Body Heat

by Carly Phillips

  “She’s got her own personal bodyguard. A uniformed cop is stationed outside her door, watching who comes in and out. And you know what?” Sharon leaned closer and whispered. “I checked him out this morning and he’s gorgeous.”

  Brianne had her fill of gorgeous cops at home, she thought. She didn’t need to see any at work.

  “What happened to Tony?” Brianne asked of Sharon’s long-term boyfriend.

  Her friend shrugged. “We’re taking a break from commitment. Anyway, you’ve got to see this guy.” Determined, Sharon grabbed Brianne’s elbow and pulled her down a hall.

  “The cafeteria’s the other way,” Brianne grumbled, but she knew the faster she checked out the cute cop, the faster Sharon would be satisfied—and Brianne would finally be eating lunch. Since she’d skipped breakfast, she was starving. But the reasons why she’d missed a meal had left her sated in many other ways—ways more important to her than appetite.

  She walked with Sharon, and when her friend paused, rather indiscreetly in Brianne’s opinion, across the hall from the uniformed cop, Brianne stopped as well.

  “Don’t you love a man in uniform?” Sharon asked.

  Brianne murmured a noncommittal response. Because one glance at the man in blue told her he couldn’t hold a candle to Jake. Then again, she hadn’t expected him to. Brianne had a hunch that Jake had set the standard by which she’d judge men for the rest of her life.

  She turned to Sharon to ask if she’d had enough, when she caught sight of a pair of men standing by the elevator on the far side of the hall. There were many dark-haired men in the world, but only one with that rebel posture and rugged cutoff sweatshirt. Only one who made her heart race, made her blood pound and made her want to lose her clothes and fall into his bed.

  And he was a detective who was so attracted to danger that he couldn’t stay away. Not even when he was on injury leave. Not even when he’d been shot and wounded and hadn’t completely recuperated yet. The disappointment racing through her system was strong as she accepted the truth: he was a man who would always place himself in danger on a daily basis, no matter what his occupational status.

  Brianne’s pulse began a thready beat and a wave of light-headedness assaulted her, a combination of shock, nerves and anxiety. Real anxiety, the kind she hadn’t had in so long, but the kind she’d experienced again upon meeting Jake. She had no doubt she could overcome it; she just hated that she had to.

  Jake. Their connection had been intense and emotional from the beginning. What she felt for him was so strong, so consuming, she was afraid to put a name to it. But raising an adolescent had taught her the value of honesty, and the least she could do was be truthful with herself.

  Brianne was afraid she was falling in love with the detective. But love was everything about who a person was inside as well as out. Jake’s job was an essential part of Jake Lowell, the man. So how could she have such a strong, negative reaction to his career choice?

  If she truly loved him, she had to love everything about him. And she didn’t love his job. She admired it, and him—but she couldn’t accept the circumstances that went with it. She chose not to accept it for herself.

  She’d spent years forging a safety net for Marc and herself. And Jake, a narcotics cop, was as far from safe as Brianne could possibly get. Any foolish notions she’d held about making a long-term relationship with Jake work sank along with the elevator he’d stepped into.

  JAKE AND VICKERS walked out of the building and into the hot, humid New York City air.

  “I hate hospitals.” Vickers gave a visible shudder.

  “Then you’re in the wrong profession, my man.” A narc spent too many damn hours in hospitals.

  “Well, I’m out of here. I’ve got some paperwork back at the precinct. I’ll call you when the toxicology reports are in.”

  Jake nodded, swallowing around the last of the dry sandwich he’d picked up inside. While Vickers headed back to the precinct, Jake looked around for David. He found the man in his appointed spot, watching Brianne’s back from a location outside the hospital. They’d agreed they couldn’t cover all entrances and had settled for the one closest to Rehab. Since Jake couldn’t have Brianne tailed inside the hospital without her catching on, he had no choice but to trust she was safe in her daily routine.

