Silence settled around them, seeming to bounce off the walls of her room. A sense of contentment followed. Kane fought against it.

Without trying, she wove a spell he didn’t understand, made him desire things he couldn’t have. He inhaled her fragrant scent and felt himself being pulled deeper.

“I need you.” She spoke so softly he had to strain to hear.

“I’m here now.” The only promise he was willing to make.

BRIGHT SUNLIGHT SHONE through the bedroom window. Kane groaned and squinted into the glare. “Worse than a damn hangover,” he muttered, rolling over and burying his face in his pillow.

As a cop used to undercover work, waking Kayla every two hours hadn’t left him irritable and beat. Lying beside her, holding her and listening to her soft moans each time she moved did him in. The last check had been-he looked at his watch-an hour ago. She’d been light-headed but okay.

“Kayla?” He glanced over to find an empty bed and sat up fast. Throwing off the covers, he walked to the hallway bathroom. The sound of running water greeted him and he rolled his eyes at her foolishness. What made her think she could handle a shower alone?

He tried the doorknob and it turned. At least she hadn’t locked herself inside. He opened it a sliver. “You okay in there?”

“Not really.” Her voice sounded weak.

Kane didn’t wait for permission. He barged inside. The bathroom was compact and steam floated around him. The scent of lemons hovered in the air. He ripped aside the shower curtain to find Kayla sitting on the floor of the porcelain tub, her head between her legs.

He slammed his fist against the large faucet and shut the water that had been pelting her body. “Can you lift your head?”

“Not by myself,” she said, the words muffled.

“What the hell did you think you were doing?” He stepped barefoot into the wet tub, braced his hands beneath her arms and pulled her into a standing position.

“Taking a shower.”

“I noticed.” Droplets of water clung to her bare skin. He had a sudden desire to lick them off one by one. Instead he pushed her wet hair off her forehead so he could look into her eyes. He never got the chance.

She collapsed, unable to stand on her own. He swore and swung her into his arms, grabbing a towel before making his way back to the bedroom. Her wet skin soaked through the T-shirt and jeans he’d kept on the night before-more as a physical barrier to temptation than for modesty’s sake. But barriers meant little when he had Kayla naked and needy in his arms. She clung to him, her head nestled on his shoulder and her wet body snug against him for warmth.

She trusted him. Impossible, he thought. He’d given her no reason. She needed someone and he was available. “You should get dressed.” He placed her on the bed and wrapped a towel around her shaking shoulders.

“I just wanted a shower, but…” Her teeth began to chatter.

“Too much too soon. Especially on an empty stomach.” He rummaged through her drawers again and pushed the most flimsy things aside. She’d need help, and he’d be wrapping a bra around her full breasts. His hands would be too close, his mouth too tempted. He settled on plain white, no frills, things that covered as much as possible. Then he picked a shirt, a man’s football jersey. He didn’t dwell on where she got it. At least it was large enough to keep him from staring. He was in too deep already.

“Here.” He walked back to the bed. She still sat huddled in a tight ball. He worked the shirt over her head. “Raise your arms.” She complied and her breasts lifted higher, her darkened nipples inches from his face.

“To serve and protect,” he muttered as a reminder.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Then stop mumbling. This is embarrassing enough already.” He ditched the bra. Better to get this over with.

She wiggled a bit and the shirt fell around her generous hips.

“Think you can handle these?” He dangled a pair of briefs from his fingertips.

“Yes.” She blushed scarlet. At least her coloring looked better than before. He turned to give her some privacy. A couple of deep breaths and he had himself under control.

“Thank you, Kane.”

He turned. “No problem.”

She lay propped back against the pillows. Soft hair fell around her face. A yearning gripped his insides hard.

“The steam made me weak,” she said.

“You don’t get out of that bed without my permission.” Finding her on the tub floor had taken years off his life.

A weary frown crossed her lips. “I need sleep.”

“First, you need to eat.”

“Looking out for me, catching me when I fall, cooking my meals…Careful, McDermott, or I might think you care for more than your case.”

He caught the teasing in her voice. “Fat chance.”

She met his gaze. “Same with me following orders. I’m not some flunky you can boss around.”

The words were stronger than her voice, but he accepted her warning. Once she felt better, Kane would have his hands full keeping her in line and out of harm’s way. “What are you, Ms. Luck?”

“Your equal and I suggest you remember that.”

His respect for her rose once more. She’d taken a beating, but she kept pulling herself up. Kayla was a fighter. He liked that about her. She could handle herself, but this wasn’t an ordinary situation. When she felt stronger, he’d question her about her aunt and uncle’s dealings.

Meanwhile, he wasn’t about to lighten the severity of her situation. “You take care of yourself or I’ll cuff you to the bed.” He gestured to the wrought-iron headboard behind her pillows.

She grinned. “First whipped cream, now bondage. Are you kinky, Detective?”

“Keep that up and you’ll find out.” The sudden banter and teasing caught him by surprise. So did the vision of her naked, shackled to the bed, eager to play sexual give-and-take.

Her eyes darkened. He wondered if she was considering the possibilities, then reminded himself he’d had his one night. He refused to take another.

Kane rose. Her fingers around his wrist stopped his escape. Warmth seeped into the places she touched.

“Running away?” she asked.

“Getting you food.” Before he drew her down onto the mattress and gave in to baser, misplaced desires. Before he let himself drown in all she had to give.

She released her grip and struggled to a sitting position. “Okay.”

He raised a suspicious eyebrow.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“You gave in.”

