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  “Can I speak to you first?” Connie tilted her head in Winston’s direction. “In private?”

  “Whoa.” Winston took steps back, eyebrows raised. “I can take a hint. Though that wasn’t much of one.”

  Dee smiled as he left. “What’s up, Connie?”

  “I don’t want you getting the wrong idea about how I came to you yesterday at Jonathan’s.”

  “I didn’t appreciate it.” Dee rocked. “You were accusing me of—”

  “I wasn’t accusing you I was looking out for you. That’s what partners do.”

  “Connie.” Dee touched her shoulder. “I don’t need a bodyguard where Jonathan is concerned. He’s not getting to me.”

  “The way you were looking at him—”

  “Girl, what are you talking about?”

  “Level with me. Not as cops but as women. Are you attracted to Jonathan at all?”

  “I have the best man in the world. Why would I fuck with that?”

  “Because sometimes a woman can get sucked into something, even if she knows it’s wrong.” The light vanished from Connie’s eyes.

  “You speak from experience?”

  “Keep what I’m about to say between us.”

  Dee laughed. “The Queen of Gossip wants me to keep her secrets?”

  Connie glared at her.

  “All right.”

  Connie moved closer as officers meandered in and out the lounge. “I know how it feels to be caught in something before you realize it.”

  Dee crossed her arms, exhaling.

  “Long story short, I met a man that shook up my whole world from the moment we met. Only problem was, I was married.”

  “You were married?”

  “Eight years ago for about two years.” Connie lifted her head, the light returning to her eyes. “I loved my husband Percy more than anything, and he made me so happy.”

  “What happened?”

  “Another man happened.” Connie scratched her neck underneath her hair. “Even though I loved Percy and swore I’d never hurt him, I couldn’t stop my feelings for Abel.”

  “Abel?”

  “A man I met during an investigation when I worked at the other precinct. I’d just become detective and on my first case. The relationship started just like you and Jonathan.”

  “There is no me and Jonathan—”

  “That’s what I said about Abel.” Connie dragged her finger across the tabletop. “I kept telling him and myself nothing would ever happen, but I had this desire to be near him. That craving outweighed my love for Percy and before long, Abel and I were having an affair.”

  “That won’t happen to me—”

  “It can happen to anyone.” Connie winced. “Look at Lisa and Winston. She loves Jake more than anything but Winston still tempted her. Winston and Lisa never acted on those feelings but it’s the same thing.”

  “I love Winston.”

  “And, I loved Percy and Lisa loves Jake but it didn’t stop either of us from being attracted to other men. I’m trying to save you, Dee. This kind of thing hits you before you realize it.” Connie stepped back, squinting. “I hope it’s not too late.”

  Dee’s cell phone rang.

  She got it from her pocket and checked the number but didn’t recognize it. “Hello?”

  “Detective Quarter, it’s Nelda North.”

  “Nelda.”

  Connie jumped at attention.

  “What can I do for you?” Dee asked.

  “I got a call from Suzanne, the woman who lives next door to Autumn’s place. She says Grayson Paul was just there, and he looked suspicious.”

  “Why would Grayson be at Autumn’s?” Dee asked Nelda.

  Connie lunged forward. “What?”

  “I don’t know,” Nelda said. “But, I have a funny feeling about it.”

  ****

  An hour later, Dee and Connie returned to the station after questioning Grayson. While Connie rested at her desk, Dee found Winston in the lounge.

  “Hey.” He smacked on a spoonful of melted butter pecan ice cream. “How’s my ebony queen?”

  “That looks good.” Dee leaned on the table to kiss him but he rewarded her with a helping of ice cream instead. “Hm. I needed something pleasurable right now.”

  “What happened with Grayson?”

  She sat across from him at the table. “He denied being at Autumn’s place despite the neighbor saying he was there.” She sighed, rubbing her cheek. “He lawyered up. Not the actions of an innocent man.”

  “Innocent people lawyer up all the time.” Winston chewed, stirring ice cream. “What? Surely you don’t think he killed Autumn.”

