One-Click Buy: July 2009 Harlequin Blaze

by Julie Kenner

“You had enough to worry about, and it wasn’t an issue. Tom is my captain, but he’s also a friend, and he knew what was going on—he brushed them for prints, but whoever it was, was careful.”

  “It could have cost you your job.”

  “Not really. Well, it might have raised some eyebrows, but I technically wasn’t on duty, and there’s nothing unethical about me being involved with you, so except for making it somewhat awkward, I don’t know what anyone hoped to gain by sending them. I would have thought they’d send them to your bosses.”

  “If they did, I never heard a word about it.”

  She could see the cop emerge as he slipped into pensive mode.

  “So maybe someone was trying to piss me off, to get me to have to leave, to separate us…to leave you unprotected?”

  She sighed. They were back to that.

  “I suppose, but why force issues? You’d be going home eventually anyway.”

  “That’s true. I don’t know. None of it makes sense.” He leaned over, planted a hot kiss on her lips. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but honestly, at the time, it didn’t seem like the most important thing. And I didn’t want you to worry.”

  “You know, if we stay in this, if we make this…more, then I will worry. How could I not? But I don’t think that’s a reason for us not to be together,” she said, then frowned. “We have more practical problems.”

  “Such as?”

  “Well, the fact that we live in two pretty distant places, and we’re both building careers, that are kind of geographically challenging?”

  He sighed. “I know. I’ve tried to find a way around it, too.”

  “I don’t know what will happen after the calendar is done. I might stay here, I could be back on freelance, and that sends me all over the place for varying amounts of time. What was the promotion you were mentioning?”

  His fingers started trailing up and down her arm, and she shivered, but not from cold.

  “Tom is moving up, and wants me to take his spot. It’s a test, some interviews, but he thinks I’d get the job. It’s more desk time, more office work—”

  She snorted. “That doesn’t sound like you at all. Why would you even consider it?”

  “I don’t know. Better pay, more regular hours, less chance of dying out in the desert. The basics, really.”

  He joked, but what she knew in her heart was that he was considering it for her, for them. And it was too much—too much that he’d consider such a sacrifice when they’d only known each other for a week and couldn’t predict how things would be a week from now.

  She sighed, reaching up and pulling him down next to her, and he didn’t argue, leaning in to trail kisses over her face and neck, moving down to her stomach.

  “Let’s just take it a day at a time, okay? Can we not make any big decisions? Let’s just…enjoy this,” she said, sucking in a breath as his lips closed around her nipple and drew sweetly on the sensitive bud.

  “Fine by me,” he whispered, his breath feathering over the spot his mouth had made wet, creating more sensation.

  Levering over her, he parted her thighs with his shoulders and settled in, kissing her intimately, laving her soft flesh with his tongue until she was writhing and begging for him to fill her, a command he was happy to follow.

  Settling down on top of her slender form, he entered her gently. He rained kisses down her neck, her chest while he moved slowly and tantalizingly back and forth, rocking them to a climax that had them both shuddering in each other’s arms.

  Later, as dawn peeked over the windowsill of her apartment, they looked at each other quietly and made no promises. How they touched each other was promise enough for now.

  JAROD TURNED HIS GAZE from the view of Lower Manhattan, to the people setting up his last bunch of shots. Oddly, he no longer felt strange being made up, his clothes changed, as he got ready for the shoot. Maybe it was because anything that allowed him to be close to Lacey right now was okay with him.

  “Did you know the Brooklyn Bridge is the only place on earth where an airplane can fly overhead while you are walking over a car that is driving over a boat that is floating over a train?” she asked with a smile, camera in hand.

  After their talk last night, they hadn’t mentioned any future plans again, but he still was uncomfortable leaving her until everything was settled. He’d promised he wouldn’t, but work demands dictated his presence back home. He was being asked to travel with a marshall to bring Hill back to Texas, and it wouldn’t wait.

