Page 40 of The Agent
Guilt jabbed at her. “Do whatever you need to do in the city. As long as Pam is here, I’ll be fine. Please don’t rush back.”
He gave her a sizzling look. “I’m not rushing back foryoursake. I’m rushing back formine.”
He was trying to distract her from the horrible image on her computer.
“Natalie? Sorry to bother you.” Bianca hesitated halfway in the doorway. “Your next client is here.”
“Of course.” Natalie rose. Work would be almost as good a distraction as Tully. Okay, that was a lie, but work would help. “I’ll be right there.”
Bianca nodded and vanished.
“You really don’t have to stay until Pam arrives,” Natalie said to Tully. “Gino has already offered to deal with Dobs if he comes back.”
“I could use a cup of that coffee I smelled out in the lounge,” he said, gesturing for her to precede him.
“You are an obstinate man.” Natalie sighed as she walked out the office door.
He grinned. “I hear that a lot.”
Chapter 11
Once he’d checked the perimeter and the interior, Tully allowed Natalie to walk into her house after they’d returned from filing the stalker complaint with the police chief. She went straight to her kitchen while he paced behind her, thinking wicked thoughts as he watched the way her hips swayed.
“Would you like a drink?” she asked, pulling bottles out of her pantry. “I’m making a rye Manhattan for myself, but I’ve got bourbon, scotch, beer, or wine if you prefer.”
She’d held up like a champ during the ninety minutes of presenting their evidence, describing her encounter with Dobs, and answering the chief’s probing questions. Tully had seen strong men break down under that kind of pressure, but not his Nat. She was like an elegant china doll with a spine of pure steel. Even the chief had been impressed with her calm, rational attitude, telling Tully he wished all his witnesses were like Natalie.
But Tully could hear the edge of a tremor in her voice and see the tension in her slim shoulders. He put his arms around her waist from behind and gently kissed the side of her neck just under her ear, savoring the satin of her skin. “You’re exhausted,” he said. “Let me make your fancy drink. I worked as a bartender in college.”
Satisfaction spread through his chest when she leaned back against him without hesitation, saying, “I find it soothing to do something normal.”
“I’ll have a Manhattan too, then.” Even though he would have preferred straight scotch. No, he would have preferred to stand like this, her body pressed to his, her light feminine scent infusing the air he breathed. But he needed to take care of her. “You got any crackers and cheese? I’ll get those out.” He figured she could use some food to soak up the alcohol. Otherwise the effects might hit her hard. Although maybe it would be a good thing after what she’d been through.
She reached into the pantry to pull out a box of wheat crackers, which he took from her. “Cheese in the fridge drawer,” she said. “Platter under the island. Knife in the top drawer by the range. Also, would you grab two martini glasses from the cabinet by the sink and put them in the freezer?”
“Sure thing.” He stripped out of his suit jacket and yanked off his tie. He’d ditched the gun before he went into the police station. Cops didn’t take kindly to civilians with firearms, even former law enforcement officers with a license to carry. Of course, he’d brought the Glock with him into the house in his overnight bag.
Finding the martini glasses, he wedged them into the freezer drawer. When he stood up, he caught Natalie’s gaze on him, a slight smile playing around the corners of her soft lips as though she liked what she saw. His groin tightened and he gave her a wink.
Her smile went wider before she looked back at the vermouth she was measuring. God, he wanted to take her to bed. Instead, he rummaged around in the fridge to find cheese and grapes, piled them on the platter, and arranged the crackers around them.
When he heard the cocktail shaker plunk down on the counter, he looked up. “You ready for the glasses?”
She nodded without saying anything. He could see the shadows of fatigue under her eyes, making their blue seem darker. Now he wanted to fold her in his arms and swear that no one would hurt her. Because no one would on his watch.
He carried the platter to the coffee table in front of the sectional sofa while she balanced the drinks. When she sat, he settled close to her and snaked an arm around her waist to tuck her against his side. Contentment warmed him when she scooted over willingly. He held up his glass. “To the confusion of our enemies!”
“I’ll drink to that,” Natalie said, clinking her rim gently against his. She took a sip, closed her eyes, and let her head fall back against his shoulder. “Ahh.”
The sensual melody of her voice vibrated through him, making him shift on the couch. “That sound reminds me of last night. In a very good way.” His words came out with a rasp.
She hummed. “A perfect Manhattan is almost as good as sex.”
“Maybe in your opinion, but I prefer a perfect woman.” He brushed his mouth against her temple, the silk of her hair tickling his cheek.
“Your compliment is over the top but I’ll take it,” she said, her lips curled in that little smirk of a smile again.
To keep himself from devouring her, he said, “The police chief thinks you’re pretty amazing.”
