Protecting Rose (6 page)

She followed him back past the kitchen and down the hall, to stop at the last door on the left. Nate pushed the door open and Rose stepped inside.

It was an impressive room. A four-poster canopy bed sat near a large window that offered a breathtaking view of the lake. The sun was just beginning to set and cast soft shadows throughout the room. On the opposite end was an ornamental fireplace surrounded by an inviting sitting area. A walk-in closet near the bathroom stood open, partially filled with women’s clothes. She turned back to him with a raised brow.

He chuckled. “We had one of the female officers pick up some stuff for you. If you like, tomorrow we can go shopping for whatever else you need.”

“Really? We can go shopping?” Her heart skipped a beat with excitement at the thought. What kind of clothes would she pick out? What was her favorite perfume? Did she even wear perfume? It would be fun to learn what her tastes were.

“You’re not a prisoner. Let me know what you need, and I’ll make arrangements to get us to the proper shops.”

“I’d like that.”

“Okay. It’s settled then. We’ll leave first thing after breakfast.” He pointed to the door next to the closet. “The bathroom is through there. I’m going to go start dinner while you bathe.”

“You’re cooking dinner?” Her eyes widened.

“Yep.” He grinned. “It’s pizza night.” He gave a low chuckle as he turned to leave.

His laughter sent her butterflies fluttering. With a smile, she placed her hand over the spot that tingled. “Calm down, there’s nothing to see here.”

Rose found a pair of pajamas and matching robe and slippers in the closet and underwear in the dresser. She eyed the plain white cotton panties and bra in dismay. Tomorrow she would shop for something more to her taste. Somehow, she knew she was not a plain cotton underwear kind of gal.

When she stepped into the bathroom, she was delighted to see a big antique footed tub and a vanity stocked full of bubble bath, oils and a collection of soaps in a variety of smells and colors. Oh, Joy! She filled the tub with hot water, added a generous supply of bubble bath, and reminded herself to thank the officer who had provided her with this luxury.

Rose washed down a muscle relaxer with a glass of water, located the towels and placed one on the counter before lowering her aching and exhausted body into the bubbles. She kept her bandaged wrists on the sides of the tub. Heaven. She was in heaven. She closed her eyes and rested her head on the tub. She relaxed and let the hot water work its magic on her abused body.

Thoughts of Nate crowded her mind. She recalled his deep, sexy voice and sweet cinnamon breath, how his baby blues seemed to look right through her and read her every thought and emotion. The way his quiet presence soothed her and his steadfast protectiveness made her feel safe. Her breath quickened and her body tingled, remembering how his hard body had pressed against her.

Rose soaked until the water grew lukewarm and the bubbles disappeared. When she began to feel sleepy, she lifted the handheld showerhead from the cradle and rinsed the soap from her hair.

She stepped from the tub, wrapped the big fluffy towel around herself, and made her way to the bed. With a yawn, she sat down on the edge to put on her pajamas. Instead, she curled up on the bed. Just for a moment to rest.

Her eyelids drifted shut.

Nate finished preparing the pizza, adding a dash more garlic. It was a family recipe handed down through the generations. At least that was what he told folks. With a chuckle, he placed the pan in the oven and set the dial.

He strolled out onto the balcony and settled down on the wicker lounge chair to enjoy the sunset. His mind wandered to Rose. Images of her naked in the bathtub and wrapped in nothing but bubbles flashed through his mind. With a groan, he rubbed the back of his neck.

Don’t even go there, jackass.

She was freaked out enough already, thanks to him. He seriously needed to get his libido under control before he scared her even more. His cell phone vibrated in his pocket, and he grabbed it and flipped it open. “Nate here.”

“Hey, Stone,” Rick said. “Thought you might like to know that we got the information back on the car the lady was driving. But unfortunately it raises more questions than it answers.”

“How’s that?”

“The car was a rental and registered under a false name, so we still don’t know who she is. And any real identification she may have had burned with the vehicle.”

Nate stared at the evening sky with a frown. “Now why would she be traveling under a false identity?”

“Don’t know. But we also ran her prints and nothing came back.”

“What about missing persons? Anything turn up there?”

“Afraid not, buddy.”

