An Indecent Longing Read online

  Damn it. Why the hell did he keep creeping back into her thoughts? It wasn’t fair.

  “Yes, please.”

  With Blank at her side, she refused to let her gaze stray around the room, looking for him. She didn’t want to see him.

  Liar, liar, pants on fire.

  She wished she could tell herself to shut the hell up.

  Instead, she smiled at Blank, who nodded, his sharp gaze checking her over before he turned toward the exit across the room.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Ian saw Dorrie leave the private area in the back.

  He told himself he hadn’t been watching for her as he held up the wall behind his client’s table. The European high-roller who’d hired him and Ben for the night had lost a shit-ton of money at the blackjack table. Much more than he’d paid Ian and Ben, and their fee hadn’t been cheap.

  But the man didn’t seem to care. Probably because of the blonde in the barely-there dress who’d been pressing her breast against his arm and giving him a good view of her cleavage for the past hour.

  Ian figured she was working an angle but, honestly, he didn’t give a shit. The client was an asshole, and if she screwed him out of a few hundred thousand, that wasn’t Ian’s concern.

  Ian had been hired to guard the prick’s life, not his wallet. Which meant he should pay a little more attention to the overweight, bald jerkwad with the deep pockets than to the woman who’d finally emerged from the back room.

  But he couldn’t tear his gaze away as she stopped beside her bodyguard to smile and nod.

  What the fuck has she been doing back there for more than two hours? Who the hell is she meeting? And what the fuck is his name so I can make him quietly disappear?

  His hands clenched into fists before he forced them to relax at his sides.

  Damn it. Keep your head in the game.

  Which apparently was a damn good call because he caught the flash of a gun being drawn out of the corner of his eye.

  His training kicked in automatically, his brain identifying the threat a split second before the gunman raised his weapon and started shooting.

  Grabbing the client, he shoved him toward the floor when the first shots rang out.

  The guy let out a squawk of outrage as Ian slammed him to the floor and covered him with his body. But the guy’s outrage quickly turned to fear when shots blasted into the air and people started screaming.

  Ian knew the difference between screams of pain and fear. Several people had been hit.

  Jesus Christ, not Dorrie.

  As Ian held his paycheck to the floor with his left hand, he used his right to draw and fire at the gunman, who’d already begun to move back through the exit.

  He must’ve taken out his target and was laying down gunfire to cover his exit.

  Since Ian’s job was to make sure his client’s ass was safe, the second the shooter had retreated from the room, Ian yanked the guy off the floor and shoved him toward the back exit, where a steady stream of people were already leaving.

  Where the fuck is Dorrie?

  “Ian. Are you okay?”

  Ben’s voice in his ear snapped Ian back to the moment. “Yeah. You?”

  “Fine. Out the back?”

  “Yeah.” No. “Wait. Fuck.”

  There she was. In the middle of the room, her hands covered in blood as she waved frantically at someone. His heart leaped into his throat and he could barely breathe.

  If she’s hurt…

  “Ben. Brunette in the green dress. Don’t leave her.”

  “What? What the fuck—”

  “Stay with her and don’t leave her fucking side.”

  Ian caught sight of Ben, shock plain on his face, just before he shoved their client into the hallway toward the back entrance that led into the alley.

  “Get her the hell out of here, Ben.”

  Right before he got their client into the hallway, he caught a glimpse of Ben running toward Dorrie.

  She’ll be fine.

  He kept telling himself that as he pushed the client down the hall with the rest of the frightened masses. Forced himself to bite back the question because if she was injured, he’d dump the client in the alley and go back, paycheck and new job be damned.

  Jesus, please let her be okay.

  Ben Shaw heard his cousin’s sharp orders through his earpiece and immediately searched for the woman Ian had indicated.

  He found her kneeling on the floor across the room. “On her. But what—”

  “No buts.” Ian sounded cold, controlled. “Do it.”

