The Detective’s Undoing Read online

  “I don’t get it. You were so hot to resolve this thing. How the hell can you just give up?” he demanded, satisfied when hot sparks shot from her eyes.

  “I’m not giving up. I never give up.”

  “Then where’s your excitement? Your hope?” Ruthlessly he pushed her, needing to punish her for being so…so everything he wanted and wouldn’t let himself have. “We’ve just been given a good solid lead that could open the door on your past, a past you’ve wondered about your entire life, and you’re sitting there as if it doesn’t matter.”

  “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Then tell me.”

  He was practically shouting at her, but dammit, he had this bone-deep need to break through, just for once, and see the real Delia.

  “Why should I? You’ve made it clear we don’t mean anything to each other.”

  “I’ve made it clear…” He gaped at her, because it was true and he had no idea what to say. He’d never purposely hurt anyone, especially Delia, but she was right in a way. He didn’t want them to mean anything to each other. And yet it was too late. He let out a long breath. “I’m sorry. It’s just that this sizzling attraction between us… Damn, Delia, when I kiss you, I could…”

  “You could…?”

  He could see his future in her warm loving arms. Told himself he could live happily ever after just being with her, watching her smile, hearing her talk. “Nothing,” he said shortly. “Forget it.”

  “All right, I will.”

  Great. Jamming the car in drive, he took them out of the seedy neighborhood, letting the road occupy his mind. When they arrived back at the car-rental place, they got out in silence.

  “Thank you,” she said stiffly, looking cool and elegant. Untouchable. Her hair was in perfect order, the glorious strands shining like spun gold.

  The heat was getting to him, he decided. But there was no denying she was a Southern Californian at heart. He wondered if she knew how at home she looked here.

  “Let me know what you find out about Eddie Kitze,” she said, as if they were discussing dinner plans, instead of her life.

  “I wasn’t too sure it mattered,” he said, openly baiting her, but he was confused, hot and turned on, a combination guaranteed to mess with his head. “What with your overwhelming excitement and all.”

  The sarcasm had her jaw tightening. “You want a reaction from me?”

  “Please.”

  “Are you certain that won’t be getting too personal?”

  “Just tell me.”

  “I think you’re moody and impossible to get along with.”

  He couldn’t help it. He laughed. “I’m moody?”

  She didn’t crack a smile. “I think it’s ridiculous to even think about anything between us when neither of us seems to be able to act maturely about the whole thing.”

  “Assuming I agree with you,” he said tightly, not about to admit otherwise, “and we stick to the case, what did you think of what Dottie told us?”

  “I think Eddie Kitze lied through his teeth. You won’t find him on any police department, because he wasn’t a cop. Eddie Kitze…Ethan Constance. They could have been one and the same.” She surprised him by showing emotion. Her voice revved up as she spoke. Her color heightened. “So assuming Dottie wasn’t lying and assuming Eddie was and that he was really Ethan, I could get Jacob. Also assuming, of course, that he wants to come.”

  “Delia—”

  “No, please, don’t give me empty assurances, because really, the truth is, he resents the hell out of me right now.”

  Suddenly she sighed and hung her head, showing a weariness he’d only guessed at. She rubbed her temples. “God,” she whispered, “all the ifs. It’s killing me.” Then she lifted her head and gazed at him with haunted eyes, making him more than a little sorry he’d pushed her for a reaction.

  “And then there’s you,” she whispered. “Driving me crazy. Coming. Going. Coming…” She sighed. “I really want you to just go somewhere and stay there.”

  “I am going,” he said, but because he was still an idiot, he pulled her close, instead.

  Her arms snaked around his neck. “I’m mad at you,” she whispered, pressing close.

  “I know.” His hands slid down her slim back, over her hips, then up again. He couldn’t get enough of her.

  Together they stood there, clinging, both in heaven and misery, and more confused than ever.

  Chapter 8

  Scott was waiting for her outside Edna’s house. Delia parked and took her time getting out of the car. She was feeling a bit raw and shaky.

  Standing by her car, she tilted her face toward the hot sun and took a deep calming breath.

  For the first time she could allow herself to believe her hopes had some foundation. Her father could have been Constance Freeman’s son.

  She could be the heir.

  If so, it would give her everything she’d ever wanted in one shot. Self-worth, pride.

  And Jacob.

  With all that to dwell on, it seemed odd that her thoughts were miles away, on another problem entirely. A rugged tough sexy investigator.

  There’d been quite a few firsts today. The hope about being the heir and now… For the first time in her life, she actually wanted a man, so much so that she trembled at the mere thought. Not a fearful tremble, either, but a sort of secret thrilling anticipating one that made it hard to function.

  And Scott was watching her, gauging her worth for Jacob, and there she stood, lost in fantasyland, dreaming about warm arms and drugging kisses.

  Smoothing down her dress, she took another deep breath, this one to steady her pulse, and moved up the walk.

  “Good afternoon,” Scott said formally. Behind his polite smile, his eyes were quiet and assessing, but Delia knew he would find nothing faulty with her appearance, she’d made sure of it.

  She was dressed neatly and conservatively in a sundress she’d made herself. No one would have guessed, and it wasn’t pride that told her so, but in fact, if there was one thing she could do well, it was look good. She gave a businesslike smile. “I didn’t expect to see you today.”

  “You called for a visit with Jacob.”

  “And my visits are always going to be supervised?”

  “It’s a good idea, Delia, for his sake.”

  “Do you think I’d hurt him?”

  Annoyance flickered across Scott’s face. “It has nothing to do with you. It’s the way this works.”

  “The system is overworked and underfunded. Jacob’s lucky to have such a dedicated social worker,” Delia commented.

  “Yes, well, I am dedicated to Jacob. He’s a special kid.”

  Delia felt a pang of guilt for her pettiness, because there was nothing but honesty in Scott’s eyes, nothing but true concern for her brother. She was the last one in the world to resent that. “The custody hearing is only a few weeks away,” she said evenly. “What do you think my chances are?”

  “The judge will make that decision.”

  “Yes, but that decision will be based, in part, on your recommendation and reports.”

  “Are you asking me where I think Jacob should be?”

  “Yes,” she said with equal bluntness. Pride had no place here. “That’s what I’m asking.”

  “Edna has more money than Jacob’s inheritance. She can and will manage it well.”

  “And I can’t?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “I can hire someone to handle his money. I would never touch it.”

  He didn’t soften. “Then there’s the fact that you live so far away. You’d be taking him from everyone and everything he’s ever known.”

  “Life has already done that to him,” Delia argued quietly. “I’d be taking him to a place where he could grow up with love and affection and wide-open spaces. He’d have everything he ever needed.”

  Scott nodded in reluctant agreement. “That’s true. And to be honest, Edna’