Be Your Everything [All for Love] (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (7 page)

“Not anymore. He used me to get information, I guess, but I don’t have anything to tell him, at least none I’m aware of. I’m Mr. Grayson’s secretary, not his personal assistant. Probably he just wanted an extra pair of eyes on Grayson.” All those TV series on cops gave her insight. It had to be her boss being investigated because Matthew had focused in on her, the one person in the office most likely to have the most information about Grayson. And while she wouldn’t tell Moesha, Heather cared enough about Matthew not to blow his cover, spoil his investigation. Revenge wasn’t a dish she was interested in supping from.

Moesha stood and got in her face, though had to lean down to do it. “But he’ll be back!”

“I know. Tomorrow. That’s when he told me he’d be back. I guess he had stuff to do that didn’t include being at the office. It included his other life. I’ll be okay by then. I’ll tell him I’m not interested in him anymore and that’ll be that.”

“Oh, honey. I’m sorry.” The pity in Moesha’s voice was too much to bear.

Heather forced a smile. “Not to worry. We were just dating. Not like we were planning the future together or anything. It was a shock to learn his real identity today, that’s all. You know how we all feel guilty when we see a cop. But I haven’t done anything wrong so it’ll be fine.”

Thank goodness she hadn’t told her best friend about the incredible night with Matthew. Or the morning. Heather regretted both but perversely wanted to covet the memory. It had been too special, too precious to share right away. She wanted to revel in it and relive it, afraid she’d jinx things if she shared earlier. Now she had to live without Matthew somehow and cope with the aching emptiness in the middle of her chest. It was bad enough she’d blithered on and on about Matthew to her friend, confiding her girlish hopes and fantasies. And it hadn’t escaped Heather’s notice that he’d taken her to bed the night before he “returned” to head office, only to come back early. Maybe he was on a schedule or something. Maybe his work here was nearly done and he didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to have sex with her.

“He screwed up, girlfriend. He could have had something special.” Moesha paused and Heather waited for more platitudes. But her friend had nothing more to say on the subject. Instead, she urged Heather into motion.

“Well, we need to get back now or you won’t have to worry about seeing him on the job. You won’t have one!”

Jameson and Company ran a tight ship. They didn’t expect their employees to punch a clock, but break times were set in stone. Mr. Grayson was worse than anal, and Moesha’s boss followed the rules to a T. The rush back to the office made them breathless and served to curtail any more questions or comments from Moesha, who surely had formulated some new theories by now. Heather hoped her friend would keep her mouth shut about Matthew on all fronts. Moesha was smart and knew which side her bread was buttered on, so she likely wouldn’t let on about his undercover status, but Heather knew she was in for some best friend intervention. Shit. How was she supposed to get through the next few days with aplomb? It didn’t matter how. She’d get it done. And Matthew Bourke would be relegated to the lesson learned file. The file wasn’t too thick, and she was damned if it was going to get any thicker.

Heather refused an evening with her friend, telling her she appreciated the idea of support, but wanted to pull herself together and make a plan to deal with Matthew the next day. In truth she wanted to lick her wounds in private. And Moesha had her book club, something her friend never missed.

Manny took a break over the noon hour to call in the order for more flowers, remembering again to send them to Heather’s home. He didn’t want to risk drawing Grayson’s attention to her, put her in the position of covering up their connection. He knew the ones he sent Monday would still be blooming, and he would see Heather tomorrow, but he had to send more. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. He and Bryce stretched their legs, walking around the block before reentering the busy station. Manny felt eyes on him in that moment and scanned the room, full of men, women, and children, milling around like cattle, but didn’t see anyone he knew. He had more pressing matters on his mind, separate from the investigation. The text he sent Heather after choosing more roses, this time in peach, telling her he was working and missed her, went unanswered for what felt like an interminable time, and he was forced to return to the war room.

His cell signalled a text nearly an hour later. A brief
Me, too
filled the tiny screen, and he was puzzled at the paucity of the response. Heather was nothing if not verbose in a cute, adorable way. Cute. Adorable. He was such a goner. But perhaps she was in with Grayson or otherwise occupied and unable to respond in her usual manner. He set it aside and concentrated.

