Chapter Thirteen

 

 

 

Sara practically bounced up and down next to Will. She’d raced around the car as if she had to see each inch of it. He was surprised she hadn’t opened the hood. “It’s like new!”

“It was pretty new.”

“It wasn’t. It was banged-up and smelled like old car. Now it smells new. It looks new. Are you sure it’s not new?”

He couldn’t help but grin at that. “I had it detailed, so shampooing the rugs does that. The engine is new, but that was because you’d broken a few fan belts and your tire bearings—”

Her smile stopped him.

“You don’t know a thing about cars, do you?” he asked.

“I get the oil changed. I think the tires were rotated recently. Here, you drive.” She tried to hand him the keys, but he didn’t unfold his hands he’d crossed over his chest.

“It’s your car.”

“I have this idea that you’re a backseat driver, and, well, I like other people’s driving better than my own.”

He laughed, again caught off guard by her and took the keys.

David had told him that Paris was so damn adorable he could watch her and the past melted away as if he’d woken from a bad dream.

That kind of romantic crap had made him shake his head. But now, with Sara, he understood David’s meaning exactly. Every time she did something or said something like that, he got a burst of happiness. Her innocent way of laughing at herself made all the hells he’d been in worth it because that road had lead him to her.

Romantic crap.

But true.

“All right. I guess I’m driving.”

“And I can check out my car, while you do.” She sounded so excited that he smiled back at her big grin. Danger was all around her, but at least he’d carved out a little happiness. Heaviness settled on his chest as soon as she was safe inside the car. The parking lot was off the main street but even through the spaces nearby had cars, no one was around. He plugged his com in and waited for the clicks to stop as he walked around the car.

“Any sign?”

“Nope.” Troy sounded as if he’d been waiting on the question. Another click and Carson entered the conversation.

“The men are claiming they were given a heavy brew of something around five o’clock. They couldn’t pick Potter out of the photos.”

“He wouldn’t be there himself,” Troy reminded them.

“He’s near though, watching somehow. Have you checked that no one is hijacked on our feed?” Will asked.

“Of course,” Jones pipped up. “No whisper of a piggy back. I’ve booby-trapped the hell out of this. If he’s watching, he’s got some skill we haven’t heard of, or else he’s got some kind of bug we can’t detect in the house.”

“Or he’s in a neighboring house,” Will put in when Jones paused.

“All the houses and occupants check out. They’ve lived there for far longer than Sara.”

Will frowned and scanned the garage as Jones went on, “The only house unoccupied is empty because the owner recently passed away. It’s five houses down, near the corner and wouldn’t have a clear view of Ms. Steven’s house.”

“All right. We’re heading back. Tomorrow’s Sunday. I hope to take the drive tomorrow to meet up with the team. But we might put that off a bit longer if we’re already getting a reaction.”

“Agreed.” Carson sighed then added, “Let’s hold our positions and hope you piss him off.”

“As long as that doesn’t force him into something drastic,” Troy warned.

Will considered that, but he’d already done his homework on Potter. “He won’t use a long-range weapon. He’s never shot a gun. He goes for other means to harm his victims. Personal, up close means.” And he wasn’t getting a chance with her.

“Agreed,” Carson muttered again. “We lay low and wait. Traps are only as good as your patience to see if they work. Keep her close. If we meet tomorrow, fine, if not, we plan for another day this week.”

“Right,” Will agreed. “I’m off. Contact me with any changes.”

“Got it.” Jones disconnected.

“Keep her close, son. As close as you can.” Carson ended his line, as well, leaving Will with a problem he wasn’t sure how to handle, except with honesty.

He opened the door and she was waiting, anxious again. He could tell by the nervous grip on her sweatshirt sleeves. She must’ve gone through a lot of the hoodies because she had the sleeves of this one already stretched. “All is still good. We have to move me into your room, but I’ll take the floor.”

“No, that’s okay, I mean—”

“I’m used to hard beds. The floor is fine. Don’t worry about it. In the desert the sand was harder than brick.” He started up the engine and smiled briefly at how good it sounded.

“Are you sure?”

“I wouldn’t say it was okay if it wasn’t. Besides—” He backed the car out of the spot and glanced at her. “I don’t sleep much, so this way I won’t wake you.”

“I don’t sleep much, either.”

“I was hoping you’d rest easier with me near. See what happens tonight. A good night’s sleep might be good for you.”

“Oh, I’m sure it would be.” She gazed out of the window, much as she had in the SUV, and he wondered what she was thinking about. Most likely Potter.

