Carly Phillips - Simply Sinful

“Considering you told me at least ten times, how could I forget? Relax, Kane. Take a lesson from me.” After her initial panic last night, she’d realized nothing would alter fate…whatever it held. Somehow, the knowledge eased her fear and helped her remain calm. “I can’t control the future,” she told him. “But I can enjoy now.”

He threaded his fingers through hers. The comfort she found in his touch amazed her, as did the strength of her feelings. She’d only known him a short time, but it was enough.

“Is that what you’re doing?” he asked. “Enjoying now?”

“What else?”

“Changing before my eyes.” He tugged on her hand and she drew closer. Their bodies aligned until she felt his weight and heat pressed intimately against her. His arms wrapped around her waist, moving her into the V of his legs. His erection hardened and grew against her stomach. A harsh groan escaped his lips, telling her he was unbearably aroused.

At that moment she knew she could have one last time with him. One last time. His hips jerked forward and she swallowed a moan. She licked her dry lips. “You tempt me, Kane.”

“Only fair since you drive me out of my mind.” His lips lowered, capturing hers. This kiss wasn’t urgent and out of control, it wasn’t slow and determined with seduction as the result. His tongue delved and played inside her mouth, devouring, arousing…remembering for the future.

Kayla had no doubt. In Kane’s mind, this was goodbye.

SHE ORDERED A DRINK from the waiter, as planned. Kane breathed a sigh of relief. He’d heard her loud and clear through the wire she wore. Now he settled in to wait.

Five after twelve and the lunch crowd had all taken their seats, fellow cops with big appetites and good instincts. He’d still rather be inside himself rather than eavesdropping from the manager’s office just outside the dining-room entrance.

“It’s time.” A male voice interrupted Kane’s train of thought.

“Actually past time. I’ve been waiting since twelve, like you said.” The edge in Kayla’s voice was unmistakable. Relax, sweetheart.

“Change of plans. I can’t stay long.”

“Too bad,” Kayla said. “I…I just ordered a drink and I was hoping you’d join me.”

Perfect, Kane thought. Keep him talking and keep him in the restaurant. Kane leaned forward in his seat.

“Not that you don’t tempt me, honey. You do. Hell, with a body like yours you’d tempt a monk, but I’m in a rush, so…maybe some other time.”

“That might be possible if I wanted to continue the business-which I don’t.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Like I told you on the phone, my mother’s sick and I want some of your aunt’s crossword books to keep her busy.”

Damn. The guy suspected a trap. Kane hoped like hell Kayla stuck to the plan. “Give him what he wants,” he muttered.

“You know, my aunt was really into these books. I’d hate to just give them to someone who didn’t appreciate them the way she did. I’m sure you understand.” Kane could practically see her batting those big green eyes for effect…at the same guy who’d wrapped his arm around her neck without a second thought.

He exhaled a groan. Though she was doing a great job of attempting to exonerate her aunt, and things seemed to be going smoothly, this whole mess couldn’t be over soon enough to suit him.

“Your aunt liked to play games,” the man muttered. “And apparently it runs in the family. My mother’s not too sick to play them herself.”

“Well, good. Just tell me how involved my aunt was in those games and you can take the books back to your sick mother…with my best wishes for a speedy recovery.”

“Not here. I’ve got a car waiting outside. You walk me to it and I’ll tell you all about how much my mother and your aunt had in common.”

Remember the plan, Kane thought. Hand him the books and sit tight. Given no choice, a smart middleman would take them and run. Kane had already promised Kayla they’d lean hard on this guy and anyone else he ratted out to discover the extent of her aunt’s involvement. She didn’t have to jeopardize her life for her aunt’s reputation.

“I’m sure you can make the time for one drink.” Her voice was practically a purr by now. Only Kane recognized the hint of desperation and fear within.

“Not a chance. Let’s go.”

“Hand him the books,” Kane muttered through clenched teeth. Instead he heard the slide of a chair against the floor.

“Just let me grab my bag,” she murmured.

Kane slammed his hand hard against the wall, ignoring the immediate swelling caused by the impact against concrete. Sweat began a steady trickle down his back.

He wanted to run into the hall and tackle her to the ground to stop her. But then he’d blow the case for sure. There were strategically placed cops outside, she’d be fine. She’d be fine.

The guys had wanted to shoot hoops after school. Kane couldn’t because he had to get home to his mother. “One game, McDermott. Ten minutes. No big deal.” He’d never said yes before, but the guys were insistent. Ten minutes turned to thirty, then an hour passed. Kane hit the streets at a dead run. She’d be fine, he’d told himself. She’d be fine.

“There’s the car. Now I’ll take the books.” The man’s voice snapped Kane out from the grip of old memories.

“Fine. But I’m done. I have nothing to do with this end of the business. I want to be left alone.”

That’s a girl. Too late for Kane’s piece of mind, she was out there with less coverage than before. But at least she was sticking to the rest of the rules he’d laid out while he was wiring her earlier.

Now if the guy would just attempt a clean break, and if Kane’s people could move in, they’d be all set. If, if, if…Dammit why couldn’t she have stayed inside?

“That’s a dangerous proposition. Just ask your aunt…” The man’s laughter mixed with the hacking cough of a long-time smoker. “That’s right, you can’t and you want to know why? She never wanted to be involved and look what happened to her.”

“It wasn’t an accident.” The horror in Kayla’s voice caused Kane’s heart to twist into a tight knot.

