The Last Dig Read online

  Rand rolled his eyes as he looked at Caroline and she smiled slightly.

  Dave and Bobbie sat there glaring at Parker.

  Penny spoke up and said, “That’s kind of disguising, isn’t it? I mean, having women topless jumping out of a cake and doing lap dances. It’s kind of sexist.”

  “There’s nothing sexist about it, it’s just for fun. Doesn’t really mean anything,” Parker said.

  “Oh yeah? What would you think if your girlfriend decided to jump out of a cake topless and do lap dances?” Debbie chimed in.

  “I don’t think it hurts anyone. Marcia, how do you feel about Guy having a bachelor party?” Parker countered again.

  “I don’t mind the bachelor party, but I’m not sure about the stripper jumping out of the cake and doing lap dances,” Marcia responded back.

  Then Guy spoke up. “I think we could all get together and just have a few beers, that would be fine with me.”

  “Come on now, Guy. You had no problems with the dancers at the strip club a few years ago,” Parker countered.

  “I didn’t know Marcia then,” Guy defended himself.

  “Oh, so you mean that if you were not engaged to me, and Parker wanted to have a bachelor party for someone else, like Rand, for example, and include the stripper, that you’d go to it?” Marcia asked, surprised.

  “Well, yeah, probably,” Guy said sheepishly.

  “I think it’s disgusting,” Penny said with contempt.

  “What about you, Tony, what do you think?” Parker asked.

  “I don’t see a problem with it unless someone has too much to drink and gets a little carried away.”

  “If I’m not mistaken,” Brenda spoke up, “some of these gals are college girls trying to come up with money for tuition.”

  “It’s not like we’re going to touch them or do anything with them. It’s just a matter of enjoying the beautiful art of a woman’s body,” Brent piped in.

  “Really?” Debbie said to Brent sarcastically. “And you just happen to think that any woman’s body is art, huh?”

  “Yes, that is how I view it.”

  Rand looked over at Caroline and said under his breath, “Ayiyiyiyi.”

  Caroline just smiled as she listened to the banter going on.

  “Hey, I have a wonderful idea!” Marcia said spiritedly. “You guys have the bachelor party, and I’ll jump out of the cake and flaunt my boobies at you!”

  Parker looked like he couldn’t believe his ears.

  “Oh, honey, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Guy said, alarmed.

  Laughing, Debbie said, “I have an even better idea. You guys have this party and we’ll all jump out of the cake and shake our boobies for you!”

  “Yeah, that’s a great idea,” Brenda chimed in.

  Everyone at the table started laughing, that was, except Dave and Bobbie, who gave Parker the evil eye. Rand and Caroline had kept quiet all through the conversation.

  “I don’t like that idea at all. The last thing I want to see are my sisters’ naked bodies,” he said glumly.

  “Actually, now that I think about it, it’s okay. You can have the bachelor party and the woman jumping out of the cake. I don’t mind,” Marcia told Guy.

  “Are you sure?” Guy asked.

  “Yes, I trust you and I don’t think you’d do anything stupid.”

  Parker’s mood picked up considerably. “So, how about it? Are you guys all in for it?” Parker asked. “Guy, would you like to have a bachelor party?”

  “It’s okay with me if it’s okay with everyone else. I can take it or leave it,” Guy responded.

  All the guys seemed to agree that it would be okay and be enjoyable.

  Parker smiled at his parents. “I think that went pretty well, don’t you?”

  “Honestly, Dave, I can’t believe the stuff Parker comes up with,” Bobbie moaned quietly.

  Rand wore a thin smile on his lips as he rested his elbows on the table with his chin in his hands. Parker finished eating, got up to dump his plate in the trash, and then went into the house.

  As Marcia and Guy got up, Marcia turned around and said, “I still think I should be the one that jumps out of that cake and shake my boobies.” She gave her chest a shake.

  Rand shook his head and looked down at his plate.

  “Rand, isn’t there anything illegal about this?” Penny asked.

  “Don’t involve me,” Rand warned.

