The Ultimate Seduction

by Janelle Denison

Slowly, he bent down and picked up her purse, then slipped it back onto her shoulder, his touch lingering longer than was appropriate. "Possibly, in a past life," he said, staring at her intently. His fingers caressed the side of her neck before falling away.

  A shiver raced down her spine like a shock wave. His touch made her skin crawl and his words were cryptic, as if holding a deeper meaning she didn't understand. A well of frustration took up residence in her, along with a knot of panic.

  The door to the women's rest room opened and Melodie stepped out, coming to a quick stop when she encountered the two of them in her way. "Natalie, is everything okay?"

  Thankful for the interruption and the presence and security of another person, Natalie could only glance Melodie's way. Her throat felt as though it had closed up, and speech suddenly seemed impossible.

  Melodie wore a fierce frown on her face, and concern burned bright in her eyes. "Is there a problem here?" Her question was directed at the man and demanded an answer.

  "Not at all," he replied smoothly. "The lady and I just had a run-in. No harm done from what I can see."

  No harm physically, Natalie agreed, but internally she was still shaking from the encounter and so thrown off balance she wondered if she'd recover.

  With a pleasant nod to her, he moved around Melodie and strode down the hallway and back into the dining area of the restaurant. Natalie felt so lightheaded and weak she feared her legs would give out on her.

  Melodie placed a comforting hand on her arm. "Good Lord, Natalie, you're as pale as a ghost and you're trembling. Do you know him?"

  Possibly, in a past life. She still couldn't make sense of his comment, so she didn't bother sharing his remark. "I don't know."

  Melodie eyed her critically. "You know what? I think you've had enough excitement for the day. Let's get out of here. I'm taking you back to Cole's and you can rest there until Noah comes to pick you up."

  Natalie followed Melodie out of the restaurant, too grateful for her insight to argue.

  Chapter Seven

  Noah's day in Reno had been a long one, but very productive, and for that he couldn't complain, despite the disturbing details of Natalie's past he'd uncovered. After his flight had touched down in Oakland, he'd decided to swing by the office and update Cole on the information he'd discovered, and get his brother's input on Natalie's predicament.

  Sitting in one of the chairs directly in front of Cole's desk, Noah told him what he'd learned from Natalie's ex-landlady, an older woman named Vivian who'd seemed genuinely fond of Natalie and concerned about her welfare. Once he'd shown proof of his identity as a private investigator and explained that Natalie's life was possibly in jeopardy, the woman had offered him a wealth of valuable information that had been incredibly helpful.

  Now Noah passed on the details of their meeting to Cole. "While Natalie was attending college at the University of Nevada, Reno, she started dating a coed by the name of Chad Freeman," he said, recanting what the older woman had shared with him, while at the same time trying not to let the rage he'd experienced during the conversation with Vivian resurface again. "According to what the woman witnessed, the relationship started out well enough, but gradually she saw a change in Chad, who became more domineering and possessive of Natalie."

  Cole rubbed a hand along his jaw as he considered…that information for a moment. "Did the landlady see any signs of abuse?"

  Noah shook his head, though his stomach constricted at just how badly she'd been mistreated. "No, not physically. Vivian felt as though the relationship was more mentally abusive. There were times when she heard Chad's raised voice coming from Natalie's apartment, criticizing her, putting her down."

  Despite Noah's best efforts, a spark of anger ignited deep inside of him. "Apparently, things turned ugly when Natalie took on a job as a showgirl at a casino to make some extra money. Chad couldn't handle it. They had an explosive argument in the hallway of the complex. He called her a whore for using her body to make money, and she finally broke off the relationship."

  "Good for her," Cole said, his tone laced with disgust.

  Noah's lips flattened into a grim line. "Unfortunately, Chad didn't appreciate being dumped and he stalked and threatened her for a few months, and finally attacked her one night after work."

  "Holy shit." Cole sat up straighter in his seat. "Why didn't she contact the police to slap Chad with a restraining order?"

