You're the One

by Angela Verdenius

  “No, you don’t.” She glared at him. “If you saw or heard anything, you’d go out and investigate, not wait around. But I’m expected to just phone for help and sit here like a swooning female. How could you understand?”

  Hmmm. He eyed her. Now here he had a clear pathway. “I do understand. I urged my sister for years to break free of our parents, to make a life of her own. But she understands the difference between being independent and being smart.” At her gasp, he realized he’d said the wrong thing. Again. “Let me rephrase that.”

  Hands slammed on slim hips. “You better bloody rephrase that, Baylon!”

  A small smile played around Kirk’s lips. Bastard was getting some amusement out of this.

  Moz couldn’t say the same. “Del, if you want to rip a piece out of my hide, fine, but right now we need you to focus.”

  “Focus? I’ve told you everything I know!”

  Kirk interrupted smoothly. “How did the men react when you threatened to report them for abuse?”

  Her expression plainly thought he was a nut for even asking. “Well, as you’d imagine, they weren’t happy.”

  “Did they threaten you in any way?”

  Her hesitation was fleeting but evident. “No.”

  She was lying. Moz just knew it. “Del.”

  “They weren’t happy, okay?” She shot him a defensive glance. “Shot a lot of hot air like some blokes do, being the big man, but I dealt with it.”

  He didn’t miss the singular emphasis. “Man? Not men? Which one?” He’d personally punch his lights out when he found out. Or he would as soon as the investigation was finished, but if the bastard did something to Del beforehand all bets were off.

  For a second he thought Del was going to argue more, but instead she sighed. “It was Cutter.”

  Moz exchanged a look with Kirk. This sounded worse by the minute. “What, exactly, did he say?”

  “I don’t quite remember, okay? I told them I’d report them if I saw them abusing the dog - or Fritz abusing it, whatever. They weren’t happy, told me to mind my own business, but they didn’t do anything to me, all right? They took their dog and left.”

  It was frustrating. She was frustrating. He just knew she was holding back, could feel it in his bones. But she met his gaze unflinchingly, refusing to back down.

  Pushing to his feet, he looked down at her, not moving forward, just studying her, looking for a chink in her amour.

  “I can’t tell you what you want to hear just to keep you sweet,” she informed him.

  “No, but you could tell me the truth.”

  “I already told you the truth.”

  “All of it.”

  “I didn’t exactly take a tape recording, Moz. I heard the dog, I saw the dog, I saw the four men, they told me to mind my own business, they left.” She suddenly blinked, her head angling to the side. “Why this interest in dogs and those men?”

  “Just following a few leads.”

  “Wait.” Her eyes widened. “Is someone stealing dogs or something?”

  “No.”

  ‘Then it has something else to do with dogs, doesn’t it?” Her brow furrowed in thought. “But what-”

  Leaning forward, Moz pointed his finger right under her nose. “You will keep out of this. You won’t say a word to anyone-”

  “Hey!” Indignant, she pushed his hand away. “I wouldn’t endanger an investigation! What kind of a drongo do you think I am?”

  “-and you won’t jump to conclusions,” he finished.

  “I don’t jump to conclusions.” Scowling, she looked at Kirk. “Why are you grinning?”

  “No real reason.” Standing, Kirk tucked the notepad into his top pocket.

  “You know,” she smiled sweetly at him, “if you told me what this was about then I might be able to help, keep an eye on things out here and-”

  “Like hell,” Moz growled.

  “What he said,” Kirk agreed.

  “But I could really help,” she argued. “I’m in a prime position, aren’t I? You’re obviously watching Pierce and the others, and I live right across the road from him.”

  Oh shit, just what they needed. Moz frowned. “No.”

  “Besides,” Kirk said calmly, “who said we were investigating Pierce?”

  You did.”

  “Nope. I said what happened last night might help with our investigation, I didn’t say anything about it being about Pierce.”

  “Then the other blokes.”

  Time to nip this in the bud. Moz leisurely slid his hands into his jeans pockets. “I thought you didn’t jump to conclusions?”

