Haunted Hearts

Haunted Hearts Gwen is a survivor. Living through a horrific accident that left her with the ability to see spirits, and escaping the iron fist of her father. She’s tried to create a future out of lies. When it becomes apparent that one ghost isn’t willing to leave her alone, she knows she may never truly be safe again. Mac fights the guilt he feels in his father’s death. Hiding away from life, until a beautiful woman appears in his path and forces him to live up to his own personal code. Despite her arguments to the contrary, she needs a hero and he needs to be one. What will happen when they are forced to face the truth? When the ghosts of the past haunt them both, will their love protect them or will it destroy their future? Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal Length: 53,537 words

HAUNTED HEARTS

Corinne Davies

EROTIC ROMANCE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Erotic Romance

HAUNTED HEARTS Copyright © 2010 by Corinne Davies E-book ISBN: 1-60601-967-8 First E-book Publication: November 2010 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2010 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Haunted Hearts by Corinne Davies from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Corinne Davies’ livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Davies’ right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION This is dedicated to all the men and women in the armed forces who lay their lives on the line every day for us. Thank you. Many thanks to Katharine and Dana for answering all my questions regarding life in the Coast Guard. Any mistakes made in policies or procedures are mine alone.

HAUNTED HEARTS CORINNE DAVIES Copyright © 2010

Chapter One I had no idea the destructive capability of four year olds. Gwendolyn scrubbed at the sticky crimson spill before wiping the worn linoleum clean. She imagined these old tables had seen a lot of birthday parties, but all this red icing from the Nelson twins’ birthday cake made the place look a bit more like a scene from a horror movie. Streamers and balloons hung haphazardly around the room while bits of ribbon and wrapping paper littered the floor. She straightened the napkin holder and condiments before flipping the silver chairs, resting their worn green vinyl-padded seats on the tables. The room almost echoed with the high-pitched squeals when she brought out the red heart-shaped cake their mother had made for them. Gwen made quick work on the tables and then began to sweep up the crumbs and sprinkles coating the floor. A small shimmer glimmered in the corner of her eye, but she ignored it. Old diners like this attracted spirits like a moth to a warm flame. Thankfully, the ones who tended to appear around here were gentle and inquisitive. So far, they were happy to revisit their own fond memories of the place and then move on. By ignoring them, Gwen could keep up the illusion of being nothing but a small town girl working to take care of her brother. Her little brother Joey kept busy doing dishes in the kitchen by hand because earlier in the week he’d decided to take apart the kitchen’s dishwasher. Gwen was terrified she would have to pay for it

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or, worse, lose her job. Mrs. Brown simply laughed and said she expected something like this to happen. Kids like Joey had a natural curiosity that had to be sated, and they learned best when they could dig into the middle of something themselves. Of course, he wasn’t getting off scot-free. Washing up by hand was his punishment until he put the machine back together. Joey slipped into the room and quietly eased the swinging doors closed, contrary to his habit of slamming things. He ran to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Wendy, you have to be quiet, Ma Brown says.” Joey started calling her Wendy after she read Peter Pan to him. “Why? Joey, what exactly happened?” “So, I’m washing dishes for–e–ver, and I start thinking about the dishwasher. There is a spring in there I don’t recognize, and I think that must be the problem. I bet if I put in a new one and clean out all the spouts and replace a couple tubes it will work better now than it did before. Do you know how old it is?” Joey took a deep breath, and Gwen knew he was on the verge of a long explanation on the inner workings of the antique washer. She constantly worried about her brother. His natural abilities seemed to be stunted by his lack of social skills and immaturity. After the dishwasher incident, Mrs. Brown tried to assure Gwen. She thought one day all the parts of Joey’s brain would catch up with each other and he would end up being a great surgeon or lawyer or president. While Gwen wanted to believe her, she knew it wouldn’t happen without some specialized help Cupping Joey’s face with her hands she, made him look up at her, and made eye contact. “No, Joey. Listen to me. What did Mrs. Brown say?” “Oh, yeah. Ma Brown came in and whispered to me. She said to hide back here and to tell you to be silent. If we hear her yell, we are to go out the back door and go hide in the woods out back until we hear her ring the bell.”

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The party room had its own entrance so the diner’s customers wouldn’t be too disturbed by large groups of people coming and going. Gwen clutched Joey closer to her and moved toward the door. Twitching aside the teahouse curtains, she looked out into the parking lot. Parked to the side of the building sat a brand new Mercedes. The amount of dust covering it made her think it must have been driving a long while on back roads. A metallic taste flooded her mouth, and she realized she had bitten her lip. She had tried so hard to stay hidden. She stopped straightening her hair, dyed it black, changed her name, and tried to hide in a small town. “Joey, you stay here by the door. Don’t make a sound.” He nodded, his eyes reflecting the fear she tried to hide. “Do we have to run?” “Not yet, stay here while I look.” Gwen moved over to the swinging doors. Staying beneath the circular window, she pressed her ear to the small crack between them. She could hear the normal sounds of the diner. Jack rattled dishware as he cooked up something in the kitchen, and Mrs. Brown laughed while she served someone. Nothing sounded amiss until she heard a couple of men’s voices. She couldn’t make out the words, but their rich Latino accent stuck out among the Southern drawl she’d grown accustomed to. Her heart thudded hard in her chest. Memories of why she ran away flooded her system like adrenaline. Her instinct to run vibrated along her limbs. God, if these men were whom she suspected and they had arrived an hour ago? All those precious children would have been in danger, along with their moms and family. She slowly tiptoed back to where Joey stood by the door. “I’m not going to get to go to school here, am I?” His whispered voice wrapped around her heart like a vice. She knew he loved it here and looked forward to going to school in a few weeks with the locals. “Let’s not worry about that yet.”

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How did they keep finding them? If they knew about all the bank accounts, then they knew she never used a penny. Gwen had taken great lengths to make sure she didn’t use anything traceable. They left with the clothes on their backs and a few packed essentials. If one thing set them out from the crowd, it was her Shelby. She earned the money for it, and it saved her and Joey from traveling on buses and trains. Could they have found out about it? She loved that car, but it had to go now. She would have to move on. Joey moved restlessly against her side. “Wendy, I’m bored.” “I know, kiddo. Not too long now.” They sat on the floor with their backs to the wall under the window. If anyone walked by, he wouldn’t see them. She heard the deep purr of an expensive car and fought the urge to look through the window and watch them leave. Instead, they sat there and waited. Finally, Mrs. Brown opened the door to the room and stuck her head in. “You two okay?” “Yes, ma’am.” Gwen nodded and hugged her brother closer to her. She fought the urge to cry with relief. The illusion of safety she deluded herself into believing for the past few months dissipated. “My mister wasn’t a good boy all the time. I learned fast to notice that type. Those boys were trouble through and through. They’re flashing an old picture of you. I think they believed me when I said I’d never seen ya. They’re passing through and sound like they’re in the habit of asking.” Gwen opened her mouth to offer an explanation but shut it when Mrs. Brown held up her hand. “No, I don’t want to know. You’re a good girl, and I know you and Joey are in some trouble. It’s good to know when you’re hiding how you stand. Now you know. Whoever they are, they’re still looking for you.” Mrs. Brown flipped one of the chairs back to the floor and sat down. “Don’t you worry. No one around here is going to tell them anything. We keep to ourselves and don’t like strangers like that poking around.

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Gwen hoped life might be different here, that she and Joey could live a normal life. They got lucky today, but what if next time someone else caught her out front? “The dinner rush will be starting in an hour or two. Becky should be feeling a bit better by then. Poor thing is suffering terribly with morning sickness.” “I’ll be finished up here in a second, and then I’ll come help you get ready out front. I don’t mind staying if she doesn’t feel like coming in.” The extra tips would come in handy now. “You’re a kind girl, Gwen. Why don’t you have a bit of a rest and something to eat. Go in and tell Jack what you’re in the mood for. He’s sweet on you. I’m certain he’ll happily make whatever you want.” Mrs. Brown ruffled her brother’s hair. “Young Joey, you still have some pots to finish up.” Joey rolled his eyes dramatically. “Can’t I have something to eat, too?” “I happen to know Jack has been making you snacks all day, young man. I told you, until my dishwasher is fixed, you will be helping out with the dishes.” “What if I delay doing more dishes and work on getting all the pieces back into the dishwashing machine?” “Will you put them in the proper spots?” Joey looked at her as if she was insane. “Of course I will. It would fail to work properly if I didn’t.” Gwen tried to smile at such simple logic but even that failed her. It felt as though the entire universe sat on her shoulders, perhaps because she had placed so many innocent people in danger. Joey slipped out from under her arm and dashed toward the kitchen. Mrs. Brown didn’t leave but instead stood there. Gwen could feel her gaze on her but couldn’t meet her eyes. “I’m going to have to quit.”

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“Now don’t be doing anything rash.” The older woman placed her hands on Gwen’s shoulders, and Gwen’s gaze met hers. She expected to see pity or anger but not understanding in the expression on Mrs. Brown’s face. “Honey, how long have you been hiding?” “Five years.” “Now, I’d say that’s a very long time for someone to be looking for you.” “They’ll never stop looking. I’m going to have to make sure I have nothing they have interest in. Until then, I will never be free.” “Is the solution really that simple?” “No but I can’t live like this. I can’t expect Joey to live like this. He will never get the help he needs if I have to worry about our past hunting us down.” “You have a good idea, but I don’t want you to rush off anytime soon. Mistakes are made that way. If you’re certain this is what needs to be done, then do what you need to, but plan it out. Without a plan you’ll make a mistake, and they’ll be waiting to catch you. “I’m so sorry I brought this here.” “You didn’t bring anything here, little girl. Some good force out there is reminding you not to let down your guard. You’re obviously still in danger.” Gwen knew she had to go home and put them both in danger in hopes of making it go away. It wasn’t much of a plan, but sometimes the simple solutions worked better than complex ones. All she knew is someone must have taken up the reins of her father’s organization. An organization she often compared to a Hydra..She once tried to cut off its head. Like the mythical beast, it grew another. Only the one that grew back had it out for her.

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Chapter Two Three Weeks Later Joey rode the entire trip underneath his favorite blanket. Because security was such a precious commodity, she couldn’t blame him. If hiding under a blanket could ease her concerns, she would happily crawl under there with him. The small hotel room she paid for was the cheapest she could get with a separate bedroom and a small kitchenette. She slept on the sofa in the living room. As soon as they arrived in town, she headed straight to the lockers in the train station. Returning was a terrifying experience. Everything she took, in hopes to use as a kind of insurance, lay hidden in a single locker. Keeping Joey occupied, she watched the station for two hours before being certain no one knew she was there. She left Joey under his blanket in the car and rushed to the lockers. Hands shaking, she got it open, pulled out the small duffel bag, and then rushed back to the car. She sat there for thirty minutes before leaving. Had anyone tried to approach the car or looked dangerous, she would have driven away and never returned to the state. When finally she felt certain they were safe, she drove back the way she came, doubling back a few times to make sure they weren’t being followed. She knew her actions were borderline paranoid, but no amount of paranoia was too much when it came to her brother’s safety. Gwen tiptoed her way through the obstacle course of fun strewn across the ratty, old, dingy carpet in her brother’s bedroom. Her brother had decided the threadbare patches were dangerous and had

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created bridges and ramps over them for his trains and cars. Twisting trails turned back onto themselves and gave her a clue as to how complex his thought patterns were. She worried about him so much. She wished she could do more for him. Although he seemed to be a complete genius at mechanics, he couldn’t read at a first grade level. Joey wasn’t simple. He was brilliant. One day, he would amaze everyone with what he could do. He would be quirky, but who these days wasn’t? She only wanted the best for him. There must be therapies that would do him wonders, but she couldn’t afford them. Had they stayed with her father, he grudgingly would have paid it, but at what cost? The emotional damage would have been much worse than the beatings. She still remembered the day her mom brought him home from the hospital. Her father raved about his son and how her mother finally gifted him with the most precious of gifts. He never hid his disgust at his firstborn being a girl, but she never held it against her brother. She adored him from the moment she saw him. As the years went by, it became more and more obvious Joey wasn’t developing like other kids his age. Her mother started reminding Gwen on a regular basis that she was all he had. If anything happened, Gwen would be the one to keep him safe. Looking back, Gwen wondered if her mother realized Alphonse would kill her one day with those beatings. Why didn’t her mother have the strength to take them and run? Gwen would never allow any man to hurt her or Joey. Wincing, she bit back a curse and hopped on one foot after stepping on a lone piece of train track. Damn, those corners are sharp. She flicked it with her toe, and it slid across the floor. A cold breeze danced across the back of her neck. She whipped around, certain to see someone or something standing there. Nothing. But in the back of her mind she could feel it. Cold and angry. She hadn’t been able to shake the feeling since picking up the bag.

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Oh, please, not now. She couldn’t handle any kind of spirit coming at her right now. She knew her emotions couldn’t handle it. Leaving Joey’s door open in case he needed her, she crossed to her makeshift bed on the sofa. BITCH. The word was drawn in angry slashes across the dust on the TV screen. The remote fell from her fingers and hit the floor with a soft thump. Her heart fluttered in fear, and she closed her eyes, not wanting to look around in case she saw something. Just her luck, they got to share a room holding the spirit of a pissed off person. She had gotten used to the gentle presence of those in Lowville. Back in the city, she forgot how locations like the one they were staying in attracted negativity. Knowing her luck, this one had probably killed itself in here. It can’t hurt me, only scare me. “Go away,” she said. “Go away. Go away.” A simple incantation said three times, and they tended to obey. She felt a cold pressure on the back of her neck and then no longer, whisked away like magic. The night took on its normal, calm feeling. A lone cricket outside played its call to its friends, and the breeze floating in the window was warm and muggy. Quickly, she darted forward and used her hand to swipe at the screen, clearing all the dust away. She could hear a few fights in the alley behind the motel and sirens in the distance. Whatever spirit invaded her space had left, but the impression it made kept her heart beating hard in her chest for hours. This wasn’t the first negative spirit to try and scare her, but it certainly did a good job. The dark sky lightened to charcoal before she fell asleep. The next morning dawned uneventfully. She opened her eyes and immediately glanced at the dust on the TV screen. She could see the remains of dust in the corner of the screen but nothing written anywhere. Perhaps she had been overtired the night before and let her imagination get away from her? Perhaps the malicious presence was nothing but her anxiety.

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It wouldn’t hurt to find a new place to hide today, but she was loath to upset Joey by moving him so soon. Already agitated, he refused to eat anything but cookies for breakfast, proving he hadn’t slept much better than her. He needed structure and order in his life. Having his routine upset always set him off. Gwen felt tired and agitated, and he must sense that as well. Unfortunately, he had taken to dancing on her last nerve. Snapping at him wouldn’t help anything. “Joey, come on. Let’s go out for an adventure.” The idea of a quest caught his attention. There was nothing like a bit of wild and wonder to distract a young boy. “What kind?” He was learning, damn. If he figured out all her tricks, she wasn’t sure what she would do. “This is like those choose-your-own adventure stories. We won’t know what is going to happen until we get there and make the choice.” Joey loved those stories and had her reread them until he had them memorized. He could read them on his own now, but he still begged her to do it. “Where does it start?” “Joey, we’re in Florida. It all starts at the beach. Grab your shoes. We’ll walk there.” “If we’re going to the beach, I don’t think I should wear shoes.” “Your feet will hurt on the pavement if you walk barefoot. You can take them off on the sand.” “We should bring towels. What if our adventure goes swimming?” Oh, that’s not going to happen. The thought of going to the beach made her want to break out in hives. The idea of Joey swimming out in the sea, and her not being able to save him, frightened her to no end. “I don’t believe this is a swimming story.” “I thought this is our adventure? How can you tell what is going to happen when we aren’t there yet?”

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Damn young logic. “I can’t, but if the story leads to the water, then perhaps we will find a splash pad.” Joey looked at her as if she had lost her mind. She knew how much he loved the water, and she enjoyed taking him swimming at the community pools where there were lifeguards to watch and rescue him when he took too many chances. The ocean simply carried too many risks for her to feel safe. “The longer you dillydally, the more of the adventure we’ll miss if you don’t hurry up, young man.” **** Mac sat on the back of a bench, his feet on the seat, watching the world go by. To be truthful, all he ever did was watch the world go by, until she showed up. She captivated him. Her looks caught his attention. Her long black hair curled wildly around her head, lifting with the breeze. Her T-shirt hugged the curves of her breasts and hips. He had no idea what the color of her eyes was because she wore a large pair of dark sunglasses, but he couldn’t get the idea out of his head. It was a burning question in his mind. She accompanied a very excited boy. He seemed a little too excited for his age, so Mac had to wonder if there were other issues there. No purse, no car keys. She didn’t carry anything but a bottle of water tucked under her arm and a single towel. She must live around here. The boy pulled his shoes off as soon as he spotted the sand, throwing them over his shoulders as he ran. She picked them up and followed after him. The two of them would come together to discuss something and then scour the sands around them. She laughed when the boy started digging around in the sand, encouraging him by the looks of it.

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He was curious about why she kept herding him away from the water, though it was obvious that was exactly where the kid wanted to be. She bent over to look at something, and his mouth dried. From this angle he got a nice view of her cleavage. Her body looked a little on the thin side, but nicely proportioned. She could do with a bit more weight on her, and his hands itched to trace the curves he envisioned on her. As if she could sense him watching her, she looked up quickly and glanced around. Straightening when she noticed him, he looked directly at her. He could almost see the tension settle around her shoulders and posture. It was an interesting kind of response, and he wanted to see her eyes and know the thoughts going on under all that hair. A squeal of pure joy ripped through the air, and she spun around. The kid had taken advantage of her distracted state and was making a break for the water’s edge. Mac couldn’t help the laugh that emerged. His humor died when he realized she had dropped everything to run after him, hollering for him to stop with sheer panic edging her tone. Oh, hell, this isn’t good. The kid must not know how to swim. He pushed himself off the bench and started running. He moved at a better angle and made it to the boy before the kid hit the water. He gently grabbed him by the arms, careful not to hurt him. “Hey there, sport. Slow up, looks like someone’s after you.” The kid looked up at him with as disgusted look, no doubt for spoiling his fun. Mac loosened his grip on his arms and turned to see where the young woman stood. The fireball launched herself at him, all fists and kicks. “Let go of him!” “Whoa! Whoa, lady.” Mac tried to fend off the attack as best as he could without hurting her. He managed to capture her wrists in his hands and stopped her swinging momentarily. “Stop it! I tried to help.” Thankfully, he had longer arms and could avoid her kicks to his more sensitive spots. “Hey, stop it, damn it. I wasn’t trying to hurt him. I thought the kid couldn’t swim and stopped him for you.”

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She paused in mid swing, clutching the kid to her side. The boy looked up at her in wide-eyed wonder. Apparently, outbursts like this weren’t normal for her. Not that he cared. He shouldn’t. He didn’t. “Wow, Wendy, you really could protect me.” “You know it, little man.” She smiled down at the kid, and Mac wanted to be on the receiving end of such a look. He always did have a soft spot for wildcats, especially the kind that instinctively protected those they cared about. He tended to be a bit overprotective of his younger sisters. As she turned back to him, she pulled her sunglasses off her face. Mac felt the urge to turn and start his run again. This time, he would keep running until he forgot this entire incident. She had the biggest milk chocolate eyes he had ever seen, and they didn’t tell him a thing about her. He had seen eyes like that on people who were hiding something. His instincts told him she would do anything to protect the kid she held on to. “I’m sorry for attacking you.” A slight suspicion edged her gaze, and she angled the kid farther behind her. “No biggie, I only wanted to help. These days, you can’t be too careful when it comes to kids.” Walk away, Mac. Don’t get involved. The uncertainty in her eyes rooted him to the spot. She didn’t believe him? He was a trustworthy guy, and everyone knew it. Couldn’t she tell? “Don’t worry about it. If someone grabbed one of my sisters at his age, I would have reacted the same way.” He looked down at the boy, who ignored both of them as he gazed out longingly at the water. “Wendy, please can I swim? Please. Please.” She darted a quick glance up at him, and her cheeks turned bright pink. “Joey, I promise I’ll find a local pool with lifeguards, and you can swim there. Okay?” “The water here is safe. There isn’t any undertow,” Mac offered.

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“Um, I’m sure it’s fine, but I’d prefer trained lifeguards there to watch him.” “Wendy can’t swim.” Mac couldn’t help but be surprised at the kid’s announcement. Everyone should know how to swim. “I can swim,” she quickly added. Her cheeks turned a cute shade of red again. “I just don’t like to.” “She’s afraid of the water. I try to tell her there isn’t anything to worry about, but she doesn’t listen to me. I believe she has a phobia due to a past traumatic episode.” “Joey, that’s enough.” “Uh, well, it happens sometimes.” Mac tried his best not to smile. Her cheeks looked sunburned they were so red. Mac, you need to get away from her. The little panicked voice in his head sounded again, but he ignored it. He wanted to know what had happened and help her regain a love for water. He spent almost every free moment in the water. To be afraid of something so elemental was a completely foreign concept for him. “My name’s Gwen, and this is Joey.” “She’s my Wendy.” Mac smiled down at Joey and shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you both. I’m George MacIntosh, but you can call me Mac.” “I’m so sorry again for the way I acted, Mac. I have to get Joey home.” “It’s not our home.” “Joey, please.” “I’ll watch him.” What? The voice in his head went into shock at the idea. He didn’t want to get to know her, he didn’t want to see her smile again, and he certainly didn’t want to know why she constantly looked around them as if she was waiting or watching for someone to dart out at them. “What?”

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He knew he might completely piss her off by undermining her decision, or she might be relieved to allow the kid something he really wanted. His sister would cut him off at the knees for this stunt. Here’s hoping this woman didn’t share the same attitude as his sibling. “I’ll sit with you if you want to let him get it out of his system. If he runs into trouble, I’ll go in and get him.” “It could be too late.” “It won’t be. I promise. I’m an excellent swimmer. I even passed my lifeguarding exams when I was younger if it makes you feel any better.” Her lips formed a small smile, resulting in a feeling that punched him directly in the chest. She looked like a combination of innocence and vulnerability, masking the fact she would fight anything that threatened her. She needed a hero, and he didn’t have it in him anymore. Mac, get away from her before you get in over your head. “Are you sure?” He looked down into those milk chocolate eyes and somehow knew he would never say no to her. “Let him know what your rules are, and I’ll stay for as long as you like.” Joey let out a whoop and started dancing on the spot in excitement. “I’m gonna swim with the sharks!” He would have laughed, and he did laugh a bit, until she looked at him with panic scarring her face. Doesn’t she know anything about the ocean? “Sorry, Joey. There are no sharks this close to shore, no matter what you might see in the movies. But sometimes you can see dolphins, and sometimes a manatee appears near the pier.” “Oh, cool. Wendy, please can we?” “Yes, we’ll go dolphin watching tomorrow. Now you need to go no deeper than your chest. Right here.” She poked the kid in the ribs, and he laughed. Pulling off his shirt, he tossed it at her and then ran down the beach to the water.

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They followed at a slightly slower pace. The kid dove into the water with practiced ease. “He looks to be a strong swimmer.” “I take him swimming as often as I can. Usually at supervised pools where I don’t have to worry about him and there is someone to jump in if he needs help. He doesn’t do it anymore, but I guess I allow my own fears to cloud my judgment. He loves the water.” They reached the water’s edge, and Mac stepped into the small waves, allowing them to wash over his ankles. Looking back, he watched her scuttle back as a wave came closer to her. “You do realize nothing can happen to you at the edge, right?” He wondered what could have happened to her to create a phobia this strong. “You do know you can drown in two inches of water.” He grinned while responding, enjoying the game. “Yeah, if you were knocked unconscious and had your face held down.” Her body shivered, and the cute blush that had glazed her cheeks was quickly replaced with a greenish cast. “You okay? Oh, god, did someone actually do that to you?” He stepped back toward her, and she scuttled away. Her body went tense, and he could see her darting looks around her. Her gaze fixated on the small waves rushing in. “No. Don’t come any closer. We have to go.” Mac held his hands up. “Okay, I’ll stay here. Take a deep breath.” She shuddered again and gasped for air as her eyes filled with fear. She was having a panic attack. He could easily understand, having battled them for years after his dad’s accident. He glanced back at the water. Thankfully, Joey had moved a bit closer to the edge to ride the waves in. She gasped and stepped a bit closer to him but then backed away. To hell with it. He couldn’t stand to see anyone suffer like this. Closing the space between them, he wrapped his arms around her. “Gwen, look at me.”

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She looked up at him and pushed weakly against his chest. “Listen to my voice. Take a deep breath, hold it for six seconds.” She glanced wildly around but did as he asked. “Joey is fine. He is only five feet away. Nothing bad will happen to you here. I’ll make sure of it.” She gasped in another breath. “Hold this one for a few seconds again.” He kept his voice low and even, talking her into slowing her breathing a bit. He tried his hardest not to think of it, but she felt incredible in his arms. Tall enough he didn’t need to bend over to hold her, but not so tall that he needed to dip his head to catch her lips. That would be his preferred choice in getting her breathing under control, but the worst tactic he could use under these circumstances. “Now breathe out as slowly as you can. Take another breath, slowly. I want you to count in your head to five as you do and hold it. Then count to six as you breathe out.” He glanced over at Joey and then back to her. How could anyone do something so horrible to a woman? “Breathe with me. Slowly, in and out. In and out. That’s it, you’re doing better.” The color returned to her cheeks in a vibrant hue, but she wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Are you feeling better?” “Oh, I can’t believe that happened, like, really, I’m sorry. I’m so embarrassed.” “No, it was a normal human reaction to an intense fear. Everyone deals with stress differently, and this is the mind’s way of dealing sometimes.” Christ, now I’m sounding like my shrink. Damn it, he wasn’t going to be able to make fun of the man if it turned out all along he had it right. “I’m better now, thank you. I just can’t stay.” “You don’t need to. I understand. I had to deal with some traumatic stuff of my own, and I went through enough panic attacks to know they are real and can be scary.”

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Looking out at the water, a small smile curled her lips as she watched her brother bodysurf a larger wave. “You certain there aren’t any sharks?” “You certain you never watched Jaws?” She narrowed her eyes at him, and he smiled down at her. “Sit down for a moment. Relax, and let your body get back on an even keel.” She flopped down on the sand, and he joined her. They sat there quietly for the longest time, and strangely, he felt content. He hadn’t been able to sit quietly for five years, and here he was enjoying the sounds of the ocean, finding a moment’s peace. “Are you a psychologist?” He smiled and debated lying for a moment. Weren’t chicks into guys with impressive jobs? “No, I’m not. I saw one for a while when my dad died. I didn’t take it well.” “Oh, I’m sorry, how heartbreaking.” Her hand rested on his upper arm for a moment. He mourned when she moved it away. “My dad and I served in the Coast Guard at the time. I witnessed his death, only I was too far away to help or save him.” Why the hell was he telling her all this? Unloading all this should send her running for the hills. Contrary to almost every woman he had met in the last five years, he wanted to know her story. He wanted her to trust him. “At the risk of being insulting, Joey isn’t your son, is he? You don’t look old enough to be his mom.” “And you think that’s insulting? Being told I look too young?” She laughed lightly, making him think of the morning sun dancing on a calm ocean. “Joey’s my little brother, but now it’s like he is mine. I’ll always be there to take care of him.” “How old is he?”

