Elli (A Second Chance Novel Book 1) Page 20

  “Oh, and of my dogs.” She shrugged again while scratching Donna behind the ears. Ben rested his hands on her shoulders and Elli stiffened.

  “Were there any pictures of the cabin?” Frank asked, stuffing the photographs back into his bag.

  “Yes. I had some pictures of it. Close-ups of the wood grain siding. Some medium shots of the old door. Long shots of the wharf. And when I was frightened by the dogs barking and howling, I switched the camera to video. I don’t know what I filmed because I just let it run without looking through the viewfinder. I just wanted to document my demise if I was mauled to death by a feral animal.”

  Frank looked at her, then asked. “I don’t quite understand.”

  Elli sighed. “I know it sounds silly, but I was a woman alone in the cane fields. If I was critically injured or killed, I wanted the authorities to know how it happened. It wasn’t real logical or thought out. I was frightened and just did it. I don’t even remember dropping the camera until much later.”

  “Well. I think we’re done for now,” Frank said, noticeably not turning his recorder off. He stuffed his legal pad into his bag and stood. “I will probably need to speak with you again once I have the photos from your camera, Miss Morenelli.”

  “You can call me to set that up,” Beau said standing.

  Frank nodded and looked at Beau. “Miss Morenelli isn’t a suspect at this time, contrary to rumors circulating around town.” He laughed a gentle laugh, then turned to Doug. His face turned serious. “And I’d like to speak with you, again, Mr. Leblanc. Will you be available tomorrow?”

  Doug stuck his hands in his back pockets. “Yeah, I’ll be around. I’m not going to rat out a friend’s child because of a stupid thing he did.”

  “I’ll agree with stupid,” Frank said, standing. “But this isn’t a silly kid’s prank, like toilet-papering a house. This is growing illegal drugs for profit. It’s a crime. And you if you withhold information, you could be charged with obstruction of justice.”

  Doug shook his head and walked out of the house without saying a word. Elli felt sorry for him. He was in a tough predicament.

  Frank looked at Ben. “I recommend you convince him to give us the information we need.”

  Ben nodded and shook Frank’s hand. Elli stood and shook his hand good-bye as Beau escorted him out.

  “I get the feeling that Doug isn’t the only one withholding information,” Ben said, moving to stand in front of Elli. “Got anything to tell me?”

  Elli put Donna on the floor. “No. You are so paranoid.” She smiled at him, trying to play coy, but his impossible good looks were disarming. She reached up and touched his freshly shaven cheek. “Don’t you have a date?”

  Ben covered her hand with his. His eyes were dark, stormy, and so ridiculously sexy. He opened his mouth to speak, but immediately shut it. Without saying a word, he turned and left the house.

  When Beau walked in a few minutes later, he was grinning.

  “Your partner is late for the ball.”

  “I hope Camille isn’t too angry with him.”

  “Nah. She wouldn’t risk it. For a smart lady, she sure doesn’t know how to play our Ben.” He gave a playful tap on Elli’s cheek. “You, my dear, know how to play him, but I think you don’t even know you are.”

  Elli shook her head. “Change of subject.” She grabbed water from the refrigerator. Beau reached over her shoulder for a bottle of water before she had a chance to offer him one. “Can Doug really be charged with obstruction if he doesn’t tell the fire marshal what he knows?”

  “Yes. Title Fourteen of the criminal codes addresses the cause of hindrance, delay, or prevention of the communication to a peace officer, of information relating to an arrest or potential arrest, or relating to the commission of or possible commission of a crime.” He took a drink of water. “If he knows something and doesn’t tell the authorities, he could face criminal charges.”

  “Doug doesn’t know for certain if these particular kids he saw on the property in the past set the fire, so he really doesn’t know anything about this particular incident.” Elli sat in the kitchen chair. “I don’t know why he just doesn’t give the fire marshal their names and let him sort it out.”

  “I agree. An obstruction of justice conviction could mean up to a ten-thousand-dollar fine and five years in prison.”

  “I guess I’d hate to point the finger at some reckless kids who had nothing to do with a crime.” She sighed. “I guess he’ll be visiting those kids pretty soon to get to the bottom of it.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” He tossed his empty water bottle in the garbage. “How about I order more pizza?” Elli stood and retrieved the water bottle from the garbage and put it in the recycling can. “We can start painting while we’re waiting for it to be delivered.”