  The look Del shot him was openly speculative. “I don’t.”

  “What do you call accusing Harding and his mob?”

  “What do you call going over to Harding’s the other day and talking to him and his mob?”

  “I was talking to him, not his mob.”

  “Don’t nit-pick. You were over there.”

  “I was doing my job.” Okay, he should be angry with her, but he couldn’t help but admire the way she was putting everything together. Admirable, and a touch alarming. “RSPCA work.”

  “Dogs are RSPCA work.”

  “People are cop’s work.”

  “People are also RSPCA work.”

  “Are you trying to get me to breach confidentiality and tell you why I was at Harding’s?”

  “If you and Kirk are working together then it means something is going on. Your interest in Harding means it has something to do with him.” Smiling in satisfaction, Del rocked back on her heels. “Now what could it be?”

  Time to tap that cocky attitude on the head. Moz smiled right back at her. “I went to see him about a matter to do with livestock, nothing to do with dogs.” At her scepticism, he added, “And that’s the cold, hard, stone truth.”

  “Trust me,” Kirk drawled, “he speaks the truth, cold hard stone and all.”

  She looked between them, trying to sort out her theory. Woman was bloody dangerous, too smart for her own good and too curious to be safe.

  Kirk strode across the lounge to pick up his leather jacket and helmet from the floor. “Right, I’m heading off.”

  “To interrogate Harding?” Del followed him.

  “Nope. Home to eat the delicious dinner my woman cooked and spend some time with her and my baby.” Catching her in a quick, brotherly hug, he ordered sternly, “Behave yourself, no poking your nose into anything or I’ll be back in a legal capacity. Understand?”

  “Does that mean you’re here illegally?” she asked pertly.

  He looked at Moz. “All yours.” And strode from the room.

  Moz doubted that Kirk meant it in quite the same way Moz thought it.

  He watched Del leave the room, heard her talking to Kirk as they walked down the hallway, heard her laugh suddenly followed by Kirk’s admonishment. Whatever he’d said, it only made her laugh again. Minutes later the motorbike sounded, the powerful roar of it breaking the quiet as it went down the driveway and onto the open road, fading as Kirk headed back into town.

  Returning to the lounge, Del stopped and eyed him, the laughter dying from her lips.

  That was a damned shame, he liked the sound of her laugh - honest, open and warm.

  Hooking his thumbs into the back pockets of his jeans, Moz cocked his head slightly to one side while silently returning her regard.

  “Going to start in on me now?” she asked.

  “In what way?”

  “You and Kirk came here for, in your words, business. He’s left and you’re still here. Are you going to continue giving me warnings?”

  “Nope,” he replied easily. “I’m done with the business.”

  “Just like that?” She was openly suspicious.

  “Just like that.”

  “I find that hard to believe.”

  “We came, we asked, we warned. I figure you’re smart enough to take those warnings.” He paused. “If you don’t, I’ll be back breathing fire.�
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  Del didn’t look the in the least worried. “That’s what I gathered.”

  He arched one brow.

  “Anyway.” She straightened the hem of the tank top, smoothing it down over her hips.

  He followed the move with his eyes. Nice hips. Hips a man could rest on while covering her body with his, hips a man could hold while thrusting into her.

  “So what are you still doing here if not to yell further threats at me?”

  “Have I yelled threats yet?”

  “Maybe growled them. Your bite is worse than your bark, remember?”

  He grinned. “You remembered.”

  “Kind of hard not to. Both times you’ve been here I’ve had warnings.”

  “Mmm.” He lifted his gaze to her face. “Business is over. I’m here about us.”

  “Us?”

  His voice lowered. “Us. What happened between us yesterday.” What will happen between us.

  Wiping her palms on her shorts, Del cleared her throat and headed over to the sofa, scooping Missy up and holding her like a shield in front of her. A very tiny, furry, ineffectual shield.

