Body Heat

CHAPTER ELEVEN

EVEN BEFORE Jake left her at the hospital, Brianne realized the only way out of the situation was to face down her fears. Only then would she know if she could handle Jake’s kind of life. Only then would she know if she had the courage to approach him and ask for forever.

An hour after Jake’s departure, Brianne drew a deep breath and walked into Marina Brown’s hospital room. The uniformed cop hadn’t given her a hard time, other than to check her hospital badge against hospital records. Mentioning Jake Lowell’s name hadn’t hurt her cause, either.

“Hello?” Brianne called to the woman curled into a fetal position in the bed.

“Hi.” The girl pushed herself up against the white pillows. “Are you another one of the Social Service people?”

Brianne shook her head. “No. I’m…” She swallowed hard. “My name is Brianne Nelson and I need your help.”

Brianne figured if she heard Marina’s story and discovered how the young woman had gotten drugs from The Eclectic Eatery, perhaps Brianne could attempt to do the same thing herself. It would take some doing, and she’d have to ditch her private investigator, but she’d manage. She’d worked in the hospital for years and knew every back alley and door. She could lose her tail easily. If she could actually get possession of drugs, she could prove the restaurant was the supplier, something Jake said the police had yet to do. After that, the cops could link the restaurant to Ramirez and put him away.

And Brianne would have taken the first step in getting the drug-dealing criminal out of their lives. She didn’t think she was smarter than New York’s finest, she just needed to take back her life and her future. Ramirez had intentionally and nefariously stolen her freedom, while Jake’s behavior-despite the best of intentions-had taken away her control. But between them they had brought back her worst childhood fears. The adult Brianne had to conquer them.

Fifteen minutes later, after an honest exchange with the young woman and a promise to visit tomorrow, Brianne had the general means by which to order drugs from The Eclectic Eatery. She just had no way of knowing which item on the extensive menu was the key. But she’d figure it out.

Brianne rubbed her palms up and down her forearms, then glanced back at the door, behind which the young girl lay with an IV in her arm. She also had a dead boyfriend.

Brianne refused ever to be in that same position. She wouldn’t let anything happen to Jake.

“YOU INVOLVED a goddamned civilian,” Lieutenant Thompson said in a low growl, eyeing Jake with fury in his eyes.

“Not intentionally, sir.” Jake remained standing before his superior, and waited for the smoke to clear and the older man’s anger to blow over.

Thompson’s face reddened and he kicked a metal garbage pail across the room and into the wall. Obviously the storm wouldn’t end anytime soon. Jake didn’t blame Thompson for wanting a piece of him. At the moment, he’d like to rip a piece of his own hide as well-for not leveling with Brianne the minute he’d realized Ramirez was tailing her.

But that was hindsight.

Now he acknowledged that Brianne was the strongest woman he knew. She’d overcome her past and raised her brother, and if she’d experienced a resurgence of any anxiety, she knew how to handle it. She’d proven that to him this morning. But at the time he’d realized Ramirez was watching her, Jake hadn’t known how she would react; keeping her in the dark had seemed the best means of protection.

But he had another reason for remaining silent-one he didn’t like admitting. The truth was that he hadn’t wanted to give Brianne the chance to turn him away. She hadn’t done it yet but she still might. It was something he wasn’t ready to contemplate.

“You questioned a goddamn police witness while officially off duty,” Thompson snarled.

“I didn’t question her, sir. We had a friendly conversation.”

“Friendly, my ass,” he muttered. “And your shoulder?”

“Hurts some.”

“I don’t care how it feels. Is it operational?”

“Close enough.” Jake winced as the lieutenant took another shot at the garbage pail. “Did you ever play soccer, Lieutenant?”

The older man scowled. “I don’t even want to know the reason you held out on me.”

Jake let out a groan and lowered himself into a chair by the desk. He might as well admit to the lieutenant that disillusionment had bit his sorry behind. “Ever since Frank died…” Jake began.

Thompson waved a hand in dismissal. “I said I don’t want to know. Not until this is over and Ramirez is behind bars. For now, get your ass into the physician’s office and get yourself certified as fit.”

