Energized (22 page)

Niall pulled her into his arms and kissed her until she melted against him. “Doesn't say much for my logic. You baffle me, Hannah. You're all about signs and visions. I'm not like you. I'm serious and grim. You're sunshine and paintings of blue owls. It seemed impossible to me that you were real. The bogus phone number made sense in a twisted way. Like that one night together was all that was meant to be. Then you showed up and sent my world spinning. I was wrong to push you away. I know that now.”

Hannah reclined back on her elbows and grinned up at him. “I told you, you like me. A lot.”

She managed to surprise a short laugh out of him. “Yes, I suppose I do.”

“Ouch, must have hurt to admit that.” Her eyes twinkled for a moment, then she sighed. “That still doesn't fix my problems. Mercy. A place to live. A job.”

Niall shoved the food wrappers off the bed, then crawled toward Hannah. He straddled her naked thighs and pressed a kiss against her neck. “Come back to the Cat. I know it's not an electrician's job, but it's a steady paycheck for as long as you're in Tidewater.”

She worried her pink braid between her fingers, then nodded. “Okay, that's one problem down. Now I need to figure out the Mercy problem and a place to live. Oh, and my sisters. I still need to get in touch with them.”

He didn't even want to think about Hannah going near anything associated with a psychopath, and skipped to the next problem. “You've got a phone, you can call your sisters later today. As for a place to live, stay with Karma a few more days. Or . . . Or you can stay here. With me.”

“Stay here?” she said breathily. He wasn't sure if her heightened response was due to his words or his fingers gliding inside her hot, slick body. And he was quickly losing interest in the conversation. Not that it wasn't important, but he'd already settled the discussion in his head.

“Yes,” he said, then lowered his head to suck on her breast
through the cotton shirt. “Now say you'll do it, so we can get back to more important things.”

She arched her back, and moaned.

It wasn't exactly a resounding note of agreement, but it worked for him.

*   *   *

M
ERCY SLIPPED QUIETLY
from the bed. She crouched down and tugged her box from beneath the bed. Inside were all of her prized possessions. Her mother's wedding rings, her father's signed Babe Ruth baseball, her first driver's license, the red silk scarf she'd taken from her sister's dead body, her police-issue handcuffs, syringes filled with morphine, and the pictures of all the lovers she'd set free. Soon, she'd add another picture to the collection.

Carefully, she removed the cuffs, and crept back to the bed where he lay naked on his stomach. Sunlight peeked through the dark red curtains and cut a swath across his perfect golden back. His face buried in the pillow he clutched with both hands. Swiftly, she closed one metal bracelet on his right wrist.

He exhaled a loud snore and turned his head.

Mercy's heart hammered. She froze. One cuff on him, one still loose in her fingers. Had she not given him enough of the drug? Was it already wearing off? She knew he drank to excess; would that affect his body's metabolism with her love potion?

Time stretched on. She lived and died a hundred times over, waiting for him to wake and fight her. She was too far away from the syringes. Her breath caught and held on to an inhale until her chest ached.

He didn't wake.

She exhaled slowly.

He still didn't wake.

With steady hands, she locked his other wrist. When he didn't move, she grabbed a syringe and plunged it into his thigh. He did wake then. His eyes wide and filled with terror
briefly before he blinked once, twice, three times. His eyes glazed over . . . Closed.

Now she was safe. She pushed up the wooden headboard until it revealed the hook and length of chain in the wall. Mercy wasted no time padlocking the cuffs to the wall chain, then lowered the headboard again.

Sliding her Italian scarf from the box, she wrapped it around his head and across his mouth. On the off chance he woke before she returned, he wouldn't be able to scream.

She made quick work of binding his ankles, then stretched out on the bed facing her sleeping lover.

“I'll be back soon, then we'll have our first official date tonight.” She stroked a hand down his face. “Tomorrow night, we'll both be free.”

“Y
OU
COMING
?”
N
IALL
asked her, as he held open the Cat's back door.

“Go on in. I need to make a couple phone calls.” Hannah tugged the phone he'd given her along with the wad of twenties from her pocket. “Thank you again for this, Niall. I wish you'd take the money for the phone and clothes.”

“Don't worry about it.” He pushed the bills back at her. His black brows drew together and he hunched his shoulders. “I didn't do it so you could pay me back. You said yourself you don't have much money right now. I've got plenty. Giving it to you isn't that big of a deal.”

“It is to me.” She tucked the phone away again.

He shrugged and drove his hands into his pockets. “You're so damned stubborn.”

“Yeah, it's one of the things you like about me.” She waited until he grinned back at her, then said, “You've gone out of your way to help me the past couple of days. I don't see you getting much out of it.”

“Last night was worth it.” The flare of desire in his eyes made her cheeks heat. “And tonight. And as long as you want to stay with me.”

“Stay with you?” she repeated in wonder. Sure, they'd talked about it, but that was before they were at the restaurant. “Somehow I thought you'd have changed your mind by now.”

