Simply Sinful

CHAPTER FOUR

KAYLA STARED AT THE MONEY on the bed in disbelief. “Payment.” She forced the words from her dry throat.

“You said we’d see how things go.”

Yes, she had…and now she knew. Things had been unbelievable, or so she’d thought. Special, sensual, incredible, fun, she couldn’t come up with enough adjectives to describe how being with Kane had felt. Because he was leaving, she’d decided to slip out before he awoke. No goodbyes, nor forced smiles. No questions, like will I see you again? She’d been foolish enough to hope he’d look her up again on his own, no prompting.

She turned toward the bed. The money marred the mattress where she’d come close to falling hard. For a stranger. Her stomach cramped and she was reminded of another morning after. It’s been real, Kayla. Catch you around sometime. Different man, another notch in some guy’s bedpost. Kane had just been so much better at seducing her into denial before slapping her with reality. Men didn’t want anything real with Kayla Luck. They never had, never would.

She squared her shoulders and forced a brave front. She refused to let him know how deeply he’d wounded her. “You’re right, we never agreed on payment.”

Unable to look into those dark eyes, she kept her gaze trained on a point behind him. “I said we’d see how things went…and…” The green bills caught her eye, mocking the instincts she’d trusted as well as her attempt at composure.

She paused, wanting to slam him, wanting to say last night hadn’t been good enough to accept payment in return. But that wasn’t her nature, though Catherine might have had a choice word or two for a man who’d crossed her, Kayla was different. She bent and grabbed her bag. Perhaps she no longer trusted her judgment in men, but she respected herself enough to be strong until she walked out that door. No man had the right to treat her like a prostitute.

Straightening, she met Kane’s unreadable gaze. “Know what, McDermott? You and your payment can go to hell.” She didn’t know him well, but she’d learned enough last night to catch a flicker of emotion in his eyes now.

Relief mixed with regret? She shook her head, realizing she’d been searching for something to hold onto despite his crude offer. Apparently she harbored unhealthy illusions. For all his suave charm, Kane McDermott was no better than the rest.

Gathering her pride and her jacket, she ran for the door.

Kane didn’t try to stop her.

“NO CASH EXCHANGED HANDS last night. Unless you can claim success, McDermott, I’d say case closed.” Reid approached Kane from behind.

Kane eased back in his chair and forced himself to turn and look his superior in the eye. “She’s clean, boss.”

“Damn.” Captain Reid crumpled a sheet of paper and slammed it into the trash. “Waste of manpower,” the older man grumbled.

“Seems like,” Kane agreed.

“Our informant could be blowing smoke, playing both sides for cash…but the teasers he gave us sounded legit. I really believed certain of our politicians were frequenting that place on the sly.” The captain paced the short length of Kane’s desk and back again before coming to a halt. “Any chance things happened before Ms. Luck’s reign?”

Kane shook his head. “Doesn’t seem possible. Not without her knowing. She was around during the aunt and uncle’s days, she helped them out once in a while with classes and handled the books. Now she’s running the place herself. If there was anything going on then or now, she’d know.”

“Any chance she was tipped off, then turned those lovely charms your way? Any chance she got to you last night?”

“Conned me? None. The lady’s innocent. I’d bet my badge.”

“Really.” The captain raised a knowing eyebrow before settling himself on the edge of the metal desk. “Now that’s a first.”

“What is? I always trust my instincts.”

“But you never put that faith in another human being, especially a lady.” He gave Kane a pointed look. “Until now.” He stood and headed for his office.

Direct hit, Kane thought. He couldn’t avoid the truth any longer. Couldn’t avoid thinking, either, though that’s what he’d tried to do since Kayla’s abrupt departure this morning.

The captain was right. He had put faith in her and he’d let down his guard. For one ridiculous moment, he caught a glimpse of a life different than the solitary one he led. He’d been alone so long without a true connection to another person. But Kayla had shown him there was more than eating, sleeping and working. She’d made him feel alive and, foolishly, he’d wanted more. Not that he could have accepted, considering he was incapable of offering anything substantial in return.

