Just Pretending Read online

  Slowly, he relaxed his muscles and backed away a step or two.

  “Storm, you’re out of line,” Rafe said, stepping in to take over. “You have every right to ask questions, but this is going too far.”

  “You’re going to deny that this investigation is at a virtual stand still?”

  “Absolutely not. As I’m sure Gretchen told you, the investigation is continuing, but we don’t have much to go on.”

  “You’ve got my brother’s remains and the knowledge that there was a lot going on between him and Blanche Kincaid just before Raven disappeared.”

  “We have that,” Gretchen said, giving Rafe an apologetic look. She was grateful to him for his presence that had somewhat diffused the situation. But Raven Hunter was her case, and it was up to her to deal with Storm. “And we’ve inter viewed what witnesses we can find to tell us about what was going on at that time. Yes, Raven and Jeremiah were at odds. Yes, Raven disappeared. Yes, Blanche gave birth to your niece, Summer. And yes, there’s a possibility that the murder weapon could have come from Jeremiah’s collection, but we don’t have conclusive evidence. As an attorney, I’m sure you understand the importance of gathering accurate information.”

  “We were hoping you could provide more details, Storm,” Rafe said lazily. “We’ve been waiting for you to get your tail back here so we could ask you a few things. I understand Jackson contacted you three weeks ago.”

  A dark rash of color climbed Storm’s face. “I’ve had cases pending in New Mexico. It was difficult to get away.”

  Gretchen raised one brow. She glanced toward the phone. “You could have called,” she said, her tone somewhat lazy and accusatory. “But then, maybe you wanted to be here in person. Maybe you had a lot you needed to get off your chest. A man’s brother goes missing and everyone thinks he ran away, it would raise a lot of anger to find out that man had actually been murdered. Probably dredge up a lot of pain he’d already gone through once before and thought he’d put behind him, as well.”

  “Don’t be patronizing, Detective Neal.”

  She shook her head. “Believe me, I’m not being patronizing, Mr. Hunter. I’m just stating the truth. Maybe you had your own reasons for waiting to speak to us in person.”

  Storm took a deep breath and eyed her somewhat suspiciously. Then the smallest light of respect edged into his eyes. “All right. We’ll talk. I’ll tell you what little I know,” he agreed.

  David stepped forward, prepared to demand that the man apologize to Gretchen, but she stopped him dead with that “Don’t even think of it,” look she managed so well.

  Shrugging, David grinned. He trailed the two of them into Gretchen’s office.

  “He have to be here?” Storm demanded.

  “He’s on the case,” Gretchen answered quietly. “What I know and Rafe knows, he knows.”

  Storm held out his hands in sullen surrender. He shot David one last accusatory look. Then he began to talk.

  All right, so reality was finally beginning to sink in, Gretchen realized, curling her trembling hand more tightly around her coffee cup, then quickly glancing David’s way to make sure he hadn’t noticed.

  His eyes flashed dark green sparks. “Let’s get out of here,” he growled, reaching for her as he climbed to his feet. “The day’s gone on too long, and in the end, Storm Hunter really didn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know.”

  “Except that he’s one very angry man,” Gretchen said flippantly, stepping out into the aisle herself. She purposely held her hand at her side.

  He stared pointedly at where she’d folded her closed fingers against the dark cloth of her pants.

  “Lots of officers would have quaked under that kind of abuse,” he said quietly.

  She gave a small laugh. “You don’t have to pat me on the head, David. I’m sure you’ve had more than your share of people spitting into your face. That comes with the badge.”

  “Maybe so, but no one ever said it was one of the more pleasant aspects of the law enforcement business.” He waited for her to gather her gear, then strolled out of the office beside her.

  It pleased her that he didn’t try to baby her as they left the station. He didn’t treat her as if she were some fragile female, even though he’d obviously wanted to give Storm a body slam earlier today. He’d wanted to, but he hadn’t.

  “Thanks,” she said quietly as they climbed into the car.

