Page 10 of Cruel Ice

But in response to Parker’s words, Marley forced a shrug. She had insisted on being in the ambulance with Declan. “I rode along because I had to keep you safe.” Something she had already mentioned to the man a time or two.

Parker laughed. “Uh, yeah. He’s safe. You did your due diligence.” Then the detective laughed yet again. A deep, booming laugh that some people might like. Marley was not one of those individuals. “It was cute the way you suddenly swore that you were his fiancée and that you had to go with him. Is that how you got the nurses to allow you to keep staying with him overnight? By swearing you were involved with the vic?”

Marley felt the sting of heat in her cheeks. “Desperate times call for desperate measures.” There was no way she’d planned to leave Declan alone.

Declan’s expression changed. He suddenly looked…intrigued.

A shiver slid down her spine. Sort of like when you get a hint that something really, really bad was about to happen to you.

“You told the EMTs that we were engaged?” Declan asked her. No emotion at all filled his deep, dark voice.

Marley bit her lower lip. “I sort of…implied that you would freak out if you woke up without your fiancée at your side.” That was not the same as saying shewashis fiancée.

“Oh, she didn’t imply it.” Parker motioned toward. “She flat out said those exact words. I was here at the time. ‘He will freak out if he wakes up and his fiancée isn’t at his side.’”

“I didn’tsaythat I was your fiancée!” Marley hurried to point out that important distinction to Declan. “Just that if you woke up and your fiancée wasn’t there—not that I am your fiancée—you would freak. Again, I didn’t say that I was your fiancée. People just drew that conclusion.”

“Because it was the conclusion you wanted them to draw,” Declan’s rumble cut through her words.

Her breath expelled. “I wanted you safe.” If that was a crime, call her guilty.

“And again…” From Parker. “He is safe. Your job is done. So, pretend fiancée, why don’t you head on out? I’ve already interviewed you.”

Yes, he had. During the night when Declan had slept.

“And, now,” Parker added as his voice flattened, “I need to ask Declan some questions about his?— “

“No.” Declan’s adamant voice came out as a crisp denial.

“No?” Parker’s brows rose. His arm brushed Marley’s again and?—

Declan shoved the hospital covers out of the way. He swung his legs to the side of the bed and surged upward. Marley immediately jumped forward and grabbed him, afraid that he might fall as he’d fallen the previous night when he first got out of the chair in that horrid basement.

But Declan didn’t seem to be in any danger of falling. He stood up, strong and powerful, and his head tilted as he stared down at her. His nostrils flared the tiniest bit, as if he were pulling in her scent again.

She realized that she was pressing her hands to his chest. Standing way too close. “I thought you needed me,” she whispered as heat stung her cheeks.

His head dipped toward her. “I do,” he whispered back.

Surprise rolled through Marley.

Parker reached out his hand and curled it around Marley’s shoulder. “You need to—” Parker began.

“Youneed to stop touching her,” Declan instructed, and there was a lethal note in his voice. “It’s quite irritating. Both to me and my…fiancée.”

“That’s bullshit,” Parker groused even as he dropped his hand. For an instant, he glared at Declan. Anger flashed hard in the detective’s eyes before he blinked, and it vanished.

Had she just imagined that emotion? Before she could decide for sure?—

“No, it’s actually the truth,” Declan announced. “Not bullshit. I find myself annoyed every single time you touch her. And Marley doesn’t like it, either, or else she wouldn’t keep moving away from you.”

True story, she didn’t like it. She was also still touching Declan, and he might not want her hands on him. She started to move back.

“Touch me anytime,” Declan invited her. “I like it when you do.”

A lick of heat unfurled within her.Not the time.But it was good to know that he felt that awareness—correction, attraction—too.And what are we going to do about that?

“I meant,” Parker cleared his throat, “her being your fiancée is bullshit. I know the real deal. She’s the PI who got luckyand saw your abduction. The two of you don’t know each other. You’re total strangers.”

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