Once again he’d held her hand. No one had simply held her hand in a very long time. It made her crave more. And that frightened her even as it beckoned.
„I’m sorry about my sister. She can be…“
„A teenager?“ Kristen supplied and his smile flashed.
„Yeah, I suppose that’s as good a word as any. You don’t have to do her little interview tomorrow afternoon, Kristen. I know she bugged you into it.“
Kristen shook her head. Rachel Reagan was quite the salesperson, she thought One minute she was politely declining the girl’s request for an interview and the next minute she was accepting an invitation to a Reagan Sunday dinner tomorrow afternoon. „It’s okay.“ And she found it really was. „I don’t mind.“ In fact if I’m honest, I’m looking forward to it. „Besides, I can use all the good press I can get.“
Reagan grimaced. „Tony felt just terrible about that.“
„It was bound to happen. It wasn’t his fault the reporters were lying in wait outside. I just wish I knew when Richardson sleeps. She seems to be everywhere all the time.“
„At least, the uniform in front of your house can keep her from bothering you here.“
There was another heavy pause, and Kristen wished she was comfortable with the social words. She wished she could invite him in for tea without making it seem like a big deal. Even though it would be. Her skin still tingled from the sweep of his thumb across her palm. And she wanted him to do it again. She blew out a hard breath.
„I’m no good at this.“
One dark brow lifted, giving him a rakish look. „At what?“
Kristen rolled her eyes. „Do you want to come in for a cup of tea or not?“
His eyes gleamed in the darkness and her heart thumped as she waited for his answer. „Yes, I do,“ he said huskily, and she had the definite impression he was talking about more than tea. „I need to talk to your uniform down on the street. I’ll be right back.“
He slammed the door, leaving her in the dark with her thoughts.
He’s going to kiss you, Kristen. You stupid idiot. Now he’ll know.
She wasn’t mat naive. Yes, he’d try to kiss her. Nor was she a woman to deny the inevitable. Yes, he’d know. With a man like Reagan, all it would take would be one single kiss to expose her. So he’ll know. So what? Maybe he won’t care.
Hah, she ridiculed herself. You really are stupid. All men care.
She sighed. Even a nice man like Abe Reagan would want what she couldn’t deliver. After one kiss, he’d realize she was too cold… Too frigid to give him what he needed, wanted. He’d quickly conclude this wouldn’t work, and though he’d try to be kind about it, they’d quickly find themselves back in a purely professional relationship. Which was better. The sooner they caught this killer, the sooner Reagan would be gone and she’d have her life back to normal. Normal is lonely. Normal is all you’ll ever have. Get over it.
He opened her car door, letting the cold air rush in, a fitting end to the lecture she’d given herself. She looked up at him bleakly. „Any action while I was gone today?“
„No. Charlie Truman’s assigned to night shift. He’s a good cop, friend of my brother. You’ll be safe with him outside. And remember Mclntyre, the guy who took your statement last night? He’s got day shift. You should see him tomorrow morning.“ He frowned. „Kristen, what’s wrong?“
„Nothing.“
In silence he helped her down, opened her kitchen door and flicked on the lights while she disabled the alarm. „I’ll take a rain check on the tea,“ he said quietly. „You must be tired.“
„No.“ The word exploded from her lips, surprising them both. She drew a breath and unbuttoned her coat. Let’s just get this over with. „No, stay. Please.“ She tossed off her coat and busied herself with the teapot, listening to the rustle of his coat hitting a chair, cursing the trembling of her hands when half a spoonful of tea ended up on the counter.
„Kristen.“ His voice came from behind her. Deep and nimbly and soothing. „It’s all right“
No, it’s not all right. She dropped her chin to her chest. „Maybe you were right. I am tired.“ I am so not good at this.
She flinched when his hands covered her shoulders, but his hands didn’t force, they soothed, massaging her shoulders in wide circles that made her want to sigh and beg him never to stop. He slipped her jacket from her shoulders before returning to his task and she could feel the heat of his hands through her blouse as her body slowly began to relax.
You are so good at this, she thought.
„Thank you,“ he said and she realized she’d voiced her thoughts aloud. His voice had gone deeper, huskier, and a hard shiver racked her body, head to toe. For just a moment his hands tightened on her shoulders, then let go, moving up to the back of her neck. His thumbs pressed the taut cords on either side of her neck and her knees went weak. One strong arm came around, catching her just under her breasts and… she let him. Let him support her. Let him pull her against his body.
His very hard body. Hard in all the wrong places. She jerked forward, putting distance between them, suddenly tense again. Without a word he released his hold, moving his hands to her shoulders, starting all over again. Gentling me, she thought.
„Um-hm,“ he murmured and again she knew she’d spoken aloud. „And me,“ he added.
„You?“
„You’re not the only one who’s nervous here, Kristen.“
She looked up at him over her shoulder. His face was stark, almost grim. „Why?“ It came out a whisper and his hands stilled, and for a moment he said nothing.
Then he whispered back, „Because you say you have no family when your father is still alive, and you say you studied art in Florence, but I don’t see anything in this house that you’ve painted. Because you said that victims never, ever forget. Because someone hurt you, and I’m terrified I’ll do something to make you think I’d hurt you, too. Because I won’t.“
But he would. Her heart cracked as she acknowledged the fact inside. Outside, she nodded. „I know.“ Because he wouldn’t mean to. And perhaps because some tiny part of her still wished with all her might that his words would be true.
His eyes bored into hers. „Do you?“ His hands smoothed over her hair and she felt him feel for, then tug a pin from her hair. It clattered to the counter and he pulled out another.
„What are you doing?“ her voice was low-pitched, raspy.
„Taking down your hair. These pins have driven me crazy all day.“ It was a low murmur and sent a new hard shiver racing through her body. His eyes flashed and he pulled out more pins. Her hair sprang free and his hands delved deep, his ringers scraping gently across her scalp. On a low moan her eyes slid shut and every bit of oxygen left her lungs. His hands felt so good, so absolutely necessary.
She’d been driving him crazy. The thought was nearly enough to make her giddy.
One hand slipped from her hair to bracket her jaw and his thumb swept across her cheek, much as it had her palm earlier. She opened her eyes with difficulty, feeling almost drowsy with pleasure. His face was closer now, much closer.
His lips brushed her temple and she stopped, simply stopped breathing.
„There’s one more reason I’m scared,“ he murmured, his breath hot against her skin.
„What?“ She mouthed the word, but her voice never emerged.
„I wanted you the first time I saw you. I want you now.“ His whispered admission shook her, shocked her. She should be afraid, terrified.
But I’m not. Instead she was tempted. Then his lips were on her cheek, scant inches from her mouth. So tempted. All she had to do was turn her head a little bit and his mouth would be on hers. And she wanted to. Wanted to feel the heat of his mouth, to know how it felt to be kissed by a man like him. „Abe.“