  Jarod smiled, wanting to pull her close, but resisting, as they were on work time. “I hadn’t thought of that before. Makes me consider the people who built all of this. Utterly amazing.”

  “I’m always freaked out by the pictures of the men sitting on the girders back in the twenties, eating their lunch—no ropes, nothing attaching them. Incredible.”

  “A lot of lives lost over the decades, building this place,” he said, his eyes drifting back to the island.

  “Yes, but as much happiness, too, I’d like to think.”

  “Is that why you came here? To find happiness?”

  She took a deep breath. “No. I wasn’t even thinking about happiness, then.” She studied him from under her lashes, blushing slightly before turning her gaze out over the river. “I came here to escape. It was far enough away, big enough, and different enough, and I thought no one could find me here. I guess I was wrong.”

  “People have gone to the desert for exactly the same reason. They’re really not all that different in the basic sense—both big and threatening if you don’t know your way around, and both beautiful.”

  “You have some poetry in you, Ranger,” she teased, turning when someone called to her.

  “We’re all set. Ready to make love to the camera, stud?”

  “Always ready to make love to the woman handling it,” he said just as playfully, loving her smile.

  She hadn’t done the things other women might have done. She didn’t pressure him to stay, or complain that he had to leave, even though he’d wanted to remain until Myers was caught. All in all, she seemed okay with things the way they were. He wasn’t as sure that he was.

  “There’s still no word on Myers or Gena—they don’t even know if she’s still alive.”

  “I realize that,” she said softly. “But there have been no more calls, no more problems.”

  “Somehow it seems like if he was here, he would have popped up by now.”

  “I can’t think of anyone else who’d be calling me or who would have broken into my apartment.”

  Jarod took his position at the bridge railing and leaned back as she fiddled with his shirt and posture.

  “Maybe he figured out he couldn’t get to you and left. Those guys are basically cowards. They like to exert their power, and when they can’t win, they take off.”

  “I guess. It would make me feel better if they found him, though.”

  He had to say it. It wasn’t the best time, but the words came out. “I know I said I’d be here until we straightened that out, and I don’t feel right leaving you, but I don’t have a choice.”

  Her eyes flickered with various emotions, and he knew she wasn’t exactly in the best position to talk at the moment, but it had to be said.

  “I’ll be fine. I’ll be careful. I’m going to stay at Jackie’s for a few days anyway. She needs help getting home from the hospital tomorrow, and she’ll need someone there for a day or two. Maybe by then we’ll hear something.”

  “I’ll talk to a cop here who I’ve gotten to know a bit. He can stop by, or check things out for you, too.”

  “Thanks. I’m sure I’ll be fine,” she said.

  “I want to come back as soon as I can swing it, and… I’m not taking the promotion. I talked to Tom this morning.”

  “Good for you, Ranger,” she said approvingly, and not caring who saw, pulled at his collar, bringing him down for a quick kiss, to his surprise. “Now look pretty for the pictures,” she o
rdered, joining her crew who had discreetly averted their eyes.

  “Very funny,” he replied, but watching her work was fun, and he got through the final shots with ease.

  “I’m treating everyone to pizza at Grimaldi’s,” she announced, and he was disappointed not to have her to himself.

  “Pizza sounds great,” he agreed and focused on the festive mood as they packed up and made their way from the bridge into Brooklyn, pleased as she snaked her hand into his.

  As she said, they had time. He didn’t know how, but he knew he wasn’t going to let Lacey Graham out of his life, one way or the other.

  THE AIRPORT WAS HELL, and Lacey didn’t mean the traffic, the crowds or the delays. She’d rented a car to pick up Jackie from the hospital, not wanting to subject her bruised friend to a possibly adventurous cab ride, and take Jarod to the airport, which gave her extra time with him, too.

  “You’re a good driver,” he observed as she made her way off the Expressway heading toward the airport.

  “It’s been so long since I’ve driven, I almost forgot if I could do it. It’s actually not quite as bad here as I thought.”

