by Regan Black
She tried to reason with him. “No one has been near the car.”
“You can’t be sure,” he accused, backing away and tugging her along.
“I can be. The patrol is right there.” She pointed to the police car parked at the end of the row with a clear view of the ER entrance and her SUV. She understood his hesitation, recognized the signs as the reality of what he’d escaped settled over him. “We’re safe,” she promised.
The temperature was dropping as the sun dipped lower on the horizon. “You need to get into warm clothes. A hot shower wouldn’t hurt,” she told him concernedly.
He glanced at his watch. “I guess I have time for that before our dinner date tonight.”
She dropped her keys. He thought of it as a real date? What was between them was more than just friends who had great sex? Her blood simmered and she felt her cheeks color. She gave all her attention to backing out of the parking space.
“We should probably reschedule.” There, now she sounded like herself. Reasonable, calm, steady.
“Why?” he asked.
“Because you’re hurt and your brain needs to rest.”
“I don’t have a concussion.”
“They put it on your discharge papers,” she said. “Under signs and complications to watch for.”
He unfolded the paper, gave a grunt. “Orr has snapped,” he said. “Maybe the man I knew was the mask and this is the real him.”
“Either way, we’ll find him soon. Rest is probably the better choice for both of us tonight.” They needed a break from the talk of Orr. It would be nice to sit in front of the fire with him and just relax...and back off any talk of real “dates.”
She drove around to the side entrance of the hotel and parked, determined to walk him in and make sure he got inside safely.
He grumbled a little when he spotted one of her officers standing next to one of his security men at the door. “Team effort,” she reminded him. “At least until we have Orr in custody.”
“Smart,” he reluctantly agreed. “You don’t have to feel obligated to hold my hand.”
She had a sudden wish that they were holding hands. “I’ll be back around seven.”
“You won’t be alone, either?” He twisted around, looking for the car that followed them from the hospital.
“They have my back,” she assured him.
“I suppose I have to trust that’s enough.”
“It would help if you did.” She heard a vehicle behind them. The engine and tires sounded way too fast for the parking lot.
She turned to look, but everything blurred as Antonio grabbed her by the coat and spun her around, all but tossing her into the shrubs planted around one of the light poles.
She used the momentum to roll to her feet, then pulled her gun, but the truck careened around the end of the parking row and sped away.
The men near the door had pulled their weapons, too, and both fired. The rear window shattered and the tailgate bounced open as the driver hit a pothole, but the truck didn’t stop.
Antonio caught her around the waist when she started after him. “You’re not going anywhere,” he declared. “Not until that maniac is under control.”
“That was Orr?”
“Same ugly face. Same truck he escaped in earlier,” Antonio confirmed.
She holstered the weapon she’d never had a chance to fire. “You saved my life,” she said on a shaky breath. “Thanks.” She pressed her fist to her pounding heart. Melissa sucked in another deep breath, afraid to close her eyes and see that truck bearing down on her. “Thank you,” she said again.
He was holding her, giving her far more support than she should be asking for. But she couldn’t get the image out of her head, just how close she’d come to being run down. A hard shiver ripped through her and he just held on, keeping her steady. Without Antonio’s quick reaction she would be headed for a hospital at best.
The officer assigned to support the hotel staff jogged over, followed by one of Antonio’s security guards. “I’ve called it in. We have a BOLO on the plates and driver.”
“Should’ve had that earlier,” Antonio grumbled.
“Easy,” she said, automatically defensive. “They put out the order and everyone has been combing the streets.” She looked around, though there wasn’t anything to see. “To be this much of a pest, Orr is hiding somewhere close.”
“Pest?” Antonio glared at her. “That’s the second time he’s tried to kill you. He’s a menace.”
She straightened her shoulders, pulling herself together. A jagged ache started in one shoulder and ran down her back to the opposite hip. She wasn’t seriously hurt, but she’d feel this for a few days. She turned to Antonio’s security guard. “Please make sure he gets upstairs safely. And have someone check on him periodically.”
“Where are you going?” he snapped.
“Station,” she replied, willing the quivering in her knees to stop. “Need to write this up. Keep the search rolling.”
“You need a hospital.”
“I do not.” She tried another smile. “You made sure of that.”
He stepped closer, lowered his voice. “Melissa. Take a minute for yourself.”
“I’m okay. Really.” She’d be better once she got back to the station. The familiar surroundings and the routine of the paperwork would be a comfort.
He touched her elbow and she hissed in pain. His eyes flared. “You’re not. I hurt you.”
“No.” She rested her hand on his shoulder until he met her gaze. “I’ve taken worse in training classes. Please don’t give it another thought.”
Nothing she said eased the worry in his gaze. As she studied his face, her eyes lingered on his lips, and she wished she had the right to kiss him. This wasn’t the time or place to stir up that kind of gossip. She tried to back away, to get to the safety of her car. A little distance would restore her sanity and put this all into perspective. “Thank you again,” she said. “I’ll call when I’m on my way back.”
