To Trust a Cop

She lightly stroked a finger across her shoulder, tracing the path of his touch, remembering the flood of sensation he’d aroused. Part of her wished he had kissed her. She rubbed her finger across her lower lip. What would kissing Cody feel like?

And, really, how could a simple touch, a hand resting on her shoulder, make her behave so crazy? Maybe her reaction had more to do with the haunting emotions the baseball field had dredged up, bittersweet memories of her younger brother.

Yeah, right. She laughed at herself. Blame poor Donny. Of course, that was it.

She did the math and realized this year Donny would be twenty-two years old. Imagine that. What would he be doing now? Would he be in college? Working? She liked to think he’d have beat the odds and made the major leagues in baseball. He could even have kids of his own.

A loud bang on the car door jerked Merlene from her reverie. Startled, she looked up to find Cody grinning at her through the open window.

Placing her hand over her racing heart, she closed her eyes. How had he snuck up on her like that?

“Unlock the door, Merlene.”

She opened her eyes to glare at him, but he was already at the passenger door waiting to climb in. She reached across the front seat and flipped the lock.

“You scared me half to death,” she accused as he positioned himself in the small seat. A delicious spicy aroma floated from the brown paper bag he carried.

He shrugged, obviously unconcerned by her fright. “You should be aware of what goes on around you at all times, Madam Detective. Especially at night. Maybe it’s a good thing you don’t carry a gun.”

She bristled at his words even knowing he was right. “Did you come to give me a lecture?”

“No. I brought you dinner.” He held the paper bag in front of him and rattled the contents. “Smells good, doesn’t it?”

Yes, it did smell good, and she hadn’t had a decent meal all day. She’d been too nervous about testifying to eat breakfast or lunch and had only grabbed some cheese crackers to nibble during the surveillance.

“What is it?” she asked, eyeing the bag.

“My sister Annie’s homemade vegetable soup. When I told her I was coming by to check on you, she insisted I bring you some. She saw us talking at the game this afternoon.”

“That was nice of her.” Merlene swallowed. And nice of Cody to bring her food, especially considering how she’d acted this afternoon. What was with him? This was probably a bribe meant to insure her cooperation. For sure cops loved cooperation, but so far it had traveled mainly in one direction.

“You don’t need to check on me, you know. I’m a big girl.”

He pulled a clear plastic container filled with a thick liquid from the bag. Heat had condensed moisture underneath the lid. “Better eat before it gets cold.”

She gave in to her hunger. No sense letting homemade soup go to waste.

“Okay, thanks.” When she pried open the lid, steam and an appetizing hint of garlic spread into the car. Cody handed her a spoon, and she took a tentative taste, closing her eyes as she savored the flavorful, warm broth. Best soup she’d had in ages. Of course, she couldn’t actually say it was better than her mother’s since her mom never made soup that didn’t come from a can.

“What about you?” she asked between sips.

“I already ate. My sister’s a great cook, isn’t she?”

Merlene nodded, enjoying the soup too much to answer, not caring that Cody watched every spoonful she placed in her mouth. She hadn’t realized she’d been so hungry.

He smiled, then glanced toward the Johnsons’ house. “Anything going on tonight?”

“Uh-uh,” she mumbled, shaking her head.

“You need to be more careful around Johnson. He’s involved with some dangerous people in high-stakes insurance fraud and pill mills.”

“Pill mills?” Merlene asked. She’d read about that scam in the paper lately. “You mean he provides painkillers, narcotics to addicts when they’re not truly sick?”

“Bingo. Very lucrative for the physician, but people are dying because of greedy doctors. It’s a huge problem in Florida.”

She nodded, wondering about the hard set to Cody’s jaw. “I’ll record any cars coming or going, report the tags to you.”

He glanced at her again. “I like how you set up in a different location this time. Smart.”

“D.J. taught me well.”

Cody rubbed his hand across his chin. “D.J. was a good cop.”

“Oh, you think so?” she asked, unable to keep the sarcasm from her voice.

Cody cocked a brow at her tone. “Yeah, I do.”

“Well, I doubt if he’ll appreciate your praise since the Division of Licensing is investigating him...thanks to you.”

Cody narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“You didn’t know they’re sending out an investigator because of your complaints?”

