by Zoe York
“Don’t you?”
His eyes didn’t give anything away. He shook his head.
Kari tipped her head and considered her options. Opting to use her sexual powers, she slid her hands down his hard, defined chest. She took her time to trail her fingers around and examine every inch of him. His hands still held her in place, so she bent forward and followed the trail her fingers had left with gentle kisses. When she got to his nipple, she sucked it into her mouth and rolled it with her tongue. Rhys closed his eyes and groaned, but it was the thickness beneath her, growing steadily, that told her she’d won.
“I’ll ask you one more time. What was it you were saying about next time?” Kari’s voice was thick with need of her own. “You know what?” She kissed a trail down to his waist. “I don’t think I need to wait to hear what you have to say about it.”
“I think I like that plan.” Rhys licked his lips in invitation, and it didn’t take more than that for Kari to oblige.
It was easy for her to lose herself in him: the way he tasted, the way he touched her, the way she felt more alive than she’d ever been. As if every moment she’d lived before Rhys had come along, she hadn’t really been living at all but been in a deep sleep. But now, with Rhys’ hands on her, his touch sparking her skin ablaze, there was no doubt that she was alive. Kari slid her hands down the length of him, took him in her hand, and squeezed just hard enough to elicit a groan from him.
With a grin, she shimmied her body down, so she could take him completely in her mouth; she tasted him and let him fill her. She teased him with her tongue before his strong hands on her shoulders urged her up again. “Babe, you will be the death of me.”
“I thought this was my turn.” She gave a fake pout. But even as Kari protested, her body moved over him, unable to take much more herself. Rhys sat up, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into him. His hands clenched her back, as if he was just as wont to let go of her as she was of him. Whatever it was between them, it was intense. And Kari knew if she wasn’t careful, she’d completely lose herself with this man in front of her, on her lips, on her skin, and before she’d realized he’d even found another condom, inside her.
They moved together: they clutched each other close, hands roamed and touched, each grabbed for the other in a mess of arms and legs, as they each brought each other higher and higher, until finally it was Kari who couldn’t hold on any longer.
She tipped her head back; her hair fell down her back as she cried out her release. Rhys joined her moments later. They collapsed to the bed in a twist of sheets. A light sheen coated their skins, and as Kari fell asleep in his arms, the thought that despite her safeguards, she’d already fallen hopelessly and completely in love with the man who held her, crossed her mind. She drifted off with a smile on her lips, a nugget of worry deep in her gut.
Despite what should have been a deep sleep, fully satiated from their night of lovemaking, nestled in a cozy feather bed, Kari couldn’t relax. She’d tossed and turned. The truth kept her from enjoying the sleep she should have had next to the man who made her feel safer than she could remember. She’d snuggled into his chest; his strong arms held her close, as if he was keeping her from running away from him. Rhys made her feel safe and cherished. It was a new feeling, and one she was happy to keep close. But something kept her body from relaxing completely, and she knew what it was. As the morning light filtered through the blinds, Kari had finally made the decision to tell Rhys everything. She was sure she could trust him, and in that revelation, she finally found the peace she needed to drift into sleep. In the morning, she’d tell him who she really was.
But despite her plans, when Kari finally opened her eyes, Rhys was no longer next to her. Instead, there was a note on the pillow. She rolled over with lazy movements, sleep still clinging to her, and unfolded the paper.
Good morning,
You looked so beautiful, I couldn’t wake you. I had an early shift, but I’ll see you tonight. I’ll be thinking of you all day.
~Rhys
Kari smiled and let the memory of the night before fill her and wake her completely. There was no doubt that she’d be thinking of him all day, too. Their conversation could wait. It was probably for the best anyway, as she had a full day of work ahead of her, and with a quick glance at the clock, it was clear that if she didn’t get moving, she’d be late, too.
Twenty minutes later, after a rushed shower, Kari pulled on her work clothes from the night before, twisted her hair up in a clip and presented herself at the front desk, with only five minutes to spare before her shift started.