  After everyone had finished eating, Parker came back out and asked, “Anyone up for a game of volleyball?”

  “Yeah, that sounds good.”

  Most everyone got up. Penny grabbed Caroline’s hand and pulled her up. “Come on, girl. Let’s shake our boobies.”

  * * * *

  Rand decided not to play and stayed behind to visit with his parents. Rand was the oldest child, and he’d always had a close relationship with his mom and dad.

  “How is this murder investigation going?” Dave asked. “I know you can’t talk about an open case, but I’m getting really concerned about Caroline.”

  “Yes, I am too, Rand,” Bobbie chimed in. “Anything positive going on?”

  “Yes, there are some new developments, but that’s all I can say about it. I agree with you, I’m concerned for Caroline too. I’m working through this as fast as I can.”

  “Are you and Caroline back together now?” Bobbie asked gently.

  “No. Not yet.”

  Bobbie looked at Rand. “Not yet? Does that mean you’re working on getting back together?”

  “Right now I’m concentrating on the case. I can’t think about anything else at this point.”

  “I understand that. But, Rand, I think you two should be together.”

  “I know, Mom. I agree. But there is a conflict of interest here, and I have to be careful not to overstep and ruin it for her or for me. In fact, it might be best if you didn’t mention she was here today.”

  “Of course,” Bobbie agreed.

  “Thanks. Will you let the others know?”

  She nodded. “Sure.”

  * * * *

  Caroline enjoyed playing volleyball with the Callahan clan immensely. It helped her work off some of her frustration. She hadn’t laughed this much in a long time. After one game, they called Rand in to play, then played two more games before quitting. Rand knew how to serve a wicked volleyball. His team beat the other team badly.

  It was getting dark, and Dave started the bonfire. Everyone gathered around the fire eating marshmallows and telling tales. Rand sat in a lawn chair and Caroline sat on the ground between his legs. He leaned forward with his arms loosely around her neck and resting on her shoulders with his hands joined together in front of her. He bent down and whispered in her ear, “There’s quite a meteor shower going on in the sky tonight.”

  She looked up, gazed at the sky, and spotted one. “Look, there’s one,” she whispered.

  “Yep. Quite a show.”

  “It’s a beautiful night. I’m glad you invited me to come share this time with your family.”

  “I’m glad you came too,” Rand whispered and bent down to nibble slightly on her earlobe. She felt the kiss right down to her toes.

  After spending a few hours watching the night sky, everyone started to get ready to go home. Rand took Caroline by the hand and walked with her to the truck. Bobbie and Dave came out to say goodbye.

  “Don’t be a stranger now. You come back and visit us, okay?” Bobbie said as she hugged Caroline.

  “Okay,” Caroline agreed with a smile.

  * * * *

  Rand took Caroline back to her room at the motel. He followed her inside and quickly scanned the room. Closing the door behind him, he pulled Caroline into his arms. He put his hands on her shoulders and slowly, seductively, rubbed his hands up and down her arms. She laid her head on his chest to drink in the faint, beautiful smell of his cologne.

  Rand brought his hands up to cup her chin, and bent down to kiss her. His mouth cov
ered hers hungrily, and it sent new spirals of ecstasy through her. He then showered kisses around her lips and along her jaw, finding that sensitive spot. He nibbled at her earlobe for a few minutes before finally searing a path down her neck.

  He brought his hands around to the front of her, took half a step back, and began to unbutton her blouse. His hands felt hot on her flesh as he undid each little button. Her heart hammered loudly through her veins and she felt like it was going to jump out of her chest. He gently slid her blouse off and kissed her shoulders. She felt so alive in his arms, and his lips left such a wonderful trail of heated wetness.

  She brought her hands up to his chest and slowly started to unbutton his shirt. She slid the shirt off his shoulders and looked at his beautiful physique. He didn’t have a bodybuilder’s body, but was proportioned just right. He had a beautiful chest and his arms were muscular.

