Kilty Pleasure (18 page)

“I know.” It was almost a whisper.

“But will you do it?”

She hesitated, biting down on her lip, and finally giving a short nod.

“Good girl.”

In a moment she was on her feet, pulling her hand from his as she strode back into the house.

He jumped up from the chaise and followed after her.

“I need to go.” She made her way back to his room.

When he caught up with her she was already stripping off his T-shirt and pulling on her own clothes again.

“Does Sarah know about Curt and me?”

“I don’t believe so.”

“So then she wouldn’t know about the protection order.” She pulled on her skirt and then the tank top.

“No.” Christ, every time she mentioned that order, or he thought about it, his concern for her safety jumped up a notch.

“Maybe you should stay here, Hailey.”

The look she cast him was nothing but incredulous. “Why on earth would I do that?”

“Because I’m worried about you.”

“I’ll be fine. Besides, you live on the south end of Whidbey and I live in Mount Vernon. That’s like an hour-and-a-half drive to work.”

“I’ll help with gas.”

“It’s completely illogical.” She gave an exasperated laugh. “Colin, really. I know your job is to protect people and keep the island safe, but I’m not your problem.”

She leaned over to pull on her sandals, causing her skirt to tighten over her arse.

“You wouldn’t be a problem.” The idea of having Hailey around at nights sounded quite appealing.

“Forget it. Not going to happen.” She turned, cupped his face and pressed a kiss to his lips. “But I do appreciate the offer. Really.”

Swarmed by an unfamiliar feeling of helplessness, he asked, “Do you have a gun?”

She snorted. “No. And I sure as hell don’t want one, either. I have a baseball bat, though, if that makes you feel any better.”

“Depends what type of weapon Curt is carrying when he tries to break into your house next time.”

“If there is a next time.” She shook her head. “Like I said, I’ll drop by the police department and let them know what happened. I don’t know what’ll happen exactly, but I guess we’ll see.”

She tried to move away, but he caught her around the waist and pulled her back into his arms. Delving his fingers into her hair, he tugged slightly to tilt her head back, and then claimed her mouth with his.

For a moment she froze, but finally she sighed and leaned into him. She joined the slow kiss with unhurried strokes of her tongue against his.

The hands she slid up his back stroked over him and up to his shoulder blades.

Finally, when it grew difficult to breathe and he felt arousal surfacing again, he pulled away.

“Be careful, sweetheart.” Rubbing his thumb over her swollen lips, he murmured, “And you call me if you need anything.”

Her lips quirked, right before she bit his thumb lightly. “Like your penis?”

“Aye, well, that too.”

“Deal.” She pulled away and grabbed her purse off the floor. “See you soon, Deputy.”

“I hope so. I’ll be waiting for any update on that Curt situation, you realize.”

“I know you will.” Her doe eyes sparkled with a mix of respect and sadness. “Because you really are one of the good guys.”

With a small nod of her head, she disappeared out of his room and, a moment later, out of his home.

Chapter Fourteen

“So you visited the police station?”

Hailey cradled her cell phone with one hand as she finished unloading her dishwasher with another.

She probably should’ve just let the call go to voice mail, but once she’d seen Colin’s newly added number pop up on her screen she’d picked up.

Going several days without seeing him—let alone speaking to him—had made her miss him on a level she didn’t really like. Which just made her more determined not to text him or call.

“Yes, I did. Reluctantly. And was that a question or a statement?”

“A statement. I called and checked to make sure you’d followed up.”

She laughed and went to work rinsing off dishes. “Of course you did, my sexy stalker lover.”

“Mmm. No. I’m not a thing like Curt MacGregor—who’s getting a little too stalkerish for my comfort. I’m concerned for you, Hailey.”

“I know you are,” she said softly, “I was teasing. And I appreciate your concern, I do.”

Actually, it was kind of nice to know someone out there cared. It had been a long time since anyone had looked out for her safety. It was somewhat of a novelty.

“What did they tell you at the station?”

“You didn’t get the scoop on that too?”

Though he didn’t reply, she could envision his disapproving scowl, so she cut him some slack.

“He said that the first encounter, where Curt came to my house, was definitely grounds for them to take action. But because I didn’t take immediate action—I waited over a week—there wasn’t a lot they could do on that one.”

“Well shite. I guess that makes sense. What about the one at the restaurant?”

“That one, while suspicious, they said could be harder to prove was deliberate. Especially seeing as he drove off without speaking to me.”

“So he’s still out there.”

“Even if they did bring him in or question him, there’s no guarantee they’d arrest him. Depending on the severity of the crime, he could just be fined.”

“Aye, and good luck getting any money out of the bastard.”

“Exactly.”

“Be vigilant, Hailey. I don’t trust him the slightest.”

“Me neither, and I’m being alert. I swear.”

“You realize I’m also concerned that I’ve not heard from you in several days.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I just…needed some space. But now I’m glad you called. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too. Can you get a dog?”

She smiled at how quickly he jumped back to her safety. “No. I’m renting this house. No pets.”

His grunt showed he didn’t approve.

“What are you up to?” she asked while rinsing the handful of dishes in the sink.

“Having a beer and lying outside watching the sunset.”

“Lucky.” She stared out her kitchen window and just saw the dark green wood of the house next to her. “Your view beats mine.”

“You should come over.”

It was ridiculous how tempted she was. “I work in the morning.”

