“I didn’t mean to wake you. It’s still early.”
“I don’t mind.” She suppressed a yawn. “Why sleep when we can cuddle.”
His laughter warmed her from head to toe as he crawled back into bed and pulled her into his arms.
“I’m up for cuddling.”
“I can tell.” She snuggled close, taking a deep breath of the slightly musky scent lingering on his skin from their lovemaking the previous night.
“Your fault entirely.” Working one hand up between them, he covered her breast with his palm. “You’re so damn sexy. And flexible.” He tickled her ear with his lips. “Let’s not forget the flexible part.”
“I’m not sure where that particular skill came from.”
“Honestly, I’m glad you can’t remember.”
An image jolted her out of her blissful state. A man with dark blond hair and intense green eyes. Handsome. Smooth. Vaguely familiar. A sharp burst of anger accelerated her breathing.
“Wow, not what I was expecting.”
Noah pulled his mouth away from her throat. “You don’t like that?”
She banished the fragment of memory and focused on the present. On Noah. “I like it, all right. Shifting to roll beneath him, she hooked her legs around his hips. “I like everything you do to me. For me.”
“What we do for each other.”
Drugged on his kisses, Riley drifted on a sea of pleasure. Noah filled her heart with joy and her senses with anticipation as he slid inside her. The friction of his warm chest against her breasts pearled the tips in a way that was almost unbearably erotic. A film of perspiration made the skin on his back slick beneath her fingers, and his breath came faster in her ear as he pushed harder. Lost in sensation, she couldn’t focus on anything but the building tension inside her. With a cry, she spun out of control, clinging to him as he collapsed on top of her, weighing her into the mattress.
A shrill bark dragged her out of pleasurable lethargy, and she opened her eyes. Stormy stood a foot away from the bed and whined. After a moment, she pawed the covers.
“I think your friend needs to go outside.” Noah’s voice was muffled in her hair.
“Paper, scissors, rock to see who has to get up?”
Lifting his head, he grinned down at her. “She’s your dog.”
“True.” She tried to flip back the covers, but he held on tight.
“I was kidding! I’ll let her out and start up the generator. It’ll take some time for the water heater to warm the tank, but I’m sure you’d like a hot shower.”
“I’d love one.”
When he bent to kiss her again, her toes curled. Finally, he pushed upright. “Stay warm. There’s no reason fr you to get up yet.”
After Noah left with Stormy, Riley sat up and stretched. Goose bumps pebbled her skin, and she shivered, despite the fire blazing in the stove. Reaching for the clothes scattered on the floor between the two mattresses, she quickly pulled on her sweats and shoved her feet into her slippers. Feeling slightly warmer, she headed into the kitchen to fill the coffee carafe with water.
Outside, the generator kicked on with a muted roar.
“Yes.” She fist-pumped the air, then dumped the water into the coffee maker as the digital display illuminated. She didn’t care how old the bag of ground beans she’d discovered in the pantry was, she needed a shot of caffeine to get her motivated. Once she had the coffee brewing, she went in search of her purse.
Pulling out her phone, she held the button down to power it up, then checked for messages. None from the care center regarding her grandfather, thank God. Becca had texted that she’d gotten the job and was Riley available to celebrate. She tapped out a response. Congrats! Out of town with a friend. I’ll call when I get back. Charles had also texted, asking if she was okay and including a worried emoji. She assumed he’d heard about the most recent attack from his uncle. She typed rapidly. Left Boston with Noah for a little peace and quiet. Am safe. Turning off the phone after pressing send, she stuffed it in her pocket just as the back door opened.
Stormy ran through the kitchen, her nails scraping against the tile floor before she came to a stop at Riley’s feet, her entire body quivering.
Bending, she rubbed her dog’s ears and glanced up at Noah. “She seems pretty happy.”
“Your silly mutt ran after a rabbit. Even though she didn’t catch it, I think the excitement of the chase made her morning.”
“I’m glad the bunny survived. Right now, I have empathy for anything hunted.”