“Melissa.”
She took another step and tripped over the curb, or possibly her own feet. But she didn’t tumble. Antonio had caught her. How was it a man that was such a threat to her peace of mind could make her feel so safe?
“Humor me,” he said. “Come inside.”
“But there are reports to file.”
“You’re the chief of police. Surely we can handle all of it here,” he insisted. “You want me to get into warm clothing? To rest?”
“Yes.”
“Then come make sure I do.”
“That’s low,” she said, despite being inexplicably charmed by the tactic.
“But it worked.” He smiled.
His arm was still at her waist, but she couldn’t pull herself away from that support, that persuasive warmth. He just kept guiding her. Into the hotel, down the hall, to the private elevator.
“Happy to be of service.”
* * *
Antonio gave in to temptation and kissed her in the privacy of the elevator. To hell with shock, a possible concussion and his busted lip. He’d come too close to losing her out there. When he paused to breathe, her blue eyes, still appearing dazed from the near miss, landed on his lips like a touch and he had to start over.
He wasn’t sure his heart rate would ever settle again and he doubted he’d get any sleep tonight. Every time he blinked, he saw that truck mowing her down.
But she was here. Alive and breathing, if pale. She was warm against his side. Thankfully, she wasn’t shrugging off his touch. It was irrational, but he was afraid to let go, afraid if he did he’d discover Orr had succeeded after all.
First, they went to his office, where they could speak to her officers in person or by phone while he cleaned up and changed into dry clothes. He refused to allow anyone up to the suite where th
ey would be staying until Orr was in custody.
At the knock, he opened the door to two of her officers. “Make yourselves comfortable,” he said. “I’ll just be a few minutes.”
“Take your time,” she said, giving his fingers a squeeze. “I can fill them in.”
He shot her a look as he retreated to the small bedroom behind his office. “I’ll be right back.” A fast hot shower—he was mindful of the butterfly bandages—did wonders for him. And hearing her voice in the other room smoothed out the last rough edges.
He felt almost normal as he dressed in a pair of jeans and a thick cable sweater. He slipped his watch back over his wrist and sent an order for food and wine to be delivered to the suite. Opening the door, he paused, just taking in the sight of her in one piece. A weight lifted from his shoulders and a peacefulness he’d nearly forgotten swept through him. She was here, safe and alive, and they would find their way through this together.
“Please...” She motioned him in. “They’re ready for your statement if you feel good enough to give it now,” she said.
She wasn’t at the table tucked into the bay window. She’d settled her team in the conversation area that was situated away from the glass. He didn’t think she’d made the choice solely because there was more room. The two incidents had clearly left her on edge. Him, too.
“Better to do it while it’s fresh in my mind.” Maybe getting it out would clear the horror. He sat down next to her on the couch, keeping his hands to himself when he desperately wanted to reach for her.
She poured him a glass of water and he sipped gingerly around his busted lip as he answered each question. At last it was over, and the two officers got up to leave. “Do you still have a detail watching your house?” he asked.
All three of them nodded. “We’ll keep it that way until Orr is caught,” Melissa explained.
“Good.” He didn’t want her to suffer any more for his poor choice in associates. He added his thanks to hers.
When they were alone, he took her hands in his, staring into her pretty eyes. “How are you feeling?”
“Sore,” she confessed. Her gaze swept over his face, lingering this time on the cut over his eye. She lifted a hand, caught herself. “May I?”
“Of course.” He craved her touch, anywhere he could get it. “You can have your way with me.”
Whoops, too far. She stopped, her fingertips a hairbreadth away. “Glad you have your sense of humor,” she said, pressing gently at the edges of the bandages. “You shouldn’t have gotten this wet so soon.”
“Hard to avoid it when the rest of me needed cleaning up.” Her lips were so close, peachy and full. He stole a quick kiss, happy to see it bring color into her cheeks. “Warm clothes do make a difference.”
She smiled, but it was a faint imitation of her usually vibrant expression.
“Hell of a day,” he said.
Her stomach rumbled and he chuckled. “I’ve ordered food and wine. It should be delivered upstairs soon.”
Her gaze fell to their joined hands. “It sounds wonderful, but I should stick with water since I have to keep tabs on you and that concussion.”
“I’m fine,” he insisted. “A glass of wine will be good for both of us.”
Her lips tipped up in a half smile. “I don’t know whether to be impressed or intimidated around you.”
“How about just pleased?”
She met his gaze and the half smile blossomed. “I think I can do that.”
“Excellent.”
Holding hands, they left the office behind for the safety of the suite upstairs. She went to clean up and change clothes, stepping out of the bedroom a few minutes later in faded jeans and a beautiful green turtleneck that hugged her curves and set off her red hair to perfection.
“I’m sorry about the mistakes we made last summer,” she said as she joined him at the table. “They won’t be repeated when we bring him in again.”
“We’ve let Orr steal enough of our time.” He wanted her to be able to relax and rest in the awareness that they were safe. “Let’s talk about anything else. We could even not talk at all.”
