The contented sigh that slipped from her warmed his heart. He reached over and pulled the spread across her when she shivered. He'd rushed over here ready to take on any threat only to find she was the real danger.

She fit in his arms. The idea of keeping her there felt right. What was he going to do after this when he'd be gone in less than two days now?

He rolled her to the side and wrapped his leg over her, tucking her close. Unwilling to let her go now that he had her.

In the past, he'd spent a few hours in bed with a woman then got antsy, ready to leave. Not caring who his bed partner saw next. He'd had plenty of those encounters, but in fairness to both players all those women had been just as happy to treat him like another throwaway memory.

Walking away from CeCe wouldn't be so easy and he sure as h.e.l.l didn't want to think about another man touching her.

CeCe was the kind of woman who would want more from a relationship.

He rubbed a hand along her back. The thought of having her to come home to felt... nice. He wasn't ready to get overly serious, but dating the same woman more than twice had its merits. If CeCe was willing to make love with him didn't that mean she'd want more too?

That she'd be here waiting for him when he returned from his next mission?

On the other hand, why hadn't she gone out with him before this? That question hadn't entered his mind when she was standing half naked in the kitchen trimmed in pink.

Maybe all she did want from him was s.e.x.

He stopped rubbing her back, considering that possibility and dismissed it just as quickly. In spite of her temptress routine tonight, CeCe wasn't that kind of woman. She clearly didn't want her brother to know about this, but that wasn't so hard to understand when Jeremy considered her lack of experience with men.

CeCe was sincere. She wouldn't bring him into her bedroom tonight just to send him packing in the morning.

Four.

If CeCe bent over and stretched in front of him one more time, Jeremy couldn't be held accountable for his actions.

He yanked the towel from around his neck and wiped perspiration off his forehead that had nothing to do with a vigorous workout he'd just finished on a circuit in his gym.

Nope, it was the erotic display going on across the room where CeCe faced a wall of mirrors.

His gaze strayed to where she'd found a corner to do her yoga exercises, but that that move didn't look like yoga. She kneeled on the mat facing the mirror and raised her arms above her head then leaned back, way back, arching. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s stretched the pale blue jog bra tight. move didn't look like yoga. She kneeled on the mat facing the mirror and raised her arms above her head then leaned back, way back, arching. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s stretched the pale blue jog bra tight.

Then she arched even farther and twisted.

Reminding him of how she'd looked once last night.

The worn denim jeans he was wearing had always been his favorite because they were so comfortable. But it was feeling uncomfortable and crowded as h.e.l.l beneath the zipper.

Jeremy gritted his teeth and turned around to the drink cooler he'd been working on before his control snapped and he stormed across the gym to strip her naked. He'd run errands all day so he could come in late to avoid suffering through the yoga routine she did every afternoon without fail.

Like either of them needed a workout today.

He'd burned four condoms with her last night. Make that very early this morning.

Then she'd told him he had to leave before daylight.

Hadn't taken a rocket scientist to figure out why. So no one saw him. CeCe rarely left her house before late morning.

He sighed and hung his head. He should be used to that by now-having an attractive woman fawn all over him, share an intimate night, then shuffle him out the door before daylight like a dirty secret.

Jeremy lifted a screwdriver and started removing a metal panel on the cooler. He should be thankful CeCe wanted to keep things casual between them, but he'd been angry since stalking home this morning and his mood hadn't improved all day.

Maintaining the playboy image at thirty was getting old.

He'd thought CeCe was different, but she'd made clear what she wanted from him last night and this morning.

Why should he be surprised? She probably wanted an everyday Joe with a regular job who kept regular hours, which Jeremy had never done.

He'd never be a nine-to-fiver who could be expected to come home every night. Not when he left town on short notice to work undercover, and to make matters worse he couldn't tell her what he did for the BAD Agency or when he'd be back. Impossible situation. Which was why he should accept whatever came his way and not complain.

"Um, Jeremy, are you..."

