Chance Collision (27 page)

Yeah. Right.

Jamison had said it was pretty straightforward, a formality—it’d only take a week or two to wrap things up. The guy would have to get with all the officers who’d been a part of the Health Solutions raid the night Luciano Marchetti had died.

Their action in the incident wasn’t being pulled into question. But none of them were allowed to work. It meant a crapload of overtime for the rest of the department.

Without work, a new case to keep Pete busy, Nikki haunted him. The look on her face when he’d let her go with Chief without a word. The hurt in her eyes.

He hadn’t slept worth shit last night—this morning, since he’d not got home until after three. All he could see was Marchetti pointing a Beretta at her. Pulling the trigger. Pete panicking that they’d been too late.

The feel of her in his arms afterward, remembering what it was like to hold her, kiss her, make love to her. Loss rolled over him in waves.

You let her go.

Pete might have only sent her home with someone else, but it felt final. Like breaking off a relationship they’d never actually defined. Besides, whenever he let Nikki out of his sight he put her in danger. It wasn’t logical to worry about her with his boss. Paul Martin had been a cop for over twenty years. He was far from stupid. Fully capable of protecting the woman Pete loved.

Was he jealous?

Nikki was in
Pete’s
bed, after all.

Was, idiot. Was.

“Fuck.” He dragged his hand down his face, ignoring the stubble on his cheeks. Why shave if he couldn’t go back to work?

Dropping Lee off at DFW Airport a few hours ago had made things worse. Like a double hit to his gut. The case was over. He’d said goodbye to his temporary partner. No telling when he’d see her again. The bad guys were dead—no trial to come back and testify for like last time. When he’d asked if she had to leave so quickly, she’d just said if Antioch PD didn’t need her, her unit—her partner—did. She’d been the first one Kurt had interviewed.

Nate hadn’t come to see her off. When Pete had called him, his brother had been moody and standoffish. He wouldn’t answer any questions about the lovely FBI agent.

Lee had been normal, teasing and laughing with Pete all the way to Security when they’d had to part ways. She’d smiled and hugged him. So if she’d been affected by something that’d happened with Nate, she’d hidden it well.

It’d really suck if
both
of the Crane boys had had total strikeouts with the women they cared about.

No way, dude. Your sitch is on you.

His eyes swept the living room. Nice furniture. Awesome TV. Pictures on the wall. Fireplace in the corner. But somehow, Pete’s heart was empty in the silence.
Stuff
didn’t fulfil him.

He loved her. He missed her, no matter he’d seen her just the night before.

Pete sighed. How could he have fallen for her so quickly? He’d vowed after Cara that love would never happen for him again. And it hadn’t—for ten long years.

He hadn’t been a cloistered born-again virgin or anything. When internal shit had built up, he’d taken a lover from time to time, but the four months Liz had been around had been his longest tryst. Pete had known her for years, run into her at court, testified in cases she’d been on a few times.

Attraction had turned into having drinks, which had wound its way into meaningless sex. It’d been good. But couldn’t hold a candle to the way Nikki made him feel.

Sex with Nikki had turned into making love probably before time number two. The girl had him twisted up.

Girl.
Twenty-four for another two weeks.

He was old, incapable of loving her the way she deserved. Besides, their boss would never condone it. Badge or ass, right?

Was he a coward? Afraid, at thirty-five, that Nikki would crush him like Cara had? She’d wake up in his bed one morning and agree with him… He was too old for her, and she deserved better. Someone with a more positive outlook on life.

He wasn’t a naïve kid anymore.
She
was, wasn’t she?

The doorbell rang and he jumped, then swore at himself. He put the frosty bottle on the end table after a fortifying gulp. Yanking his white ribbed tank straight as soon as he hit his socked feet, he slunk to the door.

So what if he wasn’t dressed for public consumption. At least he’d managed a pair of basketball shorts instead of just boxers.

If it was Jamison to get Pete’s take on what’d happened, the guy would have to deal.

His cell had rung a few times, but he’d not answered. Didn’t really want to talk to anyone.