  "I'm betting she was afraid of infuriating Chad even more, and she feared what he'd do in retribution for her involving the police." Noah also suspected it was a classic case of self-preservation that had prompted her to leave Reno. "I suppose it was easier for her to pack up and start over somewhere new than to stay and risk Chad attacking her again-which brings her here to Oakland."

  Opening the case file he'd made for Natalie, Noah shuffled through a few pages of notes and came to a photo of a blond-haired man with his arm slung over Natalie's shoulder, his hold on her too tight and his smile too arrogant. A protective instinct flared hot and bright in Noah's veins. He hated that the creep had ever tainted Natalie with his touch.

  Shaking off the animosity seeping into his blood, he passed the picture across the desk for Cole to take a look at. "Vivian gave me this picture that was sent to her a few years ago as their Christmas card. Unfortunately I didn't get a good-enough look at the guy in the baseball cap who was following us last weekend to identify that man as the one in the picture. But at least this gives us an idea of who we might be looking for."

  Cole glanced from the photo to Noah. "You think it's Chad Freeman who's after her again?"

  "It's the only thing that makes sense after everything I learned today." He rubbed a hand along the taut muscles in his neck and shoulder. "I also went to Freeman's previous place of employment and found out from the manager that he quit and moved about three weeks ago."

  Cole's dark brows rose in interest as he handed back the photo. "Do I dare ask to where?"

  Noah tucked the picture into the file for safekeeping. "Not surprisingly he talked about moving to San Francisco, though the manager wasn't sure if that's where he ended up. But I'm fairly positive that's exactly where Freeman is."

  Cole released a long, heavy breath. "So am I."

  The certainty in his brother's tone caused Noah to frown. "Do you know something I don't?"

  "Yeah, I do," he replied in his normal, straightforward manner. "Melodie called me after she and Natalie got home from shopping today. It seems there was a guy at the restaurant where they had lunch who was watching Natalie from another table, and he eventually cornered her alone where the rest rooms were."

  The fiery heat of rage roiled through Noah's blood, and it took a good deal of effort for him to keep it under control. "Did he hurt her?"

  "No. She was just shaken up by the run-in. As soon as Mel arrived on the scene, the guy backed off, but Mel was pretty sure it wasn't a chance meeting. She said he was just too cocky and sure of himself with Natalie."

  Noah clenched and unclenched his fists, feeling helpless that he hadn't been there to keep Natalie safe and protected. "Then Mel got a good-enough look at the guy to tell me if he was Chad?"

  "Probably so," Cole said confidently. "According to her description, he had blond hair and hazel eyes, so I'm sure she'll be able to ID him with that photo."

  "Then I need to talk to her," The sooner the better. He scooped up his folder and stood, anxious to be on his way and to see for himself that Natalie was okay and unharmed.

  "Mel will tell you everything she knows." Cole stood, too, and walked Noah to the reception area of the offices. "What are you going to do from here?"

  He glanced back at his brother, so very grateful that he had Cole's support. "I'm going to keep Natalie in my sight at all times and keep a lookout for Chad Freeman, because the bastard's likely closer than we all think."

  And for all he knew, the deranged stalker knew exactly where Natalie was right now, and that she was staying with him. The thoug
ht twisted his stomach up in knots of fury and frustration.

  "Are you going to show Natalie the picture of her and Chad?" Cole asked.

  He'd considered that idea on the flight back to Oakland, but realized it didn't serve any real purpose to present her with something that might work her into a panic. Obviously, seeing Chad in person hadn't jogged her memory, so it was unlikely the photo would, either.

  "No. She needs to remember her past on her own, and I'm not prepared or equipped to answer the questions that would undoubtedly crop up if I show her a photo of the man who confronted her today."

  Cole nodded in silent agreement. "Watch yourself, Noah, and Natalie, too."

  "I plan to."

  "Did you get everything done today that you needed to?"

  "Pretty much." Noah glanced over at Natalie, who was sitting in the passenger seat of his car as he drove them both back to his place. "Though I heard you had a rough afternoon."

