Dealing Double Page 26

  Suzy picked up her knife and started chopping again. “We do the best we do. Better to be sure he turn out good. Like Gabby, no?”

  “Yes. When I found out who her father was, I couldn’t believe she could be so . . . happy. Trusting and kind. I’d like to be more like her in that way.”

  “Gabby’s mama? She make Luca more kind, too. Gabby is much like her mother. Make someone a good mama, too, one day.” Suzy threw everything in a bowl and then tossed the salad. “Come, we eat.” She pushed the salad bowl into his arms and then turned to the oven. She drew out bread and then cut into a cooling pan of lasagna.

  Normally, that delicious smell would make his mouth water. Tonight, it gave him a moment’s pause. He plastered on a smile. “Smells wonderful, Suzy. Much too good to be filled with poison.”

  Chuckling, she led the way, with two full plates, to the nook, not the fancy dining room he’d seen on the way to the kitchen. Probably all part of the joke, like she’d never poison him in the fancy dining room. Too much mess to clean up. Certain poisonings got pretty gross right at the end.

  He laid the salad bowl on the table and then pulled her chair out for her.

  She said, “Thank you.” Then dished out the salad into two bowls. She’d taken hers from the same big bowl, so that was safe to eat.

  He unfolded his cloth napkin and laid it across his lap. “This looks fantastic. But we forgot our wine. Let me get them.” He jumped up and grabbed their glasses from the center island. “Here you go.”

  Suzy took the glass and set it down. Then she waited for him to be seated. “It’s custom for guest to take first bite of lasagna. Are you willing to take risk?”

  Surely, she was kidding. But she’d been married to a gangster at one time. She’d probably know how to poison someone.

  No, she was just messing with him. “Gabby’s father said I had to get past you to have her. I’d hoped that meant you’d have to give me your blessing, instead of simply surviving the meal.”

  Suzy tilted her head. “You don’t have to eat. You can go. But I don’t like no one who don’t eat my food when I work all day to make it.”

  “Okay.” He picked up his fork, prepared to dive in, hoping he’d get to see Gabby after dinner. But just in case he wouldn’t be allowed, he said, “Tell Gabby I loved her enough to die. If I do. Please.” He took a bite.

  Suzy drank her wine and watched with a knowing smile on her face.

  “This is amazing. Best I’ve ever had, Suzy. Really.” He took another bite of the rich red sauce, spicy sausage, and tender noodles.

  Suzy took another drink of her wine. “I like that you like. Nice to see appreciation for good food.”

  As he went in for another bite, a bundle of black-and-white fur streaked into the kitchen and skidded to a stop by his leg. He laid down his fork. “Hi there. Who’s this?”

  Gabby answered from behind him. “That’s Einstein. Why are you here?”

  Hearing her voice, although filled with anger, made his heart leap. He stood and laid his napkin on the table. She was wearing cute sweats and sneakers. He wished he could just scoop her up and take her home. “I wanted to talk to you. And meet your aunt. Poison usually takes about ten to fifteen minutes, so I need to tell you something, Gabby. Fast.”

  What was her aunt up to now?

  Gabby glanced at Suzy, who was trying not to laugh. “You did it again?”

  Jake swallowed hard. “She’s done this before?”

  “She thinks it’s a riot to scare people. You’re not going to die.”

  “I was just pulling your pants, Jake.” Aunt Suzy chuckled.

  “You mean pulling his leg, Zietta,” Gabby corrected.

  “Good to know.” Jake grinned in relief. “Because, honestly, this is the best lasagna I’ve ever tasted.”

  Jake’s smile was making her knees go weak, so she went to the stove to make herself a plate.

  Aunt Suzy said, “He eat it with no hesitation. He say you worth it, Gabby.” She dug into the heaping plate of food before her, still smiling at her cleverness.

  Gabby snuck another peek at Jake. He wore a different suit from the one in London, one that fit his sexy body perfectly. Along with his freshly cut hair, it made him too handsome to look at. Great decision on her part to dress in the rattiest sweats she owned. Not that she was trying to impress him or anything.