Jake nodded, knowing he had no choice if he wanted in on the official end of busting Ramirez.

“Do I know everything now?” the lieutenant asked.

“Yes, sir.” Everything but the fact that Brianne was more than his physical therapist. If the lieutenant knew things were personal-and they were damn personal-he’d be even more furious than he already was.

This morning, she’d accepted him for who he was, cop and all. No woman had ever done that for him, not even the one he’d married. Jake hadn’t expected the gift from Brianne, not in light of her past, and certainly not after she’d discovered his betrayal. She’d deserved better from him.

“I want to talk to this Brianne Nelson.”

Jake started to argue, then shut his mouth. His gut reaction was to protect her, to leave her out of the loop. But he’d played the game that way once before and it had backfired. He hadn’t a clue if she planned to walk out on him when this was over, or what he intended to do about it. But he could only deal with the here and now. And Brianne could handle a talk with the lieutenant.

Jake planned to play things straight with her from here on out. “She gets off work at five. I’ll bring her down then.”

Thompson raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were her patient, nothing more. I’ll have her picked up and brought down here. You don’t need to act as her bodyguard.”

Jake would guard Brianne’s body with his last dying breath, but he wasn’t about to fight with Thompson now. Jake ignored the comment and decided to spring his plan on the lieutenant instead. “Since I’ve been out asking questions and making his life uncomfortable, Ramirez wants me as much as I want him. I figure we can set me up as a target-”

The phone rang, interrupting him.

“Thompson,” the lieutenant barked into the phone.

For the first time since Jake had walked into the office and leveled with his boss, the room grew silent. Finally Thompson said, “Well, I’ll be damned.”

He hung up the phone and eyed Jake with a glare that made the hair on the back of his neck prickle. “What’s up?”

“We’ve got our link between the drugs and The Eatery. Looks like we can shut the place down.”

Jake leaned his hands against the old metal desk and rose. “Let’s go. I’d like to shake the hand of the person who scored.”

“I’m going. You’re heading for a physical. But don’t worry. I’ll congratulate your girlfriend for you.” The lieutenant smirked, telling Jake he’d guessed about his personal relationship with Brianne.

“What?” The muscles in Jake’s back and shoulders tensed and his heart lodged somewhere between his chest and his throat.

“Apparently Brianne Nelson ditched the bodyguard you said was so good and went to The Eclectic Eatery, where she figured out the right request and scored. Then she called the cops. I don’t like a civilian involved, but we’re halfway home.”

The lieutenant looked damn pleased they’d connected the restaurant to the goods, but Jake’s gut clenched in pure fear. Brianne had put herself in danger, and if anything had happened to her…if he’d lost her before he had the chance to tell her he loved her…

He loved her. Why the hell hadn’t he realized it sooner?

“Your girlfriend’s got talent,” Thompson said.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Jake answered automatically, his thoughts still reeling from his realization. He ignored the lieutenant’s disgusted look. Jake never shared his private life, and despite his self-made promises to the contrary, he sought to protect Brianne now. Again, when it was obvious she didn’t need his protection. Hell, she probably didn’t even need him.

But he needed her. Hell, he loved her, he thought once more. Admitting it to himself wasn’t half as hard as it should have been. The harder part would be admitting it to Brianne…and seeing if she walked anyway.

If she was alive and well. “Is she…”

“She’s fine. Safe and talking to our guys. But if she’s not your girlfriend then why do you look like you’re going to bust a gut unless you get the hell out of here? I knew there was more to this story. You’re holding out on me again, Lowell. And I don’t like it.”

Jake knew when to shut up, so he remained silent. It was the only hope he had of joining Thompson to see Brianne.

Thompson’s thoughts returned to the case. “With a little luck, any employee who’s scared enough of hard time will roll on Ramirez-if they can ID him. And we’ll have him behind bars.”

“If he doesn’t get Brianne first.” Jake started for the door.

“Stop!” Thompson barked.

Jake paused. “Make it quick, Lieutenant. Much as I respect you, I’m out of here.”

“If you want to return to this department-ever-you’re taking a physical. Now.”

In that instant, Jake’s dissatisfaction with his job and his intent for the future crystalized into one thought: Brianne. Jake hadn’t just been dissatisfied with his career, he’d been dissatisfied with his whole damn empty life.

