Trouble Walks In (4 page)

“Once we set our sights on something we want,” Ronan rasped, “we don't quit until we get it.”

She wasn't sure if he bent to her or she reached for him, but the end result was explosive. Ronan's mouth covered hers, and with a strangled groan, she opened to him immediately. His tongue sought entrance and lashed along hers with swift, furious strokes. Maddy's arms tightened around his neck as she met his greedy kiss with one of her own.

Devoured—that's how she felt—and she couldn't get enough.

Ronan's large hand cradled her head as he kissed her deeply, and she reveled in the wonderful warm expanse of his chest. The side of her breast molded against those muscles that grew harder with each passing second. It didn't matter that they were in the middle of Central Park in broad daylight or that anyone in the area might see them making out like a couple of teenagers.

All she could think about, see, or feel was
him
, and Maddy was lost in the rush.

Something tugged on them persistently, almost like a child yanking at a parent's sleeve, and Ronan slowly broke the kiss. He suckled her lower lip but didn't loosen his hold on her. Then he rested his forehead against hers. They stayed that way for a second, puffs of white from their hot breath mingling in the cold air between them.

A flood of conflicting emotions rushed through Maddy as she looked into Ronan's eyes. Guilt. Lust. Comfort. Longing. Sadness. Need. Fear. Betrayal.

“It's too soon.” Maddy's eyes fluttered closed, and she cupped his cheek with one hand. “I'm sorry, Ronan. I-I don't know if I'm ready for—”

“How's your ankle?” he asked abruptly.

“Huh?” Maddy flicked her eyes open. “M-my ankle?”

That was the last body part she was tuned into at the moment.

“I bet it barely hurts anymore.” He waggled his eyebrows and pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before casting a glance over at Bowser. “All I had to do was get you thinking about something else. You know? Get your mind off the pain.”

“Oh really?” Irritation shimmied up her back, mixed with a healthy amount of embarrassment. “That's why you kissed me? To get my mind off my sore ankle? You know, McGuire, you are a piece of work.”

Bowser barked, and the interruption only added to her aggravation.

“What is with your dog?” Maddy pointed at Bowser, who was standing at attention and pulling them toward the wooded area. “Is there an animal in those bushes, or is he trying to
distract me
too?”

“I don't think so.” Ronan's body tensed, and all humor had left his voice. “He's gotten wind of something, and if I'm reading him right, it's not good.”

“What is it?”

“I'm not sure. It could be a dead animal, but…” His voice trailed off, and his jaw clenched, a tiny muscle flickering beneath the stubble-covered flesh. “I should check it out. He's being pretty insistent.”

Ronan strode over to a cluster of boulders along the edge of the path and set Maddy down. The ice-cold surface of the stone quickly seeped through her leggings, a stark contrast to the warmth of Ronan's embrace. She didn't have much time to register the loss, though; she was too concerned with Ronan's sudden shift from
regular horny guy
to
full-blooded cop
.

Maddy's breath hitched in her throat. For a moment, she'd allowed herself to forget what and who Ronan was.

A pit of sadness and a familiar ache of white-hot fear bloomed in her chest. Cops were never regular guys, just like firemen weren't. They were always on call, always on duty, and put themselves at risk every day. It wasn't merely a job for men like Ronan—it was a calling and a way of life. Being a policeman would always be part of who he was. It was woven through the fiber of his very soul, and there was nothing—and no one—that would ever change it.

She had already learned that lesson the hard way. So what the hell was she doing?

“Maddy, I want you to sit right there.”

Ronan bent down and quickly retrieved his gun from the ankle holster hidden beneath his running pants. He wore a gun while they were jogging? That knot of apprehension tightened in her belly. Intellectually, she knew what he was and what he did. She'd seen him with the gun when he was in uniform, but it was never drawn. Somehow that made it seem less real.

Not anymore.

Ronan rose to his feet, and the shift in his body language was disturbingly vivid. The cocksure boy from Old Brookfield was gone, replaced by a man who had sworn to protect and to serve.

“Don't move a muscle.” He held the gun at his side. Ronan's fierce gaze remained pinned to the trees on the small hill, the one that Bowser was itching to investigate. “Do you understand me?”

Maddy nodded and stared after Ronan as he and Bowser headed up the incline. Bowser had his nose to the ground, and his long tail bobbed behind him. Ronan was quietly reassuring the dog while he kept up with the bloodhound's pace. The two of them trotted up the hill, and it was evident that Bowser was following a trail.

