“But if the man’s a criminal—”
“No.” His eyes were hard, his expression flat.
Big, bad SAS man mode. She glanced pointedly at her shackled wrist. “Are you going to let me go any time soon?”
Nikolai dropped her wrist as if he’d been scorched by fire. “Henry should have locked you up. Throwing away the key would’ve worked too.”
Summer glared back. “He did the next best thing—he gave me you.” And thank the Lord he did. Teasing Nikolai got the adrenaline going, her own personal energy drink.
Nikolai scowled. “So we’re agreed. You’re not going to see Martin again.”
Okay, enough was enough. “I enjoy Dare’s company. He’s a gentleman.”
“Maybe my manners and clothes could use a bit of work, but at least with me, what you see is what you get.”
Summer gave up trying to eat. “I can’t ditch Dare without a good reason.”
“Women do it all the time.”
“I’m not most women.”
Nikolai rolled his eyes. “Hell, you’re not wrong there. No wonder Henry wanted a babysitter.”
“Look, Dare and I have gone out a couple of times. So what? We’re just friends. Unless I see proof with my own eyes, I’m going to keep seeing him.”
“From what I saw, you’re more than friends.”
Summer stilled. “What are you talking about?”
“The lip-lock last night.”
“Were you spying on me?”
Nikolai avoided her glare. “I was worried.”
“I should point out we were lip-locked not long ago.”
The instant the words left her mouth, the air in the kitchen thickened. Awareness pulsed between them, and Summer couldn’t have looked away from him under threat of gunfire. Every part of her body ached for his touch.
“That was a mistake.”
She shrugged. “Didn’t feel like one to me.”
After two beats of pregnant silence, Nikolai shot to his feet. “I’ve got to go.”
“Running away?” Summer asked in her sweetest voice.
“It’s the right thing to do.”
She didn’t agree but knew there was no point arguing the point. “Whatever.” She watched him hobble from the kitchen, and once he reached the door, she said, “I’ll let you know if I need help with my investigation.”
He whirled so quickly, he almost caught her grin before she wiped her expression clean. His glare was dark, his eyes stormy as he snarled, “Over my dead body.”
Chapter Six
“I think that went well,” Summer remarked to Joe, Veronica’s pudgy, black cat.
The slam of the door made them both stare in that direction, then Joe returned to his grooming schedule. She pulled a face and stood to clear the half-eaten remains of their breakfast.
The phone rang just as she was drying her hands.
Her insides did a shimmy at the familiar voice. “Hi, Dare. I enjoyed last night.”
“I did too.” His smoky voice slid down the line, smooth as expensive brandy. “What are you doing today? I forgot to ask last night.”
Good timing. She wanted to start her investigation straightaway. She checked her watch. “I’ve got a Tae Kwon Do lesson this morning, but apart from that I don’t have anything planned.”
“How does an afternoon at the beach sound and a barbecue afterward?”
“Sounds great.”
“Good. My family has a bach at Maraetai Beach. You’ll meet my two brothers and three sisters.”
Summer did a silent high-five on hearing the invitation to visit their holiday home. She couldn’t have planned things better. Once she met Dare’s family, she’d have an idea of what to do next. “What time?”
“How does two sound?” He paused. “Why don’t you bring an overnight bag in case the barbecue runs late, hmm?”
“But—” The phone went dead before she finished. If Nikolai was right, she wouldn’t get involved any further with Dare. And she certainly wasn’t going to sleep with the man. “Well, doggone it. What am I going to do now? And how am I going to get past the big, bad SAS man?”
* * * * *
Sashay, with her nose in the air.
That was how she managed the task. Nervous tension bubbled in her tummy and choked her throat, pushing for freedom in the form of a hysterical giggle. But she made it to the car in one piece despite his black glower.
“Does that man always glare?” Dare asked as he seated her in the passenger seat of a black sports car.
“Afraid so,” she said cheerfully. Now that she was inside the car, she felt marginally safer. “Just ignore him. I do.”
