Zach’s eyebrows furrowed. “I hope you told him to piss off.”
“Of course I did.” She crossed her arms. “Tell me the truth. What was inside the envelope? What did it say?”
“A letter from her attorney, stating that you had an admirer who wanted Meester out of your life. Ellie’s name was never mentioned. Russell’s name was on the check and the letterhead.”
“That’s all it took?” She shook her head, trying to focus on what he’d said earlier. “You still haven’t told me why Ellie paid him to stay away from me.”
His right hand curled into a fist, causing his arm muscles to flex. “I suspect she’d been planning to make you the benefactor of her will. She was a smart lady. Probably didn’t take much to convince her he would have used you if he’d been in your life when you inherited her money.”
So even then, Ellie had been protecting her assets. How could Hannah have not known how manipulative her elderly patient was? What else had Ellie done to meddle in Hannah’s life?
“It might have been manipulative, but she did you a favor.” Zach’s voice was quiet. “Eric Meester was no prince. He was seeing a co-worker behind your back.” He sighed. “I’m sorry, Hannah.”
This was so humiliating. She tasted bile in her throat and prayed she wouldn’t lose her breakfast in front of Zach. “I honestly thought he loved me.” Tears welled in her eyes. She brushed them away as an epiphany overcame her. Her pride felt more wounded than her heart now. The blinding hot anger she’d suppressed for years bubbled in her gut like a poison, claiming a new target. “And Ellie. How could she do that me? What kind of person was she? I didn’t know her at all.”
Zach swore and moved closer, but she edged away from him. If he touched her, she might fall apart or lash out at him, and she didn’t want him to see her that way. She was stronger than this.
He wasn’t making it easy on her. He followed until she had no escape between his body and the wall. His arms were warm and strong as they curled around her and drew her close. She had no choice but to bury her face in his shoulder and lean into him.
“I’m sorry, Hannah. I’ll understand if you hate me for not telling you the truth.”
She sniffed. “Why would I hate you?”
“Because I played a part in what Ellie did. Because I didn’t tell you sooner.”
She snorted into his neck. “Don’t be stupid, Zach. You were only doing your job. Besides, I didn’t know you then.”
“You don’t know everything about me now. I don’t want you to ever think I’m like him. That I value money more than you.”
She didn’t know everything about him? Geez. How much more was there? Every muscle that had relaxed tensed again in anticipation of the worst. His arms tightened around her, refusing to let her pull away.
“I don’t want there to be secrets between us.” He pushed back and grasped her face with fingers that trembled. He took a deep breath. “I understand what Ellie saw in you, because I see it too. A woman who cares more for others than herself. A beautiful, beautiful woman, inside and out.”
Tiny thrills of happiness began to battle the sadness that had hijacked her emotions. What was he saying?
His eyes were dark, concerned, his expression serious as he searched her face. “When you walked into my office last week, I didn’t know how to react. I thought you’d come to sue me for my involvement in what had happened. A smarter man would have turned you away, but I couldn’t.”
“Why not?” She sniffed and wiped her tears with the back of her fingers.
“Honestly? The firm needs the money. We’ve barely been making the bills these last few months.”
Money. Of course. She should have known. She tried to move away, but he held her still.
“That wasn’t the only reason. I didn’t refer you to someone else because I wanted to keep you safe. I felt like I owed it to you. You deserve a hell of a lot better than me, and you probably won’t want anything to do with me after you know the truth about what kind of man I am. I want you to know everything, but—” He swallowed. “I’m falling for you. I wish I weren’t because it’s a complication I don’t need right now, but there it is. That’s the truth.”
Hannah gasped and reached to clasp his hands. Falling? As in, he was falling in love with her? “Really?” Hope surged in her chest again, chasing away the hurt and anger that had threatened to consume her.
His eyes were intense, dark. “Really.”
The sound of something vibrating against wood was followed by loud chimes. Zach blinked and released her, and she fell against the wall for support as she watched him retrieve his phone from the table.
