Chapter 4

FOUR

K ira stared at the case files strewn across her desk, trying to focus on the details of the investigation. But no matter how hard she tried, her mind kept drifting to thoughts of Rex Stone and Nash Jeter. The two men had made quite an impression on her during their first meeting, and despite her best efforts to maintain a professional distance, Kira couldn’t shake the intense attraction she felt for them both.

Her lioness was restless, pushing her toward the two wolves, urging her to explore the connection further. But Kira’s human side was conflicted and wary. She had always prided herself on her independence and self-reliance, and the idea of giving in to her baser instincts made her uncomfortable.

With a frustrated sigh, Kira pushed back from her desk and stood, stretching her arms above her head. She needed to clear her mind and refocus on the task at hand. Gerri Wilder was counting on her to solve this case and put a stop to the fraudster who was sabotaging her business.

Just as Kira was about to sit, the sound of her doorbell echoed through the apartment. Frowning, she glanced at the clock. It was still early, and she wasn’t expecting any visitors. Curiosity piqued, she made her way to the front door and opened it to find Rex Stone standing on her doorstep.

“Good morning, Kira,” he greeted her with a charming smile, holding up a cup of coffee and a paper bag. “I brought you your favorite coffee and a coffee cake. Thought you might need a little pick-me-up before we get started.”

Kira blinked in surprise, caught off guard by his unexpected appearance. “Rex, what are you doing here?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady despite the way her heart raced at the sight of him.

Rex shrugged, his confident demeanor making it clear that he wasn’t taking no for an answer. “I’m here to help you with the investigation, of course. We’re in this together, remember?”

Kira hesitated, torn between wanting to push him away and wanting him close. Her lioness was thrilled by his presence, practically purring with satisfaction. But Kira’s rational mind struggled to maintain control, reminding her that getting involved with a client was a bad idea.

“I appreciate the offer, Rex, but I really don’t need any help,” she said, trying to sound firm. “I’m perfectly capable of handling this on my own.”

Rex raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “I have no doubt about that, Kira. But two heads are better than one, right? Besides, Nash and I have a vested interest in seeing this case solved quickly. The sooner we catch this fraudster, the sooner we can put this whole mess behind us.”

Kira sighed, realizing he had a point. As much as she hated to admit it, having Rex’s help could be valuable. And if she was being honest with herself, the idea of spending more time with him was not exactly a hardship.

“Fine,” she relented, stepping back to let him inside. “But let’s keep things professional, okay? We’re here to work, not to socialize.”

Rex grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Whatever you say, boss.”

As he brushed past her, Kira caught a whiff of his scent - a heady mix of pine and musk that made her knees go weak. She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way her body reacted to his proximity. This was going to be a long day.

They settled in at Kira’s kitchen table, the case files spread out before them. Rex handed Kira her coffee, and she took a grateful sip, savoring the rich, bold flavor. He had even gotten her preferred blend and how she liked it prepared. The small gesture touched her more than she cared to admit. How he knew, she didn’t want to know.

“So, where do we start?” Rex asked, leaning forward to study the files.

Kira pulled out a list of the mismatched couples, the ones who had been set up by the fraudster posing as Gerri. “I think our best bet is to interview these people and see if we can find any common threads or clues that might lead us to the culprit.”

Rex nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. “Good thinking. We should also look into any disgruntled employees or clients Gerri might have had in the past. Someone with a grudge against her would have motive to want to sabotage her business.”

Kira was impressed by his strategic thinking and thoroughness. She had initially pegged him as just another arrogant alpha male, but there was clearly more to him than met the eye.

They spent the next hour going over the files, discussing theories and possible leads. Kira found herself relaxing in Rex’s presence, enjoying the easy back-and-forth of their conversation. He had a sharp mind and a wry sense of humor that kept her on her toes.

Before long, they had a plan of action mapped out. They would start by visiting the mismatched couples, gathering as much information as they could about their experiences with the fake Gerri. Hopefully, something would stand out that could point them in the right direction.

As they got ready to leave, Kira couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. Despite her initial reservations, she was starting to look forward to working with Rex. His confidence and determination were infectious, and she found herself feeding off his energy.

They climbed into Kira’s car and set off for their first interview. The woman lived on the outskirts of town in a quaint little neighborhood with tree-lined streets and well-manicured lawns.

When they arrived at the house, a middle-aged woman answered the door. She looked surprised to see them, but invited them inside when Kira explained who they were and why they were there.

“Oh, that whole fiasco,” the woman said with a dramatic sigh as she led them into the living room. “It was an absolute nightmare. I can’t believe I let myself get taken in like that.”

