Simply Sinful (Simply Series Book 1)

by Carly Phillips

  Her assailant stiffened and muttered a harsh curse. He released his hold and shoved her hard. She stumbled headfirst into the concrete wall and, with the impact, dropped to the floor. Pain lanced through her skull just as the back door opened enough to show a sliver of light and allow her intruder to disappear, leaving her in darkness again.

  “Kayla, I know you’re in…” Catherine swung open the door and hit the switch on the wall, bathing the room in a harsh, bright light. “Oh my God, what happened?”

  Lifting her head was an effort, but Kayla managed. She took in the shambles of her once neat storage room and groaned. “He trashed the place.”

  “He who? What happened to you?” Her sister bent down beside her.

  “I’m okay.”

  Catherine narrowed her eyes. “You don’t look it.”

  “I’m fine.” The steady pounding in her skull made those words a lie. Fighting the pain, she struggled to stand. A wave of nausea made it an impossible feat.

  “Sit.” Catherine eased her back down and propped her against the wall. “I’m calling the police.”

  Kayla nodded only to discover even that was a mistake. She closed her eyes. She didn’t know what the intruder wanted, but he’d been convinced he would find it here.

  Catherine pulled her cell phone from her purse and made the call, then she knelt down and put a soft hand on Kayla’s shoulder.

  “What could he want?” Kayla’s head swam and she couldn’t think anymore.

  “Stay here. I’m just going into the bathroom,” Catherine said.

  Water sounded and then Catherine returned. “Don’t try to talk. Here.” She placed a wet paper towel on Kayla’s forehead.

  The soggy rag dripped water down her face, and Kayla laughed despite the pain and her tears. “You’ll never challenge Florence Nightingale.”

  “Maybe not, but we’ve been tending each other’s scrapes for years, and I’m the best you’ve got.” With a forced smile, Catherine balled up the sopping paper and tossed it onto the floor.

  She grabbed Kayla’s hand and eased herself beside her, huddling with her sister as they’d done many times as children. Kayla couldn’t stop the uncontrollable urge to unburden herself to her sister—the only person she could trust.

  With her head on Catherine’s shoulder, Kayla opened up about last night with Kane, talking until she was talked out.

  And Catherine, for once, remained silent, for which Kayla was grateful.

  “The police will be here in a few minutes,” Catherine said at last. “And they’ll take care of everything.”

  * * *

  “I already told you I walked in through the front door, and he jumped me in the back.” Raising her voice caused a set of drums to go off in Kayla’s head. She placed Catherine’s next attempt at first aid—a cold, wet, but thankfully wrung-out rag—against her scalp. She exhaled hard, fighting the nausea.

  “The paramedics will be here any second.”

  Kayla squinted at the young police officer as he spoke.

  “Now back to what happened. He was looking for money, and you claim there is none.” The man stared at Kayla as if he didn’t believe a word she said.

  Catherine stepped into the man’s direct line of vision. “Is this your first day on the job? Is that why you can’t see she’s the victim? Is this how they train you today, to attack the helpless? Look, buddy, cop or no cop, I want your badge number and then I want your badge.”

  Kayla swallowed a groan at her sister’s attitude, yet she couldn’t understand the police treatment, either. Sirens began an insistent wail in the distance. At least she’d get an ice-pack rather than a barrage of questions she was too weak and nauseous to answer.

  The officer eased back but not off. He lowered himself until he was at Kayla’s eye level. “Look, the guy trashed the back room and did a number on you. Obviously, he was looking for cash. Why? A little help from you will make things go easier.”

  “For who?” Catherine jumped in. “She’s not going to do your job for you, and I want to know why you’ve been grilling her like she’s a criminal instead of helping the victim.”

  “I’d like to know the answer to that, too.”

  Kayla would recognize that voice anywhere. “Kane.”

  He’d come back. A rush of powerful emotions hit her so fast her battered body and foggy mind couldn’t decipher them now. She pushed herself to a standing position and turned as quickly as the pain in her head would allow.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Catherine asked.

