"Dad, what's going on?" Emily came poking around the side gate where her father stood, rocking on his heels and watching while a truck backed up in his driveway.
"What d'ya mean?"
She narrowed her eyes. "What are you having delivered?"
Two burly guys were now jumping out of the truck, crossing to the tailgate and rolling up the back door.
"Hot tub."
"What?"
"Hot tub. You know, Jacuzzi, whirlpool, sauna…"
"Yeah dad, I get it." They stood side by side in heavy coats and watched both men expertly handle the tub, Cal looking pleased, Emily appearing to doubt her father's sanity.
"Dad?"
"Yeah, luv?"
"Did you fall on your head or something?"
Cal turned and looked at her, one eyebrow raised.
"It's December."
"Your point?"
"Why are you getting a hot tub in December?"
"It was on sale." He turned to her, eyes sparkling. "Besides, you ever see photos of Japanese Macaques? Or read about people going in the hot springs in the dead of winter in Iceland?"
"You're now officially worrying me. I'm thinking oxygen deprivation of some kind now."
"You're hilarious."
She just looked at him, both eyebrows raised.
Cal pushed through the gate to direct the deliverymen toward his covered back patio. Emily trailed behind them, keeping clear of the dollies, intrigued but wary.
"Um, you guys set up a lot of these…things at this time of the year?"
The cute dark haired one smiled at her over his shoulder. "You'd be surprised."
"So, my dad's not crazy?"
"Oi!" Cal frowned at her from the patio.
"Nah, he's okay. These things are awesome in the winter."
Emily thought about it for a moment, liking the idea now that she'd determined her father hadn't gone mental. She stepped up next to him and leaned against his shoulder. "One more thing dad."
"Yeah, luv?"
"Why did you wait until I've gone off to college before buying one?"
Cal stared at her for a moment before a slow smile lit his features. "Gives you a good reason to come home, yeah?"
(BREAK)
Cal didn't arrive at the Lightman Group until close to 11:00. Managing to dodge his employees, he made a direct line to Gillian's office, slipped inside and quietly shut the door.
"You're looking very satisfied with yourself." She didn't look up but he could hear the smile around the words, giving him the green light.
She held her breath when she heard him step up behind her and place his hands on her shoulders, kneading gently. "Why so tense?" His lips lowered against her ear sending an unconscious tremor through her body.
"A couple of cases are…uhhhhh…."
He'd placed a few tender kisses just behind her ear as his two-day growth of beard tickled her neck. "You were sayin'…?"
"One concerns the new police commissioner…uhhhh…stop that!" She jerked upward and whirled to meet his amused grin. "Is there something that you needed this morning?"
He made no move to pull away as he pinned her with his eyes. "Just came back from my check up."
Heart pounding in her ears, she struggled to keep her face neutral. "Is everything okay?"
"Mmhm." Leaning forward, he gave her a light peck. "All restrictions have been lifted." Another brush of the lips. "Just need to resist the urge to be a dumbass."
"Are you up to the challenge?" Another kiss to the neck had her eyelids drooping slightly before popping open.
"Oh, I think so. Stakes are pretty high." He gave her neck a nibble as her heart continued to race. "We'll be able to kick up our workouts."
"Do you think you'll be able to keep up with me now?" She unthinkingly moved her head to the side to give him more room.
"Part of the fun is the pursuit darlin'." His lips caressed the juncture of her neck and shoulder as a sigh escaped her. Someone could come in at any moment. Need to stop him.
He gently sucked at her pulse point, grinning to himself at the trembling of her heart. His hands continued to massage the knots from her shoulders as his mouth worked its way back up to her ear
In just a minute. I'll stop him in just a minute. Uhhhh…
And then he'd pulled away, grinning at her smugly. "What about the new police commissioner?"
"What?" She stared up at him, blinking, mind a bit foggy. "Oh! Um…" He had her feeling flustered and it pissed her off a little. She paused to take some air deeply into her lungs, noticing his scent despite herself, held it and released it slowly.
"You okay there?" Cal was still smiling but it was somehow less smug, more loving. Her annoyance bled away as a result.
"Yes. I'm fine. I was just going to say that there have been rumors to the effect that he may be accepting bribes. Since he was just appointed, the mayor is concerned that if the allegations are true…"
"It'll mess up his political agenda."
"That's about it."
"What else do we have?"
"Jamison Gault."
Cal winced. "The rapist."
Nodding, Gillian's face immediately went tense. "DNA evidence became inadmissible – accusations of tampering. Lots of circumstantial evidence but it is what it is. They want a read from us to help along the prosecution."
"I'll take care of that one." Cal stared at her intently as she nodded, obviously relieved. Moving closer once again, he kissed her temple. "It'll be fine luv."
"I know. I just…well you know."
"Yeah, I know." He guided her up out of her chair and folded her into a warm hug. She immediately sank against him, holding on and pressing her face against his shoulder.
"Now let's get all this crap taken care of so we can play."
Gillian looked up at him suddenly.
"I meant at the gym." He grinned and kissed her on the cheek before releasing her. He gave her a wink on his way out.
(BREAK)
She'd allowed him some free time while she took a pilates class. She was a little concerned that Cal would get himself into trouble but when she went looking for him she was surprised to find him with his hands wrapped working at one of the hanging punching bags.
Pausing, she watched him for several minutes, impressed. It was obvious he'd done this before. He'd just never mentioned it.
"Hey."
Concentrating, he threw out a couple of left hooks, three jabs and an uppercut. He glanced over quickly. "Hey darlin'."
"I didn't know you boxed."
A noise somewhere between a cough and a laugh burst from between his lips. "Once upon a year, luv." He stopped and turned toward her. The front and back of his t-shirt was damp with perspiration. She could smell his clean sweat combined with soap and deodorant. It was sexy as hell. "A shorter guy growing up where I grew up…well, let's just say it was advantageous to know how to fight." He had pulled down his towel and was wiping his face with it.
She stared at him, feeling a bit of a warm tingle, before averting her eyes. For once he didn't seem to notice.
"Ready to hit the pool?" Cal grinned and waggled one eyebrow.
"You just want to gawk at me in my bathing suit."
One arm looped around her waist and brought her in close. "Absolutely. Gets my imagination goin' in all kinds of directions." His breath was in her ear.
Gillian felt her face start to flame as he quietly chuckled.