Page 19

H arlow had to make him understand. Anthony was mean and as sneaky as a snake. He’d strike when least expected. She should know.

“Trust me, Harlow.” He softly said as he skimmed his fingers over her cheek.

“It’s not that I don’t. I do. It’s Anthony I don’t trust. He plays dirty.”

“Believe me, I can get down in the dirt with the best of them. As can Liam and Cooper.”

Maybe so, but he wasn’t getting just how ruthless and vengeful Anthony could be. It wasn’t a risk she was willing to take. She’d just need to figure out how to get her son and disappear without leaving a trail.

“What’s going through that mind of yours?”

She hoped she didn’t have a guilty look on her face because she feared that he could see into her mind. That he read her every thought and knew the drastic measure she was considering.

She shrugged and tried for an innocent face. His piercing gaze made her uneasy and she feared she wasn’t doing such a good job of shielding her thoughts. When she averted her gaze, he put his hand on her chin and gently turned her to meet his eyes.

“Talk to me.” He let go of her chin and tapped her forehead with a finger. “You’re planning something.”

How could he possibly know that?

“If you’re thinking your only choice is to go back to him out of some altruistic idea you need to protect me and my team, just forget it.”

“No! No, I could never go back to him.” Relief poured though her that he hadn’t guessed her plan. What would he think if he knew what she was considering? If anyone could help her disappear, it would be him. Did she dare test the water? The trick would be to make it sound like a stray thought, not her plan B.

“I don’t know. Maybe I should just disappear with Tyler. Go somewhere Anthony would never find us.” Uh-oh, he didn’t look happy.

He stood and braced his hands on the arms of her chair, boxing her in. “Listen to me right now. Get that idea out of your head.”

“It was just a thought.” She could see the warrior in him, in the determined and hard eyes, in the sharply spoken words that said she’d be a fool to challenge him.

“But not a good one.” His expression softened slightly. “A life on the run with your little boy isn’t the answer.” He stepped back and leaned against the railing. “Do you want to spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder? And if you’re caught, which you probably will be, you’d be charged with parental kidnapping and most likely get a prison sentence. You’d lose any chance of getting custody of your son. Is that what you want?”

“No.” Because she didn’t plan on getting caught, but if she was…he was right, she’d lose Tyler forever. The thought of a life without her son was unbearable. She pressed her trembling lips together. Over her years with Anthony, she’d learned to hide her tears because he liked making her cry. Fed off her misery.

He held out his arms. “Come here.”

The invitation to be held by gentle arms was too much to resist, and she walked into them. “I’m sorry,” she said when a sob escaped. “Men hate it when women cry.”

“Hush. It gives me no pleasure to see you cry because you’re hurting, but sometimes it’s good to just let it out. You’re safe with me. You don’t have to be strong right now.”

The understanding he gave her, his kindness, and trusting that she was safe with him, she let her tears fall. She buried her face against his chest, and as she cried, he stroked her hair, then down her back, the touch of his hands soft and gentle. “I just miss him so much.”

“I promise you, we’ll bring your boy home to you.” When she looked up at him, he smiled as he swiped his thumbs over her cheeks, wiping away her tears. “And, Harlow, I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“No more talk about firing me or taking off on your own, yeah?”

“I trust you, so I’m not going anywhere.” How had she gotten lucky enough to find this man to help her?

“Good. Now, why don’t we go inside, and let me take care of you.”

“Okay.” She hoped that “taking care of her” meant what she thought it did.

Apparently not. But, as she sat in the bubble bath with a glass of wine in her hand, she decided the man did know how to treat a lady. He’d even run the bath for her. And what was he doing while she was rejuvenating in a soothing lavender-scented bath? He was in her kitchen, cooking her dinner. She let out a contented smile. She’d never been pampered like this, and as she leaned her head back against the tub, she thought of the gentle way he’d touched her as he’d wiped away her tears.

It would be so easy to fall for this man, but she couldn’t allow that to happen. A fling was the most there could ever be between them until the day she had her son back, then they would go their separate ways. All she would take with her of this time were her memories of the kindest, smartest and sexist man she’d ever known. He’d already proved that he could kiss… Boy, could he ever. That had to mean that he would be a good lover.

