Expert Witness: A Romantic Suspense Novel (24 page)

She struggled to remember what she was going to ask her about. Fortunately, her eyes fell on the picture on the menu in front of her. “How is the coconut-crusted French toast?”
 

“It’s very good. One of my favorites. It is a larger portion though—are you two sharing?” she asked, pointing her pen at each of them as she spoke.

“She doesn’t share her food,” Chase deadpanned. “Storing it away so she can hibernate maybe?”

Jordan coughed on the sip of ice water she’d swallowed to cool down.
 

The waitress looked baffled.

“Scratch that,” he went on, undeterred. “I’ve been forewarned—” the corners of his mouth twitched, “—that I should remember it’s for the dry season.” He relaxed back in his seat.
 

Jordan’s mouth gaped open. In her periphery, she saw the waitress hide a snicker behind her order pad.
 

Chase titled his head and gave her an amused expression. “It’s the season of low rainfall.” He raised his eyebrows. “You know, when food is scarce and the matriarch elephant uses her superb memory to guide her herd to water.”
 

Good lord.
Maybe this is why she never replayed the song. At least not publicly. She turned to the waitress, a flush across her cheeks. “I’m so sorry. He’s just kidding.” She shot Chase a look of reproach from across the table.
 

The waitress either found him humorous or needed to get to her next table, because she began to play along. “You keep that up—” she turned to Chase, “—and the dry season might arrive before you know it.”
 

Chase met Jordan’s stony stare with a restrained grin. “I think you might be right.”
 

“So, before you get in any more trouble, what’ll you be having this morning?” the waitress asked as she removed the laminated menus they’d placed to the side and put them back in her apron.

“I’ll have a couple of eggs and a side of bacon with wheat toast.”
 

“How do you want those eggs cooked?” she asked, staring down as she scribbled out the order.

“Over
easy
will be great,” he said, emphasizing the word
easy
and flashing Jordan a heated grin.
 

Her face began warming up again and she kicked him lightly under the table.

The waitress paused over her pad to look back and forth between the two of them. “I had a feeling it wouldn’t take you long to get into trouble again,” she said with a knowing expression. Before she turned to leave, she leaned over and whispered to Jordan, “He’s clearly trouble, but you two are cute together and the way he looks at you…” She fanned herself with her notepad. “He’s not too hard on the eyes, either.” She winked as she left the table.
 

Chase had the gall to look chagrined now. “Hey, what was that all about? Are you two conspiring now?”
 

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” she teased him. But inwardly she considered the waitress’s remarks.
 

It wasn’t the first time a woman had noticed his good looks. He frequently received appreciative glances when they were out. The attention didn’t bother her. She was sure she’d look twice if she noticed him out somewhere.
 

What did cause her pause was that the waitress assumed they were already a couple. Many times, she felt like they were as well. She only hoped things worked out so they genuinely could be after today. Chase had been trying to avoid any romantic entanglements while he was working for her. But though they’d avoided becoming physically intimate, in her heart, she knew they’d connected on a level much deeper than that.
 

Thoughts of today reminded her of what she’d been meaning to discuss with him. “I’ve been thinking about staying here through the weekend before heading back…” She fiddled with the fork in front of her as she broached the subject. “Well, as long as everything goes okay at the arraignment today. I know you said you had to head back right away, so I thought I might rent a car for my return trip.”

Chase stared at her with a blank expression. “You want to stay here?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Only through Sunday. I really like it here, and I feel like I need some time after all of this is over to try to regroup. I’m not sure I’m ready to head back to where it happened right away,” she said, her voice soft. “Plus, I know if I go back now, no matter how much I try to avoid it, I’ll end up back at the office playing catch-up. So before I go there, I want to take a few days to process everything.” She tried to gauge his reaction to her announcement, but he didn’t give her any indication one way or the other. “Does that make sense?”

He stared past her for a moment, then returned his attention to her. “It makes sense. It’ll be hard to leave here without you, but I understand the need to process everything before going back. At least, I do now. Hanging out with you twenty-four-seven may have rubbed off on me a bit.” He grasped her hand, gently rubbing his thumb across her knuckles.
 

“I’m glad you get it.” She gave him a small smile. “See, hanging out with me has its benefits.” Tilting her head to the side, she added, “But if you start using words like ‘increased insight’ in the right context, I may have to offer you a job.”

Chase shook his head. “I’ve still got a lot to learn about your world. I won’t quit the day job just yet. At least, not in exchange for another one.” He winked at her, but then he became serious again. “I’ll book you a car. I already have accounts with different rental companies, so it won’t be a problem. I can have it delivered to the condo…” He paused before continuing on. “Again, as long as everything goes as planned today. I won’t leave here until that’s a given.”

“I appreciate that. And this,” she said, motioning around the room.
 

“Food again, huh? Jordan, I promise I’ll never let you starve.”

“No.” Jordan laughed. She’d probably laughed more on this trip with him than in the entire past year. “I mean this trip. Coming here with me. I know it’s part of your job and you do it a lot, but I want you to know that what you do is awesome.” She searched for the right words to express her gratitude. “You took on all of this risk to make sure I’m safe. I don’t know how to say thank you for that.”

Chase swallowed. “You just did. Nothing else is needed.” He looked at her with an expression Jordan couldn’t really read. “I’m just glad it was me.”
 

When his eyes found hers, she felt like the only person in the restaurant.
 

“Me too,” she whispered.
 

He squeezed her hand, and her stomach flipped in response. This time, she knew it wasn’t nerves about the upcoming call.
 

