Protected by a Hero

by Susan Stoker, Cristin Harber, Cora Seton, Lynn Raye Harris, Kaylea Cross, Katie Reus, Tessa Layne

  Blinking up at him as the unwelcome tears formed, her voice wobbled. “I just wanted to take them some brownies,” she whispered, all her normal control deserting her.

  He grinned and pulled her into a hug—against his hard, bare chest. “That was real nice of you. They smell amazing, as always,” he said, his arms so warm and solid around her. And he smelled way better than the brownies.

  “They’re ruined,” she said, feeling miserable. It was weird and creepy, her suddenly being aware of Wyatt’s little brother in a physical way. She’d be mortified if he ever found out, and being held to his naked chest was torture.

  “They’re not,” he soothed.

  Piper squeezed her eyes shut and blurted out the truth she’d been holding back. “I was afraid it was Greg.” She paused a beat, unable to look at him because she felt so ashamed that she’d ever married her ex. “When I heard the medical examiner was coming, that’s what I thought. That maybe Greg had gone after Wyatt at the house.”

  “Hey,” he said again, waiting until she finally looked at him before continuing. “It wasn’t, but it doesn’t make you a bad person for wondering that. Greg has serious issues. And that’s not your fault either. You know that, right? You’re not responsible for his actions and decisions.”

  She lowered her gaze to stare down at his boots. “I know.”

  “Good.” He drew her close again, one hand on the back of her head, pressing her cheek to his bare shoulder.

  This time Piper sighed and allowed herself to relax into his embrace. She’d had no one to lean on for so long. Not this way, and even if Easton was Wyatt’s little brother, he still felt damn good.

  Soaking up his offer of comfort like a thirsty sponge, her hands crept up his back to rest against his shoulder blades. Warm, smooth skin met her palms, powerful muscles bunching beneath them. Arousal sparked throughout her body, potent and forbidden, making her nipples tighten.

  Wyatt’s little brother, she reminded herself, horrified by the leap of need that was getting harder and harder to ignore. She pulled out of his embrace, desperate for space and ashamed of her reaction.

  “Hell, if Wyatt doesn’t want ’em, I’ll eat ’em. You know I love your baking,” Easton said.

  She shook her head. “They’re for him and Austen. I’ll make you your own.”

  “Yeah? Better do it soon, then, ’cuz I’m only here for a couple more days.”

  She searched his face. “You’re leaving again already?” He usually had at least a week or two off in between missions before he had to go back to work.

  He nodded, and something she’d never seen before moved in his warm brown eyes. Yearning? And a weariness that made her want to wrap him up in her arms and never let go. “Yeah, already.”

  “Where are you going this time?” She hated that his job was so dangerous, but he was even more of an adrenaline junkie than their middle brother Brody was, and loved living life on the edge. He said it made him feel alive.

  “Who knows? Wherever they need us to stomp out the drug trade the most this week,” he said, his tone teasing but again she could see that unfamiliar, timeworn look in his eyes. Then he cocked his head and gave her one of his trademark grins that transformed his expression. “You all right now?”

  For just a moment the sheer male beauty of him stunned her. She blinked and cleared her suddenly dry throat. “Yes.”

  “Let’s take this over and put it in the fridge for them,” he said, releasing her to pick up the plate of brownies. “After the shit day they’ve had, I’m sure they’ll appreciate some homemade goodies.”

  Piper bent to gather what was left of the pie. When she straightened she could have sworn she caught him staring at her ass, but then he walked away, heading for the cabin without a backward glance and she told herself she had to have imagined it.

  Because if she hadn’t, she didn’t know what the hell to make of it.

  Feeling totally off balance, she followed him over to the cabin and put the pie in the fridge while he set the brownies on the table.

  “This one’s pretty smashed up,” he commented, picking one off the top. “I should probably eat it, to make the presentation better.”

  She laughed softly. “Like there was ever any doubt.”

  He took a huge bite and chewed, rolled his eyes heavenward as a low moan spilled from his lips. “So good.”

