Temperature Rising (16 page)

Mac’s hand stopped stroking her back to catch her shoulders and ease her away to look down into her face. “You okay?” A frown knitted his brow.

The smile she gave him was slightly forced, but she did feel lighter so she told him why. “Yeah, compared to having a killer in my mind, this should be nothing.”

The corner of his lip tugged up. “Well, I wouldn’t say nothing, but you do have a point.”

“Can I go take a look around and see what was stolen?” Laken stiffened her shoulders. “I need to call my insurance agent to see what they will cover.”

“It’d be better to let the crime team go through it first.” He held her back.

“Mac?” She saw the intensity in his face and looked past him, taking a really good look and knew what was going through his mind.

Her TV was still where it belonged, but the screen was broken out. Her CD player was on the floor. Though neither was new or expensive, they’d have still been worth money. She started to shake as she really studied the room. Nothing appeared to be stolen. Trashed was the word that described it. Whoever had broken in had been venting rage. She shuddered with relief that she hadn’t been there.

Mac’s arm tightened around her. “Come on, we can wait downstairs in the car.”

“No.” Laken held him back when he would’ve turned her. “I can handle this. Do you think it was the Hunter?”

The look in his eyes was serious. “I don’t know. You’ve ticked off a couple people lately.” His lips quirked into a grin which helped to ease the tightness that formed in her stomach.

“I don’t think I can see Malcolm Warner breaking into my apartment to smash things up. I’d say it’s a little beneath him. I don’t think he’d go into a building like this even if his company designed it.”

Mac nodded, accepting her comment and simply saying, “You never know. But I will check it out. Let’s see if your neighbors heard or saw anything while we wait.”

****

Laken was exhausted when they stepped into Mac’s apartment. Just inside the door, she slumped against the wall, closed her eyes, and sighed in relief. The report had taken forever. She had expected just an officer to come and take her statement. Instead, a team of two people went over every square inch of each room. Laken knew why. Mac suspected it was the Hunter and had been hoping to find something that would lead to him. The more Laken thought about it, the more she doubted it
was
the Hunter. There was no feeling there, but then again, maybe there wouldn’t be if he was gone. Still, it seemed like she should know.

As it was, they didn’t find anything except for the few dust bunnies she’d missed in cleaning on her out-of-work rampage before she was taken to the police station. None of her neighbors had noticed anything. Unfortunately, Ardith Simmons, across the hall, who never missed anything, for once was not at her post because the evening before she had been to an old friend’s birthday celebration and that morning had had a doctor’s appointment.

She heard Mac close the door and put down her overnight bag. A second later his arms wrapped around her like they had earlier, and she was once again sheltered from the world. There were no tears this time when she rubbed her cheek against his chest. She was only aware of hard muscle and a pleasant masculine smell accented with a touch of sandalwood. She breathed in deep. She liked Mac’s scent.

His hands ran up and down her for a second in a muscle relieving massage before Laken suddenly found herself being lifted into the air.

“Mac.” Her eyes flew open as her arms locked around his neck.

“Easy, I’m not going to drop you. I can make it to the couch.”

“I didn’t think you would. I feel safe in your arms. It’s — I’ve never had a man pick me up before you. It startled me.” She let her fingers play with the edges of his hair. “I didn’t mean to seem so helpless. I’m just so tired.”

“Well.” He eased her onto the couch. “You sit right here and rest. I’ll see what we’re going to have for dinner.”

“You don’t need to do that. I can help.” She started to get up but he pushed her back down, sitting down on the edge of the couch beside her.

“You know, I noticed that you don’t let people take care of you very easily.” He brushed back her hair.

“I don’t mean to be difficult. I guess I’ve always been independent. My father raised my sister and me, so we were as capable as my brothers at doing things. My mom insisted that we learn to be ladies and my brothers, gentlemen.”

“I’ll have to give my compliments to your parents then, because I think they did a pretty great job.”

“Thank you.”

“So, do you think your parents will like me?” His finger dropped to brush her cheek in a slow caress.

