Fatal Fiction (Harbour Bay Book 5)

by Camille Taylor

  “You’re up early.”

  “Not really. I’m usually awake at this hour.” Though she tried to keep out of his way, knowing he liked to go for a run each day before heading to work. “There’s always something to do.”

  She glanced around. That wasn’t quite true this morning. She hummed with restless energy.

  Since arriving at Nick’s, Riley had caught up on several submissions. Forwarding ones with promise to Michelle to pitch to the acquisitions team. Her edits were up to date and awaiting the author’s returns. With Michelle running interference and playing Riley’s stand-in at meetings, Riley had accomplished more than she would in a month.

  A strange feeling settled over her. Like maybe, she could get used to having a moment to relax. To reacquaint herself with Riley, and figure out who she was without her career defining her.

  “Care to join me for a run?”

  Riley bit back a laugh which to her embarrassment became a snort. “Ah no. I don’t run.”

  “Why not? Those endorphins aren’t nothing to sneeze at and it’s great exercise.”

  So is sex but unless he was offering that she’d have to decline.

  “Much healthier than drinking that swill morning, noon and night.”

  She shrugged. “Still, I think I’ll stick to coffee. Running is so exhausting and just plain boring.”

  “Not when you have a partner. Come on, it’ll be good to get out and get fresh air.”

  Again, her mind went to sex. Michelle and Megan were both now on her shit list. She’d been perfectly happy with her abstinence until they’d mentioned it.

  She huffed out a breath, though to be honest spending a few extra minutes with Nick wasn’t a hardship. She found she liked his company and every hour she learned something new about the man.

  She’d forgiven him for last night in the time it took for their Thai to be delivered. He was right. It could—though unlikely—have a bearing on his case. Her ex wouldn’t dare show his face, lest she shoot him somewhere other than his knee this time. Someplace he’d greatly miss.

  His eyes pleaded with her and though she knew he was full of shit, she found herself caving.

  “Fine. Give me a few minutes to change.”

  After dressing in a pair of tights and a lightweight top, she located her tennis shoes at the bottom of her suitcase. Riley didn’t own runners, more at home in heels but occasionally she wore flats and they’d have to do.

  A few minutes later, they were on the street and after some stretches, Riley began jogging, slowly warming up to a run. Nick fell into step and she guessed even at her top speed she was nowhere near his yet he kept to her pace.

  Sweat dripped from her forehead even in the cool mid-winter morning air. She puffed, the sound travelling in the quiet surrounds. Beside her, Nick ran with ease and only a light sheen of perspiration. If she hadn’t already been embarrassed she would be now.

  She made it twenty minutes before the stitch in her side and her wet-noodle like legs forced her to stop. Thankfully they were in the park and a nearby wood bench looked like the most heavenly piece of furniture she’d seen in a while. She didn’t even care what it may be covered in. She barely got to the bench before she collapsed and used the last of her energy to raise her legs so she could stretch out.

  She was done. Goodness knows how long it would be before she could move again.

  Nick leaned over her, his mouth twitching to hold back a smile.

  “Taking a rest?”

  “No. I’m dying. Go on without me.”

  He laughed at her dramatics. The sound had flutters erupting in her belly.

  She breathed deeply, her heart thumping hard. The scent of wet earth made its way into her lungs.

  “I can’t do that. What’s going to happen when the zombie apocalypse is upon us?”

  Her gaze held his, his body blocking the rising sun so she didn’t have to squint. Behind him two magpies took flight, squawking at being interrupted.

  “I’ll be the first to be turned then I’ll remember this torture and I’ll be coming after you.”

  His eyebrows waggled. “But how will you catch me?”

  She shrugged. He had her there. “I’ll lay traps.”

  “Ah, like Wile E. Coyote? That I’d like to see.”

  Riley laughed. So would she. The images in her mind were downright comical.

  “Come on. We better get going otherwise I won’t be getting to work on time.”

