Page 35 of Can’t Fight This Feeling

I follow behind and retrieve a carving knife from the kitchen. Better safe than sorry.

Rob shoves the woman onto the couch and points the frying pan at her. “Don’t move.”

With his attention still focused on her, Rob picks up the phone. He struggles to dial the number. “Watch her, Marcy. If she tries to run, aim for her throat.”

The woman’s eyes widen. Her gaze shifts to me, and I recognize the fear hiding there, just beneath the surface. The adrenaline drains from my body, replaced immediately with fury.

“Why the hell did you break into my apartment?” I hiss at her. “I don’t have anything worth stealing.”

The cat burglar cocks her head and studies me, but she says nothing.

“Richards, it’s Thompson. I need you to give me a hand with something.” Rob glances at me, irritation on his brow. “Yes, I realize it’s four in the morning.” He sighs. “No, this can’t wait.”

Who in the world did he call? I keep my focus on the intruder, who seems as invested in Rob’s conversation as I am.

“I’m at a friend’s place, and we’ve had a break-in.” Rob taps the pan against his thigh, and I’m drawn to the way his shoulder muscles flex beneath his skin. “No, I can’t call the cops.” He looks at the ceiling. “It’s complicated. Look you’re going to have to trust me. Get your ass over here.” He rattles off the address and hangs up the phone.

“Who was that?” I ask when he turns toward us.

“Just a friend.” He sits on the coffee table across from our uninvited guest. “A detective. He owes me a favor.”

The intruder’s mouth gapes. “You’re not calling the cops?”

Rob snorts. “Trust me. When Richards gets ahold of you, you’re going to wish I had called the cops.”

“Is that the guy my brother knows down at the precinct? The one you—”

“Yeah, he’s the cop I saved the night Arthur and I went club-hopping after graduation.” Rob shakes his head. “He made detective a few years ago.”

“I didn’t realize you were still friends with him.” I sit on the arm of the chair.

The woman shifts uncomfortably when she sees a glint of the blade in my hand, and her gaze shifts to Rob. Once the detective shows up and takes her off our hands, she’ll be a distant memory. I’m not even paying attention to her anymore.

No, it’s Rob’s half-naked form driving me to distraction. And it seems the woman in black is having the same problem. Hunger fills her bright eyes. I want to claw them out of her head.

“Yeah, we get together at the bar for drinks once a month. I’ve worked with him on cases before too.” Rob’s response pulls me from my fantasies.

“So what do we do with her until he arrives?” I glare at the intruder who’s drinking in every inch of Rob’s bare skin.

“Just sit tight. He said he’d be here in twenty.”

“Could you at least cover yourself? She looks like she’s about to eat you alive.” I grab his shirt from the chair behind me and toss it at him.

Rob chuckles and pulls on the shirt.

The cat burglar pouts. “Spoilsport.”

“You shouldn’t even be talking. Felon. You broke into my apartment, remember?” I jab the knife toward her.

Gently, Rob pries the blade from my hand and sets it beside him. “I don’t feel like filing a police report tonight just because you were jealous.”

I barely register his comment before the intruder protests.

“What? You mean you were bluffing about the knife to the throat?” She huffs.

“I was.” Rob jabs his thumb at me. “But I don’t think she would have hesitated to slit your throat. You’re not exactly an innocent bystander here.” He sobers and leans closer. “What the hell were you thinking?”

She shrugs and tosses him a saucy wink. “I was thinking I’d get lucky.”

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