Secrets and Seduction: 5 Romance Novels (15 page)

Marisa’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God. He was cheating on Carolyn.” She sank into a chintz living room chair.

Nick sat on the couch next to her. “It’s either another motive to get rid of his wife, or … ” He didn’t want to force the knowledge on Marisa.

“Or what? What’s worse than murdering his wife to make room for his mistress?”

Nick was going to have to be the bearer of bad news. His muscles tightened. He hated what he had to do, but it had to be faced. “Could your friend have found out about her husband’s affair and killed herself?”

• • •

Marisa felt shocked, and then outraged. She sprang from her chair. “I told you she didn’t kill herself!”

Nick looked at her. “Marisa, you’ve got to admit the possibility. Five months ago, she had a miscarriage. Meanwhile, her husband is having an affair.”

“Maybe she didn’t know.”

“How could she not smell the sex on him? Hell, I could.” Nick’s lip curled with disgust.

Marisa tried to hide the betrayal she felt. Would every man from now on pretend to share her beliefs? “I thought you were on my side. I thought you believed me. And what about Elizabeth Hernandez?”

“We don’t know if Elizabeth was murdered. For that matter, we don’t know that Carolyn was, either.”

“It wasn’t suicide.” She should never for a moment have doubted Carolyn. She turned away from Nick and went to look out her picture window.

But he appeared beside her and placed a gentle hand on her arm. “You need to be prepared for police speculation, especially with Sheriff Kehr not wanting to investigate Wentworth. The sheriff is going to look for other possibilities.”

Marisa’s anger resurfaced. “So he’s going to trash Carolyn’s reputation further?” Was she the only one who wanted people to remember the good things about her friend?

“Probably.”

She raised her chin. “Then I’ll fight. I have to. I know I’m right.” She waited for him to say where he stood.

He nodded. “I’ll do what I can.”

Marisa let out her breath in relief. “Then I’d better get to the office. I have a wake to plan for tomorrow. Do you want me to drop you back at your cabin?”

“No. I think I’ll hang around the sheriff’s office today and keep an eye on the investigation.”

“I’ll drive you there.” Marisa hesitated over what she wanted to ask him. Finally, with her cheeks burning, she blurted it out. “Do we smell like sex?”

Nick didn’t smile. “Not anymore.”

She breathed out and relaxed. “Oh, good. I wasn’t sure if my mother would be able to tell.”

He cocked his head. “Will it bother you if she knows?”

“A little.” Her mother had known she slept with Kevin, but she’d been dating him all her adult life. Nick … she’d only known Nick a few days.

He cupped a hand behind her head and drew her to him. Her pulse fluttered madly.

“Only a little?” His voice was husky as his lips descended toward hers.

Marisa nodded, unable to speak. Her lips parted. And then his heat touched her, and with only their lips in contact, she went up in flames. She gripped his biceps as they kissed, leaning into him. Her rioting emotions focused on this man and this moment. He brought sanity to her world.

As he lifted his head, their lips clung, and then the kiss broke. Marisa made a sound of protest.

“Tonight,” he said.

• • •

Marisa dropped Nick at the one-story brick sheriff’s office. A small cluster of people gathered around the doors talking, and they turned to stare as she stopped the car. He was aware this was a small town and Marisa was a businesswoman with a reputation to uphold, so he didn’t try to kiss her good-bye.

But as she drove away, he wished he had. He’d never had to hide a relationship before, and he found he didn’t like it. Sneaking around demeaned what he and Marisa shared together, which, damn it, was more than a sexual liaison. There was a world of difference between Marisa and him and Scott Wentworth and his secretary. Wasn’t there?

Nick nodded to the curious citizens and entered the building. He’d been afraid that with the Hernandez death to investigate and the problems with the intake pipe, he’d have to wait several hours to speak with Brian. He’d already decided to help answer the phones and see what he could learn by just being there. But to his surprise, his friend was already at his desk. A quick glance at the sheriff’s office showed Sheriff Kehr was still out.

Nick leaned over Brian’s desk. “Wentworth’s affair with his secretary is a motive for murder.”

Brian released a long breath. “I know.”

The tension left Nick and he slumped into the side chair. “You know?”