He stroked a hand along her spine, bringing her closer. How could a woman so trim be so strong? She was steel wrapped in supple silk. Her hair was down and he let the gleaming fire sift through his fingers. “You’re beautiful.”
Resting his lips gently on hers, he took his time with the kiss, enjoying the gentle torture of resisting the urge to drive and rush and plunder.
“Wow,” she whispered into the charged air between them. “What was that?”
“Just about perfect,” he said. “Should we try again?”
She gave a tiny shake of her head. “I think I need a minute.”
He let her step away, though it cost him. “You’re going to blame all of this between us on adrenaline or shock.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “It has to factor.”
He didn’t believe in making excuses, but maybe she was right. Seeing the pickup bearing down on her, he hadn’t thought, only reacted. Save this woman. He could do something to protect Melissa when he’d had no power to save his wife. He wasn’t a monster; he would’ve done his best to help anyone in the same situation. But he wouldn’t have needed the personal touch, the affirmation, afterward. He had no desire to replace his lost wife with this woman. Melissa was not Karen; she was a wonderful person in her own right.
“I suppose you’re right. But recent events don’t explain away everything between us.”
“No?”
“No.” He pulled out a chair for her, relieved when she sat down. Room service had delivered a cart full of food to the foyer, even popped the cork on a bottle of wine. He’d loaded the table with bowls and platters with a fresh green salad, stuffed mushrooms and pasta with two sauces, as well as traditional meatballs and grilled chicken. It was wonderful to care for someone again. To take these steps for Melissa. “I tried to cover all the bases,” he explained as he poured the wine.
He raised his glass. “To our health.”
She touched her glass to his and sipped. He’d ordered extra rolls, but tonight she didn’t seem all that enthused.
“Do you remember the roofing project on the east side of town?” he asked.
Her gaze narrowed. “Last September, right?”
“That’s it.” He’d donated supplies for several homes in need of new roofs before winter set it. “You weren’t afraid of any pitch, you said yes to every request.”
“We were there to work,” she said, finally cutting into her chicken.
“It sure contradicted my theory that you were lazy and less than invested in this city.” He placed a roll on her plate. “I’d like to apologize.”
She laughed, the sound tired and merry at the same time. “Accepted.” She broke the roll in half. “You were right to be upset with the department.” Those blue eyes locked with his. “With me.”
One thing he’d learned in business was never to go into a discussion without having a clear outcome in mind. “I brought it up, the roofing project, because I think I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“Ogling you. You have amazing legs.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “And everything else.”
The blush stealing across her face, the incredulity in her gaze—it was all worth admitting his less-than-honorable behavior that day.
“But it also proves that this amazing chemistry isn’t just shock and adrenaline.”
He wasn’t sure why it mattered so much. He wasn’t a long-term man. Not anymore. He didn’t want anyone relying on him, didn’t want to wind up devastated if something happened. And Orr coming after her today only illustrated his less-than-stellar track record with relationships. The last person he needed to care about was a woman who might rush into a dangerous crisis on any given day at work...the risk
was too much. He couldn’t lie to himself, he did have deep feelings for her, but he didn’t dare admit it.
“All right.” She leaned forward. “If we’re exchanging confessions, I should tell you that we didn’t run out of water right after lunch.”
“No?”
Her hair swayed with the tiny shake of her head. “There were two cases in my trunk. But then you took off your shirt.” She licked her lips, her gaze raking over his chest as if she could see through his sweater. “I knew I’d embarrass myself if I didn’t get out of there for a minute.”
“Lying about water is a serious offense,” he said with a smile, tracing her fingertips.
“Just a misdemeanor,” she corrected him. “And no one suffered from dehydration.”
He laughed and she joined him, and then, somehow they were kissing and the meal was forgotten as they indulged in each other, proving that adrenaline had nothing to do with this undefinable, thoroughly wonderful chemistry between them.
Later, when they were reheating the food for a snack, she tasted the red sauce. “Mmm. That’s good. My mom would be impressed.”
“I’ll take that as the highest compliment,” he said.
“One hundred percent,” Melissa said. “She is the best cook I know. Dad was on vacation in Italy and it was love at first sight. When it was time for him to return to the States, she came along with him.”
“How romantic.” It was the safest response. He’d felt that wild rush of love at first sight with Karen. And he could admit he’d been attracted to Melissa from the get-go, too. Was it happening again? He’d never expected his heart would heal enough for another true love. With Melissa, the thrill he remembered was brewing, along with a new sense of deep alignment.
“It’s pretty much a family legend. They raised my brothers and me in a home full of laughter and love. Lived the example of devotion, commitment and abiding love.”
“Tough standard,” he said.
She sighed. “The right partner is worth the wait,” she said, her eyes on her plate. “Your parents are still married, right?”
He set down his fork, wondering how she knew that. Then it dawned on him. “How much digging did you do last summer when Orr suggested I killed his girlfriend?”
