When they reached the edge of the grounds, he guided her to the one spot he knew they could be alone. They walked up the stone steps to the meditation pavilion. There was nowhere to sit except the hard ground and no walls to block the sound, but they could talk here.
“We’ve walked around. Unless you want to talk with the fish, I don’t think you can stall much longer.”
She snorted. “You underestimate me.”
“I’m learning.”
“I knew you’d be at the wedding,” she blurted out.
“What?”
She paced the small six-by-six space, mumbling to herself and generally not making an ounce of sense.
“Katie?”
She finally stopped. When she looked up, her face was drawn and colorless.
“Are you okay?” He stepped toward her, trying to help, but she shook her hands to warn him off.
“I need to get this out.”
She was starting to scare the hell out of him. “Then do it.”
Her chest rose and fell in several deep breaths. “I worked the wedding to get to you.”
The random words didn’t make any sense to him. “I have no idea what you’re saying.”
“Our meeting wasn’t a coincidence.”
“Deana and Josh—”
“I was there because of you.”
Even with all the words out there now, he still had no idea what she was talking about. “Is this some sort of strange stalker crush?”
“You were a job.”
All the concern and worry crashed inside him. This wasn’t about her being sick or upset. This had a nasty edge and the thoughts floating through his mind bordered on being unspeakable. “What kind?”
“I was hired to follow you. To see what you were doing at the wedding and if you and Deana got together.”
“Together at her wedding? What idiot would think that?” His voice rose as fast as his temper. Anger pounded at him from every direction. It had all been a setup. Here he’d spent hours trying to figure out how to fit Katie into his life and she was working a scam.
“You have to know I didn’t mean for it to go this way.” She took a step forward.
He backed up, increasing the distance between them as much as possible. No fucking way was he falling for that husky voice a second time. “Forget that. Tell me who hired you and why.”
“I don’t know.” She rubbed her hands together until they were red.
Screw the sad look on her face and the nervousness that seemed to jump off her. He wanted the truth. “Katie, maybe you can’t tell by the look on my face, but I’m not in the mood for dancing around this.”
“I really don’t know. Jimmy hired me. He’s the one with the client.”
Eric hadn’t thought the fury in his head could rage any hotter. He was wrong. “Jimmy, as in that weasel from the diner?”
“Yes.”
“He hired you to follow me.” Eric swallowed back the bile that clogged his throat. “To sleep with me.”
“God, no.” This time she rushed up and grabbed his arms before he could move away. “I wasn’t even supposed to talk with you. Certainly wasn’t supposed to come near you.”
He wanted to shrug her off, push her away. Act or not, her body crumpled, folded in until she looked ready to curl into a tiny ball. The fake vulnerability tugged at him even as his brain shouted for him to shut her out. Instead, he stayed still, not touching or giving in to the softness of her hands. “Why did you?”
“I never expected to be attracted to you.”
He refused to deal with that. He just couldn’t let himself believe it.
But this time he did break her grasp. He wanted miles of air between them but settled for a few inches. “Who’s Jimmy’s client?”
Her hands fell loose to her sides. “Someone close to you. That’s all I know.”
“That’s not believable. You report to this person.”
“I don’t.”
He stood in the bright sunshine, surrounded by fresh air, and still he hovered on the verge of suffocating. “I’m supposed to trust anything you say right now?”
“I told Jimmy that you and Deana acted completely appropriate at the wedding.” Her tone flattened the more she spoke. “I told him the other day there was nothing between the two of you and his client needed to drop the investigation.”
As far as Eric was concerned, it was the least Katie could do, and he doubted she’d even done that. “I still don’t understand why someone would want to follow me.”
“I was told it was a worried donor.”
Unfortunately, that explanation rang true for Eric. The people who gave money to campaigns expected something in return. Before they handed out cash, many wanted some sort of guarantee. Eric refused to promise more than to do his job. It was conceivable someone needed more evidence.
But a big problem was brewing. One that mattered more than his campaign. “Okay. That’s the business angle. Tell me about the personal one.”
She shook her head. “What does that mean?”
The answer meant more to him than some idiot digging into his record and love life. “Are you still working the con?”
“It was never like that. I got paid for a job, but then I met you and—” She stared at the ground as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. “I don’t know how to explain it.”
From the gnawing he wasn’t sure she could. “Ah, I guess I was so charming that you fell under my spell.”
“Actually, yes.”
The need to believe her rubbed his voice raw. “Don’t fucking lie to me. Not again.”
Some of the color rushed back into her cheeks. “You came to me in the kitchen. You gave me the key.”
“Shows how smart I am.”
“My point is I didn’t come after you. Because of the way we met, I was prepared to walk away.” She grabbed the lapels of his suit coat and tugged him closer. “I need you to listen to me.”
His mind spun in a thousand different directions. Fury, confusion, it all came rushing back to him. This was the second time in his life the fallout from a woman left him reeling. Only, this was worse. Katie had the power to knock him backward and he had no idea when he’d handed her that weapon.
