He smiled. “What is that?”
“That you won’t get yourself killed. I mean it. Don’t let them kill you.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “I know we’ve just met, but…you mean so much to me, already. I don’t know what I’d do if something awful happened to you. In a little over twenty-four hours, you’ve become part of my heart—”
Kurt’s mouth stopped her from saying anymore. He kissed her urgently. Clutching his shirt, she answered back with passionate kisses. Why did this feel like they were saying goodbye and kissing for the last time? But the way he held her so tightly, and the way she couldn’t get enough of him, hinted toward some kind of closure between them. Frustrated, her heart cried out.
The elevator doors opened, but neither one broke the kiss. With a groan, he pushed her up against the wall and kissed her deeper and more meaningful. Time stood still, which was what she’d hoped for.
Through the silence in the hallway, a man’s deep chuckle rang out. As if through a fog, Riley’s mind cleared, as well as her ears.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me to bring the popcorn and drinks to this chick flick?”
Other men’s laughter joined in with the first man who’d spoken. Riley jumped, which broke the kiss, but Kurt continued to hold her in his arms.
“Bad timing.” Kurt shook his head. “Can you leave and give us ten more minutes?”
The three men Riley had never seen before exchanged glances before shaking their heads. “Sorry, old man.” The one with the soothing voice slapped Kurt on the back. “We’ve got a job to do, and we’d better get doing it. No time to make love.”
Heat soared through Riley, heading directly to her cheeks. How dare these men make a joke out of such a tender moment?
“Hamill?” the tall man standing behind the others, asked. “Is this Judge Peterson’s daughter?”
“Yes.”
She frowned. Why did all three men roll their eyes? Was their rude gesture aimed at her—or at Kurt?
“Riley, my darling,” Kurt said, pointing to the man who looked to be in his early thirties. “This was my partner before I left the force, Liam Hawke. The guys in the precinct have nicknamed him James Bond, double-o-seven and a half, because of the charming way he has with women.”
“Actually,” Liam said quickly. “I think I made it up to double-o-seven and three-quarters, haven’t I?”
The other two men behind Liam chuckled as Liam shook his head. He was quite good looking. Nothing like Kurt, of course, but he certainly fit the James Bond appearance in his nicer clothes and sultry voice.
“Nice to meet you.” She nodded.
“My apologies if I made you uncomfortable with my comment,” Liam said with a smile.
She chuckled. “No, you’re fine.”
“And this is,” Kurt moved his hand to the tall man with curly black hair, “Captain Martinez.”
She smiled. “Kurt has talked about you. I’m happy to put a face to a name.”
“And this,” Kurt’s voice turned harsh, “is Brittany’s husband, Austin Reeder.”
Riley had heard him mention Austin a few times, and by the tone of his voice, she could tell Kurt wasn’t impressed with the man. Was it because he was also a very handsome man? Or was it because Austin had married Brittany? “Happy to meet you, too.”
“All right now,” the captain clapped his hands once, “now that we’ve gotten the introductions out of the way, I think it’s time we track us down a judge.”
Panic surged through her again, and she turned back toward Kurt, clutching his shirt. “You haven’t made that promise yet,” she said softly.
One of his eyebrows arched. “What promise is that?”
“That you won’t let them kill you.”
Tenderness displayed on his face, and her heart melted. He kissed her lips one last time before pulling away. “I promise.”
Brittany walked into the hall and into her husband’s arms. She waved at the men as they entered the elevator. Riley stood back and held Kurt’s gaze until the doors closed. Her heart still felt like it was being ripped in two. Would this feeling ever end? She just prayed the men would be safe and return in one piece.
“Come inside, Riley,” Brittany said as she motioned her hand. “You look like you need a drink now.”
Riley nodded and followed behind the couple. “I do, actually.”
“Austin likes scotch and soda. Would you like one, too?”
“I would, thank you.” Riley walked with Brittany toward the glass liquor bar. For being a hotel room, this place was decorated nicely. It was easy to tell a wealthy person lived here.