“As do I.”

“It’s after eight thirty at night and it’d take over an hour to get there.”

He sighed. “You can’t blame me for trying.”

So why didn’t you try three hours ago?
She might’ve been swayed then.

“You went radio silent after Thursday.”

Yes, she had. After she’d gone to his house and they’d made love twice. After she’d promised to call and hadn’t.

“I know.” Guilt coiled in her stomach. “I’m sorry. I was just a little physically and emotionally exhausted after that day. Especially after stopping at the police station.”

“No need for apology. It wasn’t my intent to make you feel bad. It’s in my nature to worry. To be concerned about those…” he trailed off and seemed to be choosing his words carefully, “…who are in my life.”

Had he been about to say something else?

“No matter, though. I just wanted to make sure you’re all right, Hailey.”

“I am. I’m fine.” And she was. There’d been no more contact from Curt, or even a hint of him. He’d vanished. Or, well, that would be nice. But maybe he’d realized he’d gone too far this time.

“I want to see you.”

Her heart quickened at his soft words. “You could always come out here.”

“Tonight?”

“No. We both work too early. And our jobs aren’t exactly the kind you can do running on empty.” She grimaced. “Being exhausted at my job means I could potentially give someone the wrong meds or amount. Maybe accidentally kill them. You know, that pesky stuff that’ll ruin your day.”

“Oh aye. Death can really put a damper on things.”

“I know, right?” She couldn’t stop a yawn as she closed her now-loaded dishwasher.

“So then would tomorrow night work?”

“Tomorrow is my Friday. It would absolutely be easier. But don’t you work the next day?”

“I’ll be fine. I’ll head over after my shift, be there around 1900?”

“Sounds good. And, you know, I love that we’re both on military time.”

“It’s rather convenient,” he agreed. “Sleep well. Don’t think about me and get yourself all flustered or anything.”

She laughed low, absently tracing the smooth cell phone with her fingers. “I can’t make any promises, but we’ll see.”

“Try to hold out. It’ll make tomorrow all the more fun.”

“Ah, so
that’s
what we’re doing?”

“Mmm, likely. That and other things.”

“All right. Have a good night, Colin.”

“You as well.”

When she’d ended the call and stared around the emptiness of her house, she was half-tempted to throw some clothes in a bag and drive over to his house after all.

“You’re not going over there, stupid,” she muttered to herself as strode from the kitchen. “And this is how I know I’m losing my mind.”

Getting through the next day at work seemed like more of a challenge than usual.

The day dragged and some of her patients were extra cranky. It all made her all the more eager to see Colin that evening.

It had only been four days since she’d seen him, yet every day she woke up thinking of him. Wanting him. Maybe that’s what happened when you had good sex, right? The more you had it, the more you wanted it. Because when she’d been in her months, or even years, of abstinence, she’d stopped thinking about sex.

That’s what it had to boil down to in the end. It couldn’t possibly be anything more, could it?

Slave to the penis. That’s exactly what you are, you weak girl.

“You look as if you can’t wait to get out of here.” Tanesha glanced over at her from where she was writing in her chart. “Got big plans for your evening?”

Feeling a telling blush steal into her face, Hailey did her best to just look casual.

“Not really. Might go to a late dinner with a friend.”
More like just screw his brains out.

Any minute now she’d be getting off work and heading home to sneak in a quick shower and clothing change.

“Mmm hmm. Dinner. Sure, if that’s how you wanna play it.” Tanesha pointed a pen at her and narrowed her eyes. Her lips quirked. “I’ve seen that look before, and, girl, you’re seeing someone.”

“What? No. I—”

“Code blue to Room 2020.”

Cardiac Arrest
.
Shit.

Hailey and Tanesha exchanged a look and then sprinted down the hall, along with a handful of other nurses and the doctor on duty.

“Code blue to Room 2020.”

Room 2020. She searched her memory and pulled up the image of the elderly woman who’d come in with chest pain this morning.

All thoughts of her naughty plans for the evening vanished. Adrenaline kicked in and her only focus right now was helping save someone’s life.

Colin glanced at his watch and then again at the front door to Hailey’s house.

Not that he expected her to come strolling out. Her car wasn’t even in the parking lot.

Which meant she was over fifteen minutes late for their arranged meeting time. And he could’ve sworn she got off earlier than him.

Grabbing his cell from his pocket, he dialed her number, but it went straight to voice mail.

His thoughts went to dark places. To the man she had a protection order against.

After starting his truck, Colin pulled away from the curb and backed into the street.

Before he officially hit the panic switch, he would just drive by the hospital and see if her car was still there.

She didn’t live far from her work and once he arrived he drove around the parking lots glancing for her car. He finally spotted it sitting vacant in one of the back spots.

He pulled in next to her and parked. After climbing out of the truck, he strode into the hospital.

A couple quick questions at the main desk and he was on the elevator to another floor.

The emotional heaviness hit him as he strode down the hall to where the patient rooms were. A woman in scrubs strode briskly past him, eyes downcast and lips compressed.

When he reached the nurses’ station, a couple ladies were talking quietly and glanced up when he stopped in front of them.

“Can I help you?” one asked.

“I’m looking for—”

“Colin.”

He swung around and found her standing behind him. Still in scrubs, her ponytail was half-fallen out and exhaustion seemed to encompass her whole body.