By Request Collection April-June 2016. Оливия Гейтс

discomfort behind a fluffy towel and shivering. It wasn’t until he kissed her under the hot water of the shower that she was able to really relax. And to remember who she was dealing with here.

      He believed in her, and if that wasn’t the most amazing thing she’d ever been told, she didn’t know what else could be.

      She pulled him into a wet kiss, even though it turned out not to be her best idea, then continued kissing after they’d finished coughing. His hands were all over her, exactly where she wanted them, and now it was her turn. Not in the shower, though.

      After he shaved, he took over drying her hair. Dressed only in a white towel, he’d sat her down on the closed toilet and rubbed her gently but thoroughly. No man outside of a salon had ever done that for her before. There were so many firsts with Tucker.

      When he was satisfied, she’d run her fingers through the damp strands, knowing she would look like a scarecrow in the morning with nothing on hand to repair the damage. Not caring in the least, she led him to the bed, both of them naked and eager.

      He threw back the bedding, and they burrowed into the warmth of body heat and soft sheets.

      She ran her hand all the way down his chest, lingering over a nipple, his hip bone. When she moved slightly to the right, she found his hardening penis waiting.

      He gasped when she ran her finger from the base to the crown.

      “You were right,” she said. “It didn’t take long.”

      He rubbed his smooth, shaved jaw over her cheek. “That’s completely your fault.”

      “Really?”

      “Absolutely. I’ve been in trouble since we wrestled with Pinocchio. I’m sure you know that.”

      “I had a hint when we were patching each other up.”

      “Well, sure you did. We might not have smelled great, but we had chemistry from the start.”

      Grasping his shaft and learning the feel of him, she looked into his eyes, enjoying the effect her grip had on him. “You were very professional. Most of the time, anyway.”

      “Let’s not use that in the testimonials, okay?”

      She laughed, gave him a squeeze and slipped under the covers, wiggling until she’d lowered herself into position.

      “Oh, God,” he said.

      His voice was muffled, but not his enthusiasm. He grew harder as she started to stroke his shaft, slowly at first, learning, memorizing. She inhaled deeply, wanting his scent to imprint, against her better judgment.

      When she finally tasted him, a lick over the silky head, she felt his body jerk and heard his low moan. Another lick, and suddenly the bedding was thrown back, and he was reaching for her with one hand, trying to find a condom on the nightstand with the other.

       13

      TUCKER RESENTED THE BEAUTIFUL spring morning. Resented having to get out of bed, resented that she needed to get back to Safe Haven. That he had to make his own plans to return home. While they were still in Kalispell, there was no way he’d drive them back to Safe Haven before Annie had breakfast, and more. the in-room coffee hadn’t been nearly enough for her. But then, the energy boost was necessary after spectacular wake-up sex.

      He shook his head, dismissing the idea that what they’d experienced was just sex. He’d had that. He knew what it felt like, and what they’d done in the past couple of days was far more. Dangerously more.

      He looked through the window of the beauty shop to find Annie leaning back over the deep sink where the hairdresser was washing her hair and giving her a scalp massage. Tucker had caught her cursing at her hair this morning, preparing to wet it all over again because it evidently made her look like something from a “before” photo. So he’d gotten the name of a salon from the front desk, and while he’d had to practically hog-tie Annie to agree, she’d eventually given in. But only after swearing she’d be cranky the whole ride home.

      He’d deal, although he didn’t honestly believe her. She hadn’t been pampered in so long. She’d never indulge herself with so much as a simple professional trim, and it gave him great pleasure to be able to step in.

      It also gave him some time alone. Satisfied that Annie was all set for a while, he pressed his mother’s number as he walked to the hotel’s parking lot.

      “Tucker. I’m so glad you called. I have to leave in fifteen minutes, but I wanted to know if there’s any news.”

      “Good morning to you, too, Mom.”

      He heard her tsk. “Good morning. Now, what’s happened?”

      “What’s happened is that you told Christian. We spoke about that.”

      Her pause wasn’t long. “I know you asked me not to, but he was so depressed. He’d just found out he hadn’t gotten that job with the insurance company. The news had brightened my day so much, I simply couldn’t keep it from him. Forgive me?”

      He sighed, not trying to hide his frustration. “Did you mention where I am?”

      “No. I didn’t think that was necessary.”

      So Tucker had told her. He wished he hadn’t. “Good. Christian doesn’t need to know. We don’t want him doing anything rash. Understand?”

      Her silence unnerved him. “That’s not quite all my news,” she said, her reluctance plain.

      Tucker stopped his idle pacing. “What?”

      “Even though he was thrilled that you were trying so hard on his behalf I could still hear how down he sounded. There’s a long road ahead, even if it turns out you have found that woman. There’s a trial and evidence and his name will be suspect for who knows how long.”

      That wasn’t his mother’s reasoning. In fact, Tucker could hear the words coming out of Christian’s mouth. “How much?”

      “Enough for him to take a nice vacation and to keep him in rent for a few months.”

      “So, what, ten thousand? More?”

      “It’s my money.”

      Who was he to talk when he’d given Annie twice that amount. “You’re right. Of course. Did he say where he was going for this vacation of his?”

      “Bali. Turns out he has friends there who run a hotel. He even got a deal on the flight, so that’s wonderful. I think it will do him a world of good. He’ll keep in touch, though. Get all the updates.”

      Tucker’s blood chilled at her first word. Christian had left the country. Out of fear, certainly, but of what? That uncovering Leanna’s whereabouts would stir up a hornet’s nest? Or that Leanna coming forward would take away his scapegoat?

      He supposed his brother could be telling the truth. He could very well have friends in Bali. He hadn’t been able to find a job, and to the best of Tucker’s knowledge Christian hadn’t traveled often.

      Still, Tucker couldn’t deny that knowing Bali belonged to one of the few nations that didn’t have an extradition treaty with the U.S. made him nervous.

      “Tucker? Are you still there?”

      “I’m here, Mom. You didn’t tell me where you were headed this morning.”

      “I’m going to Dallas, where I’m shopping with Nancy Voorman and then we’re having lunch before we get our nails done.”

      “Glad you’re getting out.” He glanced at his watch. George needed to know about Bali. “So I’ll see you soon.”

      “Soon? I hope so. Your assistant has been, shall we say, pensive about your return.