The car started with a throaty purr.
Summer turned her attention to the soft, butter-colored upholstery. “I’ve never driven in a convertible before. Does this car belong to you too?”
“What do you think? It’s new. I picked it up this morning. You’re my very first passenger.”
“I love it.” She gestured at her old, dented car. “I’m obviously in the wrong business.”
“Stick with me, sweetheart, and we’ll go places.” As he spoke, he reached out and squeezed her bare knee. “My family is looking forward to meeting you.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting them too.” And asking all sorts of questions. Her family might be overprotective, but they’d taught her a thing or two about interrogation.
“So, have I kept you too busy to read your romances?”
Summer tucked a strand of blue hair behind one ear. “I’ve read one.” In the middle of the night, to take her mind off Nikolai.
“How often do you get to the bookshop on High Street?”
She saluted at Nikolai as they sped off. She imagined his expression but refrained from glancing back to check the depth of his disapproval. “Once or twice a week. It’s not far from the library. They stock a lot of my favorite authors.”
“Romance,” he teased with a sideward glance, as he paused at a give way sign.
“You’re as bad as my brothers. I like reading romance, and I refuse to apologize for my habit.”
“I don’t get to the shop often. I usually ring my orders through and get someone to pick them up for me.”
“If you need anything collected let me know. At least if I do it, you won’t end up with the wrong package.” She tossed him a smile while her mind worked at hyper-speed. So far, so good. Tomorrow, after her Tae Kwon Do class, she’d mine books from the library for help. She was bound to pick up a few investigation hints from Stephanie Plum.
* * * * *
Nikolai couldn’t believe the woman. Given his threats, he’d thought the clotheshorse would be history. Obviously, he was losing his touch.
He was definitely losing his mind.
He headed for his kitchen at a lope and mentally thanked his Hitler-wannabe physiotherapist for pushing him. The knee was starting to feel as though it belonged to him again. He grabbed his phone and keys then raced for his car. Two seconds later, he returned to snatch a cap. He jammed it on his head and hustled back outside.
Gravel spat as he reversed from his garage and shot down the road on the heels of Martin and Summer. The speedometer edged upward. He jabbed a button on his phone and held it to his ear while he negotiated a corner.
“Yo.”
“Louie, it’s Nik. Remember that guy I had you run a check on?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you remember if he has a beach house?” The beach was a safe bet. Summer had carried a bright-colored towel in the top of that orange basket of hers, and she’d been wearing shorts. Nikolai swallowed at the memory. Brief shorts that had highlighted her long legs. He imagined them entwined around him—
“No beach house.”
Damn. “What about his family?”
The clear tap of fingers on a keyboard filtered down the phone line. Nikolai was coming up to the motorway turnoff. He’d have to decide which way to go. “Hurry up,” he muttered.
�
��Jeez, man, I heard that. I’m the one doing you a favor.”
Chastened, he apologized. “Sorry.” He slowed the car as he approached the turnoff. Still no sign of the black car. Which way should he go? They could have gone to any number of beaches around Auckland.
“The parents own a waterfront house at Maraetai.”
“Yes!” Nikolai zipped past the motorway turnoff toward Papakura. “Where? What’s the street number?”
Louie rattled off the details.
“Thanks, Lou. I owe you.”
“I wouldn’t mind a day at the beach. Jake and I will meet you there.”
Nikolai grinned as the phone clicked in his ear, and he turned the car toward Clevedon and Maraetai beach.
* * * * *
Summer burrowed her bare feet into the sand and small, pulverized shells. She leaned back on her elbows, lazily grinning while the sun beat down from overhead. The sharp tang of coconut filled the air as Natasha, one of Dare’s sisters, applied suntan lotion to her legs and arms.
“It’s too bad Dare was called into work,” Natasha complained.
“It doesn’t matter. The problems were unexpected. You saw his disappointment.”