He didn’t have time to think it through now, but he knew his solitary lifestyle and a cop’s frustrated duty were the core of his restlessness-summed up with his unpredictable hours and cold meals eaten alone while struggling to nab scum like Ramirez only to have them go free. It had taken Brianne bursting into his life to show him the light.

Jake turned to his superior, a man whom he respected and who’d taught him everything he knew about good police work, procedure, leadership and even friendship. Thompson knew how to balance the two well. Jake would like to sit the older man down and break it to him gently but he didn’t have the time.

“Sorry, Lieutenant, but to hell with the physical.” To hell with the department. The only thing that mattered was Brianne, and when Jake got his hands on her, he was going to kill her. Then he was going to kiss her and make love to her until she was too tired ever to move again.

The older man’s eyes narrowed, and he pinned Jake with his glare. “I’m not having the Ramirez case thrown out again because one of my men put his dick before his brain and screwed up.”

Jake didn’t take offense. Both men were taking a stand. “Then we’re in agreement,” Jake said.

The older man slammed his hand down on the desk-a gesture of frustration, but also an expression of understanding because Thompson knew what was coming and didn’t like it.

“I’m not one of your men anymore,” Jake said.

Thompson swore, but must have known Jake was serious because he didn’t argue. “We’re out of here. But we’re not through, Lowell.”

Jake nodded. He owed the older man an explanation, after he got finished with Brianne. Scoring drugs at The Eclectic Eatery! What the hell had she been thinking? He clenched his jaw until his teeth hurt. He didn’t give a damn how much he loved her, he’d shake her until her own teeth rattled, he thought, overcome by both fury and fear.

By the time Thompson pulled his car up to the restaurant, now surrounded by cops, Jake was in a sweat. He grabbed for the handle, opening the car door before the sedan reached a stop.

“I suppose you’re still going to try to feed me that bull about how she’s not your girlfriend?”

Jake ignored the lieutenant. He jumped out of the car and ran to find Brianne.

“IT WAS EASIER than I’d thought it would be,” Brianne told the uniformed cop who was watching her but not really listening. It was his job to guard, not to listen. Besides, she’d already given her story to the detective named Duke, who’d immediately called someone named Lieutenant Thompson. Brianne had a hunch it was only a matter of time before Jake arrived and wanted to strangle her.

She lifted her hair off the back of her neck. The heat was trapped inside the stifling police cruiser where they sat on a side street near The Eclectic Eatery. She’d called the police from a pay phone around the corner-after she’d ordered take-out and discovered she’d actually scored drugs by asking for The Garden of Eden. The description had been simple: a bouquet of mixed greens, tomatoes, bean sprouts and flowers. After her delivery of poppies, the word bouquet had jumped out at her and she’d made sure to use it in her order, along with the salad’s name. She’d guessed correctly, and in return she’d received a silent nod and, along with her order, little colored pills. She recalled Marina in the hospital bed, and shivered despite the heat.

The police were now waiting for a court-ordered search warrant, and then they’d close down the place for good. Would one of the employees rat out Ramirez? Brianne didn’t know but, Lord, she hoped so. The thought of the man’s voice and his ability to find her easily put her nerves on edge; she clenched her fists, resting them in her lap.

She still didn’t know where she’d gotten the courage to walk into that restaurant in the first place. But somehow, she knew she’d succeed. God knows, she didn’t look like a cop, so the restaurant staff shouldn’t suspect anything. Still there’d been so many unknowns-was Ramirez already there or was he following her?-yet she’d ditched David, anyway. Not only because she wanted this situation over with, but because she didn’t want Jake taking any risks on her behalf. Because she loved him. Her heart still rose to her throat when she admitted it to herself.

And when Brianne loved, she took over. She’d seen herself do it with Marc and now she was doing it with Jake. She put her head in her hands, knowing she still had to face him. In order to prevent him from making himself a target, she’d put herself on the line instead. He’d be furious, she knew, but at least they were a step closer to getting Ramirez out of their lives. After they’d linked Ramirez to the drugs, the case would be over. But for Jake there would be another one after that, then another.

