She Who Dares, Wins

4

MACON HAD LOST HIS MIND. It was as simple as that. This pint-size pixie told him someone wanted to kill him, and all he could think about was kissing her soft red lips. He’d had to sit down on the stool to keep her from seeing the hardness under his jeans, caused by the way she pursed her lips when she was thinking.

The woman was an enigma. One minute she was pure sex, the next a professional detective. He wasn’t sure which one he liked best. Everything about her was sexy. Though he didn’t think this was the right time to tell her so.

The emotions playing over her face when she’d realized what had happened the night before had been surprise, anger and then something he couldn’t identify. He had a feeling she used that look when she had criminals under interrogation.

He’d royally screwed up. Still, he wouldn’t change the night for anything. In fact, he’d do just about anything to make it happen again. Unfortunately, it would take a great deal of coaxing to get her to acquiesce. Katie had a tough side, and forgiving him would be difficult for her, which made him want to try all the more.

She’d listened to the recordings again, her face a mass of concentration. What was it about her that had him so tied up in knots?

The last thing he needed in his life was a complicated woman, and Katie was certainly that. He didn’t have time for someone nosing into his life, especially with curves that—No. He needed to get rid of this woman and get back to work. As soon as he thought the words, he knew there was no way they were true. He wanted her again, and he wasn’t ready to let her go just yet.

“You weren’t what I expected.” She glanced around his laboratory.

“What do you mean?” He was more than curious about that statement.

“To be honest, I expected the elderly professor type.”

“Sorry to disappoint you,” he said with a smile.

She didn’t return it. Yes, she was one tough woman.

“Tell me again why you and the dean are keeping Scotland Yard out of this? Seems to me that would be the first place to turn.”

Mac frowned. “We can’t risk it right now,” he said. “As I mentioned before, this is highly classified research. The cops would want to snoop into my work, and I’m at a crucial point right now. I can’t afford someone accidentally leaking information. The dean didn’t want to involve the police in order to protect the university’s reputation. He knew I wasn’t going to call anyone because of the nature of what I’m working on. You and your company were the dean’s idea.”

“I detect some sarcasm in there,” she said as she popped the flash drive into another evidence bag. “The dean may very well have saved your life. As I mentioned before, these threats are real, and they will continue to escalate. It’s important we find the culprits as quickly as possible before they can do any more harm.”

“So what is your plan?”

“First, I’ll send these off to the lab. We’ll have results in a few days. I could send them somewhere here, but my forensic lab at the agency is state-of-the-art and one of the best in the world. If there’s something to discover, they’ll find it.

“Until then, we follow up on leads here. I need a list of everyone who may have had access to your research now and in the past.”

“You don’t think it’s someone who would have worked in the lab, do you?”

She wrote something down on the notebook she carried. “Dr. Douglas, at this point everyone who has come in contact with you over the last year is a suspect.”

She couldn’t be serious. “There’s no way it’s someone here at the university.”

Peering up from her notebook, she gave him a wary look. “You’re too trusting. Until we solve this case, no one comes into your lab except necessary personnel. With security like this, there shouldn’t be much trouble while you work,” she continued. “Have you had incidents in the lab?”

He shook his head. Every time she glanced at him, he wanted to reach out and touch her. Her auburn hair hung straight and shiny to her chin, and she shoved parts of it behind her ears. It was her voice, deep and filled with sex, that made his groin tighten even more, and his lungs struggle for air. There was a slight overpronunciation of certain vowels. He found it fascinating.

She snapped her fingers in front of his face and he realized he’d probably been staring at her like a cat after a canary. “Can you focus a minute and answer my questions? I need information. Has someone tried to hurt you here in the lab?”

“No, and they are not incidents. Unlike the dean, I do not believe what happened to me is related in any way. I have a long history of unfortunate mishaps. I have a tendency to bury my mind in my work and I don’t take notice of the world around me. I am a complete cliché and fully admit to being an absentminded professor. And unfortunately, I’m often in the wrong place at the wrong time. I consider it a quirky trait. The dean finds it bothersome.”

She grinned slightly at that as her pink fingernail tapped a distracting beat on the steel table. “So you weren’t mugged a block from the university and run off the road twice in the last two weeks?”

