Dad's Detective Best Friend: An Instalove Possessive Alpha Romance (A Man Who Knows What He Wants Book 164) Read online

  Matt

  I let myself in as quietly as possible and then close the door behind me, craning my ears for any noise. The house has been redecorated since the last time I was here, but otherwise it looks much the same. The same photo of Adam and his late wife hangs on the wall, causing a pang of grief which I quickly push away. This isn’t the time for reminiscing.

  Then I hear a soft footfall above my head and I tense all over.

  There’s definitely someone up there. I take my gun out of my belt and turn off the safety, holding it in front of me as I walk slowly up the stairs. I can hear faint rustling sounds now. But no voices...which hopefully means just one person. I come on to the landing and see the room at the end of the corridor with the door ajar and the light coming from beyond it. Whoever the intruder is, they’re in that room.

  As I move towards the door with all my senses on high alert, I feel a wave of anger. Lucy could have been here when whoever this is broke in... she could have been hurt. The thought fills me with rage, and I’m mad at myself too. As soon as she told me the Kinahan's were involved I should have considered the possibility that this wouldn’t stop at Adam being arrested...that Lucy could potentially be in danger. I’ve been out of the force too long.

  I don’t care how big and bad the gangsters in the Kinahan cartel think they are...if they go anywhere near Lucy, I will kill them with my bare hands.

  I move to the door and then in a sudden rush I kick open the door, holding the gun out in front of me.

  “Freeze and put your hands up!” I shout. There’s still a cop in me, after all.

  The guy rustling through the dresser at the side of the bed doesn’t freeze...instead he turns around slowly. But he does put his hands up, raising his arms so that his sweater pulls up and I can see the gun tucked into his pants.

  “Who the fuck are you?” I growl. He has a thick balaclava on, which tells me he didn’t come here to kill...Lucy couldn’t I.D. him if she was dead. I think I see fear flash in his eyes, but he’s so well covered by the balaclava, leaving only slits for his eyes, that it’s hard to see.

  He’s wearing black gloves too.

  “What are you looking for?” I ask. The man doesn’t answer. I see his hand twitch at his side and know that he’s thinking about going for his gun.

  “Don’t bother,” I tell him. “I’ll blow your brains out before you get it out. What are you doing here, and who sent you?”

  The man doesn’t speak but I can tell he’s becoming nervous. If he doesn’t hurry up and give me some answers, I’m going to shoot him in the leg. That should motivate him. I wouldn’t usually be so bloodthirsty, but this is personal. Adam, for all our estrangement, is my friend, and Lucy...I don’t know what Lucy is.

  Suddenly I hear a loud scream from outside. Lucy.

  I turn and run out of the room and down the stairs without even thinking about the fact that Balaclava Guy could easily shoot me in the back. All I can think about is getting to Lucy before something happens to her.

  I run outside with my gun in front of me, ready to shoot anyone I need to. My eyes go straight to my car...where I see Lucy sitting in the front seat right where I left her, looking at me in surprise.

  Then I hear the scream again and whip round to see an elderly lady on the next doorstep, looking terrified...as a rat runs past her and across the lawn, a black shape against the porch light. Then she spots me...and my gun...and opens her mouth to scream again. I turn and run back into the house, just in time to see the guy in the balaclava running through the kitchen towards the open back door.

  “Fuck,” I shout and chase after him, but he’s already out of the door and throwing himself over the garden fence. I shoot, but I’m not shooting to kill and my shot just misses him before I disappear towards the fence. In a flash I debate whether to go over the fence after him or go back to Lucy...what if he runs round the front and sees her and I’ve wasted precious time? Cursing the old lady and her unwanted intruder I turn back and run through the house again and out to the car, where Lucy is still sitting, looking thoroughly confused.

  “Fuck,” I say again, under my breath this time. The intruder will be long gone now. I keep my gun down at my side and go over to the car. The old lady has thankfully gone back inside, but I wonder if she will call the police. They’re the last people I want involved right now...at least until I know what is going on here.

