Untangle My Heart (Tangled Hearts) (23 page)

“I need to call the police,” Kate replied.

“I’ve taken care of that. Answer my question.”

Kate could see the fury in his eyes and wondered if it would have been easier to face whoever Sal hired to trash her place than deal with her lover.

“I came back from shopping and saw my door partially open and the inside wrecked,” Kate explained.

“So you decided that rather than calling the authorities you’d play investigator?”

She tried, without success, to shake herself free from his grasp. “Damned straight. I grabbed my pepper spray and came in.”

“What if someone was still in here? Did you think about that?”

She had, if only briefly.

“I’m not helpless, Edward. I can take care of myself.”

“Really? What if the sick bastard had a gun? Then what, Kate?”

She started to fire back a retort, but stopped. “Okay, fine. I didn’t think. I shouldn’t have come in. But, Edward, did you see what he did?”

“Yes, and it makes me sick. You could have been hurt, you stubborn woman.”

“I know. I know. I’m sorry.”

She expected him to chastise her more. Instead, she found herself pulled against his chest and didn’t know which, but one or both of them trembled. The realization of what had been done to her home—and possibly could have been done to her—hit her. Tired of being strong, she let out a cry and hugged him fiercely.

He pulled back and swept the back of his hand along her cheek. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Physically, yes. But you saw my bedroom. I’m mad as hell.”

“Ms. DiFrancesco,” a voice called from behind them, causing them both to jump.

Two uniformed officers emerged, guns drawn.

“We were hoping not to see you so soon,” the older one said.

“That makes two of us, Officer McCabe,” Kate replied, remembering him from the day she received the dead flowers.

“The apartment is empty,” McCabe said. “Was anyone here when you entered?”

“No. And I didn’t touch anything,” Kate replied.

“My partner, Officer Murphy, is calling a team in. Why don’t you and your boyfriend wait in the hall, miss.”

Edward put his arm around her shoulder and led her into the bedroom. She paused at the bed, glancing down again at the pictures.

“He’s been following you, and I take it he’s pretty pissed now that we’re together.” He pointed to the picture of the two of them kissing outside the apartment. An X had been drawn through the picture.

“I need to call my brother,” Kate said.

She dialed his number when they reached the hall.

“Hey, Nick.”

“Hey yourself, runt. What’s up?” Nick replied.

She braced herself for her brother’s reaction. “Sal broke in and trashed my apartment.”

“What! Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. The police are here now.”

“What the fuck is going on? Did the cops find anything?” Nick said.

“Not yet. They’re waiting for a team to come out to dust for prints and stuff. My place is a mess. Sal was very pissed.”

“You don’t know that it was Sal,” Nick said, but Kate could tell by the way he hesitated before answering he didn’t believe that for a minute. She thought back to the dead roses on the bed.

“There may not be proof but we both know who’s responsible.”

She heard him sigh and could picture him pacing. Nick thought best while in motion.

“My shift is almost over. I’m going to touch base with Sal’s parole officer and then I’m going to head out to see you. Is Edward with you?”

“Yes, he’s here.” She reached out her hand and clasped Edward’s clammy one. “And from the look on his face, you don’t need to worry about me being left alone.”

****

The police dusted Kate’s place for prints and took the bedding to search it for fibers, but she didn’t think they would find anything. Sal wasn’t some amateur criminal; he knew how to get away with a crime.

It was almost midnight before they were settled in Edward’s apartment. Nick did a sweep of Edward’s place before her brother would allow either of them to enter.

After a long shower, she slipped into a black nightgown she’d bought that day, a good thing considering all her lingerie had been pawed through or ruined. She didn’t think she’d be able to wear any of it again.

Edward walked into the room as she finished brushing her hair. His eyes swept down her body, clearly appreciative of the way the sheer material hugged her breasts and stopped just south of decent.

“Are the cops still over with Nick at my place?” she asked.

“They just left. I offered up my couch for him to sleep tonight, but he insisted on staying at your flat.”

“So, we’re all alone, then?” She smiled and curled a finger to draw him near.

