The lights flickered in and out as the tree limbs scratched across the windows. The dark yard appeared to be secure. Nothing out of place. Jared tucked his gun in his jeans and headed up the stairs for the night. He knew full well that Ryan wouldn’t be in his bed.
A large boom echoed in the house. It rattled the shutters before the humming of the heater faded and the house went pitch black.
“Damn,” he cursed, then turned and tiptoed to the family room to grab the flashlight. On the way, he checked outside to make sure the other houses had also suffered the same fate. He couldn’t help the prickle in the back of his brain from thinking something more sinister was going on. But the street was darker than the night sky.
He slammed the flashlight against his hand and twisted the top. “Great,” he muttered. With the help of another bolt of lightning, he fished out some new batteries, then changed them in the dark.
He’d never been afraid of the dark or scared of the boogeyman, but tonight, the eeriness of his own home haunted his soul. A shadow scurried across the top of the stairs. Goose bumps appeared on his arms for the first time in years.
Pressing his back against the wall, he reached for his weapon. With silent steps, he crept toward the top. A faint glow emanated from his bedroom. Staying on the opposite wall, he kept his gun pointed toward the ceiling as he stepped in front of the doorway.
The sexiest set of legs this side of the Mississippi graced his eyes. “Damn it, Ryan.” He chuckled when she gasped and fumbled with the candle in her hands. Her chestnut hair bounced wildly against her shoulders.
“Damn me? Geez, put that thing down.” Her doe-like eyes danced in the flicker of the orange glow. “If I were a cat, all of my lives would’ve been used up in one swoop.”
He stepped into his room, rested his gun on the nightstand, and turned to her. “Aren’t you cold?” The oversized shirt she wore didn’t hide her curves in the semidarkness of the room. Her puckered nipples begged for his attention.
“Not really.” She rubbed her temple. “I’ve always been afraid of the dark.”
“Me, too.”
She laughed. “Right.”
“Come on.” He reached out and took the candle.
“I’m not sleeping with you.” She dug her heels into the floorboards.
“Who knows how long the power will be out, and it’s damn cold. No sex, just sleep. Besides, you came looking for me.”
She let out a loud breath. “I’m serious.”
“I’m cold. Now come on.” He nudged her.
“You stay on your side, got it?” She leaped across the bed, her shirttail flipping up in the air showing off her…his… “Hey, those are my boxers.” He set the candle down and reached out for an ankle, but pulled back as she tucked her legs under the blanket.
“Your shirt, too.”
“Really?” Slipping off his clothes, he glided between the sheets, careful not to touch her.
“I stole it from you years ago.”
“That’s weird.” He rolled toward her, tucking his hands under his cheek.
“Not so weird. But I suppose it’s a little odd that I still have it. Honestly, it’s my favorite nightshirt, and not because it belonged to you. So don’t go getting a swelled head or anything.”
“That could never happen.” He cleared his throat. “I’m really sorry about those pictures and having to show them to Nick.”
Her finger traced a path down his cheek and jawline before landing on his chest. “You didn’t take them.”
“I still feel responsible.” The blood pounding in his ears drowned out his own good judgment. Her fingers moved through his chest hair, driving him insane. He couldn’t be held accountable for anything with her teasing him like this.
“Just catch the asshole.”
“I’m working on it, ba—Ryan.”
“Thanks.” Her hand dropped to the mattress. He could barely see her eyes, but the crisp blue color would be forever imprinted on his brain. “You’re not going to be able to stay over there, are you?”
“Sure I can.” He swallowed, trying to slow his racing pulse. “But you can’t.”
“Oh, yes, I can.” For the next few minutes she tossed and turned, while he remained still.
He couldn’t make the first move. It wouldn’t be right. Besides, if she came to him, he could justify it like he always did. It was just sex, and she’d asked for it, not him. Somehow he thought that might make it better.
“Damn you,” she whispered, slipping into his arms. “Why do I want you? I don’t even like you.”
“Excuse me?” He brushed back her silky hair, letting the strands tangle in his fingers.
“You are so not my type. You’re arrogant, cocky, controlling, and overbearing. Besides, you don’t like me that way, either.”
In the darkness, his eyes met her gaze. Fear of the unknown loomed behind her usual confident stare. “You’re right, I don’t.” He continued to search her eyes, forcing the decision on her. “I think you’re a beautiful woman and an amazing person, but I don’t want anything other than physical satisfaction. If you don’t want that, roll over and go to sleep.”
“You won’t think badly of me if I choose not to sleep?” The heat of her body sent his heart thumping against his chest as she snuggled in next to him. Her hands glided across his body, touching all the places she knew drove him insane with passion.
“I just want you to know where we stand.” He kept his hands to himself in a desperate act to keep from completely ravishing her body.
She cupped his face and leaned in. Her breath smelled like wintergreen. “I’d really hate you if you stayed here because of me, again.”
Unable to contain his desire anymore, he grabbed her butt and heaved her to him. “Nothing.” He narrowed his eyes, hoping to drive the point home. “And I mean
nothing
will stand in my way of this promotion.”
His pulse stopped momentarily when she smiled. He had expected her to falter, gasp, or try to hide her emotions. Not react as if all the pressure had been taken off her, like she’d actually been worried he might be falling for her.
Never,
he chided himself, before roughly taking her mouth with his. “Whoa,” he said as she flipped him on his back, removing his boxers in a matter of seconds.
Somewhere in the midst of passion, he realized she was no different than him, using his body for her self-fulfillment. Somehow, it changed the experience for him.
She wasn’t going to try to change his mind. She didn’t want anything other than sex.
