Craving Vengeance (16 page)

“Captain Jackson...uh huh...I
see...okay.”

Her sympathetic brown-eyed gaze landed on
Spinelli. She didn’t need to speak for him to know the outcome, but
she did anyhow.

“Bethany died en route.”

Though that had likely been Bethany’s plan
all along, it didn’t make Spinelli feel any better.

Chapter
Fourteen

Shannon sat quietly
in the passenger seat of Spinelli’s truck, staring out the
windshield. She hadn’t said a word since he told her about the
interview with Bethany and her untimely death. He was sure Shannon
blamed him for this disastrous day.

Outside of waking up with her in his bed, not
one thing went as planned. He thought about the ring in his pocket.
There was no way he could attempt to go there now, maybe not ever.
A sharp pain sliced through his heart at the thought, but he was
simply bad news for her. She’d probably never forgive him anyway no
less accept a proposal from him. She deserved better.

He parked his truck, sprang out, and hustled
around to the passenger side to get the door for her. When he
opened the door, she didn’t move. It’s like she was in a
trance.

“Shannon, sweetheart, you’re home.”

She flinched. “What?” she asked as she turned
her head in his direction. Her eyes still watered.

Spinelli extended his hand toward her. “We’re
here, come on. Let’s get you inside.”

Without hesitation she slipped her hand into
his. That had to be a good sign. What was he thinking? It would be
so much easier to walk away from her if she blamed him and pushed
him away. Then he wouldn’t have to be strong about it. He could
just take his beating, tuck his tail between his legs, and go home
to wallow in self-pity.

He ran his fingers over the numeric keypad
next to the glass door of her apartment building. She’d given him
the code weeks ago. The buzzer sounded, and he pushed the door open
for her to pass through. He recalled the first time he held that
door for her, a mere couple of months ago. She’d tried to brush him
off in that very spot, but he ignored her attempt and proceeded to
walk her all the way to her apartment door. Before he was able to
leave, she invited him in for some of the gingerbread cookies she’d
baked the night before. Well, maybe she didn’t exactly invite him
in willingly. Her cute, little, old neighbors may have played
matchmaker that night. But nonetheless, he was invited in for
cookies. He knew, without doubt, that very night, his life would
never be the same.

He stifled a chuckle. Though now was not the
time for laughing, he couldn’t help himself as he recalled the
craziness he’d undergone over the past two months since he’d met
her. He’d gone undercover as Santa Claus to protect her and catch a
killer, and today he found himself dressed as cupid and singing
freaking love songs to love-struck strangers for Valentine’s Day.
He never thought he’d see the day. He glanced at Shannon as she
kept pace at his side as they walked down the long narrow corridor
toward her apartment door. Her small warm fingers wove perfectly
with his.

He’d do it all over again if need be, dress
as Santa and listen to a thousand whiny kids as they rattled of
their Christmas lists. Dress as cupid and sing to love-struck
starry-eyed people all day long. For crissake he’d dress as a
freaking leprechaun and search the world high and low for a pot of
gold at the end of a rainbow if she wanted him to. He was a
hopeless case. He’d never be able to walk away from her on his
own.

Fear shot though his veins. What would he do
if she walked away from him? How would he ever get her to forgive
him for the mess he’d caused today?

Shannon fumbled through her purse and
surfaced with her apartment door key a moment later. Her hands
shook as she tried to enter it into the key slot. Evidently the day
had taken its toll on her. Though she was no longer engaged to
Meyers, she once was close to him, and though she’d only dated the
others for short periods of time, she had to be devastated by the
mere thought that a crazy woman’s jealousy of her had caused their
deaths. Spinelli’d give his right arm if he could go back in time
and change the events of the day. Shannon turned the key, but
before she could open the door, the apartment door behind them
opened. Mrs. Finch stuck her head out. “Is that you dear?” she
asked as her thin-lipped smile stretched from ear to ear. “No doubt
it is. I can tell from that glorious smell you have your handsome
friend with you tonight as well,” she added with a wink.

He liked Mrs. Finch. She was a sweet little
old lady who was always happy and bubbly, just like Mrs. Knight,
her sister, who lived with her. Though Mrs. Finch was nearly blind,
it didn’t seem slow her down any.