  He stopped near the sidewalk vendor who was selling hot dogs, hot pretzels and drinks from his cart. “I’ll take two colas.” Jake pulled some folded bills out of his pocket and paid the man, then walked over to David.

  Jake handed a can of cola to his friend. “So what’s been going on?”

  “Looks like your hunch was right. I saw your pal Ramirez taking a morning stroll outside the hospital about half an hour ago. Maybe he figured Brianne would be coming out for lunch.”

  Although he’d suspected as much, Jake’s stomach clenched when he heard the news. “Damn,” he muttered.

  “Don’t worry. He’s close but I’m closer.”

  “Just keep it that way, pal. And remember, I’m trusting you with my life.”

  “You mean her life,” David corrected him, but Jake heard the teasing in his friend’s tone.

  “I never say what I don’t mean, so watch her back.” Jake meant no insult. He knew David would do his best no matter what, but telling David how strongly Jake felt about Brianne helped him entrust her life to someone other than himself.

  He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Vickers. “Do me a favor. Turn around and come back,” Jake said without preamble.

  He hadn’t wanted to let the police in on Ramirez’s interest in Brianne, but now he had no choice. He had to get the scum off the street for good, but he’d settle for Vickers keeping him busy while Jake checked out The Eclectic Eatery. The cops could pick up Ramirez for jay-walking and detain him for a little while. That was all the time Jake needed to do a little experimenting himself. He’d order off The Eclectic Eatery menu and, with a little luck, he’d score drugs. Then they’d be able to nail Ramirez and keep him in custody where he belonged.

  Luck had better be on his side, Jake thought. Because if he came up empty and they had to let Ramirez go, Jake would have to tell Brianne he’d put her in danger—he’d have no choice. Without that knowledge, she wouldn’t be aware and careful enough to protect herself inside the hospital. On trips to the ladies’ room and supply closets, Brianne needed to be alert and on guard.

  But he shuddered to think of her reaction. And he hated causing her pain or a return to the old fears she thought she’d put behind her. He knew Brianne was strong. She’d pull herself together enough to get through this. On a personal level, however, being honest with Brianne would mean not just the end of his summer fling, but losing her trust and faith in him, probably for good.

  JAKE STEPPED INSIDE the too-quiet penthouse. With the silence surrounding him, he missed his apartment, a place where he could slam his front door shut in pure anger. Goddamn pansy elevator and its easy glide did nothing to alleviate his frustration. Norton slid on his run to greet Jake as he entered the apartment.

  Jake scratched the back of his ear, the same way he’d seen Brianne pet the dog. Norton wasn’t satisfied and lowered himself to the floor, seeking a longer stretch of attention. No matter how much love and affection Brianne gave him at night, they were both still gone during most of the day. The pooch was obviously starving for affection if he sought it from Jake. He leaned down on his knees, gave the dog the petting he desired and got slobbered on for his trouble.

  Before he could unwind and lose the tension of the day, Jake took Norton for a quick walk. Thank goodness, the dog cooperated, and he was back home before he knew it—home to mull over his unsuccessful trip to the gourmet shop where he’d failed to score. Of course, the order that signaled a request for drugs could change weekly or even daily. Jake had known that going in, but he’d still hoped this case would have an easy wrap-up. For Brianne’s sake. He dreaded reigniting her anxieties, and now he had no choice.

  The
only thing he had going for him—they had going for them—was this secure building. As angry as Brianne might be, she’d be foolish to leave here and the safety it offered. At least Jake would still have the summer to get back into her good graces, while keeping her safe at the same time.

  He walked down the short hall to her room, but the door was open. A quick knock and look inside told him she wasn’t there. He headed across the marble floor and toward the gym, but that room was empty, too. He cursed.

  “Today’s the day for strikeouts,” he muttered.

  After he couldn’t score the pills, he’d called Duke and discovered the Forensics results were in. Duke had met him on the street away from the precinct, where Jake found out that Marina and her boyfriend had ODed on Ecstasy, Ramirez’s stock-in-trade. As far as Jake was concerned, the information was one more nail in the scum’s coffin. All they had to do now was link the pills to The Eclectic Eatery and link Ramirez to the restaurant.

