He stayed there, staring at the door. He heard the shower turn on, and instantly he imagined red hair darkened to mahogany by the water, and droplets running over creamy skin.
Fuck. His cock hardened, and he quickly slammed out of the room. Her damn parents…he shook his head. When he got to Grayson’s office, he didn’t bother knocking.
Director Jonah Grayson was standing in profile behind his desk, wearing one of his perfectly fitted, dark suits, reading a file. He looked up. “Lachlan.”
“Jonah.” He dropped into a chair.
Jonah was tall, with black hair and piercing green eyes. He had some Native American heritage that came through in his bronze skin and high cheekbones. Lachlan had no idea exactly what the man’s background included, but he could handle himself in any situation, gave orders with ease, and navigated Washington’s political minefields with a deft hand.
But every now and then, Lachlan sensed that Jonah hid a whole lot of dangerous under his suave exterior.
“This is a mess.” Jonah tossed the file on his desk.
“Yeah.”
“The cover story has gone out. An undetected gas leak killed the research team, and left Dr. Jensen in intensive care. By a stroke of luck, Dr. Schafer survived.”
Lachlan nodded. “Ty and Nat are working on the artifact. After they’ve finished, it’ll be locked up.”
“Good.” Jonah nodded. “We can trust Dr. Schafer to stick to the story?”
“Yes.” Lachlan knew she wouldn’t like it.
“There’ll be some paperwork for her to sign. I’ll get Brooks to sort it out. You can tell Dr. Schafer she’s free to head home.”
Lachlan knew he’d been dismissed.
He found Rowan in the kitchen again, sitting at a table and picking at some noodles.
“Hey.” He poured himself a coffee and grabbed some things from the cupboard. “Feel better?”
He got a forced smile. “Sure.”
He sat in the chair beside her. “My boss has cleared you to go home.”
She bit her lip. “How the hell do I just go back to my life after this?”
Following instincts he couldn’t define, Lachlan moved closer, sliding an arm around her shoulders. “One day at a time.”
A choked sound escaped her. “You used to say that to me when I was upset as a kid.”
“And then I’d give you one of these.” He held out a candy bar.
A hiccupping laugh. “I’ve turned into a chocolate snob since then. I prefer Belgian.” But she took the bar and pocketed it.
He pulled her closer, and she buried her face into his chest. Her arms wrapped around him, holding on tight.
“I missed you, Lachlan.”
God, she felt good. She was the perfect size, tucked up against him. He felt one of her hands slide under his shirt. That felt good too. Too good.
“Rowan—”
She looked up, her blue eyes filled with heat.
Fuck. Lachlan felt his control slip. He lowered his head and kissed her.
As his mouth hit hers, she went still. Then, one of her hands slid into his hair and she kissed him back.
Damn. An inferno roared through Lachlan. He’d expected sweet, but it instantly morphed into hot and demanding. She pressed into him, her full breasts against his chest. His heartbeat accelerated and he deepened the kiss, tongue delving into her mouth. She moaned, her fingers pulling on his hair. Her tongue slid against his and she pushed even closer. With a groan, he gripped her, dragging her into his lap. She straddled him and whimpered. Shit, his cock was so hard.
“Ah, sorry to interrupt.”
Lachlan heard Rowan squeak, and he pulled back. She tried to scramble away, but he held her still.
“Brooks.” The man had terrible timing.
Brooks slipped his hands into the pockets of his jeans, not trying very hard to hide his grin. “I have some confidentiality agreements for Rowan to sign.” He nodded to some papers on the table.
She nodded, fighting to get off Lachlan’s lap. He clamped a hand on her thigh to keep her in place.
“I’m sure Lachlan’s told you that the appropriate authorities have been dealt with, and you’re free to go home.”
Rowan nodded and looked at Lachlan. “And Lars?”
“We’ll take care of him,” he said. “You have my word.”
Her shoulders drooped and Lachlan thought she looked incredibly tired. She’d been through so much, and she’d held up so well.
And here he was, thinking with his cock. Taking advantage of a vulnerable woman. The thoughts were like a bucket of ice over his desire.
He shifted her off his lap, placing her back in her chair.
He had to remember that he was her past. Hell, they hadn’t seen each other for two decades, and in that time, he’d done things that would make her look at him in horror.
Lachlan wasn’t the kid she’d known anymore. She deserved some decent, normal guy who’d take care of her. To give her a pretty house and be home every night. Lachlan hated the faceless guy already.
“The director asked me to organize a flight to Las Vegas for you this evening,” Brooks said. “Then you’ll have a flight back to New York in the morning.”
“Oh…okay.” She looked bemused and slightly befuddled.
“I’ll get you a room at one of the casinos,” Brooks said. “A new one just opened up and I hear it’s awesome. You can have a great rest tonight for your flight back east tomorrow.”
“Thank you.”
“Take care.” With a nod, Brooks swiveled and left.
Rowan looked up at Lachlan. “Lachlan—”
“It was good to see you, Rowan.” He stood. “I always knew you’d make something of yourself. You were always so smart. Don’t let this ordeal slow you down.”
She stared at him, something working in her gaze. Finally, she folded her arms. “Were you not here when we kissed?”
Shit. “Yes.”
“I’d like to kiss you again.”
Lachlan didn’t remember Rowan being so direct and straight to the point. “Rowan, you’ve been through a lot—”
Her russet eyebrows rose. “You think I’m not thinking straight?”
“I think you’re vulnerable right now.”
She stood, her chin lifted. “Never pegged you for a coward, Lachlan.”
He leaned closer. “I’m not the boy you knew.”
She shifted closer, their faces close together. “I’m not the girl you knew, either.”
No, she was an attractive woman who clearly played no games.
He stayed silent and she made an annoyed sound. Finally, she shoved past him and even though Lachlan told himself to let her go, he found himself grabbing her arm.
“I have nothing to offer you, Rowan. My work, what I did before—”
“I wasn’t asking for a lifetime commitment, Lachlan,” she bit out. “Besides, how do you know if you don’t try?”
“I know,” he said darkly.
“Bullshit. If you don’t want me, just say so. I’m used to not being wanted.”
His anger flared and he yanked her against his chest. Her mouth opened to spit something at him, but he kissed her. It was an angry, fierce kiss. Her hands twisted in his shirt.
Finally, he lifted his mouth. “This isn’t about want.” His gut was churning. “I don’t have time for you, and—”
She flinched like he’d hit her and stepped back. He almost reached for her again, but she stiffened her spine. “Nothing I haven’t heard before. I’ll get my things.”
As she walked away, Lachlan’s fingers curled into fists. Damn, he remembered all those times he’d found her in her treehouse, crying. Telling him that her parents just didn’t care, didn’t have time for her, didn’t want her.
Fuck.
This was for the best. In the weeks to come, she’d forget about him and move on.
He forced himself to walk away to get the jet-copter ready.
Chapter Seven
Rowan flopped back on the huge bed in her room at the brand-new Aurora Casino. A stunning chandelier was the centerpiece of the room, light refracting off the hundreds of crystals. She’d seen more of the huge chandeliers as she’d walked through the lobby and casino area.