Moving In With Adam

CHAPTER ONE

WHY did things like this always happen to her? Of all the places for a stupid nail to stick up…An experimental move confirmed the situation was as hopeless as it was ludicrous. The nail had securely skewered her jeans to the window frame.

Don’t stop there. Come all the way in.

The disembodied voice springing from the darkness sent Sunny’s heart leaping to her throat. Who’s there? she asked in alarm, blinking as light flooded the room. A huge, dark-haired man stared ominously at her from the other side of Blythe’s kitchen. Sunny’s mouth went dry. Who are you? she croaked. What are you doing in Blythe’s house?

The man’s clothing slowly registered on her brain. Black sweatpants, a black sweatshirt and black running shoes. He needed a shave. It didn’t take a genius to figure out the man was a criminal. A criminal she’d interrupted in the middle of burgling her sister’s vacation house. Fighting waves of fear that threatened to engulf her, Sunny clamped her fingers on the wooden windowsill.

I’ll ask the questions, the burglar said coldly. Get in here.

I can’t, Sunny blurted. I’m stuck on a nail. Instantly she realized she’d stupidly informed a hardened criminal she was trapped and at his mercy. Don’t let him know you’re scared, she told herself. She had to try and bluff her way out of this mess. I’m not answering any questions until you tell me who you are.

His lips quirked at her ignominious predicament. You’re pretty cocky for a punk who’s nailed to the window. He strolled across the floor to rest a hip on the wooden kitchen table, his gaze never leaving her face.

Sunny couldn’t decide whether his amusement at her situation meant more or less danger to her. Deciding she’d rather not know, surreptitiously she renewed her efforts to free herself from the traitorous nail. To no avail. She was firmly caught. There’d be no escape that way; she’d have to rely on her wits. What she had left of them. Plastering what was undoubtedly the world’s sickliest smile on her face, Sunny said, You know what? I’ll bet I’m in the wrong house.

Honey, you’re assuredly in the wrong house.

Under the circumstances, overlooking the sarcastically offensive endearment seemed prudent. Yes, well, as soon as I get loose, I’ll be gone. A brilliant idea struck her. If she pretended she thought he lived in the house, he’d never suspect she’d guessed his larcenous intentions. I’m sorry I bothered you. In your own house, she added.

He lifted a dark, mocking eyebrow. A minute ago you said it was Blythe’s house. Leisurely he shifted his hip from the table, rose to his full height and took a step in her direction.

I obviously made a mistake, she said hastily. Not that she expected for a second to convince him of that. Burglars knew whose house they were burgling.

You made a mistake all right, honey, thinking this house would be easy pickings for a female urchin such as yourself. Moving toward her until he stood only a few feet away, the thief inspected her as if she were a particularly nasty species of insect.

Sunny knew exactly what he was seeing. Knowing the day’s drive would be long, she hadn’t inserted her contact lenses and dark-rimmed glasses framed her eyes. A frayed, brown knit cap failed to hide dark braids, and Grumps’s faded jacket was stained from years of gardening. But even if she did look like something the cat dragged in, it wasn’t this criminal’s place to sit in contemptuous judgment of her. He was the one who had no business being in Blythe’s house.

Now, however, was hardly the time to gird herself in righteous indignation. First she had to free herself and get to the police. Then this overage juvenile delinquent would get his comeuppance. Her heartbeat speeded up to triple time as he moved closer and stopped directly in front of her. A head taller than her five feet three inches, he loomed menacingly over her. She forced herself to look up at him, her throat stretched and raw with the effort to contain the screams she felt rising there. If you’ll just help me get loose, she said desperately, we can both go about our business.

He pressed his palm against her throat, his fingers encircling her neck, and stared thoughtfully down into her upturned face. Hasn’t anyone told you what happens to little girls who run around after dark playing dangerous games?

She swallowed hard. I’m not— His mouth cut off her denial. A hard mouth, pressing a punishing kiss against her lips. She tried to break free, but his hands grabbed her braids and held her captive.

A little girl like you should be worried about a bogeyman dragging you off to his bed.

Before Sunny could protest his monstrous conduct, his mouth was once again pressed against hers. Only this time his lips were soft and persuasive. Heat from his mouth flashed through her. Fear and anger combined to give her strength, and Sunny thrust all her weight against his chest. She’d have had more success moving the Rock of Gibraltar.