  She poured herself a big glass of wine and brought the bottle to the table. She’d probably need it.

  Einstein, the little traitor, stared up at Jake, drooling in adoration. Jake shoved food into his mouth with one hand and pet her dog’s head with the other. Some judge of character her pooch was.

  She thought about taking her plate to go, but that Jake was in her aunt’s kitchen after their bodyguards had strict orders to keep him away meant something was up. She slipped into a chair across from him. “I thought I’d made it clear you aren’t welcome here, Jake.”

  He nodded. “I know. But I had to talk to your dad today.”

  Her fork stopped halfway to her mouth. “You talked to my father?” She turned to her aunt. “Did dad really tell you to put poison in his food?”

  “No.” Aunt Suzy grabbed the tongs and piled a bunch of salad on Gabby’s plate. “Luca tell me it make you unhappy if Jake killed. They talk about another way.”

  “Another way to punish, Jake?” Gabby poked at the salad. Even though Jake being there made her stomach all tight, she ate anyway.

  “She meant another way for you to be happy.” Jake slipped a piece of bread to Einstein. “I have a plan I’d like to discuss with you. But I needed to convince your dad it was a good idea first.”

  Her father had talked to Jake. Her dad had to hate Jake for what he did as much as she did. Well, “hate” was too strong a word. For her. Not for her father, though. “Why do you assume I want anything to do with your happiness plans?”

  Aunt Suzy threw up her hands. “Who not want to be happy? Hear what the man has to say.”

  “Fine.” Gabby tried to eat but gave up and pushed her plate away. She crossed her arms. “But not until you explain how you can claim to love me and do what you did. We had a deal you wouldn’t tell the cops my father was there, Jake. People don’t betray the ones they love.”

  “Your father might be dead if I hadn’t, Gabby. The sharpshooters were closing in on him. What they saw was an armed man who’d just put a bullet through Pablo Garza’s head. They had orders to stop the shooter by any means. You weren’t included in all the communications. I was.”

  She tried to think back. It had all happened so fast. Jake checked on her, then ran off yelling something. What had he yelled? “What happened next?”

  Jake finished his meal and then wiped his mouth with his napkin. “They’d called out for him to stop, but he didn’t. So I ran after your dad. Called him by name to get his attention amid all the shouting and confusion. Told him he was surrounded and to lay his weapon down. By that time, the sharpshooters had moved in. Your father saw there was no way out, and he dropped his gun.”

  Aunt Suzy said, “He could’ve killed you, too. Stupid to run after him, Jake.”

  “Probably.” He shrugged. “But I didn’t want him to be killed. I know I made you a promise, Gabby. But I saw the threat and reacted. It seemed like the best way to save your father in the moment. If things had been different, and I’d had time to think, I would’ve never broken my promise to you. I hope you can forgive me for it one day.”

  She laid her elbows on the table and dropped her head into her hands. Would her father have gotten away if Jake hadn’t been involved? Or would there have been a bloody gun battle that might have included Sal and Louie, too? She’d never know for sure. “What are you going to say when they ask you in court about what you saw?”

  Jake slid his chair around, closer to her, and Einstein moved right with him. The dog wasn’t leaving Jake’s side after getting table scraps.

  “I thought about what you said, Gabby. A lot. How both your f
ather and I were responsible for Pablo Garza’s death. I put myself in your father’s shoes. And I would’ve done the same thing he did. You were right. The revenge part isn’t for me to judge.”

  She lifted her head. “So you’ll testify he was just protecting the innocent archaeologist, as his lawyers said?”

  He smiled and took her hand. “Yes. I’ll tell the jury that Luca couldn’t have known from that distance if my knife had stopped Garza completely. And that Luca Moretti probably saved your life.”

  Tears burned her eyes. If Jake said that, it’d weigh heavy in her father’s favor at a trial. Had her aunt been right? That sometimes people make promises they intend to keep but can’t. Like Suzy had done while trying to protect her husband? She’d been protecting someone she loved, too. Maybe Jake had just gotten caught in the middle of a bad situation, with no right answer, as her aunt had. “I appreciate that, Jake. But you are always going to be a cop, and my dad is always going to be who he is. You and I will never work. Please just go home.” It hurt to look at him. She’d missed him so much. Her heart couldn’t take another minute. She stood to leave, but his grip tightened on her hand.

