Playing With Fire (21 page)

Erin was literally vibrating with anger when she saw him
drive up. She turned on her neighbor with a vengeance.

“Damn you, Ettie Mae. You called him, didn’t you?”

When she was on the telephone the two men carrying a large
sofa had resumed their task. Erin shouted, “Stop. All of you stop.”

At that moment Nate unwound himself from his low slung
automobile and ambled up the sidewalk. He looked at least a foot taller than
the dark-skinned men moving the furniture. His swagger emphasized his slim hips
and broad chest. The wrap around designer sunglasses only contributed to his
rock star appearance. He didn’t need the Glock and the badge he’d snagged on
his jeans belt. He owned the place and he knew it.

“What’s going on, folks? Looks like a house-warming party.
Can anyone attend?”

Erin met him at the top of the stairs, her hands on her
hips, her voice was shaking.

“How dare you, Nate? How dare you do this?!”

Without waiting for an answer she snapped at the mover who
was carting in a large overstuffed chair, “I told you to put that down. I want
you to stop. Now!”

“But, Miss, it’s the last piece except for the coffee
table.”

Her voice rose dangerously.

“I said put it down!”

Nate nodded at the young man who had turned to him, a
beseeching look on his face.

“Put it on the porch for the moment. Give me a chance to
discuss this with Ms. McFadden.”

“What’s the matter, Erin? Don’t you like it? Is the color
wrong? Naomi said it’s all the latest design, she was sure….”

Erin gaped at him, a mixture of fury and astonishment
flooding her.

“What… what are you saying?
You
had someone pick out
a house full of furniture — without asking me if I wanted it — had it delivered
to
my
house, again without consulting me. And you think I am concerned
about the style? The color of the damn chairs?”

“Relax little Spitfire. I’m sure Sam Menendez explained that
this is a rent to buy purchase. At the end of three months you can send the
whole shipment back. That should give you enough time to see where you are and
what you need.”

“Three months? What three months? What are you talking
about?” A razor sharp pain sliced her heart when it dawned on her what he
meant. She stared up at him. She was shaking so hard she wasn’t sure she could
speak until her shaken words tumbled out.

“Oh, but of course. By that time you think you’ll have made
a more ‘permanent’ housing arrangement for me, is that it Detective?”

Mrs. J.’s eyebrows arched over the top of her spectacles as
she exchanged a warning glance with Nate over Erin’s head. Her silent message
was clear. ‘This one is all yours, detective.’

The dark- skinned Hispanic man in charge of the crew said to
Nate in Spanish, “
Qué quieres que haga, Jefe?
”

Erin jumped in, furious at his assumption.

“No! No! I speak Spanish. He is not the boss. I am!”

The young man grinned at Nate then turned to Erin his hands
raised in surrender.

“
Lo siento señorita, no hablo Inglés.
”

Turning again to Nate, he repeated, “
Qué quieres que
haga, Jefe?
”

Nate shot him an easy smile.

“
Pon el resto en la ahora en la casa. Gracias, Pedro.
”

The three crewmembers moved quickly to bring the rest of the
items from the van into the house avoiding Erin.

Erin felt her face flame. She didn’t know when she had been
angrier. She yanked her phone out of her pocket.

“That does it. I’m calling Blake now. I’m going to insist
that he call your Chief. This is outrageous. I won’t tolerate it!”

“Put your phone away, Erin.” Nate shoved his sunglasses
carelessly up on his head and pinned her with a hard stare. “Now.”

Erin looked around helplessly. But everyone except the
movers had disappeared. Even Ettie Mae was half a block away and moving fast.

The three crew members stepped up expectantly.

Nate laughed. “A tip was included in the first month’s rent
but hell, you never know

how much of that Sam takes off the top.”

He took out his wallet and stripped off three fifty-dollar
bills, handing one to each of the movers.

“Thanks, guys. Good work.”

Erin watched the three men load their dollies, pack the
tarps and close up the van. All the while chatting in English.

Their perfidy shocked her and angered her further.
 “I’m calling Blake now.”

She felt Nate beside before she heard his low voice.