“Completely alone.”

He moved in front of her and ran a lazy hand down her sides, pausing to graze the points of her nipples that protruded under the fabric. He leaned down and brushed a light kiss over her lips, tempting but not yet claiming. The tension of the day faded as she melted into him.

He pulled away. “I’m going to take a quick shower. Why don’t you warm up the bed?” With a wink and a whisper of a kiss, he went into the bathroom.

Aroused and now frustrated, she groaned and pulled down the covers to the bed. The style of the room suited him with its dark furniture and tan comforter. There weren’t many photos of people, but there were several pictures of places she assumed he’d visited arranged on the walls.

She turned when the bedroom door opened a little while later. The towel from his shower hung sexily low over his hips. Her gaze caught his and held as he made his way across the room toward the bed.

Kneeling on the mattress in front of him, she ran her hands up his chest. She felt him tremble when she ran her fingertips along a nipple, making it peak.

There were things she wanted to say to him but now wasn’t the time. Not when heated desire filled his eyes, triggering the dampness between her thighs to increase. She couldn’t get enough of him and needed to be burrowed in his warmth and strength.

Her hands found their way to his towel and pushed it to the ground. Her gaze slid down his body, appreciating every supple line. Fully aroused, he moved closer until the tip of his penis teased the front of her panties.

“This looks fantastic on you.” He ran his hands along the edge of the nightie. “It’ll look even better on the floor.”

“Oh no,” she said when he attempted to slide her panties down. “Not yet.”

He gave her an amused look and she pulled him onto the bed and his back. She straddled him and ran slow, torturous kisses up his torso. Rather than kiss his mouth, she ventured south again, running her lips along his length but never fully taking him in her mouth. She teased and taunted until she felt the tension in him mount. She ran her tongue along the length of him and took him in deep. His body, still warm from the shower, tasted like the clean-scented soap he used.

He thrust his hips up. “You drive me crazy when you do that,” he said, his voice husky and breathless.

She pulled away and gazed at him. “I’m glad.” Again, she went down long and deep, smiling when a desperate moan escaped his lips. “Not yet, my sweet.” She swept the scrap of silk over her head.

The intensity of his blue-gray eyes deepened along with his control, and she found herself flipped onto her back. He crushed her body and mouth to him. Like a man who’d fasted for a month, he feasted on her body. No part went untouched by his mouth or hands.

She barely had time to recover from the first orgasm before she found herself gasping at the next, this one brought on by his mouth. A wildfire spread through her and she rolled on top of him, equally untamed as he. She eased herself over him until he was buried deep inside her. Their breathing raspy, she rode him hard and when she began to come, he sat up, leaned his forehead against hers, and moaned against her mouth, hurtling over the edge with her.

Exhausted and sated, she curled into his arms, enjoying the security she felt there. “Thanks for not saying I told you so.”

“About what?”

“About being right that it’s not safe for me at my apartment. I guess now I’m forced to stay with you.”

He cupped her butt and pulled her closer. “Like you wouldn’t be regardless of what happened today?”

“It’s one thing to be together because it’s what we both want as opposed to being forced out of my own home. It bothers me that he was there, going through my stuff.”

He stiffened. “It bothers me knowing that as well and that he’s been following you, taking pictures.”

“When I think of the people he’s seen me with…” She paused, thinking of not only Edward, but of Lucas and her family. She fought back a shudder. “You all could be in danger because of me.”

He turned so they faced each other. “Because of him, not you.” He traced a hand along her face. “I was terrified when I saw the state of your apartment. I thought he’d gotten to you, hurt you…”

His eyes slid away, but not before she saw the depth of caring on his face. She could feel him trying to control his emotions. If she didn’t know better, she’d think it was love that she saw in his eyes. The thought warmed yet scared her. She refused to allow her mind to go there now.

She lifted his face until their eyes met. “He didn’t get to me and I’m fine. He wants to scare me.”

“This isn’t a game to him. What happens when scaring you isn’t enough? What’s he capable of doing then?”

