Page 81 of Contention

Ah,Gale’s client.

“It’s possible that distance you saw it from could give such an impression,” Kara replies, pretending she understands his concern completely. Sweet, sympathetic. “However, perhaps we should ask Terry.” She’s speaking to the man that went overboard now. “We don’t even have a victim, do we?” She glances at Terry, hoping he understands from her gaze that he better say it was an accident.

He’s looking just beyond her shoulder, dripping water, looking where she knows Dietrich is hovering. The man nods slightly, “I lost my balance.” He forces a smile on his face. “There’s really no problem, officers. Dieter fell into me; he certainly didn’t throw me!” He adds a little laugh for effect. “I mean, we all saw that boat coming. Complete accident. I’m sorry we caused such an issue.”

Another guy in a Hawaiian shirt nods from his chair, saying “Totally looked bad from afar, we get it.”

“No victim, no crime,” Kara finishes brightly. “A standard ticket or violation should suffice if necessary, but reckless operation seems very extreme. Especially an order to dock, don’t you think?”

The shorter cop scowls at her, likely irritated that everyone present is corroborating. “Who are you?”

An arm slings about her shoulders and Kara forces herself to keep her face straight. “My lawyer,” a smooth voice practically purrs next to her.

Kara remains looking at the cops expectantly, pretending there isn’t a handsome man hanging off her like a serious sidepiece. “Mr. Bittinger isn’t in the habit of throwing people off his deck for fun, how absurd would that be?” That gets her a few chuckles from the men on the boat, likely because all of them know it wasn’t a mistake and that yes, Dietrich had actually thrown the guy off the side for the heck of it. “If you need to writea minorcitation, I understand. We are deeply embarrassed this happened.”

Terry adds, “Very embarrassed.”

The shorter officer frowns, his eyes completely hidden behind his shades. “You need to dock-”

His partner elbows him sharply and leans down to whisper something in his ear. Those angry lips grow even angrier. The short cop mutters a curse.

The stocky cop sighs with anger and walks away. The taller, bearded cop speaks for him instead. “Alright, we’re letting you off with a recorded warning and a small fine. But, if we see anything else today, litter, speeding, we are ticketing your ass all the way to the dock. Got it? Get back on the lake and away from the river if you are going to be ‘clumsy.’” He nods his head to Dietrich. “Good day, Mr. Bittinger. Tell your father the city precinct appreciates his latest donation.”

Dietrich grins pleasantly and Kara senses the puzzles pieces dropping into place in her mind.

“Thank you, sir,” Kara replies swiftly as the cops leave, feeling faint. There’s still an arm around her, there’s a body pressed against her side.

A puff of air shifts the hair by her ear. “What a surprise. Gale has a sense of humor after all. Straight into the fire with you, indeed.”

Somewhat nervous, considering the enormous temper tantrum he’d just thrown, not to mention thehuman beinghe’d also just thrown, Kara turns to look up at his face. He’s still hiding green eyes behind his big sunglasses, but she can see hints of red along his cheekbones. His body is warm, overheated, and she considers that he’s been roasting himself in the sun for nearly two hours. She can’t think of anything else to say aside from, “Do you need some water? You seem…dehydrated.”

The unpleasant, unfriendly twist in his lips remains. “Dehydrated? That’s a one I haven’t heard before.”

Oh.Oh. He thinks she’s referring to his ill-tempered behavior. “No, no. I didn’t mean-”

His lips are curling into a mocking sneer, like a warning flag, or a siren shrieking about an incoming tornado.

Kara needs to stop this. She needs to nip it in the bud before he even tries walking all over her. “I’mserious.It isn’t my fault you’ve been passed out in the heat all morning!” Raising her voice, trying to sound authoritative, maybe even angry, because he scares her. “Come with me,now, and I’ll get you a goddamn water and youwilldrink it!”

Her voice bounces off the water and Kara wonders if she’s made a horrid mistake. Maybe she’s going overboard next.

There’s an excruciating silence as he looks at her from behind his glasses. Kara’s nervous face is reflected in the dark mirrors that cover his eyes and she sees herself swallow nervously. Then, he takes her hand gently, loosely in his own, softly saying, “Well, why didn’t you just say so? Lead the way.”

Kara nearly dies, her eyes going to her hand in his. He wants her tolead him? Taking in a shaky breath, she tugs on his hand and pulls him along, wondering if he’s going to follow her submissively, extremely aware of his hand in hers.

He does.

He lets her pull on his hand even though he knows damn well that she’s taking him back over to where she and Gale are sitting doing work. All the refreshments are there, after all. It’s his boat, he knows. As they approach, Gale arches her eyebrows at him, cordially saying, “Good morning, Dieter.”

His throat works, red traveling up his neck in a telling sign of angry emotion. “Is it? Is it,really, Gale?”

Oh, my God, Kara thinks in disbelief.The man is an absolute brat!Telling herself to justbe in control, she settles him down on one of the cushioned bench seats, like a child. She goes to the small fridge and pulls out a cold bottle of water, opening it for him before handing it over.

He takes it from her and takes a gigantic swallow, nearly smashing the whole thing. “Thanks, Kara. Aren’t you precious?”

“I’m far from it,” Kara replies flatly, not liking the position he’s put her in. Come to think of it, she’s slightly irritated with Gale, too. They made a liar out of her. She feels slimy inside. Not only that; his name alone made the one cop nervous.

Ignoring her statement, Dietrich finishes the water bottle and asks Gale a few things that go over Kara’s head. Then, he gets up, stretching, walking back towards the upper level. “Come upstairs, chickadee.”

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