She offered him a smile he had no doubt was forced. Im fine as long as you dont say I told you so.
I dont have to. You already did. He held out a hand to help her up.
She placed her palm inside his, wincing as her skin slid against his coarser flesh. Grabbing her wrist, he gently turned her hand over to reveal angry red scrapes on her palm. Other one?
She flipped over her right hand. Similar abrasions covered her skin. Its nothing some antiseptic wont take care of.
Agreed. But his insides didnt feel as calm as his voice. A queasy feeling settled in his stomach at the sight of the bruises, and an uneasiness pricked at him when he thought of what could have happened if he hadnt been around to scare off her attacker.
She swiped at her eyes. So she wasnt as brave as she wanted him to believe. Good. In that case he wouldnt have to worry about her returning here when he was gone. He pushed aside the added grief that thought caused in his gut.
He helped her rise to her feet without putting pressure on her hands. You werent going to hand over the camera, were you?
Of course not! That camera cost a bundle. I couldnt afford to replace it and, besides, hes not entitled to take what doesnt belong to him.
He laughed at the innocent proclamation along with the determined clench of her jaw. And just how did you plan to stop him?
If hed gotten the camera, Id have tripped him before he got two feet away. But you saved me the hassle. And besides, I held on to the camera, didnt I?
The little minx sounded proud of herself.
He could have snapped your neck.
But he didnt. See? She whipped a fall of blond hair off one shoulder, exposing delicate white skin.
But Ben wasnt fooled and he pulled back on the camera strap, cringing as he saw the damage. Your neck doesnt look much better than your hands, Gracie. Ever think of taking a self-defense class?
I havent had a chance, but Ill make timesoon.
Obviously shed lied to her grandmother about having taken those classes. What else had she lied to Emma about and what else was she doing in this neighborhood?
Thanks for the help, Ben. Her shoulders slumped and much of the earlier bravado went with it as a tremor shook her slender frame. Taking him off guard, she turned and walked away.
Hey.
Is for horses, she called over her shoulder.
Two long strides and he caught up with her. Though he admired her independent streak, he was too worried about her to leave her alone. Hell, he wanted to be with her after what had just happened. Though he was asking for trouble, taking care of Grace came first.
Shoving his hands into his pockets, he walked alongside her. He sensed her need to keep moving, to not think about being attacked. She was probably in shock and he understood. But the numbness would wear off and he planned to be there when the impact set in.
Where are you off to? he asked.
Subway.
He shook his head. No way hed let her go alone. The first few times hed followed her, hed ducked into a crowded subway car and tailed her at a discreet distance. Today, wanting things to appear coincidental, hed taken his car.
Subways not safe.
She stopped in her tracks and turned toward him. Glazed but determined eyes looked up at him. Its been safe enough for as long as Ive been coming here.
So was the neighborhood until today. Let me drive you home. My car is around the corner.
Gratitude flickered in her eyes, but she shook her head. No, thanks. I can get home myself.
Im sure you can. Unable to help himself, he reached out and touched her cheek and she turned her face into his open palm, until he cradled her face in his hand.
She was so soft. Her skin, her voicebut not what was inside. Emma knew her granddaughter well. Grace was tough. And as much as she might want to give in, she wouldnt let herself lean on him.
He admired her strength, even if right now, he wanted to conquer it. Theres nothing wrong with accepting help every once in a while.
She smiled. I know that.
Then lean on me now. He treated her to his most charming grin. And I promise Ill let you ditch me later. And he hoped to hell she did toss him out. Because Ben wasnt sure he had what it would take to drag himself away from her.
CHAPTER THREE
GRACE HANDED BEN the keys and let him unlock the door to her apartment. She was too tired to do it herself and, besides, her hands stung worse than when shed fallen off her bike as a kid. She wasnt ready to think through todays ordealor the threat the punk had made to her before Ben ran him off.
Stay out of this neighborhood, or else.
