A flash of lightning brightened the sky followed by a loud clap of thunder. The lights flickered on and off. A deafening silence followed. The wind hurtled around outside creating a faint whistle, and a few tree limbs smacked against the house breaking the silence.
Jared glanced around the kitchen, then locked gazes with her. Her eyes were hard and her lips pressed in a determined line. For a brief moment, his heart pulsed out of control and he held his breath. Even angry, she had a way of sending his good senses out the window. Her sheer determination should be admired and respected. But he wouldn’t give her that, not today.
“You’re coming with me.”
Her nose flared. “Like hell. I’ll stay with my brother.” She turned, ducked her head into the refrigerator, then came up with a beer. When she twisted off the cap, a loud pop drowned out the hiss of fizz.
Instincts kicking in, Jared lunged forward and tossed Ryan to the floor, the beer bottle landing with a thud and spraying its foamy contents everywhere.
“Stay put,” he whispered, reaching for his weapon. He crept toward the door, then flicked off the lights.
“What was—”
“Shhhh.” He pressed his finger to his lips, then pushed back the door.
“Oh, no.”
He turned when he felt warm hands pressed on his back. “Ryan, get back in the house.”
“Like you said, I shouldn’t be alone.”
Holding his weapon in one hand, he looped his free hand around her waist and pulled her to his back. “Stay close and behind me.”
“Yes, sir.”
He chuckled. “Now you’re willing to follow orders.”
“Was that an order?” She pulled back.
“Please.” He glanced over his shoulder, tugging her closer. “This isn’t a game. That sounded like a gunshot.”
“Sounded like Mr. Thompson’s car.”
The trees swayed with the wind and the rain pelted his body as he made his way toward the road. “Grab my cell from my hip.”
He scanned the area as best he could and hoped for some lightning to help him, but no such luck. When he reached the side of Ryan’s SUV, he saw the shattered window. “Shit.”
“Ouch,” Ryan said, as her hands left his body. “I cut my foot.”
“Don’t move.” Jared lifted her into his arms, tiptoed across the driveway and dropped her down onto the grass. “Your window’s broken.” As he glanced over his shoulder, the weather decided to cooperate and a flash of lightning lit up the sky providing enough light to do a quick scan. “Come on.” He lifted her back into his arms and carried her toward the house.
“What happened?”
“Not sure. But I’m about to find out.” He pushed back the door, then sat her down on the table. “Let’s look at that foot first.” He lifted her leg at the same time he flipped open his phone. He wanted to get some help to sweep the area, especially if it wasn’t the elements that took out her window. That pop could have been anything in a storm like this one, but he wasn’t about to take any chances.
Blood dripped from her big toe to his hand. “We need to wash this out and make sure there isn’t any glass in there.”
“What about your foot?” She pointed.
A trail of blood followed his footsteps. “I guess we do the same thing to me.”
“Harmon here,” Frank said over the speakerphone.
“Get your ass to my house pronto.”
“Why? Sir?”
“Because when I say jump, you don’t question it, you just do it. Get Jenkins too.”
“On my way, sir.”
Jared lifted Ryan into his arms once again, then placed her firm rump on the counter near the sink. When he looked up, she might as well have slapped him. Her eyes narrowed and her brow tightened.
“What now?”
“You’re a bully.”
“Am not.” He grabbed her foot and shoved it under warm water.
“Ouch, that hurts,” she yelped.
“Did you see that?” He pointed out the window.
“See what?” She turned her head with wide eyes. “What, see what?”
While she was distracted, he plucked out a wedged piece of glass in her big toe and then one on the ball of her foot. “Oooouch!” She tried to yank her foot away.
“Got it.” He tossed the glass in the trash.
“Jerk.”
“Thought I was a bully.” He winked.
“Damn it, you’re both.” Grabbing a paper towel, she swiveled her hips and dabbed her wound. “Why can’t you just ask nicely?”
“What?” He hoisted his own foot up over the sink and yanked out a small piece of glass.
“Why do you have to order everyone around? It just annoys the hell out of us.” She hobbled off the counter and dropped her adorable ass on the kitchen chair. Her hair dripped down on her white shirt, nipples puckering through both her wet bra and blouse.
A wave of desire rippled across his body. “As far as Harmon goes, it’s his job to do as he’s told. It’s my job to train him. Part of the territory.”
“Well, I’m not some rookie cop. I’m…” She glanced toward the ceiling.
His own gaze followed hers in search of what she was to him at this point. “My friend,” he offered. “And at present, a case.” Opening a cabinet, he reached for the first aid kit. “And someone may have just shot at your car for their own personal jollies, which just plain pisses me off.” He held out a couple of Band-Aids for her. “And the reason you’re coming with me to Rochester.”
“Jared,” she said with a stern tone.
“What?” He stared at her as if he’d just been scolded.
“I’ll stay with Pat.”
He slammed his fist on the table. “He’ll be working late, which means you and a very pregnant Marci will be sitting ducks for some psycho to attack.”
Her stubborn blue eyes narrowed. “I’ll have Penny come over, too. It’ll be like old times, or we’ll hang out at the bar after work. I promise not to be stupid, okay?”
He sat down and took her hand in his. She accepted his touch, and a sense of doom overwhelmed him. Why did he care so much? “I’m not worried that you’ll do something stupid; I’m worried that some sicko will hurt you, or worse.” Because it was his job to care.
A warm but simple smile softened her determined face. She laced her fingers through his and slid off her chair into his lap. Her lips pressed gently against his, and he could taste the cool rainwater. Unable to blink his eyes closed, he stared into a pair of hypnotic blue pools.
