I followed his instructions and the cabinet opened, but the drawer seemed to go on forever. The files were thin and there were so many of them. “Where do I even start?”
“Right at the top and work your way down…slowly.”
His words were innocent enough, but the purr in his tone wasn’t. I knew enough not to fuel him. Men like Kipp were egged on with a challenge and I wouldn’t give him a reason to come at me harder. Even these simple attempts were a fight against my will. If I ignored him, I hoped he’d ignore me. Yet his grin said he wouldn’t grant my request.
Through all the distraction and ridiculous feelings I suffered, my memory failed me. “What’s the first name again?”
“Shawn Edward.”
I ignored the closeness of Kipp that caused goose bumps to form on the side of my neck, paid no attention to the feel of his gaze as his stare lingered over my body and didn’t focus on the ache forming between my thighs. Yes, all of those things I ignored as I searched the files.
I finally pulled a file from the cabinet. “Ah ha! Got one.” I glanced back at Kipp. “Next name?” Thankfully he was taller than I or we would have been nose to nose, and even worse, lips to lips. I stepped away from him and scowled. “I asked you to stop, it makes me uncomfortable.”
A slow grin rose to his face. “I remember you mentioned something of that nature.”
I huffed, glanced up into his determined eyes and did not hold back my ticked-off tone. “Name now?”
“Todd Evans.”
Within a few minutes, I had retrieved the last file we needed and was about to ask Zach for another name when the door handle jiggled. I jumped, startled. “Oh God, someone is coming in.”
Kipp attempted to grab my arm, but his hand went straight through me. I shivered from the cold embrace and glanced up at him. He had his finger raised to his mouth to indicate I needed to keep quiet.
The door jiggled again.
Zach moved faster, skimming through the cabinet while he had a bundle of files under his arm. “I’ve only got two to go.”
Loud knocks sounded on the door. “Who’s in there?”
I gripped the files in my hands as if they were my lifeline and kept my gaze glued on the banging door in front of me.
The voice came again and the loud thumps echoed through the room. “Open this door, right now!”
Zach suddenly appeared right in front me and handed me the files. “Hide them.”
I snatched up the files and hid them behind my back as Zach ran around the room, attempting to get all the file cabinets shut. I clutched my hands around the files. My heart pounded in my ears.
Kipp stood calmly with his arms folded against his chest. Why would it frighten him? He couldn’t be caught because he was already dead. I still lived and wanted to stay that way.
The doorknob jiggled again and I heard keys rattling. “Oh God, they’re unlocking the door.”
Quite abruptly, someone slammed me up against the wall. I gasped as Zach’s mouth met mine in a passionate kiss, despite the fact his focus had been elsewhere. He smashed against me and I moaned, not in pleasure, but more in pain. His body came so tight against mine, breathing was impossible.
“Oh,” a surprised voice said as the door breezed open. “Shit, man, I’m sorry.”
Zach backed away and I stumbled a moment, able to breathe again. I regained myself and glanced up to find a man who wasn’t hard on the eyes with his ash-brown hair and stunning blue eyes, which were as happy as the smile on his face.
“No, I’m sorry,” Zach answered, sounding breathless. “Were you knocking, Brody?”
He nodded. “Was, but if I’d known what was going on in here, I wouldn’t have.”
“Nah, it’s cool. It’s probably best you interrupted us.”
Brody glanced away from Zach and gave me a once-over, then chuckled. “Yeah right.”
I slid my gaze sideways from Brody to Kipp and was momentarily stunned. Kipp stood, fists clenched, his eyes burning hot with fury. “Are you okay?”
Zach laughed and he grabbed my arm. “I’ll be okay once I get you home.” He pulled me in front of him to keep the files hidden and pushed me out of the room. When the door closed, he released a long, shaky breath. “Damn, that was exhilarating.”