Sex, Lies & Bourbon (Sex and Lies Book 5) Read online

  Running her hands along my shoulders, she immediately went to work on my tie, sliding it from the knot in one liquid motion.

  I wanted to drop the black dress from her body, but she stopped me. Tugging my shirt from inside my pants, she began to unbutton me from the neck down. I savored the slow and painful pace, drinking it in like parched ground meeting the rain.

  When she finally put her hands on my belt buckle, I dropped my head back, reveling in the feeling of her hands on my bare skin. “Please God, don’t stop. You don’t know how many nights I’ve dreamed of you—and this.”

  She laughed soft and low—spurring my need even more.

  Unbuckling me, she made quick work of the top slide and zipper, undoing my pants and my self control all at the same time.

  When they dropped to the floor, I slipped my feet from my shoes and socks, now standing only in my black boxer briefs—my flesh firm and on display.

  “My turn,” I whispered in her ear before giving it a kiss.

  Slowly sliding the tight black dress over her shoulders, I exposed the honey soft breasts I’d missed terribly. Cupping her in my hand, I suckled the warm flesh of her delicate point.

  Again she moaned in surrender and I wanted her wholly, completely.

  Pushing the dress to the floor, I hooked my fingers inside the black lace panties that were the only thing keeping me from the love of my life.

  She stepped out of the mound of clothes I’d created at her feet, leaving her high heels behind.

  Picking her up in my arms, I carried her soft, naked body to my bed, laying her head on the pillow. When she stroked my lips with her fingertips, I caught them in my mouth.

  She reached for my boxers, sliding them over my full, throbbing erection, finally freeing me from everything, and our need from anything standing between us.

  Laying my body on hers, my erection pressed into her taut stomach and I moved my lips down her neck, teasing her as I’d fantasized doing so many nights.

  Parting her legs with my own, a whimper escaped her mouth. I wanted her, I needed her.

  She ran her hands through my hair and wicked waves of pleasure washed over me. I was going to have to slow down. I’d waited a year to be with the woman I loved. I didn’t want it to be over too soon.

  Her body burned under my touch, each caress leaving a mark of lustful greed as I squeezed her in my hands.

  “Yes,” Ginny moaned, her heavy-lidded gaze stoking the fierce hunger inside me. What little control remain was shredded with each tiny moan she emitted.

  “You can’t imagine how many days, how many nights, I thought of nothing but you,” I confessed.

  Taking my face in her hands, she stared at me—she saw through me the way no woman ever had—the way no woman ever could. “What are you saying?” she asked in a whisper.

  “I loved you before you were born and I’ll love you until you take your last breath. I loved you then and I love you now. You are my beginning, my end—you’re my everything, Ginny.”

  Closing the gap between us, she kissed me and for the first time since I’d said goodbye to her, I felt like a man—a whole man.

  Wrapping her legs around me, I moved into her in a slow and restless sway.

  “Win.” She gasped, pulling her sweet lips from mine.

  “I haven’t forgotten,” I confessed. Leaning over her, I prayed there was a condom in the night stand left over from our last visit. There was one. I needed to make it count.

  Tearing the foil wrapper with my teeth, I slid it on my aching shaft and leaned in for another drugging kiss.

  “Win,” she said, holding me at the hips.

  “Be mine forever?”

  Threading her fingers with mine, I pinned her arms above her head as I kissed my way down her body, pressing against her until our wanting became a reality.

  Her gasp nearly sent me over the edge right from the start and I paused to lie still within her, absorbing her very essence into my cells.

  As she moved against me, in a rhythmic swaying motion, I rocked into her body, delving deeper with each measured stroke. “I dream about this. I only dream of you…and this.”

  “Win,” she moaned my name and I pressed my forehead to hers. I wanted to take it all in. I wanted to revel in every second. She was actually in my arms, I needed to stop—I needed to know it wasn’t a dream.

  “Everything okay?” she asked.

