I'm Watching You (25 page)

„I don’t think so.“ She never had company. Except for him. „I think the rental car company brought me another car.“ Kristen squinted to see the make and model in the darkness. „It’s a Chevy.“ She glanced over to find him studying her, his expression as intense and expectant as it had been the whole way to her house. There had been an air of anticipation hovering between them that made her jumpy and wistfully anxious all at once. „Maybe it’ll come with a global positioning system just like Skinner’s.“

The corner of Reagan’s mouth lifted. „Couldn’t hurt.“

The silence between them grew heavy and still his eyes held hers. He was waiting. For what she wasn’t sure. Yes, she was. Trouble was, she had no idea how to begin.

„Thank you,“ she said. „I had a good time.“ She really had. She’d met his sister and what seemed like four dozen of his sister’s friends. The kids had been noisy and brash, but their youthful enthusiasm served to dissolve her depressed mood. They’d been curious about the case, which thanks to Rachel everyone knew about, and asked questions, most of them surprisingly pertinent. Rachel lapsed into an imitation of Zoe Richardson so irreverently funny that Kristen laughed until her ribs ached. Then the middle school crowd took over the other half of the restaurant, leaving Kristen and Reagan to talk in relative peace.

Reagan liked art, he told her, and they found they had Impressionists in common. Music was a slightly different matter. He preferred seventies rock while she admitted owning every Bee Gees’ album ever made, much to his disdain. She’d found Reagan’s company utterly charming. And comfortable. And enticing.

Once again he’d held her hand. No one had simply held her hand in a very long time. It made her crave more. And that frightened her even as it beckoned.

„I’m sorry about my sister. She can be…“

„A teenager?“ Kristen supplied and his smile flashed.

„Yeah, I suppose that’s as good a word as any. You don’t have to do her little interview tomorrow afternoon, Kristen. I know she bugged you into it.“

Kristen shook her head. Rachel Reagan was quite the salesperson, she thought One minute she was politely declining the girl’s request for an interview and the next minute she was accepting an invitation to a Reagan Sunday dinner tomorrow afternoon. „It’s okay.“ And she found it really was. „I don’t mind.“
In fact if I’m honest, I’m looking forward to it
. „Besides, I can use all the good press I can get.“

Reagan grimaced. „Tony felt just terrible about that.“

„It was bound to happen. It wasn’t his fault the reporters were lying in wait outside. I just wish I knew when Richardson sleeps. She seems to be everywhere all the time.“

„At least, the uniform in front of your house can keep her from bothering you here.“

There was another heavy pause, and Kristen wished she was comfortable with the social words. She wished she could invite him in for tea without making it seem like a big deal. Even though it would be. Her skin still tingled from the sweep of his thumb across her palm. And she wanted him to do it again. She blew out a hard breath.

„I’m no good at this.“

One dark brow lifted, giving him a rakish look. „At what?“

Kristen rolled her eyes. „Do you want to come in for a cup of tea or not?“

His eyes gleamed in the darkness and her heart thumped as she waited for his answer. „Yes, I do,“ he said huskily, and she had the definite impression he was talking about more than tea. „I need to talk to your uniform down on the street. I’ll be right back.“

He slammed the door, leaving her in the dark with her thoughts.

He’s going to kiss you, Kristen. You stupid idiot. Now he’ll know.

She wasn’t mat naive. Yes, he’d try to kiss her. Nor was she a woman to deny the inevitable. Yes, he’d know. With a man like Reagan, all it would take would be one single kiss to expose her.
So he’ll know. So what? Maybe he won’t care
.

Hah
, she ridiculed herself.
You really
are
stupid. All men care
.

She sighed. Even a nice man like Abe Reagan would want what she couldn’t deliver. After one kiss, he’d realize she was too cold… Too frigid to give him what he needed, wanted. He’d quickly conclude this wouldn’t work, and though he’d try to be kind about it, they’d quickly find themselves back in a purely professional relationship. Which was better. The sooner they caught this killer, the sooner Reagan would be gone and she’d have her life back to normal.
Normal is lonely. Normal is all you’ll ever have. Get over it
.

