His hands slid down her shoulders to her wrists, and he attempted to spin her to face him, the movement making both of them thump noisily against the walls of the small space. For a second, it was almost comical. A small laugh even escaped from Nadine’s mouth. But it quickly dissolved into something that bordered on a sob.
“Nadine. Look at me.” The order was gentle, and she complied, her gaze seeking his in the dark.
“Tell me how it’s not all bad,” she said. “Tell me how any of that was okay.”
“Because we know their plan. Or at least part of it. They may have set that fire to your mom’s place to cover something up—maybe to destroy the USB stick—but they aren’t just going to let that be an accident. Which means that whatever they’re doing, it’s important enough that they’ll risk letting the police at you.”
“But they’re framing me.”
“Do you think it’ll hold up? You were with me this morning.”
“Not while the house was being lit on fire.”
“Hey. You did not light the house on fire.”
“I know that. And you know that. But are the police going to believe that I saw some masked man do it?”
“They already know a masked man was in the care facility.”
Nadine’s shoulders sagged, and she nodded. “That’s true.”
He bent to kiss her forehead. “It’s not a hell of a lot of consolation, but knowing what Garibaldi’s men are up to does give us an advantage.”
“It doesn’t make me any less mad.”
“I’m aware.” He smoothed back her hair and kissed her again, this time lightly on the lips.
A tiny bit of the anger slipped away, but she wasn’t really ready to let it go. “I hate the thought of anyone believing—even for a second—that I would do something like that. I only just found out that this little piece of my mom still existed. I wouldn’t destroy it.”
He kissed her again. “I’m aware of that, too.”
“Are you trying to distract me from being mad?”
“Maybe.”
“I think you are.”
“Is it working?”
“A bit,” she admitted.
His mouth found hers a third time, and Nadine couldn’t help but push to her tiptoes to sink into it. Anderson’s touch was warm. Already familiar. Like coming home. He parted her lips with his tongue and took a quick, shiver-inducing taste before he pulled away.
“Still only a bit?” he teased.
Nadine smiled and pressed her hands to his hips. “You might have to try a little harder.”
“You think so?” He pulled her hands up to his chest, dragged them over his shoulders, then backed her to the door. “How’s this?”
“Well, it’s kind of hard to get truly comfortable in a closet.”
“I kind of like it.”
“Really?”
“Mmm. Makes it easy to keep you nice and close.”
“You think I’m going to run away the second you open that door?”
“I’m hoping not.”
“I won’t.”
“Is that a promise?”
“Yes.”
“Then I guess I’ll take the chance.”
In spite of his words, Nadine couldn’t help but notice that he didn’t let her go as he pushed the closet open. If anything, he held her tighter, backing her slowly into the room. When the back of her knees hit the bed, she couldn’t stifle a gasp.
Anderson kissed her again. Slowly. Thoroughly. Exploring each part of her mouth like he was claiming it as his own. And everywhere that he made contact, a little spark of heat came to life. It only took a heartbeat for the sparks to bloom into full-on fireworks. The explosions of warmth radiated from the inside out, and even though the space between them was only as wide as the clothes they wore, even that seemed like too much.
Nadine pulled back just enough to slide her hands to the hem of Anderson’s T-shirt. Her fingertips brushed the smooth, hard ridges of his abs, and he groaned. It only spurred her on. She dragged the shirt up over his head, then tossed it aside. Having him topless left her a little torn. On the one hand, she wanted to stare—to admire the well-formed muscles along his chest and stomach, to run her hands over each sculpted inch. But on the other hand, she wanted to pull him closer again. To feel those muscles against her. Her hesitation cost her the chance to make the choice.
Anderson stepped back and spoke in a raw voice. “Nadine.”
“Sorry,” she said. “I know you said you wanted to wait.”
He shook his head. “That’s not it.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. In fact, being trapped in that closet while Garibaldi’s men were just inches away made me want to seize this moment—every moment—with you.”
“So we’re stopping because...?”
“Because being stuck like that also reminded me how things can change in an instant.”
“Okay.” She heard the uncertainty in her own reply, and Anderson’s smile made her sure he’d heard it, too.
“A week ago, you were a pain in my butt.”
“Thanks.”
He touched her cheek. “A beautiful pain. But a pain. I don’t think you liked me very much.”
She leaned into the caress. “Only because you were a pain in my butt. No one wants to feel like they’re under lock and key.”
“No one wants to be a lock and key, either.” He kissed her nose, somehow making the gesture romantic and sweet and even a little sexy.
“And now you’re not.”
“And now I’m not,” he agreed. “Which illustrates my point even further.”
“Which is that things can change fast.”
“Exactly.”
“That worries you?”
“It scares me a bit, Nadine.” He sighed. “Or maybe more than a bit.”
“You think I’m going to go back to being a pain in your butt?” she teased.