Before he could answer she held up a hand. “And there were phone calls to the dean’s voice mail. Both making comments that promised physical harm should you continue your research.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

He guessed if one were to line up the events in such a way, it might look as if something was going on.

“Yes, those things did happen.” Macon cleared his throat.

“Why don’t you let me decide what’s the best course of action, then?” She turned away from him. “The car accidents took place near a summer home? Correct? And you were mugged where?”

“About a block from my flat.” The woman was determined. He’d give her that.

His eyes followed her as she circled the lab. She was one of those people who found it difficult to stand still for more than a few moments. He could tell by the way she constantly moved or fidgeted. She glanced out the window as if she was searching for something. Then she returned to where he sat.

She started to speak and was interrupted by a large gurgling sound. Her olive-skinned cheeks turned a delightful shade of pink.

Macon glanced at his watch. “Let me guess—you skipped breakfast.”

She bit her lip. “I was busy solving some problems with work this morning.”

That meant she hadn’t eaten in more than twelve hours. He’d gone longer when working in the lab, but he knew it wasn’t healthy. There was also this strange part of him that wanted to take care of her. The least he could do was give her a decent meal after what he’d put her through today.

“Why don’t we head to the café at the student center?” He had started to mention a restaurant, but worried it was too early in the day for it to be open.

“I’m fine.” Her tone was clipped and professional. She’d been embarrassed.

“Well, I could use a snack. I haven’t had anything this morning.” He shoved his laptop into a bag with a couple of notebooks. He’d been working on several equations when she’d arrived. “Perhaps I’ll be better able to answer your questions with a full stomach.”

“I guess if you’re hungry, a break is okay. Though I had hoped to jump right in with the investigation.”

Macon shrugged. “An hour for a meal can’t hurt,” he said. “And I’ll keep my promise to answer any questions you might have.”

Leading the way, he pushed in the code for the exit. Once they were through the two sets of doors, he pointed to another entry. “If you go through there, you’ll find your clothing. I’ll meet you out in the hallway in a few minutes.”

She walked away, but stopped as her hand touched the doorknob. “What do I do with the sweat suit?”

“There’s a hamper to your right when you walk in. The cleaning staff takes care of them for me.”

“Thanks.”

Even in the oversize sweats the woman oozed sex, and as she walked away he remembered his hands on her backside the night before.

Concentrate, Macon admonished. Only days ago your purpose was to get rid of her. Answer her questions, help her to see logic, so by this time tomorrow she’ll be gone.

There was one problem. Macon wasn’t sure he wanted their time to end quite so quickly. The woman in the next room was an interesting specimen and unfortunately he wanted to know everything about her.

5

KATIE HAD HER HANDS FULL with Macon. Staring out the window of her hotel onto the busy London streets, she tried to gather her thoughts. She still couldn’t believe he’d kept his identity from her. What a fool she’d been. If only she’d had a picture of him before that first meeting, things would have been so different. She could have beaten him at his own game—and missed out on one of the best nights of her life.

Part of her wanted to kill him, or at least seriously maim him for lying to her, but the other part wouldn’t trade the sex for anything. She would never tell him so, but the way he’d stared at her as he made love to her and the way they’d connected was something she soon wouldn’t forget. Katie took a deep breath.

But now was not the time to think about those incredible moments. The man was a client, with a rather serious case.

Katie had no doubt someone had tried to kill him. That he thought the threats were coincidences almost made her laugh. Moving to the desk, she sat down to go through the files the dean’s office had gathered for her. Flipping open the file with the police reports from the accident, she read through them.

The professor hadn’t mentioned that the last accident had landed him in the hospital for two days. He’d sustained a concussion and minor lacerations to the face. But the doctors had been concerned about the head injury. He’d lost consciousness for more than thirty minutes and suffered a pretty good blow to the head.

She’d noticed a couple of small scars on his forehead and cheek. He’d healed quickly. Katie tasted blood in her mouth and realized she’d bitten down on her lip too hard.

You’re making it personal. That’s never a good thing. If you want to help this guy you have to separate the man from the amazing sex. Otherwise you’re going to miss something and you’re going to get him killed.

Katie cleared her throat and closed her eyes for a moment. If she wanted to help Mac, she had to stay objective. She couldn’t do that if she was lusting after him all the time.