  I open the door and lean down to a bemused looking Lucy. “There was a guy in there going through what I assume was Adam’s things,” I tell her and watch as the color drains out of her face. “I heard your neighbor scream and thought it was you...he got away.”

  Lucy shudders. “What did he want?”

  “I didn’t get the chance to find out. Stay there...I’m going to go and pacify your neighbor before she causes even more trouble.”

  I knock on the old lady’s door, shouting “Police!” in a firm voice and hoping she doesn’t ask to see a cop’s badge. The door cracks open on the chain and I see a sliver of her face.

  “Are you here about the rat? Three times I’ve told the local pest control that I’ve spotted rats around here...now there’s one in my house! Terrified me, it did.”

  “I heard,” I say, trying to keep my patience. “No, I’m not here about your rats. I was called out to investigate an intruder next door. Did you see or hear anything?”

  She sniffs disdainfully.

  “Me? No dear. I’ve been dealing with this terrible state of affairs, as you can see. It’ll be roaches next! And in a nice neighborhood like this one too.”

  I’m not sure if the last phrase refers to the intruder or her pest control problems, but I’m past caring. I bid her night day and go back to the car, where Lucy looks like she’s trying not to laugh.

  “This isn’t funny. There was a guy with a balaclava and a gun in your house.”

  Lucy looks pale but still giggles. I suspect she is in more than a little shock.

  I accompany her into the house, going first to make sure there is no one else in there. Upstairs she purses her lips as we go into her father’s room and she sees the pile of shirts the guy upended out of the drawer. I can tell she’s trying not to cry again and her distress tugs at me.

  She goes quickly through the drawer, shaking her head.

  “I don’t think there’s anything missing...but I wouldn’t really know what he kept in here. But there was no lock, so I doubt there would have been anything but shirts. Do you think he was just looking for cash?”

  “Like just an opportunistic burglary? It’s certainly possible,” I say, “But given what has happened with your father it’s probably safest to assume the worst. Go and pack a bag...you can stay at mine tonight. Well, what’s left of it.”

  She hesitates, looking surprised. Then she raises an eyebrow at me. I have to admire her...even in the midst of all this she doesn’t lose sight of her goal.

  “So, you will help?”

  I shake my head. “I didn’t say that,” I protest but I know I've already made up my mind.

  “You’re kind of wrapped up in it now,” she points out. I hold a hand up in surrender.

  “Alright Lucy, I will help...if I can. But let’s talk about that tomorrow. Right now, I want to get you out of here unless that guy comes back.”

  She gives me a funny sort of look and goes to get her things together. I stand and wait for her, feeling a weight in my chest. I really don’t want to get involved in whatever is going down here, but I know that I no longer have any choice and haven’t had one since the moment she kissed me, if I’m completely honest with myself.

  Lucy gets her stuff and checks to make sure nothing else is missing. The lock on the back door hasn’t been forced, and she stares at it in confusion.

  “How would anyone get in?”

  “Did you leave it unlocked?” I ask gently.

  “I don’t think so? But I wasn’t really thinking straight...I was focusing on finding you.”

  I nod, thinking
it’s likely that she left it open and this was just a crime of opportunity...but I can’t be certain. It’s too much of a coincidence, and I don’t trust coincidences. Lucy locks up the house and we go back to the car. As I slip in beside her, I scan her face, noticing the tightness around her eyes.

  “You've had a lot of shocks today,” I say gently. She laughs, but it’s on a bitter note.

  “Yeah, I guess you could say that,” she says. I want to put my arms around her and tell her everything will be alright, but I don’t.

  We drive back to my house in silence.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Lucy

  I feel exhausted by the time we get back to Matt’s place, and although a million questions are tumbling around in my mind, I just don’t have the energy to talk it through. Matt shows me to a spare room at the back of his house which I’m relieved to see has an adjoining shower. A hot shower sounds great. Then I groan.

  “I forgot to bring pajamas,” I say. He looks amused and I glare at him. “What? Pajamas are comfortable. I don’t like to sleep naked...I get cold at night.”

