“I think so, too. It would be worth a trip to that little town to check it out. Can you go tomorrow?”

  She thought about her cases tomorrow. “In the morning, but I have to be back by two.”

  “Then tomorrow we’ll see the connection between the two men.”

  “If Ralph and Andrew knew each other, then the inconsistencies of this case—”

  “—make a lot of sense. There’s a good reason why there was no blood evidence on Carlson’s clothes.” At the stoplight he glanced at her. “Carlson robs the Reed home. He hears them driving up into the driveway and cuts out. Andrew and Catherine argue. They’re inside the house. She probably tells him she wants to divorce him.”

  “And he won’t get any money, because he came into the marriage without any or because of a prenup.”

  Ash pulled into the museum parking lot. “He’s developed a taste for the good life. He grabs the saber, which Carlson had taken off the wall, and hacks his wife to death. And that’s why, in the pictures taken after the murder, Andrew has on another tux.” He turned off the ignition. “Should we go inside and see if we can rattle Mr. Reed’s cage?”

  “Sounds good to me. You’ve got the pictures?”

  Ash patted his suit coat.

  “Then let’s go.”

  Soft music filled the air as well-dressed couples preened and strutted. In the midst of the elegant crowd, Andrew Reed and his fiancée were holding court at the punch bowl. The man obviously enjoyed being the center of attention.

  Ash stepped into the circle of people.

  “Detective Ashcroft, Ms. Whalen,” Andrew coolly greeted them.

  “We need to talk to you, Mr. Reed, to clear up some problems we have with your wife’s murder,” Ash informed him.

  A gasp ran through the crowd.

  “I thought this nonsense was over,” Andrew stated, glancing around the gathering. “If you want to talk to me, you can talk to my lawyer.”

  “That’s true. I can haul you and your lawyer downtown to answer this question, or you can give me five minutes of your time to answer my question.”

  Andrew glared at Kelly. “This is out of line.”

  “Detective Ashcroft is being reasonable, Mr. Reed. It seems to me you’re the one who’s mucking up the process. Five minutes here or downtown. It’s your call.”

  “We don’t even have to move,” Ash added. “The more witnesses we have, the better to insure that you’re not abused.”

  Andrew’s glare could have started a fire. “Here, but let’s not involve these guests.” He motioned toward the table at the back of the room.

  They walked to the table tucked into a corner. Andrew’s fiancée accompanied him. Once at the table, Andrew turned on Ash. “What do you want?”

  Ash pulled the pictures from the inside pocket of his suit jacket and placed them on the table. Both Andrew and Michelle looked at the pictures.

  The quiet in the room intensified. Andrew scanned the crowd, his jaw tightening as he understood his humiliation. He then looked at the table.

  Ash waited as Andrew’s gaze moved over the photos. “Can you explain to me why you changed your tux? In this photo, you have on a different coat and cummerbund than the one you wore later when the police interviewed you?”

  “That’s ridiculous, Detective.” Michelle turned to Andrew. “Explain it to him, sweetheart.” She motioned for him to dispatch the detective.

  Cold, hard fury filled Andrew’s eyes as he looked at Ash. “These aren’t from the same night.”

  They had him. “They are,” Ash replied. “Those photos are from the party at the Ackers.” He pointed to the group of pictures taken from the party, and Joanna’s photo. “I checked it out with your hostess. She validated that these pictures were taken the same night.” He picked up the photo taken by the police. “This one was taken after your wife’s murder by the police. I even had your tailor tell me that the tux is different.”

  Michelle gasped. Her expression pleading, she said, “Explain it to them, Andrew.”

  He pulled his shoulders back. “If the detective wants me to answer any more questions, he’ll have to direct them to my lawyer.”

  Her head whipped around and she gaped at him. “What?”

  He grasped his fiancée’s arm and pulled her away. The crowd of people in the room parted as Andrew and Michelle moved to the door.

  “I think you’ve ruined his party for him,” Kelly whispered.

