Jordan Blair, a Toronto cop, and Darcy Piermont, a Quebec City private investigator, two type A personalities, explore a romantic relationship amidst temperament clashes and unexpected events. They are pressured to investigate a crime with personal implications for Darcy Piermont and danger to them both. A university professor is missing after receiving a chilling ultimatum.
Chapter 4 Excerpt from “Death’s Footprint”
Tuesday, 12:30 p.m.
Recalling the crackhead who spit on her shirt last night, Jordan plunged the knife into a block of cheese on her kitchenette counter. Her phone rang, and she dashed into the compact room she referred to as her study with sandwich in hand. A couple of recliners, a wall-mounted television, and two side tables comprised the living space of her condo in The Beaches area of Toronto.
“Damn it, where did I leave my phone?” she muttered. The ringing originated from one of the recliners, and she slid her fingers under the cushion. Got it!
“Yeah?”
“Good afternoon, luv. How’s my warrior princess today?”
“Tired but hanging in. Last night was my tenth shift. And, feel free to call me Constable Blair,” Jordan responded. “Failing that, warrior queen will do.” She laughed. “You’re never going to let me live down what I had to do to that dickhead in Honduras who tried to kidnap me and Ellie, are you?”
“Never going to happen. I fantasize regularly over seeing you in combat stance, at the side of a mountain road with your hair messed up, face smudged with dirt, and a dagger clutched in your hand.”
Jordan snorted. “Well, a girl’s got to use whatever weapon is handy to defend herself.”
“Exactly. I believe I may need to see more action during your visit to boost my fantasy collection.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Jordan shook off a flush of excitement, imagining the possibilities.
After they parted at the Honduran airport last spring, Darcy pursued her relentlessly via e-mails and phone calls, finally convincing her that he was worth getting to know.
The weekend he spent with her in Toronto a few months ago had torqued their relationship up several notches. Still, she intended to tread cautiously down the romance path with this man whose personality pendulum swung between exasperating and irresistibly sexy.
“Am I catching you at a bad time? I’m confirming that you’ll be on this afternoon’s flight.”
Jordan bit into her sandwich and talked through a mouthful. “Count on it. As soon as we hang up, I’m turning off my phone so my sergeant can’t call me in at the last minute. I’m leaving for the airport in half an hour.”
“If you’re naked, can I coax you into setting your iPhone on FaceTime?”
“Negative, you horny Francophone. I’m looking forward to five days with you at your new place, treading the cobblestone streets of Old Québec. Immersing myself in 400 years of history is as high on my list as testing your bed springs.”
“Spoil sport about the FaceTime. However, my sweet, I promise to fulfill your every desire. At night, we’ll dine at the finest pubs and drink wine that tastes like angel spit.”
Jordan flinched at the spit word. “Don’t go to any trouble for me,” she told him, knowing the restaurants and wine Darcy chose would render her forever dissatisfied with her usual Toronto pubs and fifteen-dollar bottles of wine.
“Nothing is too much trouble for you. After I collect you at the airport, we’ll come back to my condo for some re-acquainting time.”
Jordan pictured Darcy’s arctic blue eyes that could melt her bones. “Are you suggesting we have crazy, caveman sex before we even eat?”
“Darling, please. You’re making me blush.”
Jordan brushed bread crumbs off the front of her hoodie. “Do I need to bring bed sheets or have you found yours?”
“The bed’s all made. I’ll surprise you with the colour.” Darcy sounded pleased with himself.
“Probably black. Am I right?”
During the silence that followed, Jordan glanced at her watch.
Darcy cleared his throat. “I have some other news.”
“Let me guess. You got my name tattooed on the cheek of your butt?”
“Now you’ve gone and spoiled my surprise! No, that’s on my calendar for later in the week so we can get a couple’s discount.”
“You never cease to amaze me. Of all the activities I’ve imagined us doing together — that wasn’t one of them.”
“Actually, I hired an office assistant this morning. Her name is Kelsi Chong, and she’ll run interference so you can have my undivided attention.”
Jordan put the cheese back in the fridge and checked that the door was tightly closed. It had a tendency to drift open unless slammed, and she didn’t want to come back to a fridge full of spoiled food. “I can’t wait to meet her. Is Kelsi’s office down the hall from your bedroom?”
“Certainly not. There’s miles of hall and a sweeping staircase between us. And, I have a lock on my bedroom door. Not that I’ll need it since I’ll be sleeping with a cop.”
Jordan rinsed the knife and plate and set them on the draining board. “I wasn’t worried about her jumping you. But if I’m wrong, I won’t be able to protect your virtue since I won’t have my gun.”
“Not a problem. She’s almost young enough to be my daughter.”
“Why didn’t you say so? That would make her twelve tops, wouldn’t it? I feel much better about your cozy, work arrangement now.”
“Well, then. Glad that’s settled. I’ll see you in about three hours at the Arrivals gate. I’ll be the fool tap-dancing and hooting with joy.
“I’ll be sure to catch that on video.” Jordan rang off and headed for the bedroom to zip her cosmetics and toiletries into her backpack.
Waiting for the taxi in front of her building, Jordan felt a thrill of excitement anticipating the erotic delights waiting for her in Darcy’s arms.
Her last boyfriend, a staff sergeant from Toronto’s 51 Division, turned out to be a loser. Three months into the relationship, just when she began to feel they might make it, Jordan let herself into Adam’s apartment and found him in bed with a blonde Parking Enforcement officer. Adam apologized and tried to convince Jordan that it was an error of judgement he would never repeat. His pleading voice on the phone elicited a clear image of the mass of naked limbs thrashing on the bed. A year later, Jordan still didn’t know whether to laugh or puke at the memory.
Here she was, on the brink of a relationship with Darcy. If she had time before boarding, she’d change her ticket to open return, just in case.
BOTH BOOKS IN OUR CRIME AND ROMANTIC SUSPENSE SERIES
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