He didn’t move. She heard his uneven breathing as he attempted to gain control.
She didn’t want his control. Not any more. She wanted him.
“This isn’t right, Dianna.” His voice was low, an agony of reserve.
“It’s very right. I’m not asking for forever. I just need to feel alive right now.”
She moved slightly, out from beneath him. She used the opportunity to reach down and maneuver herself out of her silky nightgown, then grabbed for his clothes, the barrier that kept them from being skin-on-skin.
Would he still argue with her? No. Worse. He moved away, and she sighed. Surely he wouldn’t just leave.
But, no. She could see in the dimness that he was stripping away his clothing. In a moment, he was back with her.
She gasped at the feel of his hard chest against the sensitivity of her straining nipples. And then his hands were on her. Gently. Stroking. “Travis,” she sighed, as his lips closed over one of her aching breasts.
She moved her fingertips over his back, then down the tautness of his buttocks. She squeezed gently, reveling in his quick intake of breath as she moved her hands more determinedly to his front. She smiled against his mouth as she reached his erection.
With a growl, he rolled her onto her back. His mouth moved over every inch of her until she thought she would cry out for wanting him. Maybe she did cry out, for she lost coherency.
He didn’t, though, for he moved away for a brief eternity. “Travis?” she moaned, then heard a rustling as he found his jeans on the floor. He had come prepared, and she smiled at this man whose focus, no matter what he did, was on protecting her.
She stopped smiling as he positioned himself, ready to thrust inside her. He stopped. “Please,” she whispered.
She didn’t have to beg further, for in moments, he was inside her, rocking gently at first, then thrusting as she gasped, then called his name as he soon sent her into a frenzy of need that crescendoed and spiraled her over the top, even as he cried out in a shout of release.
BAD IDEA, Travis told himself later as he lay in Dianna’s bed, holding her in his arms. But he didn’t convince himself.
She felt damned good against him still. Even when he was too tired to do more than clasp her while she slept.
A sense of calm came over him. He’d promised himself, and her, that he would take care of her. Protect her. To do that, he had to be with her.
He couldn’t get much closer to her than this.
She stirred against him. “Travis?” she murmured sleepily. Nothing sexy about that, yet he began to throb once more. And grow hard.
“Go back to sleep,” he whispered. But her hands did not seem sleepy at all as they ranged over him. He heard her intake of breath, then her dreamy laugh as she found how much he wanted her again.
“I think I need to be relaxed again,” she said.
What could he do but oblige her?
Chapter Fourteen
Dianna’s eyes popped open.
Her head still on her soft pillow, she found herself staring into Travis’s slow grin. She grinned back.
“Good morning,” she whispered. But as he reached for her, she remembered what day it was. “We don’t have time,” she said.
“We always have time.” His tone was so low and erotic that it sent shivers up her spine. The rest of her quivered, too, as his fingers started their quest for her most erogenous zones.
He knew them all now, since several days—and nights—had passed since they first made love. Days when they had been together nearly every moment, as he made good on his promise to protect her. He had trusted no one, not Cal Flynn, not even his own subordinate Snail, to keep her safe.
She felt safe in Travis’s presence. But that wasn’t all she had felt.
They had been together nights, too. He’d made no promises as they shared her bed, but he had satisfied her desire over and over, addicting her so she craved more.
Falling for any man now was sheer foolishness, and most especially a domineering, controlling, commanding one like Travis. But she couldn’t help herself.
She was in love with him.
They slept naked, so she was treated now to the sight of his hard, fully aroused body. The vision, and the way he touched her so erotically everywhere, was too much for her.
“Maybe we have a few minutes,” she agreed softly. In moments, he was on top of her, his mouth greedy as he kissed her till she was crazy for more.
And then he entered her, thank heavens. Again. And for the moment, everything else was erased from her mind.
A SHORT WHILE LATER, though, Dianna’s thoughts were alert once more. “It’s Englander Center’s anniversary today,” she reminded Travis. “We have to go.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “We’ve got to go. I’m taking you down to San Diego for the day.”
