Body Heat (Simply 4)

He gestured for her to follow, turned and headed for the incredible home gym his brother-in-law had created, stopping in the doorway. Large windows covered the walls and sunlight bounced off the chrome, state-of-the-art equipment. Where there were no windows there were floor-to-ceiling mirrors instead.

Brianne came up beside him. He sensed her presence, felt her body heat, and his own temperature rose in response.

“Nice setup,” she murmured.

“Personally I prefer the Village Gym.” He turned and saw how impressed she was. “My brother-in-law was more into glitz than necessity, but I can’t deny it’s perfect for what we need.” And the only room in this whole apartment where he felt completely at ease.

“You don’t live here.” It wasn’t a question, and he wasn’t surprised she’d drawn the correct conclusion. The papers he’d given her outlined his injury and how it was sustained. Common sense dictated a cop couldn’t afford such luxury.

“Disappointed?” He wished he’d withheld the bitterness from his voice, but the past still lived within him.

He’d met his ex-wife, Linda, at the city school where she’d been teaching, when he’d shown up for a talk to the kids about the hazards of drug use. They’d hit it off fast, sharing incredible chemistry, great sex and seemingly similar goals and desires. She’d seemed to be in awe of his badge and uniform, and had been more than happy to marry a cop with a steady income, if unpredictable hours. They both wanted to move out of the city, Linda so she could teach in a safer neighborhood, and Jake so he could enjoy a peaceful family life during his off-time.

But as soon as the honeymoon ended, everything she’d seemed to like and accept in Jake underwent a radical shift. His hours suddenly became too long compared to her friend’s professional husbands, while the money Jake made was insufficient for decorating the home they’d bought in the suburbs. Jake wasn’t a man who liked to overspend or overextend his credit, and for damn sure his salary hadn’t been able to support his wife’s sudden desire to stay at home and shop with the wealthier women she’d met in the area. She sure as hell hadn’t been able to deal with Rina and Robert’s luxurious lifestyle. Jake’s marriage had lasted three increasingly bitter years—years in which he and his wife grew further and further apart. She finally walked out.

Jake hadn’t realized that the past still haunted him so strongly, until faced with the possibility that Brianne might find him and his lifestyle lacking. Despite her willingness to sacrifice for her brother, why wouldn’t Brianne be impressed with this penthouse and disappointed that Jake wasn’t its owner?

“Am I disappointed you don’t own this place?” she asked.

“Or have the money to live here,” he muttered.

“That’s ridiculous. It’s not like I was after you for money.” What sounded like genuine hurt laced her tone. “It’s not like I was after you at all.”

Jake chose not to touch that statement, picking up on her emotion instead. He wanted to keep his distance, not hurt her in the process. “My comment was uncalled for.”

“Is that your masculine way of saying ‘I’m sorry’?” She faced him, her back to the door frame, her hands braced behind her.

He reached out and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “It’s my way of saying I’m an ass.”

“I couldn’t have put it better myself.” She laughed, and her breasts pushed temptingly against the soft cotton uniform she wore, rising and falling with each breath she took.

For a moment, the barriers she’d put up between them were gone, making him want to reach out to her, to hold her in his arms and…Without warning, gut-level fear took hold. He’d had his heart ripped to shreds over his lifestyle and his lack of money once before. He couldn’t go there again.

Although he had no idea how much money Rina was paying Brianne for her services, for her sacrifice—moving in and devoting her nights—he had no doubt she was being well compensated. And though Brianne’s reasons for needing money were altruistic and good, it didn’t mean that once she’d finished caring for her brother she wouldn’t desire more in life than she’d had before. And “more” demanded money, something a cop would never have in abundance.

“Would you believe I’m apartment-and dog-sitting for the summer?”

“Of course. You’ve been set up, just like me.” He didn’t miss the bitterness in her tone.

Obviously her anger at Rina hadn’t dissipated, and he couldn’t say he blamed her.

“Speaking of dog-sitting and setups, we need to keep him out of here so neither of us trip.”

Jake nodded, and because Norton had curled up in his crate while they ate, he was able to shut the gym door without creating a scene.

“Is there a sink in here?” Brianne asked next.

He nodded. “There’s a full bathroom back that way.” He gestured to the closed door across the room.

“How about a…”

“There’s a massage area in the corner,” he said, reading her mind. “Trust me, there’s nothing you’ll need that you won’t find here.”

She shook her head, her auburn ponytail falling over one shoulder. “Amazing.”

He clenched his fists to avoid giving in to the impulse to twirl her hair around his fingers…and feel the silken strands brushing over other aware body parts. Instead he focused on their surroundings and her reaction to them. “It’s called wealth, so enjoy it while it’s at your disposal.”

“If you say so.” Her smile was wary.