“How about tomorrow we go meet the team? I think they might reassure you.”

“Jones, he seemed nice.”

“He’s solid. They all are.”

“You served with them?”

“No. Not these men, but you can tell if a man is professional or not.”

“Oh, like how they hold themselves?”

“Yeah, like that. Jones is the computer guy on the team.”

“Oh, he’s the one that bugged my house! If I’d known that…”

“I’m sure he’s happy you didn’t know, but it’s—”

“Stop saying ‘necessary’. I’m not a hundred percent certain I’ve not walked out in my, well, not dressed. It’s my house. It’s a violation.”

He let her storm at him, too caught off-guard by her again to think of anything to say. The idea she’d walked out of her bedroom not dressed had his mind reeling and his temper rising. Surely those dumb ass dirt kickers would have said if they’d spotted her without clothes.

“They’re lucky I’m not the type to walk around nude or parading all around my house in my undies. I might have to sue them. Can I do that?”

He shook his head, which seemed to irritate her.

“I’m so not surprised. Still, I wish I could bug their homes and see how they like it,” she muttered. Again, so cute he wanted to grin.

“They were trying to not panic you, at the same time, protect you. I’m impressed they didn’t bug your bathroom. That’s being gentlemanly of them because I would have. Bathroom, bedroom, every inch.” She stared at him for a long silent moment until he grew a bit uncomfortable. “It would have made me certain you were safe.”

“And been creepy, like peeping tom creepy.”

He shrugged. “Privacy or safety.”

“Why do I have to choose? That makes no sense. Please don’t tell me you’re one of those Republicans? Who think in simplistic terms on subjects that are too complex for sound bites.”

He smiled and shook his head. “I’m retired Special Forces. What do you think that makes me? A liberal?”

“A—well, smart, I guess that’s what that makes you. Smart enough to know the world and the people in it don’t fit under little labels.”

“I bet your mother was a Republican and controlling.”

She opened her mouth, shut it, then muttered, “We don’t have Republicans in Canada.”

“Well, the equivalent.”

“I’m nothing like her.”

“I can believe that, but I still bet she was controlling, demanding and never spent a care on anyone other than herself.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I think the most decent people in the world either come from a screwed-up family life, or one so normal it goes without saying that you do the right thing, so they don’t talk about it. They assume everyone else does the same.”

She frowned but gave him an impressed, not angry look. Topics like this had a way of blowing up in his face, but she laughed softly and smiled over at him.

“Interesting theory. I bet you’re from the latter. You grew up in a normal family with no issues, or problems, just average days and decent well-meaning parents.”

“My brother’s a bit of a nutcase, but the rest of us are pretty boring.”

“Boring is good.”

He smiled and relaxed. Somehow, talking with her was a rollercoaster of uncertainty, but every time he said what he thought, it seemed to be the right decision. Hell, I’ve been feeding lines all my life to women. At least it feels like it, compared to having a normal talk with Sara. It’s like talking to a friend, but with no macho bullshit men always have as a fall back.

 

* * * *

 

The next morning, Sara wasn’t ready to face William. He had a way of keeping her off-balance. The car. Why the car? Heck, why the toes curling comment and huge erection?

“I think before we leave today, we’re going to have to practice how you react when I kiss you.”

She blinked, gripped the door handle digging into her hip and tried not to collapse at the burst of adrenaline-laced lust. Oh, God. Kiss him.

Now she was certain she wasn’t ready for him.

“Uh, I don’t think we need to practice.”

After returning to the house, William had been quiet, helpful and polite. Not a whisper was said about how hard he’d been pressed up to her or how he’d wanted to make her toes curl. Instead, he’d helped her to arrange the living room. He’d also found a few spots she’d missed on the trim. He’d painted them like an expert, cleaned up the brushes and put them down in the basement as if he knew everything about her house. She’d tried to fold laundry and ignore him.

Last night, he’d slept on the floor as promised. She’d moved her under-the-bed storage around when he’d been out, checking the perimeter again. Surprisingly, she’d slept very well. Of course, she’d made a nice bed for him on the floor, and even offered her bed, not herself, to him. He’d demurred with an easy smile, as if now that they were on easier terms, he wasn’t going to blow it with a too-hard push.

Oh, the attraction was there, simmering in his eyes, but he left it unspoken. She had a feeling it had waited long enough.

Now, it appeared, was that time.

