Centerfold (3 page)

“That’s my girl.” He darted to the door, checking the hallway before glancing back at her. “All clear. But we really should go…call the lieutenant and arrange for backup. Whoever Everett’s supplier is, I don’t want to go in there with just our service weapons as cover. Chances are we’ll be facing some pretty impressive firepower. We need…”

As his voice trailed off, that wicked mouth of his pursed into a slight frown. She managed to gain her feet, her fingers white-knuckled around the fabric as she held the robe closed, a strange ringing in her head.

“Scarlet.”

She gave herself a mental shake, meeting his gaze.

He moved over to her, giving her a tilt of his head. “You sure you’re okay?”

She faked a smile, a mixture of terror and desire still flooding her system. Shit. One taste and she couldn’t picture loving another man. Couldn’t think about her future without him in it. Hell, he’d been her partner for years, yet she’d given more of herself in that one act than in all the time they’d spent together before. She’d surrendered her soul to him and she wasn’t sure she could get it back.

She drew herself up. “Fine.”

He snorted. “Did you hear a word I said?”

“Sure. The lieutenant…backup. More weapons…”

He sighed, brushing his thumb across her jaw as he leaned in, dropping a light kiss on the corner of her mouth. “I know you probably have a thousand questions, but… Let’s just get through tonight. Put Everett’s ass in jail and bust whoever’s selling him that poison. Once we’ve wrapped this up, we’ll talk. Promise.”

She swallowed past the thick feeling in her throat. She recognized the tone of his voice, that look on his face. The way his pitch rose at the end as his lips twitched ever so slightly. He was buying time. Telling her what he thought she needed to hear so they could do their job. God, had it only been his job?

Hurt dropped her stomach and she cursed the tears that threatened to slip free. “I’m fine, Roman.”

She moved past him, methodically planting each step, afraid any distraction would send her to her knees. What the hell had she been thinking? Did she honestly think she could just have sex with Roman and not have it mean so much more? Have it mean everything?

Roman huffed behind her as she left the studio, the warm blast of late summer air drying the tears pooling in her eyes. It’d all be over tonight—she just didn’t know if they’d finish more than the assignment.

Chapter Two

“You ready?”

Detective Roman Kincaid glanced at Scarlet, frowning when she didn’t reply. She stared out of the window of their sedan as they sat in the abandoned parking lot. They’d followed Everett to a warehouse by the pier, waiting for the man to signal them to enter—aware this was the moment they’d been working toward since arriving at the playmate mansion. But the prospect of ending the case didn’t hold the appeal it had a week ago. And the reason was sitting next to him.

Roman studied her face in the ghosted reflection of the glass, noting the firm press of her lips and the troubled look in her eyes. She hadn’t been the same since they’d left the studio and prepared for the drop.

He groaned inwardly. He’d fucked up. Literally. And he doubted there’d be any turning back—not now that he’d finally gotten a taste of her. Felt her body give beneath him, warm and welcoming as he’d shouted out his release. Hell, he’d half convinced himself that he wasn’t really attracted to women. That his feelings for her were a by-product of the long hours together. Her easy acceptance and unparalleled faith in him. But there was no mistaking Scarlet lit him on fire. Made his stomach flutter and his brain go fuzzy. He’d only ever felt that way with one other person.

Warning bells sounded in his head. Despite his doubts, he’d been attracted to Scarlet instantly—from the moment the lieutenant had first introduced her and suggested they’d make a good team. They’d been partners ever since, spending more time with each other than most couples. But he’d managed to keep his growing feelings for her tightly tucked away—until Everett had threatened to expose them and offered him a way out.

And he’d taken it. Taken her—with a force that had surprised him. He wasn’t generally that dominant in bed, at least not the first time with a partner. And knowing he’d shown her a side of himself few people were privy to rocked him to the core.

He speared his fingers through his hair, using the slight scrape of his nails to calm himself. He wasn’t sure what unsettled him more—that she knew the kind of lover he was or that she’d embraced his firm touch. Encouraged it. He knew she wasn’t the type of woman to give up control, and the fact she’d surrendered so completely to him blew his mind.