  Groaning, she sent him an apologetic look. “I’m serious. I can’t make it one meter let alone the kilometres back to your apartment.”

  His lips twitched again. “Well, I can’t very well leave you here. That defeats the purpose of protecting you.” He crouched down, his back to her. “Hop on.”

  Her gaze ran down the length of his back to his perfect backside. A shiver coursed through her that had nothing to do with the chill in the air.

  “You’re going to give me a piggyback?”

  “Yep.”

  She shrugged. Riley didn’t see him getting far but she’d indulge him all the same. Or rather indulge some of her fantasies by getting to touch his body. Twisting on the bench, she bit back a groan as her body protested. Her legs moved to the sides of his body and as she draped her arms around his neck, he had secured her legs to his hips with his arms. His heat burned but in an oh so delicious way. She’d have to remember this ploy for the future.

  A minute later, Nick stood and began jogging. Riley’s body bounced against the hard steel that was his back, the muscles flexing against her breasts and belly. Maybe this wasn’t the smartest plan after all. Thankfully, the fleecy wool top she wore hid her hardened nipples.

  She tightened her thighs against his hips and pressed more thoroughly into him to lessen the jounces.

  “You’re just showing off.”

  He laughed again and she felt the vibrations against her skin and shot straight to the junction of her thighs. This time, their tightening was an involuntary reaction.

  Nick picked up speed. Now he was running and faster then he’d been with her.

  Riley’s hand innocently slid from his clavicle on a bounce and ended up on his pec just above his nipple. She bit back a gasp. Jeez, it was solid. Her cheeks burned. Should she remove it? If she did would that bring more attention to the fact it was there then just ignoring it—if such a thing were possible. Since he didn’t complain she decided to leave it though now her body felt on fire, the need to squirm more powerful by each passing minute.

  If she wasn’t afraid of being dropped and a potential sexual harassment suit she’d slide her hand down until she could tease the nipple and feel it harden beneath her fingertips.

  Seriously, what was wrong with her? All this mention of sex lately had seemed to bring out her horny side. Or maybe that was just Nick. From the moment they’d met she’d had to urge to strip him down and have her way with him…something she’d never done before. She’d always been the one seduced. Never the initiator.

  Stuck in her wayward thoughts, she hadn’t realised they’d made it back to Nick’s apartment. To be honest she hadn’t believed he’d make it with her encumbering him. Note to self: never underestimate Nick.

  He dropped her gently on his couch and she flopped back, her aroused and exhausted body warring with itself. She covered her blazing face with her arm.

  “You okay?”

  “Peachy.”

  “Okay. I’m going to take a shower and get ready.” He raised her arm and peered down at her. “I take it you will be in the same position when I return?”

  She barely managed to nod. His chuckle followed him down the hall. If she had even an ounce of energy she would glare at his obvious amusement.

  Laying on her back she strained to hear the shower as the water pelted the glass enclosure. She refused to imagine Nick striping and forced her mind to concentrate on moving her muscles. She knew she should stretch or she’d be worse off later and rolled to the floor, her knees finding the
soft padding of the pale chocolate carpet. Stretching, her body protesting every movement she finally made it to her feet.

  She was never running again. Clearly cardio wasn’t her thing but if today had taught her anything was she needed to be fitter. She could take up yoga like Megs but immediately dismissed the idea.

  Yoga wasn’t for her. She’d rather take a self-defence course. There was nothing like knocking a man three times her weight on his arse.

  Heading to the kitchen, she started to prepare another pot of coffee only to stop. She really needed to stop drinking so much caffeine. It’s not like she needed the hit to stay alert. There was nothing stopping her from partaking in an afternoon nap.

  She abandoned the pot in search of something to eat. Something healthy for a change and not whatever was easiest. Which she found absolutely impossible. Opening the cupboard, she found it bare of anything she could use. The refrigerator too bore nothing more than a block cheese of dubious age. It hadn’t moulded yet so she figured she was in luck.

