secured the locks on his door, then headed back to the balcony. Since the building didn’t have air, and the windows were small and difficult to open or close, the balcony offered the only respite from the smothering, humid heat.
But, yeah, the August weather wasn’t his only reason for venturing out to the crumbling balcony.
He’d seen the steak in her grocery bag.
Pepper Yates, aka Sue Meeks, prepared a lot of her meals on a small propane grill. Too many evenings he’d lurked inside, observing her through the vertical blinds, watching her as she’d cooked a single potato with a piece of chicken, a pork chop or a steak.
Did she hate cooking for one as much as he did?
Didn’t she ever tire of eating alone?
He knew for a fact she didn’t date, didn’t have any visitors of any kind—not even her damned brother.
She didn’t drive, didn’t leave the apartment any longer than it took to run errands, and as she said, she kept to herself.
No social life.
He knew, because he’d been watching her for longer than he’d been in the apartment building. Weeks longer.
Would she venture out to her grill with him sitting outside, his balcony right beside hers, close enough that they could chat?
Would she give in to the curiosity he’d seen in her expression?
Or would she avoid him as she’d done so far?
After dropping into a lounge chair, Logan finished off his beer, sprawled onto his back, closed his eyes against the evening sun, and thought about things yet to occur.
Things that had to do with her.
Things that would no doubt prove…interesting.
Even exciting.
The thrill of the chase.
This was what he lived for. The reason he’d become a cop. The core of his basic nature.
And now, finally, he was moving in on his prey.
* * *
WHY DID HE HAVE TO BE out there? For over an hour, Pepper waited to see if Logan Stark would go inside. He didn’t budge.
And she didn’t stop watching him.
He appeared to be sleeping, his broad chest expanding with deep, slow breaths. Legs sprawled, hands loose, face relaxed.
Body enticing.
She swallowed and thought about the card he’d given her—now on the top of her refrigerator for safekeeping. It didn’t mention a job, just his name, address and cell phone number. He didn’t have the look of the poor. His demeanor defied the defeat of unemployment, and his body defied a lack of activity.
He wanted conversation. She bit her lip.
Okay, so maybe she’d ask him where he worked. Maybe, given his absurd pursuit, he would expect her to want to learn more about him.
God, he looked good all lounged out like that.
He had one arm up and over his head, showing off his biceps and the tuft of darker hair under his arm. Sinfully sexy. He kept the other bent at his side, his big hand opened over a tautly muscled abdomen. The setting sun glinted off his brown chest hair, turning it almost golden. He wasn’t overly hairy, just earthy and masculine.
No shaved chest for this guy, thank God.
His chest hair narrowed to a fine line down his body, skirted around his navel, and then, growing darker, disappeared into his shorts.
And below that, behind the fly of his shorts, a nice, full bulge.
Stepping farther out, she stared hard, enrapt.
Her heartbeat slowed, her breath deepened.
Logan opened one eye and found her visually molesting him again.
For several seconds they stared at each other, and then he said, “Hey,” in a deep, lazy, interested way.
Oh, no, no, no. Why did he have to be so…potent?
Busted, but never a coward, Pepper stepped out fully to the balcony. Hands clasped together in front of her, nervous smile in place, she said, “I, ah, didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Just dozing.” A low rumbling growl accompanied a deep stretch. “No biggie.”
The stretch did interesting things to all those muscles: flexing, bulging, then letting them relax again, still prominent, but no longer tense.
So unfair. How could he look so good doing nothing?
Sitting up, he swung his long, hairy legs over the side of the chair. Even his big feet were beautiful!
After running a hand over his head, then his chest, he focused on her. “Getting ready to grill?”
How did he know that? “Um…”
“I could join you.” His gaze drilled into her. “I have my own steak I’d planned to throw on anyway. No reason we can’t share the grill, right?” And as an enticement, he added, “I’ll even bring the beer.”
That much proximity, given her sizzling awareness, could be treacherous. A little time with him, maybe. But the entirety of dinner? She’d be a fool to agree to such a… “Okay.” What?
Oh, my God, had that really come out of her mouth? Well of course it had. Look at him, sitting there like physical temptation, legs apart, expression lazy and skin sun-warmed.
She covered her mouth with a hand.
But she was only human after all, and if her downtrodden appearance didn’t keep him at bay, well then, what would it hurt?
As surprised as she, he said, “Seriously?” He straightened, his manner suspicious, his gaze going all over her.
What, did he think she had a concealed weapon? Did he expect her to wield a steak knife?
Did he expect ulterior motives?
Yes, of course, she had them—but they weren’t motives he’d ever guess.
Pepper dropped her hand and filled her lungs with the thick evening air. “As you said, there’s no reason for us to fire up both grills.”
“Well, hot damn.” Smiling, Logan pushed to his feet. “I got time to take a shower?”
Oh, she wished he wouldn’t. Her nose twitched with the need to smell him, to drink in his hot scent. “If you must.”
“Give me five minutes.” Without another word, he ducked back inside.
Hugging herself, Pepper sat down on her single patio chair. She felt