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“I know he acts young for his age. In some ways, he is the smartest person I know, but emotionally, he hasn’t caught up yet. He needs time.” “Have you been able to get him the help he needs? What about your parents?” “I had better get Joey and get going.” Mac could have kicked himself for pushing her for so many answers already. He’d only known her for a few minutes and had no business asking so many personal questions. She would leave, and he had to let her go. She stood up and dusted her cute butt off with one hand while she called her brother. He hated the idea she might walk away and he would never see her again. “How about you let me take you and Joey to dinner tonight?” “I couldn’t.” The wariness crept back into her eyes, shadowing the curiosity he also saw shining there. “Sure you can. I know all the best places, and you can be certain I’ll make sure you are safe. Here,” he reached into his back pocket and handed her a small card, “my cell number is on it.” Gwen took the small card and tucked it into her back pocket. “Thank you, Mac, for your patience. I really appreciate it.” “It’s no trouble. I’ll be waiting for your call, Gwen.” “Good-bye, Mac.” She shook out the towel and met her brother as he headed up the beach. Joey listened to something she said and then looked over and waved wildly at Mac. Mac waved back and sat down on the sand, watching as the two of them walked away. His card sat against the curve of her ass, and Mac felt an inexplicable rush of pleasure at the idea. She fascinated him. Her vulnerability and innocence reflected a thin veneer over what must be a core of steel. This woman had the look of someone who had faced her worst fears and fought every day to get past it. One thing was for certain, something about her story wasn’t right. It didn’t ring true, and

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he knew from experience when something didn’t ring true for him, it was wrong. His dad always told him to trust his gut because it would never steer him wrong. He waited until they were a fair distance away and then got to his feet and walked in the same direction. He kept to the opposite side of the street, back far enough so she wouldn’t easily notice him. This isn’t stalking. He merely wanted to know where she and her brother were staying so he would know where to pick them up. They made their way down the street to the Holiday Inn on the corner. She never stopped looking around, as if she knew they were being watched. Were her instincts so honed that she could tell he was watching her, or did she act out of habit? Part of him wondered if it was the authorities she watched out for. She could have kidnapped the boy. Were his parents anxiously awaiting a phone call to reassure them their son lived? There hadn’t been any Amber Alerts matching the kid’s description. Again, his gut said no. She acted protective of him because she cared, not because of ownership. Still, he felt more and more certain that she and Joey were hiding from someone. At least they stayed in a nice hotel. Whatever it was she wanted to hide from, at least she had some security in there. She had his card, and he could only hope she would call. He could try and stake out all the local pools in South Water, but he knew that’d be impossible. His watch alarm beeped, alerting him to the time. Damn, time had flown, and now he would be late for his shift if he didn’t move his ass. He jogged back down the beach toward the parking lot where he had parked his bike earlier. He had a couple more weeks of trop hours, and then he’d be back out at sea. He didn’t want to screw up that chance. It had only been a couple months since he pulled himself out of the gutter. After his dad’s death, the family grieved in its own way as well, but he took the self-destructive route. He’d started drinking to hide from the pain, a habit that increased exponentially when the rumors started. Inaccurate stories circulated about his dad being dirty

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and leaking information. People said he’d been doing double deals and making a tidy profit doing it. He’d taken a trip to the doctor and received a nasty warning about his health. The doctor was a friend of his dad’s and warned him about the road he had chosen to take. How disappointed his dad would have been. He would rather have his dad alive and disappointed than dead with his friends giving him shit. Then to top it off, his best friend, Clay, picked a fight with him a few months ago and kicked his ass, both physically and mentally. There had been a time when Clay and he had competed over everything, and to have him trounce him so easily shocked him. He hadn’t realized how weak he’d become. He owed Clay everything. The guy had pretty much saved his life. He roared into the marina far too fast. He might have a new lease on life, but he still enjoyed the adrenaline a good rush would give him. Parking in his spot, he made it into the office in time to have a quick shower and get changed into his uniform. He arrived in the briefing room a mere moment before the Captain walked in from his office. Steve, another buddy, smacked him in the shoulder from behind. “Cutting it close, don’t you think? What the fuck have you been up to?” “Met a girl,” Mac whispered over his shoulder. “And you made it here on time? So wasn’t she any good, or are you a little premature these days?” Mac flipped him the bird over his shoulder as their commander cleared his throat in their direction. He still didn’t pay much attention to the meeting. His thoughts revolved around reliving his conversation with her and fantasizing about how he would love to wrap those long legs around his neck or waist. It was an easy decision. Neck first and then waist, preferably a couple times. He adjusted his position in his seat. Thinking about her made his pants uncomfortable. What would it be like when he got close to her again? As much as he wanted to get into her, he wanted to know more about

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her first. Who was she afraid of? What was she hiding from? Why was it she seemed so familiar to him, but he couldn’t place her face? She had a local accent but said she hadn’t been here in years. Maybe he’d gone to school with her. But she looked too young to have been in many of his classes. She could have been a freshman when he was a senior, but he couldn’t imagine ever passing those incredible eyes and not trying to get to know more about her. Especially at an age when he’d earned the reputation for being a bit of a dog. He would send her flowers and a friendly note thanking her for the company this afternoon. How hard could it be to get her room number? He’d get one of his buddies to check it out for him. He’d make it seem like official business, and he’d have them here tomorrow morning. Perfect. The next afternoon, he received some news that didn’t surprise him as much as it should have. “She doesn’t exist.” “What?” “Seriously, man, there is no one by the name Wendy or Gwen Smith staying at the Inn. There isn’t even a woman staying with her younger brother there. Are you sure you have the right hotel?” “I saw her walk into it.” “Well, if she did, then she walked out after you left, or she cruised out through the back door.” “Damn, I didn’t think I came across like a stalker.” “It’s not your fault you were cursed with such an ugly mug, but that isn’t the whole thing.” “What?” Derogatory comments aside, Clay’s tone remained serious. And this was not a common thing for him. “What else is there?” “I got to checking the area hotels and motels, and there is no one booked in under her name. A woman and a boy matching your description who are sharing a room at a dingy place off the strip. You know, the one you took Katie McDermott to after the prom.”

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“Oh, damn, you mean the Blue Moon? It was run down then. I can’t imagine it’s any better now. It’s what, about a fifteen-minute walk from the beach?” “I get to see the place too often.” Which told Mac that there were regular drug busts or prostitution rings working out of it. He leaned back in his chair and played with a pencil between his fingers. “Could she be a working girl?” “No, I didn’t get that kind of feel from her. The kind of fear that vibrated around her, you can’t fake that. Then she goes out of her way to make sure I get the wrong impression of where she’s staying?” “Yea, well, out of curiosity, I did some checking. Both the name she gave you and the one she checked in under are fake. There is not a single record for either name. She’s hiding out, Mac.” “She has the feel of someone who’s been abused.” “So why bother with her? Be thankful she didn’t decide to latch on to you. You don’t need that kind of mess.” “I appreciate your concern, but if I want lectures, I’ll call my mom.” “See how much I help you next time if you’re going to be an asshole.” “Clay, buddy, I’m sorry. She’s gotten under my skin, and I only talked to her. There’s something there I can’t figure out, but I can’t get her out of my head.” “Be careful. You gonna be at the game tonight?” “Hell, yeah. Steve got a bonus, so he’ll have some extra cash for us to win off him.” “Damn, he is too easy of a mark.” “If he would learn how to play the game, then maybe it wouldn’t be so easy.” “Ciao, man.” “See ya.” Mac hung up the phone and tapped it against his leg as he looked out his office window and over the water. He could walk

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away right now and not get involved. He could be completely off the mark with her. But his gut didn’t agree with that, and it wasn’t something he could explain to Clay or even himself. He needed to help her and Joey.

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Chapter Three Gwen lay on the sofa and stared at the small card in her hand. The glossy ink sat up slightly on the card, and she ran her finger over his name a number of times. She wished their lives were different and she could get to know him better. Her life held too many secrets, and as much as she longed to have someone to share the burden, she couldn’t do it. It wasn’t only what he’d said that sent her spiraling into a panic attack yesterday. A man stood a few feet from the water’s edge. He looked straight at her, angry, so angry the waves were churned up around him. The spirit seemed oblivious to Joey, thank god, because she didn’t want to blurt out what really bothered her. She knew his face. Something about it awoke a fuzzy memory in the back of her head. She didn’t know anything about him, except he no longer lived, and she had a strange feeling her father had something to do with it. The spirit, she could see him. Could he be the one I felt the other night? Why would he haunt her? Unless her father had him killed? But, she could be reading so much more into this than there actually was. She focused on the card again and ran her finger over the ridges of his name, thinking about when he gave it to her. She couldn’t help but notice how large his hands were. They weren’t manicured or soft like the men who her father associated with. Mac’s hands were round with calluses on them. His strong hands, combined with the large muscles framing his arms, could beat the hell out of her. The strength he harnessed was frightening, all the more reason to stay away from him.

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She would find herself a nice man, meek and calm. One day, not today. Mac wanted to walk them back to her hotel, but she refused the offer gently, as not to make him suspect anything. She insisted they were fine. To make sure, she and Joey headed in the opposite direction of her hotel and straight into the nearest elegant lodging. Walking confidently, as if she knew where she went, prevented the desk clerk from questioning her presence. She and Joey walked straight through the hotel and out one of the back doors. From there, she made her way down the back street to their dingy motel. Joey complained the entire time about how tired he felt. Once back at their temporary home, he crawled onto the sofa and fell asleep. Today, she took him over to the pier like she’d promised. There they spent hours watching the varied wildlife, and she did her best to distract him. Her brother had developed a fast case of hero worship with the man and asked a hundred times if she would call him so he could swim again. And then at rush hour, they went to the bus station, making certain no one noticed them. She went inside with the bustling crowd to the lockers and collected the contents. Now, she sat on an ancient chair and looked out the window at the dismal parking lot. Her feet were perched up on the cushion with her knees bent and drawn up close. She had a threadbare blanket wrapped around her shoulders and legs, warding off the chill she felt in her bones. Thing were getting scary. First the writing on the TV, then the bathroom mirror, followed by the knife stuck into Joey’s bedroom door. Thank god Joey had stopped to get a soda at the machine outside their door before coming in. She pulled the weapon out of the cheap wood before her brother saw it. There had to be someone who had access to this room. Someone her father knew and who had decided to scare her? If he wanted her dead, he would be waiting for her to get back. Their things had been looked through, so he knew she didn’t have what they wanted. She did now though, and it made their

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situation more dangerous. Once they found out, whoever they were, they would be back. She needed to change hotels or get the hell out of the city. She had one more locker at the train station to empty. She’d go there tomorrow on her way out of town. She glanced at the leather bag sitting on the sofa, her very own Pandora’s box. The information contained in it remained harmless unless someone opened it. Gwen didn’t want to unzip it again. Not until the time came when she could give it all back. Her father blackmailed people, and this was all the evidence. DVDs, photographs, receipts, items in evidence bags he must have stolen and kept. She didn’t know what to do with it all. For the briefest of moments, she thought about following through with it. All the money they would pay to keep quiet would easily pay for Joey’s therapy. She could put him in a specialized school, and he could grow up into the great man she knew he would be. A wave of nausea rolled over her at her selfishness. Torturing strangers, holding things over their head? That was her father’s MO, not hers. She had enough problems. The beach. Joey wanted to go back and begged constantly. Fear kept her away. She didn’t want to see the ghost again. It looked so angry and all of its anger was directed toward her. When she went through the leather bag’s contents, she’d watch for the man’s face. That would make sense, wouldn’t it? If she found what he’d been blackmailed about, then she could destroy it. Or even better, throw it in the ocean. He’d go away then. Optimism wasn’t her strong suit, but she desperately needed it right now. She didn’t want Joey getting caught up in this, and the only way to save him would be to end it all as quickly as possible. She flicked the edge of the card in her fingers. Again, her fingers found the edges of his name and number. No chance she would ever invite anyone into this shit pile. No matter if he looked as though his arms could keep her safe, big enough to give a full body hug and encompass her completely. Safety was an extravagance never afforded to her. Her life with her father was a life filled with luxuries

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and opulence, but in exchange for abuse. Life since their escape meant fighting for every morsel, scraping to get by, but she kept them together and alive. Tomorrow morning, she would get the last duffel bag and get them both out of there. Finding another place to stay, she would figure out how to make all her father’s mistakes right. Turn over all this information to someone. She couldn’t trust anyone. Mac’s face floated through her memory. God, how long would she be thinking of him every moment of the day? A simple conversation left her with such a deep yearning within her for impossible things. A low rumble vibrated in the parking lot, drawing her attention back out the dingy window. A large bike slowly pulled in, coasting down the building as if looking for someone, or perhaps a room. She couldn’t make out who drove it because of the shadows. The person deliberately stayed in the shadows, she was sure. People who stayed in places like this didn’t want to be seen coming or going. No doubt a purchaser for what they sold a few doors down. She figured that out during the first night, but at least they were careful. She averted her eyes when she left and had Joey do the same. There were people coming and going constantly from there. The door was always opening and closing. At least being a few doors down, she couldn’t hear what went on. That’s why she requested the last room on the row. This way, she only had two neighbors, one below her and one beside. Heavy boots echoed on the metal stairs outside her door. She expected them to continue on, but they stopped in front of her door. Her chest locked in fear. Clutching the blanket, she fought the urge to crawl into bed with Joey and pull the covers over their heads. Block out the world. A loud knock shook her door, and she nearly jumped out of her skin. Her pulse hammered in her throat. Stay quiet, they will go away. Silence. Knock, knock, knock.

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Maybe they have the wrong door. She slipped off the chair and padded silently across the floor to the bedroom, gently shutting the bedroom door. She moved to the front door, stopping to take the large knife off the table where it sat. An evil shudder ran up her arm as soon as she touched its handle. Ignoring the sick feeling, she tightened her grip. Another knock, followed by a low voice. “Gwen, open up. It’s me, Mac.” Her jaw dropped. How had he found her? She glanced at the business card now lying on the floor. Had she somehow called to him by holding his card? Tiptoeing to the door, she looked out the peephole and saw it was indeed Mac. He leaned back against the railing, legs crossed at the ankles, arms across his chest. Her nerves scattered. He looked dangerous, glaring down in the direction of her shady neighbors. She brushed against the chain, and it rattled against the door. His head quickly turned toward the door, and he stood up. Shit. Now he’ll never leave. She didn’t even want to know how he found her. Although, that information would help her hide better next time. Sliding the chain free and twisting the dead bolt, she opened the door, keeping the hand holding the knife behind it. She only opened it as wide as her face. She had to look up, as he stood closer than it looked through the peephole. “You didn’t call.” She wanted to say she lost his number but refused to lie to him. “Why were you looking for me?” “To give you this.” His hand appeared from outside and reached out for her. His fingers held a single rose. “What? Why?” “May I come in?” She hesitated, and she could see the reaction on his face. He didn’t like knowing she didn’t trust him, but he wasn’t about to get violent

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over it. In fact, the determination in his eyes made her even more nervous. Against her better judgment, she stepped aside for him to enter. “You know this isn’t the safest place for you two.” He looked at the knife gripped in her left hand, surprise coloring his features. “You can keep holding on to that if it will make you feel better.” She started and then looked down at her hand. She had forgotten about it. “Oh, god, sorry. You’re right. It isn’t the nicest place.” “Where’s Joey?” “He’s asleep.” She waved a hand in the bedroom, her eyes automatically going to the crack in the door the knife made. Her heart clenched but then relaxed when Mac closed the front door and locked it behind him. His presence filled the small room, chasing away the chill that had seeped in earlier. She walked over to the small kitchenette, placing the knife on the counter. Mac moved past her and into the small living room, sitting on the chair across from where her blankets were strewn over the sofa. “Why did you let me think you were staying at a different hotel?” “I didn’t want you to know where we were staying. No offense, but I don’t know you,” “What changed your mind? You let me in tonight.” Gwen opened a few doors and tried to find something to put her flower in. She quickly shut the doors, hoping she wouldn’t see any of the creatures that inhabited the dark spaces. Her flower smelled heavenly compared to the mustiness of the hotel room. “Because I had a choice. You didn’t try to force your way in. You asked permission. How did you find me?” She couldn’t find anything, so she rinsed out a Coke bottle and filled it with hot water. It had been so long since she had been given something so frivolous. A single rose in beautiful shades of cream and peach. The lush feel of the base in dark peach faded out to cream on the tips. It was beautiful, and he would never know how special this felt. Mac’s hand reached over her

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shoulder and plucked the flower out of her fingers. She jumped slightly, having not heard him move across the room. “I’m starting to get jealous of this little flower. It has captured your attention so completely.” He stood so close she could smell his subtle cologne. She should’ve been scared by his closeness, but for some reason he made her feel safe. A heady feeling she wanted to soak up for as long as she could. “Thank you, it’s a wonderful surprise.” “I’m glad you like it.” He brushed her cheek with the petals, and she couldn’t stop her eyes from closing. They felt like velvet against her skin. If she tried, she could imagine the world consisted of only the two of them standing in the sun, with no shadows to worry about. A silky caress over her lips, and her eyes popped open. For a second she thought he had kissed her, only to discover he used the flower. Her disappointed thoughts must have registered on her face because he leaned closer to her and paused for a moment, asking permission without words. She answered by leaning closer and closing the distance. She gripped the counter behind her, wanting to reach out and hold on to him, but too afraid. She should be committed for this. She knew next to nothing about this man, except he made her feel safe. An elusive emotion she craved. He cupped her face in his large hands and moved his lips against hers. A gentle, inquisitive stroke, making her feel precious, fragile, and so protected. Her throat tightened, and for a moment she feared she might actually burst into tears. That would freak him out. He moved forward, crowding her, closing the distance between their bodies. She let go of the counter and wrapped her arms around his waist. She matched him kiss for kiss, welcoming the aggression her actions seemed to elicit. His hands slid from her cheeks to her hips, gripping them tightly before sliding around to rest on her behind. The

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heat she felt wash over her felt warmer than she had all day on the beach. He made her head buzz and her body tingle. Something about this man made her feel freer than she had in years. Her body hummed in ecstasy as his hands lazily stroked her ribs and hips. She had lived like a nun for the past five years, denying herself the basic need of anyone’s touch. At the time, she’d needed to heal from her past. But then the idea of such intimacy began to scare her as much as the water. Allowing anyone to cloud her emotions could lead to her making a mistake. It could put her and Joey into trouble. So why now? Why with Mac would she happily kiss forever so long as it meant she could spend some time horizontal and naked with him as well? Not that her stinky sofa would be the best place for a seduction. Mac gripped her ass and pulled her hard against him. She could feel the evidence of his interest pressing against her lower tummy. Holy crap, he feels huge. Hard, hot, and, damn, so enticing. And that was through a pair of jeans. Her insides trembled, and she could feel her body preparing for him. He slowed the kiss until their foreheads rested together, both of them breathing as though they had run a marathon. “Gwen, I didn’t come here for this.” “Okay. I know. I want to as well.” “Oh, good, I’ll bring a dozen roses next time.” She laughed and couldn’t remember why she ever wanted to hide from him. As much as she wanted to strip him down and see what she had felt, this wouldn’t be the best opportunity. Especially since Joey could walk out at any time and catch them. **** She smiled, and Mac’s breath caught in his chest. She laughed, and he wanted to strip her bare. Her chuckle sounded both pixie-like

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and sultry. How could one woman be so many different things all at the same time? “Do you want something to drink? “ “Drink? No. But I can think of a few things I wouldn’t mind nibbling on.” She laughed, and he reminded himself why he shouldn’t lift her up onto the counter and discover where she tasted best. Reaching past her, he picked up the flower from where it lay and tossed it on the counter. She plucked it from his fingers and dropped it into the soda bottle. He would bring her a proper vase next time. There had to be a next time. He hated seeing her in this place. It looked dirty and dingy and couldn’t be healthy for either her or her brother. He didn’t know how to suggest she find something else without insulting her. “I know this place is horrible, but we can’t go anywhere else.” That made him feel like an ass. “If it’s about money, I know of a much nicer place. It’s owned by friends of mine, and I can arrange for you two to stay there.” “In exchange for what?” Her voice had gone icy, and the suspicious look returned. It pissed him off. What kind of a guy did she take him for? Never mind. He had jumped her in her kitchen after not being in her room for more than five minutes. “Nothing. You could stay there and tell me you never wanted to see me again, and I would respect that. I don’t like this place. Your neighbors are a walking time bomb. It’s only a matter of time before some nasty stuff goes down over there, and I don’t want you or Joey getting caught in the crossfire.” “Believe me, it has crossed my mind, but I can’t take any chances.” “Why don’t you explain what is going on and let me help you?” “Because I don’t want you to get in the middle of this. It’s bad enough I can’t keep Joey safe. I don’t want to have you getting hurt on my conscience.”

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“Sweetheart, what could be so bad you would worry about me? Who are you hiding from?” She fidgeted in the spot, and he held his breath. He knew if he pushed too hard she would clam up, but there had to be something going on, and he couldn’t help her if he didn’t know what obviously frightened her. “I’m hiding from some bad people. They think I have something important. I don’t, but they would never believe me. I heard things I shouldn’t have, and now I am doing everything I can to make it right.” “You mean turning what you have over to the proper authorities?” “That is one way of putting it. I also have another strange problem.” “What?” He had wandered into the living room and dropped down onto the sofa. She moved to sit next to him, but with a quick tug of her hand, he managed to maneuver her into landing on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist and guided her legs to the cushions next to them. She didn’t seem too comfortable and kept fidgeting, which made his erection harder than ever. She had to be able to feel it pressing up against her core. With every wiggle of her ass, he feared the zipper in his jeans was going to give. “Sweetheart, sit still please, or I’m not going to be able to pay attention.” She laughed nervously and then relaxed a smidge. A loud pop and a scream cut through their quiet bubble. Mac rolled them both to the floor, protecting her as she curled into a ball beneath him and covered her ears. A couple more pops and the glass in the window where she had been sitting earlier shattered. With his cell phone in hand, he dialed 911 as the bedroom door opened. “Wendy, wuz goin’ on?” A sleepy Joey stood in the doorway, rubbing his eyes and giving them both a curious look.

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Chapter Four “Get down!” Mac yelled as he leapt off of Gwen and rushed across the room. Sweeping the kid’s feet out from beneath him, Mac caught Joey before he hit the floor and rolled with him to ensure he didn’t get hurt. Gwen crawled across the floor and laid herself over her brother, whispering frantically into his ear. Angry voices screamed and hollered from out in the walkway, and Mac leaned over both of them as he spoke quickly into his cell, giving the dispatcher all the necessary information. A couple more cracks of gunfire sounded outside. Mac herded them into the bedroom and shut the door. Once back in Joey’s room, he sat against the door and looked at Gwen and Joey curled together at the end of the bed. Had he not been here, would things have turned out differently? Joey might have been fine, but would their frantic voices have attracted the gunmen to their room. What if they had tried to rape her and hurt Joey? He barely knew either of them and didn’t owe them anything, but he called the police. The thought of leaving them here left a sour pinch in his stomach. He gave up lying to himself when he gave up drinking. He couldn’t leave them here, not in a place like this. He wasn’t looking for a relationship. He didn’t want a relationship. He would help her out for a day or two until he could get her settled in a place of her own. Something with twenty-four hour security, double-locked doors, a guard dog or two, and a big fucking alarm system. “Get your stuff together. You’re both leaving with me.” ****

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“Mac, I don’t want to put you out. We’ll be fine at another hotel.” He ignored Gwen’s comment, as he had every other concern she raised in the last half hour since he announced they would be staying with him. Joey’s distress at everything going on around them affected Gwen as well. Mac already told her twice he had a great threebedroom townhouse with plenty of room. She would have her own room and so would Joey. There was no trouble. “Mac, I have a car and am perfectly capable of driving.” Over his dead body. Which almost happened tonight. “Not tonight you’re not. There’s an officer waiting to drive you home. I’ll get your car brought over tomorrow.” “I don’t understand why you won’t let me drive.” “Because I want you to feel safe, and you’re not going be driving around in your car. Let the officer drive you.” That seemed to placate her for the moment. Until the next excuse she came up with. It didn’t matter, he wasn’t about to let them out of his sight. While Gwen gathered up their things, Joey held on to him. The kid didn’t say a word, and Mac figured he would when he needed to. For now, he kept his arm around the boy’s shoulders and hoped he helped the kid feel a bit more secure. One of the officers noticed something that made Mac’s stomach churn. It came up when the officer asked precisely where they had been standing. Because neither of them could have been seen from the window, there wasn’t any reason why it got hit. Considering the location of the shooters, their window faced entirely out of the line of fire. Accidents happen, and it very well could have been a stray bullet. Except Gwen and her brother held too many secrets for this to be simply coincidence. Gwen sat in the backseat of the cruiser with Joey. Her brother lay curled up under his blanket with his head on her leg. As soon as they

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got into the car, Joey immediately pulled the blanket up over his head, cutting off the world going on around him. The officer driving didn’t talk much to Gwen’s immense relief. She didn’t want to answer any questions and then have to remember any lies. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the single light of Mac’s big bike following them. He gave the officer his address before they left and then acted as if his job included guarding them. The drive took twenty minutes, and when they arrived at his house, she felt some of the strain in her neck relax. Mac lived in a beautiful neighborhood. He had a stunning garden in the front of his house that screamed a female touch. He didn’t seem the gardening type to her. Either he had a girlfriend or wife or perhaps a recent breakup? Not that it mattered. She didn’t plan on being around long enough for it to matter. Mac opened the door closest to her. “How’s he doing?” “I think he fell asleep again. You might not understand, but he has a hard time processing things when a lot is going on around him.” “He’s a child who experienced something no child ever should. I wish I could hide under the blankets sometimes. In fact, every once in a while I sleep in incredibly late so I can do exactly that.” Gwen could have cried at Mac’s easy acceptance of her brother. Often people only saw Joey’s odd behaviour and they didn’t try to understand why he reacted differently. “Let me try to wake him up.” “Just slide him over, will ya?” Mac reached out and gave her a set of keys. She managed to move Joey closer to the door, and Mac scooped him up into his arms. She could hear Joey make a few whimpers from under the blanket, but he settled down quickly enough. “I’ve got your bags here. Go on ahead.” The officer went to grab the leather bag, but Gwen snatched it close to her. “I’ve got this one.” The officer smiled gently at her. “Okay. You go on and get the door open for your boyfriend.”

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She opened her mouth to correct the man but then didn’t bother. The less information she gave them the better. Her stomach already churned at the idea of them running her name and possibly finding out she’d lied about herself. “The red one is the door key, if you don’t mind.” “Oh, yeah, sorry.” She fumbled with the lock for a second before getting it to open. She heard the beeping of an alarm, and it made her heart race. She hated alarms. With one hand, Mac quickly punched in the code and then settled Joey again before heading upstairs. She went back and helped the officer with their few things. She usually left most of their things in the car, in case they had to leave quickly. She thanked the officer and locked the door behind him. Twisting the dead bolt, she heard Mac coming down the stairs behind her. “He’s in the room at the top of the stairs, first door on the left, and yours is right next to it. My room is across the hall, bathroom at the end.” She took a couple steps down the hallway then stopped, unsure what to do. “Do you want a coffee, or will it keep you up?” “Thank you. I’m not one of those people that have a problem with normal coffee.” Not as wonderful as a shot of something to settle her nerves, but she would take hot and wet at the moment, too. “Part of me wants to collapse, and the other is afraid to close my eyes.” He walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her. She couldn’t stop herself from leaning against him, absorbing some of his strength. When she started to feel the warmth spread along her limbs, he rubbed her back and stepped away. “I’ll go put a pot on and meet you in the kitchen. Have a look around and make yourself comfortable.” Mac’s house looked new, which meant no ghosts. Older houses made the back of her neck tingle. She took the leather bag and her own up to the room he told her. She changed into a pair of yoga pants

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and a sweatshirt. Warm and cozy is what she needed right now. Her arms shook, but she forced them to move. This wasn’t the first time she forced herself through the adrenaline dump that comes with a hearty dose of fear. Downstairs, the small hallway opened up into a larger open kitchen and living room area. Tiled floor led to hardwood. Everything looked clean and orderly, except for the pile of dishes in the sink. Mac stood with his back to her, getting sugar and mugs out of various cupboards. She tried to swallow, but her mouth had gone completely dry. His muscles moved under his tight shirt. Nothing compared to the sight of his ass contained in tight, worn denim. “Joey still sleeping?” He placed a mug of hot coffee in front of her along with the cream and sugar. “Yes. I left the hall light on in case he wakes up forgetting where he is.” She fixed the coffee how she liked it and then took a sip. Closing her eyes, she felt her shoulders unknot slightly as the hot liquid warmed her insides. “I don’t know how I can ever thank you enough, Mac.” “That blissful look on your face is enough for now.” She smiled and opened her eyes only to find Mac leaning back against the counter across from her, a coffee mug cupped in one hand. He looked a lot like he did when he waited outside her door earlier. Had it only been a few hours? It felt like days ago. “You know, you didn’t answer my question.” Had she missed something? “What was that?” “Why are you running?” “It’s a long story.” One she didn’t want to tell. Not now, maybe not ever. “Tell me one thing, is Gwen your real name?” He asked the question casually enough but didn’t take his gaze off her as he sipped his coffee.