  “Everything’s perfect.”

  And it was.

  18

  GINNY

  Lying in bed, I watched the sun peek over the horizon from Win’s room. He stirred and a blond curl fell to his forehead. He looked like a child, a man-child, sleeping soundly and blissfully unaware of the crazy world around him. I stared at him, wondering what the future would hold for us. I fully consented to last night, believing him when he said he wanted us to be together forever—but worried in the light of day, the old Win would resurface.

  I shook it off, trying to bask in the afterglow of the magical night instead of analyzing it for its faults.

  Tracing my fingers along his naked body, I didn’t want to wake him, and yet as I lay so close, I couldn’t keep myself from touching him. I knew eventually he would wake saying his usual line, hey beautiful—good morning. I could only imagine the number of women he’d said it to. I told myself it was something I would have to learn to deal with if I wanted to be in a relationship with him. I’d have to forgive and forget.

  “You’re awake.” His voice was raspy and low. He blinked several times trying to focus his eyes.

  “I am,” I whispered in reply.

  Sitting up, I leaned over him, my long hair cascading between us.

  “Mmmm,” he moaned with a smile.

  Reaching, he pushed my hair away from my face only to stroke my cheek.

  “You know what?” he asked.

  “What?” I waited for him to remark on the voracity of our love making last night. Anticipating the run on sentence about how hot the night had been I paused, preparing myself for his usual comments.

  “You’re my everything. You’re my whole world.”

  It wasn’t what I expected. “I am?” I nestled inside his strong arms, remembering Cee Cee’s words.

  “You are. I want this, Ginny. Me and you—forever and ever—amen.”

  I nodded, kissing his chest. Running my fingers delicately down his torso to his bare hip, I could feel him flinch under my touch.

  “Don’t start something you know we don’t have a condom to finish.”

  “What?” I asked with a giggle. “Can’t I touch you without it being sexual?”

  Turning on his side, he propped himself up on his elbow. “No, you can’t. You have to understand, everything you do is sexy to me. The way you walk, the way you talk, the way you sip your tea leaving a faint lipstick mark on the glass, even the way you carry your gun is hot. Honestly, I can barely think when I’m around you. How does that make you feel?”

  I giggled. “Powerful?”

  “It oughtta.”

  I could hear one of our phones buzzing in the pile of clothes we’d left on the floor in a fury of hot, wet kisses and uncontrollable groping. “Mine or yours?” I asked flipping my hair.

  “Has to be yours. I have my ringer on.”

  “Shoot,” I moaned, jumping from the bed stealing the top cover all in one motion. Digging around in my purse I found it.

  “Grace,” I answered out of breath and juggling a handful of blanket.

  Win sat up in the bed—his hair tousled and sexy—giving me a smile and one raised eyebrow. “Drop the blanket baby. I’m awake and ready for a show.”

  I listened for whomever was on the other end, waving off Win’s remarks, silently begging him to be quiet. “I’m sorry, who is this?”

  “Grace, it’s Knotts. We need to talk. Are you alone?”

  I looked back to Win as he punched the pillow next to him, lying back down.

  “Call you back in five?” I asked, bringing
my voice down and frantically looking for my panties.

  “Sure.”

  I hung up and rushed to the bed. Leaning in, I gave Win a peck on the lips. “I need to go before someone finds me in here.”

  “Like who?” he asked, not even opening his eyes. “Who is going to care you’re in here?”

  “I don’t know. But I’m going back to my own room to shower. I have a meeting with the Louisville boys.”

  Suddenly I had his full attention. “Did they find something?”

  “No. But I’ve gotta go. Thank you for…”

  “For what?”

  “For last night.”

  Win grabbed my hand, pulling me back toward the bed. “That’s just the beginning of a long and beautiful—” he paused, looking up at me.

  “What?”

  “A long and beautiful life together.”

  I smiled, captivated by his charm for a moment and forgetting I needed to go. Kissing him one more time, I pulled away, our threaded fingers releasing as I went.

