by Caryn Carter
Then Nick Fuller had edged his way into her life and in less than a day she was looking at herself with a critical eye again. Her face burned at his words. He said she'd look good enough to eat--even with fifty extra pounds.
A lot of baloney, she was sure, but nevertheless his flattery had made her feel good. Had made her feel like a woman again for the first time since she'd shut the door on men after Kevin's betrayal. Even if the accident hadn't taken someone's life, there never would have been a future for her and Kevin after finding out he'd been seeing another woman.
Nick Fuller's beautiful-as-a-model woman. The woman he'd planned to marry as she'd planned to marry Kevin.
Even now, Kevin's act of betrayal assaulted her memory.
Not even the reckless six months she'd spent trying to rid herself of the feeling that she was less than Kevin wanted had made up for the devastation of being jilted practically standing at the altar.
Because not one of the men she'd given herself to with careless abandon those first six months after the accident, had made her feel any better about herself. In truth, that brief libertine way of life had made her feel worse about herself.
No telling how long she might have kept that lifestyle up, if it hadn't been for the night she'd slept with a total stranger with no regard for protection. Thankfully, that night had been her wake-up call.
Afterward she had lived in fear, first of an unwanted pregnancy and when that fear was eliminated, she lived for years with the dread that she'd contracted some deadly sexual disease. She'd been lucky. She'd been spared, and she'd set herself back on a proper course and never looked back. She'd never looked at another man, especially not a good-looking man. Until last night at Barnaby's.
She felt certain that Nick Fuller, as nice as he seemed, had no real interest in her beyond his own needs--and a motive he was concealing other than wanting to keep her safe.
She wasn't any more his kind of woman than she'd been Kevin's. Or of all those other devastatingly handsome men she'd tried to convince herself had really gotten turned on by her. Not one of them had cared who she really was, or what she was really like inside. Nick Fuller was no different than they were. He was just being nice to her before he tried to get her into bed.
A flash of what she imagined his naked body looked like, all hard planes and rippling muscle, set her heart to pounding and her blood rushing hot through her veins. Deep in her belly a pulse throbbed. She flattened her palms on her abdomen and pressed hard, as if that unrelated action could relieve the lust that had suddenly taken control of her. A lust so intense she held her breath against giving in to it again, even if only in thought.
Alarm rushed through her. Nick Fuller had unleashed the calm river inside her and turned it into a raging waterfall. She could do one of two things with that powerful rush: she could shut Nick Fuller out completely and dam it up again, or she could ride it out, take what she needed from him and be no worse off for it when he walked away.
After her self-imposed hiatus she deserved a little pleasure. Didn't she? No, she deserved a lot of pleasure. She knew she wasn't mistaken in thinking that her newfound protector would be able to bring her more pleasure than she'd ever had in her life.
She wasn't even back to the kitchen when the phone rang. Fearing it was bad news about her mother, she rushed to answer it, but instead of her sister or the hospital, Nick's baritone slid over the phone like silk. "I couldn't wait until I got home to call. I really want to see you again tomorrow. A late dinner would be fine with me. Or just a drink. We could even stop just for coffee. It's your call. Think about it and let me know tomorrow when I call to give you the results of the security screening." In spite of herself, she smiled when he hauled in a noisy gulp of air to catch his breath.
Gripping the phone, she pressed a knotted fist over her heart. "Visiting hours end at eight. Give me a number where I can reach you and I'll call when I'm ready to leave."
There. It was done. She'd matched his first move. The next one was up to him.
* * * *
Nick opened the door to his office Monday morning with a renewed sense of purpose.
He'd have a man inside Bella's house before the morning was over. And unless some other work had been scheduled without his knowledge, he should be able to put a couple of installers on her security system by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. That he truly believed in the value of home security, especially for women living alone, and given that he knew his system to be the best available, some of the guilt he felt for deceiving Bella was alleviated.
He pulled in a satisfied breath. For once, the gods were smiling on him. Things were moving as easily as a well-oiled wheel. He was not only going to have access to the inside of Bella's house much faster than he'd anticipated, but he'd also gained her trust. Not bad for less than two days work.
He glanced at the picture of Debbie, his former fiancée, on the credenza behind his desk. The photograph occupied the same place since it was taken eight years ago. He remembered the day he'd taken the picture in detail.
Debbie had just graduated from the Police Academy. She'd been a new recruit, beaming and proud of her accomplishment. They'd been dating for six months and had already spoken of marriage. The only blemish on that otherwise perfect day was the worry that wound itself around his heart when he thought of something bad happening to her.
She'd been paired with a veteran officer, Kevin Pitre. Pitre was known for his intelligence, his quick wit, and his attention to detail. If Nick had to trust the love of his life with someone, he couldn't think of anyone better than Kevin Pitre.
Bastard. Pitre had betrayed every ounce of trust Nick had placed in him. Every bit of trust the Department had placed in him. But most of all, he'd taken Debbie's trust and twisted it until he'd gotten her to do his bidding.
