Yours for the Night (12 page)

“Mr. and Mrs. Walker, so nice to meet you,” he said with calmness that she admired. Tiffany shared his relief when they both spotted Detective Ramsey in the doorway.

Tiffany discreetly pushed the edge of her shirt back inside of her jeans—a move her mother noted with a disapproving look—and turned her attention to Ramsey.

The cavalry,
she thought.

8

“Y
OU
DEFINITELY
FOUND
something up on the roof,” the detective said, and Tiffany held his gaze, avoiding her parents’ stare.

“You found some evidence?” she asked anxiously.

“Nothing concrete yet, but this is a good lead. They certainly knew the building and cut through precisely at a spot where access to a ventilation shaft allowed them to slip down into an upper hallway undetected. I can’t believe we didn’t think of it,” the detective admitted sheepishly. “I’ll give credit where it’s due. If you hadn’t started your own inv—”

“It was just one of those crazy ideas,” Tiffany interrupted him, sliding a look at her parents. “Garrett and I noticed a fresh patch on the roof, and I realized it was how the robbers probably got in,” she said quickly to fill in her parents, who looked a bit dazed.

“The roof? What were you doing up on the roof?” her father asked.

“I was just showing Garrett the view,” she said, giving the confused detective a look that she hoped he knew not to mention her contributions to the cause.

“Right, well, we’ve dusted for prints, and nothing there, and we’ve taken a cast of the boot print, though it looks like a standard work boot, so that might not lead to much,” the detective said.

“So you don’t think this will break the case?” Tiffany asked, disappointment coloring her tone.

“You never know. We can learn a lot from that cut in, the materials they used, the tools… It could lead to something, but it will be a few days until we know anything. And
we
can talk to the other store owners,” he said, giving her a similar look back that she knew meant “keep your nose out.”

Tiffany frowned in frustration. She’d found her first big lead, and her hands were being tied. She understood what Garrett said, that she needed to cultivate a positive relationship with the police department—P.I.s in books and on TV were always asking police counterparts for help—so she would try, but it would be difficult. If she’d found this lead, she might be able to find even more if she kept trying.

As if reading her mind, Garrett discreetly, barely shook his head in the negative, and she looked up to find the detective staring at her as well. Were both men reading her mind?

She rolled her eyes. “Well, we’ll all be anxious to know what you find. I’m glad this could help,” she said, trying not to sound as disappointed as she felt.

“Our guys will cover up the roof and tape the scene off once they’re done—no more climbing up there for now, if you don’t mind. We’ll be in touch if we find anything new,” Ramsey said with a smile that encouraged Tiffany somewhat. Maybe he’d be willing to at least keep her in the loop.

Momentarily distracted by the talk of the investigation, she faced her parents again once the detective had gone.

Oh, right. For a few seconds she had been able to block out the fact that her mom and dad had caught their daughter up against one of the jewelry cases with a man’s hand in her shirt.

The silence between the four of them weighed heavily for a few seconds until Tiffany shook off the awkwardness. She was an adult, not a teenager. Her parents had caught her in a slightly embarrassing situation, but she was determined to forget it and walked forward to hug them both.

“I’m so happy you’re home, though I wish I had better news,” she said. “The insurance investigator has been here, so we can open tomorrow. He says he’ll want to talk to us all, as well, before he finalizes his report,” she said, jumping right to business.

Her father wasn’t so willing to overlook the tall, handsome man standing a few feet behind her, though he kissed her on the forehead as he always did before turning his attention back to Garrett.

“And you are?”

“Dad, I told you,” Tiffany said, stepping back, hoping her mother would help, though she received only a raised eyebrow from Laura Walker. “Garrett is a friend. We met at Ed’s wedding. He and Ed have been friends forever, and we stood up together in the wedding party,” Tiffany explained quickly. “Garrett’s here from Philadelphia. He’s a bodyguard there. I mean, he runs a bodyguard business…with his family,” she added, fumbling and knowing she sounded like a babbling idiot.

Garrett stepped forward, holding his hand out.

“Pleased to meet you, sir, Mrs. Walker,” he said with a friendly glance in her mom’s direction. He was cool and confident, as always. “Tiffany has hit the basics. We met at the wedding, and she’s been showing me around the city for a few days,” Garrett said.

