Only Her (A K2 Team Novel) (15 page)

Cody swallowed the lump in his throat, not knowing what to say.

“Yeah, the man tends to have that effect on you. Make your next appointment for Friday.”

Appointment made, Cody sat in his truck in the parking lot and thought about the past two hours. He hadn’t known what to expect, but he hadn’t thought it would be easy, and delving into his nightmare was going to be a bitch. If nothing else, after meeting with Tom, he had hope for the first time since the nightmares started. And he liked the man, which was surprising since he’d steeled himself not to appreciate anyone messing around in his head.

Another car pulled into the lot, likely Tom’s next appointment. Cody turned the key in the ignition and drove away. He’d planned to stop at the grocery store, but remembered he still had the food he’d bought for Riley and him to eat last Saturday night. Anxious to be with her, he headed home.

Riley enjoyed Maria’s company, but she hadn’t been left alone since she’d woken up in the hospital, and she craved some downtime. Cody had been gone for over two hours, and she wondered when he’d return.

“You like him, don’t you?” Maria asked.

Riley glanced at her friend. “Who?” Like she didn’t know Maria meant Cody, but she was feeling ornery.

“The man who has you staring out the window watching for him to come home.”

“Oh, him.” She shrugged. “What’s not to like?” Not a thing she could think of, and where was he? “I watched that SEAL movie, you know the one about the sniper? Do you think Cody’s having trouble dealing with life after the military?”

“Mmm, you need to ask him that question. I’ll just say that I haven’t seen any of the guys I know who served make an easy adjustment back to civilian life.”

Riley didn’t doubt that Maria knew more about Cody than she did and that rubbed. She wanted to know everything about him, every tiny detail. Never mind that there were things in her life she never wanted him to know. That was her past, over and done with.

She had run away from foster homes where men had lurked, watching her with a dangerous gleam in their eyes, lived on the streets, been picked up by the cops more than once and returned to Child Protective Services, and run away some more. The only time she regretted running was that one time with Reed. If she could pick one thing to do over again, it would be that. But she’d loved him as much as a sixteen-year-old knew how to, and she’d believed him when he’d said they would make a new life where nothing bad could touch them.

“There he is,” Maria said, bringing Riley back to the present.

Riley’s gaze hungrily followed Cody as he entered his house. A few minutes later, the door opened and the dogs ran into the yard. She smiled when he stepped out behind them and stretched his body like a cat that had been too long confined.

“You got it bad, girlfriend.”

God, she so did. “I do not.”

Maria snorted. “Whatever.” She stood and tossed her thick, dark hair over her shoulder. “Call me tomorrow. Oh, almost forgot. Tell Cody to check his e-mail.”

“Will do. Thanks for hanging out with me.”

“It was fun. We should do it more often.”

Riley waved a good-bye to her friend, but her attention was on the man across the street. He would come over as soon as he saw Maria leave, and knowing that spurred her to hurry to her bedroom for a quick change of clothes and a peek in the mirror to see if the purple bags under her eyes were still there. They were, but they were not nearly as bad, and a touch of makeup helped.

After slipping on a sleeveless, pale-blue maxi dress made of soft cotton, and doing a quick check on her hair, which was in a ponytail to hide her bald spot, she returned to the living room. The material of the dress felt strange in all the places usually covered by a bra and panties. That she wore nothing underneath was daring and exciting.

Her head hadn’t ached for a few hours, and come hell or high water, she was going to have sex tonight. All she needed to make that happen was the man walking across the street with his dogs at his heels and a plate of something in one hand. He stopped at her mailbox and collected some envelopes.

“Have you ever in any of your nine lives seen anything hotter?” she asked her cats, the three of them perched on the windowsill, watching along with her. When Cody and friends approached, Pelli took off for the bedroom. Merlin yawned. Arthur leapt down and parked himself at the door, his tail twitching with what Riley interpreted as excitement. She totally got it. If she had a tail, it would definitely be twitching.

“Hey,” she said, opening the door. “Let me take something.”

Her mail was thrust into her hand. When he stepped past her, she smelled soap and the spicy aroma of aftershave, making her mouth water. His face was lacking that scruffy bad boy look that melted her bones, but the smooth skin was just as tempting. Before the night was over, she was going to rub her face all over his. That she promised herself.

When he headed for her kitchen, his dogs staying with him, she followed and was almost tripped by Arthur, who hurried to catch up with Sally and Pretty Girl. “My cat’s in love,” she said.

A body made up of all bones and muscles turned. “And?”