He opened her car door, letting the cold air rush in, a fitting end to the lecture she’d given herself. She looked up at him bleakly. „Any action while I was gone today?“

„No. Charlie Truman’s assigned to night shift. He’s a good cop, friend of my brother. You’ll be safe with him outside. And remember Mclntyre, the guy who took your statement last night? He’s got day shift. You should see him tomorrow morning.“ He frowned. „Kristen, what’s wrong?“

„Nothing.“

In silence he helped her down, opened her kitchen door and flicked on the lights while she disabled the alarm. „I’ll take a rain check on the tea,“ he said quietly. „You must be tired.“

„No.“ The word exploded from her lips, surprising them both. She drew a breath and unbuttoned her coat.
Let’s just get this over with
. „No, stay. Please.“ She tossed off her coat and busied herself with the teapot, listening to the rustle of his coat hitting a chair, cursing the trembling of her hands when half a spoonful of tea ended up on the counter.

„Kristen.“ His voice came from behind her. Deep and nimbly and soothing. „It’s all right“

No, it’s not all right
. She dropped her chin to her chest. „Maybe you were right. I am tired
.
“
I am so not good at this
.

She flinched when his hands covered her shoulders, but his hands didn’t force, they soothed, massaging her shoulders in wide circles that made her want to sigh and beg him never to stop. He slipped her jacket from her shoulders before returning to his task and she could feel the heat of his hands through her blouse as her body slowly began to relax.

You are so good at this
, she thought.

„Thank you,“ he said and she realized she’d voiced her thoughts aloud. His voice had gone deeper, huskier, and a hard shiver racked her body, head to toe. For just a moment his hands tightened on her shoulders, then let go, moving up to the back of her neck. His thumbs pressed the taut cords on either side of her neck and her knees went weak. One strong arm came around, catching her just under her breasts and… she let him. Let him support her. Let him pull her against his body.

His very hard body. Hard in all the wrong places. She jerked forward, putting distance between them, suddenly tense again. Without a word he released his hold, moving his hands to her shoulders, starting all over again.
Gentling me
, she thought.

„Um-hm,“ he murmured and again she knew she’d spoken aloud. „And me,“ he added.

„You?“

„You’re not the only one who’s nervous here, Kristen.“

She looked up at him over her shoulder. His face was stark, almost grim. „Why?“ It came out a whisper and his hands stilled, and for a moment he said nothing.

Then he whispered back, „Because you say you have no family when your father is still alive, and you say you studied art in Florence, but I don’t see anything in this house that you’ve painted. Because you said that victims never, ever forget. Because someone hurt you, and I’m terrified I’ll do something to make you think I’d hurt you, too. Because I won’t.“

But he would. Her heart cracked as she acknowledged the fact inside. Outside, she nodded. „I know.“ Because he wouldn’t mean to. And perhaps because some tiny part of her still wished with all her might that his words would be true.

His eyes bored into hers. „Do you?“ His hands smoothed over her hair and she felt him feel for, then tug a pin from her hair. It clattered to the counter and he pulled out another.

„What are you doing?“ her voice was low-pitched, raspy.

„Taking down your hair. These pins have driven me crazy all day.“ It was a low murmur and sent a new hard shiver racing through her body. His eyes flashed and he pulled out more pins. Her hair sprang free and his hands delved deep, his ringers scraping gently across her scalp. On a low moan her eyes slid shut and every bit of oxygen left her lungs. His hands felt so good, so absolutely necessary.

She’d been driving him crazy. The thought was nearly enough to make her giddy.

One hand slipped from her hair to bracket her jaw and his thumb swept across her cheek, much as it had her palm earlier. She opened her eyes with difficulty, feeling almost drowsy with pleasure. His face was closer now, much closer.

His lips brushed her temple and she stopped, simply stopped breathing.

„There’s one more reason I’m scared,“ he murmured, his breath hot against her skin.

„What?“ She mouthed the word, but her voice never emerged.

„I wanted you the first time I saw you. I want you now.“ His whispered admission shook her, shocked her. She should be afraid, terrified.