  Chopping off a slice, she nibbled at the edge, testing whether she’d be violently ill. When the regular taste of cheese met her taste buds Riley greedily popped the rest of the small rectangle into her mouth and chewed.

  As she leaned against the counter, Riley munched on her cheese wedges which is how Nick found her dressed in dark slacks and a lavender dress shirt. Her mouth dropped open as she ran her gaze from his shiny black leather loafers to the crisp fold of his collar then higher. He was clean shaven and so damn sexy. His thick hair was parted to the left. He oozed sex appeal and damn if she wasn’t affected.

  When he caught her raising the cheese to her mouth he winced.

  “Sorry. I’ll try and make it to the supermarket, but if I can’t I’ll bring dinner home. You going to be all right?”

  “Right as rain. I’ll check in with Michelle and coordinate any catastrophes. Not that I need to, I guess. She appears to be handling everything in my absence.”

  The world did keep spinning, even if she wasn’t there.

  A depressing thought.

  “Then I have a busy afternoon of editing, and trying not to be distracted with why I’m here.”

  She involuntarily shivered.

  He stopped in front of her, his fingertips firm on her chin as he raised it to stare in her eyes.

  “Everything is going to work out. He’s not laying a finger on you, I promise. Do you believe me?”

  When he said it that way as though carved in blood and stone it was hard not to. She nodded, breathing in his scent, a manly musk with a slight undertone of sandalwood.

  “Good. I’ll try not to be too late. If you anything call.”

  “I will. Go catch that murdering bastard.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Her mouth curved in amusement. He nodded to her then headed to the door, only stopping to collect his sunglasses and keys from the low line bowl near the entrance.

  The front door closed behind him and suddenly it seemed as though her world darkened.

  ***

  Nick felt like he was going crazy. Everywhere he turned he saw Riley. It was like having a girlfriend. All without the sex. And, boy, did he want the sex. To push her up against the kitchen bench and strip her. To dine on her body like the most exquisite dish in the world.

  He didn’t want to be a guy that only thought of women in terms of sex, but damn did Riley make it hard to think of anything else.

  If only he could be selfish and take what he wanted without fear of repercussions. But he wasn’t that man and while Vanessa continued to be a presence in his life, he couldn’t risk endangering Riley. Vanessa had already proven she’d go to long lengths to get what she wanted.

  Everything was so damn complicated. His ex had crushed his confidence, leaving his pride and ego in tatters. She’d done a number on him for sure. He’d wondered if he’d ever be interested in another woman and had tried to overcome his fears, to once again trust but no woman had interested him until Riley.

  But Riley wasn’t only an available woman. She was Megan’s and Dean’s friend. The godmother of their child. No way would he risk damaging any friendship.

  Sometime during the day, she’d unpacked, overrunning his apartment with her clutter. Shampoos and moisturisers. Books and nail polish. Lacy objects he didn’t look too close at if he could help it. Picking up a burgundy coloured bra the soft texture of silk from the where she’d left it in the bathroom that morning had damn near made him come on the spot imaging her wearing it and more importantly him removing it. Then he’d had to endure a shower infused with the sweet scents of apple and cinnamon. If she’d been any other woman he’d think she was purposely trying to get under his skin but Riley was as straight as they come. If she was flirting she’d be less subtle about it. In fact, she was almost the opposite. Always careful about not touching him. Maybe he’d read her wrong and she wasn’t interested. Or maybe since the night they met she’d lost that attraction which had threatened to consume them both.

  He’d spent the day half-aroused, remembering the feel of her breasts pressed against his back, the way her thighs tightened. He’d almost dropped her several times on the way home and he’d run faster than ever before just trying to divert his attention or at least exhaust him so completely he couldn’t do any of the number of things he’d fantasised about doing.

  The whole day, he’d been stuck on Riley, counting down the hours until he could be with her again. Her mere presence soothed him and he found he liked spending time with her.

