Love Under Two Detectives Read online

  Mary had let herself be talked into coming to this dance by Tracy and Ginny, two fun and funny women married to Kendall cousins. There was music and beer and food, and just a good time, they’d said. And while she’d never been a party person, she did like music and beer and food.

  She liked her Kendall cousins—especially the female ones. In fact, they were right up there with some of the reasons she’d given her folks for moving to Lusty. Along with the peace and the slow pace and the better writing environment.

  She had not, of course, told them the number one reason. She would not tell them about the crazed fan who’d broken into her apartment or the fact that he’d damn near succeeded in murdering her.

  Instead of her death, that attack had resulted in her knocking her attacker out cold—turned out the jerk had a glass jaw—and then he’d been arrested, charged, tried…and sent to a mental hospital. Probably, hopefully, for life. The result for her was she no longer felt safe in New York City. And when she’d thought of safety, she’d immediately thought of Lusty. So here she was.

  Mary pushed away all thought of that bastard. He did not belong here.

  “Come on, Blondie,” Peter, one of Tracy’s husbands came over and tugged on his wife’s hand. “Emily Ann is going to sing a Carrie Underwood set. Come dance with us.”

  Tracy looked at Mary, an unasked question in her eyes. Mary made a “shooing” motion. She was more than capable of being left alone at the table. And the upside was that home was less than a five-minute walk away. She’d been a New Yorker for a decade. Walking to get somewhere was second nature to her.

  Mary watched as Emily Anne Richardson—wearing a snazzy looking cowgirl hat—got up on the small stage. Her appearance brought cheers from the family.

  Mary recognized the intro and the music as the notes of the first song, Drinking Alone, filled the center. And then Emily Ann began to sing, capturing every ear, and every eye.

  “She’s got pipes.”

  Mary didn’t jump, but it was close. On either side of her, where the chairs had been empty, sat a cop. Having the two men she’d more or less been fantasizing about sit down on either side of her made her heart pound. She inhaled deeply and took in the combined scent of clean male animal times two.

  Their heat, their closeness, and the sexy, bluesy sound of the song worked together to melt her resolve and yes, her lady bits were completely awake.

  Then she met Anthony’s gaze and was left in no doubt about what he was thinking. She looked over at Toby—lying to herself she did so to escape Anthony’s heat—and fell into the obsidian depths of desire that man dared reveal to her.

  She didn’t recognize the sound that seeped from her throat, but they must have. Both men inhaled deeply. Then Anthony got to his feet and held out his hand. She took the offering but once she was standing, with both men so close she could swear she felt their heartbeats, she shook her head slowly. “I don’t dance very well.”

  “Even better.” Toby’s words brushed her ear. Then he took her right hand and began to walk away from the table, and the stage, and the rest of the people in attendance.

  She’d noticed the darker back corners of the hall but hadn’t given any thought to them at all. Not until she was surrounded by the darkness—able to see the light, the dancing, the crowds but somehow totally apart, like a picture-in-picture representation of life.

  “We’ve been eyeing each other for a couple of weeks, now.” Anthony Corbett’s words cut through her self-delusion. He spoke the absolute truth. She had been eyeing them, and lying to herself that she was intrigued, drawn…aroused.

  “It’s time to taste.” He tugged her slowly, giving her lots of time to turn away. But she didn’t want to turn away. Maybe this was for the best. They’d kiss, and then they’d all just head back to the table and enjoy the rest of the night. Together alone.

  That song is definitely getting to me.

  Even so, Mary stepped into him and lifted her face. Anthony’s grin had a touch of mischief in it. Then his grin covered hers and the ground beneath her feet simply fell away.

  Hot and wet, deep and dangerous, Anthony Corbett’s kiss drugged her, making her head spin and her heart race. His tongue breeched her lips and taught hers to dance, a sexy, wet, samba that swayed her soul and seduced her body. Mary drank him, and drowned in him, and wondered that everything she’d ever believed about herself simply melted away.