Could Brianne live the rest of her life wondering each day whether he’d walk in the door alive and well? Did he even want to walk in her door or was he still tied to the notion of a short-term affair? Affair. Such a cold word for such a hot relationship.

A loud thumping noise reverberated through the car, startling her, and Brianne jumped in her seat. She glanced up to see a man’s fist pounding on the shatterproof glass window. “It’s Lowell. Open up.”

Brianne bit down on her lower lip and glanced at the cop in the front seat. Apparently he recognized Jake’s voice because he unlocked the doors and stepped out of the car. Minutes later, the front door swung shut, the back door flung open, and Brianne found herself facing Jake.

His face was flushed with anger, his jaw was clenched and his blue eyes were blazing with banked fury, but he remained silent. She winced in anticipation of the tirade she felt sure would come. He lifted his hands and braced her cheeks more strongly than was comfortable but still he said nothing.

She needed to break the tension. “Jake?”

He responded in the least expected way. He sealed his lips over hers, his mouth hard, hot and demanding. He didn’t ask, he took, and he pushed his tongue past her barely parted lips in a masterful act of possession. One so strong, she felt the pull both between her legs and deep inside. Sexually, he’d aroused her in an instant, but emotionally he tugged at her heart.

Just as she melted into him, he jerked his head back, breaking the kiss. “I needed to feel you were alive and okay.” He ran a shaking hand through his hair.

“I am.”

“I know. And now I can throttle you. What the hell were you thinking?” he yelled, the anger she’d expected flooding out.

She blinked hard. He’d never shouted at her before.

“Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?” Jake asked.

She shrugged lightly. “I did good, didn’t I?”

He lowered his hands from her face, probably to stop himself from squeezing her to death, Brianne thought.

“You could have gotten yourself killed.”

Her stomach churned at the thought.

“Why didn’t you call me instead of the department?”

She understood his anger and frustration. But she’d entered that store in part to keep Jake out of danger and in part to make sure Ramirez stayed behind bars this time. Calling Jake would have been an emotional reaction, so she’d refrained.

“Because I was afraid Ramirez’s lawyer would say any evidence I got was tainted. Is that the right word? You’re not on official duty and you have a grudge. I didn’t want him to claim entrapment and get off again.” She shrugged, and when he didn’t reply, she continued. “I was protecting you and your case. And afterward, I wanted to call you but the police wouldn’t let me. They said they’d handle things from here, put me in this patrol car and-”

His sharp exhale told her he’d accepted her explanation, although he was by no means calmer. “You need to give your statement, and then we’re going home,” he said tersely.

“I already gave information to an officer.”

“Lieutenant Thompson wants to talk to you, and you’ll need to give an official statement downtown. Then we’re going back to the penthouse and you’re not leaving there until Ramirez is behind bars.”

“Now that’s a little extreme, don’t you think?”

“You don’t want to test me right now, Brianne.”

His anger was palpable. So was his fear. He braced one arm on top of the back seat and leaned close. His masculine scent wrapped around her, overpowering her in the confines of the small car.

“You want to do exactly as I say and let me take you home.”

Her stomach did an excited flip at his insistent, severe tone. Reaching up, she touched her fingers to his cheek, then let them roam downward until she found the muscle in his jaw and massaged the side of his face. “I’m sorry I scared you,” she said softly.

He remained outwardly unaffected by her touch. “Do you have any idea what could have happened to you if Ramirez had gotten a hold of you?”

She shivered. “He didn’t.”

“He could have.”

Neither his tone nor his expression showed any sign of softening, and her heart pounded in her chest. “Jake…”

Just then, a thunderous voice called his name and pounded on the top of the car. “Lowell, get the hell out here.”

“Sounds like someone’s not thrilled with you.” Brianne tried to see who was out there and couldn’t.

“Pretty much how I’m feeling about you right now,” Jake muttered.

She cringed when another thump sounded on the roof. “Now,” the male voice yelled.

She crossed her arms over her chest, bracing her hands around her forearms. “You’re being summoned.” And none too soon, she thought.

Jake nodded, then jerked open the car door and jumped out, slamming the door closed before she could make an exit of her own.

