by Unknown
"Well, now that you know everything, can I go home now?"
***
She wanted to go home and he wanted to keep her there as long as possible to feel her closeness again. The case took priority though and Katie McCoy had become a part of that case. There would be no sponge baths… or anything else… in their immediate future. Breaking that sort of protocol could cost him his job and as Cara would staunchly proclaim, his job would always be the most important thing in his life.
There couldn't be anything else, no matter how much he thought he might want it. Kaiden had sacrificed a great deal for his career and he wasn't about to jeopardize that for any reason, including the adorable nurse sitting there less than three feet away looking lost and forlorn.
She wanted to go home and he really didn't have any reason to keep her.
"I have a few more questions. Do you know where Nathan is staying these days?"
"Check his father's mansion. That place is locked down tighter than the White House."
"Do you know where Mandy lives? Do you happen to have her phone number?"
"She lives in one of those new high-rises in Towne Center. Her number is in my cell phone back at my apartment. Unless one of your commando goons grabbed it when they snatched me?"
"We'll ask about your phone. Do you have any emails or other correspondence from Nathan asking you unusual questions or talking about things that seemed a little odd to you?"
"We didn't email much. Nathan hated technology. Can I go home now? Please?"
More likely, he didn't trust it.
Kaiden rose from his chair without a word and fished a handcuff key out of his pocket, using it to unlock the cuffs holding her wrist to the table. Katie rubbed at the red marks where the steel had pressed into her skin. Kaiden took her hand in both of his and inspected the marks, his thumb tracing the angry red lines. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't realize how tightly they were on."
He had longed for the feel of her soft skin again for months. He wanted to stop everything he was supposed to be doing and spend the night exploring more of it. When she pulled her hand away he felt the loss of her touch deep in his gut. The intensity of it shocked him.
"I'll live," she said. "So long as I can go home now."
"I'll drive you. But I have to tell you, don't leave town anytime soon."
"I can take a cab."
Kaiden looked down. "I am not sure a cab is the best idea."
Katie followed his gaze to her sock covered feet. "Yeah, okay. You might be right about that."
He led her from the tiny room, down a dark hall, and out a door that led to a parking lot. Not far from the door stood his black Ford F150 pickup truck, waxed to a high shine and just about glowing under the light of the lamp in the parking lot. Kaiden loved that truck almost as much as he loved his job. Holding the door, he waited while she climbed into the passenger side before striding around the front of the truck and sliding in behind the steering wheel.
"Nice truck," she said as she clicked the seatbelt. "You feds get treated well."
That truck represented the closest thing he had to a relationship since Cara had left. "Prior to meeting up with you I was at a wedding, remember? I get to drive my own car on vacation."
"Right." She fell silent.
"So, where are we headed?" Kaiden asked.
"Atlantic and Thirty-First."
"Nice neighborhood."
Katie shrugged. "I like seeing the ocean first thing in the morning and last thing at night. All those years of living in the mountains, I guess."
Kaiden could understand that. He had agreed to move east for the Homeland Security job because of the ocean. After years in the Coast Guard, the mountains made him feel landlocked while the ocean gave him a sense of freedom. He had even learned to surf since living in Virginia Beach. Nothing in life had ever given him so much satisfaction.
"Do you surf?" he asked.
She turned toward him with a puzzled look. "Um, no."
"You should try it sometime." Or, better yet, he could teach her sometime. Yeah, he liked that idea. The case wouldn't last forever. When it was over, there would be plenty of time to really get to know Katie. Unless she went to prison. Oh man. He really hoped she wasn't involved in this mess.
"I'm not the most graceful thing on two feet. That would probably be a huge mistake."
"It's really not that hard. I'd love to take you sometime." The words slipped out before he could stop them.
"I don't think that is such a good idea," Katie replied.
"Look, I know all of this is kind of weird."
"Weird? It's crazy! Masked men dragged me from my apartment and chained me to a table. Then this guy I once took care of in the hospital shows up and digs into my personal life. Now, without so much as an apology from the guy who kicked my door in, you are driving me home and offering to take me surfing? Yeah, I don't think weird quite covers it, Agent James."
Kaiden couldn't help but laugh. It did sound crazy. In his mind they had more of a relationship than in reality, he supposed. Months of her haunting his dreams must have clouded his judgment. Katie had been in love with another man who now had gotten her into serious hot water. An impromptu surfing date seemed out of place for sure. "Well, when you put it like that, I can see why you think it's a little odd."
Katie didn't answer. They drove the rest of the way to her apartment in silence. Her building looked impressive from the outside. Several floors of condo style apartments with balconies facing the beach were built above a series of high end clothing and décor shops. The building had its own parking garage that Kaiden turned into.
"This is a nice place. I haven't been down in this area much. I had no idea how developed it had become."
"What are you doing?" Katie motioned to the garage as he pulled in.
"Parking."
"No need. I can find my own way."
"I have no doubt of that; however, I would like to assess the damage done to your property by those 'commandos' you keep referring to."