  Anthony lifted his head. His glittering gaze spoke of need and greed and the very real fact that she hadn’t been the only one overwhelmed by that kiss. Then he put his hands on her shoulders and turned her toward Toby.

  “Pucker up, New York.” That cheeky nick name he’d given her on the first day they’d met did nothing to deter the growing heat within her and when he took her mouth, when he plundered, Mary Kendall felt her bones begin to melt. For a heartbeat she tasted both men on her tongue, and the flavor was ambrosia…nectar of the gods.

  She returned his kiss, her tongue repeating the moves so recently learned. Toby’s essence became her own, as Anthony’s had, and she gave and gave until she wondered if she would ever have anything of herself left.

  Toby ended their kiss. Both men were shaking, as she was shaking…and in that moment she knew she needed air. Air, and space.

  “I have to…”

  “Go now, if you must,” Anthony said. “But your leaving won’t end it.”

  “Unless you want to.” Toby caressed her chin with a finger. “So…. the next time you see us, think of that. You can say no…. or you can let us in.”

  Mary Kendall didn’t look back. She didn’t even let herself think. She swooped past the table where she’d been sitting to grab her purse, and then she walked. Through the door of the community center and down the street…and she didn’t stop until she closed the door of her little house behind her.

  * * * *

  There was nothing in the entire world that Kate Benedict loved more than being surrounded by her family. She especially loved being around the babies. And on this first Sunday afternoon in February of 2020, there were quite a few babies waiting to be snuggled!

  “I’m so glad you all could come!” She knew her grin was wide, not just because she could feel it but because the moms and dads and babies were all smiling right back at her. I’m good at compartmentalizing. Kate was taking this afternoon—perhaps selfishly—for family. She was taking it for love and smiles and snuggles. And the sweet scent of babies.

  “Grandma Kate, there’s nothing that would make any of us turn down an invitation to visit.” Dr. Charlotta Benedict snuggled one of her six-week-old twins, Camilla Jean. Jesse was bouncing two-year-old Patrick on his knee, and Barry cradled Camilla’s twin sister, Joanna Veronica.

  “I just love coming here. I love this family of ours so much.” Penelope Benedict discreetly nursed her five-and-a-half-month-old son, Graham. Her daughter, Ellie, nearly eight now, was in the midst of a separate little “party” in the far corner of the great room. Surrounded by her cousins who were also of school age, she appeared to be having a good time. Of course, Kate’s son Caleb was with them, eager to get into whatever “playoff” of any video game those young ones cared to choose. Caleb was like a kid himself when it came to those grandchildren of his.

  Alex had accompanied his wife this morning while Josh had gone into Benedict Oil and Minerals to chair an emergency meeting. One of the tankers was floundering at sea and needed to be dealt with.

  Bernice and Abigail wheeled in a couple of carts with tea and coffee and an enormous number of cookies. They’d also included a big pitcher of milk, and not only for those older children playing with Grandpa Caleb. Some of Kate’s grown grandsons and granddaughters enjoyed dunking their cookies in that particular beverage as well.

  Kate let her gaze scan the room, taking a moment to look at each and every one of her family members present.

  They’re my real treasure. Kate knew that to be the Lord’s honest truth. The members of her family were
everything to her, and there wasn’t much she wouldn’t do to keep them safe.

  Laci Benedict sat happily with her daughter, Zoe Diane, right next to her best friend, Chloe Jessop and Chloe’s twins James and Adam. All three of those beautiful babies were just a year old and all of them healthy—a fact that Kate gave thanks for every single day.

  Kelsey, Matt, and Steven were sitting with their eleven-month-old twins, Caleb and Jonathan, while big sister, Amanda, was sitting with Ellie, watching the current video battle between her cousin and their grandfather.

  Iris Kendall, with one of her husbands, Richard, had brought their nearly one-year-old son, Blake Edward. Kate had invited Emily Ann Richardson, of course, as she considered the sweet girl and her husbands to be family. Mel had accompanied her and their daughter, Melissa Mae, who’d just celebrated that first birthday as well.

