Free Chase Me by Tamara Hogan

warning in Julianna’s expression, no evidence that she knew Lorin was fighting not to jump her lover’s bones. Gorgeous, smart, and… nice. She had no defense against nice.
    Lorin thanked Julianna, choking out something she hoped was appropriate, and then shoved out of the chair, its legs screeching against the floor. “Excuse me,” she said, walking quickly to the door.
    “Lorin?”
    She kept walking, ignoring the question in Gabe’s voice. “I’ll be up at the site.”
    Ducking out, she hurried down the stairs. With each step away from the workroom, she lengthened her stride. Before she was halfway across the compound, she was running full-out, running like the wind.
    ***
     
    Gabe threw his pen down on the battered desk in disgust, his concentration shot. What was wrong with Lorin? He’d expected some fight from her at the meeting, some healthy give-and-take. He’d looked forward to it. But she’d been too quiet, and when she left, she’d looked positively… wounded.
    Just when he thought he had a bead on the woman, she did a one-eighty on him.
    His Bat Phone chirped. He plucked it off the desk, looked at the display window, and swore. Something must have gone to hell in a handbasket for Lukas to be calling him not a half hour after they’d all left the same meeting.
    “Lukas. What’s wrong?”
    A pause on the other end. “Why does everyone always ask that?”
    “Lukas, you manage risk for a living. Go figure. What’s up?”
    “Just wanted to let you know that the footprint run finished and came up empty.”
    Gabe heard Lukas’s vocal shrug and sighed. Even if they managed to identify the make of the shoe, they would then have to match the shoe to its owner—and all this for a piddly trespassing charge that probably wouldn’t stick.
    “You said there was no indication that the person got into Lorin’s cabin? Nothing missing?”
    “No,” Gabe replied. “The lock wasn’t tampered with, as far as I could tell. Lorin mentioned that it’s not unusual for them to get the occasional curious local wandering through. Whoever it was could have just smashed the window if he really wanted to steal something.”
    Lukas responded with a noncommittal “hmm.” “Well, keep your eyes peeled.” He cleared his throat. “So, have you seen Lorin?”
    The hair rose on Gabe’s neck and forearms, a prickle of primal awareness. “Do you need to talk to her? Is she not picking up?”
    “Like she’s even carrying her phone.”
    “Do you need me to pass along a message? Is Alka okay?” Gabe’s stomach churned like a washing machine. Alka was gearing up for her long-planned trip to Peru and Chile, but she wasn’t scheduled to leave until next week sometime.
    “Yes, yes, everyone’s fine. I didn’t mean to worry you.” Lukas fell silent, worrying him even more. “Are you seeing anyone right now?”
    “What?” Gabe’s eyebrows flew into his hairline. “Lorin just made the find of the millennia, and you want to talk about my sex life?” Or lack thereof?
    “Ah, shit,” Lukas muttered over a thunk in the background. Gabe winced as he visualized the other man’s heavy boots being propped onto something delicate—probably Elliott Sebastiani’s prized Eames table.
    “I told Scarlett she should call you instead.”
    “What?”
    Lukas sighed audibly. “Did you notice how agitated Lorin was at the meeting?”
    “She usually is. Agitated, I mean. By me.”
    “She was agitated—and aroused—by you.”
    “What?” Blood rushed to his face and parts farther south. “Lukas—”
    “You two were spilling so much sexual energy during the meeting that I had trouble concentrating. Lorin really needs to get laid. So, if you’re not seeing anyone…” Lukas’s voice trailed off casually.
    Gabe’s eyes bulged. Was Lukas really suggesting—
    “She’s a Valkyrie, remember?” Lukas interrupted. “You have to do something, Gabe, because she’s bouncing off the walls.”
    Do something? Like have sex