Body Heat (12 page)

Muttering a curse, he sat up. He was usually better at remaining objective, at looking beyond preconceived notions in order to evaluate a situation. But he'd been too
prejudiced against Sophia to do that. His body language, maybe even his tone of voice, had conveyed that he didn't like or respect her. So how could he have expected her to react any more positively than she had?

Given their history, he probably would've rejected his help, too.

Remembering her embarrassment as she tried to get him into his boxers, he felt the sudden urge to laugh. She'd busted into his room with her cop tools, feeling she finally had the advantage—and got a little more than she'd bargained for.

Burying his face in his hands, he stopped laughing and sighed. Why had he wasted his time behaving in such a counterproductive manner?

Because he'd been attempting to assuage his pride, which was what he'd accused
her
of doing, although the damage to her pride had been a lot more recent.

They were stupid to fight each other. That only aided and abetted whoever was behind the murders—and Sophia's political enemies—which could be one and the same. He didn't want to side with Leonard, a man who'd used the threat of deportation to force a woman to have sex with him, did he? And if that wasn't enough, Sophia's picture on the back of his bedroom door proved conclusively that Leonard was a prick.

He stood. “Hey! Sophia!”

Had she left? Since he hadn't seen another officer, he figured she was working all night, but maybe she'd gone out.

She hadn't. Not yet, anyway. She appeared a few seconds later, holding a cup of coffee. “What do you need?”

“Why are you still here?”

“I traded Grant for graveyard this week, just in case there are any more shootings. Why are
you
still here?”

When he gave her a dirty look, she smiled sweetly. “Oh, I forgot. You interfered with my investigation. Then you refused to turn over the evidence. And now you're under arrest.”

He studied her for a few seconds. “You did this because I embarrassed you.”

“I did it because you gave me no other choice.”

Leaning a shoulder against the bars, he tried to look as innocent as possible. “Do you really want to keep fighting me instead of your enemies?”

“I thought you
were
one of my enemies.” She took a sip of coffee. “I don't have many friends whose life mission is to get me fired.”

“You'd just shocked me with a Taser when I said that.”

Her eyebrows went up. “You're telling me you didn't mean it?”

Noting her skepticism, he scratched his arm. “Not entirely.”

“How does that improve our situation?”

“I'm wondering why we can't be professional allies. You need some help. I'm here to provide it.”

“But I'm not interested in having you involved. I thought I made that clear. The FBI is forming a task force. I think we can handle it.”

He tried to conceal his annoyance. “Why turn any help away? You're being stubborn and illogical.”

She took another sip of coffee. “Sticks and stones.”

“Give me one good reason we can't work together.”

“Just
one?
”

“That's all I ask.”

A slight smile curved her lips. “Well…it could get uncomfortable.”

“How?

“I've seen you naked, remember?”

Was she flirting with him? If this had come from any other woman, he would've taken that for granted. But not Sophia.

What was she up to now? He had no idea, but he was intrigued enough to find out. “We could always even the score.”

“Meaning…”

Damn, she had pretty eyes. He didn't trust the sultry note in her voice, but he felt a flicker of excitement all the same. “You could take off your clothes—give me the same opportunity.”

She made a show of considering it. “And this would benefit me how?”

“I wouldn't want you to be the only one who's embarrassed when we run into each other.”

“So you'd be doing me a favor.”

He pretended to think about it and eventually nodded. “Basically.”

“Thoughtful of you.” Her mouth quirked, drawing his attention to lips that looked even softer than they had in high school.

“Contrary to what you probably believe, I'm a nice guy,” he said.

She ran her thumb over the handle of her coffee cup. “Nice enough to talk me out of my clothes.”

“Nice enough to make you
glad
you lost them.” He was teasing, but she definitely had his attention. “Want me to prove it?”

“Why not? We could do it right there.” She pointed
at the cot in his cell. “Fulfill all my captor-captive fantasies.”

