Dangerous To Love

by Toni Anderson, Barbara Freethy, Dee Davis, Leslie A. Kelly, Cynthia Eden, J. Kenner, Meli Raine, Gwen Hernandez, Pamela Clare, Rachel Grant

  “A less stressed fool?” he asked with a hopeful smile.

  She couldn’t help but smile back. “Maybe the screaming did help. I bet you weren’t expecting the waterworks show, though. That took me by surprise. I’m not really a crier.”

  “I know. You hold everything in.”

  “I had to after my dad left. My mom was so sad. My tears only made things worse, so I stopped crying.”

  He nodded in understanding. “When my father’s crimes became publicly known, my mother was also a basket case. She wasn’t just worried about my dad, but also about my brother.”

  “And you had to be the strong one.”

  “I did. But my relationship with my mother didn’t get better because of that.”

  “Really? I would have thought she would have leaned on you, that you would have been the good, shining light in her life.”

  “She didn’t think I helped enough. She thought I could have been more outspoken, more loyal, especially with the press. She basically wanted me to help her hide the crimes, but there was no way to do that.”

  “It wasn’t your job to make their mistakes seem better.”

  “She didn’t see it that way. We weren’t that close before it all went down, and we became strangers afterwards. She was much tighter with my brother.”

  “Do you see her at all anymore?”

  “No.”

  “Not ever?”

  “Not in a long time. And it’s fine. You don’t need to suggest I look her up,” he warned.

  “I wasn’t going to,” she said. “I wouldn’t want someone to tell me what to do about my family, either.”

  “Exactly. We’re two of a kind.”

  “I don’t know if I’d go that far but, thank you. Not just for making me let go, but for sharing something so personal with me. I’m not sure why you did.”

  “I’m not sure, either,” he admitted. “I don’t usually share, but there’s something about you, Avery.”

  “There’s something about you, too, Wyatt. I don’t know how we went so fast from not trusting each other to telling our secrets. I’ve gone out with men for months who know less about me than you do right now. I don’t understand it. It doesn’t make sense, but we’re connected.”

  “Not everything makes sense.”

  “I prefer it when it does.”

  He gave her a small smile. “I know you do. But there’s no set time period to connect with someone. And not all moves are thought out in advance, Avery. Sometimes you’ve just got to go with the current.”

  He moved closer, his hands settling on her waist, and the heat of his gaze triggered a new set of emotions that had nothing to do with sadness and anger and everything to do with desire and recklessness.

  “What is your next move?” she asked, feeling like that current might turn into a riptide.

  “I know what I want it to be.”

  “So do I.” Throwing her innate sense of caution into the same wind that had heard her screams and released her anger, she put her arms around Wyatt’s neck, pressed her body back against his and touched her lips to his mouth.

  She’d never felt so hungry for a man, and kissing Wyatt touched off an explosion of heat and desire, of real, honest, soul-stirring passion. There was no holding back, no tentative exploration. It was everything all at once. She wasn’t on the sidelines. She wasn’t hiding in dark corner while everyone else had fun. She was in the arms of an attractive and sexy man, whose hard body was sending tingles of desire to every part of her body.

  Wyatt ran his hands up under her jacket, and she could feel the heat through her light-weight sweater, sending all sorts of ideas through her head of the two of them tearing off each other’s clothes, lying down in the soft sand, and making love in the moonlight, under the stars…

  But Wyatt was pulling away. His ragged breath curled up in a cloud of heat that she wanted to throw herself back into.

  As she took a step forward, Wyatt grabbed both of her arms.

  “Hang on,” he said tightly. “We need to stop.”

  “Do we?” she asked. “Aren’t you the one who said I should live in the moment?”

  “Yes,” he conceded. “But not…not tonight. You’ve had a long day.”

  “You’re really saying no?” she asked in surprise. “Okay. I guess I misread—”

  “You didn’t misread anything,” he said quickly, his fingers biting into her arms. “What happened just now—that was crazy good.”

  “It was, wasn’t it? So why…”

  “Because you’re running on emotion. And I cannot take advantage of that.”

  “You’re not taking advantage, Wyatt. I know what I want. And I want you.”

  “A man you met earlier today? A man you’re not sure you can trust?”

  She didn’t appreciate the reminders. They were making her think again, when all she wanted to do was feel.

  “I want you, too, Avery, but not like this. I want you to choose, not just fall into something… You’d regret it. And I don’t want you to have any regrets.”

  “You don’t have to protect me from myself. I’m a grown woman. If I get hurt or have regrets, that’s on me.”

  “Okay. Then maybe I’m protecting myself.”

  She didn’t know quite how to take that. Was he implying she could hurt him? She could break his heart? That seemed unlikely.

  “It’s been a rough day,” he continued. “Let’s go back to the hotel.”

  “To our separate but connected rooms?”

  His jaw tightened. “It could be a long night.”

  “I don’t know what to make of you, Wyatt.”

  “I know. There have been some mixed signals tonight. I’m not happy about that. Chalk it up to your extreme attractiveness.”

  “You do realize this might have been your only chance, and you just said no.”

  “God, I hope not,” he said with so much sincerity, she couldn’t help but smile, the tension breaking inside of her.

