A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews, Caranath, max2013, ILoveMom, Stork Hardy, zenfrodo, catlover1033, Jackie, bhar, Lady Emily, and Vinsmouse! Love hearing what you have to say! A bit of a fluffy chapter today. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 9

Joe paced back and forth in agitation. It had been thirty minutes since he'd carried Kathy up to the suite and called for the hotel doctor. What was taking so long?

He stopped in his tracks as Kathy's bedroom door opened. It was about damn time.

"I've wrapped Kathy's ankle and she's resting in bed," the doctor said. "I think it's probably just a slight sprain. It's not really swelling like I would expect it to, but sometimes that takes awhile."

"Thank you." Joe shook his hand.

The doctor smiled. "Don't worry, she'll be fine. Just have her stay off the slopes for a couple of days."

"I really want a boyfriend like that someday," Tammy said, loud enough for Joe to hear, as he shut the door behind the doctor and moved over to the couch.

He knew the girls had misinterpreted his anxiety as concern over Kathy, and he figured that would work well for his cover. But right now, his only thoughts were for Emily.

He looked up as Frank entered the room. His brother smiled at Lauren and Tammy, then leaned into Joe as he walked by him.

"Go now."

"What about Kathy?" Joe sneaked a glance in the direction of her bedroom.

"I'll take care of it. You just leave. You've kept Em waiting long enough."

Joe gave Frank a grateful look as he headed for the door without an explanation to anyone.

"Where's he going?" Tammy asked.

"He's following up on a lead," Frank replied.

OOOoooOOO

Joe fished the key to Emily's hotel room out of his pocket and quickly turned the lock. Knocking on the door was a waste of time. He needed to see her now.

"Emily," he called out softly.

He stopped short when he spotted her curled up on a bed, fast asleep.

He smiled as he walked over to her. Her long, dark brown hair was splayed across the pillow and her face.

Kneeling down next to the bed, Joe brushed it softly back. He noticed her cheeks were splotchy, and every few seconds she hiccupped, telling him clearly that she'd been crying.

"Oh, honey." He gazed at her slightly parted lips and leaned in, kissing them tenderly.

The touch of her mouth against his sent a tremor through him. He paused to take a breath then bent down again, moving his lips over hers, softly at first, then more intently as he realized exactly how much he loved and missed her.

He felt her instinctive response as she kissed him back, even though she was still half asleep. He loved it.

When her eyes fluttered open to meet his, she pulled away.

"Joe?" Her brow furrowed.

He smiled at her. "It's me, baby."

OOO

Emily thought she might be dreaming. She pushed herself to a sitting position, and tucked her legs underneath her. "How? When?"

"Frank gave me your key." Joe sat on the bed in front of her. "I'm sorry it took so long."

It really was Joe. And no blonde girl in sight. She smiled. "It's okay. I'm just happy you could get away for a little bit."

Joe reached out for her and she hugged him tightly. She wasn't going to let him know how upset she'd been about Kathy. Not right now anyway. He looked worried enough. Not to mention, he seemed completely worn out. This case must be more stressful than she thought.

"Did Frank tell you what's going on?"

Emily nodded against his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't let you know. It's a government case. Senator Martin asked for confidentiality."

Emily sat back on her heels. "Why are you telling me now?"

"Because you're more important to me than any job. From now on, I'm going to let any client know that you are the exception to a confidentiality agreement. Okay?"

"Joe, I don't expect you to do that. I don't want you to do that."

He took her hands in his. "Em, I will do whatever I have to so this never happens again."

"But not that."

He was sweet to even suggest it, but it wasn't something Emily ever wanted from him. For one thing, she knew no client would ever hire him under those conditions, and for another, she knew confidentiality was an integral part of his job. As was undercover work on occasion. It was just something she would have to get used to, because being a detective was who Joe was. He felt the same way about solving crime as she did about preserving art. And she didn't want to change any of it.

Joe looked at her anxiously, "You do know I would have told you everything I'd been doing once Frank and I wrapped this up, don't you?"

"Yes, and I understand. I promise. Let's just call this more 'on the job training' for me and move on." She really didn't want to relive any of it.

"Em, I saw your face in the ski shop. You thought I was cheating on you."

And she especially didn't want to recall the ski shop.

"Joe–"

"I know that's what you were thinking."

Emily shrugged. Joe wasn't going to let this go. The detective in him wanted to get to the bottom of it. What had she seen? What had she thought? She wasn't sure she wanted to tell him. It was over, and rehashing it wouldn't do any good.

"I don't blame you one bit," Joe said. "I know it looked like I lied to you. But I swear, babe, when we got this assignment, I really did think I'd be in D.C. I was only told that we were taking a confidential government case for Senator Martin. Nobody mentioned a ski trip to Switzerland."

"You don't need to explain. I understand that your job isn't always going to allow me to know everything you're doing."

"And you're okay with that?"

"Most of the time." Emily gave him a half smile. "I just worry about you being in danger, that's all. I don't want you to get hurt."