By midevening there was nothing left to do, nothing left to consider. Empty coffee cups and take-out food containers littered the conference table. Something might have escaped their notice and they resolved to review it the next day, first thing in the morning, then run it past McAllister’s boss, as well as Manny and Bryce’s. Manny’s boss had given them pretty much carte blanche but it didn’t hurt to keep him in the know, although Manny’s relationship with a certain Heather Graham hadn’t made it into his last in-person report. Bryce would meet with the accountants tomorrow afternoon, and Manny would join them once he did his termination interview with Grayson, confirming with the man his work was done. Manny didn’t want to risk tipping anyone’s hand by veering from the expected routine. And he’d get to see Heather before the shit hit the fan. Bonus.

“Dinner?” Bryce couldn’t look as tired as Manny felt. Two flights in three days were a killer on top of the intense planning his brain had been subjected to since Tuesday. He debated.

“Sure.” He could use his friend’s company, even if he didn’t talk about Heather, although he might. Thankfully, McAllister declined, citing the urge to see his kids for once before they were all in bed. Arranging to meet the following day at nine, they took their leave.

* * * *

“You’re looking at that phone like it’s your worst enemy.” Bryce’s dry tone drew Manny’s eyes away from the offending silent object.

“I texted Heather and she hasn’t responded. Not even about the flowers and she must have received them by now.”

“Some women see flowers as a kiss off.”

Shit. He hadn’t thought of that. Surely Heather didn’t think…
he
couldn’t think, at least not straight. He punched in a text asking if she was ok, if she liked the peach roses, saying that if he couldn’t be with her he wanted her to have the reminder. Manny’s romantic effort surprised even the charmer in him. Never before had he reached out to a woman in this way.

His cell chimed. Heather.
Sorry! I’m good. Life interfered but on top of it. Roses beautiful and most appreciated.
Manny typed rapidly, indicating his pleasure to send them and that he was glad she was okay. He debated calling her to ask about the
life interfering
comment, but didn’t trust himself not to share too much and dig himself in deeper.

“Okay?” His partner and friend looked at him quizzically.

“Yup. She had some stuff going on but says it’s fine. She appreciated the new roses.”

“What kind of stuff?”

“She didn’t say, but nothing to do with work, I’m sure.” He hoped.

“I trust your judgment, Manny, although dating this woman clouds things. I know your feelings for her are past cozying up to keep an eye on Grayson.”

“Back off, Bryce. Take your own advice to McAllister. Heather isn’t involved and I have no idea how I’m going to fix this, make her understand I didn’t get close to her just as part of the investigation.” Manny tried to bring his voice down, back under control, but it shook with his anger. It caught the attention of other diners.

Bryce raised both hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. And if Heather feels anything similar for you, compared to what you obviously feel for her, it’ll work out. Help her separate the emotion and view the situation intellectually. She’ll understand.”

Manny laughed, a dry, rasping sound emanating from his soul. “Heather told me she loved me Saturday night. She whispered it, but I heard her. And I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to compound my perfidy. I now know I should have, because I could remind her. Goddamn it, Bryce. This investigation…and since when do betrayed women view things intellectually?”

“Order a drink or six, Manny. And a good meal. Focus. You’ll see her tomorrow and you need to carry it off.”

Nodding, Manny picked up the menu and gave his order to the waitstaff, a little blonde woman whose smile didn’t begin to rival Heather’s. He and Bryce ate in relative silence, lost in their own thoughts, then went back to the hotel and sought their separate rooms. He sent another text, saying good night. Heather didn’t respond, but it was late. Showering again, wincing at the graininess in the back of his eyes, he fell into bed after barely taking a pass at the moisture on his body with the plush hotel towel. He would far rather be sleeping on satin sheets with a warm bundle of woman held close.