He turned and met her eyes as he barked his name in greeting. The conversation was short and mostly one sided.
Zach said a few more words and disconnected the call. He never took his eyes from hers.
“That was Kellan. The man who murdered Ellie’s husband—” He cut himself short.
Hannah moved closer. When he looked away, she grabbed his arm and demanded, “What about him?”
“He was released from prison three months ago.”
“Seriously?”
He nodded. Excitement radiated from his eyes.
“You can’t think he’s responsible for this. Zach, he’d be in his eighties now. How could he—?”
“I don’t know, dammit, but it’s the best lead we have.” He moved away and shuffled some folders on the table, their previous conversation shuffled away along with them. “Probably has an accomplice. I don’t know, Hannah, but this feels right. Feels like we’re finally putting the pieces together.”
It made sense, in a way. Roglitz had been in love with Ellie, and the way he saw it, she’d betrayed him by helping the police put him away. Hannah’s mind raced, trying to finish connecting the pieces of the puzzle.
Ellie.
Would Hannah ever be able to forgive her late friend for manipulating her so extensively? In many ways, Ellie’s betrayal felt worse than Eric’s. She’d loved the older woman like the grandmother she’d never had, only to discover now the woman had been a stranger to her. A jewel thief. A con artist. A master manipulator. Three things she was finding hard to forgive.
And Hannah was still paying a price for caring for the woman.
“That man. Roglitz.” She sank onto the sofa, because her knees were suddenly jelly. “Do you think he’ll try to rob the bank to get the diamond?”
“I think that’s their plan.” His eyes darkened and his shoulders tensed. “I think they want to use you to get inside the vault.”
A chill crept up Hannah’s arms, so she rubbed some warmth back into them. This man who was terrorizing her was an experienced killer and international jewel thief. He would have no qualms about killing her when he’d gotten what he wanted.
It was too much. All of this was too much.
“Hannah, you’re safe. I’m not letting anything happen to you.”
She nodded, but how could he make such a promise? Life was too unpredictable. People were too unpredictable.
“Zach, if something does happen, I want you to promise me something.”
“Dammit, Hannah.”
“Make sure Abbott and Costello find a good home. Together. I don’t want them separated.”
He swore again, harsher, and sat beside her. Twining the fingers of his right hand with hers, he squeezed. “Nothing. Is. Going. To. Happen. To. You.” He bit out each word on a whisper. His other hand gripped the back of her neck and pulled her closer, until their foreheads touched. “I promise.”
He’d said he didn’t deserve her. Why did he think that? He made her feel safe. He made her feel calm. She should ask him what he meant, but right now, she didn’t want to hear it. Maybe she never did. She didn’t want to find out her ridiculously bad judge of character included him, too.
Hannah wasn’t above seizing an opportunity when she saw one. Her free fingers gathered his shirt tight and teased the bare skin it exposed above his belt. He wa
s so warm and alive. His skin was so taut. So masculine. And he’d said he was falling in love with her.
“Hannah,” he groaned and tried to pull away.
Her lips sought his and found their target with little effort. He kissed her back softly at first, then with a hunger that stole her breath. He slid his arms around her, crushing her to his chest as his tongue teased her lips apart and demanded entry.
Bloody hell, he was a good kisser.
She melted against him and offered no resistance when he scooped her up and carried her into the bedroom, teasing delicious kisses across her face as he walked. He hesitated before lowering her to her feet.
“Are you sure this is what you want?”
“This is definitely what I want. This is what I need, Zach. Right now. Please.” She kissed the worried line at the edge of his mouth as her hands tugged at his belt. “We can talk later, or not. I don’t care.”
At that reminder, he hesitated, so she grabbed his face and hauled him down to her. “Zach, please.”
He released her so that she slid down his body, but she never took her fingers off his belt. With a tug, she tossed it and traced the line of his zipper with her fingertips. His length was hard and bulging against the denim of his jeans. Poor baby. She’d have to see what she could do to help relieve him of that pressure.