His eyes raked over her, then lifted to hers, and the heat shimmering in them made her stomach flip. Just stick a fork in her right now and call her done. “And just this.”

As if he’d fully expected her to come at him like a missile locked on target, he reached behind him, set the plate on the counter, and opened his arms, wrapping them around her when she snuggled into him.

He leaned back and peered down at her, a slow smile forming on his face. “Hello.”

She grinned, feeling like a giddy teenager. “Hello back.”

When he slid his hands down her spine to the curve of her butt, he stilled. “If I’m not mistaken, you’re not wearing any panties.”

“You’re observant, Mr. Roberts.”

“And you’re a naughty girl, Dr. Austin, but I like that about you.”

She rubbed against him, going all tingly inside when she felt the hard length of him against her stomach. He lowered his mouth to hers. Mother Mary, the man could kiss. The envelopes she held drifted to the floor as she let go of them to free her hands for the exploring she’d been dying to do. She slipped them under his T-shirt, and trailed her fingertips up his sides, feeling the indentation between each rib. His skin rippled against her palms. She flattened her hand over his heart and felt the fast beats, and a thrill shot through her that she could make his blood pound.

“Darlin’,” he said, pulling his mouth away, chuckling when she tried to follow. “We’re not doing this until the doctor says you’re okay.”

“Yes, we are.” She took his hand and tried to drag him toward the bedroom and promptly bounced back against him. He hadn’t moved an inch.

“Tell you what. Let’s get the animals fed, eat a little dinner ourselves, and then we’ll talk.”

“About having sex? We don’t need to talk, we just need to do it.”

Laughter poured out of him, and he hugged her. “You’re good for me, Riley.”

That warmed her more than anything he could have said, and she hugged him back. “I’m glad. Let’s get to it. The faster we get it done, the faster we can christen my bed.”

He let go of her. “You just get a new one?”

“Nope. Been too busy this past year getting my practice set up to think about doing the dirty deed.” Something flashed in his eyes, and she thought he was both surprised and pleased.

“Dayum, girl, we need to fix that.”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.” She bent and picked up the envelopes, carrying them to the counter.

“You have a seat while I take care of feeding these creatures, and then we’ll eat.” He opened the pantry door.

“The cat food—”

“I know where everything is.”

Riley slid onto a stool, liking how at home he was in her kitchen. She watched him for a few minutes, enjoying the view. He had a way with the animals. Pelli slinked into the room and tried to climb up his legs. Cody pried him off and held the kitten in front of his face.

“You need to learn some manners, my little friend,” Cody said. He set Pelli on the floor and tapped his pink nose. “Stay.”

While Cody was giving her cat a lesson on manners, Riley flipped through the envelopes, set two bills aside, and grinned when she saw one with her last foster mother’s name in the corner. Pat’s letters were usually long and chatty, and she’d read it later. Eyeing the last envelope, she flipped it over to see if there was a return address on the back. There wasn’t. Opening it, she pulled out a single sheet of paper.

“Ack!” Slinging away the paper, she tried to back away, got the hem of her long dress caught under her foot, and fell off the stool.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A
t Riley’s yell, Cody dropped the cat food, splattering it on the floor. Somehow, he made it around the counter, catching her before she hit the floor.

“Is it your head? Are you having a relapse?”

She shuddered. “Spiders.”

“Huh?” Still holding her in his arms, he followed her gaze. “What the hell?” Taking her to the sofa, he set her down, then returned to the kitchen. Merlin jumped up on the counter and swatted at a dead spider. There were dozens of the things, different sizes, different kinds, all dead.
The fuck?

He picked up Merlin and set him on the floor. “Those aren’t toys for you.” The other two cats were busy eating their dinner from the spilled can. “Go grab some grub before they eat it all.” He gave the cat’s butt a push. Sally and Pretty Girl were still in a corner of the kitchen where he’d put them, their ears perked up, and their eyes locked on the food spilled on the floor. “You’ll get yours soon,” he told them.

“Where’s your plastic baggies?” he called to Riley.

“In the pantry, bottom shelf. Who would send me dead spiders? That’s just creepy.”

The same person who tried to run you over and hit you on the head with a rock?
She was still in denial if she had to ask. And whoever it was, they were messing with the wrong woman, and were going to be very sorry when he found them. Baggie in hand, he grabbed a paper towel, using it to lift the sheet of paper. The letters had been cut out of a magazine and taped on like something out of a bad B movie.

Next time they won’t be dead

Using the paper towel, he slid the spiders to the end of the counter, letting them fall into the baggie, then added the sheet of paper and the envelope. Once sealed, he put it on top of the refrigerator before going to the living room and sitting next to Riley.

