She wanted to go home and he wanted to keep her there as long as possible to feel her closeness again. The case took priority though and Katie McCoy had become a part of that case. There would be no sponge baths… or anything else… in their immediate future. Breaking that sort of protocol could cost him his job and as Cara would staunchly proclaim, his job would always be the most important thing in his life.

There couldn't be anything else, no matter how much he thought he might want it. Kaiden had sacrificed a great deal for his career and he wasn't about to jeopardize that for any reason, including the adorable nurse sitting there less than three feet away looking lost and forlorn.

She wanted to go home and he really didn't have any reason to keep her.

"I have a few more questions. Do you know where Nathan is staying these days?"

"Check his father's mansion. That place is locked down tighter than the White House."

"Do you know where Mandy lives? Do you happen to have her phone number?"

"She lives in one of those new high-rises in Towne Center. Her number is in my cell phone back at my apartment. Unless one of your commando goons grabbed it when they snatched me?"

"We'll ask about your phone. Do you have any emails or other correspondence from Nathan asking you unusual questions or talking about things that seemed a little odd to you?"

"We didn't email much. Nathan hated technology. Can I go home now? Please?"

More likely, he didn't trust it.

Kaiden rose from his chair without a word and fished a handcuff key out of his pocket, using it to unlock the cuffs holding her wrist to the table. Katie rubbed at the red marks where the steel had pressed into her skin. Kaiden took her hand in both of his and inspected the marks, his thumb tracing the angry red lines. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't realize how tightly they were on."

He had longed for the feel of her again for months. He wanted to stop everything he was supposed to be doing and spend the night exploring more of her soft skin. When she pulled her hand away he felt the loss of her touch deep in his gut. The intensity of it shocked him.

"I'll live," she said. "So long as I can go home now."

"I'll drive you. But I have to tell you, don't leave town anytime soon."

"I can take a cab."

Kaiden looked down. "I am not sure a cab is the best idea."

Katie followed his gaze to her sock covered feet. "Yeah, okay. You might be right about that."

He led her from the tiny room, down a dark hall, and out a door that led to a parking lot. Not far from the door stood his black Ford F150 pickup truck, waxed to a high shine and just about glowing under the light of the lamp in the parking lot. Kaiden loved that truck almost as much as he loved his job. Holding the door, he waited while she climbed into the passenger side before striding around the front of the truck and sliding in behind the steering wheel.

"Nice truck," she said as she clicked the seatbelt. "You feds get treated well."

That truck represented the closest thing he had to a relationship since Cara had left. "Prior to meeting up with you I was at a wedding, remember? I get to drive my own car on vacation."

"Right." She fell silent.

"So, where are we headed?" Kaiden asked.

"Atlantic and Thirty-First."

"Nice neighborhood."

Katie shrugged. "I like seeing the ocean first thing in the morning and last thing at night. All those years of living in the mountains, I guess."

Kaiden could understand that. He had agreed to move east for the Homeland Security job because of the ocean. After years in the Coast Guard, the mountains made him feel landlocked while the ocean gave him a sense of freedom. He had even learned to surf since living in Virginia Beach. Nothing in life had ever given him so much satisfaction.

"Do you surf?" he asked.

She turned toward him with a puzzled look. "Um, no."

"You should try it sometime." Or, better yet, he could teach her sometime. Yeah, he liked that idea. The case wouldn't last forever. When it was over, there would be plenty of time to really get to know Katie. Unless she went to prison. Oh man. He really hoped she wasn't involved in this mess.

"I'm not the most graceful thing on two feet. That would probably be a huge mistake."

"It's really not that hard. I'd love to take you sometime." The words slipped out before he could stop them.

"I don't think that is such a good idea," Katie replied.

"Look, I know all of this is kind of weird."

"Weird? It's crazy! Masked men dragged me from my apartment and chained me to a table. Then this guy I once took care of in the hospital shows up and digs into my personal life. Now, without so much as an apology from the guy who kicked my door in, you are driving me home and offering to take me surfing? Yeah, I don't think weird quite covers it, Agent James."

Kaiden couldn't help but laugh. It did sound crazy. In his mind they had more of a relationship than in reality, he supposed. Months of her haunting his dreams must have clouded his judgment. Katie had been in love with another man who now had gotten her into serious hot water. An impromptu surfing date seemed out of place for sure. "Well, when you put it like that, I can see why you think it's a little odd."

Katie didn't answer. They drove the rest of the way to her apartment in silence. Her building looked impressive from the outside. Several floors of condo style apartments with balconies facing the beach were built above a series of high end clothing and décor shops. The building had its own parking garage that Kaiden turned into.

"This is a nice place. I haven't been down in this area much. I had no idea how developed it had become."

"What are you doing?" Katie motioned to the garage as he pulled in.

"Parking."

"No need. I can find my own way."

"I have no doubt of that; however, I would like to assess the damage done to your property by those 'commandos' you keep referring to."

Katie shrugged. "Whatever floats your boat."

As soon as he parked the truck, Katie jumped out and started toward the elevator. Kaiden kept stride while still giving her some space. When the elevator doors opened, he stepped in beside her and stood without speaking, arms crossed over his chest. Katie watched the numbers light up as the elevator climbed but didn't acknowledge Kaiden at all.