She glided her lips across his scruffy face, unaffected by the coarseness of his stubble, then whispered, “Thank you for caring, but—”
Snapping his head back, he glared at her. “No buts.”
Her forehead thumped against the side of his head. “You’re not responsible for me. I can take care of myself.”
His hand trembled when he hooked his fingers around her wrists. “If that were the case, people wouldn’t need cops.”
“Cops, yes. You, not so much.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” But he knew exactly what she meant.
“If this happened after you moved, I’d be on my own.”
“But I’m here,” he protested, not wanting her to give up what he could offer her, because he didn’t have much.
“And I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me. But it’s time you let go of this sense of duty you have toward me and do what you want. I hate knowing you didn’t take that job in the first place because of me.”
“I told you before, that wasn’t the only reason, and I’m taking it now.”
“Then don’t screw it up.”
“Don’t plan on it.” He slid his hands over her wet sleeves, across her shoulders and through her glorious wet hair. “Can we come to a compromise?”
“What kind of compromise?”
“I’ll try to arrange my meetings so I’m only gone one night, and you promise never to be alone.” He fisted his hand in her thick hair, water dripping on his lap. “And you let me have Frank check on you.”
“Fine,” she said.
Emotions he’d never felt before swelled inside his gut.
She clasped her fingers behind his neck. “I’m freezing. Mind if I take a bath in that huge tub of yours?”
Flashing lights filled the kitchen window. “Not at all. I’ll take care of your car.”
“Crap,” she muttered, circling her arms around her middle as she rose. “I need my car.”
“Take my truck until it gets fixed.”
“And what will you drive?”
He chuckled. “I just got the BMW ready for summer. I had planned on taking it to Rochester anyway.” He patted her wet bottom, letting his hand smooth across the firm muscle. “Go get warm.”
He raked a hand across his head and glanced out toward the driveway. Jenkins had already pulled out his flashlight and was looking around Ryan’s car. “She doesn’t need me,” he whispered, knowing it was the truth and exactly what he wanted. He didn’t want to be needed by any individual, nor did he want to need anyone in particular.
Chapter Ten
After the tow truck pulled away with Ryan’s SUV, Jared jogged up the path, then shook like a dog on the back porch. Soaked to the core, he had only one thought, to slide into the hot bubbles next to Ryan, with vanilla scented candles burning in the background.
“Why the hell not.” He kicked off his shoes and raced up the stairs, with his blood boiling over with lust. The door to his bedroom wasn’t locked and he could already smell her soapy rose scent.
Glancing around the room, he peeled off his soaked shirt, then rid himself of his binding jeans. Hopefully the bathroom door wasn’t locked, even though he’d have to give her a good lecture about safety.
His heart pounded against his chest. The door slipped open and he peered in. She lay in a tub full of bubbles. Her arms stretched out along the sides of the tub and one leg lifted, exposing her knee. The foam hid the rest of her as it sloshed about in an exotic dance.
As he tiptoed across the bathroom floor, he tried not to laugh. This would be a lesson he enjoyed.
Just then, her hand shot up, making a fake gun, and one eye peeped open. “Don’t move or I’ll shoo…shit…you’re naked.” She jerked in the tub, sending water to the floor. Her eyes were wide with shock.
He stepped into the warm water and settled down, enjoying the way she tried to arrange the bubbles over her naked body. “People generally take their baths that way.” He dunked his head under, then came up for air. “Thank God my parents like things big.”
“This isn’t a public hot tub.” She scowled, holding her knees to her chest.
“It’s definitely private, but it does have jets.” He reached to the side in search of the buttons, pushing them to start the bubbly effect.
“Oh, good Lord.” She jumped. More water sloshed out onto the floor.
“Now that’s nice,” he whispered, pulling her to his lap. “Did the jet get your rump?” He smoothed his hand over the soft curve.
“Something like that.” She wiggled, but seemed to settle herself nicely against his thighs. “This isn’t a good idea.” The bubbles melted across her chest, allowing the tight pink nubs to blossom in the cool air.
“Maybe not,” he said between ragged breaths. Raising his hand, he tilted her chin. “But it’s not a bad one, either.” He stopped breathing the moment her heavenly eyes caught his. Desire and passion and so much more lured him closer to giving in to his worst fear. Caring about other humans and putting their existence before your own only caused the kind of pain that changed your soul.
“This is crazy.” She snuggled into his lap, letting her body relax in his arms. “Nothing can ever come of this.”
“I know.” He brushed his thumb across her lower lip. “We shouldn’t, but I want to.”
A slow smile spread across her face. “Yeah, I can tell.”
“You’re a very bad girl.”
“So spank me.” Her soft hands ran down his chest, tortured his nipples, then glided across his twitching stomach.
His vision blurred and everything around him faded in the background. She rolled her legs and straddled him. He cupped her face with trembling fingers, and assaulted her mouth, nearly missing. Her tongue lashed out catching his while she gently massaged him into madness.
Grabbing her thighs, he stood and stumbled out of the tub. He snatched a towel and began to wipe the bubbles dribbling down her soft, supple body. When he finished down by her feet, he worked his way back up her body with his mouth. Her hands roamed his head and shoulders, then finally she reached for a towel and started to dry his wet skin.
Unable to maintain his control, he tugged her to the bedroom, then pressed his body against hers as he dropped them both to the cotton sheets. “You’re incredible,” he murmured against her pearly skin. “More passionate than I imagined.”
“You imagined?” She spoke softly.
He tilted his head and looked deep into her amazing eyes. “A few times.”
Her face flushed, giving off a sexy glow. “When?”
“When what?” He scowled, annoyed he’d admitted such a thing.
“Just curious.” She wrapped her legs around his body, grinding her hips against him. He rolled his eyes to the back of his head.