“Why should I?” he asked.
“Because I’ve earned it.”
The words hit him in the wrong place. “I’ll admit the sex was good.”
She shoved herself away from him. “You son of a bitch. That’s not what I meant.”
He regretted the comment as soon as it left his mouth. He’d wanted to land a shot or two of his own. Looked like he had.
He snagged her arm before she ran off. Her muscles trembled under his fingers. “Hold on.”
“Let go of me.” Her fury showed in every line of her body as she fought him.
He refused to let go. “Wait a second.”
“You made yourself perfectly clear.”
He inhaled, trying to figure out how they’d reached this place. More importantly, how they maneuvered out of it without destroying each other. “You dump this huge thing on me, basically tell me our time together was based on some scam, and then try to run off. Are you surprised I’m pissed?”
“I get it. You’re back to thinking I’m a whore.”
Hearing her refer to herself that way sucked the life right out of him. “There’s that word again. Have you noticed you’re the only one using it?”
“But you believe it.” Desperation hung over her, in her voice and the strain around her mouth.
“No.”
Her shoulders fell as some of the tension slipped out of her. “Sounded like you were going there.”
“Give a guy a second to process before you storm off.” The banging in his head made that impossible.
“I’m sorry.”
To keep from falling over, he leaned against the post at one corner of the pavilion. “What for?”
“For not being honest.” She followed him. Stood close enough for t
heir feet to touch. “I should have told you all about this when you walked into the kitchen the first time. You could have made a decision about me then.”
He searched her face, looking for any signs of a continuing con. All he saw was a mouth pulled tight in what looked like anguish. “Why didn’t you?”
“Honestly?”
He couldn’t believe she had to ask. “Yes, Katie. That would be nice.”
“I didn’t want you to leave.” She moved in on him. Her hands fell to his waist and her lips brushed over his.
When she kissed him, the hammering in his head eased. The touch of her mouth against his soothed and comforted. The pain and anger pumping through him slowed. She touched him and his world tipped right again.
But his brain screamed in self-preservation. He couldn’t do this. Not yet. Not until he had a second alone to think.
He forced his muscles to relax as he set her away from him. “I need some time.”
Panic flared in her eyes. “We should talk about this.”
“We’ll talk later.” He stepped down off the platform and headed for the step, then turned back to stare at her.
“Where are you going?”
“I have no idea.” The place didn’t matter so long as he was away.
“Can I come with you?” She sounded so hopeful.
“No.”
Chapter 16
Seth left the quiet of the prosecutor’s office and stepped out of the double glass doors. He was headed to the elevator and then home. Instead of the usually clear path, he ran right into a hot brunette in a raincoat standing in the hall.
Long hair and even longer legs. The combination qualified as perfect in his book.
At the touch of his fingers against her sleeve, she jumped into the wall. “Whoa! Lady, be careful.”
When she shot him a wild-eyed stare, he worried she’d hurt herself. “Are you okay?” he asked.
She clenched the edges of her coat in her fist. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“Obviously.”
It was after hours, almost seven-forty, and pretty much everyone had left for the day. Except for a few security guards roaming the halls, the place was all but abandoned. The lobby had been closed for more than an hour.
Only folks with proper badges had access at this point, which left one big question. “How did you get in here?”
“Through the metal detector.”
Looked like the woman was a liar. Question was if she was something worse. “Try again.”
“I’ve been in the building for a while.”
He noticed she tended to answer questions with gibberish. “Were you on a jury or did you have a case here today?”
“I’m looking for someone.”
That came closer to a sentence, so he grabbed onto it. “Maybe I can help.”
“I need to see Eric Kimura.”
She managed to name the one guy who definitely was in the building. The same guy who hadn’t said a word all day except for when he had to. Seth knew because he’d tried to engage his friend more than once and met with a solid wall of silence. Whatever was going on, the last thing Eric needed was some crazy woman, even if she was a fine-looking crazy woman, harassing him.
“The office is closed now,” Seth explained.
“I understand that.”
Yet here she was. “You can make an appointment.”
“This is personal.”
Now she had Seth’s attention. “Really?”
“I went to his condo and he wasn’t there. This was the other most logical place to find him.”
The surprises just kept coming. “I can’t argue with that.”
“Do you know him?”
“Everyone here knows Eric. He’s the boss.”
“Right.”
“He also happens to be a friend.”
“Can you take me to him?” she asked.
Thanks to the nature of his work, Seth didn’t trust many people. Something in her jittery moves told him to watch out for this one. “What’s your name?”
“Katie Long.”
Didn’t sound familiar. “What’s under the coat?”
She stopped fidgeting and stared him down. The nerves were gone. Extreme attitude had shown up in its place. “That’s not really your business.”
“It is if you’re planning to do something to Eric.” Seth hitched his thumb over his shoulder. “See these doors? They’re locked for a reason.”