  They arrived at the airport, and she hadn’t anticipated how difficult it would be to say goodbye, even though she knew it was temporary. She’d felt so confident and adult the night before, telling him not to worry. And that they’d work things out and find a way to be together. Not to rush things. But now she felt like the neediest Nellie on the planet.

  Good Lord, how she didn’t want him getting on that plane. She stopped herself short of telling him she didn’t want him to go because she was an independent woman, and doing so was clingy and unattractive and—

  “God, I wish I didn’t have to go,” he said roughly, and she bit her lip to hold back the emotion that welled up. He gathered her in close to comfort her.

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can. I’ll come up here until you’re done with the calendar, and after that’s over, maybe you can take a break and come down to my neck of the woods?”

  He gently tipped her chin up and looked into her eyes, and it did her good to know he hated this as much as she did.

  “Sounds like a plan,” she said, forcing a smile that he scooped up in a hot kiss. He checked his watch and reluctantly pulled back. “You be careful. And call me if you need me. You’ve got Ward’s direct number, too, remember,” he said. Ward was the NYPD officer he’d dealt with on the Hill shooting.

  “I will. I’ll be fine. You stay safe, too,” she said, realizing the reality of what he had been talking about as he got out of the car with his bag and walked away.

  It was the first moment that she really understood why he had such serious doubts. On a daily basis, Jarod’s life could be in danger. They had plans, but it was really a day-by-day thing. Who knew if he’d come back, if she’d ever see him again? He was getting on that plane with a Federal Marshall and the man who had tried to kill them both.

  No. She couldn’t think that way. Jarod was good at what he did. He’d be back.

  Watching him disappear as he entered the aiport, she waited until her vision stopped being so blurry and started the car. She had work, and she had to take care of Jackie. She loved Jarod, but she had her life, too, and she was going to get back to it.

  13

  “I’M SORRY YOU HAD to miss the pizza wrap-up lunch. It was fun, and I think we got things back on track, so we’re off and running again,” Lacey said to Jackie as they waited for the nurse to come with a wheelchair. Jackie grumped.

  “It’s so stupid to have to be wheeled out of these places. I’m perfectly fine to walk. I just want to get home.”

  “I don’t blame you, but enjoy the rest while you’re getting it. I’m doubling up the schedule over the next few weeks so we can get more finished. Now that Jarod’s pictures are done, and I’ve got plenty of Ryan and another guy coming in tomorrow, I have a much better idea of what I need from everyone else. We’re actually ahead of schedule. I think we can cut through it all much faster, thankfully.”

  Lacey was particularly motivated to stay on schedule because when she was done she was taking a few weeks off to visit Jarod. That was the advantage of freelance work, and she was going to enjoy it.

  “Execs will be happy about that. Nothing like being on track,” Jackie said and let out a small whoop of happiness when the nurse appeared in the doorway.

  “Yay, time to go,” her assistant gushed, and Lacey chuckled as they all headed for the entrance. Soon she and Jackie were making their way to Hoboken, where Jackie lived.

  “So…how are you doing?” Jackie asked, once she’d settled into her place.

  “Me? I’m fine. You’re the one recovering.”

  “You know what I mean. Jarod had to go home, and Sally came in and mentioned to me that you two were pretty hot and heavy at the shoot, not that I didn’t know something was going on before. You two could start fires just by looking across a room at each other,” Jackie said.

  Lacey couldn’t help but grin. “He’s a great guy.”

  “C’mon! That’s all you’re going to give me?” Jackie let her head fall back against the seat’s headrest, rolling her eyes in disgust. “I’m an injured woman, I need details.”

  Lacey laughed again. “Well…he’s coming back, maybe in a few weeks, and I’m going there at the end of the project…”

  “And?”

  “And what?”

  “You’re killin’ me here. What’s he like in the sack? What do you like most about him? Are you guys in something serious, or what?”