“Complaints? All I did was confirm you had a valid license.”

“Well, guess what? A call from the cops worries the regulators in Tallahassee.”

Cody sighed. “I’ll see if I can call them off.”

“Good.” Her outrage cranked down to a simmer, Merlene took another bite of soup, spilling a drop on her blouse. She reached for a crumpled napkin and said, “D.J. hasn’t been feeling well lately.”

“Sorry to hear that. How did you hook up with him?”

“He’s a distant relative. My mother’s second cousin, I think. They were close as kids. He moved away from Joplin and made good, though.”

“Joplin?”

“Joplin, Missouri. Once the proud home of the Bob Cummings Motel, its only claim to fame until the tornado last year.”

“Your home, too?”

“No, not my home,” she murmured. “But I was born there.” Merlene gulped the last bite of soup and placed the container in her console next to a half-eaten bag of cheese crackers.

“You moved to Miami and looked up D.J. so you could make good, too?”

She shifted in the seat and looked out the window. Seated like this, Cody was too close. “Not exactly. I moved here when I got married. I looked up D.J. afterward.”

“Ah, the husband. I’m curious about what he thought of your career choice.”

“Not much, since I chose it so I could catch him in bed with his lover.” There. She’d said it. She raised her chin and gave Cody a direct look, daring him to say the wrong thing.

“I see.”

She sighed. “It was a long time ago.”

“Well, did you?”

“What?”

“Catch him in bed with his lover?”

She nodded. “Like I said, D.J. taught me well.”

“Was your husband a police officer?”

“No.” She issued a short laugh. “Another no-good doctor.”

“So since you were so good at surveilling people, you decided to make a living at it?”

“Made sense, don’t you think?”

“Hell of a way to choose a career.”

“It wasn’t my first choice.” After a pause she said, “Did you always want to be a cop?”

“From the time I was about ten. My dad was a cop.”

“Yeah, D.J. told me. That’s nice that you ended up doing what you always wanted,” she said. “Most people don’t get that in life.”

“So what was your first choice for a career?”

Damn, she’d left herself wide open for that question. “An impossible dream.”

“Why impossible?”

“Never mind.” She leaned her head against the seat back.

“You can’t do that, Merlene. You have to tell me.”

“You don’t want to know.”

“Yeah, I do.”

She sighed and wrapped a strand of hair around a finger.

“Come on.”

Wondering why she was dredging up ancient history, Merlene gazed toward the Johnson house. “I wanted to be a singer, specifically a country singer. I ran away to Branson, auditioned for every music hall in town, but all I ever did was wait tables. What a mistake.” She examined the ring on her right hand and wondered why she still wore it. To remind her how miserable her marriage was?

“That’s how I met Dr. Peter Saunders.”

“Ah. You’re a singer?”

“That’s just it. I’m not.” She shook her head. “I can’t even carry a tune. When I was seventeen I thought I could, but believe me, what happens when I sing isn’t music.”

“I like country tunes,” he said. “Sing something for me.”

“No way, Detective.” She held up both hands. “I knew better than to tell you.”

He grinned at her. “Coward.”

You got that right. I’m a big fat chicken who might start clucking any minute.

“Forget it.” As she reached for her notebook on the dash, her arm brushed against his shoulder, the same arm he’d touched this afternoon. Warmth again spread out from their contact. Did he feel that spark, too? She felt her belly muscles contract and thought about their almost kiss this afternoon. Being in a confined space with this man was definitely a bad idea.

Taking a deep breath, she checked the time and entered her status into the log. She needed to refocus.

“Did you find out why you’ve been yanked off Johnson’s case?” she asked.

“There’s rumor,” Cody said, “but nothing concrete.”

Or maybe you’re refusing to tell me, she thought, tossing the pad back to its place.

“You should have stayed and watched the game,” he continued. “In the fifth inning my nephew hit a triple.”

“Hey, that’s great,” she said, and meant it. “I’ll bet he was thrilled.”

“He was. And I think you enjoyed yourself at the park today, too.”

“Yeah, I got a kick out of watching the kids. It’d been a long time.”

He nodded. “I thought so.”

