Authors: Michelle Howard
She immediately
focused on her little girl. “It’s okay, sweetie. He’s nice.” Lie number two or
was it three. She lost count.
“If you like,
there’s a television in the family room down the hall. Then you and I can talk
about your…bus trip.” His pause deliberately challenged her statement.
Inhaling deeply,
Olivia reigned in her emotions. Chloe first, always. “Would you like to watch
TV?”
A debate warred in
her head but as Olivia knew it would, TV won out. “Cartoons?”
“Absolutely.” Facing
him took more effort but Olivia did. “Do you mind showing me?”
He waved his broad
palm in the direction of the hall. “Be my guest.”
Bastard.
The
name fit more and more. Holding her daughter’s hand in hers, Olivia walked
across honey colored hardwood floors down the hall and away from the kitchen.
She passed the stairs which led to the bedroom they’d used. Behind her, she
heard the wisp of fabric signaling he’d followed.
There were several
arched doorways leading into large rooms. She peeked along the way but he moved
swiftly to pass her. At the end of the hall stood the massive front door in a
polished maple colored wood. A fancy keypad with buttons and flashing lights
warned her of the security system he’d mentioned.
“This way.” He broke
off to enter a room to the right.
Her first glimpse
revealed oversized sofas, beige tiled floors and large area rugs in shades of
blue and green. Chloe’s fingers tightened in her hand, her mouth forming a
small O. Olivia didn’t blame her. A large movie screen occupied an entire wall.
The home she’d shared with Brian qualified for a magazine but it didn’t come
close to anything like this. Shane’s house avoided the ornate and reflected a
designer’s tasteful touch.
Or a very talented
woman’s. The tan, gold and green color scheme appealed to her. This was how
she’d once envisioned her home would look. Her fingers lovingly ran over the
light cocoa colored walls, wishing she could claim this place. The homey
atmosphere of what she’d seen so far practically screamed family. Yet another
reason she found it difficult to believe he lived alone.
Shane moved smoothly
around the room, light on his feet for such a large man. He grabbed a remote
she hadn’t noticed and fiddled with a hundred buttons. The screen came to life.
Music from a familiar cartoon poured forth from hidden speakers in the ceiling
and Chloe bounced on her toes. Looking down, she couldn’t miss her daughter’s
bright grin. Worry for the time being pushed to the side, Olivia walked her
over to the sofa.
The position of the
huge furniture placed the sofa front and center with a perfect view of the show
and the big screen. Chloe stared entranced and a weight Olivia hadn’t noticed
rolled off her chest. Once settled, Chloe’s feet dangled far from the floor.
The sofa clearly designed for men with a formidable build dwarfed her small
frame. Olivia’s heart skipped another beat.
Shane noticed her
look. Did the man ever miss anything?
“We won’t go far.
You’ll hear her and the house is secure.”
Chapter 7
Shane left his
family room and his guest stayed in step with him. He traveled to the end of
the hall putting them within hearing distance of the child and near his front
door. Not sure why he cared, he repeated his earlier question. “Are you going
to keep running?”
Her lips pursed. The
narrowing of her eyes before she responded offered a big clue to her feelings
on his question. “This doesn’t concern you.”
He conceded the
point by tilting his head to the side. “I agree. Yet, you snuck in my car, held
me at gunpoint and threatened to shoot me.”
Blonde brows shot to
her hairline. “Why do you even care?”
“You have no
business getting in cars with strange men. Do you know how stupid and dangerous
that is?”
“I’m not stupid.”
Her claim didn’t
match her actions. “Hitchhiking and carrying a loaded weapon you can’t handle
doesn’t speak well of your intelligence.” Folding his arms over his chest, he
waited.
“I wouldn’t have
shot you. I couldn’t shoot anyone.”
Perfect. Shane’s
lips curled into a smile. “Then you’ll agree that getting your gun back is not
gonna happen.”
“I-I never said
that.” Outrage and irritation. She couldn’t hide her true feelings if she
tried. The woman had no artifice. It made him all the more determined to find
out her story.
“Tell me why you’re
running.”
Her arms wrapped
around her waist and she wouldn’t meet his gaze. “I can’t talk about that right
now.”
“Fair enough. Where
are you headed?” If she wouldn’t share her reasoning maybe if he knew where she
was going, he could help. Lend her the money to get there. Another sleepless
night plagued by nightmares provided him with plenty of hours to ponder her
circumstances.
As a way of
distracting himself from the stabbing pain of his hip and leg injury from his
last mission three years ago, he’d focused on the variables that would have
sent his overnight guests on the run. There were only a few situations that put
a woman on the loose with little money and no ride.
Most of them involved
a man in one fashion or another. The thought pissed him off. A female alone and
scared guaranteed a rise from Shane. Deliberately maintaining his relaxed pose,
he studied her. Apparently she found the large formal chandelier hanging over
his entry way of much interest. He followed her stare, looking upward.
He had to admit his
mom had been right about the massive glass and gold piece. It provided
sufficient lighting to the hall without being overly bright. Still it only
warranted a few seconds of attention at most. Dropping his gaze back to her, he
considered the best way of getting her to accept his help. His conscience
wouldn’t let him do less.
