Love Can Be Murder

videotape.
    He was already dressed, and he refused to make eye contact. "It's amateur quality. Deke with...two women. Bondage type stuff, soft core. Can't see the women's faces and there's no sound, so it doesn't help us. If we turn it over to the police, we'll have to explain how we got it." He finally lifted his gaze. "But you can decide."
    She nodded, surprised that the information didn't hurt her. Maybe she was numb; maybe she was shutting down, preparing herself, as Gloria had said.
    But then she looked at B.J. and realized that no, she wasn't numb, not by a long shot.
    Penny cleared her throat of emotion. "Gloria told me I'll probably be arrested today."
    His lack of reaction told her that he already knew. Maybe his brother still had contacts at the New Orleans P.D. "I'm sorry," he said, then lifted his gaze to hers. "I thought I'd be able to uncover something that would keep you from having to endure an arrest."
    She feigned nonchalance. "Now I understand how people can be convicted on circumstantial evidence."
    He reached her in two strides, his face stricken. "Don't say that—don't even think it. Gloria will help you find a good attorney. You can offer to take a polygraph test."
    Penny pressed her lips together. "But I wasn't truthful about where I grew up or my family history, and the incident of me pushing Sheena into the street is bound to come out. Plus..." She stopped, her eyes welling up.
    His eyes darkened with concern. "Plus what?"
    "Plus...maybe on some subconscious level, I did want something terrible to happen to Deke." She bit into her lower lip to stop it from trembling.
    He raised his finger to her mouth. "Shh. You wouldn't be normal if you didn't have thoughts of revenge against someone who lied to you, who betrayed you." He wet his lips. "Especially when that person was supposed to be someone you trusted most."
    She swallowed as tears rolled down her cheeks. "My husband."
    He nodded.
    "And my mother."
    He pulled her into his arms and she went, crying softly against the solid warmth of his chest. He held her tight and rubbed her back, kissing her hair. "It'll be okay," he murmured. "You'll get through this. You're a strong woman."
    At his words, she closed her eyes tightly. You'll get through this. You , as in by yourself. She chided herself for wanting him to care enough to stick around—they barely knew each other, and he had other commitments, commitments that were less sticky. She inhaled deeply, savoring the musky maleness of him a few seconds longer, then pulled away with a nod and a sniff.
    "You're right," she said, trying to sound upbeat. "Of course I will. And I appreciate all of your help."
    "My pleasure, Red." He smoothed her hair back from her face. "You know the investigation will go on, even after an arrest is made. The police still have a lot of leads to follow—Sheena, Steve, your friend from Atlanta."
    The police—meaning he was definitely moving on. "Right." She angled a jaunty little smile up at him. "I assume you'll be sending me an invoice for your time when you get back to the city?"
    He dropped his hand, then nodded. "Sure, if that's what you want."
    "I think that would be best," she said, and they both knew she was referring to more than just his billing process.
    "I'll probably be in town through the rest of the day," he said. "Walking around the festival, asking questions."
    She smiled cheerfully. "Great. So maybe I'll see you around."
    He lowered his mouth to hers for a sweet, sexy, sizzling good-bye kiss that resurrected every twinge and tingle from their night of lovemaking. When he lifted his head, he said, "Yeah. Maybe I'll see you around."
    He left, and Penny stood at the window, hugging herself and watching him walk away. Then she went to the kitchen to count out her vitamins.

Chapter Twenty-eight

    Make sure you have a stomach for it...

    WHEN PENNY ARRIVED AT THE STORE, she felt remarkably calm. In a way, she was looking forward to the arrest, like coming up for air after being underwater so long your lungs hurt. If B.J. had uncovered her past, it would be only a matter of time before the police found out...or maybe they already knew. Maybe Maynard had been able to tell the minute he'd seen her. She always felt as if she wore the shame of her family on her sleeve.
    She wondered how they would take her in—with much fanfare and television coverage, or would they put a brown paper bag over her head? Wouldn't it be ironic if she wound up in the same prison