Читать книгу His Texas Touch - AlTonya Washington - Страница 11

Chapter 2

“Damn him.” Avra blurted the words and shoved aside the file she’d been trying to review since she got up that morning.

Memories of the kiss with Sam Melendez that previous afternoon had her mind and everything else reacting to it. How dare he kiss her? How dare she want it? She despised the man, didn’t she? They’d known each other for two years as business associates. Before that she’d known of him. He was the son of one

of her father’s oldest friends. From scores of female acquaintances she’d heard he was built, with looks to die for.

Once she’d officially met him, she realized those accolades were well deserved. But he shouldn’t have kissed her. She shouldn’t have wanted it and more still after he’d walked out of her office.

The fact that he wanted her in his bed was no secret. He’d been up front about that from a few days after they’d first met to work on the Machine Melendez account with the Ross Review.

Avra cursed again. She had railed too long and too hard against strong, commanding men to give any part of herself to the likes of Sam Melendez. Strong, commanding, chauvinistic, politically incorrect men like Sam Melendez, she added. If he was simply one of her many male friends, she could find amusement in his lack of decorum and sexist nature. As it was directed toward her and he was ever so confident about taking her to bed, those less than admirable traits of his only grated more heavily on her nerves.

She stooped to the floor and began to collect the papers from the Wade Cornelius file that were scattered around the settee in her living room. She wondered if Sam knew how much of her hard-hearted approach was an act. It was unfortunately the only way she could ignore the way her body reacted to his presence and all the other things he did to get under her skin.

Sadly she’d devised no other method for resisting a reaction to his touch. If yesterday afternoon was any example, she was in serious trouble if he did that again.

Closing her eyes, she settled back against one of the settee’s claw-footed legs and surrendered to a delicious shiver that raced through her body then. To no one else would she admit how very much she wanted him to kiss her again. When the phone rang her out of her daydream, Avra snapped to and decided that was the last thing she should be wanting.

Papers gathered though haphazardly arranged inside the manila envelope, Avra put the file on the settee and went to answer the phone. She laughed, noticing the name on the caller ID and cheerfully greeted her soon-to-be sister-in-law.

Setha Melendez sounded equally cheerful on the other end of the phone. That was to be expected, of course. Still, Avra felt the need to interrupt some of the cheer when Setha kept going on and on about the fun they were going to have when she came to stay at Sam’s place.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Well, I… Well, it’s all set for you to come and stay here for the shower party.”

“Setha…who told you that?” Avra didn’t need the answer. She already had it.

“Well, Sam said it was pretty much a done deal. Humph,” Setha grunted, understanding the problem all too well. “Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. Just don’t expect me out there.”

“Uh-uh. No way, Av,” the bride snapped. “I’m sorry Sam didn’t tell you, but you can’t back out now.”

“Why the devil do you need me there?” Avra massaged the curls that tapered at her neck while pacing the short distance between the settee and the phone table. “You’ve got tons of friends—have one or all of ’em stay out there with you. Sam would love that.” She grimaced over the thought.

“Don’t bank on it,” Setha muttered.

Avra stopped pacing. “Honey, what are you up to?’

“I’m hoping you can take Sam’s mind off whatever’s got him so edgy.”

Avra had to laugh and it felt good to relieve a bit of the tension she struggled with that morning. “Honey, he’s edgy over me, as usual.”

“Avra, I honestly have no clue how he feels about you. I’m not so quick to say his feelings are bad, though.”

There was another quick flash in Avra’s mind about the kiss. The way he felt next to her—the way his mouth felt on hers, his tongue… She shook her head and quietly told herself to forget it.

“Besides, we can talk about the contract while you’re here.” Setha made the comment regarding the contract detailing the advertising renegotiations between the Ross Review and Machine Melendez airily enough but couldn’t completely dismiss the urgency from her voice. “You can review it once more to be sure we’re all on the same page with it all before the shooting for the ads starts in its entirety.”

“Crap,” Avra huffed, knocking a fist against the folds of the peach robe that draped past her ankles. “I don’t have a problem with waiting, hashing out everything at the final meeting.”

Setha huffed then, too. “Look, Avra…”

Avra felt her brow creasing. The tone of Setha’s voice was fueled by more than the usual brother/sister agitations.

“There’s something different—Sam’s…always been protective, but this… It’s more than normal.”

“His baby sister’s gettin’ married, hon. That’s a big deal,” Avra softly pointed out.

“Yeah…I just hoped he’d loosen up with Carson Arroyo out of the picture. I’ve tried to get him to talk about whatever’s goin’ on but he just clams up. It’s just him and me out here and I’m ’bout fed up with his mood.”

“Right…” Avra rubbed the creases in her brow then, understanding the woman’s frustration. “Honey, um…you know you are a grown woman. You could always stay with Khouri. You guys are about to get married.”

“I know it’s stupid and old-fashioned.” Setha’s laughter came out brief across the phone line. “I just felt like it’s the least I could do since I really did just spring all this on them. They didn’t even know I was seeing anyone for Pete’s sake.”