  Jake’s gut told him it shouldn’t be difficult. He glanced at his watch and the late hour shocked him. How the hell had the night gotten away from him? He’d been so busy trying to figure out a way to link the pills to Ramirez, he hadn’t even noticed the time.

  But he noticed now. Where the hell was Brianne? According to her weekly schedule, she was over an hour late. Although he reminded himself she’d been late before, that she could have gotten hung up with a patient or stopped by The Sidewalk Café on the way home, this time felt different in his gut. And Jake never ignored his gut.

  He reassured himself that she had David watching her back and the PI would have called if there’d been a problem. If he could call. The hell with denim and velvet, Jake thought, and flung himself onto the sofa, grabbed for the magazine and forced himself to flip through the pages. But he couldn’t force himself to focus, not even on the intensely sexual pictures. Anyplace in a photograph that was intended to be dark and sultry, instead reminded him of Ramirez and the possibility that he was lurking in shadows waiting to ambush Brianne.

  More than once Jake reached for the phone, but telling himself he was overreacting, he sat on his hands. David would call, his mind insisted in direct opposition to his gut. Finally, when another half-hour passed, Jake no longer believed his own reassurances. He and David had agreed that if Brianne was running very late, David would get in touch. As far as Jake was concerned, going on two hours was very late.

  With his heart pounding, he grabbed the phone and punched in David’s cell phone number, only to hear a series of rings and a voice-mail greeting.

  “Damn.” Jake didn’t kid himself. Ramirez had killed one cop already. He wouldn’t worry much about taking out a civilian. The only option left was David’s beeper, and Jake shuffled through his wallet for the piece of paper with the number. But a sound stopped his frenzied actions, and he glanced up in time to see the doors slide open and Brianne step inside. In her ugly green scrubs and ragged ponytail, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and relief poured through him—sweet and pure and as fast as the blood pumping through his veins.

  Common sense told him to keep his hands off her and maintain a level head. Reason dictated he sit her down and explain the situation he’d gotten her into. But his heartbeat drowned out all rational thought. She was here, she was safe and while she was with him, she was his. And right now those were the only things that mattered.

  He rose and stepped into her line of vision.

  “Hi, Jake.” She eyed him warily, making him wonder if he looked as insane with worry as he felt.

  He moved closer, his heart thudding, his need so great he couldn’t control it. Jake ought to know better. Hell, he did know better. But not a damn thing could have stopped him as he reached out and pulled her into his arms.

  CHAPTER NINE

  “YOU’RE LATE.” Jake spoke through clenched teeth while he held Brianne in a hug so tight she wondered if he ever planned to let go.

  “I take it you missed me?” She forced into her tone a lightness she didn’t feel.

  His big hands cupped her face and tilted her head back. “You don’t know the half of it.”

  The intensity in his voice and the harshness of his features startled her and shook the rash decision she’d made earlier to call off the affair. After seeing him outside a victim’s hospital room with another detective by his side, she’d realized firsthand the danger he put himself into on a daily basis. She’d come far in the years since her parents’ death and she could cope with Jake’s job—if she decided she could handle returning to that kind of uncertain existence. She wasn’t sure she’d choose to live that way again.

  But faced with reality—cradled in Jake’s strong arms, inhaling his masculine scent—her conviction wavered. Even as her more rational self fought against this, her emotional, heartfelt needs asserted themselves. She’d known he was a detective prior to going into this affair and yet she’d still agreed. Nothing had changed since then. He was still the man she desired as no other. Why not indulge during the short-term basis they’d agreed upon?

  Because her feelings were stronger than the deal they’d made and her heart was at risk, that was why. But nothing seemed to matter when his lips covered hers and he demanded and received entry into her mouth. He devoured her with the same ravaging need that consumed her, his tongue tangling with hers and taking possession. But he gave of himself as well, and Brianne wanted more.

