Lasting Pride (Pride Series Romance Novels) Read online

  “Hello, Mr. Derby,” he shook Ric’s outstretched hand.

  “Mr. Cardone, this is Detective Roberta Stanton. She’s in charge of the investigation into some missing art and the death of my assistant Mark.”

  “Please,” he motioned to two chairs. When they sat, he continued. “How can I help you both today?”

  “As you know, I did some research into your missing artwork, ‘The Indian’.” Setting the file on the desk, he pushed it towards Dante and waited for the man to open it. “The shipping receipt from Jordan Shipping shows a signature,” Ric pointed to it. “from Mark Walker. Who was employed, at least up until last week, at my gallery as my personal assistant. So, the question seems to be, why did Mark sign the receiving paperwork for your artwork?”

  “This is a mystery. I’ve never heard of Mark Walker. At least not until I read what had happened down at your shop in the local news.” He looked at Rob. She could tell that he wasn’t really seeing her, but looking through her as he thought. Then, without a word he picked up his phone.

  “Stacey, would you come in here please?” A few seconds later a tall, blond woman walked in. Rob didn’t know how women walked in heals like that. They had to be four inches of pain. But, the woman walked gracefully over to her boss.

  “How can I help you, Mr. Cardone?”

  “Stacey, this is Mr. Derby and Detective Stanton. Can you do a employee search on a Mark Walker? Please see if he has ever been employed by either myself or my father. You can get back with me and pass on your findings to both the detective and Mr. Derby.” He handed her the file.

  “Yes, of course. I’ll get this information to you soon.” When she walked out of the room, Ric stood up to leave.

  “I have a few questions for you, Mr. Cardone.” Rob took out her small pad and pen she always kept in her jacket.

  Half an hour later, Ric and Roberta rode the elevator down to the parking garage.

  He really liked it when she played cop. Especially with someone like Cardone. She’d maintained the cop persona until the elevator doors had shut. Then, he watched as she relaxed against the wall. She slowed her breathing down and her eyes softened. He was so turned on by her.

  Walking across the empty compartment, he stopped right in front of her. His hands on either side of her on the railing. He saw her eyes heat just before his mouth claimed hers.

  When the doors opened, her hair was a mess and her lips were slightly swollen. His nicely pressed shirt was now untucked and a little crooked and they both had large smiles on their faces.

  “Well, that was a perfectly good waste of an afternoon. How can that man run a multimillion dollar company and not know the answers to some of my very basic questions.”

  Ric laughed as he opened the car door for her. She stopped and looked at him. “You know, if I didn’t know any better. I’d say the two of you were brothers.” Ric stopped laughing and his head tilted to the side as he thought about her statement.

  She slid into his car and waited for him to close the door. When he just continued to stand outside the opened door, staring into space, she got back out and looked at him.

  “Hey, are you okay?” She placed a hand on his arm.

  He blinked and looked at her. “You know, I thought there was something about him. I wonder…”

  “Ric?”

  He looked at her and she realized he was standing so close that she could see the different shades of color in his blue eyes.

  Without saying anything he reached up and brushed aside a strand of her hair that had fallen forward.

  “Ric?” It was more of a whisper from her lips. When had she started thinking of him as Ric instead of Mr. Derby?

  Just then, a car drove by and broke the trance, he stepped back. So she slid into the seat again and watched as he started to walk behind the car to get in. She’d been too focused on trying to figure out what the confused look he’d given her meant, otherwise she would have seen the car coming before it was too late.

  She heard the metal on metal and out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Ric go flying just as she felt the jolt of the impact, as the car was hit from behind. She was out of her seat belt in seconds and beside him in less time.

  Chapter Eight

  The memory of the black sedan, which had sped up as it turned to leave the garage, was imbedded into her memory. As was the vision of Ric lying on the cement ground with a large gash in his shoulder and blood running down his forehead.

  After she had called the police, and two of her uniformed friends had shown up to handle the scene, she’d driving Ric to the hospital herself. He made it clear he didn’t want to ride in the ambulance and had actually wanted to drive to the hospital himself. She finally talked him into letting her drive his car there instead, which had only gotten minor bumper damage. The two cars next to his hadn’t been so lucky.

  She had sat beside him as the nurses and doctors poked at him. She’d laughed when he made funny faces after seeing the large needle one nurse wanted to shove in his forehead so she could stitch the small gash up.

  When she finally did get around to giving her statement to the police, she’d lucked out that her friends Bill and Charlie had been on duty. She’d told them her side of the story, giving every detail, down to the missing license plates on the sedan.

  Less than two hours later, they were back in his car, she sat behind the wheel again, since the doctor’s orders were for him not to drive for the rest of the day.

  “You can just drop me off at my apartment. I’ll send someone for the car later,” he said, rubbing his forehead just below his new stitches.

  “That’s not going to happen, you’re stuck with me tonight. How do you feel about watching a bunch of kids beat me up?” She smiled over at him.

