Carly Phillips - Simply Sinful

A detective with years of experience questioning suspects, yet he botched the one chance he had with Kayla. In the end he’d done them both a favor. Interpersonal skills weren’t his thing and now she knew it, too. Besides, the lady was too good at breaching his defenses, something he and his line of work couldn’t afford. Letting her go hadn’t been easy, but it had been necessary.

“McDermott.”

Kane raised his gaze toward Reid’s office. “Yeah, boss?”

The older man waved a sheaf of papers in the air. “Report on my desk by tonight. Everything gels, case closed.”

“Right.”

“And you look like hell, so get the paperwork done and, remember what I told you, I don’t want to see your sorry butt in here till the middle of next week.”

Kane opted not to argue. His burning eyes told him he could use the sleep.

First things first. He shoved a sheet of white paper into the typewriter beside his desk. Paperwork would force him to relive last night in all but intimate detail.

He groaned. Those intimate details might not make it onto paper, but they were forever etched in his brain. He and Kayla had warmed each other up, and hot chocolate had nothing to do with the heat in the hotel room. Her full body meshed perfectly into his, her slick wetness made for an easy glide home.

Home? He slammed his fists onto the keys. What the hell was he thinking? The lady had been a one-night stand and he should be glad she’d walked out first; pleased he’d ended any soft thoughts she might have entertained about her night with Kane McDermott, New Hampshire salesman.

Ripping out the ruined sheet of paper, he crumpled it into his hands and tossed it into the trash. She wasn’t out of his life a few hours and he couldn’t concentrate.

This whole mess could have been avoided had he listened to his gut. He’d seen too many fellow officers, fellow loners, fail with women. And Kane had one additional strike against him. He didn’t know how to care about anything other than his job.

His father had bailed when Kane was five. His mother died six years later when she walked in front of a city bus with no thought to the son she left behind. Annie McDermott had a brother who disliked kids as much as he liked booze, but an eleven-year-old Kane had talked the old man into a deal. A place to live enabling him to avoid foster care in exchange for Kane’s promise to raise himself and stay out of the drunken man’s way. His uncle upped the ante and mooched his mother’s death benefits from the state. Kane considered it a small price to pay for independence.

He’d been on his own for longer than he could remember and he liked it that way. For some reason, the words didn’t bring the comfort they once had.

KAYLA DIDN’T WANT TO GOhome and face a grilling from her sister. After grabbing the first cab outside the hotel, she’d stopped at a coffee shop near Charmed! before deciding to immerse herself in work. Anything to keep busy and not think. She still had boxes of her aunt’s and uncle’s personal things stored in the back and, though her sister had promised to help, today was as good a day as any to start rummaging through them. But she doubted even work would take her mind off Kane McDermott.

Every stretch and pull of her muscles as she walked reminded her of last night’s activity. Her body still tingled in places he’d touched. If she blocked out this morning and focused only on the sensual pleasures he’d given, she became aroused once more. Apparently her body had become detached from her mind. Either that or she was losing it. The man had offered her money for sex. No matter how special she found the night, she’d been alone in her feelings.

The burgundy overhang of the brownstone storefront loomed ahead and she sprinted the rest of the way. She jammed the key into the lock, wondering if the sauna had cooled off. If Kane was as good at fixing equipment as he was at seducing women, it would have. She shook her head hard.

She had to admit he wasn’t the only one at fault. She’d invested more hopes and dreams in Kane than a one-night stand deserved. He had been callous, yes, but he’d never promised her more than what they’d shared and that had been spectacular.

She took one step inside and knew the heat had stopped pumping high. No plumber necessary, which was about the only thing she could thank Mr. McDermott for.

Kayla made her way to the back room. Easing the door open, she groped for the light switch on the wall. She never found it.

Someone grabbed an arm and jerked her inside. The door behind her slammed shut, closing her in the pitch-black storage room. Before she could react, an arm grabbed her around the neck at the same time a hand clamped over her mouth. She tried to scream and tasted leather.

The more she struggled the tighter the grip became. Fear rose fast and furious inside her, but she listened to instinct and stilled.

“Smart lady. Now listen up.” The gruff male voice sounded in her ear and she caught a whiff of his breath, a revolting mixture of stale liquor and cigarettes. “Where’s the money?”

She shook her head from side to side. Catching her silent message, he eased the pressure of his hand off her mouth, but the bite of his fingers still stung. “I don’t know…”

He jerked back on his arm, causing a shot of pain in her throat. “Wrong answer.”

Kayla had no idea what he was talking about, but he obviously wouldn’t believe her and she wanted out of there alive and in one piece. “Okay.” The one word came out on a hoarse croak. She forced a painful swallow. “There’s no money on the premises. I…”

“Kayla?” Catherine’s voice sounded from the outside room. “Are you back there? The light’s on out here and you can’t hide forever. I want details. ”

Her assailant stiffened and muttered a harsh curse. He released his hold and shoved her hard. She stumbled headfirst into the concrete wall and, with the impact, dropped to the floor. Pain lanced through her skull just as the back door opened enough to show a sliver of light and allow her intruder to disappear, leaving her in darkness again.

“Kayla, I know you’re in…” Catherine swung open the door and hit the switch on the wall, bathing the room in a harsh bright light. “Oh my God, what happened?”

Lifting her head was an effort, but Kayla managed. She took in the shambles of her once neat storage room and groaned. “He trashed the place.”

“He who? What happened to you?” Her sister bent down beside her.

“I’m okay.”

Catherine narrowed her eyes. “You don’t look it.”

“I’m fine.” The steady pounding in her skull made those words a lie. Fighting the pain, she struggled to stand. A wave of nausea made it an impossible feat.

“Sit.” Catherine eased her back down and propped her against the wall. “I’m calling the police.”

Kayla nodded only to discover even that was a mistake. She closed her eyes. She didn’t know what the intruder wanted, but he’d been convinced he would find it here.

Catherine returned and knelt down.

“What could he want, Cat?” Kayla’s head swam and she couldn’t think anymore.

“Don’t try to talk. Here.” Catherine placed a wet paper towel on Kayla’s forehead.

The soggy rag dripped water down her face and Kayla laughed despite the pain and her tears. “You’ll never challenge Florence Nightingale.”

“Maybe not, but we’ve been tending each other’s scrapes for years and I’m the best you’ve got.” With a forced smile, Catherine balled up the sopping paper and tossed it onto the floor.

She grabbed Kayla’s hand and eased herself beside her on the floor, huddling with her sister as they’d done many times as children. Kayla couldn’t stop the uncontrollable urge to unburden herself to her sister-the only person she could trust. With her head on Catherine’s shoulder, Kayla opened up about last night with Kane McDermott, talking until she was talked out.