Lori Foster - Under Pressure

“You, lady, are sexiness in a very small, sweet package.”

“Usually I’m told I’m too thin.”

Leese slowly shook his head. “You have the right look and the right attitude to push all my buttons.”

Gifting him with that cocky smile he admired, she opened her hands on his chest. “Mmm. I think I like that.”

“What?”

“Pushing your buttons.” Her fingers trailed up to his shoulders, then around his neck.

Leese started to lean down when Justice knocked again.

Cat froze, then panicked. “Oh my God. That’s Justice, right? I forgot all about him!” She pushed against Leese, trying to slide free.

He wanted to groan.

In truth, he should thank Justice for keeping him from doing anything insane. “Shh. Take it easy.” He rolled to the side of her and watched her shoot off the bed, then make a mad dash around to the bedroom.

Her ass looked really nice as she did so.

After scrubbing both hands over his face, Leese forced himself from the bed and went to the door. He peeked out first.

Justice stood there holding a tray with coffee and a basket of Danish pastries. Time to get the day started.

Past time to work through the puzzle of the current case: Catalina Nicholson.

* * *

CAT COULDN’T LOOK at him. She felt ridiculous.

And pretty wonderful.

She wanted him. And that worried her.

Moving on would be for the best. But where? And how?

And damn it, she didn’t want to go. She wanted to snuggle up with him again. She wanted the unaccountable peace of mind he afforded her. Why he afforded it, she had no idea.

This morning, crowds filled the lobby and she realized what she hadn’t last night: she looked terrible. In the nice hotel, most were dressed in expensive coats and leather boots, their hair salon-styled, their manners impeccable.

Standing to her right, Justice again hauled her big, broken suitcase and that made them stand out like a sore thumb. Not because of the guys, but because of her.

At her other side, Leese took her arm, drawing more than a few probing stares. “Ready?”

Did he touch her so she wouldn’t feel so out of place? Probably. She wouldn’t put much past him.

Or maybe the crowds made him as nervous as they made her. She could practically feel people watching, but with menace, disdain for her downtrodden appearance or curiosity given her man-candy bookends?

Maybe he thought she’d run if he didn’t hold on to her.

Or maybe he felt the same remainder of simmering intimacy that kept her too warm. She’d slept with him—and loved it.

“Cat?”

She realized both Leese and Justice watched her. With a subdued nod, she allowed them to lead her outside.

Crisp, cold air filled the parking garage, undisturbed by the morning sunshine. She’d left her hair down to help keep her ears warm, and dressed in a bulky sweater over a long-sleeved T-shirt, jeans, thick socks and the trusted boots.

Still she shivered.

Of course Leese noticed. “Start the car,” he told Justice. “I’ll put the luggage away.”

“You riding in back again?”

Leese gave her a long, level look. “Yeah.”

Shoving her hands in the pockets of her coat and ducking her face, Cat said, “You don’t have to babysit me. I’m not going anywhere.” Probably.

“We have to talk, remember?” He brought up her chin. “That’ll be easier to do if I’m sitting with you.”

Insane that his fingers were warm despite the cold. “Suit yourself.”

“I think I will.”

The nice Lexus SUV hummed to life and a second later the rear door opened, apparently from a button Justice had pushed. Leese opened a back door for her, waited until she’d gotten in, then went back to lift in the luggage.

Stewing, Cat wondered what to tell him, how much she should trust him, until she heard approaching footsteps. Even before she looked, she knew. Her heart went into her throat. “Oh no,” she whispered.

“Hello, Cat.”

Smothered in the grip of dread, she looked up and into the face of Tesh Coleman. Of course he had two muscle men in tow.

The urge to run spiked her pulse just as Leese closed the back hatch and then her door. He stood there, blocking her view, his body between her and the three men.

She looked at the opposite door, gauging her chances of getting out as the automatic locks on the door clicked into place. Justice, one brawny arm along the back of the seat, stared out the side window at the men. “Don’t be hasty,” he told her.

Oh God, was he in on it? Was Leese?

Before that fear could fully take hold, Leese said, “That’s close enough.”

Given the quiet in the garage, Cat could hear every word. Hastily, she moved left and right, trying to find an angle so she could also see what was happening.

“Friends of yours?” Justice asked.

She punched him in the arm and snapped, “No.”

“Then don’t distract Leese.”

Her heart maintained a wild drumbeat. “I have to see.”

He hesitated, then moved his arm, making it easier for her to lean forward and look out the passenger window.

Tesh’s black eyes immediately locked on to her and he slowly smiled. The fact that he looked so pleased to see her only amplified her terror, making it impossible to swallow, almost impossible to breathe.

He was as big as Justice, dark, menacing.

Dangerous.

“I have to go,” she whispered.

As if her life didn’t hang in the balance, Justice said, “Nope.”

She had to try. “Leese said I didn’t have to stay—”

“Yeah, well, for the moment, staying put is the way to go.”

The awful silence outside the car left her shaking. The men stared at each other, Leese relaxed, waiting, Tesh and his two cronies quietly appraising.

Finally Tesh pulled off a stocking cap and ran a hand over his clean-shaven head. Almost with apology, he said, “I need the girl.”

“No.”

“I work for her father.” Slowly, making sure Leese knew he didn’t go for a gun, Tesh opened his coat and withdrew credentials.

Leese didn’t bother looking. “Doesn’t matter who you work for. You’re not touching her.”

Cat’s spine turned into a noodle. Doesn’t matter. Leese wouldn’t hand her over?

Tesh scrutinized him, then gave it another shot. “Look, I understand your position. I really do. The thing is, her father hired me and I need to—”

“You’re wasting my time.”

Scowling now, an ugly, fearsome sight, Tesh took a step closer. He spoke low in an obnoxious man-to-man way. “There’s no need for violence. I’m only going to take her back to her father, where she belongs.”

“Actually,” Leese said, his arms loose, his posture absurdly relaxed, “you’re not taking her anywhere.”

Nostrils flaring, Tesh jerked out a cell phone. “You can call Mr. Nicholson.”

“Why would I bother? I don’t work for him.”

“The hell you don’t! Who do you think hired your agency?”

Leese shrugged. “I wasn’t told. My job is to keep her safe and that’s what I’ll do.”

“From her father? Get real, man.” And then, more gently, Tesh promised, “You don’t want to do this.”

Cat covered her mouth. She couldn’t let Leese get hurt. She had to—

Justice nudged her. “You’re being a silly girl. Stop it.”

She was about to blast him when Tesh threw a sucker punch, making her jump with a startled screech.

Leese ducked, Tesh’s fist hit the car and then somehow—it was all a fast blur—Tesh was on the ground with Leese standing over him.

There wasn’t enough oxygen in the car to feed her starved lungs. Hands and nose pressed to the glass, Cat watched as Leese decided Tesh was done, then put his full focus on the other two men, beckoning them forward.