Deadly Past Read online

  I walk into the kitchen and see Sabine has made our go to the cocktail, Purple Rain: it consists of Vodka, Blue Curacao, Lemon and Lime soda with a dash of Grenadine. It’s a drink that goes down easy, and you don’t realize how lethal they can be.

  “A toast, to us!” We clink glasses and Sabine smiles.

  “To us” I echo and return her smile.

  “We’re finally happy. We’ve both grown so much since leaving Detroit. It was the right move for the both of us. You found love, and I found myself.”

  She’s right, I look into her eyes and see the happiness, it’s visible from her whole.

  “I’m so glad that you gave me the nudge I needed to leave. Sabine, I don’t know what I did to be lucky enough to have you as my best friend, but I do know that I am extremely blessed.” My eyes start to mist over as I think of all that she has done for me.

  “No! You’re not allowed to do that! Stop it! You’ll set me off, and I won’t have that. We both look too good to cry.” She’s waving her hand in front of her face furiously, trying to stop the tears.

  “Ah, I’m going to kill you. I can’t believe that you’ve made me cry! This face isn’t made for crying.” She closes her eyes and takes in deep breaths.

  “That’s better. Now, no more emotional stuff. Luke will be here any minute, and he’ll lose his mind if you’re crying.”

  “What makes you think that he’ll lose his mind? I don’t see Luke like that, he’s always been cool, calm and collected. I don’t think that man will ever lose his mind. Even if he does, I doubt it will be at me crying. He didn’t bat an eyelid when I had the black eye.” That still hurts to think about, both the black eye and the coldness Luke showed me that day.

  “You’re blind Morgan. That man is head over heels in love with you and that day you had a shiner, was the day you ended things, he was hiding his feelings and him showing no emotion was him keeping you at arm’s length. Trust me when I say he will lose his freaking mind if you even got a paper cut. He knows what it is like to live without you and he doesn’t want that, he also hurt you and he won’t want you to be hurt again.” She’s looking at me like I’m crazy.

  I’m so confused. “How the hell do you know that? You don’t even like Luke!” She told me that she would be civil to him because I love him, but not to expect her to roll out the red carpet for him, yet here she is championing him. I honestly feel like I’ve missed something.

  “What? Look, just trust me. Drink up it's twenty past eight. Claire said she’ll come here to get me, she did say she’d be here at twenty past, but I haven’t heard from her yet.” She totally changed the subject on me. Her phone rings just as the doorbell rings, she answers the phone and the door.

  I quickly drink my drink and try not to spill any on my dress, I can hear Luke’s voice, and my nervousness goes away, and the excitement takes over entirely. I feel giddy, how I’d expect to feel when I was a teenager and going on a date.

  “Bye Moy, remember to call me in the morning, we will swap details. I want to know where you’re going. Have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t. Love you.” I don’t even get a chance to say anything as I hear the front door close and I know that she’s gone.

  I hear footsteps, then silence. I look up and see Luke standing there not saying a word. His eyes are fixated on me. I take this time to look at him. He looks so handsome. He’s in a tailored suit, it fits him like a glove, and I can only imagine what his ass looks like in the suit pants he's wearing. I wonder if I drop my purse in front of him while we are walking will he bend down and pick it up? I get a faint whiff of his aftershave, Hugo Boss Bottled Night. It’s his signature scent. For the length I’ve known him, he hasn’t changed it once.

  Once I finish looking him over, I notice that he hasn’t moved at all. He’s like a statue, and I’m beginning to wonder if he’s okay? When I see his eyes roam over my body and I can’t help myself, I interrupt him.

  “Hello.” Even I can hear the laughter in my voice, there’s no way he can’t hear it.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Luke

  I’m stunned, speechless in fact. I don’t think I’ve ever been left speechless before. Morgan looks absolutely beautiful. Her usually straight dark hair is curled, her dress is fitted to her body and hugs it in the right way, but it’s her smile that takes my breath away, her smile lights up her whole face, enhancing her beauty. I don’t think I have ever seen her look so happy before. I just stand here staring at her, mesmerized by her. I don’t want to take my eyes off her even if I could.

