Keri gave him a mischievous grin. “I’ll be the judge of that. There is something about a man in a mask.”
“What about Catwoman?” Adam had an amused expression. “Any young male who watched that show had to have had a thing about Catwoman and her mask.”
“I have one,” she said.
“You seriously own a Catwoman mask?” Adam said. “Okay, that’s it. We need to get this take-out and I need to see that on you.”
Keri laughed. “I was Catwoman at a Halloween party and I still have the outfit.”
“True confessions,” Adam said. “Now you know one of my weaknesses—a Catwoman look.”
She gave him a devious smile. “I just might have to model it for you someday, Detective.”
* * *
Keri shivered, thanks to her damp jeans, as she stood outside the door of her home. They had driven separately to the restaurant, but Adam had wanted to see her home.
“Better hurry and get inside,” he said, obviously noticing that she was shivering.
She unlocked the door, then faced him. “Thanks for dinner, Adam.”
“I’m glad you took me up on it.” He shoved his hands into his leather bomber jacket. “I have to say, you’re a fun person to spill water on.”
On impulse she reached up and kissed his cheek. “Good night.”
His voice was husky as he caught her hand and rubbed her knuckles. Again the crazy sensations traveled from his hand to hers. “You still game to do this again?”
She tried to catch her breath. “Absolutely.”
“What’s your phone number?” he asked and she gave him the number for her cell.
He gripped her hand for a long moment, as if he was frozen, too. His brown eyes were so warm, so inviting. She had the urge to reach up and touch his lightly stubbled jaw, to caress his cheek with her fingertips.
His throat worked. He finally released her and she let out her breath as she let her hand fall away from his.
“Good night, Keri.” The way he said her name made her stomach flip. “Guess I don’t get to see how that Catwoman mask looks on you, do I?”
“Maybe if you’re good and let me win the next water fight, Detective, I just might show it to you,” she said.
“I’ll hold you to that.” His voice was deep and rumbly and oh-so-sexy.
“Good night, Batman.” Telling him good night had been hard to say, but she got it out.
He winked, then turned and walked away.
It was almost unnerving how he made her feel, and she barely knew him. She had never felt this way with someone she just met. It was something about the way he looked at her, the depth of caring she saw in his eyes. And maybe more than that.
Keri rubbed her temples and stared at the door for a long moment before locking it. The bolt lock thunked and the chain rattled as she slid it into place. After she set her car keys, cell phone, and wallet on the stand by the front door, she turned away and went toward the kitchen.
So many thoughts went through her mind, but the primary one was Adam. How much she had enjoyed his company, the fun they’d had, including getting dowsed with ice water. She had felt so comfortable with him and never felt any awkward moments the whole night, including, surprisingly the incident with her sweater buttons.
As she began to straighten up the kitchen, her thoughts turned to Edward. The fact that he was out of prison and the possibility that he might be searching for her right now was constantly at the back of her mind. She did her best to keep it there. Edward wouldn’t come after her or have one of his men hurt her, would he? He wouldn’t be that stupid.
But then it was Edward. And he lived by his own set of rules.
Thinking of Adam was far more fun. She rubbed her palms on her jeans. “You’re like a schoolgirl, Keri,” she said to herself. “With a crush on the cutest boy around.”
She finished up a little cleaning, then headed up to get ready for bed, skipping the squeaky step. At the top of the stairs she flipped on the light switch in the hall and then went into her bedroom and turned on the Tiffany lamp beside her bed. She went into the bathroom and washed her face and brushed her teeth before heading back into her bedroom.
She unbuttoned the sweater and smiled as she thought about Adam and the mini chaos that had come from a couple of undone buttons. After she tossed it aside, she pulled on a white T-shirt to sleep in, then started to take off her damp jeans. A sound from downstairs caused her to halt.
Heart pounding, she paused, her hands at the hem of her T-shirt, and waited to see if she heard the noise again.
Nothing.
Fred started barking like crazy in the rear courtyard. She’d forgotten to bring him in for the night. But what was wrong with the golden retriever? No doubt she should let him in before the neighbors decided to call or come knocking at her door.
She skipped the squeaky step as she silently walked down the staircase to go let Fred in. She reached the foyer and went into her living room—
The lights went out.
THREE
Keri clapped her hand over her mouth, holding back a cry. Was it Edward? Had he or one of his hit men come for her?
She was being stupid.
Keri sucked in her breath, her heart pounding, and wondered why she was so jumpy. The power must have gone out on her block.
It was now so dark in the living room that she couldn’t see anything. She blinked rapidly, trying
