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Chapter Twelve
When Blake pulled into a driveway on Lauderdale Beach belonging to a stunning property with an overall white, Greek Island appearance, Charli’s pulse began to race. This reminded her of the house she’d rented a few weeks ago.
When they parked the car in the circular driveway and stepped out, the fragrance from the nearby beach intermingled with the multitude of lush flowering bushes.Now this is more like it!Her chest muscles relaxed and her tight nerves lightened considerably.
Heavenly!
Kayla gushed her enthusiasm. “Wow! This place is goat.”
Both Blake and Charli stopped and stared at her until she flushed and added, “Greatest of all time!”
Charli answered, “Of course that’s what it means.” She made a face and Kayla laughed.
Blake joined in. “Kids have their own language today. At the precinct, we need a dictionary to be able to hold a conversation.” He waved at the house. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”
The sprawling house appeared larger from the outside, but the open floor plan inside captured the true South Florida look she’d fallen in love with when searching for her own choice of a rental.
Not that she’d ever expect to live in such luxury as a permanent home, the thought of vacationing in this beachside dream bungalow produced a real smile. It started on her lips and unwound the tightness, the burden, the heavy weight she’d felt since taking on this job.
Until she saw the man’s shoes in the hallway and the books scattered around the living room. It looked as if someone lived here. She glanced over at the kitchen and saw the coffee pot half empty, sitting on the island, and the mug still showing dregs of the dark beverage.
Hold it! They’d promised her a rental; at least they’d conveyed that impression during her last discussion with Detective Crawly and Deputy Chief Prowler. A house for Kayla and her to share – only them.
She stood in one spot and continued to spy each area and the mounting evidence affirmed her suspicions, someone occupied this house. “Who lives here?” She gritted the words through her teeth, holding back on the cuss ones she really wanted to shout.
Blake stopped carrying Kayla’s suitcases and let them down slowly. “It’s my house. We decided it would be best for you to have the extra protection this place has installed.” He pointed to the security pad near the entrance, bragging, “A buddy installed this gadget and it’s the newest of the new.” He then slid back a large wall section to show off a screen with four security monitors giving a view of each side of the house. “A few break-ins on the street last year prompted me to get the house protected. And get this,” he picked up a small R2D2 looking camera, “I can also check an app on my phone anytime to see what’s happening in most areas inside the house. We set up these individual room cameras…”
Charli’s shocked glare stopped his bragging.
“Which, I’ll take down while you girls are here.”
“Yes, you will.” Charli’s rigid tone brooked no argument. Turning to him, her hands on her hips, and her rising temperalmostunder control, she asked pleasantly, “And where do you intend to live while we take overyourhouse?”
Pretending to misunderstand the signals, he winked at Kayla and answered mischievously, “Well sweetykins, I intended to stay in my bedroom during the night. During the day, while I’m at work, I’ll leave you two ladies to your own devices. That’s the deal I made with Prowler, and he led me to believe you were in agreement.”
Charli erupted, “Over my dead body, Bub. Those two fools knew my plans for some down time and that means being alone.” Kayla’s jerking movement caught Charli’s attention and stopped her tirade. She forced herself to calm down and added, “I meant being alone with Kayla. Not entertaining a womanizing playboy every night.”
Blake blinked; his grin slow to appear. “Darlin’, you won’t have to entertain me. I can find that kind of distraction any time I want.” His sincere tone let her know he didn’t boast. He just stated a fact.
Ooohh! The man rubbed her the wrong way.
“Good to know. It still isn’t part of the deal. Come on, Kayla. We’ll find a place of our own.”
She picked up the suitcase she’d refused to let him carry and started for the front door.
“Where will you go, Agent Madison?” His official tone stopped her.
“Away from here… and you.”
“But Charli, we can’t leave. This is where the cops want us to stay,” Kayla’s pleading tone stopped her hand in midair – two inches from the doorknob.
Son of a bitch!She turned and glared in Blake’s direction. “The only, and I meanonlyway I’ll stay is if you leave us the house and go to a hotel. I’m talking a luxury place; and I’ll pay all your expenses.”
“I can do that.”
Taking a deep breath of relief, she stuttered, “Y-you can?” Her nerves stopped short-circuiting, skidded to a crawl and settled back into a somewhat normal rhythm.
“For a few days, to let you gals get your bearings. But I’ll be in and out, so expect it.”
“Call first.”
“I can do that too.”
“Okay then. Okay.” She watched Kayla doing a little wiggly, in-place-dance and realized for the first time that the house had hooked the kid as much as it had pleased her.
“Tomorrow is soon enough to get you girls on par with what we set in place – the school, your job, everything you’ll need. In the meantime, there’s good security on the property and motion lights set up outside. Come with me, I’ll show you around. ”
Charli had to admit that for a bachelor, the man kept a nice house. And the well-outfitted gym and spacious pool out back drew both her and Kayla. Letting down her guard, she pivoted, almost slamming into the man. His hands caught her but let go instantly, as if he’d been scalded, his features comically reacting.
“It’s a beautiful home.” Truth rang in her voice, and she had no idea why she felt the need to give him the compliment. Maybe because he’d been sympathetic about her need for privacy. Or maybe because he knew women, and he played her. It didn’t matter, she could breathe again.
