Eye of the Beholder Read online

  Jamie woke to the feel of an arm around her waist. She touched it hesitantly, unsure who was in the bed with her. It was a hairy, definitely male arm. Considering the fact that Jordan would rip the balls off her boys if they slept with anyone but her, that left Jeff and Travis as the only possibilities. The odds of it being Travis snuggled up behind her were about a gazillion to one, so that left Jeff. Only he would dare something like this, knowing almost anyone else would incur her wrath.

  It had been a very long time since Jeff had slept in her bed, not since they were kids and he’d suffered from weird ass nightmares nothing could soothe. She’d often wake to find him just like this, scared out of his mind or passed out. Perhaps the kidnapping had brought back some of those night terrors, throwing him back into childhood. Still, she couldn’t let him stay here. It was just too fucking weird now that they were adults. She yawned and decided it was time to boot her twin out. She cocked her arm and slammed her elbow back.

  “Ow!”

  She froze. That’s not Jeff.

  “What the hell did you do that for?”

  That’s Travis.

  “Jamie?”

  Why is Travis in my bed?

  “Jamie?”

  Oh, fuck. She’d just hit Travis. That’s what she got for not looking before hitting. Hadn’t she learned anything in that self-defense class?

  “Jamie.”

  They’d told her always to look behind you to make sure you’re not beating up your grandmother. Perhaps she should have listened closer to her instructor’s words.

  He sighed. “Are you going to open your eyes?”

  She shook her head no. She might never open them again.

  She squeaked as his lips brushed the side of her neck. She could feel his beard tickling her skin. “Well, I’m hungry. I’m going to get up and kick the Three Stooges out of bed so they can feed us.” She felt the mattress dip behind her as he stood. “How are you feeling today?”

  Mortified. “Fine.” Hell, she even sounded mortified. Great.

  “Okay. Let me just throw some jeans on and I’ll be out of your hair for a little bit.”

  Her eyes flew open despite her best efforts to keep them glued shut. She was just in time to see that bodacious ass clad in black silk not five feet from her nose. His strong back was bent as he put his legs into his jeans. “Gah.”

  He turned around so quickly she was surprised he didn’t fall over. “Are you all right? I thought you said you weren’t in pain.” His hand cupped her cheek, his expression concerned.

  She squeezed her eyes shut again, but it was too late. The sight of his unfastened jeans was permanently etched into her retinas, the thick line of his cock lovingly outlined by the black silk. “I’m good.” Hell, I’m better than good. I’ve now got a month’s worth of fantasy material.

  “Are you sure?”

  She heard his zipper catching, then the snap of his jeans. “Yup.”

  She thought she heard him stifle a chuckle but couldn’t be sure. “I’ll be back in a little bit, sweetheart. You get some more rest, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  She waited until she heard the door to the bedroom shut before opening her eyes, staring at it in confusion.

  Sweetheart?

  Travis left the bedroom with a smirk. Oh, yeah. She wants me. Now all I have to do is convince her she’s got me. The look of fascination when he’d turned around after practically shoving his ass in her face had been priceless.

  He leaned up against the wall next to Jordan’s bedroom and put his ear to the wall. He couldn’t hear a sound. He gently rapped on the door. “Guys? I’m going into the kitchen to make breakfast.”

  He counted under his breath. “Five, four, three, two…”

  Someone started moving in the other room. With a quickly smothered grin he headed for the kitchen. He was just laying the frying pan on the stove when a hand reached out and snatched it.

  “Give me that.”

  He turned to find a rumpled Logan, in blue jeans and a scowl, holding the pan.

  “Move, Lefty.”

  He moved. “What’s for breakfast, hothead? Habanero French toast?”

  Logan glowered at him as he got out the eggs and bread. “Ha. Ha.”

  Travis decided to take pity on him and start the coffee. “What did you three decide last night? Don’t tell me which one got to be on top, because I really don’t want to know.”

  Logan’s leer was cheerful as he sniffed at the coffee. “We’re going to do to Jamie and Jeff what we did to Jordan.”

  Travis stopped and glared at Logan. He could feel the mist trying to obscure his vision.