Avra strolled back to sit on the arm of a chair near the phone table. “Did they give you a hard time about it?”

“Oh, no! Not even—which is a real surprise. They all like Khouri. They’re happy for me but I think they’re afraid they’ll lose me once I become a wife.”

“Well…they’re not altogether wrong about that.” Avra had settled into big-sister mode, always eager to offer an ear to listen.

“This is different, though.” Setha’s voice had gone softer. “I virtually closed myself off to them when I was investigating all that stuff about Carson Arroyo. Staying with Sam’s the least I can do to make myself more available to them—for a little while longer anyway.”

“So go stay with Mr. Dan.” Avra referred to Setha’s father and a sudden smile curved her mouth. “You’d get no argument from me about coming to stay over then.”

“Sorry, girl, even big, bad Danilo Melendez wasn’t willing to fight with Sam when he roared about me staying here with him.”

Avra felt herself losing the battle.

“So? Will you come?”

Avra broke into a frustrated dance-jerk on the settee and rolled her eyes. “I’ll be there.” She managed to keep her voice level. Silently she acknowledged the part she’d played in riling Sam with talk of Carson

Arroyo’s motives. She couldn’t help smiling over the sound of Setha giggling and yay-ing on the other end of the line.

“I’ll be there today after work.”

“Oh, thanks, Av. We’re gonna have so much fun.”

“Right. Fun.”

“Oh…stop that and don’t worry,” Setha ordered and broke the connection seconds after.

The phone resumed its ring half a beat later. Avra laughed when she answered.

“Don’t worry, I won’t change my mind.”

“I hope not,” Sam said. “Aside from yes, that would be my second-favorite answer from you.”

“Keep dreaming. What do you want?” She rolled her eyes, attempting to ward off her reaction to the sound of his deep laughter rumbling across the landline. “What is it, Sam?” she insisted.

“Just calling to see if you want me to send a car to the Review after work.”

“Ah…” Avra stood from the settee. “Is this about Setha’s shower? The particulars of which you didn’t feel the need to share with me?”

Again, Sam chuckled. “Sorry ’bout that. Must’ve slipped my mind.”

“Humph. I can see how easily that could happen.”

Sam’s laughter was a bit more resonant in response to her dig. “Anyway, the ranch is pretty far out. I figured you might be too worn-out to make the drive after a full day.”

“Gee, Sam, I must say you continue to amaze me. I wouldn’t have thought you capable enough to come up with such a thoughtful plan.”

“I told you yesterday that I’m working to change your opinion of me.”

She’d been doing such a fine job of maintaining her stony demeanor, Avra thought. She coughed in reply to his mention of his office visit and a flashback to the kiss filled her mind for the second time that morning.

“I’ll be fine, Sam. I’ll drive my own car.”

“Mmm…in case you need to make an escape.”

“Something like that.”

“I would never force you, Av,” he said once silence held the line for a lengthy span.

She refused to ask whether he was referring to the ride he’d offered.

“So I guess that means you won’t force me on this trip to Kemah, right?”

“I’m not totally rehabilitated yet.” Laughter carried on his gravelly, deep words. “You can’t expect me to get rid of all my bad habits just like that.”

“Well, then here’s your chance to make progress.”

“I’m very stubborn, too.” He made a tsking sound over the phone. “Another bad habit to work on. Sorry, Av.”

“Such a jackass,” she hissed below her breath. “I’ll get my own ride.” She slammed the phone down on his laughter.

Not surprising, the ringing resumed again.

“Damn you,” she greeted.

Khouri burst into laughter then. “Hell, girl, I swear it’s too early in the morning even for me to be on your bad side.”

“Sorry, Khou…” she groaned, knocking a fist to her forehead when she heard her brother’s voice. “Just had a bad call.”

“So Dad got to you, too, huh?”

“No…what’s up?”

“I was calling to ask if you knew what this meeting was for.”

“Meeting? Today?”

“Ten a.m. sharp.”

“Damn.” The wall clock above her fireplace read 9:10 a.m. “Well…maybe it’s somethin’ good,” she hurriedly reasoned while collecting files and shoving them into her white leather valise. “How’d he sound when he called you?”

“Pissed. I’m guessing this ain’t one of those pats-on-the-back meetings.”

Avra stilled, thinking back to the tense conversation with her father the day before. “Guess we’ll find out soon,” she said, deciding against sharing the father-daughter discussion with her brother.

“See you there, all right?”

“Yeah.” She waited for Khouri to break the connection first. “Damn,” she muttered.

* * *

“Thanks for comin out, B. I know it was short notice.” Sam was shaking hands with Chief of Detectives Bradley Crest when the man arrived in his office at Machine Melendez.

“Not a problem.” Brad clapped Sam’s shoulder when they were done shaking hands. “I’ve been meaning to come out or call to check on Mr. Dan. He didn’t look too good when I left that day.” Brad’s blue eyes harbored a probing intensity as he removed his hat.

“It’s not easy for him to hear these murders are targeting his employees.” Sam tapped his index knuckle against the corner of his mouth as he thought of his father. “Man’s not as young as he used to be.” Something about the muttered acknowledgment struck a chord with Sam. Tugging on the cuffs of the shirt hanging outside his trousers, he went over to lean against his desk.