  “We’re taking our time—it’s only been a week. But I’d say we both agree it could be something serious, and because of that, I’m not telling you about the other stuff. Except to say that I think I pulled several all-nighters in the past week, and I enjoyed every single second of them.”

  “Yesss!” Jackie said, clapping.

  “I know. I never thought there would be a guy like him out there. Decent, sexy, caring… I mean, he has his faults—he’s a little bossy, a little, um, not arrogant, but you know, he kind of likes to take over if you let him—”

  “Which you don’t.”

  “No, but he listens, too. Even when we disagreed, we could actually talk, and he heard what I had to say, you know?”

  Jackie didn’t say anything, and Lacey looked over as they stopped at a light, seeing her friend sitting, staring down into her lap at her fingers.

  “Hey, what’s the matter? You feeling all right?”

  Jackie sniffed and shook her head. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just happy for you. You deserve it.”

  “How about you and Kenny?”

  “I, uh, I don’t think it’s going to work out.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. But take it from me there are many, and better, fish. Maybe that fireman who was flirting with you last week? What was his name? Mr. April. I can remember their month, but forget their names. Except for Jarod, of course.”

  Jackie smiled weakly. “Ryan Murphy. He was nice. Maybe. Right now, I don’t know if I want anything to do with men at all.”

  Lacey remained quiet for a moment. “I know how you feel. That’s where I was before I met Jarod.”

  “Really?”

  “I know it’s different, but a man attacked you, Jackie, maybe the same man who attacked me once.”

  There, she said it.

  “Is that what you guys were talking about that day, and why they sent security to my hospital room?”

  “That’s right. We were afraid he’d come back, that he was trying to get to me through my friends, through Jarod—he sent the pictures of us to Jarod’s boss.”

  “Oh, no! Is he in trouble?”

  “No, it sounds like his captain kept it quiet. Jarod hadn’t crossed any ethical lines by being with me. But obviously someone was trying to mess with us. Maybe make him think I was too much trouble, or get him to leave.” Lacey shrugged.

  “You said you were attacked, too?”

  “My ex-bo
yfriend was a maniac, and beat me before he took off. It was why I came here, and it ate away at me until I settled some things recently, I guess.”

  Jackie’s voice was thin. “He hit you?”

  “He broke my arm, threw me around… I think he might have done worse if I hadn’t passed out.”

  “Oh, my God,” Jackie said. “I’m so sorry.”

  Lacey felt a knot loosen in her gut. This was easier to talk about than she thought, and it felt good to get it out, especially as maybe it could help Jackie.

  “Thing is, I didn’t want to deal with it or talk to anyone. I told Jarod, and you, and somewhere in all of it, I started to work through it. That’s my point, really. You were hurt, too, and you might need to talk about it, or do something to get past it. Just don’t lock it up inside like I did because it eats at you. It doesn’t go away on its own.”

  Jackie said nothing, and Lacey worried. It was so unlike Jackie to be so quiet or moody, but then again, she’d been through so much recently.

  “Jackie, I’m sorry if you didn’t need to hear all that right now. I know I hated people preaching at me to talk about it, or to tell someone… I had to come around to it in my own good time, so I’m sorry I pushed.”

  Jackie shook her head. “It’s not that.”

  “We’re almost there. Just relax, okay?”

  “Lacey, there’s something I really need to tell you,” Jackie started, but Lacey inadvertently cut her off when someone cut her off, taking a turn far too fast.

  “Damn, that guy nearly took our front end off! What were you about to say?”

  “Um, nothing, maybe later. Thanks for telling me all this. Do you really think it was the same guy?”

  “I don’t know. I really have no idea anymore what’s going on. Things have been calm for a few days, and so Jarod thought maybe Scott went away. You didn’t see him?”

  Jackie went back to looking out the window.

  “Well, listen, we’ll keep each other company, and we’ll be perfectly safe. And if you want, I can even grab more stuff from my place and keep you company for a few days.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “It’s what friends do for each other, Jackie, and I hope we are friends.”