Jamie Hill Triple Threat (10 page)

Crystal
wriggled her butt into his lap and could feel his rigid erection through both of their jeans. She moaned as he strained upwards to press himself into her center. “God, Jack,” she whispered at the exquisite feelings, and he groaned his agreement. She tugged at his shirt, popping some of the buttons and loosening the rest. Her hands ran up his bare chest and she twirled her fingers in the hair she found there. He felt solid and strong, and so good that
Crystal
shivered.

Jack nuzzled her neck hungrily and was tugging at her buttons when they heard a loud
thump
through the wall. They froze and looked at each other. Another knocking sound sent Jack scrambling. He pushed
Crystal
off his lap and got his keys out to unlock his gun.

“That sounded like it came from Dave’s place.” She watched him pull his gun out and load it.

“They should make you a detective, Cartwright.” He headed for the front door.

“Where are you going?” she demanded in a harsh whisper.

“Uh, scratch that promotion. Where the fuck do you think I’m going? Stay here.”

“Like hell!” She stepped up behind him.

He turned to look at her, eyes flashing. He nodded to the sleeping children and repeated, “Stay here, damn it! I mean it.” He went into the hall and closed the door behind him.

Chapter Five

Crystal
listened at the wall anxiously, but never heard any more noise. A few minutes later she heard a rap on her door and Jack said quietly, “Open up.”

“Who is it?” she snapped at him.

“Open the damn door, please.”

She opened the door and stepped aside so he could come in. “You get bossy when you’re playing cop.”

He gave her a scorching look and locked the door behind him. “This is not a game, damn it. Someone was in there. The door was wide open again.”

Anxiety thudded in her gut. “Did they do anything else?”

He gave her an unbelieving look. “How am I supposed to tell? It’s all so neat and tidy over there.”

“Oh, yeah.” She followed him to the kitchen, where he poured himself a cup of coffee.

“Go to bed, Crys. I’m going to stay up for awhile.”

“Yeah, okay.” She looked at his grim face, and ran a finger over his cheekbone.

He pushed her hand away gently. “I can’t let myself get distracted. If I'd been paying closer attention, maybe I could have caught somebody next door.”

She looked at him for a moment and then nodded. “Good night Jack.”

“Night.” He didn’t say anything else, so she went to her room. She remembered that she hadn’t made up the sofa. She walked back out with a sheet, a blanket, and a pillow for him. He was staring at the wall. She set the linens down quietly and went to bed.

In the morning
Crystal
roused Mark and sent him into the bathroom to change and brush his teeth. She leaned against the back of the sofa and stared down at Jack, who lay stretched out asleep in his jeans with his shirt unbuttoned. At some point during the night,
Devon
had crawled up on Jack’s chest and settled there. Jack had his arm around the child protectively. Both slept soundly.

Crystal
ran one finger down Jack’s bare chest and circled his navel. “Lucky little kid,” she muttered.

Jack’s eyes remained closed as he asked, “Would you like to climb up here and join us?”

“You don’t know how much I’d like that,” she smiled at him and continued to run her finger in circles over his stomach.

His eyes were still closed as he told her, “I’m hornier than a rooster in a henhouse, so you might want to be careful with that finger.”

She grinned again and murmured, “I’m always careful.” She looked up as Mark came out of the bathroom, and knew she needed to send
Devon
in next. With four people, they’d be pressed for time. She leaned over the sofa and reached for
Devon
. “Excuse my boobs,” she whispered to Jack. His eyes sprang open. By that time she had the boy in her arms and was already straightening up.

“You’re evil,” Jack announced.

“And you’re awake. Good morning.”

He yawned and sat up. “I’m going to see them one of these days. Plan on that.”

“Oh, I am.” She winked and took
Devon
off to get dressed.

Jack dropped the boys at school and pulled his SUV into a parking space in front of the diner.

“Sorry about your shirt.”
Crystal
looked over at him, noting he only had about half his buttons. It hadn’t mattered in the dark, but this morning she felt embarrassed.

He shrugged and pulled his leather jacket closed. “Not a problem. I’ve got to run home to take care of Zeus and clean up, anyway. What
is
a problem is my distraction with you. I can’t act on that, baby, until we get this mess figured out.”

“I understand. It makes perfect sense by the light of day. It’s just when we’re alone in the dark that I have trouble remembering.”

He chuckled. “So no more being alone in the dark, for a while anyway. Besides,” he ran a finger under her chin, “I don’t think I’d be satisfied with a quick roll in the hay. I think we’re gonna need some time. A lot of time.”

Crystal
closed her eyes at his words and enjoyed the play of his hand over her face. She finally looked at him and swallowed. “We’ve got time.”

“Yeah.” He smiled and pulled his hand away. “We do. So I’ll pick you guys up at four?”

“We’ll be here.” She tossed him another smile and went to work.

* * * *

Crystal
kept expecting him to show up at the diner with more news of one kind or another. She considered herself a patient person, but this mess was driving her crazy. She chuckled to herself. She and Jack referred to all the various aspects of their situation as "this mess," and it was a painfully appropriate term.

The boys were chilled but in good moods when they got to the diner after school.
Crystal
hoped the warm weather would hold a little longer—October in
Kansas
could mean seventy degrees or barely thirty, depending on Mother Nature’s whims. Unfortunately, the old gal was being cranky and this week they were blessed with thirties and forties for high temperatures. “Come in, we’ll get you warmed up. How about some hot chocolate today?” She rubbed Mark’s and
Devon
’s arms.

