Emerald (Steele Investigations) (18 page)

A minute later he slides in beside me and wraps me tight in
his arms, kissing my hair.

“What are you doing to me?” he murmurs softly.

My heart picks up the pace at his words, but my brain in its
sleepy state doesn’t care to process them.

“Hmm,” I mumble.

He gives me a squeeze and I drift off to sleep.  I can’t be
sure but I think I hear him mutter, “Never letting you go.”

******

“Babe, wake up,”  Travis shakes me gently.

“Ugh,” I groan.   I feel like I’ve just dozed off.  I open
my eyes and it’s still night out. Travis is standing beside the bed, fully
dressed and looking down at me.

“What time is it?” I mumble.

“One,” he answers.

“One?  As in one a.m.?”  I’ve only been asleep an hour,
tops.

“Yeah, baby,” I can hear his smile, “I just got a call. 
I’ve got to head out for a job.  Theo got a lock on a skip he’s been tracing
and he needs back up.  I should be home late tomorrow night, early Sunday
morning.  You stay at my place tomorrow night, I want you there when I get
home.  Got me?”

“I can stay here.  You can come here when you get back,” I
offer, unsure about staying at his place without him there.

“My place has better security, honey.  Now, tell me you got
me, kiss me and then I gotta go.”

“Oh, alright,” I mutter.  The security part gets me.

I wrap my hands around his neck and pull him down to meet
me, touching my lips to his.  My tongue snakes out to taste him and he leans in
deepening the kiss.

“Later, baby,” he says, pulling back and touching his finger
to my nose.

“Later, honey,” I reply, then add, “Stay safe, Travis.”

“I will. Later,” he says, smiling gently at me and then he’s
gone.  It doesn’t take long for me to fall back asleep but I’m woken twice
throughout the night with night mares.  I drag myself out of bed at six a.m.
and curl up on the couch listening to my new Lady Antebellum CD.

I must doze off because I wake with a start and my phone is
beeping with a text message.  I check the time, nine a.m., then I read the text
message, silently hoping it’s from Travis.  I try not to feel a stab of
disappointment when I see it’s from Kami,

** Hey GF, party at my house today @ 4.  Be there.
Haven’t seen your sexy self for ages x **

I smile and type back,

** Okay.  What should I bring? **

A minute passes and then my phone beeps with her reply,

** Bring some finger food if you want. Otherwise just
yourself x **

Finger food? Okay.  I will have to go to the store and find
stuff to make something small.  I should have asked her how many people were
going, but I suppose if every person brings  a plate there will be enough for
everyone. 

Oh crap
.

Maybe Kami doesn’t know that Travis isn’t in town.  I text
her back to let her know, wondering if she still wants me to come alone.

** Forgot to tell you, Travis is out of town.  Do you
still want me to come without him? **

Thirty seconds later, I get her reply,

** I know Trav is out of town, & of course I want you
to come, silly.  See ya at 4 x **

I get up off the lounge and set about having a shower.  Once
I’m out, dressed and ready, I lean against the bench and make a shopping list. 

What does one make as finger food when attending a party
for an unspecified amount of people and an occasion you’re not aware of?

Chewing my bottom lip as I think, I finally settle on mini
meatball subs and two different types of pizza sliders. 

I jot down the ingredients I need and make my way to the
store.

I arrive back home an hour later, arms laden with bags full
of groceries.  Dumping them on the bench I set about making the finger food. 

I spend the rest of the morning and early afternoon
combining the hamburger with finely chopped onion, salt and pepper to make tiny
balls, then I fry them off and add the Roasted Garlic, Onion and Tomato Sauce
(from a jar) so it can simmer down and become thick.  Then I arrange my little
circles of pre-baked dough on a tray and top half of them with bacon, sausage
and olive and the other half with shredded chicken and onion, then I sprinkle
Mozzarella cheese over all of them and place them in the oven for the cheese to
melt.  While that’s happening, I butter the mini buns and fill them with
meatballs and sauce.  I put it everything in two large containers, grab the
bottle of wine I picked up at the liquor store earlier, I sling my handbag
(with my phone, purse and keys inside) over my shoulder, and make my way down
to the bus stop.  Once I reach the bus stop, I pull out the panic button Travis
gave me and tuck it into my bra.  I don’t want to risk it accidently getting
pressed on amongst the stuff in my handbag.  I thought about putting it in one
of my pockets, but I’m not sure if me sitting down would set it off or not. 
I
should have asked Travis some questions about it.
  This is the first time
I’ve had to have it on me since Travis gave it to me two nights ago and I feel
a little nervous about it.

