Part 5 (1/2)

Fighting to regain some of her anger, Tally dragged her attention away from the puppy and back to Nick. aWell?a she demanded.

He stood up and faced her. aIam a shape s.h.i.+fter,a he said again.

aYou know how crazy that sounds right?a aYeah but itas the truth.a He sat down on the arm of the couch. aMy whole family can do it. It started back in the mid-1600s and itas just pa.s.sed to every generation.a aA whole family of shape s.h.i.+fters,a she said, not even trying to keep the disbelief out of her voice.

aExactly. So on Friday night I turned into Richarda”or at least made myself look like hima”and took you out to dinner, brought you here and made love to you.a He stood up and walked toward her. Even though he was patently insane, she didnat feel the urge to back away. aYou admitted it yourselfa”that he hadnat acted like himself that night.a aItas not possible.a aAnythingas possible.a He took a deep breath and his body changed. It shrunk and grew furry. Tallyas throat closed up as she watched him. His clothes fell into a pile as the form beneath it collapsed. One moment he was standing in front of her. The nexta”he was a puppy. She shook her head, trying to erase the picture in front of her. It wasnat possible. It wasnat. But there it was. She pinched herself to make sure she wasnat dreaming. The dream. Shead seen this in her dream, the one that had felt like reality.

Nick sat on his haunches and looked up at her. His tail fluttered with little doggie excitement.

Oh my G.o.d. Heas a shape s.h.i.+fter.

The other puppy bounded around the end of her couch and pounced on the dog in front of her as if thrilled to find a friend his size. The two puppies rolled around together until Tally couldnat tell which was which. They were exact copies of each other. Moving in slow motion, she sank down until she sat on the floor and reached toward the dogs. One of the puppies detached itself from the other and ran to her, immediately licking her hand and trying to crawl onto her.

Oh yeah, this one was Nick. She picked him up and inspected him, holding him close. Deep blue eyes stared back at her. His pink tongue flicked out and lapped her nose.

aStop that.a He did it again. She laughed. aYou are going to be a handful.a As she spoke the dog began to wriggle like he wanted down. She put him on the ground and he began to change, rising and growing until a very naked Nick crouched before her. He lifted his head and smiled arrogantly at her.

aSomewhat more than a handful, I think,a he said.

She started to responda”to ask how it was donea”but he was there, his mouth on hers, his lips moving against hers as if he was hungry for her taste. Despite the amazing revelation shead just witnessed, he was still Nick, the man who occupied her dreams. The man whoad made love to her three nights ago.

Her confusion at how Richard could have become her dream lover disappeared as she tasted Nick. This was right. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, opening her mouth beneath his. His tongue took immediate advantage, sliding gently between her lips. The warm masculine flavor combined with a touch of coffee made her sigh and draw closer.

Heat rose from his body as he curled his arms around her, pulling her closer even as he guided them both to the floor. His hands were slow, almost hesitant, as if he was giving her s.p.a.ce to pull away. One concern niggled the edge of her consciousness. Nick had known where she liveda”head known about Richard, head known enough to turn into Richard.

Tally sat up, forcing inches between their bodies.

aWhy?a aWhat?a aWhy did you turn into Richard in the first place?a He sat up as well, resting his wrists on his bent knees. He looked at her for a long time before he nodded. aMy two brothers, my sister and I run a private investigations firma”Conner Investigations. Edward Branch hired us to find evidence that you were embezzling.a aWhat!?a aHe hired me about three weeks ago to prove you were embezzling.a Energy zapped her body, re-igniting the anger from before. She rolled over and got to her feet, walking away, needing to expend some of the violence surging through her body. Edward thought she was stealing? Head hired Nick to prove it. And thatas why Nick had slept with her.

aYou b.a.s.t.a.r.d.a He didnat deny the t.i.tle.

aDid you turn into Richard hoping to search my house? Wait. You did search my house. Thatas what the phone call was. Thatas why you dialed into the Internet.a aI was searching for proof.a A stab of pure betrayal pierced her heart and forced tears into her eyes. aDid you have to f.u.c.k me? You couldnat have found some other way?a She wrapped her arms around her waist, feeling vulnerable. Head been her dream lover and shead been part of his job. She gulped down air trying to keep the tears in control.