  “Ginny?”

  “Yeah?” I said, picking up my my purse, shoes and dress, all while managing the huge blanket around my body.

  “Leave the blanket, take my robe. It’s on the back of the bathroom door.”

  I bobbled my head and rolled my eyes. “Okay,” I sighed, dropping everything including the blanket to the floor to stroll buck naked to the bathroom.

  “Nice,” he remarked as I walked past him.

  In and out without delay, I wrapped the white silk robe with Win’s initials emblazoned on the left side. It was an identical match to the one his father was found dead in—with the exception of the monogram.

  Gathering my things from the floor once more, I turned the handle on the door to leave.

  “Ginny?”

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t forget I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  I showered with lightning speed and dressed in jeans and a white t-shirt, throwing my black blazer over my shoulders. Finally sitting at the desk, I dialed Knotts. I was already five minutes later than I’d promised.

  “Knotts,” he answered.

  “It’s Grace. What’s up?”

  “We need to talk. Do you think you could meet me in town somewhere?”

  “Sure.” The moment I said the word, the hair on the back of my neck stood at attention. I knew something wasn’t right. “Where?”

  “There’s a general store and diner just down the road from the distillery. A little mom and pop place called Dewey Station.”

  “Okay.”

  “I left you a sedan on the property last night. You’ll find it outside—keys are above the visor.”

  “The sun visor? Seriously?” I asked.

  “This isn’t New York City, Agent Grace. See you soon.”

  I opened my computer to log on. My hunch was nothing had been added to the central data base about the murder. All the evidence was in our hands and no one had written their final report—not yet.

  When Knotts said, New York City, I realized I needed to check in with Powell. Now that the funeral was over, I hoped it would be easier for me to do my job.

  Walking out the door without saying goodbye to anyone, I tossed my messenger bag over my shoulder and hurried in measured strides to the sedan on the corner of the large circular drive.

  “Hey!”

  The voice was coming from behind me. It was Win, hanging out of the second story window. “Where are you going?”

  Putting on my shades, I still needed to shield my eyes from the blinding sun with my hand. “I have to run into town. Meeting the Louisville boys at Dewey Station.”

  “Wait,” he said. “I want to come.”

  I shook my head. “If it’s something you need to be a part of, I’ll call you and you can hurry over.”

  He paused and I blew him a kiss, hoping to get away without further explanation.

  “Call me. No matter what.”

  I nodded, pulling my head into the car. The keys were as Knotts said, above the visor, and I found myself nearly squealing the tires as I rushed up the lane to the main road. I didn’t know much about Valley Springs but there wasn’t much to know. One turn left at the end of the rural highway that was home to the distillery and I would eventually see the signs for Main Street.

  Pulling the phone from my back pocket, I tried to call Powell and got nothing but a rapid busy signal—no service “Dammit,” I said aloud, knowing I would have a weak signal at best until I made it closer to town.

  Alone for the first time in nearly seventy-two hours, I replayed all that had transpired, hoping for some perspective. My personal life with Win was finally everything I’d longed for in the past year, but my professional life was floundering. I was no closer to solving his dad’s murder than when I arrived. It was time to dig deeper into the Potenza family and their intentions. If they’d been talking to Winter Bourbon, who was their contact? My gut told me I was missing something and I wondered if my dad had the same feeling twenty-three years ago.

  With no DNA evidence and not a single clue, Robert’s murder could go unsolved, just as his wife’s had. If Win and I were to stay together, I didn’t know if I could live with all of that hanging over my head. My father wasn’t able to make sense of the case, and now neither was I.

  I saw the sign for town and took a right, finding the traffic was picking up, and by the grace of God, so was my cell signal.

  “Powell.”

  “It’s Grace, sir.”

  “About damn time. I tried to call you yesterday but you never picked up. Now I know it’s a lot to handle down there—following Agent Holloway and all, but you can’t go off grid like that.”