  “Not that. Damn, and they call me perv. I meant we’re going to prove a few things the hard way.”

  Travis flushed. He wasn’t used to this caveman feeling where a woman was concerned.

  “Coffee?” Jordan stumbled into the room, yawning so wide he was surprised her brains didn’t spill out of her mouth.

  “Morning.” He hid his smile behind his mug. Without missing a beat, Logan handed her a mug he’d placed on the counter. She shuffled past, yawning again, and filled the mug from the still percolating pot. She had barely stopped to get dressed, merely throwing on one of her mens’ T-shirts and a pair of boxers. Travis could see her breasts swinging freely beneath the shirt.

  Not that he was looking or anything.

  Okay, yeah, he was. He wasn’t dead, after all, just in love, and Jordan had a nice, perky pair.

  “Morning, Jordan.” Travis stepped aside, giving her room to prop up next to the coffee pot.

  “Morning, baby.” Logan moved past her to grab his own mug, planting an absent kiss on the top of her head as he did so.

  “Are we having French toast?” Kir bopped into the room, that ever-present grin on his lips. His blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail. He’d decided to dress all in black today, with black jeans and a muscle shirt.

  Travis watched as Kir and Logan greeted one another with a tender kiss. Part of him was astonished at how well the two men got along. Of all the Aesir, he would have would have thought Baldur and Loki would have the absolute least in common with each other.

  Instead, they shared a love so pure it was dazzling.

  Jordan watched the exchange as well, a soft smile flirting with her mouth. The two men turned toward her, pulling her into their embrace, and suddenly Travis felt like a voyeur.

  He quietly left the room, hoping to give the three lovers some privacy, and settled in on the couch in the spacious living room. He put his mug down on the coffee table and dug up the remote for the big screen TV Kir had recently installed.

  “Oh Jesus God, my eyes. I think I’ll go out for breakfast. And use some Lysol, lots and lots of Lysol, when you clean that counter, okay?” Travis turned to find Jeff, a disgusted look on his face, stomping out of the kitchen. Kir’s deep throated laughter followed him. “Yuk it up, dickwad, but people have to prepare food in there. The last thing I want to taste is food à la ass.”

  There was a thump from the kitchen as Kir’s laughter turned breathless. Travis figured he’d collapsed again from laughter.

  “Um.” Jordan stood in the doorway, looking deliciously disheveled, a wild look on her face. “Bring back donuts?”

  Jeff glared at her. “I am not bringing home anything that involves holes. God knows what those pervs would do with it.” He shrugged into his jacket, the disgust still on his face, but Travis could see the laughter trying to break through. Thank you, Jeff. Laughter was much needed around here right now, and bless Jeff for providing it.

  “Oh, God.” Jordan hid her face in her hands. Logan’s deep voice wafted from the kitchen. “Breathe, Kir. C’mon, blondie.”

  “What the hell is going on out here?” Travis turned to find Jamie standing in her bedroom door. “Are they having sex in the kitchen again?”

  Jordan fled, heading back into the kitchen, a horrified look on her bright red face.

  Jeff just stared at his sis
ter. “What do you mean again?”

  “Oh God.” Jordan’s muffled voice was nearly drowned out by Kir’s renewed laughter.

  Jamie rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, like you’ve never had sex in a kitchen before.”

  “I am not discussing sex with my sister.”

  “You were discussing it with Jordan. Hell, from the sound of things they practically gave you a freakin’ tutorial.”

  “Oh God.”

  “It’s a little late to be embarrassed now, perv.” Jeff yelled toward the kitchen. “And you!” He pointed at Jamie, shaking his finger at her. “I am not discussing sex with you.”

  “Oh, please. You’re just pissed because you ain’t gettin’ any.” Not even the swelling of her face could dim the South Philly accent or attitude she was throwing.

  Travis sank down on the sofa, covering his mouth with his hand. Too much more and he’d be joining Kir in a heap on the floor.

  Jeff threw that attitude right back at his twin. “Oh, yeah? When was the last time you got some?”

  All traces of amusement disappeared under Jeff’s teasing question. Jamie wasn’t seeing anyone that Travis was aware of, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t gone out and found someone to fool around with.

