Moonlight Masquerade (Edilean 8)

But Reede bent forward and kissed the side of her mouth. Not exactly on her lips but close enough to startle her into silence.

He kept his face close to hers. “Sophie,” he said, and his lips were touching her skin. “Be still. They’re walking around, and we need to stay out of sight for a few minutes.”

Her feet may have been on the beam, but her back was against the safe, secure wall. As for the front of her, that was covered by Reede’s big body.

“I need to hide the red,” he said, referring to her silk corset as he put his hands on the wall on either side of her head. He was so much larger than she was that she was completely hidden by him. If either of the men did look up he’d see only the back of Reede. But the wall was covered with dark wood paneling, so maybe Reede’s all-black clothing wouldn’t be noticed.

She didn’t know if her heart was racing because she was high above two men with guns, or if it was due to feeling Reede’s beautiful body pressed against hers.

“I can take your pulse from here,” he said, his lips against her ear.

“I think maybe you’re close enough to read my blood pressure.”

“Don’t make me laugh or we’ll both fall.”

“I heard a door close. Do you think they’re gone?”

“Who?” Reede asked.

“Them! The bad guys.”

Reluctantly, Reede turned away from her just enough to look down into the living room. When he saw no one, he turned more fully away. The room was empty. He lost the languorous look he’d been wearing. “We have to go!” he said, then stepped back so Sophie could see the ladder.

It may have been a ladder and should have represented safety, but to Sophie it looked like an invitation to death. The step out into thin air just to get onto the top rung was enough to make her feel faint.

“We don’t have time to hesitate. We have to—” Reede began, then said, “Oh hell!” He stepped back, unfastened the whip from his belt, and slung it over the top beam. He pulled on it to make sure it was secure, then to Sophie’s shock, he swung out on it to stand on the ladder. He hooked one booted foot over a rung and reached up his arms to her.

“You want me to jump?” she asked, incredulous.

“No. You need to fall,” he said and his tone was no longer teasing. It was an order.

Sophie couldn’t take the time to think about what she was doing or if he could hold her or all the other things that shot through her mind. It was a matter of trust, and this man deserved it.

She put out her arms toward his shoulders and fell forward. As she’d been sure he would, Reede caught her. Instantly, he twisted her around and she grabbed the iron bars.

Reede didn’t give her time to think as he started down the tall ladder, Sophie in front of him. Her foot slipped once, but Reede steadied her. When they reached the floor she wanted to cry in relief, but they heard the doorknob turn. Reede shoved her into a coat closet and was right behind her.

The area was tiny and full of old coats so smelly she c

ould hardly breathe.

“I told you I heard something,” one of the men on the other side of the door said.

“Will you stop worrying? No one will find out anything until Monday, and by then we’ll be long gone.”

“I think we should go now. Get out of this town.”

“Pete has something else planned.”

“What is it?”

“How the hell would I know? If I could figure that out I would be the boss.”

Sophie and Reede were by necessity jammed together in the little closet and a box started to fall off a shelf. Reede caught it before it hit Sophie’s head. He raised his arms to put it back up and when they came down they went around her, pulling her to him.

Under normal circumstances, she would have protested, but as they heard the men moving about and arguing, the radio blaring, Reede’s arms made her feel safe. She put her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes.

Reede bent so his head was on top of hers. “I’m going to have to open the door to see what’s going on. I want you to get in the back and hide as best you can.”