  “He was a suspect in his ex-wife’s murder, remember? The case I solved.”

  “And, he was innocent.”

  “Never thought I’d hear you taking up for Grayson.”

  “I’m surprised you’d throw him down the river so fast. You dated this man.”

  “He’s changed, Winston.” She blinked. “He’s always had a temper, but it’s gotten worse since we broke up.”

  “That doesn’t mean he killed anyone.”

  “Why are you defending him?”

  “Because, it makes me wonder if you’d support me when the going gets tough.”

  “How can you say that?” Her shoulders sagged. “I support you in every damn thing you do.”

  “Jonathan might’ve done it. That would make more sense. No telling what they do in that cult. As much as I can’t stand Grayson, he’s not a killer.” He chuckled. “He just writes about them.”

  “Then why was he snooping around Autumn’s place?” She scratched around the stud in her ear. “Why did he hide how upset he was when she dumped him? Why did he lawyer up? It makes little sense, Winston.”

  “How about we give this conversation a rest? Given anymore thought to seeing a therapist? Dr. Guzman—”

  “Stop.” She grabbed his hand. “I need you, not therapy.”

  He sucked ice cream from the spoon, reminding her how his lips could make her orgasm with just a kiss.

  “How about we go out Friday night?” she asked. “On me. Let me treat my man.”

  “I love the sound of that.” He reached over and kissed her. “I love you, Dee.”

  She put her arms around his shoulders, not caring who saw them.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Friday night, Dee sped into Nelda’s driveway and parked behind the marked police car.

  The male officer briefed Dee as soon as she got to Nelda’s living room.

  Nelda sobbed on the beige and green striped couch. “Oh, Detective Quarter.” She held an ice pack to her swollen jaw.

  “Are you all right?” Dee knelt in front of her, grabbing her hand. “I couldn’t believe what I’d heard. How could Grayson do something like this?”

  “You look very nice.” Nelda sniffled, alluding to Dee’s knit, black dress and gold stilettos.

  “I was on my way to a date but that doesn’t matter. What happened?”

  “She says Grayson Paul pushed his way through the door.” The skinny, white officer pointed toward the door with his notepad. “Threatened her and hit her.”

  Dee closed her eyes. “Are you sure, Nelda?”

  “I’m sure.” She lowered the ice pack, her purple jaw so swollen it made her face lopsided. “I was screaming for him to get out my home and he smacked me. He was so wild and crazy.”

  “Why was he even here?”

  “He was upset that I’d told you about Suzanne seeing him at Autumn’s place. He tried to choke me, but I fought him off.”

  Dee covered her mouth. “This can’t be happening.”

  “My neighbor, Odina will vouch for me,” Nelda said. “She knows what Grayson did.”

  Dee closed her eyes, fighting tears.

  “Are you all right, Detective?” the cop asked.

  “No, I’m not all right.” She exhaled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. Are you pressing charges, Nelda?”
r />   “Yes.” She raised her shaking hand. “He’s gonna kill me, Detective Quarter.”

  Dee stood, straightening her dress. “Go get Grayson and take him to the station.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.” The officer left.

  “Do you need any medical treatment?” Dee asked Nelda.

  “No, I’ll be okay. What’s wrong with Grayson?”

  Dee’s phone rang.

  She got it out, sighing when she saw Winston’s name. “Hey,” she answered.

  “What’s up? You said you were picking me up at seven-thirty and it’s five minutes after eight. You’re never late.”

  “I’m sorry, baby.” She walked to the window with the turquoise curtains. “I can’t make it.”

  “What? We’ve been looking forward to this.”

  “It’s Grayson—”

  “Grayson?” he snapped. “Fuckin’ Grayson?”

  “You don’t understand—”

  “I understand. We’ll never be rid of his ass will we?”

  “This is about the case he...”

  Click.

  “Wait.” She looked at the phone. “How dare he hang up on me?”

