Heat of the Night Page 14

She sighed, but there was as much remembered pleasure in it as there was frustration. "Yeah," she said weakly. "That plan." She cleared her throat, shored up her resolve. "At least for me it isn't—it won't work." She spoke in a rush now. "I know I told you it would just be for fun. No feelings involved," she hurried on. "Well. I screwed up."

  "Are you saying you want to end it?"

  "No!" she blurted immediately. "I mean, I don't want to, but I can't continue without letting you know that, well, it's not the same now. At least not for me."

  She wasn't breaking it off! Suddenly he didn't feel as tired anymore. In fact, he felt downright energized.

  "So now this…thing between us is a different…thing?" He probably shouldn't tease her, but he simply couldn't help himself. "Just what kind of thing is it now, Erin?"

  "You're starting to irritate me."

  "Then why are you smiling?"

  "I'm not smiling." She broke off, then he heard her mutter something under her breath. "Okay, so I'm smiling. Dammit. How do you do that to me?"

  The same way you do it to me. "I want to hear more about this thing we shouldn't be having but are anyway."

  "Well, I didn't want to use the R word and scare you off completely," she responded, sounding more relaxed, too.

  He liked this give-and-take they fell into so easily. Her dry humor and sharp wit, his unhurried comebacks. That kind of byplay aroused him as always. But it was also…soothing. Yeah, soothing. Like no matter how screwed up the rest of the world was, everything was right in his world when he heard that note in her voice.

  "The R word, huh?" He let his head rest against the back of the seat. "R. You mean, as in relationship?"

  "That would be the one. Did saying it leave a bitter taste in your mouth?"

  He laughed. "Surprisingly, no. No, it didn't." The tensions of the day slowly ebbed away. He couldn't escape the notion that as long as she kept talking, it would all be okay. How had he ever survived without her easing his life this way? "So, you said almost all of my million reasons for not doing this were good ones. Which ones weren't?"

  "The ones that say that just because the odds are against something, you automatically quit without trying." She paused for a moment, and they both sobered. "Unless you never wanted to try in the first place."

  "I don't think that's the case," he said quietly.

  "That's what I was hoping."

  He took a long breath at the same time she did. "You make it sound easy, Erin. You make me want to take you up on that offer of a backrub. And everything else that comes with it. Badly. But I also know that I could be yanked away from you again at any second. I don't want it—want us—to go there. To where you resent me. My job." He heaved a sigh. "As much as I don't want to, maybe we should listen to those million reasons. Maybe those odds are the odds for a reason. Maybe we shouldn't be so willing to add to that statistic."

  "And maybe you should give me a little more credit than you do."

  "Meaning what?"

  "Meaning I'm a grown woman who is perfectly aware that she's entering into a relationship with a man dedicated to a job that doesn't respect family or relationships or anything else except justice." She let him think about that for a moment, then softly said, "Maybe this will lead to the pain and heartache that you see happening to other cops around you. But you can't tell me they are all miserable, that there aren't relationships that work."

  "No, but—"

  "But do you want to find out about us? Maybe we'll be the other statistic. Or would you rather always wonder if I was right about this too?"

  His lips quirked at that, but his tone remained even. "I don't want us to end up enemies. That's what I don't want."

  "I don't want that either."

  "How do we make sure that doesn't happen?"

  "I don't think we get to try for one without risking the other. We can hope we'll handle whatever comes our way the best we can, like adults. But I can't make you any promises. Except one."

  Brady's throat tightened. "Which is?"

  "That I'll always be honest with you. If I can't handle it, I'll tell you. If we can find a way to work around the problems, we will. If not…" She didn't finish.

  "I'm starting to see why you're doing so well with your business."

  "I drive a hard bargain, O'Keefe. I'm going to expect the same commitment from you. Uh-oh. I went and used the C word. Did I blow the deal?"

  "No," he said, chuckling. "No, you didn't blow the deal."

  She blew out a long, shaky breath and Brady swore he heard her whisper, "Thank God."

  And that was the crux of her appeal. A sturdy defense, a shield of confidence, and underneath it all a heart that could still be just as insecure as his.