The bathwater was getting chilly, and she pulled the plug. After drying off and slathering lotion on her arms and legs, she slipped on the denim shorts that she’d never wear outside because they were so short and a white tank top. Although she put on panties, she decided on no bra. The top was soft and thin, making it obvious she wasn’t wearing one. Let him think of that what he would. Barefoot, she followed the tantalizing aroma to the kitchen.

“Whatever you’re making smells delicious.” His back was to her as he stirred something on the stove.

He turned and went silent as his gaze traveled over her body, down to her bare toes, then he made a slow perusal back up to her face.

She smiled, feeling both shy and desirable. Now that she was standing in front of him, she wasn’t sure what to do. Should she step close to him? Touch him? Tell him she was sure she did want him?

While she hesitated, he removed the pan from the burner. With his eyes locked on hers, he took the decision out of her hands and closed the distance between them. He placed his warm palms on her cheeks. “I’m going to kiss you. If you don’t want me to, tell me now.”

“I want you to.” He asked for permission, and she loved that about him.

“Thank you.” His mouth slowly lowered to hers.

His lips were soft yet urgent as they met hers, and she surrendered to this thing that was building between them. His hands skimmed down her arms, trailing goose bumps in their wake before they wrapped around her waist, pulling her body close to his. She could feel his heat, and her body responded with a shiver of desire. She parted her lips, allowing him to deepen the kiss, and he took full advantage of the invitation, kissing her deeply.

When they finally broke apart, she was breathing hard and standing on weak legs. He held her steady, his gaze never leaving hers. “Tell me what you want.”

That was easy. “You.”

“Okay, then.”

She yelped when he scooped her up. “Wasn’t expecting that,” she said with a chuckle as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Lord, he smelled good.

“I like surprising you. Unless you tell me no, I’m taking you to your bedroom, where I’ll have my wicked way with you.”

“I like the sound of that.”

As he carried her down the hallway, it surprised her that she wasn’t nervous. Although she knew why. It was because of him. She nuzzled his neck, smiling against his skin when he grunted. She’d have to remember that he liked that.

When they reached her bed, he lowered her to the mattress, then sat on the edge and removed his socks and shoes. That was a good start, but she wanted his shirt off. He glanced at her and smiled, making her heart beat faster and her belly flutter.

He put his hand on her ankle. “No regrets in the morning?”

“Not a one.”

“Good.” He trailed his fingers up her leg, stopping at her knee.

She squirmed, wanting his hand to start moving again, and when he knowingly chuckled, she glared at him. That brought a big grin to his face. Why was he torturing her?

“Want something?” he teased.

She shrugged, pretending to be indifferent to his teasing, but his playfulness made her happy. She’d never had fun in the bedroom before, and she liked it. She could play, too. “You told me you had magic hands. Maybe you should prove it.” She lifted her brows in what she hoped was a doubting expression.

“Feisty. I like it.” He moved his hand up her thigh a few inches before stopping again. “I did promise you magic, didn’t I?”

“You sure did, but I’m not sure you can live up to your own hype.”

He laughed. “Hmm, a challenge. I better get busy.”

“Busy would be good.” With his humor and playfulness, he’d made her want him even more than before he brought her to her bedroom.

His hand left her leg, and she wanted to snatch it back…well, until she realized he needed it to remove his T-shirt. Her mouth dried up at the sight of his bare chest. Yes, she’d seen him without a shirt at the beach and had appreciated how cut he was, but he hadn’t been in her bedroom on her bed about to make love to her. Now, staring at his chest and broad shoulders, and knowing what was about to happen, an involuntary sigh escaped. She was going to get to have her hands on that amazing body.

Give me. Give me, she wanted to say as she wiggled her fingers at him.

After tossing his shirt to the floor, he put his hand along the side of her head, leaned over and lowered his face to within an inch of hers. “You can’t begin to know how much I wanted this,” he said before brushing his lips over hers.

Electric! That was what his touch did, sent sparks of electricity through all her nerve endings. All thoughts of fun and games vanished when his tongue invaded her mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He kissed her until she was breathless.

He pulled away and stared down at her with an intensity that made her heart pound. “What are you doing to me?”

Before she could answer, Einstein ambled in, chattering away.

“Nope, no talking cats allowed.” He picked Einstein up, deposited him in the hallway, then shut the door in his face. “Now, where were we?”