Grounds for Seduction (Seattle Steam)

by Shelli Stevens

  “What? Why?”

  Two officers came around back and called out a greeting.

  Madison leaned forward and hissed, “Because I thought he was you. This doesn’t make it into the report.”

  His cock hardened at her words, and he cursed. This wasn’t exactly the time or place to be springing wood.

  “Miss Phillips?” One of the officers, a female, approached her.

  “Yes.” She nodded.

  “We’re going to ask you some questions about what happened…”

  Gabe let the officer do her job but wished to hell he could be the one questioning Madison. Since he was off duty, he was denied that right, but at least he could be by her side while it happened. His attention snapped back to the question they were asking her.

  “The Espresso Bandit has been very consistent in what he wears when he strikes. What was he wearing?”

  “Blank pants and black shirt.”

  “Anything covering his face?”

  “No.”

  “He wasn’t wearing a mask?” Gabe repeated in disbelief, and snapped his mouth shut when the officer gave him a sharp glance.

  “He didn’t realize I was here,” she explained. She licked her lips and cast a warning glance at Gabe. “You see, I was changing in the back when he came in through the front. He must have assumed I was gone. I heard a noise and went to investigate.”

  The officer nodded. “And that would explain your state of dress?”

  Madison nodded.

  “Miss Phillips,” the officer gentled her tone. “I need to know if there was any kind of assault—”

  “No. The whole thing happened in like five minutes.” She closed her eyes. “He was going to kill me if Gabe and Eric hadn’t shown up.”

  “You’re the first person he’s held up who is capable of identifying him, which is even more vital now that one of his victims has a pretty serious injury.”

  The fury at how close to death she’d been washed over Gabe in waves. God. Why hadn’t she listened to him?

  “You’ll need to come down to the station first thing in the morning. We’ll need you to work with our sketch artist so we can get his picture out,” the officer stated and went on with more questions.

  Gabe walked to the front of the shop where Eric paced in obvious distress. He hadn’t thought anyone could be more furious than he was right now, but Eric seemed to be giving him some competition.

  “She’s all right, isn’t she?” Eric asked. “I mean, she can identify him. What if he comes back?”

  “I’m sure we’ll have an officer guarding the shop,” Gabe assured him, although something else still worried him. “She told the officer the robber took her purse.”

  “Damn. She’ll have to cancel all her credit cards and let the bank know. I wonder if she had any cash.” Eric didn’t seem to understand his point at first. He stiffened. “Wait, he knows where she lives.”

  “He was going to kill her.” Gabe forced his voice to sound calm. “We got here right as the son of a bitch had his gun to her head. It seems he didn’t like the idea of someone being able to identify him.”

  “She can’t go home.” Eric shook his head. “He’s going to be waiting for her.”

  My thoughts exactly. Gabe’s voice turned firm. “Take her to your parents. She needs to have someone with her all the time.”

  “My parents are in their mid-sixties. What are they going to protect her with? Social security?”

  “You and Lannie—”

  “I can’t bring Lannie into this, Gabe. I won’t risk the lives of two women I love. Please,” Eric insisted. “You know I would never ask this of you, but, my God, this is Maddie. You are the one and only person I’d trust with her life.”

  Gabe agreed with him one hundred percent. His initial reaction was to drag her off and lock her up in his house. He knew he was damn capable of protecting Maddie and would kill anyone who tried to hurt her. But then he realized the position he’d be putting them in.

  Eric didn’t know their recent history. Gabe closed his eyes and had an immediate flashback to her hot body riding his fingers. She would be safe with him in some ways, but not others.

  Eric shook his head. “I really need you to protect her, Gabe.”

  He wanted her safe. And he knew he could protect her. But he still hesitated. “I’m not sure I’m the best person for the job.”

  “And I’m sure you are, Gabe. Please say yes.”

  “Say yes to what?” Madison asked as she came out of the backroom, the two officers following her. The cops nodded at them on their way out of the shop.

