Protecting Rose (5 page)
Nate and Rose arrived at the safe house around six the following evening. Only a select few in the department knew the location. They were hiding in plain sight at a secured condominium high-rise that sat along the edge of Lake Michigan, near downtown Milwaukee. Its only access was a long private driveway.
He opened the car door to help Rose exit. She had barely uttered a word since she’d learned the full details of her ordeal. He wanted to do something to brighten her spirits. He just didn’t know what.
They entered the condominium’s lobby and Nate led her to a gold couch bordered by two matching chairs. The overstuffed furniture was nestled under a picture window that offered a spectacular view of the lake. Gold velvet drapes flowed down to puddle on the dark ceramic floor, creating a dramatic look. Large golden ornamental vases filled to bursting with red and yellow roses brightened the room. The black baby grand piano tucked in a corner near a beautifully detailed grandfather clock added ambiance. It was an elegant room.
“Rest here, Rose, while I speak to security.”
She sat on the couch with a tired sigh, leaned her head back against the overstuffed cushion and closed her eyes. He frowned, reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved the small white case that held his cinnamon breath mints. He was hesitant to leave her.
He popped two into his mouth. “Want one?”
She opened her eyes to look at him, her lips curved into a Mona Lisa smile. “Let me guess. “Cinnamon?”
“Yep. My favorite flavor.” He grinned and held the case out to her.
Amusement lit her eyes.
Nate’s tension eased.
She took a mint from the case. “Thanks.”
“You gonna be okay here for a minute while I talk to security?”
“I’ll be fine. Go do what you need to do.” She rested her head against the couch and closed her eyes.
Nate studied her for a long moment. Bruises covered her in a deep rainbow of colors. She looked delicate. Like a flower that had been roughly handled. Her beautiful eyes bore dark circles underneath, attesting to the trauma of the last few days.
His hands fisted at his sides. More than anything, he wanted to find the SOB who’d hurt her and get some answers. Her cuts and bruises would fade in time, but her emotional wounds were a different story. She needed the answers to her past before she could heal from her internal scars.
With one last assessing glance around the lobby, he went over to the security desk. He recognized Joe. The ex-military man his unit assigned to guard the safe house whenever witnesses stayed there. He was someone Nate trusted.
“Hey, Nate. They said you’d be staying with us for a while.”
“Good to see you again.” He shook Joe’s hand, then took a business card from his front pocket. “Here are my new contact numbers. Notify me if anyone is directed to our floor or if you see anything suspicious.”
“Will do.” He glanced at Rose. “She looks like she’s had a rough time of it.”
“You could say that,” Nate said with a scowl. “But I’m here to make sure nobody gets near her again.”
Joe nodded and tucked the contact information in his binder. It took only a few minutes for him to bring Nate up to speed on the building’s new security features.
When Nate turned back toward Rose, her chair sat empty. His heart leapt to his throat and his eyes darted toward the entrance, taking a step forward. The door chime hadn’t rung, so no one had entered or left the building. She still had to be here.
The soft tones of piano music filled the lobby. He paused and glanced toward the sound, both surprised and relieved to see Rose sitting on the piano bench. Her fingers flew gracefully across the keys as she played a soft classical tune. He gave a low whistle of appreciation. Even with the stitches in her palm, she displayed some serious musical talent. For the first time since she’d awoken with no memory, she appeared relaxed. Her body swayed with the gentle rhythm of the music.
I’ll be damned
. Rose had musical training. That was at least a place to start in determining her identity.
Rose had noticed the piano while she waited for Nate to return and had been drawn to the beautiful instrument. She sat on the bench to caress the soft ivory keys, surprised at their familiarity. Even more surprised when she instinctively began to play. For a short time, she was able to forget about the mess called her life, lost in the tranquility of the music.
She closed her eyes and sat quietly as the last musical notes of the song faded away. The memory of the music filled her with peaceful contentment. Für Elise by Beethoven was one of her favorite pieces. Her heart jumped with an excited beat. How did she know that?
She swung her legs around on the bench and gasped. Nate stood there. She was eye level to his chest, and she tilted her head to meet his gaze.
“Sorry,” Nate said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t.” But he did, just not in the way he thought.
He chuckled and his dimple creased his cheek adorably. “That was nice.”
“Thank you.” She pushed her hair from her face and started to rise.
His gorgeous blue eyes tracked her as she stood. Butterflies stirred in her stomach.
She had grown dependent on him in just a few short days and he was an essential part of the world in which she now found herself. She relied on his calm demeanor and confident strength to soothe her frayed nerves and make her feel safe. His comforting presence made her believe everything would be okay.
But even more than that, she was attracted to him, which frightened her on so many levels she didn’t know where to begin.
“You play beautifully.” He arched a brow. “Did you remember?”
“No. I don’t know how I can play. I just...can?”
