Simply Sinful (Simply 1)

She tilted her head to one side. Though she met his gaze with a steady one of her own, her eyes showed a range of feeling he wasn’t ready to deal with. Wasn’t that why he’d left the condom in his pocket to begin with?

“Chemistry, Kane. I read somewhere that men think with

their…” Her hand curled around his erection.

He gritted his teeth against the combination of pleasure and agony she caused. “Believe me, sweetheart, I’m not doing much thinking right now.”

A heated blush rose to her cheeks. Apparently, his innocent Kayla wasn’t as comfortable with this situation as she wanted him to believe.

“You want me.”

“You can feel that I do.” His voice sounded rough even to his own ears.

“It’s not enough.” She jerked her hand back to safety, but the evidence of her touch remained.

“I know.” And that was the notion that grounded him. She wanted more than sex. He had nothing more to give.

“And this push – pull of yours is getting old.” She glared.

He plucked the condom out of her other hand. He’d believed that by not actually sleeping with her, he wouldn’t be involved. That by giving her pleasure, he could remain detached. But feeling her wet and warm with his hands, knowing she’d wanted him, had pulled him in. And when he’d gotten out of the shower and thought something had happened to her…

He shook his head. No matter what he felt, Kane knew his limitations. “It’s all I can do.” He turned the foil packet around in his hands. The crinkling sound echoed in the otherwise silent library.

“I know.” She turned a too-bright smile his way. “Well, Detective, at least we both know where we stand.”

Stalemate, Kane thought. In a war that was far from over.

Chapter Eight

The police station was quiet. Kayla followed Kane inside and waited in the hall while he met with Captain Reid. She didn’t need to be in the room while the two men talked strategy. Time alone would give her an opportunity to think and come up with a plan of her own. Between the phone call earlier and the lists hidden in the books, the police had an official case, if not specific suspects to go after. Kayla wanted specifics. With or without Kane McDermott, she wanted her life back.

With her headache beginning to ebb, came the ability to think more clearly. Whoever was behind the attack wanted the books and whatever money they thought she had in her possession. Kayla had read enough fiction and nonfiction to know the bad guys were always willing to swap when they were desperate. She held the books; they held important information. By far, hers was more valuable, which gave her the upper hand.

Before she realized what she was doing, she rose to her feet and knocked twice on Captain Reid’s door. Without waiting for a response, she let herself inside. “I have the answer.”

“I don’t recall asking a question.” Captain Reid stood from behind the metal desk in the corner.

“Trade-off,” she explained. “You know whoever attacked me will call back and when he does, I’ll offer him the books.”

“In exchange for…?” Captain Reid picked up on her earlier statement.

“Information. I know my aunt was innocent, and I want to prove it.”

“No.”

At the sound of Kane’s voice, Kayla turned. He leaned against an adjoining wall in a deceptively lazy stance. The muscles bunched beneath his shirt, and his jaw was clenched hard. He glared from beneath hooded eyes. She didn’t have to hear him speak to know he wasn’t pleased with her suggestion.

“As long as she’s willing, McDermott, she’s our best option.” The older man gestured to the metal-frame chair. “Have a seat.”

At least Captain Reid hadn’t shot down her idea immediately, despite what Kane wanted. Kayla lowered herself into the chair. “I want my business and my family name cleared.” She needed to feel in control of both herself and her life once more.

Kane shook his head. “Clearing you is my job,” he reminded her. One he hadn’t done a great job of accomplishing so far. But things were heating up and he was ready. No way he’d allow Kayla to set herself up as a target. “Use a drop or a police decoy.”

“In which case we get the errand boy and not the people involved,” the captain said.

“I’ll lean on him,” Kane muttered. “Hard.”

“He’ll talk if he thinks he’s not being threatened.” Kayla spoke up. “And what’s less threatening than a woman he already roughed up?”