  Kayla winced at her sister’s harsh tone. She never should have told Catherine even sketchy information about last night with Kane.

  Kayla glanced at him. He stood in the entryway to the back room looking angry and dangerous, displaying the side she’d only glimpsed before. He ignored Catherine but when his gaze lit on hers, his expression softened.

  He stepped toward her and held out his arms. She slid into his embrace. A comforting arm settled around her waist while the wall supported her back. “Well, Officer? Since when does the Boston P.D. grill injured victims?” he asked the junior cop.

  The young officer flushed red. “I’m sorry, Detective, but…”

  “Detective?” Kayla’s body went rigid as shock washed over her.

  Kane let out a groan. This wasn’t the way he’d wanted her to find out. He hadn’t planned on her discovering his identity at all. But nothing had gone as planned since he’d laid eyes on Kayla Luck.

  He’d been halfway to the station house door when the 911 call had come in and the captain had waylaid him in the hall. Concern for Kayla had blocked out common sense, so here he was—with a job to do.

  He took in her pale skin, glassy eyes, and the red bruise on her forehead. He’d botched this case but no more. He took her arm despite her token resistance.

  “Where are you taking her?” Catherine asked.

  Kane glanced at the blonde he’d met briefly last night, the one with flashing green eyes who’d just given the junior officer a tongue-lashing. “To the nearest chair. What are you, her sister or her guard dog?”

  She opened her mouth but Kayla interrupted first. “Catherine, don’t. He’s right. If I don’t sit I’ll be sick.”

  He muttered a curse, then led her into the outer room.

  With her leaning against him for support, Kane was reminded of last night. His body reacted with instant and urgent need. Ignoring her wasn’t an option, but acknowledging and distancing himself was.

  Kayla accepted his help only until she reached the chair, then jerked out of his grasp and collapsed into the high-backed cushioned seat.

  He knelt beside her. “Kayla…”

  “What is it, Detective?” She spat the word like a curse. Her eyes remained closed, an effective physical barrier. He’d obviously added to the damage he’d already done. Her emotional walls were in place—just like his.

  The paramedics came barging through the door, saving him from having to answer. As they examined her, he had time to reflect. He didn’t like what he concluded.

  He’d put his emotions before his case. Worse, he put this woman at risk. He glanced at Kayla. Bad enough he’d slept with her, but believing for an instant he could have more than one night had been insanity. Foolishness that could only lead to destruction. He’d broken his cardinal rule: he’d gotten involved.

  If he’d maintained a distance, he would have been thinking more clearly. He would never have let her walk out the door this morning. Kayla’s ignorance about illegal activities at Charmed! didn’t mean those activities didn’t exist. The captain was right. Kayla had gotten to him, and in the process, he’d compromised not only the case but her safety.

  “Okay.” The paramedic in the blue jacket stood. “Looks like a concussion and some bruising in the neck area.”

  A quick glance told him Kayla was still leaning back with her eyes closed in the large office chair. Red fingerprints marred the white skin on her throat, and Kane’s gut clenc
hed in anger so strong it blinded him. No one had the right to touch her. Forcing his mind to clear, he let his gaze travel downward. She hadn’t changed out of last night’s clothes. She hadn’t yet been home.

  Behind her, Kane saw Captain Reid enter the storefront. Kane turned to the paramedic first. “Hospitalization?” he asked.

  “She refused, which is fine as long as someone’s around to watch over her and bring her in if necessary.”

  “Someone is,” the sister chimed in.

  For the moment, Kane ignored her. “Restrictions?” he asked the younger man.

  “Complete bed rest, wake her every two hours, check coherence, understanding, pupil dilation…you know the drill.”

  “Got it,” Kane said.

  “No problem,” the sister retorted, eyeing Kane with a scowl.

  With the paramedic gone and the captain getting briefed by the officer who’d arrived first on the scene, Kane turned his focus on Catherine. “You’re Catherine, right?”

  “And you’re the dick who used my sister.”

