Seeing Red – 9

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"Did you reorganize the files in my desk?" John stood over Natalie's desk and asked in a quiet voice.

Natalie shook her head. "I found Evangeline snooping in there earlier. I escorted her out."

John frowned and put a hand over his mouth, thinking. "Are you all right?" he shook the concern away for the moment and asked.

"Yeah. Thanks for making me sleep in this morning." She smiled up at him, her eyes daring him to lean down and kiss her in front of the entire squad.

"Natalie." He drew her name out in a long sigh.

"Lieutenant." Natalie teased and toyed with the flower that John had left on her desk this morning.

"Did you eat breakfast? Lunch?" he asked.

Natalie shrugged and her expression got serious and she turned back to her computer.

"Why aren't you eating?" John bent over and leaned in closer.

"I wasn't hungry."

"Natalie." He put his hand on her shoulder.

She bit her lip and turned to look at his concerned face. "I'm starving now. I plan to go get something to eat as soon as I finish placing this order."

"It can wait."

"Actually, it can't. It's for some database information from Washington. It'll take me another two minutes."

John stood up and sighed, rubbed his hands over his face and put his hands on his hips and looked down at his girlfriend. His gut told him that he was missing something going on with her, something big, but he was damned if he could pinpoint it or get her to spill. Maybe, he told himself, it just had to do with this case. When he saw she was done he put his hand on her arm and led her into his office where he had a take out order from Rodi's waiting for her.

"Sit. Eat. And listen," he ordered.

"Thank you." She leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. He slid a hand over her hair and then pressed her gently into the chair he had pulled up to the desk. The desk that was scrupulously clear of any upsetting case files – old or new. He walked around and sat in his chair across from her.

"The officer who worked on the Jersey case is here. Pete Russo, he's an old friend. He was my father's partner."

Natalie looked up, chewing on a fry. "Did I know him?" she asked.

"Yeah."

"You're father's partner? I wish I remembered." She shifted in her seat and looked down at her burger, her earlier hunger waning a bit.

"He's taking a room at the Hotel. I said we could have dinner together."

"John, I don't…Does he know Roxy?" she asked, a smile suddenly threatening to cross her face.

John nodded.

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"I know you!" Roxy's yell carried across the entire lobby of the Angel Square Hotel. "You're fuzz from AC." She walked around the counter and leaned her back against it and looked up at the clean cut man who was trying to rent a room. "Where do I know you from? Did you arrest me, mistakenly of course, for that bounced check? No? Public drunkenness? Solicitation – which was a total frame by the way."

Not getting satisfaction Roxy leaned over and looked at his signed name. She repeated it out loud and then a bell seemed to go off for her. "You're that cop who wanted to take Natty from me. You can't have a room here! Get the heck out of here!" she pushed at him and he grabbed her hands.

"Listen, lady. I'm here to protect your daughter. That man, the one she put away, well he's out and he's here in Llanview."

"Oh. Well, if you're here to protect my Natty then you get the best room I got, after the one her boyfriend has. Hey, do you know McBain?" Roxy bounced around the counter and picked up at set of keys and set it on the counter.

"I know McBain. Since he was a kid."

"Really?" Roxy leaned on the counter. "Got any good stories?"

"I might have a few."

Roxy grinned up at him.

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Evangeline stood at the front desk of the Palace waiting for the desk clerk to give her the key her new client told her would be waiting when she saw them walk in – John, Natalie and some old guy she didn't recognize, although he was attractive. She licked her lips and walked away from the desk and closer to the where the three of them were standing. Why weren't they going into the restaurant? Who were they waiting for? She felt a familiar itch as she watched. John was caressing Natalie's back as they talked to the elder man. She could feel that hand on her back. Not that he ever toyed with her so carelessly in public, but when they were alone. She gasped slightly and ran her hand over her hip. When John couldn't get enough of her. His hand toying with the ends of Natalie's red hair was mesmerizing.

Red hair. Red hair. Red hair. The phrase drifted through her mind over and over again. She felt her nipples harden.

"She's watching us again," Natalie murmured to John.

Pete looked over at the woman who was standing in the middle of the hotel lobby clearly watching them. "Who is that?" He frowned, stared back, waiting for her to notice and look away. But she seemed so fixed on Natalie.

"John's ex. I thought you told her to stop that?" Natalie moved closer to John.

"I did." John sighed and made to turn around and speak to her.

"Allow me." Pete walked over to her. "Can I help you?"

Evangeline blinked and focused on the man who was now standing in front of her. Why didn't she see him come over? "No. I'm waiting for someone. Can I help you?" She batted her eyes at him in a way she thought was sexy.

"Do you have something in your eye?" Pete asked, knowing exactly what she was doing. Something about the way she was watching John and Natalie, especially Natalie triggered something in his gut.

"No." Affronted Evangeline straightened up and raised her chin. "May I help you?"

"I was wondering why you were watching my friends so intently. Especially since I understand John McBain has told you quite plainly your relationship with him is over and he's quite happy with Natalie Vega now." Pete felt like he was talking to the working girls on the strip. Was this woman sober?

"I said I was waiting for someone. The door is right behind your friends." She took a breath and tried to force a smile. "How do you know John and Natalie?"

"Old friend from Atlantic City." Pete knew better than to mention his connection to John's father with this woman. He recognized the signs of obsession.

"I don't know what could be keeping my client. I'd best go call up to his room. Good night." She turned on her heels and slinked back to the reception desk.

Pete watched her, wondering if she was meeting her client in the hotel or a hotel room.

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"You've been quiet since we got back from dinner." John took Natalie's brush and took over brushing her long, fiery hair. Their blue eyes met in the medicine cabinet mirror.

"I liked your friend. I don't remember him, but I trust him."

"He's a good guy and he's always liked you."

"Despite knowing Roxy." Natalie smiled and closed her eyes as his ministrations sent shivers through her body.

"You're so beautiful." John's voice was husky with need, his body taught with it.

Natalie moved back a half step and rubbed herself against him. She murmured his name.

John dropped the brush on the floor and ran his hands over the silk slip covering her body. Over her hips, stomach and back up to her swollen breasts. He cupped her hard nipples and thrust his arousal into her back. Feeling the heat through his sweats Natalie moaned put her hands over John's and pushed her down her hips to her thighs.

Happy to oblige John slipped under her slip and pushed her panties off her hips.