“Oh yes. I think you are just what my parents hoped I would fall for.” The words were airy as his head dipped toward her.

“And have you fallen?” he said huskily.

Laken found herself lost in the intensity of his eyes. There was no hiding the truth. “I think you already know the answer.” Her heart thundered in her chest, wiping away all the weariness from her body. She felt charged from the electricity of being so close to him. “I love you.”

Fire leapt in his eyes in reply. The hand on her chin slid behind her neck to cradle her head, holding her as he closed in. “I want to hear those words everyday for the rest of my life. I love you.” He sealed the words with the union of their lips. The kiss lingered for several minutes before he eased back, brushing lightly across her cheek before he broke contact. “I’m supposed to be letting you rest.” There was no remorse in his tone.

“I prefer this. I feel much better,” Laken added full-heartedly.

“Still.” He stood, took a couple steps back from the couch and shoved his hands down in his pockets. “You lay here and relax. I’ll see what we have to eat, and no arguments.” His words were meant as an order, but it was his eyes that kept her there. The need in them was so strong she couldn’t move. He stared at her with hot intent for another minute before he turned.

Laken followed his movements as he opened the fridge and set a few things on the counter before he crouched out of view. She heard him shift a few pans. She let her eyes wander around the room. It hit her that she was in love with this man, and this was the first time she had ever been in his apartment. They had always gone to hers for some reason. She was surprised at his place. It was tidy and very orderly but comfortable.

A brown suede couch rested against one wall. It looked comfortable enough to nap on but she figured he spent more time in the rust-colored recliner from its position to the large flat-screen TV mounted to the wall. On the entertainment table was a stylized metal basket and a couple of magazines and a thriller by a best-selling author. One shelf of his bookcase held a surround-sound system, but the rest was filled with books showing a wide variety of interests. The most appealing thing Laken found was it all appeared to be dusted.

Soft music brought her attention back to Mac. He stood watching her from across the room. “Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes. It’s one of those throw everything together and heat. My specialty.”

“Do you like to cook?”

“I don’t mind it. I like to eat. I’m finding I like it better when I have someone to do it with.” He left it hanging that he meant her. Laken got the message loud and clear from his eyes. “If you want to wash up, the bathroom is through there.”

Two hours later, Laken lay in Mac’s bed thinking of him out on the couch. He had insisted that she sleep in his room, using the excuse that he had work to do and she needed a good night’s sleep. But she knew that was just Mac being Mac. He had this sense of honor, of chivalry.

She sighed into the pillow and drew in a breath filled with his scent. It was all around her giving comfort, just as the feel of him. She could picture his arms around her and wished it was so.

She tried to close her eyes and will sleep to come. All she could think of was Mac. He loved her. Funny how that thought could make all the bad things going on around her meaningless. She lay there for a few minutes more, than gave up on sleep. She wanted Mac, just to be near him, and it wasn’t for security. It was because, well, it was just because. She pushed back the blanket and stood, looking down at the satin T she had worn to bed. In his closet, she had found a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt and pulled them on, hoping he wouldn’t mind.

Mac was sitting in the chair, his feet up, looking over a file of papers in his lap. She almost reached him before he looked up. When he saw her, he quickly closed the file and dropped it on the floor by the chair. “I thought you were sleeping. Nice outfit.” He looked her up and down, raising his eyebrows, a grin kicking up the corner of his mouth, the dimple sneaking in an appearance.

“Do you mind?” She shifted back and forth, coming to a stop in front of him.

“You look incredible.” He opened his arms.

She accepted the invitation and settled carefully in his lap. “I’m not hurting you?” she asked when he shifted her.

“No. I just want you closer. It’s kind of nice to wrap my arms around you.”

“Think you could get used to it?”

“Oh yeah.” He brushed her hair back, caressing her cheek. When he cupped her face, she turned her head, pressing her lips into his palm. There was a growl in his voice when he spoke again. “I’ve been sitting here trying to work, but all I can think of is you. I love you, Laken. I want to marry you.”

“Mac.” His name burst out of her as his words reached her heart.

