by Lori Foster
“Mike. He’s like... I don’t know. Eighty-five or so. Scrawny little guy but real protective. Sometimes he’d walk over in the morning with coffee. See, he belongs to this coffee club and sometimes he likes to share.”
And she was kind enough to make time for her elderly neighbor. Nice. Hell, everything about her was nice.
Leese knew he wasn’t only attracted to her physically. So far, he actually liked everything about her.
He considered her a job. His responsibility. In some ways, he already considered her...his.
Dumb. Dangerous. But looking down at her, needing to protect her, wanting her, he couldn’t deny the truth of his feelings.
“If you call your neighbor, it’s going to lead to a lot of questions about where you’ve been. It could even put him in danger. So how about I go by your house instead? I can check it over, make sure—”
“What?” Eyes flaring, she insisted, “No. Absolutely not. Don’t even think about going to my house.”
Mystified by her reaction, Leese asked, “Why not?”
Her hands fisted in his shirt. “Promise me right now that you won’t.” When he didn’t answer fast enough, she tried to shake him.
Silly.
He untangled her fingers from his clothes. “Settle down, Cat.”
That earned him a punch in the ribs. Not that she had enough strength to hurt him, especially without room to really draw back.
Going on tiptoe, she said straight into his face, “They know what you look like, damn it! By now they probably know who you are. You can’t go poking your nose around places where they might be.”
Leese wasn’t sure if he wanted to kiss her or set her straight. He decided to go with setting her straight first. “I’m not worried about them.”
Her eyes widened even more. “Oh my God, you were going to poke around, weren’t you?” In a huff, she started to turn away.
He caught her, then trapped her smacking hands behind her. Irked that she thought so little of him, Leese growled, “Let’s be clear on something here.”
Uncaring that he’d hampered her with his size and strength, she snapped, “I won’t be a part of your suicide.”
That was one insult too many. Leaning down, Leese said an inch from her face, “Just because I’m holing up here with you—to keep you safe—don’t expect me to run from them. Because, Catalina, I can promise you that’s not going to happen.”
Temper sent her voice higher. “You won’t have to run if you don’t get within shooting distance!”
Irritation deepened his voice. “How damned incompetent do you think I am?”
“I didn’t say you’re incompetent!”
Only slightly mollified, he asked, “Then how do you figure I’d get myself shot?”
She tightened her mouth. “You’re too naive to realize how bad they are.”
Oh hell no. In a deadly whisper, he repeated, “Naive?”
“Yes!” She struggled against him, but finally stopped to glare. “Man-to-man, sure, you can beat up any one of them. But you won’t get that chance because they don’t play fair. You’re not familiar with guys of their caliber.”
“Why don’t you enlighten me?”
As if challenged, she snapped, “Fine.” Nose up, brows down, she said, “I’ve been around them much of my life. They’re well-dressed, well-paid, articulate thugs hired by the elite to solve problems in any way necessary. Not a one of them has a conscience, they’re completely ruthless and, as I’ve recently learned, they’re capable of anything, including cold-blooded murder.”
“You think I didn’t already know that?”
“I...” Doubt darkened her eyes. “I don’t know.”
“No, you don’t. You definitely don’t know me well enough to presume I’m that dumb or helpless.” Leese arched her a little closer. “I do know my job, damn it.”
“Your job includes taking insane chances?”
“My job is taking care of you.”
They stared at each other, him frowning, her doubtful, when sudden awareness arced between them. Leese felt her soft breasts pressed to his midsection, her slender thighs aligned with his. Her eyes were big and bright, her lips soft, parted.
With a catch of her breath, Cat’s attention dipped to his mouth. Watching her anger melt away all but singed him.
By small degrees she rested against him, her breath warm on his throat, her body easing into his. Leese didn’t move, didn’t even breathe...until she touched her lips to his, barely there, ultrasweet.
Every emotion—anger, annoyance and that powerful protectiveness—merged into consuming need. He forgot about what was smart or professional.
On a groan, he released her hands to gather her as close as he could get her, taking her mouth in a devouring, out-of-control kiss. Her arms immediately came up around his neck in full participation. She welcomed his tongue, stroked back with her own, every bit as frenzied.
Without really thinking about it, Leese clasped her waist and hoisted her up to sit on the counter, then pressed her slim legs apart to step between them. She didn’t break the kiss, but she did lock her ankles behind him.
On autopilot, blind with lust, he anchored one hand to her ass and rocked her against his straining erection. With the other hand he found her left breast. Small, firm but soft...perfect.
Freeing her mouth, she moaned and dropped her head back, her eyes closed, her lips now swollen.
He liked that reaction a lot, especially since it mirrored his own. Using his thumb, he strummed the tight nipple pressing through her bra and shirt.
Her fingers clenched on his shoulders and she drew a ragged breath. So sensitive. So hot.
Letting the anticipation build, Leese kissed his way along her jaw and down her throat, nudged aside the neckline of her shirt to kiss her collarbone, then dipped down and lightly bit her nipple through the material of her shirt.