Taking a deep breath, he grabbed the hem of her shirt and jerked it over her head, forcing her hands away from him. With a growl, he kissed her again, working quickly to free her of the rest of her clothes as he moved her backward until her legs met the bed. Naked, she tumbled against the mattress, laughing softly as she watched him toss his shirt aside and tug off his shoes and socks.
Oh my, but he was cut. She couldn’t wait to trace the contours of his muscled chest with her fingers. He dropped onto the bed, settling himself between her legs. His hands curled around the back of her thighs, lifting them around his jeans-clad legs. “You’re so hot,” he whispered in her ear, nipping her lobe gently.
She trembled beneath him and slid her arms around his neck.
“You have too many clothes on.” She struggled to catch her breath. Sweet heavens, she was practically panting with anticipation.
“Patience.” He murmured the word against her mouth as he ground his hips against her, wringing a moan from deep within her. She squirmed beneath him as he licked a trail down her neck to her breast, nipping her nipple and then lapping it with his tongue over and over again.
Her hands slid between them, desperate for more, wanting him inside her. Now. Fast and hard. They could do slow and sweet later. She didn’t care. She tugged the button free, released his zipper and slid a hand inside, gasping when she felt his hot erection through his briefs. Oh, yes, he was a big boy, wasn’t he? She licked her lips at that revelation as her fingers explored the shape of him.
“Hannah.” He groaned before claiming her mouth again, desperate, hungry. He moved away long enough to rid himself of his clothes, and Hannah had a moment of clarity when he ripped open a packet with his teeth and crawled between her legs again, lifting one over his shoulder and trailing kisses along her inner thigh as he inched closer to where she wanted him to be. She was so wild for him, she’d forgotten about protection. She moaned and fell back, lifting her hips in desperation for more.
They both groaned when he entered her body, taking his time as he stroked her slowly, pulling all the way out before sliding in again, oh, so slowly.
“So tight.” His eyes were shut as he maintained a steady pace.
Hannah whimpered, arching her back, trying to urge him to move faster, harder. His hands tightened their grip around her thighs, lifting her leg over his hip so he could thrust deeper. He kissed her, sliding his tongue between her lips and making her moan. His pace quickened, and her heart hammered as she teetered on the edge of orgasm. He slipped a hand between them, teasing her clit as he stroked into her, and she came loudly, delighting as her release tipped him over the edge too, loving the way he moaned into her neck as he bucked against her.
He rolled them onto their sides, keeping himself inside her, lifting her leg over his hip and kissing her so sweetly she felt tears of joy threaten to spill free.
“I feel good inside you.” He nuzzled her neck. “I don’t want to leave.”
“Then don’t.”
“Mmmm.” He shifted, and she could feel him growing hard again. “You okay?”
Smiling, she squeezed him with her muscles and felt him twitch inside her. “Oh yeah. I’ll be even better when we do that again.”
He groaned. “Woman, you’re insatiable. Give me a few minutes. Damn, you’re so hot.”
“Hot as in temperature, or hot as in—?” She squeezed him again, felt him harden, and loved it when he groaned and ground against her.
“Every way imaginable.” He licked the shell of her ear as he pressed her back against the mattress. “You’re incredible.”
Oh my, she was panting again and he wasn’t even moving yet. She wound her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Licking his bottom lip, she murmured, “By the way, I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you.” Tangling her fingers in his hair, she pulled his mouth back to hers.
They could talk later.
Chapter Sixteen
Um, man. Hello?
A loud whiney sound pierced Zach’s contented dream-like state, and he slapped a hand toward the nightstand to mute the annoying alarm. Just a few more minutes. He could sleep for just a few more.
The whining grew louder.
Man, I have to peeeee. Please take me to pee.
More whining.