  Jamie’s smirk had Travis damn near growling in a caveman-like display. “More recently than you, I bet.”

  Travis’s hand clenched. What? He sat up and stared at the woman who was currently glaring at her twin. His eyes narrowed as a flush crept up Jamie’s cheeks.

  “The closest you’ve come is Vincente.” Jeff batted his eyelashes at Jamie outrageously. “Oh, Vincente.”

  Travis’s jaw clenched. Who the fuck was Vincente?

  Jamie gasped, furious. “You leave Vincente alone.”

  Whoever he was, he needed his ass kicked.

  “It’s those gold lamé briefs. They get you every time.”

  Travis winced. No fucking way. He was not shoving his ass into gold lamé briefs. Even for Jamie. Hell, he didn’t even do that in the seventies.

  “Oh, fuck off, Jeff.” Jamie flipped her brother the bird before limping back into the bedroom, the door slamming shut behind her.

  “On that note…” Jeff cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, “Hey, pervs! I’m heading out. I’ll bring back some non-ass-tastic food, okay?”

  “Oh, God.” Jordan’s mortified whimper had Travis almost smiling again, but the thought of fuckhead Vincente kept it from materializing.

  “You keep praying to me, baby, eventually I’m going to answer.”

  Jeff rolled his eyes at the sound of Logan’s voice, but he was smiling as he headed out the door.

  Travis stared at Jamie’s closed door, one thought running through his mind.

  Who the fuck was Vincente?

  Chapter Four

  Toni studied Solberg closely. Something just wasn’t sitting right with her, and it started and ended with her new partner. “Where the hell did this information come from?”

  “Anonymous tip, but the man hasn’t been seen in over a month.” Solberg shrugged. “It’s worth a look.”

  She tapped her finger against her mouth. Maybe it was just her instinctive dislike of the guy that was making her dislike his tip. “What’s your gut say?”

  “It’s legit. We’ve had more than one tip. It’s not like we’re going on one phone call here.”

  She nodded slowly. If he was on the up-and-up then it was worth checking it out. “Okay. Research the company, see if anything’s changed there. I’ll check out the family angle.”

  “You know the granddaughter was tortured by Mr. Grimm, right?”

  “I know. It’s in the file.” The supposed vic was a sicko whack-job, but whether he deserved what he’d gotten or not, whoever had done him should have left him to law enforcement.

  “Yeah.” Solberg took a big bite of his Whopper. “Checked that angle out first, thinking it might be a revenge thing.”

  Ick. She hated it when guys talked with their mouths full. Like she wanted to see their chewed food. Blech. “I’ll have to check out the medical records.” She bit into an onion ring, making sure to swallow before continuing her thought. “That makes the wife a much more viable suspect. The father of Ms. Grimm too.” She flipped through her notes. “Fred.”

  He nodded, pointing to her list with one of his French fries. “I think we need to check them all out.”

  “Okay. You’ve obviously got the family and friends covered. I’ll deal with the business angle.”

  “Not a problem.” His false grin was seriously beginning to get on her nerves.

  She bit into another onion ring and studied his smug features. Every one of her cop senses was tingling, but she couldn’t put her finger on what the hell was wrong. It was driving her fucking nuts. She couldn’t shake the feeling that some of that wrongness was now directed at her.

  What are you hiding from me?

  Travis sat in the back of Logan’s SUV and wondered how to bring up what he was sure would be a painful subject. He’d managed to keep Jamie and Jeff from questioning him further, a difficult job considering their cramped quarters and Jeff’s stubborn refusal to allow a subject to die a graceful death. When he was ready to tell his story he only wanted to do it once, and while both Jamie and Jeff had earned the right to sit in on that discussion he needed everyone there for it. He’d managed to avoid the topic for four days now, but he was rapidly running out of time.

