Page 33 of K-9 Prime Target

“But if the resort calls the sheriff with a complaint, they can put two and two together,” he said. He began typing. “More importantly, you and I have someone to watch for now. If I see this guy, I’m going to make sure he knows if he doesn’t stay away from you he’s going back to prison.”

“For what?” she asked.

“For violating his parole.”

“Right.” She shook her head. “I don’t understand why no one told me that before. You were the first person to mention it.”

“I’m sorry you didn’t know sooner,” he said. “But tomorrow morning, I’m giving these photos to Doug to give to resort security. And I’m going to ask them to keep an eye on Derek, too, just in case.”

“I still don’t think Derek has anything to do with this. I see him on the slopes all the time. But that other guy—just seeing those photos gave me a bad feeling.”

“We know what to look for now. We can report him to security before he does anything else.”

“That does make me feel a little better.”

“Do you want to get some dinner?” he asked.

“I don’t want to move from this chair.” She yawned. “I should really go home.” Her stomach growled.

“Let’s order room service,” Liam said.

“That sounds perfect.”

They ordered burgers with perfectly crisp fries and ate with relish, and fed tidbits to the dogs, who sat beside their chairs, faces turned up, focused on their every move. When they were finished, Nina wiped at her mouth and licked her fingers. “That was the most delicious thing I’ve eaten in weeks. Maybe months.”

Liam was mesmerized, watching her tongue dart out to lick the tips of her fingers. Their eyes locked, and the sudden flare of heat cut through him. Suddenly, she leaned forward and kissed him, full on the lips. A kiss that tasted of salt and pickles and a remembered sweetness.

He put his hands at her waist, and she stood and moved to his lap, sitting sideways, her hands cradling the back of his neck, fingers threaded in his hair. He kept one hand at her waist and brought the other up to caress her breast. She leaned into him and let out a breathy moan.

“Nina,” he said, and slipped his fingers beneath her fleece top, brushing the soft bare skin of her stomach.

“You are the most distracting man, Liam Davies,” she said, and trailed her tongue down the side of his neck, sending shockwaves of desire through him.

“Do you know how much I want to make love to you?” he asked, and pressed his mouth to the base of her throat as she arched against him.

“At least as much as I want you.” She pulled back enough to meet his gaze once more. He read the desire there, but sadness, too. “This isn’t a promise for the future,” she said. “I just want to be with you tonight.”

“That’s all I want,” he said. He really wanted so much more, but he wasn’t one to press his advantage.

“Just give me a minute,” she said, and stood and went into the bathroom.

* * *

Nina stared at her reflection in the mirror, eyes flushed, pupils dark, lips swollen. Then she grabbed the tube of toothpaste, used her fingers as a brush and ran it over her teeth. She stripped off her shirt and washed off as much sweat as she could, then stripped off her bra as well and left it draped over the shower rod. She put the shirt back on, fluffed her hair and called it good.

Liam had returned their dinner tray to the hallway and given chew sticks to the dogs, who shared the bed in the corner, both focused on their treats. He had shut off his laptop and turned down the lights, so that only the dimmed lamps on either side of the bed illuminated the room. She moved into his arms, and he kissed her with the skill and passion she remembered, gentle and firm, teasing sensation from her lips. She didn’t resist when he urged her to the bed, and when he reached for the hem of her shirt, she pulled it off over her head.

He let out a breath of surprise when he saw that she was naked from the waist up, then grinned. “I can’t let you get ahead of me,” he said, and removed his own shirt.

This was the man she remembered—lean and lithe. Dark hair was lightly dusted across the pale skin of his chest and arms. When they were both naked and she lay facing him, it felt both familiar and novel. He skimmed his hand across her shoulders, then brushed the faint scar at the top of her breast. She opened her mouth to say that this was from the knife Nicholson had wielded, when he bent and kissed the faint white line and she could no longer speak past the lump in her throat.

Then he moved down her body, kissing as he went, lavishing attention on each place he touched, like a benediction. When he reached her stomach, she arched to him and felt his lips curve into a smile. He levered himself up beside her once more, and she hooked her leg over his thigh and urged him closer, his erection brushing at her entrance, a thrilling tease.

He cupped her buttock and squeezed. “I’ve missed you,” he said. “Being with you this way.”

“Mmm.” She kissed him, and he worked his fingers underneath her buttocks and slid them inside her, surprising a moan from her.

He kissed her cheek. “Do you like that?”