Page 34 of Tell Me Your Desires
Anya gestured to the door even though Jaime couldn’t see her. “Because of this! I don’t need my clients following me home and harassing me at my front door at a time when it should beillegalto be awake!”
Jaime physically recoiled at the word ‘client’. She didn’t want to be thought of as Lady A’sclient.“I’m a cop, Anastasia. And despite my earlier discretion, I’m investigating a murder.”Or five,Jaime corrected silently. But until she knew more about Anastasia’s involvement—or lack thereof—she would keep that to herself. Anastasia also didn’t need to know that this wasn’t an official visit, and Jaime was here without Max’s knowledge.The less she knows, the better.
“I told you, Detective, I had nothing to do with Maisie’s murder. Now, if you would please leave.”
“I’m supposed to take the word of someone who lies about where they live?” Jaime didn’t want to grow annoyed with Anastasia; she just wanted to see that beautiful face.
Anya clenched her hands into fists, ready to beat the door in frustration. This woman was the most infuriating and stubborn person Anya had ever met.
“Are you going to arrest me for having the wrong address on my registration, Detective? You can’t pin a murder on me, but, hey, as long as I’m behind bars, you’re fine with that?”
“That’s not… I’m not here to arrest you, Anastasia.” Jaime blew out a breath. God, she didn’t want to arrest this woman. She prayed she’dneverhave to. “Can you open the door, please? I feel like a fool talking to you through a slab of wood.”
“Steel,” Anya corrected absently. “And if you’re not here to arrest me, there’s nothing more to say.”
Panic rose inside Jaime. SheneededAnastasia to open the door. Sheneededto see the woman behind Lady A. Jaime hopedthat by removing the mystery of Lady A, it would eliminate this ridiculous obsession she had with her. But then the alternative floated into her mind. What if Jaime only grew fonder of what she found here?
“I may not be here to arrest you, but I still need to verify your alibi, which means Iwillneed to see that security video you mentioned. And I’ll need to talk to Derek.”
Anya froze. Did she just hear what she thought she did? “I’m sorry?”
“I’ll need to speak to Derek,” Jaime repeated. “You mentioned him the first time we spoke. If he was here that night, I’ll need him to corroborate your story. If not, I’ll need his whereabouts at the time of Maisie’s death.”
“You… you want to talk to Derek.MyDerek.” Anya felt the corners of her mouth twitch. She didn’t even remember mentioning Derek to Jaime. Then again, each time they’d seen one another, the situation had been quite overwhelming.
“Yes.” Jaime didn’t particularly want to breathe the same air as the guy who was lucky enough to live with this woman, but still, she needed to speak to him.
Anya gritted her teeth to keep herself from laughing. “Ahem. He’s not very sociable. He’s talkative, but what he says doesn’t always make sense.”
“Anastasia, please stop stalling. Either I talk to him here and now, or I can take you both down to the station.”
“Oh!” Anya laughed. She couldn’t help it. The thought of Derek with tiny handcuffs being hauled down to the police station tickled her funny bone. “Well, I’m sure Derek wouldn’t appreciate that. He hates going outside.”
Jaime was bewildered by Anastasia’s amused tone. But whatever was perking Anastasia’s attitude, Jaime would take it if it meant she was going to get in the house.
“Fine, we can do the questioning here. Are you going to let me in, or do we have to do this in the front yard with your neighbor’s looking on?”
Anya knew Jaime was baiting her, but the truth was, Anyadidn’twant her neighbors to know her business. Even after more than four years of living in this house, she hadn’t made an effort to know them. It was an unnecessary stress in Anya’s life. She was perfectly fine with having only Derek for company. He rarely judged her. And when he did, Anya only had to bribe him with treats to change his mind about her.
With a heavy sigh, Anya disengaged the locks on the door. “Stand back,” she requested before she fully opened the door. When Jaime took a step back, Anya stuck her head out, glancing around before giving Jaime a once-over. “Take your shoes off when you come in, please.”
Jaime nodded, turning her slim frame sideways to make it through the small opening Anastasia allowed. None of the security measures escaped Jaime’s attention. First, it was the misdirected address. Then the small declaration that the front door was steel. Not to mention the video surveillance Anastasia had brought up before. All of it, including Anastasia’s reluctance to let anyone into her home, piqued Jaime’s curiosity about the woman even further. Was she hiding something orfromsomething?
Those questions fell out of Jaime’s mind when she came face to face with the woman who invaded her dreams night after night. Except this time, it wasn’t Lady A. Gone was the intimidation of the mask, whips, and chamber. In their place was the intimidation of piercing green eyes of a sleepy, fresh-faced, mussed-haired, robe-wearing, exceptionally beautiful woman. And the robe left very little to the imagination.Jesus.
“Shoes,” Anya reminded Jaime. Yeah, she knew Jaime was checking her out. Her body felt it, causing her nipples to hardenbeneath the silk robe.Great.She crossed her arms over her chest, wishing she had thought to put a bra on.Too late now. Deal with it.
Jaime slipped her shoes off, thankful she had worn clean socks without holes. She cleared her throat, willing herself not to stare at Anastasia’s breasts. She should get a freakin’ award for her restraint. “So, um, Derek’s here?”
Anya smirked. “Mmhmm. He’s here. He’s always here. I don’t know what I would do without him.” Anya set off toward the kitchen, expecting Jaime to follow. “He’s my rock, you know?”
Jaime resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She had no right to be jealous. She certainly had no claim on Anastasia. Though she did wonder how he could handle what Lady A did at the club. If she was Anastasia’s ‘rock’, she didn’t think she could endure Lady A’s job. Perhaps that was old-fashioned, but that’s who Jaime was.
“Sure,” Jaime responded unenthusiastically. “Look, I just have a few questions for him and then I’ll get out of your way.”
“Okay. I have to warn you, though. He’s very vocal. Not always coherent, but he’ll say it loud and proud.”
“O…kay.” Jaime didn’t know what to think of Anastasia’s description of the person who obviously meant the world to her. But that wasn’t Jaime’s problem or her job. It was a mistake coming here. Seeing the woman behind the mask didnothingto quench the thirst for her. And now Jaime knew she’d never be anything more than a client to…Lady A.