Zach sat straight up and felt the weight of another body shift away from him. A feminine grumble was the only sound Hannah made as she burrowed deeper into her pillow. She was barely covered by a sheet, and her naked back and thigh reminded him that he, too, wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing.
He’d done it. He’d slept with her.
Zach ran a hand over his face, blinking the sleep from his eyes. Glancing down, he saw Costello looking up with an eager gaze as the dog whined and pawed at the side of the bed. As soon as Zach made eye contact with him, the mutt’s tail started slamming a beat against the hardwood floor.
Pleeaaase!
“Alright, buddy, hold on.” Zach slid his legs over the side of the bed and looked around for his jeans. The dog was sitting on them and bounced away as soon as Zach stood.
We’re going to peeeeee! And then can we eat? Can we eat after we pee, man? Can we? Ohhhh, we were supposed to eat an hour ago. I’m sooooo hungry. And I have to peeeeee. This is a nightmare!
Zach snickered as he put his pants on and followed the excited dog to the back door. Slipping the leash on the mutt, he padded outside and saw that the sun was still bright in the sky. How long had they been asleep? A few hours?
Okay, let’s eat. Costello turned and bounded back toward the house a minute or two later, practically dragging Zach behind him.
Zach was pretty sure he knew the animals’ feeding schedule by now, so he dug around the boxes until he found their late lunch and poured them into bowls without disturbing Hannah. Abbott sprang out of somewhere unknown and darted toward the foul-smelling canned food Zach dished out. Geez, it reeked.
Mmmmm, mmmm, you’re not so bad, the cat thought as he gobbled the treat. I could learn to like this guy. This. Is. So. Good.
When he returned to the bedroom, Hannah was sprawled out on her stomach on the bed. She looked sexy as hell tangled up in the sheets, with her dark long hair tousled across the pillow.
He loved this woman. How had that happened? What the hell was he gonna do about it?
He stretched out beside her and reached over to push her hair away from her eyes. Murmuring, she nuzzled into his hand. Her eyes blinked open, and her sigh warmed his fingers.
“Hi,” she said sleepily.
“Hi.” He couldn’t keep the grin off his face. “Have a nice nap?”
“Mmmm-hmmm.” Her fingers slid
out from beneath the pillow and explored the muscles above his jeans. “Why are you dressed?”
“Your dog had to pee.”
Her eyes widened and she sat up, clutching the sheet to her chest. “Oh no, what time is it? I should have already fed the boys.”
He stilled her movement. “Relax. I took care of it.”
“You did?” She sank back against the pillow. “Thanks.” Her eyes lit up with humor as she stared at him. “Sir, are you smirking at me?”
“Damn straight.” He propped his head on his hand and looked at her. “I’m in bed with a hot woman, and she’s naked. I’m a guy. Of course I’m smirking.”
She tucked the hair behind her ear. “What am I gonna do with you?”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “Taking suggestions?”
She giggled, and he loved that sound. He leaned over and kissed her.
Her lips clung to his as her fingers speared into his hair, and a certain part of his body stirred. He pulled away.
“I’m breaking all my rules with you.”
“And that’s a problem, why?” She nipped at his bottom lip, and he groaned, sliding further away from her.
“I’m supposed to be protecting you.”
She relaxed against the pillow, devouring him with her eyes. “You can protect my body anytime you want, Mr. Collins.”
She was killing him here. Shaking his head, he grabbed his shirt off the floor and tugged it on. “I need to check in and see if anyone has made any headway on your case. No more distractions.” He watched the disappointment flitter across her face. “For a while, anyway.”
She pretended to pout. “Will you at least move into the bedroom with me?”
She was still flirting, but he heard the vulnerability in her voice too. “I insist on it, Miss Dawson. For your protection, of course.”
Her smile could have lit up the room. “Of course.”
“Get dressed and stop distracting me, woman. I wanna get this case solved.”
“Bossy,” she grumbled, but she was smiling as she slid out of bed and picked up her clothes.
On the Scent Page 18