“She’s been showing you more than the city, looked like to me,” her father muttered, and Tiffany gasped.

“Dad!”

“That was uncalled for, Robert,” her mother added.

“But you’re right, we were being indiscreet. I apologize for that,” Tiffany said sincerely, and her father’s face softened.

“I’m sorry, too, honey. It’s just been a heck of a few days,” her father said, nodding and shaking Garrett’s hand in return. Though he was still clearly sizing up Tiffany’s new male interest.

Her mom was giving Garrett the once-over as well, and covertly winked to Tiffany from behind her father’s back. Tiffany stifled a smile, and saw Garrett do the same.

“Call me Robert. So you’re a bodyguard?”

“Part of the time. My brothers and I run a personal security business back in Philly, and we take on a variety of tasks in the scope of the business,” Garrett supplied.

“That so? Sounds like dangerous work.”

“Not so much when we get it right,” Garrett said with a smile.

Robert laughed. “Yes, well, that makes sense. Is it a large company? Are you good at what you do?” her father fished without compunction. Tiffany nearly interjected, but Garrett didn’t seem to mind answering.

“We work hard,” he said diplomatically. “Like a lot of small businesses, we started out with small clients, personal security. Now we provide protection for several high-profile government officials, some museums, financial institutions, as well as working a few cases with the FBI,” Garrett said without sounding like he was bragging. “It helps that it’s just my brothers and myself. We work well together.”

“Plans to expand?”

“No, I don’t think so. We’d prefer to keep it a family venture.”

Her father practically glowed with approval, and Tiffany was surprised to learn about the scope of Garrett’s business as well. She probably looked as impressed as her parents did. For some reason, she hadn’t realized that a bodyguard business would be so varied, but then again, she hadn’t asked, had she?

“So, what do you make of this mess?” her father asked Garrett.

Garrett shook his head. “I’m not much of a detective, but it certainly looks like a professional job to me. Tiffany has actually come up with the best lead so far, as Detective Ramsey mentioned,” Garrett said, smiling in her direction.

“How’d you manage to think of that, pumpkin?” her father asked.

“I, um, well, you know how I like to read mysteries, Dad,” she said hesitantly. “And when I saw the fresh patch on the roof, and knew that no repairs had been ordered, it wasn’t too hard to put two and two together,” she offered.

“Good for you, honey,” her mother said. “That was a good catch. Now maybe the insurance won’t balk at covering the loss, if they have more proof that it wasn’t anyone working here,” she said, her miff at the idea clear.

“It’s still hard to explain how they had the combination to the vault, and how they knew where to look for all of the paperwork, or how they even knew the diamonds were here,” Tiffany said, not wanting to be the bearer of bad news, but she didn’t want her parents having false hope, either.

“You’re right, but this is just all so awful,” Laura said, the strain showing on her face in a way that made Tiffany’s heart twist. She couldn’t stand how this had to be tearing her parents up inside. It made her want to forget her budding relationship with the SFPD and get back on the case to solve it as soon as possible.

Her mom put her hand on her father’s back like she often did when she worried about him being overly stressed; her father was healthy, but he had high blood pressure, and this couldn’t be helping matters any.

“Your father wouldn’t care about the business as long as no one was hurt,” she said.

Robert frowned. “I can’t help but kick myself for wanting to expand. Building that vault, taking on higher-profile purchases… None of this would have happened if—”

“Dad, don’t even think that way. None of this is your fault, or our fault. It’s some nasty, greedy thieves and
we
are going to catch them!” Tiffany said fiercely, her resolve solidifying.

She felt Garrett’s hand on her shoulder, as well, squeezing.

Her parents noticed, too, though they didn’t seem to disapprove this time.

“I hope so, honey,” her father said, sounding worn out. “I forgot how tough jet lag can be,” he said, changing the subject with a laugh. “How long are you here for, Garrett?” he added, and Tiffany rolled her eyes at her father’s lack of subtlety, though Garrett didn’t seem to mind at all.

“A little less than a month now. I’ll go home just before Christmas week,” he said.

“Oh. That’s all, then?”

“I’m afraid so,” Garrett said.