After breakfast, they headed back to the condo. She looked through a magazine while Chase worked from his computer. The rolling in her stomach got worse as it got later in the morning. The detective would be calling soon. She took a few deep breaths and tried to focus on the moment.
Worrying won’t change the outcome
, she thought.
 

A knock at the door caused her to jump.
 

Chase looked at her. “Were you expecting anyone?” he asked, already getting up from the table. He had his gun holstered on his side, his hand resting on the handle.
 

“No. No one except the office crew knows I’m even here,” she answered quickly, her mouth dry.

“Okay. Why don’t you go into the bedroom. I’ll check the door.”

She didn’t waste any time following his directions.
 

This reminded her of the time they’d ordered Chinese takeout. Only she felt like a different person now. The gun he held no longer made her apprehensive, and she didn’t hesitate to get out of the way so he could do his job. No matter how she tried to couch it, her sense of security would never be the same after this.
 

Chase checked the peephole as she left the room. “Who is it?” he yelled.

“Flower delivery,” a voice responded from the other side of the door.
 

“Do you know who they’re from?” Chase still didn’t open the door.
 

“No, sir. Didn’t take the order. There’s a card attached.”

“Okay. Can you leave them at the door? I’ll be out to get them in a sec.” Chase’s request was a command rather than a question.

“Sure. No problem.”
 

If the man thought the whole scenario odd, he didn’t comment on it. Jordan racked her mind trying to figure out who might have sent flowers. Other than Karen, Mike, and Derek, the only person who knew she was here was Chase. And it was pretty obvious the flowers weren’t from him. She heard the door open and close.
 

“Okay. Coast is clear!” Chase shouted out to her.
 

She made her way out of the bedroom and was greeted by Chase holding a vase filled with a bouquet of colorful roses. He set them on the table and handed her the card that’d been secured in the middle of them.
 

Jordan slowly took the card. Her heart raced. The flowers were beautiful, but until she knew who’d sent the arrangement, she was wary of the message that came with them. Opening the card with shaky hands, a feeling of relief washed over her as soon as she saw Karen’s name in the signature line.
 

Dear Jordan,

Just wanted to let you know that we’re thinking of you. The office hasn’t been the same without you here. Mike and I are hoping that even though this wasn’t a welcome vacation, you’re able to find some moments to enjoy the coast. Now that you’ve discovered how cool our home away from home is, we expect you to come with us on our next visit!
 

Love you and miss you,
 

Karen, Mike, & Derek

P.S. Derek said to tell you things are pretty dull here without you, so you’d better get back to O-town as soon as possible.

As she finished reading, she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “They’re from Karen, Mike, and Derek.” She handed him the card to read. “Here you go. There’s a message for you at the bottom.”
 

Chase read it over and handed it back to her. “It sounds like you’re missed in Orlando.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “But I wish they’d let me know they were sending flowers. For a minute there, I was a little worried too.”
 

Before she could reply, Jordan recognized the familiar tune of her cell phone ringing. In the midst of checking out the delivery, she’d forgotten about the upcoming call. She ran back to the couch and grabbed it from the coffee table.
 

“It’s Detective Larson,” she told Chase after checking the call screen. She accepted the call and put it on speaker. “Hello, Detective,” she said, trying to project a calmness she didn’t feel. “Chase and I are both here.” She rubbed her sweaty palms down the front of her shorts and said a silent prayer that he hadn’t been released.
 

“Well, I’ve got good news for you. The judge denied bail. Seemed he was a flight risk. Our guy isn’t going anywhere. He’ll be at the jail until the trial. On top of that, the prosecutor said the case for solicitation to commit first-degree murder is solid with the evidence that’s been gathered.”
 

Jordan’s shoulders sagged, and she sighed in relief. “Thank you very much. I appreciate your work and the phone call. I can’t tell you how much better I feel knowing he’s not out there anymore.”

“I know. I’m sorry it took us as long as it did, but unfortunately, these things take time.” He sounded apologetic.
 

“I understand,” she said. “It’s a solid case though, and that’s what’s important now.”

“Oh, yeah. This guy shouldn’t be threatening anyone else any time soon. On top of the confession and bank records, we subpoenaed his credit card statements and found a recent purchase from Office Depot. Number ten store-brand envelopes—an exact match to the envelope the letter was mailed to you in. Purchase was made two days before the postmark, and the mail handling facility coincided with his address.”

“So it’s all coming together?” Chase clarified.
 

The detective grunted. “I’ll say. It’s good when it works out like this. Everyone can breathe easier.”

“Second that.” Chase bid him good day.

 
“Good day to you both as well.”
 

Jordan turned to Chase after she’d hung up. “Well, that’s the news we were hoping for.” She smiled hesitantly at him.
 

“I’d say so,” he agreed, watching her closely. “Somehow, I sense you aren’t as comforted by Larson’s call as you thought you would be.”

“Oh, I am. Don’t get me wrong. That is what I needed to hear. It’s just…there’s a part of me that still feels guarded. I know it’s because I didn’t worry about things like this before and now…now, I might always worry about something like this happening again. I’m less naïve, I guess. Or maybe I truly realize how precious life is. This experience has changed me,” she said, looking at him. “In more ways than one.”

Chase moved toward her and gently drew her to him. She relished in the feel of his muscular arms wrapped around her. He made her feel safe and reckless all at the same time. Her breathing accelerated at his closeness, and all thoughts of the hearing and phone call were replaced by heated desire and longing. She wasn’t about to take things further though. This was his call.