She squared her shoulders. Just because hed scared her to death didnt mean shed listen to threats. Grace came from a family of strong people who did what they wanted, the rest of the world be damned. And though she rarely cited her family as having virtues, this time, she was prepared to emulate that one trait. After she took care of her cuts and bruises and after she got rid of Ben. His strong presence made it too easy to want to lean on him. Too easy to succumb and lose the thread of independence shed begun to weave.
He stepped inside and held the door open for her to do the same. She walked past him. He wasnt dressed for the office, his hair was mussed and hadnt seen a barbers scissors in quite a while. Still, he was the most appealing sight shed ever laid eyes on.
Independence be damned, the man was right. Leaning on him wouldnt be so bad. In fact shed probably enjoy it and heaven knew being around Ben made the threat of danger seem less real.
You can put the keys and camera on the shelf. She pointed to the etched glass shelf floating from the wall.
He stepped around her. The keys made an unnaturally loud sound as they clattered onto the glass. You need to take care of those hands.
She nodded.
Wheres the antiseptic? he asked.
Someone else taking care of her was a novel experience, which was probably what made it so appealing. Except for her grandmother, no one in her family ever made her feel loved for herself. Her mother tried, but thanks to her fathers bullying, shed always fallen short. But for her brother, Logan, no male in her family had ever made her feel warm or cared for. In fact, her father, with his impossibly high standards and demands, diminished her self-worth and made her more insecure than any child ought to be.
But Ben had held her the entire walk to his car, making her feel safe and cherished. After seeing him with the kids at the park and viewing his unwavering concern for her now, she knew more than sexual attraction drew her to him.
She tipped her head upward and met his concerned gaze. He caused her to feel a whole host of emotions. None platonic. All solid and good.
Grace? The antiseptic.
She gave herself a shake. In the kitchen. The cabinet to the left of the microwave. She followed him the short distance and waited in her small walk-in kitchen while he sorted through the cabinet and came up with a light antiseptic to clean her cuts, an antibiotic cream and bandages.
He took the box off the shelf and held it up for inspection. Barney?
Grace felt a heated flush creep up her face. I knew I ought to keep something in the house just in case, and wellthats all they had.
Grace felt a heated flush creep up her face. I knew I ought to keep something in the house just in case, and wellthats all they had.
He laughed, his features softening, a dimple appearing in his right cheek. She raised her hand and touched a finger to the enticing crease. His skin was hot and rough with razor stubble.
He sucked in a startled breath and she dropped her hand. Dont play with fire, Gracie. Unless you want
To get burned? She met his heavy-lidded gaze. I admit to liking the idea. I always had to be the good girl. I never crossed the street without an adult and I never played with matches. Im tired of being good. I want to play with fire. She wanted to play with him.
Though shed never been so bold before, something about Ben made her feel freeto be herself, Grace realized. And it felt good.
His hands came to rest on her hips. Large palms and hot skin.
Before she realized his intent, he lifted her up and placed her on the kitchen counter. First we see to your hands and neck.
Grace smiled. Let him tend to her injuries first. Shed get a chance to question him more about who he was and where hed come from. The pull between them wasnt going anywhere anytime soon.
Turn your hands palms up. Ben desperately needed the distraction of caring for her injuries before he forgot them in favor of her enticing yet innocent proposition.
She did as he asked. He washed his hands at the sink, then returned to her side and saturated a cotton ball. With care he wiped down her dirt-streaked hands, cleaning the scrapes. Except for the first time when she sucked in a pain-filled breath, she didnt utter a word of complaint and let him work.
Youre good at this. Get much practice?
He recognized her attempt to distract herself from what must sting like the devil, but he also recognized a feminine ploy to extract information.
Still she was so guileless in her attempt, he couldnt help but indulge her. No younger siblings to take care of if thats what youre asking. He reached for a fresh piece of cotton to pat down her hand and then opened the antibiotic cream.
Using his thumbs, he gently rubbed the center of her palms, massaging the ointment into her pale but soft skinskin marred only by the bruises inflicted when shed hit the sidewalk. The urge to lift her hand to his lips and ease her pain was strong.
The urge to comfort warred with the more primal desire to wrap her in his arms and protect her from harm. And it had nothing to do with the case.
