 
Now or Never

(Tate Valley Romantic Suspense Series #1)

By

Stacy-Deanne

Copyright © 2015 Stacy-Deanne

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

Email: stacydeanne1@aol.com

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Author's Note:

This work was first released in 2014 as The Devil Has Many Faces and has been rewritten. This book is part of a series but stands alone.

Enjoy!

Chapter One

Tate Valley, California

A female officer led Detectives Alexis Adams and Penelope Dao into the parlor. A blonde woman in her late-fifties to early-sixties sat on a floral ottoman, surrounded by antiques.

"Mrs. Myers, you already know Detective Dao." The officer pointed to the curvy, Vietnamese woman with long, dark hair and blonde streaks.

Carolyn Myers dabbed her eyes and looked up at the detectives.

"Yes." Carolyn sniffled. "How are you, Penelope?"

"I'm fine, Mrs. Myers." Penelope stepped from behind Alexis. "I'm so sorry for your loss." She gestured to the tall, slender black woman beside her "And this is my partner—"

"My God..." Carolyn batted her long eyelashes. "You look just like Elizabeth Adams."

"I'm Alexis Adams." She held out her hand. "Elizabeth was my mother."

Carolyn took Alexis' hand. "You look exactly like your mother. She's been gone a long time."

"Nineteen years." Alexis nodded. "She moved us away when I was fifteen. I'm so sorry for your loss." She cleared her throat.

"And we all know why your mother left," Carolyn said. "I always felt so bad for how everyone treated Elizabeth because of that affair with Grant Copeland." She lowered her eyes. "They practically burned the woman at the stake. She didn't deserve that."

"I just moved back to Tate Valley from Los Angeles," Alexis said, desperate to change the subject.

"Wait." Carolyn squinted. "You didn't even come back to town when Stossel died, did you?"

Even though Alexis wasn't surprised Carolyn had brought her father up, she didn't wanna face how she'd been so angry that she didn't even come to his funeral two years ago. How no matter what she did, she'd never regret anything more than that.

Carolyn stared at Alexis with an accusatory glare. "I went to his funeral. We all did." She squinted. "But neither you nor your mother came."

"Uh, yeah." Alexis sat in the chair beside the window. "I didn't get a chance to make it."

"Didn't get a chance to make it to your own father's funeral?" Carolyn's face had an odd expression. "I'm not sure how things had gotten through the years with Elizabeth and your father after their divorce, but I was shocked Elizabeth didn't come too."

"My mother passed away three years ago." Alexis laid her hand on her thigh.

"I'm so sorry." Carolyn spoke under the tissue. "May I ask how?"

The cancer killed her but Grant took her soul.

"She had breast cancer." Alexis took out her notepad. "Can we get back to why we're here? I know this is a difficult time for you."

"Yes." Carolyn sniffled again. "You don't come home expecting to find your husband of over thirty years beaten to death in bed."

Officers passed by the parlor as they collected evidence.

"That must've felt horrible for you." Alexis studied Carolyn's mannerisms. "You mind going over how you found him?"

Carolyn dabbed the corner of her eye. "I came home around fifteen minutes after midnight. I'd been in Belize for two weeks."

Alexis jotted. "May I ask why?"

"A routine vacation. I always take vacations in the summer."

"So you came in like you usually do?" Penelope walked over to Carolyn and glanced at Alexis.

Even though Alexis had been gone a long time, Penelope was still her best friend and one hell of a cop. If there were any clues Alexis missed concerning Carolyn, she was confident Penelope would pick up on them.

"Yes, but I didn't turn any lights on because I was tired and just wanted to get into bed. I went upstairs and found..." Carolyn closed her eyes. "Brett."

"It's okay." Penelope patted her shoulder. "Take your time."

"I found him facedown with his head bashed in." Carolyn sobbed. "There was blood all over the sheets and...and I kept thinking about what he might've been thinking, you know? I blame myself for not being here. I loved my husband. We had four beautiful sons together and I can't believe this happened." She choked up between tears. "God, how can this happen?"

Penelope rubbed her back. "It's okay."

"I was going to stay another day in Belize but I'd gotten homesick." Carolyn pulled at the tissue. "I came back early to surprise Brett. But I was the one surprised."

"I understand that you don't have security guards or an alarm or anything?" Alexis asked. "Whoever came in broke the front window."

"We didn't feel we needed alarms or security." Carolyn shook her head. "This is a small, mostly upper-class town and this kind of thing doesn't happen around here."

"Even upper-class small towns have murderers, rapists, and all kinds of shady people looking to do harm," Alexis said. "You and your husband are one of the richest couples in Tate Valley. You have to think of your safety. At least install a security alarm."

"I told you we haven't had anything like this happen in Tate Valley in a long time. Security wasn't on our minds."

"Anyone else live here?" Alexis asked. "Anyone else have access to the home?"

"No." Carolyn put her hands in her lap. "The housekeeper comes daily but leaves by six every evening."

"You understand that we have to look at everyone at this point, right?" Alexis scribbled on her notepad. "Do you know of anyone who might want to hurt your husband?"

Carolyn's expression hardened. "This wasn't random."

"We know it wasn't," Penelope said. "To bash someone's head in like this is a crime of passion. Someone wanted your husband to not only die but to be tortured."

"No, he wanted to show he was in control." Carolyn's lips shook. "He wants everyone to remember that he's in control."

"Who?" Alexis asked.

"You know who, Detective. You might've been gone a long time but I bet nothing's changed since you left. There's always been only one family who runs this town and that will never change."

"Jesus." Alexis dropped her pencil. "Grant Copeland?"

"The devil himself." Carolyn put her hand to her mouth.

"Wait." Penelope moved in front of her. "Are you saying that Grant killed Brett?"

Carolyn looked away.

"Brett and Grant were extremely close," Penelope said. "Brett worked for Copeland Enterprises for thirty years. Why would Grant kill Brett?"

"Because he knows he can get away with it." Alexis picked up her pencil. "Mrs. Myers, you're right. I have been gone a long time but I still remember the hold the Copeland family has always had on this town and now Grant runs everything." She wiggled her pencil. "It's the one thing that almost stopped me from moving back here."

"I never liked Grant." Carolyn's face twisted. "I thought he was a weasel the first time I met him. Brett swore I was wrong but something deep inside told me that Grant was a snake."

"But you and your husband would not be rich if it weren't for Copeland Enterprises," Penelope said.

"Brett loved working there but I'd rather throw the money away than have anything to do with Grant."

"Why does Grant piss you off so much?" Alexis straightened her legs. "I hate him too but why do you feel this way?"

"I don't like the way he treats people," Carolyn said. "He thinks his money and power make him invincible to morals or law."

"In other words he's a greedy, slimy, two-faced bastard." Alexis grinned. "We definitely agree on that, Mrs. Myers."

"I've always thought Brett knew something about Grant that Grant didn't want anyone to know," Carolyn said.

"So you're saying you think Grant killed Brett because of a secret?" Alexis asked.

Carolyn shrugged one shoulder. "Maybe he was afraid Brett would tell what he knew after what happened between them."

"And what happened?" Penelope asked.

"Brett and Grant had a huge blowout during the last company meeting," Carolyn said. "Grant fired Brett in front of all the senior executives. Can you believe that? He claimed to care for Brett but didn't have the decency to fire him in private."

She straightened in the chair. "Grant had the nerve to announce in the meeting that he was making Kevin Reed his successor." She grimaced.

"What?" Alexis shrieked. Just hearing that name sent a tremble down her spine that she hadn't experienced since the day she left.

Kevin Reed.

Her boyfriend in high school. Her first love. Her first kiss...the first man to ever touch her underneath her skirt.

Her nipples stiffened.

The only man who even after nineteen years made the hair on her arms stand up. Of course she'd had relationships since him but no man ever touched her emotionally or physically the way Kevin did. She remembered that day she left and how he'd touched her cheek at the beach while seagulls squealed over their heads. She'd never forget the pain in his eyes and even though he said no one would ever take her place in his heart, she knew he'd probably never forgive her.

"Lexi?" Penelope asked. "Are you all right?"

Alexis shook from her memory. Of course she wasn't all right. She knew she wouldn't be able to come back to town and not face Kevin again, but she just wasn't ready. She didn't know if she ever would be.

"Lexi?" Penelope stared at her.

"I'm...I'm fine." Alexis shook her head. "So Kevin works for Copeland Enterprises? How in the world did that happen?"

"Grant kind of took him under his wing." Penelope shrugged. "It's hard to explain but they have this weird, father-and-son bond thing going on. I think Kevin thinks of him as the father he never had an in return Grant sees Kevin as the son he never had."

"I can't believe Kevin would work for a man like Grant." Alexis huffed. "I suppose he's getting paid extremely well being Grant's toy."

"He's an executive and he's worked hard to get where he is," Penelope said. "Grant didn't give him any handouts."

"Interesting." Alexis jotted, wanting to vomit at the thought of Kevin being so cozy with the man who'd ruined her parents' marriage. "I'm just shocked that Kevin has taken this road."

"You've been gone a long time, Lexi," Penelope said. "A lot has changed."

"Apparently so." Alexis focused on Carolyn. "You were saying Kevin is going to take over Copeland Enterprises?"

"I thought Brett was supposed to run the company after Grant," Penelope said.

"We all did," Carolyn said. "Kevin is only thirty-five years old and Grant wants to leave the company to him? He couldn't run that company. When Grant fired Brett..." Carolyn scooted to the edge of the ottoman. "Brett told him he would expose the world to the real Grant Copeland. That was a week ago and now my husband is dead? Too much of a coincidence if you ask me." She scoffed. "But I know this is falling on deaf ears. Grant will never pay for anything he's done."

He'll pay when I get through with him.

"We're going to follow-up on what you say," Penelope said.

"Yeah." Carolyn balled up her tissue. "Like I don't know how the Tate Valley Police force works when it comes to Grant and his money."

"I'm not like that Mrs. Myers," Penelope said.

She rolled her eyes. "But you put up with it. The whole department is in Grant's pocket and we all know it."

"Well I'm not in anyone's pocket." Alexis stood. "You can depend on Penelope and me to do the right thing. Believe me, there's nothing I want more than to see Grant Copeland pay for all the bad things he's done, so if he's involved in this I will definitely make sure he pays for it."

"Is there anyone else that you think might have something to do with Brett's murder?" Penelope asked. "Anyone at all?"

Carolyn avoided eye contact. "No."

"Are you sure?" Penelope asked.

"Yes." Carolyn stood. "I sincerely believe that Grant Copeland murdered my husband and I hope to hell you won't let him get away with it."
Chapter Two

The Next Day

"Dear God." Grant Copeland sprang from his chair when Alexis and Penelope walked into the study of his estate.

Alexis gazed upon the handsome sixty-year-old with the thick, silver hair and pristine goatee. He didn't look older than forty, and was in just as good shape as men less than half his age. He stared at Alexis with an expression that seemed a combination of shock and arousal.

Grant dismissed the butler and approached the detectives.

Alexis balled a fist and struggled to keep from clamping her hands around his throat. Here she stood in front of Grant Copeland. Her nemesis. The man who had stolen her mom's sanity and wrecked Alexis' relationship with her father.

The man who had ruined her life.

She looked into his penetrating green eyes.

No evidence of a soul or conscience whatsoever.

You bastard.

"Hello again, Mr. Copeland." Penelope pointed to Alexis. "This is—"

"I know who she is," he said with a voice so deep his words rumbled. "You're Stossel and Elizabeth's daughter." He took Alexis' hand and kissed it. "Alexis."

She fought the bile bubbling in her stomach.

"I don't mean to stare." He presented a crooked smile. "But you look just like your mother."

She tried to take her hand away but he held it tighter.

"When I saw you I thought maybe I was dreaming. Like the past had resurfaced."

She yanked her hand from his. "If it's all the same to you I don't think we should talk about my mother."

"Why not talk about her?"

"I don't think talking about my mother would end up being a pleasant conversation." Alexis took out her notepad.

"I don't see why not." The wrinkles around Grant's eyes rose when he smiled. "Your mother was very special to me. No other woman has ever come close to touching me the way she did. I was in love with—"

"Don't." Alexis squinted. "Just...don't."

"But it's important for you to know the truth." Grant's gold ring caught the sun from the window. "You were a teenager back then. You couldn't have understood what was going on."

"How dare you tell me I didn't understand? I understood what happened better than anyone." She held in tears. "Because of you my family was torn apart and nothing was ever the same between my father and I."

Grant straightened up. "I'm sorry."

"No you're not because you don't care about anyone but yourself."

"No I cared about Elizabeth." He looked away. "She's one of few people in this world I ever have cared about."

"Lexi?" Penelope licked her lips. "We need to get to the case. This isn't the time, okay?"

Alexis took a deep breath to calm her nerves but as long as Grant was in the room that wasn't a possibility.

"So you're back now?" he asked Alexis. "For good?"

"Yes, I moved back about a month ago."

"And already working for the department?" He smirked. "I'm sure you made one hell of a detective in Los Angeles, didn't you? I'm surprised though." He walked behind his desk.

"At what?" Alexis held the notepad to her side.

He sat with a sly grin on his face. "That you didn't come to your own father's funeral. I was hoping you and Elizabeth would be there."

She cleared her throat. "My mother's dead."

His smiled disappeared. "What?"

"She died of breast cancer three years ago."

"Oh." He grimaced, glancing around the room. "It can't be. Elizabeth is dead?" He rubbed his chin. "As if it hasn't been hard enough for me to deal with what happened."

Once again it took all the strength Alexis had to not grab him from that chair. "For you to deal with? Give me a break. You got off free. You seduced my mother, ruined her marriage, and everyone in this town treated her like she was the worst person to ever live. It got so bad she had to move away because she was no longer a person but a scandal."

"I never wanted any of that to happen."

"Did you once think what would happen to my mother, my parents once the affair got out? Dad was your best friend for God's sake. Did you even care about betraying him?"

"You keep saying I 'seduced' your mother as if she had no say. It wasn't like that, Alexis. There are a lot of things you don't know. Your mother and I had mutual feelings for each other and they were stronger than anything we'd ever experienced."

"I don't wanna hear this." She jerked her head away.

"It's the truth damn it." He hit the desk. "I was gonna ask your mother to marry me. That's how much I loved her."

"You didn't love her," she snarled. "You saw a woman you could take advantage of so you did it."

"Your mother wasn't the type of woman to let anyone take advantage of her."

"This sick infatuation you had with her started years before I was born," Alexis said. "She told me how you chased after her when she was your father's secretary back when he ran Copeland. Even when you were young you couldn't take no for an answer. You act like whatever you want is what you should get and to hell with everyone else."

"I can see that no matter what I say you have your mind made up." He tapped the keyboard of his computer. "I'm not the villain in this, Alexis. I never forced your mother to do anything. I think maybe that's what you need to realize."

She scoffed, completely disgusted. "Let's get to Brett Myers' murder so we can get out of here." Alexis sat in the chair beside his desk.

"Elizabeth." Grant reclined in his chair. "I always think about her but with you here I won't be able to stop."

"Well try." Alexis took out her pencil.

"She was so beautiful." He tilted his head. "So beautiful."

Penelope raised her hand. "Mr. Copeland—"

"She worked well under my father." He rocked in his chair. "She worked well under me too."

Alexis jumped up. "You bastard!"

"Lexi!" Penelope grabbed her. "Calm down."

"Calm down?"

It took everything inside of her not to pull out her gun and blow his face off. "You ruined my mother's life!" Alexis hit the desk. "She was never the same after being driven out of town."

"How many times must I say this?" Grant rocked in the chair. "I'm afraid you have the wrong idea of me."

She pointed the pencil. "You're gonna pay for what you did to her and my father."

"Stossel?" Grant sat up straight. "All I ever did for him was be his best friend and give him a job where he made nearly millions. I don't think he'd complain about that if he were still here."

"You—"

"Lexi, sit down." Penelope shoved her in the chair. "We're here about Brett Myers and nothing else."

Grant pulled at the sleeves of his shirt. "It's a shame what happened to Brett. I want to help the police in any way I can."

Son of a...

Alexis slapped a page of her notepad over.

Penelope stood behind Alexis' chair. "We were informed that you and Brett had a falling out recently. Is this correct?"

"I fired him at the last board meeting." Grant straightened his Roberto Cavalli watch. "I didn't want it to go that far but he acted ridiculous. He apparently didn't agree with me naming Kevin as the CEO for when I step down. I don't plan on working much longer and I've been grooming Kevin to take over. Apparently Brett had an issue with that."

"I can't say I blame him, sir," Penelope said. "For years it's been rumored that you'd hand the company over to Brett and then you just say in a meeting that you were handing it to Kevin?"

"I thought that was the right decision. Kevin's young and he can take the company in a better direction." He twisted a pen in his hand. "I tried to explain to Brett that it was nothing personal but he got irate."

"Is that when he said he'd expose your secret?" Alexis asked.

"What are you talking about?" Grant gestured with his hand as if to dismiss the idea. "I have no secrets."

Alexis nodded, jotting on her pad. "Some seem to think you do."

"Alexis, as popular as I am and as small as Tate Valley is do you think I could keep a secret from anyone?" Grant rocked in the chair with that condescending grin she'd never forgotten. "Are you two trying to implicate me in murder?"

"No, sir." Penelope rushed from behind Alexis' chair.

Alexis glared at her.

"We're just asking questions," Penelope said.

"But if it points to you being a major suspect...we intend to get to the bottom of things."

He laughed. "You seem so sure of yourself, Alexis."

She stood and pulled down the hem of her blouse. "I am."

"I didn't kill Brett." He laid his hands on the desk. "But what if I did? What would you do about it?"

Alexis leaned over the desk. "I'd put your ass in jail. That's what I'd do."

"What jail?" He laughed. "The jail I own? The jail that answers to me?" He shook his head. "You've been gone a long time so maybe you need to be reminded of how things work in Tate Valley."

"I know all too well how they work." Alexis shoved a book off his desk.

"Lexi." Penelope grabbed her. "We're cops and we have to act a certain way remember?"

"Ooh wee!" Grant stuck out his tongue. "You got that fire that your momma had, don't you?"

"You son of a bitch!" Before she realized what she was doing, Alexis jumped on the desk and reached for his neck.

"Lexi!" Penelope grabbed her. "Stop it!"

"Wow!" Grant laughed as he gripped Alexis' wrists. "You are a firecracker, aren't you?"

Grant's bulky black security guard ran inside. "Let him go, Detective!" He rushed to the desk and grabbed Alexis by her waist.

Alexis struggled as he yanked her off the desk. "Let go of me!" She spit at Grant.

"Stop it, Lexi!" Penelope shouted.

"You're gonna pay for all that you've done, Grant!" Alexis kicked at his desk as the guard pulled her toward the door. "You're not getting away with it anymore!"

"Take her out of here." Grant straightened his tie.

The guard grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the room.

"Get off me." Alexis ripped her arm away from the guard. "Touch me again and I'll arrest your big ass."

Sweat ran down the guard's face. "You just assaulted Mr. Copeland but you're threatening me with arrest?" He pointed down the hall. "Get out and don't come back."

"I'll be back." Alexis straightened her blouse as Penelope pulled her to the front door. "I'll definitely be back."

Chapter Three

"Mr. Reed?" The redheaded secretary led Alexis and Penelope into Kevin Reed's third-floor office of Copeland Enterprises. "You have visitors."

The gorgeous, clean-shaven white man with short brown hair and stunning gray eyes looked up from the papers at his desk. He stared at Alexis with his mouth open.

Alexis once again wanted to throw up but not from fear, from shock. For years she'd imagined how Kevin would look grown up and even in her most passionate dreams he didn't look this good.

Even though she could always get lost in his eyes she found herself staring at his mouth, thinking of all those sweet kisses she'd missed. And all the kisses she'd been dying to share with him since she left Tate Valley.

Some things never changed.

Kevin stood, rubbing his tie. His expression seemed to mimic how Alexis felt about seeing him again. His mouth rose in the corner as if he'd smile but it instantly disappeared. He stood with his back erect and straightened his throat.

"Alexis," he said in a dry tone. "Never thought I'd see you again."

"Is that all you have to say after nineteen years?" She chuckled though her heart broke a bit at his hollow greeting.

But what did she expect? For him to hug and kiss her after she'd practically abandoned him just as their young love blossomed into something that was sure to be the most amazing thing she'd ever experience.

"How are you, Kevin?" Alexis asked with a shaky voice. "You look great."

"So do you." He acted like it caused him pain to give her a compliment. "I didn't think you could get more beautiful than you were before but I see I'm wrong." His cheeks turned red.

He's blushing.

Alexis smiled.

He doesn't hate me as much as he wants to let on.

"Hey, Kevin." Penelope waved.

"Penelope. It's nice to see you as always." His gaze remained on Alexis. "I'm surprised you came back to Tate Valley, Lexi. Considering how you'd obviously forgotten it existed."

Alexis dug for her notepad. "You know that's not true."

"Do I?" His voice cracked, apparently from the pain he'd felt all these years. "All I know is that you just went to LA with your mother and never even contacted me again. You talked to Penelope through the years." He gestured to Penelope who acted awkwardly at his acknowledgement. "You called me what, a few times for the first few years and then disappeared."

"I..." She swallowed. "I never meant to hurt you, Kevin. You know I never wanted to leave but I was a child. What was I supposed to do? Go against my mother?"

"It's not about you leaving, Lexi." He pointed to her. "It's about you not taking the time to remember that people who loved you still lived here."

"Love?" she whispered.

He sighed and looked away.

"I expected you to be pissed, Kevin." Alexis joked, trying to lighten the mood. "But can I at least get a hug?"

"No." He slipped his hands in the pockets of his Gucci slacks. "That would be a little too much to ask right now."

Her heart sunk into her chest.

"Just because I'm pissed doesn't mean I can't give you my condolences right?" He sat on the edge of his desk. "I'm so sorry about Stossel's passing. I really admired him and enjoyed working with him. He was a big part of the Copeland family."