“Yeah!” they both agreed, and she fixed them hot cocoa with extra marshmallows. Moe set out a plate of cookies, and the energy expended chewing warmed the boys up in no time.

Crystal
had everything cleaned up and was looking out the window at four-thirty when she saw Jack pull up. He jogged from the Explorer to the diner, and blew on his hands when he got inside. “Damn, it’s getting cold.”

“Hi.” She smiled at him. “Busy day?”

“Yeah,” he said, and looked at her apologetically. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“It’s okay. The boys had time to polish off a whole plate of cookies, so they didn’t mind.”

“I’ll bet.” He chuckled, and touched one finger to her cheek. “But you look worried. I never want to be the cause of that look.”

“It’s okay.” She slid up next to him and planted a quick kiss on his lips. “You’re here now, and I’m very happy to see you.”

“I would be, too.” Tina, the evening waitress, set an empty crate that held glasses on the counter and sighed at them.

Crystal
lowered her eyes and gave Jack a small smile as she turned from him. “Jack, this is Tina. Tina, Jack.”

“Hello, Tina.” Jack smiled at the girl charmingly, and she practically melted at his feet.

“Hello yourself!” She flipped her long brown ponytail over her shoulder and batted her big blue eyes as she peppered him with questions. “So you’re the detective? Wow, I’ve never met an actual detective before. What’s it like being a police officer? Is it like you see on
Cops
?”

Jack took a breath, and
Crystal
could see he didn’t really want to answer her questions. Maybe because if he did, he wasn’t sure where to start.
Crystal
started to speak up and rescue him when Moe intervened.

“Tina-Marie, you need to get that crate to the kitchen and have Caesar bring out more glasses.” He looked at the girl and when she didn’t move, he added, “Now, please.”

She rolled her eyes and picked up the crate. “It was really nice to meet you.” She smiled dreamily at Jack.

Crystal
stuck her arm through Jack’s possessively, and watched Tina go into the kitchen. The girl was barely seventeen.
Crystal
knew Jack wasn't casting a glance in her direction, but if he had glanced after her, he might have seen the wiggle in Tina’s hips, added purposely for his benefit. For some reason, that irritated
Crystal
. She held Jack’s arm a little too tightly.

He smiled. “Are you ready to go?” His voice sounded amused.

The kitchen door swung open and Caesar appeared with a new crate full of drinking glasses. He slammed it down on the counter near
Crystal
, eyeing her stance next to Jack. “Who’s your pimp?”

Crystal
shot him a dirty look and grabbed her coat off the barstool next to her. “Yes, I’m ready,” she told Jack and smiled at him sweetly. “Come on, boys! Good night, Moe.” She deliberately didn't address Caesar.

“Good night, Crystal-ina. Good night, gentlemen,” Moe nodded as they headed out of the diner.

“Bye, Moe!” the boys called.

“See you all tomorrow,” he waved at them and gave Jack a nod.

Jack waved and helped
Crystal
into her coat as he led everyone out. He muttered under his breath. “Who’s Mr. Nasty?”

“Caesar Juarez, the cook.”

“He seems a tad unfriendly.” Jack's words were laced with sarcasm.

“He’s a total jerk. I went out with him once. He wanted more out of the date than I was willing to give, and he’s never quite forgiven me for disappointing him. I try to avoid him.”

“Good plan.” He opened her door for her and then grinned. “There you go, Crystal-ina.”

She gave him a look. “Moe thinks nicknames are cute. I don’t especially.”

“Ah ha,” he replied and nodded, helping the boys into the back seat. He got in the truck and started it up. “So, does Moe wear anything besides plaid?”

Crystal
chuckled. “Not that I’ve ever seen. I know he’s a little eccentric, but he’s the nicest boss I’ve ever worked for. And believe me, I’ve had some doozies.” She rubbed her hands together in front of the vent.

“Heater shouldn’t take long to kick in. I had it all nice and warm.” He turned it up a notch so they could get warm faster.

“That feels good.”
Crystal
continued to rub her hands together as the air turned warm. “You guys okay back there?”

“Yep,” Mark said, and
Devon
nodded.

“Then let’s go home.” Jack gave
Crystal
a smile and headed to her place.

“Any new developments today?” she asked him casually.

“None. Nada. Zippo.”

“I get the picture, thanks.” She gave him a look as she climbed out of the SUV and looked around her building. “I haven’t seen Ralph lately. I hope he found someplace warm to go.”

“Like
Florida
?” Jack grinned as he held the door open for the boys to climb out.

Crystal
snorted and they started up the stairs.

“I talked to him yesterday. After, you know.”

“Yeah?”
Crystal
understood that Jack was trying not to say too much in front of the kids. “He see anything?”

“Nah. Evidently Sister Theresa’s puts out a pretty good breakfast spread. He says he was there until mid-morning.”

“Did you tell him they have showers over there?” she asked, only half-joking.

Jack chuckled. “I was trying to make nice so, no, I didn’t tell him that. He’s got quite a memory, though. Remembers my name every time I see him. Can’t always pronounce it right, but he remembers it.”

“Which may or may not be such a good thing.”

Jack shrugged and nodded. “Valid point.” He reached her apartment door and pulled the key out of his pocket. “Here we go.” He held the door open for all of them.

“Thank you.”
Crystal
squeezed past him coyly, and then she froze when she got inside. “Jack!”

“Yep?” He tossed his jacket on the easy chair.

“You did laundry!” There were three piles of clothing on the sofa beside one big pile of towels.

“I had to go home for a while anyway. I did it when I was there.”