Page 36 of Some Like It Deadly
“Someone’s testy.” Kate rubbed a hand against her face and smothered a yawn. “Sorry I fell asleep on you.”
“Sorry I wasn’t here to keep the phone from waking you up. How’s the shoulder?”
“Achy, but not bad.” He loved how husky her voice went and the soft expression on her face. It was an enticingly new picture of her.
“Good and ignore Peterson if he calls you back. They can direct their security inquiries through me.” For once, he didn’t mind the idea of being barricaded in his house. At least he had Kate to share it with.
“I’m your assistant,” she pointed out, dry humor in her smile.
“Not this weekend you’re not.” A fact for which he was profoundly grateful. “This weekend you’re my guest and I’m your host.”
“You realize that saying it doesn’t make it so.” Her resistance was back, her spirit seemed to have rebounded from the numb state of the painkillers and she appeared to be shedding the shock from the day before.
“Truth is found in perception. If you say a thing enough times, people will start to believe it.” He tossed down the verbal gauntlet.
“That’s a purely philosophical argument. I can say I’m your guest until we’re blue in the face, but come Monday morning we go back to the old labels.”
“Maybe,” he countered.
“What? If we get involved then you fire me?” Amusement filled her eyes. She didn’t believe him.
Not yet.
“Or maybe you quit—though I really hope you don’t. I like working with you.” Oddly enough, he recognized a great deal of truth in that statement. He’d worked with Miranda for years. They’d been a well-oiled machine, but at the end of the day, she went back to her life and Richard to his. In the intervening weeks since her departure he hadn’t really missed her.
He’d miss Kate.
“You can’t have it both ways,” she argued and his grin grew.
“Why not?” After all, it was his job to be impossible. It said so in their contract.
They’d retreatedindoors after lunch and, to his delight, Richard found out that not only did Kate know how to play video games—she was damn good at them. Several rounds ofCall of Dutyput their debate on the backburner and he hadn’t laughed so hard in a long time. When she’d excused herself to shower, he went out to fire up the grill and get the steaks ready to cook.
A night on the deck, under the stars, with some real food and maybe a glass or two of merlot—well, with her meds, maybe water but we’ll still have a good time.Stacking up the steaks neatly and wrapping the potatoes in foil, it occurred to him he’d been laughing all afternoon.
He’d relaxed.
His father, the shooting, the upcoming contract negotiations, his pending cases—they’d all gone on the backburner. He’d had fun. Grinning at the realization, he checked the bins in the fridge for tomatoes and lettuce. He could toss a salad after the steaks were grilled.
“Richard?” Her voice drifted down the stairs. He left the food on the counter and walked around the corner to look up.
“You okay?” He started to climb the steps, then paused when he realized she was only in a towel again. White cotton had never looked so good.
“I’m a little embarrassed, but otherwise fine.” She retreated a few steps. Her long hair hung damply down her back.
Continuing up the stairs, he kept his gaze on her face because he’d already gotten a glimpse of her legs and, while the towelcovered a hell of a lot more than the swimsuit, it was only one tug away. “What’s up?”
Turning around, she showed him the bandage. “I can’t get it off. I think it’s the angle, but I wanted to change it.”
Understanding kicked his rising temperature down a notch and he motioned for her to precede him. “Got the rest of the stuff in your room?”
“Yeah, I can put it back on.”
“Don’t worry about it. This definitely falls under theI get to take care of youpart of our quid pro quo.” A certain amount of satisfaction flowed through him because she’daskedhim. Yes, she had tried to do it on her own, but when she needed help, she asked him.
So I help her change the bandage and then I go back down and fix dinner. It demonstrates I’m a good guy even when I’m impossible.
He followed her into the room and through it to the bathroom. The air was steamy from the shower. Vanilla and juniper filled his nostrils and it was liked being wrapped up in the warm, damp heat of her. The thought went straight to his groin and his cock stiffened uncomfortably.
