“No, Mrs. Drake across the street.”
Laughter spewed before I could suppress it. Gillian Drake was eighty years old going on two hundred. “I bet she was fine in her day.”
He laughed. “Probably right. But, yeah, you. I nearly swallowed my tongue when I saw you the other night. I’m surprised that Grant fellow isn’t crawling around behind you begging for you to take him back.”
“He’s British. They are sort of above that kind of pleading.” I grabbed a pillow and hugged it tight. “You’re the first man who’s ever even been on this bed.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Pardon me?”
“I always went to Connor. My place has always been sort of off limits to men.”
“Want me to go back into the living room?”
“No.”
That being said, I wasn’t sure what I wanted him to do. In the few days that I’d known him, I hadn’t allowed myself to really think about him sexually. He was finely put together and had a great face. I liked his voice and the gentle way he had guided me through all of the police stuff I’d done during the day.
“I’ve always slept alone.” I rubbed the blanket underneath us with one hand. “They took my bedspread. I’m glad; I doubt I could ever look at it again.”
“Have you thought about who could have hired him?”
“No. I mean, I don’t have anyone in my life that bothers me or who has tried to hurt me. Connor may be pissed about the breakup, but he isn’t the type to hire someone to do his dirty work. The last guy I dated before him was a doctor. Around month four, I decided that being his arm ornament for the better part of my life just didn’t seem all that interesting, so I dumped him.”
“You aren’t one of those women who’ll just stay with a man because she doesn’t want to be alone, are you?”
I laughed. “No. I decided a long time ago that I don’t need help being miserable and if I hate being with someone it would just be easier to be alone.”
“It’s a rational conclusion. But what about being lonely?”
“There are worse things than being lonely.”
“What about other men at work?”
“There are twenty men employed at the gallery.” The number came easily because I’d spent most of the evening thinking about each of them. “Not counting contracted artists. When I oversaw the sales floor, I supervised five of them. There is one male senior buyer in the administrative area and the rest are security guards.”
“Any of them with criminal records?”
“No, all members of staff are thoroughly vetted, interviewed, and tested for drugs. Everyone is also reviewed on a yearly basis for financial problems and/or legal problems.”
“What about hiring and firing?”
“Jane and Mercy do that.”
“An artist who wanted a show in the gallery?”
“There are hundreds of artists in the Boston area alone that would love a show in the gallery. The administrative staff spend every day going through proposals, viewing pieces, and making selections for the general gallery. An artist is invited to do a show with us, and I’ve never known of one to ask outright for one. Sometimes agents contact us and let us know that an artist is interested in working with us. If they fit with our schedule and needs, we strike a deal.”
“So you couldn’t have made any enemies that way?”
“I don’t see how.”
“Having a stranger moving around in your life like he belongs is a difficult thing to assimilate, much less deal with. You’re allowed to be upset or scared.”
“I’m more angry,” I admitted softly. “I mean, honestly, he couldn’t even do his own dirty work!”
“That he hired someone to do it is an indication that he might doubt his own ability to pull the situation off or he wants to be able to play your hero.” He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I’m not saying this to scare you.”
“I know.”
“You just need to pay attention to the men who express interest in you. Evaluate their motives and tread carefully.”
“Like you?” I asked.
He chuckled. “You’re an attractive woman, Casey. I’d be an idiot not to be a little interested in you. But I’m also not the kind of man who uses a woman. You’ve got too many men like that in your life.”
“You’re a nice man, you know.”
“Most men consider that the kiss of death.”
I leaned over and kissed his cheek gently. “Don’t. I like nice men. A girl gets tired of jerks.”
“You’re playing with fire,” he whispered as I kissed his other cheek. “I have excellent intentions concerning you, but I’m still just a man.” He lifted his hand as if to touch me and then dropped it with a sigh.
His response was endearing and sexy. I brushed my lips across his before I could help myself. Shawn sucked in a breath and then slid both hands into my hair. He pulled me into his lap in one breathless second. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I opened my mouth to the soft press of his tongue and groaned softly. The man tasted as good as he looked. I was in so much trouble.
Shawn lifted his head and looked over my face. “You’ve had a rough time of it. It’s natural to seek another for comfort.”
“Do you think I’m seeking comfort?” I asked softly. I moved astride his thighs and slid closer.
“No.”
“If I wanted him, I could call. He would trot over and pick me up.” I moved my hands over the smooth muscles of his chest and curled closer to him. “That may sound arrogant or even cruel.”
“You made it clear that he wasn’t all that concerned with your emotional well-being.”
“True.”
His hands slid down my back and cupped my ass. I nearly sighed with relief. “I should put your fine ass down and go back to my apartment.”
“Sometimes you have to take a risk.”
“And sometimes risks hurt.” His lips moved across my jaw and then down my neck. “I could be just as bad as what you left behind.”
I laughed. “The fact that I’m not naked and under you tells me that couldn’t be true.”
“I’ve pretty much left women alone since I divorced.”
“Sensible. We are some pretty difficult creatures.” I ran my hands over his head. “Give me a good reason to send you back out into the living room.”
He stood suddenly and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he turned and laid me down on the bed. “If I were really all that sensible, I would have let you pace all night.”
I moved underneath the weight of him and sighed. “I’m not even going to pretend to be the voice of reason in this situation.” I spread my legs wide and gasped at the press of his hard cock against my pussy. “I’m pretty much done talking.”
Shawn laughed softly and sat up; he ran careful hands down my thighs to my waist to tug at my shorts. I lifted my hips and then pulled my legs forward. As I jerked my T-shirt off my head, he stood from the bed and disposed of his pants. His cock jutted impressively from his body, but it was his eyes that held my attention as he slid back onto the bed.
I gasped, amazed by the softness of his skin as he moved over me and settled between my legs. My nipples hardened against his chest and