“Let’s hope that doesn’t become an issue again.” Noah dropped a kiss on her upturned lips. “You got out of bed.”
“Not much point in staying there. I started a pot of coffee, and I checked my phone to make sure there weren’t any problems with my grandpa.”
He pulled away and frowned. “Did you turn it off again afterward? I doubt anyone outside law enforcement could trace it, but better safe than sorry.”
“Yes. I only had it on for a minute. There were no notifications from Harbor House, which is good. The police didn’t try to contact me, either, so there must not be any news about my attacker.”
“At least none they feel like sharing.” He glanced toward the coffee brewer. “Looks like your coffee is ready. By the time you drink a cup, the water should be hot enough for a shower.”
She laid a hand on his arm as she brushed past him. “I can’t ask for more than that. Maybe we can take a hike later, as long as it isn’t too strenuous. My knee feels a whole lot better this morning, and I could use a strong dose of nature.”
“Sure.” When she held up two mugs, he nodded. “Why not. That coffee’s probably only six months old. How awful can it taste?”
“Bad coffee is better than no coffee. I guess we need to go shopping.”
“We should have stopped for groceries on the way here. I wasn’t thinking straight. My only goal was to get you somewhere safe.”
Riley took a sip from her cup and grimaced. “Ugh.” After opening the pantry, she pulled down a box of brown sugar and opened it. “Looks okay, even if it is hard as concrete.” She chipped out a spoonful, added it to the dark brew, and tried again. “Much better. If you’re hungry, I have a snack bar in my purse.”
“I’d rather have eggs, which means a trip to the store. Since Ellsworth is the nearest town where I can shop without being recognized, I may be gone a while. I’ll also get more gas for the generator while I’m there.”
“I can take a shower later if you don’t want to wait.”
“Actually, you’re safer staying here. That way if anyone happens to recognize me, they won’t spread the word that I’m in town with a woman. Gossip has a life of its own, and God knows who it could ultimately reach.” He poured a cup of coffee and took a swallow. “Not bad at all since I like mine on the gritty side.”
She made a face. “Get some creamer, if you don’t mind. One of the flavored kinds. Please.”
He stepped closer and cradled the back of her head in his hand. “Since I like you just a little, I’ll do that.”
Standing on her toes, she kissed him. The heat that stole through her at the contact was a whole lot more effective at warming her than the coffee. “Thank you. Oh, and dog food. Stormy ate the rest of the stale crackers last night. I can’t believe I forgot to bring her supplies.”
“We really didn’t plan very far ahead. Okay, I’m out of here.” He took a final gulp from his cup before snatching the car keys off the counter. “Enjoy your shower.”
“I intend to.”
After Noah left, Riley drank her coffee, staring out the living room window at the spectacular view of waves crashing on the rocky shore. A weathered dock with a boathouse at the far end stuck out into the cove, and seagulls flew low over the incoming breakers. Early morning sunlight sparkled on the water’s surface.
She sighed in pleasure, but the burst of happiness faded as memories of the dark, suffocating bag covering her head intruded. She wasn’t on vacati
on with Noah. She was in hiding.
When Stormy leaned against her leg, Riley set her empty mug on the windowsill and reached down to rub her dog’s ears. “I suppose it could be worse.” I could be frightened out of my mind and alone. Instead, she was with a man she trusted, one she was falling for. Hard. Letting go of Stormy, she wrapped her arms across her chest and hugged memories of the previous night close. Maybe she was still a basket case, but Noah didn’t seem to mind.
Turning away from the view, Riley carried her bag up the steep staircase, pleased that her knee only twinged slightly. In the small, frigid bathroom, she turned on the shower and dropped her clothes on the bathmat, shivering while she waited. Long seconds passed before hot water finally poured down and steam rose. Feeling as if she’d been given a gift, she stepped beneath the spray and washed quickly, knowing the heat probably wouldn’t last long. She’d enjoy it while it did.