  “Hello” I hear the amusement in her voice.

  “Are you going to stand there all-night staring? If you are, I need take out, I’m starved.” She winks when I look at her face properly; her playful side has come out tonight.

  “I would love to stand her all night, but I promised you the best date of your life, and that doesn’t involve us staying here. Are you ready? Our reservations at nine thirty.” She nods and takes a step forward, coming towards me.

  As she does, I get a hold of her arm and give a gentle tug, and she comes close.

  I place my hand on her back running my fingertips across her soft skin as I tell her “You look absolutely beautiful tonight Morgan. I’m a lucky man. But I already knew that.” Her eyes widen at my words as she nibbles on her bottom lip, taking the gloss off as she does.

  “Thank you, you look really good too.” Her voice has a slight tremble in it, I don’t know if it’s from me touching her back, or if it’s because she’s nervous.

  “You really do look handsome.” Her cheeks turn pink as she blushes and her eyes dart away from mine.

  I pull her in closer, my hand still on her back, this time I place my other hand on her ass, squeezing as I pull her closer. Her eyes dart back to mine, I see the lust in them.

  “Morgan, we should get going.” She tilts her head back so she can see my face properly, but as she does, she thrusts her tits into me. I lean down and kiss her lips, the feel of the softness of them makes me put a bit more pressure with my next kiss.

  Morgan responds by opening her mouth and throwing her hands up and taking hold of my head. I’m in a lust filled daze as my tongue touches hers, I think I hear something fall to the floor.

  I put both of my hands on her ass, and squeeze, she gives a little whimper of pleasure as her hand starts traveling down my body. I pull my head away, breathless.

  “Morgan, we’re going to be late. We have to go.” She pouts but agrees, she steps back from me, and I instantly miss the warmth of her.

  “Damn, I dropped my purse.” She scurries over to it, and I turn to watch, she bends over and picks up her purse. I’m so hard that I have to adjust myself. Morgan opens her purse and her face falls, she looks upset, she pulls her phone out of the bag, and I instantly see what is wrong. The screen on her phone is cracked.

  “We’ll get you a new one.” She starts to protest, but I cut her off.

  “We really do have to go, Morgan,” I tell her as she puts her phone back into her purse.

  “Are you ready?”

  “Yeah, I’m ready are you going to tell me where we are going? Or is it still a surprise?” she says with her back to me as she opens the front door.

  “It’s still a surprise, the sooner we leave, the sooner you know where we are going.”

  ;She sticks her tongue out at me, like a child. Sophia and Winter do it to me too. Is it a women thing? I don’t know.

  “Holy shit. A limousine, you rented a limo? Ahhh!” I wince at the high-pitched screech,

  “Yeah, you’ve never been in one. I told you, Morgan, this is going to be the best date ever.” She smiles at me, her eyes alight with happiness, she kisses my cheek and practically skips to the limo.

  ***

  We pull up outside The River Café, and I watch as the color drains from her face. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

  “We can’t go here, Luke, it’s too expensive.” Her eyes are darting around looking for something.r />
  “We’ll go to McDonald’s, there has to be one around here somewhere, they’re usually everywhere.” She’s panicking, and I honestly have no idea why.

  I take her head into my hands and get her to focus on me. “Morgan, talk to me, what’s going on?”

  “Luke, I can’t afford a place like this.” I barely hear her, it’s a faint whisper almost as if she hates to admit it.

  “Morgan, you’re not paying for it, I am. I’m the one bringing you on this date. I pay.” She’s already shaking her head in protest, but I don’t let her speak. She’s such an independent woman that she didn’t even think of me paying for it.

  “Morgan, this is the first date I’ve been on ever, I’m doing it properly. No, ifs, ands or buts okay?” She reluctantly agrees, and the cold air of the east river hits us as soon as we step out of the limo.

