Degrees of Darkness, page 41
Cody sagged. “This is something I’ve got to learn how to deal with on my own.”
Kim backed away. “No you don’t. PTSD isn’t something you deal with, Cody.”
“Who said it was PTSD?”
Heaving a frustrated sigh, Kim shook her head. “This is going nowhere fast. You know what, when you’re ready, you’re ready. Right now, we’ve got to finish with tonight’s preparations.”
“What more is there to do?”
Kim retrieved the box and held it up. “Shoes.”
A cold sensation filtered through Cody’s body at the excited tone in Kim’s voice. “Uh, I planned on wearing boots with the dress.”
“Oh, no, you’re not. Not in that dress.” Kim extracted a strappy, silver pair of heels. “You’re wearing these.”
“Not on your life. I won’t last one minute in those things, much less two hours. Why did I agree to two hours in a dress?”
“You will wear these shoes. And I think two hours is a fair exchange. Please, please don’t show up in jeans.”
Cody eyed her best friend. “The things I do for you.”
Kim beamed. “Thatta girl. Now, we need to get you a pedicure, manicure, and dress up your hair. I love the new ’do, but the dress requires dazzle.”
Fingering her hair, Cody studied it. “I can’t leave it down?”
“Nope.” Kim hooked her arm with Cody’s and tugged her toward the front door. “Let’s get you dolled up for tonight. ’Cause I want Remy to do the same thing Adam did when Eve walked out of the bushes — ‘Whoa-Man!’”
“You’re pathetic.”
Chapter Twenty-One
The Adolphus Hotel was downtown Dallas’s darling. Remy had never been inside and planned to relish every minute. When he entered the brightly lit grand ballroom he nearly choked. Tables scattered about the room held a wide array of edibles, which looked more like works of art than food. People, fancy and glittering under the chandeliers, stood in small clusters, chatting and holding champagne glasses. Huge stands of red roses and lilies were stationed between the large windows. To his left, a runway dominated the room, curtains hung to each side from wall to wall, and chairs lined the catwalk.
Remy swallowed hard against his restrictive collar. The money flaunted around the ballroom reminded him of the huge charity parties and benefits held for Marie’s father, New Orleans’s DA, Paul Dumond. Marie had regularly dragged Remy to the functions.
A whistling noise next to him made him glance over. Wearing a black jacket over a bright blue shirt and dark red tie, Anderson scanned the room.
“See our problem today didn’t stop you from coming.”
“There’s no our in the problem.” His partner frowned at him. “Only you. Besides, I said I’d come and I don’t back out on my word.”
Remy bit his tongue. The man knew where to place a punch. “Let’s just forget about it for a few hours. Cody wanted us to get away from work. Not bring it here.”
“You do that. I’m gonna check on the food.” Anderson wandered to a far table where a tall brunette in a red gown had stationed herself.
An ache started at the base of Remy’s skull. This promised to be a long night.
Across the room he spotted JC and headed toward him. JC grinned at him and excused himself from the conversation.
“Hey, LeBeau, see you made it.” JC shook his hand, and his grin widened. “You clean up real good.”
“Same could be said for you. Didn’t think you owned a tie, let alone a suit.”
JC hooked his thumbs behind the lapels and flashed the white shirt, its top buttons undone. “Bought it anticipating the awards’ banquets and such during the NFR.”
“Have you seen Cody?” Remy asked.
“Naw. You didn’t bring her?”
“She told me to meet her here. Claimed it was easier since I lived in town.”
JC nodded. “True. Haven’t seen her yet. Heard tell from Kim we’re all in for a shocker.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Something about Cody. It’s all I know.”
What could be more shocking than Cody in a dress? This might prove interesting.
“Would you care for a drink, sir?”
Remy accepted the long-stemmed glass and flashed a smile at the server before she moved on. He peered at the contents.
“Sparkling something or other. Nonalcoholic, if you care.” JC tipped his glass at Remy’s.
“All the better.” Remy tossed back the liquid.