Before she could say anything else he groaned, tilting his head back, his eyes going to the ceiling. “I did not just propose to you, sitting in a chair, in my apartment, without even a ring.” Anguish echoed in his words.

It was Laken’s lips turn to twitch up. “Yes.”

He groaned again and she felt such love for him. She reached up and caressed his cheek, tilting his head back down to look at her. “Yes,” she repeated, looking deep in his eyes. “I would love to marry you.” There was no doubt in her. He was the only man for her and she wanted to be with him forever.

“I love you.” She let the inner feeling shine through so there was no doubt she meant it.

She wasn’t sure who made the move but their lips met in a kiss that sealed them together as assuredly as if they had just said their marriage vows. When they parted, his thumb caressed her cheek, and his eyes drifted over her in wondering awe.

“Yes,” was all he said before he cuddled her down against him. His arms locked around her, holding her to him. One hand burrowed into her hair, pressing her head to his shoulder as he rocked the chair back. His other hand ran up and down her back in a soothing motion. “Sleep now,” he whispered, dipping his head to kiss her forehead. “All is how it should be and you need rest.”

Laken wanted to say she was too excited to sleep. She was going to marry him, but the words were lost in a sigh as she, indeed, did fall asleep.

****

Mac felt content as he drew in a deep breath and was filled with the unmistakable fragrance of Laken. He started to stretch and froze. It wasn’t that he realized he’d fallen asleep in his chair that halted him — that was a common enough occurrence. What was not common was the weight of the woman alongside him. He shifted carefully, trying not to disturb her but so he could look down at her. She was nestled on her side, his arm wrapped around her, her head resting on his shoulder. Her face turned up to him as in an offering. An offering he longed to take, but he didn’t want to wake her.

Laken looked so incredibly beautiful. She was wearing one of his shirts and a pair of his sweatpants. He could barely make out the thick, fuzzy socks on her feet next to his own stocking-covered feet. He ran his eyes back up over the length of their entwined bodies to her face and knew such desire to taste her pale pink lips that this time he couldn’t stop himself from lowering his head to take the gentlest sip. It filled him deeply with pleasure; he wanted to shout, wanted to claim more. Again, he held himself back.

Now was not the time. Too many things had to be resolved before it would be. Then his mind thought back on the evening before and his blurted-out proposal. He wanted to groan at the bungled way he’d done it, but he smiled when he remembered she had said yes. They hadn’t just been words to her. She had meant it. It was there deep inside her as was his love for her. She would marry him and love him for the rest of her life as he would her. He could be patient for her. He’d ask her with a ring — and flowers. Make it as romantic as any woman could dream of. But for now, he would bask in the pleasure of just holding her.

When desire threatened to take control of his mind, he forced his thoughts back to the case, and by the time Laken stirred in his arms, he had a new plan of action.

He was studying her again when she breathed in deeply. His eyes almost crossed with desire when she rubbed her cheek against his shoulder then stretched along the entire length of him. Unable to resist her siren’s call any longer, he promised himself only one kiss before he dipped his head to greet her lips. It was only one kiss, but as she woke to him, it blossomed into an incredibly drawn out, heated one. It was all he could do to release her.

“Good morning.” He wanted nothing more than to continue to devour her.

“That’s not just good morning. Oh my.” She blew out a breath and took another deep one to fill her lungs. “Oh, are you going to wake me up like that every day after we’re married?”

“Well.” He tried to look thoughtful. “I wouldn’t object if you woke me up like that sometimes. But for now,” he pressed the footrest down, sitting them upright so fast he had to hold on to her to keep from dumping her on the ground, “time to get moving.”

“I liked where we were,” she grouched, bringing a smile to his lips.

“She does have a testy side, that’s good to know. And the problem was I did too. That’s why I’m going to go take a shower while you go fix me breakfast.”

“Breakfast. And why do I have to do it by myself?”

“Because I made dinner last night. That’s fair.”

“Save me some hot water.” She turned to the kitchen good-naturedly. She almost stumbled when she heard the words that followed her.