“Leese,” she whispered, sounding a little desperate.
He wanted her out of the shirt, right now, so he could get to her bare skin. He slipped both hands under the hem, and his cell phone rang.
They both froze.
Damn. He had a near-lethal boner, but he could guess who was calling.
As much to himself as her, he said, “I’m sorry.”
She swallowed audibly...and her legs fell away, freeing him.
Leese stepped back, then made the mistake of looking at her. Jesus, she looked beautiful when turned on—blue eyes dark, skin flushed and hair mussed.
Breathing too heavily, Leese cupped her cheek, brushed his thumb over her heated skin, then, with extreme regret, he turned away to answer the call.
CHAPTER SIX
CAT COULD BARELY think beyond the disappointment and, yup, embarrassment. Good grief, she’d all but molested Leese. The ringing of his phone had brought her crashing back to reality and she’d realized she had him locked to her with her legs around his waist.
Not that he’d been complaining.
She touched her lips while staring at his broad back, seeing it expand with his every heavy breath. God, the feel of him—those delicious, defined muscles in his shoulders and biceps, the way his thighs flexed as he moved against her, the strength in his abs... She closed her eyes and remembered how hard he was all over, how he’d tasted, how good he smelled...
“Sahara, hi. Everything okay?”
Sahara? Cat opened her eyes again, and found Leese watching her with piercing intensity. He had his cell to his ear, but his scrutiny flustered her all over again.
Hopping off the counter, then quickly steadying her rubbery legs, she asked, “Everything okay?”
He nodded. “Sahara, Cat’s concerned. I’m going to put you on speaker.”
After pressing the screen, he set his phone
on the bar and went back to watching her.
“All went well,” Sahara said, her voice chipper. “We did have a tail, but lost him.”
“She drives like a demon,” Justice said in the background.
That got Leese’s attention back on the phone. “I thought you were driving.”
“She made me pull over!”
Sahara laughed. “He’s a cautious driver and that’s not what was needed.”
“By cautious, she means I didn’t scream through red lights, drive against traffic or take turns so sharp the SUV nearly rolled.”
“Calm down, Justice. You survived.”
“Barely,” he groused.
Starting to grin, Leese looked at Cat again.
She couldn’t blunt her own smile, but it faded as she asked, “Was it Tesh following you?”
“It’s possible,” Sahara started to say.
But Justice interrupted. “I didn’t see any damn tail! I swear, I think she made it up just so she could play speed racer.”
Leese laughed outright.
“The important thing,” Sahara insisted, “is that we’re both fine. I also heard from everyone else and it appears we all escaped unscathed. So, Catalina, rest easy.”
That news buoyed her. Maybe she could blame stress as the reason she’d accosted Leese? Never before had she been sexually aggressive. But one minute she’d wanted to clout him, and in the next she’d badly wanted to crawl all over his very fine body.
“Catalina?”
She cleared her throat. “I’m here, Sahara. Thank you. I’m relieved that everyone is okay.”
Leese asked his boss, “Are you returning to the offices?”
“Maybe later,” she said. “Since I’m already out and about and I have a hunky escort—”
“Me?” Justice asked.
“Of course, you. I figured I’d do some shopping—”
Justice groaned.
“—and I can use that time to see how aware you are of your surroundings, plus we’ll have a chance to talk about your upcoming client.”
His groaning stopped. “The movie star?”
“Yes.”
Justice quickly agreed and they said their farewells.
As silence fell, Cat couldn’t quite meet Leese’s gaze. “You weren’t worried about her using your cell?”
He shook his head. “Not just yet. The phone is supplied by the company, not registered to me. Her phone is secure, so we’re good.”
She didn’t entirely understand that, but only nodded. Now that they were post-make out session, she felt pretty awkward. “Justice is a funny guy.”
“He has his moments.” As Leese slid the phone back into his pocket, his concerned gaze held hers. “Listen, Cat...”
“I’m glad Sahara won’t be alone,” she said quickly, hoping to divert the conversation.
Leese ignored her efforts. “I should apologize.”
“You already did.” And she didn’t want to talk about it. “No worries.” Trying for a strategic retreat, she turned to leave the kitchen, but Leese stopped her by catching her hand.
“I’m sorry,” he stressed, “that we got interrupted.”
She turned fast to face him. “Oh.” Did that mean he intended to pick up where they’d left off? That’d work for her.
Already the burn ignited deep inside her.
“Damn, honey, don’t look at me like that.” Stepping back, he ran a hand over his neck. “We both know it shouldn’t have happened.”
“Speak for yourself.” She and her body both thought a whole lot more should have happened. In fact, she was hoping it still might. “I enjoyed it, you...the diversion.” Hoping he’d understand, she admitted, “You make me feel things.”
He popped his neck. “Yeah, I know what you felt.”
The way he said it, she understood just what he meant. “Gratitude?” she choked, because damn him, she did feel gratitude. But so much more.
“Yes. And you shouldn’t confuse that with anything else, okay?”
