Dangerous Proposition (10 page)

“We can do this the hard way or the easy way,” he said. “Either way, you’re staying with me until we get to the bottom of this.”

Julia crossed her arms, turning her attention to the passing cars. “Not that I ever had any real intention of becoming your booty call, but when someone threw a noose around your neck, our deal was officially broken.”

So her word had been nothing but a lie. No wonder Abigail Newberry had looked at him so smugly. Not to worry. He would thoroughly enjoy showing Julia how wrong she’d been in attempting to double-cross him.

“Exactly why the situation has just become too dangerous for you to handle on your own,” he said. “With an attempted killer on the loose, this case has just gone from amber to red alert. And if you think these men wouldn’t take you, use you for their own pleasure, and then use you as bait to lure me back to them, then you really do have a lot to learn.” He lifted her by the waist, tossing her over his shoulder.

Julia pounded rock-hard fists against his back. “Bastard! Put me down, you pig-headed son of a bitch!”

With what felt like blocks of steel slamming against him, Colin strode to the corner. Keeping Julia secure, he crossed the street and made his way up the block where his car was parked.

Moments later, he stood before his destination. Finding a vacant space, he nearly stopped breathing.

The Mercedes, along with their luggage, was gone.

Colin swore, raking his fingers through his hair. Julia’s kneecap rammed hard against his stomach.

“Hit me again,” he said, his voice laced with warning, “and perhaps I won’t make your stay as pleasant as I intended.”

Somewhere between West Fifty-Fifth and Forty-Third Street, Julia began to lose her desire to fight Colin. From the position he was holding her in—upside down, slung over his shoulder—she couldn’t see much besides the sidewalk beneath them. Colin had refused to call the cops about the car, just as he had about the attempt on his life. The fact had definitely raised her suspicions.

Blood was rushing to her head, and it was making her insanely dizzy. She was glad she hadn’t had anything to drink. Yet, in spite of it all, she felt strangely relaxed.

Colin’s frame was hard and broad, but he felt warm, like an electric blanket. A blanket she wanted very much to be wrapped up in. He smelled like soap—nautical, male. The scent reminded her of being in his bed.

He carried her up a staircase. Stepping through a door, he carried her into a lobby where a doorman was sitting behind a desk. The guard shot a smile in Colin’s direction and took a bite of the hamburger he was eating. The gray-haired man vanished as the doors to the elevator they stepped into shut behind them.

Julia lifted her head a moment later as Colin carried her down a long hall and through the door of what appeared to be an apartment. The kitchen struck her first. It was immaculate, much unlike her own. Its granite countertops shined. Whatever dishes were kept there had all been put away, leaving nothing in the middle of the room but an island with a black marble surface.

The family room was next to the kitchen, and it was even larger. Black leather couches served as a perfect contrast against a solid white carpet. Against the wall opposite them was an exceptionally large flat screen television.

It seemed there was nothing at all personal about the place. It was stuffy and cold, disguised only by the fact that it obviously cost an arm and a leg.

“It could do without the leather couches,” Julia said. “Fancy-schmancy never was my thing.”

“Perhaps I ought to invest in some of that vintage furniture from the ’60s,” Colin replied drily. “Then maybe you’d feel more at home.”

Steam rose in Julia’s throat. If it was going to be like this, she wasn’t sure she was going to make it through the night, let alone a few days or however long it was going to be. He was driving her out of her mind. She hadn’t been there five minutes.

Shaking her head, she turned her attention to the room to their left. The bedroom, perhaps? A dresser and mirror were visible through the crack in the door, but the opposite side of the room remained a mystery. It must have been where the bed was. She shivered as a flash of Colin pinning her down and kissing her in his bed came into her mind.

“It’s there,” he said, setting her against the ground.

“It?”

“The bed, naturally. I assume that’s what you were looking for when you were poking your head into my bedroom. We both know you’re good at finding it, don’t we, Julia?”