He cursed under his breath, nudging her with his elbow. “Hey. You with me?”

She frowned, glancing at where his arm still touched her as she exhaled a harsh breath. “I’m a foot away from you. Of course, I’m with you.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

A strange emotion shaped her features before she punched him in the shoulder. “I’m fine. Just a bit edgy, which is normal, considering we’re about to walk into a warehouse full of people who’d love nothing more than to kill us.”

“You don’t have to do this if it doesn’t feel right. Despite what headquarters thinks, this isn’t worth dying over.”

“Now who’s not listening? I said I’m fine. I’ll have your back, just as I always do. Nothing’s changed.”

Roman stilled as her voice cracked slightly on those last two words.

Nothing’s changed
.

Fuck. He should have talked to her, first, instead of worrying about the case. Even if it’d only been to reassure her that their tryst hadn’t been based solely on the situation. That he’d been falling in love with her a bit more every day since they’d first met.

He turned toward her when Everett walked out of the warehouse, the man’s body backlit by a harsh light from within the building. Roman pushed aside his other thoughts. He could make it up to Scarlet later, once they’d dealt with the scum inside the building.

“Showtime, darling. Stay close and don’t do anything heroic.” He snagged her arm as she moved to open her door. “And we
will
discuss everything once this is over. So don’t get any bright ideas about ditching me once the cavalry rides in.”

Scarlet merely huffed, stepping out of the car as Everett stopped several feet back, that creepy gaze of his roaming her body. Roman clenched his jaw. He should have beaten the fucker senseless instead of allowing him to see even a glimpse of her. Of course, they wouldn’t be moments away from breaking their case wide open if he had.

He reached into the backseat, grabbing a briefcase off the floor before climbing out of the car and shutting the door. They’d done what was necessary to get the job done. He’d fix this situation with Scarlet soon. Until then, he needed to focus on keeping them both safe.

Scarlet walked around the hood of the sedan, maintaining a noticeable distance back from Everett as the man waved at them, spinning on his heels and heading toward the warehouse. Roman fell into step beside his partner, unease prickling the back of his neck. He didn’t like going into the building blind. But questioning Everett hadn’t been an option. The man was already suspicious and despite the lengths they’d gone to mollify those suspicions, Roman knew the creep still didn’t fully trust them.

Everett stopped, waiting for them to move in behind him. “Here’s how it’s going to be. We walk in there. You two stand still while my friend ensures you’re clean, then we talk business. You got the money?”

Roman raised the case. “What did you think was inside this? A change of clothes?”

“A mouth like that might just get you a few extra holes.” Everett leered at Scarlet. “Of course, I’d be real nice to your girl. Make sure she didn’t feel alone.”

“Touch her, and you’ll be the one who doesn’t leave here alive.”

Scarlet glanced at him, raising an eyebrow as she gave him a curt shake of her head.

He simply smiled at her. He didn’t care if it he stepped over a line. Fuck the line. Keeping her safe was his primary goal, and he wanted Everett to know he meant what’d he’d said. Scarlet was his. Period.

Everett glared at him. “Just do what you’re told, and we’ll all walk out of here in one piece.”

The man motioned them inside. Roman gave Scarlet one last glance then headed into the building. The door closed behind them, glaring light gleaming off the metallic walls. A black suburban sat off to one side, four men flanking the vehicle.

Roman scanned the surroundings as they made their way across the cement pad, noting two more men positioned on an upper level, rifles aimed their way. He watched as a blonde in a skimpy outfit bounced over to Everett then hung off his arm as Everett followed behind them, the man’s gaze clearly focused on Scarlet’s ass, despite the glare his date gave him.

She nudged Roman, not turning to face him. “Everett is the least of our worries. Those bastards up high have Remingtons. Betting those boys by the suburban have forty-fives.”

“Just stick beside me. I’ll make sure you get clear when our team busts down the door.”

“I don’t need you to protect me. I can take care of myself.”

“I’m intimately aware of what you’re capable of. That doesn’t mean I’m going to stand there and watch you risk your life.” Roman leaned toward her, still keeping his voice low so only she heard him. “Stick to my ass, or I’ll spank yours red.”