He let his gaze sweep over her. “You want to get your handcuffs?”

“We're alone. Who'd know?”

“
I'd
certainly never tell.” He produced the crooked smile that seemed to work so well with women.

“Of course you wouldn't. At least, not until morning, when you'd use my, shall we say, poor judgment to get me fired.” She straightened triumphantly, as if she'd called his bluff.

Bringing a hand to his chest, he scowled. “You have so little faith in me. We're old friends, remember?”

She laughed. “Hardly! You scared the hell out of me back then.”

“I scare you now, too.”

“No, you don't.”

But she was nervous; he could sense it. “If you prefer,
I'll
be the one in handcuffs.”

“You're such a gentleman. But if you think I'll make it that easy for you to get revenge, you're crazy.”

When he'd jumped into this conversation, he'd merely been curious. And playful. But he wasn't feeling so playful anymore. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he was starting to feel aroused. Apparently, things in Bordertown hadn't changed as much as he wished. He still thought Sophia was beautiful. And, more than ever, he wanted her to want him. Maybe he believed that would make up for the brutal rejection he'd suffered at her hands fourteen years ago.

“You're assuming I'd hurt you if you gave me the chance.”

“You would. And you'd enjoy doing it.”

And yet she was the one who'd changed the tone of their conversation, their relationship, from what it had been moments before. “You're tempted.”

Her chest rose as she took a deep breath. It was as if he could see the weight she usually carried settling back on her shoulders. “Not really.”

That was a lie. She was as intrigued by the idea as he was or she wouldn't have continued flirting with him.

“There's no reason for us to be at each other's throats,” he said. “There are bigger battles to fight.”

“That's true.”

“So…”

She set her coffee cup on a table that stood in the corner. “I'll make you a deal.”

“I'm listening.”

“I'll let you go, if…”

“If…” he repeated.

“You leave town tomorrow. For good.”

Gripping the bars above his head, he leaned close. “That's not exactly the kind of deal I was hoping for.”

She stepped up to him, her breasts just inches from his chest. “What if I agree to the handcuffs?”

As their eyes met, a powerful surge of sexual current arced between them, almost as strong as the shock Rod had felt from her Taser. It nearly knocked the wind out of him and, if the look on Sophia's face was any indication, it affected her the same way. “At this point, just imagining your body against mine would probably be enough motivation to get me to do anything you want.”

Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. “So you'll leave town afterward?”

Was this real? An hour ago, she'd shot him, twice, with her Taser, and he'd wanted to wring her neck for it.
Now he had something far less violent in mind. “You're serious….”

Catching her bottom lip between her teeth, she worried it as if she was having difficulty deciding.

“Sophia?” His grip tightened on the bars. “What, exactly, are you offering me?”

Stepping out of reach, she pressed her fingers to her forehead. “Nothing. I…I don't know what I was thinking.”

“It's not that hard to guess. You want to escape the pressure you've been under and forget all the terrible things that've happened—the controversy around your appointment, Leonard Taylor's anger, the murders. But you don't want it to come with any repercussions. That's why you want me to leave afterward.”

“Maybe. But an escape like that always comes with repercussions.”

“You don't trust me.”

“I don't trust anyone.”

Thinking of what she'd told him about her stepfather, he pictured the frightened girl she must've become. No wonder she'd reacted the way she had when he'd appeared at the crime scene. He'd plunged into an already tense situation as if he had every right to force her hand and, not unreasonably, she'd lashed out.

“How long has it been since you had a good night's sleep?” he asked.

She rubbed her eyes again. “I'm fine. It's just…late, and I'm getting punchy.”

“Let me out of here so I can take you home.”

“You don't have a car.”

“We can use your car.”

He didn't know if she would've gone for it or not. There
was no question that she wanted to check out of regular life for a while, ignore her responsibilities. She'd admitted as much. And since he was only in Bordertown temporarily, he thought he was the perfect candidate to become her partner in escape.