“What!” Dianna sat up in bed, clutching the sheet to cover her nakedness. She refused to argue with him while bared to his view. “I’m not going anywhere but to the Center.”
“We’ve talked about this,” he growled, turning to reach down to the floor beside the bed. In a moment, he stood and pulled on his boxers. “I agreed that Jeremy shouldn’t cancel the celebration, since we don’t even know if Farley has anything planned today. But just in case, you won’t be there.”
Dianna stood on the other side of the bed, still holding the sheet about her. “I’m the Center’s manager. I’m in charge of its promotion, in case you don’t remember. Plus, it was named for my husband, who was killed by Farley. I have to be there as Brad’s representative. I will be there.”
He took a few steps as if planning to grab her. “You will n—”
“You’ve promised to protect me,” she interrupted, refusing to allow him to finish. “That’s your job. But keeping me from my responsibilities isn’t an option. Now, excuse me while I get dressed.”
She met his furious glare with one of her own, but she could see more than his angular face and icy blue eyes as she faced him down. Lord, but the man was sexy, all lean, hard muscle. She knew full well how very male, how sensual, he was.
But her attraction to him…her fledgling love of him…they were irrelevant now.
Of course she was afraid of Farley. She wasn’t stupid.
But neither was she a coward. The creep wasn’t going to stop her from living her life.
And neither, even for her own safety, would Travis.
WHILE TRAVIS DROVE Dianna’s little red sports car down Van Nuys Boulevard toward the Center’s parking lot, he stayed alert. Watchful.
Hard to do with the mid-morning crowd forming in the civic center plaza. Street performers were already lined up on the stages erected for the celebration—singers, magicians, other jugglers, mariachis surrounded by colorfully clad dancers.
A grandiose celebration, and a security nightmare.
“Are some of the people on stage yours this time, too?” Dianna asked. Her voice sounded strained. A hell of a woman. She was obviously nervous, but she was here all the same.
Despite his better judgment.
He glanced at her. The pallor of her cheeks complemented the blond hair that framed her face. She was beautiful.
And she drove him nuts. In bed, of course, but most especially by her stubbornness.
“They will be,” he responded to her question. “My guys are meeting with me first. I handpicked officers for their abilities to stop crowds in more ways than one.”
“Do they know what Farley looks like?”
Travis turned the steering wheel to head the car up the Center’s entry ramp. “They all have the composite we put together from your description, plus the composites the feds distributed before. For all the good they’ll do. I doubt he’ll wander around here looking like himself. He uses disguises.”
“I know.” Her tone was wry, and also resigned. He felt her turn toward him and slowed the car enough to look at her. “Travis, I don’t mean to make your job harder. And I appreciate that you�
��re trying to help me. But I have to be here.”
“I know.” The hell of it was, he did know.
He parked in her reserved space and saw her look nervously around. No wonder. She’d seen Farley right here more than once. He watched her scan other nearby people. “He’s not here?”
“No.” She sounded relieved.
“So you’re ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
They’d already discussed what to do once they’d arrived. They wanted everything to appear as normal as possible, including Travis’s cover, assuming Farley hadn’t already seen through it—a big assumption.
First, after checking in with Cal Flynn and his all-but-useless security gang, they went outside to Manny’s cart. The guy was already busy selling coffee and doughnuts to the group of customers elbowing each other to be first in line, and Travis couldn’t help grinning as Dianna offered to help. “Fare to keep you awake and alive.” No, he would do that, not Manny’s stuff.
He himself did a bit of warm-up juggling—as if that relaxed him this time. He saw Dianna watching him from the corner of her eye. He played up the danger of his knife act, just for fun. And because it also got the crowd that surrounded him cheering. But no sign of Farley.
