Dont! Her harsh tone startled him. Dont you dare walk out on me.
You need space.
You mean you do. She dressed in silence before turning back to him. She ran her fingers through her disheveled hair. The second you drop your guard, you back off.
He was surprised she read him so well. He shouldnt be. Thered been a connection between them from the minute they met. He raised his hands in a gesture of defeat. You got me. Kane walked back to where she stood, hands in her front pockets, her expression guarded. He hated that look when directed at him.
He placed his hand around the back of her neck and drew her close. Tasting her lips brought him more pleasure than he could have imagined. Too much. He broke the kiss.
Her dark lashes fluttered upward. Do I? she murmured.
He didnt pretend to misunderstand. Yeah, you do.
Light entered into her green eyes. She looked like a starving cat that had finally found a scrap of food and wasnt about to let go. Of him. Damned if he couldnt get used to the idea-and that unnerved him.
He grasped her chin between his hands. But dont get used to it, sweetheart. Kane knew he was talking more to himself than to her.
He met her even gaze. The glow in her eyes didnt fade as hed expected it to. Kayla had obviously decided to take him on and that put him on edge. Her next words proved him right.
Youre used to being alone.
He couldnt dispute that remark.
But you dont have to be.
She was wrong. Because alone was safer.
Her hand wandered to the front of his jeans. He was hard again, but had no intention of losing control one more time. He reached for her wrist, but instead of pulling her away, he pushed her closer, letting her wrap her fingertips around the heavy bulge in his jeans. He groaned at the absolute perfection he found in her touch.
Not everyone leaves, Kane. Her whispered words penetrated his thoughts.
She removed her hand, twisting her fingers together in a nervous gesture that revealed she wasnt any more comfortable with the dynamic between them than he was. Sexual tension and an emotional pull. They couldnt deny either. The difference was, shed obviously decided to take control, to push past her barriers in order to reach him. Which meant hed made the right decision.
Someone had to keep their distance, to make things easier in the end. Why dont you go over those books while I jump in the shower?
Sounds like a plan. She nodded, ceding control.
Kane knew it was merely a temporary reprieve.
KAYLA WALKED INTO HER bedroom, pausing at the pile of clothes Kane had left lying in a heap on the floor. She liked the casual familiarity the sight implied. Not that she suffered from any delusions that he intended to be a part of her life. That much was obvious.
But she preferred to cling to the hope of the less obvious. The fact that shed taken control and reached past his defenses yet again. She bent down and picked up his shirt and jeans, clenching Kanes clothing in her hands. By the time the case was over, hed understand the difference between being a loner by choice-or necessity.
And thanks to Kane, she was becoming a woman in charge of herself, and her life. One who no longer feared her sexuality. This wasnt an experience she could regret, no matter what the outcome. But shed do everything in her power to direct it in her favor.
She tossed the jeans over her arm and something fell to the floor with a thud. Kayla bent down to retrieve his wallet, some spare change and
She tossed the jeans over her arm and something fell to the floor with a thud. Kayla bent down to retrieve his wallet, some spare change and
Whats this? Even as her hand grabbed the foil packet and held it up to the light, she knew.
And if Kane went to this much effort to avoid making love to her, to avoid the very intimacy that would enable her to breach his defenses, he had no intention of succumbing. Ever.
Shed been wrong. She hadnt gotten to him. Not even close. She brushed at her eyes before a tear could fall. When had Kayla Luck ever affected a man on any plane other than the physical? She should have known better before. She certainly knew better now.
But she had no time for self-pity. She had more important concerns than her love life. Kayla grabbed the five books with possible information and shoved them into an oversize bag. Kane might have directed the course of things so far. But no more.
Kane obviously needed to be shaken up on many different levels. She hadnt been in control sexually, that much was obvious. But there were other ways of taking control and showing Kane there was more to life than being alone.
The mysteries of Charmed! had yet to be unraveled. She could do that without Detective McDermott. The sooner she did, the sooner she could get back to the life she knew best. Her life without Kane.
She picked up the phone, called Catherine and asked her to meet her at her favorite hideaway. As she replaced the receiver, the shower shut off. The silence echoed in her ears. In minutes Kane would emerge, his dark hair damp from the shower, droplets of water on his skin. She ignored the traitorous thudding of her heart, refused to acknowledge the blood pulsing through her veins. Instead she bolted for the front door without looking back.