Money in exchange for sex. That was one hell of an offer he’d made. He snorted in disgust. He’d set out to prove she wasn’t a call girl, and had treated her no better than a hooker instead. The wounded look in her eyes hit him harder than when he’d been decked head-on with the butt of a gun. Guilt and regret twisted his insides.

A detective with years of experience questioning suspects, yet he botched the one chance he had with Kayla. In the end he’d done them both a favor. Interpersonal skills weren’t his thing and now she knew it, too. Besides, the lady was too good at breaching his defenses, something he and his line of work couldn’t afford. Letting her go hadn’t been easy, but it had been necessary.

“McDermott.”

Kane raised his gaze toward Reid’s office. “Yeah, boss?”

The older man waved a sheaf of papers in the air. “Report on my desk by tonight. Everything gels, case closed.”

“Right.”

“And you look like hell, so get the paperwork done and, remember what I told you, I don’t want to see your sorry butt in here till the middle of next week.”

Kane opted not to argue. His burning eyes told him he could use the sleep.

First things first. He shoved a sheet of white paper into the typewriter beside his desk. Paperwork would force him to relive last night in all but intimate detail.

He groaned. Those intimate details might not make it onto paper, but they were forever etched in his brain. He and Kayla had warmed each other up, and hot chocolate had nothing to do with the heat in the hotel room. Her full body meshed perfectly into his, her slick wetness made for an easy glide home.

Home? He slammed his fists onto the keys. What the hell was he thinking? The lady had been a one-night stand and he should be glad she’d walked out first; pleased he’d ended any soft thoughts she might have entertained about her night with Kane McDermott, New Hampshire salesman.

Ripping out the ruined sheet of paper, he crumpled it into his hands and tossed it into the trash. She wasn’t out of his life a few hours and he couldn’t concentrate.

This whole mess could have been avoided had he listened to his gut. He’d seen too many fellow officers, fellow loners, fail with women. And Kane had one additional strike against him. He didn’t know how to care about anything other than his job.

His father had bailed when Kane was five. His mother died six years later when she walked in front of a city bus with no thought to the son she left behind. Annie McDermott had a brother who disliked kids as much as he liked booze, but an eleven-year-old Kane had talked the old man into a deal. A place to live enabling him to avoid foster care in exchange for Kane’s promise to raise himself and stay out of the drunken man’s way. His uncle upped the ante and mooched his mother’s death benefits from the state. Kane considered it a small price to pay for independence.

He’d been on his own for longer than he could remember and he liked it that way. For some reason, the words didn’t bring the comfort they once had.

KAYLA DIDN’T WANT TO GO home and face a grilling from her sister. After grabbing the first cab outside the hotel, she’d stopped at a coffee shop near Charmed! before deciding to immerse herself in work. Anything to keep busy and not think. She still had boxes of her aunt’s and uncle’s personal things stored in the back and, though her sister had promised to help, today was as good a day as any to start rummaging through them. But she doubted even work would take her mind off Kane McDermott.

Every stretch and pull of her muscles as she walked reminded her of last night’s activity. Her body still tingled in places he’d touched. If she blocked out this morning and focused only on the sensual pleasures he’d given, she became aroused once more. Apparently her body had become detached from her mind. Either that or she was losing it. The man had offered her money for sex. No matter how special she found the night, she’d been alone in her feelings.

The burgundy overhang of the brownstone storefront loomed ahead and she sprinted the rest of the way. She jammed the key into the lock, wondering if the sauna had cooled off. If Kane was as good at fixing equipment as he was at seducing women, it would have. She shook her head hard.

She had to admit he wasn’t the only one at fault. She’d invested more hopes and dreams in Kane than a one-night stand deserved. He had been callous, yes, but he’d never promised her more than what they’d shared and that had been spectacular.

She took one step inside and knew the heat had stopped pumping high. No plumber necessary, which was about the only thing she could thank Mr. McDermott for.

Kayla made her way to the back room. Easing the door open, she groped for the light switch on the wall. She never found it.

Someone grabbed an arm and jerked her inside. The door behind her slammed shut, closing her in the pitch-black storage room. Before she could react, an arm grabbed her around the neck at the same time a hand clamped over her mouth. She tried to scream and tasted leather.