Shane came from a
long line of protective men. His father had been an Army Ranger before his
death and his grandfather an Army sniper until the grim reaper offered him a
personal invitation. Ignoring Olivia’s plight went against Shane’s very nature.
His mom had always said he was born to protect and defend. He’d protected men
in battle overseas, led men in training sessions during his two years with the
FBI after his medical discharge. Now, his recent venture into security allowed
him to defend from his elaborate computer set-up in the basement.
Letting her leave
with her child and no clear direction would make him less of a leader. He
didn’t have it in him to allow that. No way in hell.
“Let me help.”
Finally she looked back at him. “You don’t have to tell me everything yet. But
you will.” He considered his next words. Those that knew him would fall over
themselves laughing. Iron Dick himself offering to help a woman who’d held him
at gunpoint.
Shane explained away
his uncharacteristic actions with a claim to boredom. He was between projects
after recently wrapping up a case for a big-wig in Florida. “You and the-“ Her
sharp look had him clearing his throat. “Chloe. You and Chloe can stay until
you figure out how to handle what’s got that scared look in your eyes.”
Tears glittered on
her lashes at his offer. Shit with the tears. Shane resisted the urge to soothe
her as he had the night before. He wasn’t like this. He didn’t fold and go soft
over a woman. Hell, he hadn’t touched a woman in almost a year. If it was as
simple a matter of attraction, he’d do her and be done with it but she puzzled
him and puzzles intrigued Shane.
“You want us to stay
here?”
Want wasn’t the word
he’d use but he nodded. She wavered, he could tell. Her desire to have an
option she hadn’t considered battled with the fact that she didn’t know him. He
wasn’t sure what more he could say to convince her so he held his silence and
waited. “I can’t, Mr. Mitchell.”
“Shane.” He snarled,
tired of her back and forth with his name.
The ringing of her
cell interrupted their stalemate. The little color in her face faded. He
watched as she patted her hip pockets and then pulled the phone out. Her nerves
caused her to fumble with the device. It slipped from her hands and clattered
to the floor between them. Shane didn’t bother pretending a lack of interest in
what had her flustered. The desperation in her eyes couldn’t match his
determination. He reached the phone moments before her fingers would have swept
it from the floor.
“Give me my phone.”
Like a tiny dynamo,
she stood defiantly with her hands planted on her slim hips. The move called
attention to her chest in the pink cotton top. She wore no bra but unlike
earlier her nipples weren’t pebbling against the material. His libido mourned
the loss. Women with small pert breasts were a huge turn on for him. The phone
chimed in his grip signaling a text. Someone must really want her attention. He
turned the display toward him to see the message.
“Hey.”
Ignoring her, Shane
read the text and felt his rage boil. The one line message sent him over the
edge, bringing forth every one of his protective instincts. “Who’s this from?”
She jumped around
him, her hands stretching in an effort to snatch the phone away from him. Shane
raised his arm up higher, giving her no choice but to settle down. Her small
stature made it impossible to come anywhere close to retrieving. “Olivia.” His
tone brooked no argument. She jumped but continued to defy him.
“It’s none of your
business.”
She made it his
business when she climbed in the backseat of his car. Holding the phone
directly in front of him, he read aloud. “You can run but you can’t hide,
bitch.”
The fuck?
How could a woman like her with a kid like hers
attract this sort of attention? His thumb did a quick glide reading previous
messages from the same number, no contact name. Each message threatened or
taunted her in some fashion, progressively getting worse. Her fingers twisted
on the hem of her shirt and tears once again welled in her eyes.
“Olivia.” This time
he said her name softly and lowered his arm. “I may not know what’s going on
but I’ve got a pretty good idea.” A sniffle from her. “I’m not in the military
any more but I have friends. If you let me, I can help.” Not to mention he
owned and ran a top notch security business from his basement. Hell, this was
cake to his team.
She snorted and
rolled her eyes in his direction. “Like your sheriff friend.”
Shane remembered his
threat from the previous night when they’d arrived at his house. A smile curled
his mouth. “Like Aidan.”
“You know the
sheriff by first name?”
He recognized the
question for the stalling tactic it was. Deciding to give her some leeway and
let her think she’d distracted him, he relaxed his stance and shrugged his
shoulders. “He’s my closest neighbor.”
As if coming to a
decision her shoulders rounded. Her hands ceased the nervous motion. “I can’t
talk about it.”
He growled and
stepped forward but she put up a hand. “But I’ll accept your help.”
Chapter 8
The words tumbled
from her lips and she couldn’t call them back. His offer of assistance amazed
her. Olivia didn’t know people who did things without expectation of repayment.
She came from a life where every man looked out for himself. Yet, here she
stood. Willing to accept help from a man she didn’t know. A man she’d have to
trust to stand by his word even though he scared her.
His presence oozed
menace and danger except if she were truthful it didn’t feel directed at her.
“If you wouldn’t mind taking Chloe and I to a bus station and help me purchase
a ticket to North Carolina, it would be wonderful.”
