Sexy. Damn annoying.
He heard her sharp breathing even from this distance. If he concentrated, he could even hear her heartbeat. A faint, rapid pulse that hinted at her uneasiness.
She glanced around before straightening the bin.
Declan stepped out of the bushes and stood in the middle of the driveway.
A blackbird took flight and she spun around with a gasp, a bag of rubbish in one hand. Their eyes locked and the need for words fell away.
She moved first.
Dropping the bag, she whirled around and bolted up the stairs to the front door. He anticipated her movements and it took little effort for him to reach the door before she did.
He cocked a brow as she froze. “You really think you’re going to run from me?”
Eyes wide, she shoved him away and raced around the house along the porch.
He gave chase and snatched her wrist as she slipped into the half-open sliding door. With a shriek, she spun around and kicked out, packing a tight blow for someone her size. He released her and she dashed inside, slamming the door.
They stared at each other through the glass, both breathless from the struggle.
“Open the door, Kate.”
“Go away!”
“Yeah, right. As if that’ll happen after what you’ve done to me. Open the door before I break the lock.”
Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the length of him, zeroing in on his Keeper ring. “Declan?”
His eyebrows shot up and he reached out, ripping the door open with ease. Kate gasped, spun around, and ran. Declan followed, but halted as he found himself staring down the barrel of a handgun.
“You need to leave,” she panted, and he heard the shaking anger in her voice. Despite the fact that her shoulders heaved from her choppy gasps of air, neither her arms nor the gun wavered.
“Seriously? You’re going to shoot me?”
“You’re the one who started this game of cat and mouse.” She gave him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Not so nice when you’re the mouse, is it?”
“I wouldn’t know. I’m not going to hurt you, Kate.”
“Right. You tracked me down and I doubt you had tea and a catch up in mind.” She nudged the gun in his direction. “You should go.”
“Like hell. You want to shoot me? Then do it. I doubt you even know how to use that thing.” He lowered his hands and took a step closer to her. “Go on, shoot me.”
She cocked the gun.
Shit. “Put the gun down, Kate.”
Keeping his eyes pinned on her, he edged closer, holding his breath. “You might be a thief but I doubt you’re a murderer.” He sensed the slightest crack appear in her armour and took another step forward. “Lower the gun. I won’t hurt you.”
“After what I’ve done to you I find that hard to believe.”
“Payback’s a bitch but it’s not what I’m after. I simply want answers.”
He used her moment of hesitation to close the distance between them in a lightning quick move. She screamed as he grabbed the gun from her but he tossed it to the couch where it landed with a thud.
She tried to punch him but he caught her wrists. She lurched forward, unbalancing them both and they stumbled across the couch and onto the floor.
“Kate!” he snapped, keeping a firm grip on her wrists. He adjusted his weight, pinning her beneath him. “Kate, stop it!”
Their eyes met and he heard the air leave her lungs in surrender. They stared at each other in prickly silence, electricity pulsing between them. Her heart hammered in her chest against his, reminding him of the last time she’d been breathless in his arms.
“Calm down,” he said, pushing away the memories. “I won’t hurt you. I just want to talk.”
“By attacking me on the front porch?”
“I’m sorry. You ran and I acted without thinking.” His lips twitched in an attempt to bring them onto even ground. “Animal instinct and all that.”
“You broke down my door.”
“Apparently locks aren’t a hindrance to either of us.”
“What do you want, Declan?”
He could think of a lot he wanted from her. A shitload of answers for starters. He released her wrists and lifted his weight, but still kept her pinned beneath him. No chance he was letting this wildcat go until he was convinced she was calm.
“Now that Harper knows we’re both in town, he’s going to come looking for us. No more fighting, okay?” He waited for her to acknowledge him and a moment later, she gave a brief nod. Releasing her, he pushed himself up, bringing her with him.
Holding her hands, he drew her closer, tucking their entwined fingers between them. The impact of their closeness stirred the heat between them. She drew a sharp breath, lifting her head to meet his gaze, and he almost grinned when he felt the quiver through her body. He inhaled her scent, allowing it to wash over him. Her lips were full and ripe with promises of more. Lips he’d devoured many times over.
“Declan … ” she whispered, but didn’t pull away.
She was so close and for an insane moment, he had the urge to kiss her.
Their differences be damned.
“You lied to me, misled me, attacked me,” he murmured, dipping his head toward hers, “but what we had three months ago wasn’t fake, was it?”
Her gaze faltered to his lips, heat pulsing between them. But she didn’t deny it.
“I thought so.” Grinning, he released her, not missing the way her armour slid back into place the moment he took a step back. He reached for the gun, masking his surprise when he found it wasn’t even loaded, and returned the useless weapon to her. “You don’t need this with me.”
Dropping her shoulders, she nodded.
And so a truce was made. A shaky one, but it was good enough for now.
“How did you find me?” She took the gun from him. Without breaking eye contact, she moved back, still keeping her distance, and placed it on the kitchen counter.
“You stole from me, left me buck-naked, and returned to trash my house. You really think I’d let that go?” He glanced at the bag at the front door. “Going somewhere?”
“I never unpack.”
These three simple words arrested Declan for a moment.
“That’s what