He shook his head, feeling her pain like his own. You were right all along about your aunt’s innocence, sweetheart. And Kane should have trusted her gut instinct as much as he trusted his own. Because he l…

A car horn blared in the distance and her attacker’s voice sounded next. “I didn’t say that, but if thinking it keeps you in line, I’m all for it. Now hand over the books.”

“You killed Aunt Charlene.” Shock tinged Kayla’s voice.

Dammit, hand over the books.

“The books, lady.”

“Ouch. Dammit, okay. You’re hurting me,” Kayla muttered. “Here.”

A loud masculine grunt followed. Kane recalled Kayla nearly doubling him over with the same books and couldn’t suppress a half-laugh, half-groan at her unmitigated gall.

Without warning, the sound of a lone gunshot rang out, shocking him as it echoed in his ears. Kane bolted for the door without looking back.

“YOU DON’T SHOOT WHEN a civilian’s involved.” Kane’s shout reverberated through the air, stopping passersby on the street.

“You do when there’s a safe shot,” the rookie retorted.

“Didn’t you learn anything at the academy? There is no such thing and I’ll make sure you have plenty of time to remember that while you’re walking the beat for the next month.”

Kayla cringed from her perch on the curb where she’d fallen. Some trigger-happy cop had decided to take out the suspect when he’d tried to drag her into the car along with him. She supposed she should be grateful, but from the anger in Kane’s voice, she knew they’d both be paying for the foreseeable future. If Kane even stuck around that long, now that they had the guy in custody.

The rookie had hit the man in the leg and he’d dropped hard, his weight taking her down with him. Now he lay moaning in pain, surrounded by police.

“And you.” Kane rounded the circle of cops, his attention now fully focused on her.

The adrenaline rush from seeing him was much more potent than anything that had come before. His intense gaze settled on her face and her heart rate kicked into high gear.

“I thought I told you to stay put. To make sure you didn’t leave the restaurant. But following orders isn’t in your vocabulary, is it?” He loomed over her. Big, powerful and sexy, despite his all-encompassing anger.

Her fingertips curled around the curb and the rough concrete bit into her skin. “Not when I’m stranded on my own and forced to improvise. He said move, I moved. I didn’t think…”

His jaw clenched in a gesture she’d come to recognize, one that signaled the calm before the proverbial storm. “You’re damn right you didn’t think. You didn’t think he’d grab you, didn’t think he’d try to drag you into his car, didn’t think some rookie looking for a promotion would see his chance and fire.”

She’d put herself in danger while he was powerless to stop it…just like with his mother. Kayla realized the foundation of his anger way too late to prevent the flood of emotion she’d inadvertently unleashed. The yelling came from deep concern, and fear of reliving his painful past.

“I’m not hurt, Kane.”

“But you had to push him,” he continued as if he hadn’t heard. He probably hadn’t. “You had to know about your aunt. You couldn’t trust me to do my job…” His voice trailed off and he paused, shaking his head. “It’s not like I gave you any damn reason to.”

Kayla shook her head. She trusted him, all right. With her life and with her heart. But he wouldn’t believe her any more than he’d want to hear the truth. Because Kane was only concerned with his job, not with emotions he hadn’t asked her to feel for him. This turn of events hadn’t helped. In fact, that rookie had probably shot her happy ending to hell and back.

Kane had wanted a neat wrap-up, no problems, no proof that he’d let his feelings sway his judgment in any way. Life had just thrown the unexpected in his path. He’d have to deal with that, Kayla thought. The man had emotions and it was past time he got in touch with them.

She quickly cataloged her body and not finding any overt injuries, she levered herself to a standing position. Unexpected pain shot through her ankle when she put pressure on her foot. She forced what she hoped was an easy smile. “I’m fine.”

His hand reached out to stroke her cheek. Spiraling dizziness assaulted her. Not from the shock of the past few minutes, but from his heated touch and the caring it implied.

“You just winced.” His husky voice shook her composure. Could she dare hope he wouldn’t be able to walk away?

“Did I?” She shook her head. “I didn’t realize. That guy weighed a ton and I took the brunt of his fall. Look, Captain Reid’s here,” she said, hoping to distract him so she could walk the kinks out of her ankle.

Kane placed his hand on the small of her back, waiting for her to precede him. She drew a deep breath and took her first step. Her ankle buckled beneath her.

His muttered curse coincided with the sudden weightless sensation of being swept off her feet.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting you the hell out of here.”

She gripped his shoulders with both hands and held on tight. Hard muscles flexed beneath her fingertips and an accompanying rhythm began to hum inside her as well. She couldn’t suppress a shiver of desire. “Put me down and let me walk on my own. This is humiliating.” And arousing. And it felt way too good for something destined to end.

“Captain.”

The older man walked toward them.

“Anything you need from her you’ve got on tape. She’ll be down tomorrow to make a statement,” Kane said.

Reid nodded. If Kayla wasn’t mistaken, an amused smirk clung to the edge of his mouth.

Embarrassment flooded her. She could only imagine the shade of pink that probably washed over her cheeks. “I can walk,” she muttered in Kane’s ear.

“You heard the lady, McDermott.”

Kane shook his head. “She’s got a choice. X-rays at the hospital or ice at home until I know if there’s swelling.”

Though she should be used to it, Kayla bristled at his take-charge attitude. Still a tiny part of her reveled in the attention, probably because there wouldn’t be much more in her future.

Her heart clenched in denial. “I’ll take the ice at home.” At the very least, their goodbye would be in private.

KAYLA’S FREEZER LOOKED about as empty as Kane’s apartment. The place he called home. The place he’d be returning to tonight, alone. He slammed the door closed hard.