Sweet Seduction Shield(34)

And for a split second I saw that male appreciation again. That look he'd had that did strange things to my pulse.

Detective Pierce considered himself a knight in shining armour. He searched for damsels in distress. It was what he did. But he was also attracted to my strength right then. Turned on by my willpower and the priorities that I had set.

I didn't want a reaction to that light that flicked on in his eyes. I didn't want to feel drawn to him, more than I already was. For all intents and purposes, we were on different sides of the law. I'd benefited from criminal behaviour in the past, through living with Rick when he worked for Roan McLaren. I'd stolen property; albeit an item owned by a drug lord, but it had still been theft. Despite my reasons why.

And now? Now I withheld evidence in an ongoing investigation. Evidence that could help the Police put more than just Roan McLaren away for good. It could help them take down a plethora of criminals, in an assortment of illegal activities over the course of several years.

Pierce believed I had a civic duty to divulge my secret.

I believed I had a parental duty to protect my daughter from harm.

An attraction of any sort between us was doomed.

I cleared my throat and picked my still half full cup of coffee up off the table, taking it to the sink to wash it out. When I turned around to leave the room, with some confident comment about freshening up before we headed out on my mind, he was standing right there. Watching me, seeing right through me.

I sucked in a startled breath and looked on mesmerised, as his hand lifted slowly and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. He left his palm rested on the back of my neck; so hot, so comforting, so intimate... so right.

"I'm not your enemy here, Marie. I'm on your side."

I swallowed thickly, but couldn't find my voice to argue the point or offer a reply.

He moved closer, not removing his hand, but bringing his chest within inches of mine. I had to tip my head up slightly to keep eye contact.

"You are so single-minded," he murmured. "You've got blinkers on. You can't see your way out of the forest, for all the trees. Let me help you," he pleaded, softly. "I swear I'll keep you and Daisy safe."

"Why?" I found myself asking. For some reason I thought his answer would tell me what I needed to know.

Was he doing this because I was a means to an end? The key to having McLaren locked away for a very long time. Or was there a personal reason for him insisting he could protect us? For him pushing me beyond that which a policeman would normally push a witness.

I wasn't sure what reply I wanted to hear.

His forehead furrowed slightly, as though he was trying to think of the right thing to say. Perhaps reading too much into the question, just like I was. His thumb absently stroked the sensitive flesh on the side of my neck, making my heartbeat thrum excitedly with every brush across my skin. He sucked in a deep and slow breath, then gave a short nod. I think it was to himself, not to me.

"This is what I do, Marie," he said quietly, but firmly. "This is my job."

And in that instant I knew that was not the answer I had hoped to hear.

I let a sharp breath of air out and then twisted my body away from his, making a break for freedom. He let me. One quick glance over my shoulder at him, from the door, and I think he looked as disappointed in himself as I was, right then.

I left him leaning against the bench, head tipped towards the floor, scowl on his face. Contemplating what he'd just said and probably my reaction to it.

I'd given a lot away. But damn it! He'd forced my hand. And now we knew.

He was a cop.

And I was a means to an end.

I went straight to Daisy. The need to check on my daughter, to remind myself of exactly why I couldn't give in to this man, was too great. For her I had to keep everything close to my chest. For her safety, and health, and wellbeing, we had to remain out of McLaren's - or any other criminal's - sights.

Abi and Kelly were both up and in the penguin painting room. A paintbrush in everyone's hands as they placed touches onto a four foot high mural of a King Penguin on the wall.

"Wow!" I said with not just a little awe. "That looks fantastic."

"Right?" Abi agreed in a question. "Your daughter has an awesome talent. I'm commissioning three more for over there," she said, pointing to the other corner of the same wall.

"I'm in charge of the iceberg in between," Kelly declared. "They think that's all I'm good for. Big chunks of frozen rocks, floating in a sea of blue."

"I'm sure it's not all you're good for, Kels," Adam announced from the doorway with a sexy smirk.

"Not that you'd ever know for certain, big man," Kelly shot back.

"Dude," he exclaimed with mock shock, clutching at his chest. "Low blow."