“What would make you think that?” He kissed her again. Kissed her like he had last night. Like he had this morning. It was a kiss of promise. If only that could last. But it couldn't. All too soon, he ended their embrace.

Karma appeared at the screen door. Niall wouldn't be happy to know they'd been seen.

Hannah stepped back and gestured to the back door. “Employer and employee, remember.”

Niall tossed a glance over his shoulder, as if considering. He turned back and rested his hands on her shoulders. “I have never dated one of my employees.” He winked. “Before you.”

Then he kissed her. Slow and deep.

Hannah swore the strength of that kissed turned her knees to jelly.

It was a kiss filled with passion.

When he finally pulled back, his cheeks were mottled and he was panting as hard as she. “You make me want to break all of my rules.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Oh, really? Is there another rule you're thinking of breaking?”

“The one about no sex in the parking lot.” He paused, then frowned. “But it's too early to do that. We should wait until it's dark outside.”

She shivered at the heated promise twinkling in his eyes.

“Protecting my honor?” she teased.

“Always,” he replied, caressing her cheek with the backs of his fingers.

Her heart skipped a beat. “Broad daylight or not, that could be a lot of fun.”

He groaned. “Go make your calls. I'll be inside if you need me.” He started to walk away, then pivoted on his heel,
tugging something from the pocket of his navy slacks. “I washed your gloves last night.”

“You know, for a Marine, you're more like an Eagle Scout. Always prepared.” She slipped the soft cotton onto her hands.

“I was an Eagle Scout too.” He winked, then headed inside.

Hannah couldn't stop smiling. Niall wanted her to stay. At the restaurant. With him. Maybe not with him forever but the signs were there that he would eventually want her to stay longer. Not that she'd slip and tell him that. It might just have him retreating and that would break her heart. Or break his. Because she had a life back in Ohio. One she needed to get back to at the end of the summer.

Although with each passing day, it was getting harder to picture living in Fincastle again.

For now, she needed to focus on the present. The present involved getting in touch with her sisters and solving the Mercy problem.

She'd figured out who to talk to about Mercy while Niall had been in the shower this morning. It came to her in a flash: Ryan and Ian. They'd believed her and located the body. Maybe they'd believe her again, but this time talk to her before they went to the police.

She dug their business card out of her pocket and dialed the number.

“Tidewater Security Specialists, this is Ian.”

“Hi, Ian. It's Hannah Halloran—” Hannah began but was cut off.

“Hannah, are you all right?” Ian asked in a rush. “We came to the kitchen tent to find you last night but the staff said you were ill and had to leave. Are you better today?”

“Yes, I'm fine. It's not what you think. Actually, it's the reason I'm calling. I need to talk to you and Ryan. I had another vision.” Hannah glanced up as Sadie drove into the parking lot.

The gray compact car had so many scratches and dents, it looked like it was held together by paint and sheer will alone. Michael sat hunched in the passenger seat, while Sadie appeared to be talking rapidly in the driver's seat.

Hannah turned her back on the couple and continued her
conversation. “Can you guys meet me at the Boxing Cat this afternoon? I might have more information. I don't want to get into it on the phone.”

“Definitely.” His tone had changed from friendly to serious in a single word. “I have an appointment in an hour but I can grab Ryan and be at the restaurant by three. Will that work?”

“Yes, thank you.” Hannah was aware of three voices filtering through the air behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Dawn lumbering out of the back of Sadie's car. Hannah faced the back door again. “And, Ian, promise me you won't take this to the cops without talking to me first. I don't want to spend another night at the station.”

“My word on that.” Ian got quiet for a moment, then added, “I apologize for that. We . . .
I
forgot that Dev wouldn't be at the station that day. You can count on us, Hannah.”

She smiled at the sincerity in his words. “I know that. Thank you.”

Hannah ended the conversation seconds before Dawn spoke to her. “Feeling better? I hope I didn't give you my kid's stomach bug. I heard you had to leave the reception last night.”

“Not before she left us a mess to clean up,” Sadie sneered.

“Lighten up, Sadie.” Michael's hair hung in front of his eyes as usual, so it was difficult to know where he was looking, but he seemed to be looking at Hannah. “It's not like she planned to be ill. You look better today. Got color back in your face.”

“I feel better, Michael. Thanks.”

He gave her a brief smile, then filed into the kitchen behind Sadie and Dawn.

Hannah waited for them to go inside before she called her parents. She hadn't talked to them since before her interrogation by the police. As expected, her mother was thrilled with the call. Her father was worried about her safety. At one point, he sounded ready to board a plane and fly down to bring her home. With her mother's help, she managed to convince him she was fine. She wasn't in danger. She had a safe place to sleep, a job, and clothes to wear. When they asked about her sisters—her actual reason for coming to Tidewater—she had to admit she hadn't met them yet.

Hannah almost confessed about last night's vision when she had the strangest sensation she was being watched. She glanced around the parking lot. She was the only one there. But the feeling wouldn't go away.