“I’m not going to hurt him.”
“Then what is the plan here?”
She shot Seth the you’re-clueless look women did so well. “Use your imagination.”
Oh, he had been ever since he laid eyes on those spiky black shoes and the legs connected to them. “How do you know Eric?”
“We met at his ex’s wedding. We had a misunderstanding yesterday and I need to see him now.”
All the pieces fell together. She was the mystery woman. Had to be. “You’re the one Eric’s been seeing.”
Her mouth dropped open. “He told you?”
“Seth Freeman.” He offered his hand and was surprised when she loosened up on the death grip on her jacket long enough to take it. “Eric and I are good friends.”
She didn’t look convinced. “But still…”
From that reaction, Seth thought she definitely knew Eric. “I figured it out, and that was only after hours of bugging him about you. Couldn’t even get him to cough up a name.”
A small smile played on her lips. “I’m not sure how to take that.”
She might be confused but Seth knew exactly what to do. He’d accept the consequences if there were any. “Take your hands out of your pockets.”
“Excuse me?”
“If I’m going to break every rule and put Eric’s safety at risk by dragging you back there to see him, then I’m going to watch your hands while I do it.”
She held up her hands. Turned them around and wiggled her fingers. “Happy?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“What will help you decide?”
“The look on Eric’s face a minute from now.”
“Hey.” A quick knock on the office door followed Seth’s abbreviated greeting.
Eric didn’t look up. He wasn’t in the mood to talk, not even with Seth. A discussion would lead to Katie, and Eric wasn’t ready to go there yet.
“The answer on dinner is still no,” he said in his best leave-me-alone tone. “Go home.”
“I have another offer.”
For some reason his usually smart friend was not taking the hint. “What is it?”
“Me.”
When Eric heard Katie’s husky voice, his head shot up. It was as if dreaming about her had brought her to life. In his office. In the after-hours quiet of his thoughts. In a raincoat that fell partway down her leg and showed more skin than any sane man could reasonably be expected to resist.
He blinked but she didn’t disappear. “Katie?
Seth looked like he was fighting to hide a smile and failing miserably at the task. “She was hanging out by the elevator.”
“I was trying to figure out how to get in to see you.” She glanced at the papers spread out in front of him on the desk. “Should I come back later?”
“No.” Eric winced at how fast the word flew out of his mouth. He tried for a more even tone. “Stay.”
“What about me?” Seth pivoted around Katie and stepped further into the office as he asked.
Eric pointed at the door as he stood up. “Get out.”
“You sure? I can stay and make sure everything’s okay. Talk for a while.” It was tough to miss the amusement in Seth’s voice.
Eric was more concerned about Katie and how close she was to the exit. The wrong word could send her running, and for some reason, Eric didn’t want that to happen. “Then you can look for a new job tomorrow.”
Seth nodded. “I’ll shut the door behind me.”
“Good choice.”
“Just
so you know, you’re the only one here.” Seth wiggled his eyebrows. Good thing he stood behind Katie when he did it.
“Go.” Eric waited until Seth closed the door behind him. “He’ll ask me questions about you for the next month.”
“What will you tell him?”
Watching her walk across the room and stop on the other side of his desk was no hardship. Her hips swayed and the opening of the coat between her breasts dipped just low enough to give him a hint of shadow.
“I’m not sure yet.” The shadow gave way to a peek of skin. More skin instead of bra or shirt. “Is it raining?”
“No.”
“What’s with the coat?”
“Depends.”
She stepped around to his side of the desk, dragging her hand across his paperwork and otherwise distracting him with the gentle sway of her body. The room remained quiet but her movements echoed the beat of the blood through his veins. “On what?”
“How angry you are that I dropped in on you today.”
His thoughts scattered. If someone had asked him a few minutes ago, he would have said he didn’t want to talk to her. Seeing her now, he realized his anger had cooled. Confusion and need were the words of the hour.
“I’m not.”
“You sure?” She stopped right in front of him. Close enough for the soft smell of her shampoo to wind between them. “You were pretty ticked off yesterday.”
“I was a lot more than that.” Damn, if she moved one more inch, she’d be on top of him. He had to admit he liked the idea.
“And you didn’t call me.” She touched the knot of his tie. “Haven’t spoken to me at all since we were at the temple.”
“No.”
“Tell me what that means.”
“I was furious, but that can’t be a surprise.”
Her second hand joined the first. Instead of fixing his tie, she started loosening it. “You didn’t exactly hide your feelings.”
“You dropped a pretty big bomb.”
He knew he should resist her. Her admission yesterday still had him reeling and distrusting everyone around him. Yet he looked into those big blue eyes and every ounce of intelligence seeped out of his body. He was transported back to a time when his needs came before everything else. Obligations ceased to exist. Elections came in second. With a touch of nostalgia, he’d begun to think of those as the good times.
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