  Jacqui Kendall had brought her twins, James and Keith, and Holly Wilson-Moore, Jacqui’s aunt, was playing with her own sweet baby girl, Angelica, who would celebrate that one-year milestone next month. Also with Jacqui was her sister-in-law, Mary.

  Norm’s sister Mary Kendall had arrived the second week of January and moved right into the house that Samantha had set up for her. It pleased Kate that another of the New York contingent had decided to make Lusty home. She did worry about Mary some. And she wondered, as she watched the young woman playing with her nephews, when she was going to speak to her cousin Adam about one of the main reasons she’d chosen to come to Lusty.

  Sometimes it’s stressful waiting for these dear ones to do what needs to be done. And sometimes, Kate acknowledged to her inner voice, a body needed to mind their own.

  Sometimes, but if that young woman doesn’t spill things soon, we’ll do something about it. She and Samantha would make a final decision on that before long. In the meantime, they’d chat with Mary about the situation after this little party today.

  Kate turned her attention to another new mom. Ari Benedict easily handled her twin boys, Anthony and James, as if she’d been around babies all her life. Maggie’s little Katherine Abigail was sound asleep, and Kate didn’t think she’d ever seen anything more heart-stoppingly beautiful than the way mother and child seemed almost as one. Maggie’s love for her daughter was all over her. The family that she’d made with Kate’s grandsons Rick, Trevor, and Kevin filled Kate’s heart with pure joy.

  Rebecca and Carrie Benedict, sisters-in-law to each other, sat and watched as their two-year-old sons, Kyle and Donald, seemed thick as thieves, bonding over large plastic building blocks.

  Rebecca’s husbands, Greg and Cody, would be wheels up in another hour or so. The transport plane would have to refuel in London. Kate knew the schedule. If all went as it should, they’d be back in the area tomorrow afternoon. Put that worry away for now. All that could be done was being done. This was a situation that was very fluid. And certainly, something to discuss with the family tomorrow. But not today. Tomorrow was soon enough.

  Rebecca looked up and met Kate’s gaze. Her smile trembled then brightened. Of course, Kate had told the young woman about the situation and the plans made to date. Rebecca had agreed to keep that knowledge to herself until the meeting the next day.

  I am so proud of every one of my family.

  Today, Kate wanted to focus on the babies. In all, there were currently nineteen sweet wee souls under the age of three in the great room.

  I can almost feel this room smiling. The love held within these old walls was palpable.

  “Grandma Kate? Maybe you can help us. We’ve been mulling something over.” Charlotta looked over at her then scanned the room.

  Kate tilted her head. “I’ll do my best. How can I help?”

  “Well, we all love being parents,” Shar said.

  “And we’re all really glad that there’re at least two daddies to pitch in,” Chloe said.

  “But we were thinking about setting up a community daycare.” Ari Benedict looked around the room. “There are nineteen babies right here, right now. And we thought, if we all pitched in, we could organize something…. not so much to give us a break, but we’re all family. And we all want our children to grow up knowing that. We want our children to have no doubt at all that they are loved, that they belong, and that this town has their backs.”

  Nothing gave Kate quite the lift as when one of her loved ones showed such…evolution. When she compared the mistrustful and angry young woman Ari had been when she’d first stepped into town with the confident, loving woman before her now…. Why, it was all she could do not to cry happy tears right then and there! Considering Ari’s early teen years that had begun with a sexual assault by her new stepfather and ended with her living on the streets as a teen alone, family and security were very high priorities for this particular granddaughter. And she had come a long, long way.

  “That sounds like a lovely idea,” Kate said. “And yes, there are great benefits for children who learn to socialize at an early age and in a safe environment.”

  Kate recalled a conversation she’d had with a friend just last week, a single mother of three who’d moved to Lusty in the aftermath of her soldier-husband’s death several years ago. Jolene Langley was as much a part of Lusty as anyone born there. And what Jolene wanted more than anything was for her daughter to come home from college and find a job close by. Kate knew exactly what to do.

  “All we need to do is find a place to have this daycare,” Laci said. “And we thought you might have some ideas.”