“But he’s your boyfriend. Aren’t you angry? I bet he didn’t need to take my brothers and father with him too.”
Summer idly surveyed the stream of people sauntering past their spot. “Dare and I are friends. We’re not serious.” Part of her was sorry she was alone and stuck with Dare’s sister. There were some seriously good-looking bodies parading on this beach. Her gaze swept from the high-tide mark and back to the gently swishing waves surging and retreating. She adjusted her bikini top as her eyes came to a halt on the group of three men not far down the beach. Now that was some serious eye candy. Three bronzed bodies that came complete with the requisite muscles.
“You can’t be just friends,” Natasha said. “Dare’s never brought a girl here before. Have you slept together?”
Summer’s head jerked in shock. “Natasha.”
“Sorry. I guess that was a bit personal.”
Summer hid her amusement. Natasha didn’t sound the slightest bit sorry. “Yes, it was. But here’s your answer. We’ve known each other for two weeks, and at twenty-two, I’m way too young to get serious about a man.” Her gaze swung back to the group of three men. They’d stood and were wandering toward the water.
One wore a knee brace.
Summer bolted upright and grabbed for her flapping bikini top.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” That had better not be Nikolai. She tied the strings of her bikini in place and stood. After wrapping her sarong about her body like a suit of protective armor, she brushed the sand and shell fragments off her feet and thrust them into sandals. “I think that’s someone from work. I’ll just go and say hello.”
“Where?” Natasha fastened her bikini top.
Summer pointed at the three men. “Down there at the waterline.”
“They’re going swimming. There’s no point wearing your sarong and sandals.”
Summer grimaced and stooped to remove her sandals. So, they’d all get an eyeful of her oversized curves. “Thanks.”
As she strode off, the man in the knee brace dived into the water. It was Nikolai. She’d recognize that butt anywhere.
“I’m coming too,” Natasha declared from behind her.
Summer stiffened at the predatory interest in Natasha’s voice. She didn’t want anyone ogling Nikolai up close. “What will your brother say if he hears I’ve been introducing you to older men?”
Natasha fell into step. “If Dare had his way, I’d leave the house wearing a yashmak.”
The sheer feeling in Natasha’s words ruffled Summer’s conscience. Her brothers were the same—heavy-handed with intimidation when it came to boyfriends. Sympathy rose in her. “Dare’s an overprotective brother?”
“Oh, yes. Let me live a little, even if it’s through you. And besides, you’re what—two years older than me.”
“Come on then. I’ll introduce you, but don’t tell Dare. If you do, I’ll deny everything.”
“Let’s go in case Dare arrives back unexpectedly.”
By the time they reached the water’s edge, the three men were shoulder-deep in the sea.
“Looks as if we’re going to get wet,” Summer said.
“Are you a good swimmer?”
Summer glanced at the three men. They were out of her depth now and cutting through the water in champion style. But she had expected nothing less from SAS members. “Not that good. How about taking a quick dip, and we’ll nab them when they tire of swimming.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Summer waded in and gasped. “Eek! It’s colder than I thought.”
Natasha scooped up a handful of water and flicked it at her. “Don’t be a baby.”
“Take that!” Summer retaliated with gusto then fled.
Natasha swam strongly after her and seconds later, it was a full-on water fight. Summer laughed so hard she sank. A hand snaked around her waist, dragging her to the surface.
“Is this a private fight, ladies, or can anyone join?”
Louie and Jake stood nearby, which meant the arm around her waist belonged to Nikolai. Her pulse did a rapid cha-cha. She turned in his embrace, her bare legs brushing his strong thighs and immediately flames sprang to life, licking her with lust. She sucked in a hasty breath as she stared at him, recalling their kiss. The way his gaze drifted down to her lips told her he remembered too.
“Are you Summer’s friends?” Natasha asked.