  "So we're officially doing the R word now?" he asked.

  "Yes!" She quickly cleared her throat and sounded calmer when she added, "I, van, I guess we are. Yes. Yes, we definitely are."

  "What's that pounding noise?"

  "Pounding noise?"

  He grinned. "Yeah. The pounding noise that just stopped. Right when I asked you what the pounding noise was."

  "Oh. That noise."

  "Yeah. What was it?"

  "My, um, my feet. On the coffee table."

  Brady's grin threatened to bust to a laugh. He held it back. "Is something wrong? Foot fall asleep?"

  It didn't take long for her to regroup. "You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"

  "Isn't that what people in relationships are supposed to do? Enjoy one another?"

  "Not at the other's expense."

  "Oh. So, I'm not supposed to enjoy that you were doing a victory dance on your coffee table over closing the deal? This relationship thing is new to me, so you'll have to cut me a little slack."

  "I'm beginning to wish I'd never taught you the R word. And you'll get no slack. Not from me. Not ever."

  "Good," he said, this time very serious. "I'm counting on that."

  "We'll see."

  "Yeah, I guess we will." He was officially getting involved with Terror Mahoney. Hell, he was already involved. Over-his-head involved. "Is that backrub offer still valid?" She said nothing. "Erin, are you still there?"

  "I'm considering."

  He laughed. "Considering what?"

  "Whether I should use my hands…or my feet."

  "You can use whatever you want on me." He gentled his voice. He wasn't teasing her now. "I just want to feel you touch me again, Erin."

  She breathed audibly. "You might be better at this relationship thing than you give yourself credit for."

  "So that is a yes?"

  "Damn right it is. So hurry."

  Erin floated in to work the next morning. Brady hadn't left until five that morning. A beeper-free night. She was going to have to get him to bring a change of clothes next time. She grinned and danced across the room to her desk. There was going to be a next time!

  She fell blissfully into her chair, then winced and moved to a more comfortable position. "The man is a superhero in more way than one," she murmured. She just wasn't used to so much…activity. Her body and all those wonderful muscles she'd discovered she had would simply have to catch up. And soon, if she had anything to say about it.

  "Boy, if ever the cat looked like she'd eaten the proverbial canary." Gina leaned on the open door to Erin's office. "Or should I say Detective Canary?"

  Erin just laughed. Gina made a beeline to Erin's desk, hopped on the corner of it, legs already crossed. "Spill."

  "You know what they say about the curious cat."

  Gina waved her off. "Oh that. I have at least…" She looked up to the ceiling as if mentally calculating, then grinned back at Erin. "Four or five lives left." She leaned forward. "So tell me everything. From the look on your face, it will be worth losing another one."

  "Gina," she warned.

  "Erin," Gina whined. "Okay, okay. Just one detail. But make it juicy. Jeremy did the dump-n-run on me last night, so I need cheering up."

  "Who is Jere
my?"

  "Exactly. Now tell me. Please?"

  "I swear, Gina, you know, maybe if you gave a guy some credit for having brains and not just—"

  "Brawn?" She sighed lustily. "Jeremy did have brawn."

  Erin gave her a look. "I'm just saying that there are men out there who are worthy."

  Gina swooned. "Oh my God. She's in love."

  "I didn't say that."

  "You didn't have to, girlfriend."

  Erin grew thoughtful. "I'm not in love with him, Gina. But I could be." She pictured Brady as he'd been last night. On the phone, in her shower, in her bed, in her arms. Smiling, laughing, groaning, climaxing. Looking into her eyes like no one ever had. "Yeah, I could be," she said softly.

  Gina sobered. "Whoa."

  Erin laughed gently. "Oh yeah. Big whoa."

  "He's a cop. You said—"

  "I know what I said. But we've talked about it and we'll deal with it as realistically as we can. I know it won't be easy. But I don't want anyone else. I've never wanted anyone like I want this man."

  "A man who puts himself in the line of fire as a part of his job."