Then they went inside, headed for Dianna’s proposed child-care area in the building’s bowels. Soon, they were joined by Travis’s undercover squad. Many were already dressed and made up as street performers for the occasion. There were enough of them to fill the good-sized basement room, and they jostled each other as they finished getting ready.
Travis, after walking among them, reiterated his orders for the day, reminded them this was the place to assemble before the celebration’s big press conference scheduled for early afternoon in the Center’s community room. They would share information here. A little later he, too, would don his cover, go out on the promenade and juggle some more, so he left his equipment in a corner here, for easy access.
They headed for Dianna’s office.
“You okay?” he asked her in the empty elevator.
“Sure,” she lied. “Look, how about if I go out to the plaza for a little while before the press conference. I want to—”
“I know, you want to be visible for the sake of the Center, and your husband.” He didn’t try to hide his irritability. And it wasn’t just because he knew she’d put herself into danger.
He was jealous, damn it. Of a dead man. Her husband.
A U.S. Representative. A politico, well connected, well respected.
Unlike a simple, stupid street cop like him.
Yeah, he’d admitted it to himself somewhere during his last days in Dianna’s constant presence. He was definitely involved with the subject of his current mission.
He’d fallen for her. Hard.
But that couldn’t make him careless. This time, his subject would not be harmed. Period.
“Yes, my appearance for the Center—and for Brad—is important,” Dianna agreed quietly. “And if I just hide, Farley will have won.”
Before he could respond, the elevator door opened. Jeremy Alberts stood there with his daughter.
“Why aren’t you in school, honey?” Dianna asked Julie.
“Dad promised I could see what was going on. He’s taking me to school now, but I’ll be back this afternoon, right, Dad?”
Alberts might have been a hard-ass otherwise, but he was a soft touch to his daughter’s wishes. His long face that always looked as if he was eating prunes lightened up. “Right,” he replied. “And then maybe Dianna could have dinner with us.”
Speaking of softness, the look the guy draped over Dianna said it all. Travis wasn’t the only one who wanted her. The thing was, he might have her in bed for a few hot, heavy nights, but he wasn’t the kind she’d want anything permanent with.
Jeremy Alberts, on the other hand, was more her social caliber.
But Dianna knew the score for now. She was Travis’s responsibility. She glanced at him as if seeking permission he couldn’t give, not unless he was along to watch over her. But she didn’t say no. Probably wanted to keep her options open with the guy. “Let’s see how the day goes,” she replied.
Right, Travis thought. Let’s see if the Center is still standing and we’re all alive at the end of this hell of a day.
TRAVIS’S DISCUSSION with Dianna about what was scheduled next ended abruptly when her office door was shoved open. Beth hurried in, saying, “Travis is here with Ms. Englander. But, sir, you should—”
“Is anyone else in these offices right now?” demanded Captain Hayden Lee, head of the LAPD’s special undercover “L” Platoon, who followed her.
“No,” Beth said. “They’re all at the anniversary celebration. But—”
“Good,” Lee said, turning to Travis. “I was already on my way up here to find you, Bronson, when I got a call.” He waved his cell phone.
Travis had known his boss was likely to be in the area today keeping an eye on things. He could tell by Hayden’s pallor and narrowed eyes that the guy was rattled. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Come out here. Fast.” Hayden, a bulky Asian American whose face was as wrinkled as crumpled paper, pointed Travis into the hallway.
Travis complied, sparing only a glance toward Dianna, whose expression was a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. Beth was by her side, staring indignantly toward the men.
Hayden didn’t usually go undercover anymore, but today he wore clothes as casual as any Travis had ever seen him in: a blue cotton shirt and khaki slacks. He didn’t waste any words. “We got a bomb scare.”
“Damn. What do we know?”
“Guy claiming to be Farley called the Van Nuys station. Said he was pleased to have the opportunity to bring down Englander Center on its first birthday. Gave what he said was an hour’s warning. The Deputy Chief stationed at Van Nuys got the word, called me since I’d just stopped in to say hello. They’re deploying all available officers. Bomb Squad’s on the way.”