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“Is Mac yours?” She snapped out the question, only to feel bad a moment later. “Sorry, I’m tired.” “Don’t worry about it. My name is George MacIntosh, same as my father. To ease the confusion, everyone called me Mac.” “My real name is Gwendolyn, but I prefer Gwen. Joey calls me Wendy.” She didn’t add anything else. Given her father’s exploits and death, she feared what kind of reaction her last name would gain. Mac nodded, but she could tell he wanted to ask her more. “It can wait till morning.” Relief spread through her when Mac accepted her need to drop it for the moment. “Thank you again for all your help, Mac. I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t there.” “I’m sure you would have managed fine. I get the feeling you land on your feet no matter which way life throws you.” “That’s me, just a mangy cat.” “Mangy cat? I don’t think so. You look more like a rumpled kitten to me.” Gwen pushed at her hair and rolled her eyes. It wasn’t anything but a silly compliment that should be ignored, but instead she could feel her cheeks burning. It made her think of what she might have looked like earlier. Certainly not her best and that didn’t stop him from kissing her. She looked up at him, and he had the same intense look on his face. If she took one step toward him, would he kiss her again? Did she want to? Oh, hell, yeah. “Good night, Mac.” “Night, kitten.” **** Mac always found going for a run early in the morning helped him work through whatever happened to be bothering him at the time. Today the rhythmic pounding against the sidewalk did nothing to ease his mind. Even forcing himself to sprint the last few blocks did

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nothing but make him sweat harder. The more he thought about Gwen and her brother, the more questions plagued him. Most of all, where did she come from? Why was she trying to hide? He stripped his sweat-soaked clothes and stepped into the shower. Would her skin feel as silky as it looked? The all too brief moments in the hotel teased him mercilessly. He closed his eyes and remembered how she’d sunk into his embrace. She’d felt so small, so delicate under his hands, raising every protective instinct in him. Why would someone want to hurt her? His hand brushed his cock, sending shivers along his spine. Bracing one hand on the wall in front of him, he stood under the rush of water and squeezed himself before stroking again. He thought of the way her hands rested on his arms. The way she rubbed herself against his thigh as he kissed her. If he’d slipped his fingers down the front of her jeans, he knew he would have found her soft and wet. The thought sent white-hot tingles running along his spine and wrapping around his hips. His cock grew, and Mac sped up his strokes. Her hair smelled like the sea air and felt like silk running through his fingers. What would she feel like wrapped around his thighs? Better yet, what would her thighs feel like wrapped around his neck? His balls pulled up tight against his body, and Mac slowed his strokes, wanting to drag this out. He enjoyed the mental picture in his fantasy where she lay on his bed, her legs over his shoulders while he ran his tongue over the delicate folds between her legs. He wanted to hear her cries as she neared her orgasm. Wanted to feel her body cradling his while he drove his cock deep inside her. A quiver danced along his limbs and straight down to the tip of his cock. He held back as long as he could, until the tension broke deep inside him. Shivering, he continued to stroke his cock as a wave of pleasure washed over him, following the water’s path over his body. He sagged slightly, amazed at the intensity of his orgasm. If he could think about her and come this hard, doing it in reality might kill him,

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but what a way to go. He smiled to himself and finished up his shower, feeling a bit more at ease than before his run. Dried off and dressed, he headed to the kitchen to start on breakfast. Fresh brewed coffee rested in the pot, and he had the first couple pieces of French toast sizzling on the griddle when he heard steps on the stairs. The movement hesitated halfway down the staircase, so Mac walked over and looked around the corner and up at Joey. “Hey, buddy, you hungry?” He kept his voice low, partially whispering. The young boy’s eyes widened, as did his smile. What boy his age wasn’t hungry all the time? Joey didn’t look as though he had missed any meals. They must have had some money to live on, though he would bet Gwen skipped a few meals in order for her brother to eat more. Earlier, he thought about popping out and picking up a few things at the grocery store, but his sister had called his cell during his run. He asked her to grab some basic necessities and drop them off on her way by. She was more than a little curious about his visitors. Colleen’s husband and his nephew were out at an early morning swim lesson, so they wouldn’t be able to come. He wanted his sister to meet Joey. Being a mom, she might have a bit of insight into the boy’s personality. He didn’t have a clue and didn’t want to ask the wrong question and insult Gwen. Joey followed him to the kitchen. “I love French toast. It’s my favorite. Wendy’s, too. I’ll go wake her.” Mac managed to grab for the boy and stop him before he got too far. “No. No. She needs a good sleep. Let her wake up on her own, and I promise I’ll make more for her.” “Okay, as long as you promise. Wendy says you can’t break a promise. That’s one of her big rules, and no lying. I try not to lie, but sometimes I do. Wendy always knows.” “Sisters are good like that. I can’t lie to mine either.” “I don’t get it. I think the ghosts tell her.”

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Ghosts? Mac paused and flipped the bread in the pan. It sizzled as he turned and got some fruit out of the fridge. He must have misheard, or didn’t understand. He placed the fruit on the counter next to Joey’s plate and took a breath before continuing. “Do the ghosts talk to her a lot?” “No. It’s another rule. I’m not supposed to talk about it, but if you can’t lie to your sister then maybe the ghosts talk to her, too? So, it’s okay.” “You’re right. It’s okay to talk to me about it.” Mac felt a twinge of guilt for misleading the kid, but he wanted to hear more. He flipped a few pieces onto a plate and put them in front of Joey, who had hopped up on one of the barstools and already held a fork and knife. Ready and waiting. Soaking a couple more pieces of bread, he tried to get Joey to tell him more. “So, these ghosts, do they scare you?” “No, most times I can hear her talking to them, telling them to go away. One time we had to go to a library and find a book there before the ghost would leave.” “Joey, would you like orange juice or milk?” “Milk, please.” Mac got the jug from the fridge and poured a glass for both of them. “Do you remember the title of the book or what it was about?” He placed the glass next to the boy. “Dunno, she wouldn’t let me read it. We had to drop it off in someone’s mailbox. Afterward, she said it would leave.” “Do they always leave?” “Yes, except the one who came a couple days ago. It’s mean.” “I don’t understand. How do you know it’s mean?” “It writes bad words in the dust on the TV. She tries to clean it off before I see them. This one scares her. She said as soon as we leave, it will go away. You don’t have any ghosts in your house, do you?” “Not as far as I know of.”

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“Oh, good, because I don’t like it when Wendy gets hurt. She takes care of me, and if she gets hurt, I know I can’t take as good care of her. Wendy is special. She is like my mommy since our mommy died. Is your mommy dead?” “No, my mom is alive. Do you think you would like to meet her?” “I’d like that. Will she be nice to me?” “Absolutely, she loves little boys. We have mostly girls in my family.” Mac got himself a plate while they spoke and sat down across from Joey. “Really? Oh, that must be terrible.” “Sometimes, but I don’t tell them because it would hurt their feelings. I have three sisters, a brother-in-law, and a nephew.” “How old is the boy?” “He’s five.” Joey chewed a couple more pieces of syrup-soaked bread before answering. “Too young to be my friend.” “You could hang out and watch TV together. You might enjoy some of the same things he does, or maybe you can teach him how to be a big boy?” “Maybe, but I would like to have a friend. I had friends at our old house, but we moved, and I had to leave them behind. Two times now and I don’t like it. Wendy cries when we have to move. It’s so the bad men don’t find us.”

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Chapter Five “Bad men?” Mac sipped his coffee and wondered again what kind of history these two had. How much information could he gently coax out of Joey before Gwen woke up? “Yes. My dad is dead, but there are bad men who want his secrets. Wendy knows them, but she wishes she didn’t.” Mac got up and checked the bread in the pan, flipping it over to crisp up the other side. “Do you know the secrets, Joey?” “No, I wish I did because I would tell them, and then they would leave us alone. But they aren’t secrets that can be told. Wendy has to get the secrets and give them back.” Joey shoved a couple more pieces of toast in his mouth. Mac didn’t like the sound of this at all. If what he suspected was true, she put herself in a hell of a lot of danger. A soft knock echoed from the front door. It opened with a soft beeping noise from his alarm system. Mac leaned out into the hallway and put his fingers to his lips before waving his sister into the kitchen. Turning back, he noticed Joey sat ridged on the stool, a frightened expression on his young face. “It’s okay, big guy. One of my little sisters came to visit.” Colleen bustled in and pushed a bag of groceries into his arms. “I picked up a couple of extra things I think you’ll need. When are you going to weed the garden? My flowers are going to die.” “It’s your garden, Colleen. You weed it.” Mac turned and placed the bags on the counter, only to catch Colleen eating some French toast off his plate.

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“But it is in your yard. I make it look nice. You can do the nasty jobs, such as weeding.” Mac placed a hand on Joey’s back. “Colleen, this is my friend, Joey. He and his sister are staying with me. Joey, this is my sister Colleen.” “I thought you said she was a little sister. She looks old to me.” Colleen laughed out loud and ruffled his hair. “Well, little sisters grow up sometimes, Joey, and Mac likes to ignore that fact. It’s nice to meet you. Where is your sister?” “She’s sleeping. She never sleeps this late. I think I should go check on her.” Mac cleared his throat, and Joey rolled his eyes. “Mac said I can’t. He said Wendy needs to sleep.” Colleen turned and gave him a direct look, one eyebrow arched. “Oh, really?” Mac took his now empty plate from her hands. “Don’t look at me, gutter brain. It’s not what you are thinking. She’s in the spare room.” “I’m stuffed full. Can I be excused?” Joey leaned back in his seat, rubbing his tummy. “Of course, kiddo. There’s a TV remote over on the coffee table. Why don’t you see if you can find something to watch?” “I’ll help you, Joey. I know all the kid’s channels. Do you have a favorite show?” “No, not really. I like cartoons with cars.” “Okay, I can help with that.” While Colleen got Joey settled, Mac put away the groceries and whipped up more egg wash. Having his sister here was a bit of a relief because he didn’t know what to do with kids Joey’s age. Colleen came back in a few minutes later and fixed herself a cup of coffee. “Okay, spill. What’s going on?” “I don’t know what you mean.” As if that will stop the coming interrogation.

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“Well, yesterday, I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone. Today, you have a woman and her younger brother staying here. You sure you haven’t picked up a gold digger?” “Aren’t you getting blunt in your old age? Colleen, grant me some intelligence, and stay out of that aspect of my life.” He appreciated her candor and concern, but he wasn’t going to have Gwen spoken about in those terms. This was a unique circumstance, but there was something about her. He knew from the minute she tried to pummel him for grabbing her brother. “Touchy.” She grabbed an orange from the basket on the counter and started peeling it. “Come on, Mac. It’s not like this is normal for you.” Mac frowned at her and passed her a napkin to put her peels on. “I had to bring them here last night. We were in the middle of talking when a gunfight broke out a couple rooms down from hers.” “Oh, god, I heard about it on the news this morning. They were in the place over on Sixth Street. No wonder you got them out of there. Poor thing. Although considering how much he has gone through, he seems pretty stable.” “I think Gwen has gone to great lengths to keep him safe. She’s a very resilient woman.” He ignored the way Colleen raised her eyebrows at him. It wasn’t like he had broken into poetry. “They’re in some kind of trouble, and she’s been trying to keep them both safe, but I think she might be in over her head. I want to help.” “How do you know what is chasing her isn’t going to follow you here? Are you prepared for what her presence in your home might bring?” A voice sounded abruptly from the doorway. “You don’t have to worry about it because we won’t be here long enough for that to happen to him. Where’s Joey?” Mac looked over Colleen’s shoulder at where Gwen now stood. His rumpled kitten had done her best to

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freshen up, but she still had the flushed look of someone who had just crawled out of bed and was really pissed off. “Good morning, sleepyhead. Joey’s had breakfast and is watching TV. How do you feel?” He deliberately ignored her comment about leaving. They weren’t going anywhere. Colleen now looked embarrassed at her words and dropped her orange on the napkin. “Hi, I’m Colleen. Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so bitchy, but I tend to fuss over him.” Gwen smiled and took Colleen’s hand. “It’s okay. I fuss over Joey all the time. I can’t imagine what it will be like when he is grown-up. If you two will excuse me for a second.” Mac watched her leave, noting the stiffness of her posture. She had rebuilt those walls of hers again. What she obviously forgot is he knew how to get past them. He wanted her soft and curled up against him, trusting him to take care of everything. “You know, I don’t think I have ever seen you look at any of your previous girlfriends like that.” Colleen glanced out in the hall to make sure they wouldn’t be overheard. Great, now all of the women in his life would be butting in before the day ended. “If she’s in legal trouble, why don’t you take her to see Merideth?” Mac rubbed his forehead. The last thing he wanted was for any more of his sisters involved in this. Although Merideth had a reputation as a lawyer, she could make even the most hardened criminal cry under cross-examination. “What are the chances of you keeping this to yourself? I don’t want the rest of you getting involved.” “You know we all love you, right? But honestly, you are way too much like dad sometimes. You think we are all these precious little flowers in need of protection. We do fine on our own, you know.” “Really, should I ask your husband about how you met again? I know there’s something you haven’t told me about that day, Colleen. I still wonder if I shouldn’t have beaten the crap out of him when I caught him in your apartment.”

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“Oh, Christ, would you let it drop? I wouldn’t have had a stick of furniture left if the two of you had started with your Neanderthal ways. Be thankful I threw you out because Geoff would have kicked your ass, little brother.” Mac rolled his eyes and turned off the grill. “Right, in his dreams.” “Don’t worry about us so much, Mac.” “But, Wendy, I don’t want to go again,” Joey’s plaintive voice cried out from the other room. Mac made a conscious effort not to grind his teeth together. Gwen was going to stay here if he had to tie her to the bed. The mental image of that did a lot to keep him from losing his temper as he stalked down the hallway. Entering the TV room, he found Joey curled up under a blanket and Gwen trying to tickle him. “Come on, buddy. We have to go.” “No, you don’t. You’re staying here.” Gwen narrowed her eyes at Mac and stood up. “You are not in control here, Mac. I appreciate the fact you want to protect us for whatever reason, but we can’t stay here. You need to listen to your sister.” So she had eavesdropped on his conversation from the hallway. Damn it, what else had she heard? “Colleen isn’t the boss she likes to think she is. I am a grown man, and this is my house, and you are going to stay in it.” “Mac, I have to figure this all out on my own.” “Why? What is stopping you from asking for help?” “None of your damn business.” “Hey, Joey, why don’t you come with me, and I’ll show you Mac’s train downstairs?” Colleen’s words brought Joey’s head out from under his blanket. “Trains?”

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Mac held his breath for a moment, concern for his hobby warred the need to keep the kid happy. “Be careful with it, okay? Colleen will show you what you can and can’t touch. Okay?” “Whoa, a grown-up train set, cool!” The little boy slid form under the blanket and scampered for the doorway. Gwen moved to follow him, but Mac stuck out an arm and prevented her from leaving. “Oh, no, not you. You stay.” She smacked him in the chest. “Do I look like a puppy to you?” “No, I told you last night I think you are very kittenish.” He wanted to convince her it was safe to be here. In his house, and in his bed if he had his way. “Mac, we can’t stay.” “Gwen, what if the bullet had hit Joey?” “Don’t you dare try to use that against me. You think the thought doesn’t make me sick?” “Have you considered the possibility that someone aimed it at you?” “It was a drug deal gone bad, Mac. Don’t try to personalize this.” She paced back toward his window and gazed out into his backyard. It was green and beautiful with a large porch swing underneath what looked like an orange tree. “Think about it, Gwen. The bullet shattered the window you were sitting in front of. I saw you sitting there when I pulled in. A shooter could have sat in the parking lot and easily aimed up at you.” “Or they were aiming for the drug dealers and got spooked when they shot back.” No, she wouldn’t let him bully her. He wouldn’t use fear to force her to do something she didn’t want to do. “They won a prize for the worst shot ever by being off the mark by four rooms. If their eyes were closed, it would maybe make sense. Still, until we know for certain, you need to stay in a better place. No one knows you’re here. No one lingered nearby when the cops showed up. That’s why I asked the officer to pick you up out back. All the action in the front acted as a good distraction.”

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“Why go to all this trouble? You don’t know anything about me.” “But I want to.” He moved closer, remembering the night before and how close she came to a bullet being in her head. His chest tightened and made him want to keep her right next to him. She bristled as if someone had rubbed her fur the wrong way. Damn, now he was thinking of her as a little kitten. All claws and hissing. He needed to figure out which spot would make her melt. He watched as she stared out the window at the backyard. Such longing on her face. What did she see out there or in her mind’s eye to create such a look on her face? Hell, if she turned around and told him, he would go to the moon for her to make it so. Instead, he approached her from behind and planted his hands on her shoulders. They stiffened up, but when he didn’t move, she relaxed slightly. Slowly he got closer and gently eased her back until her back rested on his chest. Thankfully, she didn’t fight him and instead allowed him to wrap his arms around her shoulders. Did she have any idea how delectable she looked? How much he liked having her in his arms. As if she could read his mind, she sighed, and her head dropped back to his shoulder, her eyes closed. “I don’t know what to do anymore.” She whispered so softly he wouldn’t have heard it if he wasn’t standing right there with his ear inches away from her mouth. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” “I wish I could believe you.” That pissed him off. “What the hell did I do to convince you I can’t be trusted?” “It’s nothing you did, and it’s nothing you didn’t do. This isn’t going to work, Mac. I will not endanger you any further.” “It’s not your choice to make.” “Who the hell do you think you are?” Her voice rose as her head snapped up, and she spun, shooting daggers at him with her glare. The soft, intimate moment shattered, frustrating him beyond belief. He should have kept his mouth shut and let his actions speak louder.

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“I will keep you here if I have to tie you to the closest piece of furniture, preferably my bed.” “So that is how it is. You protect me in exchange for sex. Thanks, but I have been used as payment before and swore I’d kill the next man…” “What did you say?” Mac couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. A cold, sick feeling settled over him. The blood roared in his ears, and he had the most vicious urge to tear someone apart. “Tell me his name.” A stillness expanded from his chest, calming his heartbeat. This calm usually scared him. Only this time, he would look forward to being able to unleash it. “Nothing, I made it up.” She shoved at his chest, but he refused to let her step away. “My bad, poor choice. I’m a liar, skip it.” Her body language screamed in opposition to her words. Someone had used her in the worst way possible. No wonder she didn’t want to be under anything but her own control. He wanted to kill, wanted to strangle the stranger, feel the tendons in the man’s neck stretch to the breaking point. See his face turn red. She shoved hard against his chest. “Let me go, Mac.” He could only imagine what was showing on his face right now. Taking a deep breath, he let her go but grabbed her fingers before she got too far. She would run again. He knew it. “Gwen, please stay here for the next couple days. Allow yourself to have a break. And catch up on your sleep. Is what you have to do so important you can’t put it off a few more days?” “I don’t know.” She tugged at his grip, and he let her go. Thankfully, she didn’t turn and take off right away. He wanted her to trust him to keep her safe. “Then for Joey’s sake, don’t rush. You said yourself, too many changes upset him. Let him stay. Both of you rest, and when it’s time, I’ll help you as best as I can, even if it means letting you leave without me.” That wasn’t going to happen, but he didn’t see the point in sharing that now, or ever.

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“I made breakfast. Have something to eat, and we’ll talk about some plans.” “I don’t have any plans.” “You need to make some. Be prepared for any circumstance.” “All right. I can’t stay longer than another day or two at the most.” Mac nodded and followed her out into the kitchen. The sliding kitchen door stood open, letting in the morning breeze. Colleen and Joey must have come back upstairs and heard him and Gwen still talking. Gwen headed directly to the doorway and looked out. He could hear Colleen telling Joey all about the plants. What they were and what kind of flowers they would have. “Your sister loves to garden. Did you learn from her?” “No.” Mac came up behind her and looked out over the yard. “That is all her domain. Her gardens at home are trouble-free because my brother-in-law is as much of a garden nut as she is. In order to keep peace in their house, he takes care of the gardens there and she landscapes my place.” “He won’t weed anything. Look at these poor babies.” Colleen saw them standing in the doorway as she reached past the largest Gerbera daisies and plucked out some small green invaders. Joey reached for one as well, but Colleen gently led his hand to another one, explaining the difference between flowers and weeds. “Come and have something to eat.” Gwen turned and blinked at the plate piled high with the French toast he’d made earlier. “Joey told me this was your favorite. I figured you must be hungry by now.” “That’s thoughtful, thank you. How about I’ll do dishes and weed your garden for you?” “Fair trade as far as I’m concerned.” He headed to the counter and filled a plate for her. Gwen sat where her brother had earlier and poured a puddle of maple syrup over the French toast he gave her. She broke off a piece

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with her fork and sighed after closing her mouth over it. Mac hoped she would make the same face if he poured syrup over her and licked it off. When Colleen and Joey emerged from the backyard, Mac and Gwen were both eating. His sister first poked her head in and looked around before moving. Joey came in behind her. What did she think I’d be doing? Having sex on the counter? It sounded like a good idea, but even he knew now was not the time. “Well, kids, I have to get going. Geoff will be home from work early for once, and I promised him spaghetti tonight.” “Sauce is in the fridge,” Mac replied. “Reheat it slowly on the stove, and let it simmer. None of this turning it on high and putting a lid on it like last time.” “It heated up.” “You burnt the bottom inch of my sauce and ruined one of my favorite pots.” Colleen rolled her eyes and kissed Mac on the temple. “Okay, fine.” Like a whirlwind, Colleen gathered Joey up for a hug as best she could while balancing a large pot on her hip. “Nice to meet you, Gwen. Come by tonight. Don’t let Mac boss you around too much.” Gwen smiled and nodded. “It was nice to meet you, too, Colleen.” Mac got up and walked his sister to the door, opening it for her. She reached up and patted him on the cheek. “Why don’t the three of you come over tonight for dinner? You can make sure I’m taking care of your pot.” Mac smiled at his sister’s kindness and responded quickly. “We’ll see. I can’t promise anything.”

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Chapter Six “Your family cares about you a great deal,” Gwen commented. Mac simply nodded his head but didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. She could read it all over his face. He came back from walking his sister out, and the intensity she saw last night had returned. He wanted to know about her past. And about the stupid comment she had let slip because her brain turned into tapioca when he looked at her. The faster she got everything taken care of and disappeared with Joey, the better. Mac was dangerous and bad for her peace of mind. He made her long for things she knew would never be. “Thanks for breakfast. I’m going to go check on Joey.” Her brother wandered into the other room to watch TV. “Gwen.” One spoken word with a thousand more unsaid behind it. He wasn’t going to let it drop. “Mac, I’ll tell you what I can, but I’d really like to have a shower first.” “All right, you know I’d like to help you with all of this.” “You don’t even know what ‘this’ is.” “Doesn’t matter. I can help.” He rested his hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead. “Semper Paratus.” “And that is?” “Always ready, kitten. Go have your shower.” He sauntered toward the other room, and Gwen frowned slightly, trying to figure out what he meant. At the same time she ogled the incredible way his jeans cupped his ass. Could she have a fling with him? She didn’t get that impression from Mac. There would be no

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halfway if she got involved with him. He would want it all, but there couldn’t be a happy ending. Sooner or later, the truth would come out. Sooner or later, he would find out who she was, and then he would never want to have anything to do with her. Not that she could blame him. Had she known the truth, she never would have come here. She didn’t mean to snoop. In the middle of the night, after waking up from a horrifying dream of drowning, she looked through the closet in her room, hoping to find a book or something to distract her. What she found kept her up for the next several hours. Newspaper clippings of an explosion that killed both a criminal and hero. The explosion that killed her father also took his. She had seen the face of his father before. His spirit stood at the water’s edge glaring at her the day she met Mac at the beach. She turned away from the delicious jean-clad sight and headed upstairs. She needed to figure out what to tell him and what not to. She didn’t doubt the moment he discovered the truth, she and Joey would be out on their asses. Mac’s bathroom was the most luxurious thing she had seen in forever. Even her father had not been this kind to himself. It came complete with a huge tub taking up most of the room. As soon as she saw it, she knew she wanted to have a bath. A good long soak would help her think. Running the water, it seemed like it took forever to fill, but once it did, she was able to slip in it and let the warmth encompass her. She had it a little too hot, enough so when she moved it felt as though it burned. Earlier, Mac had knocked on the door and told her where to find the Epsom salts under the sink. That went a long way to easing muscles she hadn’t even realized were sore. Her fingers played with the pendant on her necklace. What kind of stone stayed cold even when submersed in hot water? A sharp pain echoed over her eye, and she pressed the heel of her hand to the brow bone. Leaning back against the tub’s edge, she closed her eyes and

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tried to relax. God, I’m tired. The cold pendant sank, resting against her skin. She slipped underneath the water’s surface, allowing her hair to float around her. Not a good idea when you’re this tired. Better to sit up before she fell asleep. But when she tried, she felt herself slammed against the bottom. She opened her eyes to nothing but a watery view of the ceiling above her. Invisible hands held her down as she tried to struggle. She couldn’t move a muscle, being forced to lie at the bottom of the tub and drown. She couldn’t keep her eyes open because the heat hurt them. Panic rode her hard, and her lungs burned. No! She willed her body to move. Imaging she pressed her heels against the bottom of the tub as she strained against the force holding her down. Using the last bit of air in her lungs, she screamed a stream of bubbles. “Go away! Go away! Go away!” As suddenly as it started, she lurched upward. The force of her futile struggles threw herself out of the tub. She landed heavily on the floor from the force of it all. A sharp pain erupted in her hip, eclipsed by the way she tried to haul as much pure air into her lungs as possible. “Gwen! You okay?” There was a banging at the door, and Mac’s voice could be heard from the other side. “I’m fine,” she called, her voice sounding a bit hoarse. “Just slipped on a puddle, but I caught myself. I’m okay.” Nothing but silence from the other side. For a moment she feared he would walk in anyways and see her sprawled out on the floor. Right now, she couldn’t bear the thought of actually doing anything but breathing. She had to admit, a small part of her wanted him to come in. Could he understand this whole seeing dead things wasn’t what it was cracked up to be? Although some spirits were happy to move from place to place, some wanted revenge any way they could get it. Obviously, Mac’s father wasn’t happy for her to be here. Who else would it be? How could she ever tell him the spirit of his father

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wanted her gone, even if it meant killing her? Yeah, right, that would go over well. “Gwen, I’m coming in.” The door handle rattled when he turned it from the other side. Next time she’d remember to lock it. “No! Stay away!” she yelled, and tried to sound as mean as possible. “If I want your help, I’ll ask. I didn’t, so mind your own.” Well, that was bitchy enough, she figured, especially since she could hear his footsteps walking away. Tears filled her eyes, what else did she expect? He would instinctively know she lied and burst through the door? Not a fair expectation. She lifted the lever, releasing the plug, and watched the water disappear, part of her wishing she could somehow swirl down the drain herself and not have to face what she had to do. She wrapped herself in a big fluffy towel and limped her way to the door. Her hip throbbed, and she could just imagine the bruise she would sport there in a few hours. Wasn’t the first, won’t be the last. “You going to explain what happened?” Gwen froze in the doorway. Mac sat on the edge of the bed. His elbows rested on his knees as he stared at her with those piercing blue eyes. “Really, Mac, you need to stop this. Nothing is wrong. Now, you need to leave.” She gripped the edge of the towel, suddenly very aware of being naked underneath. “You’re lying.” “Who the hell do you think you are?” She had to get him out of here. He wouldn’t believe any of this, and she couldn’t tell him what her plans were. “Do you know how dangerous a Coastie’s job is?” Mac got up and stalked over to her, stopping a few steps away. “We develop these wonderful instincts about things. The sea can change so quickly that you need to have a feel for what is going on around you. Something happened up here, and I want to know.” “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

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“Try me.” “Fine. I got held underwater by a really pissed off spirit or ghost or whatever you want to call it. Before you ask, I have no idea who it is.” “You’re not telling me everything. You think you know exactly what is bothering you.” “I can’t know for certain. I don’t see a face or hear a voice. Anything else is conjecture. For all I know, it is my great-aunt back to make sure I bathe properly.” “At the bottom of the tub?” “It’s a hypothetical suggestion. I don’t have a great-aunt, never did.” She edged away from him and closer to the dresser. He didn’t look at her face. Instead, he seemed fascinated with the top of her towel. Right where it rested against her breasts. As soon as she moved, his gaze dropped to her hips and then legs. She cleared her throat and gave him a dirty look when he met her eyes again. “Gwen, how often do you physically feel attacks against you? Are you sure you didn’t fall asleep? You know there is a condition where a person is awake enough to be aware of their surroundings but not enough to move. It’s called sleep paralysis. Isn’t that a possibility?” “Sure it is. In fact, I think I feel another wave coming on. Perhaps you should leave before my towel drops and I’m too paralyzed to catch it.” His eyes flared at her words, and Gwen could almost see the blue of his eyes darken. She wanted to get closer, wanted him to rip the towel from her fingers, but neither of them moved an inch. “All right. When you want to tell me it all, I’ll be happy to listen.” Mac turned on a heel and stalked from the room, closing the door much softer than she would have. It wasn’t till after he left that Gwen realized he didn’t blink at the possibility of her being attacked by a ghost. She needed to get to know him better.

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**** “Are you ready?” Mac knocked on Gwen’s bedroom door. She hadn’t come out of there since he left earlier. She didn’t seem the type to hide away from her problems, unless she lied about all the ghost stuff. The lower half of his body truly hoped she answered the door in a towel. It had been distracting as hell earlier seeing her like that. Did she have any idea how incredible she looked with tiny droplets of water tracing her skin before disappearing beneath the towel’s edge? “Um, yeah,” she said after he opened the door, only to sadly discover her fully dressed. At least he had the weather on his side. She wore a green shirt over a lacy top, which could have been lower. Her shorts, which could have been higher, showed off her long legs. He flashed on his fantasies from the shower and for a moment considered not going over to his sister’s for dinner. What he hungered for stood in front of him. “You don’t have to bring us. I don’t want your family getting the wrong impression.” Mac grinned at her obvious apprehension. His family wasn’t scary, but it looked like Gwen didn’t have any intention to believe him. “Kitten, you’ll be fine.” “Stop calling me that. You’re going to do it in front of your mom or something, and then they’ll think something’s up.” “They aren’t going to think anything. They know you’re staying here. They also know I made the sauce, though my sister will try to take credit for it. Believe me, my brother-in-law and nephew are looking forward to meeting your brother. Bringing Joey is the only reason you’ll be allowed in. With him, your presence won’t throw off the already overabundance of women.” “You’re so full of it.” She stalked back to the dresser and picked up a brush. “Gwen, why are you so nervous?” He stepped into the room and walked up behind her.

