Reese packed up his belongings and grabbed the text he wanted to review before class tomorrow. After a long chat with Billy at lunch he'd decided not to call the police…yet. He and Billy were going to the movies tonight and he planned to invite Raegan. In fact, if he had any say, he would keep her so occupied she would not have time to see that murdering thug ever again. He shook his head, enjoying the weight of the new diamond in his ear. A gift from Billy. He sighed. Why was he worrying about Raegan's love life when he had his own problems? How could he settle for a boyfriend who had no intention of being faithful? He sometimes wondered if
he
should find a lover just to make Billy jealous. He had met a really cute guy named Pete just a few days ago at the gym.
He opened Raegan's classroom door and entered, his eyes scanning the newspaper article he'd shown her earlier. He was sure it was the same woman. "Reg, we're going to the movies tonight. Want to come or are you going out with that murdering butch-thug?"
When she didn't answer he looked up and encountered a pair of cold, hazel-green eyes. Dangerous eyes. Shane Miller's eyes. He took a step back, taking in her brick red cardigan, black jeans and red Timberlands. She towered over him at six feet, her honey-brown cheeks red from the cold. She wore the same thick cornrow braids he remembered from the restaurant. One brow was raised and long dark lashes partially shaded those piercing eyes. Reese took another step back.
"U-uh–…w-where's Raegan?" He stammered.
"Ladies room."
Her husky voice was deeper than his. He wanted to take another step back but compelled himself not to. She lowered her eyes to the newspaper article he held and then raised them back to his face. The brow rose just a little higher.
"Interesting read?"
He straightened to his full five feet seven inches, squaring off his shoulders. "I know this woman was with you that night at the restaurant."
She smirked.
"You better not fuck over my friend," Reese bit out. He could feel a lump forming in his throat. She was truly intimidating.
Shane raised her cigar to her lips and pulled on it. She blew the aromatic smoke in his direction, "or what?" She demanded coolly, waiting for a response that never came. Instead, Reese turned on his heel and left, heading toward the ladies room. He shoved the wooden door open in anger, startling Raegan.
"Reese! What the hell are you doing in here?"
"That thug's in your classroom!" He spat.
She winced, "I know. You didn't say anything to offend her, did you?"
"I just accused her of murder and she shrugged it off like it was no big deal!"
"Reese! I can't believe you!"
She pushed past him to exit the ladies room. Reese caught up to her, grabbing hold of the sleeve of her cranberry blouse.
"Reg, I don't want you going out with her!"
"She's giving me a ride home Reese, we're not going out. She's on her way out of town and wanted to see me before she left." Raegan pulled her sleeve from his tight grip. She cradled his face in her hands and leaned forward to plant a quick kiss on his lips. "Reese, I appreciate that you worry about me, but you're being ridiculous."
"Reg, please, promise me you won't see her again."
Raegan laughed, "I'm not going to promise that! I like her. Now, I have to go. Call me later."
She turned and walked away. He watched the swish of her charcoal gray ankle length skirt as she made her way down the hall and then disappeared into her classroom.
Raegan stepped into the classroom and smiled as she watched Shane reading her kids' work plastered on the walls. She took in Shane's confident stance, the muscular thighs evident beneath the black jeans, the tapered waist and broad shoulders beneath the cardigan, the thick braids. She found the flush of Shane's light-brown skin, the dark, thick brows, the long sooty lashes and high cheekbones tantalizing. And she wondered that she was as mesmerized now as she had been that day in the restaurant.
Could
this woman be a hardened criminal? She shook her head, Reese was being ridiculous.
Shane turned to her, "ready?"
She nodded, smiling as Shane collected her satchel and books from the desk. She found herself following Shane from the room instead of taking the lead considering she knew the building. But Shane had no trouble finding an exit. Raegan looked around for the limousine, stopping when she didn't see it. She assumed Damien couldn't find a parking spot and was driving around the block. It took her a moment to realize that Shane had placed her belongings onto the back seat of a silver gray Mercedes Benz and was now holding the passenger door open for her. She slid into the silver gray, baby soft leather seat, allowing the seat belt to slide into place as Shane closed her door. Shane was behind the wheel a moment later.
Raegan looked around the interior of the car, mesmerized. The smooth leather, the wood paneling, the lighted displays on the dashboard…she had never been in a luxury vehicle before. She watched people staring at the elegant car as they drove down Broadway and turned left onto 72
nd
Street. Shane turned right onto Riverside Drive and headed north.
"You have interesting friends."
Raegan's breath caught as the husky voice warmed over her in the close confines of the car. She realized she'd never been this close to Shane.
"Reese worries. He reads the papers. He thinks you're a murderer."
Shane put down her cigar and gave Raegan a sidelong glance.
"And you?"
"I still have some reasonable doubt," she teased.
Shane chuckled. Raegan realized she liked the sound of it.
"He didn't say anything offensive, did he?" Raegan asked, embarrassed.
"Heard it all before." Shane dismissed her concern.