  “I guess we’ll see.”

  “Let’s walk back to the car.”

  As she followed him up the path, she decided to torment him just a little more. “You know when we were talking about secrets? There is one secret I haven’t shared with you yet.”

  “What’s that?” he asked warily.

  “I don’t like pajamas, so I don’t always wear them.”

  He groaned. “You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?”

  She shrugged. “Just saying…”

  * * *

  Was he a complete and utter fool?

  That question plagued Wyatt all the way back to the hotel in Marina Del Rey.

  He couldn’t remember the last time he’d said no to a beautiful and willing woman who’d stated quite bluntly that she wanted him. In fact, he didn’t think that had ever happened before.

  But something about Avery’s sweet sexiness had sent off warning bells in his head. She might think he’d opened up to her with the story of his family, but he was still holding back a lot—a hell of a lot. He was living a lie, and she didn’t deserve anything but the truth.

  He needed to remember that in the upcoming days—make that hours, since he’d now have to spend the night wondering if she was really sleeping in the nude or had just said that to pay him back for calling a halt to things.

  As they neared the hotel, he forced his brain back on the job at hand, which was keeping Avery safe, not taking her to bed. Fortunately, they were able to park and make their way up to their rooms without incident.

  He checked the small traps he’d set up around the room and everything was exactly as he’d left it. He was very happy about that.

  “Everything okay?” Avery asked, as she tucked strands of her wind-blown dark hair behind her ears. Her dark eyes stood out against her pale skin, and there was noticeable red around her eyes and nose from her breakdown at the beach. Her haunted beauty made him glad he’d ended things before they’d really started. She had enough emotion to deal with. Whi
le some sweet release could go a long way in situations like these, there was always a morning after.

  “It’s all good,” he said briskly. “But I would like to leave the door open. I promise not to peek.”

  She gave him a tired smile, and he had a feeling the adrenaline was wearing off.

  “Get some sleep, Avery.”

  “I think I will sleep. I’m suddenly exhausted.”

  He nodded and moved toward the door to his room.

  “Wait, Wyatt.”

  He looked back at her. “Yes?”

  “I’m glad you took me to the beach. You were right. I needed to scream, to let out my emotions. I’d been holding everything in since Noelle died. I’m just sorry I cried all over you.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Now you know what to do when you feel like you’re about to snap.”

  “Yes. But there’s one more thing.” She paused, giving him a serious look. “Kissing you was separate from that. I feel like you should know that. Anyway, goodnight.”

  “Good-night.”

  Walking into his room took a lot of willpower. He’d crossed a line that he shouldn’t have crossed. He couldn’t let it happen again. Not until this job was over.

  Hell, who was he kidding?

  Once this job was over, he’d disappear like he always did. He’d move on to the next assignment.

  Avery didn’t need another man in her life who would turn into a ghost.

  So, he needed to keep her close—but not that close.

  Chapter Ten

  Avery thought she might have fallen asleep before her head hit the pillow, and when she woke up, the sun was streaming through the sheer drapes. She got up, smiling to herself as she pulled her T-shirt down over her PJ bottoms and walked to the window. She hadn’t actually lied to Wyatt about sleeping in the nude, but last night she’d felt cold, and had wanted the extra warmth when she’d gotten into bed. But hopefully, she’d given him something to think about.

  It was a sunny day, not a cloud in the sky, the ocean sparkling in the distance several blocks away. The beautiful view made her feel a little sad that Noelle wasn’t alive to see it. She’d always loved the beach, whether it was in the hot summer or the windy spring or the cold winter.

  She wondered how many days it would take before she would wake up and Noelle would not be the first thing on her mind—probably too many to count.

  Looking at the ocean also reminded her of the night before, letting out her grief, lowering her guard, and experiencing one of the most amazing kisses of her life. She put her fingers to her lips, remembering how it had felt to have Wyatt’s hot mouth on hers.

  Noelle would have been proud.

  “I got out of my comfort zone,” she whispered, thinking of the last conversation she’d had with her friend. “I just wish I could tell you about it.”

  Even as she said the words, she realized last night wouldn’t have happened if Noelle hadn’t died. She might have never said two words to Wyatt, even if she had seen him at Nova Star. They worked in very separate departments, and she didn’t spend much time trying to create a social life for herself. It was just easier…and safer…to bury herself in work.

  Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, bringing her back to reality. She hurried across the room to answer it. It was Noelle’s mother.

  “Good morning, Kari,” she said, frowning as she heard what sounded like a public announcement in the background. “Where are you?”

  “I’m at the airport, Avery.”

  “What do you mean? You’re leaving?” she asked in surprise. “We haven’t made any decisions.”

  “I’m sorry, but I have to go home. If I don’t go to work tomorrow, I’ll lose my job.”

  “But what about Noelle? What about the arrangements? There is so much to do.”

  “You know what Noelle would want better than me. I’ll send you money as soon as I get my paycheck. Carter said he would help out, too. She finally met a good, solid man. I wish they could have had more time together.”

  “Are you coming back?”

  “No. I don’t think so. I can’t afford it, Avery.”