But I’m not
. Instead she was tempted. Then his lips were on her cheek, scant inches from her mouth. So tempted. All she had to do was turn her head a little bit and his mouth would be on hers. And she wanted to. Wanted to feel the heat of his mouth, to know how it felt to be kissed by a man like him. „Abe.“

He abruptly stilled. „Say it again,“ he demanded. „Say my name again.“

She swallowed hard and somehow found her voice. „Abe.“

He shuddered and the vibration of his body found its way into hers. Sharp little tingles singed her skin, sinking deep, making her yearn for more. Then all thought fled when he moved his head, closing those scant few inches to her lips. His mouth covered hers, hard and soft at the same time, impossibly hot. And she wanted more. She turned her body toward his and in one hard beat of her heart his arms were around her, hands splayed against her back, burning her skin. He slanted his head, deepening the kiss and her arms lifted, her forearms resting on the solid rock of his chest. His hands gently grasped her wrists, urging her arms up and around his neck. Then his hands were on her back again, his fingers pressing hard into her flesh, urgent. Desperate.

And the kiss went on and on and on.

Abruptly he broke it off. Disappointment crashed over her in a wave until he took one of her hands and placed it over his heart. Feeling the wild thunder under her palm, she looked up and knew as long as she lived, whatever happened in the next day, in the next minute that she’d never forget the way he was looking at her.
Like he can’t get enough of me
.

„I can’t.“ His eyes blazed, blue as the core of a flame and she knew she’d once again voiced her thoughts, but embarrassment was the farthest emotion from her mind. „Feel what you do to me, Kristen. Please, don’t be afraid.“

„I’m not.“
I’m really not
. To prove it to him, and perhaps to herself, she pulled his head down for another kiss, this one shorter, but hers. Then pulled back to find him smiling and her heart took a great leap, then tumbled. There was such sweetness in his smile, such ease, such relief. She felt her own lips curve in response.

„I’m glad,“ he said.

„So am I.“

„I have to go.“

Startled, Kristen widened her eyes. „Why?“

His smile became rueful. „Because I want to do a hell of a lot more than kiss you.“

Her breath caught in her throat at the image his words conveyed. It was more than she’d expected, more than she’d planned. „Abe, I – “

He pressed his fingertips to her lips. „It’s okay, Kristen. I can wait.“

She kissed his fingertips and his eyes heated
. I can make this man… burn
. And she had. She’d felt it in the brief brush of his body against hers as they’d kissed. He’d been aroused. But he hadn’t pressed. Hadn’t pushed. Hadn’t thrust himself on her… Hurting her… And dammit, she was back
there
, twenty years old and scared out of her mind.
Be still. Don’t fight me. You damn tease, you wanted this
. The ground was hard and the night was hot and the Ferris wheel went round and round, the lights bright and –

No, no, no
. She closed her eyes, drew a breath, and made the memory stop. When she looked up, she could see that he knew. He understood. And he wasn’t running away.

„One day at a time, Kristen,“ he murmured. „That’s what we’ll do.“

We
. Tears stung her eyes and she blinked them back. „Why do you care?“

He smiled so gently it made her heart want to break. „Because I like you. Now I’m going to kiss you good night because I have to go.“ He did, a hard stamp of possession. „Be ready tomorrow at four for dinner. Until then, don’t leave the house without Truman, Mclntyre, Mia, or me.“

Sunday, February 22,

9:00 a.m.

It was too cold for many people to be out, but Abe could hear the rhythmic pounding of basketballs and knew some-one in the neighborhood stirred. Hopefully they’d have more success finding the kid who’d dropped the Skinner box on Kristen’s doorstep today than they had yesterday. If anybody knew this kid, nobody was telling. They might have to wait until tomorrow when school was open and ask the faculty if they knew the kid in their picture.

Mia was leaning up against her car, concentrating on tearing the tab off the plastic lid of her coffee cup. She gestured to a second steaming cup sitting on her hood. „Yours.“

Abe took the coffee, grunting his thanks.

Mia shot him a deadpan look. „My, aren’t we chipper this morning?“

„I didn’t sleep well last night.“

„Why not?“

Abe grimaced.
Because every time I closed my eyes I dreamed of kissing Kristen until she couldn’t remember her own name, until whatever was done to hurt her was forced out of her mind, until she begged me for more
. The dreams had left him hard and aching and lonely. „Just this case catching up with me, I guess. Let’s get started. I want to find this kid soon. I have dinner at my mother’s tonight“