“Don’t sound so surprised. I know what’s good for me.” She grinned. “Besides, we already established I’m easy.”

KANE DISAPPEARED into the hall. Kayla leaned back against the pillows and groaned. Sparring with him had sapped what little strength she had left. The dizziness was better, but Kane was right-she needed to eat. Food would give her the energy to get out of this bed, deal with her aunt and uncle’s legacy, and confront Kane, all on her terms.

Kane. What did he want from her? And what did she want from the tough cop?

“Lunch.” He saved her from having to answer.

Standing in the doorway, he was the epitome of every fantasy she’d never allowed herself to have. A strong, capable, caring, sexy man…concerned about her.

She glanced at the mug in his hands, pushing herself to a sitting position. “Vegetable?”

“Was there another kind?” he asked wryly. He handed her the white ceramic cup. The steaming mug warmed her hands. She inhaled and the aroma of beef stock and vegetables drifted upward. Her stomach grumbled aloud. He chuckled.

Refusing to be embarrassed, she took a grateful sip before meeting his amused gaze. “Canned soup at its finest.”

Laugh lines formed in attractive crinkles around his eyes. “It’s the closest thing to homemade you’ll get from me. Come on. Drink up.”

She narrowed her gaze. “Do you take such good care of all your assignments, Detective?”

His hand went to her cheek. She felt his touch shoot straight to her heart. “Don’t sell yourself short, Ms. Luck.”

The jangling of the phone jarred them. She darted a glance at the phone. “Catherine thinks she needs to protect me from you.”

“I already reassured her earlier, but apparently she needs proof. Besides, she’s right.” His dark gaze met hers, his barely readable expression revealing hidden knowledge and a deep yearning need. Her stomach twisted again but hunger wasn’t the cause.

The phone rang once more, breaking the connection. “Better let Catherine know you’re okay or she’ll be showing up on your doorstep.” He grabbed the cup and placed it on the nightstand before walking toward the door.

She picked up the phone. “I’m fine,” she said without preamble.

“You won’t be if I don’t get my take and I want the books.”

She gripped the receiver hard. “Who is this?”

“Have you forgotten already?”

The gravelly tone chilled her. “You attacked me.”

Kane whirled around and stalked back to the bed. A strong, supporting hand cupped her shoulder. When she glanced up, he merely nodded, urging her to keep talking.

“That was just a preview,” the voice on the phone said.

She drew courage from Kane’s presence. “What do you want?”

“For you to stop playing dumb. My share and a resumption of activities.”

“I don’t…”

“You can’t cut my man out, and you can’t run this on your own. Get the money. I’ll be in touch.” A click and she was disconnected.

He grabbed the phone out of her hand and punched in a succession of numbers, then muttered a curse.

“What?” she asked.

“Untraceable. Probably a damn phone booth.” He placed the phone back in the cradle, then turned to Kayla. “What did he say?”

She couldn’t meet his gaze. “Seems you were right. Charmed! is a front for something illegal, after all.”

The anger she’d held toward him left in a rush. Fear still pulsed inside her, but she needed answers and knew just where to find them.

Kayla threw off the sheets. Her head pounded in opposition to the sudden movement, but she forced herself to swing her legs over the side of the bed.

“Hang on.” His hand on her bare thigh stopped her. Blazing heat seared her to the core.

He didn’t speak. Neither did she. Sexual tension crackled in the air between them, fierce and alive. His large hand remained on her bare skin.

“Where are you going?” His roughened voice didn’t surprise her. She’d be shocked if she could speak herself.

“I-” She stopped and cleared her throat. “To the office. There are boxes, things of my aunt’s I haven’t looked through yet.” Not that she believed for a minute that her mother’s sister would be involved in anything as sleazy as prostitution. But the fact remained there was obviously much she didn’t know about her newly inherited business.

“I’ll have them brought by along with a change of clothes for myself. We can go through them together.”

Together. The word caused an involuntary shiver. She liked the sound. Too much. But once again he was right. After her pathetic shower attempt, a trip to the office seemed ridiculous.

“Thank you.” She hated ceding control to Kane but she had no choice for now.

She focused again on his large hand still covering her thigh. His thumb moved back and forth, his finger gliding over her skin. What was meant as comfort her body read as sensual. The rhythmic motion of his hand released a steady beat between her thighs.

His touch ruled her senses, but she still had presence of mind. He had set her up and used her in the name of his job. For him, it was a professional relationship after all.

She glanced at his taut jaw and his darkened gaze. Or was it more than professional? Her heart kicked into faster speed as the past twenty-four hours came back to her in a rush. The minute he’d slept with her, he’d compromised his job. He’d taken time off to care for her when his boss vetoed protection. He’d talked her sister into spending time with a friend. And he’d crawled into her bed to keep her warm. In Kayla’s book that went beyond police protection.

The answers about Charmed! might have to wait, but the ones about Kane would not. “You could have left. Even your boss wouldn’t authorize this kind of protection.”

His hand stilled and his eyes cleared. “My gut told me the case wasn’t over yet.”

She swallowed hard and forced herself to continue. She might never get another chance to find out the truth. “And that’s the only reason you’re here?”

“If I’d trusted my gut instinct I wouldn’t have left you alone. You wouldn’t have been attacked.”

“Guilt.”

“Reality.”

“Whatever.” Let him think what he chose. Neither answer accounted for the more intimate aspects of their relationship…like the hard arousal pressed against her belly each time she’d awakened in his arms last night.