“I don’t think that could ever happen. Just the opposite, actually.”
“Hmm.”
“What?”
“Just trying to figure out...what’s the opposite of a pain in the butt?”
He didn’t laugh. He didn’t smile. He just met her eyes, his sea blue gaze as serious as anything Nadine had ever seen. And for a second, she actually worried that she’d said something wrong. Then he spoke, though, and she realized that instead of being wrong...everything was right.
“The opposite of pain in the butt,” said Anderson, “is falling head over heels in love.”
She stared back at him for a second, emotion overriding rational thought. Her heart wanted to explode. Dizzy, heady happiness threatened to overwhelm her.
“It’s crazy, I know,” Anderson added. “But that’s the way this is headed for me, and if we take this further—if we get into that bed together—it’s going to change again. Though hopefully not in quite as short of a time frame as an instant.”
Nadine laughed at his impish grin. “That’s where you’re going to take this?”
“Can’t help it. I’m a nice man. But I’m still a man.” His expression turned serious again, and he reached up to run his thumb over her bottom lip. “I’m not after a one-night stand.”
“Neither am I,” she replied breathlessly.
“Or a one-week fling.”
“No.”
“And this...” He gestured behind her toward the bed. “It could have lifetime consequences.”
She flushed as she realized what he might be referring to. “I’m on the pill.”
“The—oh.” He chuckled. “Yeah, that, too. But right now I was more thinking about us. As in making sure there is an us.”
“Are you asking me to be your girlfriend, Anderson?”
“I guess I am.”
“Well, that’s probably the easiest thing I’ve been presented with since the second we met.”
“So that’s a yes?”
“It’s much more than a yes.”
His eyes sparkled with amusement. “What’s more than a yes?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe a hell yes? Or...”
“Or what?”
“Maybe this.”
She lifted an eyebrow. She reached down to take ahold of her shirt. Then she tugged it off and threw it on top of his. His eyes raked over her, his attention intent and hungry. They rested on the scars that dusted the side of her body—far lighter than the ones on her face but still very much on display—and for a solitary breath Nadine felt self-conscious. But the second his gaze came back up to her face, the feeling disappeared. Burned to a crisp by the blistering heat she saw there.
“More than yes...” he said softly. “I think I like it.”
“You think you do?” She reached out to the clasp of his belt, still holding his gaze as she pulled it free. “I was hoping for more than think.”
“Greedy, aren’t you? Always with the more.”
“It’s give-and-take.”
Smiling, she slid the belt out completely, then moved on to the button of his jeans. When she popped it open, the zipper came down, too, and Anderson groaned.
“Speaking of giving...” Nadine said teasingly. “Come here.”
“Come where?”
“Down. So I can give you a kiss.”
“Give me one? Or take one from me?”
“Let’s call it mutually beneficial. Now. Come here. Please.”
Obediently, he stepped forward and tipped his head down. His lips touched hers lightly, letting her take control. She kissed him firmly. She tasted him sweetly. But when she dragged his lower lip between her teeth and gave it a teasing tug, his demeanor changed. Any temporary illusion of passivity slipped far, far away.
Anderson’s hands came to her shoulders. They slid back and forth, then made their way to her lower back, then slipped down her waist and finally came to rest on her hips. He shot her a wicked little smile before he pulled her forward forcefully enough to make her gasp. And without warning, he lifted her from the floor and hooked her knees over his hips. But she didn’t have time to adjust to the new position before he shifted again. This time to propel them both to the bed.
For a second after they hit the feather duvet, he hung suspended over her, his strong arms holding him up as he pinned her to the spot with his desire-filled eyes. “Tell me you’re hoping to find forever, Nadine.”
She didn’t hesitate. “Actually...what I’m really hoping is that I might’ve found it already.”
And, after that, words were entirely unnecessary. They would’ve just taken up space that was otherwise occupied by the sound of clothes hitting the floor, sheets sliding free and skin meeting skin.
* * *
Anderson rolled over, reaching automatically for Nadine. It surprised him to find her side of the bed empty. He was sure she’d been curled against him just a few moments earlier, her warm skin pressed to his. As he pushed up to his elbow, though, and spotted the bedside clock, he realized that several hours had passed since he’d whispered his last sweet nothing into her ear, then closed his eyes, more sated than he remembered ever being in all of his thirty years.
“Nadine?” he called, a hint of sleep weighing down his voice.
When she didn’t appear right away, worry tugged at him. Sliding off the bed, he came up to a sitting position and tried again.
“Nadine?”
“Hey, sleepyhead.”
Her voice brought relief, and he tipped his head to find her standing in the bedroom doorway, a mug of something hot and steamy gripped in her hands.
“Coffee?” she offered.
“Please.”