The more she struggled the tighter the grip became. Fear rose fast and furious inside her, but she listened to instinct and stilled.

“Smart lady. Now listen up.” The gruff male voice sounded in her ear and she caught a whiff of his breath, a revolting mixture of stale liquor and cigarettes. “Where’s the money?”

She shook her head from side to side. Catching her silent message, he eased the pressure of his hand off her mouth, but the bite of his fingers still stung. “I don’t know…”

He jerked back on his arm, causing a shot of pain in her throat. “Wrong answer.”

Kayla had no idea what he was talking about, but he obviously wouldn’t believe her and she wanted out of there alive and in one piece. “Okay.” The one word came out on a hoarse croak. She forced a painful swallow. “There’s no money on the premises. I…”

“Kayla?” Catherine’s voice sounded from the outside room. “Are you back there? The light’s on out here and you can’t hide forever. I want details.”

Her assailant stiffened and muttered a harsh curse. He released his hold and shoved her hard. She stumbled headfirst into the concrete wall and, with the impact, dropped to the floor. Pain lanced through her skull just as the back door opened enough to show a sliver of light and allow her intruder to disappear, leaving her in darkness again.

“Kayla, I know you’re in…” Catherine swung open the door and hit the switch on the wall, bathing the room in a harsh bright light. “Oh my God, what happened?”

Lifting her head was an effort, but Kayla managed. She took in the shambles of her once neat storage room and groaned. “He trashed the place.”

“He who? What happened to you?” Her sister bent down beside her.

“I’m okay.”

Catherine narrowed her eyes. “You don’t look it.”

“I’m fine.” The steady pounding in her skull made those words a lie. Fighting the pain, she struggled to stand. A wave of nausea made it an impossible feat.

“Sit.” Catherine eased her back down and propped her against the wall. “I’m calling the police.”

Kayla nodded only to discover even that was a mistake. She closed her eyes. She didn’t know what the intruder wanted, but he’d been convinced he would find it here.

Catherine returned and knelt down.

“What could he want, Cat?” Kayla’s head swam and she couldn’t think anymore.

“Don’t try to talk. Here.” Catherine placed a wet paper towel on Kayla’s forehead.

The soggy rag dripped water down her face and Kayla laughed despite the pain and her tears. “You’ll never challenge Florence Nightingale.”

“Maybe not, but we’ve been tending each other’s scrapes for years and I’m the best you’ve got.” With a forced smile, Catherine balled up the sopping paper and tossed it onto the floor.

She grabbed Kayla’s hand and eased herself beside her on the floor, huddling with her sister as they’d done many times as children. Kayla couldn’t stop the uncontrollable urge to unburden herself to her sister-the only person she could trust. With her head on Catherine’s shoulder, Kayla opened up about last night with Kane McDermott, talking until she was talked out.

And Catherine for once, remained silent, and Kayla was grateful.

“The police will be here in a few minutes,” Catherine said at last. “And they’ll take care of everything.”

“I ALREADY TOLD YOU I walked in through the front door and he jumped me in the back.” Raising her voice caused a set of drums to go off in Kayla’s head. She placed Catherine’s next attempt at first aid-a cold, wet but thankfully wrung out rag-against her scalp. She exhaled hard, fighting the nausea.

“The paramedics will be here any second.” Kayla squinted at the young police officer as he spoke. “Now back to what happened. He was looking for money and you claim there is none.”

Catherine stepped forward into the man’s direct line of vision. “Is this your first day on the job? Is that why you can’t see she’s the victim? Is this how they train you people today, to attack the helpless? Look, buddy, cop or no cop, I want your badge number and then I want your badge.”

Kayla swallowed a groan at her sister’s attitude, yet she couldn’t understand the police treatment, either. Sirens began an insistent wail in the distance. At least she’d get an ice-pack rather than a barrage of questions she was too weak and nauseous to answer.

The officer eased back but not off. He lowered himself until he was at Kayla’s eye level. “Look, the guy trashed the back room and did a number on you. Obviously he was looking for cash. Why? A little help from you will make things go easier.”