He snapped around at the softly spoken words and found CeCe close to him. He took in the whole gym with a sweeping glance, checking to see if anyone was paying attention to where they stood. He avoided getting caught alone anywhere in the gym with a woman for so many reasons, the main one being that it sent the wrong message to the string of females on the hunt that paraded through this environment daily.

He dropped his screwdriver back into his toolbox and wiped his hands on the shop rag hooked to his belt.

"Am I what?" He crossed his arms and stood there, waiting to see where this was going.

"Busy tonight?" she said quietly.

"Maybe."

She folded her arms and looked away.

Jeremy hadn't meant for his words to come out with a bite, but he was starting to figure out what last night was all about and didn't like his a.s.sessment. CeCe had been jumpy when her brother showed up yesterday. Her brother had been flying out this morning and was probably the reason she'd kept her distance from Jeremy until now.

CeCe told him during refreshments on her patio that she had three overprotective older brothers. He'd caught her point that someone she dated had to pa.s.s their approval.

Her conclusion based on being shuffled off this morning? She thought he wouldn't measure up.

"Why do you want to know if I'm busy?" he pressed.

CeCe lifted her head, hope shining bright in her eyes. "I thought I'd cook dinner... if you'd like to come over... tonight." She'd pulled on a pair of black warm-up pants and a baggy gray sweatshirt that hung off one smooth shoulder. She fidgeted with the oversized sleeve. The wavy ponytail pulled high on her head flopped to one side.

She'd refused to join him for lunch today when he'd called her earlier, but meeting after dark in her house was acceptable, huh?

He had no self-control around her. If dinner went anything like what happened last night she'd be the main course.

Dessert would be her in that twisted yoga position. In the middle of the bed or on the sofa or kitchen table.

But where would that leave him tomorrow morning? Skulking away in the dark again?

When he didn't answer right away, she glanced around and fiddled with the cuff of her sleeve then lowered her voice. "I know you're leaving town, but I thought we could have some fun... while you were here."

Well, that cleared up any confusion he had over where he stood with her. Just his luck the minute he convinced himself he was through playing loose with women that he'd meet one who wanted no strings. At least, not from him.

He'd never stepped completely over the line from casual to caring, but he'd scuffed it somewhere with CeCe, which meant getting dumped later on was going to feel like s.h.i.t.

So why make being cut loose later any worse by spending more time together?

"I don't think so," he told her.

"Why not? I haven't cooked a full meal since moving in and I'm not a half bad cook," she joked, but her eyes were tinged with worry.

Jeremy paused as one of the personal trainers walked past chatting on a cell phone. Then he speared CeCe with a no-bulls.h.i.t gaze. "Your brother coming by tonight?"

"No, he couldn't make it back until tomorrow," she said excitedly then stopped talking and c.o.c.ked her head to one side. She frowned as if she didn't understand why they were talking about her brother.

"I see." Jeremy hesitated to say more with so many people walking around behind CeCe to access the equipment in this area.

Her mouth gaped open. "Is something wrong? I mean, I thought last night was, like..."

The vulnerable look in her eyes and her pleading tone stabbed him to the core.

"...really nice," he finished for her. That was a lie.

Last night had been spectacular, had sucked him right in to thinking how much he'd like to wake up next to her every day.

She raked a hand over her hair, knocking the ponytail further askew, and hissed a sigh. "Then I don't understand why you won't have dinner with me tonight."

Now she was hurt.

Jeremy knew better than to change his mind about seeing her again, alone, but this was not the place to pursue their discussion. He'd handle it tonight.

"In that case, I accept," he finally conceded. "No reason we can't have dinner... as friends." No reason other than the idea of only being friends and not touching CeCe grated on him. After tonight they would just be neighbors. Not even that since he planned to put in for BAD to move his residence while he was gone. He checked his watch. "I won't get out of here until after eight."

"Friends, right," she muttered. Her smile faltered a little then she offered a conciliatory smile. "Come over whenever you get in. Late is fine." She turned to walk away.