  She thrust her hands into his hair, reveling in the way the thick, silky strands slid between her fingers, and she let herself slacken against him, feel his hard body mold to hers. The sensual awareness he effortlessly created rose to life, and a warmth started deep in her belly and pressed downward, creating a heavy, pulsing beat between her legs.

  Having already made love with Jake, the desire was deeper and more meaningful than in the past. Her heart beat rapidly, but this time it swelled with emotion, too. Emotion she didn’t want to deal with. Not now.

  Now she just wanted Jake. To hell with the reality that could tear them apart. This was her summer fantasy and she planned to enjoy it while she could. Perhaps it was the knowledge that they could never be, or perhaps it was the danger she’d acknowledged he faced daily, but the rush of want was greater than ever before. She needed him inside her too badly to wait.

  Words weren’t necessary, not when his eyes spoke of his need and he seemed as eager as she was to get rid of his clothes. With shaking hands and Jake’s help, she pulled at his shirt, slowing only to take care with his injured shoulder as she slid his arm out of his sleeve. But once she’d lifted the shirt over his head and tossed it onto the floor, all bets were off. She slid her hands through the light sprinkling of hair on his chest, feeling the flex and pull of muscle beneath her fingertips.

  Her palms brushed his hard nipples, and he let out a strangled groan, one that turned her insides to mush and caused a rush of liquid to pool and settle between her legs. As if he knew, he began to tug at her clothes, and soon her hospital uniform lay in a pile at their feet.

  His steely gaze raked over her nearly naked body, taking in the sheer, skin-colored bra and panties. Then his hands went to the snap on his jeans. She noted with pleasure that he’d paused to grab a condom from his jeans pocket.

  “Honest to God, I haven’t carried these things around with me since I was a teenager, but when it comes to you, damn if I’m going to be unprepared.”

  “I like the way you think.”

  She liked it even more when she realized his hands shook as well. Within moments she found herself facing his nude body. She swallowed hard and glanced down, noting he’d shed his boxers along with his pants. He was erect, aroused and magnificently male. And he was hers—at least for the summer.

  That was the thought that did her in. He extended his hands just as she came into his arms.

  “I wish I could lift you up and feel you inside me.” He whispered the hot and needy words in her ear.

  “Me, too.” She glanced behind him, hoping a chair ha
d manufactured itself, but all she saw was Rina’s all-white furniture and crystal accessories.

  She swallowed a cry of pure frustration as she felt Jake’s arm around her waist, urging her to follow him. She did, and soon he was seated on the ledge by the oversize window overlooking the East River, Brianne standing between his strong legs.

  The sun was just beginning its lazy descent, and the sky had taken on a pinkish-blue hue. And because the building was the highest around, they had no neighboring buildings blocking their view or intruding on the serenity of their surroundings. Nothing to make her self-conscious or uncomfortable, she thought, and was amazed that, despite how sheltered she’d lived the past few years, being with Jake this way felt natural and right.

  As long as she didn’t allow ugly reality to intrude, Brianne thought. And she wouldn’t, not as long as she had this moment.

  He tilted his head back against the clear glass, his fathomless eyes staring into hers. “I want to make love to you with the city behind us,” he said in a husky voice.

  His tone beckoned not only to the most primal physical part of her, but to her emotions. She trusted this man more than any other, and she needed him as she needed no other.

  “I want us where no one can touch us.” His heartfelt words secured her feelings and erased any hesitation she might have had. Without instruction, without being asked, Brianne eased herself up so her knees were on either side of Jake’s thighs and her femininity was poised over his waiting erection.

  She held her balance with only her knees on the ledge and Jake’s hands, warm and secure, on her waist. “I feel like I could fall,” she said with a shaky laugh.

  “Then, by all means, let’s anchor you.” A naughty smile lifted the corner of his mouth, and Brianne knew exactly what he meant.