  Something eased inside her and she smiled, trying to ignore what the sound of that moan did to her. One of her greatest pleasures was watching people enjoy her baking. “I’m glad. Well, I guess I should let you and your dad get to the vet’s.”

  He walked her out to her car, polishing off the rest of the brownie. “You okay to drive?”

  “Oh yeah, I’m fine.” Since leaving Greg she’d been on a mission to reinvent herself. She was strong and independent, didn’t want anyone to think she was weak, least of all Easton and his family.

  “You sure look fine,” he said with an appreciative grin meant to raise her spirits.

  Was he flirting with her? Or just teasing, as usual? Given how weird things had been this afternoon, she couldn’t tell for certain. There was no way he was attracted to her. He was so hard to read but she and everyone else in Sugar Hollow knew he was never short of female company. Why would he ever be interested in her when he could have any woman he wanted, and she had also once dated his eldest brother? Ick.

  He put her in her car, waited while she lowered the window and bent to rest his stacked, corded forearms against the lower window frame. His gaze searched hers, warm and steady. So different from the wild child of the Colebrook family she’d always seen him as. “You sure you’re all right? I can drive you home on the way to the vet’s and one of us can drop your car off later.”

  “No, I’m fine.” She’d gotten in the habit of turning down offers of help after leaving Greg. Lord knew she’d made some shitty decisions in her life and paid dearly for them, but she was starting to crawl her way out of the pit she’d dug for herself. “You guys get going. Tell them I said hi, and please keep me updated on Grits. If they need anything, tell them to call.” She hoped they’d ask her. They were like family to her.

  “I will.” He straightened, and she couldn’t help but admire his naked torso as he rose to his full height. Just over six feet, a shade less than Brody, and just as muscular. “I’m still gonna get my own brownies, right?”

  Stop staring, pervert. She shot him a smile. “Yes, you’ll still get your own brownies.”

  He grinned. “Thanks, sweet thing, you’re the best.” He stepped away. “Drive safely.”

  For a long moment Piper sat there and watched his gorgeous, masculine form walk back toward the house, shocked at the aching sense of longing growing inside her.

  Horrified, she yanked her gaze away and started the engine, shaking her head at herself. “What the hell is wrong with you?” she muttered, and took off down the driveway.

  Her disturbing reaction to Easton today only solidified what she’d already known for a long time now. The sooner she left Sugar Hollow and everything in it behind her, the better.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  One hand braced on the wall, Wyatt stood in the shower and let the hot water beat down on his head and shoulders. It was only one in the afternoon and he was weary to the bone, felt as though he hadn’t slept in days.

  He’d stayed at the vet clinic until Grits had come out of surgery, had refused to leave until they let him see his dog. The sight of him lying there all drugged up with a bandage wrapped around the stump where his back lower leg had once been had choked Wyatt up.

  Only thing that made leaving him bearable was knowing Easton was there with him. Wyatt had wanted to come back and stay the night at the clinic but Easton had flat out refused, telling him that Austen needed him more.

  It wasn’t often that he took advice from his wild little brother, but in this case, Easton was right.

  The cops had come to the vet clinic, and taken him and Austen back to
the job site. It hadn’t been easy for him to go there, but he knew it had been a hell of a lot harder on her. She was a civilian, had never been in combat, and had never been exposed to that kind of violence before. Thankfully both bodies had been removed before they’d arrived. The lead detective had separated them to question them individually and get their statements, walking them both through the chain of events that had resulted in Wyatt killing Scott.

  Once that was done, they’d had to go down to the police station for more paperwork, and fingerprinting. By the time he’d been allowed to see Austen again she’d looked drawn and exhausted.

  She’d met him out front of the interview room and reached for him the moment she walked out into the hall. After stopping by her motel to pick up a change of clothes they’d come back here to clean up and change and Austen had called her mom to tell her what had happened.

  God knew he could use these few minutes alone, to regroup. There was so much static going on in his head, it was slowly driving him insane.

