He followed that too logical minilecture with a long stare. Jack was obviously waiting for her to come to the only conclusion that she had right now.
“I’mnotgoing to trust your brother,” she insisted, but left the rest of it unspoken—that she would trust Jack. Again, it was the only choice she had.
He nodded as if they’d just hashed that out with a heated argument. “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.” He paused. “Want me to take a bullet for you to prove it?”
Jack didn’t wink, but he might as well have, because he was obviously trying to lighten things up. Trying to bring her back down and ease some of the still raw adrenaline. It was working, sort of, since it was something he’d said to her in jest when they’d been lovers. A way of letting her know that he cared that much for her.
“No,” she said, drawing out the one-word answer to emphasize it. There was a lot more emotion in her voice than she wanted as she stared at him.
Thinking.
Remembering.
Yes, definitely remembering.
That helped more than his lame attempt at cop humor. His being there helped, too, and despite everything she’d been through—or maybe because of it—Caroline wanted to step right into his arms. Those strong arms with their toned muscles. She wanted to feel the heat, and the comfort that she’d gotten there before. Jack had tugged and pulled at her in a way that no man ever had before.
Or ever would again, she was forced to admit to herself.
Yes, it’d been great sex. The fire between them so hot. The feel of him touching her with those calloused hands. Him, being inside her. She’d felt that, too.
If it’d been just those things,only those, she could have pushed it all away. Could have distracted herself with the dark fear that was eating holes in her. But it had been more—way more—and she had to admit that to herself, too.
With those stormy gray eyes locked on hers, he reached up and touched his finger to the center of her forehead. Just a touch, maybe to her scar, the one that Eric had given her when he hit her. Or maybe Jack was trying to ease the tensed muscles there. And despite everything she’d just admitted to herself, Caroline still hadn’t been prepared for that touch. For the way his warm breath fell on her. For the look of him.
That face. His eyes. His mouth that had fueled enough fantasies to last her a couple of lifetimes.
“Penny for your thoughts,” he drawled. “A dollar for them if you’re thinking about sex.” The corner of his mouth hitched. Because he knew her thoughts, knew everything she was feeling right now.
Since he was feeling the same thing, Caroline laid her hand on his chest. Over his heart, which she could feel beating to the rhythm of hers.
“Sex won’t help,” she said, her voice mostly breath.
His slight smile stayed in place. A smile that only he and Mona Lisa could have pulled off. “That depends on the sex.”
Jack made her laugh before she could stop herself or remember there was absolutely nothing to laugh about. He hooked his arm around the back of her neck in a casual, easy way, and lowering his head to her, took her laugh with his mouth.
Kissing her.
It was like hot silk sliding through her. Oh, it felt wonderful. That incredible taste. Those clever moves, with seemingly no effort. He made no demands, and yet, also seemed to make the biggest demand of all. Within seconds, he had turned the hot silk to blazing flames.
“It’s good to have you back,” he whispered against her mouth.
Is it? she wanted to say. She’d brought nothing but trouble with her. But there wasn’t time for her question because the door opened, and Kellan stepped in.
Jack moved away from her, but he took his time, which meant Kellan had no trouble seeing Jack’s arm around her and their mouths hovering over each other. It didn’t make Kellan a happy camper. He scowled at his brother.
“The medic’s here to check Caroline,” Kellan said, his attention nailed to Jack. “And I just spoke to Kingston on the phone, and he said he’d come in for questioning, toset some things straight. He’s on his way here right now.”
Chapter Five
Jack wanted to curse. Even though he probably should, he didn’t regret kissing Caroline. But now he was going to have to listen to Kellan tell him why a kissing regret should be at the top of his list.
And Kellan would be right.
Caroline didn’t look so much regretful as she did embarrassed. Nervous, too. That was likely because of the distrust she had for not only Kellan but all the other cops in the building.
“I’ll find the medic,” she muttered, moving past both Jack and Kellan to hurry away.