“Are you calling Mike?” she asked when he put his phone to his ear.

“No, my boss, Logan Kincaid.”

“I think we should call Mike or that detective.”

He held up a finger. “I’ll tell you why I’m calling the boss first in a minute.” When he got Kincaid’s voice mail, he left a message, asking for a return call. After setting his phone on the coffee table, he slipped an arm around her, and tugged her close. “The first thing you need to know is that whoever this is, they’re not playing a practical joke on you. They mean business. The second is that K2 has more resources than any police department could ever hope for, which is why we’re bringing them in on this. After I talk to Kincaid, we’ll give your cop a call.”

“Mike’s not my cop.” She burrowed into him, and he felt a shiver pass through her. “Ugh. Spiders. Hate the things.”

“Yeah, me, too.” He pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her. “Did you have a nice afternoon with Maria?” he asked, hoping to get her mind off the spiders.

“Oh.” She lifted her face from where it was buried against his neck, pulled her long dress up to her thighs, and straddled him. “I almost forgot. Maria said to tell you to check your e-mail.”

“Probably sent the list of possible cars.” He reached for his phone, latching onto the excuse to keep from doing what he really wanted, and somehow managing to keep his eyes off her bare legs.

“Cars?”

“Yeah, here you go.” Turning the screen so she could see it, he scrolled down. “Looks like there’s around twenty possibilities in Escambia County.” While she skimmed the list, his eyes gravitated to the long, satiny legs hugging his thighs. If he touched them, he wouldn’t stop, so he forced his gaze back to her face.

“This really is all connected, isn’t it? The poisons, the car, the spiders?” The last was accompanied by a shudder.

’Bout damn time it sunk into her pretty head. “Yeah, so we need to figure out who’s targeting you and why.”

“You know what?” She took the phone out of his hand and placed it back on the coffee table. “Let’s talk about this tomorrow.”

With that, she lowered her mouth to his, and when her tongue made a slow slide across the seam of his lips, he decided tomorrow was a perfect day to discuss cars and poisons and spiders. When he tried to take control of the kiss, she clamped her teeth down on his bottom lip, and lust took a straight path to his groin.

“Riley.” He’d already noticed that she liked being in control, and he wondered if that had anything to do with bouncing from foster home to foster home, always at the mercy of others. Whatever the reason, he was more than happy to let her take over, curious to see what she had in mind.

“I love how you growl my name.” A sultry smile curved her lips as she slipped her fingers under his T-shirt and tugged it up.

Cody leaned forward so she could get the shirt over his head. “I think you’ve cast some kind of magic spell on me, darlin’,” he said, staring into her hazel eyes, watching the gold flecks in them darken. She fascinated him, this woman who hadn’t been loved as a child but felt so deeply that she cried when she couldn’t save someone’s pet. He wanted to know everything about her. What had happened to her parents? What made her want to be a veterinarian? Had she ever been in love? He wanted to know it all, down to the smallest detail.

“I want you so much,” she said.

“The feeling is mutual.” He brushed a strand of hair from the side of her face and tucked it behind her ear. “But you know we can’t. Not until you see the doctor, and I have to tell you that it’s killing me to say that.”

She pressed her forehead to his and sighed. “I know, and it’s not fair. A sexy, mysterious man moves in next door, and I finally get my chance at him, and someone conks me on the head. Just not fair.” A sly gleam appeared in her eyes. “But you’re not under a sex ban.”

That got his attention. “Whatcha got in mind?” And if she said what he hoped she was going to, he might explode on the spot.

“Just this.” She undid the button on his jeans and lifted an eyebrow. He lifted one right back at her, and she laughed. “I take it you approve?”

“Oh yeah, baby. Gotta say I do.” He put his hand over hers when she started to pull his zipper down. “But you can only use your hand. Can’t have you bouncing your head around.”

“I’ll be careful.”

She batted her eyelashes, and he laughed. “What are you doing to me?” he asked, his voice a mere whisper. Did she have a clue that she had him wrapped around her finger?

“That very question has been on the tip of my tongue to ask you,” she answered.

He hissed when her hand circled him. “Ahhh, been . . . ahhh.” It was true what they said about a man’s blood rushing south when aroused because Cody was pretty damn sure not a drop was left from his waist up. Talking was next to impossible, but he tried again. “Been too long. N-not gonna last.”

“I want you so badly,” she said as she slid her hand down the length of him.