But she never got the chance to answer. At that moment, someone called out to her from the front.

“Sophia? Hello? Hey, where are you?”

The door separating the jail from the station swung open and Stuart Dunlap stuck his head through the gap.

S
ophia felt her face flush hot. She hadn't done anything wrong, not yet, but she'd wanted to. She'd considered allowing Rod to deliver on his promises, imagined it. And that was bad enough.

Stuart glanced between them. “What's going on?”

“Nothing. I was just having a few words with my inmate.” She retrieved her coffee cup and stepped toward the door. “What are you doing here?”

He didn't answer. Neither did he move. He was too busy glaring at Rod.

“Stuart?” she said.

He pulled his gaze away. But only briefly. “I ran into Half-pint Harris at the pool hall a few minutes ago. He told me he was driving by the motel earlier and saw you load a man into your backseat. I came by to make sure you were okay.”

She saw no need to thank him; he wasn't really concerned about her welfare. He'd stopped by to see if that “man” was his hated half brother. But he couldn't gloat over Rod's incarceration as he'd probably planned, because he sensed that something was going on between them, and Stuart was nothing if not possessive, even though he didn't have any right to be.

“Don't worry about me,” she said. “I can take care of myself.”

He jerked his head toward Rod. “What'd he do to land himself in the cage?”

“That's none of your damn business.” Rod stalked to the back of his cell and once again stretched out on his cot.

Sophia wished she hadn't gone to the trouble of arresting Rod. She'd been well within her rights. But doing it had required energy she didn't really possess. They'd both let what had happened in the past tempt them into creating a problem that didn't need to exist in the present.

“I caught him jaywalking,” she said.

Stuart didn't seem amused by her flip remark. “Half-pint said he wasn't wearing a shirt.”

“That's a crime around here?” Rod said.

“It is if you're messing with my girl,” Stuart snapped.

Rod sat up. “Your
girl?
”

“I'm not his girl,” Sophia said. “We're not having this conversation. Come on, Stuart. Let's get you out of here.”

She tried to grab his arm, but he jerked free and approached the bars. “What are you doing in town, Rod? No one cares about you. You know that, don't you? You're not wanted here today any more than when you were born.”

Rod sounded bored when he replied but Sophia knew his reaction hid a deep reservoir of feeling. “You can take that up with your father,
Stu.
He's the one who asked me to come.”

“And you rushed back to town, hoping he'd finally accept you.”

“Stuart, stop,” Sophia said.

“He invited me to stay at the ranch. Did you know
that?” Rod covered a yawn. “Maybe I'll have to take him up on that offer,
brother.
”

“Over my dead body!”

Rocking forward, Rod came to a sitting position. “I'd be more than happy to accommodate you.”

“Are you threatening my life?” Stuart glanced at Sophia. “Did you hear that?”

Releasing a sigh filled with disgust, she pushed him toward the door. “It's time for you to leave.”

He pulled out of her grasp. “The old man seems to think you might've turned into something.”

Rod shrugged. “Considering the disappointment you've become, I don't blame him for hoping I'd make a better showing.”

“You filthy spic!”

“That's enough!” Sophia attempted to step around Stuart, but he shoved her out of the way, knocking her cup to the floor, where it shattered.

Rod was on his feet and at the bars in a second. “I suggest you get out of here before you really piss me off.”

“Or what?” Stuart taunted. “What's the big Navy SEAL going to do from in there?”

Removing the key to Rod's cell from her pocket, Sophia dangled it in front of Stuart's nose. “If you don't leave, I'll unlock the cage and we'll find out.”

The surprise on Stuart's face told Sophia he hadn't expected her to take such a hard line. But this was
her
jail, and she wouldn't put up with him heckling a prisoner. Especially since Rod had had enough of that kind of abuse while growing up.

“What the hell, Sophia? You're taking
his
side?” Stuart complained.