  “Sounds good to me. See if they have organic pizza.”

  Beau grabbed his cell phone, laughing. “Find another one of Ben’s rag shirts for me to wear.”

  Chapter Seven

  I am so very, very tired today. I wish you good health, E.

  Bosom Blog Buddies Post

  Ben climbed out of his truck, glad to be back home and so close to his bed. The Hyacinthians’ Ball was torturous. He hated the monotonous presentation of the court. Watching people pretending to be royalty, prancing around the civic center auditorium, was enough to make a man want to hide in the mosquito-infested swamp behind it. He was glad Joey was sleeping at his grandmother’s tonight. That meant he didn’t have to deal with a sitter and delaying needed sleep.

  Ben walked into his bedroom and didn’t bother to turn on the light. The front galerie light was on and shone through the small slit in the curtain to provide enough illumination for him to get around. He tossed his jacket and tie onto the bed and unbuttoned the top three buttons of his shirt. As he kicked off his shoes, he noticed a shadow walk past his window. Ben waited a minute for it to reappear. When it didn’t, he started unbuttoning his shirt again. The sound of something falling echoed outside. He rushed to the curtain and looked out. A pink hue cast onto the brightened galerie. Ben started to open the window when he heard a woman scream. It was Elli. She was staring right at him, not recognizing him, then turned and started to run.

  “Shit.” He shoved the window open. “Elli. Elli. It’s me. Wait.” She looked over her shoulder and climbed in through the spare bedroom window. Ben raced after her. The woman still didn’t recognize him.

  “Ben!” Elli shouted as soon as he climbed through the other window, into the house. She rushed into his arms and hugged him. “I thought it was happening again! I saw a figure in the window and…and…” She lifted her cell phone. She had called 9-1-1. “I was calling the fire department. I didn’t want the plantation house to burn down.”

  “Nine-one-one operator, may I help you,” a voice said distantly on the phone.

  “False alarm,” Ben said after grabbing the phone. He disconnected the call. The phone immediately rang.

  “Ben? Is that you?” He recognized the voice of his cousin, Rachel, who worked at 9-1-1. “I know your voice, Ben, but this isn’t your number on caller-ID.”

  “It’s the Texian’s cell phone. She called you by mistake.”

  “You know, I need to confirm that,” Rachel said, a smile in her voice. “Procedure. If I don’t hear it was a mistake from the person making the call, then I have to dispatch a deputy.”

  “For God’s sake, Rachel.” He ran his hands through his hair. “You don’t even know where to send a deputy.”

  “I assume it’s Sugar Mill.”

  Ben thrust the phone at Elli. “You have to talk to her. She was always a brat.”

  “Hello,” Elli said, biting back a grin. She listened to Rachel a moment, then looked at him. “She said she heard what you said.” Elli’s eyes were round and bright. He was just too damn tired to be dealing with this bullshit. “He didn’t answer,” Elli said obviously responding to Rachel’s question. “He just rolled his eyes
.” Had he done that? Hell, he probably had. Elli remained silent a few seconds more before speaking again. “Rachel said she already knew that without me telling her. She says you always do that eye-rolling thing.” Ben heard Rachel laughing over the phone from where he stood a few feet away. Elli laughed, too.

  “So glad I can entertain y'all,” he grumbled, sarcasm as heavy as his Cajun accent. “Just tell her that you called nine-one-one by mistake.”

  “But I didn’t call by mistake,” Elli said talking into the phone but looking at him. “I meant to call it.”

  Rachel’s voice was a little distorted over the phone, but it was clear what she was saying. “Unit Two-twenty-three, we have a Code Twenty-one. Nine-one-one call was made by a white female, age…how old are you, Elli?”

  “Uh, I’m thirty-six. Why?” She looked at Ben. “I think she’s sending the police here.”

  “Oh for God’s sake, tell her you called by mistake.”

  “But I didn’t.” She shrugged her shoulders, and Ben wanted to toss her over his knee. Damn girl was a pain in the neck. “Rachel, I called you by mistake, sort of. I’m okay. Ben is a little grumpy, but not enough to send the police over.”