"He'd appreciate that I'm sure." She swept her hair over her shoulder, observing him. "He always did like you. He used to joke that he thought we'd grow up and get married."

Kevin frowned.

She cleared her throat. "I appreciate your sympathies."

"You weren't at the funeral." He raised a brown eyebrow.

She sighed. "No I wasn't at the funeral and my mother died three years ago."

"I'm sorry about your mother." He crossed his arms. "I liked Elizabeth and Stossel very much. Why are you back? You never even visited after you and your mother left."

"I missed my home town."

"Come on, Lexi." He touched his lips. "You expect me to believe that you simply got homesick for Tate Valley after you couldn't stand to visit in almost twenty years?"

She faked a smile. "I have the feeling that you won't believe anything I tell you, Kevin. Or at least that you wouldn't want to." She opened her notepad. "Let's get to this case."

"Finally." Penelope exhaled. "This whole day's been like a soap opera so far." "I'm sure you've heard that someone broke into Brett's house and beat him to death in his bed last night," Alexis said to Kevin. "We've pinpointed that it happened between nine p.m. and midnight. Mrs. Myers found the body."

"Yes I know," Kevin said. "I called her this morning and gave her my condolences. All of us at Copeland Enterprises are deeply saddened by the loss. Like your father, Brett was a huge part of this company."

"Did you get along with Brett?" Alexis asked. "We believe there might've been some bad blood between you two."

"We had our disagreements at times." Kevin tugged on his collar. "But we mostly got along."

"We heard that Brett and Grant had a huge blowout at the company meeting because Grant announced he was making you the CEO when he steps down." Alexis chewed on her pencil. "Is this true?"

Kevin fidgeted. "Yes it's true."

"So you expect me to think that you and Brett got along when Brett was upset that you were trying to take his place?"

"You know me, Lexi. You know I would never hurt anyone."

"I'm not saying you did but I'm a cop, Kevin. I gotta look at any potential motives, right? It had to be pretty tense around here between you and Brett."

Kevin laid his hands flat on the desk. "I didn't even know Grant wanted to make me the CEO. At first I was against it because I didn't want to cause any issues within the company, but when Grant makes his mind up, that's it."

"Kevin, you just said I know you," Alexis said. "But do I really still know you? How can I be so sure of what you'd do with the company you keep these days?"

Kevin's dark eyebrows furrowed. "What does that mean?"

"Can I still expect honesty or integrity from a man who works with Grant Copeland and holds him in such high esteem?"

Kevin's jaws filled with air. "Just because you hate Grant doesn't mean everyone else has to, Lexi."

She shook her foot, becoming more irritated. "How could you work for that man after what he did to my family? I feel so betrayed, Kevin."

"I don't really give a damn how you feel about the decisions I've made in my life." He peered at her. "Who do you think you are, Lexi? You left and acted like you'd never even knew me and now you expect me to explain myself to you? Go to hell or wherever it is you came from."

"God." Penelope slapped her forehead. "Guys, just calm down. Can we—?"

"Even when you were a teenager you were stubborn." Kevin shook his head. "You have this idea in your head that Grant is a horrible person just because he had an affair with your mother but that was their business, Lexi."

"It's very much my business too! It ruined my family."

"You're thirty four years old now!" he shouted. "When are you gonna get over it? Everyone else has moved on but you. Even Stossel moved on. Speaking of Stossel, he and Grant had resumed their friendship and they were closer than ever. Grant did the eulogy for Stossel's funeral when your ass didn't even show up! Who are you to judge Grant because of something that happened twenty years ago?"

"Fuck you."

"Fuck you." He pointed. "Who the hell do you think you are coming in here and questioning me about my relationship with Grant? You don't know anything about him except that he slept with your mother."

"I know that he's been a disease in this town ever since he was born and everyone is either afraid of him or snowed by him but I'm not."

"Grant is a wonderful man."

"Ha!" Alexis threw her head back. "I'm sure you think so. You got the wool pulled over your eyes like everyone else around here. I bet you believe in the Easter Bunny, too."

Penelope nudged her. "Cool it."

"You don't know a damn thing about Grant," Kevin said. "He's an honorable and admirable person."

"Oh please." Alexis stuck her lips out.

"He's also a brilliant businessman," Kevin said. "When Grant took over Copeland Enterprises, in less than ten years it became one of the most successful pharmaceutical companies in America. I admire that even if you don't."

Alexis faked a yawn.

Kevin scoffed. "I hope I'm half the man he is when I'm his age."

"So you wish to be half a snake?"

"Lexi." Penelope put her hand on Alexis' thigh. "I apologize, Kevin."

Alexis pushed Penelope's hand off her leg. "Don't apologize for me. I'm not sorry at all."

"Lexi, you shouldn't even be on this case with your prejudices against Grant," Kevin said.

"Are you insinuating that I won't be able to separate personal feelings from my job?" she asked. "When did you get to be this much of an asshole or were you always one and I didn't see it?"

"Guys!" Penelope yelled. "Can we please get back to—"

"No, I really wonder how she can be objective on this case when she hates Grant!"

"You worry about yourself okay, Kevin?" Alexis said. "Don't worry about me doing my job. I will always do my job right."

"I'm not convinced."

"And I don't give a shit. This isn't about me not liking Grant any damn way."

He leaned his head back, squinting at her. "Well what's it about then?"

"Brett Myers." Alexis leaned toward the desk. "I think Grant killed him."
Chapter Four

"God." Kevin shook his head, chuckling.

"It makes sense to me." Alexis pointed at him. "Apparently Brett said he would expose Grant at the meeting. What did he mean by that?"

"How the hell should I know what Brett meant?" Kevin sat back. "You're wrong if you think Grant killed Brett. There's no fuckin' way." He flung his arm. "Brett was probably just sprouting off. There wasn't anything to know about Grant. The man is an open book."

Bullshit.

Alexis gaped.

Kevin frowned back at her. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because I can't believe you're so naïve when it comes to Grant. You've been living in this town and have seen the way he operates, yet you take up for him?"

"I admit when it comes to business, Grant is as ruthless as they come but that doesn't make him a killer. Besides the stuff you go on about Grant comes from rumors. You don't know it for sure."

"Wake up, Kevin!" Alexis had to hold herself back from smacking some sense into him. "Grant's a monster who does anything he can to people to get what he wants."

"Get out!" He pointed to the door. "I'm sick of hearing this nonsense. You need counseling so you can finally move on with your life and stop obsessing over Grant."

"Fine, Kevin." Alexis stood. "You wanna sleep with dogs then go right ahead. But don't come whining to me when you realize what Grant's really capable of."

"Trust me." He sat back. "You'd be the last one I came 'whining' to for anything."

"I can't believe this is you talking, Kevin. What happened to the boy who always had my back?" Alexis backed up from his desk while Penelope went to the door. "Who always trusted what I said?"

He shrugged one shoulder. "He got his heart broken and since then he's never been the same."

Alexis reflected on his stinging words then headed out the door.

"Hey, Lexi?" he called for her.

She reluctantly stopped at the door. "What?"

"Did you ever talk to King Myers?"

"Who?" Alexis asked.

"That's Brett's youngest son," Penelope said to Alexis then addressed Kevin. "We were going to speak to him but haven't yet. Why?"

"Did you know he had a big blowout with Brett a few weeks ago?" Kevin asked. "Brett told Grant about it and apparently it was so bad that King told him he hated him and wished he was dead." He looked back and forth at them. "Carolyn didn't tell you?"

"No," Alexis said. "She didn't."

****

"I didn't lie Detective Adams." Carolyn stood on the veranda of her estate. "I just didn't want you to think King was involved."

"Well if you didn't lie then what the hell do you call it?" Alexis and Penelope sat in the chairs in front of the sliding glass door.

"We specifically asked you if there was anyone other than Grant Copeland who might want to hurt your husband," Penelope said. "I understand you want to protect your son, but if he's innocent then you have nothing to worry about."

Carolyn leaned against the railing.

"Honestly, the fact that you didn't tell us about King and Brett does not look good at all. How are we to trust you?" Alexis asked.

"I'm sorry but I didn't want my son in trouble for something he didn't do. I knew you would suspect him if I told."

"Our job is to find out who killed your husband. You can't hide anything else from us," Alexis said.

Carolyn took out a tissue. "I'm sorry." She wept. "This has been so hard for me." She held the tissue to her nose. "I'm having all these emotions and my mind is in a million places. I should've told you the truth but I was scared. I didn't want to get King in trouble."

"Is it true that King and Brett had a recent falling out?" Alexis asked.

Carolyn nodded. "They had a horrible fight a few weeks ago because of King's rock band. Brett's always had strict expectations for the boys. Cecil, our oldest, just got out of medical school and has started practicing in Santa Monica. Morris is an architect in Seattle." She smiled. "Wesley got an executive position with a huge oil company in Texas." She looked down. "King's the baby and he was Brett's favorite. They used to be close when King was growing up. Brett had always wanted King to be an engineer but he dropped out of college last year to sing in his band, Morning's Night."

"His band's very good." Penelope lit up. "I listen to them at the Tate Valley Lounge sometimes."

"He is good." Carolyn pressed her hands together. "I'm proud of him and just wanted him to be happy but Brett had his heart set on King being an engineer and when King dropped out...they weren't ever the same."

"So what caused the recent blowout?" Alexis got her pencil ready to write in her notepad.

"King found out that Brett cut him out of his will."

Alexis looked up from jotting.

"King was angrier than I'd ever seen him." Carolyn cut her eyes to Alexis. "He asked Brett how he could do such a thing. I was shocked because I had no idea that Brett changed his will." She looked up at the sky. "I felt so bad about it. The mother is supposed to be the one to hold things together and make things right." She cried into her tissue. "I had no idea Brett would take it that far."

Alexis chewed on her pencil. "We heard King told Brett he wished he was dead."

"He did." Carolyn held on to the railing. "He didn't mean it. He was angry and hurt." She wiped her nose. "My son wouldn't hurt anyone. He loved his father. He just wanted to be accepted."

Alexis stared into Carolyn's begging eyes, remembering the power of a mother's love.

She didn't know why but something about Carolyn seemed so sincere.

"Please don't think he's a bad person." Carolyn lowered her head. "My son has a good heart. He didn't kill his father."
Chapter Five

"I loved my father." King Myers set his guitar down and walked off the stage of the empty Tate Valley Lounge. "I would never hurt him."

"Would you mind clarifying some things for us please?" Alexis asked.

"Hey guys?" King turned to his band. "Let's take five."

His band mates broke off into their own conversations.

"We didn't mean to interrupt your practice," Penelope said. "But I'm sure you find this more important."

They sat at the front table.

Alexis looked at King and he seemed to hold the same sincerity as Carolyn, but this wouldn't be the first time in her career that she misjudged a possible murderer.

"I didn't kill my father, okay?" King looked at his fingers. "Yes, we had a horrible argument. He cut me out of his will and I confronted him about it."

Alexis laid her arm on the table.

"I was not so much mad but hurt, you know?" Tears formed in his eyes. "That he'd take such a drastic measure." His voice cracked. "He even told me I wasn't his son anymore."

"Can you tell us where you were last night between nine and midnight?" Penelope asked.

"I was with Pete." He turned and pointed to the skinny guitarist with the blonde mohawk. "Pete?"

Pete looked up.

"I stayed at your place last night, right?"

Pete stared at Penelope and Alexis then nodded. "Yeah." He set the guitar down and slipped his hands in the pockets of his faded jeans. "We watched movies and chilled all night at my place."

"Okay, we'll verify that." Alexis jotted the information. "Do you know of anyone who would want to hurt your father? Anyone with any grudges?"

King scoffed. "Besides Grant Copeland and Kevin Reed? No."

"Kevin Reed?" Alexis grimaced. "Are you saying this because Kevin and Brett didn't get along?"

"Oh man, you don't know?" King stared at them. "Have you spoken to Kevin yet?"

Penelope nodded. "We know that he and your father didn't always see eye-to-eye. Kevin made it seem like it wasn't a big deal."

"Oh yeah? Would you think it was a big deal if someone screwed up your engagement?"

Alexis raised her eyebrows. "Say what?"

Penelope's face twisted. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about Cynthia Morales. Kevin's ex-fiancée."

"Wait a minute." Alexis glanced at Penelope who fidgeted as if she sensed how Alexis felt to learn this news. "Kevin was engaged to Cynthia Morales and you didn't tell me?"

"What difference does it make?" Penelope shrugged it off as if it weren't a big deal. "You've been gone twenty years. Did you expect Kevin to stand still and not have a relationship?"  
"He's had many relationships," King said. "Cynthia was the only one he ever got engaged to though. He's dated almost every woman in this town except for the ones in his family."

Alexis focused on Penelope.

"No, wait." She waved her finger. "Kevin and I are and will always only be friends. I'd never betray you like that, Lexi."

King gaped at Alexis. "I take it you and Kevin have a history."

Alexis held her head up, shaking off her jealousy. "Kevin and I have nothing anymore and haven't for a long time."

"What does Cynthia have to do with Brett?" Penelope asked King.

"My dad was the reason Cynthia dumped Kevin and called off the engagement. He knew Kevin had an affair with Faye Ramsey."

"Faye Ramsey?" Penelope's mouth dropped.

"Who is Faye Ramsey?" Alexis asked.

"She's from San Diego," Penelope said. "Moved here a few years ago."

"She was a secretary at Copeland Enterprises," King said. "My dad found out Faye and Kevin slept together, told Cynthia, and Cynthia called off her engagement to Kevin. Kevin has hated my dad ever since."

"Penelope, did you know all of this?" Alexis asked.

"Hell no." She wiggled in her chair. "Everyone knew Cynthia broke up with Kevin but I had no idea why. I can't believe he didn't tell us. He knows he shouldn't have hidden anything this crucial."

"I just...I'm getting surprise after surprise today aren't I?" Alexis gripped her notepad.

She wasn't sure what shocked her the most, that no one told her about Kevin and Cynthia or that they'd been engaged in the first place.

"Are you all right, Detective Adams?" King asked.

"I'm...I'm fine." She got up from her seat. "Thanks for your cooperation...oh." Her small, gold loop clip-on fell off her ear. "Shoot."

"Here you go." King got it and passed it to her. "Looks like you're already missing the other one."

"What?" She touched her other ear. "Damn I hadn't even realized it fell off."

King nodded. "Get the feeling you're not having the best day. Welcome to my world."

* * * *

"I still can't believe she's back." Grant stood in his massive living room and filled a square glass with scotch. "I bet she shocked the hell out of you, huh?" He slowly sipped from the glass.

Kevin sat at Grant's baby grand piano, trying his best to keep his mind off Alexis but he hadn't been able to since she left his office so how could he expect to now?

"She's a little firecracker." Grant turned the glass around in his large hand. "She is something else too. Looks just like her mother. Are you glad she's back?"

Kevin took off his blazer and laid it in his lap. "No."

"My boy." Grant pointed at him. "You know you can't pull anything on me. You've missed Alexis all these years. Don't tell me you aren't happy to get at least one more chance at love. "

"Love?" Kevin propped his right leg on his left. "I haven't seen Alexis since I was sixteen and the only thing I feel for her is contempt. I can't believe she just walked into my office like nothing happened. Like her ass hasn't been gone all this time. Who does she think she is?"

Grant sighed. "I can't believe Elizabeth is dead. I made so many mistakes with that, Kevin."

"What are you talking about?"

"I loved Elizabeth more than I ever loved any woman." Grant walked across the hardwood floor and sat at his desk. "I wanted to marry her but how could I? I never meant for her to go through the hell she did. I never wanted to break up her marriage."

"Alexis doesn't think so. Besides, you were having an affair with her. You knew that would eventually ruin her marriage."

"We thought we were being careful." Grant rubbed his hand.

"Alexis hates you, man." Kevin shook his head. "She hasn't forgiven you in all these years."

"She doesn't understand the truth. She only sees me as the man who broke up her parents' marriage." He sipped from his glass. "She'd be crushed to know how Elizabeth really felt."

"What are you talking about?"

"She loved me." Grant looked him in the eyes and usually when Grant looked someone in the eyes, he was telling the truth. "Elizabeth planned to leave Stossel for me."

Kevin's mouth hung open. "You're shitting."

"It's the truth. She'd planned to tell Stossel a few days before he found out. Maybe if Alexis knew that then she wouldn't hate me so much."

"It would kill her and she'd end up hating her mother. Elizabeth's dead so just leave it alone. Like I told Lexi it's time to let go of all this shit. What good is it to keep harping on the past?"

"You're fooling yourself if you think you can forget the past, Kevin. Especially since Alexis is back. I know you still care about her. You have the same look in your eyes I used to have whenever I thought of Elizabeth."

"Leave it alone."

Grant pointed to him. "You can try to be mad at her all you want but one day you're gonna be forced to face those feelings you've hidden all this time."

"It's more important things at hand than me and Alexis." Kevin walked up to the desk. "She thinks you killed Brett because he knew a secret about you. Was Brett telling the truth?"

Grant slipped on his reading glasses and looked through papers. "About what?"

"Did he know something about you? I know you didn't kill anyone but if there's some secret—"

"Kevin." Grant took off his glasses. "There's nothing to know and I don't know where Alexis got this 'secret' stuff from. Don't you believe me?"

"You're capable of a lot of things, Grant." Kevin put his hand on his waist. "But murder is not one of them."

"Yeah well do me a favor and make sure Alexis understands that, will you?" Grant pulled his computer closer and logged on to the Internet. "The last thing I need are rumors going around that I'm a killer."
Chapter Six

Relaxing in the rocking chair on her Nantucket-style beach house porch, Alexis took a hit of her cigarette.

She definitely wasn't used to this carefree living, but being Stossel Adams' daughter had its perks. Everyone in Tate Valley loved Stossel and the few who knew she had returned pulled out the welcome mat. She'd gotten a decent deal on this house down from the beach. Lord knows she wouldn't be able to live in this upper class area if it hadn't been for Stossel's real estate friend. Funny how much she could love sitting on this porch yet hate everything Tate Valley stood for.

Yet this small, southern California town was her home, bumps and all. She could go to Mars, but this would always be her home. Even if Grant Copeland still lived in it.

"Shit." She puffed on the cigarette. "Home sweet home, my ass."

Her blood boiled whenever she thought of being back in the same town as Grant, but images of Kevin would always pop into her head and she'd immediately calm down.

Would he ever forgive me for leaving?

Sure she expected him to hold a grudge for not contacting him all these years, but she hadn't expected such a cold response. While she and Kevin had bumped heads about him working for Grant, Alexis couldn't ignore the fire he brewed inside of her.

Her nipples tightened and her crotch throbbed at the thought of having Kevin back in her arms and in between her legs. If she had the chance she'd never let him go again. Wild horses and an army of a thousand men couldn't drag her away now. Kevin would be the only thing worth putting up with Grant for the next twenty years.

She stopped rocking in her chair.

But would he ever forgive her? The question would go on and on in her head until she knew if he would.

A car motor sounded in the distance followed by shimmering car lights.

A silver-gray Porsche 911 Carrera S came up the sandy road and stopped in front of her house.

She pulled the cigarette from her lips.

Holy shit.

Kevin got out and walked toward her without a hair out of place despite the strong breeze. His Salvatore Ferragamo Python loafers sank into the sand with each step.

"Jesus, here we go." Alexis flicked her cigarette in the ashtray.

For years she'd had erotic dreams of Kevin walking up to her porch, taking her in his arms and putting it deep inside of her until she couldn't scream anymore.

But her womanly instinct told her that wasn't exactly why he was there.

Kevin's slender lips curved into a frown when he approached the porch. "Here." He tossed her a gold, hoop earring.

"My earring." She examined it. "I wondered what happened to it."  
"Now you know." He turned to leave.

"Hold on." She leaned forward in the chair. "You don't mean to tell me you came all the way over here to bring me my earring?"

"It's the truth." He poked his lips out as if he were fighting to stay mad.

"Kevin." She sat back, smirking. "Just like you know me, I know you. You wanted to see me didn't you?"

"I've wanted to see you for the last nineteen years." He displayed a smile that she knew wasn't sincere. "But that didn't matter to you did it?"

She sighed, looking at the earring. "All I can say is I'm sorry if I hurt you."

"If?" He chuckled. "I was so in love with you, Lexi, you can't even imagine. I would've done anything for you. You were my first love. We lost our virginity to each other for God's sake."

She closed her eyes. "Kevin—"

"I would've done anything for you, Lexi. You remember before you left when we were out on the beach?"

"Of course." She swallowed, thinking of that glorious memory once again. "I couldn't forget anything from that moment. I remember how you smelled and how good it felt when you touched me."

"Remember what you said?" He put his foot up on one of the porch steps. "You said we'd always keep in touch and that you wouldn't forget me."  
"And I never forgot you, Kevin." She touched her chest. "The way you felt about me is exactly how I felt about you. I would've died for you. I wanted to marry you one day."

"Hmm." He frowned. "I guess I should be flattered, huh?"

"No but can't you try to forgive me? I know it was awful that I didn't keep in touch but everything about this place reminded me of the pain Grant caused my family and I just wanted to forget that."

"And forget me?" His voice cracked as if he'd cry.

"No." She fought tears of her own. "Kevin, please just don't hate me."

"I don't hate you." He moved his foot off the step. "I'm over it."

"If you were over it then why is your nose red?" She grinned. "Your nose still gets red when you're mad?"

He touched it, cracking a tiny smile.

"I finally got a smile, huh? I didn't think that would happen any time soon."

He stopped smiling.

"I might not deserve a chance but can't you give me one?"

"A chance for what?" He raised an eyebrow.

"A chance to show you that I'm still the Lexi I always was. No matter how you feel about me I'll always be your friend." She smiled.

He looked toward her Toyota then put his hand in his pocket. "I gotta get home."

"Why? Is someone waiting there for you?"

"Is that your business?"

She sulked like a little girl.

"No there's no one waiting for me."

"I'm glad you're here because I have something I wanted to discuss. We found out something very interesting about you and Cynthia. She was your fiancée?"

He held a rigid expression. "So?"