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“I’m not nervous. Why would you think that?” She stared into the mirror over the dresser and brushed her hair as if there was a law against the slightest tangle. The woman should never play poker because her emotions always shone on her face like a neon sign. “I don’t know, educated guess?” He could smell his soap on her skin. It gave him a bit of a thrill to have her smell like him. It was like some sort of primal throwback to when mankind was a bit more animalistic. He liked it, a lot. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t know them, and they might get the wrong idea of what is going on here. I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.” “Don’t worry about it. They’re harmless, and I promise not to leave you alone, okay?” Her delicate brows drew together when she frowned, wrinkling the soft skin between her eyes. Time, it will take time before she completely trusts me. “Where’s Joey?” “Downstairs running my trains. You know, he has some really inventive ideas. He has the mind of a civil engineer.” “I know. He gets smarter and smarter. I want to find a good school for him in the fall.” “Well, you are taking incredible care of him. He’s lucky to have a sister who cares as much as you do.” She shrugged, and he took the opportunity to step a bit closer. Having her this close to him and not touching her drove him nuts. If he was honest, he would tell her the alternative reason for tonight. He wanted the family to meet her. Wanted her to get to know everyone in his life and get to know him a bit more. His sisters and mom would stick their nose into the middle of everything, but in this case, he hoped it would work to his advantage. Perhaps they could pry the secrets she held so close.

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He placed his hands on her shoulders, and she stopped brushing. She met his gaze through the mirror before looking up over her shoulder at him. Questions, unease, and interest shone in her expressive eyes, and she had the longest eyelashes he’d ever seen. Every time she blinked, they brushed her cheeks. Cheeks that were quickly becoming a pretty shade of pink. “Why the blush?” “Why are you staring at me like that?” “Because I like what I’m looking at.” He slid a hand through her hair to cup the back of her neck. Softly massaging the base, he could see a wave of tiny goose bumps break out over her arms. He loved how she responded to him. She closed her eyes and exhaled softly. He could almost imagine what a delicate purr rumbling in her chest would sound like. “You don’t know me.” She opened her eyes, and they looked slightly glazed and so relaxed. “That’ll change.” “Shouldn’t we be leaving?” “Yes, but I have to remind you of something first.” “What?” He dipped his head and brushed her lips with his own. Her fingers slid up his arm, resting on his shoulders. Gently, he twisted her till she stood in the lee of his arms. Encompassing her, he nibbled on her lower lip until she opened to him. He swept in, deepening the kiss, tasting her. He remembered the moment in that god-awful hotel room. Her taste had him forgetting about their surroundings. Similar to the way he wanted to forget they were supposed to be leaving because he seriously was contemplating backing her up and laying her down on the bed behind them. He memorized her curves with his hands until they rested on her hips. She made an incredible mewing sound in the back of her throat that shot straight to his cock. She grasped at his shirt as if she feared he would leave her. Not now. Not ever.

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With great reluctance, he eased back a bit, putting some space between them. She gazed up at him, her eyes lust-glazed, her lips swollen and red from their kiss. “Oh, kitten, don’t look at me like that, or I’m really going to forget everything and lay you back on the bed.” Her eyes widened, and she grinned. “That would be bad because…” Her fingers traced his ridged erection through the denim of his jeans. He moaned in agony. Incredible, blissful, sharp agony. “You’re killing me here.” He grasped her hand and forced her to stop moving. “When we do, and we will, I don’t want to have to worry about any interruptions, family commitments, or little brothers who might come looking for us.” “Good point.” She backed a step away but still grinned up at him. He loved how she relaxed around him all of a sudden. He wasn’t certain what reassured her, but for now, he didn’t care. She turned back to the mirror, and he could see her flushed cheeks and messy hair in the reflection. She looked incredible, and he wanted to kiss her all over again. “You look gorgeous. Let’s go before I change my mind.”

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Chapter Seven Mac and Joey chatted up a storm in the car ride over to Colleen’s house. Their conversation revolved around what could be done next with the train set downstairs. She hadn’t really understood the big deal until she went down to get her little brother and found him in the middle of a monstrosity taking up a quarter of Mac’s unfinished basement. Tables were lined up with various wires underneath. Above, there was an incredibly detailed landscape filled with hills and valleys. Tracks moved through mountains and past little towns and past miniature people here and there. One was of a small boy waving at the train as it went by. “That one is Mac!” Joey pointed. “His dad gave it to him when he first started building this.” She glanced up at the man in question, but his face had gone blank, and she knew he hid behind his tough-guy face. How she wanted to get behind there and help him past this, but she was the last person in the universe who could offer any comfort. Joey proceeded to tell her about almost everything he could see. Different trees and the types of trains. He might have kept them there for hours if Mac hadn’t interceded and reminded them they had somewhere to go, and if they didn’t hurry up they would be late. And now she found herself looking out a window watching the passing of houses in a perfect little suburb. She had lived in an area similar to this before the accident. A woman in white stood at the side of the street and looked directly at Gwen. A cold chill ran over her skin, and she sat straight up, suddenly afraid of what she might have

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to face. The woman simply looked at her as she passed with a sad smile on her face. “What did you see, Wendy?” Her brother was so intuitive sometimes it frightened her. She asked him once if he saw the same things she did. He said no, but he knew by the way she acted. “Nothing, sweetheart.” She could feel the weight of Mac’s gaze but ignored it. If he asked, she feared she would tell him everything. Thankfully, he chose not to question her. After a few more minutes, he pulled up in front of a small bungalow. From her seat, she could see in the front window. A woman looked to be chasing a small boy. Mac got out of the truck, catching her attention. She waved out the window at them. She turned away, and a moment later a young boy’s face appeared in the window. His face mushed up against the glass as he waved wildly. Gwen hopped out of the truck, only to be met with a perturbed look on Mac’s face. “What?” “I would have opened your door,” he muttered. Such a gentleman. His mother must have pounded those life lessons into his head for the longest time. She was determined to make sure his family didn’t get the wrong idea about them. Joey hopped out of the backseat and immediately moved to Gwen’s side, clasping her hand in his. Mac placed his hand on the small of her back as they walked up the drive. Joey held her hand in a death grip. He never did like to be in new places and new situations. They hadn’t even reached the door when it was pulled open and a small woman came out. Mac took a couple extra steps and bent over to kiss her cheek. She smiled up at him. “You’re almost late, you know.” “Sorry, mom. This is Gwen and her brother Joey. They are staying with me for a little while.” “A couple days only,” Gwen added. “At least a week.” He nudged her slightly with his shoulder. “Gwen, this is my mom, Hannah.” “It’s very nice to meet you.”

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“Is Gwen short for Gwendolyn?” A pang of fear ran though her for a moment. Does she know? Could she know? “Yes, ma’am.” “It’s a lovely name, Gwendolyn. Welcome to our house. And you must be Joey.” Joey took a half step behind Gwen. “Yes, I am Joey.” “Well, Joey, it is wonderful to meet you, too. Come on in, and meet the rest of the family. Mac tells me you like trains.” “Yes, Mrs. MacIntosh. I do.” “Well, we have a set up bigger than his in the back room. Mac and Geoff have taken care of it and added to it over the years.” “Can I see?” The reverent wonder echoed in his voice. “Yes, of course.” “I’ll take him back there.” Mac ruffled Joey’s hair, and her brother looked up at him with complete male worship across his features. “Smells good, Mom. You’ve been cooking?” “Apparently, your sister has.” “Really? Damn, she’s getting better. Is it simmering, or is she trying to create molten lava again?” Gwen watched the banter between the two of them as they sparred back and forth. His mom kept trying to trick him into admitting he made the sauce. Mac deftly dodged each question. She ushered them into the house, and Gwen found herself swarmed by people. She had already met Colleen, but she hadn’t met the other two sisters. There was Merideth, who had a law office downtown, and Katie, who reminded her of a flower child. Katie worked in a ceramic co-operative. Mac, Joey, Colleen’s husband, Geoff, and their son, Aiden, all disappeared into the back room, leaving her surrounded by women. She had never been more terrified in her life. All eyes were on her, and she felt like an accused witch in Salem. She would have to lie to them as little as possible because she knew she was a terrible liar.

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Sitting wedged in the corner of the sofa, she tried as hard as possible to be nondescript, unnoticeable, and nonexistent. One could only hope, but these women were looking at her with the eyes of a highwayman at an approaching carriage on a dark British road. She expected to hear “Stand and deliver” before they attacked. I need to stop reading so many Regency romances. Colleen rushed into the room and looked, wide-eyed, at her. “Gwen, wouldn’t you like a drink? I’m sure you must be thirsty. Come on in the kitchen, and I’ll get you something to drink.” “No, I think she’s fine right here. Aren’t you, Gwen?” Katie eyed her sister suspiciously. “Are you afraid we’ll ask her if she made the sauce?” “I can’t cook to save my life,” Gwen added quietly. Colleen shot her sister a smug look. “My Mac can cook. He learned from his father. My George made the best cornbread I ever tasted in my life. He used to enter it in the county fair and won every time. Oh, how spoiled I was. Both my men cooked for me all the time. I got quite used to the smell coming from the kitchen. Smells something like it does right now.” Hannah smiled at Gwen as if she expected her to say something. They were all staring at her. For the briefest of moments, Gwen was tempted to tell the truth and divert the attention from herself for a moment at least. She’d spent years trying to be invisible. To be seen meant attention, usually resulting in a bruise or two. “If Mac or his father were the ones to show Colleen how to cook, I would expect it would smell the same.” “That’s what I keep trying to tell them.” Colleen sighed dramatically, as if tired her genius in the kitchen had been called into question. “Come on, Gwen. I’ll get you something to drink.” “Really, I’m fine. I don’t need anything.” “If Colleen did cook, you’ll be glad for it.” Katie stood up and headed to the doorway. “Stay there, Mom. I’ll bring you the usual. I’ll bring you something as well, Gwen.” Merideth looked up from the

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file she flipped through and sniffed at the air around her. “Colleen, is your sauce burning? Did you forget to turn down the heat?” With a squeak, Colleen rushed out of the room with Katie grinning behind her. Gwen caught Merideth’s smile before she held a file up in front of her face. Did Mac have any idea how lucky he was to have a family like this? They teased each other constantly, but she could see how much they cared. Hannah smiled and patted Gwen’s hand. “Those two can’t cook to save their lives, but each is determined to prove to the other they can. At least Colleen had the sense to put the sauce into one of her own pots. Last time, Katie tried to pass off some of her brother’s cooking as her own, but she left it in his casserole dish. Which just so happened to be the same one Colleen gave him for Christmas the previous year.” “I don’t bother pretending,” Merideth said as she waved a hand toward the doorway. “I can’t cook and don’t have the time or patience to pretend otherwise. My job is to make the reservations every time we go out. I’ve been to almost all the restaurants and can tell you the good from the bad. Although most rank in the bad category if I’ve eaten at my brother’s house recently.” “Well, sweetheart, you have a good job.” Hannah tried to reassure her daughter. “Hopefully, you will find a good man to cook for you one day.” “Well, he’s going to have to find me because I have no time to look for him. Knowing my luck, I’ll be defending him in court.” Horrified, Gwen felt a laugh bubble up in her throat. In her experience you did not laugh at a family member when their matriarch sat across from you. This was but a short-lived concern when Hannah laughed as well. “Your Joey is a special boy, isn’t he?” Hannah moved to sit next to her on the sofa so she didn’t have to yell across the room. Gwen

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appreciated this, considering the topic. She would rather Joey not hear them discussing him. “I like to think it will take time for the rest of him to catch up to the smart parts of his brain. A doctor told me once he has ADHD and I should medicate him. The diagnosis seemed too easy, and I did some research and couldn’t bring myself to allow that to happen. I love him the way he is, and I don’t see the logic in changing him into something he isn’t to make someone else’s life easier.” “He’s lucky to have you. Did you take him to another doctor and get a second opinion? I know there have been great strides in the medical community involving children with special needs.” “I plan to have him assessed again. As soon as life settles down and we have a more permanent home.” “What about you?” “Me?” “Don’t you have any plans for your life?” “Oh, sure, but nothing I can do at the moment. I have some things I have to take care of before I can decide what to do next.” Like hiding from my father’s shadow. “What kinds of things?” “Old legal matters cropped up since my father’s death. It’s complicated.” Gwen hedged, hoping to dissuade any further discussion on the matter. The longer she sat here the more she wanted to talk to Hannah, spill her story, and let someone give her a hug and tell her everything would be okay. “You need to talk to Merideth. If you’re trying to sort out legal problems, then she can help you.” “Oh, I’m certain I can figure it out. Mac said she’s a criminal defender, so I don’t know if she will be able to help.” How did I get caught in this? Like I could tell them anything remotely close to the truth. Gwen could feel her breathing speeding up and her heart hammered against her chest on the verge of panic. She needed to change the subject and quickly. “Your son is very kind to help us out,

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but I don’t want to overstay. He has a life as well and needs to get back to it.” “Not as much as you might think.” Hannah reached out and patted the back of Gwen’s hand. “Now don’t look at me like that. Mac is an incredible boy, but losing his father hit him so hard.” The older woman looked toward the kitchen and leaned closer to Gwen. “I have not seen this much life in him for years. He’s had his head so involved in his routines that he hasn’t cooked for ages. All that takeout isn’t good for a person.” Gwen remembered he had made French toast for them this morning while also working on the sauce his sister claimed. “He has cooked lots for us. I’m worried I might not fit into my clothes if I stay with him much longer.” “I’m thrilled to hear that. You could use a few good meals. You’re so thin. What did you eat if you didn’t cook?” “I did basic stuff, whatever Joey would like. But there was a small restaurant where we lived before, and I used to eat there a lot. I served tables there, and they loved Joey, so whatever he wanted, they happily made for him.” “What brought you back here?” “Memories and some things my father left undone before he died. I need to clear those up, and then we can get on with our lives.” “Did you lose your mom, too?” Gwen only nodded, not trusting the sound of her own voice. Hannah seemed very observant, and Gwen didn’t want to give anything away. If there’s a God who cares about me at all, please don’t let her ask how Mom died. “And you lost your father?” “A few years ago.” Five, the same day your husband died. “He was in an accident.” “What a tragedy.” Hannah reached out and rubbed Gwen’s shoulder.

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“Please don’t feel bad. He was an evil man, and the world is a better place without him.” Hannah blinked, and Gwen would have happily bitten her own tongue off. What was it about her mouth and this need to suddenly tell everything? At least George’s ghost didn’t hang around the house. If Gwen suddenly found herself face to face with him, she might lose all control. Hannah looked at her, a calculated gleam on her face. Oh, dear god, don’t let too much slip. “I hope you are thirsty. I’ve made my specialty.” Katie whirled into the living room with a tray of margarita glasses. “Fresh strawberry daiquiris for the girls.” “I don’t know.” “Oh, you have to try these.” Merideth grinned. “I worked on this recipe all through college. I mean, while I worked as a bartender after law school while I studied for the bar.” “It’s a good thing I suffer from spontaneous memory loss.” Hannah smiled at her, lifting two glasses from Katie’s tray and handing one to Gwen. “You can’t imagine how much I would worry otherwise.” Gwen smiled and relaxed slightly. The drink was slushy and delicious with freshly crushed berries and a hint of something she couldn’t put her finger on. Thankful for the distraction, she sipped at it, and before she knew it, she’d emptied half the glass. “Katie, this is delicious.” “Glad you like it. I’ll have to make more after dinner. Let the boys behave, and we’ll have some fun.” **** This was what dinner should be. Gwen couldn’t remember the last time she laughed so much. The spaghetti tasted delicious, and there were meatballs, Caesar salad, and garlic bread to complement it. Mac

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opened a bottle of wine to have with dinner, and Gwen carefully sipped at one glass. Getting sloshed wouldn’t be the best impression to make. Not that it stopped Katie and Colleen from having a couple of glasses and again after dinner when Katie made another round of her daiquiris. Gwen couldn’t remember the last time she felt so content. Sitting on the sofa, somehow ending up with her back against Mac’s chest listening to his family tell stories about him and each other growing up. Their father was featured lively in each one. Every time he came up in conversation, her chest clenched. He sounded like a wonderful man. How many other wonderful men had fallen under her father’s wrath, leaving behind grieving families like this one? These people welcomed her into their home because of the absence of information. If they knew, she would have been thrown out and poor Joey would have been traumatized. “Hey,” Mac whispered in her arm. His breath tickled her ear, sending shivers along her arm. “What’s wrong? You got all tense.” “Nothing. Just thinking, bad memories.” “Those kinds of memories aren’t allowed here, only the happy ones. You must have one you can think of.” “That’s fair. You tell us one, Gwen.” Gwen froze. She didn’t have any stories like they did. Hers were all filled with pain and beatings. Hiding and protecting. “Well, there was this one time Joey decided to have a pet frog, only he forgot to tell me. I found it in his pocket when I took his clothes out of the dryer.” A chorus of groans echoed around her. “I have never felt so horrible in my life. I searched a nearby pond until I found a similar one.” “Did he ever figure it out?” “No, I talked him into letting it go free in the wild by telling him the frog would be happier there.”

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Joey and Mac’s nephew came through the living room, asking about dessert on their way by. Hannah laughed. “That’s my job. To the kitchen, boys. I have something special.” Everyone headed out of the room, leaving her with Mac. When she went to move, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her back against him. “She said dessert.” Gwen laid her head back on his shoulder and smiled up at him. She felt so incredibly relaxed. Mac plucked her glass from her fingertips and placed it on the table before entwining his fingers with his own. “I think Katie made the last batch a little strong.” His point was proven when Katie’s voice could be heard from the kitchen singing about screaming for ice cream. “You’re very lucky. Your family is wonderful. I wish I had so many people who loved me so much.” “Don’t you have any other family, Gwen? Aunts? Cousins?” “It’s me and Joey. Think your family would like to adopt us?” “Oh, I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard to talk them into it.” He cupped her cheek and ran his thumb against her lower lip. She felt daring and slipped her tongue out to flick his thumb before retreating. “Christ, kitten.” His voice was gruff as he pulled her over his lap, gathered her close, and plundered her mouth. Gwen’s head spun as their tongues danced together. His fingers tugged at her hair with her hands trapped between them. “Are you two coming in?” A voice called from the kitchen. Mac broke the kiss. “Just a sec, I’m telling Gwen the secret to my sauce.” He smiled down at her. “We won’t be disturbed now. Since both of them have decided to lie to the other, neither can risk taking the chance to come in here and give away that they don’t know.” She laughed, kissing him lightly on the lips before levering off him. “I think we should go before your mom comes in here looking for us.”

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“Afraid of getting caught?” “Yes, I don’t want your mom thinking I’m leading you on.” “What makes you think she would?” Mac stilled and became very serious “Because she knows I’m only staying for a short time. Once I finish what I have to do, then Joey and I will be going.” He looked up at her as if she had said something horrible. She hadn’t lied to him. She’d been honest from the beginning. Well, as honest as she could be given the circumstances. A sick, guilty feeling settled in her stomach. Technically, she had led him on a bit. But pretending to be his, even for a little while, felt so good. “Gwen, where are you going to go? Why not stay around here for a while? You used to live here. It would be good for Joey to be in an area he is familiar with.” “Don’t tell me how to take care of Joey. You have only known him for a few days. I’ve been taking care of him for years.” “Gwen, I can understand what you’re feeling, but you need to have a life, too. You’re not his mother.” Gwen felt robbed of her voice. Biologically, Joey might be her brother, but after all they had survived, he might as well be her son because she would do anything a mother would do for him. “George MacIntosh.” The sharp tone came from the doorway, and she looked up to see his mother there. Gwen leapt to her feet. Hannah looked furious but not at her, thank God. Unwilling to pass up this opportunity to escape Mac, she slipped past Hannah standing in the doorway. His mom rubbed her lightly on the back as she passed, and Gwen almost burst into tears at the gentle touch. Did he think it was an easy decision to make, leaving him and his family behind? After the dust settled, she would have Joey and her memories. Mac would still have his wonderful family around him. ****

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Mac knew he said the wrong thing the moment the words took life upon his lips. The look on Gwen’s face spoke volumes, making him feel like shit. The furious look on his mother’s face made him feel like a ten-year-old who had lied about breaking a window. She tore him a new one then, and it looked as though she contemplated repeating the process now. “It came out wrong. I didn’t mean to sound like such an insensitive ass.” Mac didn’t want to hear any more talk of Gwen and Joey leaving. He wanted them to stay, wanted to take care of them. Only, he let his temper get away with his mouth. It had to be the lack of blood in his head since most of it flowed south. “You don’t have to give birth to a child for him to be yours. That young girl is doing her best. She didn’t deserve a verbal slap to the face.” “I know.” He pushed his fingers through his hair. “I want her to stay, but she is so determined to leave. I want her to trust me, but she keeps throwing up these barriers.” "She has many demons on her back, Mac. Don’t be one of them.” “I could protect her from them if she’d let me.” His mom patted his cheek and smiled. “I know, sweetheart. You can’t force trust. The harder you try, the faster she’ll run.” She lightly shoved him in the arm. “Now, if you want cake, I suggest you get yourself into the kitchen.” “Who made it?”

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Chapter Eight There was something to be said about floating out in the ocean, free from all your worries, nothing to bother you but the sound of the seagulls and the soft slap of the waves against your boat. Any other time, a moment like this would leech the tension right out of him. But Mac felt anything but calm right now. Too much going on around him reminded him of the night his father died. Forming a raw, open wound that never seemed to heal. He’d heard people say that time healed all wounds, but he wasn’t sure that was possible when he was reminded on a regular basis of the night it happened. Cracking open a beer, he let the cold liquid wet his parched throat. What the hell happened to upset his life? Gwen’s face appeared in his mind’s eye. An enigma of a woman. Equal parts strength and vulnerability. She breezed into his life, bringing with her a wave of memories and pain. He dropped his beer on the table next to him, but the boat disappeared. What the fuck? He spun around. This wasn’t his boat. He stood on the bow of his cutter. Looking over the water, he saw his dad’s ship docking with Reghetti’s. There, near the back, an unknown male ran for starboard. Raising a pair of binoculars increased his vision, and he saw the male rewiring what looked to be an explosive device. “Abort the boarding!” he hollered into his walkie-talkie as he ran for the intelligence center of the boat. “It’s a fucking setup! Get those men off that ship!” A roar sounded behind him, raw, hot power backing it up, and Mac had time to see his father being consumed by the flames before he hit the water. Struggling against the forces pulling him down, he

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clawed for the surface. His lungs ached for oxygen. His last thoughts were, who would take care of Gwen? Mac lurched up from the nightmare. Cold sweat covered his body as he gasped for the air his mind still thought he lacked. “Fuck.” He flopped back against his pillows and tried to slow his breathing and heartbeat. He panted as he replayed the memory. He had forgotten about seeing the man at the stern of Reghetti’s boat. After waking up in the hospital, the investigating authorities asked him why he tried to abort the mission, but at the time he didn’t remember. Sinking down into the bottom of a bottle of scotch took care of most of the memories. He had to get a hold of Clay and tell him. Perhaps he would know something? Why now, after all this time, did he remember? Could this need to protect Gwen be because he failed his dad? **** The next morning, Gwen still felt edgy around Mac, even though the night before he apologized the entire drive back. He brought her a plate as soon as she sat down. A mug of coffee followed moments later. It looked like Mac had made enough bacon and eggs to feed an army. She wanted to stay mad at him, but being treated like a princess made it hard. She wanted to believe otherwise, but she knew Mac would always treat her like this. After meeting his family, she knew why and wished she could be a part of it all. “Mac, why are you making so much?” She watched him fill the pan with another load of bacon. “Joey’s fallen into a food-induced coma and is watching movies in the TV room. I’m tempted to do the same.” “Clay’s coming over for breakfast. He makes me look like I eat like a bird.” “I don’t think you mentioned what Clay does?” “He’s part of Florida’s organized crime task force.”

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It took every bit of self-preservation not to be sick on the spot. This Clay would have to know her father and perhaps recognize her. It wasn’t as if her father hid her away. She knew her looks at the time attracted a lot of attention. It worked when he needed it to, and if it didn’t, then he kept her out of sight. The alarm beeped, signaling someone coming in. “Mac?” “In the kitchen, Clay!” Mac hollered. “You two have plans for the day?” “Yeah, he owes me a squash game, and I intend to see him beaten until he cries like a little girl.” “Dude, don’t tell me you believe you’re going to beat me.” Gwen jumped in her seat and almost spilled her coffee when the deep voice spoke right behind her. “Oh, hell, sorry. Mac’s used to me.” She looked over her shoulder, robbed of speech for a moment. The man in front of her had hair as black as night but the brightest of blue eyes. Wind-blown hair framed his face, all on top of an incredible body. Gorgeous? Absolutely, but he didn’t make her insides shake like Mac did. “For God’s sake, stomp or something when you sneak up behind someone.” He laughed. Deep dimples appeared in his cheeks. His good looks didn’t hide the edge of a cop behind his eyes. Yes, she might be paranoid, but usually she could spot an officer. “Gwen, this is my best friend, Clayton. Clayton, this is Gwen. She and her little brother Joey are staying with me for a while.” She took the hand he offered. “We’re only here for a couple days. It’s nice to meet you.” “Nice to meet you, too. Oh, good, food. I’m starving.” Clay grabbed a plate and started filling it up with all sorts of things from the plates on the counter. Mac opened the fridge and handed him a bottle of steak sauce.

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“Thanks, man.” Clay poured a puddle on the plate and proceeded to dip everything into it. “Mac, you are the best cook.” “I don’t know why I feed you when you smother all my flavors with A1.” “I’m waiting for the hair that is supposed to grow on my chest because of this.” Gwen laughed, enjoying Clay’s dry sense of humor. “Gwen, did you go to school around here? You look so familiar.” Stay calm. Stay calm. Gwen got up, hiding her face with her hair as she picked up her plate and walked to the counter. “No, I grew up in Wyoming.” She opened the dishwasher, thankful for the excuse so she didn’t have to look at him as she lied. “Wyoming? Really? I could have sworn…” “I’ve heard that before. I think I have one of those faces.” She moved back to her stool and sat down. Picking up her coffee cup, she took a sip and prayed he didn’t ask anything else. The door beeped, and she heard another male voice yell, “Hey, guys. Who’s up?” Saved by the bell. “We’re in the kitchen,” Clay hollered. A lean, tall man with a runner’s build rounded the corner. Another gorgeous one. Didn’t Mac have any mortal friends? She stole a second glance over her cup. On second thought, he didn’t hold quite the same appeal as Mac or Clay. “Steve, this is Gwen. Gwen, these troublemakers are friends of mine. Don’t put up with any of their shit.” Steve leaned against the counter next to the stool she sat on. A little too close. She thought perhaps he was trying to be friendly, but that wasn’t what her gut told her. He made her skin crawl. “So how long have you and Mac been dating?” “Um, no, it’s not like that. “ “So, you two just met, and here he is making you breakfast.” She didn’t like the inference he made with a comment like that. As if she came here for a fuck and breakfast.

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“He’s letting me crash here for a couple days.” “Then he won’t mind if you and I go out to dinner sometime.” “Yes,” Mac said as he dropped the dirty frying pan into the sink with a clatter. “He would.” She looked over at Mac, surprised by the look of blatant hostility on his face. All they had shared was a couple of kisses. Why did he look so possessive? A part of her balked at the idea, but another part hummed at the attention. She wanted to be his. A glance over at his other friend showed that even Clay looked to be on the verge of violence. “I’ll leave you three to your game. Have fun, gentlemen.” She slipped from the stool and padded out of the kitchen, grateful to escape Mac’s slimy friend. Get your head on straight and remember who you are. That took care of any burgeoning fantasies about staying with him. Mac caught up with her in the upstairs hallway, crowding her against the wall. “You and I need to talk, I think.” “About what?” She shoved at his chest, ignoring the way his muscles felt under her palm. “Don’t make this more than it is. A couple days and I’ll be out of your life, Mac.” “You don’t have to take crap from Steve. I almost punched him in the face for you.” “That kind of crap I have been dealing with for most of my life. He doesn’t scare me. I can take care of myself.” “Hey, Mac. Let’s go!” Steve’s voice echoed up the stairwell. “Gwen, you and I are going to finish this later.” He leaned closer and closed his lips over hers. She could have gotten away, but damn, she craved him. He was like a drug. Dangerous, life endangering, and something she would have to quit cold turkey and then crave for the rest of her life. All too soon, it ended. He brushed his lips against her forehead and then headed down the stairs.

