Page 85 of A Shot at Love
Both Ky and Gemma rose from their seats and came around to his side of the table.
“The name on the account is…Delaney Peterson. Who the hell is that? You don’t have anyone on your team with that name.”
Something tugged at the back of his memory. Ky sat back down at his computer and typed. After a minute a name scrolled across the screen. He cursed in Greek and then in English. “Son of a bitch!”
“Who is it?” Gemma asked.
Ky lifted his gaze. “My boss, SAC Tiege’s wife. It’s her maiden name.”
Gemma gasped and Bannerman’s eyes turned to blocks of stone.
“I can’t believe this.” Ky rose and shoved his hands in pockets to keep from hitting something—anything. He crossed to the living room, stopped in front of the fireplace.
“Well, now,” the private investigator said, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, “it makes sense, doesn’t it? Who better to set you up for a fall than someone who knows you so well?”
Gemma followed Ky and placed a hand across his shoulders. “I’m so sorry.”
“He was the last person I’d ever think would be involved in something like this.” Ky stared at the empty fireplace. “I’ve always thought he had my back. He always has.”
The betrayal stung, but not as much as knowing Gemma’s life had been put in danger too many times by a person he’d put his complete trust in. Misplaced trust, it was apparent now.
“What do you want to do?” she asked.
He turned to face her. In reality, all he could think of doing was pulling her into his arms and letting her touch dissolve all the pain shooting through him.
“We need a plan to end this.” He looked over at Bannerman.
“And we need to bring him and Ritandi down.”
Rick nodded. “Let’s get to it.”
*
Something was holding her in place. Gemma opened her eyes to see that night had come. The open window curtain allowed the moon’s glow to slink through the room giving her enough light to see the face of the man lying next to her, his arm wound possessively around her waist.
She had no memory of coming to bed. Gemma had joined Rick and Ky as they put together their plan, remaining silent for the most part, butting in with questions and concerns when she felt the need. Lunch had given way to a long afternoon of the men arguing back and forth about the best tactics to use. Before she reheated the lasagna and garlic bread her sister had sent for dinner, Gemma took an hour for herself and worked out in the garage.
What time she fell asleep she hadn’t a clue.
Ky shifted to his back, his hand trailing across her stomach, but never leaving. Gemma cuddled closer, delighting in his natural warmth, and nuzzled her nose along his jaw. His eyes opened, instantly awake and aware as he turned his head to face her.
“Did you carry me up to bed?” she whispered.
He nodded, moved to his side, and ran his index finger along her cheek. “You didn’t look comfortable on the couch.”
“Thank you.”
“You wouldn’t let me leave.” He smiled and kissed her nose. “I was worried Bannerman was gonna put up a stink about my staying in here.”
His mouth slid down to hers. When he kissed her nothing had ever felt more natural, more comfortable, than to be lying beside him. Gemma ran a hand down his arm, then up again and over his shoulder.
“He’s not the boss of me,” she said, gliding her finger across his jaw. “He just thinks he is.”
Ky’s smile hit her squarely in the chest right before he took her lips again.
In no time at all the kiss went from sweet and tranquil to burning hot and insistent, each of them fully awake now, wanting, demanding. His tongue danced around hers, tugging, nipping, making a firestorm of need tornado up from within her. She grew restless, her feet and legs sliding along the sheets, along his legs, seeking relief. Seeking…him. An impatient moan pushed out of her when her hands met the fabric of his shirt, denying her access to his skin.
Gemma pulled away from his lips. “Take this off,” she commanded, breathlessly. “I need to touch you.”
Ky pulled back and touched his forehead to hers. “Baby, we can’t do this. We can’t let this go any further. Not here. Not now.”