She caught his gaze and held it, again wondering why he’d really come tonight. “You’re observant. D.J. says that’s the mark of a good detective.”

“Is that a compliment, Merlene?”

She rested her head against the seat, watching him. “Maybe.”

“Well, thank you, ma’am.”

“Don’t let it go to your head.”

“Too late,” he whispered. “It already has.” He cupped his hand around her neck and pulled her toward him, lowering his mouth to hers.

CHAPTER FOUR

MERLENE SURRENDERED TO the tide of pleasure sweeping through her, oblivious to anything but the power of Cody’s kiss. Magic, that’s what it was. Sweet, soul-stealing magic she was powerless to resist, had no wish to resist.

He made a husky noise, a rumbling deep in his throat. Arms corded with muscle gathered her close. He was warm, strong, solid as an ancient oak. She arched toward him, needing to get closer, wanting to feel the safety of his strength crushed against her.

Until an insistent, shrill beep echoed through the Toyota.

She stiffened and pulled away. Cody eased her back against her seat but didn’t release her.

“Ignore it,” he growled.

She swallowed. “It’s D.J. He’ll be worried.” She cringed at the catch in her voice but grabbed her cell phone.

“Oh, well...if it’s D.J.,” Cody muttered as he slumped against the passenger seat.

A green light glowed in the dark car when Merlene flipped open her phone. What had just happened? Her heart galloped as she focused on the keypad. Fighting to control her trembling fingers, she punched in D.J.’s speed number. He answered immediately.

“What’s going on, Merl?” D.J. barked. “Why didn’t you answer?”

“Nothing is going on, D.J. I couldn’t get to my phone in time.” No need to tell him why.

“You scared me a bit,” her boss said. “I got plumb worried.”

“Sorry. But everything is fine. The doctor arrived home around nine and is probably tucked into bed for the night. I’ll go on home around midnight as usual, get some sleep and be back here before he leaves for work tomorrow.”

“Sounds good,” D.J. said. “Talk to you tomorrow.”

“You feeling okay?”

“Fine.” D.J. hung up, and the tone of the off button sounded in the quiet car.

“He likes to check on me,” Merlene said. Watching the light of the numbers dim, cold reality settled over her. What would have happened if D.J. hadn’t called her? She needed to get Cody out of her car.

“You’d better go,” she said.

Cody turned to her with a frown. “What’s wrong?”

What’s wrong? What was right? Good Lord, how could she make out in a car like a hormone-impaired teenager? During an assignment, no less.

“I’m working, and you shouldn’t be here,” she said. “Now who’s the one interfering?”

His brows arched. “What?”

“You heard me. You’re interfering with my investigation, distracting me from the job.”

“Come on, Merlene. I’m keeping you company on a boring stakeout.”

“What would your precious police department think about me crashing one of their stakeouts and seducing an officer on duty?”

He opened his mouth to speak, then tightened his jaw without speaking. She looked away, recalling how easily she’d given in when he’d urged her lips apart. Furious with herself for succumbing to his potent attraction, she searched for the quickest way to make him leave. So what would piss him off? She could ask for money. That should work.

“How much is the Miami-Dade P.D. willing to pay for help with your little problem?”

“Pay?”

She shrugged. “I don’t work for free.” Yeah, maybe this was a lame idea, but the best she could come up with on short notice. Next time she’d know better than to unlock the car door.

“You know damn well I’ve been pulled from the case. I can’t pay you. I hoped you’d cooperate.”

“Typical of the police.” She folded her arms across her chest and stared out the windshield. “All take and no give.” Her cheek tingled from the scratch of his beard. She longed to run her fingers where he’d touched her. She didn’t dare look at him.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Finally he sounded angry. Took him long enough.

She shrugged. “Money talks. I have bills to pay.”

He lifted her hand and wiggled the finger with the diamond ring. “Doesn’t your ex-husband pay your bills?”

She snatched her hand back. “That’s none of your business.”

She held her breath waiting for his reaction.

“No,” he said, dragging out the word. “I guess it’s not.” He opened the car door, then paused and glanced at her over his shoulder. “I’ll be sure to tell my sister you liked the soup.”

Merlene watched him walk away, surprised by the tears stinging her eyes. With him gone, her car felt empty. Lonely. Lifeless.