"So?" She blew out a tiny breath. "I have no right to question you about people you've been with but—"

"You damn right you don't. Yes I was engaged to Cynthia and it's none of your damn business."

"Yes but Cynthia? You know how badly she treated me. I hated her."

"There you are holding old grudges again. Just because Cynthia used to put gum in your hair back in elementary doesn't mean she turned out to be a horrible person."

"She bullied the hell out of me!" She bounced up in the chair. "She teased me all the time and made my life hell. You know how I hated going to school because of her."

"We were kids Lexi, damn." He slapped the palm of his hand. "Why can't you ever let anything go? You came out of it okay and I'm sure Cynthia regrets what she did. I don't get why you hold on to such trivial shit."

"And I'm tired of you telling me how I should feel. You didn't go through what I went through with Cynthia. How could you even think of being with her?"

"She's a beautiful and warm woman that's why."

She waved the cigarette. "It makes no sense."

"I'm not gonna justify why I fell in love with Cynthia to you so if that's all you wanted to talk about then I'm gonna go."

"Wait." She flicked her hair off her shoulder. "I asked about Cynthia because of the case. Brett was the reason she broke off your engagement and moved away, wasn't he?"

Sighing, he sat in the chair beside her, which surprised her since he claimed he had to go.

"Brett's the reason you lost the woman you loved." She rocked. "We heard you had an affair with Faye Ramsey. Is this true?"

"Yes." He dropped his head. "It was one of the biggest mistakes I've ever made." He stretched his legs out and crossed them at the ankles. "I loved Cynthia very much and I wanted to marry her the first time I saw her."

She closed her eyes and exhaled. "Sticking a knife in my heart would hurt less than what you just said."

"You want me to be honest right? Am I supposed to believe you haven't had relationships since me?"

She hoped he asked because he was genuinely curious.

"So why did you cheat on Cynthia?"

"Have you?"

She puffed the cigarette. "Have I what?"

"Had other relationships since me."

"Of course I have but this isn't about me." She looked out into the yard. "I hear you've been with a lot of women. One would think you were searching for something you couldn't find."

"Lexi." He rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Kevin." She touched his arm. "I know it's been decades since we've seen each other but the minute I saw you all those feelings came back. Hell they never left. Don't tell me you don't feel the same way."

"Are you crazy? Lexi, what you did changed my life forever. It took me years before I could even trust women. I always thought that they would leave."

"You know I had no choice but you seem to keep ignoring that fact to hold on to this bitterness you have against me." She sat back. "Do you just wanna make me suffer?"

"You've had a chance to reach out to me and tell me how you felt for years." He glared at her. "Don't put this shit at my feet and make it like you're the victim. From where I sit you didn't give a damn about me or how I felt."  
"You know that's not true." She tugged on his arm. "Kevin."

He looked straight ahead. "Are we done here or do you have more to discuss concerning the case?"

"What's with you and this Faye Ramsey person? Do you love her or—"

"Hell no." He grimaced. "Faye has been chasing me since she got here. There's definitely no love on my side because I can't be with a woman I can't trust." He glanced at Alexis as if the comment was for her. "All Faye cares about is hooking a man with money. I think she's obsessed with me."

"Like all men think all women are obsessed with them?" Smoke slithered from Alexis' lips.

"I'm serious. I slept with her after a company party last year." He gripped the armrest of the chair. "Cynthia and I had a fight that day and I got loaded at the party. Faye, as usual, was all over me. We had sex and I was so drunk I didn't even remember until I woke up in her bed the next morning. One day Brett overheard Faye and me at work, talking about it. When Brett found out he tried to blackmail me."

"Blackmail you?" Alexis stopped rocking.

"He hated me. He thought I got where I am because Grant gave me special treatment but I worked hard. Brett told me he'd tell Cynthia about the affair unless I left Copeland Enterprises."

"What?"

"He was so desperate to get me out that he'd do anything." He rubbed his chin. "I told him to go to hell and he told Cynthia. She broke off the engagement."

"Wait a minute." Alexis laid her cigarette in the ashtray. "What you did to Cynthia was wrong, but she broke it off just like that? She didn't even try to forgive you since you were getting married?"

He avoided eye contact. "It wasn't the first time I'd cheated."

She groaned. "Kevin."

"Cynthia told me if I ever cheated again it would be over between us. I'd slept with another secretary at Copeland a year earlier."

Alexis grabbed her cigarette. "Wow."

"Look, I'm no saint, but I never set out to hurt anyone."

"You've been compensating with these women." She blew smoke in his direction. "It's more than obvious."

He rolled his eyes. "Thought you were a detective not a shrink."

"You don't have to be a shrink to see it." She leaned closer to him, taking in his vibrant cologne. "You go from woman to woman because you never got over me."

"Wrong."  
"I don't believe you," she sung in between puffing smoke.

"This isn't about you and me."

"Bull. You can deny it all you want, Kevin. But as long as I'm back in town everything will be about you and me."

"I loved Cynthia."

She grunted as he changed the subject.

"And I'll never forgive myself for screwing up what we had, but it showed me that we weren't meant to be in the first place." He brushed off the thighs of his crisp slacks. "Faye took advantage of me that night and I ended up losing everything."

She snickered. "Took advantage?"

"I'm dead serious." He glared at her. "I think she slipped something into my drink at the party. I felt so weird the next day."

"If you feel Faye drugged you then that's a very serious accusation."

"I know she did."

"If so then there is definitely no excusing her actions. Do you have any kind of proof?"

He scratched through his head. "Of course not but I know in my heart that she did it."

"Despite what happened between you and Faye, this makes you look horrible regarding Brett's murder." She sighed. "You might need to get your lawyer prepared in case—"

"I didn't kill him. I was having dinner at the Tate Valley Café last night until about nine-thirty and then I went home. You can talk to my neighbor. I'm sure she saw my car. Do you believe me?"

She contemplated his question. Nineteen years ago she'd jump up and down in his defense but how well did she still know Kevin Reed? She hadn't been back that long and everything new she's learned about him surprised her.

She stared into his eyes that seemed to beg for her reassurance.

The Kevin Reed she fell in love with and almost went to the prom with wouldn't have hurt a fly. But she also never felt he'd work for Grant Copeland or be engaged to her archenemy but he had.

For the first time since she knew Kevin, she had no idea what to believe.

"You don't believe me anymore do you?" He exhaled, loudly. "I thought of all people you'd always be on my side."

"I don't want to believe you'd do something like this but look at it from my view, Kevin." She straightened up in the chair. "You've done a lot of things that surprised me. In my heart I want to be sure but I—"

"I understand. Besides, it's been years since we've been around each other. We can't be sure what we're capable of, can we?"

"I'm a cop, Kevin." She crossed her legs. "I can't ignore how things look and I owe it to Brett to find his killer."

"I wouldn't expect anything less of you." A glint appeared in his eyes. "Feel free to check out my alibi."

She took a hit of her cigarette then waved the smoke away from her face.

"I can't believe you smoke." He chuckled. "As much as you hated your dad's habit?"

"Now I see why he smoked." She flicked ashes into the ashtray. "He needed something to deal with the pressure of working at Copeland Enterprises."

"Is that why you smoke? Because it's hard being a cop?"

She nodded, grinning. "Working on the LAPD would drive anyone to smoke. You're lucky I'm not an alcoholic."

He laughed but covered his grin.

"You don't even wanna laugh around me, huh? Won't give me an inch will you, Kevin? And you call me stubborn?"

"I'm sorry for how I acted in my office earlier." He clasped his hands. "But you gotta understand how shocked I was. My emotions were all over the place then when you started judging my relationship with Grant I lost it. Lexi, you had no right."

"True." She smacked her lips. "But I will never accept you working for Grant."

"I'm not asking you to accept anything I do." He frowned. "You keep acting like it's still the old days. No. It won't ever be like that between us again." He laid his hands in his lap.

"I'm supposed to believe that you don't want me, Kevin? I can't see you being so pissed off if there weren't any feelings left."

"It won't work, Lexi." He tapped his foot. "You won't be able to just pop up here and have me forgive you like everything is okay. You're gonna have to work for it."

"I want us to be friends again." She touched his hand. "I'll do whatever I have to, to show you that I'm sorry. I left Tate Valley, Kevin. I never left you."

He stared at her hand on his then jerked his away. "It's beautiful out here. You always wanted to live on the beach and now you do."

"You remember that?"

"I remember everything about you," he said without looking at her.

She wanted him to expand on the admission but wouldn't risk ticking him off by asking. "I love sitting out here." She laid her head back. "It's quiet and no one bothers me. Peaceful, you know?"

"Did you live by the beach when you were in LA?"

"Shoot no." She flicked her cigarette. "And I damn sure didn't live in the type of neighborhood where I'd be sitting out on the porch alone."

He chuckled.

"Not unless I wanted to get shot or robbed." She laughed while waving the cigarette. "Shit I'm a cop and I was still scared of my area."

He laughed.

She giggled. "I wasn't exactly living in Beverly Hills, if you catch my drift."

"Man, Lexi." He cocked his head toward her, his laughter slowly trailing off. "I always loved your joking around. No one made me laugh like you did. No matter what was going on, you could always make me laugh."

"How did you get involved with Grant again? I really wanna know."

"Part of it was luck. You know how I grew up, over in the trailers."

She nodded.

"And you know we were far from rich." He scratched his head. "Momma didn't have shit and it was hard being raised by a single mother who was always broke. You were so lucky, Lexi. It wasn't a day that went by where I didn't wish I had your life."

"I had a feeling you felt that way but you never said it."

"Who wouldn't feel that way? Your dad had money. You guys lived in a huge house and you never had to want for anything. More importantly you had enough love to fill a stadium. I was lucky if Momma even came home half the time."

"Your mother loved you. She just had to work so much to provide."

"You were the only shining light in my life." He gripped his wrist. "When I was with you, I forgot all the problems at home and I felt like the richest man in the world."

She smiled.

"I still can't believe you wanted me back then." He smirked. "You coming from that nice neighborhood and me being trailer trash."

"Stop it. Don't talk about yourself like that and I never saw you as anything but wonderful."

"Folks said you hung around me because you pitied me."

"Whoever said that doesn't know a damn thing." She clenched his hand. "I don't care what you didn't have, Kevin. I cared about you. And besides you were the most gorgeous guy in school."

He grinned. "Yeah right."

"Trust me many girls wanted you." She rocked her head. "I bet Cynthia did back then too."

"After you left I wasn't the same. I started hanging around the boys from the trailers and you know the shit they got into. I was doing stuff I had no business doing and Grant rescued me."

She looked at him.

"Me and the boys from the trailers were caught vandalizing the community center. You know, the one Grant was building before you left."

"Why on earth were you messing with the community center?"

He shrugged, scratching his arm. "I was pissed at the whole world back then and when you left it got worse."

She looked away, almost dying to realize how much her leaving really had affected him.

"I didn't care if I lived or died. Nothing at home was going right and I was poor." He propped his elbow up on the armrest. "Shoot someone could've killed me and I wouldn't have cared. When you don't care about yourself then you don't care about others."

"So what happened with the community center?"

"We spray-painted the shit out of it." He slightly grinned. "Someone called the cops and they took us down to the station. Your dad came to get me out."

She gaped. "Dad did?"

"Yeah no one else could and Momma didn't have no money to get me out. Stossel had Grant with him. Grant come walking in there like he was God." Kevin stuck his chest out and balled fists to imitate. "I'd never seen him in person before. I almost shit my pants that he was in the same room with me." He closed his eyes. "He smelled like money. I didn't even know money had a smell until then. They got me out and Stossel said he didn't want me continuing down that road and Grant said he was gonna make sure it didn't happen. He said because I meant so much to your father, he was gonna give me a shot. He said he saw something in me and would give me the opportunity of a lifetime. So right there as we're walking out of the station, Grant offers me a job."

"Just like that?"

He nodded. "He gave me a job in the mailroom at Copeland Enterprises when I was eighteen. Now at thirty-five, I'm the youngest executive in the entire company."

"I'm proud of you even though I wish you were doing this somewhere other than with Grant's company."

"This isn't just about Grant. I got big plans for myself, Lexi." He rubbed his hands together. "Finally I can show everyone in this town that I'm somebody because folks have been pissing on my entire family for years. The Reeds have never been shit around here but I'm gonna prove them wrong. If it wasn't for Grant there's no telling where I'd be today. He's never shown me anything but kindness."

"Then I'm grateful for him for helping you change your life." She faked a smile. "I still can't stand to even hear his name but at least he's done right by you and even though I wish you weren't working for him, I see why he means so much to you." She touched his shoulder. "But get this straight, Kevin. I don't care what happened before Grant. You were never a nobody."

"You know you're the only person who ever told me that. You always believed in me."

"And I always will." She moved her hand down his arm. "God I've missed you so much. I didn't really know how much until I saw you today."

"When you left...I felt like something died inside of me. Living here just wasn't the same."

"I'm sorry." She put her cigarette in the tray. "You know when I got home today I went down memory lane. I've been doing it a lot since moving back."

"How so?"

"I was looking at old picture albums of you, me, and Penelope." She grew warm inside and smiled. "You remember that tie-dyed tank you used to always wear?" She grinned. "You'd change into it every day after school?"

He leaned back, laughing. "The one I gave you before you left?"

"Yep." She stroked his hair. He seemed taken off guard by the action but didn't acknowledge it. "I loved you in that shirt."  
"I wanted you to always have a piece of me. Something close to me."

"I still have it."  
He looked at her with his eyes wide. "You do?"

"Shit an army couldn't pry that shirt away from me. I take it out every once in a while and it still smells like you."

He swallowed.

"It still smells like your sweat." She closed her eyes, desperate to bury her hand in between her legs to quench the thirst of her budding orgasm. "Sometimes I lay down naked on the bed and I rub it over me."

He moaned. "You...you do?"

"Yes. And I touch myself." She bit her lip. "It's so erotic. It's the most passionate thing I've ever felt. I sniff you from the fabric and it reminds me of the first time we made love."

"Stop," he whispered.

"No." She opened her eyes. "You're uncomfortable? Good. That's because you want me and you can't keep denying it."  
"Why are you doing this?"

"Do you ever dream about me like that, Kevin?" She stroked his hand. "Do you think of how it would be for me to touch you? How you want to touch me?"

"Lexi, please."

"Making love to you was the most amazing thing I've ever experienced in my life." She touched his cheek. "Once is not enough." She went in for a kiss and he stood.

"I'm not gonna sleep with you, Lexi."  
"Yes you will." She stood and pressed herself against him. "Maybe not today or even tomorrow but you will because this thing between us is bigger than both of us."

"I'm not going back down this road." He stomped off the porch and toward his car.

"What road?" She waved her arms, flustered. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Me getting involved with you and then you leaving again." He stomped through sand to get to his car. "I can't go back through this, Lexi."

"I'm not leaving!" She stood on the edge of the porch. "Kevin."

"What?" He turned around when he reached his car.

"We haven't been able to stop thinking about each other for twenty years. How can we let go of it now?"

He opened his car door. "Goodbye, Lexi."

"Kevin?"  
He got into his car and sped away.

Chapter Seven

The Next Day

"Every time I'm out on the beach..." Alexis shielded her eyes from the sun, "...I'm reminded of why I came back home."

Faye Ramsey strolled alongside Alexis in a blue bikini and beach towel wrapped around her tiny waist. "Yes, the beach here is beautiful."

With her tanned skin, perfect body, and amazing muscle tone, Faye looked as if she'd been born to stroll on beaches.

Gulls screeched in the distance.

Faye pushed up her shades. "It's one of the main reasons I stick around this useless town." Her narrow feet disappeared in the sand as she walked. "You're a California girl and you don't have any shades, Detective?"

Alexis grinned. "I forgot my shades." She shielded her eyes with her other hand. "And you called Tate Valley useless but you can go anywhere right? You seem like a woman who could find many opportunities to suit her."

With a body like yours, I'm sure the possibilities are endless where men are concerned.

Faye's blue eyes radiated from underneath the shades. "I admit there are some perks to sticking around."

"Would Kevin Reed be one of those perks?"

"Kevin Reed." Faye's plump lips spread into a smile. "Now that's one you gotta watch."

"What do you mean?" Alexis kicked a shell out of her way.

Faye swiveled her hips. "He comes off with the 'nice guy' act but when you get down to it he's just like most men." She peeked at Alexis over the glasses. "Looking for pussy."

"Wow." Alexis looked off into the ocean. "Then why do you want him?"

"I'm not saying he's not a nice guy but he tries to pretend he's different." Faye moved her hands down her waist. "You should've seen him at the company party last year. He was all over me." Her long, black ponytail shifted back and forth in the breeze. "We have sex then he turns around and treats me like shit. The things he said to me the day after he fucked me were ridiculous."

"Well I've known Kevin a long time and find that hard to believe." Sand stuck in between Alexis' feet as she walked.

"You haven't seen him in years though. People change."

"Okay say you're right. Why would you want someone who treated you so badly then?"

"I love Kevin." Faye stopped smiling. "That's the only reason I let him keep fucking me."

"Wait a minute." Alexis stopped. "You mean you slept together more than once?"

"Hell yes." Faye lowered her shades. "Honey, we couldn't get enough of each other. The more we had sex, the more addicted we became."

"I don't believe this." Alexis held her waist. "He said he only slept with you once."

"He's full of shit." Faye continued walking. "I'm telling you that Kevin is not this perfect guy you think he is."

"Why would Kevin lie to me?" Alexis rushed alongside of her. "It isn't even that serious."

Faye shrugged. "I suppose he didn't tell you about our trip to Hawaii two years ago either?"

"What?" Alexis huffed. "You went to Hawaii together?"

"Yep and the sex...ooh." Faye straightened one of her bikini straps. "I can't even describe it, it was so good." She winked. "He's huge."

Alexis might not have been around Kevin in years but she didn't need Faye to remind her of the size of his anatomy. It would be engraved in her memory forever. Even at sixteen he'd been such a great lover that he could've given men twice his age tips on how to please a woman.

Alexis squinted from the sun. "So did you leave Copeland Enterprises or were you fired?"

"Grant fired me. Grant treats Kevin like his little pet so if you piss off Kevin then you piss off Grant." Faye's ponytail blew across her shoulder. "But Kevin wants me even if he won't admit it."

"To hear him tell it you're obsessed with him."

Faye stopped and put her hands on her hips. "Really? If I'm so obsessed with him why did he buy me a four thousand dollar watch for my birthday after he and Cynthia broke up?"

"Lord, have mercy." Alexis' mouth dropped. "What?"

"Yep." Faye kept walking. "Why would he do that if I'm bothering him?"

* * * *

Alexis tore into Kevin's office. "You son of a bitch."

"Whoa!" He jumped up from behind the desk with the phone receiver in his hand. "What the—"

His secretary ran in. "Sir..." She grabbed Alexis' arm. "Detective, this isn't appropriate."

She yanked her arm from the woman and pointed at Kevin. "You lying rat!" She slammed her fists on the desk. "You think this is a game, Kevin? You think you can play me like a fool? I've had it with your ass!"

He dropped the receiver. "What the hell's your problem?"

"You." Alexis pointed. "You're my damn problem. Why are you slinging me all this bullshit? What are you hiding?"

"Detective, you have to leave now." The secretary pulled Alexis toward the door. "I'll have to get security if you don't."

She ripped her arm from the woman again. "I'm here on police business." She marched back to Kevin's desk. "I'm not going anywhere until Kevin admits that he's a lying turd."

He told the person on the phone he'd call back and hung up. "If you're going to come busting in here like some moron, Lexi, I think I should know why." He plopped down in his chair. "And hurry up because I got a meeting in a few minutes."

Alexis turned to the secretary. "Get out."

"She works for me, not you." Kevin pointed to the secretary. "Get out."

She hurried out of the office.

Alexis slammed the door. "I want answers. No." She held out her arms. "I want the truth and not more bullshit."

"I'm not talking to you until you act like a civilized human being."

Alexis wiped sweat off her forehead. "If you think this is uncivilized then you haven't seen nothing yet."

He pointed to the chairs in front of his desk. "Sit down."

She fidgeted then followed the command. "I've had it with your shit."

He sighed. "What the hell has you so upset that you'd act like a crazy person?"

"I just came from Faye's."

"God." He rolled his eyes.

"You lied to me. You didn't sleep with her just once."

"I did!" He sprang up in the chair. "I only slept with Faye the night of the party, I swear."

"You never went to Hawaii with her?" She squinted. "She made it up about all the great sex you guys had?"

"Yes." He sighed into his hand. "She told you we went to Hawaii? I went to Hawaii with Cynthia long before I slept with Faye. Why the hell would I take Faye to Hawaii when I can't stand her?"

"You could stand her enough to sleep with her."

"I told you I was drunk."

"Just can it, Kevin. You know damn well you guys had an on-going affair."

"What?" He jumped up. "That's insane! We slept together once. How many damn times do I have to say it?"

"Oh yeah?" Alexis crossed her arms. "Why would she lie?"

"I don't know." He marched from behind the desk. "She's making this shit up."

"You didn't give her a four thousand dollar watch for her birthday after Cynthia broke off the engagement?"

His shoulders dropped.

She stood. "Well?"

"I did but let me explain."

"Explain?" she yelled. "You claim you hate this woman and that she's chasing you yet you buy her a four thousand dollar watch? Damn, I hope someone hates me like that!"

"I was stupid." He hit himself in the face. "I shouldn't have done it but I thought it would bring closure."

"Oh." She laughed. "Sorry, but this is so ridiculous it's funny. It keeps getting better and better."

"I'm serious. I gave her the watch to make amends. It certainly didn't mean I had affections for her. I do not nor have I ever loved or wanted Faye Ramsey." He took her hand. "You gotta believe me."

"I don't." She pushed him. "As far as I'm concerned everything out of your mouth is a lie." She headed for the door.

"Alexis, wait." He ran up behind her and grabbed her arm. "I know it looks weird but I'm telling the truth. Faye either makes up shit or twists it. She's sick."

"You're the one who's sick." She tore her arm away. "Faye's right. I don't know you like I thought I did."

