“Um, yeah.”She smiled.“Just trying to wake up.You wore me out last night.”
Grinning, he placed a kiss on her lips.“Right back at you.”
A noise behind them had Moriah and KC turning, and the latter rushed over to open the door as Brian carried a full tray out.Noting the coffee, KC raised an eyebrow.“Just two cups?You’re not having any?”
“No, sorry, Bro.I just got paged into the station.You two enjoy breakfast.”He regarded Moriah in a way that made her want to squirm.“It was nice to meet you, Maura.”
She prayed neither of them could hear the hammering of her heart.“It was nice to meet you too.”
“I’m sure I’ll see you soon.”
She nodded and told herself not to read into those words.He was just being friendly, wasn’t he?
Twenty minutes later, her stomach churning, Moriah sat there, picking at the bagel KC had placed in front of her but never bringing a morsel to her mouth.His brother’s visit and fast exit bothered her.She tried to convince herself there was no way he could know about her and her past, but something about their whole interaction left her unsettled.
Devoid of an appetite and needing to think things over, she stood, catching KC off guard.“I’m going back to bed.”
“Mind if I join you?”There was no missing the hopefulness in his question.
“I’m sorry, KC, I’m not feeling well.”At least, it was the truth.“I think I’m coming down with something.Maybe a nap will help me feel better.”
Clearly not happy about it, KC bit his lip and nodded, but she was grateful he didn’t push the issue.“Okay, you go rest.Let me know if you need anything.I’ll check on you later.”
Not wanting him to worry, she leaned down and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.“Thanks.”
On her way to her room—not his—Moriah grabbed her purse from the couch.She shouldn’t have left it out in the open last night, with her real ID in it, but then again, she didn’t even recall how it ended up there after they arrived home.She had been too busy kissing KC.
Closing the bedroom door behind her, she turned the lock, then tossed her purse on the nightstand as she flopped onto the bed.
She couldn’t shake her uneasiness about Brian Malone.How could she have been so stupid?How could she have let her guard down?She had been crazy to think she could settle down here.There was no way she could do anything normal again.To do so could end up with her being killed.
Shit!She had just spent the most incredible night of her life with the most amazing man in the world, only to discover he had a detective for a brother.Now, she would have to leave sooner than expected, and the thought of leaving KC was tearing her apart.It shouldn’t, considering she barely knew him.But it was.She was probably just another conquest in a long line of women he’d slept with.
The thought made her jealous, although she had no right to be, and she chastised herself.Last night was just a one-night stand.He hadn’t professed love for her.They had known each other less than a week—there couldn’t be love there.That only happened in romance novels and fairy tales, didn’t it?
But Moriah knew it was there, deep down in her heart.She had fallen in love with KC the first time he had kissed her on the beach.His touch and scent were forever burned into her memory.She would never forget him.But she couldn’t stay and risk her past catching up with her—it would only place him in danger, and she couldn’t do that to him.Somehow, she would have to pretend nothing was wrong for the rest of the day.She couldn’t have KC suspecting she was planning on running away.It would create too many questions, and she was having a difficult time leaving him as it was.
Standing, she walked into the adjoining bathroom, used the toilet, then washed her hands.Studying her reflection in the mirror, she wished her life was normal again and her family was alive.But that wasn’t going to happen.She couldn’t rely on anyone to keep her safe—she would have to do it by herself.If she told KC what had happened, he might not believe her, or if he did, he could end up being killed when the ugliness she had left in Chicago caught up with her.She was certain one day it would, and she couldn’t put KC at risk.The best thing to do was leave tonight.She could already feel her heart breaking.
Reluctantly, she made up her mind.After KC fell asleep tonight, she would grab her things and the bag of money and disappear.She could walk into town and call a cab to take her back to the Walmart in Elizabeth City.From there, she would catch a bus to God-only-knew-where ...just anywhere but here.Pulling the covers to her waist, she settled into the soft mattress.Now that she had a plan, she needed to get more sleep.The Lord only knew when she would feel safe again.
Maura hadn’t looked at him and had barely uttered a word since his brother left.She’d just sat there, not eating the bagel he’d given her.KC knew she must regret what happened last night.
Fuck.He shouldn’t have pushed her so hard.But he had wanted her badly and assumed they were on the same page when she responded so quickly.Well, he didn’t regret last night one bit.It had been the most fantastic evening he had ever spent with a woman.Whoever had told her she wasn’t good in bed was a fucking ass.She had been like molten lava in his hands, and he had lost track of how many orgasms he’d brought her to.The woman was incredible in bed, and he was growing hard just thinking about it.
After she had gone back to bed, he sat there brooding for a while.Somehow, he had to change her mind and banish any regrets she had because now that he had taken her to his bed, he was dying for it to happen again.He still hadn’t had his fill of her, and he’d be damned if he only had one night with her.
Shaking his head, he headed inside to grab his car keys, cursing himself the entire time.
Two hours later, after an extra-long workout at the local gym a high-school buddy owned and then a subsequent shower, KC pulled into a parking spot in front of the hardware store and turned off the engine.He sat there a moment, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, replaying the night before and this morning repeatedly in his mind.He couldn’t think of a single thing he had done wrong except perhaps push Maura too fast.Maybe he should have just waited a few more days.However, at the time, he’d wanted her so painfully that he couldn’t wait any longer.
Fuck, I’m a jackass.
Banging his hand on the steering wheel in frustration for the fifth time since he had left the cottage, he climbed out of the car and headed into the shop.His mind elsewhere, he wasn’t paying attention when he tripped over Jinx lying in the doorway and ended up sprawled on the floor in front of the counter.The lazy-ass dog picked his head up, gave him a “whatever” look, and promptly went back to sleep.
“Useless, fucking dog,” KC mumbled while getting to his feet and brushing himself off.
Dan, who had observed the entire incident from his seat behind the counter, was laughing hysterically.“Don’t be mad at him because you can’t watch where you’re going.What’s got you in such a sour mood?I thought you’d be walking on cloud nine today.”