KANE WALKED OUT of the bathroom, drying his hair as he went. The silence struck him immediately. His nerve endings, honed by years of experience, went on alert. Kayla?
No answer. He didnt call again. His gaze traveled her bedroom. The pile of clothes hed worn earlier was missing and he realized he heard the hum of the washing machine in the background. But she was gone.
He recalled what happened the last time shed gone off on her own and his gut churned. She should have known better than to run off. He should have known better than to trust her now that she was back on her feet. Hell, he should have known better than to trust himself. Kayla distracted him in every way possible. His instincts were off, his edge dulled and softened.
He stalked through the house, taking in every detail. Nothing was missing exceptthe books. He now knew exactly where shed gone, evidence in hand. A walking target.
Kane muttered a savage curse. When he got his hands on her, hed throttle her. Never mind that what he really wanted to do was throw her onto the bed and finish what he hadnt allowed himself to do before. Damn.
He dropped his towel and threw on his clothes, then shoved his feet into his shoes and grabbed for his keys. He had to wrap this case up and get the hell out. He slid into the car, checked his gun and pulled his cuffs out of the glove compartment. The woman drove him to distraction. At this point, hed cuff her to the damn bed if thats what it took to keep her safe.
THE MUSTY SMELL OF OLD books permeated her nostrils, making Kayla feel safe. She rounded the end of a long aisle and saw Catherine pacing the floor at their allotted meeting place.
She touched her sister on the shoulder. Hi, Cat.
Catherine turned. Thank God youre okay. That emergency call scared me to death. Wheres your guard dog? She glanced over Kaylas shoulder in search of Kane.
Kayla shrugged. I dont know and I dont care. Liar. She cared too much, which was what had gotten her into this mess.
He let you out alone? After he promised hed protect you? I should have known the man was slime.
I snuck out and, if I recall, you liked him well enough the first time you met.
That was before he took advantage of my innocent sister.
Dont you think youre laying it on a little thick, even for you?
Catherine stepped forward and touched her cheek. You look like youve had your heart trampled and broken. So no, I dont think Im overreacting.
Kayla eased herself into one of the fabric-covered chairs. There werent many places in the public library that were comfortable and secluded, but three floors down from the main level, nestled between History and Research, Kayla had carved out her personal space.
Did you know that men were very literal creatures? Kayla asked.
How so?
They say what they mean and they mean what they say. If a guy says he doesnt want to get involved, he doesnt want to get involved. No hidden agendas exist. There arent any fairy-tale endings and theres no such thing as the right woman changing a stubborn mans mind.
Id like to strangle the snake.
Why? He never lied to me. Now sit. We have to talk. Kayla patted the chair across from her. Catherine meant well, but discussing her feelings for Kane was too personal. Kayla wouldnt divulge details, not even to her concerned sister.
Shed cope and deal with it on her own. What do you know about Charmed!s less discussed activities? Kayla asked.
What do you mean?
Look at this. She dug into her bag and pulled out one of the crossword books shed taken from the house. Lists of names, dates She fanned the pages for her sister to see.
Shut the book, Kayla. The deep voice took her by surprise. A familiar feeling of warmth curled inside her stomach.
The iceman cometh, Catherine muttered.
Shut up. Kayla and Kane spoke at once.
Instead of being insulted, Catherine merely continued undeterred. What shouldnt she tell me?
Anything. Kanes dark gaze bored into Kaylas. If he was aware of Catherine as anything other than another body in the library, no one would know. He had eyes only for her and, if the steely glint in them was any indication, he was furious. She could match and best him on that score.
Keeping secrets, Detective? Catherine asked.
None that concern you. He spoke to Catherine, but his gaze didnt swerve from hers. The intensity Kayla saw there unnerved her.
Catherines stare bounced from Kane to Kayla and back again. Apparently she sensed the undercurrents running between them because she stood and reached for her purse. I think thats my cue.
Kayla rose. You dont need to go. She could handle Kane without Catherines help, but she refused to let him drive her sister off.
I think I do. As for Charmed!, I know less than you. Aunt Charlene thought I was the wild child and rarely confided in me.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Kayla laughed. Catherine never begrudged Kayla her relationship with their aunt. Shed had little in common with the older woman, but Kayla knew in her heart, Aunt Charlene had loved them both. When push came to shove, though, the Luck sisters had relied on each other.