  Ash picked up the pictures and tucked them back into his jacket. “That’s not all I’ve ruined for him.”

  They followed Andrew and Michelle outside. The couple was nowhere to be seen.

  “Why don’t we walk around and see if we can find them.”

  She studied him. “Sounds good.”

  It was a beautiful night, the temperature in the low seventies, a breeze fluttering the newly blossomed trees. He grasped her hand and smiled at her when she threw him a questioning glance.

  “We’ll appear less threatening if we’re posing as lovers.”

  “All right.”

  As they walked across the parking lot, Ash searched for any signs of Andrew and Michelle. He continued through the parking lot, down the walk that led to the concrete bayou. He scanned the area.

  He stopped and pulled Kelly into his arms. “I think we’ve shaken Andrew Reed.”

  “We’ve also upset his fiancée. She appeared shocked.”

  Looking down at her, Ash smiled. “It has to be a shock to discover your husband-to-be might have killed his first wife—”

  “—who had money,” Kelly finished the sentence.

  “I think a visit to Michelle tomorrow might prove very beneficial.” His fingers combed through Kelly’s hair.

  Her eyes drifted closed. “Before we go to visit Andrew’s hometown?”

  “We could do that first.” His fingers skimmed over her lips. “Why don’t we go home?”

  “That’s a wonderful idea.”

  As they walked back up the path, they heard Michelle Graham. “Take me home, Andrew.”

  “You don’t understand,” Andrew hissed, grabbing her arm and forcing her to face him. “That cop has always been after me. They’re trying to frame me.”

  Ash and Kelly walked out of the trees by the parking lot. Michelle looked at them.

  “Why are you doing this?” Michelle asked them.

  “Because of the unanswered questions,” Ash replied. “And the murder of the man accused of the deed.”

  Michelle looked at Andrew. “Explain to me about the pictures, again.”

  He glared at her.

  Michelle jerked out of his hold and ran back into the building. Andrew turned and scowled at them. Ash tensed, waiting for the other man to spring. After a long moment, Andrew followed his fiancée.

  “I think Andrew ran into a major chuckhole in the road to happily-ever-after,” Kelly whispered.

  “And maybe we’ve saved Michelle’s life.”

  Kelly instantly sobered.

  Cupping her cheek, Ash asked, “Why don’t we let the happy couple stew while we go home? I definitely have some ideas of what we can do.”

  “You never did lack imagination, Ash.”

  Chapter 14

  T he sexual tension between Ash and Kelly escalated during the long drive home. Ash pulled his car into the driveway of Kelly’s house.

  She smiled at him. “What time do you want to start tomorrow?”

  Oh no, she wasn’t going to get away with pretending nothing was going on between them. Ash wanted her to acknowledge the awareness they shared. Facing her, he murmured, “I doubt we’ll sleep later than seven. We can leave after breakfast.”

  “You really plan to spend the night?”

  “I don’t plan on running off afterward, Kel.”

  She blushed and turned away.

  “I’m bunking here until we nail Andrew Reed. Also, I want to know where Bruce Rhodes is.”

  “Ah.” She nodded and climbed out of the car. He had to run to catch up with her. He followed her into the hall of the house. Before she could put the keys down, he pulled her into his arms. His lips descended on hers. After an instant of hesitation, she returned his passion.

  He didn’t pretend to understand what went through her mind, but at this point all that mattered was that she wanted this as much as he did.

  She pulled at his shirt as he shucked his suit coat. His tie got caught in the shirt. Their hands tangled as they tried to slide the knot out of the tie. Their laughter erupted.

  “I’ll go for the tie,” he panted.

  She grinned. “Okay, I’ll start on the belt.”

  He didn’t have a problem with that.

  It took less than a minute for him to discard the rest of his clothes. She smiled and her fingers ran over his chest.

  “You’ve always been a beautiful man,” she breathed.

  “That’s our secret,” he told her as his hands worked on the buttons of her blouse.

  “I don’t kiss and tell,” she answered.