"You do know me." He blocked her from leaving. "You know me better than anyone has ever known me."

"I used to believe that." She glanced around the room. "But the more I'm around here, the more I feel like you've changed beyond anything I expected."

"I'm still the same Kevin who always had your back." He reached for her hand. "You know I'd never hurt anyone. Come on, Lexi."

"I'm such a fool." She scoffed, holding in tears. "All these years I've wanted to come back and pick up where we left off. But I can't take lies, Kevin. Every time I turn around there's another secret and I can't deal with that."

"Like you said last night, we can't deny how we've always felt for each other." He touched her shoulder. "Lexi, you were so right when I was at your place. Of course I want you and the more I try to stay mad at you, the more I remember how good it felt to have you in my arms."

"Don't." She moved away from him.

"Just tell me one thing. Are you angry because of what Faye told you or because you're jealous that I was with her?"

Damn he can still see right through me. Hell yeah I'm jealous. Mad he lied, but jealous that yet another woman in town got a chance to be with the man I've always wanted.

"Alexis, please." He pulled her close. "Can we just talk about this? I don't want you to be mad."

"Why do you wanna talk to me now? I don't know, Kevin." She shook her head. "I'm feeling very weird about all this and I think we need to keep our distance from each other."

"Just last night you were begging me to admit my feelings and now you're pulling away? Please don't start these games."

"I'm not the one playing the games." She poked his chest with her finger. "I've just realized maybe I was in love with the idea of who you used to be and not the man you really are."

"I'm still the same Kevin you loved." He touched her chin. "Nothing will ever change that."

"I'm not sure I believe that anymore."

"Alexis..."

She left.

Chapter Eight

Alexis jerked up from the living room couch when she heard the knock that night. She set the television remote on the glass table and peeked out of the window.

She made out the silver-gray Porsche in the darkness.

"Shit." She closed her robe and went to the door. "What do you want, Kevin?"

"I want to talk to you for a minute. May I come in?"

She leaned against the door. "I don't think that would be a good idea."

"Why not? I'm sorry that I didn't tell you the truth about me and Brett." He exhaled so loudly she heard it through the door. "I didn't want you to think I killed him that's all."

"That's not the only time you lied."

"If you're talking about Faye then all I can do is hope you believe me because she's lying. Other than sex one time, we've never done anything else together. Come on, Alexis." He tapped the door. "This is a small town and I'm one of the most popular guys in it. If I had gone to Hawaii with Faye, don't

you think it would've gotten around?"

She gripped the doorknob. "You've got a point but it's fishy that you bought her the watch."

"I did it to be nice. That's all it was. I swear." He sounded as if he plopped against the door. "Can I come in please? Just for a little while?"

Of course she'd let him in. She wanted him there no matter how upset she was about anything else.

She unlocked the door and moved aside.

He walked in and glanced around. "Thanks."

She got her cigarettes from the table and sat on the couch. "What do you want?"

He sat beside her. "For the life of me I don't know. Part of me wishes you never came back because facing my feelings has been the most difficult thing I've had to do."

"And the other part?" She crossed her legs and fixed the end of her robe.

"The other part wants to grab you and never let you go." He tilted his head, looking at her legs. "You always had the sexiest legs."

She pulled her robe down.

"You don't know what I wanna do to you right now." He caressed her hair. "Lexi, no woman can twist my emotions up like you can. It has to mean something."

"That we're meant to be together?" She glared while taking a puff. "I thought you were what I wanted but how you've been treating women is a big concern. Trust is the most important thing to me, Kevin. You know that."

"I made some mistakes but I'm not a dog."

"That's not what Faye says."

"I thought we established that Faye is a liar." He laid his hand on her thigh. "I'm not the bad guy here."

She moved his hand as her nipples hardened from his touch.

"Did you check out my alibi?"

"Yep." She nodded with the cigarette in her mouth. "I spoke to the people at the Tate Valley Café. Your neighbor says she had a migraine so she went to bed around eight." She puffed. "She doesn't know for sure if you were home or not."

"You don't really think I'd kill Brett do you?"

She sighed. "No."

He smiled. "That means more to me than anything." He propped his elbow on the back of the couch. "We need to start things off right and get to know each other again." He took off his blazer and laid it in his lap. "Let's start with why you didn't go to your father's funeral."

No one had actually asked her why she hadn't come to the funeral before. People just stared at her when they realized she was back in town. She usually kept things to herself but she'd always felt comfortable with Kevin. He made her wanna talk about things she'd never tell another soul. She missed having someone to share things with.

"My father and I had become so distant. Both of us held animosity at each other. We loved each other of course, but we found it hard to forgive."

"Why would you two need to forgive each other?" He straightened the pillow behind his arm. "Neither of you did anything wrong."

"We both felt like we'd betrayed one another." She propped her leg up on the couch and turned further toward him. "I was upset that he hardly came to see me because he was so upset with mom, and he felt like I'd abandoned him because I hadn't made the effort to see him even after I grew up. Like I said, it was just too many painful memories here."

"Why is it so different now then?" He scratched his wrist. "Why did you come back now?"

She shrugged. "It was time. That's all I can say." She sucked on the cigarette. "Plus I missed this place despite what happened. Tate Valley is my home and I never wanted to leave."

"How were things between Stossel and your mother?"

"Terrible. She wanted him to choose between Grant and her and my father wouldn't give up his career. She kept hoping he'd come to LA and they could start over again but that didn't happen."

He scowled as if he were confused.

"What?" she asked. "Something you want to ask?"

"Uh...no." He smiled. "It's just that...well did your mother ever talk to you about Grant?"

"Only said she regretted how things went down. Why?"

"Umm..." The gray in Kevin's eyes caught the light. "Never mind. It's not my business."

"No don't do that." She tapped his thigh. "If you have something to say then say it."

"You always felt like Grant ruined things himself but what about your mother? Grant never forced her into an affair yet you blame him as if Elizabeth did nothing wrong."

"Trust me I was mad at my mother for a long time but we both know how Grant is. He pushed her, Kevin. She never would've cheated if he hadn't been Grant Copeland. You don't say no to the most powerful man in town."

"Hold on, Lexi." He waved his hand. "You have to see things the way they happened and not just how you thought they were. The truth is that the affair was mutual. Grant didn't make her do anything."

She looked away.

"Maybe that's why you can't let it go? Maybe it's too hard for you to admit that Elizabeth was really in love with Grant."

"That's nonsense." She tugged on the end of her robe. "He was a rich, powerful man who seduced her and she became weak. It wasn't love. If it was love then how come she didn't just leave my father?"

"You're a smart woman." He touched the end of her hair. "You gotta know how hard it was for Elizabeth to do that, especially with you in the picture. Plus Stossel and Grant were best friends and Grant cherished that."

"Cherished," she mocked.

"What if your mother was in love with Grant?"

"She loved my father," she snapped. "What she had with Grant was lust. She got caught up. He swept her off her feet and took advantage of her. She didn't love him." Alexis exhaled, refusing to believe it but she wasn't stupid. She'd known for years that Elizabeth had probably loved Grant.

She shivered from disgust. It was too revolting to even think of.

"I'll never forgive myself." She began sobbing before she realized it. "I loved my father very much and I regret that I wasted all that time being mad and now he's dead." She cried into her palms. "My father's dead and I'll never be able to see him again."

"Sh." Kevin pulled her into his arms. "It's okay. He knew you loved him and he loved you very much."

"I was so selfish." She pushed her head into his broad chest. "If I could have one more time to tell him I loved him I would take it in a heartbeat." She raised up, wiping her eyes. "Life's too short to be away from the people you love."

"Believe me I know." He caught one of her tears on his fingertip. "That's why I came tonight, Lexi." He stroked her cheek. "I've spent too long being mad at you for leaving. I feel like this is my second chance to have what I've missed all these years. I don't want to lose you again. I can't do that." He gently laid his soft lips upon hers, kissing her with a tenderness she hadn't experienced since he kissed her the first night they made love. A tenderness that made it hard for any man to take his place in hear heart. Not even Mario, the only man she'd loved besides Kevin, could fulfill the void she'd felt since leaving Tate Valley.

She leaned back, his arms still around her. "Why did you kiss me?"

"It's like you've been saying..." He gave her another tiny peck. "What we feel for each other is way too strong to deny. My feelings for you have gotten even stronger since you returned. I didn't think that was possible."

She put her finger to her lips, reflecting on his kiss. She wanted him to take it much further, push her down and make love to her right on the couch.

But she wouldn't rush anything with Kevin. She'd revel in every second of every moment he touched her because nothing had ever felt so right.

"May I ask a question?" He ran his fingers through her hair.

She snickered. "Yes I'm wearing underwear."

"Whoa!" He laughed. "That's good to know but that wasn't the question."  
"You can ask me anything."

"Well you know about my love life but what about yours? I know you've had to see a few people in the last nineteen years, right?"

"Uh..." She straightened the end of her gown underneath her robe. "I've dated men of course but there was one that I was very serious about."

He squinted. "Uh-huh?"

"He was a fellow officer. We were engaged."

"Engaged?" He gaped. "Wow." He nodded, looking around. "I guess it really was serious between you two."

"He meant a lot to me." She closed her eyes, sighing. "I feel weird telling you how I felt about another man."

He smiled. "All I ever wanted was for you to be happy and I'm glad you found someone that you wanted to be with."

"The funny thing is that Mario always knew that deep down I hadn't gotten over you." She pushed her hair behind her ears. "That always made me feel guilty."

"That's something that Cynthia sensed too." Kevin swallowed. "She knew I would always love you but she couldn't do anything about it. So you and Mario...you guys just broke up or..."

"Umm, no." She rubbed her gown. "He died last year. He was killed while he was undercover."

"Oh my God." He clenched her hand. "I'm sorry, Lexi. That must've been horrible to deal with."

"Seems like death hits everyone I care about. Makes me not even want to care about anyone because I've gotten to expect something's gonna happen to them."

"You can't let anything take your passion, Lexi. You're too smart a woman to do that." He caressed her hand. "Besides you never lost me even when you left." He smiled. "You never will."

She stared at him.

"What?" he asked.

"I just don't understand how you of all people could think so highly of a man like Grant Copeland."

He let her hand go. "You can't go one minute without talking about him. Sh." He placed his finger over her lips. "I don't want to talk about Grant, Faye, or anyone else. I want to focus on us."

"Kevin, it's not that simple."

"Let it go, Lexi." He leaned his head back. "How about we go out? Have you had a chance to revisit the sights since you've been back?"

"This is Tate Valley." She clenched the front of her robe. "There are no sights."

"You've been gone for decades." He moved his finger down her cheek. "There has to be something about this place you've missed besides the people. It's time you stopped thinking so much about Grant and concentrated on yourself. We could go out to dinner and dancing."

"I'm not a very social person. I prefer to stay home."

"Since when?" He smirked. "You used to love going out and being into everything when we were growing up."

"I changed when I moved to LA I'm an introvert now. I don't like to be around a lot of people."

"Wow." He seemed shocked. "Okay we can do whatever you want then. But I really wanted to take you out for a night on the town."

"How about I cook you dinner?" She pointed toward the kitchen across from the living room. "I'm no Emeril but I can burn like my momma."

"Ooh." He rubbed his stomach. "Your momma was the best cook. I loved that Salisbury steak she used to make."

"You remember that?"

"Hell yes! I loved having dinner at your place. I remember everything she would make but that was my favorite. I'd love for you to cook me dinner."

She fought the urge to giggle, afraid she'd look like some silly schoolgirl with a crush. "Then we're on for tomorrow night?"

"Definitely." He smiled like a boy with his first toy at Christmas. "Well I should be going." His eyes trailed down the front of her robe.

"You don't have to." She motioned to the TV. "We can take in a movie if you want."

"No I gotta be at work very early tomorrow." He stood, grabbing his blazer. "Tomorrow night's gonna be interesting to say the least."

She stood. "Why do you say that?"

"We got the bullshit out of the way." He slipped his blazer on. "Maybe we can start over."

She smiled as she walked him to the door. "Goodnight, Kevin." She wanted to pull him back inside and rip his clothes off but that would have to wait until tomorrow night.

She chuckled to herself.

"What's so funny?" he asked from the porch.

"Nothing." She giggled.

"Doesn't look like nothing." He kissed her cheek. "Goodnight, Alexis."

She waved then waited as he got into his car and drove away.

Her cell rang as soon as she closed the door. She went across to the kitchen and got it from the table. She clicked the button to accept the call. "Penelope, what's up?"

"We might've found the murder weapon for Brett."

"What is it?"

"A hammer found in a dumpster not far from Brett's estate."

"Jesus."

"The hammer has faint traces of blood so..." Penelope sighed. "I doubt that's a coincidence."

"Well this is definitely a good sign." Alexis left the kitchen and headed to her couch. "Too bad we have to wait until the lab results come back to be sure."
Chapter Nine

"What the hell?" Kevin slammed his front door shut a short while later. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Faye lounged on the couch in a red negligée and red pumps, licking a lollipop. "About time you got back." She dangled her pump off her toes. "You know I've been waiting about an hour for you?" She licked the red pop. "And I don't like waiting."

"Get outta here." He marched to the couch. "Get out or I'll throw your ass out."

"Ooh." She moaned. "I think I might like that."

"Get out!" He yanked her from the couch. "Get your shit!" He got her purse off the couch and handed it to her. "Get out and don't ever come back."

"Aw, Kevin." She sucked the pop. "Why are you upset with me?"

"Why? You broke into my house, Faye!"

"You gave me a key remember?"

He ripped off his blazer. "I never gave you a damn key." He threw his blazer on the couch. "I've had it with your shit."

"You gave me a key, you just don't remember." She licked the pop.

"No, you mean you took the key." He held out his hand. "Give it to me."

She put her hands under her bosom. "Come and get it."

"Get out." He opened the door. "I told you to stay away from me and I meant it."

"Kevin." She threw her purse on the couch and sashayed to him.

"Get your shit off my couch and leave."

"Kevin," she sang his name.

"I'm not playing with you." He pointed out the door. "Get the hell out or I'll call the police."

"The police?" She laughed and shoved him against the wall. "Isn't that a little rash?" She clamped her arms around his neck. "You remember how it felt to touch me?" She tried to kiss him.

He turned from her kisses. "Stop."

"Oh, come on." She pressed her body against him. "When you fight me you're just fighting yourself." She put her hands on his face. "Come on."

He tightened his lips. "Get off me." He gripped her waist. "Get off me or I'll—"

"Or you'll what?" She pulled his head toward hers. "You'll fuck my brains out?" She licked her lips. "Is that what you'll do?"

"Get the fuck off me!" He shoved her into the table.

"Ah!" She fell to the floor. "Ow!" She grabbed her arm. "You pushed me into the table."

"I told you to get out of here." He yanked her up.

"My arm..."

"I don't give a fuck about your arm." He shoved her to the door and got her purse. "This is the last warning you get." He threw the purse to her. "You're going to leave me alone one of these days or I'm going to make sure you do." He pushed her onto the stoop. "And stay away from Alexis."

"Alexis?" She wiped the corner of her mouth. "Oh, I get it now. You trying to rekindle something with her?"

"What do you know about me and Lexi?"

"I asked around about you guys." She put her hand on her hip. "You not only grew up together but supposedly you're each other's first loves," she mocked. "Some might think it's sweet but I find it pathetic that neither of you could move on in twenty years."

"Get out!"

"So that's what you're into?" She lowered her purse and grimaced. "You like that dark meat. Who knew?"

"You..." He lunged at her then stopped. "Don't you ever talk about Lexi. Do you understand me? Don't even say her fuckin' name because you're not even good enough to do that."

"Oh really?" She rocked her head, licking her lips. "I was good enough to fuck though wasn't I?"

"I'm warning you, Faye." He pointed a shaky finger to her. "You better stay out of my face or you'll be sorry."

"What will happen, huh? I'll end up like Brett too?"

He clenched up, doing the best to ward off his rising anger. "I won't tell you again to get out my face."

"You can't ignore me, Kevin. You might screw some other chick and throw her away but you can't do that to me."

"You need help." He pointed at her. "I'll never want you." He held on to the door. "You stay away from me and Alexis. No, better yet—" He stepped outside, "—you're going to take your ass down to the station tomorrow and tell her you lied about us."

"When hell freezes over."

She stomped off into the darkness.

* * * *

"Excuse me, Detective Adams!" The female security guard chased Alexis down the hall of Copeland Enterprises the following day. "Detective Adams!"

Alexis stomped past employees and ended up at the conference room.

"Stop!" The guard jumped in front of her. "You can't go into a Copeland board meeting. This is private—"

"The hell I can't." Alexis shoved her out of the way and went in. "Well hello, everybody." She held up her badge.

Kevin jumped up. "Lexi—"

The men and women sitting around the table gasped and held their chests. All except Grant Copeland who wore his usual sly smirk at the head of the table.

"Sorry to interrupt." Alexis walked around, with her hand on her gun.

"Grant," a woman shrieked. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Relax." He leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. "She's putting on a show and a rather interesting one."

Alexis stopped in front of him and gripped the gun tighter. "Alexis!" Kevin ran up behind her.

Alexis swung around to face Kevin. "I should shoot your ass."

He stood back. "What?"

"Detective Adams!" The guard huffed and puffed. "I'm ordering you to remove your hand from your weapon."

"Seriously?" Alexis pointed to her, chuckling.

Kevin waved at the guard. "Sharon, hold on."

Sharon held her stance. "Not until she lets go of the weapon."

"Cool it, okay?" Kevin huffed. "She's not going to shoot anyone."

"Everything is under control, Sharon," Grant said. "I'm enjoying this."

Alexis bent over Grant. "I just bet you are."

"Well." Grant sniffed her. "You certainly do know how to make an entrance."

"Hold on." Kevin pulled Alexis to him. "What the hell is going on with you?"

Grant threw his head back. "I love it." He nudged the fat man beside him. "This meeting was rather boring before she showed up."

"Grant." A man with a thick gray beard scowled from the other end of the table. "What the hell is going on in here? This is a board meeting not a soap opera."

"I got this." Kevin grabbed Alexis and pulled her to the door.

"Stop!" She swung her fist at him. "Let me go, Kevin."

"Shut up." He yanked her out of the room, down the hall, and then stopped by the elevator. "What the fuck is your problem?" He let her go. "Have you lost your damn mind?"

"No." She fixed her blouse. "I just found it."

"You're insane." He pointed behind him. "Did you really just bust into a Copeland Enterprises board meeting like you were gonna shoot everybody?"

She patted her hair. "I damn sure did."

"You mind telling me why?"

"You mind telling me what went on between you and Faye Ramsey last night?"

He covered his eyes. "What did she tell you this time?"

"Answer the question."

"Let's go to my office."

She crossed her arms. "I'm not going anywhere."

Kevin shifted his gaze to passing executives. "You've made enough of a scene and I don't know what the hell this is about so..." he grabbed her hand and pulled her down the hall, "we're going to my office."

"All that nice stuff you were saying last night." She traipsed in behind him. "You were playing me like a violin, weren't you?"

He pulled her around the corner and down another hall. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

"I guess if you can lie you can deny it, right?"

"How can I deny something when I don't know what the hell you're talking about?" He dragged her down yet another hall and into his office.

"Don't try to talk your way out of this. I'm sick of this, Kevin!"

He closed the door and locked it.

She got in his face. "I want to know what the hell went on between you and—"

He pushed his lips on to hers. "Mmm!" He picked her up and slammed her on his desk.

What the hell?
Chapter Ten

"You..." Kevin pulled at his shirt, panting as if he'd run a one-hundred mile marathon. "You have any idea how much I want you right now?"

"Wait a minute!" Alexis held on to his shoulders as he pushed her down on the desk. "Kevin? Have you lost your mind?"

I want you, too, but it's not the right time.

Alexis ignored the mounting tingle between her legs.

This can't happen like this. Alexis, get a grip, girl!

"Kevin." She pushed on his shoulders. "Wait."

"Don't tell me this isn't exciting." He kissed her.

"This is nuts."

So what if I do fuck him? I'm so fuckin' wet. I don't think I can stop this.

He pulled her legs around him.

She relaxed on the desk.

What would be the worst to happen if I just go on and fuck him?

"You're so fuckin' sexy!" He unbuttoned her blouse.

Come on now. What is the worst that would happen?

She put her hand on her forehead.

This is a small town. This would get out and spread like wildfire. Then what else? Come on, give me a good excuse to stop.

Kevin planted kisses on top of her bra.

I'm a professional. Yeah... that's a good reason right?

He slipped his hands to the back of her bra.

What's a really good reason because I have to stop this. We can't do this.

He struggled with the snap. "I can't..." He twisted the clasp. "The snap's so small." He grunted. "I can't get my fingers under it."

Her breasts jiggled as he yanked on the bra.

"Come on, man." Sweat skidded down the side of his face. "Shit." He tugged harder.

No we can't. We just can't!

"Hold on." She wiggled for him to let her go. "Stop!" She shoved him. "What the hell are you doing?"

He batted his eyelids. "Uh...I'm trying to take your bra off."

"Not that." She buttoned up her blouse and pulled away. "This is crazy."

"But it's exciting, right?" He kissed her. "You know you want it too. I've never felt chemistry like this with anyone else, Lexi." He grabbed her. "You think I'd be doing this here with any other woman? Only you make me this crazy. I wanted you last night." He gave her a sloppy kiss. "That's why I had to leave. I felt it would be too soon."

"But not now?" she asked, breathless. As hard as it was, she fought losing herself to passion. "Kevin, let go of me."

He let her go and shook his head. "It's getting harder and harder not to fuck you."

She jumped off the desk and tucked in her blouse. "Oh you don't have to tell me that. I've been wet ever since I came into your office the first time but we can't do this here."

He touched his head, huffing and puffing. "It's like something came over me just now." He clenched his crotch. "I was mad when we got into the office but then I got so excited."

"You have to ignore it."

"I can't." He exhaled. "And I know you can't either."