Her heart felt empty, too. Like a big pit she’d seen once in the Ozark Mountains.

She hated the look on his face when she’d asked for payment. Now he obviously thought she was a greedy witch. She only asked for money to get him out of the car.

But she would make the video he requested and send him a copy. He might call her to say thanks, but she suspected there was a good chance she’d never see him again after this little episode. Who could blame him?

The thought that she’d never see him again made her sorry she’d answered D.J.’s call.

She’d been hungry most of her life. Sometimes for food, always for love. When very young, often escape from freezing weather was what she hungered for most. But when Cody kissed her she’d felt...full, as if she finally had enough of whatever she needed. Well, at least she couldn’t imagine needing anything else during that kiss.

Problem was, this new sense of fullness was addictive. How could anyone resist a feeling that made you feel so good, even if lasted only briefly?

Yeah, and wasn’t that the way drugs worked? She thought of the pill mills Cody had told her about tonight, and how her client’s husband helped make addicts out of good people. What would be so wrong with letting herself go with Cody? Just enjoy his company and see what happened? She’d been resisting him solely because he worked in law enforcement, following her years-old logic that told her all police officers had to be jerks.

She knew that couldn’t be true. Not all of them, anyway.

Cody definitely wasn’t a jerk. Jerks didn’t bring you vegetable soup. Jerks didn’t tell you how evil pill mills were connected to your case. And how could a jerk kiss like that?

Anyway, he had shared information with her. Probably about as much as she’d shared with him.

With him she felt so...what was it? Alive. New. With Cody it felt like the past didn’t matter, that she didn’t have to be that hungry little girl from Missouri. She could be somebody different, somebody new.

* * *

STOMPING BACK TO his car, Cody decided Merlene Saunders had a chip on her shoulder that stretched all the way to Branson, Missouri. Why did everything in life always come down to greed? Cody jerked open the driver door and slammed it behind him.

Oh, but he knew why. People always want what they don’t have. His old man had wanted way, way too much, more than he could ever get on a cop’s salary. He understood exactly what desperate yearning had done to his hardworking father, and it was never going to happen to him.

Cody cranked the engine, his angry thoughts now focused on his dad. What had happened to him to make him turn? He knew his father hadn’t been dirty his whole career. For a treat, his family used to eat in a neighborhood café near their home on Friday nights. What was the name? Smitty’s, named for the owner. Money was always tight, but Smitty had some kind of deal for early diners. His mom raved about the meat loaf. He and Annie loved the outings because the early-bird meal came with dessert, one of the choices being their favorite: hot apple pie.

Smitty usually came out to say hello and every time offered to pick up the entire check because his dad was a police officer. But his dad always paid the bill, refusing to take anything from Smitty. Not even a free cup of coffee.

“But it’s just a way to say thanks,” Smitty would say. “Really nothing. Cops put their life on the line every day.”

“That’s my job,” his dad had always responded seriously. “And it’s my privilege to uphold the law.”

Cody remembered practically bursting with pride because of his dad’s honesty. He’d decided right then he wanted to grow up and be exactly like his dad. Be honest. Be a cop. Uphold the law.

And he’d wondered a million times since what had happened to make Dad change. He’d even considered the idea the refusals had all been for show in front of the family. If the wife and kids hadn’t been there, would Dad have let Smitty pay the tab?

Cody maneuvered his vehicle onto the roadway. He’d never know. He’d never know what it was his father had wanted so much that he had to turn crooked, forced him to end his own life.

Merlene Saunders sure as hell wanted something. Probably another rich doctor who could buy her more flashy gems to adorn her skin, skin that in his opinion needed absolutely no help from bling.

Now that his initial anger had ebbed, a heavy sense of disappointment weighed him down over what had happened with Merlene. He liked Merlene. He liked her sassy attitude, even if it drove him nuts, and she was definitely easy on the eyes. He’d been looking forward to getting to know her better.

For sure kissing her had been a pleasure. He shifted in the seat, remembering how she’d felt in his arms. Yeah, he’d like to get to know her a lot better, but not if money was what spun her world.

Why hadn’t he noticed such a materialistic streak in her? Had he been so blinded by her beauty? Missing a trait like that sure as hell wasn’t like him. She’d even called him observant, which had led to that fabulous kiss.