“That was all he said? I mean, no word about where it’d be, anything? He’s liked to brag in the past.”
“He didn’t say more,” Hayden said. “Not even why he’s given so much notice. But here’s what I want you to do. First thing, get everyone out of here. Then—” He rattled off some orders. Clearly, he didn’t care whether Travis’s cover was blown now.
Neither did Travis. Still…
Obeying orders was second nature to him. It came naturally after his stint in the military, his years on the force. He protested anyway. He looked his boss in the eye. “I can’t do all that, Hayden, and keep Dianna safe. She’s my mission.”
“Your mission, Bronson,” said Hayden, “is Englander Center. Protecting all civilian lives, not just one.” He hesitated only a moment. “So you let another one get under your skin? I thought you learned that lesson.”
Travis felt as if he’d been pelted with ice kicked up by a Zamboni at an L.A. Kings hockey game. Maybe even skewered with the blades that scored the ice in the first place. “Yeah,” he said. “I did. And you’re right. Ms. Englander is only part of why I’m here.”
He noticed from the corner of his eye that Dianna’s office door had opened. She stood there, her lovely, ashen face expressionless as she watched them. Beth was right behind her.
Hayden lifted his thin brows as he looked at Travis, then addressed Dianna. “Sorry for bursting in like that, Ms. Englander. I’ll introduce myself later. Right now, we have a situation. Bronson, see you downstairs.”
“What is it, Travis?” Dianna asked softly when Hayden had gone. “Did Farley—”
“Yeah, Farley.” He glanced at Beth. No use mincing words. “Bomb threat.”
Beth gave a little scream. “We need to get out of here.” She hurried down the hall.
Dianna didn’t move. “Tell me—”
“No time. Now, listen. We’re going to evacuate Englander Center. I’ll get three of my best men to be with you. Maybe there is actually a
bomb set to go off, and that’s what I have to find out. But in case it’s a ploy to divert attention from you, you’re not to be alone for even a second. Understand?”
“Yes.” The word issued with no objection from her gently trembling lips. Lips he wanted more than anything to kiss again.
Lips he ignored as he got her moving.
And yet, even as he hustled her from her office, out of the suite that Beth had apparently already vacated, he could have sworn he heard those very enticing, still lips murmur her unspoken protests.
He wanted to shake her.
He wanted to do more than that with her.
But mostly, he prayed she would stay safe.
ONCE AGAIN Dianna stood across the street from Englander Center, worrying whether it was about to blow up. The people surrounding her were different from last time, when the ticking package was left on her desk. Then, she’d been with Jeremy and Wally.
Now, Wally was dead.
Jeremy was with her, though. So were Snail and two other guys, hulking undercover cops whom Travis had introduced so quickly she wasn’t sure she’d heard their names. O’Neill and Smith, maybe. Or Olivier and Short. Her bodyguards.
She watched with dismay as people streamed from the site that, only minutes before, had been the inviting locale of a day’s pleasant diversion.
Would the Center’s reputation ever recover from two bomb scares? Assuming, of course, that the Center remained standing at all after this latest threat.
“I can’t believe this,” Jeremy fumed beside her. He glared at the three men he knew were cops. “Why don’t you just catch that Farley character? I’ve heard of ineptitude, but this is the worst.”
As the glares of the three cops centered on the man who’d been so kind to Dianna over the past year, she hastily stepped in. “They’re doing what they can, Jeremy. But Farley’s elusive. Not even the feds have been able to stop him, and I know they’ve kept their files open since…since Brad was killed.”
Jeremy’s gaze softened and he put an arm around Dianna’s shoulder. She couldn’t help comparing the gesture with how it felt when Travis held her for comfort. No, there was no comparison. Jeremy’s arms were thin beneath his usual suit jacket, and since he wasn’t much taller than she, he had to reach up to clasp her shoulders. His face was long, the look he turned on her morose instead of determined.
Guardian of Her Heart Page 17
