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sp; Grinning, McNab stepped back. "You've got a real strong romantic streak, She-Body."
"Shut up. Zeke," she continued when her 'link clicked to message. "I'm running a little late. Guess you are, too. I should be home in an hour…"
She trailed off as, still grinning, McNab held up two fingers.
"Or so. We'll go out to this club I think you'll like, if you're up for it. I'll call back when I'm on my way home."
She tucked the 'link away as they stepped into the creaky elevator. "Let's make this quick, McNab. I don't want him wondering where I am."
"Okay. Then let's get started right now." He grabbed her, had her up against the wall and his mouth fused on hers before she could squeak.
"Hey, wait." Her eyes crossed when his teeth closed over the cord in her neck. "Is this a secured elevator?"
"I'm EDD." He had fast hands and they were busy dragging open the buttons of her overcoat. "Would I live in an unsecured building?"
"Then cut it out. Wait. This isn't even legal."
He could feel her heart thudding, feel the frantic beat of it under his hand. "Screw it." He turned, jabbed the controls to stop the car between floors.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"We're about to live out one of my top ten fantasies." From his pocket he took a mini-tool kit, and went to work on the security panel.
"In here? In here?" Just the thought of it had the blood swimming wildly in her head. "Do you know how many city ordinances you're breaking?"
"We'll arrest each other after." God, his hands weren't steady. Who'd have thought it? But he grunted in satisfaction when the light on the security camera overhead went blank. He deactivated the alarm system, tossed the tools in the corner, and swung around to her.
"McNab, this is insane."
"I know." He jerked his coat off, flung it aside.
"I like it."
He grabbed her again, grinned. "I thought you would."
• • •
Ice slicked the streets and sidewalks by the time Zeke finished fighting traffic and arrived at the Branson townhouse. It fell in thin, bitter needles and shimmered in the streetlights.
He thought of the baking heat of home, the strong, clean sunlight. And of how Clarissa would heal there.
She answered the door herself. Her face was pale and showed the ravages of tears. Her hand shook, just a little, as she reached for his. "You took so long."
"I'm sorry." She'd left her hair down, in a soft wave he wanted to press his face against. "This weather's slowed everything down. I don't know how anyone lives here."
"I don't want to. Not anymore." She closed the door, leaned back against it. "I'm scared, Zeke, and I'm so tired of being scared."
"You don't have to be anymore." Gently, swamped with love, he framed her face in his hands. "No one's going to hurt you again. I'll take care of you."
"I know." She closed her eyes. "I think I knew, the minute I met you, that my life was going to change." She lifted her hands to his wrists. "You're cold. Come in by the fire."
"I want to take you out of here, Clarissa."
"Yes, and I…I'm ready to go." Still, she walked into the parlor, close to the fire, shivering a little. "I packed a bag. It's upstairs. I don't even remember what I put in it." She drew a breath, leaned back into him when Zeke laid his hands on her shoulders. "I left a note for B. D. When he gets home tomorrow and reads it…I don't know what he'll do, Zeke. I don't know what he's capable of, and I'm afraid of what I've done by putting you between us."
"I want to be between you." He turned her to face him, his eyes quietly intense on hers. "I want to help you."
She pressed her lips together. "Because you feel sorry for me."
