Katie stood in the kitchen, frying pan in one hand and a dozen eggs in the other. She should make something for them to eat. It was nearly morning and she had never gotten around to that frozen pizza the night before. She thought she remembered Kaiden saying he had missed dinner as well. Unfortunately, she seemed to have temporarily forgotten how to scramble an egg.

"You need sleep much more than you need an omelet," she muttered, turning to put the eggs in the refrigerator and running straight into Kaiden.

The entire dozen of extra-large eggs flew out of the cardboard carton, splattering against walls, on counter tops and the floor. Yellow yolk ran in rivers down the cabinet doors and egg shells spread around the room like glitter.

Kaiden burst into laughter.

Katie fought back tears.

He reached over and took the frying pan from her other hand and placed it on the cooktop.

"Hey, there's no sense crying over spilled milk. Or broken eggs."

"Look at this mess!" Katie threw her hands in the air in disgust. "Everything is such a mess!"

Her apartment, her kitchen, her life. The proverbial straw had finally broken the camel's back. Katie dropped to the floor in a pile of egg shells and sobbed. She didn't even look up when Kaiden squatted in front of her. After all, half of this mess was all his fault. Well, maybe not his fault exactly but definitely the agency he worked for.

"It's okay, Katie. If you have a mop and a couple of dish cloths, I can have this cleaned up in a jiffy." He reached over and lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"Why don't you just go? I'll take care of it. Being with you has become kind of dangerous." A flashback of the near accident at the discount store shot an involuntary shiver down her spine.

"Hey, I could say the same about you. I can't let you stay here. Your apartment is a crime scene now, twice in fact, and I can't let you be here until the crime scene techs have finished processing everything."

"Well, isn't that fabulous. I'm living in a crime scene now. Yippee for me. Things really can't get any worse, can they?"

"If there is one thing my mother taught me; never, ever tempt fate by asking what else can go wrong. Fate can be a real bitch and she will make sure to let you know you ain't seen nothin' yet."

"Lucky me." Katie started to rise from the floor. She needed to get that mop and get rid of the egg before it dried. Unfortunately, her foot found a slick spot. She slid forward and straight into the crouching Kaiden. They tumbled backward onto the tile floor, her on top of him. Neither of them moved except for the rapid rise and fall of Kaiden's chest against her own. Her body reacted to his pounding heart; her pulse racing to keep tempo with his.

"Well, this is awkward," Katie mumbled as she tried to extract herself from the tangled mess of limbs.

"I don't know. Sort of seems okay by me." Kaiden grinned, his arms finding their way around her and holding tight. The bulge pressing against her thigh told her he found it more than okay.

"You must be breaking about ten laws right now." She pushed against his shoulders but Kaiden held fast.

"Just two or three," he replied, his voice suddenly very husky. "I might be about to break a couple more." He lifted his head until his lips were nearly touching hers.

"Hello? Anyone home?"

Katie scrambled off of Kaiden as he jumped to his feet.

"Virginia Beach Police! I'm coming in!"

"Damn! I forgot another officer was coming to watch the place!"

Katie giggled and pointed. "You have egg all over your coat."

"Show yourself!" the voice from the door commanded.

Kaiden pulled off his coat and hung it over his arm. Taking his badge from his pocket, he held it out in front of him and left the kitchen. Katie followed.

"Homeland Security! I have ID! We're coming out!"

They entered the living room to find a police officer holding a gun and eyeing them suspiciously. The suspicion quickly turned to amusement. "What were you two doing? Making breakfast?"

"Not exactly," Katie replied, feeling the burn in her cheeks as the officer continued to study them intently.

"Hmmm… you know you have egg shells in your hair?"

"We had a little broken egg incident. It's all under control now." Katie reached up to feel her hair and stuck her hand in a slimy pile of ick. Trying not to look as disgusted as she felt, she pulled her fingers away and wiped them on the sleeve of Kaiden's jacket. He shot her a questioning look.

"What? It's already got egg all over the back. What's a little more?"

The officer bust out laughing and holstered his weapon. Wiping at tears in the corners of his eyes, he grinned at the two of them. "I like the way you feds do business. Were you taking her into custody or working on—um—interrogation techniques in the kitchen."

"Interrogation." Kaiden extended his hand to the officer. "Kaiden James, Homeland Security. This is Katie McCoy and this is her place. We were waiting for someone to sit on the scene so I could get her to a hotel. Ms. McCoy is under agency protection now."

"Ha! I bet she is." He looked them up and down with a wink to Katie. "Officer Ramsey, Virginia Beach PD. I'm here to babysit the place until we get the all clear from the crime scene techs. Someone's on the way now to check the place out. Had to drag her out of bed since it's the middle of the night. You want me to buzz you on your cell when the place is clear so y'all can secure it?"

Katie didn't say anything. Office Ramsey wouldn't have stopped talking long enough to listen to her anyway. At the moment, she could only concentrate on getting to a shower and cleaning the sticky gunk out of her hair.

"You okay?" Kaiden asked. He and Officer Ramsey were both looking at her questioningly

"What? Yeah, I'm fine, why?" The heat in her cheeks returned.

"You look a little flushed," Kaiden replied.

"It's been a long night. I'm tired. Someone tried to run me down with their car and I have egg in my hair."

Officer Ramsey still looked very amused. "I think it's time you take your—witness—to a safe place where she can shower and get a little rest."

Katie shot the cop a nasty look. "I just need to get this egg off me. Watch your step in the kitchen. There's not much to snack on so maybe you should just stay out of there. I'm going to wash my hands."

As she stood in the half bath washing up, she heard the cop talking to Kaiden. "Hey, man, you gonna tap that tonight?"

"Watch your step, officer."

"Dude, you gotta be crazy not to. She is one fine thing and you got to keep her protected, right? Ain't that what you feds do?"

"Not another word or I'll give your supervisor a call."

"Whatever, man. Whatever."

Katie shook her head as she dried her hands. You gonna tap that tonight? Would Kaiden try anything once they were alone? She doubted it. Kaiden was a flirt but he definitely took his job seriously. Except for the fact that he had almost kissed her three minutes ago.

Besides, did she really want to deal with all the uncharted emotions he had been stirring up in her since she laid eyes on him in the interrogation room? No, probably not.

Yes! Yes, you do! Especially if his lips are on you at the time.

Pushing the thoughts of Kaiden's lips out of her mind, Katie walked out to the living room. Kaiden and Officer Ramsey were circling each other like a couple of lions in a ring, neither one saying a word. If not for being absolutely exhausted, Katie would have enjoyed the little show of bravado.

"Okay, I'm ready."

"You think you can handle watching this place better than the other guy?" Kaiden asked Ramsey.

"What? You think only you feds know how to sit on your asses?" Ramsey shot back.

"Come on, Kaiden." Katie interrupted the shower of testosterone. "I really need to get this stuff out of my hair."

Kaiden glanced over at her while keeping an eye on Ramsey. "Yeah, okay. Let's get out of here."

Katie kept her mouth shut as Kaiden nearly pushed her out the door. Officer Ramsey watched them go but didn't say anything else. She had pretty much had all the male ego she could take for one night. Now all she wanted was to take a shower and forget this night ever happened.