For that one act alone, Nick would not rest until he saw Pitre in hell. In living hell right here on this planet where he would spend many more days of his unworthy life in retribution for the lives he had destroyed. The paltry years he had spent in jail so far were not enough. Not nearly enough.
Nick had made that vow the day he buried Debbie. Not a day had passed since, that he hadn't repeated it until it was the mantra by which he lived. And now he had the chance to make that vow come true.
As he slipped out of his jacket something in the back of his mind nipped at him. He thrust his hand into the jacket's right pocket and curled his fingers around a piece of paper. He withdrew his find. It was his credit card receipt for his dinner with Bella on Saturday night.
His mind wandered back to her half-eaten steak and the baked potato with two bites taken from it. He remembered the fear she'd tried to hide after he'd told her about the reason he'd had her followed. The lie he'd manufactured. His fingers closed around the paper and for a moment he hated himself. He felt profound regret at what he had to do.
He liked Bella. Deep down, he fucking liked the woman. He liked her a lot. Not to mention she was a damned turn on with that hair and those eyes. And that body that she was trying to shrink could easily drive him crazy if he'd let it.
He gave in easily to thoughts about how he'd go about removing her clothes as well as her inhibitions. How he'd convince her that she was beautiful and that he wanted her more than he'd wanted a woman in a long time.
That part was true. The part about not really wanting any woman until he met her. He'd screwed many women since Debbie's death, but he hadn't really wanted any of them. He'd only wanted the release they offered. His fingers curled even tighter around the paper still in his grip. His arousal swelled almost out of control.
Forcing himself to take deep, measured breaths, he uncurled his fingers and let the piece of paper fall back into its hiding place. He draped the jacket on the back of his desk chair just as Vince came into the office. After another deep breath, Nick focused his attention on his partner who had stopped in the middle of the room.
"Got a bone to pick with you, old man," Nick said, sitting d
own and lifting his feet to the top of his cluttered desk. He moved a stack of papers aside with the heel of his shoe. Vince looked over at him.
"What's up?" Vince took a drink from the coffee mug he'd carried in with him.
"You must be losing your touch, partner, because Arabella Quinn spotted you on her tail several times in the past couple of weeks."
Vince took a few steps toward Nick, his steel gray brows drawn together. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Nick slid his feet off the desk, crossed his arms on top of its oak top, and eyed Vince. "She saw you parked outside her house. More than once."
Vince covered the space to Nick's desk in record time, flattened his palms on its edge and leaned toward Nick.
"You should know me better than that by now, boy. I don't get spotted unless I want to. Either that lady's pulling your leg, or something else is going on that we don't know about." Vince drummed himself on the chest with his index finger. "Because I never drove anywhere near that filly's house. The closest I ever parked was the neighborhood playground two blocks away."
Chapter Five
Nick stood up so fast he almost lost his balance. His brain in momentary confusion, he wasn't at all certain he'd heard correctly. "Come again?"
Vince's chin snapped up. "Come again, what? You heard me. I was never parked anywhere near that broad's house. She actually told you she saw me?"
"Not you, specifically. Just a car. She couldn't make out what kind it was." Nick shook his head, tried to clear the chaotic thoughts tumbling around inside. Fists clenched at his sides, he walked to the window. "I don't understand. If not you, then who?" His heart slammed against his chest. Good God, someone else really was watching her. Someone who had an even bigger interest in her movements than he had. And whoever it was could be connected with only one person.
If he'd needed proof that he was on the right track, he had it now. He wasn't the only one that connected Arabella Quinn with Kevin. Not that he'd ever had any serious doubts that she'd been part of Kevin's plan all along.
True, in the two days he'd known her, he'd been surprised to find out what a nice person she seemed to be. But appearances could be deceiving. And oftentimes, deadly. He'd been lucky to gain her confidence so quickly because it looked like he'd have to move even faster than planned.
Vince took a step forward. "You think it's..."
Nick nodded, walked back toward his desk. "Who else? Who else would be tailing her?" He ran his hand back and forth across his forehead as he paced the width of his desk. "We should have anticipated this. According to your source, one of the biggest drug syndicates in the area is involved. Those guys have long memories. Evidently the loss of all that money still stings. And money doesn't have an expiration date like street drugs do." He slapped the top of his desk. "Damn."
Vince dropped down in a chair in front of Nick's desk and leaned forward. "So now that we know, we'll plan our next move." He lifted his head and eyed Nick. "Unless she's pulling our chain."
Nick shook his head. "Not a chance. She's not that kind." He didn't know how or why he was so sure of that, but he was. Even though he was certain Bella was not leveling with him about Kevin, he was sure she was telling the truth about being tailed. There had been genuine fear in her voice. And in her eyes.
"Nope. I'm sure she wasn't lying about being watched." He reached the back of his desk and paused for a moment before he lowered himself to his chair. "She's in a hurry for some good security. I think she's really scared. I put Phil Hart on the job. He's at her house right now doing his assessment."
Vince snorted. "That was fast work. What'd you do, cop a feel and then thank her by letting her rub against your gargantuan family jewels?"
Nick slapped the top of his desk so hard his hand stung. "Damn it, Vince, this is serious."