Simmering anger crawled into her bloodstream. “You had your tongue in my mouth.”
“Cat...”
“And your hands on my butt.” She thrust her chest forward, adding, “And a boob. I’m not at all confused about that.”
His gaze skipped over her body, but shot back to her face and resolutely stayed there. “I got carried away.”
Thumb to her sternum, she said, “And I liked it.”
A tortured expression crossed his features. “It shouldn’t happen again.”
She snapped back, “I’m hoping it does.”
“Because you’re—”
“What? Confused?” She almost dared him to say it again. “You can’t imagine, can’t know, what it’s like to be only around strangers for so long, feeling only worry, or sometimes fear. Six weeks has seemed more like six months. Sometimes like six years. So many times I wondered how others live with it, the uncertainty of not knowing what will happen the next day, maybe even the next hour, if I’d have any money or any food.”
His shoulders tightened. “You shouldn’t have gone through that.”
“People do, all the time. They don’t have a safety net, they’re alone without family or friends to turn to. I met some of those people in a shelter. I liked them, but I couldn’t stay long because I knew, eventually, someone would look for me there.”
Leese said nothing, but listened as if he truly wanted to learn more about her. Normally that would have been her cue to shut down. She didn’t—couldn’t—trust anyone who was too interested in her situation. Until now.
“Before all this happened, I’d never experienced that. Even as weird as I am—”
“You’re not weird. Not at all.”
“Compared to my family I am. I stick out like a sore thumb, and I’m okay with that. It’s one reason why no one in my family protested too much when I quit hanging around for their social functions and instead did only the occasional private visit. They were as tired of the awkwardness as I was. But even then, being aware of how they felt, I knew I had them, that they were there.” Her heart seemed to skip a beat, and she whispered, “Right up until they weren’t.”
Right up until it was all snatched away.
She didn’t want to think about that now. When she did, it brought her down and, currently, life was hard enough without dwelling on yet more things she couldn’t control.
“You’re not weird,” Leese reiterated one more time, as if it mattered to him what she thought of herself.
“I am.” She’d long ago accepted it. “But you know what? You should give me some credit, because I’ve learned a lot about myself, some of it good.”
“More than some.”
The compliment was nice, even though it changed nothing. “I’ve always been a woman of means. I had resources others never had. I grew up secure, without a worry, filled with the confidence that a pampered life had given me. If I didn’t have something, it was because I didn’t want it or I’d chosen to give it up, not because it was out of my reach.”
Hands in his pockets, Leese rested a shoulder against the wall. “Car? Education?”
“Everything like that. Nice clothes. Every new tech gadget. Spending money. But more important, I had family. I had backup.” She went quiet, then laughed with irony. “I thought I had backup. Turns out I was wrong.”
Sympathy brought him nearer. “Okay, so Webb isn’t who you thought he was. But what about your brothers?”
“I don’t know yet. I hope they believe in me, I hope they’ll know the truth when they hear it, but they’re close to Webb. Far closer than I ever was. They trust him, share with him.” It was so dumb, but seemed to represent so much. “They still love the parties.”
“I’
m not a party person either.”
Cat drew a breath, appreciating his support. “The thing is, Leese, despite how awful this has been, I’m proud of myself for finding my survival instinct and being able to make it entirely on my own, from scratch, without any of the things I’d always taken for granted.” She put a fist to her heart. “I didn’t have anything, not even my name, but I’ve made it this far. With money and power used against me, with trained men hunting for me, I’ve dodged them for six weeks. That’s something of a miracle, don’t you think? And I did that.”
“You’re smart,” Leese said, “and you’re resilient. No one can deny that.”
Damn it, plenty of people denied it. If Webb had his way, they’d all think her insane. For that reason, Leese’s faith in her tightened her throat.
“I’m smart enough, and resilient enough, to know what I want.” She stared at him to ensure he didn’t misunderstand, and then as a parting shot, she added, “Next time, without an interruption.”
He stayed silent as she walked away, down the hall and into the guest bedroom. She hesitated, but when he didn’t follow she closed the door and collapsed facedown on the bed.
How was it her life just kept getting more and more complicated? Having a wealthy, entitled, corrupt lunatic or two after her was bad enough. Living on the street, surviving with nothing? Plenty difficult.
But now she had an ultrahunk in her life who, damn it, didn’t want what she’d repeatedly offered.
How often did men turn down willing women? In her world, apparently too often.
It seemed like she rested there forever, her thoughts churning as she tried to decide what to do next. Not that she had a lot of options. She wasn’t sleepy. Wasn’t yet hungry. Leese was too big for her to coerce, and apparently kissing her and groping her hadn’t sufficiently seduced him.
Maybe she should crash in front of the TV.
Or...she rolled to her side and stared toward the walk-in closet. She could take inventory on the clothes. See if anything would fit. If anything appealed to her.
It’d be nice to wear something other than the same pair of jeans for a change. Maybe she’d find something pretty, even sexy. What difference did it make if no one would see her? No one except Leese, and he’d just sworn off touching her, so he didn’t count.