She grinned. The realization dawned on her that she finally had a memory of herself. The knowledge filled her with hope and joy. With a squeal of delight, she jumped up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and gave him an enthusiastic hug.
His body tensed and he inhaled sharply. Wrapping an arm firmly around her waist, he pulled her close, until there was no space left between them. Rose’s body tingled at the contact and her heart rate quickened. She felt the heavy beat of his heart against her.
Nate reached under her hair and cradled the base of her neck, bringing her lips closer to his. The loud tick...tick...tick of the grandfather clock filled the room. Time stood still.
Was he going to kiss her? A shiver rolled through her.
Nate tensed, then released her and took a step back.
Rose inhaled deeply, and then slowly released a shaky breath. The sensation that she had just missed out on something spectacular flowed over her. Heat rose to her cheeks and she glanced at her feet, struggling for composure.
“Rose.” Nate’s voice was strained, yet tender.
She looked up.
Nate watched her intently. His brows furrowed. He ran his fingers through his short tousled hair and thinned his lips. “Come on, let’s get you settled.” Placing his hand at the small of her back, he directed her to the elevator.
Her skin burned from the heat where he touched her.
Nate cursed softly behind her as the elevator doors opened.
Nate stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the top floor.
What...the hell...is wrong with you?
Her laughter and radiant smile had hit him like a freight train. He’d envisioned the vibrant woman she must have been, before her identity had been ripped away by violence.
The feel of her soft body against him had ignited a fire in his blood. The gnawing hunger to taste her lips overwhelmed him. Until her trembling body had sucker-punched him, a reminder that he was here to protect her. Nothing more...nothing less.
She was now pale and shaking. Hell! He’d done that to her. His hands fisted at his sides as he fought for control.
I should kick my own ass.
The doors opened at the top floor, and Nate took her elbow to guide her out. When they reached the condominium, he opened the door for her and she stepped in without looking at him, her head bowed. Her breathing had returned to normal but she still appeared...breakable, as though she might shatter into a million pieces. He held his hands close to his sides to stop himself from reaching for her to offer comfort. Not a good idea. He’d done enough damage for one night.
Nate squared his shoulders, determined to bring color back to her cheeks and remove the anxious expression from her beautiful face.
Head down, Rose stepped into the room, unable to deal with the charged emotions between them. Nate stepped in behind her, and the door clicked shut. Her heart raced and she clasped her hands together.
“You must be tired, Rose. Would you like to rest before I give you the grand tour?”
She gave him a shaky smile. “No. I’d like to take a look around now, if you don’t mind.”
“All right, you’ll find the kitchen is through there.” He pointed to an archway off the hall. “It’s small, but efficient, and fully stocked for your comfort.” He grinned. “They’ve even provided us with a latte machine. Do you like lattes?” He winked. “I make a mean latte. I consider a good latte to be one of life’s little pleasures.”
Her tension eased. Did she like them? She wasn’t sure, but she wanted to find out. She visualized Nate waiting for her in the morning with a hot latte in his hand. “Mmm,” she moaned and licked her lips. “I think I do.”
His eyes followed her tongue’s path across her lips, before he turned and walked a few feet into the living room. It was a small room with high cathedral ceilings, filled with contemporary furnishings and plush maroon carpeting. A glass patio door opened to a balcony that overlooked the lake.
“This is pretty much it. The dining room is directly through there.” He tilted his head to his left.
She glanced over at an archway that led into a formal dining area with a built-in wood bookshelf. A narrow skylight above a contemporary glass dining table exposed the room to natural sunlight. Nice.
Nate pointed up to an open area loft above the living room. She saw computer equipment through the wooded slats of the railing and guessed it was used as office space.
“There are two additional bedrooms upstairs and an office. We’ll occupy the two bedrooms on the main floor.” He flashed a smile. “You’ll take the master bedroom, and I’ll be just across the hall. I need to stay close in order to protect you.”
“I understand.” She pushed her bangs out of her eyes and glanced at the clock. It was late, and she could feel her strength ebbing. The thought that Nate slept nearby made her feel safe.
A picture entered her mind that heated her cheeks. Nate sleeping in a large bed with sheets draped to his waist, his broad chest naked. Her mouth went dry, and she studied him from under her lashes. She wondered if he could read her wayward thoughts. With a slight shake of her head, she pushed the mental image away. What exactly
did
she want from him?
“You must be tired. Let me show you to your room and you can freshen up before dinner. The master bedroom has an oversized tub so you can take a long soak if you like.”
She sighed. “That sounds wonderful.”
The thought of a relaxing bath thrilled her, and her sore muscles tingled in anticipation. That, and one of the muscle relaxers the doctor had prescribed would go a long way to easing her aches and pains. Maybe then, she could finally get a good night’s sleep. Her body felt like it had gone through a battle...and lost.