The day moved quickly. Probably because Kari was in a state of bliss. She floated from task to task, hardly noticing anything except the time ticking by, and counted down the moments before she could see Rhys and be in his arms again.
“Good afternoon.” Carmen appeared next to her and slipped her arm around Kari. “I can’t believe I haven’t seen you all day. Did you have a good night?”
Her friend wore a huge smile, and it occurred to Kari that in her past life, she would never have shared details of her dates, or a romantic night with a girlfriend. But maybe that was because she hadn’t had a close girlfriend—not since childhood—and now, in less than two weeks, she had two. Kari matched Carmen’s smile and turned to her friend.
“I had a fantastic night. Thank you.”
“Hey.” Carmen held up a hand. “I didn’t do a thing. Well, maybe I helped a little.”
They giggled together, and when Carmen pressed for details, Kari gave her enough to satisfy, but kept all the most important bits to herself. She wasn’t ready to share any intimate details yet. And definitely not how she was feeling about Rhys. Not yet anyway.
“So you enjoyed yourself?”
Kari clutched Carmen’s shoulder. “I think that goes without saying. How was the rest of the party? I’m sorry I didn’t stay to see it through.”
Carmen waved away her protests. “Nonsense. It was—”
“Karina?” A nasally, high-pitched voice interrupted the friends, and Kari froze where she stood. She didn’t turn around, even when the voice said, “Karina? Is that you?” Kari barely had time to register the look of confusion on Carmen’s face when a bony hand, with long, manicured fingernails tipped in deep red, clamped down on her shoulder. She had no choice but to turn around and face the woman who belonged to the voice.
Kari pasted a smile she didn’t feel on her face. “Brandi. What a coincidence running into you here.” She did her best to keep her voice light but she was pretty sure she wasn’t fooling anyone, least of all Brandi Rutherford.
“Why, what are you doing here?” Brandi flicked her fingers toward Kari. “And why exactly are you wearing...that?” The woman’s hands fluttered in front of her, sizing up Kari’s Springs uniform.
Kari glanced toward Carmen, who clearly understood that something was going on. She nodded and pretended to be busy with something on a clipboard. She stayed close enough that Kari knew if she needed her, she’d be there. In that one instant, Kari felt what friendship really was, and it was definitely not in this overdressed, snobby woman who was standing in front of her, ready to destroy the peaceful and fragile life she’d been trying to build herself in Cedar Springs. She could hardly believe she called Brandi a friend at one point.
Before Kari could answer her, Brandi kept talking. “Didn’t I hear a rumor about you?” She tapped one long finger against her temple. “Yes, I think it was something about you running away. Did you run away to the Springs?”
Kari felt all the blood drain from her face. If Brandi noticed, she either didn’t care about Kari’s response, or was enjoying it too much to stop talking. “Isn’t it lovely here?” Brandi continued. “I can’t blame you for coming here. I mean, everyone knows Brice was never one for splurging on the finer things, was he?” She leaned in as if she was sharing a secret with Kari. All it did was make Kari’s stomach turn and twist. A million thoughts raced through her head. The pri
mary one being that she had to leave. He’d find her now.
A roaring filled her ears and grew louder with every second that passed, and Kari had a hard time focusing on the woman in front of her. The woman who would surely be the destruction of everything Kari thought she had, only a few short hours ago.
“But Karina, why are you dressed like the help?” Brandi returned to the question that would bury her.
Before she could formulate a response that might be acceptable, Carmen, who must have heard the entire exchange, and likely formed her own opinion of what was happening, was at her elbow, steadying Kari. If she could have, she would have gripped onto her friend’s arm, but as it was, Kari couldn’t move. “Mrs. Rutherford, I’m so glad you’re enjoying your stay at the Springs. And I’d love to offer you a complimentary massage in our spa if you have some free time this afternoon? The raindrop massage is our signature treatment, and I’d love for you to experience it firsthand. There’s really nothing like it.”