“The minute you’re pronounced okay, darlin’. The very minute.” Her gaze lowered to her hand and what she was doing to him, and watching her watch him was flat-out hot. He zoned in on her lips, so soft and kissable, and he cradled her neck, pulling her face down. He brushed his lips over hers before fusing their mouths. Everything about her enticed him. Her lemony scent, her warm, soft skin, her taste, the gold flecks in her eyes that changed to topaz when she was aroused or annoyed—both of those emotions a big turn-on. Her taste was one a man could sustain his life on.

“Riley,” he gasped when she rubbed her thumb over the head and spread the evidence of his arousal around, making him slick so that her hand glided easily up and down his length. He was close, and he put his hand over hers, showing her how fast and hard he needed it.

Riley loved the feel of his big hand over hers, both of them touching him. A hungry moan sounded low in his throat, and it was as if fuel had been thrown on the low-burning fire inside her. She tightened her grip and felt him throb against her palm. He was big, and hard, and beautiful. When he thrust against the hand she had around him, making that moaning sound again, she stroked him faster.

“Jesus, Riley.”

He grabbed his T-shirt and tried to cover himself, but she pushed the shirt away. Needing to taste him, she scooted off his lap and lowered her mouth at the moment he came. Air swished out of his lungs, and then he sucked air back in. She’d done that to him, stolen his breath. Surprised him, too, by the dazed look he was giving her. When his chest stopped heaving, he wrapped his fingers around her arm and pulled her up.

“You didn’t have to do that, darlin’,” he said, kissing her.

Oh, but she did. He slid his hand down the top of her dress and cupped a breast, flicking his thumb over her nipple as his mouth explored hers. The slide of their tongues over each other, the possessive press of his mouth on hers, and the way his hand palmed the curve of her bottom sent fiery heat to all
the
places.

He rested his forehead against hers. “No more or I’m gonna forget you’re hurt.”

Although he was right, she didn’t like it. “So not fair,” she grumbled.

“I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” He kissed her nose.

Before she could tell him he most certainly would, his phone buzzed. When he picked it up, she saw the name Kincaid on the screen. As he talked, she studied him, reaching up and sliding her fingers over his clean-shaven cheek. Although she thought he was crazy hot with a smooth face, she loved his stubbled look best. At her touch, he winked at her, which about melted her. If he put even a half-assed effort into making her fall for him she doubted she’d be able to resist. Sadly, he had heartbreak written all over him, yet she was beginning to believe he was worth the risk.

After a brief conversation with his boss, Cody set down his phone. “We’re meeting with him in the morning. Once we do that, you can call your cop friend if you still want to.”

Wow, she was going to get to meet the legendary Logan Kincaid. From the few things Cody had said of him, and the way Maria spoke of her brother as if he were some kind of hero who no one dared to mess with, she was as curious as a cat about the man.

Riley couldn’t help ogling her surroundings as she followed Cody through the inner sanctum of K2 Special Services on Wednesday morning. She felt as if she’d stepped into a movie set of a military war room. There were digital maps on the walls, monitors all over the place, and workspaces where men and women wearing headsets sat in front of computers that were angled in such a way to prevent her from seeing the screens. Offices lined the large, open middle room, most with their doors and blinds closed.

And that receptionist? Cody had introduced the woman only by her first name of Barbie. She was tall, gorgeous, and looked like she should be walking the runway for Victoria’s Secret with a pair of angel wings strapped to her back. After he’d punched in a code, then put his palm over a black box on the wall, and they’d entered the inside room, he’d leaned close to her ear and whispered that Barbie wore a gun strapped to her thigh.

“Remind me not to piss her off,” she’d whispered back, causing him to laugh.

With his hand on her lower back, Cody led her to a conference room, the only furniture a long table with chairs around it. There was a large screen TV mounted to the wall and a small black refrigerator in the corner. He pulled out a chair next to the one at the head of the table.

“Have a seat. Want something to drink?”

“Water would be nice.” She slid into the cushy black leather chair. Cody went to the fridge and returned with two bottles of water. She wondered if she’d asked for a slushy beer if they would’ve had one ready for her, lime and all. It just seemed like that kind of place, one where they already knew all your preferences and were prepared for you. Pretty cool but also spooky.

“This place is like being in some secret spy building. What did you say you people do?”

“Nice try, darlin’.” He took the seat next to her, leaving the one at the head of the table empty.

That dimpled grin of his did its job again, making her stomach fluttery and curling her toes. “I bet if I tortured you, you still wouldn’t tell me.”

An unholy gleam lit his eyes. “Probably not, but might depend on just what you have in mind.” He leaned over and sucked her earlobe into his mouth. “There’s torture and then there’s torture.”