Promise Not To Tell(60)

“What happened?”

“Ashcroft threatened to have me fired if I didn’t get the charges dropped. Said I was going to ruin his son’s future. I ignored him. In the end, Ashcroft finally made a deal with the families of the two girls. Paid them off. They dropped the charges.”

“And you lost your job.”

“I was ready for a change. By then I had already figured out that if you want to pursue a career in law enforcement in a small town, you have to be good at playing politics.”

“Which is not your strong suit.”

“No,” Cabot said.

“All in all, the private investigation business sounds like the right career path for you.”

“It feels like a good fit.”

Another short silence.

“Would you mind very much if I kissed you?” she said.

“It’s okay so long as it’s not one of those pity kisses.”

“Nope. I just want to kiss you. But I should warn you that it probably won’t go anywhere, given my intimacy issues. I don’t want you to think of me as a world-class tease.”

“You’re world-class but you are definitely not a tease,” Cabot said. “You’ve got a few issues. So do I.”

“Different kind of issues, though.”

“Issues are issues. We’re wasting time here. Are you going to kiss me or not?”

She took a step forward, gripped his shoulders and crushed her mouth against his.

Except he didn’t crush. Instead, he caught her face between his hands and raised his head so that his mouth was an inch away from hers.

“Remember what I said,” he whispered, his voice a little ragged. “It’s not a trip to the dentist.”

“I know.” She clutched at his shoulders. “I just don’t want to screw up again.”

“Then quit trying so hard. Relax. Go with what you feel. When you stop feeling it, we’ll stop whatever it is we’re doing at that moment.”

“You make it sound so simple.”

“It is simple. Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it.”

She giggled. It was ridiculous. Totally inappropriate. But for some reason, the urge to laugh was irresistible.

Cabot did not laugh, but in the glow of the night-light, she could see him smiling a very sexy, very masculine smile.

The part of her that had been locked in ice for so long started to heat. She leaned into Cabot’s strength and kissed him again, not trying to force the pace; taking her time, testing the waters.

She sensed his response – his mouth was hot, his body was hard and his erection was rigid – but he made no attempt to overwhelm her. He did not tighten his grip on her nor did he try to rush her.

Encouraged by her own reaction as well as his, she pressed herself against him, caught hold of his wrist and moved his hand to her waist.

A deep longing rose within her. She wanted to touch and be touched. She wanted to be free to enjoy the sensual side of herself.

The kiss got more intense. Thrilling. It charged all of her senses.

After a moment or two she guided one of Cabot’s hands inside her robe, just under her right breast. He settled his fingers there but he did not try to touch her in more intimate ways.

She slipped her hands up under his T-shirt, thrilling to the feel of him. To hell with feeling guilty for sending out mixed signals. Cabot could handle it if she lost her nerve again. He could handle it if she experienced a panic attack. He would not hold it against her. He would not judge her. He would not think she was weird.

An unfamiliar excitement ignited her blood. She began to explore Cabot with a growing sense of urgency.

“Virginia,” he whispered.

Carefully, cautiously, he drew the pad of his thumb across the tip of her breast. It was as if he had flipped a switch. Desire crashed through her.

“Yes,” she said. She kissed Cabot’s throat, the curve of his shoulder; closed her teeth around his ear. “Yes.”

“There’s no rush,” he whispered.

“Yes. There is.”

“We’ve got all night.”

“You might have all night. I don’t. I need to do this now, before something goes wrong.”

“That’s it. Think positive.”

“You’re laughing at me.”

“Maybe,” he admitted. “Just a little. Mostly I’m trying to tell you that you don’t have to be afraid. We can go this far and stop as often as you want.”

“I don’t want to stop, damn it. That’s what I’m trying to tell you.”

“Whatever you say.”

She seized his hand and started to haul him into her room, aiming for the bed.

“No,” he said.

He didn’t try to free his hand but he did not follow her. Instead he simply stood there in the doorway between the two rooms, as immovable as a large rock.

The first flicker of fear sparked through her. She’d screwed up somehow.

“What?” she said.

He tugged her gently back toward him. “We don’t need a bed.”

Her heart sank. This was worse than she’d thought. He might not blame her for leading him on, but he had evidently lost interest in the entire project.

He led her across the room and stopped at the padded reading chair. He unzipped his trousers and lowered himself into the chair.