Extreme Danger (McClouds & Friends #5)(104)

And joy. Of all things to find, in the midst of this mess. Blooming out of the wreckage of her life, like a perfect tulip in a trash heap.

“Hi,” she whispered, blushing. Remembering just how many times he’d wakened her in the night, to start again. And again.

He just nodded, studying her intently. She became suddenly aware of how she must look, with wild bed head, puffy morning face, smeared makeup. A Picasso woman, with nose and mouth and eyes all scrambled up. And even so, he had that look in his eyes about which there could be no mistake. She looked away, flustered, and her eyes fell on the digital clock on the bedstand. 12:24 P.M.

Panic jangled through her, and hard on its heels, disorientation. She sought to anchor herself in this new world.

Cool it. No reason to sweat. She’d been canned. No job to be late for, no responsibilities she was neglecting, no place to go, no one who was waiting for her angrily, tapping a foot, looking at a watch.

It made her feel so lost. Adrift in nowhere. She had Carrie and Josh, of course, but she was desperately hoping to keep them at arm’s length until she managed to resolve this situation. God alone knew how.

Every other point of reference in her life was gone. Except for Nick. He was a big one. Right now, he was her only one.

A dangerous state of affairs, for both of them. She must not glom onto this guy, make him her reason to exist. The danger was there. As sexy and charismatic as he was, as scared and vulnerable as she felt.

As madly in love with him as she was.

She thought of that bad moment last night, when she’d practically blurted it out. And stopped herself, with the grace and subtlety of a stampeding elephant. It was just that she was so terrified of destroying this thing before it even unfolded, before she was even sure what it was. The way she’d somehow managed to destroy all her other relationships.

Nick was so much more important than any of the others. All the more reason not to trash it by opening her big mouth too soon. Scaring him off with inappropriate demands, inconvenient emotions.

She stared at his sexy dimples. “It’s late,” she offered.

“You were tired,” he said. “Me too. I slept more than I have in the last two months combined. Hours on end.” He sounded faintly amazed as he tapped a few keys, snapped the laptop shut and slid off the bed.

Stood there before her, showing off. Inviting her to gape at his gorgeous bod. “I’m glad you’re awake,” he said. “I missed you.”

She smothered a giggle. “Don’t even look at me that way until I’ve had a shower.”

“I don’t care,” he said. His penis lengthened before her eyes.

“I do,” she said, scrambling out of the far side of the bed. She backed up towards the bathroom, shimmying out of the garter belt. “Plus, I’m ravenous. Don’t even think about it. You sex freak.”

He stared at her body, looking wistful. “Get your shower,” he said. “We’ve got to get moving if we want time to grab something to eat.”

She teetered on one leg to peel a stocking off. “What? What’s our hurry? Where are we going?”

He looked embarrassed, and uncomfortable. “You’re not going to believe this,” he said. “I don’t believe it myself.”

“Just tell me,” she snapped.

He lifted his hands helplessly. “We’re going to a wedding.”

She was so startled, she thudded against the wall and almost slid down onto her butt. “You have got to be kidding.”

“I wish I was,” he said. “It’s one of the guys I told you about, the guys who’re helping me track down the big Z. They keep inviting me to their weddings and barbecues and christenings, and Christ knows what all, and it seems ruder than shit to blow them off, since I’m mooching favors right and left. Big, expensive favors. So f*ck it. We’re going.”

“Uh-uh. Not me,” she said. “I’m not going to any weddings.”

“We can stop at a mall if you need a dress,” he offered. “I can blow some bucks on a couple of my cards. Or not. That suit with the tank top that you wore yesterday looked really hot. You could wear that again.”

“It’s not the dress. I have a nice dress,” she snapped. “The one I meant to seduce you in.”

His eyes lit up. “Let’s see it,” he said.

“Don’t get sidetracked,” she said, scowling at him. “I’m not going to some strange couple’s wedding, and that is final.”

He shook his head. “It’s a done deal. Davy’s wife booked us a room. She ordered me a suit from Macy’s when I told her I couldn’t go back to my condo. They got a guy to man the surveillance set-up who speaks Ukrainian. I’m outmaneuvered. My ass is grass if I don’t go.”

“That’s your problem, not mine.” She marched into the bathroom. “Just go without me, if you must.”

He followed her in, staring at her naked body in the mirror. “Not happening.” His quiet voice had a tone of finality.

Becca started feeling trapped, almost panicked. “Nick. Be reasonable. I’m not prepared to go to a wedding.” Her voice rose in pitch. “I don’t know these people. I just got fired from my job, I’m on the run from a sadistic mafiya killer, and I don’t even have a gift!”