Heat of the Moment

by Diana Duncan

  He shifted into fourth and hit the gas. After a fast right, then a left, he did another mirror check and smirked. The Mustang had left the bulky SUV in a distant cloud of dust.

  The Triumph was a different game. Playing for keeps…winner take all. Liam had the edge in power, but the biker proved he had him beat to hell in maneuverability by careening down the sidewalk. As pedestrians fled, Liam calculated the seconds until a gap would appear in the flood of approaching cars. “Plant your butt in the seat and snap your freaking seat belt! Now!”

  His take-no-prisoners order had her scrambling to obey, and he grinned. “Now we’re cooking. Hang onto your boxers.”

  With Kate safely strapped in, Liam was in his element. He double stomped the brake and clutch, shifted and wrenched the wheel. Tires shrieking, the car skidded and whirled three hundred and sixty degrees in the middle of the street. Kate yelped as Liam shifted again, swerved to avoid the onslaught of oncoming vehicles and slammed down the gas pedal.

  The Triumph bumped off the sidewalk and spun to follow. The bike wobbled, the rider corrected. For a split second, he almost made it. Then the motorcycle toppled. Spokes spinning, sparks flying, the Triumph dragged its passenger along the asphalt.

  Liam burst into laughter as they roared in the opposite direction. “Pony one, bad biker dude zero.”

  Murphy hopped onto the seat, thrust his nose in the air and chimed in with a hearty, “Roo, roo!” We kicked tail, partner!

  “Holy crow!” Kate flung shiny strands of chestnut hair out of her eyes. “You’re both deranged.”

  “Yep.” Liam chuckled. “We do demented for a living.”

  She jerked down her crumpled hem, which had climbed her long, shapely thighs. Outgunning the AC, a flash of heat blasted him. Damn. She frowned. “You certainly are good at it.”

  He flashed her a grin. “Thank you.”

  Her lips twitched. “That wasn’t an endorsement.”

  “We left the bogie sprawled in the street.”

  She turned, gazed out the back windshield. “Oh, look. There’s my stomach.”

  “Admit it, Just Kate. That was the wildest ride you’ve had in…” He shot her a teasing glance. “Two and a half years.”

  A reluctant smile curved her sexy mouth. “Yeah, you’re a thrill a minute, Ace.”

  Liam called 9-1-1 to assist the downed cyclist and requested that the local cops hold him for questioning.

  He hung up, and Kate looked away from him, out the window. “The answer to your question is zilch.”

  “Come again?”

  “Zero. No dates since you and I…”

  “All right.” He wanted to know more, but knew he had to stay focused. “Tell me everything about this stalker. Exactly when did it start? What do the notes say?” He spent the rest of the drive interrogating Kate. He mentally filed away every detail. His priority was to protect her, which would hamper his investigation. But one way or another, he would find the whack job and put him away, and clear her reputation.

  As they strode through the double glass doors of the hospital, Kate pointed at Murphy. “Animals are prohibited.”

  “K-9 Murphy is allowed to go anywhere I am.”

  Rejecting Liam’s repeated reassurances about her safety, Kate refused to ride in an enclosed elevator with Murphy.

  The dog rolled his eyes and heaved a long-suffering sigh. Your female isn’t the brightest squeaky toy in the box.

  Liam hiked five flights of stairs without objection. Kate would get used to Murphy. After spending time with the dog, women doted on him like a favorite child. The mutt’s loyal, loveable, goofball personality couldn’t fail to grow on her.

  Outside room 514, a tall blonde wearing an elegant beige suit sobbed in the arms of an older woman. “I can’t stand it!”

  Kate sprinted down the corridor. “Has something happened?”

  The gray-haired woman, whom he surmised was Kate’s mother, patted the hysterical blonde. Her hazel eyes shot Kate a reprimand that could freeze gasoline. “You took your time.”

  Kate sighed with patient resignation. “Unavoidable delay.”

  “It’s bad enough that your father can never get away from the office.” The older woman bestowed another accusatory stare. “Your sister needs the entire family’s support. She’s upset.”

  “So I gathered. Does she have cause to be?”

  “You know Janine has always been fragile.” Mrs. Chabeau’s expression and tone were both starchy. “Don’t snipe at her because you’re stronger and more capable.”