Damn, but Grace Montgomery was trouble.
How about children? she asked.
At the blunt, out-of-the-blue question, his finger pressed against her hand too hard and she let out a gasp. Sorry. Jeez, Grace, if you want to know something, just come out and ask. He glanced up at her sheepish expression.
An embarrassed but endearing smile worked its way onto her lips. You caught me, I guess.
He laughed. Lets just say your investigating skills need some brushing up.
She shrugged. Good thing youre just the man to teach me. She paused. Unless theres a wife, child or girlfriend I dont know about? Curiosity and hope mingled in her warm brown eyes.
No wife and child, no girlfriend and no exes with kids, either. But I meant brushing up on more discreet ways of getting information. He peeled open the ridiculous-looking bandages with the purple dinosaur and patched her hands as best he could. Ill make a drugstore run later and pick up something better to cover those hands, at least until theyre feeling better.
She glanced down at his handiwork. You dont need to make a special trip. I can live with Barney until tomorrow.
He ignored her protest. If a drugstore trip was the only way he could escape hed take it in a heartbeat. He ignored the devilish voice in his head reminding him of what other items could be found at a drugstore should the need arise, and he refocused on her injuries. Okay, now for your neck.
She winced at the thought of him repeating the procedure on the burn left by the heavy camera strap rubbing against her skin.
I think we can forget the antiseptic and just go with the cream.
She exhaled a sigh of relief. Sounds good.
Lets see.
As she brushed long strands of hair off the side of her neck, she made room for him to take a lookby spreading her legs and letting him step inside. Surrounded by her feminine heat and intoxicating scent, Ben realized he was in trouble.
Fingertips covered with ointment, he touched her neck as gently as possible. A tremor shook her body, and her thighs clamped shut, enclosing him in her warmth. An echoing shudder overtook him.
He had to clear his throat in order to speak and, even then, his voice came out a hoarse whisper. Can we skip the bandages, too?
She turned her head and her face was a tempting millimeter from his, her lips within kissing distance. His mind demanded he walk away. His body refused to listen to reason. He opened his mouth to speak, to prevent the inevitable, when she took advantage of his indecision and touched her lips to his.
Hot. Sweet. Demanding. Giving. The swirl of emotions flowed inside him as urgently as her tongue swept inside his mouth. Her hands gripped his forearms, heedless of the scrapes on her palms, and her nails dug into his skin.
Good judgment be damned, Ben thought and answered her silent plea, sealing his lips over hers. She moaned and he swallowed the sound, threading his fingers into her hair. The strands felt like fine silk beneath his fingertips, a stark contrast to the hardness building inside him.
A shred of sanity remainedthe part of him that knew he ought to stop now, before things went any further. He grabbed her wrist, calling for her attention.
She tilted her head back. Eyes glazed with desire, she met and held his gazeuntil the ringing of the telephone shocked him back into reality.
He tried to push back, but Graces legs held him tight. Let the machine get it. Her soft stare never left his and her labored breathing matched the beat of his heart.
Three short rings later he heard Graces husky voice directing callers to leave a message, followed by a beep and a too-familiar voice.
One guaranteed to instill guilt. Hello, Grace. Its been too long since Ive heard your voice. I want to know how youre getting along in the big, lonely city. Met anyone interesting lately? You know I wouldnt mind a great-grandchild from you before I pass on. And if thats too much to ask, how about a little information about your life instead? After all, the woman who raised you ought to A beep cut Emmas voice off, indicating the older woman had run out of time.
But not wind. Ben had a hunch shed still be rambling if the machine hadnt taken care of the problem. Somehow he managed to stifle a combination laugh at Emma and self-directed groan. He wasnt supposed to know Graces grandmotherany more than he was supposed to be kissing Grace.
The grip on his waist loosened and he took advantage. He stepped back into the safety zone, out from between her legs and out of her reach.
She gestured toward the telephone. Im sorry. Her voice didnt sound much steadier than he felt at the moment. Emma, my grandmother, has impeccable timing, even long distance.
She sounds like quite a character.
Oh, she is. But a lovable one, and she worries about me.