  “I think you should stay with Gabe for a while,” Eric informed her. “Until they catch the Espresso Bandit.”

  Her eyes took on a speculative look. “Why would I do that?”

  “He knows where you live.” Gabe met her gaze as he dropped the ominous news. “You’re the one person who’s seen his face and knows what he looks like. I don’t think he took your purse for monetary reasons.”

  Madison nodded even as she felt the color drain from her face. She didn’t doubt for a minute that this Espresso Bandit would be caught, but until that happened, she wasn’t about to be a sitting duck for him. Gabe made her feel safe, and staying with him wouldn’t be such a hardship. She tried to replace the horrible images of the robbery with more stimulating ones of Gabe. It helped a little to ease her inner turmoil.

  “Fine. I’ll stay with Gabe.”

  Her thoughts must have been reflected in her eyes, because she knew he was silently rebuking all her plans at seduction. There was a long matching of wills before he turned to face Eric.

  “Bring her car back to your parents’, and I’ll take her to her apartment to pack up some things.”

  Eric gave her a long hug and the quick you’ll-be-all-right bit, and then walked out the door.

  Madison watched as Gabe locked up and turned off the lights. He looked so tall and strong. So invincible. She didn’t doubt for a minute he would keep her safe.

  She cleared her throat. “I’ll go put some clothes on before we leave.”

  Gabe’s expression grew strained. “Please do.”

  …

  When they reached her apartment, Gabe took the keys from Madison’s hand and unlocked the door, gesturing for her to keep silent and wait while he stepped inside. He doubted the robber would be so brazen as to show up right away, but he wasn’t taking any chances.

  While she waited in the entryway, he walked around her apartment, his expression growing grimmer by the minute.

  “Okay, if you think I’m going to just sit here…” Madison announced, coming up behind him. “What’s wrong? You look upset.”

  “He was here.”

  “Oh, no…” She looked around her apartment and frowned at him. “How can you tell?”

  Gabe turned to her in disbelief. It couldn’t be possible. It could not be possible that someone would choose to live like this.

  “It looks like a tornado touched down in your bedroom,” he stated. “Are you telling me that this was your doing?”

  Madison folded her arms across her chest. “I was looking for my black pants.”

  “Well, I hope you found them,” he drawled. “I need to use your restroom. Pack a bag and we’ll get out of here.”

  “Fine.” She hesitated. “I have some bras and panties hanging in the bathroom. Just push them aside or ignore them.”

  Gabe gave an inward groan a moment later as he waded through pieces of hanging black lace. He glanced back at the bra, his lips curving. Even while telling himself not to do it, he leaned forward to check the tag.

  Victoria’s Secret. Nice. Thirty-four D. Very nice. He glided his fingers over the lace before he let the bra fall back against the door. Great, more fuel for his forbidden fantasies.

  This would be hell, having her stay with him. To be sleeping a room away from her. He’d already been praying his self-restraint would be on par with Maddie’s bad intentions.

&n
bsp; Eric had been right about one thing, though. She would be safe with him. And until the Espresso Bandit was caught, he didn’t want anyone to have to worry about her safety.

  Gabe dried his hands on a pink towel and glanced in the mirror. For a minute, he fantasized about being the one to arrest the Espresso Bandit. Get him alone and show the asshole what it felt like to get the shit kicked out of him.

  He finished in the bathroom and went to sit on the plush couch in Maddie’s living room. She still appeared to be packing. He could hear her singing an off-key rendition of a Madonna song. He winced. Very off-key. Good thing she hadn’t attempted a career in music.

  “I’m almost done, Gabe,” she called from her room. “Feel free to help yourself to anything in the fridge. I think I have some leftover Pad Thai with tofu.”

  “Thanks, but you lost me at tofu.”

  She emerged from the bedroom carrying a suitcase three times the size she should’ve needed.

  He plucked it from her grasp, aware that she was struggling. “You ready?”

