Not One Clue_ A Mystery - Lois Greiman [30]
“I’ve got some things to take care of,” he said.
I winced despite myself, remembering the part about Aalia’s missing passport, my lies regarding Aalia’s nonexistent passport, and the fact that Rivera probably knew all along I was lying. “Any of those things going to get me incarcerated?”
He glanced at me. “Would it matter?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You might enjoy the company in Sing Sing.”
I gave him a look that may have suggested I thought he’d lost his last vestige of good sense.
“But maybe they don’t kiss as well as Aalia.”
I felt myself blush. “That wasn’t my idea,” I said, and he laughed as he stepped up on the stoop and slipped an arm around my waist.
“So you think you’d prefer the companionship in Lompoc?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His mouth was still slanted up at a cocky angle. “Looks like nobody can resist you,” he said.
I considered pushing him away, but didn’t really want to. “You’re doing okay.”
He snorted and slipped a loose lock of hair behind my right ear. “She even got in your backseat before I did.”
“There was no tongue,” I said.
“Jesus, McMullen,” he said, and pulled me closer. “I’m having a hard enough time remembering you two kissing without thinking about …” The length of him felt hard against my thigh. He shifted uncomfortably. “Jesus.”
“So you’re one of those guys,” I said.
His eyes were like dynamite. “One of those guys who wants to screw you?”
I swallowed. “One of those guys who gets turned on by the thought of two women together.”
“Oh, you mean a guy with balls. Yeah,” he said, “I am. But I’m not sure mine are as big as yours.”
“What are you talking about?”
He shook his head. “Sometimes I don’t really know if you’re gutsy or just stupid.”
“Gutsy,” I said.
He chuckled a little and touched my cheek. “What the hell were you thinking?”
The events of the evening were beginning to take their toll. The palms of my hands suddenly felt sweaty. “Do you think they’ll figure out where she’s at?”
His eyes were dark and seemed to be whispering sexy secrets about abandoned beaches and breakfast à la him. “There’s no way to be sure if they were even after her.”
“They checked all the bathroom stalls.”
His fingers paused on my cheek. “What’s that?”
I swallowed. I felt a little shaky suddenly. “They came into the restroom and checked all the stalls.”
“Muslim men went into the women’s bathroom?”
“Um … no.”
He swore, but it was quiet, so I wasn’t too concerned.
“I didn’t make her go in the men’s,” I told him.
He shook his head. “You are something else, woman.”
“In a good way?” I asked. “Or in a way that’ll get me five to ten.”
“That’s yet to be determined,” he said, and slipped his hand lower.
“What determines it?”
He shrugged. “Care to bribe an officer of the law? I think the backseat’s still empty.”
I laughed a little. “I think the Middle Eastern guys were shocked enough.”
“After that kiss, they’re probably home beating off right now.”
“Is that what you plan to do?”
His lips hitched up a notch. “I’ve still got hope here.”
“No, you don’t,” I said, but my voice was kind of squishy.
He chuckled, low and hot. Then he leaned closer. All my juices rushed to the forefront. All my inhibitions swooshed away like rain down a storm drain, but he reached around me and opened the door.
I scowled. He nodded me inside, so I stepped in, and he followed.
“Elaine.” He called her name and she was there immediately, eyeing me, eyeing him.
“What happened?” She was wiping her hands on a towel. A frown had dared venture onto her perfect brow.
“I want you to make sure McMullen doesn’t leave the house tonight,” he said.
“Okay.”
“If someone comes to the door, call me immediately.”
She nodded.
“If you hear a strange noise, call me immediately.”
“All right.”
“If you’re nervous—”
“Call you? Immediately?”
“Right.”
Reaching out, she pulled me farther into the vestibule. Rivera turned, closing the door behind us, leaving us alone.
Laney tugged me into the living room. “Sit down,” she said, and urged me toward the La-Z-Boy.
I sat.
“I’m going to make you some tea,