  Her head rolled against the back of her seat to look at him, a wry smile pulling up the corners of her mouth. "You've been talking to Melodie, I see."

  "Guilty as charged."

  When he'd arrived at Cole's to pick up Natalie, she'd been resting in the upstairs guest bedroom, which had given him a few moments alone with Melodie to find out what, exactly, had happened during their lunch. She'd identified the man in the photo as the guy who'd confronted Natalie, which had put up Noah's guard even more where his pretend fiancee was concerned.

  He now said to Natalie, "She was worried about you after that incident with the guy who was eyeing you."

  Her shoulders lifted in a shrug as if the incident were inconsequential, but she didn't completely pull off the show of bravado. "It was all very strange, really-"

  Her voice trailed off on a note of confusion, but that didn't stop him from prompting her for more details. "Strange in what way?"

  "The way he watched me while I was eating lunch, for one thing," she said, and visibly shuddered at the unpleasant memory. "His stare was just so- unnerving. And when I ran into him in the hallway leading to the rest rooms, the way he touched me gave me the creeps."

  Every muscle in Noah's body grew tense, and his grip tightened around the steering wheel. "He touched you?"

  "I dropped my purse and he picked it up and put the strap back on my shoulder," she explained. "His fingers kind of lingered against my neck."

  He exhaled a slow stream of breath to keep calm. No doubt about it, Noah was going to kill the bastard when he finally found him.

  "But what bothered me the most is that he acted as though he knew me, or like I should know him."

  As casually as he could manage, he asked, "Did he look at all familiar to you?"

  "I honestly don't know. I felt like I instinctively knew him somehow, but I definitely didn't feel comfortable around him. It was a weird contradiction I haven't been able to resolve in my mind." She sighed, the sound rife with uncertainties. "Then again, I think I've developed a case of paranoia along with this temporary amnesia."

  He had proof that her apprehension was based in reality, so there was no way he was going to downplay the situation. Reaching across the console, he placed his hand over hers, giving it a comforting squeeze. "Do me a favor. If you ever see this guy again, let me know immediately."

  She smiled at him. "You'll be the first to know."

  Satisfied with that reassurance, Noah exited the freeway on the off-ramp and, after making certain they hadn't been followed, he headed toward home. They arrived minutes later, and he flicked on the house lights as they walked into the entryway.

  "Boy, am I ever tense." Natalie raised her hands above her head and stretched her body like a lithe cat. "I think I'm going to go upstairs and take a bath before going to bed."

  He clearly heard the invitation in her tone. "Go ahead. I need to check messages and give Bobby a call to discuss a case with him." Her lip puffed out in an adorable pout, and he knew the reason was because he wasn't following her upstairs. "I won't be long."

  Closing the distance between them, she entwined her arms around his neck and aligned her curves to him in all the right, responsive places. "Promise?" she asked huskily, her gaze locked with his in a way he couldn't escape.

  Not that he wanted to. She was a temptress, one he could no longer refuse. He knew what would happen once he climbed the stairs to his bedroom tonight, and he couldn't fight his feelings for her, or their mutual desire. The need to be an intrinsic part of her, emotionally and physically, was too strong to deny.

  Especially after everything he'd learned today about her and her past.

  "Yeah, I promise," he said, and lowered his head, capturing her mouth in a long, hot, deep kiss to back up his vow.

  Once it was over, she gave him a triumphant smile and sashayed her way up the stairs. Halfway there, she glanced back down at him and caught him mesmerized by the slow, sexy sway of her hips.

  She blew him a sweet kiss that found its way directly into his heart. "I'll be waiting for you."

  It took monumental effort for him not to bound up the stairs and take her right then and there. Reminding himself that anticipation made for the best kind of sex, he headed to his office and settled behind his desk with Natalie's case file. He gave his notes a cursory glance once again because he wanted to memorize every single fact he'd unearthed of Natalie's past. The details would be useful in his investigation, and with Natalie, as well, when she finally regained her memory.