  “For which I’m grateful. If any of the other detectives heard you, I’d never live it down.”

  He peeled the blouse down her arms, then it joined his clothes on the floor. Her skirt, shoes and underwear quickly followed.

  He pulled her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. Laying her down on the bed, he stepped back to drink in his fill.

  “Do you know how often I’ve dreamed of this?” he whispered as he settled beside her.

  Her hand cupped his cheek. After a long pause, she whispered, “Make love to me Ash.”

  Those words wrapped around his heart. He loved her. Had loved her from the minute he had set eyes on her. And he wanted a future with her. But he saw a wariness in her eyes and it sparked a need in him to drive her demons away.

  He tasted her, nibbling the delicate skin behind her ear and under her chin. Her moan of delight urged him on. He worked his way down to her breasts. He kissed those sweet orbs, laving each with his attention.

  Kelly’s hands flexed on him as the tension in her built, then she pushed him to his back. Rising up on her elbow, she smiled down at him. “I think I want to be the one in control.”

  He loved the look in her eyes. “I’m all yours,” he whispered.

  “I like that.”

  She started with his lips, nipping and tasting. Then she moved down his neck and lightly bit the skin at the base of his neck. Her hands skimmed over his chest.

  “You’ve been working out,” she said as her hands molded over his abdomen.

  He had the time, since his social life had sucked.

  Her hands moved lower, lightly cupping him. Her smile of satisfaction made him want to return the favor. His hands slid up her back to cushion her head. He urged her mouth to his. She melted over him. He eased into her and she closed her eyes and sighed. They belonged together in spite of their differences.

  “Look at me, Kelly.”

  Her eyes fluttered open and her gaze locked with his. His hands framed her face. He didn’t say anything, but with his body, he tried to let her know what was in his heart.

  With each move of her body, he could see her reaction. The pleasure built and built until they both exploded in a shower of delight.

  Her eyes drifted closed and she collapsed on top of him. They were parts of one whole.

  When she slid off him, he gathered her into his arms. He wanted to talk to her, but instead he relaxed into the peace of holding her. As he fell asleep, Ash felt as if he’d put to rest Kelly’s demons for the time being. But he knew one night of loving didn’t solve all their problems. She still had doubts. He prayed he could find a way to banish those fears for good.

  Kelly slipped out of bed, pulled on her robe and walked into the dining room, where she could see her garden. She’d immersed herself in her plants after the miscarriage and divorce, caring for them when she couldn’t care for the child she’d lost. Here, where she could feel the earth in her hands and feel the connection to life, she’d worked out the pain in her heart.

  She was shaken by what she’d seen in Ash’s eyes tonight. She’d seen forever. He wanted a future with her.

  She hadn’t let her mind wander in that direction, but she’d better think about it now. Did she want forever-after? Could she risk her heart again? After the miscarriage, Ash had pulled away from her, leaving her to find her way through it by herself. It had taken a long time, but she’d made it. Could she risk her heart again? Take that gamble?

  Maybe she was wrong and had misread the situation.

  “What are you doing?” he quietly asked.

  She turned. “I couldn’t sleep.”

  He hadn’t dressed and, in the moonlight, he resembled a beautiful marble statue, his chest and abdomen a sculpted masterpiece. His gaze searched her face. “Why?”

  Needing to face the situation, she said, “I was thinking about us.”

  His face lightened and he pulled her into his arms. “What were you thinking?” His fingers pushed back the strand of hair that had drifted onto her cheek.

  “I was wondering where we’re going.”

  “You know what I want? I want us to be a team like we’ve been on this case. We’re good together, Kel, we know how each other operates. And what we share in bed—” he grinned “—is special. I want us to get married again.”

  She couldn’t look at him anymore. Her gaze focused on his chest.

  “I take it you don’t feel that way.”

  How could she explain this fear that had settled into a hard knot in her stomach. “I’m afraid, Ash.”

  His fingers lifted her chin. “Of what?”

  “Of trusting you again.”

  Like a bullet, her doubt hit its mark, wounding him. His arms fell away and he took a step back.