  There’s a crackle of heat between us and his eyes meet mine as I have an explicit image of my being in bed with him and being very naked. Then he coughs and looks away.

  “I’ll get you something to wear.” He leaves and comes back with a white t-shirt that is probably skin tight on him but will look like a dress on me.

  “Thank you,” I say. He looks almost embarrassed.

  “Get some sleep,” he says gruffly. “If you need anything, I will be just down the end of the hall. We’ll talk about your father in the morning.”

  I nod and watch him go, wishing he would stay but not knowing how to ask him too. He has obviously felt bad about the kiss ever since he found out who I am....which is to be expected I suppose, even if it is exquisitely frustrating for me. At least he’s agreed to help, which is something. I just hope Dad is right and there’s something that Matt can do.

  As I get a shower and changed for bed, I try not to dwell too much on the break-in. It could be nothing...just a thief who saw the back door open.

  Who just happened to have a balaclava and gun on him?

  Besides which I am all but certain that I locked that door. But...that would mean the guy had a key? The thought is too horrifying to contemplate and I try not to think about it. I'm so tired and I desperately need a good night's sleep so that I can look at this with a fresh mind.

  Except as soon as I lie down and pull the blankets over me, I’m wide awake and my head is racing. I’m worried about my dad, spending the night in the county jail, and about just what he’s involved in....and I’m also acutely aware of Matt just a few feet down the hall from me and lying in his own bed.

  I wonder if he sleeps naked...

  I lie there in the gloom staring at the ceiling, when a noise outside makes me jump. It’s just a car alarm, but my heart leaps into my throat and starts racing. Today has unsettled me badly. I wish Matt was here with me, and not even necessarily in a sexual way. There is something about his size and the manliness of him that makes me feel instinctively safe.

  Well, he did say to go to his room if I need anything...

  I barely know what the hell I'm doing as I get out of bed and walk out of the room, but I do it anyway, walking down the hall to his bedroom.

  Then I take a deep breath and knock softly.

  He opens the door in just a pair of tight boxer shorts and nothing else, and the tears dry on my face as I take in the sight of his half-naked body. My face is just inches from a tanned, toned chest with a smattering of fine dark hair that trails down to chisel cut, sculpted abs. I have to tear my eyes away from the very obvious bulge in his shorts.

  “I... I'm sorry...” I stammer. “I just...”

  “Is everything all right?” His eyes are soft and I have an overwhelming urge to throw myself into his arms with a weird mixture of craving both the safety of his arms and the heat of other parts of his body.

  “I can’t sleep...I think I’m in some kind of shock.”

  “I’m not surprised...it’s been a nasty kinda day for you. Come in... if you want to? Not like that,” he says quickly and I’m both touched and disappointed by his attempt to be a gentleman.

  I step inside his room and shut the door behind me. My heart is hammering in my chest as I watch him walk across to the other side of his bed and sit in an easy chair. The view of him from the behind is as gorgeous as the one from the front...his tight, firm ass, rock hard thighs and broad shoulders make my mouth water.

  He sits down, facing me, and nods at the bed.

  “Take a seat,” he says, “I’m not going to jump on you, don’t worry.”

  I sit down on his large bed with the black cotton sheets and look at him, drinking him in the sight of him.

  “What if I want you to?” I think and then gasp as I realize I’ve spoken out loud. I feel my cheeks flood with heat, but I don’t drop my gaze. The fear and craziness of the day has made me bold.

  His eyes go wide, shocked, then narrow and darken and I can see the lust in them as he briefly sweeps them over my body. I’m wearing the t-shirt he gave me, a white lace thong and nothing else. Of course, he can’t see the thong, but I’m acutely aware of how little I have on. And the sudden heat in his eyes makes me feel as though I’m sitting here in skimpy lingerie rather than an oversized men's t-shirt.

  “Then I would say,” he answers me, his voice deeper than before, “that I completely understand – and share – that sentiment.”

  I wait for him to say more...to give voice to the atmosphere that is now crackling between us, but he doesn’t.

  “But you’re not going to?”

  He shakes his head.