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She had to finish this today, no more procrastinating. There was no way she could stay here because she had no resistance when it came to him. He was incredible, and she refused to ruin his life. She had to leave before the truth came out. As it turned out, fate wasn’t finished messing with her yet. Could one thing go right for her today? No sooner had she gotten dressed and ready to go, Colleen and Katie showed up at Mac’s door. Next thing she knew, she found herself agreeing to let Colleen take Joey swimming at a local pool and she ended up on her way to Merideth’s office with Katie. “I really don’t think there is anything she can do to help me.” Gwen’s protest fell on deaf ears, as had the previous four comments. Considering Katie came across as a flighty artist, she had a will of steel when it came to wanting her own way. “Come on.” The silver bangles on her wrist chimed prettily when Katie linked her arm with Gwen’s and ushered her up the walkway. “Trust me, she will be happy to see us. Just ignore the bitchy lawyer image she likes to carry with her to work. If you need to know anything that has to do with the law, she’s the one to ask.” Gwen looked up at the tall brownstone. It looked humble and much more approachable than the skyscrapers her father’s lawyers worked in. But they were as crooked as a back road in Alabama. How in the world did she find herself in this mess? “Don’t let the outside fool you. She and her partners will go headto-head against anyone. I know she is working on a case right now that is really bothering her. Lunch should cheer her up.” Katie pulled at the arm of her sweater before heading up the stairs. Gwen followed, a distinct tingle raising the hair on the back of her neck. Wow, this building had a brutal vibe. “Katie, there isn’t anything Merideth can do for me. It’s not fair to involve you or any more of your family in my problems. I can take care of myself.”

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“But you don’t have to anymore. Gwen, you don’t have to tell me anything about what is wrong, and Merideth would never break a confidentiality oath. Ever. Everyone should know all the options of their situation.” Options, she didn’t think she had any. But perhaps Merideth could help her? She wouldn’t tell her the entire truth, only the situation. No specifics. The inside of the building was open with an elegant sitting area. Katie waved at the receptionist and flounced over her long skirt, which waved lightly around her legs when she walked. Gwen rubbed her arms, fighting the urge to leave. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, but it had to be from nerves. Think, Gwen. She needed to tell the truth to get answers but lie enough to ensure they didn’t throw her out of here in the next five minutes. “Good Afternoon, Katie, what’s for lunch? Something from your brother, I hope?” The receptionist’s eyes gleamed. Apparently Mac’s cooking skills were famous outside the family as well. “No, I made this one.” “Oh.” The receptionist looked obviously disappointed but tried to hide it with a kind smile. “Lovely, I’m looking forward to trying it.” “Gwen, this is my friend, Janet. Janet, this is a friend of my brother’s.” “You’re the first friend of Mac’s to visit with his sisters.” Janet’s eyes lit up with a curiosity Gwen didn’t want to encourage. “Nice to meet you. Really, I’m just a friend of Mac’s, nothing more.” Katie grinned and rolled her eyes. “Is Merideth in there?” Gwen followed Katie’s nod towards a dark wood door. “Give her a few minutes. It hasn’t been a good day in here.” Janet leaned closer to Katie and Gwen. “The murder case isn’t looking good,” she added with a conspirator’s whisper. Gwen sat down in one of the padded chairs when Katie leaned over the desk and started whispering with the receptionist. They

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gossiped about something going on. A large wood door opened, and a well-dressed man walked out looking incredible smug. Behind him, Merideth stood glaring at the back of his head. Geez, if looks could kill. The tingle on the back of her neck increased a hundred times, and she felt a dull ache over her eye. Right where she had been injured all those years ago. Rubbing at the spot with the palm of her hand, she thought to ask Katie if she had a painkiller, when another man emerged through the wall next to Merideth. Icy terror struck her in the heart. Clearly agitated, the angry spirit waved his arms wildly about his head as he muttered to himself. He yelled directly into the ear of the gentleman in the suit and then at Merideth’s face. Neither of them flinched, as they obviously couldn’t hear him. He spun around madly and paced his way toward the reception desk, stopped, and turned to look straight at Gwen. His hair stuck, bloody and matted, to the side of his head. It looked as though he had been shot in the temple. Wet, bright red blood trickled down his cheek, getting caught in what looked to be a three-day-old beard. Black and blue bruises covered his face, one eye was almost swollen shut, and the other looked straight at her. For a brief moment, Gwen made eye contact, long enough to be her undoing. “You see me! You see me! Talk to them! Tell them!” His face appeared directly in front of her, yelling, red with rage. His arms grabbed at her shoulders as if he wanted to shake her, but they passed through her, leaving a frigid trail. That seemed to enrage him further. Gwen almost whimpered and quickly covered her mouth with one hand before anyone heard her. “Open your fucking mouth, and tell them you can hear me. Are you listening to me? Do it!” “Go away,” she whispered. Oh, god, not now, not here. How could they not hear him?

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“They are going to kill her. You selfish bitch, tell them.” Stop him! Now! Open your mouth or I will follow you for eternity. You will never get rid of me. I’ll make you sorry you were ever born.” His presence pounded against her like an ice storm, icicles of pain stabbed her in the head over her eye. Gwen couldn’t help the whimper that vibrated in the back of her throat. She curled up in the chair and blocked her eyes with her knees and her ears with her hands. “Go away. Please go away.” “Gwen, what’s wrong, honey?” She could hear a faint voice behind the man who was hollering at her with increased rage. “Gwen, talk to me.” Pictures on the wall started vibrating as he repeated the same information over and over again. The pain in her head got sharper, an unending icy stab. She kept her eyes closed so she couldn’t see him, but it didn’t stop him. She lifted her head and started repeating everything he yelled. “He wasn’t a good man. He knows that, but she didn’t kill him. She loved him almost as much as he loved her. He doesn’t want her to be blamed for his death. There is a bookie over on Kennedy and Reagan, brown building around back. Cash only bets. He owed a lot of money. They killed him because he didn’t pay up. They framed her as a warning to anyone else. The police missed the information because it’s on his laptop. The laptop was destroyed in the fight, but there is a thumb drive hidden in one of the antlers on the wall. He’s sorry. So, so very sorry.” As soon as she finished repeating his words, the voice vanished, leaving her in a room gone eerily quiet. The pain in her head had vanished along with the voice. Slowly, her awareness of the room around her came back. Hot tears streamed down her face, and she leaned against Katie, who rocked her gently. Oh, god. Humiliation flooded her system, followed by fear. She lifted herself up and looked wildly around to see who might have heard her. The wide-eyed receptionist stared at her. Katie’s mouth

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hung open as she looked around the room before easing her grip on Gwen. Merideth and the man in the suit were nowhere to be seen. “I’m sorry.” Gwen wiped at her face with her hands. “I don’t know, don’t say anything, please. I’m going to go.” She leapt to her feet, praying her shaking legs would hold her. It took three steps before the world tilted slightly and then rocked back into place. Gwen gripped the doorframe and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. “Oh, hell, no. You come here and settle down.” The steely tone to Katie’s voice sounded like Hannah’s. A gentle hand wrapped around Gwen’s shoulders and turned her around. She looked around and blinked a couple times to focus her eyes. “Do you remember what you said?” “Where did everyone go?” “Merideth is on the phone to the cops while running down the street after the district attorney. What did you see?” “You wouldn’t believe me.” “Try me.” Katie led her back to the chairs in the waiting room. Gwen glanced around, afraid to speak the words out loud. Janet spoke to someone on the phone, by the sounds of the conversation, trying to get in contact with a detective. Katie perched on the edge of the chair right next to her. “Gwen, you would be surprised what I would believe. Take a deep breath and say it. You’ll feel better.” “I don’t think so.” “Trust me. You’ll feel better.” Katie reached out and placed her hands over Gwen’s as she gripped the armrest. “Okay, I’ll tell you something first since I can imagine what you are feeling right now. In my family, we have gifts that show up every generation or so. I got the whammy this time around.” Gwen looked up from staring at Katie’s hands. “What do you mean by ‘whammy’?”

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“I mean that I can do things most people can’t. Nothing super crazy, just a bit of precognition. I’m working with my friend, Holly. She’s good at this kind of thing and is helping me strengthen it.” Gwen couldn’t decide if Katie told her the truth or not. Would the woman make something up to make her feel better? Likely, but the look on Katie’s face spoke otherwise. “Are you the only one?” “I suspect Meri has a bit of the whammy as well. Her instincts are scary accurate, but she doesn’t think it’s any sort of gift.” “What about your Mom and Mac?” “My mom believes in me, but she thinks it skipped her generation. The only gift Mac has is being able to bug the hell out of me at times. It’s not his fault. He’s a guy.” Gwen felt her lips twitch at Katie’s exaggerated facial expressions when she described her brother’s shortcomings. “What about you, Gwen? What did you see?” “I saw him walk through the wall next to you, and then he started screaming at my face.” “He? Who? The man who died, could you see him?” Gwen silently nodded, staring down at her hands, which were clasped in her lap. “His face dripped with blood on one side as if he’d been shot in the temple. He must have been beaten first. So vicious. The bruises and swelling were all so brutal, but I could feel a wave of desperation and terror for the woman.” “Is this the first time a spirit spoke to you?” Katie handed her a handful of tissue. “No, it started a long time ago. Usually I ignore them and pretend they aren’t real. Every once in a while, they catch me and harass me until I get away from them. Sometimes they’ll go away if I order them to. He wouldn’t leave.” Gwen wiped the remaining dampness from her face and neck. “Ignoring them till they go away actually works?” “Sometimes.”

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“How’s your head?” Katie asked softly, brushing some hair out of Gwen’s face. “It looked like you were in a lot of pain.” “Better now that he is gone. Hopefully, he won’t be back.” “I would imagine not. He got to say what he wanted to. You do realize you quite possibly just saved a woman’s life?” “How?” “Janet told me. There’s a woman on trial for his murder who is facing the death penalty. They set her up so well even Merideth started to doubt her story, and remember, my sister has ironclad instincts.” Gwen wanted to hate this ability of hers, but if it meant saving an innocent person, then for the first time she felt a sense of accomplishment. She’d done something to help someone else. “Does Mac know?” Why does it matter? She didn’t care about Mac’s opinion of her. Even she knew the immense lie as soon as she thought it. “It’s come up, but I don’t think he believes.” “He will now.” “I don’t want you to say anything, Katie. Please, wait a few days.” Because I’ll be gone by then. “Gwen, I don’t know how you are going to hide this from him. Or why you would want to.” “I don’t want him to know, not yet. A few days is all I ask.” “Because you don’t plan on being around when he finds out?” “I didn’t say that.” Gwen felt a flush crawl up her neck. “Merideth isn’t the only one with ironclad instincts in this family. Come on, you need to have a smoothie or something to boost your system right now before you crash.” Katie accepted my story. Gwen had expected doubt, a warning to stay far away from her brother, or at least a strange look. But not this complete acceptance and a suggestion on how to make herself feel better. “How do you know?”

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“Know what?” “That I feel like the life has been sucked out of me?” “I have some interesting friends as well.” Katie stood up and offered support for Gwen by wrapping an arm around her shoulders as she stood up. “Although I wouldn’t call them visions, I do get hit with a daydream that knocks me on my ass sometimes. My friend owns a smoothie shop, and it’s just around the corner from here. They have some booster herbs there she’ll put in for you. One of those and you’ll be feeling better before you know it.” Gwen felt shaky, and her head had started to throb again. “I’m not feeling up to socializing right now.” “You can hang in the car. Will you trust me?” “Um, okay. I’ll take your word for it.” Gwen was uncertain of Katie’s suggestion working, but it felt important to answer truthfully. “Katie, I don’t know what to say.” She concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. Her entire body felt drained and needed a long nap. “Thank you.” “Hey, you’re almost family. We take care of each other.” “Katie, you are reading too much into what is going on between Mac and I.” No matter how much she might wish it otherwise. She would never risk this incredible family. Gwen started to shake her head but stopped. The smallest movement felt a 6.5 on the Richter scale. “Gwen, I’m not going to argue with you about this. I still think you’re wrong, but it doesn’t matter right now.” Katie looked over at the reception desk. “Janet, do you think Merideth will need Gwen?” “I don’t think so, but I’ll let her know you two headed out. She’ll call you if she needs to. Gwen, can I have your cell number?” “I don’t have a cell.” “Have her call me on mine or call Mac’s. We’ll know where to find our Gwen if she needs her.”

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**** Gwen sipped on what Katie referred to as a fruit uber-smoothie as she walked up the steps to the front of Mac’s house. Whatever she had her friend Holly put in this did the trick. Gwen felt a thousand times better than she had when they left Merideth’s office. Turning, she waved to the lime green Volkswagen Beetle on the street. Katie insisted on waiting until she got into the house before pulling away. As soon as the door opened, the door chime went off and Mac poked his head from the kitchen and looked down the hall. “You’re back sooner than I thought you would be. No bags? So much for Katie’s reputation for being a shopaholic.” Gwen felt a tense knot release in her neck. He didn’t know what happened. She would pretend nothing happened and hope it never came up. “We relaxed, and she introduced me to her favorite smoothie place.” “Fruit Dreams? That place is a bit woo-woo.” He waved a finger in a spiral in the air. “Great smoothies, but I wonder if Holly really knows what’s in the powders she sprinkles in there.” “What do you mean by ‘woo-woo’?” Gwen followed him into the kitchen and sat down at the counter. Leaning on it, she continued to sip her smoothie and watch him cook. “The owner, Holly, thinks she’s a descendant from a fairy court. Her husband, Brand, is an accountant. I somehow don’t think a fairy princess would fall in love with a bean counter.” “You never know. The strangest people tend to think they are in love all the time.” Mac turned and gave her a look that made her insides melt. He quickly washed his hands and wiped them on a tea towel. “How many times have you been in love, kitten?” Gwen shrugged and sucked hard on her straw. Had she ever been in love? Was he the first? The cup made a hollow slurping sound, a good thing because she might have choked on it after that thought.

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Mac grinned and took the cup from her hand, tossing it over his shoulder, and it landed in the sink behind him. “Two points?” “Three.” He smiled slightly as he stroked a thumb over her eyebrow. The same spot that had throbbed in pain earlier. “You want to tell me what really happened?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her cheeks heated with the lie, but he didn’t seem to notice. He leaned closer, his warm lips pressing against the skin above her brow. His gentle kiss struck straight through her defenses. She felt it deep inside her, where until now only her brother had held a spot. Her heart skipped a beat and then raced double-time. “I guess we will have to talk about something else.” “Talk? About what?” “You’re right.” Mac grabbed her firmly by the waist and lifted her up onto the counter. “Fuck talking.” At this height, she sat slightly higher than him. His mouth was in line with her neck. He pressed hot open mouth kisses along her skin, and she leaned toward him, loving the feel on her skin, wanting so much more, but knowing that she couldn’t. “Wait, Mac, stop.” He immediately leaned back and looked at her. “What’s wrong?” His hand rested on her hips. An innocent position, except that she could feel the heat of his hand through her capris. She thought for a moment he might be angry but banished that idea. Mac would never force her to do anything. “We can’t do this. Joey might get back at any time. I don’t want to mess him up or give him the wrong message.” “Is that your only concern?” Mac’s lips curled up in a grin as he stepped closer to her, sliding his hands up her thighs and wrapping them around her hips. “Well, no, but that is the biggest right now.”

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“You need to know that Colleen called to see if you minded if they took him mini golfing after swimming. I took the liberty to tell her that you wouldn’t mind.” “So we are…” “Completely alone for the next few hours.” His hands slid back down her legs, cupping her thighs as he lifted them. She took the hint and wrapped her legs around his waist. “You and me and a house with lots of rooms.” “What do rooms have to do with anything?” Freedom tingled along her nerves, her heart beating so hard she thought if she looked down she would see it pulse against her shirt. Mac leaned closer to her, and she felt herself respond. Damn, he hadn’t really touched her yet, and already her breasts ached. She tightened her legs, encouraging him to press against her. The slightest brush against the ridge in his pants made her wetter. “Well, you see, I have had these fantasies.” He lifted his hand and stroked his fingertips along the side of her face. Mac looked at her as if she was the only woman in the world for him. The idea of allowing him that close to her terrified her and made her ache with want. “And am I in these fantasies?” “Oh, yeah, kitten. Nails and all.” He slowly leaned down and nuzzled the V of her T-shirt. His thumbs stroked the sensitive skin just inside the waistband of her pants. She took as deep a breath as she could manage. With his fingers stroking her, her heart pounded so hard she was certain he could hear it. She arched up against his mouth. His fingers caressed the skin along her waist, sending shivers up her back and down her arms. His fingers danced up her spine until he met her bra strap. A slight pull and she felt it come free. “You’re pretty good at that.” No man ever managed such a smooth move without lots of practice. Mac leaned back and gave her an innocent grin. “Beginner’s luck.” He slipped his fingers up each of her sleeves and pulled the

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straps down and over her elbows. Moments later, her bra fell in her lap. He grabbed it and tossed it over his shoulder. She reached for him, but he pushed her hands away. “Later, kitten. You keep those claws to yourself.” She shuddered, and he slipped her butt closer to the edge of the counter. Stepping between her legs, his groin pressed up against hers as he laid her down on her back. He pressed harder against her and nuzzled her breasts and then sucked her nipple through the thin material. She cried out and arched up against him, encouraging him. Gripping his hair in her fingers, she pulled slightly. He moaned and ground his hips against her. She could feel the hard length of him through the layers of material. She moved counter to him, until he grabbed her hips to still her. “Oh, Mac, what are…oh, yes.” She clawed at his T-shirt, pulling it over his head and then tossing it behind her. She took a moment to run her fingers over his well-defined chest and the distinct line of muscles along his stomach. He braced above her, trembling slightly, looking at her as if she was the most delectable thing he had ever seen and he planned on taking a big bite. Her heart stuttered as she realized she wanted him with the same intensity. She stroked a hand down over his abs and dipped a finger below the waistband of his pants. He let her do what she wanted. Let her lead the way on this. She didn’t doubt for a second if she said no right now then he would get off her, immediately. Pushing herself up onto one elbow, she cupped his face and nipped at his lower lip. He growled at her, his eyes narrowing dangerously. She couldn’t help but grin. “There are a lot of things in this world that frighten me. You’re not one of them.” Hearing her say that relieved Mac immensely and made his troubled thoughts fade to insignificance. Kissing her for her honesty put him in a much better frame of mind than he’d been in when she first got home. His afternoon hadn’t been all that enjoyable. Dealing

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with an obnoxious Steve had rubbed his patience dangerously thin. Usually, his friend didn’t bother him. But one too many double-sided comments about Gwen really pissed him off. Clay understood and at one point smashed the ball into Steve’s back. Clay apologized for his bad shot, but Steve didn’t get the hint. Mac wanted this moment to last. Although fucking her on the kitchen counter wasn’t in the plans, he could adapt if needed. Cupping Gwen’s ass with his hands, he jerked her hard against him, certain he might have permanent teeth marks on his cock from his damn zipper. Rolling his hips, he ground against her, and she cried out a small mewing noise. Kitten-like, little noises that could almost make him come in his jeans. Leaning forward, he tipped her backward. As much as he loved the look of her damp T-shirt stuck against her hard nipples, it had to go. He caught the back of her shirt and pulled it over her head. He took a cherry red nipple in his mouth. They were like little, plump raspberries and tasted like perfection. She arched up toward him, digging her nails into his shoulders. Wrapping her long legs around his hips, he could feel the deep tremor under her skin. It felt hot under his lips. He divested her of her jeans and panties. Dropping down in front of her, he stroked her curls with the backs of his fingers. “Mac, what? Oh, god. I don’t think you should…yes.” The last bit she moaned as he lifted her legs on his shoulders and parted her swollen lips. Taking his time, he lapped at her creamy folds, loving the taste of her and the heat radiating off her. Her small hands had a death grip on his hair. He was going to be bald by the end, but at least the small bit of pain helped him to keep a tight rein on his urges. Slipping a finger inside, he had her arching off the counter. She wouldn’t last long. Thank god, because neither would he. Mac concentrated on her swollen clit, flicking the little pearl with his tongue as he sucked on her. Adding a second finger to the first, he

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caressed inside her until he found the perfect spot that made her buck wildly against his mouth. She cried out, and he doubled his efforts, supporting her butt with one hand while fingering her with the other. He continued sucking at her folds until her body clamped down hard on his fingers. Continuing to slide his fingers in and out, he drew out her pleasure for as long as possible. When she began to relax, he scooped her up in his arms. As carefully as he could, he undid his pants and stepped out of them. Gathering her up into his arms, he headed to the living room and the closest soft landing. “Mac,” she sighed and rested her head against his shoulder. “That felt…oh, my god.” “Kitten, I’m not done yet.” She kissed his neck and pulled his face to hers for a proper thank you. He almost tripped over the sofa because he was so distracted by her lips and the way her naked body caressed his as he walked. Dropping back down onto the sofa, she landed with her legs straddling his hips. He felt like a two-by-four resided between his legs. Her hot little pussy rubbed against his, and he felt his arms shake. “Mac, I need to go upstairs.” “Side table drawer.” The brat slid along his cock as she moved off him, leaving a damp trail to cool in the air. “Hurry up.” She grinned at him over her shoulder when she bent over to open the drawer. It took every bit of his self-control to not leap on her and drive his cock deep inside her. Finally, she straddled his lap, a condom gripped between her teeth. Gwen smiled down at him. “Not yet.” She carefully gripped his cock, her dainty fingers teasing his length. He wrapped his hand around hers. “Like this.” He moved at the best speed and pressure, and she caught on quick. He was shuddering in her hand within moments of her gripping him.

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“Christ, Gwen. You’re killing me. I need to be inside you. Put the fucking condom on.” “I get to play longer next time.” She tore the wrapper off, and he almost came as she stroked it down his length. Gripping her hips, he guided her up and rubbed her sopping folds with his tip before resting himself at her opening. He wanted to plunge himself inside her but hated the idea of this being over so quickly. With infinitesimal slowness, he eased inside. Her head dropped back, offering her breasts as a silent sacrifice. He jerked his hips to try to get deeper, but she would lift before he got completely seated. He was going to explode. “Oh, yeah, kitten. You’re going to make me work hard for this, aren’t you? She caught his lips with hers and kissed him deep, tangling her tongue with his as she dropped down on him fully. Incredible bliss flooded his system and almost made his head explode. “You said you like claws.” That was his only warning before she lifted herself up. Bracing on his chest before she dropped down again, this time she curled her fingers and lightly scored his chest with her nails. “Fuck.” The word exploded out of him. Unable to take this slow speed any longer, he gripped her hips hard against his and flipped them over. Rising above her, he drove hard into her folds, wringing a scream out of her. He rolled his hips over and over, spiraling against her. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and her heels dug into his ass. She whimpered and then cried out. Her body clamped down so hard on him that he almost couldn’t move. The sensation was more than he could take. He jerked against her. Burying his face in her neck, he let go and pistoned himself deep inside her until his entire world narrowed down to only the two of them caught in the middle of a riptide. Her internal muscles clenched him tight as a vice as her body trembled in his arms. She arched up against him, pressing her breasts

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against his chest, the sensations pounding over him until he couldn’t handle it anymore and allowed them to pull him over. Floating back to the surface, he realized she still cradled his body with her hips. Her nails ran up and down his back, tickling him softly. “Are you okay?” He managed a grunt. That was the best he could do for words at the moment. Shifting so he didn’t crush her anymore, he lay along the length of the sofa with her facing him. “Mac?” “SShhhh.” He pressed her face against his chest. “We’re bonding.” “You’re weird.” He pulled the afghan off the back of the sofa and over the two of them, tucking it in around her as best as his weighted arms could handle. “Give me a couple minutes. I wasn’t planning on the sofa for my first fantasy with you.” “It’s more comfortable than the counter would have been.” She laughed lightly and kissed his chest. “So, what do we do while we’re bonding?” “I lie here quietly, and you tell me what happened today.” “Nothing. You’re paranoid.” “I got a call from Merideth.” Gwen instantly put her hands on his chest and tried to get up. He tightened his muscles, not allowing her to escape. “Let me up.” “No. Talk to me.” “Mac, I don’t want to. I don’t have anything to say. She tried to push again, but he wouldn’t let her move. He threw one of his legs over hers to prove his point. She wasn’t going anywhere until he let her up. Giving up, she dropped back against the sofa and tried to keep as stiff as possible. She wouldn’t relax back against him again. He ruined their moment by bringing up what happened. Katie lied to her. She should have expected it.

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“Don’t get angry. You made Katie promise not to say anything, not Merideth. Trust me, they have gotten me with that more times than I care to admit.” “What do you want me to say?” “I want you to tell me what happened.” “You won’t believe me. It’s a little woo-woo.” “I know Brand and Holly very well and hoped to get you to say something by not being too serious.” “You’re saying she really is a fairy princess?” “No, I think she’s nuts, but she loves Brand, and I have fun teasing her about it. If that’s what she believes, who am I to tell her she’s wrong?” Mac ran his fingers along her spine in soothing strokes. “You know my family is a bit woo-woo.” “Katie mentioned it, but she assured me that you are as normal as any boy can be.” She felt, more than heard, the low chuckle in his chest. His hands continued to soothe her anxiety. If only she could look forward to this all the time. Could there be some way to have it all? “I don’t know if I’ll ever understand what it’s like to experience what you do. But I’m not going to think any differently about you. From what Merideth told me, what happened today sounded pretty incredible.” “Yeah, well, maybe if you were on the other side of it all. I was terrified.” Mac’s arms tightened around her. “What do you mean?” She glanced up, and his expression looked dark, as if he wanted to tear the spirit apart for scaring her. “Part of his head looked to be missing, and there was blood flowing down along the side of his face. I tried to close my eyes, but he wouldn’t go away. He screamed at me until I repeated what he said.”

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Gwen hated feeling as if she didn’t have any control over what happened to her. Being forced to do things, reminded her of all the years she had spent under her father’s thumb. Mac’s fingers stroked her cheek and jaw, drawing her back to reality. “Hmm?” “You looked really serious there for a moment. Everything okay in there?” She looked up and nodded. “Yeah, it’s all right. I don’t like being controlled or not having a choice in what happens to me.”

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Chapter Nine “Who took your choices away before?” “Our father, a more evil man than you will ever meet.” “You think he would hurt Joey?” “Joey was practically a baby at the time, and he had nannies to take care of him, but I knew the day would come when our father turned on him.” “Is that why you are running and hiding?” “To a certain extent, yes. He started hitting me one day, and Joey intervened. Catching the old man’s attention like that signed his future. I knew then that the day had come and I needed to get him out of there.” Mac gently pushed a piece of hair behind her ear, wanting so badly to inflict some serious violence on the bastard who hurt her. “Kitten, there are lots of times when we don’t get to choose what happens to us. You think I would have chosen to lose my dad? If I knew the future, I never would have listened to the order to stay on ship. I wish I had forced him to stay onboard, but he was so sure he could talk the situation down.” “You were there?” Gwen pulled in a thready breath. It felt as though her heart was squeezed so tight she might not be able to breathe. She was going to have to tell him. Admit to it now and get it over with. Better to be tossed out of his bed now before she fell any deeper in love with him. Deeper? Oh, shit. “Yeah, ended up in a coma from the blast. It knocked me back so hard. I learned later that I caught a bullet to the chest as well. Dad

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died onboard the ship that day, so did the smuggler and his kids. Just as well since they would have taken after him.” Gwen’s warm postcoital haze died an icy death with that comment. So did her admission. “What makes you so sure?” “Apples don’t fall far from their trees. What they would have been exposed to growing up. Too bad they were killed, though. Someone should have paid for their father’s crimes.” “And you are so certain they are guilty after knowing nothing about them? What do you think the chances would be if he was such a bad guy that he perhaps abused them too?” “From what direct accounts I’ve read and heard, it wouldn’t be likely. My dad used to talk about how that bastard doted on his daughter. Another spoiled bunny who continually traipsed around the globe. The boy got in trouble all the time at school and ended up being kicked out of a few schools for his bad behavior.” Bile crept up, burning the back of her throat. So that’s how her father twisted it. “And what about their mom?” “Apparently, she died a long time ago. Even the bad guys find true love sometimes. Losing her devastated him, and he never married again. I guess spoiling his kids was his way of overcompensating.” “I need to get up.” “Huh?” “Get out of my way, Mac. I have to get up now. I don’t feel well.” “Oh, kitten, I’m sorry.” He let go, and she rushed to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her and locking it. She retched into the toilet, losing most of her smoothie, as Mac knocked on the door to ask if he could do anything. She felt dirty and sick. She’d had the most amazing sex with a man who unknowingly thought her to be a useless whore who would be better off dead. Emotions churned in her stomach. Time to go. She had to get rid of the blackmail stuff and run far away from

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here. She could mail it all from different locations around the country. That would work better. More knocking sounded at the door. “Gwen, you okay? Come on, let me take care of you.” “Go away.” “Gwen, I want you to open this door right now. Either you open it or I’m going to break it down.” “Wait a second.” She rinsed her mouth, spitting the sick taste into the sink, and wrapped a thick towel around her before opening the door. The towel wasn’t much of a defense, but her choices were incredibly limited in what she could do at the moment. Mac crowded her the moment she unlocked the door. His hands on her shoulders, he scooped her up and took her back into his room. “Kitten, I shouldn’t have pushed you so fast. Come on, let’s have a nap, and we will see how you are feeling after.” “I should go to my room.” “Okay, if that’s what you want.” She didn’t miss the flash of shame in his expression, but she refused to feel guilty. “I can walk.” “I’m sure you can, but you’re not.” Too tired to argue, she waited as he carried her into the spare room and laid her on the bed. She immediately rolled to her side, hating the feeling of the cold sheets. The bitchy way she was treating Mac made her feel like throwing up all over again. But she knew this had to end, no matter how badly she wanted otherwise. “Can I get you anything?” “No, let me be for a bit. I feel horrible.” At least it wasn’t a complete lie. “I had no idea this would be so hard on your system.” He brushed a kiss across her forehead. “I’m going to go out and pick up a couple things before Colleen gets back here with Joey.” He sounded so guilty. Despite how she felt about him at this exact moment, she still felt horrible for doing it. But she had to create a

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chasm. Had to force some space between them or she would never leave him. One day, the truth would come out. These things were inevitable, and to have all this taken away later would hurt more than it did right now. “Okay, I’ll rest here.” He left her room. She heard his feet on the carpeting and buried her face in her pillow, letting loose silent tears. Her body shook with the effort, and her head throbbed. Never had she felt so terrible about herself. As soon as she heard the door chime signal his leaving, she stopped holding back. Hugging the pillow, she cried her heart out. She felt sorry for herself and the position she had put everyone else in. Leaving this family would break her heart and hurt them in the process. If only she’d told the truth in the beginning, then they never would have known her. Only she couldn’t wish that because if she had to do it over she would want all the perfect moments Mac and his family gave her. **** Talk about a sucker punch to the male ego. Mac started up the truck and headed down the street. Nothing like a woman getting sick after making love to you. He really felt guilty about it. Merideth had told him what happened. Katie took care of her and told him to let her rest. What did he do? Pretty much charged her up more than she should have been. What really bothered him was her pushing him away after. He understood she might be embarrassed but didn’t she understand he didn’t care? Embarrassing moments happen. It wouldn’t be the first or the last. He wanted her to give him shit and then let him make it up to her. Hopefully, after a nap, she would feel better. He had no idea she felt so ill until moments before she jumped off him. Had he missed a subtle clue? There had to be something he missed. She hadn’t had an

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easy life, even if he didn’t know the details. Maybe she felt a bit of a link to those kids and he had spouted off about the world being better off with them dead. Not his smoothest moment. He would make it up to her. Yes, they hadn’t known each other very long, and she didn’t trust him, but that was going to change. She needed someone to take care of her for once. As soon as she realized she trusted him, she would fill him in on it all. Then he could fix it all for her. Flicking open his phone, he called Colleen to let her know he was on his way to pick the little man up. “Oh, my god, Mac. Did you hear what happened today?” He could hear the worry in Colleen’s voice. “How’s Gwen doing? Did Holly’s smoothie help any?” “How’d you hear?” “Katie phoned me. Merideth is getting ready for an emergency session with the judge and the DA. She has detectives running all over town gathering new evidence.” Mac smiled, wondering how many times Merideth’s name would be cursed today. He could imagine the ruckus she would be causing. “What about Gwen? Is she with you?” “No, I left her at home in bed.” “Bed?” “Her bed.” “Good, I like her, Mac, but right now would be the worst timing.” “Really? I didn’t realize you had my sex life on a schedule.” He knew he sounded angrier than he had a right to, but he was already drowning in guilt here. “Don’t be bitchy. Apparently, this kind of episode can take a lot out of a person. A highly aggressive spirit would have pulled a lot of her natural energies in order to communicate with her. Any more stress on her system could cause an emotional overload and possibly a physical response.” No shit. “How do you know all this stuff?

