Wilde at Heart (Wilde Security, #3)(62)

“Yes.” She lifted her chin, strength in every angle of her face. “I don’t want to waste a second more of my time on that woman.”

With the fire of determination in her eyes and the stubborn set to her jaw, she’d never looked more beautiful to him. He had to kiss her and leaned down, brushing his lips across her eyes, nose, taking his time with each light brush of his lips. Finally he moved his mouth over hers, drinking her in, wanting a taste of the flame that made up the core of her being, the wild heat that had first drawn him to her.

Shelby broke the kiss first and pressed a hand into his chest. “Go call the police. I need to shower or we’ll be late for the gala.” She squeezed his hand, then stood and disappeared into her bathroom.

Reece didn’t move for several minutes. Should he call off this whole gala thing and join her in the shower? She obviously needed comfort, even if it was just someone to hold her. Because even as determined as she was to keep it together, he saw the cracks in her bravado. She was hurting. And he wanted to make it better.

The water came on and he finally stood. He couldn’t be angry at her for shutting him out right now. She was using the gala as a distraction—he understood that—but later, he was going to hold her. If she needed to break down, she could do so without worry, because he’d be right there to help her glue the pieces back in place when it was over. They were stronger together than alone, and he planned to prove it to her.

He walked out to the living room, and the sight of it pissed him off. He wanted to start cleaning, but knew better and instead called the cops. They said they’d send a unit right over. Next, he called Cam. It took a couple tries before his brother finally answered.

“What?” Cam answered breathlessly.

Reece winced. He did not want to know what Cam was up to right now. “Bad timing?”

“Fuck you. I’m working out and—oomph!” His voice faded away from the phone. “Eva, that didn’t count. I called a time out.” Then back into the phone, grumbling, “You’re making me lose. What do you want?”

“Actually, I’m glad you’re both right there. You might want to put me on speaker for this.”

There was some shuffling, a muffled conversation, then Cam said, “Go ahead.”

“What’s up?” Eva asked.

This was not going to be a fun exchange. Reece exhaled hard to release the tension balled in his gut and launched into an explanation of the day’s events. He ended with, “I wanted to warn you so you didn’t hear it from the police scanner.”

Eva’s voice sounded small, miles away. “I keep telling her Mom won’t change.”

“I know. I know you do.” Cam cursed. “Hey, baby, it’s okay. He said Shelby is unharmed.”

“She’s shaken up,” Reece said, “but also mad. Katrina took some paintings she’d bought for the apartment and her wedding ring.”

“What?” Now Eva sounded more like herself. “Oh, f*ck her. Just…f*ck her! I’m going to kill her. I’m—”

“Don’t say that,” Cam soothed. “I know you’re angry, but—”

“I’m pissed! That bitch deliberately took the things she knew would hurt Shelby the most. Reece, you better press charges, because Shelby won’t. She never does.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about it this time. As I said, she’s as angry as you are. But,” he added when she made a sound of protest, “if she won’t do it, I will.”

A knock drew his attention to the still partly open door, and he spotted two uniformed officers. “I have to go. The cops are here.”

He spent the next half hour answering the police’s questions as best he could, and then it was Shelby’s turn. He was half afraid she’d lost her nerve, but she was steadfast in that she wanted to press charges. The cops left with a list of the items taken and a picture of Katrina Bremer.

Shelby stood in the middle of the living room after they left, staring at the mess. “I wish we had time to clean this up, but we have to finish getting ready. We’re already going to be late.”

With that, she retreated back to her bedroom.

Reece watched her go and considered following, but shook his head to dislodge the idea. She wasn’t going to let him blow off the gala, even as much as he now wanted to. Stubborn woman.

He made sure the door was locked, then went to his own bathroom. It didn’t take him long to shower and change into his tux, though he left the bowtie undone around his neck. As he strode down the hall toward the living room, Shelby called out to him. He backtracked, peeked in her room. She wasn’t there, but the bathroom door was open so he walked over—and stopped dead in his tracks in the doorway. Her gown was black with a back that dipped almost indecently low, held together by dainty chains. And for a heartbeat he was struck dumb. She looked amazing. Sleek and sexy without being over the top.

Before he realized he was moving, he stepped forward and trailed a knuckle down her spine. “Shelby…”

The note of heat in his voice made her legs go to gelatin, and she suppressed a shiver of pure desire.

Get a grip, girl.

She needed to focus. So many of his recent problems were her fault—the blackmail, the fire at his parents’ house, and now she’d allowed her mother to rob him—but she was going to make up for it by going to the gala and playing the part of a perfect wife tonight. And she refused to put Wilde Security in further jeopardy all because the sound of his voice sent her hormones into hyper drive.