Bad Habit (26 page)

“
It’s not that funny,” Teri said
evenly.

He forced himself to be serious. “A
lot of misery could have been avoided if you’d leveled with me in
the beginning.”

“
I was scared,” she said. “I still
haven’t made sense of what happened. Colin was killed because of
the money, but I don’t know where it came from or why he left it
with me.” She shrugged. “There are so many unanswered
questions.”

“
I have unanswered questions of my
own.” A heaviness settled in his gut, weighing him down with
uncertainty.

She seemed to sense his sadness.
“Angel, is something wrong?”

He couldn’t explain that he feared
losing her; that every second they grew closer to the city, his
anxiety increased. “Lots.” He kissed her fingers, forced himself to
focus on the moments they had together, knowing they would
inevitably come to an end.

“
I mean is there something that I
don’t know about? You seem a little down.”

“
Sorry,” he said. “I’m just
anticipating getting back to work.”

She nodded, allowing him to leave
his feelings unsaid.

When they arrived at JFK, he called
his boss and agreed to bring Teri to the station the next morning.
They took a taxi to Teri’s condo and he started to walk up with
her, dread gathering like a knot in his gut.

“
Get your bag, Angel,” she
said.

He stood back, his breath caught in
his throught. “I thought you might like to have some
privacy.”

She dimpled. “You thought wrong.
Pay the driver and bring your bag.”

He hesitated a moment and followed
her direction.

Teri turned and greeted the
doorman, Seymour, by name. He was effusive in returning her
greeting, but eyed Angel suspiciously. Perhaps he recalled Angel
questioning him in regards to her disappearance.

They rode in silence to the top floor. She seemed as
nervous as he felt.

When Teri tried to put her key in
the lock, her hand shook.

Angel grasped how she must be
feeling. Silently, he took the key from her and swung the door
open.

She leaned against him for a moment, then
straightened and stepped inside. She walked to a wall of windows
framing a panoramic view of the city.

He came to stand behind her and
folded her rigid body in his arms. He pressed a kiss against her
neck and felt her tension melt away at his touch.

She emitted a little mew of
pleasure and arched against him. She turned to him and lifted her
chin. “Thanks for being here with me.” She sighed heavily. “This is
my place. I’ve always loved to be here, but it feels empty
now.”

“
It’s just quiet after all the
chaos. We’re here now so it can’t be empty.”

She smiled up at him. “I don’t
think I could bear it without you.”

He tried to breathe through the
tightness in his chest. “I’ll be with you as long as you want me to
be.”

She nodded and pulled away. “Let’s
order in. I hate to think of what’s lurking in the fridge after all
this time.” She walked around turning on all the lights.

He followed her into the bedroom
and steadied her when she visibly recoiled. She gazed, transfixed,
at the suitcases piled in her dressing room, untouched since the
trip with her dear departed Colin. Angel stroked her bare arm,
wondering what she was thinking; wondering if she longed to be in
Colin’s arms instead.

“
It’s over, Teri,” he said. “You
need to turn the page and get on with your life.

She nodded, her hair making a
scrunching noise against his shirt. “I know what I need. I need you
and I need Bernie. As long as I have the two of you, my life will
be okay.”

A rush of hope flooded Angel’s
chest. He kissed her forehead. “You’ll have me as long as you want
me.”

They ordered Chinese and tossed the
cartons in the trash.

Teri ran water in the tub. She
called out to Angel and he entered her ultra-lush bath. He felt
somewhat bemused by the infinity tub and other lesser
gadgets.

He raised his brows when Teri began
to unbutton his shirt.

She grinned at him. “I’m not supposed to get my
stitches wet so I thought you could help me. That sponge bath Elena
gave me last night just didn’t do it for me.”

“
Always glad to help.” Angel kicked
out of his shoes and dropped his pants.

The water was a perfect
temperature. Angel stepped into the tub and helped Teri to ease in
on top of him. “Nice.”

She suspended her left leg on the
edge of the tub and, leaned back against his chest. He wrapped his
arms around her. “I think this is more than nice,” she
breathed.

He bathed her, using a large sponge
and lavender-scented body shampoo. When he lifted her out and
wrapped her in a thick towel, he sensed that her earlier tension
had dissipated.

They made love tenderly on Teri’s
cream colored sheets. He prayed he would never spend another night
away from this woman.

“
Angel,” she whispered in the
darkness. “I love you.”

“
I love you, too,
Mia,” he said.
I hope you feel the same
way in the morning
.

#

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Teri awoke feeling confused. She
couldn’t remember the dream. Angel was in it and the mere thought
of him made her feel warm and wet. She was alone in the bed.
Might as well get up.

“
Donde va?” he called.

“
You frightened me. I was afraid
you were gone.”

“
I wouldn’t leave you like that.”
The sound of the razor scraping across Angel’s cheek riveted Teri’s
attention. He stood in the open doorway of the bathroom with a
towel wrapped around his hips. A thin stream of water ran in the
sink and moisture from his recent shower clung to his
skin.

Wrapping the sheet around her
torso, she went to stand behind him. He smiled at her reflection in
the mirror before stroking another path through the lather. “Good
morning, mi querida.”

The shave gel smelled like mint.
Curling her arms around his waist, she planted a kiss on the back
of his shoulder. His smooth skin felt warm under her
lips.

Angel drew in a breath and set the
razor on the edge of the sink. He splashed warm water on his face
then reached for the towel she handed him. He kissed her, the aroma
of his shave gel clinging to his skin.

Teri inhaled the scent, her lips
grazing his skin.