  He soaped himself, scrubbing away the blood staining his skin, the sight and smell of it turning his stomach. It wasn’t even human blood, but that didn’t matter. That unmistakable smell was permanently burned into his psyche and would always trigger memories from that terrible day in Afghanistan.

  And then Scott’s poisonous words replayed in his mind. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, fighting to make it stop. Austen needed him—he didn’t have time to dwell on his own shit.

  Clean and dressed, he walked out into the kitchen to find her at the counter. Her back was to him, giving him a perfect view of her tight ass in her yoga pants, her smooth, bare arms exposed by the long tank she wore.

  She’d been so strong through this whole thing. Maybe it was her training and experience as a first responder, but that strength, considering what had happened, astounded him. She was one hell of an amazing woman.

  She tossed a smile at him over her shoulder, her curls brushing her cheek, but it didn’t dispel the fatigue he could read in her eyes. “I pulled out the goodies Piper left us,” she said, handing him a plate. “Brownies and some kind of lemon cream pie.”

  “Aw, yeah,” he murmured in satisfaction, and picked up the brownie to take a bite. Bless Piper. “Just what the doctor ordered.”

  Austen murmured in agreement as she forked up a bite of the pie and let out a soft moan. “Oh, man, this is good. Did she make this herself?”

  “Mmhmm. That girl loves to bake.”

  “Well she’s damn good at it. Wanna go eat out on the back porch?”

  “Sure.”

  They sat on the porch swing and devoured the dessert together. He set his empty plate on the table in front of them, then ran a hand over Austen’s hair, the curls clinging to his fingers. “You doing okay?”

  She nodded. “I think so.” Her gaze sought his. “You?”

  “Yeah.” Way better than he would have been without her here. He curled his arm around her shoulders and drew her into his body.

  She snuggled into him with a sigh, tucking her feet beneath her as he used his left foot to gently rock the porch swing. Through the large screen panels in front of them, horses grazed on the lush green pastures beyond the white-painted fence.

  He still couldn’t believe Scott would betray him this way, after all Wyatt had done for him. Given him a steady job here on the farm, overlooking his PTSD issues. Wyatt knew full well how it felt to be discriminated against and how hard it was for a combat veteran to reintegrate back into civilian life and society after they’d experienced so many horrific things while serving their country.

  Wyatt didn’t know if he could forgive himself for screwing up so badly.

  “I love how quiet it is back here,” Austen murmured. “I needed this. Thanks for bringing me back here.”

  “No way in hell was I taking you back to that motel.” He stroked her hair again, loving the bouncy texture. “I’d love for you to stay here with me instead, for however long you want.”

  “That’s a very open-ended offer. What if you get sick of me after a couple weeks?”

  He snorted. “Not gonna happen.”

  “What if I’m a total slob and drive you nuts?”

  Things had moved fast between them, but he knew what he wanted, and it was her. “You aren’t. I’ve seen your motel room and the way you organize things at the job site. It’ll be fine.”

  Her lips twitched. “Well then, I just might take you up on that offer. Could be a long time before we finish the house, though. You sure you’re up for it?”

  “You sure you’re ready to go back there?” Right now it was a crime scene, so they might not be able to go back by Monday morning.

  She blinked at him. “What, to the house? Of course I am! I’m not letting that piece of shit take my dream from me. To hell with that. I’m finishing that house, come hell or high water.”

  God, he loved that fierce little scowl on her face. “You don’t want to take some time to think about it?”

  “What’s to think about? I’m all in, spent my life’s savings and John’s life insurance settlement on this. No way I’m walking away. I’ll take a couple days off just to let things…settle, then get back at it Monday morning.” She eyed him, looking concerned. “Why, are you having second thoughts?”

  He shook his head, even though he was having second thoughts about a lot of things. But not about her. He’d never felt so certain of anything than he did of him and Austen.

  “Good,” she said with a decisive nod. “Monday it is.”

  In answer he squeezed her shoulder and turned his head to stare out at the rolling pasture. He’d been concerned about coming back here with her at first after leaving her motel, worried that it might trigger something because Scott had been here last night. She didn’t seem upset about that and he was relieved because this was his safe haven and he wasn’t going to let that bastard take it from him.