"Please." Her heart slowed to its normal rhythm. "We have to talk about something very serious." She smoothed down her hair. "I want to know what the hell happened last night between you and Faye. She said you hit her last night."

"What?" he shrieked. "She's out of her damn mind! I never hit a woman in my life."

"She came to the station today with a huge bruise on her arm."

"Oh." He closed his eyes. "Wait a minute."

"She said you pushed her last night in your place." She fixed her collar. "So why was she even at your place if you can't stand her so much? Did you hit her? Even by accident?"

"Come on, Lexi." He sat behind his desk, straightening his shirt. "You know I wouldn't do something like that. Don't you see what she's doing?"

Alexis sat.

"She's manipulating you the same way she did me." He clasped his hands. "When I got home last night she was in my place."

"She broke in?" She crossed her legs at the ankles. "She conveniently forgot to mention that."

He nodded. "She claimed she had a key but I sure as hell didn't give her one." He rubbed his chin. "I walk in and she's on my couch in a red negligee." He lowered his hand. "She wouldn't leave even after I threatened to call the cops. She tried to kiss me so I pushed her and she hit her arm on the coffee table."

"Kevin."

"It's the truth. Answer me this." He stuck his head in the air. "Did she press charges?"

"No."

"Then why did she come to the station if she didn't want to press charges?" He tapped his pen on the desk. "She went there so she could badmouth me to you. She wanted you to think I was a woman beater so you'd have nothing to do with me." He threw the pen down. "She just wants to keep us apart."

"Jeez." She felt her forehead. "Your love life is making me take pause. I gotta be honest. I don't like how I am feeling about all this. Faye, the cheating, I don't know what to believe."

"The only woman I've ever really wanted was you. It was always you." He pulled her close. "You have any idea how much I want to kiss you right now?"

She closed her eyes.

If it's as much as I want to kiss you...yes.

"Please trust in me, Lexi. Don't let others take away our second chance."

"I have to think about things. I don't know." She fidgeted. "Maybe we're moving too fast."

"We're soul mates." He moved his hand to the curve of her back and sniffed her neck. "You know that. You shouldn't have any doubts."

"I do though." She sighed, lowering her head. "I know you're the man I've always wanted but I have to be sure. I just have to be sure it's right."

"We are right." He moved his mouth toward hers. "Now I know exactly what Grant was talking about."

"What?" She got lost in his hypnotic stare.

"He said your mother was irresistible too." He stroked her hair. "He said it was hard for a man to control himself around her. You definitely have the same kind of power." He went to kiss her but she turned her head.

"I'll see you."

"Lexi, don't run away all right?"

She walked out the door.

"Are we still on for dinner?" he called out.

She continued down the hall without answering.
Chapter Eleven

"I don't want to hear it, Adams!" Captain Rojas shouted to Alexis from behind his desk. "Who the hell do you think you are busting into a Copeland board meeting like you've lost your damn mind?" His lumpy belly spilled over the desk. "There's protocol to follow."

"That's such a joke."

"Excuse me?" He raised a folder. "Care to elaborate on that?"

"I said it's a damn joke like everything else in this department. No one here gives a shit about protocol, only about being in Grant Copeland's pockets." She approached his desk. "All the years I worked at the LAPD I've never seen a department as shady as this."

"Ha!" Rojas threw his head back. "I find that hard to believe and this department is not shady."

Alexis crossed her arms. "I can't believe you can say that with a straight face, Captain. You know what goes on here."

"We're talking about your ass right now. Do you understand what the hell you did? My phone's been ringing off the hook because of this nonsense. Some very important people were at that meeting and you could've jeopardized an important merger that Copeland's been working on for years."

"I don't give a damn about Grant Copeland's merger. I'm a detective doing a job. Maybe I shouldn't have gone in there like I did but I'm sick of all the lies and secrets in this town."

He stood. "Then take your ass back to LA if you don't like it. No one asked you to come here. I admit that things aren't perfect in Tate Valley but this is how they are." He sat again. "Do you have any leads on the Myers murder?"

She cleared her throat. "We believe we found the murder weapon."

He put on his reading glasses.

"We found a hammer in a dumpster not far from Myers' home," she said. "It looked as though it had some type of substance on it but was wiped off. We think it was blood."

Rojas looked at his papers.

"We sent it to the lab to be analyzed for DNA and prints."

"Thank you, Adams." He gestured with his hand. "You can leave now."

"So if I have reason to suspect Grant Copeland of this murder, you expect me to walk away?"

"No." He took his glasses off. "I expect you to make sure you have as much evidence as possible before you go near Mr. Copeland again."

"I don't agree with that. If I suspect Grant I should be able to question him like I would anyone else."

"I've given my orders." He wiggled his nose. "You either deal with it or find a job somewhere else."

"That would be right up your alley, wouldn't it? Then everyone can just go back to sweeping stuff under the rug around here."

"You know I don't want you to leave." He moved papers across his desk. "You're a wonderful detective and a great asset to this force. You can help us get things done."

"What about changing how things are around here? We should all start with this crooked-ass department."

"Which you happen to work for, in case you've forgotten."

"I work here because there are still good people in this town that deserve justice. Plus I wanna change things, unlike some people."

"Adams—"

She walked around the office. "How can you put up with this mess, Captain?"

"I raised my kids and take care of my wife working for this 'crooked-ass department'. I know some things should be done differently but that's not on me to change them."

"Yes it is. You're a part of this community. Jesus!" She held up her arms. "How can a whole town be afraid of Grant Copeland?"

"Because he's powerful." He jumped up. "It goes way beyond Tate Valley and his money. He puts a lot of money into this department."

"So that's why the department is in his pocket?" She scratched her head. "Everything once again comes down to Grant's dirty money."

"Money that has helped a lot of people—"

"Dirty money."

He made a fist. "Money that allows people to take care of their families and—"

"Dirty money."

"Okay, so it's dirty money!" He pounded his desk. "It's dirty money and we take it but we do it to survive."

She chuckled at the absurdity.

"I don't care what you think, Adams." He sat back down. "But here's the deal. I'm your superior office and what I say, you do. Stay the hell away from Grant Copeland or you can go work somewhere else." A fat vein popped from his forehead. "Do you understand

me?"

"Oh yeah." She looked him in the eyes. "I understand you just fine, sir." She stomped out of Rojas's office and ran into Penelope. "You believe that bullshit he said?" Alexis passed her and kept walking.

"You gotta stop it, Lexi."

They went in the stairwell.

"Stop what?"

Penelope cut her off on the steps and blocked her. "Stop what you're doing."

"You heard what Rojas said. He wants me to pretend that Grant might not have had something to do with Brett's murder. Do you agree with that?"

"Lexi—"

"What the hell is going on here? I thought I was hired to do a job but I guess as long as I stay out of Copeland's way then everything is okay." She passed Penelope and started down the other flight of stairs. "You're my best friend. If anyone should understand why I'm so intent on getting Grant then I'd think it would be you."

"You know I understand, Lexi." Penelope pulled on her arm. "You don't see the bigger picture."

"Yes I do. Everyone in this town is scared of Grant except me." She glared at Penelope. "Including this crooked-ass police department."

"This isn't about the department or Brett Myers. It's about your vendetta against Grant. You're obsessed, Lexi. It's all you think about. Maybe you should talk to someone."

"I'm not the one with the problem." Alexis knocked her hand away. "I don't need therapy. I need Grant to get what he deserves once and for all."

"I'm here to do my job and find out who killed Brett." Penelope sighed. "I don't want to be dragged into your revenge scheme."

"So much for friends, huh?" Alexis leaned back on the railing.

"I am your friend but you're taking things too far."

Alexis scoffed. "You're just like everyone else in this town aren't you? Afraid of Grant Copeland."

"I've had it up to here with your self-righteous bullshit." Penelope got in her face. "You left here and didn't think twice about Tate Valley, your dad, or anyone else in this town and didn't give a damn about how things were run here all that time and now you want to change things?"

"You're right." Alexis nodded. "I could've come back a long time ago but I'm here now and I want to do the right thing. Somebody has to stop things once and for all."

"Let me ask you this." Penelope stood back. "Do you want to expose Grant because it's right or because you feel guilty for cutting your father out of your life?"

Alexis dropped her head.

"That's what I thought."

Penelope ran downstairs.
Chapter Twelve

Alexis walked barefoot across the soggy sand. A gull landed on the beach, picked at whatever it could find, then flew away. She usually had the beach to herself at night, but a couple was enjoying a picnic down the way.

A small wave rushed into shore.

"Ah." Alexis shook water from the end of her white summer dress. She skipped over to the big rock she always sat on. She used the end of her dress to clean wet sand from between her toes.

The couple abandoned their romantic picnic and love-wrestled in the sand.

It had been a long time since Alexis love-wrestled with anyone let alone a man she really cared for.

She leaned back and rested on the rock.

The man pinned the woman down and kissed her.

Alexis closed her eyes, remembering the first time she and Kevin experienced each other's bodies on this very beach. She kept thinking about the encounter in his office earlier. She'd barely gotten any work done at the station while thinking about what could've happened.

She wiggled her toes.

"Hey." Kevin walked from behind the rock in snug jeans and a white shirt that hugged his pronounced pecks.

"Kevin?" Her long hair blew across her face. "What are you doing here?"

"You stood me up." He stood in front of her. "You were supposed to make me dinner an hour ago."

"Damn." She checked her watch. "I came out here for a quick stroll and I guess the time got away. I'm sorry." She jumped off the rock. "We can go now—"

"No, it's okay." He touched her arm. "I'd like to stay out here for a while. It's so beautiful tonight."

She scooted back on the rock.

"Let me guess," he said. "You got a lot on your mind?"

"No." She brushed a gnat off her dress. "I just like being out here."

"So you didn't have anything you needed to think about?" He rocked his head. "Like maybe what happened between us earlier? I know it's all I've been thinking about."

"You know we had no business acting that way." She held her dress down when the wind swept through. "Especially not in your office. I don't do stuff like that."

"I don't usually throw women on my desk and start to disrobe them either but that's what happened."

"How did you know I was out here?"

"I was driving from your place and saw your car." He pointed to the Toyota at the entrance to the beach. "I still can't believe you barged into Copeland Enterprises like that. Oddly, Grant found it cute."

She grimaced. "I don't want to talk about Grant."

"Me either." He pulled on her big toe. "About time we focus on us." He inhaled. "I love the smell of the ocean. If I lived this close to the beach I'd never go home."

"Do you like Tate Valley?" She flicked her hair off her arms. "I'm talking about how things are around here."

"I think a lot could be improved." He scooped up sand in his hand. "No place is perfect, Lexi."

Her heart fluttered at the way he said her name. "You take up for Grant which means you tolerate what he does."

"What exactly does he do? Yes, he's a ruthless businessman but he does a lot of good things for this town."

"So that outranks the bad?"

"What bad?" He picked up more sand. "You get ticked off that I defend Grant yet you don't have anything solid to back up your claims. Maybe I was right when I told you that you don't know Grant like you think you do."

"Uh-uh." She moved hair from her face. "He's a murderer and I'm the only one who sees that."

"Please." He dumped the sand. "Besides, didn't you just say you don't want to talk about Grant?"

"You're right." Strands of hair blew across her face. "Maybe I am obsessed. I can't get him off my mind for one second."

"I can relate to obsession." He brought his face close to hers but didn't kiss her. "I haven't stopped thinking about you all this time."

She smiled.

He bent down and picked up a seashell. "So tell me about that guy you were in a relationship with. Mario."

She pulled her dress down, surprised he remembered Mario's name. "It's hard to talk about him." She looked up at the sky as a tear formed in the corner of her eye. "We clicked immediately. We got along so well that it was like we were meant for each other."

He frowned, turning the seashell upside down.

"Does that bother you?"

He shrugged one shoulder like a kid would if you caught him in a lie.

"Just like you I have had a life all these years."

"I understand." He studied the seashell. "Besides I asked, right? How did he die? You said he got killed during a case or something?"

"He was an undercover vice cop so he would pose as a dealer or addict, or whoever he needed to be."

Kevin looked at her.

"They set up a sting to get this street gang for selling crack. Mario had gotten in with the gang so he could witness the operation." She scratched her foot and looked down. "Someone must've found out Mario was a cop because after he was missing for a few days..." Her heart pounded as tears clouded her vision. "He was found in an abandoned house with a gunshot wound to the back of the head."

"What?" He batted his eyes.

She nodded.

"Lexi, I'm so sorry." He hugged her. "Did they ever find out who did it?"

"We knew it was the gang he went undercover with but couldn't prove it."

He rubbed her arm. "I can't imagine how it felt to lose someone you care about in such a horrific way."

"Hey, it's part of the job right?" She wiped tears with her hands. "We knew it could happen to either one of us but you still think you're invincible. You forget how dangerous this job can be."

He clasped her hand. "I really am sorry."

"It hurts to talk about but it's good to be able to confide in someone about it." She brushed her hair from her face. "Thanks for listening."

He smiled. "I'd listen to you for the rest of my life."

"What's going on between us, Kevin?" She shivered as she stared into his sexy eyes. "Do you want us to start over or—"

"I hope that's still what you want." He looked out into the ocean.

"I admit I'm having some reservations but when it comes to my heart I've never wanted any man the way I want you."

"Good." He blushed. "This is a special place for us."

Her heart pounded more. "Yes it is."

"When you first left I came here all the time." He stuffed the tip of his foot into the sand. "I still remember how you felt when me made love. You were trembling all over and I was struggling to get you to relax."

She smiled, her face becoming warm from embarrassment. "I wasn't trembling because I was nervous. I was trembling because I wanted you so much."

"Being teenagers..." He shook his head. "We were so inexperienced but it was still wonderful. I wonder how great it would be now."

She turned from his intense gaze.

He dropped the shell. "You wanna take a walk around with me?" He pointed toward the ocean. "I bet you can't remember the exact spot we made love in."

"Oh trust me." She got off the rock, fixing her dress. "It's one of few things that will forever be etched in my mind."

Chapter Thirteen

Alexis finished the story of when she cracked her first case as they finished their walk along the shore. "Okay, enough cop stories." She sat down near the water.

"I could listen all night." Kevin lounged in the damp sand beside her. "Being a cop sounds as exciting as they make it seem on television."

"I don't know about that." She propped her knees up. "I only told the interesting parts. People don't realize that cop work is mainly research and paperwork. It isn't until you find something substantial that you start chasing leads." She ran her hand through her hair.

"I'm just surprised."

"At what?"

"That you became a cop. I never would've guessed that. When we were growing up you wanted to be a teacher."

"Trust me, I was surprised when I first got the urge but something hit me and I knew being in law enforcement was what I wanted to do." The breeze whipped a strand of hair in her face. "I didn't want to be a lawyer or some forensics worker. I wanted to get deep and personal with what was going on in the world. What better way to get down and dirty with the actual process than to be in homicide?"

He propped his knees up. "You couldn't even stand the sight of blood back then."

"Now I can go to a crime scene while chomping on a ham and cheese sandwich." She laughed.

"Gross." He frowned. "All that blood and gore doesn't bother you?"

"I hate seeing anyone dead or hurt of course but as for the actual scene, I get in my zone. I'm more concerned with catching the bad guy than anything else."

"Come to think of it you did have a small interest in cops when we were kids." He snapped his fingers. "Twenty-one Jumpstreet was your favorite show, remember?" He laughed. "You used to pretend you were Holly Robinson."

"Oh!" She laughed so hard that she almost choked. "I wanted to be on that show so bad!" She hit the sand. "Remember you used to pretend you were Johnny Depp."

He leaned his head back, guffawing. "Remember those paper badges we made?" He snapped his fingers. "We went to school with them on one day and pretended to be Hoffs and Hanson."

"God!" She laughed. "And Penelope was Ioki."

"Oh right!" He laid back, kicking his feet in the sand as he laughed. "Man that was fun."

"You surprised me with your career choice more than anything." She nudged him. "Not just that you're working for Grant but that you became an executive." She scrunched up her nose. "You always said white collar people were stuck up pricks and now you're one of them." She grinned.

Kevin cupped soggy sand in his hand. "I can't say I always wanted to be an executive but I always wanted to be rich."

"Who doesn't?"

"But there's a difference in men and women when it comes to career choices. Girls seem to pick careers that make them happy and fulfill them. The amount of money or status is secondary. With men, we're pressured from the time we're boys to go for the job that's going to give you the most money or get the most women on your arm." He shrugged. "It wasn't until you talked about how happy you are being a cop that I wondered if I was happy in my career. I'm doing pretty well for myself but I keep wondering if there's more to life." He started grinning. "There's something I never, ever told you."

"What?"

He opened his mouth as if he'd speak then shook his head. "Forget it. No way am I telling you." He stuck his hand in the sand. "I'm taking this one to the grave."

"What's it about?"

"Something I always wanted to be."

He looked so sexy when he was toying with her.

"Tell me."

"Nope." He chuckled. "Uh-uh."

"Tell me." She lifted a handful of sand. "Or I'll throw this at you."

"You better not." He got on his knees. "I'm not playing, Lexi!" He held his arms out.

"You better tell me then." She got in pitching position. "What did you always wanna be?"

"God, I swear I'd never tell anyone else this." He looked up toward the moonlight. "I wanted to be a dancer."

"That's it?" She put the sand down. "What's wrong with being a dancer?"

He squinted as if he were bracing for someone to hit him. "A ballet dancer."

"A ballet..." She fell on her back in laughter. "A ballet dancer? Oh, God!" She kicked up her legs. "Oh, Jesus!"

"It's not that funny."

"No wonder you didn't wanna tell me!" She sat up. "Seriously? You wanted to be a ballet dancer?"

"I used to watch those ballet performances on television. I was a huge fan of Mikhail Baryshnikov."

"I didn't know that."

"And you see why I never told you." He rolled his eyes, snickering. "I'd planned to take that secret to the grave. You know the shit I would've gotten if the guys from the trailers ever found out I wanted to be a dancer? If they'd known that I wouldn't be here today."

"Wow." She slapped her hands on her cheeks, giggling. "I...I never would've guessed that especially since you can't even dance."

"Excuse me?"

"Kevin, I've seen corpses with better rhythm than you had. Unless that's another thing that's changed I'm sure you still stink." She laughed.

"I might not have rhythm on the dancefloor but I got rhythm in the bedroom."

"Yeah right," she teased.

"You think it's funny?" He jumped up and kicked water on her. "How about that? Is that funny?"

"Watch my hair!" She ran into the ocean and slung water on him. "Oh!"

"Ahh..." He shook like a wet dog, patting his pocket. "My phone!" He got it out. "If this thing's wet I'm gonna kill you."

"What about my hair?" She ran her fingers through it. "Now it's all frizzy!"

He turned on his phone. "It's working." He put it back in his pocket. "You're lucky." He grinned.

"Am I?" She slung more water on him.

"Come here." He chased her farther into the water, picked her up, and spun her around.

"Stop!" She laughed. "Kevin!" She held on to him.

He threw her into the water and dashed back on the sand. "Now who's laughing?"

"Oh—" She spit salty water from her mouth as she got out of the water. "I'm soaked."

He stared at her as if he'd never seen a woman before.

"What?" She looked down. The outline of her bra and panties showed underneath her drenched dress. She turned around, embarrassed, but more turned on than she had been since the last time she made love to him.

Before she realized it, he pulled her close from behind and cupped her quivering shoulders in his large hands.

"You're trembling." He panted. "Just like you were when we first made love." He turned her around. "Is it still because of how much you want me?"

She took his hand and pressed it against her breast as her erect nipple poked the fabric of her bra. "What do you think?"

Water dribbled down his face but like her, he didn't seem to care.

She lifted her damp dress, shivering even more. "It's yours, Kevin." She took his hand and pushed it between her legs, on the seat of her wet panties. "It's always been yours. Claim it." She rubbed her breast. "Please."

"Hmm." He licked his lips, looking at her as if she were naked on a plate. "You sure you know what you're asking for, huh?" He got on his knees in front of her. Holding her dress up, he snatched her panties down.

"Yes." She arched her back. "That's what I want."

"What you want, huh?" He wiggled the tip of his long, thick tongue. "You want this tongue on your pussy? Is that what you want?"

"Oh yes." She played with her nipple through her dress. "Stick it all the way up my pussy, please."

He propped her leg over his shoulder and licked up and down the inside of her thighs.

"Oh, Kevin." She grabbed the top of his head.

"Umm mmm." He kissed up her thighs and stuffed his head in between her legs. He angled his head into position and applied long, quick strokes to her throbbing slit.

"Oh yes that feels so good, Kevin."

His head gyrated as he moved his tongue up and down.

"God." She leaned over on him for leverage to keep from falling due to her weak knees. "It feels so good. I'm getting dizzy." Her vision actually became blurry for a few seconds.

She'd had her pussy eaten many times and not once had she almost lost her sight from it.

"Ooh wee!" she squealed, uncontrollably. "The more you suck the wetter I get."

He locked his lips on her hole like a suction cup, making loud, slurping noises as he sucked.

"Damn it, boy." A forceful orgasm burrowed its way through her pussy. "I'm gonna come."  
"Yeah, come," he mumbled as he sucked. "Your pussy tastes so good, Lexi." He looked up at her with his lips glistening from her moisture. "I could eat you all night long. I'll never get enough."  
"Don't stop." She shoved his head back to the magic spot. "Keep sucking me just like that! Ooh!" She squinted, clenching every muscle in her body. "I'm gonna...I'm gonna..."

"Yeah," he mumbled. "Come on, baby."

"Ah...ah!" She came, surprised she hadn't flooded them both in the process.

Kevin leaned back, huffing and puffing. "I want my dick inside you so bad."

"Yes," Alexis groaned, still shaking from the fantastic orgasm. "I'm yours however you want me."  
"We can do anything out here." He pulled her down in the sand. "Right here is where I made love to you nineteen years ago and right here I'm gonna show you why you never should've left."

"Yes."

He laid her down in the sand and pushed her dress up. "That beautiful pussy." He kissed the outside of it and undid his belt and zipper.