  We walk into the restaurant, and I give my name to the maître d, who then brings us down to our seats, we’re seated right by the window, and I hear Morgan’s intake of breath as she sees the view. It is a spectacular view, you see the lights of Manhattan over the East River.

  “Luke, the view is amazing. Where did you find out about this place?” Her eyes haven’t left the window, she’s mesmerized, and no-one can blame her.

  “Sophia has been nonstop talking about this place since she ‘discovered it’ and Winter came last week and can’t shut up about it either. Even Nathan and Sam, have been telling me the food is amazing, so when I said I’d take you on a date, and Sabine, told me that you haven’t had a proper date, this place seemed the perfect place to come.”

  The waiter came down with the menus and asked what we would like to drink, Morgan just wants water and I go for the same as I’m not really into drinking wine and I know that Morgan only likes cheap wine.

  “Sabine?” Her eyes are narrowed, and lips are pursed. This isn’t a look I’ve seen her have before.

  “Yeah, I asked her to help me set up the perfect date. I thought that because Sabine knows you better than anyone else, she’d be the perfect person to ask.” I don’t know what else to say, I didn’t think there would be a problem.

  “No wonder she was all pro you today. That was a really thoughtful thing to do. I really appreciate it, and whatever was said it made her see you in a different way, and for that I’m grateful. At least you can now be in a room with her without her threatening you.” She giggles, she really is happy tonight. That is one thing I’m grateful for, the fact that Sabine will no longer act like a Pitbull towards me.

  I look over the menu trying to decide what I’d like, it’s a difficult choice as a few options sound really good. The beef, rabbit and octopus sound extremely appetizing, I think that I’d rule the beef out, I do have beef quite often whereas I haven’t ever had octopus or rabbit. I look over at Morgan who is quietly watching me, “Did you see something you like?”

  She licked her lips as her eyes flared with lust. “Oh yeah, I definitely see something I like.”

  Damn, I’m hard again, thank god for the tablecloth.

  “Morgan, that wasn’t what I was talking about, but it’s always good to know, and just wait until we get home, you’ll definitely be getting something you like.”

  She has a dazed look on her face, probably thinking about later on. I cough to gain her attention, and she shakes her head, almost as if she’s shaking the thoughts out.

  “Oh, you meant on the menu? Yeah, I think I’m going to go for the Wagyu Steak Tartare for an appetizer and the Duck Breast for my main, they sound amazing. What about you, what are you thinking of eating?”

  “I’m undecided at the moment; I’m between the Rabbit and the Octopus. I’ve never eaten either. Any suggestions?”

  Her eyebrows knitted together, they way they get when she’s thinking. “I’ve never had them either, but I have heard that rabbit tastes like chicken. If that is any help.”

  I’ve actually heard that too, “Yeah it does, I’m going to go with the Octopus, and do you want anything stronger to drink?”

  She shakes her head, but her face is bright as she smiles, I’d die a happy man if I get to see that smile every day.

  “No thank you, I want a clear head. You know when you said to me that you wanted to take me on a date, I thought you were kidding, but then you said, you wanted it to be the best date I ever had, I knew you meant it. We haven’t even eaten yet, but Luke, this is the best date ever; in fact, it’s the best day of my life. I know that I have you to thank for that.” Her eyes are glistening with unshed tears.

  “Don’t cry, I thought this was a happy day.” She nods, as she fights back the tears.

  “I’m glad you think that this is the best date ever, we haven’t really done much yet. As for me being the reason that this day is the best, I have no idea how I managed it, but I’m definitely taking the credit.”

  She laughs as I intended her to, it kills me to see her cry. “The fact that Sabine, wouldn’t let me buy anything while shopping, she wouldn’t let me buy my makeup. Also, because she bought loads too, and we got our hair and nails done, which she paid for. I know Sabine, she can’t afford it, and it’s not my birthday. I didn’t make any sense of it until earlier when you said that you got Sabine to help organize the date. I knew then that you paid for everything. For that, I’m so grateful, but you also gave me a day where I got to spend it with the two people I love most in this world, and that is the reason why it’s the best day of my life.”