A very real fear that perhaps Mercy might be somewhere close had her ending the conversation with a promise to call again soon. She hurried to the back door, thankful that Niall had taken the time to wash her gloves for her. And doubly thankful that he waited only a few feet away.

*   *   *

“
N
IALL?”

He glanced down from the ladder where he was replacing a light bulb in the pantry to find his manager looking fresh and bright. “What can I do for you, Karma?”

“I need to borrow your office for a few minutes. My cousins are on their way and we have a surprise for Hannah. I don't want to spring this on her in the middle of the Master Room. Think you can cover the front for a few minutes?”

Niall twisted the bulb into place and climbed down. He tossed the bad bulb into the trash, then collapsed the ladder. He moved a little more quickly than he normally would have but she was blocking the exit. The walls were closing in. Leaning the ladder against the wall, he sidled past her and into the kitchen.

Inhaling deeply, his body relaxed even as the aromas of spices mingled with waffles around him. “Are these the same cousins who were here the other day?”

“Yes.” She glanced around, then stepped closer to him, lowering her voice to a whisper. “They're bringing her sister Shelley with them.”

Niall understood the importance of the event for Hannah. He wanted to be in the room with her when she saw Shelley again, but there's no way he could squeeze into his office with five other people. His head might explode. Still, he could watch from the doorway.

“And you need me to cover your station because . . . ?”

“She's family.” When Niall stared at Karma in confusion she continued, “Shelley's married to my cousin Dev.”

“Karma, you have so many cousins, I can't really keep track.” He was only half-kidding. “Which cousin is this?”

“Very funny, Boss.” She made a face at him. “Can I help it if the McKinnon clan are really fertile? Well, yes, I can help it in my case.” She waved a hand through the air. “Anyway, Dev's the detective who helped solve the Diamond Gang case and those murders last fall in Elkridge.”

“So where was he the other night when Hannah was being grilled for hours?” Niall hadn't meant for his tone to sound so sharp, but dammit, he'd seen how shaken Hannah had been the next morning.

“That wasn't my fault. We forgot that Dev had taken vacation days and was out of town that night.” Karma paused and cocked her head to one side as if noticing mustard on his tie.

Niall glanced down to make sure his shirt was clean and that he was not in fact wearing a tie. “What?”

“Your aura is all green.” She whistled. “Ooh, you've got it bad for her, don't you? You've got the whole protective thing going for Hannah.” She squinted her eyes and stepped closer. “Oh my God! You're—”

He didn't get to find out what she thought he was because someone knocked on the back door.

“That's them. So can you cover the front for me, Boss? Won't take long, I just want to make sure my cousin's all set.”

“Dev?”

She laughed and hurried to the back door. “No, Hannah.”

He followed her out of the pantry, slightly startled by the revelation. If Hannah was Dev's sister-in-law, Niall supposed the McKinnon clan would claim her. For a powerful family, they had a habit of collecting kin.

Karma threw her arms around a bear of a man who stood next to a curvaceous redhead. Behind them the giant and the actor look-alike waited.

“Karma, waffles are up,” Virgil said over his shoulder.

“I got it, Karma.” Niall loaded the plates on a tray for table six. “I'll send Hannah to the office.”

“Thanks, Boss!”

For the past two days, Niall had believed Hannah had needed him. That she was alone in the city searching for sisters she hardly remembered. Instead, she was part of a huge family, whether she knew it or not.

He searched for the relief he expected to feel and found only a vague sense of unease. If she didn't need him to help her get on her feet in this city, what did a too-serious Marine have to offer a free-spirited fairy?

*   *   *

H
ANNAH HADN'T KNOWN
what to expect when Niall had sent her to his office. At first, she hoped her Marine might be looking to break another rule. One that involved his office chair. But was quickly disabused of the notion when he didn't follow her.

Virgil was at his station in the kitchen.

“Paulie still hasn't come into work this morning, Virgil?” Hannah asked, glancing at Karma standing in the doorway of the office.

“No. I hope he didn't get that virus y'all had yesterday. He's all alone, with no woman to take care of him.” Virgil shook his head, then flipped the pancakes on the griddle. He glanced at her and winked. “Go on in, Hannah. They're waiting for ya.”

Karma crossed the kitchen and took Hannah by the arm. “Ian and Ryan called me. They came early to see you.”

“Oh, but shouldn't we cover the front?”

“Nah, Sadie and Dawn are out there plus Niall's got it covered. He said we could use his office. Come on.”

Hannah let Karma pull her across the room. There was something downright giddy in Karma's demeanor. “You seem awfully happy this morning.”

“You have no idea.” Karma pulled Hannah's gloves off her hands and tucked them in Hannah's apron. “You won't need these.”

Before Hannah could ask why, Karma pushed her through the office doorway.

Hannah swallowed.

A familiar redhead sat in the only chair, surrounded shoulder to shoulder by three very tall men. All of whom Hannah recognized instantly. The woman fiddled with the hem of her pencil skirt, a nervous smile on her face.