Sepia Davis is a bestselling novelist from one of the wealthiest families in the old black money high society town of Cromwell. Ending an engagement to a social climber has her questioning all the society traditions she held dear. Paul Leyden is a police officer in Crawford, Cromwell's working class neighbor. His wife left him for a life in Cromwell and he has a chip on his shoulder for anyone from that town. When research for her new novel requires Sepia ride along with Paul, the sparks fly immediately in the all the wrong directions. Despite their differences, they are brought together when Sepia becomes the only witness to a murder by a killer targeting the most prominent black leaders in Cromwell. The investigation brings out dirty secrets of the bluest black bloods and leads Sepia and Paul into each other's arms.
EXCERPT:
Sepia yelled and fell back a few steps as the phone was ripped out of her hand. She turned to face Paul, his brows centered in anger, his jaw tight and locked. He turned her phone off and threw it in the river. When he turned back to her, the angry growl on his face, matched with his crisp uniform, was intimidating.
“What are you doing?” she asked, running to the edge of the dock. “That’s my phone.”
“I told you!” Paul grabbed her by the arm and began leading her towards the house. “What were you doing?”
“I was just calling Louise.” Sepia jerked away. “I can walk on my own.”
“Get in that damn house!” He was fuming and wasn’t trying to hide it.
Here he was doing everything he could to help David and work this latest shooting with Luke as quickly as possible so he could get back here to her and make sure she was okay and she was doing everything to get herself killed.
“Don’t give me orders!” She kept walking still. She talked a good talk, but the look on his face as he stormed after her let Sepia know this man meant business and she needed to listen this time.
“I told you!”
“I know,” she said. “I’m sorry. It’s just that this latest murder had me thinking of something.”
“Cell phones can be traced too, Sepia.”
“Are you listening to me?”
“Why should I listen to you?” he asked. “You haven’t listened to a word I said.”
“I’m sorry, okay.” She honestly felt bad, but he didn’t have to throw the phone away. It was very expensive. “I was only on with her for a minute, two at most.”
“That’s all it takes.”
“Do you really think this person has the technology to…”
“He had the technology to get into a house with the best security system available last night.”
Sepia thought again of Richard and realized that it was trivial to argue. “You’re right, okay. I just wanted to tell you that something is wrong with Richard Sander’s shooting and I know you think so too.”
Paul stopped as they reached the steps to the house. “I’m not telling you the secrets of this case.”
“The only thing Richard Sanders has done that could be considered even partly controversial was vote Republican.”
“How do you know how he votes?”
“I know a lot about him. My family has known his forever.”
Paul admitted to being intrigued. “Go on.”
Sepia smiled, happy he wasn’t angry at her for the moment at least. “He’s loved by Cromwell and Crawford respects him for all his family has done for that city.”
“Like O’Conner?”
“Sort of. O’Conner wasn’t as liked in Cromwell.”
“Why not?”
“It’s hard to explain, but Cromwell isn’t crazy about entertainers.”
“Cromwell isn’t crazy about a lot of things. Except money. And they don’t seem to be crazy about Crawford unless it’s some charity.”
“That’s not completely accurate and you know it. Cromwell is full of good citizens who contribute and use their money and standing to help others.”
Paul didn’t want to get a chip on his shoulder about Cromwell now. He didn’t need anything blocking his ability to help Luke.
“The reason I know about his political persuasion is not because of my family ties,” Sepia said. “It’s because of The Club.”
“The Cromwell club?” he asked. “He’s a member?”
“Charter. It wouldn’t have opened without him. Laurence worships the guy. He begged Sanders to be a member and Sanders agreed, but we still had to go through the background check before admitting him.”
“Background check? It’s a country club. Don’t you just pay the dues and get in?”
“Not private clubs.”
“Did you pull up something dirty?”
Sepia wondered how best to play this. “I need a promise from you.”
“No promises, Sepia.”
“Fine.” She started up the steps. “I’ll just go hang out with Dunleavy. I like him better than you anyway.”
“Alright.” Paul shook his head as she returned to him. She had a grin on her face that told him she knew she had him. “We need all the help we can get. People are dying, so this better not be a game.”
“After last night?” she asked. “This was never a game for me. This is my life and I’m involved now. I want to go with you.”
“Come with me where?”
“To The Club. I have information that might tell you who had a motive to want Richard Sanders dead so you guys don’t go on a wild goose chase. You can get back to focusing on finding the guy who tried to kill me.”
“You’re safe here, Sepia.”
Sepia stepped closer to him. “I’m safe with you, Paul.”
Paul let the wave of heat rush through him. He definitely wanted this woman. Why did he want to inflict this pain on himself? Even if he wasn’t charged with protecting her, they were a class apart and he would only be in the same situation he had been with Elaine. Hurt and alone.
“Do you promise to do everything I tell you?”
“Completely.” Sepia felt a tingling sensation run through her as he looked down at her with determination. She usually liked to be in charge, but could see herself giving over to him. Fighting him would probably be a waste of time anyway.
“Besides,” she said. “Security at The Club is heightened because of what’s been going on.”
“Okay.” Paul wondered if he was using his better judgment. It was subject to question in the face of this beautiful woman. “I’ll go get Dunleavy.”
“Paul.” Sepia winced as she heard herself call his name. She didn’t want to ask him this and hoped he would get inside before she gave into the urge, but no dice. She had to do it. She had to know.
“Yeah?” he asked, turning around.
“I was upset this morning when I found out you’d left.”
Paul cleared his throat. “I had to go in because of the shooting. It’s in Cromwell, but Luke is lead invest…”
“I know you had to go Paul, but why didn’t you tell me you were leaving? It would have taken a second and would have been nice.”
Paul’s expression stilled and grew serious. “The truth?”
“Yes.”
Had she repulsed him so much by coming on to him that he couldn’t face her? That’s what she was worried about.
“The truth is, I wanted to tell you. I just couldn’t risk it.”
“Risk what?”
“Risk going in that bedroom. I don’t think I would have ever left.”
Sepia was speechless as he turned and went inside. What
a hit and run that was. A warm glow framed her face as she smiled to herself.
She hadn’t
been mistaken when she’d felt his passion for her. Even if that was all
it was, it was comforting to know it was real.
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