Brandi’s face transformed. It didn’t matter how much money the woman had; there was nothing she liked more than being singled out for special treatment. Carmen’s ability to read her was uncanny. Then again, she’d spent a long time in the hotel business; she probably had a read on every guest who walked through the door.
“I think that would be delightful,” Brandi said after pretending to think about it for a moment. “Alan is in a meeting. I’ll just go tell—”
“No.” Kari blurted before she could stop herself. If Brandi found Alan, there was no doubt in her mind what exactly she’d tell him, and it most certainly would involve her.
Brandi turned, her mouth agape at Kari. “I don’t—”
“There really isn’t time, Mrs. Rutherford,” Carmen slid in easily. “In fact, the treatment is quite involved. We should go immediately. I’ll be sure to get word to your husband so he doesn’t worry unnecessarily.”
Kari bit back a hysterical laugh. All three of them knew Brandi’s husband would definitely not be worrying about his wife.
“Okay,” Brandi said. “That should be fine. I wouldn’t want Alan to worry.”
Carmen’s smile was well practiced and she gestured in front of her, letting Brandi lead the way. “It was good to see you, Karina,” she said over her shoulder. “I’ll be sure to let Brice know I ran into you.”
There was no doubt in Kari’s mind she would be doing exactly that the first chance she got. As soon as she turned around, Kari clutched Carmen’s arm briefly and mouthed the words, “thank you.”
Carmen nodded, put her hand over Kari’s and squeezed. Before she turned to follow her guest, Kari hoped her eyes imparted the message of her gratitude to her friend. She’d find a way to make it up to Carmen. But first, she had to figure out what to do, and quickly.
Chapter 11
The sky was bluer than Rhys could remember it ever being. The birds chirped and despite the fact that the leaves had started falling from the trees in the last few days, Rhys could believe that summer would last forever. He was definitely feeling like summer would last forever. After waking up next to Kari—her beautiful body snuggled up close to him, her sweet heat warming him—he didn’t want to move or disrupt her and definitely not leave her sleeping in that big bed without him. In fact, it took all the self-control he had to keep from waking her up with his kisses and taking her again. Although the night before had been wonderful, and had definitely whet his appetite for the sweetness that was Kari, it hadn’t been enough. Oh no, definitely not enough.
Steering his cruiser down the street after a quick stop home to hastily change, he navigated down his street and headed toward the station. He wasn’t sure how he was going to concentrate on work for eight hours, not when he knew another night with Kari was waiting for him at the end of his shift.
Rhys all but floated through the doors of the station, greeted Janice at the front desk, and headed to his desk to see whether there was any briefing he needed to be aware of. There never was. Despite the fact that traffic and visitors had risen in Cedar Springs, there still wasn’t much crime aside from a few domestic disturbances, drunk and disorderly, and traffic call outs. A stack of papers waited on his desk. Unusual but not totally out of the ordinary. He needed caffeine before he faced anything, though. There definitely hadn’t been much sleep the night before. Not that he minded. No. He would definitely trade sleep over spending time with Kari the way they had. In fact, one night had not been enough. Not nearly enough.
He poured himself a coffee from the machine they kept on a continuous rotation in order to provide them with some semblance of caffeine, depending on who made the brew. He took a tentative sip and sighed with relief. Janice had made the pot. Feeling adequately prepared to face his day, Rhys made his way back to his desk and picked up the stack of papers that still waited for him.
He’d been hoping to do a quick scan, and sign off on whatever it was that had happened on the night shift, but a name caught his attention. Doug McNeil.
Doug?
He flipped through the pages faster. An icy feeling crept over him. The next word he read confirmed his fears. “2013 Mercedes. Kari’s car.
Scanning down further, his eyes froze on the words: reported stolen.
Abandoning his coffee, he didn’t wait to read the rest of the report. He tucked the papers in a folder, grabbed his keys and headed out the door, ignoring Janice’s calls behind him. She could call him on the radio if it was important.