  “Wait, Gabby. I have a plan.” He glanced at Suzy. “Assuming your aunt gives her permission?”

  “I’m a sucker for happy ending. You give her one, Jake.” Aunt Suzy stood and grabbed the dirty dishes. “Tell her your plan. I find something else to do.” She laid the dishes in the sink and then walked out of the kitchen.

  Gabby yanked her hand away. “I have my own plan, Jake. One I’ve thought about a lot. One where I can finally have my own life back. You can’t just waltz in here and lay out the rest of my life for me. I already have a father for that.” She went to the sink and started rinsing the dishes. Einstein looked back and forth between them, then chose to be with her. Probably because that’s where the food was, but still. He needed to get his loyalties straight.

  Jake stood and joined her. “There’s the fiery redhead I fell in love with.” He moved behind her, put his hands on her hips, and whispered, “Maybe ‘plan’ was a bad word. Maybe ‘hope’ is better. Because I think I’ve found a way to keep you safe. But I hope you’ll allow me to be a part of your future plans no matter what they are. I’ve missed you, Gabby. Didn’t you miss me?”

  “Nope,” she lied. It was too painful to hear the hopefulness in his voice. There wasn’t a good solution where they could ever be together. Jake would never be able to accept her love for her father. He was too much of a cop for that.

  Einstein barked and then jumped on Jake’s leg. He’d clearly missed Jake’s affection.

  Jake said, “You didn’t miss me at all? Not even a little?”

  When Jake nibbled on her neck, she nearly dropped the plate in her hand. “You’re too damned bossy to miss.”

  “I bet you missed this.” He moved his mouth to her earlobe and traced it with his tongue. That always drove her nuts.

  “A little. Maybe. Can you move, please? You’re in my way.” She laid the plate in the dishwasher and then slipped Einstein a piece of sausage.

  “I’ve had this ache in my chest since London, Gabby. Right here.” He took her hand and laid it over his heart. “Being with you is the only thing that makes it better.”

  His heart pounded under her palm. Like he was nervous.

  It made her anger ebb slightly. “Probably just heartburn. Maybe from all the bootlicking, you’ve been doing today.”

  Jake’s lips slowly tilted. “I’ll do anything to win back your love, Gabby.”

  She wasn’t falling for that smile that always made her stomach do somersaults. “If you wanted something from me, Jake, you needed to ask me first. I’m not going to be told what to do any longer.” She was so tired of being treated like a child by her father. She didn’t need Jake to treat her that way, too. Besides, she was still trying to figure out if she was mad at Jake for breaking his promise, even though he’d probably done the best thing for her father.

  He laid his other hand over her palm, still over his heart. “I tried to ask you first. But you weren’t talking to me, remember?”

  “Because you’d hurt me, Jake. But I’m not a damsel in distress. You like to save people, but you should really save yourself first. You have more issues than a magazine.” She tugged her hand free and started scrubbing dishes again.

  He laughed. “I agree. It’ll be tough to save someone as messed up as me.” Jake plastered his chest to her back and laid his hands on the counter on either side of her. Caging her in. “I was hoping you’d help me, Gabby. You’re the only one I’d ever let try.”

  Why wouldn’t he stop saying all the right things to weaken her resolve against him? She needed to be independent. To actually live her life for a change. Not be with someone who’d be as overprotective as her father. Her plan to live in London would work. But she’d be all alone, and she hated that part.

  His warm body at her back and his big arms wrapped around her felt nice. Too nice. She needed to stay strong. “My life circumstances would only make your issues worse, Jake.”

  “You haven’t even heard my idea.” He slid his hands down her arms, took the plate from her hand, and turned her around. “But first I’d like to kiss you. I missed that, too.” He slowly moved his lips toward hers, giving her time to refuse him.