Tapping her right index finger, she again focused on the files from the dean. There was something there, something she wasn’t seeing. She yawned and glanced at the clock. Only four hours until she had to meet the professor at the lab to escort him home. She’d given him explicit instructions to stay at work until she arrived. He’d laughed at her and wondered aloud how a tiny thing like her could protect him if there really was evil out to get him.

She’d smiled patiently and opened the laptop again. Typing in a URL, she’d brought up a site with training videos for the academy to show him how lethal she could be. There were several of them, and she’d pulled up one of the advanced classes where she’d had to defend herself against four opponents. In a matter of seconds she had all four men, at least a foot taller than she was, on the mat.

“How is that possible?” the professor had whispered.

“Training,” she’d said confidently. “You don’t work in my field without knowing how to take care of business. So when I tell you to stay put, I mean it. Understand?”

He’d nodded, and then grinned.

“What?” she’d asked him.

“I didn’t think it was possible, but seeing that made you even sexier. That’s seriously hot what you just did. You’re like a ninja woman.”

She’d grunted and shut the laptop. The man was hopeless. Promising she’d be back at six to take him home, she’d left him in his office.

She had only four hours left. Four hours before facing the man who stoked her desire with a mere smile. Why did it have to be him? Any other man in the world, but no, it was Mac. And damned if she didn’t feel for him more than she had any guy she’d ever met.

Four hours, and then she’d be on duty again until she hauled him back to the lab the next morning. She still felt jet-lagged. Her mind would be clearer if she rested for a short while. She had a glass of water and stuck the Do Not Disturb sign on the outer handle of the door. Two hours of sleep and she could go another twenty-four with no problem. She’d learned that at her former job, too—a police detective was always on call.

After stripping, she snuggled down under the sheets and did her best to clear her mind. It wasn’t easy when she remembered the last time she’d been in this bed it had been with Mac. The way he made her feel sent shivers down her spine.

The way he’d made her come so many times she lost count.

She pounded the mattress below her. “Damn you, Mac. Why did you have to complicate everything?”

MAC HAD A PROBLEM no equation would ever solve. He had it bad for Katie. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. pImages** of their lovemaking the night before would pop into his head at the most inopportune times. In the middle of separating a strain of bacteria so he could study it under the microscope, he’d remembered how she’d laughed at the pub. That throaty, sexy sound made him instantly hard.

Then there was the way she’d eaten all her steak and salad, without a thought. Most of the women he’d dated ate only the salad, and half of that. For such a petite thing, she’d really enjoyed the food and the beer. He respected that in an odd way.

Scrubbing his face with his hands, he groaned. He had to get the woman out of his head and focus. Now was not a good time for him to be distracted. He’d made serious inroads with his research in the past six months and he was on the cusp of something big.

Katie was definitely a distraction of epic proportions. Three times after she’d left earlier in the day, he’d pulled up the videos to watch her fight. She was absolutely ruthless when it came to making a kill. The exact opposite of what he’d seen the night before when they’d been making love. She’d been nothing but hot sex and sensuality, from her sexy moans to the way she looked in those stiletto boots. He had to make love to her again. His sanity depended on it.

Mac walked away from the microscope and paced. That’s what he did when he had a problem. The movement often helped him to focus. The work had to come first. The dean expected him to present his first papers in the spring, and there was no time for any sort of delays.

But Katie filled his brain.

“What are you, some kind of stalker?” He continued his walk. “She slept with you. You lied. And now she’s pissed off. She wouldn’t touch you again ever, especially with her rule about clients. And have you noticed that you’re talking to yourself out loud?”

Mac stopped and stared at the ceiling. This was nothing more than a schoolboy crush. He’d get over it. He had to. Everything he’d been working on the past few years depended on it. That was it. The best thing he could do would be to cooperate with her so she could see that this so-called case was nothing more than his propensity for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Then he could send her on her way and get back to work.

Yeah, right.

A KNOCK AT THE DOOR had Katie sitting straight up in bed wondering where she was. In half a second she remembered. London. The hotel. Mac. Jogging to the bathroom, she found the hotel robe and wrapped it around her naked body.

Someone knocked again.