  He raised both brows, but didn’t ask what she meant.

  “You know what I’m talking about, Hannon. You grew up in a house filled with ladies who probably loved having you play the perfect gentleman. Your mother is a wonderful woman, a strong woman, and an absolute sweet heart, but don’t tell me that those traditional male and female roles didn’t exist in your household. You were born opening doors for women and kissing their hands. I’m sure it took a lot to keep you from defending my honor today.”

  He gave a harsh laugh. “Don’t thank me. Thank Rafe. I was ready to deck Hunter and you know it.”

  She smiled. “Yes, but you were mulling the situation over. I could see it in the tense cords in your neck. You could have easily flattened him by the time Rafe entered the room, but something held you back. I suspect it was concern for my position.”

  He turned to the side, but she didn’t miss the slow smile that eased onto his lips. “You think you know me, do you?”

  She shook her head. “No, but I’m beginning to. Your natural inclination is to come to a lady’s rescue. You’ve done it any number of times with me, but today, when it counted, when my ability to handle my job was in question, you held back. I’d like to think it was because you respected me.”

  “Don’t ever think I don’t.” The smile had disappeared when he swung back around. “But don’t make the mistake of thinking that it was easy, either. Nothing’s easy with you, Gretchen. I wanted that guy’s blood.”

  “I could see that, and I can see that it cost you to back away. You’ve still got some of that residual anger bottled up inside you. Well, if it makes you feel any better, you did come to my rescue today. Just knowing that I wasn’t alone made it easier than it’s ever been before.”

  He closed his eyes. “Don’t. Don’t tell me about the times you’ve had maniacs waving fists or guns or knives in your face. Working where you have, doing what you do, I’m sure it’s happened, but today…just don’t, because yes, I’m still angry and frustrated and— Damn it, Gretchen.”

  David reached across the seat, looped his hands around her waist and lifted her up and over onto his lap. His fingers speared through her hair, his seeking mouth found hers. He wrapped her around him and held her tightly as he plunged them both into sudden and reckless sensation.

  The heat of his touch seared her, and Gretchen struggled to get closer. She squirmed against his hard chest, bringing her hands up to wrap around his neck and bind him to her. Seated in the tight confines of the car, she nevertheless felt as if she were falling off a high tower.

  Exhilaration flooded her soul as David pulled back for air and then swooped her hard against him again and kissed her over and over.

  “You make me crazy,” he whispered.

  “You make me shiver,” she whispered back, and some small part of her realized it was true. She was shaking, literally shaking, in David’s arms. His kisses had done what all of Storm’s gibes hadn’t done. Made her quake. With desire. With need. And with the fear of the unknown.

  Someday soon, she was going to be on her own again, as she’d known she would be all her life. As she wanted to be.

  She hoped, really hoped, that David’s touch hadn’t spoiled her for life. And once again, as she finally pulled away from the embrace, she wondered just what kind of trouble she was getting into with David. For delicious as it was, she was sure it was trouble. And it was obviously trouble she wasn’t resisting very well. Tomorrow she and David were going to pretend to get engaged. She must have been completely out of control when she agreed to that bet, but she had
agreed and all she could do now was simply plunge in.

  Chapter Eight

  He’d done some outrageous things in his time, but this probably qualified as one of the more outrageous situations he’d engineered, David admitted to himself the next day. He threw his clothes into a bag, preparing for the wedding in Helena he and Gretchen would be driving to after work. Not that he’d ever followed the crowd in the usual way of things. His parents had been too much the free spirits and he’d been forced into that loner pathway much too early to have ever become a slave to convention, but…there was something about Gretchen that just made him act wilder than usual.

  He was obviously not in control of his reactions where the woman was concerned. He couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her—or his thoughts from her. She made him want things, things he didn’t even want to think about, given the circumstances. He had to be careful with her. She was more vulnerable than she wanted to let on and she was prickly about getting involved. If he pushed, he could do her damage and there were already more than enough people taking advantage of her, even some who might want to hurt her.