She didn't care if he liked it or not. It was about time
someone
in Bordertown took Rod's side. “He didn't start this. You did.”

“This is screwed up, that's what it is,” he said, and stomped out.

In the silence that followed, Rod didn't speak. He returned to his cot and glared at her as if he suddenly resented her as much as he had before. “I don't need you to stick up for me.”

“You've made it abundantly clear that you don't need anyone.” She unlocked the cell. “But since you've already sent my evidence to a lab, there's nothing to be gained by keeping you in here. I hope you've learned your lesson. Let's go.”

His eyes shifted to the door. “Where?”

“I'm driving you back to the motel.”

No response.

“Are you coming or not?” she asked.

“Will you be staying there with me?”

The shift from anger to lust knocked her off balance again. “No. Whatever insanity possessed me before is gone.”

He came toward her with the restrained energy of someone who used only a fraction of his true strength. “Have you ever slept with my half brother?”

She scowled. She hadn't even been tempted, but she wasn't about to reveal that and create a challenge he couldn't resist. “Every weekend.”

“You're lying.”

“Either way, it's none of your business. I'm not getting involved in the family feud.”

“We both want you. That means you're already involved.”

We both want you.
Those words made her heart pound
until she could feel every beat in her fingertips. On a very primal level, she wanted him, too. Somehow, the uncomfortable feeling he'd given her fourteen years ago had transformed into a powerful attraction.

“You don't want
me,
” she clarified. “You want to punish Stuart and anyone else you blame for how miserable your life was when you lived here.”

“And you're the weapon. Is that what you think?”

“That's what I think.”

As he gazed down at her, she had to acknowledge that he was even more attractive up close.

“Poor beautiful Sophia,” he murmured, and when she didn't pull away, he lowered his lips to hers.

Sophia told herself to stop him. This kiss wasn't motivated by anything as tender as his “beautiful” compliment sounded. Deeply angry, he was trying to see if he could get more than she'd give Stuart. And once she accommodated him, he'd no longer be interested. Chances were he'd brag about the conquest tomorrow.

She wouldn't allow him to make her look like a desperate idiot. She'd rather survive the rest of this difficult year without that kind of humiliation. But daring to kiss a wildly handsome man who was, in some ways, a stranger, made the experience all the more alluring.

“What, are you hoping Stuart will walk back in and see this?” she muttered against his warm lips.

“Hell, no. Then I'd have
no
chance of rounding first base.”

He was teasing her; she could hear the humor in his voice, but there was enough underlying tension to let her know he was at least half-serious.

“You have no chance
now,
” she said, but she didn't balk when he drew her up against him. She slid the fingers of
the hand not holding the keys into his thick hair and closed her eyes as he parted her lips.

When he touched her tongue with his, she felt her knees go weak. This was a dangerous indulgence, but one that was too welcome to refuse. When was the last time she'd been kissed? It'd been more than a year—before she'd found out about Dick's underage lover. It seemed even longer because Dick's kiss couldn't compare to Rod's. The strength Rod held in check, the contours of his firm body, even the way he moved his lips, threatened to drown her in bone-melting desire….

Only when she accidentally dropped the keys and they clattered on the floor did she realize she was getting too carried away. Summoning what resistance she had left, she let go of him and, under the guise of reclaiming the keys, stepped back. “I'll take you back to your motel.”

The pupils of his eyes had nearly swallowed the colored irises—and he'd lost the teasing quality of a moment earlier. “As long as you bring your handcuffs.”

 

He shouldn't have touched her. He'd thought getting her to assent to his kiss would finally douse the hunger that'd been burning in his gut since he was fifteen. Instead, feeling Sophia's lips yield beneath his had whetted his appetite for deeper intimacy. He knew now that he wouldn't be satisfied until he'd made love to her. Maybe that was because he wanted to best his white half brothers, as she said, but she was also the culmination of his boyhood fantasies, the prize he'd been denied. And he was pretty sure if he could have her just once, he'd be able to close that terrible chapter of his life.