Katie shrugged. "Whatever floats your boat."
As soon as he parked the truck, Katie jumped out and started toward the elevator. Kaiden kept stride while still giving her some space. When the elevator doors opened, he stepped in beside her and stood without speaking, arms crossed over his chest. Katie watched the numbers light up as the elevator climbed but didn't acknowledge Kaiden at all.
They arrived at the seventh floor with a ding of a bell. The doors slid open and Katie walked away still giving him the cold shoulder. Kaiden smiled and followed her down the hall until she stopped in front of one of the doors.
"There's actually a boot print on it." Kaiden laughed.
Katie threw her hands on her hips and glared at him. "This is so not funny. The management company is going to make me pay for this you know."
"Don't worry, I'll get someone over here to fix it on the agency's tab."
"Hmpf…I'd say that's the least you can do," Katie grumbled as she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Kaiden let out a long, low whistle. The entire place was in shambles. Drawers had been dumped, cushions tossed on the floor, and furniture turned over.
"Did our guys do this too?" Kaiden asked.
"No."
"Someone tossed your place."
"Thank you, Mr. Obvious. I don't know how I would have figured that out without your crack investigative skills."
Kaiden walked further in the room as he pulled out his cell phone. "Someone was looking for something."
"Again, thanks for stating the obvious." Katie looked absolutely overwhelmed as she turned and examined her apartment. "I can't imagine what they were looking for."
"I'm calling the police. We need to report this break in."
"No. Don't. It doesn't look like anything is missing."
A crash sounded in the bedroom. Katie looked at Kaiden with fear in her eyes. "Someone is still here."
He held a finger to his lips telling her to
be quiet as he grabbed his gun from the ankle holster he wore under his tuxedo pants. Katie nodded and moved into the kitchen, out of sight of the bedroom.
Kaiden inched his way to the door and stopped to listen. There was definite movement in the room beyond. Taking a deep breath, he kicked the door wide open. A loud thunk sounded from the bedroom.
"Federal agent! Drop your weapon!" he called out but it wasn't necessary. The man was knocked out cold in a pile of satin and silk.
"What the…?" Katie stood behind him peering at the guy on the floor. "That's my lingerie! What was he doing in my underwear drawer?"
Kaiden studied the pinks and purples and blues with curiosity. Katie obviously liked sexy lingerie and he liked that.
"Looking for something."
"Again with the obvious. Is he a panty thief?"
"I don't think so. Panty thieves don't usually carry guns." Kaiden kicked a handgun away from the form on the floor. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed 911.
"This is federal agent Kaiden James. I need local police and an ambulance." He gave Katie's address and then rolled the man over and slapped some cuffs on him in case he woke up before the municipal police arrived.
Katie walked around mumbling and trying to straighten her things.
"You have to leave everything the way it is for the crime scene techs."
She looked at him with a blank expression. "Crime scene techs?"
"I'm sorry, but your place is officially a crime scene right now."
"That's all my underwear!" She grabbed at a few of the silky things. "Not a crime scene!"
"Unfortunately, it is. You have to leave it all here until the scene has been completely processed."
"This is all your fault! You and your stupid agency!" Katie threw her hands in the air, sending the underwear she held flying around the room. A pair of black satin bikini briefs landed on his head.
She stood there, looking at him as Kaiden reached up and removed the undergarments from his head. Placing them on the bureau, he turned her toward the living room.
"Why don't you wait in the living room for the police?"
"I don't feel like it. I want to clean my room."
"Well, you can't. Not right now anyway."
"Hmpf! Well, it's not like I would wear anything he has touched ever again anyway." She turned and stomped from the room. Katie McCoy had a hot temper, something he thought he might enjoy under different circumstances.
Kaiden punched in his boss's number on his cell phone. Hunter picked up on the first ring.
"I'm at the McCoy place. Someone totally tossed it."
Hunter let out a long low whistle. "So she is involved."
"No. I don't think so. I think someone else thinks she is. I caught the guy in her bedroom sifting through her unmentionables. We are just waiting for the locals to get here to haul him away."
"Well, once they get there, you can head back to the wedding if you want. Thanks for handling her."
"Are you serious, Hunter? By the time I get there Logan and Angie will be on their honeymoon already! Besides, I am not done with Ms. McCoy."
"Why? A minute ago you said she's not involved."
"I also said someone else thinks she is. Our guys busted her front door pretty badly. She isn't safe here."
"What's your plan, James?"
"At the very least, the agency owes her a hotel stay for wrecking her front door."
"Fine. Check her in somewhere and then call it a night."
"Why are you in such a rush to get me away from her?"
"One of the guys told me you know each other. Breaches protocol. You are off this one, James."
"What the hell, Hunter?! You said I was the only one who could do it. Left my cousin's wedding and cut my vacation short because you said it was a matter of national security!"
"I didn't say that!"
"You know you did! I'm not letting this case go. Not until I figure out what Nathan Marks is up to. He is the case, not Katie."
"Katie?" Hunter shot back. "We're on a first name basis now?"
