Page 49 of Cruel Ice

Pierre jumped to his feet. He also hung up the phone and shoved it into his pocket. “Declan never apologizes.”

“We’ll be working on that flaw.” She waved. “Good night. Great meeting you.” Especially when he’d tried to physically stop her from getting to her goal. So much fun. Not. The man had truly tried using his five-foot-two-inch, super slender self to block her path. As if he could have stopped her.

While Pierre continued to gape, she very firmly shut the door. Then she locked it. “I listened to your idea,” sheannounced without glancing back at Declan. “But I have a way better one.” She spun to face him, and, as she did, Marley caught the naked longing on his face. Her breath shuddered out because no one had ever looked at her that way. Like he needed her more than anything. Like he had to have her. Like?—

And it was gone. The longing vanished. His face became hard and unreadable.

Declan certainly excelled at hiding behind a mask.

But he’d slipped up.

She sent him her sweet smile again. All innocence. He still stood behind his desk, with the chair rolled back near him. She headed toward him. Her steps were slow and certain. Just as they’d been when she strolledforthe door. Deliberate. Pausing beside him, she trailed her fingers down his chest.

“Don’t play with me, Marley.”

“Who’s playing?” She shoved his laptop aside and hopped onto the desk. That big, shiny, intimidating desk. Marley raised her dress’s skirt to her thighs. “I’m telling youmyidea. My genius idea. I’m sure you heard that I told your assistant to go home. I also locked the door. It’s freaking Fort Knox impossible to get up to this level of your building, so I think we’re safe. No one is going to disturb us.” She wet her lips. “My idea…” Her heart drummed madly. Her stomach twisted. Nerves made her voice breathless as she explained, “My idea is that I don’t walk away. My idea is that I stay here with you. And you make love to me. Right here. Right now. On this desk. The desk where you work so very hard all the time.” She needed him to do something. To make a move.Don’t reject me. Don’t.“Because I came here to do two things. One, to tell you that I will not be sidelined…”

He surged toward her. Stepped between her spread legs. His hands flattened on either side of her body.

“And two…” She pulled in a deep breath. Far too late to turn back now. “I came here to tell you that I want you. I want to be with you. I want you to?—”

His mouth crashed onto hers.

The viper had returnedto his den.

He hadn’t been surprised when Declan Flynn had gone running back to Chicago. Back to his protection and perceived power. Back to the cronies that jumped to do his bidding and the fools who shuddered with fear when his name was whispered in the dark.

Too many people were afraid of Declan Flynn. That was one of the reasons he’d needed to strike while Declan was in unfamiliar territory. The dumb muscle he’d hired to help him in Augusta hadn’t even realized who their target was.

And when they did discover his identity…

They were fucking terrified. Calling me and telling me they’d beg Declan for forgiveness. That they’d offer me up as the sacrificial lamb if I didn’t give them enough money to flee to Mexico.

He hadn’t given them anything but a bullet to the brain. Exactly what they deserved for their epic screwup. They should never have been tailed to that cabin. Certainly not by some amateur PI.

A PI that Declan had taken back home with him after a bullet had sliced over her arm.

Oh, yes, he now knew plenty about Marley Jones.

What an interesting past you have, Ms. Jones.One soaked in blood and fear. She should hate monsters just as much as he did. And yet…

Yet she’d saved Declan Flynn. Not just once. Twice.

At first, he’d just thought to eliminate her quickly. During her big rescue mission of Declan at the cabin, he couldn’t be sure she hadn’t overheard the two morons talking about things they shouldn’t.Things like me.Or that she hadn’t seen something that would lead her to him.

So, yes, a swift death had seemed fitting.

He’d sent the morons after her. She hadn’t been home. What had they done? Trashed her place. Reached an even higher level of stupidity. Because with the trashed house, Marley had known that she was now being hunted, too.

Then she’d done the unexpected. In the alley, she’d spotted him. A surprising feat for a junior PI. The guards with their fancy training hadn’t done jackshit to save their boss.

Instead, a delicate female had hurtled her body at him. She’d knocked Declan out of the line of fire. She’d taken a hit.

She’d allowed Declan to cheat death twice.

Do you think you’ve found yourself a good luck charm, Declan Flynn?

He’d decided to learn all he could about Declan’s new charm. And the deeper he’d dived into her life, the more intrigued he’d become by Marley Jones.

---