That was okay, Brianne thought. She could use the time to figure out how to neutralize Jake’s fury. Though she felt awful about scaring him, she refused to back down as if she’d done anything wrong. She’d put Jake first, before her fear. If given the choice again, she’d do the exact same thing.

AFTER AN EXHAUSTING couple of hours at the police station, Jake took Brianne home to the penthouse. The cops had confiscated the drugs, more than they’d thought they would get in one take, had herded up the restaurant employees and taken them downtown for questioning. Both Thompson and Jake felt certain one of them would give up Ramirez. No doubt about it-thanks to Brianne, they were this close to nailing the ringleader.

But Jake was beyond furious that she’d taken the risk and had no intention of letting up on her until she understood the gamble she’d taken and the peril she could have put herself in. For a woman who’d suffered a childhood fear of risk and sought to back away from people who thrived on the same, she had done something shocking. But knowing how Brianne had always taken control of her life, he realized now that he shouldn’t have been surprised-just pissed at himself for not out-thinking her first. Now he’d settle for dimming her enthusiasm.

Norton trotted beside them into the kitchen. Happy to see Brianne, he made himself her permanent shadow. “Good thing I got the doorman to take care of his walks,” Jake muttered. He was in no mood to take the dog out to do business now.

“You’re still upset.” Brianne walked ahead of him and tossed her bag onto the table, then whirled to face him.

He held on to his composure by a slender thread. “Why would I be upset?” he asked with thinly veiled sarcasm.

Her green eyes met his. “I can think of a number of reasons.”

“So can I. For one thing I had to relinquish control of questioning the employees to Duke and Vickers.” But that was the least of his concerns, he acknowledged silently.

“I heard Lieutenant Thompson say that without a physical you weren’t going anywhere near this case again,” she said softly.

“Well, I can blame myself for that,” Jake said bitterly.

When he’d set out to rehabilitate in private, he’d known he was risking the official part of the job. Since in his gut he knew he hadn’t wanted to return, he’d thought the undercover work he’d accomplish in private would be worth it. But he hadn’t figured Brianne’s blasted independence into the equation. He hadn’t thought he’d need to.

“I can let them know how good you’re doing. How I think you could pass a basic physical.”

“Could I?” Their therapy sessions had been minimal. They’d opted instead for personal time.

“Let’s face it, Jake. Your shoulder’s doing better than I thought. You don’t really need private, daily therapy. I can help quicken your path back to work.” She offered him the solution with hope shining in her eyes. “I’d do that for you, no matter how I feel about your putting yourself in danger.”

He didn’t want her in danger, either, but she didn’t seem to comprehend that. But he recognized her selfless offer and he groaned. He didn’t want his feelings for her to soften. Not while he was still justifiably angry.

“Thanks for the offer, but no thanks.”

He didn’t need her help getting him back on a job he didn’t want. It was just the Ramirez case he’d needed closure on.

“Suit yourself.” Brianne moved closer.

His sister had a huge penthouse with Lord knows how many rooms, but the kitchen was too small to hold Jake and Brianne. Not without a lot of sexual awareness flowing between them, anyway. She took another step toward him. He held his ground but he wasn’t happy. Her strawberry scent hit him like a punch in the gut.

So did her pleading words. “Don’t be angry with me, Jake. I didn’t get hurt and I knew what I was doing. I had a plan, I had pepper spray-”

“Which would have done you a lot of good when facing a drug-dealing cop killer!” His stomach turned over, and he gripped the nearest chair with both hands.

Her eyes blazed bright, alive with the knowledge of a job well done and a sense of accomplishment. Jake ought to know. He recognized what she was feeling, having experienced the rush often himself. If he’d thought he had a chance of making her see reason, she’d killed that hope.

“Do me a favor?” he asked.

Her eyebrows lifted in question.

“Keep quiet. Because every time you speak, you make things worse, not better.”

A muscle ticked in her jaw. “You’re one to talk. You’re the one who’s willing to make yourself a walking target for Ramirez. Now you’re angry I did the same?”

“You’re damn right I’m angry. If I’d gone after Ramirez, I’d have been doing my job. You were an inexperienced civilian ducking out on a bodyguard hired to protect you.” He forcibly stopped himself from pointing his finger at her or reacting in any other physical way.