He raised his head, looking down at her with hooded eyes. Hopefully that will teach you to stay home at night. The dark holds all kinds of dangers for little girls like you.

I’m twenty-five, she spat before she realized how inappropriate the remark was.

His teeth flashed white in a forest of black stubble. Then you’re too old and too inept to begin a life of crime.

Amusement only slightly softened the harsh, cynical face. Black hair, almost blue under the kitchen lights, was brushed with premature gray on the temples. Mocking laughter lurked deep within black-brown eyes. The dimple in the dark, rough chin was ridiculously out of place on a man so overwhelmingly masculine.

If you’re through taking inventory, he said dryly, perhaps we could get back to the subject at hand.

Sunny’s cheeks flamed with embarrassment, but she wasn’t about to let this gargantuan throwback from the Stone Age know she was terrified. Especially since it appeared he was so arrogant it hadn’t occurred to him she might pose a threat. Why should it? She didn’t see a weapon, but it didn’t take a genius to realize it wasn’t fat sculpting his body. He could overpower her in seconds, especially nailed as she was to the window.

She gave him a persuasive smile. I’d appreciate it if you could help me.

His answering smile parodied hers. I’m still waiting to hear who you are.

It doesn’t matter. You might say we’re just two ships passing in the night. So to speak, she added lamely.

I’ll decide what matters. Tell me who you are, his every pore reeked with menace, and why you’re breaking into the Reeces’ house?

Sunny Taite, she said instantly. Craven and stupid, that’s what she was. Any ignoramus knew enough to give a false name. Yeah, and ignoramuses probably didn’t have escapees from Alcatraz scowling dangerously at them. And I’m not breaking in. I’m Blythe Reece’s sister.

Blythe Reece’s sister, he repeated skeptically. Reaching for her again, he pulled her back against his chest and felt beneath her for the guilty nail. Are only your jeans caught? At her nod, he gave a quick tug and the sound of rending fabric ripped through the room before he set Sunny down on the kitchen floor.

Thank you. Holding a hand behind her over the damage, Sunny backed unsteadily away from him toward the back door. I’ll leave now. Thanks again.

Iron fingers closed about her arm. You wanted in. You’re in. Why hurry away, Blythe Reece’s sister?

His tone of voice made it clear he didn’t believe her. Did burglars worry about competition? No honor among thieves and all that…? She’d better convince him she was who she was. Then she’d figure out how to escape.

I’m Blythe’s sister, and— She glanced wildly around. I can prove it. Sunny nodded in the direction of the front of the house. In there. Photographs. Me with Blythe, me with Mom, and Blythe and me with the boys.

An imperious hand in the small of her back propelled her across the kitchen toward the sitting area. The burglar snapped on another light and in turn inspected the photographs and Sunny’s countenance, all the while maintaining his firm grip on her arm. Forced to stand much too close to him, Sunny was intensely aware of him, and she wasn’t real crazy about the sneaking suspicion that tingling nerve endings and a heightened awareness of blood coursing through her veins had less to do with fear and more to do with the burglar’s devastating masculinity.

She was clearly a deranged idiot. The man was a brute and a thief. No woman in charge of her mental faculties could possibly think of him in terms of sexual attraction. No wonder she’d come close to flunking chemistry in high school.

I guess you are who you claim to be. He slowly raked her body with a cool gaze. So you’re a sister of the sophisticated Denver socialite, Blythe Reece. One corner of his mouth curved upward. I’d never have believed any sister of hers would be caught dead dressed as you are.

Sunny stiffened. I’m Blythe’s sister, not her clone. She shook loose of his grip. And what makes you the expert on Blythe? He didn’t need to answer because the answer was obvious. You snooped through her dresser drawers. That’s repulsive.

The sudden narrowing of his eyes reminded her that offending this man could be dangerous. In the large room, a clock steadily ticked off the minutes, the innocent sound somehow ominous. Sunny attempted an ingratiating smile. Never mind. Let’s both just forget about this whole little incident.

Blythe Reece being your sister doesn’t explain why you were entering her house through a back window. He eyed her thoughtfully. Or explain why you turned off your lights as you drove up the street and why you killed the car engine and coasted into the driveway.

There were deer in the yard and I didn’t want to spook them.

I didn’t see any deer.

They ran away.

And I suppose a bear was standing beside the front door making it necessary for you to come in through a window.

