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But now, nothing made sense anymore.
Smudge was licking her face, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his fur.
Fuck.
That’d been close. But she’d survived.
She got to her feet but her legs were like jelly and she wobbled into the kitchen, holding onto the wall so she didn’t fall. Peering out the window, she surveyed the garden and driveway, checking to make sure the guy was really gone, but it was too dark to make out much. All of a sudden, ghostly white shapes waddled past the window and Lacey recoiled in fear, until she realized it was the victorious geese returning, the leader flapping her wings in a show of strength, clearly happy at seeing the intruder off the property.
The way the geese were acting made her believe she was safe. For now. That guy wouldn’t be back in a hurry. If at all.
Now, she needed to call Nico.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
NICO PACED AROUND his house, double-checking all the windows and doors were secure. Smudge was following in his wake, an apologetic tilt to his ears as if he were embarrassed he hadn’t been there to ward off the intruder. Nico peered out the window in the front room. Good, the squad car was there, just like he’d commanded. Nico knew their rural station didn’t have enough manpower to keep Lacey under guard forever. But Charles had given permission for a car to stay at least tonight and perhaps over the weekend. Nico was frustrated he couldn’t keep Lacey under lock and key forever, just to keep her safe, but there were limits to his powers. He walked back down the hallway.
Nico was practically vibrating with anger. Most of that anger stemmed from a feeling of impotency. Lacey had been attacked, and he hadn’t been around to help her. What’s more, she’d been attacked right outside his very house. His house! How dare they? He hadn’t seen this coming, and that just made him more furious. What kind of detective was he if he couldn’t keep his key witness safe? He should’ve put her under protective custody. He should’ve—
“Stop beating yourself up over this,” Lacey said tartly as he returned to the kitchen. She was sitting at the small table cradling a cup of tea. Her amber eyes were fixed on him, a fierce frown marring her gorgeous face. “There is no way in hell this is your fault. Neither of us could’ve predicted someone might attack me. This could also be completely unrelated to the murder.”
Damn her intuitive nature. How could she read his mind so succinctly? But Nico disagreed with her on all points, so he merely grunted in reply.
“I mean it,” she said. “No one could’ve foreseen this, so sit down, will you?”
“I’ve already ordered a squad car out to Karim Khaled’s house,” he growled in reply, pulling out a chair and taking a seat. But then he was up again, pacing around the kitchen, unable to keep still. “If he doesn’t have a fucking watertight alibi, he’ll be back in jail before he can say not guilty.”
“So he made bail then?” Lacey nodded thoughtfully to herself.
“Yes. At around four this afternoon.” Which would’ve given him plenty of time to get high and then come around and hurt Lacey. “If that bastard tried to hurt you…”
Nico couldn’t remember the drive home; it was all a blur. He’d been at the vigil, which’d been about to start down by the waterfront. The Khaled family were noticeably absent, but perhaps they’d chosen to lie low and not attract any more attention, which was a good idea in Nico’s book. One less security problem to worry about. But as soon as Lacey called, he’d jumped into his car and raced home, making calls to his team as he went, directing a car to Khaled’s house and another two cars out to Boat Harbour to search for the fugitive and process the scene. Nico was determined to find this guy, whoever he was. One of the teams was out the back right now collecting evidence. They’d already spoken to Lacey and processed her hands and body for any telltale evidence the attacker may have left behind.
At least Lacey had been clear on one point. Her assailant had definitely been a man.
Lacey suddenly stood, put her cup on the table, and placed herself directly in his path so he was forced to stop pacing.
“Can you please hold me for a moment?” Gone was the fierce frown and the hard voice. She looked up at him with pleading eyes. “I’m still feeling a little shaky.”
“What? Of course.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close. Why the hell hadn’t he thought of this? Of course she’d be in need of comfort. She’d just survived an attack on her life. He hated to think what might’ve happened.
“I still can’t believe I was saved by a flock of geese,” she murmured into his chest, and he could hear her attempt at humor in her voice. But when she finally looked up at him, her eyes were glazed with tears. “Sorry. I seem to be making a habit of crying on your shoulder.”
“With good reason,” he scoffed. “This is the second traumatic event you’ve been through in a week.”
“Hmm.” She buried her face in his shoulder again and they stood like that for untold minutes as she took his proffered comfort. He allowed himself to feel her body pressed up against his. Allowed his heart rate to subside. Allowed himself to know that she was safe and real in his arms. He rested his chin on top of her head.
This woman was confusing his feelings, making him doubt himself and lose his focus on the job. All things he didn’t need or want. And yet… He hungered to have her in his arms more than anything. Wanted to get closer to her. So close they were melded together. Wanted to kiss her until the fear and anger diminished. Whether that was his fear and anger, or hers, he couldn’t really say.
Smudge lay with his head on both their feet as they stood locked together. The three of them must be a sight to behold.
At last, Lacey withdrew slightly so she could look up into his face. “Thank you,” she said. “I feel better now. Stronger.”
“Good.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her eyes widened slightly at his touch. And then she did the one thing that he couldn’t resist. Her tongue came out to moisten her lips, drawing his gaze unerringly downward to her pink, lush mouth. The urge to kiss her before had been strong, born from a desire to comfort. But now his desire turned to pure lust as it ramped up to scorching levels.
He couldn’t stop it, his mouth landed on hers without conscious thought. He let his tongue run over the corner of her upturned lips, then lightly over her teeth before he delved the depths of her mouth. She softened against him, her mouth pliant, consenting to his need to plunder her. The feel of her fingers in his hair at the back of his neck sent shivers of anticipation down his spine as she pulled his head down to get better access to his lips. Their first kiss had been explosive. And needy. This was just as needy, but more…sensuous. More adult. Like they’d progressed from a quick and dirty exploration to a more measured and considered discovery. Which was even more sexy somehow.
He ran his fingers across the small of her back, then up under her sweater to find all that glorious skin. Warm and soft and inviting. He spread his fingers across the breadth of her back, feeling the bumps of her spine beneath his palm. She was small and fragile beneath his big hand. But he knew she was quite the opposite. Knew that she could land him on his backside in one practiced move if she so wished it. A woman with hidden strengths.
