Tiger's Eye, A Victoria Childs Novella: Victoria Childs Series, #2.5

By Neeley Bratcher

"Nothing good ever happens after midnight..." A phone call from an old friend in the middle of the night sends her heart into overdrive, but she races to his aid. Victoria Childs finds herself in another wacky adventure that puts her relationship with that gorgeous Detective Varner in jeopardy. But there always seems to be another hot cop waiting in the wings, ready to sweep her off her feet...or put her in cuffs. See which one is on the agenda in Neeley Bratcher's new novella, Tiger's Eye.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Neeley Bratcher
• Release date: Sep 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536577679

Book preview

Tiger’s Eye

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Neeley Bratcher

Tiger’s Eye

A Victoria Childs Novella

Published by Neeley Bratcher

Copyright © 2014 by Neeley Bratcher

All rights reserved

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Cover Art: Alisha Basso

Edited by:  Jenny Sims @ Editing4Indies

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above,  no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Published in the United States of America

This book is available in ebook format.

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Dedication

This one is for you, Dad. I think about you every day and I miss you more than words can possibly express. I love you!

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Based on a true story...

Chapter 1

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Please?

No.

Pretty please?

He holstered his gun on his belt and grabbed his navy blue suit jacket. You are. Very pretty. And, no.

Why not?

He shouldered his jacket and sighed. Because it's not a good idea, Vic.

You won't even know I'm there.

He cupped my cheek with his great hand and kissed my nose, like a father comforting a little girl. Normally I would have been comforted, even if I didn't need comforting, but this time, it hacked me off and I moved away from him.

You're wearing that perfume I like, Varner said. I would know you were there.

His eyes widened, like he had just remembered something, and he bolted to his desk where he sat down and stared at his computer screen.

I've never been to a murder scene before, I said, making my way around his desk. Well, at least not one that I wasn't part of. I want to watch you do what you do.

I don't like anyone watching me, he muttered, clicking around his screen.

I smiled, slid my butt up on his desk, and kicked my right shoe off. His left side was to me, so I, very gently, slid my foot up his thigh. His lips pursed, and his eyes dropped.

Can't we discuss this? I asked, my voice dropping seductively.

He raised his eyebrow at me and grabbed my foot as it traveled further up his thigh.

Nothing to discuss, he said, tickling my toes.

I giggled and jerked my foot away. Then I shimmied out of my jacket and gave my plum camisole a small tug in the front, revealing just enough of my ample cleavage.

Are you sure, Detective Varner? I think I need to question you some more, I purred.

And I'm immune to those, he said.

He clicked around furiously, but he glanced exactly where I wanted him to as I leaned closer.

Baby, I whispered against his ear as I slid off the desk. Please let me come.

I emphasized the word come for added effect.

I was pretty sure it worked.

Mmm, he moaned, leaning his head toward me and snuggling against my breast.

I promise, I said, sliding my hands into his hair and massaging around, I'll be so, so quiet.

I know, he said, his hazel eyes rolling back as they closed. God, that feels good.

And later, I whispered, I'll make other things feel good, my great, big lolli-cop.

We giggled together for a moment in our little lover's tete-a-tete. Well, I giggled, and he chuckled. I had only heard him giggle once, and it involved his niece, Melanie. She could illicit a giggle from the Queen of England, she was just that cute. But, I always felt like I had accomplished something spectacular when he let his guard down at work and he was an actual person for a few seconds.

I've got to go before I can't stand up, he said, giving me a quick kiss on the lips and grabbing something off his printer.

So, where am I going? I asked, searching his computer screen as it went blank on me. I mean, where's the scene?

He kissed me again. 512 East Washington.

That's my address, I said, squinting at him.

He grinned, and headed toward the door.

I exhaled noisily. Damn it, Varner!

He laughed and opened his office door. Later, Childs.

You're such a wiener! I yelled loudly enough for everyone in the office to hear.

His shoulders flinched.

I heard a couple laughs from the desks outside.

I smiled and crossed my arms in triumph.

Varner turned slowly to face me. Detective Lieutenant Wiener. Lock the door when you leave.

I growled and threw a pen at him which, of course, he caught and slid into his interior pocket. Thanks.

You're welcome, jerk.

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Jerk, I muttered, beeping the remote for my building's security system. The security system Varner insisted that I have installed to keep the bad guys from getting me.

I even resented him for that at the moment.

Hey, Toni called from her office.

Why did you have the alarm enabled? I asked abruptly. Why are you even here?  It's after seven, and we close at five.

She entered the foyer and leaned against her office doorframe. What's wrong?

I asked you first.

She smirked. I always have the alarm on when I'm here by myself, and I told you this morning I was staying late to catch up on some invoices. Now, you had a date with a certain detective this evening. What did he do?

I dropped my purse and blew out a breath. He's a wiener.

I know, she said. Did a case come up?

I nodded. Some guy got killed on the east side of town. Probably a drug deal gone bad.

So, he just left.

I asked if I could go with him and watch him work.

She spit out a laugh and covered her mouth quickly.

Well, I thought I would give it a shot, I said, hanging my jacket on the wall hook.

He denied your request, of course.

I nodded. He was so snide about it too. I even brought out the big girls.

She laughed. He denied the big girls? There must be something wrong with him.

I looked down at them, in all their 32D glory. They must be losing their touch.

You need to cut that man off for a while, Toni said, as I followed her into her office. He needs to learn you're not just going to jump every time he calls.

I sighed and flopped down into one of her chairs. I know. But he's so damn cute.

I agree he's cute, but cute doesn't last forever.

I rolled my eyes. I don't need forever right now.

She squinted. Keep telling yourself that, Childs.

I squinted back. I will, Markham.

Vic, you know you want more from him than he's giving you.

I fiddled with the ring he had given me. He'd had it made from his college class ring several months ago. The large, orange citrine sparkled back at me, and I smiled for a moment.

Don't let that distract you, Toni said.

He loves me, I said. It's his promise to me.

He's not treating you right.

He's treating me fine.

Yeah, when he's around.

Come on, Toni. He's dedicated to his job.

Aren't you? she asked. But you'd never drop him for it, would you?

I knew what I was getting into when I got together with him, I said, getting up. I'm going upstairs to find something to eat.

Answer my question! she barked, popping out of her chair. If a case came up, and you were having dinner with him, would you cancel on him?

No, but...

Thank you!

His job is different. If he's not there, people die.

The dude was already dead.

But if he doesn't get to the scene right away, evidence could be lost or mishandled.

Does he not have a partner who could handle the evidence?

I laughed. Fisher?

She bit her lip and thought for a moment. Okay, I'll give you that one. But did he at least apologize?

I went back over our encounter in his office. "Uh, well, no.