Page 49 of Chilled
Brenna relaxed and opened her eyes, her gaze filled with Nick in all his naked glory.
Broad, muscular shoulders narrowed to a trim waist, a tight butt and rock-hard thighs. The man was truly blessed. A dark lock of hair fell over his forehead, adding mystery and vulnerability to an already perfect picture.
When Brenna reached out to brush the hair off his forehead, Nick’s arm tightened around her waist, his hand splaying over her back where the scars stretched tight and ugly.
He’d told her she was beautiful. Yet, he hadn’t seen her in the light. Brenna knew his opinion would be different once he did. And she couldn’t bring herself to let that happen.
CHAPTER 12
When the alarmblasted through Nick’s sleep, he rolled to his back and opened his eyes. For a moment, the strange room and furniture disoriented him until he remembered he was in a suite with Special Agent Brenna Jensen, and they’d had the most incredible?—
He sat up straight. The sheets beside him were tangled but empty. Brenna was nowhere to be seen. Tossing the bedclothes aside, he pulled on his boxers and raced through the door. “Brenna?”
Fully dressed, her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, Brenna turned from her seat in front of the laptop. “Yes, Agent Tarver?”
He stopped in mid-stride, his heart slamming against his chest. “You weren’t there. I thought you’d?—”
“Gone?” She smiled, although the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m checking online news articles, trying to see if we missed something.”
“How long have you been up?”
“Does it matter?”
So, this was the way she wanted it? Brenna would pull back into her shell and pretend last night hadn't happened.
Nick knew better. Hell, yeah, he knew better. "Brenna?—"
"I called the station. The autopsy report is complete on Dr. Drummond. I'd like to take a look at what they found as soon as possible." The glance she shot his way was as emotionless as a stump. However, the added color in her cheeks gave her away.
"You can duck the issue this time, but wewilltalk," Nick said.
The red flags in her cheeks faded to white, and her eyes widened. "What do we have to talk about?" She turned back to the computer.
"You are not going to shut me out."
"Last night...” She pressed a hand to her mouth. “Well...we shouldn’t have. It was a mistake."
Nick grabbed her arms and turned her around, chair and all. He placed one hand on each wooden armrest and leaned over her until his nose was within inches of hers. "Not for me."
Brenna stared down at her hands. "I'm sorry if you feel that way."
"Brenna, look at me and tell me to my face that last night didn’t mean anything to you."
Her head remained tilted down, but her hands trembled in her lap.
With the tips of his fingers, he tilted Brenna's chin up. "Tell me."
"I—" Tears welled in her eyes.
A cell phone rang, vibrating the tabletop beside the computer. Brenna grabbed for it, blinking several times before she tapped the screen.
Nick swore under his breath and backed away.
“Agent Jensen,” she said, her voice cracking on the first word. As she listened, she sat up straighter. “Thanks, Sergeant Putnam. We’ll be in right away.” Brenna stood and straightened the hem of her black turtleneck sweater. “They’ve received the autopsy report at the station. I’m going in.”
Nick stared at her, his eyes narrowed. If she wanted to withdraw, so be it. Maybe he needed time to cool down and think about what had happened before he tried to shake a reaction out of her, anyway. “You’re not going without me.”
Her chin tilted upward, an obstinate frown denting her brow. “And why not? It’s daylight. The bogeyman won’t try anything in broad daylight.”