“Kim’s a stickler for that kind of thing. Mostly because of what happened to Cody.”
Frowning at his empty glass, Remy jiggled it. “How is it I’ve never met Kim?”
JC’s gray eyes twinkled. “The gal makes NASCAR drivers seem like they drive slow. She’s been bouncing all over the country, promoting her idea and judging rodeo queen contests. You’ll get to meet her tonight.”
“Hope so.” Remy turned at the raucous laughter coming from the back of the room.
A small gaggle of females swarmed his partner. Anderson seemed to be enjoying himself. The bastard shouldn’t be so lucky.
“Heat the cooking oil and drop me in the skillet to fry,” JC muttered.
Movement caught Remy’s attention. Cody strutted toward them in a long, ivory gown made of leather. His glass began to slide between his fingers; he tightened his grip before it crashed to the floor. A deep turquoise, stone necklace draped her neck, and a set of three large silver concho bracelets graced her left wrist. Her fiery red hair elegantly swept back revealed dangling silver earrings glinting from her ears. Remy’s mouth turned into a drought-parched cotton field. He’d thought himself prepared to see her in a dress, but he was stunned by how gorgeous she actually looked in one. The gown complimented her perfectly, in cut and attitude.
A thin eyebrow lifted, and she gave him a coy smile. “Remy.”
He cleared his throat. “Cody.”
Her gaze slid to her best friend. “Shut your mouth, JC. The flies are getting in.”
“Someone punch me. I swear I’m seeing things,” JC said.
“Oh, go take a flying leap.”
JC chuckled and kissed Cody on the cheek. “You’re beautiful. As always.”
She shrugged a freckled shoulder. “Thanks. I don’t feel comfortable, but I promised Kim.”
“Are you wearing boots under there?” JC smirked.
“I wish.” She kicked out a foot from under the fringed hem and revealed silver, open-toed heels, her turquoise-painted nails peeking out. “My feet are already killing me.”
Remy swallowed hard. The woman looked more feminine than he’d ever seen, pedicure and all.
JC backtracked. “I see someone I need to chat with. Catch y’all later.” With that he fled.
Cody’s attention returned to Remy. “Could you say something? You look like someone took a two-by-four to the back of your head.”
“Sorry. I’m just a little shocked.”
“Little is an understatement.”
The corners of his mouth tugged up. “You’re stunning.”
Red infused her cheeks, and she averted her eyes. Remy tucked a knuckle under her chin and tilted it up.
“I mean it.”
“I know you do.” Her voice dipped into a husky whisper.
Remy’s blood thickened, and heat surged through his chest. Heaven help him, he didn’t think he’d ever stop feeling like this with her. Glancing around, he grasped her hand and tugged her toward an out of the way corner of the ballroom, near the runway.
“Remy, what are you? — ”
Briefly kissing her stifled the upcoming question. He didn’t know what the hell he was doing. His mind took a backseat to his body. Bon Dieu, seeing her in that dress stirred something deep in him. His hand slid along the slope of her neck, over the thick, leather strap of the gown, to her satiny shoulder and down her arm. Her skin bumped at his touch, and he felt a slight quiver. Slowly, he drew her closer until she was flush to his body. Cody’s head tipped back, exposing shimmering pink lips.
The scent of fruit — peaches — and jasmine swirled between them. This was a new fragrance for her. The sweet scents fit her as much as the sandalwood and vanilla she usually wore. The new combination teased Remy, and aroused his soul. “T’es chaud, ma chérie.”
You’re hot, darling. He growled the words.
Fire danced in her eyes. “If I didn’t know any better, it almost sounded like you’re trying to seduce me.”
“And if I was?” He lowered his mouth to a hairbreadth from hers.
Her breath hitched. “We’re in public, Remy,” she whispered.
“Oui.”
She shifted, but he stilled her and laid claim to her mouth. The cowgirl surrendered in his arms. She moaned softly, stirring his blood.
He hadn’t kissed her this passionately since the day at his condo. He’d missed it. And he’d missed her.
