of his action had floored her. He drove her crazy, this man. She eyed him, looking for the source of his power over her. His hair was early morning rumpled, his very nice, defined chest bare for her viewing. He looked casual and comfortable, and too damn sexy to be legal.
Mark looked at her. “What?”
“You’re a very bad boy, Mark,” she said, enunciating every word in a teasing taunt. “You know very well what you just did.”
He met her gaze with wicked mischief dancing in his eyes. “And you’re a very bad girl. We both know how you teased me last night.”
She wrinkled her nose at him and laughed. “Turnaround isn’t fair play in my book.”
“Is that right?” he asked, “I’ll try and keep that in mind.” He smiled and reached for the newspaper. “Want to share?”
She accepted, feeling the odd sense of comfort doing so brought to her. She drank her coffee and finished off her strawberry, sitting beside him, feeling his presence as if it was gold. Lindsey curled her legs under her body and smiled to herself. She’d never felt like this with Greg or any other man. Just being together, even without conversation, felt perfect.
A warm, safe feeling wrapped around her.
Unable to help herself, her gaze kept drifting to his profile. Mark looked up, as if he felt her eyes on him, but she didn’t look away. The paper had dropped to her lap as she had abandoned her covert inspection for a more open one. He offered her a sexy smile. “Now, what are you looking at?”
“You,” she said pointedly.
He grabbed her and pulled her over to his side, wrapping his arm around her waist. He planted a firm kiss on her lips and she smiled with satisfaction. Then she rubbed her hands on his cheek, feeling the morning stubble beneath her soft palms. “You don’t like me like this?” he asked as he touched his own face.
She laughed at the ridiculous idea. “Actually I like you like this. Very much.”
He grinned devilishly. “Oh yeah, how much? Show me.”
“Gladly,” she said as she wrapped her hand around his neck and pulled his lips to hers. Her tongue slid between his teeth, and she heard him moan.
Would she ever get enough of the flavor so uniquely Mark Reeves?
* * * * *
In the back of a cab, Mark beside her, Lindsey knew it was time to make a few confessions. “Mark, about Greg.”
His gaze moved to hers, sharpness to his expression and tone. “What about him?”
Lindsey grabbed his hand. “Hey, take it easy,” she said in a low voice. “I just want to tell you what he said about the case.”
His eyes searched hers a minute, and then he relaxed, shoulders easing, expression less tense. Then, and only then, did she continue. “Well,” she said, “here’s the thing. I don’t think it was such a good idea that I met with him.”
Mark’s eyes darkened. “What does that mean exactly?”
Lindsey looked out of the window as the cab screeched to a halt. “We’re here,” she said. “That was quick.”
Mark paid the driver as Lindsey stepped onto the sidewalk. The sun was so hot, perspiration instantly beaded on her lip. She started to walk towards the restaurant, eager to find air conditioning, when Mark’s hand closed around her arm, stopping her forward motion. She turned to him. Damn, she didn’t want to finish this now. It was stupid to start such a conversation before this meeting.
She frowned at him. “What are you doing?”
“Finish,” he demanded.
Lindsey sighed in resignation. “I ticked him off. He brought up the past,” she paused, “as in he and I, telling me he loved me, and crap like that.”
Mark’s tension was palpable. “And?”
“I screwed up. I threw his words back in his face, so he lashed out. He offered life with no parole. I declined and told him we would beat him in court. I doubt he’ll negotiate.”
Mark stared at her a long moment without showing any emotion, then abruptly he broke out in laughter, shaking his head from side to side.
Lindsey gaped at him in amazement. She had expected him to be angry. “I can’t believe you are laughing,” she blurted. “I thought you’d be furious.”
To her amazement, he pulled her into his arms, and planted a kiss on her forehead. Then he looked down at her, understanding in his eyes. “It wasn’t your smartest move ever, but I don’t think he left you many options. He tried to manipulate you personally with business, and he got socked in the gut. He deserved it.”
“Really?” she asked in disbelief. She hadn’t realized it, but Mark was right. Greg was manipulating her, or trying to, as he always had in the past.
“Yes,” he said, with amusement in his voice. “Really. Now, let’s get the heck out of this heat, and get this meeting over with.”
Lindsey grabbed his arm, deciding his good mood needed to be utilized to the fullest degree. He turned back and looked at her in surprise. “Since you are taking things so well and all,” she said with a pause, “there is this tiny other thing.”
Mark shook his head. “I’m afraid to ask.”
“I interviewed Elizabeth’s boyfriend.”
Mark’s eyes went wide. “What? On your own?” She nodded. “Do you know how dangerous that was?”
Lindsey cringed at his tone. “I will say, as much as I hate to admit it, the owner of the Pink Panther was pretty creepy.”
“You went to the Pink Panther?” he asked incredulously.
She nodded.
Throwing his hands up in the air, he said, “I give up.” Then he grabbed her hand. “Tell me about it later. We need to get this meeting over with.”
Lindsey and Mark stepped into the Carrow’s lobby at exactly eleven-thirty. Two men moved towards them. The one who seemed in charge was stocky, with brown hair and eyes. He also lacked good manners. Not bothering with hello, he eyed Lindsey and said, “Damn if you don’t look just like the victims.”
Mark bit back a harsh retort. He might be paranoid, but Lindsey’s resemblance to the victims bugged the hell out of him. Mark watched the man’s face as Lindsey responded to him. “Yeah, well, it’s coincidence.” But it bothered her, he could tell. Her face was etched with tension, her body stiff.
The man snorted and shoved his hands into his worn jeans pockets. “A damn spooky coincidence.”
Lindsey’s voice held irritation, thick and unhidden. “I won’t introduce myself, since clearly you’ve figured out who I am.” She waved a hand towards Mark. “Kevin Woods meet Mark Reeves, an associate of mine.”
Mark shook hands with the man, who then motioned towards his partner, a tall, lanky man with curly black hair who appeared nearer forty than thirty. “This is my partner, John Conner.”
A few minutes later, greetings aside, they sat at a table, a round of coffee ordered, but no food. Once the waitress filled everyone’s cups, Kevin narrowed his gaze on Lindsey. “I did some checking on you, Lindsey. You’re that attorney who handled the Hudson case.” His tone was accusing.