Page 21 of Nightfire

“You’ll believe it in—" Ellen checked her watch. “About half an hour, forty minutes. Depending on how long it takes you to pack.”

“Not long. I didn’t pack much. I didn’t think I’d stay much more than a couple of nights.”

Silence.

Harry met her eyes again in the mirror. “You’re staying for more than a couple of nights, count on it.”

She would definitely stay more than a night or two, Mike thought. If he had anything to say about it, she’d stay permanently. There was a small apartment a couple of doors down from Harry’s place. He’d have a word with the building manager. Harry’d be good for the rent.

“Here we are,” Ellen said and they swerved into the Del’s huge parking space. The enormous, rambling white circular building rose all around them, red turrets gleaming in the sun. “Chloe, do you want me to come up with you and help you pack?”

“No, thanks,” Chloe said.

“I’ll go up with her.” No way was Mike going to let her carry a suitcase down. “No problem.”

Chloe turned to him, surprised. “That isn’t necessary—" but she was talking to the wind. He was already at the back seat door on her side. He slid it open and watched as she put a very pretty foot out.

Damn, these SUVs were high. Not meant for chicks in skirts, no sir. As he had before, he put his hands on her waist and lifted her down. She was feather-light and soft between his hands. Touching her was pure pleasure. Man, it took effort to open his hands and let her go.

Maybe it was that light, flowery perfume she wore. Messed with his head. Paralyzed his hands.

Mike reached to slide the door behind her closed, catching Harry’s gaze in the rearview mirror.

He and Harry knew each other very, very well. To the point that words weren’t necessary.

That’s my sister, the look said. Take care.

Mike’s own look was eloquent. I know. I will.

The Del was huge and extremely busy in the holiday season. Considering she had left a dark, chilly, snow-bound Boston, Chloe truly understood the attraction of San Diego. It was almost summer-like here, with buttery sunshine and the promise of warmth in the air.

Tourists were everywhere—sun-burned, happy and reckless. It was a family hotel and kids scampered under foot.

Uh oh. A gaggle of businessmen, of the big variety. Happy and relaxed in garish golf clothes, laughing and bantering and paying no attention to anyone else as they moved in a pack, right in her path.

Chloe tensed. She was about half the size of many of the men and experience told her they wouldn’t notice her until one of the men jostled her. Given the size of some of them, like refrigerators, any jostling would hurt.

They were coming toward her like a big, multi-part freight train. Chloe prepared to scramble to get out of their way when she felt Mike at her side move slightly behind her. He had one huge hand on the small of her back, the other gripped her elbow lightly and they breezed through the businessmen without a scratch.

In fact, the group parted like the Red Sea as Chloe and Mike sailed their way through. Mike kept hold of her and they made it to the front desk without incident even though they’d moved through more hordes of happy, oblivious, sun-tanned tourists.

Amazing. He’d steered them unerringly through what to her was a terrible obstacle course. Of course, to someone like him, it wasn’t an obstacle course at all. People naturally noticed him and made way for him, the alpha male.

It was so incredible, that feeling of sailing through people. Even through that pink-hued rubbery wall of businessmen, which for a moment had frightened her and at any other time would have had her scrambling to veer course.

But she hadn’t needed to. Chloe had felt utterly encased in a bubble of protection, the feeling so rare that she cherished it.

In a moment, they were in the vast, cool, wood-paneled atrium lobby of the Del, gorgeous and a little dark after the bright sunshine outdoors. Chloe stood for a moment, blinking as her eyes adjusted.

Mike steered her to the front desk, where Chloe told the elegant man at the front desk she was checking out. Originally, she’d booked for three nights, thinking that even if things went badly with Harry Bolt, she might take a day or two to visit San Diego. Depending.

Never would she have imagined this—her delighted brother waiting for her outside with his equally welcoming wife, and an insanely attractive man standing so closely she could feel his body heat, completely focused on her.

“Yes, ma’am,” the man at the desk said to her request to check out early. His name tag read Ronald. “I hope everything is okay?”

Chloe blushed with happiness. “Everything is fine, Ronald. I’ve just decided to stay with…with my brother for the next few days.”

Oh God, how good those words felt. She was staying with her brother!