“T-that...” She cleared her throat and tried again. “That works for me.”
“Good.” He lowered his mouth to hers. She expected hard and urgent, but instead he gave her soft and lingering. Slowly, he built the pressure of his kiss, drawing her body closer to him. Her fingers dug into his shirt, bunching the material in her hands. She couldn’t get near enough to his hardness, the strength of his body.
Seth groaned as he twisted his hand in her hair. The strands tugged on her scalp making a slight burn. Oh, yes. She rubbed herself against him, trying to get as close to him as clothes allowed.
With a curse, Seth wrenched his mouth away and took a step back. His rough breathing matched hers. “Jesus, woman, you tempt a man.”
“Well, you know”—she straightened her caftan top that had slid to one side, revealing her pink bra strap—“I do what I can.”
Seth’s burst of laughter was met with her chuckle in return. He slung his arm over her shoulders and guided her back to the master bathroom, where Zach was gently prying Mal from halfway up his jeans.
The bearded giant glanced over his shoulder at Harper. “The little bloke’s a climber. And he’s in the mood to play.” Zach handed him to her.
“I’ll stay a few more minutes and get him to settle.” Harper smiled as Mal looked around at all the adults, as if choosing which one to play with next.
“He’s cute. Can I come visit him again?” Milly scrambled to her feet.
“Sure, if your dad says it’s okay. Mal needs new friends.” Harper reached out and stroked a curl of dark hair off the child’s forehead.
“Awesome.” Milly grinned and reached for her dad’s hand.
“Sounds like a plan, but for now, we have to get going.” Seth steered Harper and Mal to the apartment’s front door. Zach and Milly followed.
Once there, Zach handed her a piece of paper. “That’s mine and my brothers’ phone numbers. Put them in your cell. You need us, call.”
“Thank you.” Her voice conveyed her surprise, but she couldn’t have hidden it for love or money.
Zach held her stare. “Seth’s given you his protection. That means you get the same from the rest of us, whether you want that or not.” Before she could say anything else, he moved out into the hallway.
Milly broke from her father and wrapped her arms around Harper’s waist, giving her a hard, fast squeeze before stepping back and waving. Then father and daughter started down the stairs.
Harper turned to Seth, still a bit shell-shocked from Zach’s declaration. “I didn’t think they liked me.”
“They’re getting to know you. And besides, they know I like you.” Seth glanced down at Mal. With such gentleness for a big man, he stroked a finger over the kitten’s head. “Look after our girl.” Mal booped Seth’s finger in silent agreement. “Good boy.”
“You’ll call?” She cringed at her slightly yearning tone.
“Absolutely.” He studied her face for a moment. “Your sister’s dinner is tonight, right?”
Her spirits took a nosedive. Sitting at her father’s table was no joy. “Yes.” Okay, that wasn’t fair. Sienna deserved a happy birthday dinner. “At least I’ll get to see my nephew and niece as well as Sienna and Lance. They’re cute and lovable kids.”
Seth nodded, his gaze now guarded, not the frank openness she was so used to. “I’m not going to ask you to keep anything from your Dad, but if he asks questions about us.” He broke off and frowned. “Keep it as brief as possible if you can.”
Where had that come from? “I don’t share much with my dad, Seth, and never anything that personal.”
Seth gripped the back of her neck and squeezed. “I guessed as much, but I just want you to be…cautious.” He dipped his head for a quick, hard kiss. “Until Sunday evening, sweetness.”
She didn’t get a chance to ask what Seth meant as he slipped out the door and jogged down the stairs.
Harper shut the door and made her way to the living room. She sat on the sofa and nestled Mal close under her chin, his kitty purrs doing little to soothe the tightness invading her body. Something about Seth’s request sounded off. Was he worried she’d inadvertently say something about his investigation? Not that she knew anything ‘top secret’. What could be his concern? And why didn’t he just share that worry outright?
Those questions sat heavy in her mind the rest of her working day and still niggled hours later when she entered her parent’s Capitol Hill mansion. The heels of her black Jimmy Choos with the caramel-colored toe clicked on the hard marble floor, the echo loud in the pristine coldness of the too bright whiteness of the walls. Priceless modern art hung as paintings or stood at attention as a sculpture, as if aware their beauty was there to impress, not entice the viewer.
“They are all waiting in the dining room, Miss,” a uniformed waiter, not one she recognized, so likely from an agency, advised.
Great. Even five minutes early she was the last to arrive. She brushed her hands over the black skirt and checked her camel-colored top. The batwing sleeves and light, shiny material was comfortable against her skin as she headed toward the back of the house. Cool air caressed her bare neck, soothing her ever-tightening nerves. If the six hundred bobby pins in her hair continued to hold the French knot, she’d be happy.
Muted voices grew louder as she entered the dining room. She glanced around the long rectangular table decorated with a fine arrangement of pink and white flowers and place settings in silverware. No kiddos.