  “Almost,” she answered, pulling a rubber band off her wrist and fixing her hair into a ponytail. The band snapped off her fingers and flew across the room.

  “Damn.” She hurried over to where it landed, bending over to retrieve it.

  For the briefest moment, she gave him the most tantalizing view of her tight ass. He stifled a groan, wanting to pull down her jeans and panties and fuck her from behind.

  She straightened and finished pulling her hair back. “I’m hungry. Can we go grab dinner somewhere?”

  Gabe went from having kinky thoughts to getting seriously annoyed.

  “I’ve got food at my place.” He ushered her out the door and locked it behind them. “I’ll cook you something.”

  She gave him a dubious look. “You cook?”

  “It comes out edible. So try not to complain too much while I’m stuck babysitting you,” he replied, further annoyed by her skepticism.

  He saw a flash of hurt in her eyes. Shit. That had been below the belt. This situation hadn’t been her choice.

  They took the elevator downstairs and walked out to his vintage Chevelle.

  “I’m sorry, Maddie. About what I said upstairs. I didn’t mean it,” he said instead, gentling his tone and holding the passenger door open for her.

  She blinked at him, looking stunned. Then she shook her head as she climbed into the seat and shut the door.

  Why had she been so shocked? Gabe gave her another glance and climbed into the driver’s side of the car. He almost asked what he’d said but then stopped himself. Some things were better left alone.

  Chapter Four

  Madison sat in the passenger seat and stared out the window in amazement. She couldn’t recall if a man had ever apologized to her before. Maybe her brother and father. But a man she’d been interested in who would apologize and admit he was wrong? The whole concept seemed a bit mind boggling. Or maybe I’ve just dated losers.

  The ride to Gabe’s took about a half hour. He lived in Edmonds, a suburb fifteen miles north of Seattle. He stopped the car in front of a small house, and she looked around in surprise. They were just a couple of blocks away from the ferry dock in a fairly nice neighborhood.

  She hesitated and then asked, “Do you rent?”

  He gave her a brief glance before climbing out of the car. She followed suit.

  “My aunt lived here. She left it to me when she died.”

  Madison turned her attention back to the home. It appeared small and quaint on the outside. She’d known that Gabe had left California to come live with his aunt at the age of thirteen. But she never knew the details as to why.

  “You went to the same prep school as my brother…in Seattle.” She didn’t want to pry, but curiosity got the better of her. “Wouldn’t it have been easier to attend school in a district closer to you?”

  Gabe grabbed her suitcase, and his mouth curled into a fond smile.

  “My aunt wanted me to get a good education. She managed to pay the outrageous tuition. To this day, I still don’t know how she did it.” He unlocked the door and swung it inward.

  “So you drove down to Seattle every day?” She followed him inside. When he flipped on the light switch, she gave a sigh of appreciation. What a beautiful home. Hardwood floors, area rugs, oak furniture mixed with a plush couch and chair.

  “No. I took the bus every day at five a.m., with two transfers, to get to school. Just so I could have the same opportunities as the rich kids.”

  Her enthusiasm dimmed somewhat. It was apparent that—in case she hadn’t realized it before—he was telling her just how different their worlds had been. How much she’d taken for granted.

  “You were blessed. I never met your aunt, but she always sounded amazing.” She had the urge to hug him, kiss his cheek, but she knew it wouldn’t go over well.

  “She was.” Gabe turned and walked down the hall. “Come on, I’ll show you where your room is.”

  Madison followed him down the short hallway. He stopped in front of a door across from what she assumed to be his room.

  The room he led her into was minimal. A cream-colored quilt lay atop the twin bed under the window and an antique dresser sat in the corner with a wicker chair next to it. Such a charming room.

  He must have mistaken her silence for distaste, because his tone grew harsh as he said, “I’m sure it’s not up to your usual standards, but it should do.”

  “It’s perfect, Gabe.” She turned around to face him. “I’m a little confused. Did I run over your dog or something? Where is this hostility coming from? There’ve been a couple of barbed remarks tonight.”

