Brianna give you the charge slips?”
His mouth tightened. “I’ll need to limit her spending. I didn’t expect to get a bill for over a hundred dollars.”
Marla grinned. “Things are expensive, and teenagers like to go shopping. Get used to it.”
“You did something to her hair.”
“We stopped off at the salon. Her ends needed trimming, and I curled her hair a bit. Those waves give her a softer look, don’t you think?”
His gaze narrowed. “Brie’s eyebrows look different.”
“They’re just more defined.” My, aren’t we observant .
Vail leaned inward, lowering his voice. “Her legs are smooth, and I forbade her to shave.”
She gave a smug smile. “Well, after I shaped her eyebrows, we used some depilatory cream on her legs. You might consider buying your daughter an electric razor.” She paused. “I’m only saving you from later grief. If you don’t allow her some freedom, she’ll rebel, and then you’ll lose her altogether. Have you noticed her makeup? It emphasizes her eyes and cheekbones.”
He raised his hands as though in supplication. “She’s only thirteen; she doesn’t need makeup. It’ll clog her pores.”
“Gads, are you old-fashioned. What time does the show start?” she asked, to distract him.
“Eight o’clock.”
Let’s lighten things up here . She sashayed closer, giving him a coy glance. “I’d rather have a private show, just for the two of us. It’s been a while.”
“So it has.” He placed his large hands on her hips, drawing her against his hard form.
Marla wiggled her body, eliciting a groan from his lips. He kissed her with a brief, crushing press of his mouth on hers. Through her skirt, she became aware of just how powerfully her presence affected him. It was as though the antagonism between them had never existed.
He introduced her to Brianna’s friends. It wasn’t lost on her that Brie had no other relatives present. Vail had been an only child, and both sets of grandparents lived out of state. Marla gave the girl an effusive hug, glad she’d made Brianna feel better about herself.
Dinner and the mystery play that followed kept them entertained for several hours. When the kids were about to disperse to play video games, Marla suggested Brianna open her gifts. Brianna’s expression vacillated. Clearly she wanted to run off with her friends but wasn’t sure of the proper protocol.
“I’ll keep a list,” Marla said, grabbing a notepad and pen from her purse. “I’m sure your pals would like to see what you got. Read me off the names on each card.”
When Brianna reached for Vail’s chess set, Marla clenched her teeth. If this worked, Vail wouldn’t notice the mangled knight. She watched the girl rip the foil paper she’d carefully wrapped. Brianna’s face cracked into false delight when she spied the wooden box.
“It’s a chess set,” Vail explained. “Your mom and I bought it on a trip to Europe. I thought you’d like to have it.”
“Daddy, it’s wonderful.” Brianna slid open one of the drawers containing the carved pieces.
“Wait.” Marla snatched the box from her grasp and closed it. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to take this home. These pieces are so beautiful, but they need a decent matched board. I’ll get you one, honey. Here, open my package next.” She thrust the gift into Brianna’s hands. Not once did she glance in Vail’s direction, afraid he’d be glaring at her suspiciously. She focused on her notepad, pretending to be scribbling madly.
“Marla, I love it!” Brianna exclaimed happily, holding up the sterling silver and marcasite bracelet.
“Let’s put her loot in your car,” Marla said to Vail after the teens collected tokens and ran off to play games.
Outdoors, she detoured to her Camry to stick the chess set inside before accompanying the detective to his vehicle. “Any leads on Goat?” she asked in a casual tone.
“We have a few trails we’re following,” he commented, his eyes
His mouth tightened. “I’ll need to limit her spending. I didn’t expect to get a bill for over a hundred dollars.”
Marla grinned. “Things are expensive, and teenagers like to go shopping. Get used to it.”
“You did something to her hair.”
“We stopped off at the salon. Her ends needed trimming, and I curled her hair a bit. Those waves give her a softer look, don’t you think?”
His gaze narrowed. “Brie’s eyebrows look different.”
“They’re just more defined.” My, aren’t we observant .
Vail leaned inward, lowering his voice. “Her legs are smooth, and I forbade her to shave.”
She gave a smug smile. “Well, after I shaped her eyebrows, we used some depilatory cream on her legs. You might consider buying your daughter an electric razor.” She paused. “I’m only saving you from later grief. If you don’t allow her some freedom, she’ll rebel, and then you’ll lose her altogether. Have you noticed her makeup? It emphasizes her eyes and cheekbones.”
He raised his hands as though in supplication. “She’s only thirteen; she doesn’t need makeup. It’ll clog her pores.”
“Gads, are you old-fashioned. What time does the show start?” she asked, to distract him.
“Eight o’clock.”
Let’s lighten things up here . She sashayed closer, giving him a coy glance. “I’d rather have a private show, just for the two of us. It’s been a while.”
“So it has.” He placed his large hands on her hips, drawing her against his hard form.
Marla wiggled her body, eliciting a groan from his lips. He kissed her with a brief, crushing press of his mouth on hers. Through her skirt, she became aware of just how powerfully her presence affected him. It was as though the antagonism between them had never existed.
He introduced her to Brianna’s friends. It wasn’t lost on her that Brie had no other relatives present. Vail had been an only child, and both sets of grandparents lived out of state. Marla gave the girl an effusive hug, glad she’d made Brianna feel better about herself.
Dinner and the mystery play that followed kept them entertained for several hours. When the kids were about to disperse to play video games, Marla suggested Brianna open her gifts. Brianna’s expression vacillated. Clearly she wanted to run off with her friends but wasn’t sure of the proper protocol.
“I’ll keep a list,” Marla said, grabbing a notepad and pen from her purse. “I’m sure your pals would like to see what you got. Read me off the names on each card.”
When Brianna reached for Vail’s chess set, Marla clenched her teeth. If this worked, Vail wouldn’t notice the mangled knight. She watched the girl rip the foil paper she’d carefully wrapped. Brianna’s face cracked into false delight when she spied the wooden box.
“It’s a chess set,” Vail explained. “Your mom and I bought it on a trip to Europe. I thought you’d like to have it.”
“Daddy, it’s wonderful.” Brianna slid open one of the drawers containing the carved pieces.
“Wait.” Marla snatched the box from her grasp and closed it. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to take this home. These pieces are so beautiful, but they need a decent matched board. I’ll get you one, honey. Here, open my package next.” She thrust the gift into Brianna’s hands. Not once did she glance in Vail’s direction, afraid he’d be glaring at her suspiciously. She focused on her notepad, pretending to be scribbling madly.
“Marla, I love it!” Brianna exclaimed happily, holding up the sterling silver and marcasite bracelet.
“Let’s put her loot in your car,” Marla said to Vail after the teens collected tokens and ran off to play games.
Outdoors, she detoured to her Camry to stick the chess set inside before accompanying the detective to his vehicle. “Any leads on Goat?” she asked in a casual tone.
“We have a few trails we’re following,” he commented, his eyes
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