  “I do indeed. Not only do I have a couple of ideas where we can house the daycare, but I happen to know someone who’s returning home to Lusty this very week after completing her courses in Austin. A young woman many of you know, who now holds a degree in early childhood education.”

  “Danielle Langley!” Shar grinned. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of her!”

  “Let’s all put our heads together and see what we can come up with, then. The Town Trust will, of course, fund this project. And with all of you pitching in, we should be able to make a very nice, safe, and happy place for our babies to grow and thrive.”

  “On behalf of the dads,” Jesse said, “we’ll want to be pitching in, too.” The sound of male assent rolled through the room.

  “And that,” Grandma Kate said, “will just make everything perfect!”

  * * * *

  “All settled into your house, sweetheart? I know I’ve said it, but it bears repeating. We’re all so delighted you’re here.”

  Mary Kendall, sister to Norm Kendall, sister-in-law to Jacqui and recent new resident of Lusty, Texas, looked over at Grandma Kate. It was a real mystery to her how the nonagenarian could continue to look so young and have so much energy.

  The last of the nineteen little ankle biters and their families that had been invited to tea had left just a few minutes earlier, and Mary was seriously considering heading to her small house for a nap. She’d never been around kids very much. Just enough to have formed the hypothesis that babies and toddlers sucked the energy from any adults in the room. She really felt as if she’d been sucked nearly dry.

  Of course, attending that dance the night before, the taut and teasing lip-locks with those two studyly cops and the resulting night of little sleep as she tried to argue herself out of wanting those men didn’t help.

  For the umpteenth time that morning she consigned Anthony Corbett and Toby Kendall to the deep, dark corners of her mind. Be gone you…delectable temptations.

  She’d hoped to spend a day immersed in a world of her own creation. But her sister-in-law, Jacqui, had invited her to join her for tea at the Big House, and she couldn’t say no to Jacqui. That woman appeared small, but the changes she’d wrought in her two favorite male New York Kendalls—brother Norm and cousin Will—had been truly miraculous.

  Mary brought her focus back to her hostess, who had asked her to remain behind for a few minutes so they could visit. Here’s someone else I can never say no to. Kate Benedict looked as fresh as a
woman just risen from a good night’s sleep. Wonder if I can solve that mystery? Mary mentally sighed and pushed the thought away.

  That wasn’t the sort of mystery she excelled at, in any event.

  “Yes, ma’am. The house Aunt Samantha got for me is perfect. It’s like a dollhouse, actually. I’ve walked all around this town. and I haven’t seen another one quite like it.”

  “That is a unique house in Lusty. It was originally built for Sara Benedict, my sister-in-law. Sara never married, and during the Second World War, she moved to Washington, D.C. and worked at the War Department—later called the Department of the Army. She retired and came home to Lusty and spent the remainder of her days writing and gardening and devoting herself to being everyone’s favorite aunt. Sometime after she passed, a family of Parkers moved into that house, until they eventually left Lusty. The most recent occupant to call your house home was Carol Ashwood, now Carol Jessop.”

  Mary felt her eyes widen. “She’s married to Warren and Edward—and is about to have her first baby!”

  Grandma Kate laughed. “It’s all right, sweetheart. That particular condition is not contagious. You’re safe.”

  Mary felt her cheeks heat. “I didn’t think anyone noticed I was…um…not exactly in my milieu earlier, with all those babies here.”

  Grandma Kate leaned in closer. “I don’t think anyone else noticed that little thing.”

  From where she was sitting in the great room with Grandma Kate, Mary heard the front door open and then close.

  Moments later, Samantha Kendall came into the room. “Sorry I’m late.”

  As always, Mary took the time to just…be in awe of the statuesque redhead. To her, Aunt Samantha was the embodiment of grace, poise, and what she liked to call “kickassness.”

  Then Samantha’s words hit home. She met her aunt’s gaze and could have sworn she heard the metallic clunk of a metaphorical trap slamming shut.

  “You’re not late, my dear,” Grandma Kate said. “Come make yourself comfortable. Hot tea is on its way.”