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“Holly told Katie. Considering how you watch every move she makes, I wanted to warn you away but only for a short time. Katie says after a good night’s sleep and a couple meals, she should be fine. And then you can, well…” At least she sounded as uncomfortable as he did with the direction the conversation headed. “Can we stop talking about this now?” “Gladly. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes to pick up Joey. Did you all have fun?” “Absolutely, Joey’s a great kid. It’s amazing how adaptable he is.” “What do you mean?” “He will play with Aiden at his level and is so careful with him. Then he’ll stand there and talk about the model trains with Geoff as if he graduated with an engineering degree.” “I want to talk Gwen into staying here. It would be better for Joey I’m sure.” Mac knew his sister would understand what he truly meant. “Be careful how you go about it. Joey has let a couple things slip today. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to upset him. He said he isn’t allowed to talk about his past. Gwen’s rules. Mac, he mentioned there are bad men after them and they want to hurt Gwen because she knows their secrets.” “Damn it. I’m going to call Clay and see if he can dig anything up on her. She won’t talk, so I’ll try to find out on my own. Do me a favor and write down anything else out of the ordinary Joey says.” “Okay, but I don’t want to upset him.” “Don’t ask any direct questions that might alert him to what you’re doing.” Mac pulled into his sister’s driveway, and as soon as the truck door closed, a couple streams of water hit him in the chest and hip. The boys had been lying in wait and ambushed him as soon as they had a clear shot. Damn water guns were so powerful they were attacking from the second floor balcony, close enough to drench him but far enough away to make an escape. The two boys might think they had the perfect plan, but they didn’t understand what it was like

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to grow up with three sneaky little sisters. He growled and carried on to their delight, threatening retribution and then running for the house. As soon as he was out of their sight, he made a sharp turn and headed around the back of the house. Logically, they would expect him to run in the house and straight up the stairs while they made their escape down the back stairs. Running down the side of the house, he grabbed for the hose and turned it on full and then quietly made his way to the backyard. The boys came tearing out the back door, howling with laughter. “All right, you two, you think I’d let you get away with a sneak attack? Not a chance!” He squeezed the handle, soaking each of them in freezing water. Joey grabbed Aiden and placed himself between the water and the younger boy. “Run, Aiden, run!” Something in the young boy’s voice struck Mac as odd. He turned off the spray and headed to Joey, who stood completely still, his eyes squeezed tight and fists clenched. “Joey?” Those young eyes looked up at him. Tears brimmed at the edges and echoed fear so intense that Mac dropped to his knees so they would be eye to eye. He felt as though he had taken a punch to the chest. “I’m sorry. It isn’t his fault. We shouldn’t have pranked you.” “No worries, little man. It’s all fun. I’m not mad.” Mac wrapped his arms around the boy and gave him a tight hug. The boy’s young frame shook. Whether it was because of the cold water or in fear, Mac wasn’t sure. Aiden appeared from inside the house with a towel. “Mommy says we have to dry off before we can come in for cake.” Joey’s eyes opened this time with confusion. From their depths, knowledge far beyond his years looked out. “Wendy never got cake when she told me to run.”

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“Did she protect you, Joey?” “She said that’s what big sisters do. But I’m not supposed to talk about it.” “Guess what, Joey? That’s what big brothers do as well.” “Oh, yeah, I forgot.” Joey hugged him, soaking his T-shirt. “You’re a big brother. Will you protect my Wendy, too?” “I promise.” He rubbed the top of Joey’s wet head with part of the towel before wrapping it around Joey’s shoulders. “Cool. Can I have cake now?” “Sure, kiddo.” He looked up and saw Colleen walking over to them with Aiden in her arms. She quickly smiled and ruffled Joey’s hair. “Come on, you two. Wait till you taste this cake, Mac. It’s delicious. The boys made it themselves.” “Can I take a piece home for the three of us? I don’t want to leave Gwen alone for too long.” “Ahhh, do I have to go already?” Joey dragged his feet as he walked with his shoulders slouched. Seeing Joey act closer to his age even for a moment made Mac smile to himself. “Sorry, buddy, but we have to go.” “No, you don’t.” Both he and Joey looked at Colleen. “What I mean is, why don’t you sleep over here tonight, Joey?” It looked like his sister decided to give him and Gwen a bit of time together. This time he certainly didn’t mind her sticking her nose into his life. “But, I don’t have my blanket.” “You have a blankie? I don’t have one anymore.” There was a distinct note of superiority in Aiden’s tone. “It’s special. Wendy made it for me. It’s not like I’m a baby.” “We know, honey. Mac, could you drop it off later perhaps? Why don’t you and Gwen come over for dinner, and then you two can have a quiet night?”

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“Is Wendy okay?” Joey must have picked up on some of the nuances flying over his head. “She never sleeps during the day.” “She had a bit of a headache and lay down for a while.” “As long as I see her, I should be fine.” “All right, I’ll make sure she is here to say good night to you. Now how about you go have some cake, and I’ll see you all later.” Talking Gwen into letting Joey stay took a bit more convincing than he originally thought it would. He initially wondered if he had pushed her and their relationship too fast. Ever since she woke up, she had been a bit standoffish, but he expected it. What threw him was her refusal to acknowledge what had happened. As if it was a dirty little secret, the idea of Joey not coming back had set her off on an angry tangent. One thing he noticed was that when Gwen was angry, she didn’t censor herself very well. He learned quickly to keep his mouth shut and listen. “You know you need to give Joey some space. He’s a boy and needs to be able to run without holding on to your hand.” “And running too far from me could get him killed.” “You are smothering him.” “It’s none of your concern. He’s my brother, and I will do whatever I have to. You’ve never been hunted, you don’t understand.” “Then explain it to me. Why are you being hunted, and why use that term?” “Because they’ve never stopped looking for us. If they find me, they will kill me, and it won’t be humane, and it won’t be clean.” She paced around the kitchen, ignoring the coffee she had professed to need a few minutes earlier. “They want me punished. I won’t have the luxury of a bullet in the head I’ll never feel. They will do everything they can to hurt every part of me, meaning they will hurt Joey first.” “Gwen, no one is going to hurt you.” He tried to wrap his arms around her, but she slipped out of the way, putting the kitchen table between them.

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“You can’t promise that. Having me here is putting you all in danger. If they are watching, they know where he is. I’m putting Colleen and her family in danger as well.” “Don’t underestimate Geoff. He’s a mean son of a bitch whenever he thinks someone might even look at his family the wrong way.” He walked around to where she had dropped into a chair and held her head in her hands. “No one is going to get hurt, and you and I need to talk about a few things.” “About this afternoon…” She peered over her fingertips at him. Such big, expressive eyes shining defiance, anger, and fear. She would forever keep him guessing about exactly what she felt. For someone who bored easily, he was certain she would keep him interested. One thing he knew for sure was her devotion to those she cared about. “I’m sorry I reacted the way I did.” “There is nothing to apologize for. After all you went through, I shouldn’t have pushed you into anything you weren’t ready for.” “I never said I didn’t want to,” Gwen muttered under her breath, making him smile. “That makes two of us.” He pressed a finger beneath her chin, encouraging her to look up at him. “Gwen, I can’t make you trust me, and it’s not something I would want to force. All you need to remember is you aren’t alone anymore.” He brushed a soft kiss against her forehead and left her to think it over while he went upstairs to shower. **** Gwen sat in the chair thinking about what Mac said. Did he mean it? Her chest constricted tightly. Did he have any idea how much she wished for someone like him? Her deepest wish would be to lean on someone else, even for a little while.

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He left the room and headed upstairs without a backward look. She knew this because she stared after him, a part of her registering how incredible his ass looked in his jeans. The rest contemplated the ramifications of telling him it all. She wanted him so much, but the truth he craved was what would make him hate her. Apples don’t fall far from trees. He’d said it himself. She would have to deceive him a little longer and then disappear with Joey. Mac had his family, and she would cling to every memory they gave her. In fact, she decided that for a little while she would go after what she wanted and pretend her future looked different. She slipped into the bathroom as quietly as she could. Leaning back on the counter, she enjoyed the view. The glass doors to his shower didn’t hide anything from her, and she drank in the sight of bubbles slipping down Mac’s muscular chest as he shampooed up his hair. His muscles moved under his skin. She knew physically he could protect her, but he wasn’t bulletproof. What if a bullet hit his chest and took him away from everyone. His hand swiped over his heart. Distracted by her thought, she watched his hands, knowing she should leave before he discovered her in there. One hand slid down and wrapped around his cock, giving it a long stroke. Oh, my god, is he going to? The humidity in the room skyrocketed, and her clothes felt tight against her damp skin. She couldn’t and shouldn’t watch, but the sight of his large hand stroking himself kept her rooted to the spot. Tingles raced through her body, centering directly on her core, until she felt hotter than the air in the room. Gwen looked up instantly, pinned by Mac’s icy gaze. He didn’t look pissed off by her intrusion as she thought he might be. The intensity in his eyes scared her. He looked like a man who had found the one prize he’d waited forever for. “Get your ass in here.” Throwing caution to the wind, she dropped her clothes on the floor as she stepped closer to him. Mac opened the door and held out

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his hand. He drew her within his shower and his arms. The water hit her with stinging heat until his broad shoulders blocked the spray. He cupped her face with both hands and kissed her, brushing her lips with his before nipping at her lower lip. “I like you all wet.” Her laugh never made it to the surface. His hands slid along her jaw and delved into her hair as he kissed her. His tongue swept into her mouth, stroking hers. She could feel the rush of moisture between her legs readying for him. As tempting as it would be to allow Mac to do whatever he wanted with her, she’d come up here with a notion of getting what she wanted. Boldly, she returned his kiss, inciting a moan from the back of his throat. So Mac liked aggressive women? She slid her hands along his ribs and down over his hips. She wrapped her fingers around his erect cock and stroked him similar to the way he stroked himself. “Oh, yeah, Gwen.” He bit the edge of her jaw and let go of her hair in preference for cupping her breasts in his hands. Her nipples tightened up under his strong grip, and she entertained the thought of him taking her against the tile wall. She stroked the length of him again, this time cupping his balls with her other hand and rolling them around her fingers. He gripped her hips and started to lift her up. She grabbed for his hands. “Not yet.” “You’re kidding, right? Gwen, I want to lift you up and bury myself inside you. Right now.” She smiled at the intensity in his tone. Knowing she inspired this level of passion in him made her feel incredible and thankful she wasn’t the only one. “Put your hands here.” She backed them out from directly under the shower, moving his hands to the tile above her head. “Keep them there.” “But what if I want to touch you?”

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She kissed him on the neck below his ear. “You can later.” Another kiss, this one to his collarbone. “I feel so safe with you, Mac.” She nipped his flat nipple before running her tongue over it, placing another kiss a bit lower. “You should.” He gripped her hair and tilted her head so she looked up into his face. “I’ll never let anything happen to you.” If only it were true, but she decided not to think about it right now. She teased his length with her fingertips. He shuddered under her administrations. Looking up at him, she watched as his eyes closed in obvious pleasure. The water pulsed behind him, hitting the shower floor, but she felt hotter than the spray. “Put that hand back where it belongs.” She playfully slapped his ass and then used him to balance herself as she dropped to her knees in front of him. Cupping his cock, she kissed the plum-shaped top, running her tongue along its delicate edge. Mac’s stance widened, and he locked his knees. Gwen smiled to herself and slipped the tip inside her mouth. Savoring the feel and taste of him, she took him as deeply as she could. Breathing through her nose and relaxing her throat, she went deeper the second time, causing Mac to jerk. “Again.” Mac’s strained request reached her, and she happily obliged. She slid him to and from her lips as she sucked him hard enough to hollow out her cheeks. She hummed in the back of her throat the next time he slipped in far enough. He cried out and gripped her hair, only to let it go a second later, placing his hand back on the wall. As a reward for remembering her request, she gently played with his balls with one hand. With the other, she teased the cleft of his ass, stroking the crease in time to the rhythm she moved on his cock. His hips jerked, driving him back into her mouth as soon as he slid out slightly. Gwen took him deep again. This time, she rimmed his ass with her wet fingers as she sucked him deep and hummed.

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“Oh, kitten, god. Yes.” She didn’t have to move too much. She could feel Mac’s body trembling over her. The muscles in his legs flexed and held as his hips jerked. He pumped into her mouth, so deep that she gagged. He murmured an apology, modifying his strokes. Every few strokes, she sucked him deep into the back of her throat, loving the groans Mac sounded above her. “Kitten,” he groaned the word as she stroked the sensitive skin between his testicles and ass. “Back up. Can’t stop.” “Not a chance.” She sucked him into her mouth and slipped a finger past the tight ring. Looking up, she watched the incredible sight of Mac losing control. As she stroked him at the same pace, he jerked into her mouth. A hand gripped her hair, anchoring her in place as he stroked in and out of her willing mouth. She gently rubbed the spot inside his anus guaranteed to drive him over the edge. He didn’t last a moment longer, plunging into her mouth, his head thrown back. The tendons in his neck stood out, and she felt him spurt into the back of her throat. She sucked him to completion, not wanting to miss a drop. He slipped from her lips, softer but still impressive. Gwen stood up, and Mac dropped his forehead to her shoulder. “Thank you.” “My pleasure.” She slipped out from under his arm and got out of the shower. “Where are you going?” Mac stepped from the stall and grabbed the towel from her grasp. Wrapping it around her shoulders, he lifted her up into his arms. “Stop, we have to go to your sister’s.” “She can wait.” Mac carried her out of the bathroom and dropped her on the bed. Gwen laughed, feeling happier than she had a right to. “The sooner we go, the sooner we get back.” “Do you promise?”

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Chapter Ten Dinner at Colleen’s was a lively affair. Aiden and Joey seemed to be joined at the hip. Geoff barbequed up the most amazing steaks, and the tantalizing aroma wrapped around them the moment Mac and Gwen walked in the door. Gwen’s stomach let loose with a growl that sounded to her like it vibrated echoes in the empty hallway. Mac started laughing hysterically. “It’s not funny” “Yes, yes it is. You just finished saying you really weren’t the least bit hungry.” He gave her a quick kiss. “Eat as much as you can handle, sweetheart. You are going to need the energy.” Colleen came around the corner and enveloped Gwen in a big hug. “Oh, good, you made it! How are you feeling?” “You know what happened?” “Honey, in this family, word travels fast. You’re lucky our mom is out of town or you would have had her at the door as soon as you got home. She would have taken care of you straight away.” “It’s okay. Mac took care of me.” Mac choked on a mouthful of beer, and Geoff smacked him hard on the back. “You okay, buddy?” “Yeah, fine. I didn’t do much.” “But what he did do was done so well.” Mac laughed but didn’t dare look over at Gwen. If he did, they would all see the truth of it. He had fallen for this woman bad, and who knew how much longer she would stick around. Not that it mattered since he planned on spending every waking moment with

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her. He wanted her to see what an incredible family he had. That walking away from him meant giving all of them up as well. As dinner wore on, Gwen seemed to get a second wind. It tasted delicious, mostly because all Colleen cooked was the corn. Even so, Geoff kept an eye on it while it was cooking. Mac tried to think up a way to bring up the night’s sleeping arrangements when Joey blurted it out. “I’m sleeping over, Wendy. Right?” “Um, you are? Did you ask?” “Geoff and Mac are okay with it,” Joey quickly added, looking back and forth between the men he already so obviously adored. “Mac said it would be okay with you.” “Yes, it’s okay with me, but next time you ask me first, all right?” “Okay, I promise, Wendy. We’re going to work on the railroad.” Gwen looked over at Geoff. “You sure it’s okay?” “Absolutely, Joey gave me some great ideas today, and I think he should be involved in building them.” “And look, Wendy. Geoff took me to the train store.” Joey dug in his pocket and pulled out a small figurine. “This is going to go in the area I get to help build. In his hand sat a small figure of a woman in a dress and a large hat and a boy holding a bright blue balloon. “This is you and me! I like the balloons, and I know you like dresses, but you don’t wear one too often except for special occasions, and this would be a special occasion, right?” “I can’t think of anything more special. I hope you remembered your manners.” “Yeah! I thanked Geoff very much.” She looked up at Mac’s brother-in-law to verify Joey’s story. “He did. Joey is very well-behaved and has wonderful manners.” Joey bounced excitedly on the balls of his feet. Happiness radiated off him, and she wished she could always make his life so perfect. “We better head out if we are going to be there on time.” Mac stood and held out his hand for Gwen.

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“Where are we going?” “It is a surprise.” “I don’t like surprises.” “You’ll like this one.” “Why?” “Because.” Mac stood there and smiled down at her. “Now let’s go.” “That’s not a legitimate answer. I’m not ten.” Joey hugged Gwen tightly around her waist. “It’s okay, Wendy. I’ll be fine, you can go.” She hugged her brother back. “You keep your manners close, and don’t touch anything you’re not supposed to.” Joey let loose with a dramatic sigh and rolled his eyes. “Weeeennnndy.” She pressed a kiss to the top of his head and let him go. He made a quick exit by running out the front door to where Geoff played with Aiden on the front lawn. “Don’t pester Colleen and Geoff too much.” “Wow, you’re worse than me.” Colleen walked out with them, pausing to watch the boys play with bubbles. “It’s okay, we’ll lock him in a closet, and then he can’t get into anything.” An old memory tugged at Gwen, making her heart clench painfully tight. Her reaction must have echoed on her face because Colleen gasped, slapping her hands over her mouth. “I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.” “I know. Your family is too kind for something like that.” Mac’s hands slid over her shoulders. “Yeah right, try growing up with her. Do you have any idea how many times she locked me in the basement and told me there were hungry monsters that needed to be fed? “I did no such thing!” Colleen laughed and pointed a warning finger at her brother. “You did that to me! I have proof. Ask the twins, they remember. You locked them in next and told them a similar story.”

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“Except they were the ones to sneak out the basement window and scare the hell out of me. I thought they really had been eaten.” Gwen couldn’t stop the horrified giggle before it escaped her lips. “Sure, laugh, but you have no idea the terror I felt. I had to explain to my parents the basement monsters ate my sisters.” “How long did they let you sweat?” “An hour, the longest of my life.” He caressed her back with one hand, stopping at the base of her spine. “Let’s go.” Mac led her out to the truck and opened the door for her. She waved to the kids on the front lawn as they played. As Mac drove away, the normalcy of the scene in front of her..Joey looked like any other normal kid playing with a younger sibling. She turned and looked unseeing out the windshield. That’s what he deserved, not running around, being dragged around the country in an effort to hide from an unknown enemy. Would they adopt him? Love him? Get him the help he needed? “I don’t like the look on your face.” “What do you mean?” Mac darted a look at her before reaching out and tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “You looked like someone about to give up everything.” “It would be easier for him. Staying with someone like your sister. Having a normal life.” “Normal is relative. What makes you think Joey would be better off without you?” Gwen shifted in her seat so she could look directly at Mac’s profile while he drove. “Wouldn’t he be safer?” “Perhaps, but don’t you think leaving him would be more crushing than a supposedly normal life?” “I didn’t say I would do anything of the sort.” She knew she sounded defensive because he had verbalized exactly what was going through her head. She didn’t want to end the conversation simply because he forced her to look at something.

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“I wanted you to see the other side before you weren’t able to anymore.” “What do you mean?” “It’s amazing what a person can decide to do simply because he convinces himself it’s the right thing.” “Have you ever done that?” “Yes, I almost drank my way out of a career I love because I thought I couldn’t be the same man without my father there to guide me. The more I drank, the more I convinced myself.” Gwen understood the point he tried to make, and it dawned on her she had done a similar thing, by convincing herself she had no choice but to hide from her father’s memory. Her future became nothing to look forward to. She’d just spend years running instead of thinking of a way to end it all. When she did come up with an idea, she hadn’t allowed herself to think too much past that. Mac made her think of a real life for her and Joey. If only it could be with him. “Where are we going again?” “For a walk near my work.” They lapsed into a comfortable silence as Mac drove. Gwen didn’t want this moment to end. She relaxed into the seat and stared out the window. She watched as the rows of houses gave way to an expanse of sand. White sailboats dotted the horizon. “You work on the water?” “Sometimes, but we’ll keep to the sand.” “Why can’t we keep to a nice park with trees and not an ocean in sight?” “Because I want you to know you are safe with me.” “I already know that.” Her heart beat wildly in her throat. She hated the water. “You know in your head, but I wonder about the rest.” What else could there be? He already resided in her head, and if he thought for a moment she would let him into her heart, too late. He already had his foot in the door and easily pressed the rest of the way in with his family crowding in behind him. She wanted to stop them

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all from flooding in but couldn’t do it. It was a frightening prospect to go from trusting no one to suddenly being surrounded by people who cared for her. She’d left Joey with them overnight and relaxed around them. All her guards were dropped, and she feared someone would get hurt. Her greatest fear was it wouldn’t be her. Mac pulled into a parking lot and cut the engine. She stared out the windshield at the endless ocean before her. A moment later, Mac opened her door and held out his hand palm up. She looked down at it where it waited in front of her. “Come on, you know you can trust me.” Taking a deep breath, Gwen placed her hand in his and let him lead her out of the truck. Couldn’t they go somewhere and have sex? She’d do it in that horrible hotel room if it meant they could leave. “Take them off.” “What!” “Your shoes. I’d like to know where your mind was, dirty girl.” Gwen glared at him and slipped off her sneakers. He pulled off his and tossed them in the back. Crouching down, he rolled the bottoms of his jeans up. Was there such a thing as sexy feet? Until this moment, she would have answered with a resounding “No,” but looking down at Mac’s strong calves and large feet, she understood the thought process behind people with a foot fetish. It wasn’t as though she wanted to have him rub them all over her or anything freaky like that. But she did enjoy looking at them, almost enough to make her forget where they were. She was still not sure what to do. She was caught between her fear of the waves that were crashing in and mesmerized with the way the setting sun glinted off his hair. Golden-red reflections shone in his blond silk, making her want to run her fingers through it. He finished his and then reached over and started rolling up her jeans almost to her knees. “What are you doing? I’m so not going in the water.” She lifted her leg to roll the pants back down, but he brushed her hands away.

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“It’s to stop the sand from getting all over them. Stop being so suspicious.” “You’re going to try to get me in the water, aren’t you?” “Not unless you want to go.” “You’re going to make me want to, aren’t you?” Mac stood back up. Catching one of her hands in his, he brushed his lips over her knuckles. “I’m going to try. If you told me what it is that frightens you so much, I might be able to help.” “It’s an irrational fear brought on by a traumatic moment. You need to understand and accept that is all there is to it.” He gifted her with another gorgeous smile and stepped off the walkway and onto the beach. He tugged her hand to get her to walk with him. “I don’t want to talk about it, Mac.” “All right, no talking. We’ll just take a nice stroll down the beach.” The sand held the sun’s warmth against her feet. Mac walked along the shoreline, keeping himself between her and the vast blue expanse. She had to admit to herself that with his big body between her and the water, she managed to stay calm. They talked about personal things, favorite colors, favorite foods, the last movie they each had seen, and what they were looking forward to seeing. She didn’t realize how close to the edge they had gotten until a wave danced over her feet. She jumped and would have bolted for the dry sand if Mac hadn’t pulled her close and kissed her. He still tasted like the chocolate cake they’d eaten at his sister’s. She gripped his shirt, his arms strong around her waist. Not out of fear, but out of how he was making her feel. A few waves danced over her ankles, and she shuddered in his embrace. “Cold?” Mac murmured against her lips. She shook her head no, and he smiled. He lifted his head in order to look down at her. “Scared?”

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She thought about it and then shook her head. “You wouldn’t let me get pulled out.” “Hell no. Besides, the riptide isn’t strong here.” He slid his hands up her back in a long caress, resting one hand on her cheek. “When did the accident happen?” She tried to turn away, but his hand prevented it. A small wave rushed over her feet, and her stomach clenched in fear. “I’m not going to let you go, Gwen. You’re safe here.” Rationally, she knew the truth. But her fear wasn’t rational. Could Mac help her with it? He looked down at her, his blue eyes the color of a summer sky. “I think I was about Joey’s age.” “Do you remember what happened?” He kept his hand on her cheek while the other rubbed soothing circles between her shoulder blades. “No, not really, images and feelings mostly. Feelings of helplessness. Fear. Knowing no one would save me.” “Where were you?” “On my father’s boat.” She swallowed hard. “I don’t like thinking about it. The waves brushed over her calves, and she shuddered, this time in fear. She pulled away from him but not too far. The cold fear that settled in her chest made thinking hard. She kept her hands in his, and they began walking along the beach again. “So you didn’t always have a fear?” “I used to love the water. I remember my mom saying I could have been an Olympic swimmer I was such a fish.” “And on the boat?” Gwen stopped, and Mac stepped in front her, no longer acting as the wall between her and the vast immense of water next to her. “They were fighting.” “Your parents?” “Yeah, they didn’t fight much. My mom usually did what he wanted, but this time she fought back. It had something to do with

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Joey. I think she must have found out about her pregnancy, the timing would be right I guess.” “They were fighting the day of the accident?” Mac’s low voice soothed her nervousness. She didn’t want to remember, but she didn’t want him to think she was a coward. “Their voices woke me up. I don’t remember their words, but I can remember the tone. My father came below and hauled me out of the bunk. I remember my mother screaming as he carried me above deck and threw me overboard. “Jesus Christ.” Mac’s face paled. Could he understand what kind of a father would do that to his own child? She realized that he worshipped the ground his father walked on. She shook her head and tried to pull away. “Tell me the rest, Gwen.” Mac’s voice sounded husky to her. As he had to force the words out. She never spoke these words before but if she faced it, then perhaps she would get some peace. “I tried to swim, but the water was choppy, and the waves kept pushing me down. My nightgown tangled around my legs, I guess, and hampered my ability to swim. The dark surrounded me, and I felt so very scared and all alone. I faintly remember floating, and then nothing. I woke up in a hospital, hearing all these voices screaming for help. It was a nightmare I couldn’t get away from.” “Which is when they started pumping all the drugs into your system?” “They thought I suffered brain damage due to a lack of oxygen to my brain, little did they know.” “Was your father ever charged for his actions?” “Not a chance. Who would tell? My mother? She loved us but didn’t have the strength to stand up to him. She made me promise not to say anything or he would do something worse.” “When did you lose her?”