  Ben trusted his cousin with his life but they’d been hired to do a job. Right now, Ian was hustling that job out the door and into a waiting car. A car Ben should be driving.

  “Ian, what the hell’s going on?”

  “Can’t explain now. I’ve got the client. I’ll take him back to the hotel. Don’t need you for that. Make sure she’s okay. Nothing happens to her.”

  Since Ian was more than capable of shepherding their client back to his hotel, Ben started to make his way across the room. “Who is she?”

  “Her name’s Dorrie. Tell her I sent you. No, wait. Just let me talk to her muscle. Don’t let her out of your sight until she’s safe at home.”

  Now Ben was more than intrigued. “You’re the boss.” Which he wasn’t. He and Ian were equal partners, but Ben couldn’t resist the occasional jab.

  He reached the woman’s side in seconds and, as he dropped to his knees at her side, his gaze narrowed at the blood covering her hands and arms.

  “Fuck. Are you hit?”

  She spared him a quick glance but immediately dismissed him. “Blank, I need my bag from the car.”

  The big guy beside her shook his head. “No fucking way.”

  “Now. Blank, she’s going to die. I need my bag.”

  The big guy’s jaw locked and he sized up Ben, clearly trying to decide if he could trust him.

  So he tried to make it easier. “Ben Shaw. Ian Keller sent me.”

  The woman’s head snapped around and she stared at him through wide eyes, her mouth open for seconds before she snapped it closed. But her hands never faltered as she applied pressure to the leg of the wounded woman.

  “What did you—” She shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. Blank. My bag.”

  Ben turned to the big man by her side, but he remained exactly where he was.

  “Ian.” Ben knew his cousin hadn’t turned off their comms. “I need a reference.”

  “Give your ear piece to Blank.” Ian’s voice practically bit through his link.

  Ben dug out his earpiece and handed it over.

  The guard stuck it close to his ear and barked, “Keller, what the fuck?” Then he fell silent for several seconds until finally he nodded and handed the ear piece back to Ben.

  The big guy stood. “I’ll be back with your bag. You go nowhere without him. You.” He pointed at Ben. “Anything happens to her, you better hope you’re dead.”

  Then he took off at a dead run.

  “Hands,” she demanded. “Here.”

  He obeyed without hesitation, replacing her hands with his on the woman’s leg.

  She gave orders with the authority of someone used to having them obeyed. Ben followed every one because she obviously knew what the hell she was talking about.

  Doctor, nurse, medic, EMT. Someone in the medical field.

  He was betting on doctor. She had that air of earned arrogance that intrigued the hell out of him.

  Who was she? How did Ian know her? And why had his cousin been so adamant that Ben stay with her?

  Still pressing on the woman’s leg, he watched Dorrie check the woman’s other injuries then move to a man propped against the wall, holding his stomach and moaning. After pressing on various places on the man’s abdomen, she moved to another woman slumped across one of the tables.

  Blank hustled back into the room with her bag. She didn’t have to say a word. He’d already opened it for her and sh
e reached inside with sure hands.

  Then she went to work with single-minded focus.

  She’d apparently already triaged the wounded and was working on the woman she’d found slumped against the table. Ben realized that woman must have been shot in the chest. Blood had soaked through the entire bodice of her light-colored dress.

  Dorrie looked almost as bad with blood smeared all over her hands and arms.

  The carnage didn’t bother Ben, not after what he’d seen in the service and, later, in the private sector.

  Dorrie mesmerized him. Couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her slim fingers worked to save the woman’s life, her concentration scalpel-sharp.

  In the distance, he heard sirens approaching. Thirty seconds later, bodies poured into the room. Police, fire, EMTs. Where before there’d only been the sounds of quiet moaning, now there were raised voices as the EMTs shouted at each other.

  Dorrie continued to work with steady care.

  Ben had been relieved by a pair of EMTs, and he gladly gave up his post to the professionals. It meant he could move closer to Dorrie, where Ian had told him to stay. And not to leave.

