Simply Sinful (Simply 1)

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 whore instead. The wounded look in her eyes hit him harder than when he’d been decked 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, she was too good at breaching his defenses, something he couldn’t afford in his line of work. 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 filed by tonight. Everything gels, case closed.”

“Right.”

“And you look like hell, so get the information uploaded, and remember what I told you—I don’t want to see your sorry ass 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 powered on his computer. Typing in the facts would force him to relive last night in all but intimate detail.

He groaned. Those intimate details might not make it into his report, 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? She’d 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.

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. He wished he had something to hit but he began to type instead.

* * *

Kayla didn’t want to go home and face a grilling from her sister. After sliding into her Uber 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 herself. 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. 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 was 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. She thought back and mentally kicked herself for not realizing they hadn’t discussed anything about the lessons he’d needed. Apparently his focus had been on taking advantage of her in other ways.

The burgundy overhang of the brownstone storefront loomed ahead, a

nd 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 an asshole and a cold SOB, 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 HVAC repairman 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 her 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.