“For whom?” Catherine jumped in. “She’s not going to do your job for you and I want to know why you’ve been grilling her like she’s a criminal instead of helping the victim.”

“I’d like to know the answer to that, too.”

“Kane.” Kayla would recognize that voice anywhere.

He’d come back. A rush of powerful emotions hit her so fast her battered body and foggy mind couldn’t decipher them now. She pushed herself to a standing position and turned as quickly as the pain in her head would allow.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Catherine asked.

Kayla winced at her sister’s harsh tone. She never should have told Catherine even sketchy information about last night with Kane.

Kayla glanced at him. He stood in the entryway to the back room looking angry and dangerous, displaying the side she’d only glimpsed before. He ignored Catherine but when his gaze lit on hers, his expression softened.

He stepped toward her and held out his arms. She slid into his embrace. A comforting arm settled around her waist while the wall supported her back. “Well, Officer? Since when does the Boston P.D. grill injured victims?” he asked the junior cop.

The young officer flushed red. “I’m sorry, Detective, but…”

“Detective?”

Kayla’s body went rigid and Kane winced. Not the way he’d wanted her to find out. He hadn’t planned on her finding out at all. But nothing had gone as planned since he’d laid eyes on Kayla Luck.

He’d been halfway to the station house door when the 911 call had come in and the captain had waylaid him in the hall. Concern for Kayla had blocked out common sense, so here he was-with a job to do.

He took in her pale skin, glassy eyes and the red bruise on her forehead. He’d botched this “case” but no more. He took her arm despite her token resistance.

“Where are you taking her?”

Kane glanced at the blonde he’d met briefly last night, the one with flashing green eyes who’d just given the junior officer a tongue-lashing. “To the nearest chair. What are you, her sister or her guard dog?”

She opened her mouth but Kayla interrupted first. “Catherine, don’t. He’s right. If I don’t sit I’ll be sick.”

He muttered a curse, then led her into the outer room.

With her leaning against him for support, Kane was reminded of last night. His body reacted with instant and urgent need. Ignoring her wasn’t an option, acknowledging and distancing himself was.

Kayla accepted his help only until she reached the chair, then jerked out of his grasp and collapsed into the high-backed cushioned seat.

He knelt beside her. “Kayla…”

“What is it, Detective?” She spat the word like a curse. Her eyes remained closed, an effective physical barrier. He’d obviously added to the damage he’d already done. Her emotional walls were in place-just like his.

The paramedics came barging through the door, saving him from having to answer. As they examined her, he had time to reflect. He didn’t like what he concluded.

He’d put his emotions before his case. Worse, he put this woman at risk. He glanced at Kayla. Bad enough he’d slept with her, but believing for an instant he could have more than one night had been insanity. Foolishness that could only lead to destruction. He’d broken his cardinal rule: he’d gotten involved.

If he’d maintained a distance, he would have been thinking more clearly. He would never have let her walk out the door this morning. Kayla’s ignorance about illegal activities at Charmed! didn’t mean those activities didn’t exist. The captain was right. Kayla had gotten to him and in the process he’d compromised not only the case but her safety.

“Okay.” The paramedic in the blue jacket stood. “Looks like a concussion and some bruising in the neck area.”

A quick glance told him Kayla was still leaning back with her eyes closed in the large office chair. Red fingerprints marred the white skin on her throat and Kane’s gut clenched in anger so strong it blinded him. No one had the right to touch her. Forcing his mind to clear, he let his gaze travel downward. She hadn’t changed out of last night’s clothes. She hadn’t yet been home.

Behind her, Kane saw Captain Reid enter the storefront. Kane turned to the paramedic first. “Hospitalization?” he asked.

“She refused, which is fine as long as someone’s around to watch over her and bring her in if necessary.”

“Someone is,” the sister chimed in.

For the moment, Kane ignored her. “Restrictions?” he asked the younger man.

“Complete bed rest, wake her every two hours, check coherence, understanding, pupil dilation…you know the drill.”

“Got it.”

“No problem,” the sister said, eyeing Kane with a scowl.

With the paramedic gone and the captain getting briefed by the officer who’d arrived first on the scene, Kane turned his focus on Catherine. “You’re Catherine, right?”