  She should turn away. But she’d missed kissing him, too. So she let him lay his soft lips on hers. Didn’t resist when his hand slid up her neck, and he tilted her head in that way that always made the kiss deeper, sweeter, more intimate. She closed her eyes and enjoyed all the warm, gooey sensations that swelled low in her belly.

  She didn’t want to encourage him, but her hands needed to wrap themselves around his big shoulders, and her body moved closer to touch his from head to toe. She’d missed the bossy man’s kisses every moment of every day since London. And she’d missed his smart-alecky grin and the way he teased her. She missed pretty much everything about him.

  He slowly leaned away, and her brain cells started working again. “You told me yourself. You’re not husband or boyfriend material. Kissing me like that isn’t going to solve the problem, Jake.”

  “No, that was just a side benefit.” He hugged her tighter. “I’ve changed since I met you. You made me want to be good enough to be husband material for you, Gabby. And hopefully father material, too.”

  She stared into his eyes. He wasn’t teasing for a change. “I’ll repeat what I said earlier. You’re a cop, Jake. I’m the daughter of a criminal. I’ve had to live with a big secret my whole life or be killed. Not the sort you’d like to be the mother of your children. End of story.”

  Einstein whimpered. As if unhappy with her decision.

  He needed to stay out of it.

  Jake slowly shook his head. “It’s just the beginning of the story, because I’m not a cop anymore. I quit. And if you’d like, you and I can live in the house you’ll have complete design control over on Annalisa’s estate, while I do my new job as her head of security. We’ll all be safe, you, me, and the kids. We have great museums in Albuquerque, one of which I’m sure would love to give a friend of Annalisa’s a job.”

  But he loved being a cop. “You quit your job for me?”

  “No.” He leaned down and kissed her again. “I quit because I want to actually enjoy life—with you, Gabby.”

  Another good answer. Jake was just full of them all of a sudden.

  She chewed her bottom lip as she considered. Did he really love her? Or was it because he didn’t want to be alone?

  He’d given her a reasonable explanation about her father, and he’d been brave enough to confront a man who clearly hated him. Jake must’ve said something right for her father to allow Jake in Suzy’s kitchen.

  She hadn’t known Jake long, but her heart knew he was the one. And he’d eaten her aunt’s possibly poisoned lasagna without hesitation. If that wasn’t love, she didn’t know what was. But what about his safety when they weren’t at Annalisa’s? She couldn
’t let him be hurt because of her. “What if during the trial Garza figures out who I am? You might be in danger, too.”

  “I understand Dean’s lawyers are claiming mental incompetence. They’re talking about copping a plea. There’s a good chance you won’t have to testify. But if Garza figures it out, then we’ll disappear together. I’m sure your father could help us with that.”

  She leaned back and blinked at him. “What happened to the ‘everything’s black or white’ cop I hit over the head?”

  “A smart woman knocked some sense into him, showing him there are more than two colors in the world. And that maybe his way isn’t always the only way.”

  Maybe he had really changed. Seen that there wasn’t a rule to fit each and every situation. All her residual anger slowly slipped away. “So you’re admitting you’re bossy and stubborn?” She could probably live with his annoying traits if he’d admit to them.

  “Sometimes. Maybe.” Jake’s face screwed up like he was in pain. “I need to work on that. But you’re not being overly cooperative here yourself.”

  “More like cautious. I’d have total design control over the house? Whatever I want? Even a bathroom like the one in your house? You could live with not being in charge for once?”

  “Yep.” He shrugged. “Within budget. Annalisa doubled my salary, but I’m not wealthy like your father. I don’t know what a museum job pays.”

  She gave him a squeeze. “I’m not worried about money. And I can maybe let you have a say in the garage.”

  He lifted her chin with his finger. “Just one more reason I love you. So generous.”

  “I am that. Did my father really give you permission to marry me?”

  “No. He said if I can get past Suzy, he’d consider letting you move with me.”

  Aunt Suzy called out from the hallway, “Suzy say yes! Hurry up and ask. My show coming on in five minutes.”

  Gabby laughed. “You heard the lady.”

  “I need to know one more thing before I ask.” Jake leaned his forehead against hers and whispered, “Do you think you could ever love me, Gabby? Issues and all?”