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“Four years later, a couple months after Joey turned four. He doesn’t remember much about her, but I try to tell him the good things.” “I don’t know the entire truth. Father told me she killed herself, but I can’t believe that. She loved us both and did everything she could to protect us. Father’s obsession with her didn’t include us kids. We were an unwanted reminder of what he had lost and no longer had control over.” “Oh, kitten, I wish I had known you then. I would have protected you.” She rested her cheek on his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist. His strength surrounded her making her feel safe and secure. He would never hit her or Joey, she knew that deep in her heart. “Is that who is after you? Your father?” “He died a few years ago.” “Too bad, I could easily be persuaded to kill him myself.” Gwen stepped back and slid her hands around to rest on his chest. Did he have any idea what an incredible person he was? “I wouldn’t let you throw your life away by doing that. Your life is worth more than a thousand of him.” Mac took a deep breath, took her hand, and started walking. This time, she walked on the ocean side, but it didn’t seem to bother her as much. As long as she had Mac to hold on to. The waves slapped against her calves, and she actually kind of liked the feel of it. Her fear crept along the edges of her consciousness, but it didn’t take over. They walked slowly, in silence. It was a comfortable silence, the kind that follows an intense story like hers. What else could be said? As bad as it all had been, it was in the past, and she did so want to look past it and get on with her life. Mac pointed at a small aluminum boat tied up to a pole. “The boat belongs to a friend of mine. His name is Junmai, and he is always out swimming in the deep. You can’t use a motor like that this close to

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shore because of the manatees, but once you get out a bit then it is safe to. Want to go for a ride? We could go find some dolphins?” “Um, no. You might have me walking here, but I am not about to get in a little thing and go out there. Not a chance.” Mac laughed. “I guess I won’t press my luck. How about an ice cream?” “Didn’t you have some at your sister’s?” “Nope, I waited for you. Come on, there is a great little shop up the beach.” Sitting at a brightly painted picnic table, Gwen’s day suddenly came back in a wave of depressing and confused feelings. It was a shock to her system, which up until this point had been enjoying itself. The night pressed against her, and she dropped her head into her hands. Closing her eyes for a moment, she saw a bloody face screaming at her again. “I didn’t try to help you relax just so you could start stressing as soon as I take my eyes off you.” Mac passed a large ice cream cone to her. “How did you know?” Her eyes widened as she took in the mound of mint chocolate chip piled on the small sugar cone. She’d never be able to eat it all. “I’m observant. It’s my job.” He sat down next to her and winked. “I don’t know how I am going to forget any of it.” “Why try?” “It was horrible, every time I close my eyes, I see his face again.” “You need a good distraction. Something to take your mind off everything.” “Yeah, but we tried that, and while it worked for a while…” In a blink, Mac had his hand wrapped around the back of her neck and slanted his lips over hers. Pleasure ran along every nerve ending as he kissed her. Pressing his soft lips against hers, brushing them

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with delicate gentleness before slipping his tongue forward to lick her bottom one. She blinked, dazed, an exquisite pleasure thrumming through her veins. “Was that another attempt at a distraction?” “No, you missed a drop. I am still planning on how best to distract you.” Her body hummed all over from the kiss, and he planned something more? She couldn’t wait to get back to the house. Enough worrying about the future. She would enjoy every moment she had with him. Every memory would hold an individual place in her heart, protected and looked at over the lonely years to come after she went back into hiding with her brother. “Come on, let’s go down to the pier.” Mac tossed the blanket over one shoulder and took her hand. They finished their ice cream as they walked up the beach a bit, continuing on to the old boards, up the rise, and down the pier. Hand in hand, the warm ocean breeze sending tendrils of hair around her face and into her mouth. “Does this bother you at all?” Being out here? She looked around. They were quite a distance out on the water but high enough above, it didn’t concern her. It was a solid pier and didn’t move against the ocean’s onslaught. “No, I’m good.” “You never saw Orca did you?” “The movie about the killer whale? No, I figured I didn’t need any more ammunition to feed my fears. No Deep Blue Sea for me either.” “Those were great movies, but I wouldn’t suggest watching them until I have you completely over this fear.” “You think you can do that?” “I’m going to give it my best try.” “Why?” Mac sat down on a bench, his legs straddling it. He tugged on her hand, encouraging her to sit in the v of his legs. She leaned back against him, grateful for the solid feel of him at her back. The sun

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gradually dropped down below the horizon, painting the sky an incredible palate of pinks and blues, with purple streaks. He wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned his chin on her shoulder. As she watched the vibrant picture being formed in front of her, he turned and kissed her neck. “Because I don’t want you to fear anything in your life.” “You can’t protect me from everything.” “Want to make a bet on that?” A small craft bounced against the waves and shot past them. Mac sat up and gave a wave to the crazy driver. A man with tanned skins and a head full of dreadlocks waved back. “Who’s that?” “Junmai. Crazy idiot does a lot of lobster fishing. If you have lobster at any of the local restaurants, it’s a given Junmai caught it.” “And he flies over the water in a little tin can like that? The size of that motor looks huge, is it even legal?” “I told you he’s crazy. He swears the ocean is nothing to be afraid of, and he has an affinity for it.” Junmai sped around the waves in front of them, doing figure eights up until a large wave of white water trailed behind him. Before Gwen could ask what he was doing, a form appeared behind him. A gray fin poked out of the water for a moment before descending again. “Holy crap! Is that a shark?” Mac laughed and hugged her close to him. “No, don’t panic, watch.” Another sharp turn and the long figure leap out of the water and looked as though he was about to dive into the boat but landed behind him. Then another. “Dolphins? But what if the prop cuts them?” “He plays with them every night. They’re smarter than you realize and don’t get clipped.”

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They stood there and watched as Junmai sped around and the dolphins played in the wake. It was like a dance between ocean, mammal, and man. The sparkle on the water made it hard to see at times, but she couldn’t look away. “We have to bring Joey to see this. He would love it.” Hearing Gwen say something a bit more permanent thrilled him. Consciously, she might not have realized it, but this had to be a big step for her. Her subconscious was accepting, as her body already knew him. Craved him. The way she leaned back against him. Molding her fine figure to his. He would have teeth marks from his zipper embedded in his cock it was so hard. She had to be able to feel it as well. He wondered if she had relaxed enough with him she deliberately teased him. Could she be reaching the point of trusting him? It was only a matter of time before her waking mind accepted what her unconscious mind already had. Finally, Junmai spun around and then headed to shore at a breakneck speed. “What’s he doing?” “Watch.” Junmai suddenly cut the engine and pulled it out of the water, and by the time he reached the shallow waters, he coasted in on the waves. “Why do that?” “Because speeding up helps him get past the break wall, and you don’t want to race around in the shallower waters because of the manatees. They are so easily injured, you have to be careful. He parks his boat under this pier at night. Everyone knows it is his and won’t touch it.” “He does sound like a character.” She shivered slightly, and Mac almost didn’t hide his sigh of relief. Instead, he shook out the blanket and wrapped it around them both. “Here, hold these.” He placed the edges of the blanket in her hands, and she held them shut. That would keep her hands busy and his free.

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“This is cozy.” She relaxed back against him. Mac slipped his hands along her rib cage to the front of her shirt. Before she had a chance to react, he slipped the buttons free. “Mac, stop it.” Her voice was a harsh whisper as she looked around them. He didn’t care if they were alone. The blanket would hide his actions, and the chance of being caught intensified the moment. “I owe you,” he whispered against her neck, feeling the goose bumps rise along her skin. “And I want to return the favor.” She turned and looked up at him, her eyebrows making the cutest furrows in her forehead. He cupped one breast in his hand and pinched the nipple between his fingers. Her eyes darkened, and the frown melted away. “Tell me you have never wanted to do something outrageous?” “Let’s head back to your place. It’s not safe here.” “What’s not safe about here, kitten?” He knew the pier closed at nine, but he wasn’t going to tell her that. Rolling a rigid nipple between his fingers, he skirted down her belly with the other hand. Gwen wriggled between his legs and tried to move, but he pressed against her lower belly. He slipped his fingers underneath the edge of her skirt and caressed the silky skin of her inner thighs between her legs. “Are you sure we’re alone?” She tried to lift up and, he assumed, look back over his shoulder, but he caught her lips with his own. He teased the seam with his tongue as he pressed further toward the apex of her legs. “I won’t let anyone catch us, Gwen. Trust me.” She shivered in his arms, and he held his breath. After what felt like an eternity, but was really only a couple moments, Gwen closed her eyes and buried her face against his neck. It took everything for him not to whoop with this gift. For her to trust him at all felt like the most precious of gifts. He stroked her through her panties with the backs of his knuckles. The damp heat of

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her body radiated through the layer of cotton. With every pass, the fabric felt wetter, and he could feel her tremble against his chest. She gripped his uppers arms, forgetting about the blanket. He looked down at her, her shirt gaping open, bared for his pleasure. One hand palmed her creamy breast. He watched as he slipped his hand beneath the edge of her panties. Her legs fell away from him, offering herself to him completely. “Mac.” She pleaded softly against his lips. He reached up and cupped both her breasts in his hands. She whimpered and wriggled her luscious bottom against his. She panted against his neck, her breath hot, her body shaking in his arms. This truly was the most erotic moment of his life, one of many he planned to have with her. The waves pounded against the shore. He stroked her soaking folds to the same pace, matching the pushing and retreating of the water as it pounded against the shore. Gwen’s hips jerked against his fingers, gifting him with another rush of moisture. “Oh, Mac, please.” The need in Gwen’s voice matched what he felt. This wouldn’t be enough for either of them. He wanted her now, tomorrow, the next day. “I’ve got you, kitten.” He reached for his back pocket and pulled out a condom, tearing the package open with his teeth. As quickly as his shaking hands would let him, he pulled open his pants and sheathed himself. In a motion so much smoother than he expected, he turned her around and got her onto her knees straddling his lap. She gripped his shoulders, and as he wrapped one hand around the cheek of her ass, the other pulled her panties to the side. His cock throbbed in anticipation. For a moment he feared he might explode the moment he impaled her. She sank down on him with a cry, and twisting, he quickly drank from her lips. While he knew there wasn’t anyone on the pier, sound traveled very well along water. He didn’t want anyone coming back to investigate. Their kiss felt as frantic as their coupling. She shifted so that her legs hung on either side of his thighs over the back of the

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bench. The blanket wrapped around their shoulders, cocooning them in their own private moment. She rocked her hips and slid up and down his length with increasing rhythm, driving him completely insane. Her breasts bounced enticingly. Cupping a creamy breast, he caught her nipple with his lips. He laved at the hard tip, sucking her into his mouth, flicking at the tip with his tongue. She trembled against him, flexing her legs then grinding her hips against him. Hushed whimpers echoed around them, he recognized that sound. As soon as he lifted his head, she mashed her lips against his, an aggressive move that confirmed she skated the edge. Dropping one hand, he delved between the soaking fold of her delicate skin. His fingers found her swollen clit begging for attention. She dug her fingers into his shoulders as he played with her. The salty ocean breeze danced over them, chilling his heated skin. The waves pounded against the shore as he pounded up into her. He could feel his balls pulling up tight against his body. She stiffened up, curling up against him, pressing her face harder against his neck. They both panted as if they were in the middle of a marathon. She kissed her way along his neck, biting down on his earlobe. The pinch of her teeth, combined with the mewing she made right into his ear, drove him crazy. “That’s it, kitten. Come for me.” He wrapped his hands around her ass and lifted her up, helping her get the most of each stroke. She angled her hips, and her head dropped back in a silent cry. He knew by her face he had the perfect spot. One or two more strokes he pounded against her. He kissed her deeply, absorbing her cries, and she came apart in his arms. Her internal muscles fluttered rapidly around his cock, pulling him over the edge with her.

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Chapter Eleven “Joey, grab your stuff. We’re going for a drive.” Mac’s scheduled trop shift was from seven to one, giving her enough time to finish what she came here to do. She wanted to put it off for a few more days and delay the inevitable. Staying with Mac would mean she’d have to tell him the entire truth. Truth is, you’re a coward. “What kind of drive?” “Not too long, I promise. We have one more errand, and then we’re done.” Gwen pulled gently at the necklace around her neck, flicking the pendant with her thumb. An uneasy feeling rode her today, nothing she could put her finger on. She didn’t have the same throbbing over her eye that she got when a nasty spirit made its presence known. Still, something felt wrong, like they were being watched. “Can I stay in the car and play my DS?” “Nope, you’re coming in with me.” He sighed dramatically and stomped off toward the car. “Wendy, can we stay here?” he asked as soon as she got behind the wheel and put the key in the ignition. “In Florida?” “Yes, with you and Mac. I like him. His family is awesome. Aiden can be like a little brother, and then I would have aunts and uncles. Meri and Katie think I am the cutest ever. Can they be my aunties? Please?” Gwen’s heart felt as if it had been torn from the inside out. She wanted to stay more than anything. She’d let go and trusted Mac last

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night. Allowed him into that part of her heart where only Joey touched. She knew no matter where she went, a large chunk of her heart and soul would be left with him. “Oh, Joey, I wish that could happen, but it’s not safe for anyone.” “Wadda ya mean?” “The bad men, remember the ones I told you about?” “Kind of.” She could tell he didn’t remember, and she considered it a blessing in disguise. He might not remember, but she did. The looks she would get, knowing that her father might offer her up as collateral. The idea made her stomach shrivel up into a knot. Then, the payment she was forced to give in to. One of her father’s business partners would watch Joey like a hawk. She knew he was a pedophile, and it wouldn’t take long before a debt rose high enough that Joey would have to pay it back for the old man. She swore she would never allow her brother to be used. “It’s okay. You trust me, right?” “Yea, but really, you know I think Mac would keep us safe.” “You’re right. I think he would, but then he might get hurt, and that would make me so sad. I don’t want him hurt because of me.” “Me, too.” She smiled at her little brother. So innocent but longing to belong to any sort of family, even if it meant staying with someone as fucked up as her. “One more errand, little brother, and then we will have to decide where to go.” “I don’t want to!” He kicked the door and repeatedly thumped his body back against the seat. “Nooooooo. No. No. No. No.” Gwen pulled over and tried her best to calm her brother, who was now sobbing. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he batted her hands away from him. “I hate you. You make me leave all the time!” “I know, but I do it to keep us safe.”

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Joey pulled himself into a ball on the seat, wrapping his arms around his thin legs. “Mac will keep us safe.” He sniffed and wiped his nose on his arm. “He can’t, Joey. They would hurt his family. They would hurt Aiden.” Gwen opened the glove box and pulled out a napkin to wipe Joey’s face. “The bad men are out there, and they want what we have.” “Then give it to them.” He took the napkin from her fingers and wiped his cheeks. “No, we can’t. They will do bad things with it all. We have to return it or destroy it. They’re not our secrets, and someone out there is afraid of the truth.” “Is that why secrets are bad?” He rested his head on his crossed arms and looked over at her. Explosions of emotion like that always took him some time to recover from. “Partially. It’s hard to explain.” Joey sighed. “One of those adult things?” “Afraid so, hon. I promise it’s almost over.” A few more days and this would be over. The secrets would be given back to their owners, and she could start over. They would come looking once the blackmail money stopped. But she and Joey would be on the other side of the country. Maybe she would go to Canada and take Joey up there. A huge country like that, they could hide in a small town in the prairies. Start over and have a normal life, except she didn’t believe that her heart would ever mend. She had turned on the turn signal to merge back out into traffic when a ringing came from the backseat. “What is that? Joey, can you reach it?” Joey squeezed between the seats and fumbled in the back. “It’s on the floor, Wendy.” It took him a moment, but he leaned back and handed it to her. “When did you get a cell phone?”

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“I didn’t.” She stared down at the plain black phone in her hand. It was one of those disposable kinds. Her stomach cramped up tight. They had found them. She flicked open the phone. “Hello?” “You have been a naughty girl, Gwenie.” Gwen jumped on the brakes with both feet. The car fishtailed back and forth, earning her a chorus of horns blaring in her direction. She was damn lucky she didn’t get rear-ended. The voice out of her past sent shards of ice into her heart. “What do you want?” “Gwendolyn, you have something I want, and you are going to hand it over immediately.” “I don’t know…” “Do not lie to me.” The voice shouted at her and lost the subtle accent of her father’s. Whoever this asshole might be, he wanted her to believe her father had been calling her. For a terrifying moment, she had been convinced. “My father is dead, and his secrets went to the grave. I don’t have anything you want. Go away.” “No, I think you do, and I am going to punish you for your lies. Remember the last time you were punished for your father’s crimes? He still has a debt, and you are going to pay it.” “I don’t have any money.” “You have other assets. Your sexy little body will do to start. You can work off his debt or I’ll take it out on your brother.” “What do you want?” “Don’t lose the phone. I’ll be in touch.” The line went dead, and Gwen leaned her forehead against the wheel of the car, gasping for breath. Her heart hammered in her throat, the only reason she hadn’t thrown up. She glanced over at Joey, who looked at her, terror in his eyes. “Wendy, you can’t drive like that, it’s dangerous.”

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**** Mac came home from work to an empty house. No note, the food he left in the fridge for their lunch looked untouched. He ran upstairs and checked the bedrooms. Joey’s train sat on his bed, as well as his quilt. Gwen’s room looked as though not a single person stayed there. At least her bags were still in the closet. He looked at the black duffel bag. It would be wrong to snoop. She had a right to privacy, except her comment about putting him and his family in danger. He pulled the duffel out of the closet and sat on the floor opening the zipper. Inside were a few dozen manila envelopes, CDs, and DVDs. Each had a person’s name on it. Some were prominent citizens. One, a senior officer in the Coast Guard. Others he recognized from some political party or another. This was worse than he thought. He flipped through the information and couldn’t believe what he exposed. There were very delicate pictures in some. Letters of promised favors, gambling IOUs, and he didn’t want to know what the DVDs contained. Basically, she had enough to blackmail a lot of people in here. With the kind of money people would pay to keep this quiet, she could live in another country in luxury. So why live in hiding? Unless she waited for the perfect time to leave or she had no intention of blackmailing anyone. His instincts screamed the latter. Gwen wouldn’t blackmail anyone. She wouldn’t want to take control away from a person. Something was all wrong here. It didn’t add up. How the hell did she get this information, and what did she plan on doing with it? A car door slammed shut in the driveway. They were back. He debated on hiding the evidence he found but then changed his mind. He wanted answers, pretending to not know anything wouldn’t work. Leaving everything strewn over her bed, he headed down the stairs as the door chime alerted the front door had been opened.

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“Hi, Mac,” Joey muttered and stomped past, headed for the sofa. Gwen looked tired and frazzled. He squashed his first instinct to go and engulf her in his arms. Gripping the railing, he stood his ground. “Hey, Mac.” She glanced up and froze under his gaze. So much for disassembling. It was obvious she figured out his mood quick enough. “What’s up?” she said with the careful deliberation of someone who feared being caught. She stepped back as he came down the last couple stairs. **** Gwen retreated, her heart pounding in her chest. Mac hadn’t said a word, and cold fury colored his features. Oh, god, he found out? “Mac, I can explain. I wanted to tell you, but I knew you would throw us out.” “So where is all the blackmail money, Gwen?” “Huh, blackmail? You snooped. I’m not blackmailing anyone, you ass. I’m trying to return all this to the proper people.” “Oh, give me a break, Gwen. No one does that. How did you get all of this anyways?” “I found it mixed in with some of my father’s things. I’m not lying.” “So why didn’t you turn it into the police?” “Because these people are paying a lot of money so no one sees it. If I turned it over to the authorities, most of it will be in the paper tomorrow. I don’t want to be responsible for destroying any more lives. I thought about destroying it all, but then there would be someone out there always wondering when they were going to get a call again. Or living in fear their secrets are about to be splashed all over the papers.” She could relate, considering what she had hidden from his entire family.

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“Some of these people have committed crimes, Gwen. Who are you to obstruct justice?” “How do you know they weren’t set up? How do you know they were willing participants?” The first set of pictures she discovered she’d destroyed. Apparently the day she was sent to pay off her father’s debt, he got revenge by making sure there was a record of her servicing a married man. The memory left a bile taste in the back of her throat. “This has something to do with your past, doesn’t it?” “No, not any longer. I am getting rid of it all. I don’t know how to get it back to anyone without incriminating myself, but I’ll do it.” The story seemed to take the wind out of Mac’s sails, but she knew she’d reached the end of her stay here. He would look closer at her past, and then the proverbial shit would hit the fan and fly. “Joey doesn’t know anything, and I want to keep it like that.” “So the person that bag belongs to is after you?” “I think so, but I don’t have proof of it. Just a feeling.” Mac crowded her against the wall, his arms crossed. “What’s your feeling, Gwen?” “I think that it might be someone who has taken over my father’s business.” “And who exactly was your father, Gwendolyn?” A sharp pain stabbed deep into her heart. Her one wish and dream ended here. “Alphonse Reghetti.” Mac didn’t speak. His throat worked as if he wanted to say something but wouldn’t allow the words out. He held his body completely still and didn’t meet her gaze. His arms bulged where they crossed over his chest. For a brief moment, she feared he might backhand her. A part of her felt she deserved it for deceiving him. Instead, he turned around sharply and marched out, slamming the front door so hard the walls shook. “Joey, get your stuff, honey. We have to go.”

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Chapter Twelve “She’s his daughter.” He dropped heavily onto the bench next to where his mom weeded one of her gardens. Mac felt like he’d taken a bullet to the gut. I should have told him. She got up and walked over to him, pulling her gardening gloves off. “If you’re telling me that Gwendolyn is Alphonse Reghetti’s daughter, I already knew.” “And you didn’t say anything?” Mac couldn’t believe it. If anyone had a right to hate Gwen, it would be his mother. Her father had destroyed her heart mate, her love, and then tried to weasel into their family. “Don’t look at me like that, George MacIntosh. Gwen has nothing to do with your father’s death. Yes, I knew. Your father told me everything about every case he was ever involved in. I also knew about the abuses that evil man heaped on his wife and daughter. I think Joey’s age is what saved him at the time. It wouldn’t have taken long before he became a target, especially since he is such a special child.” Mac never failed to be in awe of his mother. Her uncanny ability to read people around her and assess a situation was unreal. “Reghetti turned on Joey one day and roughed him up. Gwen ran away with him the next day. She had been planning it for a while.” “You think she should be held responsible for her father’s actions?” “No, but how do we know she isn’t like him?” “You mean all the ways she made fools of us?” She sat down next to him and patted the side of his cheek, making him feel like a child.

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“I’m not a fool, Mac, and neither are your sisters. I invited her into our home just like I wanted to all those years ago when your father first told me about them.” Right now, Mac felt thankful for that, especially considering his feelings for her. The idea of having her living in the same house at that age, he never would have left his room without a hard-on. “I don’t think her mom would have let that happen. Not from what Gwen’s told me.” “Perhaps, or Gwen holds on to a perfected memory of her mother. Let me ask you, if Geoff repeatedly abused Aiden, what do you think Colleen would do?” “Kill him.” “Exactly, but their mother never stood up for them. She stood by and let atrocity after atrocity be heaped on her kids, I think because it meant she didn’t feel the brunt of it.” “There’s no way Gwen will ever believe that." “And no reason why you should ever mention it. One day it will dawn on her, and you need to be there to support her if it ever does. She is a good girl and trying her hardest to do what is right.” “She had to have known who I was right from the beginning. I can’t believe she played me like this.” “And right from the beginning, she hooked on to you and let you fight her battles?” Mac sighed. His mom had a point. Gwen had done everything to stop him from taking control over the situation. Only after Joey’s life had been threatened did she take up his offer. “How often in her life do you think she has felt safe, truly safe? How about in the last five years? She’s been hiding, knowing that her life was at stake if they ever got caught. Now keep that in mind and look at her actions again. Change your opinion any?” “Yeah, I guess. I wish she had been honest with me from the beginning and trusted me with the truth.”

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“There’s a distinct possibility she doesn’t know how to trust. It is an emotion that would be as foreign to you as cowardice.” “So what do I tell her?” “Nothing. Words wouldn’t mean anything. Show her. Trust her, and forgive yourself for not saving your dad.” “How did we get on this topic?” “Because you have been avoiding it for years. Having Gwen in your life has forced you to reevaluate that day. Alphonse was evil to the core, but your father had no right running ahead and putting the entire crew in danger. He risked his own neck and almost got you killed in the process.” “There’s something missing, and I can’t put my finger on it. There had to be another person there. If it wasn’t Gwen, then who would it be?” “Who has the most to gain by reinstating Alphonse’s drug line? Who is capable of doing it?” “Who knows? Usually there is a lineup. One drug line is shut down and another springs up. It’s the way of the business.” “One of his partners, or his daughter?” “I don’t believe she was part of the ring to begin with.” “So that leaves our mystery man.” “Who is most likely the one trying to kill Gwen.” Mac’s cell vibrated in his back pocket. He grabbed it, checking the caller ID. “Hold that thought, mom.” He stood and took a couple steps away. “Clay, what’s up, man?” “Mac, where are Gwen and Joey?” Clay’s voice sounded deadly calm, but the urgency of his order came across loud and clear. “At my place, why?” “I’ve called your place four times, and there is no answer. I’ve ID’d the bomber.” “Get him arrested?” He covered the cell and turned and wrapped an arm around his mom, who had come to stand beside him.

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“They know who set the bombs.” He understood the tears in her eyes, to finally have closure. Clay’s voice intensified, grabbing his attention. “Sorry, Clay, what did you say?” “Get the fuck home. It’s Steve.” “What?” He couldn’t have heard right. Steve might be an asshole, but a murderer? He’d known the man since the day he woke up in the hospital. “I triple checked, Mac. Steve is dirty and getting dirtier the more I dig. Get your family together, and have Geoff keep an eye on them and find Gwen.” Steve wouldn’t, couldn’t…images of the past clicked into place. Trips at calendar points of the crimes. Vacations to Whistler where he came back tanned, too tanned. The new boat, the new condo. The constant questions about Gwen, the underlying concern about her. “What has Gwen got to do…” The bag she carried. The secrets that needed to be returned. She had all of Reghetti’s blackmail evidence. Money that funded most of Reghetti’s dealings. Money Steve would need. Jesus, and he knows where to find her. He might be with her right now. Alone. “Fuck. I’m on my way.” “Get home. I’ll meet you there.” He snapped the phone shut as he ushered his mom into the house. “Mac, what is going on?” She protested but thankfully didn’t fight him. “I need to know you are safe. Stay in the house, don’t open the door for anyone but family. If Steve shows up, shoot him with the gun I know you keep in your nightstand.” “All right.” He blinked at his mother’s easy acceptance but then she always had a level head in critical situations. “I’m calling Geoff to come and get you. I’ll fill you in as soon as I can.”

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“Bring Gwen and Joey here when you find them. We’ll protect them.” Mac kissed her quickly on the cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

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Chapter Thirteen Gwen’s forehead smacked against the wall as her arms were wrenched behind her. A dull throb took up residence above one eye as she tried to tug her arm out of his grasp. “Leave me alone!” “Shut the fuck up, or I’ll arrest your brother as well.” A rapid clicking sound echoed in the hallway as her wrists were encased in a pair of cuffs. “Steve, I didn’t do anything.” She tried to push back against him and get away, but he had the advantage now and slammed her against the wall again. “But you will, and I’ll be the one there to take you in. I can’t let Mac do it. You’ve been leading him around by the cock.” “I haven’t lied to Mac.” “You think he’ll ever believe anything you say? Your daddy killed his.” The truth of that slammed her in the chest, stealing her breath. How had he found out? She felt Steve’s breath brush her ear when he laughed. “He doesn’t know, does he? You didn’t tell him, knowing he would have nothing to do with you.” “I wanted to tell him.” “I don’t care one way or the other. If you want your secret kept, you’ll do what I want.” He rubbed his groin against her ass, pinning her against the wall. “I’m the only one who knows the truth. I’ll make it go away. He will never know.”