Fifteen minutes later, she’d dressed in a pair of jeans and a thick sweater and had tied her damp hair back in a ponytail. Using what natural light slanted through the high window, she managed to apply mascara without stabbing herself in the eye, then covered the remainder of her bruises with foundation. After a critical look in the mirror, she decided she didn’t look half bad and headed downstairs.
Once she rekindled a fire in the stove and drank a second cup of coffee, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and turned it on. One voicemail from Detective Brasher. Not certain if he had good news or bad, she hit the button to listen to the message.
“I spoke to Mr. Hughes. Please give me a call.”
The detective’s gruff voice gave nothing away, but apparently Dex was lucid. Releasing a huge sigh of relief, she touched the screen to return the call and waited while it rang.
“Brasher here.”
“Detective, it’s Riley Adair. You spoke to Dex? How is he?”
“Off the heavy meds and fighting mad that someone got the drop on him. Unfortunately, he wasn’t very helpful.”
“I heard him talking to someone just before—”
“An older woman who lives across the hall.” The detective cut her off. “She left her room, staggered past your bodyguard, and nearly fell. Apparently, your attacker slipped up behind Mr. Hughes while he was trying to help her.”
“Dex didn’t see him?”
“I’m afraid not. We’ve thoroughly questioned both employees and residents, and no one saw anyone suspicious in the facility near the time of the knifing. Also, we did cursory background checks, and none of the staff have criminal records. We’d need a warrant for anything more in depth, and we don’t have reasonable cause.”
“So, whoever stabbed Dex and grabbed me is going to get away with it?”
“I didn’t say that.” Brasher’s voice held a hint of annoyance. “I simply wanted to let you know we haven’t made an arrest. Yet. The case is still open, obviously, but you need to take great care. Possibly hire more protection.”
“I’m with Noah Kimball, and I have every confidence he can keep me safe.”
“Good to know. I’ll update you when we have a suspect in custody.”
“Thanks for calling. I appreciate it.” Riley hung up, turned off her phone, and glanced down at Stormy, lying in front of the fire. “Let’s take a walk around the property. I need to clear my head.”
The magic word walk had the dog scrambling to her feet. After putting on a warm jacket, Riley wandered down to the dock, taking deep breaths of the salt-scented air. Her frustration ebbed along with the tide as the chill wind whipped past her. The creaking of weathered boards with each footfall and the jingling of Stormy’s collar disturbed the silence. Reaching the far end of the dock, she pulled open the door to the boathouse and stepped inside.
A shallow wooden boat with an outboard engine and peeling blue paint was tied up on one side. Water slapped gently against the hull. Stormy sniffed the rope securing the bow to the dock, her tail wagging before she moved away.
“Let’s go, girl.” Riley waited in the doorway for the dog. When the hum of a car engine drew her attention, she shut the door and scanned the access road. “Hey, it looks like Noah is back.”
With a sharp bark that carried on the wind, the dog ran toward shore. Riley followed more slowly, mindful of her knee. She was getting around fine, but she wasn’t up for sprinting quite yet. By the time she’d rounded the house, he’d parked in the garage and emerged carrying two bulging bags of groceries.
Riley stopped as a vision of a woman with short brown hair and a wide smile, carrying a bag of groceries in one arm and holding her hand with the other, surfaced. A man with the same blue eyes as her grandpa hurried toward them. He ruffled her hair and dropped a kiss on the woman’s lips before taking the sack from her. A sense of warmth and security accompanied the memory. Riley was dead certain she’d revisited it over and over in her mind after her parents’ deaths, drawing some degree of comfort in knowing how much they’d loved her and each other.
“Riley, are you okay?” Noah stopped in front of her, his eyes intent as he studied her.
She nodded. “I had a memory of my parents, probably from not long before they died. I was very young, but the image was crystal clear.”
“Your brain is healing.” He shifted both bags into the same arm and slung his other one around her shoulders to squeeze. “These memories are the result.”