His heart hit overdrive when he opened the door, even though she greeted him with a glare, hands on her lovely hips. “Nikki, what—”

Nikki rushed into his foyer after kicking front door shut. Her supple body slammed into his and she threw her arms around his neck.

Kissing her was natural, without thought, and made him hard as a rock in about two seconds, despite the four beers. She pressed closer, forcing the kiss deeper, and Pete groaned into her mouth. Their tongues duelled and collided.

She tasted as sweet as always. Addictive. He need more.

He needed Nikki.

Damn, they shouldn’t do this. What they’d had was over. He wasn’t good for her. But he wanted her. And hell, she’d started it.

He pushed her against the closed door and she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer. Her knee-length grey skirt bunched around her hips. His cock throbbed as she shoved her pelvis up, hitting him just right.

“I want you,” Nikki breathed, rubbing her full breasts into his chest. Her nipples were hard buds and he hadn’t even touched her yet.

Why? I hurt you.
But the words wouldn’t form. He wouldn’t tell her that having her once more wouldn’t change his mind. They couldn’t be together. He ignored the voice that reminded him he’d never told
her
what he’d decided.

Pete kissed her in answer, shoving into her mouth. She kissed him back, nibbling his bottom lip and sucking on his tongue as she yanked his thin shirt up. Her hands scorched his bare skin. His cock pounded. If he didn’t get inside her now, he was going to lose it in his pants.

Her caress travelled down the small of his back and inside the waistband of his navy shorts. He shivered as she squeezed his ass.

“No boxers?” Nikki asked, pulling away from their kiss. Her dark gaze was a mix of desire and amusement and Pete’s heart skipped.

She was gorgeous, her high cheekbones flushed with colour, her red locks loose and mussed as they played around her shoulders.

He groaned as her hand came around front, fingertips brushing his cock. He tried to shrug. “I’m benched. Why not?”

Smirking, she tilted her head and he didn’t miss the invitation. Pete spread hot kisses down her neck. Working the buttons of her white blouse, he exposed more of her creamy skin, the curve of her breasts in the barely there red lacy bra. He sucked a hard bud into his mouth through the fabric.

She whispered his name, leaning into him as he found her mouth again.

His previous thoughts about why he couldn’t have her melted away. He shut his brain down and just felt. Nikki in his arms, her hot skin beneath his lips, floral perfume tickling his nose. Her breasts rubbing the cotton of his tank, her thinly covered sex against the fabric of his shorts.

Not nearly enough.

Nikki shoved his shorts off his hips. His cock was in her hand even before the material hit the hardwood floor. Air greeted his balls and a tremor racked him. Pete let her touch him, stroke him, biting back a moan. His blood sang.

“Sweetness, you’re gonna make me—”

She nipped his bottom lip and pulled her hand away. “No. Not like that.”

He couldn’t agree more. He wanted inside her.
Now.
Pete reached for her panties, and Nikki wiggled, helping him divest her of the scrap of red lace. He kicked his shorts away so he wouldn’t trip.

Chuckling, he held up the red thong. “Why bother?”

Nikki grinned and his stomach flipped. “I like pretty panties. The skimpier, the better.”

“I can’t complain.” He kissed her, cutting off her laugh.

Moaning, she rocked her hips forward. Her stilettos hit the floor with echoing thuds. Then her bare heels dug into his ass.

Pete thrust into her, sliding home on a grunt of his own. He intended to give her a moment to adjust, but Nikki moved with him immediately, burying her face against his neck.

“I just want to feel,” she whispered, her breath teasing his overheated skin. She tightened her hold around him and shoved her pelvis up, making them both moan.

The sex took over then and Pete drove into her over and over, until they were both covered in sweat and clutching at each other to stay upright against the door.

When she whimpered and writhed, he grabbed her hips hard, propelling forward one last time. Nikki screamed and buried her hands in his damp hair, arching her back.

Her core contracted and he bit his lip as his cock jolted inside her. She continued to rock in his arms, her body milking every ounce of his orgasm. He suppressed the shiver that threatened to shoot down his spine and locked his knees so he wouldn’t fall—or, worse, drop Nikki.

When her legs slid to the floor, Pete held her tight. Harsh breathing from them both was the only thing that greeted his ears.