  * * * *

  Elli looked at Ben, who was clearly unhappy that she had called 9-1-1. Rachel sighed. “I’m glad to hear there’s no trouble. I was afraid it was starting again. I hate having to deal with domestic violence calls. Ben sure doesn’t deserve that, again.”

  Ben reached for the phone, but Elli turned her back to him. “What are you talking about?” she whispered, making sure her voice was too low for Ben to hear. “He beat his wife? I find that hard to believe.”

  “Uh, I can’t talk about it. He’ll have to tell you about it. It’s not for me to say. Besides, I can lose my job talking about it. Our conversation is being recorded. Ask Ben.” Rachel sighed again. “I really want to meet you and talk.” The phone went dead.

  “That’s odd. I think she hung up on me.” Elli looked at phone’s screen. It began to ring with Blocked Number on display. She answered. “Hi, it’s me, Rachel. I’m calling on my cell phone. No one is recording me on this thing.” She laughed a soft laugh. “As I was telling you, it’s important for us girls to cultivate gal pals, you know. We owe it to ourselves and to humanity. Our world will be better for it. Especially with the wisdom we women in our thirties can share. You said you were thirty-six, right?” Elli heard typing on the other end of the phone and knew Rachel was pulling up her personal info on the computer. “You’re a Leo. I knew it. I’m a Cancer. We are compatible.”

  Elli’s mind was still on the bombshell news Rachel had dropped about Ben being involved in domestic violence, so she hadn’t been really listening to what she said afterward. The word cancer did manage to register. “Cancer? What did you say about cancer?”

  Elli felt Ben’s eyes on her again. He had looked annoyed before, now he looked concerned. Why was that? She reviewed what she had just said. Did he know that Rachel was talking to him about domestic violence? He took a step toward her and wrapped his arm around Elli’s waist as he tried to take the phone away from her. Elli stepped away.

  “Wait,” she told him, not certain what in the world had him acting so weird. “I’m talking to Rachel.”

  “What the hell is going on, Elli?” He insisted, tightening his hold on her. “Who has cancer?”

  “Hang on, Rachel.” She turned to face Ben and placed her hand on his chest. She felt his heart pounding beneath her hand. The man had gotten really upset just hearing someone he might know had cancer. Elli smiled at him hoping to ease his worry. “No one is sick,” she said, her voice gentle. Rachel is talking zodiac-cancer. You know, astrology?” Her smile widened and she felt his pulse slow.

  Elli’s eyes softened, and Ben knew she was asking him if he was okay. Damn it, she was. How in the hell had her smile and eyes settled him so fast? It didn’t make any sense. In the next moment, he felt the room fade and leave only Elli’s image there, crisp and clear. He moved closer to her and hear Rachel speaking over the phone.

  “Elli, how about I come by tomorrow before the movie people get into town?”

  “You know about the movie people?” Elli asked, her eyes wide.

  “I do work at the sheriff’s office. I’m privy to all sorts of things. I don’t gossip, so you don’t have to worry. I’m trustworthy.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  “I get off at seven a.m. Let’s meet for lunch…”

  “Can we do this in a few days? I’m swamped.”

  “Hmmm. I don’t think so. Tomorrow is best. I’ll meet you at the plantation. I want to get to know you before we ride in the parade on Tuesday.”

  “Is that this Tuesday?” Elli sighed. “Make it breakfast, and please, whatever you do, don’t tell anyone about the movie shoot, especially Ruby. I know the Bienvenues are a close clan, but Ruby is unable to contain herself. She might mean well, but she’s overenthusiastic. It’s best she doesn’t know about the movie shoot.” Elli hung up and turned to Ben. He was laughing. “Did I miss something?”

  “Ruby is Rachel’s mother.”

  Elli slapped her forehead. “Of course, she is.”

  * * * *

  Ben now stood toe-to-toe with Elli. The woman threatened to crush his world, but he was drawn to her like a moth to a light. Why in the hell was that? Why in the hell did he feel out of sorts with her tonight? Things didn’t feel…normal. It had to be because he was tired, he reminded himself.

