Jill Shalvis - The Detective’s Undoing

“No,” he said quickly. “I don’t belong here or…” He fell silent, and looked out the window.

Or…anywhere? Was that what he’d been about to say? Delia wondered. Was that why he was always on the run? He didn’t feel as though he belonged anywhere?

For all that Cade McKnight seemed an open book-adventurous, carefree, rugged and tough-she realized there was much about him she didn’t know.

Didn’t want to know, she corrected.

“You need to go,” Maddie said softly, coming to terms with his imminent departure.

Cade smiled at her, without the wariness that had been there when he’d looked at Delia. “Yeah.”

“I understand,” Maddie whispered. “The need to go.”

Delia hadn’t been able to take her eyes off Cade, so that when he suddenly turned his head to look at her again, she was caught.

Something passed between them, something Delia didn’t want to acknowledge, but given the bemusement on his face, he didn’t want to acknowledge it, either.

It baffled her, this strange thing that seemed to happen to them whenever they were within close proximity. They had nothing in common, they had completely different goals in life, and yet…there was something that helplessly drew her to him.

But she could control it. She could control all her emotions.

Maddie was still watching the two of them. “Maybe the things you have to go do,” she said quietly to Cade, “maybe they could wait for just one more day so you could enjoy all the work you’ve put into the Triple M?”

When Cade didn’t speak, but continued to hold Delia’s gaze, Maddie gave a small knowing smile that Cade missed.

Delia did not, and she sent her sister a warning glance.

With a long-practiced skill, Maddie ignored her and moved to the door. “I think I’ll just check on dinner…” She patted Cade’s arm and smiled again when he didn’t break eye contact with Delia. “And leave you two alone to talk this out.”

“Talk what out?” Delia demanded, but Maddie was gone and Cade was still staring at her, as if he was angry and hurt and confused all at once.

“Why are you always staring at me like that?” Delia asked.

“I haven’t a clue,” he muttered. “But I’m outta here.”

“Fine. Great.” Then words popped right out of her mouth before she could stop them. “Miss my sister’s pot roast and the first guests and everything, I certainly don’t care.”

He’d turned toward the door, but went absolutely still at her words, so carelessly tossed out, in spite of the tightness in her chest. “What are you saying?” he asked, still facing the door. “That you don’t think I should go?”

She stared at his taut sleek back, her heart racing out of control, and she had no idea why. “No, of course not. I’m just saying it’s really great pot roast, and we all know she made it specially for you, anyway.”

Slowly he turned around, his expression carefully masked. “You don’t want me to go.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t care what you do. Go. Stay. It’s all the same to me, even if one of the first guests, Tom something or other, is one of your previous clients and is only coming because you recommended him.”

“You don’t want me to go,” he repeated, sounding shocked. “Damn, Delia.” In two long-legged strides, he walked toward her and hauled her into his arms, bringing her face close to his tormented one. “What the hell am I going to do with you?”

If she thought her heart had been pounding before at just the sight of him, it was nothing compared to what happened now, when his hands were on her, and his mouth so close to hers she could almost taste him. “You could kiss me again,” she whispered, shaken to the core at her wanton suggestion, but not about to take it back.

“I could,” he whispered back. “But I’m still leaving.”

“Good. Can’t wait. Now kiss me, Cade.”

“I might.” He moved a fraction so that their lips nearly touched. “I also might stay for pot roast.”

“And the guests.” Was that her voice, all husky and breathless? “Don’t forget the guests. You should probably stay long enough to see them, at least.”

“Just to make sure everything goes smoothly. Then I’ll go.”

“I’ll be counting the minutes until you do. Now kiss me.”

“I suppose I could spare one little goodbye kiss.”

“Big of you.”

“Yes,” he agreed, shifting slightly so that their hips brushed once, twice, allowing her to feel the hardness of him.

“Do it,” she demanded, already breathless.

“Come get it.”

Smiling at the rush of feminine power, because nothing made her feel more in control than knowing she was running the show, she pressed her body even closer to his. “If you insist,” she murmured, closing her eyes because his were warm and fathomless and much too intense.

She let the kiss take her, until she was dizzy, until she was thrilling to the low rough noise Cade made in his throat when she rubbed against him, until she realized she was getting in far too deep to be able to pull back.

That was unacceptable.

Frightening.

Glorious.

And it had to stop.

She heard Cade’s moan of protest when she pulled away, but all she could do was stare up at him, her lungs straining for air, her mind in a whirl.

His own chest rose and fell harshly, too, his mouth wet from hers. Sanity slowly returned to his dark eyes. “Like I said,” he managed, “I haven’t a clue about what to do with you.”

“Good thing you’re leaving soon.”

“Very soon.”

“And you’ll be off and traveling, without a care in the world about what the people close to you think.”

“There is no one close to me.”

That hurt, she discovered. “My sisters might disagree with that,” she said lightly. “But since I know you better than they do, I won’t hurt them by telling them.”

“Good.”

“Good.”

“Good,” he echoed again, but it was a long moment, during which they just stared at each other, before he turned and walked away.

The first guests arrived on Thursday. Two couples and a group of four friends. Eight in all, a manageable number, Delia told herself. They would be a success.

They had to be.

Everyone arrived within an hour of one another, giving the three sisters a run for their money.

Maddie’s eyes were bright and excited as she rubbed her hands in glee, having caught Delia in the kitchen, where they shared a quick celebratory soda.

“Dinner is going to be spectacular,” Maddie whispered joyfully, passing the drink to Delia. “Eight of them, with us it’ll be thirteen! It’s like a real restaurant!”

Bless Maddie, whose greatest thrill in life was cooking for a captive audience. But she was a terrific cook, a talent that had been long wasted in Los Angeles, where she had never been willing or able to play the political game required to work at any of the “in” restaurants.

But now, for the first time in her life, Maddie was in her true element, and Delia was so happy for her she couldn’t resist hugging her.

“I can’t believe you’re getting this excited,” Delia said with a laugh as they twirled around the kitchen. “Have you pictured the dishes? The mess? The demands on your time?”

“Yes, isn’t it wonderful?” Maddie’s usually serious face split in a wide grin, making her look sixteen, instead of twenty-six.

Delia couldn’t hold back another laugh. “We’re crazy, you know. All of us.”

“Certifiable,” Maddie agreed. “And I can’t tell you how good that smile looks on your face.”

“A full house will do that to me. I’m imagining our happy bank balance.”