******

“Jemma,” Kami screeches as she opens the door and finds me
standing there, “You’re here!” 

“Hey Kam,” I smile as she pulls me in for a hug.  I can’t
hug her back though; my arms are full.

“Come in.  We’ll put this stuff in the kitchen,” she says as
she grabs a container off me.  “What’d you make?”

“Oh, I made, uh, mini meatball subs and two varieties of
pizza sliders.  I hope that’s okay.  I’ve never been to a party before, or had
to make finger food,” my voice is quiet and hesitant.

She looks at me a beat, confusion clouding her face.  It
goes as quick as it appears though and she smiles bright at me.  “Those sound
great.  They’ll go down a treat.”

I let out the breath I didn’t know I’d been holding and my
shoulder slump at her approval.

“Okay, come through here and we’ll put them in on the
bench.  Will they need reheating?”

I shake my head, “No, they should be fine like that.”

“Good.  We’ll serve them shortly anyways, we’re just waiting
for Tom to get here, and I think Harley is coming shortly as well.  Glass?

I nod and she hands me one.  I pour myself some wine and tip
the bottle in her direction, silently asking if she’d like some.  I do this
because she’s talking non-stop.  She shakes her head and grabs a bottle of
something pink from the fridge.  The label says Vodka & Guava. 

That sounds yummy.

“My mom and dad, Rae’s mom and stepfather, Rae, Elliott,
Will and Will’s sister – Eliana are all out on the back deck.  I think Linc
might be heading over later but I’m not a hundred percent sure.  Travis is
working a job with Theo, that’s what Elliott said but they never tell me much
about the business, I don’t ask either.  Too badass for me.  So, how are things
with you and Travis?  I haven’t seen you in ages and I was totally bummed I
couldn’t go out with you guys the other week – I was
so
sick, vomiting
and everything. It was euck,” she makes a disgusted face and sound to match.

My eyes are blinking fast as I try to keep up with her. 
She’s so full of life, bursting at the seams with excitement and energy.  It’s
easy to see why Rae, or anyone, would want Kami as a BFF.

“Things are going good,” I speak slowly and I’m not sure
whether it’s a subconscious thing, hoping she’ll catch on and slow her words
down, or whether it’s trepidation.  I’ve never talked about a guy I’m dating
before, especially not to his sister, and this would be because
I’ve never
dated before!
  I’m unsure of the rules but I convince myself to just go
with my gut.  “He took me to Lady Antebellum concert last night and he
introduced me to the band.  They gave me a signed copy of their newest CD.  Um,
he’s really nice and sweet to me and he keeps me safe.” I finish on a rush and
when I look at Kami she has the same confusion clouding her face that was there
earlier.  Again, it doesn’t stay long. 

“That’s awesome.  Never in a million years would I have
pictured my brother as a romantic.”

“How are things with you and Will?”

“
Great
,” she smiles huge, fit to burst with
excitement, “he’s so perfect.  He fits me, you know?”

I nod even though I’m not sure whether I know, or not.

“Okay, let’s get out here to the others,” she says leading
the way out onto the deck where the others are seated around a large solid wood
outdoor setting.

“Hi Jemma,” everyone greets me when I reach them and take a
seat.

“Hi, everyone,” I say giving a stupid little wave.

“Jemma bought Mini Meatball Sub and Pizza Sliders,” Kami
proudly informs everyone.

“Really,” Elliott says, cocking one eyebrow. 
Just like
his brother
.

“I hope they taste okay, I didn’t get a chance to try one
before I had to leave to come here,” I admit and I feel my cheeks heating.

“I’m sure they’ll taste delicious, darling.  Now tell me,
have you had a chance to bake a load of bread yet?” Judy asks me.

“No, I haven’t yet, but I’m looking forward to trying it,” I
reply.

“Yoo-hoo,” I hear someone yell in a high pitched sing song
voice.

“On the deck, Harley,” Kami shouts back, then she jumps up
to go and greet him.  Rae hops up as well and they meet him at the door that
leads onto the deck.  He envelopes them both in a hug and kisses each other
foreheads.  Harley is Kami and Rae’s longtime friend, and although I haven’t
met him yet, I’ve heard plenty of stories about him.