Jeremy remembered something he had for her. "CeCe?"

"Yes?" She spun around, her gaze lit with interest that stroked a warm place inside him.

He cursed silently over how deep she had burrowed under his skin. In three weeks, she'd come to matter to him in spite of having spent most of that time in a platonic mode.

Last night had drawn him under her spell so far he would not walk away unscathed.

"Got a copy of today's paper for you." Jeremy reached over to where the newspaper lay next to his toolbox and lifted it. "Your picture is front page in the living section."

Her eyes rounded, then she frowned. "You're kidding."

What was wrong? "No. It's a nice shot of you. Nice write-up." He lifted the folded papers and handed her the section he'd pulled out.

She took the paper. Her forehead creased in a deeper frown. She finally mumbled her thanks and hurried off.

What the h.e.l.l was that all about?

Jeremy rubbed his forehead. Women. The man who figured them out would rule the world. All he he had to do was figure out one female and what it would take to get her had to do was figure out one female and what it would take to get her out out of his system. of his system.

[image]

STARFACE PAUSED IN wiping the oil from the barrel of his Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum and used his little finger to press the b.u.t.ton on his Bluetooth headset. "You find the woman in the newspaper?" wiping the oil from the barrel of his Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum and used his little finger to press the b.u.t.ton on his Bluetooth headset. "You find the woman in the newspaper?"

"No problem," Dorvan answered, then chuckled. "Didn't have to threaten the first chump. Receptionist at Double Take took one look at my phony detective badge and coughed up everything I needed. She showed me a picture of the statue from Sunday. That's our girl."

"Sweet." Starface snapped the gun parts together. "Go get that memory card and meet me back here." He'd paid a man to secretly film and videotape a meeting between an ambitious Chicago family and a Russian organization planning to partner up then wipe out all the midsize crime family compet.i.tion in North America. That memory card was worth a small fortune to Ziggy Gambino. The Chicago family had tricked Ziggy's people into a trap then tipped the feds to a major drug operation that cost the backbone of his organization. Ziggy had offered Starface a premium contract for evidence that would take down the Chicago leader. A sweet deal all around since Starface had been burned in the same sting.

Everything had fallen into place until Sam the Man interfered.

Starface had promised Ziggy delivery this week and Ziggy had no patience for hiccups.

Sam the Man had put his nuts in a vice by s.n.a.t.c.hing the photo card. Sam paid the price for s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g with the wrong b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

Starface wouldn't be so kind to the next person who interfered.

[image]

CLUTCHING TWO ARMLOADS of groceries, CeCe stormed from her car into the house that had been the perfect place to live until Jeremy Sunn started driving her crazy. of groceries, CeCe stormed from her car into the house that had been the perfect place to live until Jeremy Sunn started driving her crazy.

What was all that at the gym about her brother?

Vinny called earlier to let her know he'd hit a snag and wouldn't get in until tomorrow morning. Which left her the whole evening with Jeremy again.

Great news. Right?

So why wasn't Jeremy excited about another night together? She'd told him how her brothers were an overprotective bunch. Didn't he realize she was trying to make it easy for them to spend some time alone?

Or did he think that she hadn't enjoyed the evening?

Or had he not enjoyed last night?

Juggling bags all the way to the kitchen, she thought back on how Jeremy had acted when she'd asked him to leave before daylight this morning. He'd been a little cranky, but she'd attributed that to his not being a morning person. He seemed to accept her explanation that her brother might stop by on the way to the airport and how it might be uncomfortable for everyone.

Mainly her.

Jeremy had dressed, kissed her, and left quietly.

So what was bugging him? Why had he withdrawn? Did he think she would make a.s.sumptions based on last night? She'd made a point at the gym of letting him know she wasn't trying to push him to the altar after sleeping together.

To be honest, she'd never push any man to the altar, but last night with Jeremy produced a revelation.

She wanted a man like him in her life.