Shane stopped the car at a red light and turned to look at her passenger. Raegan was glad her cheeks were dark as she felt the heat of that gaze on her. Finally the light turned green and as the car accelerated Raegan let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"You're a beautiful woman Raegan Vincent."
Raegan opted not to respond, smiling to herself as she continued to look out of the window. Before she knew it, they had arrived at her apartment building. She swallowed back disappointment as the car stopped a few feet from the lobby's entrance.
Shane stepped from the car, going around to open the passenger side door for Raegan. As she stood, Raegan realized Shane had positioned herself so that there was no option but for her to brush against Shane's muscular form as she stood from the vehicle. Their bodies met and Raegan felt a rush of heat spear through her. She waited, her breathing tight, licking her lips nervously. She couldn't think, not with Shane this close. But when she took a step back, Shane followed her, pinning her against the car door as she reached out to bury a hand in Raegan's hair. Raegan stared up into those mesmerizing hazel-green eyes.
"Shane," she breathed hesitantly.
"Shhhh," Shane silenced her softly, "I just need a taste."
As Shane brought her forward, and their lips met, Raegan thought she could feel her heart actually stop beating. She closed her eyes, savoring the sweet taste of cigar as Shane's lips teased, tempted…dominated. She parted her lips, longing for the feel of Shane's tongue, hungry for the feel of Shane's hands on her. But instead, Shane let her go, ending the kiss abruptly. Raegan opened her eyes, her head swimming. Shane's hazel-green eyes were dark now, smoldering.
"How long will you be gone?" Raegan asked breathlessly.
"Few weeks." Shane answered huskily, running a hand along the silky smoothness of Raegan's cheek.
Raegan watched as Shane reached for her personal items on the back seat, handing them to her. She then walked around the car and slid behind the wheel. Reagan sighed with disappointment as the Mercedes pulled off.
*
Shane answered the electronic purr of her cell phone.
"Yea?"
"I'm on my way to the airport." Karin informed her.
"I'll be there in 30."
"Okay."
"Diana's mother?"
"Quarter of a mil for the child in a trust fund like you said. No paper trail."
"Good."
She had no options about Diana. Diana had betrayed her. But she intended to help Diana's daughter as much as she could.
"What do you want me to do about Vincent?" Karin asked.
"Watch her."
Shane disconnected the line. She was pretty confident Raegan was not a cop. Still, she had to make sure. And they weren't sure about Reese, his lover or any of his friends. She shook her head. What the hell was she thinking getting involved with someone like Raegan? She was glad she would be away for a few weeks. It would give her some time to think. This woman was definitely getting under her skin.
*
Raegan sat beside Reese at the movies that night. Billy had opted not to go with them but Reese's new friend, Pete, had tagged along. She'd wanted to hang out with her friend alone tonight. She needed to talk to him. However, she was anxious about talking to Reese. He was being so overprotective, so absurd. It was a side of him she was not used to. She sighed, trying to follow the plot of the movie. She was not in the mood for a movie. She saw Reese lean over to whisper something in Pete's ear. She opted to ignore the sexual chemistry between the two men, assuming her friend knew what he was doing. He turned to her suddenly.
"Popcorn run," Reese whispered to her.
They stood and made their way out of the dark theater. As they stood in line for popcorn, Reese stared at her.
"You need to talk right? I already know I don't want to hear what you're going to say, but go ahead."
"I think I'm falling for her."
"You
must
be joking!" Reese exploded. People standing in line turned to watch the show. "Raegan, this is absolutely ridiculous! This is not a fuckin' game! I know you don't believe everything you read in the papers, but are you telling me they make
everything
up? I mean come on!"
Raegan was silent for a moment and then said quietly. "Reese, I know this is hard for you. But I've always been supportive, even when I did not agree with some of your choices."
Reese bit back a response. She was serious. His friend was falling for this thug. He shook his head. How could he be supportive when he knew this was a mistake? He sighed, pulling Raegan into his arms and hugging her tightly.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry."
Raegan smiled and returned the hug. She was sure she had nothing to worry about…well, other than the movie she had to suffer through.
*****
Karin stared at the fax in front of her and sighed. She was not looking forward to the conversation that would take place with Shane about it. She closed her eyes for a minute, wondering if she should even tell her boss. If she didn't,
she
might be on the front page of tomorrow's newspaper. She jumped when her cell phone rang, taking a deep breath before answering it.
"Yea?"
"What?" It was Shane returning her call.
Karin hesitated for a moment but then decided to plunge right in, "the new friend? He's a problem."
Shane was silent. Karin continued.
"He supposedly spent a few years upstate, but no one knows him."
Karin waited. She knew what it meant. Someone had most likely planted the information about his incarceration. He was probably a cop.
"He's close to the fag. No fuck ups." Shane bit out.
"Okay."
"How is she?"
Karin raised a brow at the question. She wasn't used to Shane showing this much concern for anyone…not even her. "She's been out with the friend a few times. She went to visit her sister last weekend."
Karin sighed when Shane disconnected the call.
*