aI didnat mean for that to happen.a She flipped her hair out of the way and glared at him. Head gotten to his feet and standing within punching distance. aThen why did it?a He hesitated but there was something in his eyes that told her he wasnat pausing to come up with a good lie. He looked at her with that turbulent blue gaze. aI was just supposed to keep you busy so Devon could search your office but then I kissed you andaa He shook his head. aI couldnat help myself,a he confessed. aI knew it was wrong but you were there and you so s.e.xy and s.e.xual and all I could think isa”aI might never have another chance to have her.aa He pressed his lips together. aI am sorry. Iave never done anything like that beforea”making love to a woman in anotheras form. Devonas been kicking my a.s.s about it for the past two days.a Nick probably didnat realize the way his honest regret eased her soul.

aThen I kept thinking about what an a.s.shole Richard is and I guess I wanted to show you that you could have better.a aAnd that would be you?a she asked, unable to keep her smile in check.

A weaker man would have blushed but Nick just shruggeda”and his eyes flashed at her with l.u.s.t and confidence.

aYou did say that night wasa”what was the word you used? Oh, yes, amazing.a She shook her head. aIam not sure that kind of arrogance is going to get you back in my bed,a she warned but even she could hear the laughter in her voice. He raised his eyebrows and Tally felt her stomach sink. He might not want back in her bed. Innate insecurity bubbled to the surface. Tally opened her mouth to explain, draw back the offer, change the subject, anything.

Nick held out his hand open palm. aMeeting you started out as a job but from the beginning I looked at you as more than a target. You fascinated me by the way you walked and talked. And nothing Iave learned since has changed that first impression. Iam more intrigued than ever. I want to know you and I want you to know me.a Tally had to fight not to melt into a warm puddle of feminine goo. Once again head said the right thing. She looked into his eyes. The liquid depths were stormy and a hint of his own insecurity flashed at her through the warm blue haze. His pupils were mere pinp.r.i.c.ks and the tops of his cheeks were painted with the merest shade of red. These werenat reactions he could control.

She looked away, needing to retreat from the power of his stare. She was confused and hurt. She wanted him, liked him, was probably halfway to being in love with him, but stilla”she glanced down. His c.o.c.k was thick and hard. Another reaction he couldnat seem to control. Her p.u.s.s.y warmed in reflected response.

Chapter Eight.

The need to forget, to be taken away from everything that had happened and been revealed in the last few hours, overwhelmed her. She moved toward him, craving that moment away from reality.

aNicka”a He was there, strong and solid, knowing what she needed. Their lips meta”and bells rang. Tally jerked back, staring at him for a moment before her mind connected the sound with her doorbell.

aExpecting visitors?a he asked.

aNo.a aIall get it.a He moved toward the door. Tally grabbed his arm.

aYouare naked. Iall get it.a She pa.s.sed him, hearing the m.u.f.fled masculine protests as he dragged on his clothes. She peeked out the front window and saw Devon.

aItas your brother.a Nick arrived s.h.i.+rtless and adjusting the top of his pants as she opened the door and let Devon in. Another younger man and a woman who looked vaguely familiar followed him. Tally stepped back to let them in.

aYouare the delivery lady,a she accused.

aHi, Iam Caitlin, Nickas sister. And this is Jameson our younger brother.a Caitlin looked at Nick and widened her eyes. aOooh, did we interrupt something?a aYes,a Nick answered.

Caitlin laughed. aGood.a Nick ignored her. aWhy are you here?a he asked, stepping close to Tally, silently announcing his claim to the other males in the room. He knew it was a primitive reaction but didnat care. He wanted his brothers to know that Tally belonged to him. At least he thought she did. Or she eventually would. Shead handled everything that had been thrown at her todaya”even seemed willing to forgive hima”so he had to believe there was hope.

aI think we need to move on this today,a Devon said. Devon had good instincts.