  He didn’t see any point in mentioning the using had been mutual. Kayla had been dressed and ready to walk out on him first. “You don’t know anything about it.”

  “I know enough, and I doubt that official-looking guy in the suit would appreciate that you slept with a…what was Kayla, anyway? A suspect?”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “The way junior was grilling her.” She jerked her thumb toward the uniformed officer.

  “Leave it alone, Catherine,” Kane warned her in a harsh tone.

  She placed her hands on her hips. “Because you say so?”

  “Because I promise you she won’t get hurt again.” He’d make sure of that.

  Catherine narrowed green eyes that reminded him of her sister’s. “Prove yourself and we’ll see.”

  He didn’t need the aggravation of an overprotective sister at this stage in the investigation, which was by no means over. And yet he couldn’t help admiring the fierce way she shielded her sister, and a pang of regret lanced through him. He’d never had anyone to look out for him. “Go check on Kayla,” he muttered.

  “I’ll be watching you, McDermott, if that’s even your real name.” Catherine returned to her sister’s side, and Kane made his way over to Reid.

  “Looks like things are heating up,” Kane said.

  “It looks like a botched robbery,” his captain countered. “She walked in too soon.”

  Kane shook his head, his instincts screaming in protest.

  “Nothing taken, nothing missing,” the junior officer said. “But the lady claims the assailant was looking for cash she doesn’t have.”

  “The night’s take?” Reid asked.

  The officer shrugged. “I hadn’t gotten that far in my questioning.”

  Kane pinned him with an accusing glare. “Because you need to work on your technique. Grilling victims like suspects isn’t doing your job.”

  Reid glanced back and forth between the two men, settling his gaze on the uniformed cop. “Get back to work. We’ll talk later.” The younger man took the hint and headed for the room that had been ransacked. “Could be coincidence,” Reid said.

  Kane shook his head.

  “She help you any?” He pointed to Kayla.

  “She still doesn’t know what last night was about.” And he wasn’t looking forward to enlightening her.

  “You’re certain she wasn’t tipped off about us and canceled activities last night?”

  “Convince yourself. Have a talk with her yourself.”

  Reid nodded and walked over to Kayla and her sister. Kane made himself scarce and strolled the perimeter of the small outer room instead. By the time the captain returned, Kane realized Kayla had turned this place into a reflection of herself. Books lined the metal shelving on the back wall, the topics wide and varied.

  “You’re right.”

  Shoving his hands into his pockets, he turned to his superior. “She’s as much in the dark as we are,” Kane said.

  “Seems that way. She’s bright and can hold her own in conversation but if she’s lying about her knowledge, I’d eat my badge, like you said. None of the signs were there. As for the sister, I wouldn’t want to fall into that mouth again, but I doubt she knows anything, either.”

  “Kayla’s in danger.” The knowledge sent a flood of emotion shooting through his veins. He welcomed the rush of adrenaline but not the depth of caring she drew from inside him. But he meant to keep his promise to Catherine. He’d keep her safe.

  “That’s debatable. I’m not convinced this was anything more than a bungled job. A druggie wanting cash, hoping for a quick getaway, and coming up empty, maybe,” Reid said.

  Kane shook his head. “Put someone on her.”

  “Can’t spare more manpower on a hunch, McDermott, not even yours. The most I can give you is an hourly drive-by.”

  Kane shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. “Not good enough.”

  “It’ll have to be.”

  “For you maybe. But I’m taking that R&R you seem to think I need.”

  Reid raised an eyebrow. “To do what?”

  “Babysit her myself if I have to. Instinct has kept me alive, and I won’t ignore it now.”

  “You too personally involved with this one?”

  The words hit the intended target, but Kane refused to back down. “No.”

  Reid shrugged. “Whatever you say. You’ve got one week, but this is strictly off-duty. What about the sister?”

  “I don’t need two targets and, considering she’s not involved in running the business, she’s not in any immediate danger.”

  Shoving his hands into his front pants pockets, Reid said, “I agree.”

