Five minutes later, he walked his bike to the museum delivery entrance.
Her heart skipped a beat. There was something hauntingly familiar about this man. The cocky way he tilted his head, the way he leaned to one side and hooked his thumb in his belt loop as he studied the door. The way he brushed his hair off his face—a weird case of déjà vu. She studied him, trying to make a connection. Did she know him?
Then it hit her. He looked so much like Mac Canfield it was uncanny. Was it because she’d just been thinking about Mac? The memories of all those years ago washed over her in an instant. Lily placed her hand over her heart to stop the thudding beat she was sure he could hear.
Oh, shit. And then her fast beating heart skidded to a halt as she watched him expertly jimmy the lock and slip into the building. She waited for the alarm to sound, ticking down the thirty seconds before it would go off. Nothing. He’d obviously deactivated it.
Well son of a bitch. He’d just broken in. In less than a minute and a half he had circumvented what was supposed to be an expert security system.
Now what? She had to check this out. She had to call the police. She headed in the direction of the door, reaching into her purse to grab her cell phone, but something made her pause.
Of course it wasn’t Mac, even though she could clearly picture him riding a mean looking Harley like the one this guy had pulled up on.
Don’t be stupid, Lily. Make the call. Mac was in Texas, where she’d left all the pieces of her past. Plus it had been ten years. The man she was looking at now was taller, broader, and he had a mighty fine ass.
Then again, so did Mac.
Three minutes. He’d been in there three damn minutes and was out again. No security team running like hell after him, either. He’d managed to slip in and steal something without the night watch even knowing he’d been there.
Those guys really sucked.
He had something under his arm. The telltale white sheen and its unusual shape meant it was one of the artifacts!
Why the hell hadn’t she called the cops? Because this guy reminded her of Mac?
Idiot, idiot, idiot! She was so fired. Of course even the cops couldn’t have gotten here in time, and calling for the dipshit security guards would be useless. She’d have to stop him first, then call the police.
She hurried the remaining distance across the well manicured lawn, pulling her gun. As he turned toward the bike, she pointed it at his back.
“Freeze. I’ve got a gun pointed on you.”
“Fuck,” he whispered. He raised his hands above his head, the artifact held tight in his left hand.
She exhaled in relief, then smiled. This had been way too easy. “Put the item down and turn around slowly.” She’d put him face down on the ground, then call the cops.
He pivoted.
The past mingled with the present and Lily felt dizzy.
She almost dropped the gun, her worst nightmare come to life.
This was why she hadn’t called the cops. Something inside her had sent off warning bells and she hadn’t wanted him to get caught.
“Mac.”
Ten years had changed him, but not enough. Six feet of prime male flesh was instantly recognizable. Wicked sexy and hot enough to steal a woman’s panties, and her heart, right out from under her.
“Lily?”
She was relieved to see his eyes widen with shock. The rush of pleasure from her fantasy of a few moments ago was doused by the cold reality of facing the man who stood in front of her right now. He was still the bad boy of her dreams, still a thief, though he’d stolen something vital from her ten years ago that she could never get back. A very special gift. Okay, maybe stolen was too harsh a word, since she’d practically begged him to take it. But that was just semantics. He’d known what he was doing, and she’d been naïve and stupid and too damn much in love with him to know better. He’d gladly taken what she’d offered, then run like a thief in the night.
Just like he was doing now. Only it wasn’t her virginity in his hands. It was a damned valuable piece of property.
“You’ve just stolen a priceless artifact.”
His look of shock faded to a sharp frown. “What the hell are you doing here in Chicago? What are you doing at this museum?”
“I’m the one holding the gun so I’ll ask the questions.”
She held out one hand, keeping the gun steady and trained on the center of his chest. “Hand over the artifact.”
His gaze darted around, then back at her. “I don’t think so. Lily, you have no idea what you’re doing. Get out of here before you get yourself in trouble.”
She stuck her hand out farther. “Give it to me, goddamit.”
Now his posture relaxed, and danger signals boinged all over her body.
“I remember you saying something similar about ten years ago, but back then you were demanding my dick.”
Asshole. Did he think she was going to go running into his arms as soon as she recognized him? Then again, that could actually work. Time for a little payback. She lowered the gun.
“You’re right. What am I doing?” She stepped closer. “It’s really you.”
As soon as she got within breathing distance of him, his scent registered and memories assailed her. He still smelled like Mac—a combination of earthy male and soap, a lethal blow to her olfactory senses. How could something so simple fire her up so quickly. And his body heat—she could feel it even though he stood inches away.
Get a grip, Lily!
Mac dropped his hands at her approach, and when he did, she grabbed the artifact and jumped away from his grasp, lifting the gun and pointing it at him once again.
“I can’t believe you did that.”
She shrugged. “I can’t believe you fell for it. Turn around and face your bike. Keep your hands where I can see them.”
“You won’t shoot me.”
She cast him a venomous glare and raised the barrel of the gun a little higher. “You in the mood to try me?” She thought about saying ‘make my day’ but figured that’d be just a bit too corny.
Besides, while she might want him to suffer for screwing then dumping her ten years ago, she didn’t want to kill him.
Of all people to run into and of all places. Mac knew everything there was to know about this museum, about the traveling exhibit—how long it would be here, where it was located—night security and what to expect.