Courting Death - Carol Stephenson [44]
“Honey, sooner or later you’re going to have to share the responsibility. I think you’ll find Melissa’s cut from the same tough genetic cloth as you were.”
“Baby steps, Sam.” I wrapped my arms across my middle. “I’m used to handling things alone. Even brainstorming the case with Carling and Kate is not something I would have done several years ago.”
“I shudder to think of what the three of you came up with.” He cast a considering glance at the covered board. “How about dinner tomorrow night then?”
I stared at the wilted roses across the room. “I can’t. I have an engagement. How about Wednesday night?”
His eyes narrowed. “Engagement as in a date?”
“Engagement as in a drink with a potential witness.” While stretching the truth, Damian Quint, who had called this morning, could be a character witness for Claire down the road.
To distract him, I rushed on, “Was the ice cream truck at Depp’s reported stolen before or after the discovery of what it was carrying hit the police bands?”
Instead of answering he crossed to the vase. “Did your ‘engagement’ send you these?” Before I could answer, he reached out and plucked the card free from the clip.
“Damian Quint.” Sam spat out the name like it was bullets. “That sleazeball at the funeral home.”
“Yes.”
“I knew I should have roughed him up at the time. I can still roust him.”
“Chill the testosterone overdrive. He’s a friend of the Whitmans and I’m hoping to get some insights as to their background.”
“That’s not what he’s angling after, Red.”
“I can handle him.”
“I don’t want you going out tonight.”
My temper began to fray. Jealousy was one thing; possessiveness another. I stormed over and stood toe-to-toe with him. “You don’t own me, Sam Bowie.”
Sam rocked back on his heels. “Maybe not, but you should know Joe Poellinger bailed this morning.”
My anger eased. “The ice cream truck driver?”
“Yes. He could have just let you go at the funeral home. But his pursuit of you through insane traffic indicates he didn’t want any witnesses, and that motivation isn’t going to change after a few days in jail. He may come after you again.”
Disappointment slapped my silly heart. Sam hadn’t come to see me because of last night; he’d been doing his “protect the people” thing. I let the hurt frost my voice. “You’ve done your job. Consider me forewarned. Now if you would excuse me, I’m busy.”
He cursed. When he reached out, I held myself stiff, but he only cupped my face. “Nicole, being a cop is as much a part of me as being an attorney defines who you are. You may be a burr under my skin, but you’re the one I lay awake at night worrying about.”
I lifted my hand to cover his and rolled my eyes. “A burr? You say the most romantic things.”
“You’re the wordsmith. I prefer action.” He lowered his head and kissed me. A long, slow, sumptuous kiss that built a different kind of heat than I was used to with him. Rather than the wild flare of passion, this was a gentle simmer, stirring my heart.
When he raised his head, I let out a sigh. He ran his hands along my upper arms. “Promise me this much. As soon as your date with Quint is over, I want you to call me.”
“I will.”
He kissed my forehead and left.
Chapter Eleven
I wasn’t about to give Sam the last laugh, so I gritted my teeth behind a bright smile as Damian droned on about himself. At least the Clematis Street restaurant was reasonably busy for a weeknight. Space heaters kept the sidewalk area warm for outside diners like us. Strings of tiny white lights danced in the breeze that tunneled through the buildings on its way to the Intracoastal Waterway.
Although the restaurant constantly underwent ownership and name changes, Carling, Kate and I frequented it enough that I was a familiar face to the staff, which is why I named it as the meeting place. A safe, neutral ground.
It wasn’t that the man sitting opposite me wasn’t attractive—the number of women ogling as they passed by was proof of that. Nor was it he couldn’t make intelligent conversation. So far he had covered a wide range of topics from politics to his favorite,