The curiosity in Natasha’s voice made her spring away from Nikolai. She tried to stand and went under before he hauled her to the surface. She came up spluttering. “Ah.” Heat grew in her cheeks and she rushed into speech. “This is Louie and Jake.” She pointed to the two grinning men then gestured at the man holding her against his chest. “This is my neighbor, Nikolai.”
“Hmm,” Natasha said.
She packed a lot of meaning into that soft sound. The heat in Summer’s cheeks soared to a new high, and she couldn’t meet Natasha’s gaze. “I think I’ll go in now. I’m a bit cold.”
Natasha tossed her head. “I’m going to swim out farther.” She smiled at Jake and gave Louie the same treatment—a flash of white teeth and fluttering eyelashes. “Care for a race, boys?” Then she dived through a wave and raced off without waiting for an answer.
Louie and Jake took off with whoops and white water, leaving her and Nikolai alone.
Summer stared after them while every atom in her body sizzled, aware of his arm under her breasts, holding her afloat in the water. “You’re meant to baby-sit me, not act as a guard dog.”
“I’m the one who needs a keeper,” Nikolai growled right next to her ear.
His breath feathered across her cheek, and she shivered, wanting nothing more than to turn in his arms, draw his head down and kiss him.
“Summer, don’t.”
“I’m not doing anything.” His intense gaze made her stomach soar and swoop—the emotional person’s version of an out-of-control roller coaster ride.
A wave rocked their bodies together. Her breasts flirted with his bare chest and she caught her breath at the lightning bolt of sensation. She glanced up and met the answering fire in Nikolai’s eyes. Then, as she watched, his gaze iced over.
“We can’t do this. You don’t know me. The things I’ve done.”
As he spoke, he loosened his grip on her arms and pushed her away.
“You don’t know me, either. And you can’t make decisions for me. Why won’t anyone let me make my own mistakes?”
Much to her disgust, the end of her sentence came out on a wobble. Confrontation. She hated it, which was why she was running from the problem with her family. Deep down, she knew this truth. Sooner or later, her parents and brothers would learn she needed to live life on her own terms. Without babysitters. Her mother would cry. Already, she felt the lash of guilt
before uttering a word of her point of view.
“I promised Henry.”
“Yeah, I know.” Summer started for the shore and the splashing behind indicated he was getting out too. She waded through the water as if a stingray chased on her heels. She loved her parents and her brothers and knew they loved her, but they had to let her go. She just wished she could take her own advice and push away Nikolai.
Once she reached the sand, she paused. The strange thing though, was the way she consistently stuck up for herself with Nikolai. It felt good. Right. Maybe it was the enforced break from her family. “Will you walk with me along the beach?”
Caution chased surprise over his face. “All right.” He fell into step.
“Do you have proof about Dare’s family yet?”
“No, it’s still rumor.”
“Then please back off and stop following me. Dare’s taken me to three different restaurants and today to the beach to meet his family. I haven’t seen drugs or anything remotely illegal.” Summer exhaled. “You realize that by playing the heavy-handed parent you’re making me choose sides.”
“I’ve noticed you’re stubborn.”
An inelegant snort escaped her. “Not usually. It’s a new thing since I arrived in Auckland. Usually I let everyone ride roughshod over me.”
On reaching the wooden wharf, they turned and returned to their starting point.
“So we’re agreed,” she said, breaking the silence that had fallen between them. “You’ll trust me to look after myself without interfering? I promise to let you know if I have a problem. You’ll go back to the original plan of watching from afar—getting a visual?” Her quick darting glance at him intercepted a fierce frown.
“I don’t think that’s—”
“You can’t watch me twenty-four hours a day,” she snapped. “You have to sleep sometime.”
Chapter Seven
Nikolai stared at Summer, taking in the stubborn jut of her chin, the flash in her blue eyes. Without thinking, he reached out to sweep a lock of damp blue hair off her cheek. Silky-smooth skin slid beneath his fingers, tempting him to explore. His gaze slid down, past her neck. Lingered.
Innocent Next Door (Military Men Book 1) Page 6