But tracking who, or what?

A knot of fear coiled in Maddy's belly, and she shifted her position on the rock. She wasn't stupid. K-9 units like theirs looked for the missing—and the dead. Ronan's words of advice rushed through her mind, and she quickly took her cell phone out of her jacket pocket. She cradled the device in her lap but kept her gaze on the tree line at the top of the grassy hill. Dry leaves blew by and swirled in a tornado-like dance, but there were no other signs of activity from the trees.

“Ronan?”

She called him a few times, but no answer came. The city had never seemed as empty or silent as it did right this minute.

* * *

Ronan saw the woman's motionless body the minute he reached the top of the hill. Even if he hadn't seen it, Bowser's change in demeanor would have tipped him off. The bloodhound tensed and whined loudly before sitting down near the still form of the dead woman.

Pale-blond hair, with leaves and twigs tangled in it, partially covered her face, and her lifeless, vacant gaze stared out at nothing. She was on her stomach, and it looked like her blouse had been torn open. A pair of ripped stockings were tangled around her ankles, and one of her shoes was missing. It was in the area, no doubt.

Ronan swore under his breath and yanked his cell phone from his pocket after praising Bowser. Not all search-and-rescue K-9s would have picked up that scent without being instructed to do so.

The dog was one hell of a cop.

“Is everything okay?” Filled with uncertainty, Maddy's voice crushed the silence. “Ronan?”

“No, it's not. Stay where you are, Maddy,” Ronan said firmly. He kept his gaze on the dead woman and pressed the phone to his ear. “This is Officer Ronan McGuire with the NYPD K-9 unit, badge number 1275-470. We have a female DOA in Central Park. We're gonna need a bus and a full crime-scene unit ASAP.”

After giving them the location, Ronan moved back to the top of the ridge and caught Maddy's frightened gaze. His heart clenched in his chest. She looked scared shitless, and he couldn't blame her. Ronan glanced at the blond, sprawled amid the dry leaves and brush, and fought the fear that niggled at the back of his mind.

His gut told him she was connected to the real estate scene in the city, like Lucille Bowman.

And Maddy.

* * *

Seconds ticked by, and just when Maddy thought she'd scream with frustration, Ronan and Bowser reappeared at the top of the hill. Relief fired through her but dissipated quickly when she spotted the grim expression on Ronan's face.

“It wasn't a dead animal,” he said quietly.

The sound of dry leaves crunching beneath his sneakers peppered the air.

“Wh-what was it?” Maddy squeezed her eyes shut and quickly held up her hand, preventing him from telling her what she suspected. “Don't. You don't have to say it. I-I think I get it.”

“I'm sorry,” Ronan said gruffly. “I know your ankle probably hurts like hell, but we have to stay here until the crime-scene unit and detectives show up.”

“My ankle is the least of our problems,” she said with a bitter laugh. Maddy shivered and hugged herself, trying to warm up. “Was he or she—?”

“She doesn't look like she's been there too long.” Ronan squatted down next to Maddy, and Bowser moved in, mirroring his master's movement. “Luckily, Bowser picked up her scent.”

Ronan's words tumbled through the cold around her, but Maddy barely heard them. She grew numb as the reality of what he was saying set in. Somewhere over that ridge, beyond the hustle and bustle of the city, lay the body of a dead woman. What would have happened if Bowser hadn't picked up her scent? How long would she have remained there, undiscovered and unseen in the center of a cold, uncaring city? Tears pricked Maddy's eyes and her vision blurred. Weeping for the woman who'd been killed and for all the things she never got to do, Maddy swiped at her cheeks with the sleeve of her running jacket.

“Luckily?” Maddy sniffled. “She doesn't seem all that lucky.”

“Her family will know what happened to her,” Ronan said quietly. He rose to his feet and gathered Bowser's leash around his hand. “Not knowing is worse than anything else. Trust me.”

Ronan's tall, broad-shouldered form cut a striking figure, and with Bowser at his side, the two of them had an almost superhero-like air about them. They were resolute and unwavering in the face of a frightening and hopeless situation.

Man and beast, strong and steady.

The memory of Ronan's kiss still lingered in Maddy's mind and on her lips. It was too soon. There would be other chances. More time to explore the feelings she had or could have for him.