That was her worst nightmare. That he'd be undercover somewhere, get hurt or worse, and she wouldn't know for days.

"Believe me, I don't want that either." He ran his hand along her arm. "And I promise, I take every precaution I can so that doesn't happen."

"I know, but that doesn't mean I don't worry."

"Well, try not to worry as much. And I'm sorry you had to see me with Kathy and think for even one second that I was cheating on you."

Emily swallowed hard. He really wasn't going to let this go.

"Honestly, I wasn't sure what to think at first." She smiled at him. "Although Nancy tried to tell me that you being here must have something to do with your case."

"I know it didn't look like casework."

"Well, not with Kathy draped all over you like a bad poncho."

Joe grimaced.

Emily's voice grew quiet as she recalled what happened. "Kathy was touching you…a-and…kissing you. I couldn't think rationally anymore. I could only process what I was seeing right in front of me. She was hanging on you. She had this look on her face like she was in love with you. You saw me, Joe. I knew you saw me. But you didn't do anything."

Her words were tumbling out on top of each other, and she couldn't seem to stop the tears that were stinging her eyes again.

"You stood next to her and looked right at me. I thought you didn't want her to find out that I even existed. I knew there had to be an explanation, but right at that moment, I wasn't sure what it could be."

She gave him a wobbly smile. "I'm sorry. I should have known better."

"No, baby, how could you?"

She squeezed his hands and Joe looked down puzzled.

"Em, where's your ring?"

She shifted and glanced away. Oh, crap. She'd forgotten about that.

"I-I took it off."

OOO

A wave of apprehension washed over Joe. She never took her ring off.

"Why?"

Emily bent her head down. "I was confused. I needed to think."

"What do you mean?"

"After I saw you with Kathy, I knew I couldn't stay. No matter what the reality turned out to be. If you were here undercover, then my staying would compromise it, and if you weren't…"

A searing pain ripped through Joe as it dawned on him what she was trying to say. "You were going to leave me?"

Emily looked up and Joe could see the sorrow in her eyes.

"You were leaving me." His voice was a hoarse whisper.

She reached out and touched his arm gently. "Honey-"

Joe shook his head, feelings of fear and desperation overwhelming him.

"Emily, I don't give a damn about her. She's a client. I'm doing my job. I never touch her when I don't have to pretend. Never. And even in public, I've never kissed her. You have to believe me. She means nothing to me."

"I know," she said softly. "And I understand everything now. Truly, I do. But when I first saw you, I was confused. And it hurt. I wasn't breaking up with you, Joe. I just wanted to step back and figure out what was going on. That's all, I promise."

He reached out and pulled her into him fiercely, pressing his lips to her forehead.

"I'm sorry. I swear nothing like this will ever happen again. I love you, Emily. Only you. Do you understand that?"

She gazed up at him and brushed an errant lock of blond hair from his forehead. "I love you, too. And I'm afraid you're stuck with me."

Joe's body flooded with relief as he heard her words, and he hugged her tightly. She wasn't mad. She loved him. And most importantly, she wasn't leaving him.

He covered her mouth with his, kissing her urgently, desperately, as his hands roamed over the back of her sweater. Emily skimmed her fingers over his chest lightly, then twined them around his neck, pulling him closer to her.

Joe ended the kiss, but his mouth didn't leave hers. "I've missed you so much," he murmured before crushing his lips against hers and lifting her onto his lap. He felt her tremble in his arms, fueling his passion further.

"Emily," he gasped as she broke away to tenderly kiss his neck.

His breathing was heavy and ragged as her warm mouth caressed him. He was overwhelmed by the emotions he was feeling for her. Love, need, desire. They consumed him as he slid his hands under her sweater and ran them along her bare skin. He brushed his mouth over her hair, kissing the top of her head, her temple, her cheek.

Emily reached for the buttons of his shirt, undoing each one and spreading the fabric apart so her lips could reach his bare chest. Joe closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing as her hands slid to his stomach. His muscles rippled under her touch.

"Em" he breathed.

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with love and longing, and Joe groaned. He laid her down gently on the pillows and stretched himself out next to her.

Kissing her deeply, he pulled her close until her body was completely molded to his. Emily moaned softly as Joe broke away and moved his attention to the hollow of her throat.

"Joe," she whispered.

He looked at her through half lidded eyes as he slid her sweater up, exposing her stomach and her lacy pink bra.

"Emily, I need you, baby." His voice was thick and husky.

"Bess and Nancy," she murmured. Her breath caught in her throat as Joe moved his lips over neck. "They'll be here soon."

"No." Joe could hardly speak, his mind was growing so hazy with desire. "Door's bolted shut."

His hand moved over her rib cage, caressing her tenderly. He closed his eyes, afraid that merely looking at her would send him over the edge and he wanted to take his time.

He bent down, kissing her lips gently. "Let me love you, Emily," he whispered softly into her mouth. "Let me love you, baby."

For a response, she reached down and pulled her sweater up and over her head, then brought her mouth to his in a fiery kiss.