The shuffle of feet sounded behind Mrs.
Finch. Mrs. Knight surfaced in the doorway as well. Not only were
they identical twins, they still, after decades, dressed the same
and wore their hair the same as well. The ladies stood before them
wearing their plush looking pink bathrobes belted at their tiny
waists. Their petite feet were covered in matching pink slippers.
Curlers held their steel gray hair in place, their smiles resembled
one another, and the sparkle in their eyes was identical.

Shannon smiled softly at her neighbors. “You
ladies are up kind of late tonight.”

The two women shared a giggle, and even that
sounded the same. “We got caught up in the Johnny Carson marathon
on TV. He’s so funny. I just love when he plays that ‘Carnac the
Magnificent’ character,” Mrs. Finch beamed. She was the talker of
the two.

A look of realization crossed Shannon’s face.
“Oh my gosh. I almost forgot. Happy Birthday. Hold on a second,
I’ll be right back,” Shannon said as she disappeared into her
apartment and returned a moment later with a bottle of Peppermint
Schnapps in one hand and a bag of specialty Irish Cream coffee in
the other. She handed the bottle to Mrs. Finch and the bag to Mrs.
Knight. Though the women looked and dressed the same, the choice of
Shannon’s gifts to them made complete sense to Spinelli.

Spinelli stepped toward Mrs. Knight, leaned
over, and gave her a little peck on the cheek, “Happy Birthday.” He
stepped toward Mrs. Finch and did the same. “So how old are you
lovely ladies now, fifty?”

Mrs. Finch reached up and placed her cold,
frail, bony hand on his cheek and gave it a little pat. “Always a
charmer.” She shifted her glance in Shannon’s direction. “A real
keeper this one.” She turned her attention back to him. “And that
would be ninety. A young ninety.”

He was shocked. He knew they were old, but he
hadn’t realized exactly how old. “Ninety,” he repeated. “What’s
your secret?”

She patted him on the cheek again. “Good
clean living and a shot of Peppermint Schnapps over ice every night
right before you go to bed.” She winked. “It keeps the pipes
fresh.”

He couldn’t help but chuckle. Perhaps he
should give it a try.

Mrs. Knight reached into her pocket, pulled
out a piece of paper, and handed it to Shannon. “Can you pick these
up for us tomorrow?”

Spinelli caught a glimpse of the note. It was
their grocery list. Shannon acted as their caretaker. The poor old
ladies had no one else, but Shannon didn’t seem to mind. Her sweet,
caring nature was just one of the many things he loved about her,
proving once again she was just too good for him.

Shannon glanced at the list. “Absolutely. Not
a problem.”

“Great,” Mrs. Knight replied before she
reached over and tugged on her sister’s arm. “Come on Sister, it’s
late. Time to let these kids get on with their Valentine’s
evening.”

Spinelli wished the ladies goodnight before
they headed back into their apartment. Then he turned toward
Shannon. “This has been quite the day. You must be exhausted.”

She simply nodded. Her big green eyes grabbed
hold of him. He couldn’t seem to move. He knew he needed to leave
right this second. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be able to, and he’d
just prolong the inevitable—the fact that he couldn’t burden her
with himself. The thought made him sick, but he needed to be strong
and do it for her. It was for the best.

His feet made a slight shift forward, almost
as if they had a mind of their own. He willed them to stop. If he
stepped any closer to her, he’d kiss her on her warm soft inviting
lips. He loved her full lips, and her sweet tasting mouth, which
over the past couple of months had become solely his for the
taking, or so he’d thought.

He squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn’t think.
He was a selfish man. He wanted her so bad. He took a step back and
realigned his thoughts. He needed to go—now. He expelled a breath.
“Get some rest. I’ll see you later.”

He turned quickly and took a step while he
still had the strength. It worked until he heard his name roll of
her sweet tongue. His feet froze in place. Her hand came to rest
lightly on his shoulder. An electrical current whipped through his
veins, nearly knocking him over. It was the same sensation he’d
experienced the first time she’d ever touched him. He remembered it
vividly.