  Rand led Caroline to the bed and gently eased her down. As he came down beside her, his hands gently reached around her back, unhooked her bra, and slipped it off her. Caroline felt her breasts get heavy in anticipation of his lips coming down to her nipples. Caroline never knew she could experience such pleasure.

  Was she ready for this?

  Tonight she wasn’t going to think about anything but her and Rand. The world and its harsh realities would be there in the morning, but tonight...tonight it was just about Rand and her—in their own world, where no one else dare enter.

  He continued to caress her sensitive, swollen nipples. She brought her hand up around his neck and softly rubbed his neck and shoulders as she lay there fully aroused by his kisses. Rand slowly moved his lips down her chest to her belly as he directed his hands to the button of her jeans and undid them. He unzipped her jeans and slid them down her hips to her thighs and then to the floor. He slid her panties off and looked admiringly at her lovely form.

  Then Rand undid his belt and unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans. She watched as he slid his jeans off and his maleness sprang to life. The sexuality of her body reawakened as she looked at him and beheld his beautiful body. He lay down next to her and leaned over to kiss her and tease her breasts with his tongue, tantalizing the buds, which were swollen to their fullest. Caroline felt her body coming alive as waves of ecstasy throbbed through her.

  Rand gently moved in between her legs, and she gasped in sweet agony as he entered her. His expert touch sent her to even higher levels of ecstasy as they found a tempo that bound them together. Finally, she shattered into a million glowing stars. Just as she shattered into the immense pleasure, he let go of his release.

  “Mmm...Caroline,” Rand said huskily.

  He shifted to lay beside her, while still in her. They wrapped their legs around each other and both lay panting, their chests heaving.

  When their breathing became normal again, she whispered in his ear, “I’ve never experienced anything like this before. Your body is wonderful, and you are wonderful.”

  “Hmm, you’re pretty wonderful yourself.”

  She had never had an orgasm before like the one she just had with Rand. Even when they first made love all those years ago, and she gave him her virginity, she didn’t experience anything then as she did now.

  Lying next to each other, both exhausted, they succumbed to the numbed sleep of satisfied lovers.

  * * * *

  Caroline woke up from a dreamy sleep and looked over at Rand. He laid naked on his back, one arm up over his head and the other alongside his body. She scooted closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. With her fingers, she traced his jawline, and slowly, softly went down his throat to his chest. She ran her fingers across his chest lightly like feathers fanning softly in the breeze. She outlined the side of his body until she got to his navel, then she twirled her fingers ever so lightly around his navel and went further below. When she got lower, she was surprised to see his shaft almost fully erect. She stopped and stared at it in amazement.

  “Don’t stop now,” Rand whispered, startling her.

  She looked up and saw him staring intensely at her in the dark. She ran her fingers gently along his shaft and watched it get harder. While still lightly caressing him, she raised herself up a bit and came closer to leave wet kisses across his face and down his neck to his chest. When she reached his belly button, she circled it with her tongue, then went down lower until she got to his shaft. She whirled her tongue around his shaft until he had his release.

  Chapter 21

  After Rand got his breathing back to normal, he decided to give Caroline equal pleasure, starting with kisses. He kissed her mouth, then trailed along her jawline to her neck. He nibbled a bit at her neck and then moved on to her shoulder. From there, he went down to her breasts, amazed at how beautiful they were, and so full. He teased her nipples as she wiggled and squirmed with delight while he suckled and licked them. Ever so slowly, he drew his tongue down to her belly and circled her navel. With his hand, he gently started to massage her folds and opened them up. She let out little moans of delight as his lips traveled down to her folds. He began suckling and licking her, dipping his tongue in and out of her until she let out a moan after each wave of orgasm she felt.

  Later as they laid side by side, he knew, without a doubt that she did not commit this murder. She could never have committed anything like that. He vowed that he would find the culprit and get the charges dropped. Then he’d have to do something to convince her to stay there with him. Now more than ever, he wanted to be married to her, and wanted to have a family.

  “Caroline,” he said softly.

  “Yes, Rand?”

