Page 65 of Night Watch
“That’s not necessary.” He joined her and stabbed the button for the second floor.
“But if you weren’t protecting me, you wouldn’t have incurred the damage.”
“It’s all part of the business.”
She didn’t want to be even further in their debt. “Are you sure your brothers agree with that?”
“If they don’t, my mom will set them straight.” He laughed.
Despite her desire to keep things calm and neutral between them, she laughed along, remembering the past when he could easily go from serious to playful.
He sobered. “We were once really good together, weren’t we?”
And back to serious just as quickly. She didn’t know how to reply, so she simply nodded and hoped it didn’t encourage this topic to continue when she was so uncertain of her feelings.
“I wish I could let go of how I feel and we could try again.” He held her gaze. “If I could, would you want to do that?”
Oh, man.She shouldn’t answer, but she couldn’t hold back. “Want to? Yes. Would I? Not unless I knew without doubt that you really had let go of the pain and hurt I caused. I couldn’t get serious with you again, only for you to bring that up all the time.”
“Yeah.” A pensive look consumed his face. “Yeah, that would be important.”
The bell for their floor dinged, and when the doors opened, he held out his hand. “I don’t know if I can do that.”
“I didn’t think it would be easy,” she replied as she passed him.
He gently took hold of her arm and pulled her close. He smelled masculine and like the outdoors, and she wanted to step into his arms and cling for dear life. But she froze and waited for his cue as to their next move.
“But I want to,” he whispered in her ear, his breath warm against her neck. “I really want to.”
Her heart skittered, and she looked up at him. The searing intensity in his eyes burned to her soul. She should say something. Do something. But the words or actions wouldn’t come.
His phone buzzed. He let out a long breath, but instead of answering it, he slid his fingers into her hair and cupped the back of her head.
“I’m going to kiss you again if you don’t stop me.” His phone buzzed again. It had to be important, and she suspected he would regret not answering it. He was just giving in to the moment. He hadn’t let go of the way she’d hurt him. Maybe he never would.
“You should answer that,” she said, regretting the words the moment they came out.
He let her go and muttered something under his breath as he lifted his phone to his face. “This better be important.”
She heard a male voice on the other end of the call say it was. She watched Erik’s face but couldn’t tell if the news was good or bad.
“I was just walking Kennedy to my place. We’ll be right there.” He hung up and shoved the phone into his pocket.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Clay located the race team that wore the hawk bracelets. He’ll meet us at my place. Maybe you can ID one of the men on the team as your intruder.”
Erik opened the door to his condo, and Pong came running, his tongue hanging out, his eyes alight with what Erik believed was love. Before Erik had left his condo, he’d crated Pong as he usually did, but Clay must’ve let the dog out.
“Sit,” Erik commanded. He didn’t want Pong to forget his obedience skills just because he was retired and was doted on by Erik and his family.
Kennedy entered the condo and stopped to ruffle Pong’s ears. She was rewarded with a sloppy kiss. “Aren’t you just precious?”
Erik groaned.
She looked at him. “What?”
“Precious?” Erik feigned a gulp. “He’s a former working dog and has his standards to uphold. Fierce is a much better word.”
