Part 15 (1/2)

Her options were zip now. She turned and leaned against the door in defeat. A closer look around the room revealed only a small window, no bigger than a shoe box. That should have been the first thing she noticed and tipped her off immediately. This was the prisoner's quarters. You can enter, but never leave.

She grumbled on the way to the bathroom. Big shower, double sink. No window. The grumble turned to a mumble that included the many ways she thought to get even with him.

A warm shower sounded good so she turned it on and got undressed. Clothes. She had no clothes aside from the awful blue dress she refused to put back on her body. She'd wear a towel before she put that clingy thing back on.

As she stood under a steady stream of hot water, she took a deep breath and let her mind float back to the feelings she'd been trying her d.a.m.ndest to keep at bay. Feelings that unsettled her because they were deeper than anything she'd felt before. Even with Jason. Despite being a half s.h.i.+fter, Hugh was more man than she'd ever dreamed possible.

And she wanted him.

Never had she opened up to someone like she'd done with him tonight. Heck, for five years, Kensie and Francesca had no idea she'd been searching for someone named Dobson. They had no inkling she'd promised Jason she'd find his killer. That she couldn't give up her search until she got revenge. And hopefully some answers.

Tess had been fairly certain she didn't need anyone else in her life. The rush she got from work and extreme sports satisfied her. Kept her busy and in touch with all sorts of people. Out on ledges and edges and in crazy-a.s.s settings, she didn't have time to think about anything or anyone else for very long.

Tonight she thought she might've died if Hugh had. She couldn't explain why, but she agreed with his a.s.sessment that it wasn't a coincidence that brought them together. Fate had dealt her an awful hand with her parents and Jason, and now she'd been thrust into a partners.h.i.+p with a man that turned her inside out. The irony of his being her mark wasn't lost on her and her past misfortunes. But maybe she wasn't supposed to kill him? Maybe she was destined to fail a third time.

The way he'd looked at her tonight, the way he'd touched her wrists with care and compa.s.sion, the way he'd whipped up a meal for her, a.s.sured her his intentions were pure. He'd meant what he said about helping her. And not just with Dobson.

She'd never before thought about turning her back on P.I.E. The organization had given so much to her, she couldn't imagine leaving under any circ.u.mstances. A death threat and Hugh suddenly changed that. Her imagination ran wild.

Stop thinking, Tess. She turned off the water and wrapped up in a soft oversized towel. Exhaustion hit her hard, every inch of her body bone tired. She padded out of the bathroom and headed straight for the bed. She pulled back the comforter, unwrapped the towel, and used it to dry her hair a bit. Then she climbed underneath the sheets, lifted the coverings up to her chin and vowed to get a call in to Kensie or Francesca in the morning. Her purse and some new clothes were also on the list.

Her eyelids fluttered shut less than a minute later, and she allowed herself to be content in the comfort of the downy soft bed. If nothing else, she felt safe. Safe to sleep soundly. Safe to dream happy dreams.

That would not include Hugh, she mused to herself.

Who was she kidding? He'd be starring front and center.

She woke to a click, but didn't move or stir or budge. The bed was sooo comfy and cozy and maybe if she stayed still, whatever had caused the click would go away.

”Tess,” said an endearing masculine voice. ”It's time to wake up.”

Her eyes opened wide at the sound of the deep, rugged announcement. ”Go away. I'm not talking to you.”

”I've got a couple things for you,” he answered, ignoring her no-talking policy.

Darkness still filled the room and she wondered what time it was. It felt like she'd had a solid eight hours sleep so it couldn't be too early. In fact, she felt more rested than she had in a long time. She stayed motionless and quiet.

”I'm coming in.” The downlight above her head turned on.

She didn't care. His actions didn't mean she had to act.

Wait. He's coming in? She sat up, bringing the covers with her. She told herself he didn't have x-ray vision, but that didn't stop the tingles popping up all over her body. She was naked, and Hugh was coming into the room.

He wore jeans that sat low on his hips and a plain white T-s.h.i.+rt that clung to his lethally s.e.xy chest muscles. His hair was mussed, like he'd showered and then ran his fingers through it. His face was clean-shaven. His blue eyes deeper than the waters she'd scuba dived in Australia. G.o.d, did he have to look so irresistible this morning?

”Good morning.”

She stayed quiet. Because she was mad about being locked in the room or because he took her breath away, she wasn't sure.

”This no talking thing could work to my advantage.” He stepped closer.

To her nakedness. Did he know she wasn't wearing anything underneath the sheets? And oh geez, what did her hair look like? Going to sleep with it wet surely meant she had a rat's nest thing going on.

When he got to the edge of the bed, she watched him venture a peek toward the bathroom. Her eyes followed his and there in plain view were the blue dress and black lace undergarments on the floor.

She pulled the sheets tighter against her. ”What time is it?” Talking might get her mind off her birthday suit.

”She speaks.” His eyes held hers with the same mixture of heat and desire she'd noticed last night. ”It's eleven.”

”Eleven? Holy s.h.i.+t. I never sleep this late.” And note to self: Don't look into his eyes anymore.

He smiled. ”Guess you needed it.”

”More like the lack of window s.p.a.ce kept the room dark. You've got some nerve, you know that?” She ran a hand through her hair to feel what it looked like. Not too bad.

”Do you blame me?”

Admitting she didn't would not work in keeping him at bay, so she lied. ”Yes. I do.” She frowned for further effect.

He dropped something on the bed. ”Well, maybe this will make up for it. Clean clothes. And your phone.”

Relief and forgiveness overcame her. Wait. Her phone? ”You went through my purse?” It would've been a lot better if he'd plopped her bag on the bed, but he was only acting the same way she would have.

”Again, I don't think you're surprised. You've got some major a.r.s.enal in there. It could've come in handy with the Banoth. And your driver's license picture doesn't do you justice.”

He looked less and less s.e.xy by the minute. ”You looked through my wallet? Who the h.e.l.l do you think-”

”I think I needed to confirm you are who you say you are. Tess Elizabeth Damon.” A grin that would have made her fling the sheets to the side and shout ”take me” had she not been so p.i.s.sed at him for snooping flanked his handsome-no, not handsome!-face.

”I'm a P.I.E. eliminator. What makes you think that license is real? I could be Tess one day and Betty the next.” Tess Damon was her real name, but if anyone looked her up, they'd learn only what P.I.E. wanted them to.

Hugh continued to grin. ”You don't look like a Betty.”

”Screw you.”

”I thought we'd been over that, but I'm willing to revisit it if you-”

”I want you the h.e.l.l out of this room and away from me.” Her blood boiled. Hugh Langston was G.o.dd.a.m.n annoying.

He took two steps back. ”My pleasure. I'll get a lot more done without-”

”Wait!” She hated the tone of desperation in her voice. ”Toss me my phone, would you?”

She caught it and checked for any sort of bugging device. It was clean. ”Thanks. I'm going to call my roommates to let them know I'm okay. Otherwise, there could be trouble. I'm also going to tell them I've started my next a.s.signment so I won't be around.”

”They know you're Apple Pie?”