  “Yes sir. I’m meeting with the guys from Louisville now, sir. What’s the word from New York?”

  “No word. It’s been quiet since the murder. But you know how the Potenzas operate.”

  “Yes sir. Like a thief in the night.”

  “Exactly.”

  I parked the car on the street as soon as I saw the hanging wooden placard outside the diner. “I’ll check in later today.”

  “Good enough,” Powell said hanging up without a goodbye.

  Turning off the ignition, I took the keys with me. I didn’t care it wasn’t New York City, I’d be damned if I was going to let someone steal my car.

  The door chimed as I entered and I immediately removed my sunglasses to look for Knotts. He saw me first, waving me down like he was landing a plane.

  “Where’s Allen?” I asked, sliding into my side of the back corner booth.

  “Not here,” he said with zero emotion before taking another sip from his mug.

  “Coffee darlin’?” the waitress asked.

  “No thank you. Just some water and maybe a hot cup of tea?”

  “You got it,” she said, chewing her gum like it was trying to escape. “Y’all gonna order some breakfast?”

  “Sure,” Knotts replied. “I’ll do the Barnyard Strangler.”

  “Eggs?” she asked him.

  “Over easy.”

  “Biscuits?”

  “Yes,” he replied.

  “What about you, honey?”

  “No, thank you. I’m fine.”

  She shrugged, letting me know she didn’t care and walked away.

  I cased the place on autopilot. “Why isn’t Allen here?”

  “I didn’t invite him. Listen, we have a problem.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You’re not gonna like it. And if you can’t deal with it, then you need to excuse yourself from the case and let me or someone else handle it.”

  “What are you talking about, Knotts? What problem?”

  “We put a tail on Page and Lee. So far nothing but Page buying a big diamond ring.”

  “Okay.”

  “But we also put a tail on Piper Presley.”

  “I didn’t ask you to.”

  Knotts took a deep breath and wheezed through his smoker’s co
ugh as he pulled a sealed manila envelope from the seat beside him and slid it across the table.

  “There are some pretty steamy photos in there.”

  “Of?” I asked, trying to remain calm and professional.

  “Piper Presley and Win Holloway.”

  I stared at the envelope. I had no intention of opening it in the coffee shop. I looked back to Knotts keeping a stiff upper lip. “What else?”

  “Have you questioned Win about where he was the night of the murder?”

  “He was in New York.”

  “When? The morning after?”

  I paused for a moment. I honestly didn’t know where Win had been the night of the murders. I’d only assumed since he was in our offices the next morning making plans to go home, he’d only been in New York. I answered honestly. “Yes.”

  Knotts slid another paper across the table. “This is the manifest of Delta flight 2237 out of Lexington, Kentucky. A direct flight from Bluegrass Field to LaGuardia. It left at ten o’clock in the evening, arrived in New Jersey just before midnight.”

  “So?”

  “Winterbourne Holloway the Fourth, was a passenger on that flight.”

  I took the paper from his hand. There it was, seat 3A. I looked back to Knotts, the astonishment clearly showed on my face. “I don’t understand,” I said, now needing to see the photos inside the envelope.

  “If you take those out, Ginny,” Knotts said using my name for the first time since we’d met. “Be discreet. This is a small town. People will talk.”

  I nodded, opening the envelope against the wall and cracked vinyl of the booth seat. There in black and white was a naked Piper Presley straddling Win in an office chair. It was a series of photos shot in rapid succession—Win’s head tossed back in ecstasy as she kissed and licked her way to his mouth.

  “Dear Jesus,” I gasped.

  “Did he tell you he was in Kentucky the night of the murder?”

  I shook my head.

  “How do you know he was at Winter Haven?”

  “We have surveillance footage of him getting into a black limo with tags registered to the Winter Bourbon Corporation. It’s his usual driver.”

  “Telly,” I mumbled under my breath as I stared off into space in shock.