Free Take It Down by Kira Sinclair Page A

bang echoed through the room. Instincts kicking in, Zane spun on his heel. Gunshot. No, it couldn’t be. It hadn’t sounded quite right. But, he couldn’t afford to take that chance. They were out in the open, completely vulnerable with nothing to hide behind, nothing for protection. Tugging her wrist, he pulled her as close to the ground as possible.
    “Stay low,” he hissed at her as he scanned the room. It was empty. Nothing moved.
    Behind him, Elle ignored his order. With a snarl, he whipped his head around to her and said, “Stay down!”
    It took him a few seconds to realize that she held something in her hand. For a brief moment, he wondered if she was the threat.
    With a twist to her lips, she let the object go. It dropped to the polished wood floor with a loud crack. The thud echoed off the walls, making it sound as if it was coming from all different directions.
    The thing bounced up once and then rocked before settling on its side. A sandal. A teeny tiny sandal with a large wooden wedge heel.
    Her shoe had fallen off her foot in their melee.
    Laughter fizzed inside him. It was better than giving in to the embarrassment.
    With a sheepish grin, he pushed up from his crouch on the floor and shrugged. What else could he do?
    Admit that shoe had just saved him from making a huge mistake? Not likely. At least, not to her face. He might be rusty, but he wasn’t suicidal.
    With a stilted laugh, Zane said, “We hope you’ve enjoyed the Île du Coeur art tour. If you’ll see Marcy on your way out, I’m certain she has some questionnaire so you can evaluate my performance as tour guide. And if she doesn’t, I’m sure she’ll make one up.”
    Elle’s eyes clouded at his words. “Wait. What?”
    “Tour’s over.”
    She gave a quick shake of her head, as if trying to bring everything back into focus. He understood the urge. He was trying to make the two alternate universes before him merge together—the one where they were back against the wall, finishing what they’d started, and the one where he kept his distance from the woman who was far more than she said she was. He needed to get away from her. Now. Before he did something stupid.
    “This can’t be it.”
    “Oh, it can be.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “There has to be more art.”
    “Why do you say that?” And with such conviction. She hadn’t asked a question. It was a statement.
    How did she know there was more art?
    Slowly, he answered, “There are more pieces in the private areas, but you can’t see them. Hence the word private .” Hoping to figure out what she was fishing for, he didn’t give her any details.
    She sputtered. Zane moved into her personal space again. His reception wasn’t nearly as gratifying this time as it had been before. Instead of melting into him, she stiffened, as if he was about to attack her.
    “What are you after, Elle? Tell me. Maybe I can help you.”
    She pushed against his chest, heat the only thing in her eyes now, although they were still dilated with the dregs of passion. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one regretting their encounter.
    “If you know what’s good for you, Officer, you’ll stay away from me.”
    He pushed closer. He told himself it was intimidation, but he was lying. Even as her warmth caressed his skin, a deep breath dragged the scent of her back into his body.
    He was a masochist. That was the only explanation.
    “Why would I want to do that?”
    “Because your precious video camera now has evidence that you assaulted me.” She gestured with her chin toward the corner of the room and the eye of the camera staring back at them.
    His lips curved into a sneering smile. He had to give her points for ingenuity and effort.
    Leaning down, he brushed his lips against her ear and whispered, “We both know that’s a lie. That camera will show two people caught up in the passion of the moment. You can lie to yourself all you want, but those cameras never do. You wanted me to touch you,