  Elli bit her lower lip, twisted her hands, and shuffled her feet. “Uh…how was the ball?”

  “Like every other damn one.” Somehow, he backed her against the wall.

  “Is that good or bad?” she asked, sounding out of breath.

  He pressed his hands against the wall, one on either side of her. “I don’t want to talk about the ball.” He leaned toward Elli, but she put her hands on his chest.

  “Wait. Stop.” She was breathing hard now. “I know what’s happening. I just don’t think it should.”

  “Damn straight, it shouldn’t.” He grabbed Elli’s hands and put them on his shoulders. He moved in closer. “Get in your fancy California car and drive away now, Elli, or it will happen.”

  “But you don’t even like me.”

  “Parts of my body do. In City Slickers, Billy Crystal said, ‘Women need a reason to have sex. Men just need a place.’” Elli sighed and let her head fall back a moment. It was all the time he needed. He saw the long, white line of her narrow throat and pressed his lips to hers. It was sweet, hot, and soft. His mouth fell to the rough fabric of his Saints shirt that smelled of fresh paint and hot woman. “I think he might be wrong,” she whispered. “I don’t need a reason right now, Ben. I simply can’t resist you.”

  “Then, don’t. Just for tonight. This one night.” Elli nodded yes. Ben lifted Elli into his arms and carried her to his bed in the next room. In the dim glow from the galerie light, he gazed at her lying on his old, faded brown sheets with her bright hair curled around her head and her long, smooth legs angled to the side. His heart pounded into overdrive in his chest. He’d never seen a more sexy sight…and she was fully clothed. Her eyes were blue, piercing, and aroused. Ben yanked his shirt over his head and tossed it to the ground. Elli lifted her arms for him to come to her. Ben thought he’d died and gone to heaven.

  “Just for tonight,” she said as he lay beside her. “I can’t promise tomorrow.”

  “I don’t want tomorrow. Let’s live in this moment.” He crushed his mouth to hers and found her tongue as she slid her body on top of his. Her weight was light, but the places that made them man and woman felt heavy and hot. With the way his heart pounded, he knew his blood had to be as thick as yesterday’s gumbo.

  Elli slid her hands over his shoulders, in that light and heavy way that pulsed against his skin. Ben made a sound he didn’t know he could make. This woman was torturing him and he didn’t want her to stop. He couldn’t breathe…he was breathing too mu
ch. Elli sucked in a breath and deepened the kiss, telling him without words that she felt what he felt…and wanted to feel more.

  Ben slid his hands around her waist and into the loose band of her shorts. He gripped her firm, round bottom and she shivered. Never had he wanted a woman more than he wanted Elli. It scared the shit out of him. He knew he should walk away from her…from this…right now, but he didn’t have the damn willpower to do so.

  Ben tugged his jersey off Elli, leaving her in the snug camisole she wore beneath. He pressed his lips along her collarbone.

  “That feels good,” she whispered, gripping his shoulders.

  Ben twisted in an easy move and was now on top of her. She was just a shadow beneath his large body and he wanted to see her long, graceful body, her alluring eyes. He supported most of his weight as he reached for the bedside lamp.

  “No.” Elli grabbed his hand and brought it to her mouth and began kissing his fingers. “I like being in the dark. It heightens the senses.” She kissed his chest and ran her tongue over his skin. “I can taste your masculinity. Smell that great scent you carry on your skin. It’s very hot.”

  “That’s gotta be a chick thing.” Ben laughed, but his body betrayed how her words had affected him as his muscles bunched and vibrated. “This, cher, is a dude thing.” He grabbed her bottom tighter in his hands as his mouth and tongue trailed a path down the center of Elli’s body, to a point between her breasts. She stiffened and her hands flew to the sides of his face. He expected her to push him away, but she sucked in a breath and let her hands drop to the bed. He didn’t understand the hesitation. His sex-drained brain wasn’t exactly capable of many thoughts, but on some level he did know it was an important surrender. It was sexy as hell and sent a charge through his already lust-heavy body.

  He pushed aside the camisole fabric, his mouth closed over her left breast. “I wish I could see you.”

  “Just feel me,” she sighed and the world eased away. She unzipped his pants and gripped him. “I feel your heat.”