“Just a minute,” she said. It had better be important, since the person had obviously ignored the Do Not Disturb sign. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost four. Rising on her toes, she squinted so she could see through the peephole.

Growling, she opened the door.

“I thought I told you to stay put. What the hell are you doing here?”

Mac stood staring, his eyes moving down to the swell of her breasts and back to her face, trying to hide a smile.

“Get in here,” she said, yanking him into the hotel room. “We had a deal—I come get you at six and take you to your home. What’s so difficult about that?”

“No need to be so cranky.” Mac moved to sit down on the sofa in the living room. “I didn’t know you’d be napping. I thought you’d be running around doing detective stuff.”

“I was, but then I realized I had to get some rest so I could protect you tonight. Would you like to explain why you are here?”

“I had to see you.”

Katie frowned, wondering what had been so important that he’d risk his life to see her. “Is it about your case? Did you remember something?”

“The case? Oh, yeah. The dean stopped by. He wanted me to give you these.” He pulled a couple of files out of his backpack. “They’re files about other programs that have been targeted at the university.”

“Thanks. So this is it? It couldn’t wait until six?” Frustrated, she pulled the robe tighter around her. “I need you to follow the rules, Professor, so I can do my job. That means doing what I ask so that we can both be safe.”

“I took a cab straight here,” he said by way of explanation. “I was never alone. It picked me up at the door of the science building and brought me straight here.”

Katie looked to the ceiling, sighed and sat down again. “Anyone could have grabbed you on your way up here. The lobby at this hotel is crowded at four, because they have high tea, something the Brits seem to favor. I know this because when I checked in the desk clerk told me that I would need reservations, as the place was usually packed.

“There’s the elevator, stairwell, any number of places someone could have been hiding, and you would never have seen them coming.”

She threw her hands up in frustration. “I can’t help you if you don’t take this seriously. I’m good at what I do, but I can’t do my job if you don’t cooperate. It’s that simple.”

“I thought I was taking precautions by calling the cab. Normally I would have walked the twenty blocks or so. I don’t see how someone could grab me in a room full of people or on a busy street.”

She leaned forward, putting her elbows on her knees, and then remembered she was wearing the robe, so she sat back up. “You were mugged on a busy street a little over a week ago.”

He shook his head. “That was kids acting tough. I gave them the few pounds I had and they took off.”

“One of them hit you from behind with a bottle—your second head injury in as many weeks. They also tried to take the backpack you had on your shoulder, which no doubt had your laptop, right?”

He nodded. “I’d done some work at the pub.”

“Right. Those kids were after more than your wallet. That was to keep you from catching on to what they really wanted. If that couple hadn’t come around the corner when they did, the kids might have run off with it. Do you understand? Someone wants your research. I think we’re dealing with people who know you and this is personal.”

Something clicked in her brain. “That’s it.” She walked over to the files she’d been looking at before. All the crimes against Mac had happened at the same time of day. At the desk she rummaged through the files again.

“Let me guess, you have a pretty solid routine. You get to the university at the same time every day, and you leave at the same time. Am I right?”

He stood. “Yes, why?”

“It’s simple. They know your schedule. It’s either someone who is watching you, which will make them easy for me to spot, or it’s someone close to you.”

She couldn’t help but smile. “I knew there was something I wasn’t seeing earlier. If they were terrorists, they wouldn’t be playing games. We’d either be talking about ransom or requesting your body back for the family.”

“Don’t pull any punches on my account.” Mac’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Oh, sorry. I was thinking out loud. I do that when I’m working a case. I apologize if I’ve frightened you.”

“Not at all,” Mac said. “I’m glad you’ve been able to put the dean’s crazy ideas about terrorists to rest.”

“No, he isn’t crazy. Someone does want to cause you bodily harm. The dean is absolutely correct about that. But it isn’t an outward threat.”

Mac shook his head. “But none of this makes any sense. My friends don’t have any reason to cause me harm. Most of them don’t even know what I do. My colleagues at the university are professionals who have their own concerns. We are very pleasant with one another.”

“Pleasant is an easy way to hide mercenary and evil,” Katie said, her hands going to her hips. Her mind was on the case, but it didn’t keep her from noticing the way his sweater hid his gorgeous abs, or the slight bulge in his pants her fingers ached to touch.

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