That alone was worth the trip to Bordertown. Worth facing Bruce, Patrick, even Stuart. Especially Stuart. If
Rod had his guess, Stuart hadn't been able to get anywhere with Sophia. Her reaction to him would've been very different if they'd been intimate.

“So will you let me help with the investigation?” he asked as she drove.

“Will I really hear from the governor if I don't?”

“It's a distinct possibility.”

Her radio crackled; she turned down the volume. “So even if I say no, you won't leave.”

“Nope.”

“Great.”

He pretended to be insulted. “That's harsh.”

“You're surprised I'm not happy about it?”

“Confused. Now that we've made nice, I can't see why you'd be so eager to get rid of me. You seemed to like me well enough a few minutes ago. After the Taser part, of course. I liked you better after that part, too.”

They entered the western section of town, which was Rod's favorite, even as a boy. “I like your body,” she admitted. “I don't know about the rest of you.”

She was trying to offend him, to put him off, so he merely smiled. “I can accept that.”

“You're kidding,” she said with a laugh. “Only a guy would be willing to settle for so little.”

“I admire your honesty. Besides, I'm not asking for a commitment.”

She stopped at a traffic light. “One night is enough to get me in trouble. I've made too many mistakes in my life already. I don't need you to be another one.”

“You're looking at this too seriously. Starkey was a mistake. I'd be a…temporary fling. You wouldn't even have to take me home to meet your parents.”

His words strengthened rather than lessened her resolve.
Before this moment, she hadn't actually thought it out, hadn't decided that she was searching for the love of her life. But his offer made her realize that she was tired of all the Mr. Wrongs and, as much as she longed for an all-consuming escape, she wasn't really interested in a cheap fling. She wanted to find someone she
could
bring home to her parents—if she had the type of relationship with her parents where that would be expected, of course. “Thanks for the offer, but…I'm not sleeping with you.”

“We'll see,” he said with a shrug.

“
That's
your response?” she asked, incredulous.

He conjured up an innocent expression. “You don't like it?”

“You don't find it a bit cocky?”

“We're being honest, remember?” He motioned toward the light. “It's green.”

“Got it,” she grumbled, and accelerated.

“Living in a small town can make you a little sex-starved,” he said.

She turned the radio down even further. “How do you know I'm sex-starved?”

“Process of elimination. You're not married. And you don't have a boyfriend. What's a girl like you supposed to do?”

“Just because I don't have a husband or boyfriend, doesn't mean I'm sex-starved.”

“It's not as if you can take care of that kind of craving via a casual encounter. The chief of police has to protect her reputation.”

She smiled. “
Now
you're starting to get it.”

“No one would have to know about me. Provided we can get the door you broke to stay closed, that is,” he added.

“The door's fixed. I called Leland after I booked you, told him what happened. I didn't want to be responsible if your stuff got stolen. So he took the lock off the laundry room door.”

“Leland's the manager?”

“You never knew him?”

“No, but it's nice of him to accommodate us. That means we'll have all the privacy we could want.”

“Until tomorrow, when you tell everyone what we did.” He began to interrupt, but she wouldn't let him. “I can't imagine you'd really keep your mouth shut—not when you have such good reasons for wanting others, like Stuart, to find out.”

He wouldn't do that in a million years, but she didn't know, did she? “That really wounds me.”

“Yeah, well, even if you don't tell, there's no such thing as privacy in Bordertown. You, of all people, should understand that.” She turned into the Mother Lode and stopped in front of his unit. “Besides, we have a killer to track down, which means we can't afford any personal involvement. Getting the bad guy has to come first.”

“Can't you wait until tomorrow to make me a coworker?”

“Nope. You wanted in, right?”

“Is this where you start talking about ethics?”

“I'm pretty sure we've been talking about ethics all along but, just to clarify, we can't get involved.”