Page 26 of Colton's Second Chance
His phone rang before he could question her further about her injury, and he reluctantly leaned back from her to take the call. Seeing Asher’s name on his screen, he answered with, “I was just about to call you. What’s up?”
“Nothing really. But before I headed home and got in the shower, I wanted to make sure you don’t need me. You mentioned backup before…”
“Right. Well, it turned out to be a different sort of emergency. Get your shower and a meal, then come by my place later to talk.”
“It won’t keep until morning at the office?” Asher asked.
“No. It won’t. Let’s say eight? I have a few other calls to make before we talk.”
“You going to tell me what this mysterious heart-to-heart is about?”
Eli exhaled his frustration. “The investigation. But I’d rather not say more until we meet.”
Once Eli disconnected the call, he turned back to Noelle. “You better give me a detailed rundown on your analysis.” He checked the time. “But first I want to try to catch your experts in the office. You have their phone numbers handy?”
Chapter 9
Three hours later, after speaking to both forensic experts in Seattle and taking a deeper dive into the statistics and charts Noelle pulled up for him, Eli was convinced the pattern of incorrect information throughout Montgomery’s work was no accident. He kneaded the tense muscles in his neck as he leaned back in his chair.
Noelle, who’d been milling about the kitchen, making them sandwiches for dinner and randomly tidying to keep busy while he perused her data, stepped up behind him and bumped his hands out of the way. She rubbed his shoulders and neck and applied direct pressure to spots that were especially knotted with tension.
The warmth of her hands and relaxing massage worked magic on him. He felt a catharsis and release of the stress he’d been harboring while at the same time growing keenly aroused by the erotic manipulation of her hands. Shoving the files aside, he turned in the kitchen chair and drew her into his lap.
Noelle gave a feeble protest which he quieted with a kiss.
“I made us a little dinner. Are you hungry?” she asked, her voice breathless enough that the question sounded like a sexy invitation.
“Not for food,” he said, capturing the back of her head and kissing her again.
Noelle draped her arms around his neck, twisting her lips into a lusty grin. “I think I have what you need.”
Eli groaned his pleasure as he rose from the chair with Noelle in his arms and carried her to the nearest flat surface. Laying her down on the couch, he covered her body with his own and plundered her mouth. His tongue dueled with hers, and his hands tugged at her clothes. Years of pent-up desire and longing were unleashed as they touched and nibbled and explored each other.
“I want to make love to you, Noelle. But not unless you’re sure it’s what you want, too.” He levered up on one arm to peer directly into her soulful brown eyes. “I moved on with my life after college, but I never stopped wanting you.”
Noelle’s breath stuck in her lungs. Desire had her body humming and left her mind a muddle. She still clung to enough of her senses to realize Eli had said he’d wanted her, not that he’d loved her. For a moment, she knew the sting of disappointment. A too-familiar pain swelled in her chest.
Unloved. A complication. A burden.
A mistake.
The word she’d heard her mother use echoed hollowly inside her.
When Eli brushed his fingers through her hair and narrowed an inquiring look on her, she realized she’d never answered him. “Oh. I, uh…”
This works well for you, a part of her brain justified.You can satisfy your hunger for him, perhaps even work him out of your system for good and leave town again without entanglements. If he doesn’t love you, you won’t break his heart again when you go.
Noelle forcibly dismissed the whisper that argued,And what about breaking your own heart?
Fisting her fingers in his hair, she drew greedily on his mouth, then whispered, “I’m a big girl, Eli. I know what I want and can take care of myself.”
A frown flickered across his face, but she didn’t let herself think too hard about the reason behind it. After toeing off her shoes, she stroked her foot down his jean-clad leg, before encouraging him to continue by raising her hips to meet his.
His shirt came off, then hers. Hands stroked, lips searched and sampled, and the heat rose quickly in her blood.
Eli had just unhooked her bra when a loud knock sounded on his front door. They both froze like high school kids discovered necking in a parent’s car.
“Are you expecting someone?” she whispered.