Sirens wailed in the distance, growing closer with each passing moment. No doubt they were headed here, answering Ronan's call for backup. As he and Bowser headed up the hill again, Maddy thought of the woman who lay in the woods just over the ridge. How much time had that poor soul believed that she had left? The number of years she imagined was undoubtedly longer than what she had. Maddy sucked in a shuddering breath and forced herself to give Ronan a reassuring smile.

When would she learn? The future was promised to no one.

Having Maddy at a crime scene made Ronan beyond uncomfortable. Even though he wanted to get her the hell out of there, they had to wait for the detectives to show up.

Bowser went right to Maddy and settled into an almost protective position. He sat right in front of her with his head up and his gaze alert while the cops milled about taping off the scene. After a few minutes, the dog nuzzled up against her legs and put his head in her lap seeking affection, which she was quick to give him. She scratched his ears and rubbed his flanks as though she'd been doing it for years.

Ronan had dated other women, but Bowser had barely paid them any mind. It was as if he knew they weren't going to be around long enough for him to bother trying to get to know them. But Bowser had been drawn to Maddy from the beginning, and the sight of them together was oddly…right.

Once they'd been given the all clear to leave, Ronan had tried to carry her, but Maddy had refused. She finally gave in and leaned against him for support, but he could tell it was killing her to do so. Her independent streak was matched by her stubborn streak. And damn if that didn't turn him on. He loved a woman with spirit.

By the time they got into a cab, Maddy was shivering and Ronan was relatively sure that it wasn't only because of the cold. His one comfort was that she hadn't seen the body. Looking at a brutalized homicide victim was tough enough for a seasoned cop, let alone a civilian. He didn't want her touched by that kind of ugliness any more than she already had been.

Maddy had hit the nail on the head earlier. He was being overprotective. But if he could shield the people he cared about from violence, then he damn well would.

Ronan stole a glimpse at her before getting out of the cab, and his heart clenched in his chest. She was staring out the window and absently stroking Bowser's head, which was once again in her lap. Her normally feisty air had been replaced by one of sadness and uncertainty, and all Ronan wanted to do was gather her into his arms and hold her, tell her that everything would be okay and vow that he'd never let anything happen to her.

Ever.

He did care about her, but that was more than he had admitted, even to himself. He had been doing his best to give her the space she needed, to be respectful of her wishes, but that had all gone out the damn window back at the park. Her kiss had been sweet and hot, cool mint with warm cinnamon. Right then, he knew that he'd gone directly past caring to fall into a swirling abyss of feelings that could only be classified as uncharted territory.

Ronan had never been in love before, so he wasn't even sure what it felt like. Whatever
this
was, this tangled knot of need and protective instincts that fired up every time he was near her, it scared the shit out of him.

He hadn't planned on kissing her, but she had been so soft and warm in his arms. When her delicate fingers tickled the back of his neck, it had been like a switch flipping—and he'd lost his damn mind right there in the middle of Central Park. She was injured, and he'd jumped her bones like some kind of horny teenager with no self-control.

Good move, McGuire. Real smooth
.

The cab pulled to a halt in front of Maddy's building, the sudden stop bringing Ronan out of his self-imposed pity party.

Bowser, who was seated between Ronan and Maddy in the cab, lifted his head from Maddy's lap. He snuffled loudly and leaned against Ronan, his way of saying
I want to get out of the car now
. Not that Ronan could blame him. The three of them were stuffed into the backseat with little room to move.

“Alright, man. Keep your collar on.” Ronan ruffled Bowser's ears before checking for oncoming traffic and opening the door. “We're going, you bossy, old dog.”

“Don't be mean,” Maddy chimed in. “I can't blame him. I'm ready to get home too.”

Ronan and Bowser got out and went around to the sidewalk, but the doorman had already opened Maddy's door.

“You alright, Ms. Morgan?” The older man, probably late fifties, took Maddy's hand in his and helped her out of the cab. He cast a glance at the ice pack attached to her ankle with an Ace bandage. “You look like you took a tumble.”

“Hey, David.” A strained smile curved her lips. “It's not a big deal. I twisted my ankle but I'll live.” Maddy stilled and braced herself on the door of the cab, letting out a short, bitter laugh. “Believe me, things could be a lot worse.”