  She and another EMT were having a rapid-fire discussion when he got within hearing distance. Something about BPs and clots and bleeds followed by a whole lot of jargon.

  Stopping next to her guard, Ben leaned closer.

  “Is she always like this?” He kept his voice to a level only Blank would hear.

  “Yeah. Don’t get in her way. You won’t like her foot in your ass.”

  Now Ben turned to the guy who stood at least three inches taller than him, which put him at six-four, at least. He reminded Ben of some film-noir tough guy. All he needed was a fedora.

  He stuck out his hand. “Ben.”

  The guy took it. “Blank. You and Keller gotta be related.”

  Ben tried to hide his surprise but figured he didn’t do such a good job when Blank nodded, his gaze never leaving Dorrie.

  “Why do you say that?”

  The big guy huffed. “I’m good with faces.”

  Then Blank made another sound, one that made Ben look a little more closely at him. “Hey, man. You okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  Ben looked even closer. And saw how pale the guy was.

  “Shit.” He leaned in and lowered his voice. “Were you hit?”

  “No.” But now the guy was practically clenching his teeth. “Not really.”

  “What the fuck does that mean?”

  “It means I got grazed and it hurts like a mother, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

  “Where?”

  “My side—”

  “Damn it, Blank.” She sounded pissed. “When were you going to tell me?”

  Dorrie had obviously finished talked to the EMTs, who were loading the woman she’d been helping onto a stretcher, and started to strip Blank’s jacket off him.

  Without batting an eye, Blank took her hands and held her at a slight distance. “I’m fine. We need to leave. Now, before the cops get around to questioning you.”

  “I have nothing to hide and you’re bleeding.”

  “Then take me back to your office and patch me up there. But we’re not staying.”

  Her jaw clenched in a way that made Ben’s lungs catch.

  Damn, the woman was pretty. Made him want to—

  “Blank.”

  Her voice had been low but Ben heard the fear in her tone. He turned just in time to see the big guy’s eyes flutter and his body sway.

  “Okay, maybe I need to sit down for a few minutes.”

  Dorrie looked at Ben. “I need to get him to my office.”

  “Out the back it is then.”

  Ben took a quick look around. The EMTs were still busy with the wounded and so were the cops. He counted four of those at the moment but knew there’d be more arriving in seconds.

  “I assume you know the magic word to open the door.”

  She nodded. “The keycard’s in my purse. I dropped it by the door.”

  “Then let’s get this parade moving.”

  Getting them out was easier than Ben had expected. The cops were all busy and there were still enough people in the room to give them cover. Dorrie walked to the door first, black bag in hand. She walked with a purpose and no one gave her a second look, probably because she’d been seen helping the EMTs.

  Ben and Blank followed at a slower pace. Ben had to give it to the big guy. He managed to look perfectly fine as he made his way to the door, Ben at his back.

  Dorrie had retrieved her purse and had the keycard in her hand, ready to wave it in front of the reader. She did the second they got there and they slipped into the hall without anyone stopping them.

  Then Ben wrapped his arm around Blank’s waist, dragged the guy’s arm around his shoulders, and started to book it.

  They needed to be out of here now before anyone noticed they were missing.

  Dorrie apparently agreed. She rushed for the back door, using her keycard again and waiting for the click that signaled the door had opened.

  She already had her hands on the bar, ready to push it open. Her urgency made Ben look up at Blank. The guy looked ready to pass out.

  “Shit. We better hurry.” Ben tightened his arm around Blank’s waist. “If he goes down, I’m secure enough in my manhood to say I’m not gonna be able to pick him up.”

  Dorrie shoved the door open, and Ben hurried forward with Blank. Then the three of them made their way to the private entrance to the parking garage below their feet.

  Somehow they managed to get Blank into the car. Then Ben took the keys from the big guy’s coat pocket and got them the hell out of Dodge.