Later, he shifted carefully in his bed; not wanting to disturb the naked beauty tangled between his legs and arms. Staring at the nothingness of the ceiling, he let his senses fill with her peachy smell. The softness of her supple skin felt like rose petals against his.
The red glow of the sun peeking from the mountaintops pushed through the windows. He’d have to put an end to this constant poor judgment. Nothing good could come from using her, even if she wanted to be used. Worse, she was using him.
The phone rang and Ryan jumped, bumping him in the face.
“Damn it. You got my nose again.” His eyes watered, while he fumbled for the phone.
“Oh, God.” She chuckled. “I’m so sorry.”
He lifted the phone from its cradle, then hit the talk button. “Yeah, right,” he muttered. “Blake here.”
“Oh, like I did it on purpose in my sleep,” she said.
“Is that my sister?” Pat yelled.
Jared swallowed. “Pat? It’s five in the morning. What’s wrong?”
“Marci’s in labor.”
“She okay?” Jared rubbed the back of his neck. “Maybe Ryan should come with me to Rochester.”
“No!” Ryan snapped. She covered her mouth with her hand.
Jared’s heart stopped for a moment, silence on the other end. “Pat, you there?”
“I’ll deal with you later. Put my sister on the phone.”
Jared closed his eyes, then handed the phone to Ryan. “He wants to talk with you.”
“Great.” She yanked the phone from his hands. “What?”
For the first time since he was a kid, Jared felt like he just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
“You take care of your wife and I’ll take care of myself. I’ll let you know what I decide when I come see you in the hospital.” She clicked the phone off and chucked it onto the bed. “Damn, I’ve got a loud mouth.”
“Won’t argue that point.”
She shot him a sideways glance. “What are your plans today?”
“I’ve got some paperwork, but otherwise I’m free until I leave for Rochester.”
“I have to go in to work for a few hours, then do you mind if we stop at the hospital on the way out?” She threw back the covers and jumped from the bed, snatching his robe and tossing it around her naked body.
“Out of town? As in, you’re coming with me?”
“Only because I refuse to horn in on Penny and Chuck, since they just got engaged, and I can’t listen to my brother’s lectures. I guess you’re the lesser of three evils.”
“Oh, babe, I’m evil all right.” He leaped from the bed and marched to the bathroom trying to figure out why he was so mad. It wasn’t like he should be upset. She was coming with him, but only for safety reasons. And that’s all he cared about.
Chapter Thirteen
Ryan fisted her hands, then rolled them across her lower back, staring at the clutter she’d let collect on her desk. Nothing she did could ease her constant fear that someone was watching her. Or rid her of the memory of Jared’s touch. Last night had been a true test of her acting ability. It honestly amazed her that she’d been able to pull it off.
Jared believed she didn’t care about anything other than sex.
But she hadn’t expected Marci to go into labor, tying up her brother for days. Last Ryan checked, Marci still hadn’t given birth. Between the horrid pictures, three more hang-ups, and no real answers, the only smart choice would be to take a mini-vacation. With Jared. Wonderful.
Ryan tapped her pencil against some papers, but she was unable to concentrate on anything other than those photographs and Tom and Lisa. Tom had been carrying an expensive camera and looked like he knew what he was doing. Lisa’s camera was one of those disposable ones, but you could still blow up the negatives. Eddy owned a camera. Then again, so did just about everyone, including Jared. Her stepfather had a fascination for pornography, but she didn’t ever remember him taking pictures.
A knock on her door startled her, sending her pencil tumbling to the floor. “Tom.” Jared had warned her to stay clear of Tom. Jared went so far as to call Rick and ask him to keep tabs on Tom.
She’d been pissed and let Jared know it, but she knew he was right. She needed to be careful.
“I owe you an apology. I had a little too much to drink last night and I think it got the better of me,” he said, his tone remorseful.
She kept her eyes from locking with his. “I didn’t like you sneaking up on me like that.”
“Again, I’m sorry.” He remained in the doorway and looked genuine, but that didn’t make the goose bumps on the back of her neck go away. “The camera is digital, so I deleted the ones I took of you.”
“Well, thanks.” She didn’t believe him, but it didn’t matter. “Do you take a lot of pictures?”
He smiled. “It’s a hobby.”
“What do you like to take pictures of?” She hoped her voice didn’t sound panicked.
“Mostly people. I love action shots.”
She studied the man standing before her. He wasn’t very tall, nor was he muscular, but he did carry himself with a sense of confidence. He sort of looked liked one of those successful dorks who’d made a million. He didn’t look like some guy who went around lurking in the shadows.
Then again, Eddy didn’t seem like a guy who liked to masturbate while he watched women parade around in their underwear.
“I heard about your car.” He stepped into her office. “I can’t believe someone actually shot at it.”
“Me neither,” she admitted.
“Some of us can’t help but wonder if whoever is doing this is really after that trooper friend of yours. Cops make enemies all the time.”
“I’m sure they do,” she said, checking the time. “I can’t imagine what I’ve ever done to make someone hate me that much.” She prayed her voice didn’t shake like her trembling legs.
“I know this isn’t my place, but like I said, maybe it’s the company you’re keeping.” He tossed his hands to the side. “It’s not just me. Other people think that, too.”
“Great,” she said under her breath. What would those people think if they saw those damn pictures? “I have to let the police handle it.” She opened her middle drawer, searching for a pen, then slammed it shut. “I’ve got a lot of work to do before I take off today. Thanks for your concern.”
“I heard you were taking some time off. Going anywhere?”
Her pulse hammered so fast spots danced around her head. Placing both hands on the desktop, she swallowed and forced her eyes to connect with his. “My free time isn’t any of your business. But if you must know, I’m just going to be hanging out and working on getting my house back in order.” Lying had never come easily to her, but lately she’d been the queen of falsehood.