  Kate’s voice was carefully modulated. “I wasn’t—”

  The blonde wailed louder. “She never understands what I’m going through! I can’t take this stress anymore!”

  Kate briefly closed her eyes, visibly reined in her temper. “What’s going on? Where is Daniel?”

  Mrs. Chabeau stroked Janine’s hair. “He went to the cafeteria about an hour ago. He desperately needed coffee.”

  Kate’s chest rose and fell in a trembling breath. “It can’t be that serious, or he wouldn’t have left Aubrey.”

  Mrs. Chabeau frowned. “If you’d been here, you could have gone for him, and he wouldn’t have had to leave her.”

  Liam’s best intentions to remain uninvolved disintegrated under the assault on Kate. He strode forward in her defense. “Kate’s had a stressful day herself.”

  Her mother turned her frosty stare on him. “Our family business is none of your affair, young man.”

  Kate waved him back. “I’m fine.”

  “The doctors threw us out of Aubrey’s room, to run more tests!” Janine shrieked. “They said my baby is going to die!”

  “Shh!” Kate grabbed the half-open door and swung it shut. “Mother, tell me exactly what the specialist said.”

  Kate’s mother glanced down the hallway. “Here comes Daniel now.”

  Clearly frustrated, Kate whirled and assumed a neutral expression as a blond man sauntered toward them. Liam caught the distinct vibe that she wasn’t wild about her brother-in-law.

  The guy was around Liam’s height, fit and gym honed. His short hair was gelled to tousled perfection. His shoulders were squared, his pale blue gaze direct, his walk a self-assured strut. The ultimate all-American boy. Even as Liam mentally rolled his eyes, his instincts prickled. Cocky, fair-haired frat boys were never as innocent as they appeared.

  Kate waited for Daniel. “Has something happened?”

  Daniel’s cool gaze measured Liam, didn’t miss a detail. No challenge glinted in his eyes, merely interest. “Who’s this?”

  “Daniel Tyler, Officer Liam O’Rourke.” Kate made an impatient gesture. “Um…he…” She trailed off uncertainly. “He’s…”

  Liam extended his hand. “Security detail for the auction.”

  Daniel’s glance flicked to Murphy. “You rented an off-duty cop and his watchdog?” His hand briefly clasped Liam’s. “I could have arranged for professional security through the company’s resources. We can’t afford to cut corners.”

  Liam counted to ten. In Gaelic. Murphy picked up on his edginess and curled his lips back. Liam felt like showing some fang himself. Rent-a-cop, my arse. I’m gonna check him out so thoroughly, I’ll know his cholesterol count.

  Kate gave Daniel a tight smile. “Officer O’Rourke and his…partner are fully qualified. Now, what is going on?”

  Janine sniveled into her mother’s shoulder. “I can’t bear to hear it again. I need to go home, take a pill and lie down.”

  “Of course you do, sweetie.” Mrs. Chabeau’s gaze pinned Daniel. “We’ll be in the car. Don’t keep us waiting.”

  Daniel nodded. “No, ma’am. I’ll be right there.”

  Without a word, she led Janine down the hallway.

  “Daniel, what’s up?” The pressure was starting to tell on Kate. She looked like she wanted to scream, and Liam didn’t blame her. More than ever, he appreciated his family’s close-knit ties and unfailing support. She exhibited the patience of a sa
int. This crew leached all the “fun” out of dysfunctional.

  “Aubrey’s remaining kidney function is in decline. They had to do another dialysis this afternoon. She has less time than we thought.” Daniel’s face furrowed, and his fingertips brushed Kate’s good arm. The casual gesture rose Liam’s hackles. The guy needed support, but Liam didn’t like him touching her.

  Tension pulsed between Kate and her brother-in-law. She gulped, struggling to sustain her calm demeanor. “We’ll have the money in forty-eight hours and the transplant can proceed.”

  Daniel frowned. “Everything has to go off without a hitch. The doctor said Aubrey won’t last another week.”

  She blanched impossibly paler. “Don’t worry, she’s going to be fine. I refuse to accept any alternatives.”

  “We know we can count on you.” He sighed. “I’d better get your sister home before she has a nuclear meltdown. After the doctors are done, call me with any news.”

  Kate nodded. “Of course.”

