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  The conviction in his tone had more tears burning the backs of her eyes. She wanted to believe him so much but her reality of the past five years, just kept that comfort dangling out of reach. Her own proverbial carrot on a stick.

  His gaze, hard, softened as he stared. “It kills me to see you cry, Pix. Breaks the heart I no longer have in my chest.” He leaned in and brushed his lips lightly along her cheek. “You will survive this.” Then he stepped away and walked off.

  She sank to the step and buried her face in her hands. What did he mean by that? That he has no heart in his chest. He’s one of the nicest men I know. She stayed like that for a few moments then got up and walked to the kitchen where he stood at the island, chopping veggies. Shelly Marie paused at the entryway. He handled the knife with precision and deft efficiency. The skillet to his right sizzled and he added more vegetables when they were prepped, stopping to stir them occasionally.

  “Just going to stand there or come help?” He never looked up from what he was doing.

  “Wasn’t sure you wanted me to help out.” She moved further into the room.

  Now he looked at her. His gaze seeing more than any other man ever could. She wiped her hands off on her pants and tried to remind herself this wasn’t about them reuniting and getting back together. It was purely to keep her alive. So all these damn fantasies I’m having of him carrying me off to bed need to stop right now. Easier said than done.

  She washed her hands as the air filled with the scent of sausage and veggies. Tilting her head to the side, she dried her hands.

  “What?”

  “What what?” she replied.

  “You’ve got that questioning look. What’s on your mind?”

  “Your back is to me; how do you know I’ve got a questioning look?”

  “Because you’re always full of questions.”

  Lately it seemed her only one had been why. Why had this happened to her? She exhaled slowly. “You’re right. I was wondering when the music changed. You used to listen to metal. This is anything but. I didn’t even know you knew classical music existed.”

  She allowed her gaze to roam over the jean encased ass on the man before her. It truly wasn’t fair to the rest of the male population. In her eye and humble opinion, there wasn’t a finer specimen anywhere.

  He turned slowly and she managed to have her eyes up from where his crotch would have been. Barely, but a success was a success. I’ll take what I can get.

  “Some things,” he said, sucking something off his thumb. “You outgrow.” His eyes locked onto hers like a laser. “Other things you don’t and know you never will.”

  Her nipples tightened and her pussy was more than ready for him. This time her skin played host to goosebumps for an entirely different reason. “Is that so?”

  “Definitely.” His lips quirked up as he dragged his gaze over her. “Get the salad from the fridge, please.”

  Grateful for something to occupy her hands, and mind, she listened and pulled out a nice glass bowl with a colorful salad. Touching him would give me something to do with my hands. Damn her subconscious for speaking up. She checked her watch as she placed the bowl down and was shocked to see she’d been out for more than a day.

  “You needed your rest. I wasn’t going to wake you up.”

  “Been a while since I’ve slept so well.” That wasn’t a hard confession to make, not that he wouldn’t have been able to see it, given the strain and circles she’d had under her eyes.

  He joined her at the table with the main course and took his own seat after he held hers for her. She’d forgotten about his manners. Mrs. Wilder had raised her boys right. All of them.

  αβ

  Adam stared at the monitor as his security feed replayed. Something had set off the alarm and he wanted to know what the fuck it was. Or who.

  He sat immobile until he realized it was some kids from town. Even so, he gathered face shots and ran them through facial recognition. He wasn’t taking any chances with Shelly Marie’s safety and ultimately her life.

  “Knock knock.”

  “Rhodi,” he said without turning from the screen.

  His brother placed a beer before him. “How’s it going?”

  “Kids set off the proximity alarm earlier this morning, from town. I recognize them. I’m running them because she said this assfuck could charm the wings off a fly, so he may pay someone to check it out.”

  Rhodi straddled a chair. “Think he’s here already?”

  “Not sure. He’s got a lot of connections. He makes shady underground acts look like sunny vacation days at the beach.”

