Dead Men Don't Order Flake by Sue Williams Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sue Williams
the whole sinister break-in-development.
‘Jesus, Cass. I wish…’
‘What?’
‘Yeah. A lot of things.’ His voice was soft.
Maybe it was the warm kitchen, the gentle tone in Leo’s voice, the wine or all three, but for some reason I teared up a bit.
I blinked rapidly. Don’t be a bloody fool, Cass. The simple reality is that I should never have taken this job on. Should have just said ‘no’ and played it safe with iffy ferret dealers and Edna’s non-existent knicker thief. I pushed my plate away; suddenly not hungry and stood up.
‘Well, I’m off. Thanks, Leo. Appreciate it.’ I made a move towards the door, quickly wiping my eyes.
A warm hand on my shoulder. ‘Cass, you’re upset. Don’t go. Not yet.’
‘I’ll head outside and call for the taxi. Better reception out there.’
A hand on my other shoulder. Leo turned me around, looking down into my eyes. His face was serious. ‘I don’t like the idea of you heading off alone, not with this strange bloke around. Don’t go, please. You’ll be safer here.’ He pulled me close.
I sucked in a breath. It felt way too good there against his broad chest.
‘Got to get back to the shop,’ I cleared my throat. ‘Busy day tomorrow…’
He put his hand below my chin. Lifted my face towards his. There was a light dusting of blond stubble on his face.
He stroked my cheek with a finger and it sent ripples through me. He pulled me closer, so close I could feel his warm breath on my face, as his lips brushed my cheek. His skin smelled like Imperial Leather, dust and sunshine.
Our mouths seemed to find each other all on their own, in that dim, tea-lighted kitchen. A long, hot kiss that did something diabolical to my knees.
My focus slipped away, far away, from phoning taxis. Leo’s lips were on my ear, my neck. His hands warm around my waist. The thought of those hands against my skin, under my shirt, between my legs.
He unbuttoned my shirt-tent; fumbling, hurrying fingers. Kissed my neck, down, down into my cleavage. Reached around to unfasten my bra. His hands were warm against my breasts. I breathed harder. My hands slid down his waist, his hips. Onwards my hands moved, nothing to do with me, towards his zip. He groaned.
There was a hammering at the kitchen door.
10
Quick-smart, I stepped back from Leo, way back, into my electric-fenced Cass immunity jurisdiction. Caught my breath. Buttoned up my shirt. Leo gave me a smouldering look, then turned abruptly towards the door.
It swung open before he’d even touched the handle.
‘Mum? Are you in there? You all right?’ Six foot one of extremely unwelcome cop barged in and there stood Dean, a little breathless, dripping rain onto the floor. ‘Saw your car on the road. You OK? Who’s this bloke?’
‘Leo Stone.’ He held out his hand. ‘Showbag’s cousin. I’ve been away a while…’ He trailed off.
Dean gave him a suspicious look. ‘The dead bloke, right? Who isn’t dead.’ He looked at me. ‘Mum? I was worried sick when I saw your car. Is everything OK? Your face is all red.’
‘I’m fine, Dean. Thanks.’ Now he was motivated?
‘So what are you doing here?’
‘Ah, having dinner.’
He looked at my clothes. ‘Why are you wearing those?’
‘Sit down, Dean, and let me explain.’
Over a glass of wine—none for Dean, I’m on duty —I managed to explain the situation. The brown car situation, that is. There was no need to go into the confusion of the Leo situation. Obviously.
‘Anyway, Leo was kind enough to help me out.’
‘Well, you should have called me, Mum. Immediately.’ His mouth turned down. ‘Anyway, I’ll drop you home.’
‘Oh no, it’s miles out of your way.’
‘Yeah. I’d be happy to drive Cass home,’ Leo said quickly.
Dean stared pointedly at the glass of wine in Leo’s hand.
‘Or you’d be welcome to stay here the night, Cass. And we’ll take a look at your car in the morning.’
