He shook his head and temporarily said goodbye to that fantasy. “I’m giving us some sound cover. If there are listening devices, they won’t hear us, not over the shower.” But he had to get in real close while he talked to her. She’d pressed her back against the door, and he put his hand up against the wood, leaning in toward to her. He hated the way she tensed when he was near. It was like she sensed just how close he truly was to jumping her.
“Oh…so we’re not here for…oh.”
His brows rose. “If you want to strip with me, hell, yes, I’m game.”
Her lips pressed together.
“I’m always game for you,” he added, just so there would be no doubt on that point.
He saw the small movement of her throat as she swallowed. Her lashes lowered, concealing her gaze. “You forgot me for years. Now you’re back. An FBI agent is on my doorstep and—”
He caught her chin in his left hand. “Look at me.”
Her lashes lifted.
“Many things happened over the years, but forgetting you? That wasn’t one of them. I never forgot you.” She didn’t get it, and probably never would. When he’d watched her walk out of his life—that had been the hardest thing he’d ever done. Because he’d already seen the danger in her…he’d known that Carly Shay could wreck him. Could own him.
And he’d known that he would break any law to have her.
Seventeen.
Hell, yes, he’d had to send her away. She’d deserved a life. A good one.
Not some criminal bastard like him.
Then she came back. And all hell has broken loose.
“You don’t need to lie to me,” Carly snapped. “You’ve had so many lovers—I barely registered on your radar. I didn’t even—”
Now she was pissing him off. So he leaned in even closer. “Yeah, I’ve had lovers. Plenty of them. And you know what? They weren’t you. You think I didn’t try like hell to get you out of my system? The shit I feel for you isn’t healthy or safe, but it’s there, and it’s consumed me for years. So don’t tell me that I forgot you.” He shook his head. “Never have, never would.”
For an instant, he could have sworn that pain flickered in her gaze, and his own chest burned then because the last thing he ever wanted was to hurt her. He knew she deserved someone a hell of a lot better than him, and he’d tried to play the noble card, even though that wasn’t his style. But she’d…hell, she’d killed to keep him safe. When someone did that, you owed the woman.
More than can be repaid.
But he was trying, dammit.
“Daniel Duvato.” Just saying the name pissed him off. “Remember my psycho ex-bodyguard?” Actually, the guy had been his friend—fucking family. And he’d been a cold-blooded killer. Daniel had gone after anyone that he thought Ethan had cared about. So it’s a good thing I made sure you were far away from me. Because he would have killed you, and I would have gone insane. “When he was arrested, he wanted to make a deal with the cops. He was spouting BS and talking to anyone who would listen.” He heaved out a long sigh. “And one of the things he was talking about so freaking much? You, me, and Quincy Atkins.” He paused and had to say, “You know he had a video of that crime.”
She paled. “A video you destroyed.”
Yes, he had. Once he’d found out about the damn thing. By that point, the damage had been done. Daniel, I hope you are roasting in hell right now. He’d trusted the guy, and all along, Daniel had wanted to destroy him.
Daniel had said that he’d helped clean up the Quincy crime scene. Instead, he’d taken the security footage and kept it, waiting for the perfect moment to use that in his war against Ethan.
The war is over, asshole. You’re dead. I’m still alive.
“You…you did destroy the video, right, Ethan?” Her voice shook.
“Yeah, baby, I did.” But he had to be honest with her. “I found out that Daniel got word to the FBI. He wanted to talk to them about Quincy’s disappearance. Lucky for us, Daniel is dead now.” Not even by Ethan’s hands. “So he can’t tell the FBI anything else, but he sure made folks curious about what he knew.”
Like the FBI jerk who’d been outside. That guy had sure closed in fast. As soon as Ethan had learned of the FBI’s new interest in Quincy Atkins, he’d started working to get a new safe place set up for Carly.
“Maybe I should tell the FBI agent the truth,” she said.
What? Ethan shook his head, sure that he’d misheard her.
“I won’t talk about you.” Her shoulders sagged a bit. “I’ll confess that Quincy kidnapped me. I got loose. We fought. And the knife—it went into his chest.”
She was still trying to protect him. After all those years? How could he not be insane for her? “No. That’s not going to happen. The FBI isn’t dragging you down.”
“But—”
“I’ll handle the FBI. And you…” Damn but it was so hard to be this close to her and not kiss her. Her lips were right there. Inches from his. Full and plump and perfect. But when he kissed her, he pretty much ignited.
Beautiful Carly. She’d grown to be even more gorgeous over the years. Her wild child look was gone…no more short shorts and loose t-shirts. Now she was all sleek elegance. Perfectly cut clothes—a fancy blouse made of silk and a pencil skirt that fell just above her knees. Her hair—now shot with red highlights—was pulled back in a slick ponytail, and that style just accentuated her almond-shaped eyes. Big, dark blue eyes. A faint sprinkling of freckles slid across her nose, and he found that little sprinkle freaking delectable.
“What about me?” Carly demanded.
She wasn’t going to like this part. “I think you should start packing.” He’d originally hoped to follow her to New York and do something incredibly normal…like ask the woman out on a date. But with the FBI closing in, hell, no, that wasn’t a good sign. The FBI would come first, and other—more undesirable bastards—would follow in their wake. There were plenty of people out there who would like to know what had happened to Quincy Atkins, and those people wouldn’t hesitate to hurt Carly in order to discover the truth.
Ethan had no intention of allowing her to be hurt. He didn’t want her skin so much as fucking bruised.
“Packing?” She blinked at him, then gave a ragged laugh. “You’re crazy.”
“Perhaps. Probably.” He shrugged, not overly concerned with that bit. “But I’m still going to need you to get your bag ready. Everything you want to take with you. Feel free to leave unnecessary shit behind. I’ll buy you new stuff and you can—”
“No.” Her hands came up and shoved against his chest. He took a step back, mostly because he’d been caught off-guard by the force of her shove. “I’m not leaving,” Carly said adamantly. “Forget that. I have a life here.”
“A life that could end if you aren’t careful.” A life that would be destroyed if she talked to the FBI.
Her chin notched up. “Maybe I’m tired of running from the past.”
“Too bad. Because the past isn’t dead. You aren’t safe, and that’s on me. I’m the one who attracted attention to you when I wouldn’t leave your bedside. I’m the one who put you in the crosshairs, so now I’m the one who will keep you safe.”
She licked her lips. Rather helplessly, his gaze followed that sensual movement and—
“Get out, Ethan.”
He shook his head.
“Out,” Carly enunciated slowly. “Out of my home. Out of my life. You aren’t doing this to me. You aren’t going to appear and—and take me away. This isn’t happening.”
Yes, it was. He’d wanted to ease her into the situation, but the FBI had moved too fast.
“I like things here. I’m safe.” She heaved out a hard sigh. “I need that safety. Being with you—you aren’t safe, Ethan.”