Well, the department wouldn’t pay her, and he wasn’t about to. He never had money left over from a paycheck anyway, didn’t have a dime saved anywhere, didn’t want to be a slave to possessions, didn’t want to end up like his dad.

Money talks. Yeah, right, it always does.

How could a woman come apart like warm honey in his arms and then freeze into a sheet of ice in seconds? Why had Merlene pushed him away? She was interested in him. He would have to be blind not to have picked up on the signals, the way she secretly checked him out. Even his sister had noticed their mutual attraction this afternoon.

Annie! Damn. He’d forgotten that his sister and Charlie were bunking with him tomorrow night while their home was tented for termites. She’d asked for the couch, but of course he’d give them the only bed in his one-bedroom apartment.

Annie had reminded him about the plan this afternoon, and he didn’t have any food in the house. He glanced at the digital clock on the dash. After ten. Too late to pick up groceries now. He’d have to make time tomorrow. Nah. Better yet, he’d order pizza. Charlie would love that idea.

He probably should straighten up the place, though, maybe run the vacuum. If not, he’d have to listen to Annie grumble about how he should get married, have kids, settle down. Cody sighed. Fat chance that would happen anytime soon. The only women he met were on the job.

Like Merlene. Would he ever see her again? Did he want to see her again? Hell, yes. What was it about her? Merlene might be greedy, but he’d never been this intrigued by a woman.

* * *

CODY OPENED HIS door to his sister and nephew the following evening, hoping a little family time would improve his mood. He needed a distraction so he could stop thinking about one certain female private investigator.

He and Charlie talked baseball stats and who would make the playoffs over a pepperoni pizza, boring Annie to eye rolling, until she announced since tomorrow was a school day, Charlie had to go to sleep.

“Look at this place,” Annie said, as she collapsed onto the sofa beside him after her son had reluctantly crawled into Cody’s bed. “When are you going to buy some furniture?”

“This place is good enough for you and Charlie to crash in,” Cody said, glancing around the small, sparsely furnished room. His secondhand belongings suited him fine.

Annie sighed. “Don’t get huffy. You know we appreciate not having to pay for a motel. Besides, Charlie insisted. He wanted to talk to you about sports, sports and more sports.”

Cody nodded. “And we know sports are way over your head, Annie Oakley.”

She punched his shoulder. “Annie Oakley! Nobody can call me that but you, Cody Wyoming.”

He grinned at his sister over the strange names their mother had cursed them with. Thank God Annie was better now, finally able to smile again, enjoy life. She’d had a difficult couple of years after her husband had overdosed on pain meds following complications from back surgery. Pills he’d obtained from another unscrupulous doctor. Yeah, just hand over the cash and the doc was only too glad to provide relief. Mark had been a damn good man, but one with a low threshold for pain. Addiction sent him on a downward path that had spiraled out of control.

Annie plumped a cushion behind her and turned to study him. “So now you can tell me more about that gorgeous new girlfriend who came to the game yesterday. Where did you meet her?”

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Yeah? The two of you seemed awfully engrossed in each other.” Pinching him lightly in the ribs, she continued, “You almost missed Charlie’s turn at bat.”

“Strictly business, Annie.” He knew eagle-eyed Annie had noticed his interest in Merlene.

“Why is everything always business with you, Cody? You need to lighten up.”

“I take my work seriously.”

Annie waved her hand. “Everyone knows that. You’ve spent years trying to make up for Dad’s mistakes. It’s time to stop and get a life.”

Cody glared at Annie. First she ragged him about Merlene and now their father. If he didn’t love his sister, he’d arrest her for disturbing his peace. “I’ve got a life, thank you very much.”

“What life? You work constantly and don’t own a thing so that, God forbid, you won’t become attached to anything. You even drive a county car. I’m wondering what you do spend your paycheck on. You must have a mint stashed away.”

“Not everyone worships money. I don’t need material things, Annie. They’re not important.”

“Please.” She held up her hand. “You talk like some wigged-out new age guru when I know what you really like is to watch grown men bash each other’s heads in on Sunday afternoons. But that’s only if you’re not at work trying to arrest felons and bash heads yourself.”