  “Pardon me?” he stopped massaging his head and looked at her. His shirt was slightly ripped on the shoulder and there was dried blood down his neck. His hair looked like he’d been running his hands through it and for the first time since meeting him, he looked… Well, not perfect and she had to admit he was sexy as hell. How had she not notice it before? Maybe it was the suit? Maybe it was the fact that he always seemed in control. Oh, he wasn’t in control now and she found that very appealing.

  “Well, your little trip to the ER, cost me valuable time. My class starts in less than half-an-hour. And your doctor gave me direct orders to watch you tonight and I don’t take orders lightly. You’re stuck with me and we’re going to my Tae Kwon Do class.”

  His head hurt like crazy, a slight concussion was nothing to laugh at. Hearing the screaming kids did little to alleviate the pounding headache. But, seeing the little kids toss the detective around was amusing. Oh, he could tell that she allowed the smaller kids to toss her about. She actually jumped around a lot and had the kids smiling with self-satisfaction. Which of course, made him smile in return.

  It actually looked like fun. He had attended self defense classes when he’d been younger, but boxing had been his big thing. Sadly, it has been years since he has strapped on the gloves. Watching her with the kids made him want to pick them up again.

  Almost two hours later, they walked into his apartment. They’d stopped by her place to feed her cat, Jack, and she had grabbed an overnight bag. He’d looked around her smaller living room and liked the simplicity of the space. The deeper, earth colors matched how he thought she would decorate. She was a very tidy person, nothing was out of place, and the cat had seemed to like him, rubbing around his legs until he heard the can opener, then he’d run in to eat his food.

  His medicine had finally kicked in and his head was wonderfully dull now. His shoulder still stung from the seven stitches he’d received there. The two on his forehead had been just above his hairline. Not that he was a vain person, but he was thankful he wouldn’t have a huge scar on it like the one he was bound to have on his shoulder.

  “Would you like something to eat?” he walked towards the kitchen. His Portland apartment was not as big as the one
in LA, but still he enjoyed the neighborhood and the view of the Columbia River and Mount Hood was breath-taking. The three bedroom apartment sat empty for a few months out of the year. It’s hardwood floors and designer furniture were cleaned weekly by a maid service. The art on the walls where from his own personal collection, some of his favorite artists’ pieces were hung here.

  “Why don’t you sit down before you fall over?” she walked him to the couch. “I’ll make us something to eat.” She pushed him back into the couch when he just stood in front of it, looking at her.

  Deciding to admit defeat, he resting his head back against the soft cushions. He listened to her moving around in his kitchen. He knew what she would find there, since he enjoyed cooking, so naturally his kitchen was not only stocked, it was well stocked.

  Closing his eyes he replayed the scene from the parking garage over and over in his mind. He was sure he had seen the bald man from the robbery behind the wheel of the sedan. But, he couldn’t be one-hundred percent sure. He hadn’t even told Roberta about seeing him. Then, he remembered seeing her face over his after hitting the ground. He must have ripped his shoulder open on something, he doesn’t remember what. He does know that the dark sedan had only just grazed his leg and hip. He knew there would be bruises all up and down his left side by tomorrow.

  Roberta’s face had been like a light when he’d opened his eyes in the dark garage, showing him the way to staying conscious. He’d focused on her and the pain had dissipated. She had soft eyes, soft looking lips, and he remembered what they’d taste like, what they’d feel like.

  He must have fallen asleep. Because, the next thing he knew, Rob was lightly shaking him awake. She was leaning over him and when he opened his eyes, he noticed that her hair had fallen forward. Reaching up, he ran the silky strands through his fingers. He must have been a little loopy from the drugs, but he didn’t care. Pulling her face down to his, he sampled the lips he’d been dreaming of.

  She allowed him to pull her into the kiss. It took just a light tug to have her sitting across his lap. Her soft body pushed up against his and he marveled in her subtle curves. Running his hands up and down her sides he took the kiss deeper. She must have opened a bottle of wine because he could taste its tangy sweetness on her tongue. Her hands ran over his neck and when she lightly touched his shoulder, he gasped in pain.

  “Oh, I forgot. Did I hurt you?” she pulled back and looked at his shoulder.

  He chuckled, “No, I’m fine,” he watched her eyes focus and regretted the distraction.

  She pulled back even further, “I guess we’d better eat. You need to take another pill and you’re supposed to eat something first.” She moved to get off his lap. He held her still for another moment.

  “Rob, I think there’s something here. I’d like to explore it.”

  “I would as well. But, first and foremost it’s business. I can’t be involved with someone I have an ongoing case with. It wouldn’t be…”

  “Kosher?” he suggested.

  She laughed at him, then got off the couch, and held out her hand to help him up.

  She had made spaghetti and it tasted wonderful. He’d passed on the wine since it would cause side effects with his medicine.

  After they’d cleared the dishes, he said. “My guest room is down there,” he pointed to the hallway on the left. “My room is down here,” he pointed to the opposite hallway. “If you want to…”

  “Don’t even go there Derby,” he noticed the smile she had on her face.

