Hard to Handle (21 page)

“Aye, let's order some food from somewhere nice,” he replied. “But we're still on lockdown until tomorrow. I want to make sure Fleming is firmly in custody before we consider this mission completed.”

Raymond didn't need any further encouragement, and got busy sourcing a restaurant that would deliver anything from steak to lobster to sushi. Sam, Evan, and Renee got busy cleaning their weapons, then locking them up in one of the custom trunks they had arrived in. Sam remained busy, but his attention was occasionally drawn to Kaylee. She was sitting on the living room sofa, occasionally looking at her phone but mostly just deep in thought. As badly as he wanted to go over to see how she was doing, Sam continued to maintain a professional distance.

A short while later, he went into the den to change out of his work clothes and finally have a look at the damage to his chest.

“That looks like it's going to hurt for a bit,” Evan said as he walked into the open door and found Sam standing in the middle of the room with his chest bare. There was a red, welted spot just right of his heart. From experience, he knew it would soon darken to a spectacular shade of purple, then black and blue over the next couple of days.

“I've had worse,” Sam replied. He turned away and grabbed another one of his shirts, which were now washed by Silvia every few days. There was an awkward pause while he pulled it on.

“Look, I've been thinking about things,” Evan finally added. “I think I reacted badly to what you told me. About you and Mikayla.”

Sam turned back to his friend, hiding his relief under a stoic expression.

“Someone very smart reminded me that Mikayla made the right decision to end our relationship. So it's a little foolish to be mad about what may have caused that decision,” Evan continued with his hands in his pockets. “She was brave when I wasn't.”

Sam nodded and cleared his throat.

“You made the right decision, Sam, not to tell me about it four years ago,” continued Evan, causing Sam to blink in surprise. “I would not have seen things so clearly back then, and I didn't know you as well. So there's a good chance I would have let my ego ruin a good partnership. Fortis may not be what it is today if you hadn't made the right call.”

Sam cleared his throat again, rocking back on his heels. Evan tapped him on the back of the shoulder with what came close to being affection.

“If you think there is something between you and Mikayla, don't let any of this stuff stand in your way.”

CHAPTER 21

The team enjoyed a big meal with beer and wine from Kaylee's collection. Then they sat around talking for a couple of hours, telling stories about experiences with their various agencies prior to joining Fortis. Kaylee could only listen with an open mouth and wide eyes at what these people did on a regular basis. Even the usually silent David Ferguson shared a little bit about his work with DaCosta Solutions as a logistic support specialist in a few different conflict-ridden zones.

The only person who didn't talk was Evan, and Kaylee had a growing suspicion about why. When he had first arrived in New York almost a week ago, she'd assumed it was as a close friend and as Sam's partner in their security firm. But Kaylee had done her research over the last few years and knew that Fortis was very specialized and highly skilled in the security field. They also had very little public information about them, despite the fancy website that came up in a browser search. What she couldn't figure out was why Evan had joined their ranks.

After his father died suddenly last year, Evan had been appointed as interim CEO of DaCosta Solutions, and everyone had just assumed he would take the role permanently. After all, his father had built the company, and Evan had worked there since he graduated college. Kaylee had been as surprised as anyone to learn that he had stepped down from the role, preferring a seat on the board of directors.

There was no doubt that Evan had the experience to run a firm like Fortis, but how did a corporate executive who had been born into wealth and privilege operate at the same level as the other agents around him? If Kaylee hadn't seen it in real life over the last few days, she wouldn't have believed it. And now his silence within the boisterous group discussion spoke volumes about how little she knew about the real Evan DaCosta.

It seemed like everyone had their secrets, and it made Kaylee feel a little better about things between them.

“What are you smiling to yourself about?” Evan asked as he sat beside her around the dining table. It now had much less equipment on it as the team pared down their support. He handed her a bottle of beer.

“Nothing. I was just thinking about the very large collection of handmade Italian shoes you had,” she told him.

He laughed. “I still have it. Though I think Nia has been slowly giving them away to charity.”

“One day, you'll have to tell me how running the international operations for DaCosta gave you the skills needed to carry a small arsenal of weapons into a field of bad guys,” she told him smoothly. “I don't think it would have been listed in the roles and responsibilities.”

Evan chuckled, obviously not surprised by her statement. “Maybe one day. But, for now, let's just say I've picked them up over the years.”

“No worries, I won't ask any more questions. I wouldn't want you to have to kill me.”

He burst out laughing at the old cliché, and Kaylee giggled beside him. It felt good to recapture a little of the easygoing friendship they had started out with.

“How does it feel to have this whole thing finally come to an end?” he asked, after taking a long sip from his bottle.