“I’m thankful for every little glimpse into my past.” She smiled up at him. “Let’s go make breakfast.”
“I’m down with that. I was feeling a little light-headed with hunger on the drive back.”
“We wouldn’t want you to pass out or anything, now would we?”
While he made a second trip to get the dogfood, Riley put away the groceries and broke eggs into a bowl. Once Noah joined her, he fed Stormy, put bagel halves into the toaster, and started another pot of coffee while she scrambled the eggs.
“We work well together.” He pulled the bagels from the toaster when they popped up and slathered on cream cheese.
“Yes, we do.” Riley scooped eggs from the pan onto plates. “You’re easy to get along with, so it isn’t that remarkable.” She paused as a frown creased her brow. “Although I have a feeling I’m very direct—some might even call me bossy—when I’m working.”
“Is that so?” He took one of the plates from her and headed toward the table.
“I can picture myself in front of a computer, annoyed at an interruption and barking orders. Yikes.” She sat down across from him. “Maybe I should work on my communication skills.”
“Who were you ordering around?”
“I’ve no idea.” She picked up her fork. “Maybe there’s a reason I’m still single at thirty. And before you ask, I only know my age because I checked my driver’s license.”
“Hey, you’re making real progress.” He took a bite of his bagel and chewed. “And just so you know, the men you’ve dated must have been crazy to let you get away. Bossy can be hot. I liked it last night when you ordered me not to stop.”
Her cheeks heated, and she stared at him, completely mortified. “I didn’t say that. I’d remember.”
“Yep, it was right before you—”
“Oh, my God! Stop!”
His laugh turned into a cough as he choked on the bagel. “Fine, but it was a serious turn-on.”
She covered her face with her hands. “I don’t know what to say.” She peeked out at him and grinned. “Thank you might be appropriate.”
Reaching across the table, he snagged her wrist to pull her hand down and smiled back at her. “No, thank you.”
“How about we change the subject before I die of embarrassment. Detective Brasher called earlier.”
Noah released her wrist and picked up his fork. “What did he have to say?”
“Dex is recovering. That’s the good news, but he couldn’t identify the man who stabbed him. Apparently, he was distracted by a resident. Maybe the guy was waiting around for the perfect opportunity to act.”
“The police don’t have any suspects?”
“I don’t think so.” Riley pushed the eggs around on her plate. “Brasher recommended I hire another bodyguard. I told him I’m with you.”
“Well, hell. I’d hoped Dex would be able to give them a decent description of his attacker. As it is, the cops probably don’t have shit.” He blew out a frustrated breath. “Looks like we won’t be going back to Boston anytime soon.”
“I don’t mind, but doesn’t your team need you?”
“Let’s hope nothing critical happens before there’s a break in the case.” He ate quietly for a few moments. “There’s still the question of how the intruder got into the care center. Maybe I’ll ask Luna to do a little digging to see if any of the residents have relatives who might have an interest in you and your research. Hacking the Harbor House records should be easy enough for her.”
“Brasher said none of the staff had a police record.”
“Doesn’t mean they wouldn’t take a bribe. Luna can look into them, as well. I’ll give her a call.”
Riley laid down her fork. “At least we’ll be doing something constructive. I hate feeling so helpless.”
“I don’t like it much, either.” He reached over their plates to squeeze her hand. “Finish your breakfast. I’ll call Luna and then take a quick shower. Afterward, we can go on that hike you mentioned earlier.”
“Thank you, Noah.”
His brows shot up. “For what?”
“Staying positive. Making the best of a bad situation. It helps.”
His deep brown eyes reflected a wealth of caring and compassion as he linked their fingers. “You’re very welcome.”
* * * *
“If she’s with Kimball, how hard can they be to find?”
Charles planted his elbows on the shiny surface of the oak desk and ran one gloved hand through his hair as he held his cell with the other. “They left Boston. How the hell do I know where they went? You’re the one who let her get away yesterday.”
Lethal Memory (A Counterstrike Novel Book 2) Page 12