Kate didn’t know and wouldn’t have dared voice the thoughts that sprang into her mind. She hoped and prayed Nick and the police would be able to learn something that would put Sal away forever. She would not allow the sick bastard to get to her or her family and would do everything in her power to keep them safe.

Chapter Seventeen

Kate fastened the ribbon on the final package and sighed. After what seemed like days, she’d finally finished wrapping all the Christmas presents. It took forever given that there were her gifts plus those from Meghan and Charles. Between the break-in at her place and Meghan’s pregnancy scare, she and Edward had temporarily moved into his brother’s house—at least through the holidays. Charles had sophisticated security plus it allowed her to be more of a help to Meghan. Right now, she wouldn’t have to trek all these gifts across town. She would put them under the tree.

She looked at Lucas’s pile and smiled. Although she gave him some small and practical gifts at the orphanage Christmas party, she’d wanted to get him some things just from her, including a stocking with his name embroidered at the top.

Earlier that day she’d spoken with Father Dominic regarding the adoption. The papers were filled out, but they decided to wait for the home visit given the recent break-in at her apartment. Hopefully, things would settle down in a few weeks and there wouldn’t be an issue, but Kate didn’t want to take a chance.

The adoption made her think of Edward and a frown crossed her face. She didn’t know how he would react when learning about the adoption, but she needed to tell him soon—before the few people who knew accidently slipped with the news. There was also the matter of telling her family. She pretty much figured her mother wouldn’t be surprised, and knew she could count on the support from the rest of her family.

Then there was her apartment. She needed to start looking for a larger place to live, a place with two bedrooms. She had a call out to her current landlord to keep her informed of any vacancies, but she really wanted to live in a nicer neighborhood with better schools. That meant higher rent. Even with her decent salary, she’d have to factor in after-school care, doctor’s visits, and all the other responsibilities that came with being a parent.

She finished storing the wrapping paper and gathered the trash. Maybe she’d ask Meghan if she would help do some web searching with her.

Kate wandered downstairs and called out for her friend when she heard a noise by the front door, but rather, saw Edward in the foyer, his arms full of packages.

“If you’re looking for Meghan, Charles just took her out. He said something about a horse and carriage ride in the park and then dinner.”

“Okay. I’ll catch up with her later.” She glanced down at the store logos on the bags. “Been shopping? Do you have anything in there for me?” she asked with a playful smile.

He pulled the bags out of her reach. “No peeking. Otherwise you won’t be surprised Christmas morning.”

“Bah, humbug. Can you at least tell me if it’s in a large or small box?”

“No, and stay out while I put these away.” He wandered off to the bedroom.

She watched his sexy form retreat. Maybe now was a good time to broach the subject of Lucas. Who was she kidding? There would never be a good time to have this discussion. She needed to bite the bullet and just tell him—despite how much she kept avoiding the confrontation. She tried to formulate how best to explain it, but for once words failed her. Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t hear Edward return to the room until she felt his hands slide around her waist and his lips on her neck.

“I have a couple of surprises for you right now,” he said.

She turned and clasped her arms around his neck, thoughts of admitting her plans to adopt Lucas pushed to the back of her mind. “Is it one of those naked, let’s have sex all evening kind of surprises?”

He pulled her close and let his lips linger over hers. “We’ll save that for later. This is something else entirely. Are you game?”

“What is it?”

“You’ll have to trust me.” His eyes gleamed with the mischievous he was known for. “Come, let’s go.”

After grabbing their coats, he led her outside and into the parking garage down the street.

“Where are we going?” she asked, automatically heading toward the passenger side of his car.

He tugged on her arm and turned her toward the driver’s side. “Wherever you want,” he replied and dropped the keys in her hands.

She felt the blood drain from her face. “Edward…I can’t. You know this.”

He clasped his hands over hers. “I know you need to get over this fear and there is only one way that’s going to happen.”

She shook her head and tried to pull her hands free, to no avail. “I told you. I’ve tried this before with disastrous results. The last thing we need is for me to have a panic attack while driving down Forty-Second Street.”