“Surreal is probably the best word,” she replied with a sigh and drank down some of the cold draft. “I didn't imagine it would go down like this, at all.”

“No, I don't imagine you did,” Evan agreed. “Sam's not one for the subtle approach, that's for sure.”

She smiled, looking over at the man he'd referenced, appreciating how relaxed Sam looked standing between Renee and Raymond, patiently tolerating their teasing.

“I am thrilled that we got Anthony Fleming, but he didn't exactly admit to bribing Jason Holt, right?” she said. “Which means we still don't know for sure that he's the one threatening my father.”

“Sure, it would have been fantastic to hear Fleming admit his involvement, but it's hardly surprising that he didn't, Mikayla,” Evan told her. “From what we heard, there is no doubt he knew about Holt. So if he's responsible, it will come out soon enough.”

“That's the thing. What if he isn't?”

The words hung between them, dampening the celebratory mood a little.

“Perhaps it's time that we talk to your father, together?” he suggested.

“I can't. Not if there is any chance it wasn't Fleming. It would completely send him over the edge, and I'm not sure he's that far away from it now,” she whispered.

“Well, time will tell, right?” said Evan. “The news about Fleming will be in the media soon enough. Let's see how he responds.”

“Yeah, you're right,” Kaylee agreed, trying to pull herself out of the pessimistic mindset. “I'm making plans to return home later this week. I want to be there with him when it comes out.”

“What about Antonoli Properties? What are you going to do with it?”

“Continue to run it for now. I have to finish the two projects under way,” she insisted. “I'll just have to do it a little more remotely. Maybe hire a couple more people to work on site.”

Evan nodded, swallowing back a mouthful of beer.

“Well, for what it's worth, you did good.” He bumped her shoulder with his. “Crazy, but good.”

“Gee, thanks. Now you sound like Sam,” she mumbled, but pleased by his statement.

“The Scotsman sometimes gets things right.” They both looked over at Sam, who rubbed at a spot on his chest and winced noticeably. “And don't worry about any injury from the gunshot. There'll be bruising and tenderness for a few days, but he was wearing a vest so there's no real damage.”

Kaylee could only blink at his words, processing what they meant. Sam had been shot? During the operation at the Ross construction site? She was about to ask for more details, but Evan bumped her shoulder again and stood up, ready to pack it up for the night. She stayed silent, deep in thought, while everyone worked together to clean up the dishes and leftovers. Then David and the Fortis team left just before midnight.

Renee went to the front door and called Niko for his last walk, like she'd done before the stakeouts.

The terrier ran to her, but Sam took the leash out of her hands. “I'll take him out. I could do with some fresh air.”

“Suit yourself,” she replied with a shrug. “I'll stay with Kaylee until you get back.”

“Good.”

Sam and Niko watched her head to the hall bathroom, then heard the door close. Kaylee and Sam looked at each other, then away and back again.

“I won't be long,” he said.

“Okay,” Kaylee replied softly as he walked out of the apartment and closed the door behind him.

She stood there for about five minutes, not sure what that exchange had meant or what she should do. Did he want her to wait here for him? Why? Or was he just being polite? She paced a little in front of the door. Feeling foolish, she then went into the living room, thinking she could pretend to watch television. But it was after midnight, and that would just look contrived. Kaylee walked back to the front door again. A minute later, she sighed and went to her room. Sam Mackenzie knew where she was if he wanted to see her.

After wasting some time straightening up a few things, Kaylee finally changed into loose pajamas, then washed up in the bathroom. About thirty minutes later, she was lying in bed with a reading light still on, feeling a crushing weight of disappointment. It wasn't that she had any specific expectation from Sam. It had been a long, eventful day following several other long days, so it was not surprising that he'd want to get some sleep. But Kaylee had expected . . . something.

Finally, fighting tears, she turned off the light and lay back. Kaylee had just closed her eyes when there was a soft knock at her door. She sat up, uncertain if it was her imagination, then jumped out of the bed to check, just in case. It was quiet as she padded across the large room softly in the dark and opened the door. Sam stood there, silhouetted by the soft light filtering from down the hall, and filling the opening with his size.

Kaylee stood in front of him, unable to see his face, but feeling his eyes on her, hot and intense. For a few moments, she didn't know what to do or to say. Finally, she stepped backward, and he followed. She did so again; so did Sam. Then he closed the door softly behind him. They stood there in the dark, only about a foot apart, still and just breathing. The tension mounted until Kaylee thought she would scream from it. It felt like so long since she had touched him, felt his hands on her, that she was afraid to make the first move. If he rejected her again, she wouldn't know how to recover.