“And you’re the louse who used my sister.”

He didn’t see any point in mentioning the using had been mutual. Kayla had been dressed and ready to walk out on him first. “You don’t know anything about it.”

“I know enough and I doubt that official-looking guy in the suit would appreciate that you slept with a…what was Kayla, anyway? A suspect?”

“What makes you think that?”

“The way junior was grilling her.” She jerked her thumb toward the uniformed officer.

“Leave it alone, Catherine.”

“Because you say so?”

“Because I promise you she won’t get hurt again.” He’d make sure of that.

She narrowed green eyes that reminded him of her sister’s. “Prove yourself and we’ll see.”

He didn’t need the aggravation of an overprotective sister at this stage in the investigation, which was by no means over. And yet he couldn’t help admiring the fierce protectiveness and a pang of regret lanced through him. He’d never had anyone to look out for him. “Go check on Kayla,” he muttered.

“I’ll be watching you, McDermott, if that’s even your real name.” Catherine returned to her sister’s side and Kane made his way over to Reid.

“Looks like things are heating up,” Kane said.

“It looks like a botched robbery,” the captain countered. “She walked in too soon.”

Kane shook his head, his instincts screaming in protest.

“Nothing taken, nothing missing,” the junior officer said. He glanced at his notepad. “But the lady claims the assailant was looking for cash she doesn’t have.”

“The night’s take?” Reid asked.

The officer shrugged. “I hadn’t gotten that far in my questioning.”

Kane pinned him with an accusing glare. “Because you need to work on your technique. Grilling victims like suspects isn’t doing your job.”

Reid glanced back and forth between the two men, settling his gaze on the uniformed cop. “Get back to work. We’ll talk later.” The younger man took the hint and headed for the room that had been ransacked. “Could be coincidence,” Reid said.

Kane shook his head.

“She help you any?” He pointed to Kayla.

“She still doesn’t know what last night was about.” And he wasn’t looking forward to enlightening her.

“You’re certain she wasn’t tipped off about us and canceled activities last night?”

“Convince yourself. Have a talk with the lady.”

Reid nodded and walked over to Kayla and her sister. Kane made himself scarce and strolled the perimeter of the small outer room instead. By the time the captain returned, Kane realized Kayla had turned this place into a reflection of herself. Books lined the metal shelving on the back wall, the topics wide and varied.

“You’re right.”

Shoving his hands into his pockets, he turned to his superior. “She’s as much in the dark as we are,” Kane said.

“Seems that way. She’s bright and can hold her own in conversation but if she’s lying about her knowledge, I’d eat my badge, like you said. None of the signs were there. As for the sister, I wouldn’t want to fall into that mouth again, but I doubt she knows anything, either.”

“Kayla’s in danger.” The knowledge sent a flood of emotion shooting through his veins. He welcomed the rush of adrenaline but not the depth of caring she drew from inside him. But he meant to keep his promise to Catherine. He meant to keep her safe.

“That’s debatable. I’m not convinced this was anything more than a bungled job. A druggie wanting cash, hoping for a quick getaway, and coming up empty, maybe.”

Kane shook his head. “Put someone on her.”

“Can’t spare more manpower on a hunch, McDermott, not even yours. The most I can give you is surveillance, an hourly drive-by.”

Kane shoved his hands into his jean pockets. “Not good enough.”

“It’ll have to be.”

“For you maybe. But I’m taking that R &R you seem to think I need.”

Reid raised an eyebrow. “To do what?”

“Babysit her myself if I have to. Instinct has kept me alive and I won’t ignore it now.”

“You too personally involved with this one?”

The words hit the intended target, but Kane refused to back down. “No.”

“Whatever you say. You’ve got one week, but this is strictly off-duty. What about the sister?”

“I don’t need two targets and, considering she’s not involved in running the business, she’s not in any immediate danger.”

“I agree.”

“So I want her out of the picture.”

Reid glanced over at the two sisters with their heads bent close together and his chuckle filled the small room. “Good luck,” he said and laughed again.

Kane didn’t know whether the older man referred to Kane’s ability to lose Catherine or his self-imposed week alone with Kayla. Either way he needed all the luck he could get.