  Daniel patted her shoulder, and she stiffened. “Thank heaven someone in the family is dependable.” He inclined his head at Liam in dismissal and strode away.

  Don’t put the guy’s lights out. People reacted to stress differently. Obnoxiousness wasn’t out of line for a parent trapped in an intensely emotional situation without spousal support. Especially for a CEO, used to being in charge. Besides, Ma would kick his butt if he punched a grieving father.

  Kate reached for the doorknob to Aubrey’s room. “I’ll see if they’re almost finished.” Liam followed, with Murphy tagging behind. She whirled, color surging into her cheeks. “You stay here! I am not letting a vicious dog anywhere near that baby!”

  Liam frowned. She wasn’t crazy about his partner, but Murphy had done nothing to warrant mistrust. He spread his hands. “Down, girl! Watch the slander. Murphy is not vicious. A K-9 is trained to bite for three reasons.” He ticked them off on his fingers. “At the handler’s command. To protect his handler. To protect himself. Murphy would never hurt a child.”

  Trembling, she crossed her arms over her chest. “You have no control over his actions. You couldn’t stop him.”

  Why the unreasonable fear? “Wrong. He’s better trained than any soldier. He will not attack without provocation.”

  She stared at him, her eyes as flat and cold as ice chips. “I refuse to jeopardize Aubrey’s welfare.”

  He gestured at the dog, who cocked his head and held up a paw. I think we got off on the wrong paw. Shake?

  “Look. He wants to be your friend.”

  She’d gone pale again. “With friends like that, who needs enemies? He stays out!”

  Puzzled, Liam ordered the dog across the hall. People were intimidated by large dogs, especially K-9s. They were meant to intimidate. But Kate’s extreme phobia didn’t make sense. Unless…

  He studied her frozen defensive stance. Body turned slightly sideways, Kate appeared perilously close to tears. Her left arm was cradled protectively over her crippled hand. She hugged her purse and camera to her and rocked on her heels as if she expected imminent assault.

  Damn! As he stared at her scars crisscrossed beneath the stacked bangle bracelets, horrifying realization settled in a sick, suffocating weight on his chest. He clung to the shattered hope that he was wrong…all the while knowing he wasn’t. “What type of dog attacked you, sweetheart?” he asked gently.

  Shock jolted her features before she lowered her chin. “I only remember a huge black blur and snarling fangs.” Her voice went deathly quiet. “Torn flesh. Blood and pain.”

  Heart aching, he tugged her to him, and she didn’t resist. He enfolded her in his arms. “I wish you’d told me before.”

  “Why? Would you have sent Murphy away?”

  He could never do that. Murphy was his partner. A faithful friend who offered unconditional love and the quality he valued most…steadfast loyalty. Murphy had put his life on the line for him more than once. Had unhesitatingly stepped between him and a bullet. “Unless Murphy and I live together, I can’t be a K-9 officer. And as a bomb tech, I’d have to trust my life to someone else’s dog, or a robot.” He’d rather direct traffic.

  He hoped like hell he wouldn’t eventually be forced to choose between Murphy and Kate. As they worked together, she would learn to trust Murphy. He had to believe that. “I can’t compromise your safety. We’re a team. Better, stronger together. But I would have understood. Kept more distance between you and him.” She was still shaking, and he rubbed her back. “Can you tell me what happened?”

  “It was about a year before you and I met. Janine wanted to take her toy poodle to the park. She’s never had good judgment, and since I’m five years older, Mom always expected me to keep an eye on her. Janine let PB off the leash because he was getting in her way while she flirted with some guy.”

  “PB?”

  “Pookie Bear, or Pookums, as Janine called him.” They grimaced in unison, and Kate offered a crooked smile. “Gag me. I couldn’t shout that around the neighborhood, so I shortened it.”

  He snorted. “Don’t blame you one iota, honey.”

  “PB wandered away. We heard horrible growling and ran to find him. He’d wriggled under the fence beside the walkway and had been attacked by an enormous black monster.” She bent her head, the shiny waterfall of hair hiding her face. “Janine started screaming her head off. I didn’t stop to think. I vaulted the fence and jumped into the fray.”

  He massaged the back of her neck, and some of her stiffness yielded to his touch. “Very brave.”