  Was Del nervous? Nervous to be alone with him? Was it because he’d kissed her? Because sure as hell she’d never been nervous around him before. Interesting. Was it a good or bad kind of nerves? He certainly didn’t want her uncomfortable around him.

  Unfortunately, the heat that had been between them when he’d first arrived seemed to have disappeared. Well, on her side. On his side it was still simmering. It had certainly flared between them when they’d kissed in the shop.

  Thinking back to the kiss, Moz couldn’t help but remember what had happened right afterwards, making him cringe a little. Okay, something really needed to be said about that unfortunate retreat. “Del.”

  She glanced up. “Yes?”

  “I kissed you yesterday.”

  Cheeks blooming, her gaze dropped back to the kitten. “Yeah, I kind of couldn’t help but notice that.”

  He took a step closer. “I’m not sorry I kissed you.”

  Del nuzzled Missy’s head. “Um…okay.”

  ‘Um…okay’? Kind of hard to judge her response with that answer. “In fact, I liked that kiss.”

  “Really?” Her finger stroked around the tiny ears. “I kind of got the impression that maybe you didn’t like it as much as you’re saying.”

  Yep, his retreat was coming back to bite him right on the arse. Moz sighed inwardly. “That definitely was not my smoothest move.”

  This time her gaze lifted and locked right onto his. “Is that what it was supposed to be? A smooth move?” Her cheeks were definitely still pink, but her eyes were steady.

  Del was no mincing miss, no pretending to be coy. She might be a little flustered but she was as honest as the day was long.

  He liked that, liked it a lot. Found that forthright way attractive, found it easy to be forthright in return. “It wasn’t supposed to be a smooth move.”

  “So it was an accident?”

  He couldn’t help the crooked grin. “It started like that.”

  “And ended with you running like I had the plague.”

  “That’s a little strong.”

  “It was all a little strange.” The pink was fading from her cheeks, an unexpected hint of laughter in her eyes.

  “It’d be fair to say I panicked a little.”

  “A little? You ran.”

  “I’d say I hurriedly left.”

  “Did I scare you that much?” Laughter in her eyes, yes, but also wariness. He didn’t like that wariness, didn’t want her distrust.

  Without removing his thumbs from his pockets, Moz took the two big steps needed to bring him almost right up against her. Mere inches separated them, the warmth of her body seeping into him, her scent tantalising his senses.

  Del didn’t retreat, simply tipped her head back and looked him square in the eyes. Amusement had been replaced by guardedness. “Don’t start something you’re not prepared to finish, Moz. That’s not how I work.”

  Now that didn’t surprise him. Studying her face, he took in the firmness of her chin, the steadiness of her regard. No pretence, no guile.

  He was starting to find her more and more attractive, and not just in a carnal sense.

  Time to test the lay of the land. “Do you want me to start something?” Sure as hell he fully intended to regardless. His attraction for her was getting stronger with every passing second, his wanting to kiss her, touch her, growing with every inhale of her scent, with the sensation of her warm silky skin so close. So very close. He just wanted to know where she stood.

  He wouldn’t give up, but it would mean a difference in the way he approached her.

  “Are you going to finish it?” she replied bluntly.

  Missy wrestled with her plait, little black paws wrapped firmly around the silky rope.

  “Do you want me to finish it?”

  Spotting something on the sofa, the kitten jumped from her hands to land on the sofa, tunnelling under a cushion, playing happily.

  Del didn’t remove her gaze from him. “I’m not about to stand here and play twenty questions. You either give me an answer or don’t.”

  Mmmm. Moz smiled slightly as he locked his gaze on hers. Man, he did enjoy her frankness.

  The beautiful blueness of her eyes clouded. “It’s obvious you’re playing with me, Moz. I really thought-”

  Moz cut her words off by simply bending down and closing his mouth over hers. He didn’t touch her, didn’t pull her into his arms, didn’t remove his thumbs hooked in his back pockets, but he did kiss her.