Julia’s blood pressure reached a boiling point. How dare he make insinuations about her as though she were some sort of oversexed streetwalker? She didn’t want him. Didn’t want anything to do with him! And if he thought she had any intention of keeping her so-called promise to him, the guy had another thing coming.

“It’ll sleep two,” he went on. “Though perhaps you would have preferred something smaller. Lessens the room between us. Makes it easier for you to press your body against mine.”

“That’s
it
!” She turned, storming to the door.

He caught her by the arm. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’d rather sleep on the street than here with you!”

“Knowing the risks, I seriously doubt that.”

“Let go of me!”

Colin hesitated. He released her then went to the door, securing the double bolt.

“Think I can’t undo that?” Julia said. She dove for the lock, but he grabbed her wrist, prying back her fingers.

He placed his hand over the lock. “We can play this game all night, Julia. But we’d do better to get some sleep so we’ll be ready to face whatever danger comes our way tomorrow morning.”

“You sleep, then. Unlike your bimbos, I won’t be sticking around for breakfast.”

“Perhaps I ought to just tie you to the bed.” Colin raised a thoughtful brow.

Heat flooded Julia’s cheeks. Just what would Colin do to her in such a compromising position? She recalled the way his lips had felt when they were kissing her neck and shoulder. She wondered how they would feel against her collarbone. Her breasts…

“You wouldn’t dare,” she said, taking a gigantic step backward.

“I carried you twelve blocks, and you think I wouldn’t tie your hands to a bedpost?”

Julia sucked in a painful breath. The threat was real, and his eyes worked in conjunction with his words.

Maybe Griffin hadn’t been exaggerating about this guy. Maybe Colin Westwood
wasn’t
someone she ought to be involved with. She pushed past him, snatching the lock between her fingers.

He pried back her hand. “We’re going to get something straight right here, right now, legs. Whether you want to be or not, you’re now in the middle of this. And in spite of the liability you pose, I have every intention of keeping that neck of yours in one piece. Frankly, I’m getting tired of your antics.”

“I’m not some damned prisoner you can keep here!”

Julia caught her breath. All her life, she’d called the shots. Except one time, but never again. What was stopping her from coming outright and telling Colin Westwood to go to hell? Beating the crap out of him, as she would any other man who was holding her against her will?

Determined to show Colin once and for all that she couldn’t be broken, she lunged for the doorknob. He grabbed her, pinning her arms behind her back.

She kicked at him, struggled against his hold. But his hands kept her in place.

Tears slid down her cheeks. It was no use. He could keep her there if he wanted to. Physically, he had the upper hand. But it ate her alive, knowing what an enormous kick he had to be getting out of it, an even larger ego boost than when she’d stumbled into his bed, for sure.

Her eyes widened as Colin shifted her against his torso. She turned, ready to strike. But to her astonishment, his palm came against her back.

Her gaze narrowed. She thought for sure he was going to throw her over his shoulder, but instead he stroked her. Rubbing up and down, he worked in slow circles, almost as if he were trying to calm her down.

Her posture eased. Unsure of what else to do, she remained in place, letting Colin’s hand trail up and down her spine. It was soothing, the gentle movement of his palm. She couldn’t help but feel relaxed and safe.

“I promise you, Julia,” he said. “I’m going to find your father and stop whoever’s behind this.”

He turned her around, giving her a smile, the first real smile he had since that afternoon ten years ago. She stared at him, and he released her, gesturing for her to follow. With a sigh, she stood and trailed behind him.

Colin led her down the hall and opened the door to the room she’d been eyeing. He flicked on the light switch, revealing an exceptionally large bedroom. In addition to the dresser and mirror, the space contained a large mahogany armoire. A vase stood on the ground beside it, and it was several feet tall.

On the opposite side of the room, positioned away from everything else was a king-size bed. It was covered in pillows, black ones, and decked with a golden bed frame. Shiny and ostentatious, the piece was complimented by two gigantic posts. Catching a glimpse of them, Julia fidgeted in her shoes. She turned her head abruptly.