“Damn.” Nate pinched the bridge of his nose. He wondered how he was supposed to protect her when he didn’t even know what she was running from.

“There’s one more thing, Stone. Just as you suspected, her car was tampered with. Her brakes were cut.

Nate grimaced. “Okay. Thanks for the fast turnaround on the information.”

“Not a problem. Wish it was better news, man.”

“Yeah, me to. Hey, I almost forgot, she’s had musical training and plays a mean piano. That might help, or not, but at least it’s something.”

“Duly noted. You just lay low, and if we find anything, I’ll let you know.”

The oven buzzer sounded, and Nate went back to the kitchen to shut it off. He reached for a potholder and opened the oven door to pull out the pizza. The thin potholder was no match against the hot pan and he dropped it on the counter with a thud and a curse.

Rick laughed. “Are you cooking, Stone? Hell, she’s already got you domesticated.”

“Very funny, ha ha,” Nate said dryly. “The lady’s not exactly in shape to cook a four-course meal.”

Rick sobered. “Yeah, guess not. How is she holding up?”

“She’s hanging in there. I’ll talk to you later.” He ended the call.

Nate pulled the contact information from his pocket for Sheila Williams. He was concerned about Rose’s fragile emotional state and wanted to get her in to see Ms. Williams at the first available opportunity. He glanced at the clock and noted the late hour. Would she even be in her office this time of night? After five rings, he was about ready to hang up when she picked up.

“Sheila Williams,” she said on a gasp, as though she’d rushed to get to the phone.

“Ms. Williams, this is Nate Stone.”

“Yes, Detective Stone, I’ve been expecting your call. Doctor Anderson called me last night with the details of Rose’s case.”

“He would like Rose to meet with you...”

“Yes, that’s correct. I’ve rearranged my schedule so I can see Rose on Tuesday at nine a.m. The sooner I see her, the better the chances she will regain her memory.”

“All right, that sounds good.”

“Great, Tuesday then. And Nate, please call me Sheila.”

“Okay, Sheila.”

Nate closed the phone, stepped up to the bedroom door, and knocked. There was no answer. “Rose,” he called. Silence met him.

He opened the door and tensed. Rose lay on top of the bed covered only by a towel. His groin jerked to attention at the sight of her delicious bare skin, still pink from the hot bath. Damp hair curled around her face and flowed in ringlets to the top of her breasts. Her sweet tempting lips were slightly parted. She had a delicate sensual beauty.

He scowled at the bandages on her wrists and the red marks at her ankles. She was a woman to be treasured and protected...not abused.

“Rose?” Nate took a step into the room.

When she didn’t respond to his call, he crossed over to the bed, his heart pounding against his ribs. She was asleep on top of the bedspread, wrapped in a fluffy towel that barely covered her gorgeous body.

With a raised brow, he noted the soft swell of her breasts and dark shadows of her nipples that peeked from the top of the towel. Short of plucking them from his head, he was powerless to stop his eyes from roaming down her body and back up to where the towel stopped at the top of her sweet tempting thighs. His heart thudded a heavy beat at the sensual sight.

A dark rage consumed him at the bruises on her inner thigh. Another confirmation of the violence she’d endured. Like a cold shower, it effectively cooled his lust.

He touched her shoulder. “Rose?”

She gave a soft moan, but did not awaken.

He crouched beside the bed and placed two fingers on her throat where it pulsed. When he found the beat strong and steady, the heavy rat-a-tat at his ribs subsided. He straightened and glanced around the room, spotting a prescription bottle on the bathroom counter.

With a sense of trepidation, he retrieved the bottle and read the label. He counted the pills, trying to determine if she’d taken more than the recommended dose. Not that he thought she would harm herself. Would she?

No. He set the bottle back into place. He’d learned over the last few days that she was a fighter. Twice now, she’d fought fiercely for her life, not the actions of a suicidal woman. The combination of exhaustion and the medication had obviously knocked her out. With a shrug of resignation, he decided she could use the sleep.

But damn, now he had to touch all that tempting beauty. He couldn’t leave her sleeping in a towel all night. Nate raked his fingers through his hair before reaching for her pajamas. He just couldn’t catch a break here.