  Storm Hunter’s angry face slipped into his mind, but it wasn’t really Storm he was angry with. It was himself he wanted to beat up on. He was, after all, the one who had made her a target of Storm Hunter’s ire both because of his Kincaid connections and because of his having kissed her in public.

  “And yet you did it again not four hours after Hunter left the office,” he chastised himself. “And here you are luring the woman into this fake fiancé charade. Don’t you feel guilty, bud?”

  He let up on himself, relaxed into the truth. And the truth was…? He grinned. No, he didn’t have an iota of guilt about going off with Gretchen to pretend he was more involved with her than he was. Because this weekend he was going to have Gretchen in his arms for hours. At least on the dance floor. Later, maybe, he’d feel guilty about his tendency to publicly plaster his body to hers.

  “You ready for this weekend?” he asked her as he breezed into the station and plopped down into the chair beside her desk.

  Her smile was slightly taut. “I think it’s finally sinking in just what we’re planning to do. You should probably be aware, David, that I’m not particularly gifted in the field of acting.”

  “You don’t have to be. Just follow my lead. I’m willing to shoulder the responsibility. All you have to do is give me the occasional adoring look. Think you can manage that?”

  He grinned and winked at her, and she rolled her eyes, grinning back. “I’m not sure. How does this look?” And she framed her face with both hands, opened her sea-green eyes wide and parted her lips slightly, leaning forward in his direction.

  His own grin faded. He swallowed hard. “That’ll do, Gretchen,” he whispered, rising to lean over her desk. “That’ll do very nicely.”

  He bent over slightly, looked straight into those beautiful eyes, lifted his hand with every intention of cupping the soft skin of her cheek.

  “Oh, excuse me. I just keep managing to come in at the oddest moments, don’t I?” Celeste’s nervous voice filled the small space of the office.

  David quickly rose to his full height. He stepped in front of Gretchen to give her a chance to put her detective persona back in place.

  “Don’t worry, Aunt Celeste. Gretchen and I were just doing a little role-playing. It comes in handy now and then.”

  His aunt blinked, then smiled brightly. “Well, of course it does. I suppose law enforcement people have to go under cover now and then, don’t they? I knew that. Everyone knows that, don’t they?”

  David wanted to laugh at the way his aunt was trying to be so accommodating. He wondered if she really believed his story about role-playing.

  He couldn’t tell, but he knew he had to be more careful around Gretchen. At least at work. He didn’t really care what people said or thought, but he had the distinct feeling that she did. He’d do his best not to bring her any grief.

  “You’re still leaving for the weekend, David?” Celeste asked with a smile, moving forward into the room. “Gretchen’s wedding, isn’t it?” She waited, her eyes wide and expectant.

  “A friend of hers, yes.”

  “Well, you two just have a lot of fun there,” she ordered. “Not that I think you won’t. I’m sure it’ll be nice to get away from all this trouble for a bit.”

  He grinned at his aunt. “I remember you once telling me that I seemed to court trouble, one long ago day when I got into some sort of mischief.”

  Celeste smiled. “Well, yes, but this is different. I know it’s the work you’ve both chosen, but hunting for murderers just can’t be as much fun as going to a celebration. You just don’t even think about anything except for that wedding while you’re there. I want you to have fun, to just be free,” she commanded.

  She looked at him pointedly.

  He grinned. “Yes, ma’am,” he answered in the way he had once been wont to do as a child.

  She sighed. “I guess you’re right. You’re too old to have me ordering you around. And anyway, that’s not really what I came to talk to you about. I’m…well, I’m just on my way out to the reservation, dear. You know that I sometimes volunteer at the youth center there, and this summer they’re having a special program on careers. I’m helping out a bit with some of the research, locating materials and so forth. I was thinking…well, I was thinking of approaching Mr. Hunter. He’s an attorney doing some special work in civil liberties, you know. He’s been gone all those years. I hear he was in here yesterday. I was wondering what your impression of him might be. Maybe you could tell me something about him.”