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She knew his type, once a blackmailer, always a blackmailer. She had to find out what he had in order to make it go away. If left in Steve’s hands, it would get pulled out every time he wanted something. “I’ll do it. Let me call Mac and tell him I’m going out.” “No, I’d rather he sweat about what happened to you. You’re a good liar. Figure out something to tell him, or you can simply drop to your knees and distract him. I’ve heard you’re good at that.” His body pressed against hers, and she felt a wave of bile sting the back of her throat. No, I will not be used like this again. The phone started ringing again, as it had multiple times over the last fifteen minutes. Steve grabbed the back of her neck and squeezed. “I bet that’s Mac. I could answer it and tell him everything right now.” “No.” Not before she could explain. If only she hadn’t answered the door, but when she saw Steve on the other side, she’d believed his lies and unlocked it. Her time with Mac had dulled her instincts and lulled her into a false sense of security. “Let’s go. Where’s your little brother?” “He’s out with Mac’s sister.” She lied. Joey went out to the backyard to find the watering can Colleen had given him. She wouldn’t allow Steve to use him as leverage. If she never returned, then Mac would think she left Joey behind with his family. He might never find out the truth. “You should have stayed away, Gwen. If you had, none of this would have to be done.” “If that were true, then why were you still looking for me? When did you take over my father’s business?” Steve lifted off her, and she pushed away from the wall, backing up toward the phone. “Clever girl. I know what your father expected of you, and I expect the same thing. You do what you’re told, and I’ll let you live.”

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He wouldn’t. Gwen recognized his type. As soon as he got want he wanted, it would be over for her. He grabbed her and wrapped his jacket around her shoulder, hiding her cuffed wrists. “I recently discovered certain accounts that your father deposited money into. I want that money, and I know you have the information. He admitted that you stole those from him the day he died.” “I’ll give it all to you. Take my car and go. I promise not to say anything.” “I don’t think so. I want your face to be on the bank cameras.” “I’ll be indicted.” He gripped her arm and led her out the front door. “Yeah, tough luck. Don’t worry. I’ll be there to reassure Mac. He’ll be devastated by the way you used him, but if you find yourself a very good lawyer then you should be able to beat it. I’ve left enough reasonable doubt. If you are very lucky, the charges will never stick. This is for the best. Bad apples don’t fall far from their trees you know.” His tight grip on her arm bit into her skin, and she knew it would bruise. She stumbled as he pulled her down the front stairs, but he jerked her harder and led her to her parked car. Pressing the fob, he unlocked the doors and pushed her head down as she got in. He walked around the car, scanning the street before getting in the driver’s seat. Muttering a curse, he slid the seat back enough to accommodate his long legs. Reaching over her, he deliberately pressed his elbow against her breast, pressing sharply against her before pulling the seat belt. Gwen bit the inside of her mouth and looked away, but she couldn’t escape the sound of his nasty chuckle. “What? You afraid we will get pulled over?” She pressed back into the seat, trying to avoid any more contact. “We get pulled over and I’ll tell them I am your dominant and you like the handcuffs. Brothers under the skin, lady, they will never take a second glance after I show them my badge.”

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The Shelby started up with a roar, and as they were pulling out of the driveway, she managed to catch a flash of someone running along the side of the house. “Face forward.” Steve reached over and grabbed her chin, making sure she did as he ordered. “I don’t need any silly tricks out of you.” Speeding down the road, she saw an ethereal figure in a white dress watching the car pass. A death omen, but which one of them was slated to die? Considering the day’s events, she figured it would be her. Gwen turned and looked at Steve’s profile. Had she once thought him sort of good looking? His features were narrow, and his nose had an odd angle to it. “I thought you might leave after all I did to scare you.” “Pardon?” “Who do you think Mac called when he first tried to find you?” They pulled up into the bus station, and she heard a sickening crunch as the Shelby contacted with a cement pillar, scraping along the side of her door. Her anger momentarily overrode her fear. “What the fuck did you do that for?” My poor car. “Making sure you can’t go anywhere.” He pulled the seat belt tight and did something behind her that strapped her against the passenger seat, the edge of the strap pinched sharply into the side of her neck. With her hands cuffed behind her, she couldn’t move anything above the waist. “Now stay put, and this will all be over soon.” As soon as he disappeared into the building, she started pulling on the restraints confining her to the passenger seat. She tried to angle her foot to the horn but then remembered she had pulled the fuse the day it wouldn’t stop honking. Sitting here gave her time to think, and she realized she really had nothing to lose anymore. Joey would be taken care of, and Mac might believe her, but would he ever trust her again?

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Steve came back much faster than she had expected. All she managed to do was rub her wrists and neck raw. “Good idea to strap you in, I see. Look at what you did to yourself. I bet it hurt, too. Next time, wait for me so I can watch.” He reached out and grabbed her breast, pinching the nipple hard through her top. “Don’t worry, we’ll have all the time in the word to play later. If you do a good job, I’ll let you live a while longer.” I’d rather die. He reached behind the seat, and she felt the seat belt loosen up. At least now she could move away from him. As he pulled away from the pillar, he scraped the rest of the passenger side. Feeling the rough vibrations and screeching metal made her wince. “I wonder if a guy would do all the whining you are.” He must have seen the look on her face “A guy would freak out. Me? I’m going to kill you for this.” He laughed out loud, firing up her temper even more. “You are nothing like your old man. Nice try, though. If I had more time, I would let you try. I wouldn’t mind beating you into submission like I did to your mom.” “What? My father killed her.” Steve shot her a cold look and pulled into a warehouse parking lot. He didn’t say a word as he drove around the back and parked in a deserted corner. Turning off the car, he turned in the seat and faced her. “Crazy as it sounds, your dad really did love your mom. She wanted to leave him and take you and your brother with her. I had to make sure she kept her mouth shut. Too bad your dad used to black out the way he did. It did make it easier to tell him he did it. He was much easier to handle after her death.” “So, my father?” “One of the most evil bastards I ever met, don’t start thinking anything different. Completely obsessed with your mom. She tried to leave once and he threatened to kill both you and your brother. She

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stopped thinking for herself then until she started planning her escape and came into the office and found me.” He lifted the small brown envelope and shook it slightly. It sounded like a key slid around inside. “Back to what is important. You are full of fun today, aren’t you?” Icy anger chilled his blue eyes. “This is what I found in that locker.” Panic settled in Gwen’s throat, but she tried her best not to show it. “Are you certain you looked in the right one? I put the bag in there two days ago.” “Who knew about this, Gwenie?” “No one, I swear. I put it in there because I was going to leave.” Her stomach heaved at the thought of all that information getting out. At least those people couldn’t be blackmailed anymore, and whatever happened to them was their own doing. Steve ripped open the envelope and slid the contents onto his lap. A key fell into his lap and a small piece of paper. Steve looked at it. “Fuck!” Pain exploded in her face when his knuckles impacted her mouth. Her head smacked the window behind her as coppery taste coated her tongue, making her gag. A fury of pain. “You bitch. Don’t fuck with me. What did you tell Mac?” He hit her again, making it hard to think. She instinctively curled away from him, hiding her aching face. Mac? Told Mac what? Her head snapped back when Steve yanked a handful of hair. A key dangled in front of her face. “Do you know what this is?” Gwen refrained from stating the obvious. Her mouth already ached from the punch, and she didn’t want another one. Steve’s face contorted into a mask of fury. He practically panted. “Do you know what this means?” He sat back in the driver’s seat. One hand gripped the steering wheel in a white-knuckled grasp. His other hand held the key, but it wasn’t one she recognized. Really, she had no idea where it came from.

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“Where is…” “Shut the fuck up! Do you know what this means?” he screamed at her and then pounded the steering wheel with his fists before starting up the car. The tires screeched out of the parking lot. They drove in silence. Steve punched the steering wheel a couple more times and then shot an evil look in her direction. No doubt he imagined her face under his fist. She watched car after car pass them. Her mind tried to figure out an escape, but she didn’t know where he planned to take her. A high-pitched giggle erupted from the man beside her. “He knows already. Fucking asshole knew and set us both up.” Gwen pressed herself against the door as far away from him as she could get. “What do you mean?” “This is a key to a storage locker on Mac’s boat. He knew who you were and then took everything, forcing you to come to him.” Oh, please, no. But she had a sick feeling Steve knew something she didn’t. “He would have said something.” “I would have thought so, too. He’s such a fucking Boy Scout, but maybe he hoped you would come to him first. Too bad you didn’t.” “You can’t go there,” Gwen protested. “If Mac has everything, then it’s over.” “Oh, no, it’s not. I know where that boat is. You and I are going to pay it a visit and take it for a spin.” “You don’t need me.” The idea of being forced out onto the water with him made her insides shake. “I can’t go on that boat. What if Mac is there?” “Right now, Mac is on his way home to check on you. You wouldn’t know what this key is for, so why would he bother to rush to his boat? By the time he figures it out, we’ll be gone.” “I’m not going with you.” “Oh, you will, and you will do everything I say or I’ll take your defiance out on your brother. And then I’ll kill him in front of you.”

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He calmly drove toward the ocean. The closer they got, the higher her anxiety rose. Calm, you must stay calm. “You and I are going sailing and will have some fun. See what I have?” Steve pulled a small vial from his jeans pocket. Inside sat something that looked like large salt crystals. “How about you and I have a bit of a party to celebrate our freedom?” “No thanks. I don’t touch the stuff.” “I think I might have found the most poetic way for you to exit this dilemma.” “No one who knows me will believe I deliberately OD’d.” “But no one around here knows you, not really. Mac would be closest, but most of what you have told him is a lie.” “That’s not true.” She never directly lied to him. “But you never told him the whole truth. That is a lie by omission.” If she had to do it over, there were so many things she’d change. Starting with telling Mac right away about herself. Would Mac take care of Joey? Her heart pounded as the first tendrils of fear started to make their presence known. Of course he would. Mac would never blame Joey for his parentage or allow him to get lost in the shuffle. Her little brother might have a better life now. Gwen started to believe she wasn’t going to survive this after all. All the planning and all the careful guarding of her heart meant nothing because she robbed herself and Mac of even a moment of love. What a selfish bitch I am. Mac deserved better. At least she knew he would make sure her brother didn’t fall through the cracks. Mac and his family would make sure Joey got any helped he needed. Because, if there was one true innocent in all of this, it was her brother. ****

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“He hurt her. He hurt her. I want my Wendy! Where is my Wendy?” Mac tried to calm the young man, but Joey would have nothing to do with it. The kid clawed at him, wanting to get away. Mac found him running down the street two blocks from his home. Sobbing hysterically and focused on the road ahead of him. “Hey, Joey, little buddy. Let me help you.” He placed an arm around the young man’s shoulders and drew him closer, wrapping his arms to hold him tightly. “Calm down, and tell me what happened.” “He hurt her, had her arm like this. He slid out from under Mac’s arm and gripped his upper arm with surprising strength. “Like this, pulling. She didn’t want to go. I wanted to stop him, but she told me no.” “When did she tell you this, Joey?” “Long time ago. Made me promise if she is grabbed by a bad man, I have to tell police. You’re the water police, right. I can tell you. But you won’t believe me.” “You can tell me, Joey. Do you know the man?” “No, not this face. He has many faces. I don’t know this face. This face bad. This face is going to hurt my sister. He drove her car. That will make her mad.” “Joey, I will save her, but you have to tell me about the man. Who took Gwen?” “Your friend, Steve.” Joey waved his hand in front of Mac’s face in jerky, panicked movements. “But he wasn’t wearing a Steve face like the other day. He looked like he would hurt Wendy.” The oxygen rushed out of Mac’s lungs, making his chest tight with anxiety. “Joey, did you hear where they were going?” “He wants the secret bag. She is going to take him there.” The boy looked wildly over his shoulder as if he hoped to see her down the street. “Joey, are they going to the bus station?”

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“No, on your boat.” “What did you say?” “She hid it on your boat. She wanted you to have it. She knew you would keep it safe.” “What? Keep what safe?” “The keys to the boxes at the bank. She knew you would never let anyone have them. She said she wanted to give you the keys, but you made her cry, so she didn’t. She said we were going to go on another adventure, but I told her I want you to come now. You could keep the bad men away from us, right?” Joey’s innocent trust in him was humbling. “Absolutely, big guy. You are safe with me, I promise.” “Are we going to get her?” “Yes, but first, I want you to stay here.” He pulled his cell out of his back pocket. “I want to rescue her, too!” “I know, and I promise I’ll tell her you were the biggest help. But for now, I don’t want the bad men to hurt you or pretend to hurt her to make her do something. Do you understand?” “Yes, I think so. Do I have to stay with the girls?” Mac recognized the disgust any boy would feel about being left behind with all those mother hens, but they would be good for him. “Nope.” He flicked open his cell and dialed his brother-in-law’s number. “You stay with Geoff. I know he needs some help because the ladies are overpowering him. You two can play Xbox.” Geoff answered, and Mac quickly filled him in without saying anything to upset Joey. “Can I play Doom?” His young face lit up at the possibility of getting to do something that would horrify his sister. Mac relayed Geoff’s response. “On the big TV.” “Oh, cool!!” Mac left Joey with Clay at his house and raced toward the marina. Clay wanted to have the police waiting, but Mac feared that would set

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Steve off if he felt cornered. The sun set rapidly beside him, increasing his feeling of urgency. He loved Gwen so deeply he couldn’t imagine ending the day without her. He was going to have to marry her and tie her to a bed. That thought appealed to him and helped to distract him from the current predicament. He could marry her, and then she could have a real family. Adding another female to their crew was a bit daunting, being as outnumbered as it was. There was the truth of her father that they would have to deal with, but he didn’t doubt they would get through it. His family was open-minded to the extreme, and he knew they would look at the whole picture and not just her sire. She might not believe that based on his reaction, and for that he would happily spend the rest of his life making it up to her. With Meri and Katie’s unique abilities, Gwen would fit in perfectly. He would find whoever he had to in order to help her. Help her control this or understand it all. He didn’t want any spirits popping in for a visit while they were in bed. His time with her would be sacred. No more was she going to be afraid of the dark. He wanted to be her hero in every sense of the word, which wasn’t going to happen if he missed them. **** Gwen stumbled on the wooden boards, and Steve yanked painfully on her arm. Her sleeve ripped, the sound echoing in the still night. The rip sounded loud enough she hoped it would attract someone’s attention. “Stop dragging your feet, Gwenie. Not long now and we will be all alone. Just you and me and the wide-open sea.” His malicious giggle crept down her spine, making her shudder. He sounded absolutely insane. Their footsteps echoed off the dock, mixing with the slapping sound of the water against the pillars underneath. She

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expected to be hit with a panic attack, and while it lit the edges, it wasn’t as potent as it used to be. It could be Mac’s influence or that she couldn’t process any more fear. A shadow drifted past her peripheral vision, and she blinked, ignoring it. No ghosts right now please. Unless it was a really pissed off poltergeist. She could do with that the moment. They never appeared as shadows. They appeared as whirls of energy she could almost make out as male or female. “Hey, Steve! I thought I heard a car. You know you didn’t get your paperwork signed the other day. I didn’t expect to bump into you down here or I would have brought it for you.” A young man walked toward them. A couple steps behind him, a woman in white matched him step for step. Gwen’s temple throbbed. This wasn’t an ordinary spirit. She was angry. Her hair whipped from an invisible wind, mouth wide open, emitting a silent scream. Gwen feared the moment this boy died, the screams would deafen her. Banshees were almost as scary as poltergeists. “Hey, O’Malley, you little brownnoser. Come and play, little man.” “Wha—” A shot erupted next to her. Its blast was almost as loud as the screams echoing in her head. Pain erupted over her eye, and for a moment, she thought perhaps the bullet hit her. She was vaguely aware of being dragged down the boarded walkway. Both her hands were clamped over her ears as she tried to block out the deafening death screams of the young man’s protector. Keeping her eyes closed didn’t save her any pain other than seeing the body. Her world became weightless for a moment, and she managed to get her eyes pried open enough to see if he had pushed her off the edge. Steve had flipped her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. She saw the boardwalk beneath them, a sliver of water, and finally the white fiberglass of a boat. She was going to die on the water. Panic overrode her senses, burning away the shocked calm that froze her. After her death, who

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would scream for her? There would be no one out of the water unless she screamed for herself. So she did. Screamed to block out the death cries, screamed because she was as terrified as she had ever been, screamed because she wished for once someone would rescue her because this time she wasn’t certain she could save herself. Then there was the quiet that only being knocked unconscious could give. Slowly, Gwen regained her senses, feeling the world around her rocking. From her position on the floor, her nose was assaulted by the rank smell of mildew and fish guts. She retched, trying to get herself into a sitting position. The world again spun, making her dry heave. At least she hadn’t eaten any dinner. “Well, look who’s up and just in time. Sorry about your head, I thought I had more clearance than I did.” Gwen slowly slid her fingers through her hair, discovering a painful bump at the back. She winced the moment her hair around it moved. The sharp pain helped clear her head enough to realize that her forehead ached as well. She squinted and realized they weren’t that far from the shore. She could easily make out the lights of the condos along the beach. If her head didn’t feel like it wanted to roll off her shoulders, she could swim that distance. If it meant the difference between her life and death, she’d take her chances with the sharks and sea turtles. “Why did you bring me?” “Because you and I have some unfinished business. I want all the accounting information you got from your dad’s locker.” “But I don’t have…” Steve pointed a pistol directly at her face. “You do, and you will, or I will kill your brother next. I promise you, Gwendolyn, give me the information and I’ll let you and the little twerp go. I will disappear, and you will never see me again.” “You’re going to keep killing whoever you want?”

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“Who’s going to stop me? In fact, killing you would make my life much easier. I have the best alibi, being out on my boat tonight. According to records, I shipped out earlier this evening. Long before anything to you happened.” “Do you really think you’ll get away with it?” “I’ll be on someone’s suspect list for a while. I’m prepared for it. Eventually, they’ll give up, and your case will disappear. I’ll resign and live out my life the way I want to.” “What about Mac?” “Mac? Please, that overgrown Boy Scout will never suspect me. Even if he does, he wouldn’t lift a finger against me. We’re brothers under the skin. You’re nothing but another piece of ass in a long list of women I’ve seen on his arm. You didn’t delude yourself into thinking the two of you had something special, did you?” Gwen knew the truth would be apparent all over her face. Yes, she did, and part of her had to believe that somehow Mac would save her. He had to. He’d made her trust him. No matter how angry he might be, she didn’t believe he would let her die. Steve hooted and laughed at her. “Such a poor, stupid girl. You’re nothing but another conquest. I’m surprised he still bothers with you. I mean, you dropped to your back and spread those long legs quick enough. Kept him interested in that little pussy of yours, smart thinking. I must say, I’m looking forward to seeing if you are as good as I’ve heard.” Gwen curled up in the corner of the boat and tried not to panic. Mac would never think that way about anyone. She trusted him. So many things he had done and for such little reasons. Mac cared about her. She knew it, and this asshole wasn’t going to make her doubt him for a moment. She had to believe. "Where are we going?” “Oh, I think you’re going to like this. We are headed out to where it all started.”

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Gwen held her spinning head and wished her stomach would settle down. They were on the water, which meant George had to be out here somewhere, but could he do anything? Would he do anything? The only light came from the moon. Steve turned off all the artificial light to prevent anyone seeing where they went. She couldn’t feel any presence, but even if he waited out there, she wouldn’t be able to see him. A dark shadow moved behind Steve, and she bit her lip to stop from gasping. Her heart pounded in her throat. Partially out of fear, the other out of nervousness. In her experience, no spirit had the ability to affect the world around it directly. The shadow moved again, this time in an interception path to Steve. Sliding along the hull like a phantom, it crouched low. As Steve swaggered over to her, it jumped. “Mac!” He hit the other man in the side, a tackle that would warrant an NFL replay. The men struggled, trading punches. Not about to be the helpless female in this play, she managed to pull herself up, her head making her stomach roll dangerously. She grabbed the first thing she placed her hand on, which happened to be a roll of heavy braided rope. After a staggering punch to the stomach, Steve lurched back toward her. She whipped her arm along and smacked him in the face with her weapon. He hollered in pain as he tried to bat away the length. It distracted him enough, allowing Mac to leap on him and grind and pound him to unconsciousness. “Is he alive?” “I don’t give a shit.” A pair of handcuffs took care of securing Steve. Mac got off his body and knelt next to her. Her breathing sounded too shallow, and he could feel the violent tremble in her limbs. She was going into shock. “Mac, I’m sorry.”

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“Don’t say that again. I never should have left without talking to you. I love you.” He leaned forward and kissed her. His heart pounded hard enough to rip out of his chest. He’d thought Steve killed her when he brought her on board. She lay there so still, the pain anchored him in place. Had he gone near the asshole at that moment, Mac would have choked the life out of him with his bare hands. When she did move, he wanted to holler out that he loved her right then and there. “Stay put.” He rushed down into the hold and dug through a few drawers until he found what he needed, not wanting to leave her alone for too long. Wrapping a zippered hoodie around her arms, he pulled the hood over her head, being careful of the lump at the back. He saw the way she gingerly touched the area. He shook out a blanket and tucked it around her legs and waist. Mac scooped her up into his arms and sat her down on a tall chair. “Kitten, do you want to go down below?” Holding up a small flashlight, he flicked it across her eyes. One pupil dilated, the other stayed wide open. “We need to get you to a hospital.” He grabbed the radio and called out a garbled string of codes and numbers that would make no sense to her. He felt a sense of relief doing something proactive. “Will I feel sicker down below or up here?” “With a concussion, I have no idea. But if you are already feeling nauseous, then stay put, and I will get you to port as fast as I safely can. He placed her in the large chair next to the wheel and buckled her in. It was soft and secure, but she didn’t want to let go of his hand, and being this close while he drove made her feel better. “I’m not letting you out of my sight. We are going to meet up with a cutter, and they will make sure we get back to port safely. The police will take charge of this sack of shit as soon as we dock. Then you’re going to the hospital.” “I’ll be okay, really.”

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She looked so small and beaten down. Mac wanted to hold her forever and banish that frightened look in her eyes. Anger bubbled inside him, not because of her father, but because she still didn’t trust him. “Mac, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” She wrapped her other hand around his as if she feared he would yank it away. “I know I should have, but I didn’t know how to.” The emotions curling inside him settled. “I know, Kitten. I don’t know if there would have been a good way. I’d like to think I’d have understood, but I can’t be certain of that. I do now, though.” He leaned over and lightly brushed a kiss on her lips. Tears spilled over her cheeks, each one felt like a punch to the gut. “Kitten, don’t cry. Please. I’ll make it all better.” “I know. I trust you.” She meant it, too. He could see her belief in him in her expression. He wanted to crush his lips against hers and claim her in the most primitive way. Looking at her bruised face made him want to go back and beat the hell out of Steve again. It felt like it took forever before they finally saw the marina. Gwen dozed in the chair as Mac opened the throttle completely up, heading for land. Mac looked up and saw Katie running down the dock toward him and Gwen. Gwen continued to gasp and claw at his arms. The panic in her eyes tipped holes in his composure. Her skin looked ghostly in the pale light. The bruising stood out in stark contrast. “Katie, I don’t know what’s wrong. I’ve got to get her to a hospital.” Flashing blue lights shone in the marina parking lot, and Mac’s only thought was for the ambulance. He tried to run around her, but Katie got in his way, grabbing for the neck of Gwen’s shirt. “What the fuck are you doing, Katie? Get out of my way!” “On her neck, Mac. It’s on her neck.” Gwen shuddered, her eyes rolling back before going still in his arms. “Jesus, kitten!”

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Before he could shove his sister out of the way, Katie ripped open the neck of Gwen’s shirt and tore a necklace from her throat. She dropped it into the box she held. As soon as the lid closed, Gwen began to cough.

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Chapter Fourteen Six months later “Oh, my god. Is that a real number?” Gwen leaned closer to her laptop and used her finger to tap out each zero. She knew her father had a lot of money stashed, but this was far and beyond what she had imagined. The last few months flew by like a whirlwind, but through it all, Mac stayed by her side. Recently, she’d started going through some of her father’s old books and discovered some offshore accounts they didn’t realize existed. “He must have blackmailed people for years.” Mac sat behind her with his chin against her shoulder, his arms wrapped around her waist. Their boat dipped slightly, and she adjusted the laptop balanced on her legs to compensate. “What do you think we should do with it?” “Kitten, it’s your decision. You have to figure out this one on your own.” She let loose an unladylike grunt and dropped her head back against his shoulder. “We could do a lot with that kind of money.” “You have every right to keep it after what you’ve been through.” He pressed a kiss to the side of her neck. “But I don’t want anything to do with it.” Gwen closed her eyes, feeling the warm sun against her face and the security of Mac’s arms around her. He gave her the one thing no one else had. He made her feel safe. She thought about all the people who paid to keep their secrets hidden and twisted the gold band on her ring finger.

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“I don’t want it, Mac. It’s dirty. I wouldn’t feel right knowing I had something purchased with money gained like this.” “Can we find out who he was blackmailing and give it back?” “You could do that. Are there any records of where it came from or how we could figure out who and where and how much?” Mac pressed a kiss to her temple as she flipped through a few files. “No, nothing. Just cash deposits and no paper trail.” “Let me throw something out there for you.” “Okay.” “Most, if not all, of this is blackmail money. Now, the people who were paying this money weren’t all innocent. They did things they were afraid would get out.” “We turned all that information over to Clay. We did the right thing.” “You’re right. What do you think about donating all the money to a bunch of different organizations?” “But then it would be all gone.” “A one-shot deal, yes.” “It’s a good idea, but we wouldn’t know how it helped.” Gwen turned off the computer and rested it on the seat next to her. She had an idea but didn’t have a clue how to start. “Mac, could we build a school for gifted children with special needs?” Mac fell silent, so she looked up over her shoulder at him. “What do you think?” He looked so proud of her. She didn’t know what to think. Had anyone ever looked at her like that? “Gwen, that is an incredible idea. The school will always be there, and any leftover money we could put in trust for the upkeep of the building.” “A place for kids like Joey to get the help they need. We could have lots of doctors and teachers and be able to help people who can’t afford all the specialized testing.”

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“Put all that dirty money to good use and maybe it will help the karma of those who paid it, clever girl. Why don’t we call Brand when we get back and see if he can help with some of the trust details?” She smiled and leaned up for a kiss. Money meant nothing compared to the way Mac made her feel about herself. She loved him more than she ever realized possible. Every day he made her feel special and protected. He helped her get over her fear of the water, and Joey practically worshipped the ground he walked on. “Do you think we should call your mom? See if everything is okay?” “They’re fine. She planned to take him to see the Olympians today after school. According to her, she wanted to have some Granny Ann time with him.” Gwen grinned, remembering when Joey announced that he wanted Hannah to be his Granny Ann, too. Mac’s mom burst into tears and said that a new grandson was the perfect gift for her birthday. Looking over the railing, Gwen saw a familiar sight. Mac’s father, George, stood on the waves, legs braced, his arms crossed over his chest. She sat up straighter and patted Mac’s leg. “Do you see him?” She nodded, looking up at Mac. His eyes brimmed with unshed tears as he looked in the direction she pointed. He didn’t hide the tear that slipped down one cheek. She caught it with a kiss. “Is he looking over? What’s he doing?” “He looks like you do when you stand at the point of the boat.” Mac grinned. “I know exactly what he is doing. Do you have it?” “Right here.” She pulled the little white box out of her jacket pocket. “How did Katie know?” “She’s a little woo-woo, like you.” He grinned and hugged her close again. “She wouldn’t tell me exactly how or where, but at some point that evening she had one of her moments.” “Does all this woo-woo stuff really bother you?”

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“Hell no. We’re family. And if that means that one sister can see the future and the other is so intuitive she can separate truth from lies, then so be it. I still love them.” “And I love you and completely believe that you can see my father standing on the ocean over there. I’d give anything to be able to see him myself.” “I wish I could give you that.” Gwen opened a box Katie had given her. Inside lay her mother’s locket. A symbol of a mother’s love and a man’s obsession, an obsession so ingrained it lasted into the afterlife. Looking at it sent chills down her spine, and she felt a cold hand wrap around her throat. Before it got any worse, she threw the locket overboard, directly at the ghost. George looked over at her sharply and then smiled. Waving, he disappeared in the sparkling light of the sun reflecting off the water. “He’s gone.” “Gone to kick you father’s ass for all eternity.” “Are you okay?” “I had a hard time with my father’s death. It’s nice to know he saw that I pulled through.” Gwen sat back down in the V of Mac’s legs. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. “I have you in my arms, kitten. Life doesn’t get much better than this.” She relaxed and enjoyed the feel of the ocean rocking them. He would keep her safe, and for the first time, she looked forward to what the future would bring. “I have a present for you.” Gwen reached in her pocket and pulled out a small silk pouch. “It’s for your train set.” “Model.” Mac had taken to automatically correcting her when she used the wrong terminology, which she ignored because he needed to be teased. “What is it?” He slid a finger in the small pouch and retrieved a small tissue-wrapped figure. Carefully unwrapping it, he revealed a tiny figure of a man pushing a baby carriage.

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Mac looked at her with such longing in his eyes the nervousness she felt building disappeared. “Really?” His laughter echoed over the water, and he hugged her close. “I love you, Gwen. I hope we have a girl.”

THE END www.corinnedavies.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Corinne Davies reads anything she can get her hands on, from the side of a cereal box to a historical book on the Riflemen during the Napoleonic wars. By day, she is a full-time wife and mother and works in the wine industry. At night, she avoids such mundane tasks as housework and laundry by creating her own worlds where mythology comes to life—worlds in which you are just as likely to be living next door to an ancient deity as finding a mystic treasure in the attic.

Also by Corinne Davies Believing Is Seeing Believing Is Trusting

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