I know. His voice was low, gruff. I wouldnt want help, either.
Im going to be okay.
Yeah. He touched her again, just a hand on her arm.
It electrified her.
But youre running on empty, he said softly, and kept on touching her. Whether you want to admit it or not, youre going to shut down. Then what? His finger slid into her hair, his thumb stroking her jaw. You get Sadie taken away? Maybe put back into the hands of your ex? You get yourself a police record you dont need or deserve? Lightly, he stroked his hands to her shoulders, which he gently rubbed, right where all the tension had balled into one tight knot.
She nearly melted to the floor.
Then his fingers danced up, slipping beneath her collar now, skin to skin. Her nipples beaded, shocking her. Spontaneous arousal wasnt something shed experienced in a very long time, and not only did she feel hot and itchy from the inside out, she felt confused. She closed her eyes. I wont get caught.
You dont deserve this, Danielle. Come with me. His mouth was close to her ear. Their bodies brushed together. I can develop the film for you at my place.
I thought you werent a photographer.
Not a professional, no. Its just a hobby, passed down from my father. Come with me.
To his place. Icouldnt.
Youd rather sleep in your car again.
Her gaze jerked up to his. I never said that.
You didnt have to. He backed away and began shutting off lights, his movements slow and sure, but she had no trouble reading the tension in his tight, tough body.
Every time he passed Sadie, the dog regarded him very seriously, as if still determining whether he could be trusted or not.
Danielle did the same.
Finally, with just the one small light left on in the reception area, he stopped directly in front of her. Are you going to keep waiting for me to leap out and yell boo?
She let out a low laugh. Im not afraid of you.
But she was, because he threatened the one thing no one else ever had.
Her heart.
6
IF YOURE NOT AFRAID, youre nervous, Nick said, seeming annoyed, though not at her. He touched her again, just set one hand on her arm, as if it was natural to keep touching her. I can understand, he said. Given what youve been through. But you can stop. He looked into her eyes. Im not going to do anything you dont want me to.
She might have laughed, because good Lord, what she suddenly wanted him to do to her! You keep putting your hands on me.
So I do, he murmured, still doing exactly that. Cant seem to help it. Is it bothering you? As he asked, one hand slid around her waist to rest on the small of her back.
Was it bothering her? It was bothering her pulse, which kept skyrocketing.
Danielle? His free hand cupped her jaw.
No. She lifted her own hand, setting it on his against her face. But you should know, Im not interested in- She broke off because she was interested. Too much.
No. She lifted her own hand, setting it on his against her face. But you should know, Im not interested in- She broke off because she was interested. Too much.
Now his fingers slid over her lips to stop any more lies. He watched her mouth with a heat that made her knees weak. In the depths of his gaze she saw an uncertainty she knew matched her own. He was as unsettled as she with this strange, inexplicable feeling.
Good.
If they were both unsettled, they could leave it alone.
Come with me, he said. Ill develop the film. Youll sleep. Catch up. Give yourself at least that much of a head start, okay?
One night. So tempting. Then shed be on her way-alone except for Sadie.
As she was meant to be. One night?
One night. With a hand still low on her spine, he leaned in close, reaching past her to flip off the last light. His chest brushed hers. So did his hips.
And all the spots in between sort of melded together. One night. It shocked her to her toes what she suddenly wanted to do with their one night.
He was tough and sinewy and warm. Her nipples were still hard and achy, and she didnt quite manage to contain the little sound that escaped her throat, that sounded like the one Sadie made when she wanted to be stroked.
His eyes, dark and full of heat, met Danielles. You okay?
No, actually, she wasnt. Her body was on fire. It felt as if it had been taken over by an alien. An alien whose entire purpose was to obtain as much pleasure as possible.
Not that she didnt enjoy pleasure, but shed sort of foregone such a thing for other, more important things, like survival. Its just thatIm not used to- Embarrassed, she broke off. Well. You know.
Yeah. There was a rough timbre to his tone and a darkness in the depths of his eyes. His fingers flexed on her lower back, then relaxed. Though he spoke utterly calmly, the bulge between his thighs, the one pressing against her lower belly, belied that calmness. I cant help my reaction to you, Danielle. I mean, look at you. Youre beautiful. Smart. Fascinating. When she scoffed and tried to look away, he held her still. You excite me, he said very quietly. You always have.
Really?
Really. But I happen to be able to control myself. Were going to my house to develop your film because staying here is a bad idea. And were going to get you some much-needed rest. Okay?