  Erin shuddered. "Don't remind me. But, as much as I hate that part, what he does is a huge part of who he is. I wouldn't want one without the other."

  Gina shrugged and nodded. "I guess we can all go at any time, when you think about it."

  "I knew I loved you for a good reason. Yes, you are exactly right. I won't give up what we might have for what might, or might never, happen."

  "Are you afraid?"

  Erin looked straight at her best friend. "Terrified. But also excited, exhilarated, alive. It's worth the fear."

  Gina slid off the desk and came around to give her a hug. "Well then, I hope the best for you. Both of you."

  "Thanks." She thought she might cry, and it was too wonderful a day to get teary, so she purposely looked at the stack of folders on her desk. "Did you look at the proposal for Davidson?"

  Gina suspiciously wiped at her eyes, but managed to regain her professional demeanor as well. "Actually, that's what I came in here for. It looks good, but I think your projections are a bit enthusiastic." She dipped her chin and said slyly, "Must be all that exhilaration making your glasses a bit too rosy."

  "Here she goes with the jokes already. I'll go back over it before we meet this afternoon."

  "Works for me," she said as she sailed out the door.

  "Hey," Erin called her back. When Gina stuck her head back in the door, she grinned wickedly and said, "Four times. In one night. There is your one juicy detail."

  Gina fanned herself. "Remind me not to ask you for any more." She walked away and Erin heard her grumble, "Damn Jesse for up and leaving—"

  "Jeremy," Erin called out. "I thought his name was Jeremy."

  Gina went on without missing a beat. "Damn Jeremy for leaving me in my time of need." She raised her voice so Erin could clearly hear her. "And I do mean need!"

  Erin was laughing as she flipped open the Davidson folder. Her phone rang and she picked it up, her mind on the projection sheet in front of her. "Mahoney and Briggs, Erin Mahoney speaking."

  "Erin."

  "Brady! Hi." She was surprised and happy to hear from him, so it took her a second to process the tone in his voice. "What's wrong?"

  "This whole Sanderson thing is being blown wide open. There's been another homicide, a zoning commissioner this time. We think we know who did it, but I can't—" He broke off and swore as there was shouting and someone barking his name in the background. "Listen, I have to run, but I'll probably be late tonight. Don't wait up. I'll call later if I can. I'm sorry."

  "It's okay, really. I under—" She suddenly realized she was talking to dead air. "Stand," she finished, hanging up the receiver. She was disappointed, but glad he'd thought to call and tell her. So this is what it was going to be like. She would sit and wait and worry while he was out risking God knew what. But honestly, she would worry about him anyway. At least now she knew he'd call, or come to see her when it was all said and done. And she wanted that.

  Her thoughts switched to the murder. Who else had been killed and who'd done it? Maybe they would finally be able to nail the Han family for Sanderson's murder. Maybe Bradford Pitts's too. She got up to go tell Gina. Maybe it would be on the news.

  She never got past her office door. Gina was standing in the hallway, her arms being forcefully held behind her back, a very large, very black gun being held to her head.

  "Hi, Erin," he said.

  Erin's gaze darted from Gina's terrified face, to the man holding her captive. "You?"

  15

  "Yes, it's me." Todd Fletcher pressed the gun harder into Gina's temple, discouraging her from wiggling.

  "But why?" Erin was in shock. She'd known Todd was a weasel, but she hadn't thought him a murderous weasel. Think, Erin, think. "You'll harm the mayor's reelection campaign. You know he wouldn't want you to do this."

  Todd laughed, then his voice caught almost like a sob. "Don't you think I know that?" He cackled again, raising the hairs on Erin's arms with the half-mad sound of it. "But it's too late now."

  There was a sudden banging on the front doors of the office. "Police! Open the door now!"

  Erin jumped, but realized quickly that Todd was not going to give up easily. He didn't seem surprised at all by the sudden presence of the police. He pulled Gina's head back. "Don't make a sound. I will do all the talking." He stared at Erin until she finally nodded, then he called out, "This is Todd Fletcher. I demand to see Detective Brady O'Keefe. I won't talk to anyone else. I have two hostages, one of them is Erin Mahoney. You tell him that. If you try to enter this room, I will take them both out." He let out that half laugh, half cry again and added, "It's not like I have anything to lose."