Drawing an uneasy breath, she assured herself that there had to be something seriously wrong with her for thinking what she was. She closed her eyes, but the change in scenery did little to shift her focus. The suggestion Colin had made, where he’d said he would tie her hands to the bedpost, burned in her mind. Helplessly, she pictured it—her, powerless, Colin’s blue gaze emanating heat against her bare skin as he approached her.

Praying he couldn’t read her demented thoughts, Julia shook her head. She watched with bated breath as he opened one of the dresser drawers.

Colin shuffled through a few items of clothing, pushing whatever he apparently didn’t want out of his way. Taking something from amidst the pile, he revealed a piece of red satin lingerie. It had a lace robe, which wasn’t much larger than a washcloth, and it surrounded an even skimpier bodice. Stalking toward her, he placed it into her hands.

“Is this your idea of a joke?” she demanded.

“Pardon?”

Julia opened the robe, revealing the teddy. It was even smaller than she’d imagined, with its spaghetti straps and torture-inducing underwire. The neckline, ridiculously low cut, was shaped like a
V
, and the bust was about three sizes too small. It had to be the tackiest piece of garbage she’d ever seen, not that she had any intention of putting it on. If this was her only choice, she’d just as well sleep in her clothes.

“If you think I’m going to wear something that was left here by some whore you slept with—” She shut her mouth. She sounded like some jealous ex-girlfriend. If she wasn’t careful, he was going to think she
was
jealous.

“It isn’t what you think,” he said with a coy smile.

“Right.” She rolled her eyes.

“My brother bought that for Lena. The tag’s still on it. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself.”

Julia fumbled through the material. She found the tag, which was located at the back of the neckline.

Apparently Colin was telling the truth. Moreover, the piece cost a small fortune. But that still didn’t mean she was wearing that little number, completely inappropriate for anything outside of pole dancing, in front of him.

“You actually think I’m going to wear this?”

“You’d rather not wear anything?”

“I’d rather not be here, like I told from the start!”

“If you want to ruin your clothing, that’s your choice.”

Which was probably exactly what he wanted, just so he could insult her about how frumpy she looked the next morning.

Julia sighed. What was she going to do? One evil was as bad as the other. Though the thought of sleeping in her clothes all night did sound particularly uncomfortable, especially after the ordeal they’d just been through.

“Does this thing”—she swallowed—“tie in the front?”

He grinned. “I believe it does.”

Not that that made a difference. Come the morning, she would have no dignity left at all. That was if she made it to the morning. She wasn’t entirely convinced the man who’d attacked them didn’t plan on tracking them down and killing them in their sleep.

“Fine, whatever,” she said, snapping off the tag. “Just get me a blanket and pillow so I can make up the couch.”

“The couch”—Colin stared her down—“would feel like a rock to you after ten minutes. You’re not sleeping there. The bed is plenty big enough for two. And this way, I won’t have to worry about you sneaking away from me in the middle of the night. “

A flash of the two of them came into Julia’s mind. God, the thought of Colin’s skin, his warm, wet kisses was almost too much. Imagining his musky male scent, his strong arms wrapped around her, she cleared her throat. “Guess you aren’t too worried about me kneeing you again.” She stormed from the room.

Colin followed her. Entering the living room, he sat on the sofa, draping his arm across its back. “Do you think that you’ll be comfortable here?”

She shrugged. “I’m used to roughing it.”

“Then I believe you’re in for a surprise.”

He came to his feet. Making his way across the room, he approached the patio door. He pulled a cord, moving the curtain it was attached to from his way. It revealed a stone balcony. Beyond it, the sky seemed to go on forever. There were white stars illuminating the atmosphere.

Standing beneath them, Julia said, “I guess the place isn’t horrible.”

“Come outside and look at the view. You can’t possibly appreciate the stars from behind a glass window.”

She followed him as he opened the door. Colin stepped back, allowing her to walk ahead of him onto a very wide terrace. It was long, and it extended several feet from the door. Placing her hands against the railing, she looked up into the night sky.

Staring, she couldn’t help admiring the glittering expanse. Everywhere she looked there were stars, shining against a blank canvas. It seemed to go on forever.