Alexis closed her eyes, waiting for the moment she'd wished for all these years. Then the fact that she had been waiting so long for Kevin to be inside her made her want to open her eyes. She wanted to see him on top of her, thrusting like he owned every bit of her pussy because to her he did.

"Whose pussy is this, hmm?" He pulled his pants down, his hair blowing from the sandy, night wind.

"Yours." She bit her lip. "It's always been yours."

He spread her legs and positioned himself in between her.

"Umm." Alexis' breath caught in her throat because she'd been caught off guard at how much bigger he'd gotten over the years. "Wow." She gaped, looking straight at the stars.

"What?" He chuckled. "I'm not even inside you yet."

"I don't know..." She panted, her body automatically clenching. "I don't know if I can take all of you. You're so big."

"You can take it." He gave her a hot, feverish kiss that reminded her how much she'd longed for every part of him. "Hold on." He stopped with his tip lightly nudged in her folds. "You want to use something? I got something."

"No." She put her arms around his shoulders. "I want to feel you inside me. Only you."  
She never would've had sex without protection but she was on the pill and she knew Kevin wouldn't put her in any danger. He might've had a hefty sex life through the years but Kevin Reed wasn't a fool. One thing he'd always been was prepared in any situation.

"You ready?" He smirked.

"I don't know." She grinned. "That look in your eye is cunning. Reminds me of a thief in the night."

"Well relax because I'm about to steal this pussy."

"Fuck me slow." She wrapped her long legs around him, hooking them at the ankles. "I want it to last all night long."

"Come here." He held her legs up over her head. "Just relax."

Her heart pounded more. "I'm relaxed."

"Does this hurt?" He bent her legs further over her as if he were wrapping her up in a ball.

"No." She lied, as a cramp inched up her legs but she sure as hell wouldn't tell him that.

He gently rubbed his huge, erect rod across her folds then held her legs tighter. "You ready?"

"God, yes." She balled her hands. "Fuck me like you've wanted to all this time."  
He stroked his dick. "Keep your legs up just like that."  
She struggled to because she wasn't the most flexible person in the world but wouldn't move if her life depended on it. She'd forgotten her naked ass was lying in the sand and anything could've crawled up in it but once again she did not care. She would not move until he fucked the dog shit out of her.

He spit a glob on her pussy then rolled it around with his fingers. Why she didn't know because she was just as wet as she was before he ate her.

"Man I can't wait to fuck you."

She breathed louder. "Then shut the hell up and do it."

He eased his dick inside of her, stretching her along the way.

"Ooh." She flinched.

"You okay?"

"Yeah you're so big." She laid her hand on his thigh, feeling the fine hairs. "God I feel you. I feel you, Kevin!"

"Mm." He moved his cock back and forth as if it were slow motion. "How's that?"

"Yes." She rocked with her legs high in the air. "Keep it slow just like that. I wanna feel every inch of you."  
"You feel so good, Lexi." He pumped a little faster, her pussy stretching to accept him. "Does it hurt?"

"No it feels good, shit." She closed her eyes and pressed her hand to her clit. "Keep it like that. Right there."

"I can't believe this is happening." He bent down further where she could smell his cologne. "This is all I've ever wanted, Lexi. I've never loved any woman like I've loved you."  
"Oh god, yes." Her legs seemed to get more flexible as he rode her. "Fuck that pussy, Kevin. Shit." She pounded her body against his, their skin slapping together. "Fuck me!"

"I..." He grunted, clamping her legs more. "I thought you wanted to go slow."

"You feel so damn good!" She rolled against him, sand covering the bottom of her ass but she didn't give a damn about anything but this moment. "Faster."

He followed her command, abandoning the gentle pumps and humping her hard.

"Yeah!" Her tits bounced underneath her dress and bra at the impact. "You're so big! Ah! God, you're stretching me!"

"Yeah, baby." He moaned, his hand slipping off her leg due to sweat. "I've never felt something so fuckin' good."

She felt his dick widening against her walls. "You're gonna come." That only made her wetter. "I can feel it. You're gonna come!"

"Oh...shit." He leaned further on her. "Lexi! Lexi, I—"

"Come on." She held on to his shirt and rammed her pussy against him. "I want you to come inside of me. Come inside me!"

"Yeah." He pumped harder. "Ooh right there, Lexi. Right...there. I'm gonna..."

"Yes!" She tightened up. "Come on...come on!" She grunted, shoving her hand into the sand. "Now!"

"Ah...shit!" Kevin leaned back. "Oh!" He let out a scream that echoed across the beach. "God." He moved away from her, his dick dripping with clear cum.

"Hmm." Alexis made a beeline to his dick and licked the tip.

"Oh yes, Lexi," he murmured. "Fuck." He grabbed her head and kissed her soggy lips. "I love you so much."  
She smiled and slipped her dress over her head. "You tired?"

"Hell yes." He raised an eyebrow, huffing and puffing. "But I can pretend I'm not."

"Good." She opened her legs. "Because when I said I wanted you to fuck me all night...I meant it."

She pulled him on top of her again.

Chapter Fourteen

"What the—"

A shiny Lincoln Town Car sat in the street in front of Alexis' home when she got back.

She pulled into the driveway and reached for her side until she remembered she wasn't wearing her gun.

"Shit." She made her way up the porch steps to her opened door. "What the hell?"

She peeked inside the living room. Nothing seemed moved or out of place.

She entered.

Grant sat on the couch with his feet on the table.

Alexis took a deep breath. "This shit can't be happening."

He smiled and held out a bouquet of red roses. "You're all wet." He licked his lips. "I must say it's a welcoming sight."

"What the hell are you doing in my house?" She balled a fist. "How did you get in here?"

He smiled. "You left your door unlocked."

"I'm a cop. Why in the hell would I be dumb enough to leave my door unlocked? How did you get in here?"

"I got a key."

She shifted her weight to one foot. "And how do you have a key to my damn house?"

"I know the man who sold it to you." He sniffed the roses. "He gave me a key."

Her hand shook as she grabbed the doorknob. "Give me the key and get out."

"Or what?"

"Or I'll call the police."

"You are the police." He laid the roses in his lap.

"I'm not playing with your ass." She ran to the TV stand and opened the drawer.

"Looking for this?" He pulled her gun from behind his back.

"You..." She marched toward him with her hand out. "Give me my gun."

"I just want to talk to you."

"Give me my gun!"

He handed it to her, his eyes lighting up. "You're just as feisty as your mother was."

She almost pushed the trigger automatically. After all, killing him would probably be the only way she got some peace. She sighed and put the gun in her drawer. "You're not as above the law as you think. The shit you've been doing all these years...it's over, Grant. You lie, cheat, and steal, and you think you can get away with it. Your luck's run out. I've come back to expose you and make you pay for every bad thing you've ever done."

"Your feelings toward me aren't warranted, Alexis. I'm not your enemy."

"You broke up my family and ruined my life!"

"Ruined?" He gestured to her. "You seem to be doing okay to me and I didn't break up your family. I'm tired of you acting like I was the only one involved in the affair."

"I know the type of woman my mother was." Her lips trembled and she hated showing him how much he affected her even now. "Even if she were attracted to you she never would've acted on it unless you kept pushing her. I bet she said yes because she couldn't afford to say no."

"You listen to me, okay?" He squinted. "You don't know a damn thing about your mother and I. Our affair was way more than physical. Elizabeth had always loved me ever since we were kids."

"You're lying!"

"No." He looked at the flowers. "We were soulmates, Alexis. I wanted to be with your mother before she even dated Stossel. We'd had feelings for each other all those years and they weren't going away no matter what we did."

"Get out!" She turned her back to him. "I don't want to hear these lies! That affair was nothing but manipulation like it always is with you."

"No you're gonna listen, damn it." He swung her around.

"Let go of me!" She hit his chest with her fists. "Get out!"

"You're not stupid, Alexis, and you're not a kid anymore." He shook her. "You know I'm telling the truth and that's why you hate me so much. I remind you of what you never wanted to face!"

"Get out!"

"I could've been your father, Lexi." He huffed and puffed. "In fact Elizabeth even told me that she wished I was."

"My mother would've never said anything like that. So I'm supposed to believe she never loved my father?"

"Course she did but she wasn't in love with him. She told me she never loved another man the way she loved me."

"Stop." She closed her eyes as her stomach filled with butterflies. "Please."

"You know it's the truth." He moved closer to her. "You want to know how the affair started?" He lifted his head. "She came to me. That's right. Your mother came to me. She said she wasn't happy and that she didn't feel that fire with Stossel that she always had with me."

"Liar." Alexis sobbed.

"I'll never forget that night." He walked around. "It was late and raining. She'd come over in the middle of the night while you and Stossel were asleep."

Alexis tugged on the sides of her dress, trying to push the image of what might have happened that night out of her mind.

"She was crying and said she was torn between her loyalty for one man and her love for the other. She said no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop wanting me. Then she touched me." He walked back toward her. "Her soft palm brushed my cheek and then she laid her sweet lips upon mine."

"Shut up."

"She pulled me to my couch. She wanted to make love to me."

"Shut up!" She marched toward him. "I don't want to hear this mess anymore."

"You can't deny the truth forever."

"You can drop this innocent act." She moved back, sickened by being close to him. "You can put on the charm, bring me flowers, hell you can even threaten me, but nothing is going to make me forget the monster that you are."

His eyes narrowed. "I never did anything to your mother that she didn't want me to do." He laid the roses on the table and straightened his blazer. "You are the product of two people I cared about very much. You'll always be important to me too. If you need anything then just let me know."

"I don't want to be anywhere near you." She got in his face. "I'm probably the only one in this town who doesn't give a shit about your money or power."

"Is that right?" He moved closer to her with a creepy glint in his eye. "You're a fascinating woman." He touched her chin. "Not many women surprise me but you do."

"Get your hand off me." She snapped her head away and hit his hand. "Give me that key and get your ass out of my house."

"I wonder..." he walked behind her, checking her out, "if you have just as much fire in bed as you do out of it."

Alexis balled her hand into a fist again.

"I know your mother certainly did."

She swung around with her fist in the air. "You son of a..."

"Listen!" He grabbed her. "I'd never want to hurt you. But if you keep making things difficult for me I can't make any promises."

"What are you talking about?"

"You can blame me for ruining your family all you want but when you accuse me of murdering Brett, I don't take an accusation like that lightly."

"You're threatening me?" She scoffed. "The real Grant shows up after all."

"Like I said, I don't want to hurt you. I want us to be friends." He touched her hair. "But you've got to realize that I'm in control, little girl. Of this moment, of this town, and even of you. If you want to stay safe then you'll remember that."

Kevin walked in. "Grant?" He rushed to Alexis. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Jesus you're all wet too." Grant's face twisted. "What in the world have you two been doing?"

Alexis struggled to catch her breath.

"Lexi?" Kevin rubbed her back. "Are you all right?"

"She'll be fine won't you, Firecracker?" Grant winked. "We were just getting some things straight. No harm done."

Kevin bucked up to him. "What are you doing here?"

"I was trying to correct any bad thoughts Firecracker had about me." Grant got the roses and handed them to her. "You're all right aren't you, Firecracker?"

"Stop calling her that." Kevin held her close. "Why don't you get outta here? I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"

"He's not going anywhere until he gives me that key." Alexis held her hand out to Grant. "Give it to me and get out."

Kevin glared at him. "What is she talking about?"

"He claims he has a key to my place and he's not leaving until I get it."

"You have a key to her place?"

Grant smirked and laid the key in her palm.

"Now get the hell out of here," Alexis said. "I swear if you ever come back here you won't be walking out the next time."

"Stop spreading lies about me, Lexi." He smirked as he backed out of the door. "You do that and we have no problems."

Kevin closed the door. "What the hell was that about?"

"You see?" She pointed at the door. "You need to pay attention Kevin because that's the real Grant Copeland. He loves to play games and manipulate people." She rubbed her shaking hands. "You better get off your cloud before something happens to you. I'm telling you."

"You're shaking." He hugged her. "I'll talk to him okay? I'll tell him to stay away from you."

"God." She slapped tears away. "Look at me crying like an idiot. I was so scared just now." Her lips shook and her stomach swirled like a rollercoaster. "I didn't like the way he was looking at me."

"How was he looking at you?"

"It's the same way he used to look at my mother." She closed her eyes. "That nasty, sneaky, perverted look that you can't even describe." She swallowed to keep from throwing up. "He threatened me."

"What?" Kevin grimaced.

"He said I'd better stop saying he killed Brett or he's gonna show me how much he's in control. But I'm not scared, Kevin. Grant's been having his way all these years and it's gonna stop now."

"Look I'll definitely talk to him about tonight, okay? He had no business being here and was way out of line." He held her by her arms. "But he's not a killer, Lexi. Grant wouldn't do something like that."

"I guess we'll have to agree to disagree about that."
Chapter Fifteen

"Calm down, Kevin." Grant traipsed across his living room in pajamas and house shoes. "I didn't do a damn thing to that girl."

"And you won't!" Kevin stood in the middle of the room. "You understand me? If you ever act that way with Alexis again then I'm gone."

"Gone?" Grant grabbed a glass out of the cabinet behind his minibar. "What the hell does that mean?"

"I mean I'll be done with you and Copeland Enterprises! Now I love my career but I love Alexis more. If you hurt or I swear I'll—"

"What about me?" Grant yelled. "She's going around town saying I killed someone! Did you stand up for me?"

"Yes," Kevin snapped. "I told Lexi you'd never do something like that. She doesn't believe me—"

"Oh what a surprise."

"I can't control what she thinks. The proof will have to speak for itself, but I love her, Grant." Kevin rocked from right to left, shaking his balled fists. "There is a lot I will put up with but hurting Lexi is not one of them."

"I'm not gonna hurt her." Grant grabbed a bottle of whiskey. "I only told her to watch her mouth. My reputation is at stake here. What if the police begin to believe her theory? I might end up in jail."

"If you didn't do anything then that won't happen."  
"Really?" He guffawed. "And what fairytale are you living in?"

"You are the most powerful man in this town. Believe me it will take more than Alexis' word for anyone to believe you killed Brett. She wouldn't listen to me anyway because she thinks you're manipulating me."

"I'm manipulative?" Grant carried the whiskey bottle to the couch. "She's the one twisting everything around on me and you need to watch your back. She's trying to turn you against me."

"The only one who could do that Grant would be you."  
"Yet you're quick to believe everything she says?" Grant slurped whiskey. "You're letting your thirst for pussy cloud your judgment."

Kevin groaned. "Grant—"

"I'm telling you that girl has an agenda against me and I don't think it has anything to do with her parents." Grant lifted the bottle. "Instead of questioning me maybe you should see why she's really back in town when she hasn't been here in twenty years."

Kevin walked toward the minibar.

"You're so quick to question me." Grant laid the bottle to his chest. "Me. The man who helped you when everyone else threw you away. I gave you a job in my company when I barely knew you. When people told me not to trust you because they said you were after my money."

Kevin turned away and sighed.

"But I didn't listen to others did I, Kevin? I'm not the only one who can be questioned about his past. Shit, Kevin, you were a delinquent for half of your life. You were a piece of trash when I met you. You would've been in prison if you kept going the way you were going."

Kevin faked a smile. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"It's the truth." Grant stood and walked over to him. "I put my neck out for you. I not only gave you a job but I bought you a car and a place to stay." He sipped from the bottle. "That luxurious two-story you live in..." Grant nodded. "I paid for that house."

"I pay for it now."

"You don't get it do you? It doesn't matter what you pay. Everything you have from now until death will be because of me."

Kevin digested Grant's stinging comment. "Really?"  
"I made all of your dreams come true. You think you became an executive that fast because of hard work?" Grant laughed, shaking his head. "No, my boy. It's because I'm Grant Copeland and I've sealed your fate. Do you like your life, Kevin?"

He exhaled.

"I bet you do. Tate Valley isn't an easy place to live without money. Here money is power and the more money the better." Grant put his arm around Kevin's shoulders. "You remember what it was like being that teenager from the trailers who was so desperate to belong anywhere? People would spit on you and not help you, wouldn't they?"

Kevin's jaw puffed out. "So is that how you see me? As some piece of trash you saved?"

"No, but that's how others see you. No matter what happens they'll always see you as that boy from the trailers going nowhere." Grant let him go. "I'm the only one in this town who believed in you. Now you live the life you could only dream about before. Did you ever wonder why the hell that shit came so easily to you? You wouldn't have even gotten Cynthia if it weren't for me."

"What?"

"That's right." Grant nodded. "Do you think that Cynthia, a woman who ignored you all through school would've looked at you twice if I hadn't twisted her arm and urged her to go out with you?"

"Cynthia loved me."

"She eventually fell in love with you but she wouldn't have gone anywhere near you if you weren't working for me. Wake up."

Kevin panted. "I don't believe this."

"Get a clue, Kevin. Everything that you have or have gotten is because of me. I am your life. Me. I'm the fancy car you drive, the house you live in, the women you fuck, and the money in your pocket." He tugged on Kevin's blazer. "I'm the designers on your clothes and every piece of expensive furniture in your fuckin' house."

Kevin tightened up, biting his tongue.

"I am your life," Grant whispered. "Now if you don't want this life anymore then you can just tell me and I'll bless it upon someone more appreciative."

"I do appreciate you, Grant. I could live for one hundred years and never be able to show my appreciation. Yes, you got me in the door at Copeland. I never disputed that. But I've grown there on my own. I've worked for what I achieved on my own."

"You don't get it do you?" Grant picked up waved the bottle.. "Whatever you think you've done is moot, Kevin. Because no matter what you do you wouldn't have gotten any of the shit you got without me pulling the strings."

He huffed. "So I'm your puppet?"

"No. You're the son I wish I'd had. I love you." Grant patted Kevin's cheek. "But my love comes with a price."

* * * *

Alexis awoke during the night to her cell phone buzzing on the end table beside her bed. She stretched and grabbed the phone. It displayed a new text from an unknown sender. She'd gotten texts like these many times, but being a cop she couldn't ignore anything. Sometimes a text could be a tip that turned a dead end case around.

She pushed to accept the text.

"What the..." She held the screen in front of her face in case her eyes were playing tricks on her.

It was a video of Kevin going into Brett's house one night. He knocked then someone answered the door. Alexis could only assume it was Brett since the video wasn't the best quality.

"Holy shit." She put her hand over her mouth.

The date and time matched the night of Brett's murder.

* * * *

"Answer me." Alexis shoved her phone in Kevin's face the next day. "Is this you?" She pressed the button for the video to play. "It sure as hell looks like you." She slammed her hand on the desk. "Is this you?"

"Yes."

"Unbelievable." She turned the video off and put it in her pocket. "So you went to Brett's the night he was killed and you didn't tell me."

He looked down at his desk. "Let me explain."

"Why, so you can tell me more lies?" she yelled. "I don't want to hear another damn thing that comes out of your mouth. I can't trust your ass anymore, Kevin!"

"You know can trust me." He jumped up and rushed to her. "Please let me explain."

"How the fuck can you explain this?"

"Who sent you the video?"

"I don't know who sent it but what fuckin' difference does it make? You were at Brett's that night."

He shook his head as if he were flustered. "The person who sent the video could be the killer."

"Well right now it looks like you're the killer." She pointed at him. "And I'm gonna get a warrant for your arrest based on probable cause."

"You can't do that to me, Lexi!" He grabbed her.

"I have to, Kevin. There's no way around this."

"I didn't kill him." He shook her. "You know in your heart I didn't."

"Stop telling me how much I know you." She tore away from him. "Every single time I think I know what you'd do, you've surprised me. I don't think I know shit when it comes to you and that's more obvious each day."

"Listen, okay?" He sighed into his hands. "Whoever sent you the video was there too, right?" He squinted. "Isn't it just as much a possibility that the person who recorded me killed Brett and showed you this to put the heat on me?"

She put her hands on her waist, exhaling. "Kevin—"

"But it's possible isn't it?"

"Why were you there?" She poked his chest. "Give me a reason that makes sense."

"I went there to get a flash drive from Brett." He walked to the bookshelf in the back of his office. "He had files on the recent merger that I needed." He grabbed her hands. "You gotta believe me. I wasn't there more than ten minutes. I didn't kill him."

"I can't take this anymore, Kevin." She rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I'm too old and too tired to play these damn games with your ass." She backed up and stopped against the wall beside his bookshelf. "Were you just playing me all this time?"

"No." His shoulders dropped. "No, Lexi—"

"Were you using my feelings for you to distract me?" She fought tears. "Were you seducing me to keep up with the case?"

"You know that's not true."

"I know you're a liar." She sniffed. "That's what I know."

"I care about you so much." Tears appeared in his eyes. "You mean more to me than anything else in this world."

"Then why didn't you tell me about this?" She took out the phone. "Would you have told me if I hadn't seen it?"

"I didn't mean to hurt you," he whispered. "But I swear I'm not a killer."

"I'll never believe anything else that comes out of your mouth." She went to the door and grabbed the doorknob.

He rushed in behind her. "You might not believe me about Brett but you have to believe that I care about you. You know that."

"It doesn't matter." She glared at him over her shoulder. "What's between us no longer matters."

"Please don't do this, Lexi." He reached for her then stopped. "If I lost you again I couldn't handle it."

Looking into his torn face nearly killed her. What was so special about Kevin Reed that even now when she tried to stay upset, she just wanted to grab him up in a big hug and never let him go?

"I can't do this, Kevin." She opened the door as a tear fell down her cheek. "I'm sorry."

She left.
Chapter Sixteen

"So you think I'm wrong about Kevin?" Alexis turned toward Penelope whose desk sat in the next cubicle.

"Of course I do." Penelope looked through the files in her bottom drawer. "You know damn well Kevin couldn't murder anyone. Come on, Lexi. We grew up with him, remember? Kevin's harmless."

"Maybe it's hard for you to be objective because you've been around here all these years. But the more I've been here, the more I realize he's changed."

"And you haven't changed?" Penelope took out a file. "Video or not I can't even believe you're entertaining such a ridiculous theory."