  David frowned, shaking his head in confusion. “I think that while Storm Hunter might be a font of information on the topic you’re researching, you would be the wrong person to ask him for help. He has an aversion to anyone associated with the Kincaids.”

  Celeste took in a long breath. She folded her hands tightly around each other. “He said things to you, then? What did he say?”

  David shook his head. “You know that I can’t discuss a case with you, Aunt Celeste. But just be warned, this is the wrong time to go asking Storm Hunter for a favor. If you need his help for the school, get Jackson to approach him.”

  “He didn’t threaten you, did he?” She had asked the question of David, but she was looking at Gretchen as if she hoped she’d get more information there. Gretchen, true to her professionalism, didn’t blink an eye.

  “Jackson’s very approachable, Celeste,” she said gently. “You know that. He and his wife, Maggie, are quite involved with the school, I believe?”

  Slowly, Celeste nodded and then let out a sigh. “All right. Of course, you’re right. I just thought that if Mr. Hunter is only going to be in town a short while, that maybe we shouldn’t waste the opportunity, but of course, Jackson would be the logical person for me to talk to about this. I’ll just talk to him. You two enjoy the wedding. And don’t let anything stop you from going.”

  And she squared her shoulders and walked out the door.

  Gretchen watched her go, wondering at that strange last comment. Celeste had certainly seemed happy to see them going off for the weekend together, but of course that was probably just her imagination going wild, she told herself. Celeste couldn’t know about the pretend engagement and she wasn’t the type to push two people together who didn’t want to be pushed. She was just a kind woman, a caring aunt. And Gretchen had to admire the woman’s strength and determination. “Your aunt’s been involved with events on the reservation for a long while, hasn’t she?”

  David shrugged. “She’s always said that she was fortunate to have such access to two cultures. She and my mother raised my cousin, Summer, Blanche’s and Raven’s daughter, and Summer spent every summer break on the reservation. Those of us who know and love Summer and have the good fortune to be related to her have been blessed to have been able to walk between both worlds more than most of the people in the town. Still, it’s a bit wo
rrisome to have Aunt Celeste asking about Storm. I have the feeling that she’s worrying about my safety. Even if Jeremiah isn’t proven to be Raven’s murderer, there’s definitely a lot to be accounted for there. No matter how angry I was with Storm yesterday, the man does have every reason to be bitter.”

  “David, you can’t be responsible for your uncle’s character.”

  He held out his hands in a gesture of defeat. “I know that. If I were responsible for all the misery Jeremiah caused, I would have had to go into therapy the moment I came out of the womb. Jeremiah left illegitimate children, unhappy women and so much dirt in his wake, that I’d never be able to atone for all his sins. The Kincaids may be proud, but we’ve always known that there are plenty of people who have reason to resent our name.”

  “But not you.”

  “I hope not, Gretchen. I do my best to walk a straight line and not cause the same kinds of trouble Jeremiah caused.”

  Ah, so he was worrying if all his teasing and flirting was going a bit too far. She wasn’t sure. She knew that he was just kidding with her, that he desired her, but that there were limits. Heaven knew she had loads of limits of her own. She didn’t want him worrying about her.

  “You’re interested only in protecting your good name? So that’s why you rescue women in distress?” she teased.

  He gave her a lazy grin, settled one hip on the edge of her desk and leaned over her.

  “I do that just because it’s so much fun. You going to stir up some trouble on the streets today so I can watch you work? I get excited just thinking about you kicking some guy up along side his head. You could have made some football team very happy.”

  She rose up and met him eye-to-eye. “Maybe I did. My brothers regularly called me in as a kicker when they played with their friends. And if watching me work makes your heart sit up and smile, then prepare yourself, Hannon, because I have a treat coming up for you in a few days. Rafe just gave me this assignment this morning.”