A burglar was bad enough, but a sarcastic one was beyond bearing. The nerve of him grilling her when he was the common criminal. I’m not the burglar, she flashed. I’m not the one dressed in black from head to toe. As her words echoed beneath the tall ceiling, Sunny’s stomach heaved. She was certainly winning bonus points for stupidity tonight. Why didn’t she just invite him to shoot her?

He stared blankly at her before his lips slanted wickedly. Had I realized I would be entertaining, I would have worn a tuxedo. His eyes glinted with silent laughter.

Once again Sunny’s brain insisted on sending mixed messages. One side told her to run; the other noticed how darned attractive laughing brown eyes could be.

Why hadn’t her mother told her insanity ran in the family?

Well, it’s been nice meeting you. She sidled toward the door. On second thought, I think I’ll just spend the night in Denver with Blythe. The heck she’d go to Denver. She’d drive straight to the police station. This man was probably the slickest thief who ever lifted a pair of diamond earrings. She took a couple more furtive steps. The door wasn’t that far away. Maybe if she ran fast…

Reaching lazily out, he wrapped his large hand around her wrist and plucked her back. You haven’t satisfied my curiosity as to why you were coming through the window.

What difference does it make? Why are you so obsessed with how I get into my sister’s house? I’m not interrogating you, and you’re the one in the middle of stealing whatever it is you steal.

Great going, Sunny, she mentally fumed. The last thing she needed to do was irritate someone who undoubtedly headed the FBI’s Most Wanted list. Don’t show fear, she reminded herself.

Let go of my arm. You can’t scare me. Everyone knows burglars avoid murder and mayhem because if they hurt anyone while committing a crime, the penalties when they are caught are more severe.

A look of secretive mirth flashed across his face. If they are caught. He propped a shoulder against the wall. His viselike hand holding her wrist, he ran the fingers of his other hand up and down her arm. I don’t mind’ occasional mayhem— he played aimlessly with her fingers —if it gets me what I want. And right now I want to know why you were coming through that window.

Sunny’s fledgling confidence that he wouldn’t hurt her instantly evaporated. Surely he wasn’t thinking of breaking her fingers. That happened in the movies, not in her sister’s vacation house in Estes Park, Colorado. Sunny couldn’t decide if she was about to giggle out of nervousness, sheer terror, or because the whole situation was so ludicrous. Blythe loaned me the use of her house.

But not the use of her front door, he said, the words coated with heavy sarcasm.

She told me to come through the window… His unblinking stare further unnerved her. Why are you looking at me like that?

I find it hard to believe Mrs. Reece would instruct her sister to come through the window. He rubbed his finger over her knuckle.

Tempted as she was to spit in his eye, the look on his face, not to mention his size and the way he was holding her middle finger, persuaded her it would be far wiser to explain. Blythe couldn’t find the key. Improvising rapidly, Sunny widened her eyes to convey sincerity. And she told me if I jiggled the window lock it would come undone. Daniel and David, my nephews, do it all the time.

I’m sure they do. And I’m equally sure their mother knows nothing of the broken lock.

Of course she does. How many times do I have to tell you…? She read the answer on his face. Oh, all right. Blythe doesn’t know I’m here. I mean, it’s OK. She offered me the use of her place. I didn’t tell her I was coming because I didn’t want to stop in Denver to pick up the key. Blythe would have a fit if I didn’t stay there, and I didn’t want to stay. I was going to call her as soon as I got in.

So your sister has no idea you’re here.

Appalled by her own stupidity, Sunny opened her mouth but no words came out. The knowing grin on his face told her he was having no trouble reading her thoughts. She managed a feeble smile.

Well, not exactly, that is, I left a message on her answering machine. She’ll know by now I’m here. And she’ll be calling any minute to check on me. The cynical disbelief on his face spurred her on. She’s my older sister. You know how they are. Well, maybe you don’t, because maybe you don’t even have an older sister. I mean, I really don’t know anything about you, do I? And naturally I have no idea where you live and I probably couldn’t even describe you to the police…

She faltered momentarily. I don’t know what made me say that about the police, because of course I have no intention of calling them, because after all, you were nice enough to help me, and, uh, friends don’t, uh, rat on friends, do they? she finished in a rush, not liking the growing amusement in his dark eyes.

Suddenly the emotions of the long day’s incredible events, combined with exhaustion, sapped the strength from Sunny’s legs. She slumped