Brian smiled a little. “You can take the boy out of New York City, but you can’t take New York City ways out of the boy. I don’t think Wentworth was counting on that when he brought Miss Shroyer to town. That ‘taking comfort where I can’ story didn’t fool me for a minute.”

“Did you arrest him then?”

Brian shook his head. “Just because he didn’t fool me doesn’t mean I have enough evidence to arrest him. Brooke Shroyer confirmed his alibi.”

Nick ground his teeth in frustration. “You’ve got to dig deeper into Wentworth’s background. There has to be evidence. You can’t just let him get away with murder. And what about the Hernandez woman? Did you find evidence at the pond?”

“With last night’s storm and the body being submerged all night, there wasn’t much of anything. We called in a forensic tech from Montour Falls. He’s meeting me here and then we’re going to drive back to the Easterling estate together. You were lucky you caught me.”

Luck didn’t seem so evident from where Nick sat. “What can I do to help?”

Brian smiled. “You want to man the phones again? I know it’s a lot to ask while you’re on vacation, but we’re really stretched thin at the moment.”

“If it means you’re out finding evidence against Wentworth, I’ll do whatever I can.” Nick thought of a better idea. “Maybe you could show me how to research Wentworth’s background on the computer.”

“Sheriff Kehr would have my badge if I did that.”

“He wouldn’t have to know it was me. You’re going to do it anyway as soon as you have time.”

“Kehr may be an ass, Nick, but I really like my job here. And I like living in Watkins Glen. If I’m lucky, I’ll find a woman like Marisa Avalos and settle down to have a few kids.”

Nick bristled, and his stomach lurched. A sharp warning stuck in his throat. He wouldn’t be here after this weekend. He had no right to warn Brian away from Marisa. But he couldn’t stand the thought of his friend dating her, or, God forbid, sleeping with her. His face warmed with anger. In fact, he couldn’t stand the idea of any other man touching Marisa.

“You know,” Brian said, “you could settle down with Marisa Avalos and have a few kids. If you’d stay.”

“I’m going back to work on Monday, if the shrink clears me. To a job I love. I’m needed there. I make a difference there.” He was so used to saying it that he nearly believed it, even if the past six months had proved him wrong.

Brian’s gaze was razor sharp. “You could make a difference here, Nick. Look what Marisa is doing to make things happen, to change things.”

Yeah, Marisa fought for the truth and for what was right. She championed what was best for the people and the town. She demanded justice and fairness. She was a damn hero and he should know. He’d been one for years. Hell, standing beside her, he’d begun to feel like one again. No wonder he liked her so much.

He plowed a hand through his hair. He couldn’t make any decisions until he was cleared to work, and then he’d probably be sucked back into his job. He wouldn’t be able to return here soon.

His eye fell on a paper on Brian’s desk. Marisa’s name jumped out at him. He pointed to it. “What’s that?”

Brian picked it up and held it out to Nick. “I had the body shop check all the fluid levels in Marisa’s car like you asked me to. You were right. The brake fluid was the only one that was low, and her car had been serviced only a few months ago. She had one of those little reminder stickers in the window.”

Nick sat forward and scanned the report. Excitement buzzed inside him like angry bees. “This is it. This is the evidence you need to arrest Wentworth.”

But Brian shook his head. “This is a piece of evidence. It shows something happened to the brake fluid in Marisa’s car. It doesn’t prove who did it.”

“Damn it, we know who did it.”

“We suspect who did it. We need proof.”

“What about fingerprints?”

“It poured last night. Marisa’s car is outside at the body shop. Any fingerprints were washed away.”

Nick pounded the seat arm. It seemed fate was against them. Or at least someone in Watkins Glen was.

• • •

It felt odd for Marisa to drive on without Nick because they’d been together for nearly twenty-four hours. As she breezed through her office door, she braced herself to face her mother’s questions about her whereabouts during that time.

Her mother looked up from straightening the racks of clothes. “
Mi hija
, is it true about Elizabeth Hernandez?”

All thought of Nick flew from her mind as Marisa sat her mother down and told her everything she knew about Elizabeth.

“In the pond?” Anjelita’s eyes filled with tears. “What is happening?”

Marisa clutched her mother’s hand. “I don’t know, Mamá. Maybe you should come and stay with me for a while.”

“Be chased from my home? No.” Anjelita shook her head hard.