  “So I want her out of the picture.” Kane didn’t need two women to watch out for.

  Reid glanced at the two sisters with their heads bent close together, and his chuckle filled the small room. “Good luck,” he said and laughed again.

  Kane didn’t know whether the older man referred to Kane’s ability to make Catherine back off or his self-imposed week alone with Kayla. Either way he needed all the luck he could get.

  Chapter Five

  The ice had begun to help her head. Even the nausea was no longer as bad. And then Kane spoke. “I’m taking you home.”

  His deep voice—still sexy to her ears—penetrated the remaining fuzziness in her brain. Kayla’s stomach revolted at the thought. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  Catherine grabbed for the nearest garbage pail, gaining a smile from Kayla despite how lousy she felt.

  “I don’t think that’s necessary.” Kayla turned on Kane. “I’m not going anywhere with you.” Although her talk with Captain Reid had been enlightening, she still didn’t know enough.

  Apparently, Kane’s superior knew nothing about Kane and Kayla’s late-night activities. Unlike other men, he hadn’t been quick to brag that he’d scored with Kayla Luck. She wondered what that meant other than the fact that he didn’t want to jeopardize his career.

  The captain had questioned her about her business and clientele but was less than forthcoming about the reasons behind the police interest. He said he’d leave the divulging to his best detective. She suppressed a cynical laugh. Kane was good all right, at more things than just his job.

  He crouched down until they were eye level. Razor stubble covered his cheeks, adding to the dangerous edge she’d only imagined before. The musky scent of his skin mixed with subtle aftershave heightened her awareness and put her senses into overdrive.

  He bore no resemblance to the salesman who’d wined and dined her the night before, yet he was still the same man who intrigued her on a primal level. A man she didn’t know. Yesterday’s clean-cut appearance had obviously been another lie for her benefit. She had the distinct impression she now faced the real Kane McDermott.

  She cradled her head in her hands and glared at him.

  “You might not like me much righ
t now. Hell, I’m not too thrilled with myself. But you aren’t going home alone. It isn’t safe.”

  “I agree,” Catherine said. She folded her arms over her chest and waited.

  “Would you please find something to do?” Kane muttered. “I’ll talk to you later.”

  Catherine glanced at her sister.

  Kayla didn’t like it, but she and Kane had unfinished business. “It’s okay.”

  With a nod, her sister headed for the back room.

  “She always act like your mother?” he asked.

  “Only when I’m being threatened.”

  “And that’s what you think I’m doing?” Despite his behavior, the thought made him laugh.

  “I don’t know that any more than I know who you really are. Last night was obviously a setup.” She ignored the hurt the knowledge brought. “You’re investigating me and my business. What for?”

  His deep inhale warned her she wouldn’t like what came next. “Prostitution.”

  Her hand moved of its own volition, cracking across his roughened cheek. Tears quickly followed. She swiped at them with her sleeve, but he’d seen anyway. He didn’t flinch, but in his eyes she viewed the same glimmer of emotion she’d caught last night. He masked it just as fast.

  He was good at hiding his feelings and even better at hiding himself.

  She swallowed over the painful lump in her throat that threatened to grow larger. Not only had he treated her like a hooker, but he’d thought she was one, too. “I didn’t know detectives were into such hands-on investigation.”

  “Last night had nothing to do with the investigation.”

  Kayla folded her arms across her chest and remained silent. Her mama had another expression she’d ingrained into her girls: give a man enough rope, and he’d hang himself with it.

  “The date, the setup, the dinner…those were part of the job,” he admitted. “What came after wasn’t.” The subtle darkening of his eyes spoke of sexual heat and need. The softening of his features hinted at something more. “By the time we finished dinner, I knew you were innocent,” he said.

  Kayla inhaled. Mama was wrong in this case. Kane wasn’t hanging himself. He’d taken a step toward redemption, not further condemnation. Yet how could she believe his words when everything that came before had been based on a lie? And what he’d done after had been beyond insulting. It had hurt.