  “I thought we had laid that ghost to rest.”

  “When?”

  “Days ago when you cried in my arms.”

  She frowned at him. “Oh, there was some relief, but that didn’t answer my questions, Ash. Why didn’t you talk to me, hold me after I lost the baby? I was so alone and in pain and you ignored me, walked away.”

  “I walked away?” Anger sparked in his gaze. “As I recall, I tried, but you told me you wanted to be left alone.”

  Kelly remembered that night. They had fought. He had told her that if she hadn’t been so committed to obtaining the conviction of a local drug lord, she might not have lost the baby. It had hit a nerve, because she had wondered the same thing.

  “I was drowning. I needed you.”

  He looked away, but not before she saw a muscle jump in his clenched jaw. “I was drowning too, Kel.”

  He was right. She’d seen the tears he’d cried the other day. She’d never considered that before.

  His fingers touched her chin, forcing her gaze to meet his. He searched her eyes, then stepped away.

  She knew he wanted a response from her, an answer. But her heart couldn’t give it.

  “I’ll spend the rest of the night on the couch.” He turned and walked into the bedroom. A moment later, he reappeared with a pillow and blanket. She wanted to go to him, but her fear held her back.

  She turned and gazed out into the night as if there were answers in the garden. All she found were questions. And doubts.

  Ash poured water into the top of the coffeemaker. He’d taken a gamble and, at this point, didn’t know if it would pay off. Kelly hadn’t responded in the manner he had wished. She was still fearful of trusting him.

  Could he blame her? If he were honest, he had to share in the blame of their breakup.

  What was he going to do now?

  He heard her footsteps in the hall. When she appeared, she was dressed in slacks and sweater. The tension around her eyes told him she hadn’t slept any better last night than he.

  “The bathroom’s empty if you want to shower and shave. I’ll fix some tomato and spaghetti soup while you’re getting ready.”

  The first time she’d made that for breakfast, Ash had stared at it as if it was an alien concoction. But he’d tasted it and fallen in love with it. Kelly would make it for him on the weekends when they both had time. Maybe, in her own way, it was a peace offering. He nodded.

  “Let me get a cup of coffee, first.” After pouring himself a cup, he took a sip. He needed the jolt. “I’ll only be ten minutes.”

  She grinned at his reaction and, for an instant, they connected.

  He wanted that connection to be permanent. Did she?

  Ash and Kelly were shown into the formal living room of the Graham mansion. Michelle and her mother walked in minutes later and sat on the opposite couch.

  “We’re sorry to disturb you, Michelle, but we wanted to talk to you,” Kelly began.

  The young woman sighed and stared down at her hands. “You’ll be glad to know I broke off the engagement with Andrew last night.”

  Kelly glanced at Ash. “Why is that?”

  When her gaze lifted, tears glistened in her eyes. “I asked Andrew to explain about the tux. He refused, claimed I didn’t love him if I’d ask him something like that.” She sniffed. “I told him that if he loved me he’d answer my question. He wouldn’t, and the look he gave me made my blood run cold, so I gave him back his ring. He took it and drove me home.”

  “It’s all right, sweetheart,” Michelle’s mother whispered, pulling her daughter into her arms. “There have been rumors about him.”

  “What rumors are you talking about?” Ash questioned.

  “That Andrew is in financial trouble.”

  “Where did you hear that, Mrs. Graham?” he pressed.

  “My husband’s banker. He is also Andrew’s. He mentioned it casually in passing one day. I worried about it, but Michelle seemed so much in love and Andrew has always been such a gentleman. I ignored the report.”

  Michelle glared at Ash. “Why did you bring those pictures to the reception? Why couldn’t you have waited?”

  “Because, Michelle,” Kelly answered, “both Detective Ashcroft and I believe that Andrew murdered his wife. You needed to know that about him.”

  “I’ll be the talk of this town,” Michelle complained.

  “Maybe, but people will realize you did the right thing,” Kelly offered.