  The peace and quiet here was a godsend. He had at least a dozen voice messages on his phone from Brody, Charlie and Piper, but he was too emotionally drained to call them back tonight. Maybe in the morning, after he’d gone to see Grits.

  Hell, he didn’t know if he was ready to go back to the job site and face everything, but if Austen could then he would too. It not only reminded him of Taylor now, but of seeing Scott holding that gun to Austen’s head. And then there was poor Grits, who was still at the clinic while Easton stood watch.

  He exhaled deeply and focused on the now. As the quiet surrounded them and he gazed out at the grazing horses in the distance, he got lost in his own head. Scott was dead. The threat was over for him and Austen, but Wyatt still blamed himself for what had happened. “I never saw it coming,” he said finally.

  Austen lifted her head from his shoulder to look at him. “Scott?”

  He nodded, jaw tight, hating even the sound of that fucker’s name. “I shouldn’t have hired him. I shouldn’t have trusted him.”

  “Wyatt, it wasn’t your fault. The toxicology reports will prove he was higher than a kite when everything happened this morning. He duped everyone, gave no signs that you could have picked up on. You can’t blame yourself.”

  Hell yes he could. He should have seen this coming. Should have realized Scott was unstable and acted sooner. Dammit, he should have been able to prevent what had happened this morning.

  Just like his squad, he’d let Austen down. That was the hardest part to swallow, apart from knowing that Eddie was dead, and poor little Grits had lost a leg today because of Wyatt’s bad judgment. Austen had almost paid the price with her life. He couldn’t take that.

  Needing to feel her up against him, he wrapped both his arms around her and held on tight. She scooted into his lap and cuddled in close, easing the worst of the ache in the center of his chest.

  She was too good for him. He was nothing but a scarred-up, wounded combat vet who would never be the man he’d once been. He’d caused so much grief and death and suffering to those who depen
ded on him.

  It had been his idea to hire Scott and the other veterans in the first place. He’d insisted upon it. And because of that Austen had nearly died and he’d placed his brother and father at risk when Scott had come skulking around here last night.

  Scott may have been high and crazy this morning, but his accusations had been bang on. Wyatt didn’t deserve to be here. Taylor and the other Marines had been his responsibility. They’d died under his command, on his watch. There was no excuse, no sugar-coating that.

  Wyatt buried his face in Austen’s hair and let out a shuddering breath, feeling like he was about to crack apart. Even though he knew he didn’t deserve her, there was no way he could let her go. Not now. Not ever.

  As though she sensed just how close he was to coming unglued, Austen took his face in her hands. He shook his head, tried to pull away but she was having none of it. “Wyatt, look at me,” she said, her voice firm.

  Sucking in a deep breath, he swallowed past the lump in his throat and met her gaze. She stared back at him unflinchingly, her expression fierce.

  “Don’t you dare listen to a word he said to you,” she demanded. “What happened over there was not your fault, do you hear me? It was the enemy’s fault, no one else’s. I know what kind of man you are, and I know you did everything humanly possible to protect them and Raider.” Her eyes softened, the tenderness there making him blink fast to stop the tears from forming. “And I also know you would have traded places with any of the guys you lost that day.”

  He nodded, once again blown away by her perception. God, he would have done that in a heartbeat if it could have saved one of his Marines.

  “But I’m so thankful that you survived and came home again,” she went on. “You’re alive and so am I, thanks to you.”

  He made a scoffing sound. “He was going to kill you because of me,” he forced out, his voice like gravel, the lump in his throat so huge it was all he could do to breathe past it.

  “But he didn’t, because you saved me. You did that, Wyatt, no one else. It was awful and just thinking about it scares me to death, but it’s over now, and we have each other.” Her thumbs stroked at the stubble on his cheeks. “We’re both alive and we should be celebrating that, not feeling guilty about it. It’s what your guys and my fiancé would have wanted. We owe it to them to live life to the fullest, don’t you think?”