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she’d been on the floor alone at night, but it was the first time she’d been hit by the creepy factor. The creepiness would only get worse when the lights flickered off, as she knew they would. Damn motion sensors. Damn granola-eating Seattleites. Who were they to care about overindulgent energy consumption? She’d take the empty security offered by adequate lighting any day over having a social conscience.
    With a shudder, she shut her door firmly, fighting the urge to lock it. She was only a little paranoid, not that paranoid. Her office felt too big and quiet, and the wide window overlooking the empty floor made her want to pull the blinds. Don’t care to see the zombie attack coming . A nervous laugh escaped at her ridiculous turn of thought.
    Settling behind the computer, she focused on the e-mails Piper had sent while skimming the new VLO treaties. Multitasker—her new middle name. Engrossed as she was, she jumped when the lights finally went dark outside her office. The inky blackness beyond the glass swallowed all light, even the blinking computer indicators.
    God, she needed a distraction. And coffee. She was jittery enough without adding more caffeine, but in her book, it was comfort food. The luxury of her own coffee mess and mini-fridge in the corner rang in a close second to her pay raise as a bonus. She’d started the precious liquid brewing and reached into the fridge for creamer when she encountered Piper’s present. Oh, heavenly angel . She’d have to get her mini-me a raise. She’d left a monster slice of caramel-apple cheesecake mounded high with whipped cream. Mmmmm. Who needed dinner when this covered all the important food groups?
    After pouring her coffee, she added a generous helping of creamer and sugar and turned back to her desk. A mountainous figure stood in her doorway, framed in darkness. She shrieked and fumbled her coffee cup. When an alarmed Killian stepped into the light, she wrapped her arms around herself, her body quaking with rampant adrenaline.
    “Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod.” She glared at him. He reached for her, but she slapped his hand away. “What’s wrong with you, sneaking up on a woman in a dark, empty building?”
    The residual shock put a bite in her voice, but she was too shaken to care. While she waited for her heart rate to slow down, she knelt to clean up the coffee.
    “Leave it.” He stepped closer. “I’ll get it.”
    She ignored him, though her hands shook too much to be very effective at her task.
    “Alice!” The sharp command got her attention. He crouched next to her and took her hands in his. Pulling her up, he folded his arms around her, tucking her firmly against his chest. Warm . So warm and solid. Her arms went around his waist. As he held her, her breaths slowed and deepened.
    “You’re safe,” he said. “Sorry I scared you. I just walked in when you turned around. I wasn’t trying to sneak up on you.”
    Killian’s exotic burr rumbled under her cheek. Being held like this—it’d been so damned long. God, this was entirely too enjoyable. She didn’t want to let go, the steady rise and fall of his chest soothing. And arousing. He smelled amazing, like sandalwood. Would it be bad to bury her nose against his throat? But she’d already made a big enough fool of herself. She lifted her head from the wall of firm muscle beneath it and had the closest view yet of the perfection of his face. Smooth, lean angles invited the stroke of her fingers, and his eyes had a luminous sparkle. But his eyebrows were drawn and a frown pulled at his lips. A stab of guilt struck her.
    “I’m sorry, too. I—”
    “It’s all right. Nothing to be sorry for.” His tone was tender, as if calming a wild creature, the low bedroom voice sending tingles along her skin. He stepped out of her embrace, and his arms dropped away from her slowly, as if against his will.
    “The lights didn’t come on.” She glanced past him toward her office window.
    “They