Kira and Rex exchanged a glance, both trying to hide their amusement at the woman’s theatrics. They sat on the couch and Kira pulled out her notepad, ready to take notes.

“Can you tell us exactly what happened?” she asked, keeping her voice professional. “Start from the beginning.”

The woman, whose name was Elaine, leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath as if preparing herself for a harrowing tale. “So, picture this,” she began, her hands gesturing wildly. “I’m all dressed up, looking fabulous, ready for a night of romance and adventure. I get to the restaurant, and I wait. And wait. And wait some more.”

Kira nodded sympathetically, her pen poised over her notepad. “He was late?”

“Late?” Elaine scoffed, her eyes wide with disbelief. “That’s an understatement. I was about to give up and go home when he finally showed up, an hour after our agreed time. And let me tell you, it was not worth the wait.”

She wrinkled her nose in disgust as if recalling a particularly foul odor. “He stumbled in, reeking of cheap beer and cigarettes. And his shirt? It had more stains than a Jackson Pollock painting. I’m pretty sure he had slept in it. Or maybe even died in it and come back to life.”

Kira bit her lip to hide a smile, glancing at Rex, who was struggling to maintain a neutral expression. She could see the laughter lines crinkling at the corners.

Elaine continued, her voice rising with each word. “But that was just the beginning. We sat down, and he immediately started hitting on our waitress. Right in front of me! He was making all these sleazy comments, like ‘Hey baby, what time do you get off work?’ and ‘I bet you look even better without that apron on.’ I wanted to crawl under the table and die.”

Kira coughed to cover a laugh, her shoulders shaking with the effort. She could picture the scene perfectly: the lecherous grin on the man’s face, the waitress’s look of disgust, and poor Elaine, trapped in the middle of it all.

“And then,” Elaine said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “he had the nerve to ask me for my friend’s phone number. Said she looked like she knew how to ‘have a good time,’ whatever that means. I was so mortified, I couldn’t even speak.”

Rex let out a low whistle, shaking his head in disbelief. “Wow, that’s... that’s something else,” he said, his voice strained with the effort of keeping a straight face.

Elaine nodded vigorously, her curls bouncing with the motion. “It was a disaster. An absolute trainwreck of a date. We had nothing in common, and he clearly had no interest in getting to know me as a person. All he cared about was getting laid.”

She sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “I don’t know what I did to deserve that kind of punishment. I’m a catch, damn it! I deserve better than some drunken, lecherous loser who can’t even be bothered to show up on time.”

Kira reached out and patted Elaine’s hand, her heart going out to the woman. “You absolutely do,” she said, her voice warm with sympathy. “And I promise, we’re going to get to the bottom of this. We won’t let this fraudster get away with ruining any more lives.”

Elaine smiled gratefully, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Thank you,” she said, her voice wobbling with emotion. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”

As they left Elaine’s house, Kira and Rex couldn’t contain their laughter any longer. They collapsed against the car, holding their sides as they gasped for breath.

“Oh my god,” Kira wheezed, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes. “That was... that was something else.”

Rex nodded, his face red from laughing. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a dating horror story quite like that one. And I thought my worst date was bad.”

They shared a grin, the camaraderie of the moment bringing them closer together. As they moved on to the next victim on their list, Kira couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. If the rest of the interviews were even half as entertaining as Elaine’s, they were in for a wild ride.

And she was right. Each couple had their own unique tale of woe, each more outrageous and cringe-worthy than the last. There was the woman whose date had shown up in a full clown costume, complete with a red nose and oversized shoes. The man who had spent the entire evening talking about his ex-girlfriend, even going so far as to show his date pictures of her on his phone. And the couple who had been set up on a blind date, only to discover that they were long-lost cousins.

By the time they finished the interviews, Kira and Rex were in stitches, their sides aching from laughter. They had bonded over the absurdity of it all, the shared experience bringing them closer together in a way that Kira had never expected.

“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” Kira said as they climbed back into the car after their final visit. “These poor people. Can you imagine going on a date with someone who thought it was appropriate to bring their pet snake along?”

Rex chuckled, shaking his head. “Or the guy who spent the entire evening talking about his ex-girlfriend? I thought that woman was going to strangle him with her bare hands.”

Kira grinned, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Rex that she hadn’t expected. They had worked well together, bouncing ideas off each other and picking up on subtle clues that the other might have missed. It was nice to have a partner she could rely on, someone who understood the ins and outs of the job.

As if reading her thoughts, Rex turned to her with a smile. “You know, we make a pretty good team, Kira. I’m glad you decided to let me tag along today.”

Kira felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words. “Me too,” she admitted, surprising herself with her honesty. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Rex.”

He reached over and squeezed her hand, sending a jolt of electricity up her arm. “Anytime, partner. Anytime.”