They arrived at the seventh floor with a ding of a bell. The doors slid open and Katie walked away still giving him the cold shoulder. Kaiden smiled and followed her down the hall until she stopped in front of one of the doors.

"There's actually a boot print on it." Kaiden laughed.

Katie threw her hands on her hips and glared at him. "This is so not funny. The management company is going to make me pay for this you know."

"Don't worry, I'll get someone over here to fix it on the agency's tab."

"Hmpf…I'd say that's the least you can do," Katie grumbled as she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Kaiden let out a long, low whistle. The entire place was in shambles. Drawers had been dumped, cushions tossed on the floor, and furniture turned over.

"Did our guys do this too?" Kaiden asked.

"No."

"Someone tossed your place."

"Thank you, Mr. Obvious. I don't know how I would have figured that out without your crack investigative skills."

Kaiden walked further in the room as he pulled out his cell phone. "Someone was looking for something."

"Again, thanks for stating the obvious." Katie looked absolutely overwhelmed as she turned and examined her apartment. "I can't imagine what they were looking for."

"I'm calling the police. We need to report this break in."

"No. Don't. It doesn't look like anything is missing."

A crash sounded in the bedroom. Katie looked at Kaiden with fear in her eyes. "Someone is still here."

He held a finger to his lips telling her to be quiet as he grabbed his gun from the ankle holster he wore under his tuxedo pants. Katie nodded and moved into the kitchen, out of sight of the bedroom.

Kaiden inched his way to the door and stopped to listen. There was definite movement in the room beyond. Taking a deep breath, he kicked the door wide open. A loud thunk sounded from the bedroom.

"Federal agent! Drop your weapon!" he called out but it wasn't necessary. The man was knocked out cold in a pile of satin and silk.

"What the…?" Katie stood behind him peering at the guy on the floor. "That's my lingerie! What was he doing in my underwear drawer?"

Kaiden studied the pinks and purples and blues with curiosity. Katie obviously liked sexy lingerie and he really liked that.

"Looking for something."

"Again with the obvious. Is he a panty thief?"

"I don't think so. Panty thieves don't usually carry guns." Kaiden kicked a handgun away from the form on the floor. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed 911.

"This is federal agent Kaiden James, Homeland Security. I need local police and an ambulance." He gave Katie's address and then rolled the man over and slapped some cuffs on him in case he woke up before the municipal police arrived.

Katie walked around mumbling and trying to straighten her things.

"You have to leave everything the way it is for the crime scene techs."

She looked at him with a blank expression. "Crime scene techs?"

"I'm sorry, but your place is officially a crime scene right now."

"That's all my underwear!" She grabbed at a few of the silky things. "Not a crime scene!"

"Unfortunately, it is. You have to leave it all here until the scene has been completely processed."

"This is all your fault! You and your stupid agency!" Katie threw her hands in the air, sending the underwear she held flying around the room. A pair of black satin bikini briefs landed on his head.

She stood there, looking at him with true horror as Kaiden reached up and removed the undergarments from his head. Placing them on the bureau, he turned her toward the living room.

"Why don't you wait in the living room for the police?"

"I don't feel like it. I want to clean my room."

"Well, you can't. Not right now anyway."

"Hmpf! Well, it's not like I would wear anything he has touched ever again anyway." She turned and stomped from the room. Katie McCoy had a hot temper, something he thought he might enjoy under different circumstances.

Kaiden punched in his boss's number on his cell phone. Hunter picked up on the first ring.

"I'm at the McCoy place. Someone totally tossed it."

Hunter let out a long low whistle. "So, she is involved."

"No. I don't think so. I think someone else thinks she is. I caught the guy in her bedroom sifting through her unmentionables. We are just waiting for the locals to get here to haul him away."

"Well, once they get there, you can head back to the wedding if you want. Thanks for handling her."

"Are you serious, Hunter? By the time I get there Logan and Angie will be on their honeymoon already! Besides, I am not done with Ms. McCoy."

"Why? A minute ago, you said she's not involved."

"I also said someone else thinks she is. Our guys busted her front door pretty badly. She isn't safe here."

"What's your plan, James?"

"At the very least, the agency owes her a hotel stay for wrecking her front door."

"Fine. Check her in somewhere and then call it a night."

"Why are you in such a rush to get me away from her?"

"One of the guys told me you know each other. Breaches protocol. You are off this one, James."

"What the hell, Hunter?! You said I was the only one who could do it. Left my cousin's wedding and cut my vacation short because you said it was a matter of national security!"

"I didn't say that!"

"You know you did! I'm not letting this case go. Not until I figure out what Nathan Marks is up to. He is the case, not Katie."

"Katie?" Hunter shot back. "We're on a first name basis now?"

"Let it go, boss."

"Just get her squared away in a hotel and we will talk later."

Hunter disconnected before Kaiden could say anything else. Voices sounded from the living room so he exited the bedroom. Katie animatedly described the events of the evening to a detective who appeared barely old enough to drive. Kaiden motioned to a uniformed officer and led him to the suspect.