He wasn’t going to let her deal with life alone anymore.

Chapter Eleven

Mark woke up to the soft floral scent of Lindsey.

He smiled as he ran his hand down her hair. He was so glad he’d followed her to Vegas. He had always considered himself conservative, the type who would date a woman for a long time before deciding she was the one. Apparently, love didn’t happen that way. It took even the most reserved by storm.

Because Mark knew no matter how many days, weeks, even months passed, Lindsey was the woman for him. It was crazy in terms of how long they had known each other, but it was no less true. No way was he letting her go back to Washington. But she was like a scared deer in the headlights, ready to bolt. One wrong move and she could get spooked.

He could lose her forever.

Lindsey raised her head and peered down at him, her eyes soft from sleep, her voice sultry and hoarse. “Morning, Counselor.”

Their lips pressed together for a quick kiss. “Morning. How’d you sleep?”

“After the nightmare,” she said, “wonderful. I love sleeping with you.”

“Yeah?” he asked, but he didn’t wait for an answer. “I love sleeping with you too. I was just thinking I could get used to having you in my bed.”

She laughed and smiled widely, obviously pleased at his words. “You were, were you?”

Mark shook his head. “Sure was.”

“Well, I’m glad you weren’t thinking about how to get me out of your bed.” She poked his chest playfully.

“Never,” he said, his voice serious now.

Lindsey smiled and rested her head on his shoulder, fingers resting in his chest hair. Abruptly, she raised her head, a question in her expression. “Did you bring luggage?”

“It’s downstairs. I need to call the bell desk. I’ll do that and order us some coffee and breakfast.”

Lindsey sat up, freeing him to move, blankets pulled to her shoulders. “Sounds good, but I’m supposed to meet up with a couple detectives for lunch at eleven-thirty. Make it a light breakfast for me, please.”

Mark shot her a quick look. “I’m coming with you.”

Lindsey pushed herself off the bed, letting the blanket drop. She walked towards the bathroom, oblivious of her nakedness. She peeked over her shoulder at Mark. “I know,” she said and then smiled.

Mark laughed, pleased with her response. He was still smiling when he heard the bellman on the other end of the phone. Shoving his feet in his pants, he dialed room service. He’d barely finished his tasks when Lindsey exited the bathroom wearing the hotel robe, with wet hair falling over her shoulders.

He could so get used to her like this, comfortable and happy and, most importantly, by his side.

* * * * *

Lindsey took a quick shower, finding herself eager to join Mark.

It was an odd feeling, considering how used to being alone she was. She found him sitting on the bed, a room service tray in front of him. “That was fast,” she said, surprised that the food had already arrived, but thankful for the blessing of caffeine. “Coffee, please.”

“I made it worth their while,” he said as he reached for the coffee pot and filled a cup for her. Then he patted the bed beside him. “Come sit with me.”

She picked up her cup and let her nostrils flare with the scent. “I love the smell of hot coffee,” she said, then took a sip of the steaming beverage. “I can’t believe I’m not hung over this morning.”

Mark chuckled. “You were tipsy, not sloppy drunk.”

Lindsey surveyed the selection of fresh, plump strawberries, bagels, and cream cheese with approval. “This is perfect,” she said and plucked a juicy strawberry from the tray and bit into it.

Juice dripped down her chin, and before she could get to a napkin, Mark leaned forward and licked it off. “And deliciously messy,” he finished for her, and then leaned back into his former position and picked up his cup.

As if nothing had happened. Lindsey was completely speechless. The intimacy of his action had floored her. He drove her crazy, this man. She eyed him, looking for the source of his power over her. His hair was early morning rumpled, his very nice, defined chest bare for her viewing. He looked casual and comfortable, and too damn sexy to be legal.

Mark looked at her. “What?”

“You’re a very bad boy, Mark,” she said, enunciating every word in a teasing taunt. “You know very well what you just did.”

He met her gaze with wicked mischief dancing in his eyes. “And you’re a very bad girl. We both know how you teased me last night.”

She wrinkled her nose at him and laughed. “Turnaround isn’t fair play in my book.”

“Is that right?” he asked, “I’ll try and keep that in mind.” He smiled and reached for the newspaper. “Want to share?”

She accepted, feeling the odd sense of comfort doing so brought to her. She drank her coffee and finished off her strawberry, sitting beside him, feeling his presence as if it was gold. Lindsey curled her legs under her body and smiled to herself. She’d never felt like this with Greg or any other man. Just being together, even without conversation, felt perfect.

A warm, safe feeling wrapped around her.

Unable to help herself, her gaze kept drifting to his profile. Mark looked up, as if he felt her eyes on him, but she didn’t look away. The paper had dropped to her lap as she had abandoned her covert inspection for a more open one. He offered her a sexy smile. “Now, what are you looking at?”

“You,” she said pointedly.

He grabbed her and pulled her over to his side, wrapping his arm around her waist. He planted a firm kiss on her lips and she smiled with satisfaction. Then she rubbed her hands on his cheek, feeling the morning stubble beneath her soft palms. “You don’t like me like this?” he asked as he touched his own face.

She laughed at the ridiculous idea. “Actually I like you like this. Very much.”

He grinned devilishly. “Oh yeah, how much? Show me.”

“Gladly,” she said as she wrapped her hand around his neck and pulled his lips to hers. Her tongue slid between his teeth, and she heard him moan.

Would she ever get enough of the flavor so uniquely Mark Reeves?

* * * * *

In the back of a cab, Mark beside her, Lindsey knew it was time to make a few confessions. “Mark, about Greg.”

His gaze moved to hers, sharpness to his expression and tone. “What about him?”

Lindsey grabbed his hand. “Hey, take it easy,” she said in a low voice. “I just want to tell you what he said about the case.”

His eyes searched hers a minute, and then he relaxed, shoulders easing, expression less tense. Then, and only then, did she continue. “Well,” she said, “here’s the thing. I don’t think it was such a good idea that I met with him.”

Mark’s eyes darkened. “What does that mean exactly?”

Lindsey looked out of the window as the cab screeched to a halt. “We’re here,” she said. “That was quick.”

Mark paid the driver as Lindsey stepped onto the sidewalk. The sun was so hot, perspiration instantly beaded on her lip. She started to walk towards the restaurant, eager to find air conditioning, when Mark’s hand closed around her arm, stopping her forward motion. She turned to him. Damn, she didn’t want to finish this now. It was stupid to start such a conversation before this meeting.

She frowned at him. “What are you doing?”

“Finish,” he demanded.

Lindsey sighed in resignation. “I ticked him off. He brought up the past,” she paused, “as in he and I, telling me he loved me, and crap like that.”

Mark’s tension was palpable. “And?”

“I screwed up. I threw his words back in his face, so he lashed out. He offered life with no parole. I declined and told him we would beat him in court. I doubt he’ll negotiate.”

Mark stared at her a long moment without showing any emotion, then abruptly he broke out in laughter, shaking his head from side to side.