"Let it go, boss."
"Just get her squared away in a hotel and we will talk later."
Hunter disconnected before Kaiden could say anything else. Voices sounded from the living room so he exited the bedroom. Katie animatedly described the events of the evening to a detective who appeared barely old enough to drive. Kaiden motioned to a uniformed officer and led him to the suspect.
Chapter Four
Ninety minutes later Kaiden stood feeling awkward in the lingerie department of a twenty-four hour big box store. Katie didn't want to wear any of the underwear that the creeper had touched which was pretty much everything so there he stood, surrounded by panties.
In another place, under other circumstances, silk, satin and lace rubbing up on him would have been a turn on. At one in the morning, in a building that smelled of dust and must, nothing got turned on except his allergy response. He needed an antihistamine and a cup of coffee in the worst way. And maybe a sandwich. Or some fried chicken. His stomach rumbled at the thought of hot, moist fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits. He had missed dinner, after all.
He caught Katie's eye over a display of animal print push up bras. His blood warmed pleasantly as she smiled at him. A hunger of a different sort clenched in his gut.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I know it's late but I can't stomach the thought of anything that man touched on my skin. I want to grab a couple of things to hold me until I can get to the mall."
"Take your time. You might not be able to go home for a few days so grab what you need," Kaiden responded with more conviction than he felt. He nodded at a leopard print push-up in front of him. "That looks nice." It would look real nice on Katie. Forget about his allergy response, everything started to warm up.
"Agent James! I had no idea you had such a wild side to you!"
"I'm not all business all the time you know. And please, call me Kaiden already. I am pretty sure we have gone beyond formal. Not every woman I meet gives me a sponge bath." He winked at her as a blush formed on her cheeks.
"We probably shouldn't discuss that. Nurse-patient privilege or something." She reached for a deep emerald satin and lace set that would look like the jewel of the same tone against her creamy skin and bring out the green in her hazel eyes.
"I don't think there is any such thing. Besides, it's something I certainly enjoy thinking about."
He watched as the flush in her cheeks darkened by at least three shades. Kaiden couldn't help but wonder if Nurse Katie had ever thought about him. Of course not, you idiot, she was engaged! Still, during his stay in the hospital they had definitely shared a flirtation. Apparently it ended at flirting since she had a boyfriend the entire time. The pain meds had probably colored the experience, making it something more in his mind than it had actually been.
"All right then it must be off-limits for a secret agent to discuss such things with a suspect."
Kaiden laughed. "There is nothing secret about this agent. You know who I am and what I do and I'm fairly certain the only thing you are guilty of is bad judgment in men."
As soon as the words left his mouth he regretted them. The look on her face, a mix of pain, betrayal and anger, cut him like a knife.
"I'm sorry. That was uncalled for." Stepping around the rack of lingerie, he instinctively reached for Katie. He wanted to hold her close, protect her from the pain he had caused. She moved out of his reach around another rack where she grabbed a couple more hangers of bra and panty sets. Kaiden gave her the space she obviously wanted but it killed him to. He wanted to find out what, if anything, was happening between them but needed to keep his distance.
Katie scooped up a couple of nightshirts and a few pairs of socks. The faraway look in her eyes bothered Kaiden more than it should have.
Who was he kidding anyway? He had been attracted to Katie in the hospital and that obviously hadn't gone away. Last time her job kept them apart, this time it would be hi
s.
Remembering Cara and the nastiness of his divorce, he knew it would be wise to avoid any more relationships. Cara had made it absolutely clear no other woman in the world would put up with his secrets and lies. It didn't matter that those secrets were usually a matter of national security and the lies were more like half-truths, intended to protect her from the evils of his world. Maybe things with Katie could be different. You're better off keeping your distance, man. Hell, she'd definitely be better off.
Better than what? Better than the mess she had gotten in when some smooth talking politician's son had convinced her he loved her? Yeah, she had been so much better off with a man who only wanted her access to the hospital lab.
Access to the lab. Oh man, why hadn't he thought of that before?
"Katie?" he called across another rack of sheer fabrics and lacy cups. "Do you use a keycard to access your department?"
"Of course," she replied without looking up.
"Where do you keep it?"
"I always drop it in a box on my bureau after work before I hop in the shower." Understanding suddenly lit her eyes. "Oh boy, do you think that is what the panty raider was after?"
"I think we better pay for your stuff and get back to your place and grab that before someone realizes it is still there."
Katie led the way to the front of the store and used one of the self-check-out stations. Kaiden tried hard not to look at her purchases but natural curiosity won out and his eyes wandered to the pile of satin and lace. He caught sight of that emerald green set and his gut tightened.
Don't be getting your hopes up. You will never see that anywhere but on that counter right there.
Ugh. This case might go on for a very long time.
"Are you okay?" Katie looked worried as she studied him.
"Fine. Absolutely fine. Just thinking about the case." Not entirely a lie. Thinking about Katie in that green underwear sort of had to do with the case. Yeah. Right.