Sweet Seduction Shield(20)

An interesting reaction to us, that's for sure. But then, how would I feel inviting strangers into my - clearly newly purchased - house, knowing they brought McLaren type trouble? She had a right to worry and I wouldn't deny her it.

Pierce made sure we were both out of the vehicle before he greeted the pair.

"Ben, my man," he said, shaking the guy's hand, then he murmured a softly spoken, "Abi, sweetheart," as he kissed the woman on her cheek.

Ben quickly pulled her out of Pierce's clutches and back into the protection of his arm. It was such a proprietary move, but completely lost on Pierce. Or he was just used to it from the bigger man, and paid it little attention.

"This is Marie Cox and her beautiful daughter, Daisy," Pierce announced, and then did the strangest thing. He stepped up to my side and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. In a mimic of Ben and Abi.

A move that wasn't ignored by the Ben. His eyebrows rose, as his shrewd gaze slipped over our forms and to Pierce's face.

"Is that so?" he drawled, and received an elbow in the stomach from Abi.

"Hi," she said, stepping forward and offering her hand for me to shake, "I'm Abi, and the Neanderthal back there is Ben."

"Red," Ben growled in warning. She flashed him a smile, he immediately smiled back. Clearly without thinking, because when he caught himself doing it he scowled instead.

"And you're Princess Daisy," Abi announced crouching down. "Gen told me you drew the most amazing picture of a penguin. Is that true?" the woman asked, as though it was a mystery she'd dearly love to solve.

In that instant I knew we'd done the right thing. Coming here. Trusting Pierce. Ben would be a formidable force to come against, to get to us. And Abi was a natural with kids.

"I can do one for you, too," Daisy announced, taking an eager step towards Abi.

Abi beamed back at her, and stretched out her hand for Daisy to take. Without even the slightest hesitation Daisy slipped her hand into the woman's.

"You got crayons?" Daisy asked, as Abi's eyes flicked up to check on me.

"Sweetheart," she murmured, "we've got paint." She said it like it was a prize, and to a five year old it probably was. To the daughter of an obsessively clean mother, it certainly was. "And what's more, Ben and I have a wall in our house that needs an artist's touch."

"Penguins, Red. Really?" Ben asked, from back on the deck.

"Penguins, Ben," she replied. "And lots of 'em."

Daisy squealed with delight and followed Abi into the house.

"You stayin' for a beer?" Ben asked Pierce, as we both came up onto the deck. I hadn't realised it was that late in the day, but we had spent several hours at Sweet Seduction.

"Yeah, sure," Pierce replied with a shrug. "But I've got to check on a few things back at the office first and I need half an hour alone with Marie before then."

He hadn't said that in any lewd or suggestive way, but for some reason I felt a blush sweep up my cheeks. Ben's eyes quickly flicked to my face briefly before he turned and walked through the door leading the way into the house.

Pierce stopped me before I crossed the threshold with a gentle touch on my arm. He didn't hold on, his hand dropped to his side immediately.

And I missed it.

I frowned in confusion at my reaction to this man. He took a small step back. Minute really, but clearly because he'd seen my response to his touch.

"Sorry," he murmured. Shook his head, then ran a hand over his goatee. "Um, are you all right? With all of this, I mean." He waved a hand at Ben and Abi's house. He also sounded unlike himself. Not that I'd known him long, but the apology for touching me and his stumbling questions afterwards were not the Detective Pierce that I'd seen so far.

"I guess," I said slowly. "Just nervous, about everything." I hoped that explained my reaction to him just now. Part of me didn't want him to feel like he'd done anything wrong.

Part of me was hoping he'd reach out and touch me again.

"Good," he said with a nod of his head.

"Good," I replied, unsure of what else to say.

He smiled then, it broke the tension building, and with a sweep of his hand towards the entrance, he announced, "Ladies first."

I had to smile at that too. I hardly felt like a lady in days old clothes, scrapes on my knees and bruises all over my body. I wondered if my hair was a mess too. I reached up a hand and flattened the chin length strands down, tucking a wayward piece behind my ear.

"You look great," Pierce murmured in my ear from behind.

"Pardon?" I asked, certain I'd misheard him. He cleared his throat.

"Do you, er, want to check on Daisy and then we can get that statement of yours sorted." Way to change the topic there, Detective. Very smooth.