His growl started
slow and rose in volume. Growling provided the basis for most of his
communication it seemed. He stormed toward her across the small space between
them. Olivia took a hasty step back and hunched her shoulders, head ducked low.
There was no hesitation to the instinctual move. She heard his muttered curse
and flinched.
“Don’t, princess.”
He stopped inches away, palms up.
Olivia forced
herself to meet his eyes. Shame coursed through her. Years had gone by since
she’d retreated from a man in such a blatant manner.
“I’m not coming
closer. You don’t have to be afraid.”
Olivia froze. Not in
fear this time but embarrassment. She hated letting her father’s behavior
affect her adult life. She parted her lips to deny the claim.
“And don’t lie.”
Okay he thought he
doubled as a mind reader. She wondered if he’d set up a 1-800 number to show
off the skill. A look at his frowning countenance kept her from sharing the
idea. A heavy sigh followed the dark look he aimed her way.
“You’re crazy,
princess, you know that?” He ran a hand through his hair, leaving grooves behind.
His icy gray eyes mellowed to stormy shadows. At least, she considered it
mellow in comparison to the harsh glares earlier. “I’ll take you to the bus
station and spot you money for the tickets.”
Relief made her
stumble. He reached out a hand to catch her. The warmth of his large hands
sliding around her waist had her melting. She leaned her weight into him. Her
cheek to his chest. Another minute and she’d compose herself. Burying her nose
in his shirt, she inhaled deeply. He smelled of soap and manliness. Defining it
more than that was beyond her skills. She realized she’d never leaned on Brian
like this. Never inhaled the masculine scent of him nor desired to stay nestled
in his arms.
Time to toughen
up, Olivia
.
Don’t get comfortable with the illusion of safety because of
this man’s kindness.
She forced herself to straighten. “Thank you. I’ll pay
you back when this is done. I promise.”
His brows pulled low
and she waved her hands in the classic time out gesture. Humor glinted in his
eyes before disappearing. His features were bland minus the sea swept gaze of
those amazing eyes that raged like a storm. She wondered if she’d imagined the
brief emotion. Her fingers wiggled toward him, palm up. “My phone, please.”
The brush of his
hands along her sensitive skin had her inhaling sharply. He smirked, releasing
her phone and the fingers he’d managed to caress.
“When do you want to
leave?”
She shoved her phone
into her front pocket. “Would now be too soon? I’d rather get on the road early
since I’m traveling with Chloe. She’s not a fan of the dark or sleeping in
strange places.”
He made some
disparaging sound. “Smart kid.” Pivoting on his heels, he brushed by her on his
way to the stairs. “I’ll gather some things and meet you in the garage.” He
paused on the first step and turned back. This time his look held her immobile.
A warning mixed with the heat lighting those gray orbs. “The garage,” he
emphasized, “Do
not
leave the house, Olivia. You’d regret it.”
Her shiver as he
continued up the stairs gave him her answer undeniably. She wouldn’t be leaving
the house unless he said different.
****
With their meager
belongings already packed in her duffle, it took Olivia more time to pull Chloe
away from the television than to get ready. She waited next to the black car
from the night before. A flick of her wrist turned the eerie garage into a
bright lit place of purpose. Unlike the rest of the house, the garage revealed
more of a masculine hand. Red bars and shelves lined one wall. Bright orange
tools filled every available space but organization reigned amongst the seeming
chaos.
Her eyes roved the
interior, hungry for information about the man who’d offered to help a woman he
didn’t know from Adam. He’d mentioned the military and she pictured him in a
crisp uniform. Not knowing which branch he’d served meant she got to visualize
all of the formal uniforms she could recall. Then her mind strayed to a vision
of him in fatigues. Dirt stained and sweaty, he’d be in a tan shirt one size
too small to proudly display each one of his tightly packed muscles. Matching
camouflage pants and dusty black combat boots finished the image.
Olivia bit her inner
cheek to keep from laughing at her fanciful thoughts. She tried to imagine what
he’d think of her fantasy and a snicker broke free. Shane Liam Mitchell
wouldn’t like it at all.
“Are we going home,
mommy?”
Reaching down,
Olivia ruffled Chloe’s hair. “Not yet. We’re still on our adventure, remember?”
Chloe’s comforting
weight leaned against Olivia’s legs. She brought her teddy bear up to show
Olivia. “Mr. Snuffles is tired. He wants to go home.” Considering Mr. Snuffles
sported only one arm, Olivia didn’t blame him for wanting to go home.
“Soon, sweetie.
Promise.”
Chloe wrapped the
brown bear in a hug and scuffed her feet on the concrete floor.
“Ready?”
Olivia startled but
managed to control her reaction this time. The man needed a bell. “Yes. Thanks
again.”
As he approached,
she tried to hide her nervous reaction. He left little space between them. The
move neatly blocked her from opening the car door. “Not changing your mind?”
Unable to answer for
fear she’d give in and stay, Olivia merely jerked her head back and forth.
He sighed, tossed
the keys in the air then caught them. “Fine.” He moved by her, his arm once
again brushing hers. Her sensitive flesh tingled in response but she ignored
the reaction this time and got Chloe settled in the car.