Sweet Seduction Shield(60)

Silence. Then when the bystanders all realised I wasn't joking, one by one they left the room until just Pierce, Stone and I were left.

"Take a seat, Detectives," I ordered, then flicked a steady gaze at Stone. "I'm assuming you're a detective too?"

For a brief moment I thought he'd ignore me, but eventually he nodded his head, making his pale locks fall forward over one eye, and then he pulled a chair out and sat down. A small, shallow breath of air slowly leaked from my pursed lips.

Pierce walked around to my side of the table and pulled out the chair next to me, making the next breath of air I sucked in almost hitch in relief... and surprise.

The men didn't touch their steaming mugs of coffee.

"Right," I said, head up, shoulders back and eyes flashing ire at both men. "I feel it necessary to point a few truths out to you."

Pierce's arm came up along the back of my chair, a move so simple, yet screaming for everyone's - especially Stone's - attention right then. I glanced over at him and received an encouraging, if slightly amused, smile.

"You know my history, so I won't bore you with details," I started, "but I will remind you that there is more than just my involvement in this sordid mess to consider." I met Stone's gaze directly, making sure he understood the next words out of my mouth were important. "My five year old daughter is in one of the rooms inside this house. Regardless of what you think of me, or what you think is going on between myself and Detective Pierce, she is innocent and deserves your protection."

"I'd never consider anything else," he replied, eyes hardening.

"Then, I ask you to move past whatever disappointment and anger you have with Detective Pierce until this is over. Until my daughter is safe. Making a scene about it right now is counterproductive."

"I wasn't making a scene," he argued, and I lifted my hand in the perfect ice princess stance and silenced his words with my flat palm up between us.

"You were making a scene," I corrected. "It wasn't necessary," I pointed out. "Nothing will happen between Detective Pierce and myself to jeopardise his career." Ryan stiffened, the heat of his glare on my cheek felt real. "I respect him too much to place him in that sort of position," I added.

"Marie," Pierce said in warning, preparing to argue against my statement.

"I also need him too much to jeopardise his career," I announced over top of his next words, making his mouth slam shut with finality.

I'd chosen my words with care, intending to send a strong message home to Detective Stone, but realising in the process that I would hurt Ryan. Make him think that my need of protection for my daughter was the only reason I was entertaining anything more from him right now. It wasn't, and I planned on explaining this to him when we were alone. Insisting that if we pursued this attraction we shared, it needed to be done in private. So potential thorns in our sides like Harvey Stone could be neutralised, before they became a problem for Ryan's career.

But of course there was a risk he'd take my statements to heart. He'd believe them as I was hoping Stone would believe them. And gaining his trust again would be too hard.

I flicked a quick gaze at Pierce, hoping he saw something of my intentions in my eyes, but whether he did, I couldn't say. His jaw was set, his lips were pressed in a thin, firm line, and his brow was furrowed with either confusion or anger, I'm not sure.

I decided now wasn't the time to placate him, I needed to concentrate on getting Detective Stone on side.

"So, you see, you have nothing to worry about," I concluded, holding Stone's level gaze.

He was leaning back in his chair, his hand up to his chin, elbow resting on a crossed arm. Contemplating. Me. My sincerity. Whether he needed to knock more sense into Pierce.

Part of me expected Ryan to argue further and the fact he didn't left me with a small measure of hope that he'd cottoned onto what I was attempting to convey. Of course, it could have been pure masculine pride. If she's not into you, you don't keep chasing. But at least he wasn't naysaying every word out of my mouth and creating further doubt.

I reached forward and took a measured sip of my now cooler coffee, enjoying the sharp, acrid taste on my tongue. The sugar providing the exact amount of sweetness to counteract the full-bodied flavour of the beans.

"Well," Stone finally said, his hand at the chin moving when he crossed his arms over his chest again, "it certainly didn't look like you had no intention of doing anything to jeopardise Ryan's career."

"Caught up in the moment," I said breezily, behind my cup. "Easy enough to do under the pressurised circumstances. But I'll be more vigilant from now on," I promised, returning my cup to the table with casual ease, as though we were having a pleasant conversation about the weather and not about such personal and emotional things, such as Pierce's and my attraction for each other.