  Her lips were as soft and lush as he remembered. Settling fully upon her lips, he moved his gently against hers in a warm press, not demanding, not forcing, simply testing the fullness, welcoming the warmth, relishing the plumpness. A closed kiss, a delicious introduction to something much hotter, more baser, a hint of more to come without going further than a brush and press of silky, sensitive skin to silky, sensitive skin.

  Innocent the kiss might be, but it had the blood pooling in his groin, a hot flush of need uncurling low and deep.

  Lifting his head just enough to be able to meet her eyes comfortably, he drawled huskily, “Want me to finish this kiss?”

  “You better,” she whispered, “or I’m going to knee you right in the nuts.”

  Amused, he smiled. “I’d make you kiss it better, baby, and that’s a promise.”

  Startled, her mouth opened, he swooped in for the kill.

  Covered her mouth, his lips keeping hers open, tongue licking deep, and Jesus, she tasted just as sweet as he’d dreamed. Like hot honey he could drink down forever. Without touching her, he melded them together with just his mouth, plundering the hot depths, licking at the nectar of her, her taste filling him, making him want more, so much more.

  It was Del who grabbed him, hands fisting in his t-shirt, pulling him closer. Her body that pressed against his, her thigh that slipped between his muscled ones. She made it so easy for him to grab her, hands wrapping around her hips, pulling her hard against him, bending her backwards, making her cling to him or fall. Making her rely on him.

  That was a heady sensation all on its own.

  Pressing closer, her arms slid around his neck. She kissed him back almost hungrily, taking from him as much as he did from her, tasting him, taunting him almost as she slid from his mouth, pulled back a little, her laugh a dusky, teasing lilt that promised decadent desire.

  The heat inside Moz unfurled rapidly, snapped hotly, wound round his cravings and boiled them up to the surface, spilling over in carnal ardour that fed from him to her, meshing them together in erotic sensations.

  Her body undulated against him, softness against his hardness, curves against hard muscle, slimness against the bulk of power.

  Lust swelled, filling his shaft, making it throb hard and stiff, fire racing through him, hunger for her filling him, taking control like a dark fire.

  All thought o
f talking was long gone, replaced with the basest of urges. The need to bury himself in the warm, curvy body in his arms, to plunder that hot, sweet mouth, to take from her, give to her, be inside her so deep she wouldn’t doubt who was with her.

  His hand slid under her tank top, cupped a full breast clad in a lacy bra. As he hungrily ate at her mouth, he searched with his fingers, found the snap of her bra between the lacy cups, unsnapping it with one deft flick to release the full breasts. Cupping one, he weighed the generous globe, felt her press against him, swallowed her moan.

  It wasn’t enough.

  Drawing back a little, he scraped his teeth across her jaw, down the side of her throat, nipped the tender flesh there, at the same time he hooked his fingers into the top of her shorts and dragged them down her hips to drop to the floor, followed by a pair of lace panties. Palming the smoothly curved cheeks of her bottom, he dug his fingers in lightly, scraped the rounded flesh, yanked her hard against him again as he laved the pulse beating so wildly in her throat.

  “God, Moz.” Her breaths came in pants, hands gripping his shoulders, nails digging in as she arched under his touch, his fingers trailing down the cleft of her buttocks and lower.

  A nudge of his knee between hers and her thighs parted, allowing his marauding fingers to glide lower, the heat of her secrets beckoning to him.

  Aching, throbbing, demanding release, his shaft pressed urgently against the confines of his zipper. His pulse beat hard, strong, blood surging hotly through his veins, centering on so many different things and only one all at once. Her taste, her touch, her skin, her heat…his fire.

  He brought her to the floor with him, laying her beneath him, staying on his hands and knees as he continued to kiss her, plundering the honeyed depths of her mouth, feeling her kiss him back hungrily, her hands pulling at his shirt, her small palms coming to lie flat on his hard abdomen.

  One-handed he pushed her tank top up, the bra cups falling to the sides to bare her breasts to his gaze.

  Beautiful. So bloody beautiful. Big breasts, tear-shaped, natural, full, pink nipples budded and begging to be touched. To be sucked. To be laved.