“
Here we are. I told you I’d get you
back to the city.”

Teri giggled. “Did I forget to say
thank you?”

“
You don’t need to thank me. I was
just doing my job.”

Stung, Teri stepped back. “Your
job?”

“
Yeah, I was doing my job. You do
remember that I was on assignment?”

“
But, what happened...”

“
What happened between us was not
part of my job.”

Teri felt the prickle of tears and
turned away. “And what would you say happened between
us?”

“
I lost my head. I lost my heart.”
Angel began dressing himself. “I behaved
unprofessionally.”

Teri was overwhelmed by an aching
void in her stomach. “You weren’t unprofessional,
Angel.”

“
Tell that to my boss. I’m not
supposed to make love to a witness. I should have brought you back
to New York when I first identified you.”

“
Spending time with your family was
wonderful,” Teri said. “And if we’d come back earlier you couldn’t
have caught those men.”

“
Doesn’t matter. It wasn’t my
assignment.” Angel slid a tie around his neck. “I’m prepared for
the probability that I’ll be reprimanded, at least.”

The gravity of the situation
settled upon her. “Oh, no! I can’t let that happen.”

Angel turned to her, his expression
somber. “I can’t tell you what to do, Teri, but I think you should
distance yourself from me, for your own sake.”

“
What are you saying? I’ll just
tell the truth.”

“
Let’s examine this truth as we
know it.” Gently, he took her by the shoulders and seated her on
the bed. “Your dead boyfriend left a bag stuffed with hundred
dollar bills in your care. You admitted to me that you had this
mystery money all along. We don’t know the source of this money and
now, it’s not in evidence, I’m afraid you might be held liable for
it.”

Her throat tightened. She felt
dread gathering inside her, but Angel remained calm. “What’s going
to happen now?”

“
I have to file a report. I kept in
touch with my boss so he knows the generalities, but I didn’t tell
him about us. I neglected to tell him that I’d figured out your
identity early on. He thought I was watching your sister, Bernie. I
don’t care what repercussions fall on me, but I don’t want anything
I’ve done to reflect on you.”

Panic squeezed her insides. “What
are you telling me? You want me to lie?”

He shook his head solemnly. “I
don’t plan to lie. Whatever happens to me happens. I think you
should get a lawyer, just in case.”

“
In case?”

“
In case there’s more to this money
thing than we know. It’s better to be prepared.”

“
You’re really worried about this,
aren’t you?” She asked. “You’re worried they’re going to arrest
me.”

“
No, baby, I’m arresting you,” he
said. “You have the right to remain silent...”

“
You can’t be serious.”

“
If you give up your right to be
silent everything you say may be used against you in a court of
law. You have the right to have an attorney present when you are
questioned.”

Teri gazed at him sadly. “I see.
I’d better get dressed.” She left him sitting on the bed and went
into her dressing room, selecting a beige silk shirt and a black
suit. She slipped into her heels and gave her hair a
flip.

“
You look beautiful,” he said when
she emerged.

“
You’re taking a risk telling me
that. It’s too personal for a man doing his job.”

“
I’m not as big a risk-taker as you
are. Not where you’re concerned.”

“
Still taking care of me?” She
stepped into the bathroom and closed the door. Teri pressed a cold,
damp cloth to her eyes and allowed the tears to flow.

“
I’m trying to,” Angel said to the
closed door.

As soon as she’d applied a little
make-up, Teri called Martin Kelso.

“
Teri, you’re home!” He sounded
excited.

“
Yes, and I need your
help.”

“
You know I’d do anything for you,
my dear.”

She expelled a deep breath. It was
good to have powerful friends in high places. “I need an attorney,”
she said. “I don’t know anyone to call. I’m in custody and being
taken to the police headquarters for questioning.”

“
Oh, my!” He sounded shocked.
“Don’t worry, Teri. I’ll bring the best attorney money can buy.
Trust me. Everything will be fine. Just don’t say anything until
you talk to the lawyer.”

“
Thanks, Martin.” She hung up abd
turned to face Angel. “I’m ready.”

“
Teri,” he said. “Don’t confuse
what I have to do with the way I feel about you. I love you with my
whole heart.” He cupped her face in both hands and placed a gentle
kiss on her lips.

“
Thank you for clearing that up,”
she said.

#

The ride to the precinct house was
silent. Angel glanced at her several times, but the woman beside
him was cool and distant, completely self composed. He knew he’d
hurt her and he hoped she’d forgive him.

If she didn’t...

If she never spoke to him again,
he’d at least know he’d protected her and done his job. He glanced
at her profile. She was biting her lower lip. He wanted to reach
out to her; to comfort her, but he sensed she was hanging on by a
slender thread.

When he escorted her into the squad
room, everyone turned to gape at her. Teri Slaughter was still a
high-profile celebrity. His Captain met them and seemed a little
star struck as he led the way to an interview room.

“
Miss Slaughter,” Captain Benson
said. “Has Detective Garcia explained to you your
rights?”

Teri gave him a long stare before
replying. “Yes, Detective Garcia informed me of my rights and I
have a statement to make.”

Angel felt his stomach knot up.

“
Go ahead, Miss Slaughter.” Captain
Benson flipped on a recorder.

“
First, I want to thank you for
sending Detective Garcia to protect me. The men who killed Colin
Dowd would surely have killed me as well.”

Captain Benson fell under her spell
and blustered a little. “Think nothing of it. We were doing our
job. Locating and protecting you was Detective Garcia’s
assignment.”

“
He performed his assignment very
bravely.” Teri blinked back tears and the Captain pushed forward a
box of tissues.