  “Well, do you want the memorial to be in Florida? Do you want Noelle to be buried there?”

  “Noelle didn’t like Florida. I think she’d want to be here—near her friends, the places she loved most. And she wasn’t a fan of formal funerals. Maybe something simple…” Kari’s voice broke. “I know you must think I’m a terrible person to dump all this on you. And you’re not wrong. Your mother will probably say, what did you expect—I’ve always been a flake. But I just don’t have the money to stay here, and I feel so ashamed and embarrassed that I can’t bury my own daughter.”

  “You don’t have to be ashamed. I will take care of everything. And when I have time to figure out the details, I’ll make sure to let you know what I have in mind. Hopefully you can be a part of something.”

  “Don’t wait on me, Avery. Do what’s best for Noelle. You were like sisters. I trust you, and I know she did, too. Good-bye.”

  “Good-bye.” She barely got the word out before Kari hung up.

  “Avery? What’s going on?”

  Wyatt’s concerned voice drew her head around. “That was Kari. She’s leaving town. She says she can’t do it. I’m in charge.”

  Anger flashed through his eyes. “That’s ridiculous.”

  “She doesn’t have any money. She’s embarrassed.”

  “She’s Noelle’s mother. She could at least stay and help you.”

  “Hopefully, Carter will help.” She ran a hand through her tangled hair, noting that Wyatt looked good, having already taken a shower, his dark hair damp, his face cleanly shaven, a hint of cologne wafting around him. He wore dark jeans and a long-sleeved gray sweater that clung to his broad shoulders. She really wished they were having this conversation after she’d had a chance to clean up, too.

  “Well, you have time to figure all this out,” he said.

  “I don’t know how much time. I should at least organize something at work this week to honor her.”

  “That would be nice. It doesn’t have to be too complicated. You can save that for the bigger service.”

  “If there is one. Kari just reminded me that Noelle hated funerals.” She let out a sigh. “There’s so much to think about.”

  “I’m here if you need to bounce off ideas.”

  “Right now, I just need a shower.”

  “Good idea. I thought I’d go downstairs and grab us some coffees from the café down the street. How does that sound?”

  “Like heaven. If you run into some bagels and cream cheese, that would be good, too.”

  “You got it.” He smiled, his gaze running down her body with an appreciative gleam. “By the way, I like the PJs, although I would have liked your usual sleeping attire better.”

  She flushed. “I was cold last night.”

  “And you wanted to torture me.”

  “That, too.”

  He cleared his throat. “Right. Okay. I’ll be back shortly. Keep the door locked. Don’t open it for anyone.”

  His words reminded her of why they were in the hotel. “I won’t. You be safe, too,” she added on a more serious note. “I wasn’t the only one who saw that man’s face yesterday.”

  * * *

  Wyatt headed downstairs and got into his car, wishing he could have kept Avery warm last night. But deep down, sleepless night aside, he knew he’d made the right decision. He had gotten too personally involved with her last night, and he needed to get things back on track.

  He was going to pick up coffee and bagels but first he had a quick stop to make. While he was in deep cover, he kept contact with his colleagues to a minimum, but with everything that was happening, he needed a check-in.

  He took a circuitous route to his destination, making sure no one was on his tail before he parked near a secondhand bookstore.

  He waited another moment in his car and then headed down the block. Next to the st
ore was a door leading up to an apartment. He pressed three numbers on the intercom and saw a small security camera click over his face before he was buzzed inside.

  Jogging up the stairs, he opened what appeared to be an electrical box but was in fact a retinal scanner. Once he was cleared to enter, the door clicked open.

  The two-bedroom apartment had been turned into a command post six weeks ago when Flynn had formed the task force to look into foreign espionage in the aerospace industry, specifically at Nova Star.

  A bank of computers sat on a long table, with two guys tapping away on their keyboards. Mark and Connor were young agents, barely out of Quantico, but they were equipped with the latest cyber hacking skills. He’d been siphoning out footage from Nova Star’s security cameras for the past month, and they were in charge of pointing out any anomalies or people to look into.

  With his input, they’d also compiled reams of data on the Tremaines and other personnel at Nova Star who had access to secure data. Unfortunately, none of that data had given them a clear lead on who had leaked information to the Chinese.

  At the kitchen table sat Flynn MacKenzie, the leader of their team. Flynn had blondish hair, a scruffy beard, and compelling blue eyes. He also had a British accent that seemed to drive women crazy and was one of his best skills for getting what he wanted.

  He almost hadn’t taken the job Flynn had offered him because they’d gone through Quantico together as rivals in every way. He’d thought at the time that Flynn had played fast and loose with some of the rules of their training missions just to get a win. In fact, at one point he’d wondered if Flynn’s antics hadn’t been part of why his good friend Jamie had died during a training incident. Not that he had any proof, and certainly Flynn had seemed to be just as upset about Jamie’s death as anyone, but something had clearly gone wrong, and no one had ever been able to figure out what that was.

  That incident aside, Flynn had proven himself to be a good agent in the intervening years. He pushed the boundaries, and he’d managed to use his skill at politics to build connections in the bureau that had put him into the position of running his own task force at a very young age.