  The only problem with going home to Riley was knowing one day she would leave and never return. Something inside him warred, telling him it didn’t have to be that day. All he had to do was have the balls to reach out and grab it. But he couldn’t—wouldn’t—act on the feelings he had for Riley. Too many things could go wrong and truth be told he was still feeling a little tender from the last time. He may want to sink deep into Riley and ride her all the way to Christmas and beyond but he wouldn’t. He was a man of principals and the stakes were too high for a roll in the sack.

  But what if it wasn’t just a roll? His inner voice nagged at him, desperately wanting him to admit it to himself.

  He couldn’t think like that. It didn’t matter how he felt. He was broken. Trapped by his own insecurities. He couldn’t offer her anything. He was only half the man he could be and she deserved better. If something went wrong, the backlash would be astronomical, not just affecting them but the people around them. If he broke her heart not that he intended to but he could without realising it. They could either be immensely happy or horribly miserable and he didn’t like those odds. Nothing less than an absolute would have him changing his mind.

  He returned home, laden down with Chinese food and an apology. He hadn’t had a chance to do the shopping. But he ensured he’d bought enough so she had leftovers for the next day.

  They argued sports while they ate and she’d pull out stats and opinions which seemed to start a heated debate. One he wasn’t sure he’d won. Not that he was complaining. She lit up the room when so impassioned by a topic. She burned brighter than any bushfire. And he found himself enamoured.

  It also amazed him how quickly she could lose that sparkle and glower in anger. He seemed to bring that emotion out in her more than anyone he knew.

  It was hard to imagine anyone hurting her, either physically or emotionally. Riley was a free spirit, though with her history maybe that was why.

  Anger so hot he burned like molten lava raced through his system when he pictured the man who’d crushed her. Men like that made him sick and only served to want to protect Riley more. Something she wouldn’t necessarily appreciate.

  Riley was a self-sufficient woman who’d been on her own for years. Confining her was a disaster waiting to happen. Her take-charge attitude and his need to keep her safe—even to herself would no doubt turn into a full-blown argument. He’d barely managed to keep a tight reign of his emotions thus far and they’d already
had several squabbles. She was just too damn stubborn and didn’t like to hear the word no. While usually, that was a turn on for him was currently a nightmare.

  There was nothing like being hit repeatedly in the face with something you can’t have.

  He shifted on the couch, the remains of their dinner discarded on his coffee table. His gaze settled on Riley who sat in the lone recliner, her bare feet tucked beneath her. She was engrossed in whatever she was reading, one side of her mouth curled up in amusement. He studied her. She was sassy. Bossy. Sexy. Intelligent. It was hard not to like her. She was also beautiful, inside and out. Kind, smart and cranky. He wanted to know more.

  The words were out of his mouth before he could consider whether it was wise.

  “Tell me about Riley.”

  Riley’s wide eyes met his gaze over the top of the manuscript. “What do you want to know?”

  “Everything. Whatever you’re willing to share. I know your father died. Was it on the job?”

  She placed the stack of paper in her lap. “No. No doubt it was the cause though. At least in part.”

  He frowned, unsure what to make of her answer.

  “O’Neills, as I’m sure you’re aware, are impulsive—driven.”

  “Stubborn.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Devoted. He worked himself hard and collapsed at home. Apparently, he’d been too busy and ignored the chest pains which I was told would’ve been bothering him for some time. That or he was happy to go.”

  “I doubt that.”

  She gave him a look that said he had no idea what he was talking about.

  “I love my father, but I’m not blind to his faults and he had many. After my mother died, my brother raised me. Dad was always too busy with a case.”

  “How’d you get involved with Gallagher?”

  She raised her knees, the manuscripts slipping from her lap and landing on the floor with a soft plop. Wrapping her arms around her legs, she rested her chin on her knees.

  “The usual way. He came into the café where I’d worked every lunchtime. There’s really not much more to tell. I read because books let me live a thousand lives and travel across the globe. All without changing out of my pyjamas.”