  “Good night,” she bent and picked up her overnight bag. “I’ll be waking you up every hour to check on you.”

  When he groaned, she continued. “Doctor’s orders.” Then she walked down the hallway towards her room.

  Pulling himself together after watching her hips sway as she walked away, he retreated into his own room. He decided a hot shower would help him relax the sore muscles that were now screaming at him.

  When he’d pulled off all his clothes, he stood and looked at himself in the mirror. Already he could see nasty bruises and small cuts running up and down his whole left side. The gash in his shoulder had been stitched and bandaged.

  Pulling the bandage off slowly, he looked at the clean stitch line. It was a little swollen and looked a nasty shade of red mixed with purple. The rest of him had fared okay compared to that shoulder. He must have whacked it on the cement hard. When he tried to lift it, he could feel the tense muscles screaming at him to stop. His head spun and he had to grab the countertop so he wouldn’t pass out.

  He’d take a very hot shower, maybe even use the jacuzzi tub that sat in the overly large master-bathroom. He hadn’t used the huge thing once since moving in a few years ago.

  Turning the handles, he got the water running so hot, the whole bathroom steamed. It took less than fifteen minutes to fill the large tub. Hitting the buttons, he set the temperature at a hundred and the bubbles at full high, then he slipped in to the water and groaned as the warmth spread throughout his entire body. Why hadn’t he used this thing earlier? He could feel the tension leaving him inch by inch as he laid his head back on the headrest and thought of the kiss.

  Roberta set her cell phone up to wake her every hour. She’d even plugged it in to make sure it would charge overnight. Looking around the guest room, she liked the lighter colors he’d decorated this room in. Did he have it decorated for a particular woman in mind? Did he have many women visitors that spent their nights in the guest room instead of in his bed?

  She’d set her overnight bag on the large queen bed. It’s four poster frame looked antique and well maintained. So did the rest of the furniture in the room. Walking into the adjoining bathroom she decided on taking a quick shower and looking down at herself, she realized she still had his blood on her pants. Remembering him lying on the ground bleeding, she shivered. It had been so close.

  While showering, she remembered the kiss and his warm mouth. It was a “knock your socks off” kind of kiss. She hadn’t had one of those in… well, ever. At least she couldn’t remember any at this time. His mouth had been hot and the passion that had come from him had almost been blinding.

  After her shower, she crawled between the satin sheets and quickly fell asleep thinking of him.

  An hour later, she walked into his room to wake him and check on him. When she walked in, she was shocked to see his large bed empty. There was a soft light coming from under the bathroom door. The first thing that flashed in her mind was fear that he’d passed out on the bathroom floor. Rushing into the large room, she looked around and she saw him. Lying in the large jacuzzi tub with it’s jets still on and she could see steam rising from the water. His head was rested against a pillowed head rest and his eyes were closed, he looked completely relaxed and wonderfully naked.

  Walking over, she took in her fill of him. The man had some great muscles, she could see the bruises running up and down his side that he must have landed on.

  He was resting so that his left shoulder and arm were dangling out of the water, keeping his stitches dry. Her eyes ran down his chest and enjoyed the view of his pecks. His stomach was tight and she could just make out a very sexy six pack. His sandy blond hair ran in a light trail, pulling her eyes downwards. Noticing that he was hard all over, she smiled. Then, she moved down to his thighs, which were very muscular and covered with a light coating of blond hair. He was too tall for the bathtub so his feet hung off the ends, resting on the ledge of the tub.

  Looking back to his face, she watched his dark eyelashes. How was it, that this man was lucky enough to get very long eyelashes? She was cursed with short thin ones.

  His face looked totally relaxed. Walking closer to him, she sat on the edge of the tub.

  “Damn it Ric, you should know better than to fall asleep in this thing.” When he opened his eyes, she saw him focus, then she noticed the wicked look in his eyes. She tried to pull away, but he was too quick. Before she knew it, she was crushed to his wet body. Her sleeping t-s
hirt and shorts were soaking wet. Her hair, which had just dried from her own shower, was wet and in her eyes now.

  “I was just dreaming of you and this,” his mouth was on hers again. This time, the passion was undeniable. He held her head to his with his right hand as she tried to get away. “Mmmm, you taste so good,” he tried to pull her closer.

  “Stop it, Ric! You’re going to get your shoulder wet.” She pulled back and tried to hold him at bay, when he let her go, she tried to pull herself out of the large tub and almost fell on her head. Thank goodness he’d reached over and helped to steady her.

  “Now, what am I going to wear to bed?” She mumbled to herself as she looked down at her wet clothes. She stood in front of the large mirror and watched him pull himself out of the tub as he laughed at her.

  “Nothing,” he gave her a wicked smile, “You know, I sleep in nothing too. Maybe we should do it together?” He walked over and grabbed a towel and, after tossing her one, started to dry himself off.