Nick led them all into the living room, sat down on the couch and pulled Tally down beside him. The puppy bounded around the corner and ran to the nearest human, sniffing and inspecting each one in turn until Jameson finally picked him up and held him on his lap.

aWhat did you find?a Nick asked.

aAccording to the police, the guard was killed about one a.m. Sat.u.r.day,a Devon said. aHe checked in at twelve-twelve and said he was starting his rounds through Tallyas building. Starts at the top and works his way down. He didnat check out when he was done. Not unusual. A lot of the guards forget to sign out. The body was in her office on the floor.a Nick saw Tallyas cheeks turn white and he squeezed her fingers. She flashed him a weak smile but stayed firm.

aThe weekend guards just walk the halls occasionally so they didnat see the body until the cleaning crew came in at midnight last night.a aWhile Devon was talking to the police, I went to Tallyas building and had a look at her computer,a Caitlin said.

Tally sat forward. aButa”howa”they just let you look at my computer?a Caitlin smiled. aThey didnat know it was me looking. Anyway, it seems that on Friday night-Sat.u.r.day morning, someone loaded some interesting doc.u.ments on Tallyas computer. Iad say someone was trying to set her up for embezzling.a aThatas why they wanted to know when I was going to check out her computer,a Nick said.

aI donat understand.a aWhen Branch hired me, he wanted to know when I was going to look at your work computer. He said it was to allow me access to the building but it was really so he could put the incriminating information on your computer.a It all made sense in a stupid-criminal sort of way. aIf head put it on weeks ago, you might have noticed.a aObviously, whoever did it doesnat know that a computer tracks when a doc.u.ment is created,a Caitlin added.

aIam sure they didnat care,a Nick said, thinking back to his meeting with Branch and Jessup. Head known something was hinky but hadnat listened to his instincts. aThey probably just wanted to leave a big enough trail to get rid of her. Enough to threaten her with so shead quit.a Tally spun on her seat to face him. aWhy would they want to get rid of me?a She squinted her eyes and he watched that fascinating mind process the information. aThe Georgia plant. I knew something was wrong. Theyare inflating profits to make the selling price higher.a aThat would do it,a Nick agreed.

aMartin tried to take me off the audit team shortly after we started it. He gave me a promotion and then said Iad be too busy. I hate leaving in the middle of a project, so I told him Iad make the time.a aWhen they couldnat get rid of you that way, they must have decided to get you fired or make you quit.a Nick scanned the faces of his brothers and sister. They were all ready to go. aDevonas right. We should probably move on this before Branch and Jessup know Tallyas been cleared.a Tallyas shoulders slumped a bit.

aWhatas wrong?a aDo you really think they are after me?a She looked up him with liquid eyes. It was just another blow in an already overwhelming day.

aI think they are trying to protect themselves and youare in their way.a The plan head been formulating in his mind changed as he saw the hurt and fury battle for control of her body. She needed to be a part of it. He took her hand and squeezed her fingers in a gentle show of support. aDonat worry. You and I are going to take them down.a aWhat have you got in mind?a Devon asked.

aJessup is the weaker of the two, right?a Tally nodded. aHe does whatever Edward tells him to, but I canat believe head kill someone if thatas what youare thinking. Or that Edward would order it.a aWell, letas find out what he would do.a aHow?a Nick smiled, finally able to offer her something that might fix the situation.

aDid you acquire Branch?a Devon asked before Nick could respond.

aNaturally. I think it might be an appropriate time for the police to question Branch. Devon, youall handle that?a Devon nodded. He stood and Nick followed suit. aCaitlin, weall need a wire.a aItas in the car.a aI just need some clothes anda”a aEveryone stop,a Tally commanded, standing and holding up her hands. She turned until she faced Nick head on. He had to work to hide his smile. She was tired and confused and probably more than a little frightened but she wasnat backing down. He liked that kind of strength in a woman. aWhat is aacquiringa and how can Devon make the police do anything?a Tally said.

Devon started toward the door. aWhile you explain it all to her, weall get moving and meet you outside the building in thirty minutes. Iall have clothes.a Nick waited until the front door shut behind his siblings and then explained.

aAcquiring is when I collect the shape of a thing or person. I have to touch something to turn into it.a aSo when you met Edward, you aacquireda him?a aI thought it might come in handy and it has.a He grabbed his s.h.i.+rt and pulled it on, pleased to see a flash of regret on Tallyas face when he closed it. Good. Since he truly enjoyed her body, he hoped she felt the same way about his. aLetas get going and Iall explain what I have in mind.a * * * * *