Page 20 of Knight's Desire

When they turned onto a street he recognized, Brick’s suspicions that Hope was out of his league were confirmed. The middle-class neighborhood contained popular subdivisions with beautiful homes and manicured lawns. Some were modest in size, and some were more elaborate. All of them cost more than any place Brick had called home. He preferred a simple life with very little trappings to clutter it.

Gennessey turned into a gated subdivision, and he followed to a one-story home that suited Hope — or at least suited his impression of her. Elegant, pretty, welcoming.

Perfect.

Brick parked in the drive behind Hope and Gennessey. Hope stepped from the car before he put his SUV in park. He watched her stride to the three stone steps leading to the porch and straight into the arms of the man waiting for her. The guy wrapped his arms around her, holding her as Brick had wanted to do. The guy cradled her head against his chest, and Brick got the impression this guy was more than a neighbor or a friend.

He cut the engine and stepped from the SUV to join Gennessey where she stood on the lawn, giving the couple a moment alone. Gennessey glanced at him as he stopped beside her.

“He’s the boyfriend. She started crying when she saw him, so I thought I would give them a few minutes. He was the one she was talking to before we left. He apparently freaked out when he found out she didn’t go to the Sheriff’s Department as he told her to and didn’t return his calls right away.”

Brick turned away from the intimate scene, his disappointment keen. “We should clear the house before we leave them, just in case. You get the inside. I’ll get the perimeter.”

“Copy.”

Glad to be away from the sight of the loving couple, he walked around the house with his pocket flashlight in hand. He searched around her house and where her property joined her neighbors’. He noted nothing out of place, so he headed back to the SUV to wait for Gennessey. The boyfriend was the one who walked Gennessey out and closed the door behind her. Brick started the engine as she climbed onto the passenger seat. He backed out of the drive before she secured her seatbelt and drove toward KSI without a word.

“She got to you, didn’t she?”

He didn’t glance in Gennessey’s direction. “Nope.”

She chuckled. “Right. Then what happened back there? I’ve never seen you freeze under pressure like that.”

“Stop talking shit.”

“As soon as you saw her, you went all zombie on me. Usually you’re in charge of a situation like that, but you barely said two sentences to her the whole time. Deny it if you want, but we all noticed it.”

“I was surprised to see that I knew her. Or had seen her before, I guess I should say. I saw the deputies at her store after the break-in. I walked over to see what was going on, and she came outside while I was there.”

“She’s nice. I’m not a fan of the boyfriend though.”

Brick glanced sharply at Gennessey, who had turned to stare out the side window. “What? Why? Was he abusive with her? Why did you leave her alone with him?”

She whipped her head around. “I didn’t say that! That’s not what I meant at all. Geez, chill, Brick. I was right. She did get under your skin.”

He shook his head at her. “Just tell me what you meant.”

“I mean I’ve seen his type before. Polished, charming, handsome. But it’s all window dressing. Underneath he’s condescending, bossy and treats his girlfriends like accessories.”

“What makes you think he’s like that?” Brick suddenly felt like a teenager exchanging the latest gossip with a friend. Any other time, he’d never encourage Gennessey to share her impressions of someone who wasn’t a client or person of interest. It’s not like she would tell him anything that would change what he knew to be true — he and Hope Robertson were worlds apart. But he wanted to hear what she’d seen and heard, especially if it gave him insight into the woman herself.

“He was all caring and attentive when he thought I was paying attention. Then when he thought I was out of earshot, he kept questioning her. Why didn’t she go to the cops like he told her to? Why did she even leave the restaurant early and put herself in that situation? How could she not know who would chase her like that? Was she even sure the driver was a threat? He acted like she embarrassed him when he should have been concerned for her. She was freaked out by the whole thing, as she should have been. The guy was acting like an ass.”

“Sounds like you’ve had your share of run-ins with guys like that.”

Gennessey sighed. “More than I care to acknowledge. I am a magnet for guys like that. There’s something about a guy with the clean-cut look, expensive tailored suit and air of success about him. They’re hard to resist and hard to hang on to.”

“You could tell his suit was expensive?”

“Yes, but his designer watch? Total knock-off.”

“How would you know that?”

Gennessey chuckled. “I know my knock-offs. The guy’s a phony. Hope can do so much better.”

“You don’t even know her.”

“We talked on the ride over. She’s very nice. You’d like her if you got to know her. Actually, I’m guessing you already like her.”

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