  He rolled over on his side and put his arm around her, his right hand tangled in her hair. “I love you,” he said simply and tenderly.

  * * * *

  Caroline couldn’t believe her ears, and she looked at him, confused. “What did you say?” she asked incredulously.

  “I love you,” Rand stated again, looking deeply in her eyes.

  “You do?” she whispered.

  “Yeah, I do. It has been so damn hard on me handling this case. I had to arrest you. I had no choice, even though I had my doubts about it,” Rand said quietly.

  “Rand, I didn’t kill that man.”

  “I know, Caroline. I believe you.”

  “You do?” Caroline rolled on to her side to face Rand.

  “Yes. I have to be real careful with this, Caroline. The political fallout from this could be disastrous for your case, and my career. Rand reached over and caressed her face, looking tenderly into her eyes. “But make no mistake about it, I love you, honey.”

  Caroline felt herself coming undone by his profession of love.

  “I love you too, Rand,” Caroline finally admitted after a few minutes of searching for the right words to say. She figured she would just say the same words back to him.

  “Do you?” he asked quietly.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Do you love me enough to think about a future together?” he asked intensely.

  Caroline thought for a few minutes. She’d vowed a few days ago that she would clear her name and get out of Jordan. Did she really want to do that? No, she surmised, she didn’t. She looked at Rand as he lay there on his side with his head up, staring intensely into her eyes as if he was trying to read her.

  “Rand, two days ago I vowed that I would clear my name and leave Jordan for good.”

  “And now?” he asked pensively.

  Did she dare trust him again? Dare she stay and make a future with him? She wanted to. Oh God, she wanted to. Her heart was in her throat. “I don’t know, Rand. Let’s wait and see how everything turns out. I need to beat this rap before I can think of anything else long-term. But I do know that I love you.”

  After laying there for a while reveling in their discovery of one another, Rand got up and got dressed. “I’ve got a murder charge I have to get dismissed,” he pledged, looking at Caroline, love shining from his eyes.

  Caroline got up as well and threw on
a nightgown.

  “I can’t discuss an open case with you, especially since you’re the primary suspect in the case, but I want you to know that I’m following leads and working hard to get you out from under this murder charge and get that tether off your ankle.”

  “I’m grateful you believe me. It means a lot to me.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re innocent. I really had a hard time with that.” He came up to her and kissed her passionately before leaving.

  “Do you think I should jump out of a cake and shake my boobies for you?” Caroline asked, laughing.

  Rand laughed too. “Only if you do it for me in the privacy of our room.” He grinned. “I’ll catch up with you later, honey.” Rand was still smiling as he walked out the door.

  “Okay.” Caroline shut the door and sat on the bed, thinking about their night together. She felt so relieved that he believed in her innocence and would work on her case to get the charges dropped. For the first time in several weeks, she felt hopeful that things were going to work out.

  * * * *

  When Rand got back to the office that morning, he had a message that Dane from CSI wanted to see him. He grabbed a cup of coffee then wandered over to the CSI building. No one was at the counter so Rand let himself in through the front desk and walked back to Dane’s office.

  “Good morning, Rand,” Dane said cheerfully.

  “Good morning. You left me a message you wanted to see me?” Rand asked.

  “Yes, I think we broke your case wide open for you. Here’s what the evidence shows. The backpack has the victim’s fingerprints on it, and it has a man named Daniel Priest’s fingerprints on it. The cocaine found in the backpack is consistent with the cocaine found in the desk of the victim. The packages of cocaine weigh in at one gram, the same as we found in the desk. As you already know, we got the computer analysis. They found a file on it in the temporary folder, contained two voices, one man, and one woman. This piece of back-up file comes from a CD. So the perp may have a disc that you will want to look for. You may also want to see what the perp is driving. We have the tire impressions back from Montana State Lab and the tires belong to a Kelly Springbrooke tire, model number 1462. The DNA taken from the plastic cups you bagged and brought in and the prints that were lifted from the cell matched to a Daniel Priest. Does that name sound familiar?”