  *

  Two hours later, when she was sure Blank was out of the woods and would have no more complications, Dorrie let her head fall back on her shoulders and closed her eyes for a few seconds.

  The silence in her office helped her brain reset, but she really wanted a bath. Wanted to soak for hours with a glass of wine in her hand and her Halestorm playlist pumping through her apartment.

  But for now, she’d have to settle for a shower here.

  Pushing away from her desk, she headed for the bathroom, peeling off clothing with each step. No one would walk in on her. Her two nurses would only disturb her if something happened to Blank, but that wasn’t going to happen. He would be fine. She was damn good at her job.

  By the time she reached the full bathroom behind her office, she was naked and a little cold, her nipples hard and peaked. Flipping the switch for the room heater, she felt warm air rush from the vents in the wall as she twisted the handles for the water.

  Her dad had spared no expense when he’d built these offices for her, and for some unknown reason, this shower could fit three people.

  Right now, she’d settle for one other person. Someone who would hold her and make her forget the past few hours. Preferably with lots of hot sex.

  Maybe a certain man named Ben?

  The thought sent a little thrill through her body as she stepped under the spray, which was somewhat surprising, considering she hadn’t been attracted to a man other than Ian since she’d met him.

  Then again, Ben had a connection to Ian, so maybe that explained her attraction.

  Or maybe Ben was just that fuckable.

  She didn’t usually go for redheads. But the auburn scruff on his jaw combined with the slightly darker waves on his head and those copper eyes… Maybe she’d been missing out all these years.

  The guy certainly wasn’t lacking in looks either, from his dimples to his strong jaw, sharp cheekbones, and that mouth…

  Or maybe Risa was right and she just needed to get laid. Sex would be a great way to wind down.

  Too bad Ben had probably left hours ago.

  A shudder rippled through her, and she shut her eyes tight against the tears that wanted to spill over. Stupid tears she’d never allow herself to spill anywhere but here, all by herself.

  S
he could’ve died tonight. She could’ve taken a bullet and bled out on the floor of that hotel. And there were three people in the world who would care.

  Three. How pitiful was that?

  Damn it, she wanted to talk to her sister, wanted to hear Risa’s voice tell her she was being stupid and to suck it up.

  But she couldn’t call Risa now because Risa would hear the unsteadiness in her voice and come running. And then Risa would find out about Blank and Risa would totally freak out and Blank would get pissed off and—

  Ugh. She couldn’t deal with it. Not tonight.

  For fifteen minutes, she stood under the shower, hands pressed against the wall as the water poured over her body.

  She’d hoped the heat would loosen her muscles and make her sleepy, but she was still wide awake and jittery when she stepped out. A quick glance at her phone showed it was close to midnight.

  She’d kill for a drink right now. Something highly alcoholic and guaranteed to make her brain fuzzy. And she didn’t want to drink alone, damn it. Blank would have her head if he found out she’d gone to a bar by herself, but she didn’t want a babysitter while she drowned her sorrows.

  But Blank won’t find out. Not if you’re smart. Not if you go somewhere no one knows you.

  No one would have to know. And it wasn’t like she wasn’t a grown-ass woman who could go to a damn bar by herself whenever she wanted.

  Too bad Ben had left. Maybe he would’ve joined her for a drink. Which was a stupid thing to even be thinking about.

  Shaking her head, she rubbed a towel over her hair, hoping to rub out thoughts of that damn man. Both men. She didn’t need any damn men in her life right now.

  Then why are you so damn lonely all the time?

  She took her time dressing in the worn jeans and faded Washington Capitals shirt she kept at the office, realizing too late that she’d forgotten to replace the extra bra she kept here.

  Didn’t matter. Wasn’t like anyone was going to see her anyway.

  Unless she did stop for that drink. The bar on the other end of the street from her apartment building was open until two a.m. It never seemed all that busy. Maybe she could have a quiet drink there without having to deal with a bunch of drunk businessmen or college kids.

  Then again, maybe she should just go home and drink alone.