Marisa chose her words carefully, remembering Nick’s warnings about Scott. “But you’re so close to the Easterling house.”

“You think I am at risk living there? Why? I have lived there since before you were born.”

“I don’t know. But if you won’t come stay with me, will you at least promise to lock your doors from now on?”

“Is it because of Scott Wentworth?” Her mother’s brown eyes probed for the truth.

“Mamá, I don’t know anything for sure. He’s having an affair with his secretary … ”

“In the Easterling’s house? In Carolyn’s bed? Oh, the poor child. Wentworth is a despicable man.”

“Nick says the sheriff will try to claim Carolyn killed herself because she found out about the affair.”

“No.” Anjelita’s frown was fierce. “It is not true. She would not do that because of a mistress.”

Marisa frowned, wondering why her mother was so sure about that. “I want to plan Carolyn’s wake for tomorrow. I need to be proactive if I intend to head off the sheriff’s claims.”

Anjelita lifted her chin. “How can I help?”

Marisa squeezed her mother’s hands in appreciation. “I need to find a big enough hall. I need to have her body moved and prepared for viewing. And I need to notify everyone in town.”

“Call the funeral home. They can help you arrange the rest. When you have a time set, I will help you call people.”

Within an hour, Marisa had made the arrangements and she and her mother spent the rest of the day notifying people about the wake. By six o’clock, Marisa was ready to call it a day.

“Mamá, we’ve told as many people as we can. Let’s go have some dinner.”

“I am sorry,
mi hija
, but I have been asked to join the civic society for dinner.”

Startled, Marisa looked at her mother. Anjelita’s face glowed with happiness and pride. She’d been on the outskirts of the town’s society for years, partly due to her heritage, and partly due to working unusual hours as the Easterlings’ housekeeper. Now that she was a business owner, Anjelita was part of the heart of the town.

Warmth bloomed in Marisa’s chest: pride in her mother, pride in her town. “Have a good time, Mamá. Don’t worry about me.” When her mother hurried off to her dinner, Marisa realized she was free to be with Nick. With unfettered eagerness, she called him to see where he was.

“I thought maybe you’d changed your mind,” he said.

“No. I spent the day notifying the townspeople about Carolyn’s wake.” She slapped her forehead. She’d completely forgotten him in the rush of events. “Oh, we didn’t get to go photographing today. I’m so sorry, Nick.”

“It’s okay.” Relief sounded in his voice. “When I didn’t hear from you, I went out on my own.”

“Where did you go?” She was disappointed she hadn’t got to see the joy in his face when he took pictures.

“Just outside of town. I photographed the fall foliage, what’s left of it.”

Marisa wanted to be with him badly, but she tried to be polite and think of his needs. “Have you had dinner?”

“Not yet.” He was just as polite, just as restrained.

“Would you like to go out to eat?” She hoped he’d say no.

“I’d rather stay in. I stopped at the store in Montour Falls and bought some things for us.” His words dripped with sexual innuendo.

Marisa felt all fluttery in her lower belly. “I’m interested. Why don’t you meet me at my apartment and we’ll have dinner. Then you can show me what you bought.”

• • •

As they showered off any remaining chocolate syrup from their dessert play in bed, Marisa was amazed at how comfortable she felt with Nick. Here he was, a relative stranger, soaping her body as she soaped his and they’d only known each other five days. She’d never showered with Kevin. Of course, she’d never licked chocolate off his cock, either. Kevin was a very traditional man. She realized now that he’d only been going through the motions with her. He’d felt no passion for her. She was amazed the truth didn’t hurt anymore.

Marisa didn’t have that problem with Nick. She lathered his penis between her hands, rubbing the soap over every inch of him. Nick reached between her legs with a handful of suds. She almost groaned as he cleaned her recently sensitized flesh.

She spread her legs wider and let him soap her thoroughly. She did the same to his testicles and anus.

They stared into each other’s eyes as they slid slick hands over one another, teasing, tantalizing, re-awakening desire. His eyes were melted chocolate, his skin flushed with arousal. They were both breathing hard.

When Nick turned her, Marisa thought he would take her then. But he pushed her under the water, sliding his hands over her flesh to help clear the soap. He brushed his palms over her nipples, back and forth, until she was sure they were clean. He quickly rinsed himself, turned off the water and pulled Marisa from the shower.