“Let’s go inside and discuss this, Erin.”

His hand on her elbow sent a shock of electricity along her
jittery nerves. She had no choice but to follow him inside.

He closed the door behind them.

Erin shoved his hand off of her arm tugging against his firm
grip. She straightened her shoulders and faced him, determined that she would
not succumb.

“Nate, I warned you. I told you if you came here again….”

She took several large steps back and pulled out her phone.

“I’m calling Blake and having him call your Chief now.”

Nate closed in on her and took the phone from her hand and
slipped it in his pocket.

“No, Erin, you’re not.”

She trembled. “Nate, I told you not to come near me.”

He gazed down at her. His voice was soft.

“And I told you that you need to stop being so stubborn. The
furniture stays. If you don’t like the color or the style, we’ll exchange it.”

She shook her head, stunned at his presumptuousness.

“We? Who’s we? Nate, does it ever occur to you that you
can’t do this? That you can’t do things like this? Just decide what I need and
then have it
delivered
? This isn’t a damn pizza. It’s a house full of
furniture. You can’t do this, Nate.”

She tried to keep her voice calm, from rising. But it was no
use. Her whole body was a jangle of agitated nerves. How could her voice be
anything else?

Nate’s expression hardened. He squinted at her from
half-closed eyes. His voice was low, harsh.

“I’ll tell you what I can’t do, Erin. I can’t bear to think
of you lying on the floor in this hideous place with a damn card table and a
plastic chair as the only furniture.”

“It’s not up to you, Nate, how I live. It’s none of your
business, don’t you understand?”

Nate was unbending.

“I’m makin’ it my business, Erin. Along with some other
things. I need to talk to you. Without the ambulance chaser whispering in your
ear. You understand me? I’ve been working on a number of angles. Finding some
interesting things, but I need you to help me sort them out.”

Erin stepped away. She put her hands over her ears shaking
her head from side to side.

“No. No, damn you! I won’t listen to you. I don’t want to
hear what you have to say. This is just what Blake said you would do. Try to
get me to talk to you and then take everything I say and twist it to make me
look worse.”

“Erin. Stop. That’s not what I’m doing.”

He moved toward her, slowly, carefully. He wanted to calm
her, not frighten her.

“Erin, look at me. Blake is wrong. That’s not who I am.”

Against her better judgment she did look at him. He towered
over her, tall and strong. His chest and arms rippled with muscle but she knew
when he touched her, his hands would be gentle, at least at first. She looked
at his beautiful face and gulped. There was no mistaking the desire flashing in
his eyes.

He took a tentative step toward her. She swallowed hard.
Excitement and anxiety fought inside her. Oh God. Every warning signal in her
brain was firing on all cylinders but it didn’t do any good. He was advancing
on her, and she wanted him to stop, but in spite of herself she still longed to
have his arms around her. She wanted him to press his hard chest, his strong
thighs against her. Gazing at his sensuous mouth, she ached to taste his lips.
She closed her eyes, a soft whimpering moan escaped her lips.

And then he was there. He grasped her arms in his big hands
and pulled her close. He lifted her up to him, touching her lips with his. At
first his lips were soft, seeking, disconcertingly gentle. Then he pressed his
mouth more firmly against hers, licking across the seam of her lips. At his
husky whisper, “Open, baby,” she groaned and opened her mouth to his probing
tongue. Heat rolled through her starting in the base of her stomach. She gasped
for air as a blast of sensations streaked across her sensitive skin. His long
fingers tangled in her hair tipping her head back baring her throat to his lips
and teeth.

“Goddamn, Erin. Why do you have to smell like this? I can’t
get enough of you.”

He touched her with his hands and his hot breath. His sexy
whispers evoked erotic images that made her pant, beg for more. No one had ever
touched her like this, as if he couldn’t get enough of her, as if he treasured
her. Oh God, she knew she had to stop, but she needed just one more minute, of
his hands parting her thighs, his fingers gripping her bottom, pulling her up
against his hard arousal. He scraped his teeth over the skimpy fabric covering
her breasts. His expert tongue stroked the lace covering her beaded nipples.
She cried out wanting him to take the hard tips in his mouth. To lick them and
suck on them.

