Rarities Unlimited 02 - Running Scared

and stroked her until she was the way she had been in the elevator—hot, mindless, ravenous for him. He knew she would burn for him as no other. He wondered if she knew, if that was what she feared as much as she wanted. From what he’d seen of her childhood background, she’d spent as much time denying her feelings in order to protect herself as he had.
    “All right.” Shane lifted his hands and turned away. “It’s almost dinnertime. Do you want to eat before we check out your apartment?”
    “No.” The word came out raggedly, so she cleared her throat. “No, thanks. You don’t have to come along. No one will be hiding in the closet this time.”
    “Too bad.”
    She turned around and saw the ghost of a hunter’s smile still on his lips. It wasn’t a pleasant smile. It was as cold as a winter moonrise. For the first time she understood, truly understood, that he would have killed for her without a second thought. The idea made her feel odd.
    No one, not even Cherelle, had been that protective of her. Ever.
    “In any case,” Shane continued, “until the cops catch the man who tried to kill you, you’re not going anywhere alone. Especially to your apartment.”
    “He won’t come back.”
    “He shouldn’t have been there in the first place.”
    “He must have followed Cherelle.”
    “If he did, he was invisible. Security has run the data from your hallway camera for every hour from two days before Cherelle got the key right up to the present. He only showed up twice. Once on the way in today and once on the way out with you.”
    Risa opened her mouth to defend Cherelle again, then realized it wasn’t necessary. Shane wasn’t attacking her friend. He was simply pointing out an unpleasant truth: the man hadn’t followed Cherelle to Risa’s apartment.
    My God, Cherelle. What happened to the children we once were?
    “Okay.” Risa let out a sighing, hitching breath. “Okay. I’ll try not to take it out on you because I’m scared and angry and full of adrenaline. But . . .” Her voice faded to a whisper. “God, it hurts. I was just trying to give back to her some of what she gave to me when we were kids. A place where no one harmed you. And I still think—I still believe that she didn’t set me up. I believe that she’s out there somewhere, running scared, just like we used to do. Only now she’s alone.”
    There was nothing Shane could say that would make Risa feel better, so he simply squeezed her shoulders. “Ready to do that inventory for Detective Wilson?”
    Without thinking, Risa turned her head and brushed her mouth over one of Shane’s hands. “Okay. Maybe Cherelle left something for me. A note or . . . something.”
    Shane traced the line of Risa’s jaw with his fingertips and reminded himself of all the reasons he shouldn’t seduce her right here, right now, right where they stood. And the best reason of all was the fatigue showing beneath her beautiful eyes.
    “I want you again,” he said. “I never stop wanting you, even when I can’t get any deeper in you.”
    She laid her head against his chest. “It’s the same for me. I don’t know what to do about it.” She sensed as much as heard his laughter. “Okay, I know about that part just fine. It’s the rest that . . . you know.”
    “Yeah, I know. Ready for the inventory?”
    She blew out a breath. “Sure. At least that’s something I understand.”
    Taking her hand, Shane led her to his private elevator and punched in the code. The doors opened and then swiftly closed around them. The thick, specially woven rug was a medley of muted colors that absorbed all mechanical sounds. The paneling was an exotic wood with subtle gold streaks through its grain. The air was fresh, smelling of high mountains and swift streams.
    Sighing, Risa felt some of her sadness slide away. The elevator was a soothing oasis in the middle of business and fear and uncertainty. All too soon the doors opened, and she found herself staring out at her own hallway. She blinked, orienting herself.
    “Isn’t this marked as a service elevator?” she asked.
    Shane smiled. “Yes.”
    “Sneaky.”
    He laughed and released her hand to nudge her out into the hallway. He felt the tension return to her spine when a man dressed in casual clothes walked toward them.
    “Don’t worry,” Shane said in a low voice. “I’ve put extra security on this floor. He’s one of ours.”
    “Evening, sir, ma’am,”
    Shane nodded to the guard.