Her tone was light, but the sidelong glance she gave Ronan was full of unspoken words. How could it not be? She obviously didn't want to share what had happened with the doorman. If Ronan had to guess, he'd bet that she wouldn't mention it to anyone. Like she seemed to do with most upsetting events, Maddy would squirrel it away and bury it.

“I should really be carrying you,” he said, slipping his arm around her small waist as she tried to walk on her own. He dragged her arm over his shoulders and tugged her close. “But you're not going to let me, are you?”

“Nope.” She was doing her best not to lean on him, but Ronan held on tight. “It's not that bad anymore, really.”

“Humor me, okay?”

“Thanks, David,” Maddy said to the doorman, her lips quivering. “I'm sure I'll be fine by morning.”

“Let me know if you need anything, ma'am. I can have Vincent up to your place in a hot minute.” The doorman held the enormous glass door open and stepped aside, allowing them entrance to the luxury building. He tipped his head to Ronan and looked warily at Bowser. “Sir.”

“David, this is Ronan McGuire and his partner, Bowser,” Maddy said. “They're two of New York's finest.”

“Good to meet you, officers.” David closed the door behind them and waved at the man behind the front desk. “Get the elevator for Ms. Morgan, Vincent.”

Ronan surveyed the lavish, cavernous lobby of the building and hoped that he was hiding his shock. The floor was made of gleaming white-and-black marble, and the walls were detailed along the ceiling with intricate moldings. The entire place reeked of wealth and privilege. He knew Maddy had done well for herself, but he'd had no idea that she had
this
kind of money. Apartments in this building had to start at a couple million, and prices would only go up from there.

His entire crappy apartment in Washington Heights could fit easily in the lobby—with room to spare. Ronan was no stranger to wealth. His family had money; thanks to his great-grandfather, they held the patents on several handy-dandy inventions. But his parents had never allowed him or his brothers to become trust fund babies. Most of the money was tied up in investments, so there really wasn't a trust fund to be had and there weren't any cushy board positions to occupy.

They'd all been told, in no uncertain terms, that they had to go out and make their way in the world and, better yet, be of service to the community. His father had been in the military and so had his grandfather. It was a natural fit when Ronan and his brothers each donned a uniform of some kind.

Ronan had never really thought much about the way his apartment looked or the area it was in, but being here with Maddy certainly put it in perspective. He was making his way and doing what he loved, but he would never earn the kind of money that she did. He didn't know why that thought even occurred to him—or bothered him, for that matter—but it did.

They rode up in the elevator in silence, which was just as well, because having her soft, curvy body pressed against him was becoming a distraction. Her full breasts melded against his rib cage, and his fingers settled into the dip of her waist with comfortable and almost familiar ease. Even though he tried to think about anything other than the delicious feel of her, he couldn't. Without meaning to, he was quietly memorizing the way the swell of her hip fit perfectly against him. Add to that the brush of her thigh along his and her soft hands curled around his far rougher ones… Each sensation was more tantalizing than the last.

The elevator dinged and Ronan sucked in a deep breath, forcing himself not to look at her. If he did, he would want to kiss her again. That was all he could think about. Tasting her, drinking from her, and finding out if he made her half as crazy as she made him. But given the way she'd put on the brakes earlier, he was probably going to be crazy all by himself.

The doors slid open, and they stepped into a square foyer decorated almost exactly like the lobby. There were two enormous, white paneled doors, one on either side of the hall, and an antique-looking table with a huge arrangement of fresh flowers sat directly across from the elevator. Their sweet odor permeated the space, giving Ronan a much-needed distraction from Maddy's naturally alluring scent. Whatever her perfume was, it must have had some kind of pheromones in it or something, because it drove him wild.

“Mine is on the left.” Maddy fished a key out of her pocket. “15A.”

“Who's in 15B?” Ronan asked, hoping small talk would keep his mind off his increasingly dirty thoughts.

Before Maddy could answer him, the door of 15B opened suddenly, and Maddy's body tensed against Ronan's. He turned just in time to see a young guy with dark hair and glasses stick his head out quickly.

Bowser snuffled loudly and let out a low growl.

“Oh, hey, Maddy,” the kid said. He flicked his gaze at Ronan and Bowser but looked away a split second later. “You okay?”

“Hi.” The word escaped on a breathy sigh. “Yeah, I'll be fine. I twisted my ankle when I was running.”