  His glance dropped to her mouth, and his body tensed. It’s me. Being here. He still fought the inevitable. He was so damned determined to be the good guy.

  “Gabe.” She took a step toward him, wanting to feel her mouth under his. She hadn’t kissed him yet. He’d given her a mind-blowing orgasm, and she hadn’t even kissed him. That needed to be remedied.

  She slicked her tongue over her lips as she glanced up at him. She could have sworn he groaned, but he still kept the distance between them.

  “I thought you were hungry, Maddie.”

  She ran her hands down his chest, clenching her fingers in the material of his shirt.

  “I am.” She reached up to the back of his head and pulled his mouth down to hers.

  His lips were soft yet firm as she moved her mouth against them. She ran her tongue over his bottom lip and then gave it a gentle bite with her teeth.

  He must have given up any idea of refusing, because he grasped her hips and jerked her firmly against his body as he backed her up against the wall.

  He pulled the rubber band free from her hair and threaded his fingers through the strands that fell to her shoulders. He tilted her head a bit and deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue into the cavern of her mouth.

  Madison’s head spun, and she realized she had just lost control of the situation. Not that she cared. This was the exact response she’d been hoping to get from him.

  He slid his knee between her legs and rubbed against her throbbing sex through her jeans. He groaned again, and she answered with one of her own.

  She stroked her tongue against his, loving the warm, abrasive textures rubbing together. His hand came up to cup the side of her face, and she yelped in pain.

  “Maddie…?” He pulled back, looking dazed.

  “My jaw is just a little tender.” No! Madison wanted to smack herself. She reached for him and tried to bring his mouth back down to her. “We can work around it.”

  “Shit.” His hand gentled against her cheek as he stepped back from her. “I forgot that he hit you. Let’s get some ice on that.”

  “No. No, no!” She grabbed his arm. “Let’s not. Let’s stay here and you can keep on kissing me until my knees go weak again—”

  Gabe took her hand and pulled her into the kitchen after him. He urged her into a chair and went to t
he freezer to pull out a bag of frozen vegetables.

  Madison shook her head in disgust. She’d almost had him. Had been so close to having him. But no. She had to let a little bruise get in the way.

  He handed her the vegetables wrapped in a paper towel, and she obediently placed them against her cheek, wincing at the abrupt coldness.

  “Now, let’s get you something to eat.” He cast her a sharp look as he opened the fridge. “And I mean food.”

  Madison sighed and gave him a wry smile. “You can’t blame a girl for trying.”

  He laughed as he pulled a carton of eggs and a pack of tortillas out of the fridge.

  “Do you like eggs?”

  “Yeah, that’s fine.”

  “All right.” He turned on the stove and set a frying pan on top of the burner. “I’m going to make you something my aunt used to make. It’s called tortilla con huevo.”

  “Hmm.” She watched as he added a glob of butter to the pan, making a mental note to attend an extra spinning class this week.

  Gabe tore a small hole in the middle of a corn tortilla and laid it on the cast-iron skillet.

  Curious, she stood and went to lean on the counter next to him, watching him prepare her food. When the tortilla had turned a light brown, he cracked an egg over the hole and allowed it to cook.

  After a moment, he grabbed a spatula and flipped the tortilla so the yolk of the egg peeked through the gap.

  “Wow,” she glanced at him. “I’m impressed. That looks great. Fattening, but great.”

  “Oh, please.” He shook his head and flipped the concoction out of the pan and onto a plate. “Do you want salsa?”

  “Oh, yeah. Pile it on, baby.” She accepted the steaming plate and a fork from him a minute later.

  “You think you’ll want another one?”

  “No, this’ll do me.” She took a seat at the antique table in the dining room. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

  “Eric and I got something before…”

  Before they’d shown up at her shop. She knew the rest of what he hadn’t said. Her stomach roiled with the memories, and she almost lost her appetite. Squelching down any further reaction, she lifted a bite to her mouth.