Unexpected Temptation

“You’d have to ask him.”

Vanessa frowned, remembering how tall Berringer was, how strong. His hands on her arms had been tight, hard. When they had jumped away from the porch, knocked over by the power of the blast, he’d cushioned her fall with his body. He was solid all over. At the time, she’d been in shock, and thankful. Huddled close to him on the sidewalk, for a moment, his big body enclosed around her, she’d felt safe.

She hadn’t felt safe seconds later, when he’d looked at her through cold, green eyes that were filled with loathing.

Who would loathe her?

“All right. If you’re sure.”

She stood, her skin suddenly crawling with the need to be out of the building. Free.

Simply being in the police station made her anxious. She’d been brought in a few times as a kid when she’d run away from her foster homes. The police were always nice to her, but it didn’t help because she knew they would deliver her back where she didn’t want to go.

It had gotten worse after she was separated from her sister and brother. She hadn’t seen Julie since they were split up as young children. No one wanted to foster or adopt all three of them at once. Eventually, they had all been lost in the system.

Vanessa had never been able to track down her siblings, but she hadn’t given up, ever. She’d even asked the police for help a few times, getting hold of various records to try to find her brother and sister.

Being here was triggering all of the old fears and paranoia she’d had as a child about moving from one home to another. At least until she’d found her new family when she was twelve. If not for them, who knew how she might have ended up? The Grants had adopted her, offered her guidance, stability and a real home. What had happened to Julie and Max? Her heart broke when she thought of them.

“Would you at least let us know where you go? Do you have any family or friends, or will you go to a hotel?”

“There’s no one here,” she said. She wasn’t about to drag her family into this mess.

Her parents had moved from Florida to the north, retiring in Vermont where they were close to other family members. If they knew all of this, they’d be so worried; she had to call them first thing to let them know she was okay, in case they saw a report on the news.

“You have my cell number if you need to contact me. Thank you for everything,” she told the detective with a polite smile as she eyed the exit.

2

LUKE SAT on the steps of the police station entrance, waiting for Nicky to emerge.

Maybe Garrett and the police were right, but Luke had to know for sure. If he was right, he had finally put the past to rest. If the police were right, he had a second chance to make sure that Nicky didn’t take the life of another unsuspecting person. He could make a difference this time.

Then he saw her. She must have left via the side door. Trying to avoid him?

Either way, the police had let her go, so her story had to have held up. He watched her from a distance; she had no idea he was there.

She was still as beautiful as ever. Even with her plain-Jane, no-frills, elementary-school teacher persona, she couldn’t hide her natural beauty. She might actually be more attractive than the glamorous high-roller he’d known six years before. Softer and more vulnerable, she didn’t look dangerous at all. But Luke knew better.

Her chestnut hair was still long and thick, no highlights this time, but the color was the same. Luke remembered what it was like to bury his face in it. What it felt like to wrap it around his fingers as he kissed her. He knew what every inch of Nicky felt like. Seeing her had brought it all back. Arousal coiled down deep in his belly until he reminded himself what was behind the beauty.

Lies were the least of it.

She paced, looking wary and defeated, as well she should be. Apparently, Luke wasn’t the only one after her. In fact, if she was a victim here, the police shouldn’t have let her leave the station.

He made a judgment call and stood from the steps.

“Nicky... I mean, Vanessa,” he called out, wanting to sound less threatening than he had earlier as he closed the space between them.

She pulled her purse up close to her, as if putting it between them would stop him. He’d grant her, if she was faking, she should win an award.

“Y-yes?” she asked, peering at other people around them, making sure they weren’t alone.

He could almost believe that she was afraid of him.

“Listen, I wanted to apologize. I’m sorry I was unfriendly earlier. I don’t know if the police explained, but I thought you were someone else,” he said, modulating his tone, adding a bit of a smile. “I’m sorry about that. I behaved...badly.”

“Yes, well, thanks.” Her words were clipped, her eyes still wary.

“You’ve had a long day. A hard one. I only added to that, and I hope you’ll let me make it up to you. Maybe I could buy you dinner or something. Or at least give you a ride. I think your car was impounded as evidence.”

“Thank you, but I called a cab. It should be here any minute. They are releasing my car tomorrow, after they’re done with it. Thanks for the apology, and for...saving my life. I don’t mean to be rude, but I really have to go.”

She frowned as she saw the taxi approaching, and then drive on by, pulling up to the curb ahead of them. She started walking in that direction. Luke took a step after her, his hand on her arm. Before he knew it, she’d turned, neatly grabbing him and twisting his arm behind him.

It was nothing to him, though he was momentarily surprised. He’d spent enough time practicing various fighting styles that he easily slipped her grasp and tightened his around her, her arms immobilized as he trapped her against him.

“So, you didn’t forget everything I taught you,” he said against her ear.

“What? I don’t know what—”

“Stop it, okay? It’s me. Do me the favor of dropping the act when no one else is listening.”

He twisted her around to face him, and he was surprised to see her hand shake as she lifted it to her face.

“You really are crazy, aren’t you?” She backed away, her eyes darted to where the taxi driver waited, hitting the horn once. “You stay away from me.”

She was going to push this all the way. Fine.

Luke pressed in close, and her eyes widened. He’d always loved her eyes.

“Let’s see if I can jog your memory a different way.”

The kiss wasn’t meant to be kind or even sexy, but once he felt her against him, intention went out the window.

He held her to him until she relaxed, opened and started kissing him back. Blood rushed in his veins as he went deeper. He was hard, too, and he let her know it. She moaned into him as he pressed against her.

But as delicious as she was, he had a purpose. He paused only long enough to trail kisses down her neck. With his hand, he pulled the shoulder of her blouse away, nipping the soft skin there.

As he kissed her, he looked down at the curve of her shoulder blade.

Nothing.

To be sure, he slid his hand inside, felt her shudder against him. His astonishment cooled his ardor; his arousal and his anger were squelched by confusion.

It was pause enough for her to come to her senses, too, and she pushed away. He let her go, still shocked.

It wasn’t there. No tattoo, no scar or indication that anything had been removed. There was a small mole in the spot where the tattoo once was—something that could not be faked.