Austin kissed his wife before excusing himself and walking to one of the back rooms. Riley sat on a stool near the counter and rested her elbows on the edge.
“So tell me, Riley,” Brittany asked as she poured the drinks. “How long have you known Kurt?”
“Oh, let’s see…” She tapped her finger on the counter. “He picked me up from my almost wedding yesterday around ten o’clock in the morning. And this is the first time we’ve been separated.”
Brittany’s eyes widened. “Are you kidding me?”
“Nope.”
“I would have thought you’d have known each other a lot longer than that.”
“Why?” Riley wondered.
“Well, because you seem so much closer than a couple who have just met.”
Riley chuckled softly. “Considering we’ve been chased up a mountain, shot at several times—even during our ride in a raft as we were sailing down the whitewater rapids—and then met up with a driver on the Seattle roads who had serious road rage… I’d think we were forced to get closer than two normal people who have been.”
Brittany grumbled a cuss. “You’ve got to tell me what happened. I thought Kurt’s life was boring now that he’s a county sheriff, but it sure doesn’t sound like it.” She brought the drinks over and placed one in front of Riley before Brittany hopped onto the other stool. “But I know Kurt well enough to know he has deep feelings for you.”
Riley’s heart lightened. “He does?”
Brittany took a sip of her drink. “I’ve seen him kiss other women—not a lot—but he has, but I’ve never seen that much electricity come from him as when he was kissing you.”
Feeling her cheeks grow hot again, Riley quickly took a drink, hoping to cool her embarrassment. Yet, she wasn’t embarrassed for kissing Kurt. She loved every second of it…even if they had an audience. “Has Kurt ever kissed you?” she asked softly.
Brittany stared at her glass. Awkward seconds passed before she nodded. “Yes. A few times.”
“I think,” Riley continued, “that Kurt still has feelings for you.” Her chest ached as jealousy sneaked back into her.
Laughing, Brittany shook her head. “The only feelings we have for each other are those of friendship. And of course, he’s my brother-in-law.”
Riley choked on her drink as she stared at Brittany. “Brother-in-law?”
The other woman shrugged. “Well, if you want to get technical, Austin is Kurt’s stepbrother, and Kurt doesn’t want to acknowledge their relationship, but in my mind, family is family, which means Kurt is now my brother-in-law.”
That’s why Kurt was so hostile with Austin. “Yes, family is family.” She smiled.
“But enough about that.” Brittany swished her hand through the air. “I want to know about Riley Peterson. I’m curious to know why you were on your way to a wedding, if only twenty-four hours later, you have stars in your eyes for another man.” She wagged her eyebrows.
Riley laughed. “I have Kurt to thank for this one, too. Because whether he knows it or not, he saved me from marrying an abusive man.”
Brittany placed her hand over Riley’s as her grin widened. “Tell me all about it.
TWELVE
Kurt walked out of the hotel, before pulling out his phone. The sky didn’t display the night-show of twinkling stars, which only meant one thing. Dark clouds had replaced the s
tars. It would rain soon. But it always rained in Seattle.
Liam and Martinez were discussing something loudly, so Kurt motioned for them to be quiet as he dialed Judge Peterson’s phone number.
Captain Martinez quickly took out his phone and dialed. Within seconds he told the other person, “Start a trace on Hamill’s phone.” He rattled off the instructions.
Kurt held the cell to his ear. After one ring, the kidnapper answered.
“Are you in Seattle?” the man with the grainy voice asked.
“I am. Where do you want me to go?”
“You’d better come alone. Understand? If you bring any of your cop friends, I swear—”
“I’ll be alone. Besides, haven’t you heard? I’m not a cop any longer.”
“Doesn’t matter,” the man snapped. “You come alone or the judge dies.”
Kurt took fasts breaths as anger filled him. “How do I know you haven’t killed her already? I want to talk to her. Now. Or I’m not coming. Do you understand?”