  “Most people think it was very stupid.”

  “Too many people don’t understand the devotion between dogs and their humans. Did you save him?”

  “Yes. And Janine gave him away while I was in the hospital, because he was ‘too much trouble.’”

  He swallowed bitterness. As a cop, he’d seen the slimy underbelly of humanity. Man’s disregard for man wasn’t news. Sibling rivalry stretched back to Cain and Abel. So why was he so revolted by her sister’s heartless indifference? Because if the drama queen had exerted minimal effort and kept the damned dog, Kate might have bonded with him and avoided her phobia. He stroked her hair. “It’s too little, too late…but I’m sorry.”

  “It was my own fault. After four surgeries and a year of physical therapy, my PT told me I’d never regain my fine motor skills.” She inhaled a shuddery breath. “Another impulsive, bad decision that cost me everything.”

  Kate was wounded—both body and soul. An artist who could no longer paint because of a dog attack. Did he honestly believe she could overcome the tragedy and trust Murphy? He’d had his heart broken before. Trust was a fragile web. Once ripped to shreds, it didn’t mend easily. And the patched strands were never as strong.

  His spirits nosedived. She’d said another impulsive decision that had cost her everything. Did she consider sleeping with him one of those bad decisions? Was that why she’d run away? He closed his eyes and rested his cheek against her silky hair, but found no comfort. “Even though you paid a terrible price, you saved a life. That counts for something.”

  “Yes. I don’t regret rescuing PB. I never have.” She pulled back, putting space between them.

  Their connection shriveled, froze over. Her fears blocked his way…a barricade he couldn’t scale. A locked door he couldn’t batter down. Sweet Kate. Haunted by her past and terrified of the future.

  She was whiter than the vertical blinds lining the windows. “I should check on Aubrey.”

  Ten-four. Snap out of it, O’Rourke. Duty calls. “You’ve been under considerable strain. When did you eat last?”

  She dismissed his concern with a shrug. “I don’t have time. After I see Aubrey, I need to finalize auction details.”

  Sorrow clashed with anger. For a guy who dodged life’s curveballs, his emotions were taking too many hits. “That’s your thing, isn’t it? Rescuing everyone. Taking care of everyone. No matter what it costs you.” He cupped her face, stroked
her cheek with his thumb. Her fair skin was smooth and cool beneath his palm. Too cool. “Who worries about you? Who takes care of you?”

  She raised her chin. “I take care of me.”

  “From what I can see, not very damn well.”

  She jerked away, her defensive stance unable to conceal her vulnerability. “I’m a big girl. I don’t need mommying.”

  Good thing, because her mother seemed decidedly unconcerned about her welfare. “Do I look like a mommy to you?”

  Her smile wobbled at the corners. “Big brother, then.”

  “I don’t want to be your brother.” What did he want to be? He gave her a long, appraising look. “Don’t you get lonely?”

  “No.”

  “Renée Allete’s photographs say differently.”

  She gasped, turned aside. “Renée’s photos are compositions arranged to artfully contrast light and dark. No more.”

  “What about ‘Man in the Shadows?’” The photo that had first grabbed his attention. A silhouette of a man with his back to the camera, leaning in one of a row of darkened brick archways and staring out at the fog-shrouded Seine. Captured from a distance in the middle of the night, the poignant black and white evoked a visceral image of stark loneliness.

  She wrestled with composure before turning back. “I appreciate that you feel responsible for me. But you’re only accountable for my physical safety.” Sadness swam in her big brown eyes, and her voice was gentle. “I don’t want my emotional well-being to become another of your duties. It’s best for everyone if we keep it just business between us.”

  He donned a mental blast suit against the sting. Strapped a layer of Kevlar around his rioting feelings. She was determined to keep her distance, and he’d damn well better heed the warning siren. Stick to his decision to stay uninvolved. Liam scrubbed a hand over his face. Or it could swing around and bite him. Big-time. Whenever he’d tried to cling to anyone, they’d slipped through his fingers. Nobody had to light a case of dynamite under him. He’d stay with what worked—easygoing and casual.

  He would use humor to buffer the fierce attraction, subdue the intense emotions threatening to implode between them. Hell, that was his freaking forte. Laugh and the world laughed with you. Cry, and you had salty Guinness.