  “And why Shelly Marie?”

  Adam whipped his head to the side, glaring at his brother. “Meaning?” The growled word, edgy and dangerous.

  “Ease off there, killer. I just mean a man of such wealth and connections could have any woman. Do you think he went after her for her smarts?”

  “I’d thought of that, maybe he wanted her chemistry, and whatever she studied, background. I don’t know. She said he wooed her.” He clenched a fist as he ran over the conversation he’d had with her on this. The distant look in her expression, the fear, the subtle signs of panic. “Gave her little gifts for no reason. Kept her off balance that way. Everything I didn’t do when we were together.” Anger laced his tone.

  “Stay on track, Adam. He did do things you didn’t, like stab her numerous times. Throw her through a glass shower panel. You didn’t know that was going to happen. Focus on what you can do now. What she could offer him. She was one of the top of her field. She holds degrees in biotechnology as well as a forensic and chemical toxicologist. Her background in metabolomics, proteomics, and genomics helps with her training as a molecular biologist.”

  Rhodi’s expression had him chuckling.

  “What the fuck does that all mean I just spouted?”

  He shrugged. “She’s as smart as fuck. Other than that, I haven’t a fucking clue. I pulled up her information. She’s not been doing that lately, however. Whatever she’s been doing it’s been for cash.”

  “She always was too damn smart for you. So, could he have had plans for her, I mean they work in the drug world. Or is he just a psychopath who’s sadistic and wants to see her suffer?”

  “He stabbed her. Once for every month they’d been together after he felt she’d cheated on him. I’m not sure he would have done that if he wanted her to work for him. Unless he viewed it as the ultimate betrayal and wanted her dead if he couldn’t have her, no one else could.” The computer dinged and Adam stared at the boys’ faces. Both local. Troublemakers. He memorized names and addresses.

  “So this has to be about his ego and that he believed she wanted someone else.”

  Adam exhaled sharply. “This is about me killing that motherfucker.”

  Rhodi put his hand on his shoulder. “Thought it was about making sure Shelly Marie is safe.”

  He grunted. “Once he’s dead, she will be.” He faced his brother. “If this was happening to Karen?”

  Eyes like his hardened. “Point taken. Just remember you’re not in this alone. We’re here to help.”

  “I know.” And he appreciated having his brothers at his back. “Christ.” He glanced to the door making sure Shelly Marie wasn’t there. “All I want to do is pick her up and deposit her in my bed.”

  “You’re still in love with her.”

  Adam turned back to the monitor. He truly hadn’t any wish to discuss feelings, but there wasn’t any way he could deny it. “Never stopped,” he admitted after a few moments of silence.

  “Now I know why you’ve been such a jackass for the past few years. You were pining over a lost love.”

  He sneered at the Wilder brother closest to him in age. “Thank you for your insight, Dr. Phil. Can we get back to the issue at hand, please, or do we need to do some more therapy first?”

  Rhodi tipped up the beer he had in his hand with a grin. “I don’t think you can afford me.”

&nb
sp; His retort was cut short by the appearance of the sexy redhead he’d never been able to get out of his mind in the doorway. Her hair was tousled, lips pouty, and damn if she didn’t look like she had just rolled out of bed after an afternoon of making love. His cock stiffened in his jeans and he lifted an eyebrow. “Everything okay?” I remember when she wore little sexy camis and shorts, showing off skin. Now she covered her body with long sleeves and long pants. He understood, she was self-conscious about her scars but he hated how it had killed her confidence.

  “Rhodi,” she said in a soft tone.

  His brother got up and walked to her. Adam watched the body language and saw she didn’t sway away from him or tense up. She was comfortable with him and that gnawed at his gut. He dipped his head and kissed her cheek before guiding her into the room, a hand on the small of her back where he escorted her to the chair he’d just vacated.

  “Good to see you up and about, Red,” he teased, tugging lightly on one fat curl.