Don’t turn around, Spinelli. Don’t do it.
Stay strong for her. You’ve caused her too much grief. She’s too
good for you. Be the bigger person here. Let her go.

He heard her sigh. “Nick, don’t do this. I
know what you’re thinking, and it isn’t true. You’re not
responsible for any of this. This was not your fault. Bethany did
it. Not you.”

He didn’t budge. He tried, but his feet
wouldn’t move. And he felt relieved that she didn’t know what he
fully thought.

She squeezed his shoulder. “You’re a good
person, Nick. No matter what you think, I want you to know right
here and now that you are the finest person I know.”

Tears stung the back of his eyes. She had no
idea what those words meant to him just now. Never in his life had
anyone ever said anything like that to him. Having grown up on the
wrong side of the tracks, nobody ever felt such things or stated
them with such conviction.

He spun to face her. The sea of green staring
back at him swallowed him whole. His heart fluttered. He was done.
He reached toward her and pulled her to him. He pressed his lips to
her soft moist mouth. Her arms wrapped around his neck. Her fingers
wove through his hair. The soft touch of her fingertips sent his
every nerve ending screaming for more attention. She parted her
lips, inviting him in to her gorgeous, full mouth. He slowly
caressed her tongue, savoring her sweet taste and every moment as
if it were his last.

He reached out and pushed her apartment door
open and eased her inside without breaking contact. He was sure he
wouldn’t be able to separate his lips from hers even if he’d tried.
He kicked the door shut behind him and eased her backwards through
the living room, down the hall and into her bedroom. His hungry
mouth never leaving hers. His tongue exploring every inch of her
mouth seeking out every last bit of her tantalizing flavor.

Finally, the magnetism of their lips
lightened, and he pulled his lips from hers. She stood before him
wearing nothing but red silk panties, a matching pushup bra, and
her tall red boots. His heart skipped a beat. He loved her
undergarments. They were nothing like the conservative clothing she
wore on the outside; always so prim and proper at work.

He eyed her. She had the most beautiful body.
Her pale skin contrasted to what little red clothing remained on
her. His thoughts shifted to the purchase he’d made earlier in the
day at Madam Layla’s Lingerie Shop. The package containing the hot
pink fur-lined garment, wrist cuffs, and rose tipped whip lay on
the seat of his truck. His examined her again. He didn’t need the
package. All he needed was her.

He reached toward her and in one quick flick
of his finger and thumb the soft silky garment holding her breasts
in place flung open, releasing her pale-skinned, perky breasts.
They bounced slightly. The small raspberry tips were already taut,
waiting for his touch. His lips begged him to wrap them around the
budded tips. His mouth watered copiously.

Almost as if she’d read his mind, she
shrugged her shoulders free from the straps of her bra, and it
floated to the floor then she reached up and pulled his head to her
breast. He easily let her. His willing lips wrapped around her
breast. His teeth tugged lightly at her nipple. He pushed his
tongue against its stiff point. The rich fragrance coming off her
skin intoxicated him. He needed more of her. His mouth drifted to
her other breast and performed the same, slow, gratifying maneuver.
A soft groan escaped her lips. His own pleasure grew from hers. His
lips burned with delight.

He slowly worked his mouth upward until it
reached the hollow of her throat. He ran his tongue over it. Her
pulse fluttered against his tongue. He hadn’t thought it possible
to become more turned on or to fall deeper in love with this
green-eyed angel, but the incalculable depth of intensity that
rushed through his veins as her pulse thudded against his tongue
proved him wrong.

He skimmed his lips upward, over her jaw, not
stopping until he found her luscious mouth. He took possession of
it, kissing her hard and deep. He swallowed her soft sigh. If he
hadn’t already been hard as a rock, the sound of her sigh stifled
in his throat surly would have done the trick.

Shannon skimmed her small warm hands over his
shoulders, down his back, and under the waistband of his boxers.
The burning sensation that trailed her fingertips intensified with
each passing moment. If she kept it up any longer, he’d probably
burst into flames.

She pulled her lips from his, leaned over,
and retrieved a condom from the drawer of her nightstand. He
watched as her small fingers tore the package open. She’d better
hurry.