* * * *

Waking late, the events of the previous days clearly sapping his energy, Manny hustled through morning ablutions and pulled fresh clothing on. He decided to pick up coffee and a bagel on the run. He’d checked his phone the moment his eyes opened and the relief at seeing a response from Heather was indescribable. An organ in the middle of his chest literally flexed and lightened. It was yet another brief response but he’d figured that out, his mind attacking the puzzle overnight. Heather had gone to bed with him Saturday night and he’d left her to literally fly out of her life the next day. She was likely feeling a little awkward, maybe second-guessing herself, especially when he was due in the office today. He hadn’t missed how unaware Heather was of her own allure and appeal. He deplored how self-effacing she could be, and how self-deprecating.

Manny made it his mission to challenge that flawed thinking and Heather had responded. But he had left and she thought he’d been thousands of miles away, so his influence had waned. He smiled, texting her a good morning and a see you soon. Hell, Manny Philip Baker had sunk without a trace over Heather Jean Graham, and he wasn’t calling for help either.

A call to Bryce determined his partner was already at work, having decided to leave Manny to catch up on his rest. The trip to the station was mildly anticipatory and he found Bryce already engrossed in paper, McAllister absent, apparently meeting with his captain. Just under two hours before he could see Heather again. They quickly checked the plan and made the conference call. The players were ready, the paper already prepared, warrants and briefs alike. Nearly game time.

Manny’s text to Heather elicited another brief answer essentially repeating his sentiments. Heather was feeling anxious and awkward, he decided again. He couldn’t wait to reassure her, once he alerted her over dinner tonight, about what was going to go down the next day, and begged her understanding and forgiveness.

“Everything is in place and Grayson isn’t doing anything untoward, at least not on his office computer.” Bryce stood and stretched, then yawned.

“Surveillance hasn’t picked up anything different,” McAllister agreed, arriving with his usual bluster.

“Maybe he feels less pressure because I’m not there,” Manny offered. “He hasn’t tumbled to me, but he’s smart like a fox and he was sensing something. I could feel it, like the hunters are closing in.”

McAllister nodded. “You’re probably right. I’ve seen it before. I guess it comes from knowing you’ve done something heinous and are expecting retribution. The asswipe’s gonna spend the rest of his life in prison wondering where he went wrong if I have anything to say about it.”

“He’s got a big working brain,” Bryce cautioned. “And he has only to input that last piece of data to pave his way to some warm, sandy place with no way to repatriate him. I think he has it and is just waiting.”

“Then why are
we
waiting?” McAllister shot to his feet. “We can’t risk him getting clear!”

Manny could have choked Bryce, stirring up the cop like that. It was a calculated risk. They needed the time to put the plan together. If Grayson indeed had the data he needed, and it was probable he did, then it would only take a minute and the thief would be in the wind. But Manny and Bryce believed Grayson was waiting until Monday, the end of the month when the largest amount of money would be his for the taking. Scooping him and the files Friday gave them the weekend to process everything and interrogate Grayson at the same time, search his home and car, his office, for something to incriminate him, tie him to the shadowy figure who killed Meredith Fox. It had been a tedious, time-consuming investigation, gathering bits and pieces of information without alerting their quarry, using an unaware Heather to get into Grayson’s office and insert the program into his computer.

Manny shut his overactive memory down. That was the one time, the only time he used Heather, arriving early to escort her home, knowing Grayson was gone for the day. It gave him a reason to be in her office and it was a simple matter to duck into her boss’s and access the computer while she went to the restroom to freshen up. He didn’t need to actually get on the machine. The USB stick he switched out did that for him, and Grayson was none the wiser. The rest of his contact with Heather, while pumping her for information, determined nothing of interest, nothing to tie her to Grayson in any way, shape, or form. And the wonderful side benefits were too big to measure. Manny could live with that one time.

“Relax, McAllister!” Bryce was doing damage control. “It’s all good. Grayson’s waiting for Monday when the real cash is available. Greed drives the man.”

The big cop visibly pulled himself under control. Manny was correct in his original assessment of the man. He was a bulldozer but had to accept Manny was all about dispensing justice. He winced inwardly. Heather probably was too.