  ****

  “Where’s Lisa?” Dee barged into Jake’s front door later that night. “I need to speak to Lisa.”

  “Calm down.” Jake rolled across the living room rug. “What’s going on?”

  “My life is a mess.” Dee plopped on the couch and hugged a pillow. “I’m losing it, and I need my best friend. Where the hell is she?”

  “She’s having a group session with Dr. Guzman for domestic violence survivors.” Jake parked his wheelchair beside the couch and shook his hair out his face. “What’s wrong?”

  “What’s not wrong?” She threw the pillow aside. “I was supposed to go out on the town with Winston tonight and relieve some of this stress but to hell with that.” She broke down. “How could he do something like this, Jake?”

  “What did Winston’s do?” He joined her on the couch.

  “Not him, Grayson.” She sniffled. “I arrested him tonight.”

  “For Autumn Stuart’s murder?”

  “No, for attacking her property manager.” She grabbed a tissue out the box off the coffee table. “He barged into her place, threatened her, and hit her.”

  He grimaced. “That doesn’t sound like Grayson at all.”

  “He acted like a lunatic at the station.” She wiped her eyes. “He was cursing at me and talking crazy and his lawyer wasn’t any help. Grayson swore he didn’t do it, but Nelda says it happened and has the bruise to prove it.”

  He patted her back. “No, I can’t believe Grayson would attack a woman.”

  “He changed after we broke up, Jake.” She struggled to see through tears. “I blame myself because after he lost me he felt he lost everything.”

  “That’s not your fault.”

  “It is. Everything went south after I broke it off. Even his career isn’t what it once was. Now Winston is pissed at me too. He didn’t even give me a chance to explain why I had to cancel our date.”

  “You’ve been going through a lot with your father and everything. The last thing you need is worrying about Grayson.”

  “I wish I could get a break.” She exhaled. “Just one break so I can breathe. Every time I turn around there’s something.”

  “Lisa told me she suggested you go to Dr. Guzman.” He raised a blond eyebrow. “Not such a bad idea.”

  “You too?” She groaned. “Why does everyone want me to go to fuckin’ therapy?”

  “Because it can help.” He nodded. “Speaking from someone who benefited a lot from it. After I had the car accident, talking to a professional was the only thing that helped me. It helped me come to terms with being an alcoholic and understanding the emptiness. I wouldn’t be here if not for therapy. Couldn’t live with the guilt of driving that car into that tree and taking away what meant the most.”

  “Katherine?”

  “Because I couldn’t stop drinking, I lost my fiancée forever. That was my fault, Dee. Even now I don’t know if I forgive myself.”

  “I don’t want therapy, Jake.”

  “No one wants therapy.” He smiled. “But most of us need it.”

  ****

  Sitting on her living room floor with her legs Indian-style, Dee’s body relaxed as random thoughts filled her mind.

  On his website, Jonathan proclaimed that mindfulness meditation relieved stress the best and within ten minutes, Dee understood why.

  Though she drifted into memories of her Dad and Lydia during childhood, she didn’t become upset and with each passing moment, the boulder of stress became lighter.

  “Mm.” She moaned, enjoying happy memories of her and Winston.

  Someone knocked on the door, awakening her from the serene escape.

  “Goodness.”

  “Dee?” Winston shouted, knocking. “Are you still up?”

  Dee hurried and answered the front door.

  “Hey.” Winston lifted his head, giving her those bedroom eyes.

  She pulled the sweat pants out her crack. “What the hell do you want?”

  “You don’t make it easy, do you?” He walked in with his hands in his pockets. “I came to apologize.”

  She closed the door and leaned against it. “Is that so?”

  “Connie told me you arrested Grayson for hitting Nelda North.” He extended a hand. “That’s why you canceled our date. What the hell’s going on, Dee?”

  “He attacked her, and I arrested him.” She waltzed into the living room, pulling at her snug tank top. “No more and no less.”

  “Gotta be more to the story.” Winston held his flat hips.