She stared at him for a long moment, then nodded. The film and the rest part. But I dont know about the stay-over part.
One thing at a time, then.
Yes, she whispered.
His smile was slow, and somehow both sweet and hot at the same time. Good thing he still had his hands on her, she needed the support. But then he backed away with a wry grimace. I havent had this sort of problem since high school.
Problem?
Now the wry grimace turned into a wry laugh, and he shoved his fingers through his hair, disturbing it, before cramming his hands deep in his pockets. Uncontrollable erections.
Oh, she said, her face flaming, and unable to control it, her gaze was suddenly glued to the spot in question.
That will make it worse, he said very silkily.
Putting her hands to her hot cheeks, she turned away.
NICK STOOD next to Danielle in the darkened studio knowing he was in trouble. He just wasnt sure how hed managed to get there.
He was taking her home with him because she needed him.
Okay, not entirely. It was just that he felt loath to let her walk right back out of his life as if nothing had happened.
And nothing had happened.
Unless one counted the way his heart had leaped into his throat at just the sight of her. Maybe if he didnt look at her
He looked at Sadie instead. She looks hot, he said, watching the huge dog pant.
She needs water.
Here, then. Before we go. He backed into the office, opened the darkroom and took out a bin. He was used to the dark in here, unlike Danielle, who bumped into his chest.
Oh, she said, flattening her palm over his heart.
At the light touch, his blood pounded. Hed dreamed about her during his most impressionable adolescent years, but this was ridiculous. Wait right here. Moving away from her, he filled the bin from the cold water in the sink, then set it down for Sadie.
The dog pressed between them, diving for the water. No dainty lapping for this dog. She stuck her entire face in and slurped at it, making water splash over the sides onto the floor, his shoes, everywhere.
Then she lifted her head, looked right into his eyes and let out a sharp bark, nearly piercing his eardrums.
Shes thanking you.
He studied the dog, who had water all over her face, running in two long streams out either side of her mouth. He thought about the mess on the floor and what his sisters would say. Thought about how he was going to have to get down on his hands and knees and scrub. He sighed. Shes welcome. Hed come back tomorrow and clean up. When his life returned to normal and he was back on vacation, with nothing demanding his time or efforts.
Just then Danielles scent came to him-clean woman-and he found himself inhaling deeply, wanting to bury his face in her hair. Lets go, he said a little gruffly.
They were on the steps outside when he heard the car pull up. Beside him, Danielle tensed, and so did Sadie.
Nick looked into the street and got a little tense himself. Damn it, hed forgotten something that had seemed so important to him only a few hours before.
His date withah, hell. Muffy? Missy? He couldnt quite remember her name. Theyd met in a bar only two nights ago and the place had been incredibly noisy.
By arrangement, they were to meet here at six oclock. It couldnt be that late already, could it? But one glance at his watch assured him it could and was.
Yoo-hoo! His date waved from her car as she double-parked. Then MissyMuffy No, Molly. Molly leapt out the drivers door, her wild blond hair cascading down her back in ringlets, her short, short, short gold sundress shimmering in the sun. Mile-long legs strutted. Full, round breasts jiggled as she hurried toward him, smiling with that wide, painted mouth hed thought so sexy only a few nights before.
Now, though it felt cruel to think it, she seemed like nothing more than a toy, and he couldnt imagine what hed been thinking to ask her out. Maybe thinking hadnt been involved. After all, they had nothing in common, nothing to talk about. She was nothing like
Danielle.
Hey there, Molly purred, reaching them. She glanced at Danielle curiously but without any animosity, probably figuring Danielle far too plain, too quiet, too reserved for Nicks taste.
She couldnt have been more wrong. To Nick, Danielles soft expression, her beautiful and not made-up eyes, her tasteful clothes, was a package proving to be more desirable than he could have imagined. Molly. He stepped closer, trying to head her off. Im sorry, he started regretfully, reaching out for her hand in order to avoid-
Nope, no avoiding it. Molly drew him in, squeezing him in a hug that smothered him in perfume and undoubtedly left lipstick where shed planted her red mouth to the side of his.
Over her shoulder, he caught a glimpse of Danielle, who was doing a great impression of someone who could care less, but in her eyes was a hurt that tugged at something deep inside of him.
Wait until you see what Ive got on beneath this dress, Molly whispered in his ear.
Feeling stupid and awkward, he pulled back. Im sorry, he said again, looking into her eyes, watching as they filled with disappointment. But-