  “Damn, Morgan. You’re really sentimental. This is a side I’ve never seen from you before.” It’s actually really appealing. I love her and her brassiness but that fact that she is sensitive is a huge turn on.

  “It’s because I don’t have to hide who I am when I’m around you. Hell, I cried in front of you twice now. Before that, I would never have done that. I won’t do that around anyone else. Usually, if I’m upset, I’ll wait until I’m in the privacy of my own home before I break down.” She acts as though it’s a bad thing to be sensitive and to cry.

  “Don’t ever hide that side from me. I want everything from you Morgan, good or bad.” Just as she’s about to say something the waiter comes down and takes our order.

  Morgan orders her beef and duck, and I go for the octopus and the Niman Ranch Strip Steak. Once he’s gone I get Morgan’s attention again as she went back to looking out of the window.

  “Morgan, you shouldn’t be ashamed because you have feelings or that you want to cry. Only a moron would make anyone think that.”

  “I’m not ashamed, it’s just I work in a male-dominated field, where there are still men who believe I slept my way to detective or that I shouldn’t even be a cop, those are the men that are looking for any weakness they can to prey upon. I love my job, so I don’t give them the opportunity to see any weakness. So, to those at work, I come across brash and emotionless. I’d say that I came across that way to your sister and Winter when they came in to report what happened.” She looks back to the window to the amazing view.

  “Yeah, they did say something, but they also said that they think you are a strong, beautiful, intelligent woman who knows what she wants, and they are so right. As to those fuckers who think anything less of you because you are a woman, then there is something wrong with them. Anyone who knows you knows that you’re not like that. Don’t let them dictate to you how you should be.” I’m angry that anyone would be that malicious to a woman they work with.

  “You don’t get it, Luke, your sister will understand. Some men still believe that all a woman is good for is baring their children and staying at home and looking after their house. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that if that is what the woman wants to do.” She’s still facing the window, not looking at me and I can tell by the pain in her voice that this hurts her a lot and she just puts up with it.

  “Morgan, men like that, aren’t men. They are cowards, and they are jealous.” She nods, still not looking at me.

  “They are jealous because they are the ones who
got a leg up because of who their fathers are, whereas you, a woman who is not only younger than them but a hell of a lot smarter too, has a better rank than them. I hope to god they’re not detectives too?” She doesn’t answer me, which means they are.

  Fuck, she’s surrounded by absolute morons.

  “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  She finally turns around, and I see that her face is slack and her eyes have softened, they aren’t as hard looking as they were when she was telling me about those assholes.

  “No, there isn’t anything you can do, but I truly appreciate it,”

  “You don’t have to hide this shit from me. You can tell me anything,” We’re interrupted again, but this time I don’t mind, as it’s our appetizers and they smell delicious.

  “Does Sabine know how you are treated?”

  She cuts into her beef and has a bite, “No, she doesn’t, and I don’t want her to know, she is so happy here, she thinks that this is the best place for us to be and if she found out that the men are dicks she won’t be happy. I can’t do that to her, she has sacrificed enough for me already.”

  “What has she sacrificed for you?” I know that they moved here from Detroit, but I thought that they both wanted that move.

  “Everything, she moved over six hundred miles away from her family. She always puts me first.”

  She doesn’t see why Sabine did that. So, I set her straight, “She sacrificed nothing, you both moved away from your families, but you both have each other, after all you are sisters. Wouldn’t you have done the same had it been her that moved?”

  She starts giggling but quickly puts her hand over her mouth to quieten the noise. “I wouldn’t have been here twenty-four hours before she was banging down my door. You're right, she’d have been here either way. How is the octopus?”

  I let her change the subject because I know that she hasn’t fully come to my way of thinking yet, but I know that she will.