Five minutes later, he stood outside Doug’s shop and banged on the door. The shop wouldn’t open for another hour at least, but Rhys knew Doug often slept in the back room, especially on the weekends when he might have indulged in a few more beers than his wife, Laurie, liked. He banged again. Harder.
“Doug, I know you’re in there,” he called. “Wake up.”
Finally, Rhys could make out the shadowy figure of Doug through the dirty plate-glass windows. He didn’t look good. Still in his overalls, red eyes, and whiskers that had likely been accumulating all week.
“Anderson, what the hell?” Doug muttered once he got the door open. “It’s Saturday morning. I don’t open for another hour.” He turned around and walked back inside, presumably to his bed.
“Doug, I think there’s a problem.” Rhys waited until the man turned around. When he looked at him, he held up the file. “The report you filed last night.”
“What about it?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Come on, Anderson, even you can understand what a stolen car report looks like.” Doug shrugged his grubby shoulders and was just about to sink down into his chair when Rhys’ hand shot out and clenched around his arm.
He had to take a deep breath to keep from punching the man and he spoke through gritted teeth as he pinned him in place with his gaze. “I don’t want to tell you again. It’s Officer Anderson to you. Now tell me what the meaning of this report is before I arrest you for obstruction.”
Doug blinked hard, once, twice and then shook his head. “I’m sorry, man. It’s been a long night and—”
“The report.”
Rhys released him and Doug sagged into the chair. “I didn’t have a choice,” he said. “I told you there were no papers in the car, right?”
“Yes.” Rhys tried not to let the information prickle at him. “I remember. But the car belongs to a friend. She borrowed it and wanted to return it once it was fixed. The friend probably couldn’t get a hold of her or something and called it in. It’s a misunderstanding.”
“Maybe,” Doug continued. “But Kari gave me some money, enough for a deposit on the parts. But when I called in to the dealership to order, they told me the car had been reported stolen. Part of their enhanced customer service protection plan or something.”
The words reverberated in Rhys’ skull. “They what?” He couldn’t ignore that.
“They said the car had been reported stolen,” Doug repeated as if Rhys was slow, or deaf. “It’s my civic duty to file a report,
is it not?”
Rhys nodded. “Look, I’ll deal with it. Like I said, it was probably a misunderstanding.” Something wasn’t right about the situation. Something didn’t add up. And there was still so much he didn’t know about the woman he was falling in love with. He needed to talk to Kari.
Rhys made an excuse, mumbled an apology for getting angry, and left Doug to sleep off his hangover. Once back in his cruiser, he scanned the report again. The owner of the vehicle, a Brice Callahan, had reported the car stolen. Rhys glanced from the report to his cell phone lying on the passenger seat. He picked it up and scrolled to the email from Rex.
He’d done his best to ignore it, hoping Kari would open up to him, tell him everything he wanted to know. Everything about who she was and what brought her to Cedar Springs. But she hadn’t.
He closed his eyes, and tried to remember the way she’d felt in his arms, only a few short hours ago. The way she’d looked at him. The care in her eyes when he told her his story. But despite their intimate night, she hadn’t told him anything.
He glanced down to the email again.
Everything he needed to know was only a click away.
With a sigh, he cleared the screen and dialed the number for the Springs. Kari should be working the front desk. With any luck she’d answer.
As the phone rang, he pictured her in her uniform khaki pants and blue shirt that hugged her curves and dipped down to reveal just a peek of cleavage. He would have to mention to Dylan how pleased he was with the uniform choices, even though he was pretty sure it wouldn’t matter what Kari wore, or didn’t wear; it would have the same effect on him.
Rhys blinked hard, and focused as the phone continued to ring. Finally, someone picked up.
“Good morning, it’s a soothing day at the Springs. How may I direct your call?” The voice didn’t sound all that soothing. In fact, it sounded a bit frazzled, and it definitely did not sound like Kari.