Her breath hitched for a moment, a muted hum barely reaching him as they stopped in front of the truck. Two men darted forward, patting down their clothes before shaking their heads and returning to their positions. The rear passenger door creaked open, and a tall man in a gray suit stepped out, moving slowly toward them. He looked about forty, with salt and pepper hair and a slim build. He paused beside the other men, visibly measuring them up.

Everett darted forward, a smug smile curving his lips. “Here they are. Just like I promised.”

The older man sneered at Everett, stepping slightly ahead of the group. “Your loyalty is the only reason you’re still alive. Don’t get smug because you did what I pay you to do.”

The smile faded from Everett’s mouth as he moved back, yanking the woman harder against him. He muttered something under his breath as he stood there, pouting.

Roman eyed the exchange, an uneasy feeling gnawing at him. Something felt off. He inched closer to Scarlet, noting the way she’d tensed. She obviously sensed the same odd vibe he’d picked up on. Pride warmed his chest. Damn, she was good at her job. And if it weren’t for the fact the thought of losing her scared the hell out of him, he’d be able to relax a bit—knowing she had his back. But just picturing her injured…

He shoved away the images. Nothing was going to happen to her. Period. He firmed his stance as the older man finally walked up to them, nodding at the briefcase.

The guy gave him a disturbing grin. “Everett tells me you’re…unhappy with the grade of cocaine I’ve been giving him. That true?”

Roman tilted his head, keeping his expression fixed. “We both know you’ve been cutting it with more than a few fillers. That might fool the average junkie, Mr…”

“Smith.”

“Smith?” Roman nodded. “Fine.” He raised one hand, drawing it affectionately through the ends of Scarlet’s hair. “My girl deserves better. She
needs
better, if you know what I mean. Everett seems to think you can give me what I want. Can you or is this just a waste of my time?”

Smith glared at him. “You’re pretty cocky for a playboy model’s agent, Mr. Kincaid.”

Roman grinned. At least his name hadn’t sent off any alarms with Smith. “Have you seen her? She’s exquisite. Trust me. Scarlet’s the next Marilyn Monroe. Classy, sexy, with curves men would kill for. I’m already getting requests for her to attend a number of political conventions—the kind that don’t get publicized. But sometimes she needs a little something extra to keep her going. Either you have that or you don’t. Which is it?”

“Oh, I’ve got it. But what makes you think I’ll deal with you?”

“Because you’re a businessman and after we shove all the bullshit aside, your sole motivation is money.” He laid the briefcase on the hood, punching in the codes to release the locks. He paused, ensuring Scarlet had a chance to see which number he’d inputted, silently informing her he’d released the hidden compartment, as well, before opening the lid. He spun the unit around, exposing the layers of bound bills. “And I have plenty of that.”

Smith stared at the case, reaching for it when Roman snapped it shut, pushing it back to Scarlet.

He tsked the dealer. “Not until I know what I’m paying for. And it’d better be a far sight better than what I’ve seen so far.”

Smith glared at him, visually measuring him up before waving his hand. One of the men behind him reached into the truck, removing a small duffle bag. He joined them at the front of the vehicle, handing the bag to Smith.

Smith smiled as he placed it beside the briefcase, slipping the zipper open. “Go ahead.”

Roman inched closer, examining the powered contents wrapped in plastic. He held out his hand, waiting until Smith reluctantly gave him a small knife. Roman shook his head, cutting a small slice in the top container, gathering a bit of the contents on the tip of the blade. He pressed his finger into the powder, licking a fraction of it off his skin.

He arched an eyebrow. “Better. But if this is as good as you’ve got…”

Smith pushed forward, crowding against Roman’s chest. “Are you saying my stuff isn’t good enough for you?”

“Are you telling me this is really what I came to buy?”

The man hovered within inches of Roman’s face before cracking a smile. He punched Roman on the shoulder, shouting out an order for someone to bring him the other bag. Another of Smith’s men appeared beside the man, a black bag in tow.

Smith motioned to the hood and the guy lowered the bag, taking the other duffle with him. Roman glanced at the offering, repeating his actions with the new supply. He glanced at Scarlet, giving her a guarded nod. This was what they’d been waiting for.