"One thing I know is that Kevin never used to lie to me." Alexis bounced in her chair. "Now he's hiding shit left and right. I can't just dismiss this because I care about him." She leaned forward. "Penelope, imagine it was someone else who'd lied about seeing Brett the night he was killed. I bet you wouldn't be so understanding then."

"I'd believe I killed Brett before I believe Kevin did it." Penelope opened the file. "He just got caught up in this because he was afraid to tell the truth."

"So that makes lying okay?"

"I didn't say that. You don't know what you'd have done if the shoe were on the other foot."

Alexis stuck her chin in the air. "I always tell the truth."

"No you don't." Penelope took a paper out of the folder. "You haven't admitted that the real reason you're upset is that he didn't tell you the truth and not that he could be the killer." She typed on her keyboard. "You know in your heart Kevin's not a killer."

Alexis turned back to her computer. "You think you know me so much?"

"We were all best friends before you left, remember?" Penelope scrolled through a webpage. "You might've been gone for twenty years but a lot about you is still the same."

Alexis rested her arm on the keyboard, huffing.

"I remember everything about you." Penelope grinned. "You were scared of going to sleep alone at night, remember? You'd do anything you could to get out of sleeping."

Alexis snickered.

"All because you just knew something was in your room when the lights went out. You were like that for years."

"Girl, everyone is afraid of the dark."

"Not like you. It consumed you and it wasn't because you were afraid of the dark but you were afraid of being alone in that room." Penelope scooted closer to her monitor. "That hasn't changed, Lexi. You're still afraid of being alone so you push people away because you think if they get too close, something will happen and you'll lose them." You're afraid of reconnecting with Kevin because of what happened to Mario and what happened between your mom and Grant."

"Thank you, Dr. Phil." Alexis peered at her. "But you're way off. I'm scared that I can't trust Kevin as far as I can throw him and he's proving me right."

"If he did kill Brett, which I doubt, then we'll get him." Penelope stuffed the paper back into the folder and put the file in the drawer. "All I'm saying is that your frustration is coming from your fear of experiencing loss again. You're scared shitless to finally be back here and confronting all those feelings you haven't been able to handle in the last twenty years. Tell me this. Do you honestly believe Kevin's a killer?"

"Maybe," Alexis mumbled.

"Then how come you haven't put in for the warrant yet?"

"I need to be absolutely sure." Alexis laid her hand on the keyboard. "I get this feeling that he's right about the person who sent the video possibly being the killer." She stretched. "They would definitely have reason to want to set Kevin up if they did it."

"Yeah, but we'd have to find out who sent it. I'm thinking it's a long shot that we'll trace the text to whoever sent it but right now it's our only hope."

A skinny guy with a giant bouquet of flowers popped into Alexis' cubicle. "Detective Adams?"

She scooted from her desk. "Yes?"

"Here you go, ma'am." He handed the flowers to her. "Have a nice day." He dashed off.

"What the hell?" Alexis ran her hands through the assorted petals.

"See?" Penelope rolled her chair over to her. "I bet they're from Kevin." She sniffed them. "Hmm."

"You mind?" Alexis moved the flowers away from Penelope. "I haven't even had a chance to smell them yet." She sniffed them and got the card. "If Kevin thinks flowers are going to make things better then he is—fuck."

"What?"

Alexis handed her the card.

"Grant?" Penelope gaped. "Why would Grant Copeland send you flowers?"

"He must think I'm a damn fool." She threw them into the little wastebasket by her desk. "He's up to something."

Penelope rolled back to her desk, looking as shocked as Alexis felt.

"Grant Copeland never, ever does anything unless he gets something in return." Alexis pointed to the wastebasket. "Believe me, he sent those flowers for a reason and it wasn't to be nice. They're probably poisoned."

Penelope laughed.

"I'm serious." Alexis tried not to chuckle. "We both sniffed them so we'll probably end up in the emergency room in twenty minutes."

"You're a mess." Penelope fanned her hand. "Can't you just give the guy the benefit of the doubt?"

"Grant?" Alexis turned toward her computer. "Never."

Penelope's phone rang. "Detective Dao," she answered. "Oh...yes." She glanced at Alexis. "Okay." She got a pen and scribbled. "We'll be right over and thanks for calling." She hung up.

Alexis sipped from her lukewarm orange soda. "Who was that?"

"Pete Newton."

"Who?"

"King's band mate. The one that King spent the night with when Brett was murdered."

Alexis snapped her fingers. "The dude with the blonde mohawk."

"He said he has something to tell us about King."
Chapter Seventeen

Alexis and Penelope made their way toward the Myers mansion. The housekeeper met them at the front gate and informed them that Carolyn and King were on the back patio.

"Thanks." Alexis and Penelope went down the walkway and stopped on the side of the house when they saw the two talking.

"I'm serious, King." Carolyn got out of the patio chair. "I need to know you're being honest."

"I've been honest." He turned around. "I was at Pete's the night Dad was killed."

"And you didn't leave at all that night?"

"No." He pulled at his shirt. "You think I killed my own father?"

"Of course not, but I just get this strange feeling that you're hiding something." She put her hands on his cheeks. "Maybe it's mother's intuition but the feeling's not going away."

He took her hands from his face. "I could say the same thing about you." He walked off the pavement and into the grass.

"What does that mean?"

"Come on, Mom. You have just as much motive to want Dad dead as I would but you don't see me accusing you."

She stomped toward him. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about your affair remember?"

"It's not an affair!"

"Yet." He moved away from her. "But it's about to be or at least you planned for it to be."

"King." She exhaled. "I did not kill your father. I swear."

"I believe you but you weren't honest." He crossed his arms. "You didn't tell the police you've been involved with another man."

Alexis and Penelope walked from around the side of the house.

"Hello." Alexis waved.

"May I help you, Detectives?" Carolyn asked in a shaky voice.

Penelope pointed behind her back. "Your housekeeper told us you were back here."

"What are you two doing here?" King asked.

"We were looking for you, actually." Alexis took her shades off. "We went by your place and when you weren't there we figured we'd see if your mother knew where you'd be." Alexis put her shades up. "Looks like we got lucky."

King stood in front of Carolyn. "Why are you looking for me?"

"We spoke to Pete Newton," Penelope said. "He told us something very interesting."

"Pete?" King approached them. "What are you talking about?"

Penelope shifted her gaze to Carolyn. "First we'd like clarification on what we just heard about Mrs. Myers."

"Answer my question first." King jumped in Penelope's face.

Carolyn pulled him back.

"I want to know why you were talking to Pete," he said. "And I wanna know now."

"And we want to know why Mrs. Myers seemingly had an affair and didn't tell us." Alexis sat in one of the lounge chairs. "Mrs. Myers?"

"I wanna know why you spoke to Pete!"

"Calm down." Carolyn shoved King then looked at Alexis. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this before but it's not an affair."

"Jeez." Alexis took out her notepad. "Does anyone in this town tell the truth?"

"I'm sorry," Carolyn said. "I didn't mention it because I was afraid of how it might look. I loved Brett but we had our share of problems. The truth is I've been very lonely and for the last two years I've been talking with a man online. He's a retired colonel from the military."

King turned away, shaking his head.

"You have to understand," Carolyn said. "Ever since I've known Brett he's worked hard and I admired him for that but it took a toll on our marriage. I needed attention and he was never able to give it." She touched the pendant on her necklace. "At first I accepted it and even felt guilty for not appreciating what we did have because if he didn't work...we wouldn't have had such a beautiful life."

Penelope stared at her.

"But after over thirty years of marriage, raising four sons, and feeling alone the entire time it all started to break me. I loved being a wife and mother but I wanted to be a woman again. That was the one thing that was missing." Carolyn let go of the pendant. "So when I started chatting online it was innocent at first. I met a man who'd recently lost his wife to diabetes and he was just as lonely as I was."

Alexis jotted what Carolyn said.

Carolyn clasped her hands. "The more we chatted the more we realized how much in common we had. Soon I'd grown attached to him. We were exchanging pictures. It was just innocent pictures of ourselves and then we got so close we started talking about our children." She smiled. "I couldn't wait to brag about all my boys."

King scowled at his mother, his face turning redder by the second.

Carolyn's face held a dreamy expression. "He has two daughters and we even said how wonderful it would be for the kids to meet."

"You've got to be kidding me," King muttered.

Carolyn's smile relaxed. "You see, our relationship grew from being about us to being about our families and even our pasts. We told each other things we felt that we couldn't tell anyone else. We'd get so happy just to hear from each other each day." Carolyn turned to Alexis and Penelope. "He could say the simplest thing and it would make me smile all day."

"I know what you mean." Alexis thought of Kevin.

"He was concerned for me. He asked me about me and no one ever did that." Carolyn glanced at King. "We developed an overwhelming attraction for one another and after that we couldn't go back." She closed her eyes. "But it wasn't just the physical longing." She laid her hand to her cheek. "It was the longing of finding someone else on this earth that understood us. When we talked it was like we were the only two people in the world."

"God," King whispered. "You're in love with this man aren't you? You love him."

Alexis studied Carolyn's expression.

"Yes." Carolyn looked at the detectives. "I do love this man. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that a message asking a stranger how he was doing would lead to feeling a love I haven't felt in over thirty years."

"So you didn't love Dad anymore?" King whispered.

"Of course I did." A tear fell down Carolyn's cheek. "But I hadn't been in love with Brett in a long time. I didn't realize that until I met Alastair."

"Did you kill your husband?" Alexis asked.

"No. I can prove I was out of town and that I got back when I said. The trip to Belize was so I could meet Alastair."

"Alastair." King scrunched up his face.

"He's been living in Belize for about twelve years." Carolyn smiled. "Has the most beautiful cottage that he built himself."

"You've been consulting with Alastair online for two years and Brett had no idea?" Penelope asked.

"If he did he never told me." Carolyn caressed her hand. "Or he just didn't care. I felt guilty the longer I stayed in Belize. It felt right to be with Alastair but not in that way." She avoided her son's glare. "He wanted to make love."

"Oh God." King touched his stomach and grimaced.

"But I refused." Carolyn paced. "Yes, I wanted him but I didn't want to cheat on Brett."

"You were already cheating on him," King muttered.

"I didn't feel right about being in Belize anymore. I told Alastair I needed to get things straight so we could be together." She looked at the detectives. "He understood and told me he'd be waiting for me to return. I was determined to tell Brett the truth when I got back. It was the only thing on my mind on the way home."

"I don't believe this," King said. "You were going to leave Dad for a man you met online and have only known two years? Have you lost your mind?"

"No." She wiped a tear. "I'd found my heart. I couldn't lie anymore. Not to Brett or myself." She looked up and sighed. "I loved Brett and I never would've hurt him."

"You should've told us this from the beginning," Penelope said. "We know you were gone. We already checked it out but you could've had someone kill him."

"No!" Carolyn dropped her arms to her sides. "Why would I kill Brett? I wanted to get a divorce, that's why I wanted to tell him the truth. I had no reason to want him dead. I didn't have ill feelings for Brett. I just wanted to be happy."

"But you had ill feelings toward him." Alexis looked at King. "And you also lied to us. You weren't with Pete when your father was killed, were you? At least not the entire time."

"What?" Carolyn gaped. "King?"

He moved from side to side, rubbing his face.

"What is she talking about?" Carolyn grabbed him by the arms. "Did you leave Pete's that night? Where were you, King?"

"Pete's lying!" He broke from Carolyn's hold and rushed toward Alexis. "I was with him all night at his place."

"Bullshit," Alexis said.

"He said you left and were gone quite a while." Penelope asked, "Why would Pete lie?"

King turned toward her. "I don't know." He gripped his head. "I—"

"King," Penelope said. "Stop it, all right? Pete said you were at his house but you left around nine-thirty."

"Fuck!" He hit his forehead.

"He said you came back to his place at around midnight," Alexis said. "He said you were sweating, shaking...and you had blood on your T-shirt."

"Where were you?" Carolyn flung him around and shook him. "You tell them and you tell me." She yanked his shirt. "Say something!"

"Okay!" He pulled away from Carolyn. "Yes, I left Pete's and I came here."

Carolyn covered her mouth.

"I didn't kill my father." He shook his hands out to the detectives. "I swear and I can explain."

"Well." Alexis straightened up in the chair. "We're listening."

Penelope raised an eyebrow. "And it better be damn good."
Chapter Eighteen

King knelt down and rocked. "I came over here to make amends. It was killing me how things ended up between my father and me." He put his fist to his mouth. "We used to be so close. He was my best friend."

"What did you do?" Carolyn's voice shook.

"I missed being close to him." He wiped a tear. "I came here to tell him that no matter what had happened between us, I still loved him." He put his hand over his face. "But he didn't want anything to do with me." He sobbed heavier. "He answered the door, ranting and raving."

Alexis jotted what he said.

"He was shouting and cursing. He said things to me you wouldn't say to your worst enemy."

Carolyn shook her head.

"The more he insulted me the angrier I got." He stood. "It just boiled up inside of me and I couldn't control it. Then he said something unforgiveable. Something you shouldn't ever say to your child."

"What?" Penelope asked.

"He said he wished I was dead." Tears streamed down his face. "Do you believe that?" He pulled at his shirt. "My father told me that he hated me and wished I was dead!"

Carolyn parted her lips but nothing came out.

"Who would do that?" He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "Who would tell their own child that they wished he was dead? I can't tell you..." he raised his shaky hand, "...how mad I was at that moment. I mean I literally saw red."

"So what happened?" Penelope asked.

"I hit him." King licked tears from his lips. "I hit him with all the strength I had before I realized it. Then he hit me and we ended up fighting in the living room."

"God," Carolyn whispered.

"At that moment I hated him as much as he said he hated me." He rubbed his knuckles. "I got on top of him and I kept punching him and punching him and then the phone rang and I stopped." He gazed in space. "It was like a light had gone off and I came back to my senses." He stepped back. "He was lying on the floor, screaming and holding his nose." King looked down at his shirt. "His nose was bleeding and blood was all over my shirt."

"You beat your father?" Alexis whispered.

He turned his back to them and walked into the grass. "He told me to never set foot in this house again and I left."

Alexis stared at him. "So when exactly did you beat him with the hammer?"

Carolyn stared at King.

He wobbled as he turned around. "What?"

Penelope made a sucking noise with her tongue. "Everything you just told us was another lie wasn't it?"

"No." He moved out of the grass and to Carolyn. "Mom, I'm not lying."

"Stop it, King." Alexis stood. "We know the truth now okay? Pete told us that you said you killed your father with a hammer."

"No." He gripped his head and rocked. "No! He's lying!"

"Lying?" Alexis got in his face. "I don't think so. We found a bloody hammer in a dumpster not far from here."

"Oh my God." Carolyn bent over.

"We haven't gotten the results back on the DNA and prints yet," Penelope said. "But it's too much of a coincidence if you ask me."

"No one but the police knows that Brett was killed with a hammer," Alexis said. "So are we supposed to believe that Pete is lying and he happened to make up the same damn weapon that was used to kill your father?"

"Yes!" King jumped up and down. "I didn't kill my father."

"So why would Pete say you did?" Penelope asked. "What reason would he have to lie?"

"I don't know!" He waved his arms. "But I'm telling the truth!" He grabbed Penelope. "Please believe me."

"I'm sorry, King." Alexis took out her handcuffs. "We don't."

* * * *

Alexis walked down the dark hall of Copeland Enterprises. She stopped at the only office with the light on and the parted door.

She took a deep breath and knocked.

Kevin looked up from his computer, sighed, and continued typing.

"Hey." She cleared her throat. "Can I come in?"

"I don't know," he spoke in a dry tone. "Can you?"

"Working late, huh?" She walked in. "I went to your place and saw your car gone so I figured you were still here." She clasped her hands. "Guess I was right."

"What do you want, Alexis?" He kept his attention on the monitor.

She walked to his desk and picked up the white mug. "We arrested King Myers today."

"What?"

She turned the mug upside down. "We have reason to believe he killed his father." She set the mug down.

He scooted from the computer.

She scanned the items on the desk. "His friend told us that King admitted to killing his father."

Kevin's mouth hung open.

"The friend even knew the murder weapon." She picked up the electric pencil sharpener. "Only the killer would know that."

"Jesus." Kevin glanced at his desk with furrowed brows. "I knew the falling out between Brett and King was bad but I didn't think he'd really kill his dad."

"Of course he lawyered up when we got him down to the station." She walked across the office and stopped at the huge window. She watched the car lights as people drove down the dark street. "We're still waiting on the results from the hammer we found."

"Hammer?"

"We found a bloody hammer not far from the Myers estate."

"So King is the one who videotaped me and sent it to you?"

She moved from the window. "I guess so."

His sympathetic expression hardened. "So why are you here?" He scooted back to his computer. "Did you come to apologize for calling me a murderer?"

"Yes." She walked to the desk. "I'm sorry for accusing you."

He shook his head while typing. "Weak-ass apology."

"Look, I am sorry okay?" She sat on the edge of the desk. "But can you blame me for thinking it? When I saw that video...what was I supposed to think?"

"You were supposed to trust me and believe that I wasn't a killer."

"But you didn't tell me the truth."

"I know that." He moved his hands from the keyboard. "But with the connection we have and the feelings we have for each other...you should've just known, Lexi."
Chapter Nineteen

"You can't blame me for the actions I took," she said. "I'm a detective. You expect me to go on feelings when I'm investigating a murder?"

He went back to typing.

"Look, I was wrong and I apologize but you never would've been accused if you'd been honest with me from the beginning."

"Man!" He slammed his hands on the keyboard. "I don't get you at all. You just don't care how you treat people do you?"

She jerked back, almost falling off his desk. "What does that mean?"

"You don't understand how much it hurt when you accused me of killing Brett do you?"

"Yes and I'm sorry, but I don't see how I did anything wrong."

"I bet you don't." He chuckled, shaking his head. "No one can ever blame you for anything because you're perfect. Whenever you hurt people or treat people like shit it's for a good reason, isn't it? You never lie or do anything wrong on purpose."

"You're the victim now?" She moved off the desk. "I get that you're upset with me but I think any reasonable person would've thought you killed Brett too."

"You didn't even try to trust me."

She laughed. "You didn't tell me you were at Brett's the night of his murder!" She stood beside his desk. "Can you blame—"

"Yes I can blame you!" He jumped up and stood in front of her.

She moved back.

"I very much can blame you because this isn't about trusting me, it's about you being afraid."

"Oh really?" She pointed to her chest. "What am I afraid of?"

"You're afraid of getting too close to me." He leaned on the desk. "You're afraid of having to finally face those feelings you've had for me all these years. I'm betting that's the real reason you stayed gone. I've never met a person so scared yet so strong in my life."

"What do you mean?" She caught a hint of his cologne and her nipples automatically jumped at attention.

"When you're doing your cop thing, no one can touch you. You're so strong and determined. But when it comes to your personal life you're as vulnerable as a little girl." He tilted his head. "It's like you're sheltered when it comes to dealing with emotions and your heart."

She rolled her eyes. "Boy you and Penelope could give Dr. Phil a run for his money."

He pointed. "I think you wanted me to be the killer."

"What?" she shrieked. "You're losing it."

"Yeah." He nodded. "Because it would've let you off the hook. If I'd been the killer then you wouldn't have to finally commit to me."

"All I've ever wanted was to commit to you. I told you that the moment we reconnected."

"But every time we got close you put on the brakes."

"Really?" She huffed, holding her waist. "Like when I was sucking your dick on the beach? Oh yes I really put on the brakes then didn't I?"

"I'm not talking about sex. Sex is easy. I'm talking about our hearts and lives here."

She looked away, pouting.

"And you're pouting because you know I'm right. You're scared, Lexi."

"I'm not scared of anything." She laughed it off. "That's...that's all in your head."

She tried to ignore his tantalizing scent. It wasn't his cologne that enticed her but the scent of him...his skin. She wanted to bury her face into his chest. She wanted him to smother her with his smell and touch. She wanted to be down on her knees, tasting every drop of him until she nearly choked from him nutting in her mouth.

Then she remembered how great sex and how much she wanted him didn't matter if she really were scared and maybe she was. But from what she could tell, she wasn't the only one afraid of something.

"You're trying to analyze me, huh?" She crossed her arms. "You're the pathetic one, Kevin."

"Really?" His voice cracked as if the comment stung deeper than she'd wanted it to.

"You don't stick with Grant because you appreciate what he's done. You're too scared to make it on your own."

His jaw pulsated.

She waved her finger around. "You know that Grant is the reason you have this job, fancy car, and luxurious house you live in."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Without Grant you're afraid you're nothing. You don't think you can survive without him being your crutch, your safety net." She poked his chest. "I might be scared of giving my heart but I'm not scared to live my own life."

He exhaled through his nose.

"But you are, Kevin." She shrugged. "I couldn't be with a man like you. You're nothing but Grant's puppet and you're afraid to be anything else."

"That's..." His voice cracked. "That's a fucked up thing to say, Lexi. A very fucked up thing to say."

"Well I said it." She smiled. "What are you gonna do about it?" She went to the door.

He stomped in behind her. "I'll show you what I'm gonna do." He pulled her from the door and slammed it.

She jumped. "Oh!"

He grabbed her. "You wanna see what I can do?" He picked her up and held her against the wall. "I'm gonna fuck you until you stop running from this. Until you stop being afraid." He shoved his mouth onto hers, making a loud sucking sound when he unclamped his lips from hers. "That's what I'm gonna do." He stuck his hands up her skirt. "Is this a puppet?" He kissed her with so much force she thought he'd rip her lips from her face. "Would a puppet make you feel like this?"

"Oh, Kevin." No need in denying or fighting her desire. Something about Kevin made her lose all control whenever he touched her.

"You want me to fuck you?" He grunted with raised brows and a red face. "Say it!"

"Yes." No man had ever been as forceful with her but she gladly welcomed the experience. "God yes, Kevin. Fuck me. When you fuck me nothing else matters."

He pulled her skirt up to her waist and ripped her thin panties off.

Shit. I just bought these. Who gives a shit?

"Ah!" Alexis sucked her lip. "Oh...oh. I'm so wet I could drown us."

