"Who has the code for your apartment, then?"
"No one besides Neva."
He kissed her warm fingers, and then released them. “Not even Ronan?"
"Not even."
"Good."
She rolled her eyes. “Just check the door so I can get upstairs and take my shower."
Enticing images of her warm, wet body rose in his mind, making his pulse race and his c*ck hard. Even though they'd made love less than hour ago, he was more than ready to go again. And it wasn't the moon magic. It was her—the way she moved, the way she sometimes looked at him, her exotic scent, and, oddly, her tender touches. He took a deep breath in an effort to quell the need surging through his veins, and said, “Yes, ma'am."
She stepped to one side. He carefully cracked the door open and ran his fingers around the frame. Nothing beyond years of dust and the occasional dead bug. He opened the door a little further, checking the immediate hall area as well as behind the door. Nothing seemed out of place.
"The florist shop is closed,” he said, noting the sign on the glass door to his right. “That usual for this time of day?"
"No, it isn't.” She crowded close, the heat of her br**sts and body seeping into his spine as she peered past him. “Most of Anni's clientele comes from the afterwork crowd, but she likes to open early to catch what she terms ‘the later-than-they-should-be-and-in-the-doghouse’ husbands and boyfriends."
"Have you got a key to the shop?"
"Why would the killers bother snatching her?"
"Who knows?” he answered. “But at this stage, I wouldn't be surprised at anything."
"But it makes no sense. I mean, Anni and I aren't anything more than neighbors."
"We are not dealing with sane-thinking people here."
"True.” She paused. “And yeah, I have a key upstairs. Lana gave it to me a few years ago, just in case I needed to get in."
"So no one knows you have it?"
"The fire chief suggested it, but otherwise no.” Her gaze met his, her green eyes bright in the semidarkness of the hall. “Why?"
He shrugged as he led the way to the stairs. “The fire chief didn't suggest she hold your key?"
"As I said before, I haven't got a key, and no one but my sister knows my code. So if they've snatched Anni thinking they'll get an easy way into my home, they're out of luck."
He climbed the stairs, and after she'd keyed open the door, repeated the checking process. Again, nothing. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him as he looked around.
Her apartment wasn't what he'd expected. Basically, it was one big room that encompassed the kitchen, dining and living room. The color scheme was warm, with sandstone ceilings and walls, floorboards that were stained a rich claret, and a mishmash of autumn-toned furniture and rugs. The room had been divided near the front of the building with doors leading off into what he presumed would be the bathroom and a small laundry room. Her big wrought-iron bed sat between the two back windows and was covered by a patchwork quilt that looked both luxurious and handmade.
Her room at Rosehall had been all airy and New Age, but this was comfortable. Relaxing.
"Nice."
She flashed him a smile over her shoulder as she walked to the kitchen area. “Thanks.” She pulled a pink-tagged key from a hook. “Here's the key, if you want to check downstairs."
He caught it one-handed. “Your security code?"
She didn't hesitate, just gave it to him, which was a little surprising given her earlier vehemence that he'd never get into her home.
"I'll be back in ten. Enjoy your shower."
"If you make it back in five, you can share it with me."
Her voice was low, seductive, and had his blood boiling in an instant. But if he started making love to her now, he had a feeling he wouldn't want to stop. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. And while it was a delicious thought, it wasn't particularly a safe one. Not that making love to her tonight would be any safer, but at least they'd be a little harder for their murderous friends to find.