She stepped in and held out the ceramic cup. Anderson took it, but now that she was close enough that he could smell her skin, he wanted to set it aside again. To drag her back into the bed and start round two.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” she said, dancing out of reach.
He took a sip of the coffee and played dumb. “What?”
“I saw that look in your eyes a few hours ago. I’m well aware of what it means.”
“You can read me already, huh? I’m obviously far too simple.”
“Simple.” She rolled her eyes. “Yes, that’s the word I’d use to describe this whole situation. But speaking of the situation, Harley said—”
“You talked to Harley?”
“He called your cell phone about ten times. I didn’t want to wake you if I didn’t have to, but I also figured I shouldn’t let him assume the worst. Was it wrong to answer?”
Anderson felt a sloppy grin creep up. “No.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Why are you making that face?”
“I just like the idea of you talking to my friends. Of being in every part of my life.”
“You’re insane.”
“Infatuated. On my way to being in love.”
“Insane.”
He set down his coffee, grabbed his boxers from the floor and slid them on, still smiling. “What did Harley say?”
Nadine took the mug from the nightstand and helped herself to a sip. “He muttered a lot about distraction, confirmed that you weren’t dead, then asked me a little more about the pictures.”
“Asked you? You didn’t send them over?”
She pressed her lips together and shook her head.
Worry sliced through him. “Why didn’t you send them?”
“I couldn’t. They took the computer.”
“And you didn’t think that was a good reason to wake me up?”
“I thought about it. But there’s nothing on the laptop. So then I thought about why they might take it. And I decided that it was a trap.”
Anderson relaxed, just marginally. “A trap.”
She nodded. “If we call in the theft, we’ll probably have to talk to the police. Which works in their favor. It’ll also let them know exactly where we are. And Harley concurred.”
“Oh, he did, did he?”
“Yes.”
“I take back what I said about liking it when you talk to my friends.”
“Ha-ha.”
“What else did he have to say?”
“That we should get him the pictures as soon as we can. He’ll run the dates on them against known crimes. Oh! And he thinks that the room in the photos is an art-storage room. And that after it blew up, Garibaldi rebuilt it, only better. To professional grade standards. Harley only made the connection because of my description. He said it was because I had an artist’s eye. I think it’s just because I’m used to explaining things to eight-year-olds.”
Anderson took the coffee back from her. “Pleased with yourself, aren’t you?”
She smiled. “A little bit.”
“Did you also come up with some genius way for us to get a new computer?”
“Harley did.”
“Of course he did.”
“You’re not going to like it.”
“Tell me anyway.”
“He thinks the simplest thing to do is to go to my apartment.”
“Did you tell him that was out of the question?”
“No,” she said. “But he gave me some instructions.”
Anderson set aside the coffee again and pinched the bridge of his nose. “What were they?”
“Hang on. I wrote them down.”
She slipped out of the room again, and Anderson sank back onto the bed and let himself exhale noisily. Heading to Nadine’s apartment was the last thing he wanted to do. The potential for exposure was too high, the risk too great. That crushing feeling returned to his chest, and he knew it was spurred along by one thing—t
he thought of losing Nadine to Garibaldi and whatever criminal scheme the man had under way.
“Here’s the—” Nadine cut herself off as she stepped into the room again. “What’s wrong?”
Anderson stood and stepped closer. “We can just leave.”
“What?”
“Stuff your things in my bag. Buy a new toothbrush wherever we land.”
“Anderson...running away won’t make you happy.”
“It’ll make me happy to know that you’re far away from Garibaldi.” He ran a finger along her cheekbone.
Her hand came up to close on his. “That’d make me happy, too. But only if it happens after I figure out what happened with my dad. And you want justice for your dad, too.”
“Yeah, I do.” He sighed. “I’ve just never considered what I might be giving up in exchange for getting it.”
“You’re not giving me up to get that justice, Anderson. You’re getting me as an ally. Two heads. That’s what they say, right?”
“There’s no one I’d rather be working with, honey. Hell. I’d deputize you if I could. Give you a gun and some body armor. But I don’t have the power. And if something happened to you while we were investigating my dad’s death...”
“We’re not investigating your dad’s death. We’re investigating our dads’ deaths. And Garibaldi. Which I was doing before you showed up in Whispering Woods. Which I’d still be doing if you hadn’t shown up at all.”
He met her eyes. “If I hadn’t shown up, that little incident with the car outside the care facility might’ve ended very differently.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “If you’re trying to scare me into running, it’s not going to work. If you hadn’t shown up, the car incident would have ended differently. No might’ve about it.”
He studied her face, trying to find the right thing to say, but he honestly wasn’t sure that there was one. He wanted her close. He wanted her far from danger. He wanted to do what he could to put Garibaldi behind bars. But he wanted a life and a future, too. With Nadine.
“There’s no middle of the road here,” he murmured.
“Isn’t that what you’ve been saying all along? Both feet?”
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