The kidnapper cursed right before muffling sounds were heard on his end, and then came the sob of a woman. “Kurt? Is that you?”
Pain ripped through his heart, and he braced his hand on the rental car. At least she was still alive. “Judge Peterson? I’m coming to get you.”
She cried and the phone was taken away from her. “There’s your proof.”
“Tell me where I need to go,” Kurt snapped.
“Before I do, I’ve decided I want something else.”
Kurt tightened his fingers around the cell. “What now?”
“I want five hundred thousand dollars. That’s not too much, right? And I want it by noon tomorrow or the judge dies.”
“You know I won’t be able to get five hundred thousand dollars that quickly. I’m not made of money. There’s no way I’ll be able to have it in my hands by noon.”
Martinez and Hawke traded scowls before the captain shook his head at Kurt.
“You will do it if you want to see the judge alive.” The kidnapper’s voice lifted higher. “I know how important she is to you…or at least how important her daughter is to you.”
Fear sliced through Kurt. How could this kidnapper possibly know about Riley? He glanced back at the hotel and prayed that Brittany wouldn’t let anything happen to her. He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself. He couldn’t think straight when he was worried. If this man knew about Riley, her life would definitely be in jeopardy. Somehow he needed to figure out how to come up with that much money. But it’s not like he had that kind of money on hand. He didn’t even know any rich people…
Opening his eyes, he peered toward the hotel again. Austin Reeder. Quickly, Kurt shunned that idea. He didn’t want to have anything to do with that man. He certainly wasn’t going to borrow money from him. However, this was Riley’s life on the line, and especially her mother’s. Would Austin give up some of his precious money to help Kurt save some lives?
Yet how many times was Kurt involved with a kidnapper who demanded money, and killed the hostages, anyway?
“Fine.” Kurt grumbled. “I’ll try to find the money.”
“If I were you, I wouldn’t try. You better just do it! If I don’t hear from you in an hour, I might start chopping off parts of the judge’s body that she doesn’t really need.”
Swearing, Kurt clicked off his phone. Martinez and Hawke moved quickly to his side.
“What’s going on?” the captain asked.
Kurt pinched the bridge of his nose and tried breathing deeply and slowly. “He knows about Riley…or at least about my feelings for her.”
Liam released a low whistle and shook his head. “This isn’t good at all, old man.”
Inwardly, Kurt groaned. His ex-partner must remember the time that Kurt had nearly gotten him and Carrie killed. Kurt would understand if the Brit was reluctant to trust him.
Martinez’s phone rang, and he quickly answered it. Kurt wasn’t really paying attention to what the man was saying because his mind was scrambling to find solutions. Brittany would keep Riley safe, so he wasn’t too worried about that, but the judge…
Martinez hung up and looked at Kurt. “They tracked the judge’s phone. She’s in an old warehouse that’s scheduled to be demolished next week.”
“Let’s go, then.” Kurt’s heartbeat escalated again.
“Hold your guns.” Martinez shook his head. “We’ll formulate a plan first. Then we’ll get them.”
Kurt nodded. Old habits die hard. Back when he’d been Police Detective, he did things at the spur of the moment all of the time. The captain was right. Planning things out was the best way. And maybe this time, nobody would get killed.
* * * *
Riley concentrated on aiming the pool stick on the green, velvet table, as she centered on her ball. The shot wasn’t a hard one. She’d made them before. However, this time she had a lot on her mind. No wonder she was losing the game.
When she made the shot, the ball rolled on the pool table, hitting the other ball. But she hadn’t hit it hard enough. It didn’t drop into the pocket.
Brittany chuckled. “Are you sure you know this game?” She centered her stick, and whacked the ball into one of hers, knocking the ball into the right pocket.
Riley rolled her eyes. “Yes, I know how to play pool, just not today.” She leaned on her pool stick and scanned the crowded bar. Her anxiety had only increased once they stepped into this place. “Brittany,” she asked softly, moving toward the other woman. “Are you sure we are all right here? I have an uneasy feeling about this place.”