  “Want more?” She huffed, tired of him second-guessing her. “Grayson damn near attacked me at the station tonight. He was all in my face, cursing like a moron. When I looked into his eyes, I didn’t even recognize him.”

  He moved his hands, holding a distressed expression. “I’m sick of talking about Grayson.”

  “Me too.” She studied his handsome face.

  “I’m sorry for hanging up on you.”

  “You better be.” She sat on the pillows on the floor. “I didn’t deserve that.”

  “You’re right. What’s with the pillows?”

  “I was meditating.” She scratched her head, her messy bun wiggling.

  “Since when do you meditate?” A line appeared between his brows.

  “I’ve been so stressed I had to find peace somewhere.”

  He sat in front of her, Indian-style. “Was it helping?”

  “Yeah.” She smiled. “My body opened, and I channeled every thought that came to mind no matter how afraid I was of it.”

  “I’m glad you’re taking steps to make things better.” He rubbed her thigh. “I still wish you’d try therapy.”

  She sighed. “All right, I won’t rule it out, but I’m telling you therapy won’t do anything for me.”

  “What would do something for you?” His glossy lips formed a sensual smirk. “Maybe this?” He leaned forward on his palms and gave her a kiss that made her toes quake.

  “You gonna relieve my stress, big boy?” She got on her knees, grabbed his collar and pulled him closer. “You’ll have to do more than that.”

  “That’s cool.” With his mouth open, Winston delivered rough, carnal smacks to her lips. “I’m up for the challenge.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Holding her hands to the rocking bed, Jonathan pumped Emma hard, his girth expanding inside her.

  “Ah.” She released a tiny gasp as Jonathan’s sweat dripped on her pink nipples.

  “Um.” He raised her leg, jamming his cock deeper.

  The women stood quiet around the dimly lit room, their eyes locked on the master bed.

  “Ooh, make me come.” Jonathan rolled his pelvis against Emma’s damp crevice. “Make me.”

  Emma moaned, her pink body dotted with redness and her blonde hair spread over the pillow.
r />   Jonathan thrust, easing the tightness in his member. “Now, damn it.” He pressed her hands into the lavender sheets. “I’m coming. Oh!” He arched his back, roaring with his arms spread.

  “Oh.” Emma trembled, screeching as wetness escaped her soft folds, dampening him.

  Jonathan rolled off her, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths.

  Emma glanced at him with her fat nipples still erect, her mouth begging for a kiss she shouldn’t have expected. “How was I, Jonathan? Did I please you?”

  He sat against the headboard with his legs wide, stroking his exhausted dick. “Could’ve used more movement in your hips.”

  “Forgive me.” She rose on her elbows, her breath blowing her hair from her face. “We can do it again. I want to please you.”

  “Not tonight.” He curled his arm under his head, resting on the pillow. “Go.”

  “Are you sure?” She touched his six-pack.

  “He said he’s done.” Shauna stood from the upholstered chair in the corner. “Go. All of you.”

  The women bowed and left the room.

  Shauna tossed Emma her nightgown as she got off the bed.

  “Goodnight, Mistress.” She slunk to the door, head low. “Goodnight, Jonathan.” She left.

  “She’s horrible.” Shauna crawled into the bed and between Jonathan’s thighs. “Like a dead fish.” She kissed his sweaty belly button. “Must be pure torture being inside her.”

  “Be nice.” He played with her hair, smiling. “Not every woman is as gifted as you in the sheets.”

  “I am, aren’t I?” She licked the patch of hair over his crotch. “Why waste your time with girls when you have a woman?”

  “There’s something I wanna show you.” Jonathan went to the closet and got the box from the top shelf.

  “What is it?” Shauna propped on one elbow, her hair hiding one shoulder.

  “You’re so sexy.” He laid the box on the bed but remained standing.

  “Why don’t you show me how sexy I am?” She pointed to the box, licking out her tongue. “Is that for me?”

  “No, but you’ll appreciate it, anyway.” He opened the box and took out a tiny bottle of liquid.

  “What is this?”