A snicker to his left broke them apart. Flustered, Cody backpedaled and smoothed her dress. Remy glanced at the interloper, his lungs constricted and his once thick blood thinned and pooled in his legs. A stunning brunette in a midnight-blue gown speckled with tiny rhinestones stood there. That heart-shaped face, that Cheshire grin had once glared back at him from an eight-by-ten glossy in a case file. Mon Dieu! She was the ghost of a dead woman. A woman from a thirty-year-old cold case that haunted him as much as the Humbert one. Humbert’s might have set the course for his disappearance from New Orleans, but it was the Valérie and David Slater case that sealed Remy’s doom.
“Kim, this is Remy.”
His attention snapped to Cody. Then back to the brunette. This was Kim? But … He gasped for a breath.
“Remy?”
He jolted at Cody’s touch. Blinking, he gaped at her.
She frowned at him. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Nice to meet you.” His voice cracked like a prepubescent boy’s. Heat flared in his face.
Looking amused — apparently thinking he was reacting to her the way he supposed most men would — Kim tilted her head to the side. “Same here. I didn’t mean to interrupt your little romantic scene.”
“Kimberly Anne,” Cody hissed.
Her friend chuckled. “I see you obeyed my orders and wore the dress.”
Cody glowered. “Yes, now can I go change?”
Horror masked Kim’s face. “You actually brought a change of clothes?”
A teasing glint passed through Cody’s eyes. “You bet I did.”
Kim held up two fingers. “Two hours. You promised.”
“I know.”
The brunette faced Remy and thrust out a bejeweled hand. “Glad you could make it to my shindig.”
He couldn’t help it. He hesitated before taking her hand. Flesh, bone, and warmth greeted his chilled fingers. She was the exact copy of Valérie Slater … Wait. She wasn’t. Her eyes … They weren’t the same color. But everything else … It was as if someone had walked over his grave. He released his hold and jammed his hand in his pocket.
Kim leaned toward Cody. “I thought you said the man was charming?”
Remy didn’t wait to hear Cody’s reply. “Excuse me. I need a drink.”
• • •
Cody watched him bolt for the nearest server. What in the hell was that all about?
“Is everything okay?” Kim asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen him behave in any way other than a snake charmer.”
“You haven’t seen much of him in the five months you’ve been seeing each other.” Kim used finger quotes on the word seeing.
Cody groaned. “Let’s not go there right now.”
“All right. You do look beautiful, by the way. Like your momma.”
A twinge plucked at Cody’s heart. “Thanks.” She hooked her arm with Kim’s and tugged her along. “So, Ms. Businesswoman, how’s it going?”
“Great. I can’t believe the turnout. Wait until you see the clothing. Glory outdid herself.”
It was bound to be great. Kim’s partnership with Glory would prove fortunate for the both of them. And a lifelong dream fulfilled. Cody’s heart ached. Would hers ever pan out? Getting to the NFR was all she ever wanted, and she’d been on her way this past December if not for that damn serial killer. But was that what she really wanted?
She watched her friend as Kim scanned the crowd. How did Kim finally figure out this was what she wanted for herself?
“Who. Is. That?”
Cody followed the direction of Kim’s pointed finger to where Detective Heath Anderson conversed with Cody’s dad.
“Boy howdy, I could eat him with a spoon.”
Cody scowled at her friend. “Kim.”
“What? I can’t speak my mind? You got yourself a hottie. One, I might add, I’d steal in a heartbeat if you hadn’t already laid claim to him.”
Cody rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this from you.”
Kim nudged her. “Admit it, Remy LeBeau … ” She shivered. “Even his name is sexy.”
“I’m going to lock myself in the women’s room and not leave if you keep this up.”
“It’s true and you know it. He’s sexy.”
Her face could melt iron. “Yes, he’s … sexy.”
Kim grinned. “Do you know who the guy is talking with your daddy?”
“Yes. He’s Remy’s partner.”
“Seriously?”
