And so she didn’t stop him when he slipped his hand beneath her top and pushed the cup of her bra out of the way to fondle her breast. She concentrated on the reaction of her body to his touch—the way her breath quickened, the way her nipple hardened.

She didn’t stop him when he took her nipple in his mouth and licked and sucked and grazed it with his teeth. She thought about the sudden heaviness between her legs.

She didn’t stop him from touching her, from opening her with his fingers, from stroking her most tender flesh.

She didn’t stop her own hands from opening his pants, taking out his erection, guiding him into her.

She concentrated on the physical sensations, on her body’s need for release. There were no emotions, and she was grateful for it. Later she might hate herself. Later she might feel like a whore. Later she might curse him. For now he was providing her a service, and it felt good. For a few minutes she could feel physical pleasure and escape the endless emotional pain.

For now she used Greg Hewitt. He didn’t complain.

When it was over, as predicted, she felt dirty and embarrassed. If he saw it, he didn’t say. He got up and straightened his clothes.

“Twenty-five thousand dollars,” he said.

Lauren sat up, pulling her sweater around her. “What?”

“I’ll kill him for you,” he said, as if he was offering to take out the trash. “For twenty-five thousand dollars. Think about it.”

She watched him walk to the gate and let himself out.

Chapter 41

41

“Are you having fun yet?”

Tanner had a smirk on her face as Mendez walked into the reception area to get her. It was barely seven in the morning, and she had put a good hour’s drive behind her, but she looked fresh and bright-eyed. Even after the drive her khaki slacks looked crisp and her raw silk blazer looked fresh off the hanger.

Mendez grimaced. He had come in at five off a fitful bit of sleep. Even though he had showered and shaved, he already felt rumpled. “Do I look that bad?”

“Well, it sounded like you got a big dose of Lauren Lawton last night. I know what that feels like.”

He gave her a crooked, sheepish smile. “I can’t say you didn’t warn me.”

“No, you can’t,” she agreed, the green eyes twinkling. “She gave it to you with both barrels?”

“Me and my boss. Two separate loads of double-ought attitude.”

“I’ll bet that didn’t sit well with your sheriff.”

“You got that right. Now I’m here and suspended.”

“No good deed goes unpunished. So how about you buy me breakfast, slick?” she suggested with a bright smile. “It was a long hike over the mountain. I need some greasy diner food, and you look like you could use a pot of coffee.”