“Okay, bye.” The door slammed shut abruptly.

“Jeez,” Ronan murmured. “Nice neighbor. What's his deal?”

“He's an Internet whiz kid,” Maddy whispered with a giggle. “He's kind of a shut-in. Geeky and quiet. Tim, or Tom? I can't remember. Anyway, I hardly ever see him. Vincent and David say that he rarely leaves his place. He's nice enough. We were in the elevator together the other day, coming up from the laundry room, and when I told him my computer was acting up, he offered to fix it.”

She hobbled over to her apartment, pulling away from Ronan in the process, and slipped her key in with the ease of experience. When he reached her side, he held her arm and pushed the door open with his shoulder before helping her inside.

“Your computer can wait. The ankle is more important at the moment.”

“If you get me to the couch, I'll be fine from there.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Ronan kicked the door closed with his foot. “Whatever you say, boss.”

She tossed the keys onto a small table with a gilded mirror above it, and they headed into the massive living room. A bank of windows covered almost the entire wall, but the drapes were drawn, and he fleetingly thought it was a shame to close out the view she must have had. Ronan let go of Bowser's leash, but as usual, his partner remained by his side.

The walls had been painted in muted shades of gray, and the furniture blended in perfectly, almost seamlessly. A huge, white sofa faced the windows and was flanked on either side by overstuffed gray chairs, while a large glass coffee table sat at the center of it all. There were splashes of red in a few spots, and the bright pops of color were like blips of Maddy's bubbly personality busting out here and there. She had always been feisty and smart and full of life. Ronan had expected to see a home full of color, but what he'd found was the exact opposite.

It was a place to live, but it wasn't a
home
.

“I'm fine now, Ronan.” Maddy bit her lower lip as he helped her ease onto the fluffy sofa. “Really, I'm sure you and Bowser have better things to do today than babysit me.”

“Nope.”

“And you say that I'm stubborn?” Maddy scoffed audibly. “Takes one to know one, McGuire.”

Once she was settled, Ronan lifted her leg and propped a pillow underneath it, then slipped off her sneaker and tossed it to the floor. He knelt next to her and carefully unwrapped the bandage, removed the no-longer-cold ice pack, and peeled the sock from her foot, not moving it any more than he had to.

“It's probably sprained, but I don't think you broke anything.” Ronan cradled her foot and inspected her ankle, trailing his fingers lightly over the swollen area. “Does that hurt?”

He locked gazes with her, and she stilled beneath his touch. Ronan stroked the graceful arch of her foot with his thumb, and a smile curved his lips when her eyes widened slightly. Some of her wild curls had come loose from her ponytail and perfectly framed her oval-shaped face. Those brilliant icy-blue eyes glittered at him, but unmistakable heat shimmered beneath the surface and reminded him of their kiss.

God, she was beautiful.

“N-no.” Maddy shook her head quickly and tore her gaze from his. “It's fine.”

Why did she insist on being so damn independent all the time? What was so wrong with taking help from him—or anyone else, for that matter? Jordan had warned him that Maddy would push him away and insist she was fine on her own. That was exactly what she had been doing. But he wasn't backing down.

“Stay put. I'll get some ice for that ankle and pop this in the freezer,” he said, holding up the soggy ice pack. “Most of the swelling is down, so you'll probably be back to normal in a day or two.”

Ronan unhooked Bowser's leash, snapped his fingers, and pointed to the floor next to Maddy. Within seconds, his partner lay dutifully by her side, his head up and his alert gaze fixed on her.

“Looks like I don't have any choice,” she said through a nervous laugh. “He looks pretty serious, McGuire. Is he going to freak out if I try to get up?”

“Nah.” Ronan winked. “But he might lick you to death. And besides, you're not gonna get up, because you are going to listen to me. I
am
a cop, after all, and you're supposed to obey the law.”

With Maddy's sweet laughter drifting in the air behind him, Ronan headed toward the kitchen. The open floor plan of the apartment made it easy to spot. It was off to the left and just past the dining table and chairs that looked as though they had never been used. If he thought the living room looked unlived in, it was nothing compared to the kitchen, where gleaming stainless-steel appliances, all top of the line, were surrounded by bright-white cabinetry. The slick marble counters were void of clutter. No crumbs. No flowers. Not even a bottle of wine or an empty glass.