Nate groaned, a deep needy sound.

“I have to taste you. I’m dying for this, Erin.”

He pressed his iron hard cock against her core.

“I want to feel you wet and hot around my cock. I need your
legs wrapped around me, baby.”

She tried to fight against the sensations but they were too
raw, too intense. She ached for him. Oh God, what was she thinking? What was
wrong with her? All her life she’d hated the things men did to her. She’d
fought to keep from gagging when they touched her. She often retched for hours
when they were finished with her. But when Nate got within ten feet of her, her
legs turned to jelly. She wanted him to hold her and kiss her. She wanted him
to wrap her in his strong arms and bury himself deep inside of her.

Thinking about the past triggered a rush of painful
memories. Oh God, she reminded herself. Nate knew. She was sure Connor told
him. About Dylan, about her ugly past, the other men. The realization hit her.
Like Dylan, Nate must really think she is a whore. That’s why he was doing
this….

“Stop, stop, Nate. I… I want you to stop now.”

He stepped back but still held her in his arms.

“Erin, honey, we have to deal with this. God, Erin, I’m
going crazy wanting you.”

She pressed her hands against his chest, pushing him away.

“No. No! There is nothing to deal with. God…one minute you
think I’m a killer….”

She rubbed her hand across her mouth trying to wipe off the
taste of him.

“I know Connor told you… told you about me. I… I know what
you think of me.”

She stepped back further, holding her hands in front of her
to protect herself.

“But you’re wrong. I am not a whore! Do you understand? I
never was a prostitute. Ever!”

Tears streamed down her face. She was helpless to stop them.

Nate’s face crumpled. His eyes widened with anguish.

“Jesus, Erin. Goddamn, baby. You can’t believe that’s what I
think.”

She buried her face in her hands. Sick with shame, she
sobbed uncontrollably.

Nate grabbed Erin and pulled her up so hard against him she
lost her breath. He wound his hand in her hair dragging her even closer. She
struggled to breath. His voice was a harsh rasp in her ear.

“Erin, listen to me. Don’t you ever say those things about
yourself again. Not to me. Not to anyone. Especially not to yourself. Do you
hear me? Erin, you are the strongest, most noble woman I know. If I hear anyone
say those things about you, I will make them sorry they were born. Do you
understand me?”

He held her close to him, gently stroking her back,
whispering soft comforting words until she stopped shaking and her sobs
quieted.

Her phone buzzed repeatedly. Nate started then remembered it
was in his pocket.

Erin whispered. “Nate, I know that’s Blake. He told me he
was coming over. He always calls before he leaves his house. Nate, please go. I
can’t have you here when he comes.”

She felt his resistance, saw the mix of emotions warring
across his face.

“Please, Nate.”

Nate stepped back, a tense reluctant move. Running his hands
through his hair he stared at her for a long moment and then strode to the
door. He paused with his hand on the doorknob.

Turning slowly, he faced her.

“You’re wrong, Erin. We do have to deal with what’s between
us. And we’re going to. Because you want me as much as I want you. Damn,
darlin’, I’m about to go out of my ever lovin’ mind, I need you so bad.”

Her phone buzzed again. Nate pressed his lips in a firm
line. His jaw tightened so hard he thought it might crack. He nodded at the
phone in her hand and shook his head.

“Remember what I told you. You’re mine, Erin. You belong to
me now.”

Why did he have to say something like that, Erin wondered.
To confuse her, frustrate her? She knew she should be insulted, and on one
level she was. But another part of her that wouldn’t be still, hoped it was
true.

Blake stood in the doorway, staring at the furniture-filled
rooms. He’d burst in without knocking. Erin had given him a key at the same
time she gave Ettie Mae one. He’d convinced her it was important that he could
get in if he had to — if she needed him. Erin agreed. Since the break in, and
now the murder investigation, she lurched between fear and despair. The only
thing that kept her sane was running. Knowing that Blake and even Ettie Mae
could get in if they had to, was comforting. And of course, no lock could keep
Nate out of her house — or she thought with a grimace, of her life.