  Then he snarled and jabbed Gina again. "So don't test me!"

  Erin swallowed hard at the mention of Brady's name. What did Todd want with him? She was still trying to come to terms with the fact that Todd was somehow involved in a murder. It was too coincidental that he'd showed up just after Brady had called. She tried to take a calming breath. Brady had said they thought they knew who did it and the police were outside the door.

  Still, how was Todd involved in Sanderson's death? She couldn't see any possible connection. What about Bradford Pitts? Had Todd been so worried about what the reporter was digging up that he'd actually killed him, too? Even seeing him standing in front of her, obviously pushed over the edge of despair, she couldn't imagine it.

  "Todd," she said quietly. He swung his wild-eyed gaze back to her. "Why don't you let Gina go? We can't go anywhere or do anything. You could lock us in my office until—" She faltered. She didn't want Brady here. Didn't want him to walk into this. "Until this is resolved. We're still hostages."

  Todd shook his head. "I might be desperate, but I'm not stupid. You'll stay right where you are."

  "Fine, fine. Just let Gina come over and stand with me, okay? You don't need to hurt her, she didn't do anything. She has nothing to do with any of this."

  Erin was still trying to figure out what she had to do with this. She was officially out of Todd's hair, so why threaten her like this? Then it hit her. He only wanted Brady. He knew they were seeing each other and that Brady would come because he was holding her hostage.

  In all the potential dating-a-cop scenarios she'd run through her mind, it had always been her coping with the danger Brady put himself in. Never once did she consider that she would now be a weakness to him, a vulnerable spot that could be exploited. She was worried about her safety, but now she was going to be used against him, to possibly put him in danger. Dammit, didn't he risk enough?

  She felt her throat close over. Reason one million and one for not falling in love with a cop. Or, more specifically, not letting a cop fall for her. She couldn't do this to him, affect his job this way. No way was he going to be put in more danger because she'd forced him to give this relationship a try.

  She eyed Todd,
recalling how he'd reacted to her that day in the hallway. She had no idea if he was too strung out now to react to her again, but damn if she wasn't going to try. The police hadn't made any other movement in the hall, which meant they were probably getting Brady. She had to end this before he got here and did something foolish to save her. And she knew he would. She told herself it was his integrity that would make him risk life and limb, that he'd do it for any civilian in danger. And she was right…but she also couldn't stop thinking about the Brady O'Keefe who'd been in her bed this morning. She blinked hard against the tears that suddenly threatened. She saw his face, his unwavering gaze before he kissed her good-bye, promising her he'd return to her as soon as he could. The man who might be falling in love with her.

  The man she realized now she'd already fallen in love with.

  She swallowed hard against the ache in her throat, turning her attention once again to Todd. This time she stood a little straighter, shoulders back a little, chest a bit more prominently displayed. Gina's eyes widened in disbelief and she knew her best friend had seen right through her plan. She only hoped Todd didn't.

  She forced a slow, sinuous smile onto her face. "Todd," she said softly. He jerked his gaze to hers, his eyes widening in confusion at the expression on her face. She moved swiftly, hoping to capitalize on that confusion. "You know I'm friends with O'Keefe." She daringly took another step closer to him. "I'm sure if you explain all this to me, I can help you out." Another step. "I mean, I know we had our disagreements with the mayor's campaign, but I know you don't hold that against me. After all, you got your way in the end." She smiled even more broadly and took another step forward, hoping her shaking legs weren't obvious. "Well, where Detective O'Keefe is concerned, let's just say I can probably get my way. In the end." She purposely did not look at Gina's terrified face. "I think you know what I mean."

  Todd swallowed hard and sweat popped out on his forehead.

  "I'll even let you take me hostage instead of Gina. O'Keefe will be a lot more likely to listen if I'm directly threatened, don't you think?"

  "Erin," Gina whispered viciously, but Erin kept her gaze firmly on Todd.