Brittany flipped her long black hair over her shoulder and chuckled. “Riley, you are fine. I promise. This bar is where all of the cops go to hangout after work.” She glanced around the room. “Everyone I see so far is a cop. We are very protected here. Besides,” she bent over the table, aiming for another ball, “crowded places are the safest place to be. Nobody is going to try and kidnap someone where there are a lot of witnesses.”
Sighing, Riley watched Brittany sink another ball into the pool table’s pocket. “I just wish my unsettled stomach would allow me to feel protected.”
Brittany finally missed a shot, so she stepped back to let Riley try to get her ball into a side pocket. Trying to calm her jumpy nerves, she pushed her stick into the ball…and made it this time! Riley blew out a sigh and swiped her hair back on her head. Out of the corner of her eyes, she noticed Brittany watching her with a curious expression. When she faced Brittany, the other woman chuckled.
“Forgive me for staring.” Brittany smiled. “But I’m just studying you to see if you and my friend will be good for each other.”
Riley folded her arms. “Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean?”
Brittany waved her hand. “Don’t take this wrong, because it’s not meant to be, but Kurt is my friend and I don’t want to see him hurt.”
Squaring her shoulders, Riley stood rigid. “I don’t want him hurt, either.”
“So tell me,” Brittany moved closer, “are you over your feelings for your fiancé? After all, it’s only been a day and a half since you left him at the altar, right?”
Irritation boiled inside of Riley, and yet, she understood why the woman would be curious. It seems as though Riley jumped from one man to the other mighty quickly. “In a day and a half, I have been through a lot with Kurt. He’s protected me every step of the way, even when I didn’t think I needed protection. He helped me realize how awful Mark has been toward me.” She shook her head. “Why I fell in love with him in the first place, I don’t know. But now, I realize that Kurt saved me from a fate worse than death. Marriage to Mark would have been a huge mistake, and now I see that I was never really in love with him at all.”
“You think you’re in love with Kurt?” Brittany tapped her finger on the top of the pool cue.
Riley hesitated. Do I really love him? Although it seemed impossible to love someone in such a short amount of time, she and Kurt had been through so m
uch. How could she not love him? “Yes, I love him. I know it sounds crazy, but I can’t stop my heart from beating with excitement whenever he gazes into my eyes with so much tenderness. When he takes me in his arms—either to show affection or to protect me—my heart melts, and I know I don’t ever want to leave his embrace.”
Brittany’s smile widened. “That’s pretty much sums up my feelings for Austin. So yes, I do believe you love Kurt.”
Relief washed over Riley. At least she’d achieved acceptance from one of Kurt’s friends. “I’m glad you understand how I feel.” She turned back to the pool table and made another shot. Slowly, confidence grew inside of her. Perhaps she’d win this game, after all.
“So Brittany,” Riley continued, “I get the impression from the bits and pieces I’ve heard from Kurt—and you—that your first meeting with Austin was a little out of the ordinary. Will you tell me the story of how the two of you met?”
The other woman threw back her head and laughed heartily. “How much time do you have? Because I assure you, the story is quite a complicated one.”
Riley shrugged. “I don’t have anything better to do besides listen to you and play pool.” She tried another shot, but missed.
Brittany bent over the pool table and smacked a few more balls into the pockets, and then she stood. “But before I get started on the story, I need to go to the ladies room.”
Riley held Brittany’s pool stick as the other woman hurried off. Sighing, she leaned against the table. Time was not going fast enough. Kurt had only been gone an hour? Inwardly, she groaned. This night would definitely take forever.
Her nose itched, and a feeling came over her that she was being watched. Slowly, she moved her gaze around the room again, looking for anyone who was staring her way. Immediately, she saw two men. They’d been ogling Riley for the past half hour.
Uncomfortable, she shifted against the table, dropping her gaze to the floor. She really shouldn’t be here. But then who in Seattle would know her or even recognize her? She hadn’t lived in this part of Washington for over ten years, and when she did, it was in Everett.
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