  Her smile was a double-edged dagger to Adam. Grateful to see it for sure, but jealous as fuck it was his brother who’d elicited one from her. Then she glanced at him and he held predator still.

  “I was wondering if it would be okay for me to call my friend, Tracey. I know she’s going to be worried about me. She wanted me to go see this guy she knew for help and although I told her I was…I came here instead.”

  That helped appease his jealousy. She’d come to him.

  “Tracey Fillmont?”

  She nodded. “The one friend I’ve managed not to allow him to drive away. He’s chased everyone else off.”

  The pain in her voice ripped through him and he clenched the hand she couldn’t see until he got himself back under control. I remember her mentioning her. She’s like a pit bull when it comes to protecting Shelly Marie. He shared a look with Rhodi, who immediately rose and left the room.

  Alone with her, he sighed. “Listen, Pix. I can let you call her, but keep in mind that the more you involve her, the more danger she could be in. Right now, she knows you’re not where you’d said you’d be but she doesn’t know where you are. If she’s the one person you’ve continually turned to, he’s surely watching her. Listening to her calls, having her under surveillance. If he thinks she knows more than she’s letting on, he may hurt her.”

  “I know, but I promised Tracey I would always let her know I was okay. I tried to get her to back off but she wouldn’t ever do that. She wants to remain in contact.”

  “Your sister is something else. Okay, tell her you’re okay but don’t tell her where you are.” He opened the desk drawer and pulled out a disposable phone and tossed it to her. Tracey wasn’t her biological sister, but had joined the family as a foster child. While she hadn’t ever been legally adopted, she and Shelly Marie were tight as if they were blood. Tighter perhaps.

  He watched her as she dialed the number and put the phone up to her ear. Rhodi reappeared in the doorway, entered, then put a drink down before Shelly Marie. Tea, he could smell it from here. Peppermint as she preferred.

  “It’s me,” she said, tone low. “I’m fine, Tracey. No, I didn’t go there.” Her gaze flicked up to him for a second before dropping. “I’m safe. I promise.” She glanced once more and nodded as if her sister could see her. “I’m with my solider. He’ll protect me.”

  His heart swelled. Yes, he was hers and she was damn right he’d protect her.

  “Love you, too.” She ended the call and handed back the phone. “Thank you.”

  He allowed his fingers to touch hers as he reclaimed the cell. “You’re welcome.”

  The sparks were still there, he felt them throughout his entire being. The flare of her nose and the dilation of her pupils told him she’d experienced it as well. She got to her feet, picked up the cup, and meandered to the window.

  “I can’t thank you enough for doing this, Adam.”

  He rose and moved up behind her. She smelled of his soap and he liked it. Prefer she smell like me but I’ll take it. “You don’t have to thank me, Pix.” He dug his short nails into his palms so he wouldn’t touch her. “Want to go take a walk?” Beyond the window, the snow fell in a steady rhythm, adding to the foot that already lay on the ground.

  “I’d like that but I’m not really dressed to go tromping around in the snow and I don’t have anything else. At least nothing that would make a difference.”

  “Rhodi,” he called out.

  “Sup?”

  “Got any of Karen’s clothing in your car that she could use? Boots or anything like that?”

  “Sure, give me a sec.”

  Ten minutes later and Adam held the door for a bundled up Shelly Marie to pass him. She wore Karen’s down jacket, lime green knitted scarf, leather gloves and boots. He zipped up his bomber jacket and followed her out into the snowy early evening. It would be dark soon but at least she could get some time outside.

  She didn’t speak as they ambled along. When they reached the lake he shared with Wild, she walked down the dock and stood there. Her red strands moved in the blowing snow and wind. The green scarf reminding him even more how vibrant red her hair truly was. A thought which took him down a road where he recalled how all that red appeared spread out along his pillows and sheets as they spent the day in bed, never dressing, just making love and sleeping.

  He checked his phone and noting that none of the alarms had been activated, slid it back in his pocket and strode out to join her at the edge.

