“But you said earlier it was important to talk to me.” She ground her teeth together. It couldn’t hurt to tell her what he’d found out. Hell, it might even help him. No one knew Pete and Becca like she did.
“I needed to talk to you about what happened tonight, and you gave me some interesting insight. Beyond that, the only thing we can discuss is any information about Pete that you think might be helpful in finding him.”
“I don’t know what else?—”
Bang!
Mickey jumped and threw herself at Graham. His strong arms circled around her back and pressed her tightly against his hard body. His lips pressed against her ear. “Shh…you’re fine. It was a car backfiring.”
She closed her eyes and pressed her forehead against his chest. The unsteady rhythm of her heart had as much to do with being so close to him as it did the damn car that scared her to death. Small hairs tickled her skin and she took a deep breath, inhaling an intoxicating blend of spiced cloves and coffee. She lifted her chin and found Graham’s eyes, dark with desire, shining down on her.
Her hair fell across her face, and his knuckles brushed it back, before his hand traveled to the back of her neck. His fingers slid through her matted hair and rested at the back of her head. His other hand pressed against the small of her back, molding her into him. Tingling sensations danced in her belly and her nipples grew hard as they rested against his skin. She bit into her bottom lip. Maybe she should stop this before it started, but the comfort he offered was tempting as hell.
Graham made the decision for her. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. A soft moan purred from her throat and she melted into him. She parted her lips and his tongue invaded her mouth. His tongue slid steadily over hers and the taste of him filled her senses. Her arms circled around his neck and Graham’s hands dropped to her ass. His palms settled on her bare cheeks exposed by her thong, branding her skin. Her eyes flew open.
She pulled back and pushed against his chest. What the hell was she doing? Agent Graham Grassi was the last man she should be kissing right now. Hell, she could barely tolerate the man. She struggled to get enough air in her lungs and calm the desire crashing over her.
Graham’s hands covered hers as they lingered on his chest. “What’s wrong?” His breath came out as ragged as hers.
She shook her head and kept her gaze locked on the floor. If she stared up at his sculpted jaw or broad shoulders, she wouldn’t stand a chance. “I know what you think of me,” she whispered.
Graham dropped his hands to his sides and took a step away from her. The distance was small, but it spoke volumes. She glanced up, and he rubbed a hand across his face. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you.”
“I shouldn’t have thrown myself at you because a car backfired,” she said with a smile, trying to ease the awkwardness.
He chuckled. “I don’t blame you for being jumpy. We both need some sleep.”
She nodded and turned toward her room. This day had gone from bad to worse to monumentally embarrassing. She wanted it to be over.
“And Mickey?”
She spun back toward him and her mouth went dry. She cleared her throat. “Yes?”
His lips hitched up on the corner. “Don’t let those backfiring cars scare you tonight. She had a key, remember? No need to make a bunch of noise to break back in.”
She rolled her eyes and fought to suppress a laugh. “That doesn’t make me feel better, G.I. Joe.” Turning back around, she walked toward her door. Realization struck her like lightning and she whipped around to face him. “Graham, did you guys go to Pete’s apartment today?”
“Shit,” Graham said. “No. We haven’t been able to find where he lives. Do you know where he lives?”
A grin spread across her mouth. “Even better. I’ve a copy of his key.”
8
“You’re not coming with me.” Graham fixed his most intimidating stare on Mickey, which was hard as hell to do when she stood in front of him with her explosion of red hair raining down her shoulders and hands fisted on her hips.
“I don’t seehow you have a choice. I have the key and I know where the apartment is.”
Dammit, she was right. He’d called the owner of the apartment complex Pete lived in to get his permission to enter the premises, but no one had answered. Not that he was surprised. It was close to four in the morning. No sane person would answer their phone right now unless they worked in law enforcement or had children to worry about.
“Just give me the key and let me call in backup. I’ll make a call to secure a warrant and pray like hell it comes in quickly.”
They’d run Pete’s name all day yesterday and hadn’t found anything listed under his name, or any combination of names associated with him. Besides the house in Mexico, they had dick to go on. Mickey’s involvement in all of this was still prettysketchy, but if she was willing to lead him to Pete’s apartment, he had to jump on the opportunity.
“I’m the one he gave a key to. If he didn’t want me inside, he should have taken it back. There’s nothing from stopping me, an angry ex-girlfriend, from snooping around his place.”
“And contaminatingevidence we might find to catch him?” Lord, the woman was infuriating. She didn’t understand how she could ruin everything by being such a stubborn pain in his ass.
Or maybe she did understand.