She must have swayed forward, pulled by her need for him. Sam inhaled a breath and wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her up against his hard frame. He didn't kiss her right away. Instead, he held her tight, stroking her back with long caresses. Kaylee raised up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. His chest was bare, and she could press her cheek against the silky, warm flesh. He smelled so good, like soap and raw masculinity.

Sam gripped her hips and lifted her off the floor, walking toward her bed to lay her back on it and follow her down onto the surface. Their bodies were fused again, and he completely surrounded her with his substantial size. She ran her hands slowly down his neck and along the top of his shoulders, loving the feel of warm flesh over rock-solid muscle. Her fingers trailed down his arms, gripping the biceps, biting her lips as they bulged against her touch. He was so deliciously strong. Kaylee pressed her lips on the top of his cheek, then scraped the skin with her teeth. Sam shuddered against her. She licked the spot and he sighed loudly. In the darkness, every touch, taste, and smell seemed sweeter and more intense.

Sam pressed his hips gently against hers, and she spread her legs for him, wrapping them around his waist so his male contours could nestle boldly against her core. He flexed against her, repeatedly rubbing against her sweet spot through two layers of clothing. She was soon wet with arousal and shuddering with need. But still he only held her close, controlling their pace and limiting their movements. His thick, rigid erection pressed hot and heavy against her belly.

His slow, sensual movements soon became torturous, creating an urgent need for more of him. Kaylee gradually started to suck on his skin harder, gripping his shoulders tighter, grinding her hips against his faster. But Sam wouldn't change his pace. He just held her close and continued that muted rub at her through their clothes until she wanted to hit him.

“Please,” she finally panted, digging her nails into the skin on his back. “Sam, please.”

“What?” he asked in a low growl as his body went still.

She squeezed her eyes shut, biting her lips, trying to hold back the words out of spite. But she couldn't. She was too hot, too needy, for pride.

“I need you,” she finally gasped. “I need you.”

Sam loosened his grip to rise up on his knees. They worked together to remove her pajamas by feel until she was finally naked. She felt him move off, and then back to the bed as he removed his pants. There was the tearing sound of a condom packet. Then Sam was back on his knees in front of her, only visible through shadows. He gripped her legs under the knees and gently lifted them up off the bed until they were straight in the air and draped them over his shoulders. Her bum was lifted off the bed. Sam took her hips and pulled her toward him, filling her with one long, strong stroke. Lightbulbs went off behind her eyes from the intensity of the contact. He held her firm and stroked smooth, hitting that magic button within her.

Kaylee was soon a panting, moaning mess. Every thick penetration was so insanely good, she cried out over and over again, completely lost in his control. The orgasm built fast, pulled her high, and just when she struggled to crest, Sam stilled within her. The pause lasted a few seconds with his hard cock still buried deep. Kaylee flopped back on the bed, struggling to catch her breath while his sweat dripped onto her stomach.
Jesus,
she was going to die from wanting him.

Slowly, Sam caressed his hands over her legs, then gripped her thighs, lowered them to his side so she could wrap them around his waist, with all the time in the world. Kaylee could barely breathe in anticipation of what would come next. He finally lifted her into the air and tightly into his arms until their naked torsos completely meshed. He kissed her forehead, her cheek, tucked his face into the curve of her neck. Then he started thrusting into her again, faster, surer. Kaylee wrapped her arms around his neck and held on. Their bodies became slick with sweat as he gave her all she wanted and more.

Sam came first, silently with his body clenched from the force. Yet he continued to stroke and stroke until she gripped his hair and moaned deep in a long, shuddering orgasm. He held her in that position for some time, allowing their bodies to relax and cool. Then Sam laid her back on the bed, covering her with the sheets. She listened as he went into the bathroom and came back to pull her into his arms.

“Why didn't you tell me you had been shot today?” she asked in a quiet and tight voice, stroking gently over his chest, near his heart. “You could have been killed.”

He covered her hand with his.

“I'm fine. It's nothing,” he sleepily replied. “That's why we wear vests.”

She closed her eyes, fighting back tears and sharp feelings of guilt and doubt while Sam's breathing became slow and deep with sleep. It wasn't until she woke up in the morning alone that she thought about how few words they had exchanged.

The Fortis team was already at work when Kaylee joined them at the dining table. It was only eight-thirty. Sam was sharing an update from the local and federal arrests the night before. He then gave instructions on the wrap-up of the mission, including the follow-ups needed with the various police departments. Anthony Fleming was out on bail, but officially charged with a laundry list of crimes, including the murder of Jason Holt. The news media hadn't picked up the story yet, but it was only a matter of time.