  “What have you been doing all this time, Pix? I know you’ve not been doing what you went to school for.”

  “I went to work in a pharmacy for a while but once he found me there, I realized that if I was on the map he’d find me. So I went off it. Not that it mattered,” she said disgustedly. “He always finds me.” She shuddered and he wasn’t sure if it was the weather or her memories.

  Probably a bit of both.

  “I think it’s all part of his psychological game. He wants me to know he can get to me, anytime and anywhere. It doesn’t matter how much I try to hide myself.”

  “Have you actually seen him in person since the attack?”

  “Once. I had to go to the ER for a panic attack. The cops didn’t believe me and said it was most likely a figment of my imagination because of what happened prior.”

  “You don’t believe that, though, do you?” I want to punch them in the face for not believing her and making her feel even worse about what occurred.

  “No. I know it was him.” Another shudder. “Since then, no, I haven’t seen him. Just got the flowers and note.”

  He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and dropped a kiss to her forehead. “He won’t get to you again, Pix. I promise you’re safe here.” She didn’t respond and he looked down at her, tipping her chin up. “You’re thinking loudly again. What?”

  “Thinking that my being here put your family in danger and if anything happens to them because of me, I’ll never forgive myself.”

  Adam didn’t have any words he knew would make her feel better so instead he kissed her. Dipped his head and covered her lips with his own.

  Holy shit!

  He’d forgotten what it was like to kiss her. Her soft lips parted beneath his pressure and she gripped his jacket when his tongue pushed inside her mouth to tangle with hers. Even after all this time, she still tasted the same and, as her flavor slid along his taste buds, even his cells reawakened with passion. Suddenly, this was so much more than just about keeping her safe. It was about keeping her in his life.

  Chapter Four

  “Are you sure you’re getting enough sleep, Shelly Marie? You look exhausted.”

  With a smile pasted on her face, she returned the hug from the matriarch of the Wilder family. Shelly Marie had come down from her guest room to find his mother standing in the kitchen cooking breakfast. Adam wasn’t anywhere around and she in turn wanted to be anywhere but here, herself.

  “I’m fine, Mrs. Wilder, thank you.” She stepped back and tugged
the sleeves of her shirt back down, hiding the scars. “Is Adam here?”

  The smile on his mom’s face instantly widened and Shelly Marie realized she’d misunderstood the situation.

  “He was such a bear when you left him. I have to say I was a bit skeptical when Rhodi said you’d come back into his life. But I see him now and know it’s the best thing for him.”

  Great. Just great. She dug her nails into the palms of her hands and searched for the right words to tell her. “Mrs. Wilder, it’s not—”

  She waved her off. “I know, it’s none of my business. I disagree, he’s my son and therefore everything is my business.” Her eyes, so much like Adam’s, narrowed slightly. “Take care you don’t hurt him again.”

  Let me add in a damn and double damn here.

  “Mom, leave her alone. Shelly Marie isn’t here because we’re rekindling anything. She’s here for D.A.R.K Cover services.” His baritone wove up from behind her.

  Shelly Marie didn’t take her eyes off his mother, just observed her reaction. Her smile fell away and concerned filled her gaze.

  “You’re in trouble?” She snapped her focus to her son. “You do what you have to in order to keep her safe.” She waved a hand. “Leave the kitchen, I’ll call you when the food is ready. I can hold out hope that something more comes from this.”

  “I know that look, let’s get out,” he said with a jerk of his head.

  She didn’t argue, well aware that Mrs. Wilder ruled in the kitchen. Trailing after Adam, she took the opportunity to stare at him. His attire, a black shirt hanging partially untucked from his well-worn and fitted jeans. It’s just so unfair how damn good he looks.

  In the living room, he gestured for her to join him by the window. More snow fell and she crossed her arms when she got to his side.

  “You doing okay, Pix?” Adam put the full intensity of his gaze on her face. “I heard you up last night.”