“Well, you’ll have to join us for Thanksgiving, if you don’t already have plans,” Tiffany’s mom offered, and Tiffany was dizzy with how quickly her parents seemed to have warmed up to Garrett.

“Mom, I’m sure Garrett already—” She tried to beg off, saving him the trouble. She didn’t want her parents thinking this thing between her and Garrett was more serious than it was, or pinning any romantic hopes on him.

“I’d love to, Mrs. Walker—”

“Call me Laura,” her mother said with a warm smile.

“Of course, Laura. I appreciate your hospitality. I’d love to come if it’s not too much more work,” he said graciously.

Tiffany hadn’t seen that coming. What was he up to?

“That’s wonderful!” her mother declared. “It’s no more work to have one more at the table. We’ll cook as much as always. There’s always room for a friend of Tiffany’s.”

Tiffany blinked in amazement at her parents and almost said
Since when?
but stifled the remark. She couldn’t blame them for not exactly warming to her past boyfriends.

“So what are you two up to for the next few days?” her mother asked. “Garrett said you were showing him around the city?”

“Um, yes, we’ve only managed to get to the waterfront, Lombard Street and walking Russian Hill. There’s been so much going on, with the wedding, the store and everything,” Tiffany said. “If we’re reopening the store, I’ll be working tomorrow morning so—”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. There are a few priority orders your father and I can handle, but with the holiday only two days away, and us being exhausted from the trip, I think we’ll stay closed and re-open on Friday for Black Friday, but you should take some time off, Tiffany. Show Garrett around. Perhaps take a trip up into Napa or to Point Reyes,” her mother urged, and Tiffany wanted to ask which aliens had kidnapped her parents and sent these imposters.

“Um, but Black Friday is always so busy, I should
really—”

“Nonsense. You have a guest from out of town—you don’t just leave him hanging and without anyone to show him around,” her father said. “Nick said he’d work Friday. He’s home for the weekend, and needs a break from his studies. You’ve been pulling long shifts, and with the break-in, you need to have some fun,”

Tiffany looked at her parents like she hadn’t seen them before, but nodded. “Okay,” she said, unable to argue with their generosity, whatever the source. She wasn’t going to turn down the free time to spend with Garrett, or to work on the case.

“Why don’t you two move along? The day is still early, and there’s a lot you could do. We’re going to catch up here, call that investigator and some of the clients who need an immediate response, and then we’re heading home to rest,” her mother said, practically pushing Tiffany and Garrett outside the door.

“Come at noon on Thursday, if that’s not too early. We make a day of it. Cooking, the parade, football… Dinner is at four, but we’ll have lunch, too, so come hungry,” Laura said to Garrett before she closed the door on them both with a happy wave.

Tiffany covered her face. “Oh, God. I am so sorry.”

Garrett peeled her hands off. “What for?”

“They have never been like that with any of the other guys I’ve dated. They think we’re… They
like
you.”

“I liked them, too. They seem like nice, solid people.”

“You don’t get it. They think we’re more than we are…you know…more than a fling.”

Garrett pursed his lips thoughtfully. “I don’t think so—they know I’m just here for a month.”

“Hmm, they’ve never acted like that before,” Tiffany said. “I don’t want them thinking I finally snagged a good one, and then they’ll be so disappointed.”

Garrett laughed. “Tiffany, are you worried I’ll break your parents’ hearts?”

She had to smile. She knew she was being absurd, but her parents had really thrown her off. “I suppose you’re right. It was just so weird. And I didn’t expect you to want to come to dinner on Thursday,” she said frankly.

“Would you rather I didn’t?”

“No, I’d love it,” she said. “I just didn’t expect it.”

“Listen, I have no plans, and it made your mother happy. It gave her something to focus on rather than the problems with the store.”

Tiffany’s heart flipped in her chest. Oh, dear. For all of the fantastic sex and support Garrett had offered, for him to be so considerate of her parents moved her deeply.

“You are a good man.”

“They’re good people. So are you,” he said.

“I guess I have time to show you around a bit now…and maybe time for some other things, too,” she said flirtatiously, getting into the holiday mood.

She had time off, a wonderful man to be with and she’d found a solid lead in her first case today. Thanksgiving was two days away, but she had a lot to be grateful for already. Who knew what the next few days could bring?

“What would you like to do first?” she asked, game for anything.