“Spunk, this is Jemma.  She works at the boutique and Travis
is her man,” Kami informs him making me cringe, though I can’t deny the warm
feeling that spreads through my body when she describes Travis as my ‘man’.

“Oo, I think I love you already, girlfriend.  Travis is
hawt
,” 
he says as he pulls up a chair near mine.  I giggle at him and we all resume
conversations.

Tom arrives shortly after and I help Kami bring out the
finger food.  The subs and sliders go down a treat and there is also dips and
crackers, homemade sausage rolls (Judy Steele is an awesome cook) and some
sweet food, like slice and cake.  It’s a relaxing afternoon and before I know
it, it’s going on eight thirty and I’ve finished my bottle of wine, not all on
my own, I only had three small glasses from the bottle. Kami, Rae and Tom each
had a glass.

“I better head off,” I announce to everyone.

“I’ll drive you,” Tom says.

“Oh, are you sure?  I don’t want to put you out.  I can take
the bus.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.  I was about to head home anyhow, and
it will save you catching that wretched bus at night.  It’s not safe, Jemma,”
he says sternly, reminding me of Travis.

“Oh, alright.  ‘Bye everyone, thanks for a great afternoon,”
I say as I make my way to the door.  As I pass her, Judy stands and wraps me in
a hug.  My eyes instantly prick with tears and I swallow repeatedly to keep
them at bay.

“See you soon, honey,” she whispers in my ear.

“Okay,” is the only thing I can think of in reply, so that’s
what I say.

Tom and I make our way out to his car and drive off.

“Can you drop me at Travis’s?  He says he feels better if I
stay there while he’s away – better security,” I explain when Tom raises his
eyebrows at me.

“You like him?” He asks softly.

“I think I may love him,” I answer so quietly I’m not sure
he can hear me.

“What I’ve seen, girlie, feeling’s mutual,” Tom replies

“Really?” I breathe.  I never even entertained the thought
that Travis may have feelings like that for me.  I’ve never even had the words
‘I love you’, said to me.

“Uh-huh,” Tom nods his head enthusiastically. 

“Wow,” I whisper.

We’re silent the rest of the short drive.  Tom pulls into
the curb across the street from Travis’s condo and turns in his seat to face
me.

“I know you’ve got something weighing you down, and when you
want to tell me, just know I’ll be here, but don’t be afraid to hold back with
Travis, okay?  He’ll keep you safe, Jemma – physically
and
emotionally. 
A load shared is a load lightened.”

“Thanks, Tom,” I take a deep breath and sigh, “I promise
I’ll tell you all about it one day.”

“See ya later, girlie.”

“Later, Tom, and thanks again for the ride,” I smile and climb
from the car.  Standing on the sidewalk, I wave goodbye as he pulls away into
the traffic.

A load shared is a load lightened.
His words play in
my head as I walk down the sidewalk.  There’s a park to my right and I idly
wonder if Travis is the kind of guy that would sit and have a picnic, feed the
ducks in the pond and walk around aimlessly through the lush green grass with
me.

I look up and notice someone familiar walking towards me, at
the same time the hairs on my neck stand on end.  I unconsciously quicken my
pace until I’m a few meters from the man.

“Hi, Detective Kormier,” I smile, exhaling and trying to
shake the weird feeling that was prickling my body.

“Get your hands up,” Detective Kormier barks, training a gun
at me.  Immediately, my hands fly above my head.

Oh my god.  What have I done wrong?  Oh my god.  I don’t
want to go to jail.

******

Travis – I hour earlier.

“Steele,” Travis answered his phone on the second ring.

“Boss, I just got a ping on Raymond Calloway, he’s landed at
Denver International Airport.”

“
Fuck,
” Travis hissed.  “Bet the motherfucker got
wind of the police or he’s noticed someone’s looking into him.  I’ll call
Kormier.”

“Later,” Carl said but he said it to dead air.

“Kormier,” Dave answered.

“Dave.  Travis.  Raymond Calloway just landed at DIA.  I’m
about ninety minutes away.  Jemma heading to my place tonight, but she’s been
at my sisters.  I don’t know whether she’s left already or not but you need to
get eyes on her until I get back,” Travis ordered.