  Morgan and Magnus Grimm—the twin half-brothers of Jamie, Jeff and Jordan—and Val had just returned from a job Travis had sent them on. The Grimms were working cases to pick up the slack left by Travis, Jeff and Jordan not being in the office. Considering everything that had happened they’d been more than happy to put in some overtime for him while he made sure their family was safe. Now that the case they’d been gone on was solved to everyone’s satisfaction the men were back, and it was time to come clean to all of them. They were planning on meeting for lunch at the Tait-Saeter condo, something Travis was looking forward to with equal amounts of dread and longing. Finally he’d be able to claim the woman who’d stolen his heart, no barriers or lies between them. He only hoped she could handle what he had to say.

  Logan got lucky and managed to find a parking spot just shy of the corner of Ninth Street and Passyunk Avenue. They stepped out of the Lexus and breathed deep, inhaling the scents of the best cheesesteaks in the city.

  “Pat’s,” Logan sighed, heading for his favorite eatery.

  “Geno’s, you heathen.” Kir planted both feet firmly on the pavement and refused to move, no matter how hard Logan tugged on his arm.

  Logan scowled. “Do you want to wait in the car while I get the food, or do you want to come with me?”

  “I’ll come with you as far as Geno’s window.”

  Travis, watching the frown growing on Jordan’s face, waited for the inevitable explosion. It wasn’t long in coming.

  “Oh, my God. Sometimes you two are friggin’ morons.” Jordan stepped out of the back seat of the SUV, looking tired and cranky. The Philly accent was strong, whether from aggravation or exhaustion Travis couldn’t tell. She planted her hands on her hips and stared both of her lovers down, bristling with bad temper. “You—” She pointed at Logan, “—go to Pats. You—” She pointed at Travis, startling him. “—Go to Geno’s. Jeff, Morgan and Magnus and I’ll take one wit’. Jamie, Kir and everyone else will have one wit’out, and the Wonder Twins want peppers. Oh, and Uncle Val likes provolone.”

  “Wonder Twins?” Travis nearly choked trying not to laugh. It was the first time he’d heard Jordan refer to Jeff and Jamie as the Wonder Twins. From the look on her face if he did laugh she’d inflict major bodily harm on his person.

  She ignored him. “Each of you get one for each of us, as well as yourselves. We’ll have a steak-off. You—” She pointed at a surprised Kir, “—get your ass back in the truck and guard mine so Logan doesn’t have an aneurysm. Now move. I don’t like cold cheesesteaks.” She
hurled herself back into the SUV and sat with her arms crossed, glaring out the front window.

  The men stared at one another and shrugged. Logan and Travis headed for Pat’s while Kir settled into the back seat with Jordan, snuggling her close and kissing the side of her neck. They’d hit Geno’s on the way back to the car.

  “Who decided the little dictator should come with us again?” Logan shoved his hands into his back pockets, looking bored. Travis wasn’t fooled, though. Logan was on point, wary of every person who walked by the SUV. He kept an eye on it at all times, his eyes moving between the customers, the car and any possible threats.

  “Jamie.” She’d sent them on this food expedition as a way to distract Jordan, who’d been hovering over her like a mother hen and snapping at anyone and everyone who got within five feet of Jamie. The look of relief on Jamie’s face as Travis had dragged Jordan out of the house was worth the grumpiness Jordan was flinging around.

  Jeff was also at the powerfully warded condo, keeping watch on his twin. The condo was so heavily guarded now he couldn’t even think how Grimm could possibly get inside. “She said she wanted someone along to supervise us.” Travis barely refrained from rolling his eyes. Jordan could barely keep awake. Right now, the only thing she was capable of supervising were her own eyelids. “By the way, why couldn’t we get cheesesteaks from somewhere closer to us?” He stepped up to the window and placed their order, letting Logan remain on guard.

  Logan stared at him like he’d grown another head. “There are other cheesesteak places? Where?”

  The man behind the counter laughed as he handed them their steaks. “Exactly. Swear to God, ain’t nobody in the damn city makes cheesesteaks like us.”

  “Amen,” Logan laughed, winking at Travis as they made their way back across the street. They stood in line, got the second set of steaks, and headed back to the SUV.

  “Finally.” Jordan pouted, right up until Logan shoved the bag of food into her hands. She settled back down with a contented sigh, sniffing the bags occasionally to get a whiff.