“Are you saying you changed your mind?” His hands tangled in her hair. It was a habit of his, she realized, one she enjoyed. The erotic tugging against her scalp turned her on.
No doubt that’s what he intended. “No, I haven’t changed my mind. I’m still respecting your original decision. But I want you to know something else.” She paused, in the space of a heartbeat. “I don’t expect anything from you. When this is over, you can walk away without looking back. I won’t stop you.”
Her cell phone chime shattered the ensuing silence and spared him having to answer. She glanced from the digital clock she still kept around to the phone laying face down, as usual. “No one I know would call at this hour.” The persistent sound continued.
He clenched his jaw. “Answer it.”
She picked up the cell. “Hello?”
“I’m through playing games, lady.”
Her hand went to the bruises on her neck. “Is that what you were doing?”
Silence greeted her and she looked at Kane.
“Keep him talking,” he mouthed and edged closer.
“I…I have something you want,” she said into the phone.
“You ready to start up again?” the man asked, sounding relieved.
The question startled her. She hadn’t expected him to make that kind of suggestion. She avoided answering. “I’m ready to turn over whatever I have to…Who did you say you work for again?”
His gravelly laugh sent chills racing through her.
“Lady, I’m no dummy. My mother’s sick. She wants the crosswords your aunt used to do. The ones she bragged about. I’m sure they’ll keep a sick, old lady busy.”
Kayla swallowed hard. “I have them.”
“Tomorrow, noon. Ditch the boyfriend and be at The Silver Café,” he said and disconnected the call.
“Not enough time,” Kane muttered.
“I tried.”
“I know.” He eased the cell out of her hand. Her fingers ached and she realized she’d been gripping her phone way too hard. Just like the fear that gripped her heart. But she could handle this. She had to handle this.
“What else did he say?” Kane caught her shoulders with both hands.
His touch steadied her. She forced even breaths into her lungs and replayed the conversation in her mind. “He knows about the crosswords, that my aunt was responsible for those. And he wants to meet tomorrow, at…at…” Realization dawned. “He’s been following me.”
“What makes you think that?”
“He wants to meet at the restaurant you took me to. That’s not a coincidence. I’ve never been there before you. I didn’t even know the place existed. He said to ditch you and show up alone. How does he know about you? How long has this guy been watching me?” Her voice rose along with her hysteria.
“Kayla.” Kane shook her gently. “Hey. He’s just trying to rattle you.”
“Well, he’s done a good job.”
“Then back out. No one would blame you, and I sure as hell would welcome it.”
“You know I can’t.” She met his gaze.
“Then don’t let him win. Don’t let him make you think you aren’t safe.” He drew her into his arms. His warmth enveloped her; his strength supported her. “Because you are.”
* * *
Kane didn’t know how long he held her. Only that at some point, they lay down on the bed until her breathing steadied and relaxed. The first time he tried to untangle their legs, she resisted. He must have dozed off because the sun now shone through the window where moonlight had been.
He called Reid from the kitchen. His boss answered on the first ring. “Meeting’s on,” Kane told him. “Noon today.” Kane didn’t like it, but he had no choice.
He’d given up all leverage where Kayla was concerned. She’d cut him loose and he hadn’t argued. Even if the phone call hadn’t interrupted them last night, he wouldn’t have fought her. She’d given him his freedom, something he’d had anyway, but for some reason, she thought he needed her permission to walk away.
She’d been clear on that point. She didn’t want anything from him. Though it was exactly what he needed to rid himself of any unwanted guilt, the thought rankled. Why the hell didn’t she want more? And why the hell did he care?
“Hey, McDermott. You wake me up to breathe into the phone, or you want to discuss backup?” Reid’s voice brought him back to the present.
Focus. A little after noon today, he’d have that ability back and more time than he knew what to do with.
“Yeah, boss.” Kane gave details about Kayla’s phone conversation. “The meeting is at the same place the department sprung for dinner at the other night. It’s crowded at lunchtime, so I’d just have some well-dressed undercover cops drop in for a meal and make sure I’m in the booth behind them.”
“No deal. If he followed her the night you two did the town, he’ll spot you in a second.”
The captain was right, but damned if he could just send Kayla off on her own. “Either I’m there, or the meeting’s off.”
Reid should have come down hard on him for asserting authority. He didn’t. His harsh laugh echoed in his ear. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were after my job, McDermott.”
“I’d rather rot than sit behind a desk,” Kane muttered.
Reid laughed again. “Okay, just keep out of sight. Make sure she hands over the books and opts out of the partnership. He takes them; we move in. That’s it.”
“I’ll coach her. She won’t even breathe at the wrong time.”
“Yeah, I trust you to be on top of things. Are you ready to end this?” Reid asked.
Kane knew the older man meant more than the case. He’d switched into paternal mode. Reid didn’t do it often, but Kane appreciated the attempt. Too bad he didn’t have an answer that would satisfy either one of them right now.
* * *
Kayla fished through her closet for the third time. Silk blouses, linen slacks, and sensible pumps. Had she really expected the contents to change just because she had? Even during the days she’d worked nine-to-five as an accountant, wearing