But he realized he was yelling and took a step back. His behind hit the counter, and he found himself trapped between the cabinets and her lush body. A body he wanted even now, despite-or was it because of-the heated argument.

Apparently unaware she was crossing a boundary, she pointed her finger at him. “You’re on leave.”

That she didn’t hesitate to remind him or incite his anger further told him much about her current state of mind. She wasn’t falling back into trembling or fear. She wasn’t having an anxiety attack. She was enjoying herself-both catching Ramirez and arguing with Jake.

Jake had to admit that a part of him was enjoying it, too. And he was turned on by her strength as well as her beauty. However, he was still angry and needed her to understand the seriousness of her situation. Now that they’d closed down Ramirez’s shop, the dealer would feel cornered. He wouldn’t know which of his flunkies was rolling over on him, or who he could trust.

Ramirez would have no qualms about lashing out, especially at the cops, and at Jake-which meant Brianne had to be careful. The lieutenant had doubled the protection on Frank’s family, and he’d agreed to have Rina checked out in Italy to be certain. That left Brianne. She had to accept backup. She couldn’t run off on her own again, and Jake intended to make that clear.

But the ringing of the telephone prevented him from speaking. He reached for it. “Lowell.”

“It’s Vickers.”

Brianne glanced at Jake and mouthed, Who is it?

He raised one silencing finger in the air. “I’m listening,” he said.

“The chef turned on Ramirez. We got his statement and the address of his new lab. Then just as we’re ready to go on down there, Ramirez calls us. Says he’ll turn himself in.”

Jake was suspicious. “What’s the catch?”

“You’re it, buddy. He wants you in residence. Says he won’t risk walking toward us while you put a bullet in his back.”

Only a coward would shoot someone in the back, Jake thought. And only a coward would worry about someone doing it to him. “I’m there,” he told Vickers, and hung up.

Jake turned to Brianne. “I have to go to the station.”

She nodded. “Ramirez?” she asked.

“Yes.” For a split second, he saw a hint of the old fear in her eyes before she quickly masked it. But her determination to fight her fear and her proven willingness to take chances led him to the conclusion that he couldn’t trust her on her own. Not without a promise in return.

“What’s going on exactly?” she asked.

“Give me a minute.”

“Okay.” She nodded, wary but willing.

Brianne lowered herself into the kitchen chair, while he disappeared out the doorway. She figured he had some things to get from his room, and that was fine. She started to bite her nails, something she’d never done before, while she sought to figure out a way to get him to either tell her what was going on or take her along with him.

He returned, looking sexy and all male in his faded denim jeans and a black T. She jumped up from her seat and grabbed his arm.

“Relax, okay? I’ll be back in a little while.”

His words did little to calm her nerves, but she sat back down. “Where are you going?”

He narrowed his gaze. “If I tell you, will you promise to sit tight while I’m gone?”

She let out a huge sigh of frustration, knowing she could do no such thing. “How can I promise when I don’t know what you’re going to tell me?”

“Brianne, please make this easy on me. I’ll tell you the truth and you’ll promise to stay here where it’s safe.” He pinned her with those gorgeous eyes-eyes that were pleading.

She wanted to agree and knew that she couldn’t. If he was so desperate to extract this promise, she felt certain he was going to put himself in danger. There was no way she could sit around and wait while he did. “Tell me where you’re going and let me judge for myself whether or not I can make that promise.”

He rubbed his neck. “Ramirez is going to turn himself in. I’m going downtown to meet him.”

She was surprised that Ramirez would give up so easily and shocked that Jake had entrusted her with his destination. And then his words sunk in. “You’re going to the station? I thought you were on leave and forbidden from going anywhere near the wrap-up of this case.”

He rolled his eyes. “Dammit, did you have to be so smart? I don’t have time for this. Ramirez wants me there when he turns himself in.” He leaned over her, obviously taking advantage of his size and making use of police intimidation tactics. “Now promise me you’ll stay put till I get back.”

“No.” She wouldn’t let herself be bullied any more than she’d let him walk into danger alone.

