“Jai, baby. I’m joking.”
Jaime stepped out into the corridor and glanced back at Taylor. “Be back when I’m back. Bye.”
Those moments had happened quite often on reflection. Perhaps Jaime had always denied the minor issues they faced in their relationship, or maybe she’d never considered them too much. Still, she loved Taylor, and Taylor loved her.
“Stop stalling.”
Jaime rechecked the address, scrunching the paper and throwing it into the footwell with the rest of her trash. She didn’t know what she would say to Anastasia when they came face to face, but hopefully, the short walk to the front door would produce some kind of script.
You’re going to look like a fool when you knock on her door and stare open-mouthed.
Jaime stopped on the sidewalk and surveyed the house from the street. She frowned when she found no sign of Anastasia’s car on the driveway. She wasn’t confused because Anastasia wasn’t home. She was confused because it didn’t look as though there was any space on the driveway for her Black Lexus. Twocars already filled the spaces. And the open garage? Well, the man of the house clearly enjoyed his power tools.
As Jaime rounded the back of the cars, her eyes landed on the lawn. A child’s bicycle with pink streamers.Fuck! She has a kid?Jaime was skating on very thin ice here. Not only had she stupidly gone to that fucking club, she now found herself fantasizing about a woman who had a kid…and probably a husband. Judging by the dick extender truck up the driveway, she definitely had a husband.Ah. Derek!Jaime recalled the brief mention of him the first time they’d questioned Anastasia at the club. Annoyed with the memory, at least she had a good excuse for showing up now. It was part of the job to check alibis. That was Jaime’s story. The one she’d stick to no matter who asked.
“Fuck it. Knock on the door and figure out what the hell this woman’s game is.” She knocked loudly, stepping back and looking up at the house. When the door opened, Jaime only found herself more confused behind her sunglasses. She flashed her badge. “Detective Baros. You must be Derek. Is your wife home?”
The balding guy with terrible aftershave stood taller than Jaime as he stepped out of the house. “Sorry, Detective. I think you have the wrong address. My name is Michael Butler, and my wife is out of the country on business.”
“Your wife is…” Perplexed but not willing to show it, Jaime checked her notes. Not that she needed the notes; Anastasia was branded on her brain now. “Anastasia Grant?”
“No.” He scratched his beard. “But I think I understand the confusion. Ms. Grant is the owner of this house. We’re renting until my wife’s job relocates us.”
“Right. I see. Do you have Ms. Grant’s address?”
“I’m sorry, Detective, I don’t. We rent through an agency. I can give you their card.” Michael took his wallet out and handed over a business card. “Is Ms. Grant okay? We’ve never met her,but she’s pretty quick when it comes to anything that needs repairing here. I’d hate to think she’s in trouble.”
Jaime held up a hand. “No trouble. We think she can help with an investigation. I appreciate your time, Mr. Butler.”
Jaime headed straight for her car, frustratedly pulling the door open. As she slumped into her seat and punched the wheel, she shook her head. She’d never get a warrant for Anastasia’s address without Max finding out all about this. “What are you hiding from, Anastasia…”
Fuck. Jaime would have to sit outside the clubagain. If she had any hope of finding out where the mysterious Lady A resided, she had no choice.
Jaime crushedanother empty can of Red Bull and threw it into the back seat. Why did this woman have to work so damn late? And how did she manage to look so freaking good even with minimal sleep? Jaime loathed how some women were just naturally gorgeous. Fuck, if she wanted to look half as good as the women inside the club did, it would takea lotmore than a layer of makeup.
She cracked another can of Red Bull, aware that she would end up shaking if she didn’t lay off them soon. Of course she knew they were no good for her, but nothing in life ever was. Exhibit A. She was here waiting for the very woman who had caused several sleepless nights since they’d met. If Jaime hadn’t decided to focus on Lady A, she wouldn’t need the Red Bull. She wouldn’t need it because she wouldn’t be sitting in a parking lot in the middle of the night, fucking sleep-deprived.
You see. She’s just bad for you in every way.
“Come on, Anastasia. Where the hell are you?” She tapped her fingers against the wheel, the radio playing low. “It’s way past your bedtime. Do me a favor, and get in your car and leave.” Jaime yawned. She was officially boring herself. “Don’t make me come in there and…book you again.”
And just like that, Jaime was back to feeling like the terrible person she knew she was.
“Fuck it!” She fired up the engine, deciding that she would just find out Anastasia Grant’s details the normal way. Why the hell was she sitting here when she could be home, resting, and getting her head together for the case? Why, for the love of God, was she giving Lady A an ounce of attention? She’d given her a good time last night…so what? Wasn’t that what Jaime hadpaidher to do? “Go home, Baros. No woman is worth this headache.”
As Jaime gripped the wheel, the doors to the club opened. The Lexus she’d been watching all night flashed, the wing mirrors opening out as Lady A came strolling from the building. Jaime watched in slow motion, swallowing down her guilt, her intrigue…and her desire. That woman could melt ice caps, she was so fucking hot.
What are you going to do? Head home…or follow her?
The Lexus pulled away, but as much as Jaime wanted to go home…to forget about Lady A, she found herself slowly trailing behind it instead. This was it. After tonight, Jaime was done with all the bullshit. She was a detective, and it was her duty to find answers. It was her duty to serve and protect. Not drive around after someone she didn’t know like some fucking lost and lonely puppy dog.
Jaime cut the headlights,squinting through the windshield where she sat on the street. She had managed to follow Anastasia home—undetected, she assumed—but Jaime was beginning to have second thoughts. It was 3 a.m. While she wanted answers, she wasn’t sure she would be well-received if she knocked on Anastasia’s door right now. Derek would probably hit the roof, and when all was said and done, Jaime had to remember that she didn’t have a warrant.You have no right to be here!
Perhaps coming back here in the morning would be the right decision to make. When Jaime was more alert and could justify knocking at a reasonable hour. She doubted Anastasia would be up at the ass crack of dawn, given the time she’d arrived home tonight, so Jaime wasn’t worried about missing her if she returned tomorrow.
She sat back in her seat and scribbled a few notes down on her pad. The area was quiet. Weirdly quiet in Jaime’s opinion. But Jaime was used to being in the thick of it, with sirens wailing all hours of the night. Anastasia had the right idea, living out of the city. As she glanced up at the house again, a single light upstairs caught her attention. Then she shuddered at the thought of Anastasia…that impeccable body…climbing into bed beside a dude named Derek.That should be a crime in itself!Jaime scoffed and flipped her notepad closed. It was pointless sitting here if she wasn’t going to knock on the fucking door.
Jaime put the car in drive and slowly rolled towards Anastasia’s place. She just wanted one small hint of who this woman was outside of her ‘chamber’. But as she drove past at a snail’s pace, she was still at a loss. The house was well-maintained, lit up, and that was about all Jaime got from it. Anastasia Grant continued to be a mystery.