"Sorry, pal, I know it's serious. I just couldn't resist. I've seen enough women eyeing your crotch even when you weren't wearing them ball-hugging jeans of yours. Makes an old dried up guy like me jealous." Vince steepled his fingers under his chin. "So, how do you want to handle things now?"
"I don't think we have to change anything. I'll just have to find a way to stick closer to her faster than I originally planned. And I'll have to do it in a way that won't make her suspicious." He leaned back in his chair, clasped his hands behind his neck and closed his eyes.
Unexpectedly, he was uncomfortable talking about Bella with Vince. It was almost like divulging someone's personal secret they'd entrusted to him. He spun his chair around, opened his eyes, and Debbie's face was in front of him. He felt her looking right though him, accusing him of betrayal. He spun back around to face Vince. He knew what had to be done.
"Keep as low a profile as you can. I'll handle the rest. I think I have an idea how I can get her out of the house for a couple of days instead of a few hours at a time like you suggested. It may not work, but it's worth a shot."
"What do you have in mind?" Vince asked, hauling himself out of the chair.
"I'll let you know after I find out if I can pull it off."
Vince shrugged and headed slowly for the door, his shoulders slumped forward. Nick realized with a shock how much his partner had aged in the five years since his wife was first diagnosed with early Alzheimer's. And these past six months had been the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back since she'd developed a very aggressive form of cancer and Vince had to put her in a nursing home. He'd told Nick not long ago that the cancer had been held at bay for a while, but now Nick wondered if perhaps his friend wasn't keeping something from him.
Reaching for the telephone, Nick left himself a mental message to have a man-to-man chat with Vince as soon as this case was over.
Now, though, he had to take care of this other matter.
He opened his leather card case, found the card Bella had given him and dialed the number for the Let Yourself Go Travel Agency.
* * * *
Both of Bella's employees were on the telephone when she arrived at her office at noon on Monday. Steve Harper, who'd been with her since she opened her doors, and who usually answered the telephone, got her immediate attention with two quick snaps of his fingers. As she made her way over to him, he propped the phone under his chin and tore off a slip from the message pad on his desk.
Bella's heart bumped her chest. She'd just left the hospital where she'd been since six-thirty that morning. The doctors had performed a procedure on her mother to determine how severely her heart was damaged so they could decide if and when an operation would be performed. She feared it was her sister calling to tell her something had gone wrong after Bella left.
She sighed in relief to see the call was from Nick.
Stuffing her purse in the bottom desk drawer, she levered the phone between her neck and her shoulder and dialed Nick's number. With her free hand she fanned herself with an unopened piece of mail.
"Hot out, huh?" Marjorie, her other employee, sang out when she ended her call.
"Ninety-five and rising," Bella said, the last word hardly out of her mouth when Nick breathed a sexy 'hello' in her ear.
The air around her got hotter. She fanned faster. How could it be, that after one weekend, just the sound of this man's voice raised her body temperature a gazillion degrees above normal? A man who had appeared from out of the blue and had already attached himself to her like a second skin. She knew it was crazy, but she couldn't stop the feelings he stirred in her from taking over, just from talking with him.
For an instant she imagined herself transformed into vapor, transported over the phone wire, and materializing in the middle of his lap. Just the thought of his warm, hard body triggered a million impulses to the anatomical hot-zone between her thighs. She jerked her senses back at the sound of Nick's voice.
"Bella? You still there?"
"Yes, I'm here. I had something else on my mind. When I got the message that you called, I thought it was about my mother. It's taking me a while to calm my nerves, I guess."
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"How is your mother?"
She explained about the procedure the doctor's had performed that morning and that the outcome would determine the next step.
"Is your father alive?"
"No. He died some years back. There are just three of us now. My mother, my sister Franny, and me." Bella saw no need to mention her other sister, the black sheep of the family.
"I see. Then the burden of caring for your mother falls on you and your sister."
She became defensive. "I don't consider caring for my mother a burden."
"I didn't mean it the way it sounded. I only meant that since there's only two of you to share whatever care she'll need, I won't be able to see as much of you as I'd like until she's better."
That what he said might well be true, depressed her more than he could imagine. She couldn't very well admit that to him, though.
"I'll be going to the hospital every day after work, if that's what you mean. On weekends, too. I can't expect Franny to do it all."
"Of course not. I know that."
She still hadn't cooled down, and she had an idea that she wouldn't--not as long as she was talking to Nick. She took the portable phone with her and walked to the hall where the thermostat was located. She lowered it three degrees, knowing beforehand it wouldn't help. She was heated from the inside out. There was only one way she'd cool down, and that way wasn't an option. At least not right now.
Nick's voice cut into her thoughts. "Can we still meet tonight?"
She was planning on it. In truth, the thought of seeing him tonight was the only thing that had gotten her through the morning with some sense of optimism. "I'll call you."
"Before you leave the hospital?"
"Yes."
He sighed into her ear, an intimate sound that made him seem close enough to touch. Her internal heat spiked and sent a fever-like chill racing through her body that left her shaking after it ended.