Katie didn't say a word as they took the elevator down to the parking garage. She still didn't speak when they were in his truck and she only nodded at the desk clerk when they checked into a small hotel on the edge of the tourist district. They stood in the hall in front of room 203B when Kaiden couldn't stand her silence any longer.

"Something eating you?" he asked as he slipped the key card into the slot on the door.

"What would ever give you that idea?"

"Certainly not your sunny demeanor." The lock clicked and the key card slot lit up green.

Katie didn't answer so he opened the door to the room and waited for her to enter. She still hadn't said anything to him two minutes later when she grabbed clean clothes and some toiletries and disappeared into the bathroom. The room had two double beds. Kaiden decided on the one closest to the door. He kept a packed bag, commonly referred to in the business and by his mother as a go bag, in his truck. The James family, particularly its matriarch Clara, prided themselves on being prepared for everything. The go bag had served him well on the job many times.

Kicking off his dress shoes, Kaiden sighed in relief. Men's dress shoes were the worst. He much preferred a good pair of tactical boots or even running shoes—they were much more practical in his line of work.

Once he stripped out of his tuxedo shirt and belt, Kaiden sat down on the bed and leaned against the headboard wearing only his unbuttoned black dress pants. He could hear the water running in the shower as his eyes slowly closed.

The sounds of Katie in the bathroom were comforting. It reminded him of being married and having someone to come home to. Knowing he had someone there, someone to hold when the day was done, had made his life complete. Until it was gone and his bed stood cold and lonely. Although he rarely admitted it, his now busy life felt empty. Being around Katie, first in the hospital and then for the last twelve hours, had brought some excitement and warmth back into his heart.

Like it had done so many times before, his mind wandered back to that last night in the hospital. He wasn't allowed to shower yet as the wound needed a couple more days to heal, so she came in and offered to spruce him up a little for the outside world. He could have cleaned himself up but the thought of the cute little nurse sponging him down had worked for him. He had no idea how much it would work though. They had laughed and joked as she mixed some soap in the warm tub but it had all come to a screeching halt the minute she touched him with the wet cloth. Kaiden's entire body had heated at her touch. His nerve endings had fired over and over again until he was almost on fire. She felt it too, he could tell. She remained quiet as she did her job but her hand held a slight tremor and the rise and fall of her chest had increased at the same rhythm as his own. It was the most erotic thing he had ever experienced in his life.

What he wouldn't do to experience that again.

She's right there, in the shower.

By now her body would be covered in sudsy lather, trails of soapy water running down her sun-kissed skin. She loved the beach enough to pay top dollar for an ocean view from her apartment. How much of her body had been touched by the sun? With any luck, every single inch.

Why don't you go see for yourself?

Because that would be wrong. Katie was his witness, nothing more.

Yeah, right. You weren't thinking that an hour ago.

The whole egg thing had been an accident. It wasn't his fault she had slipped and fallen on top of him. The way his entire being had reacted to her closeness had been mind-blowing though.

His brain was trying to be smart but the rest of him was as stupid as can be. His body wanted to hop in that shower with Katie and show her how a sponge bath really worked with Kaiden James. It didn't matter that he annoyed her or that she might actually be involved in his case. He didn't peg her as a co-conspirator, at least not intentionally, but Katie definitely knew more than she realized. In the morning, he would have to start a real investigation. But tonight?

He might never get another chance to be alone with her again. To hell with his investigation.

He made up his mind. Memories of her body pressed against his in the kitchen tensed every one of his muscles. Jumping up from the bed, he dropped his pants to the floor and was about to shuck his boxer briefs when he heard the door to the bathroom open.

"What are you doing?" Katie demanded.

Oh, hell. What was he doing?

He saw her reflection in the mirror that hung over the bed. Steam billowed out of the bathroom, surrounding her like early morning fog rolling in off the ocean. She had her hair tied up turban style in a white hotel towel and her cheeks were flushed from the heat of the water—or maybe embarrassment at seeing him nearly naked in the middle of their hotel room.

What the hell were you thinking? He wasn't thinking, that was the problem. At least not with the right part of his body. "Just getting ready to take my turn in the shower."

"Is that all you were doing?" Her eyes travelled down to his black briefs where a very obvious bulge was for all the world—and Katie—to see.

He felt the blood rush from his crotch as his cheeks flamed.

Damn!

"I didn't—um—hear the water shut off. I was just—grabbing some athletic shorts to—um—sleep in— and well, what the hell. I was thinking about what happened in the kitchen at your place."

Her annoyance turned to embarrassment. "It was an accident. I'm sorry I fell on you like that. I hope I didn't ruin your jacket."

"I didn't mind. Glad to be able to cushion your fall." He grinned at her, hoping to break the tension a little. The tension between them shifted though, to something almost tangible. He could nearly feel her body pressed against his as she studied him, her eyes moving slowly down his chest, across his hips and back up again. She wanted him. As sure as he was a red blooded American man, Katie McCoy wanted him.

Come on, James! Now's your chance.

His mind screamed at him but his feet wouldn't move.

Chicken!

Crossing her arms over her chest, Katie glanced away. The moment was lost forever and so was his chance to get her back into that shower and show her how it was done. How he willed his feet to move, to cross the room and take her in his arms, but he stood firm and fast. Katie started pulling the covers back on her bed. "I'm beat. I'll probably be asleep when you get out of the shower. Wake me up when we need to leave or whatever."

With her back to him still, Katie pulled the towel off her hair. Wet strands tumbled around her shoulders. His hand lifted of its own accord, his body wanting to feel the silky softness in his fingers, but she was out of reach, thankfully.

She tried to keep her distance and he needed to respect that. He had a feeling he could change that if he wanted to but he still didn't move.

Sleep deprivation.

The thought came out of nowhere. Ah, that had to be it. All these hormones making him feel like a teenage boy had to be a result of lack of sleep… and food. He never did eat any dinner either. Low blood sugar and lack of sleep—that made sense. Kaiden needed to get his game face back on and remember he had a job to do. He would grab a shower and forty winks and when he woke up he would be back to his old self. Agent James, Homeland Security. Married to the job.