  “No. You’ve just had a big shock, and have been crying. I don’t take advantage of vulnerable women. Also, you’re young enough to be my daughter. In fact, you’re my friend’s daughter.” He winces on the last bit, and I know that’s the part that’s really bothering him.

  “I was pretty vulnerable when I was handcuffed to your fence,” I point out. “And you could see my age than...and you haven’t spoken to my father in ten years.”

  “Even so,” he says, but he hesitates, as though he’s thinking about it. I notice that I’m holding my breath. I want him to kiss me so badly...and as I stare at him, I can see the mixture of emotions in his eyes and I can tell he’s struggling with whatever principles he is trying to uphold.

  He isn’t going to come to me, I can see that, and a stubborn part of me doesn’t want to go to him...after all, it was me who kissed him first earlier. For a girl with so little experience I’m suddenly acting like the town strumpet...the funny thing is I kinda like it.

  Watching his Adam’s apple bob in his throat even as he fights to keep his face impassive, I get up and walk towards him. My nipples are stiff through the thin cotton of his t-shirt and I see him notice. Watching him obviously struggling for control makes me feel almost powerful...just who is taking advantage of who, I wonder in amusement.

  I stop just inches in front of him and slowly, wantonly, pull the t-shirt over my head and then let it drop to the floor so that I’m standing in front of him in just a thong. His eyes travel over my body and I can see the desire in them and it makes me feel sexy as hell.

  I lean towards him so my breasts are brushing against my chest and my lips are just millimeters from his. He is as stiff as a board, not pushing me away but not responding, either. Yet I can see that the bulge in his shorts, which was already impressive, has grown much bigger.

  “I don’t want to take advantage of your vulnerability,” I whisper. “I mean, you’ve had a crazy sort of day.”

  His mouth tilts then and he barks out a laugh that makes his eyes twinkle and a dimple appear near the corner of his mouth. I laugh too, giggling at my own daring, and the tension is broken to be replaced by something more intimate and yet comfortable. He pulls me onto his lap and kisses me and there is no hesitation there at all n
ow, as his tongue probes my mouth again and his hands go straight to my breasts. He kneads the soft flesh, rolling my nipples between his fingers until I whimper and lust curls low down in my belly. He trails one hand down my stomach and rests it lightly in between my legs where my panties are damp. I push myself against him, wanting to feel his hands on me, and he groans loudly into my mouth and buries his other hand in my hair, kissing me with a hunger that leaves me reeling.

  He stands up in one sudden movement and picks me up so that my legs are wrapped around his waist and carries me over to the bed, his mouth now on my neck, kissing and sucking. He is so hard against me that I’m amazed he hasn’t ripped through his shorts.

  He pushes me back on the bed and eases my legs apart, and I get a quick dose of reality.

  He doesn’t know I’m a virgin. I need to tell him.

  He sees the hesitation on my face and immediately steps back, looking mortified.

  “Don’t,” I say quickly, “it’s not you...or the situation.”

  He doesn’t say anything and I take a deep breath.

  “I’m a virgin.”

  His eyebrows shoot up to his forehead.

  “You're a what?”

  “A virgin,” I repeat, feeling faintly annoyed now. “I haven’t announced that I’m a unicorn or something.”

  He grins at that and sits down on the bed next to me...keeping his hands very much to himself. Why didn’t I just keep my mouth shut?

  “You’re nearly as rare. A twenty-year-old virgin in this town, as hot as you are? Have your boyfriends all taken a chastity pledge?”

  “I’ve never had a boyfriend,” I say. When he looks shocked again, I shrug. “I’ve just never liked a guy enough...until now.”

  I cringe at his next words. “I’m flattered,” he says, “but...” I hold my hand up to cut him off.

  “Don’t do that,” I say. “Don’t patronize me. I’m a virgin, not a child. And you want it as much as I do,” I say boldly, a challenge in my voice. “Don’t you?”

  He looks surprised at my attitude, but he nods.

  “Yes. In fact, Lucy, I want you more than I have ever wanted a woman in my life. And you have no idea how much I want to be your first...and only.”