Say something. Tell her how hot that was. Tell her what she does to you. How beautiful she is. Anything. Everything.

Tell her you love her.

But he couldn’t. It wasn’t fair to Nikki. So he pulled her closer, ignoring how her breasts felt against him. Ignored how her hips felt against his softening, sensitive cock when he slipped from her core. Ignored how her scent teased his nose, and how her hair tickled his cheek.

Her clothing was mussed, her shirt open, skirt still hiked. If he looked at her, he’d carry her upstairs. Pete closed his eyes and sucked in a breath.

They spoke at the same time. “We can’t do this again.”

“I love you, Pete.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Nikki’s head spun as Pete recoiled, pushing her away so fast she almost fell on her half-naked ass.

“What?” they asked at the same time. Neither of them really needed a repeat of their last statements.

She stared into his green eyes. His face was flushed, his hair mussed from her hands. The fair stubble on his cheeks just made him more appealing. Roughness against her neck and her breasts had caused her to combust for him. Beer on his lips had made his kiss taste even better.

Pete studied her, his eyes raking up and down. His expression was unreadable.

Panic
was the word that came to mind. Her detective was freaked the hell out by her confession.

Idiot. You knew better than to say it, Nikki Harper.

Hurt threatened to close in on her. Breathing was a struggle for reasons other than hot sex against his front door. Her chest ached as much as her heart. Eyes smarted with tears though he had yet to say a word.

Instinct told Nikki all her worries about rejection were about to come true.

“Nikki…” His voice was a croak and he messed his blond locks up even more as he shoved his hand into them.

She squared her shoulders and yanked her skirt straight. He cleared his throat when she started buttoning her shirt, but she didn’t look at him, even when she tucked it in, smoothing the front of the silk over her breasts.

“Will you listen to me?” Pete whispered.

“What’s to listen to? You said it all.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Too damn late for that.” She made tight fists at her sides. Locked her jaw to keep the threatening sob at bay.
Do not cry right now.
Maybe chanting it would help.

He said nothing, but his socked feet were suddenly damn interesting. Pete wouldn’t look at her.

“What’s your problem?” Nikki snapped. “We were fine yesterday. Before you left to talk to your informant.
Yesterday
, Pete. Then you let Chief take me home, take me away from you. Without a fucking word.”

His green gaze met hers with the harsh word she hardly ever uttered. But at least it’d got his attention. “I knew he’d keep you safe.”

Nikki’s heart tripped at the look on his face. “Thought that was
your
job.”

Pete blanched and took a step back. Said nothing, but his eyes bored into hers.

What the hell had she said?

“Not anymore.” The whisper was anguished and her vision blurred as she lost the battle with her tears. Pete winced.

“Why?” She took a step towards him, but her detective stepped back again. Nikki’s heart sank. “Don’t you care about me?”

“Not the way you need me to.”

Gasping, she covered her mouth with a hand as Pete retreated even more—now he was almost in his living room.

It was as good as coming out and saying
I don’t love you.
Pain threatened to cave her chest. Panting, she fought to stay upright.

You can’t make him love you.

She could accept that his feelings weren’t the same, right? She’d been the one to open her big mouth. He wanted her physically, but that had never been in question. Wasn’t Pete’s fault Nikki wanted more.

“Nikki, I’m not right for you.”

Frowning, she focused on his words and yelled at herself to get it together. “What?”

“I told you from the start.”

“Told me what?”

“I’m too old for you. Besides, Chief wouldn’t condone us being together.”

Straightening, Nikki glared as anger boiled up from her gut. Anger was good. Better than hurt. “That’s a barrel of bullshit.”

When he shook his head and failed to speak, heat rose in her neck. But she wasn’t embarrassed. Nikki was
pissed.

“So I mean nothing to you? An easy lay? You think everything is going to just readjust and go back to normal at work, Pete Crane? It won’t go that way.”

“Which is why I don’t do this,” he muttered.

Hurt hit her again. Nikki trembled and swallowed back a sob. “Does it matter at all what I think?”

“It won’t change anything.” He squared his shoulders and broke eye contact again.