“I don’t know when you developed this stubborn streak…”

“I’ve always had it. When I love someone, I stick by them. Just ask Marc.”

His eyes opened wide but he didn’t say anything, and Brianne refused to take back the words she’d tossed out. They weren’t careless or spoken in haste. She meant them and saying them aloud confirmed her feelings.

“Take me with you.” Her pulse pounded out a rapid beat.

“No. Last chance, Brianne. Promise me you won’t leave, and I promise I’ll be back soon.”

They were at a stalemate. “I want to but I can’t.” She grabbed on to the chair and started to rise. “Please understand.”

“I hope you do,” he muttered under his breath, and reached behind him. “Because I can’t risk something happening to you, like what happened to Frank.”

His dead partner, Brianne thought. And the next thing she knew Jake had snapped a pair of handcuffs around her wrist and shackled her other hand to the chair. Her gaze darted in disbelief between the cuffs and his pained face. “You wouldn’t.” But he just had.

“You left me no choice. You’ve already proven you’ll go off half-cocked if left alone. If you’d promised, I’d have taken your word.” He held his hand out in front of her in complete supplication.

He picked his keys up off the table and flicked on the small television in the kitchen, then handed her the remote control. He walked out, only to return a second later with a magazine that he placed in front of her on the table. “I’m sorry, but you gave me no choice.”

“Tell it to someone who cares,” she muttered.

She watched him leave, and betrayal lay like lead in her stomach. Brianne didn’t give a damn that he obviously felt bad or that he’d apologized. She also didn’t give a fig that she’d brought this on herself by refusing to promise.

If she had, she would have been lying, and she refused to lie to Jake. She yanked hard, but the metal cuffs were attached to a metal chair and neither would budge. Furious, she grabbed the magazine and began flipping through it, not really paying attention to what she saw. But when the minutes ticked by and Brianne realized he wasn’t coming back, she had no choice but to settle in for the duration.

From the mailing label on the front, Brianne knew the magazine belonged to Rina, and she hoped for some interesting reading. She glanced at the television. Trashy talk shows weren’t going to be enough of a distraction. She swallowed over the pain in her throat.

She crossed her legs and began to flip through the pages once more, stopping only when she reached the article entitled, “Sexy City Nights.” “Lovers in New York City.” “Hot Spots, Hot Nights, Hotter Sheets.” Brianne laughed despite herself, but when she caught a glimpse of the photos, she stopped and looked closer. In the first, dusk was setting around a couple outside an ice-cream shop, and memories of Brianne’s night at Peppermint Park with Jake came flooding back into her mind.

When she thought of that night, it wasn’t the sex that stood out, although it had been incredible. And it wasn’t the dessert, although the rich treat had been delicious. What stood out was how hard Jake had tried to pick a place that would mean something to her. How he’d attempted to give back what she’d been deprived of in the past. And how he’d believed her when she’d questioned him about being followed. He may not have revealed his suspicions, but he hadn’t discounted hers, either. Not the way her parents had, way back when.

Because he cared.

Not that his caring meant she’d forgiven him for cuffing her to this damn chair, but if his reasons mirrored hers for walking into The Eclectic Eatery in the first place, she could begin to understand.

Caring. Love. A future? All things she now knew she wanted. She couldn’t stand by and watch him walk out of her life without a fight. Losing him that way wouldn’t be as bad as losing him to a bullet-because he’d be alive-but he was worth fighting for. They were worth fighting for. She realized now that she could live with his risky life because she didn’t want to live without him. Not if she had a choice.

She studied the pictures on her lap. Interesting, erotic images of ecstasy. Without warning, Norton lifted his head and stood, then began barking and bolted for the other room.

“Traitor,” she muttered. “Jake?” she called. She rose and started to walk, but the chair and the cuffs held her back. “You’re going to pay for this,” she yelled out in frustration.

She heard the heavy tread of footsteps coming toward the kitchen. “Come uncuff me, will you?” Then maybe she could work on the forgiving angle. Maybe.

“My pleasure.”

Brianne turned toward the open doorway of the room in time to put a face to the voice-the accented voice of a man who couldn’t be anyone other than Louis Ramirez.