  What threw him the most were the three very different, distinct personalities he'd discovered of Natalie over the past few days. He'd originally met a reserved woman at Murphy's, one who worked and studied hard, and didn't allow anyone to get too close. Now he understood why.

  Today, he learned about the vulnerable woman caught up in a mentally abusive relationship that had undoubtedly cut down her self-esteem and made her more wary with men. A woman who'd chosen a solitary lifestyle over the warmth and passion that another intimate relationship could have provided. All because she feared her past would eventually catch up to her.

  And now, at this very moment, waiting for him upstairs was a woman with incredible internal strength who was coping with the loss of her memory and making the best of an uncertain situation. Bypassing all the guarded caution she'd shown him before the accident, she now wore her emotions on her sleeve, openly trusting and believing in him. She didn't hold back her desire for him, either. She'd turned into a seductress, a blossoming woman giving into her sensuality and focusing it all on him.

  Which was the real Natalie? The answer came easier than he expected. She was a fascinating combination of all three, yet there was still one facet of her personality left to reveal-the woman she would become when her memory returned and her life was no longer in danger. What kind of woman would she be when she finally realized that being with him was a lie, despite his honorable intentions to keep her safe from harm?

  Closing her case file, he scrubbed a hand along his jaw, knowing that eventually the truth would surface. And when it finally did, he hoped she'd forgive him for not only fabricating their relationship, but for trampling across boundaries of appropriate behavior and falling headlong into deep personal waters.

  Knowing there was nothing he could do about his growing feelings for Natalie but to accept them for the moment, he focused on business. It took him nearly an hour to return a few calls clients had left on his answering machine, and to talk to Bobby. He brought his "friend" up to date on Chad Freeman, and made a personal request to see if Bobby could find out any additional info on the man stalking Natalie. Specifically, a criminal record.

  When he finally made his way upstairs and into his bedroom, he was stunned by the sexy vision that greeted him. He'd known from their conversation down in the foyer that she wanted to make love, and tonight he wasn't going to play hard to get or try to protect her virtue.

  The damage had been done-she was his, and there was something to be said for the kind of intimate bond that developed between
a man and woman during sex. He was ruthless enough to use carnal pleasures to touch her emotions, to steal her heart and make sure she realized how much he cared for her before the truth interfered with this idyllic relationship of theirs.

  The woman lying on the bed, dressed in a silky nightgown that draped along her voluptuous curves and with a come-hither look in her eyes, had every intention of seducing him. Her hair spilled around her shoulders, beckoning him to sink his fingers into the textured softness, and a sexy, irresistible smile lifted the corners of her mouth. His groin tightened at the thought of making love to this gorgeous, sensual creature, to hear his name on her lips when she came-and he knew he'd sell his soul to be deep inside her body again.

  Unstrapping the gun holster he was still wearing, he set his revolver and leather holder on his dresser, his gaze never leaving her stretched-out form on the bed. "You look incredible," he said huskily.

  She looked immensely pleased with his compliment. "I did some shopping of my own today, and I thought of you when I tried this on. I couldn't resist."

  Neither could he. Her nipples jutted against the silky material, the tips as diamond hard as the erection straining the fly of his jeans. "I like it, but you do know you won't be wearing it for long, don't you? I want skin-on-skin contact."

  "You'll get that," she said, and caressed a hand over her silk-clad hip to her bare thigh, seemingly enjoying the sensation she created-while driving him crazy with curiosity about what she wore beneath the skimpy negligee. "First, though, we play."

  He lifted a brow, falling hard for this spirited, shameless side to Natalie. He'd play with her any way she wanted. "What did you have in mind?"

  "Something-erotic," she whispered naughtily as her lashes fell half mast over her slumberous gaze. "See that chair next to you?"

  He finally broke eye contact with her and found the armless chair he usually kept in the far corner to toss his clothes over. Now it sat prominently in the middle of the room. "Yes, I see it."

  She smiled. "I want you to take off your shoes and shirt and sit down on it."