She stared at him now, at his half smile, and the arrogant tilt to his chin. There was no controlling the rush of excitement tingling through her body. She felt half-aroused—maybe more—around him all morning. All night, too. She’d rewound and fast-forwarded to the part where he’d held her trapped to the spare room wall and added all kinds of different endings to that encounter.

“Practice might be negotiable, but remember, this has to look real.” He walked toward her while he spoke, so by the time he ended quietly, he was in her bubble of space. Butt to the door, she had nowhere to go. Worse, she didn’t know if she wanted to go anywhere. “The men are watching. Let’s see if we can’t make them jealous.”

“Oh, God.” She let him wrap his arm around her waist and bring her right up against his hard body. A sigh escaped that she had no control over. He was so warm and she’d been cold, for so long. “We shouldn’t. I think we really shouldn’t.”

She tried to ignore how perfect he smelled, felt and no doubt tasted, but her denial was weak even to her own ears.

He didn’t pressure her. But she could read the intensity in his eyes. Here was something dangerous. Not as deadly as Ashton, but in his own way, as threatening. The passion simmering between them warned her, even the weakness in her limbs and the out-of-breath sensation she’d forgotten came with lust, shouted at her to be cautious. All of it was one blinking red light. But even as her instincts screamed this was not a good idea, she dropped her gaze to his lips and relaxed in his embrace. Better than the fantasies. It’s going to be so much better.

“Okay. Maybe one, to see, you know, if I can pretend.”

“What makes you think we’ll be pretending?” That was the only clue he gave her as he dipped his head and meshed her lips to his as if they were made for him.

She’d kissed a few men in her life. William stole her breath along with something else she feared she’d never recover. It was one brief display of passion, but no movie had ever depicted the devastation such a caress could cause.

She met his dark eyes, feeling as if her entire world had been turned upside down. Gone was the warrior here to keep her safe. In William’s intense gaze she saw the promise of such hot, long sex she might not survive. Not just sex either, something else she couldn’t understand from a man who had barged into her life only days before.

“Oh.”

“Yeah, oh.” He flickered his hot gaze over her face and lips. It felt as if he wanted to devour her again. Instead he cradled her closer. He held her as if she might break. It was so unexpected, she collapsed against him, so weak she clung to him. “No pretending necessary.” His voice was deeper, but it had been so long, so very, very long since anyone had wrapped their arms around her. And William didn’t hold her, he held his breath. After a second, she realized why.

Between them, the hard, impossibly large proof of how much he didn’t have to pretend heated her stomach. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that he could make every fantasy she ever dreamed up a reality—not after a kiss like that. She shivered. Lust tingled along every inch of her skin.

Their gazes met, hers was shocked no doubt, his appeared assessing but he wasn’t going to back down. If anything, he seemed to read the heat bubbling up from her toes. But there was more, too.

As if someone had lifted a hood from her head, she saw him—really saw him. He wasn’t playing her. Gone was the Don Juan who was going to talk his way into her bed. In his place was a man who wasn’t going to hide that he wanted her. A man who might not promise her the moon—she hoped not yet—because he was right, they couldn’t discover where the end would lead until they started. Out of the men she’d dated, she suddenly hoped he was for real. Don’t play me. Please, don’t play me. She calmed the panic with a reminder that he was willing to protect her, possibly catch an insane serial killer in the process to make it a reality. For me.

“We’re going to be living here or somewhere else together until we catch this bastard.” He watched her face with the knowledge she wasn’t immune to him in his eyes.

She couldn’t move. And she certainly couldn’t speak. She knew how to measure. She also knew William was way off the six to seven inches most men achieved when erect. It wasn’t the length that stunned her, it was the girth and…solidness of his erection—something he concealed beneath his casual clothes and calm expression.

If she hadn’t been pressed close, she never would have guessed by his demeanor he was aroused. Oh, his eyes were bright, hot with it, now that she knew what to look for. But if she’d felt his arousal, she never would have known he was hiding a hard-on that had to be stunning.

The thought caused such a rush of excitement she clenched her thighs to soothe the building ache.

“How much more we do is up to you, but I don’t think you’re ever going to get enough. This is natural. It’s what happens when a man and a woman are attracted to each other.”

That didn’t sound very romantic, but it was truthful. But…dodgy. The excitement dimmed to a degree where she could think again.

“Believe me, if I have my way, you’ll be demanding I give you more.” He spoke in a whisper, for her ears alone, she knew, but the certainty in his tone was clear. It was also crystal clear to her that he was right.

She wasn’t going to get enough of him. He’s going to play me. But I know how to play the game.