“Everything all right, Sam?” Brad worried the brim of his hat.

“Any new developments in this thing, Brad? Specifically, have y’all found any connections between Martino Viejo and the other victims?”

Brad bowed his head. He knew what Sam was really asking. “So far no links between Viejo and the address the others shared.”

Samson didn’t mind letting his relief show. He drew both hands through his dark straight hair and let out a sigh.

“The guy—Viejo—sure accomplished a lot in a short span of time.”

“Yeah,” Sam murmured with a grunt meant to be a laugh. “And I hadn’t even heard of him till he died.”

“From what we’ve gathered so far, he kept a pretty low profile but made a respected name for himself dealing with the public on behalf of MM.”

“Guess that explains why dad’s so upset over his death.”

“Makes sense.” Brad settled his lean, wiry frame into a chair. “Losin’ an employee that valuable…gotta hurt.”

Sam understood Brad’s point. For some reason he just didn’t buy it. He chose to keep that part of his opinion to himself.

“You still don’t have a lead into who killed him?” Sam asked instead.

It was Brad’s turn to grunt a humorless laugh. “All we know is who didn’t kill him. Whoever it was cleaned up very well behind himself.”

“Can you pin the other murders on Arroyo?”

Brad looked uneasy then. “None of this goes past this room.” His stony expression brooked no argument.

Sam only spread his hands, silently implying that he knew that better than anyone.

“Hell—” Brad threw up a wave “—this thing’s got me edgier than a deer in headlights. Whole thing’s a mess.” He pushed out of the chair he’d occupied and stalked the spacious scope of Sam’s office. “The leads we think we have all tend to crisscross and fizzle. We got absolutely nothin’ to go on ’cept an address no map or GPS can locate.”

Sam was back to massaging his jaw as he considered all the detective shared.

“Truth is—” Brad sighed “—we can only pin two of the murders on Arroyo—he was sloppy. Aside from the evidence we recovered, those murders pointed to him because they were so similar. The others…” Brad studied the stitching in the brim of the hat. “Once you toss in the similarities with the vics, nothin’ else seemed to fit.”

Sam frowned. “What the hell does that mean?”

“That either Arroyo switched up his style from sloppy to smart for three of the murders or there’s a second killer.”

The silence that settled then was only interrupted by the shrill ring of Brad’s cell. Less than a minute later, he was making his way out of the office.

Sam remained seated on the corner of his desk, deep in thought.

* * *

“Surprised to see you here, man,” Luc Anton greeted once he’d knocked on Danilo’s office door and strolled inside.

Dan shrugged, barely looking up from the papers he shuffled. “Important for the staff to be reassured given what’s happened.” He stopped with the papers and clenched his fists. “Tino’s death… It’s a huge loss.”

“And I commend your courage for being here,” Luc noted; his voice was soft yet the subtle hint of curiosity was there.

Dan heard it and smiled as he returned to sit behind his desk. “Say what you came to say.”

“What? I’m commending—”

“Luc.”

“Tino’s death could open up a can of worms wide enough to swallow us.”

“Martino Viejo was a good worker.”

Luc’s brow creased, adding more wrinkles to his weather-beaten skin. “And you think that means he didn’t keep certain reminders of earlier times? Let’s not forget that was how he rose so high.”

“He would’ve never resorted to blackmail,” Dan snapped.

“Are you serious? Or are you getting Martino Viejo confused with the staff or your sons who think the sun rises and sets with you?” Luc spat a soft, vicious curse. “You’re a fool if you think the cops won’t find something while investigating that kid’s murder—something that could put us all in trouble.” He raised a finger. “You need to get in front of this before it’s too late.”

Dan’s pitch stare narrowed. “That a threat, Lucas?”

“It’s a fact, old friend.” With those words, Luc left the room.

* * *

“He called in all the reporters?” Avra was asking Khouri when they stepped into the main meeting room at Ross Review.

The area was filled to capacity with writers, editors and anyone else even remotely involved with the department. Khouri and Avra found two seats close together but not in the same row. There were hushed, indecipherable conversations. Someone complained about there not being more coffee at the buffet that had been set up along a far wall. Shortly afterward a door slammed and all heads turned to Basil Ross, who had just entered.

Avra turned in her seat to look at Khouri, who simply grimaced and shook his head. They both knew the look their father wore. Basil Ross was not a happy man.

“I’ll make this quick,” Basil said just after claiming his spot standing behind the long table at the front of the room.

“All research and reporting on the MM murders is to stop at once.”

Conversation filled the room once again in a barreling wave. Questions flew from all corners and at varying decibels.

“Why?”

“Why now?”

“We got so much uncovered, sir!”

“Working on the MM story now constitutes a firing offence.”

Basil’s announcement fueled more conversation but at a much softer volume.

“Questions?” he asked, eyeing the crowd speculatively.

No raised hands emerged.

“Very well.”

Conversation returned to its deafening volume once Basil exited the room. Everyone was on their feet, except for Avra.