"I bet I can get you wet enough to fill this goddamn room." He got on his knees and turned her around so her ass faced him. "Bend down."

She did as he delivered soft kisses to her buttocks. "Oh yes, Kevin."  
"You wanna get wetter, huh?" He licked her butt cheek. "You're about to get wetter than you've ever been." He shoved his warm face into her ass and probed her asshole with his tongue.

"God," she shrieked. "That feels so good, Kevin." She rocked against his tongue. "Suck my ass! Like that."

"Hmm." He held the sides of her legs as he licked his tongue up and down her asshole, gently. "Your ass tastes almost as good as your pussy." He kissed her butt cheeks again then went back to working her hole.

"Yes, like that." Bent over, she unbuckled his belt and undid his pants. She slid them and his white jockeys halfway down to his knobby knees. She chuckled at the sight of them then focused on his thick erection. "Keep sucking me, Kevin."

"Shit I wouldn't stop if the building were on fire." He sat down on his ass, not breaking a stride with his tongue.

She didn't know how he managed to get his mouth in between her cheeks and sucked as if it were her pussy. "Ah!" The powerful sensation overtook her and she screamed out before she knew it. "Don't stop." She stroked his dick then spit on the tip.

"Mm yeah." He stopped sucking her. "Spit on that dick again."

She spit another nice, fat glob on it. "You like that?"

"Oh yes. I like feeling your spit running down my cock." He moaned and went back to sucking her ass. "Suck me, Lexi," he mumbled from between her cheeks.

Even though it wasn't the most comfortable position, Alexis couldn't resist how tempting it was to see his dick pointed straight up at her. "I feel like it's calling me," she joked.

"It is," he mumbled. "It wants to come between those beautiful lips of yours."

"Then let me oblige." Alexis took him into her mouth like a vacuum hose.  
"Ooh my god." Kevin jolted and jerked. "Yes, Lexi." He moved his tongue lower and began tickling her pussy with it.

"Ooh, shit." Alexis fondled her clit as she roughly sucked his dick.

"Yes." Kevin stuck his tongue up her, slurping her wetness. "Keep sucking that dick, baby. Keep on."

"Umm-hmm." She sucked and every bit of him tasted like candy. The smooth shaft massaged the inside of her jaws.

"I'm gonna come." He propped his knee up, rocking. "Shit, Lexi."

She took her mouth from his dick. "Keep sucking my pussy."

He groaned then followed her command once again.

"I want us to come in each other's mouths." She shoved her mouth back on his dick and moved it up and down. She tickled the tip with her tongue.

"Fuck." Kevin slammed his fist to the carpet. "I can't hold it, Lexi."

"Oh I'm gonna cum." She leaned up, pushing her fingers against her tender clit. "I'm coming, Kevin. Put your mouth on me!"

He swiped his tongue against her pussy then nibbled on the lips.

"Yes!" Alexis tightened up, ready to release the orgasm that already had her knees weak.

"Put your mouth back on me," Kevin demanded. "Let's see who comes first."

"You will." She clamped her lips on him once again, moving her tongue all around his shaft until she felt his buildup. "Yeah." She let his dick go but kept her mouth directly in front of it. "You gonna come, huh?" She squealed as she neared her orgasm at 100 miles per hour. "Come for me, damn it!"

"I'm coming." Kevin let out a loud groan then shot his thin, clear cum toward her face. "Ah!"

"Yes." She closed her eyes, reveling in the sexual shower. "Yes."

"Damn." He squirted one last drop upon her nose.

"You taste so damn good." She licked his running cum from her lips then her body reminded her of how good his mouth felt. "Yes, Kevin!" She reached back and placed her hand on his head as he nibbled her clit. "Right there...yeah. Ooh. Keep eating my pussy like that...oh...my god!"

"Yeah, come," he said, still licking. "Come damn it!"

"Oh...ah!" Alexis released and felt something shoot out of her. "I squirted!" She huffed and puffed, desperate to balance herself. "Let me look at you. I wanna see my cum on your face." She turned around to see Kevin's handsome face glistened from her wetness. "Hmm." She grabbed his head and pushed his lips to hers.

Chapter Twenty

Alexis lay on the carpet with Kevin, holding his waist. His shirt hung off his shoulders and his pants were down to his ankles. Alexis' blouse fell off one arm and her breasts dangled from her lacey black bra.

She moved her leg from around his waist. "How did we get in this position?" she whispered, her pussy still tingling for more. "Literally?"

"I don't know." He panted. "I can't control how I feel around you." He coughed into his hand. "I didn't plan it, it just happened. I was mad."

Alexis leaned up on her elbow. "This is how you react when you're mad?"

He closed his eyes and licked his lips.

"Well." She grinned. "I'll have to try my best to make you mad again, won't I?"

He leaned up. "Did you..." He glanced at her breasts. "Enjoy it?" A drop of sweat trailed down his chiseled chest.

"What do you think?" She placed his hand on her chest. "Can't you feel my heart pounding against yours?"

He lowered his hand and fondled her nipple. "Your nipples are still hard." He moaned.

"Can't you feel how much my mouth is begging you to kiss me again?"

He turned red.

"You're blushing." She climbed on top of him and kissed him, anxious to feel him inside her again.

He swept his hands underneath her hair. "This is what life is about, Lexi." He kissed her. "It's about being with someone who truly cares or there's no reason for living."

"I know." She propped her elbows on his stomach. "I'm sorry for how I treated you concerning Brett's murder."

"Sh. I'm so glad you're back. You bring excitement to this town that I've missed. You're unpredictable." He stroked her hair. "And this town is so—"

"Predictable?"

"Yep. It's the same people doing the same things. Even me. I kinda felt like I was stuck in this lifeless cycle before you came back."

She kissed his nipple. "I thought you loved your life."

"I like the position my life is in now." He rubbed his eye. "Not sure if that's the same as loving life." He moved his hand from her hair. "Of course I don't like being Grant's puppet but I guess that's the price, right?"

She moved a strand of hair from her face. "I'm sorry I said that."

He looked away from her.

"That was an awful thing for me to say." She patted his chest. "I can be a real bitch sometimes."

"You had a point." He guided her head back to his chest. "You're not the only person who sees me that way." He wrapped his arms around her. "Everyone in this town thinks I'm Grant's puppet. Even he does."

"You don't need him, Kevin." She kissed his chest. "As long as you believe that then everything is okay."

"Sometimes I feel like I'm in bed with the devil."

She kissed his stomach, feeling as though they existed only for this moment.

"Grant has given me so much that it's not easy to walk away."

She lifted her head. "Do you want to walk away?"

Would I be enough for you to?

He leaned up. "Before you showed up I didn't have any regrets about anything in my life, including Grant. You've made me wanna reevaluate everything. It needed to happen but I never would've done it if you hadn't come along."

"I had no right to try to make you feel bad for caring about Grant. I might hate him but he's done good things for you and I had no right to expect you to feel a certain way just because I do."

"No, I'm not stupid." He sighed. "I know Grant's not the most honorable man on the planet. I've heard rumors and whispers through the years."

"Like what?" She moved off him and stuffed her breasts into her bra.

"I've heard that he's done things to people. That he abuses his power and people are afraid of him. The same things you claim."

"Wow." She buttoned her blouse. "This is the first time I really understood the bond you have with him." She kissed him, rubbing his cheek. "I never wanted you to get caught in the middle of any of anything."

"I'll make you a promise." He took her hand and kissed it. "I won't let Grant get between us. If it comes down to you or him, it's you all the way."

"Kevin."

"No." He laid his finger on her lips. "I love my job and appreciate everything Grant's done for me but none of that is as important as you are." He hugged her and kissed her cheek. "We're in this together, Lexi. Just like we used to be."

Her cell phone rang.

"Aw." Kevin groaned, still caressing her. "Ignore it."

"I can't." She got the phone from her pocket and answered, "Penelope, what's up?"

"I got a call that the DNA results and prints came back on that hammer we found near Brett's."

"Yeah?" Alexis sat up.

"The blood on the hammer matches Brett's."

"Yes!" Alexis made a fist. "I knew it."

"But the prints don't match King's."

"What?"

"King's prints weren't anywhere on that hammer, Lexi."

She looked at Kevin. "Then whose prints were on there?"

"Pete Newton's."
Chapter Twenty-One

"Please don't be mad at me, baby," Pete spoke on the phone in the recreational room of the jail. "I don't know how this happened."

"I know how it happened," the woman screamed from the other end. "You're a fuckin' idiot! You didn't wear gloves?"

"I..." He sobbed.

A guard watched him from across the room.

Pete's stomach turned from anxiety. "Shit." He fell against the wall. "I thought I was careful. I forgot about the DUIs I had. I forgot they had my prints on file."

The lady breathed into the phone. "I can't believe this."

"It'll be all right, babe. My lawyer will handle it and—"

"Handle what? Are you nuts, Pete? Are you this big of an idiot? You were arrested for murder!"

"But everything's gonna be okay, baby." He gripped the phone. "As long as we got each other than we can get through anything. I miss you so much. I need you to come and see me."

"Are you out of your fuckin' mind? I can't be seen with you."

"They won't know you're involved," he whispered. "I just... I'm cracking and I need to see your beautiful face. I can't hold you so I need to see your face. Please."

"Pete—"

"Please just let me see your face. If I do then I know everything will be all right."

"There is no way in hell that I'm coming to see you. As far as I'm concerned you no longer exist."

"What?" His voice broke from sorrow. "You can't mean that."

"I've never meant anything more in my life. I cannot believe you could be so stupid and careless. I'm not spending the rest of my life in prison because you fucked up."

"No...no." He slid his hands down the cold wall. "Wait honey. Please."

"No. It's over, Pete."

"It can't be over." He kicked the wall.

The guard headed toward him.

"I love you, damn it," he yelled into the phone. "I love you! I did this for you," he cried. "I fuckin' did this for you!"

The guard grabbed him.

"Let go of me!" He struggled with the guard. "I love you," he said into the phone. "Please—"

"It's over," she yelled. "Don't call me and don't even think about me."

"No." He slid to the floor. "Please, I did this for you. You said we'd be together."

"That's before I knew you were a fuckin' idiot. Have a nice life in prison, asshole."

Click.

"Faye?" He pushed the buttons on the phone. "Faye!"

The guard ripped the phone from Pete's hand.

"No!"

The guard handcuffed him. "Faye." Pete wept. "You can't do this to me, Faye."

* * * *

"Well, Mr. Newton." Alexis entered the interrogation room with Penelope behind her. "Heard you wanted to speak to us?" Alexis studied his haggard face and distraught expression.

"Yeah." He nibbled on his thumb while shaking his foot under the table.

They sat across from him.

"Well?" Alexis put her hands on the table. "Is this going to be worth our while or a waste of our time?"

"I wanna make a statement about Mr. Myers' murder." He wiggled in the dark green jumpsuit. "I want a deal before I talk."

Alexis looked at Penelope who whispered to herself.

"Promise me I won't get death." He looked back and forth at them. "I accept what I did and I'll do my time but I don't want death."

"We can't promise you that," Alexis said. "What we can do is try to help you if this information is worth it."

"No." He turned to the side. "Then forget it."

"Pete," Penelope said. "We know you killed Brett and you're going to prison. That's what's gonna happen."

He closed his eyes and mumbled.

"But you still have a chance to help yourself." Penelope sat back. "If what you tell us is good then we promise you we'll try our best to help you out."

"What is it, Pete?" Alexis asked. "I can tell you're tortured by something. I don't think you're a bad person." She glanced at Penelope. "If you want to help us then you gotta tell us what's going on."

He touched his nose. "Okay. I did it." He sniffed. "I killed Mr. Myers."

Alexis sighed. "Why did you do it, Pete?"

"She..." He sobbed. "She said she loved me. I..." He gripped the table. "I did it for her. I didn't wanna hurt him but I love her." He batted his eyelids as tears fell. "She said we'd be together. She promised me we'd be together."

"Who?" Penelope asked.

He whimpered. "Faye."

Alexis gaped. "Faye Ramsey?"

He nodded.

"Well isn't this getting interesting?" Alexis wiggled in the chair.

"Wait a minute." Penelope pointed at him. "Are you saying that you killed Brett for Faye?"

"I didn't wanna do it. I swear." He wiped under his nose. "But she said she loved me."

"So you're dating Faye?" Penelope asked.

He scratched his head. "On the down low. We started hanging out a few months ago." He wiggled his fingers. "She started coming to the Tate Valley Lounge and watching the band play. Pretty soon I'd look up and she was there all the time." He dragged his finger down the table. "When I was playing I'd glance up and she'd be looking at me. She was so beautiful."

"You had an attraction to her?" Penelope straightened in the chair.

"I knew of her," he said. "But I never met her, you know? I knew she used to work with King's dad."

"So how did her coming to the lounge turn into you being an item?" Alexis asked.

"One night after a gig I had drinks with her and we had this instant attraction." He rubbed his arm. "She liked everything about me. She listened to me and she actually wanted to spend time with me. I'd never had a woman like Faye to pay me that kind of attention. I was mesmerized. I couldn't get enough of her. Anything she'd ask me, I'd do."
Chapter Twenty-Two

Penelope stared at him. "So how do we get to murder?"

"She said that Mr. Myers ruined her life. She blamed him for her being fired and for losing Kevin Reed."

"She's something else." Alexis huffed.

"Faye felt that if Brett hadn't told Cynthia then Kevin wouldn't hate Faye and she might've ended up with Kevin."

"You didn't mind that she still wanted Kevin?" Alexis asked.

"She said she wasn't in love with Kevin anymore." He pulled at his fingers. "She said she would always have a soft spot in her heart for him but didn't belong with him."

"I bet by this time you were so gone over Faye you wouldn't have cared if she wanted Kevin or not right?" Alexis whispered.

"So Faye wanted revenge." Penelope hooked her arm over the back of her chair. "And she'd found someone more than willing to help her get that revenge right?"

"I didn't want to hurt Mr. Myers. King's one of my dearest friends and I love him." He sighed. "But I'd become so consumed with Faye. When we were together, I'd get so high like I was on drugs. I'd never experienced feeling so wonderful and free in my life."

Alexis nodded. "So how did killing Brett come up?"

"She was joking about it one night after we'd had sex." He sniffled. "I didn't think she was serious but she was. I told her I wasn't going to kill anyone."

"Look how that turned out," Alexis said.

"She told me I didn't have to kill him but since I was close to King she wanted me to keep her informed on what Brett was doing. King told me that Mrs. Myers had been out of town for two weeks. Faye said that would be the perfect time." He dropped his head. "I told her again I wasn't doing it and she said that we couldn't be together if she couldn't move on from the past."

Alexis shook her head. "I'm sure she wasn't about to take no for an answer."

"She said the only way she could move on is if Brett paid for what he did to her. She said if I was a real man and truly loved her then I'd do this." His eyes widened. "I told her she must've been crazy. She said she'd planned it out and I wouldn't get caught. She said she loved me and would make sure everything was set before the move was made."

"You agreed?" Alexis asked.

He shook his head. "I told her I wasn't killing anyone, not even for her and I left. But after about four days of not seeing her I was a wreck. I couldn't do a damn thing without thinking about her. I was obsessed and I wanted her. I figured being happy outweighed...sense."

"Wow," Penelope whispered.

"I'd rather commit murder and have Faye than not have her." He touched his head. "I thought I needed to prove my love and I wanted her so bad." A tear drifted down his cheek. "So we got together and started planning it. I knew from King that the Myers' didn't have an alarm or security and that Mr. Myers went to bed around nine. So that night I was ready to go do it and King dropped by just as I was planning to leave."

Alexis glanced at Penelope who seemed just as surprised as she was.

"He'd had a fight with his girlfriend and wanted to hang out. I didn't want him to be suspicious of anything so I told him he could stay the night. I called Faye and told her I'd do it the next night. Mrs. Myers wasn't coming back until late the next night so I still had time."

Alexis studied his mysterious expression. "But you ended up going that same night."

"Yeah, around nine-thirty King said he had to run an errand and he left my place. So I called Faye and told her I changed my mind and could kill Myers." He rubbed his head. "I just wanted to do it and get it over with. So I got the hammer and went over there."

Alexis held her breath.

"As I'm coming down the street toward the Myers' I see Kevin's car in the driveway. I parked out of sight and watched him get out." He looked at Alexis. "He wasn't in there more than five minutes."

"So you were the one who videotaped him and sent the video to my phone?"

He nodded. "I figured it could be insurance in case my name popped up somehow. I wanted to throw you off in case you got close."

Alexis jotted the information. "So Kevin left?"

"Kevin left then I was gonna go in and I saw headlights coming from the opposite direction." He poked out his lips. "It was King. I couldn't fuckin' believe it." He laid his hand flat on the table. "So he went in and came out about ten minutes later with his clothes all twisted and looked like he had blood on his shirt." He turned up his nose. "I didn't know what the hell went on. For a second I thought King had killed Mr. Myers himself."

"So once King left..." Penelope rubbed the table, "...you made your move?"

"I waited about thirty minutes until I felt he was asleep then I broke the window and went inside." He shivered. "I went up to his bedroom and he was asleep on his stomach." He held his breath. "And I hit him." He covered his eyes. "I kept hitting him until he was dead."

* * * *

Alexis walked with Penelope up the pebbled walkway toward Faye's two-story condominium. Faye sat on the front porch in a floral summer dress with a slit up to her thighs, backless heels, and her hair tucked into a French roll. "Ah." She sipped from a big glass of ice tea. "What a lovely surprise."

Alexis and Penelope stopped in the grass.

"So what brings you here, Detectives?" Faye smiled.

Alexis took her shades off. "We arrested Brett's killer a few days ago."

"I know." Faye set her drink down. "This is a small town remember?" She took off her shades. "Is it true that it was a friend of King's?"

Alexis smirked. "Maybe."

"Wow." Faye whistled. "So why in the world did he kill Brett?"

Alexis walked up the porch steps. "You played yourself, Faye."

"Excuse me?"

"You were so busy trying to prove how smart you were that you ended up playing yourself."

"I don't have any idea what you're talking about, Detective Adams." She smiled. "Is this about Kevin?"

"No, this is about Brett's murder," Penelope said. "And you damn sure know what we're talking about."

Faye crossed her legs. "I swear I have no idea. Did I do something wrong?"

"Hmm, let's see." Alexis took off her shades and hooked them on her blouse. "Is seducing a guy and taking advantage of his vulnerability to get him to kill someone for you wrong?"

Faye glanced at Penelope then back to Alexis. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Penelope moved closer to the porch. "We're talking about you searching for someone to manipulate and use so that you could get revenge on Brett."

"Is this a fuckin' joke?" Faye laughed. "Are you accusing me of killing

Brett?" She straightened in her chair. "Pete Newton was arrested for Brett's

murder."

"And we all know that Pete Newton wouldn't have hurt a fly before you came along." Alexis moved closer to her. "You used him."

"I don't even know the man."

"Cut the shit, Faye," Penelope said. "We know that you coerced Pete into killing Brett for you. He told us everything so don't insult our intelligence by making yourself look stupid."

"Pete's lying." She raised her hands. "I didn't manipulate him into doing anything and especially not murder."

"So you aren't in a relationship with Pete Newton?" Penelope put her hand on her tiny waist.

"Hell no!" Faye jerked up in the chair. "Do I look like I'd date a punk like that?"

"So why would Pete say you would?" Alexis asked.

"To get back at me because I wouldn't have anything to do with him. He has some deranged fixation on me."

"Can you explain this?" Alexis pulled a folded paper out of her pocket, holding in a chuckle.

Faye stared at it. "What's that?"

Alexis unfolded the paper. "We wanted to come see you the day Pete

confessed but we had to wait on that darn court order."

"Those are your cell phone records, Faye," Penelope said.

The color drained from Faye's face.

"If you want nothing to do with Pete then why have you been calling and texting him for months?" Alexis handed the paper to Faye.

Penelope propped her foot on the bottom porch step. "Those texts are pretty telling, aren't they Faye?"

"And for someone who didn't like Pete you sure do act like you do in those texts." Alexis grinned and pointed to the paper.

Faye looked over it.

"Goodness." Alexis fanned. "Some of those texts were so steamy I needed water afterwards."

Penelope grinned.

Faye stood and held the paper to her side. "So I had an affair with Pete. That doesn't prove I had anything to do with Brett's murder."

"No, but the fact that in many of those texts you begged Pete to kill Brett for you does."

Alexis took out her handcuffs. "It's over, Faye."

She dropped the paper.

Alexis walked behind her. "Next time you plan on murdering someone you might not want to mention it in a text."

* * * *

"So..." Kevin walked alongside Alexis on the beach. "You picked out the dress you're gonna wear to our wedding?"

She tossed her head back and laughed. "I don't know about that." She moved hair out of her face. "Let's start dating again first before we make the big jump." She winked.

He jumped in front of her and walked backwards. "You trust me?" The breeze blew his shirt up at the ends.

"Yes." Her feet sank in the warm sand. "I guess I have to trust someone in this town, right?" She picked up a shell. "Might as well be the man I'm sleeping with."

"And I'll always be here for you, Lexi." He grabbed her hands. "As long as you don't run away."

"You were right about me being afraid before. I wanted you so much but I have to finally deal with these demons I've been carrying around." She threw the shell into the ocean, thinking about how she would possibly stomach living in the same town as Grant again.

"What'll help you work on those demons?" He picked her up and twirled her around.

She held onto him, laughing. "Kevin! Put me down." She hit his arms.

He put her down and kissed her. "Are you gonna finally move on from how you feel about Grant?"

"I'll always hate Grant." She picked up another shell. "But if he stays away from me and doesn't do anything to the people I care about then I'll keep my cool. Can you accept that?"

"That's fair." He smiled.

"You know what?" She touched his shirt. "Every time I look at you I know that coming back to Tate Valley was the right decision. I don't belong anywhere else."

"Well there's one place you'll always belong no matter where you go."

"Where?" she asked.

He put his arms around her and kissed her. "My heart."

The End

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