“No, Kim, I’m making it up. His name is Heath Anderson.”
“Introduce me.” With Cody’s arm clenched between her hands, Kim dragged her toward Heath and Dad.
Tripping on the heels of her stupid shoes, Cody tried to keep up. “Good grief. Chill out.”
Dad did a double take as they approached, then gripped Heath’s shoulder before vamoosing. Cody cringed. He must have seen the man-hungry expression on Kim’s face.
Heath turned. “Cody, hey.”
She pasted on a smile. “Hey, Heath.”
His gaze slid to Kim, and an appreciative glint passed through his eyes. Well, this might not be a bad ordeal. Wait! This could be all bad. If Kim and Heath. … Oh man. One cop in her circle of friends was bad enough. Two would be a horror.
Kim elbowed Cody and gave her a fake smile.
“Oh, uh, Heath? This is my best friend and the woman putting on this gala, Kimberly Anne Gregory. Kim, Detective Heath Anderson.”
Kim held out her hand and gave him a coy smile. “Nice to meet you.”
Charm oozed from Heath as he took her hand. “Same could be said for me.”
“Okay, I’m outta here,” Cody muttered and retreated so fast she tripped over her heels. She bumped into someone and felt a strong arm sneak around her waist.
“Gotcha.” The smooth-as-chocolate voice reassured her.
She turned in the circle of Remy’s arm. “Thanks.” She looked up at him. “You know, I’ve about had it with all of this. Want to take a break from this shindig for a few minutes?”
“Sure.” He tucked her hand over his arm and led her out to the foyer.
Cody drew in a cleansing breath. Twenty minutes into wearing this oppressive dress. Only an hour and forty minutes to go. She peeked at Remy while he walked her to the end of the long hall. Then again, the fire that popped into his eyes when he saw her was enough to make her suffering worthwhile.
“Is this enough distance?”
She glanced back at the ballroom doors, then back to him. “Plenty.” Slipping her arm free, she faced him, studying him in a tux. “A gal could get the wrong impression with you sneaking her so far off.”
“Catin, with you wearing that dress, who could resist stealing some time alone with you?”
Heat prickled in her cheeks and along her arms. Every time he slipped into his native tongue, her bones liquefied. He tangled her in his web.
She swayed closer to him, smoothing a hand along his silk jacket lapel. “Why can’t I ever stay mad at you long?” She tucked a finger under the collar of his dress shirt.
“They say” — his low voice caressed her like water — “you are easily angered by someone you love.”
Peering up with heavy lids, she met his darkened gaze. “Are you saying you love me?”
He searched her face, then brushed a finger along her cheek. “Cody, you are a beautiful woman.”
She reared back and playfully whacked his arm. “This ain’t the dance floor, Cajun, no two-stepping.”
A cocky grin twitched at the corners of his mouth. He gently pulled her close and pressed his mouth to hers. Each kiss was like being wrapped in yet another silken thread of his web.
If he loved her, could she fully love him back? With these mountains of secrets between them?
He withdrew and blinked at her. “I lost you.”
Shoulders sagging, she stepped out of his embrace and put a small gap between them. “Remy, is it always going to be like this with us? We fight like horses over territory, kiss and make up, and turn around and go at it again.”
Crossing his arms, a contemplative expression filled his face. “Well, I wouldn’t have quite used that analogy.”
“Be serious. It’s the truth.”
He grasped her arms, letting his hands slid down to take hold of her hands. “Yes, it is. Do you really want to talk about this now?”
She blew out a breath, stirring a freed strand of hair. “No. But it’s there between us, like a Mexican fighting bull ready to charge.”
Chuckling, he drew her toward him. “You’re full of them tonight.”
I want to marry him.
Cody jolted at the thought. Where had it come from? She’d never … Kim! And all her talk of wedding dresses and altars.
She laid her head against Remy’s chest and listened to the steady thrum of his heart, letting the thought of marriage to him sink into her soul. She did want to marry him. Had Remy walked into her path because he was the one?