I smiled. A tempting idea, but hardly likely to
‘Jesus, Cass. I wish…’
‘What?’
‘Yeah. A lot of things.’ His voice was soft.
Maybe it was the warm kitchen, the gentle tone in Leo’s voice, the wine or all three, but for some reason I teared up a bit.
I blinked rapidly. Don’t be a bloody fool, Cass. The simple reality is that I should never have taken this job on. Should have just said ‘no’ and played it safe with iffy ferret dealers and Edna’s non-existent knicker thief. I pushed my plate away; suddenly not hungry and stood up.
‘Well, I’m off. Thanks, Leo. Appreciate it.’ I made a move towards the door, quickly wiping my eyes.
A warm hand on my shoulder. ‘Cass, you’re upset. Don’t go. Not yet.’
‘I’ll head outside and call for the taxi. Better reception out there.’
A hand on my other shoulder. Leo turned me around, looking down into my eyes. His face was serious. ‘I don’t like the idea of you heading off alone, not with this strange bloke around. Don’t go, please. You’ll be safer here.’ He pulled me close.
I sucked in a breath. It felt way too good there against his broad chest.
‘Got to get back to the shop,’ I cleared my throat. ‘Busy day tomorrow…’
He put his hand below my chin. Lifted my face towards his. There was a light dusting of blond stubble on his face.
He stroked my cheek with a finger and it sent ripples through me. He pulled me closer, so close I could feel his warm breath on my face, as his lips brushed my cheek. His skin smelled like Imperial Leather, dust and sunshine.
Our mouths seemed to find each other all on their own, in that dim, tea-lighted kitchen. A long, hot kiss that did something diabolical to my knees.
My focus slipped away, far away, from phoning taxis. Leo’s lips were on my ear, my neck. His hands warm around my waist. The thought of those hands against my skin, under my shirt, between my legs.
He unbuttoned my shirt-tent; fumbling, hurrying fingers. Kissed my neck, down, down into my cleavage. Reached around to unfasten my bra. His hands were warm against my breasts. I breathed harder. My hands slid down his waist, his hips. Onwards my hands moved, nothing to do with me, towards his zip. He groaned.
There was a hammering at the kitchen door.
10
Quick-smart, I stepped back from Leo, way back, into my electric-fenced Cass immunity jurisdiction. Caught my breath. Buttoned up my shirt. Leo gave me a smouldering look, then turned abruptly towards the door.
It swung open before he’d even touched the handle.
‘Mum? Are you in there? You all right?’ Six foot one of extremely unwelcome cop barged in and there stood Dean, a little breathless, dripping rain onto the floor. ‘Saw your car on the road. You OK? Who’s this bloke?’
‘Leo Stone.’ He held out his hand. ‘Showbag’s cousin. I’ve been away a while…’ He trailed off.
Dean gave him a suspicious look. ‘The dead bloke, right? Who isn’t dead.’ He looked at me. ‘Mum? I was worried sick when I saw your car. Is everything OK? Your face is all red.’
‘I’m fine, Dean. Thanks.’ Now he was motivated?
‘So what are you doing here?’
‘Ah, having dinner.’
He looked at my clothes. ‘Why are you wearing those?’
‘Sit down, Dean, and let me explain.’
Over a glass of wine—none for Dean, I’m on duty —I managed to explain the situation. The brown car situation, that is. There was no need to go into the confusion of the Leo situation. Obviously.
‘Anyway, Leo was kind enough to help me out.’
‘Well, you should have called me, Mum. Immediately.’ His mouth turned down. ‘Anyway, I’ll drop you home.’
‘Oh no, it’s miles out of your way.’
‘Yeah. I’d be happy to drive Cass home,’ Leo said quickly.
Dean stared pointedly at the glass of wine in Leo’s hand.
‘Or you’d be welcome to stay here the night, Cass. And we’ll take a look at your car in the morning.’
I smiled. A tempting idea, but hardly likely to