by Iris Abbott
Rose sprang up into a sitting position. She grabbed hold of Justin’s arm and pulled. She strained to remove his arm from the guard’s throat. He didn’t relent or let go.
Scarlet and Brittany rushed forward too. All of them begged Justin to calm down and let the other man go.
“Justin, please,” Rose implored with wide eyes and a shaky voice. “He was just trying to teach me how to defend myself from a larger assailant. Brittany showed me a few moves and Joe volunteered to be my sparring partner. I wanted to see if I could take him down,” she shrugged. “Obviously I’m not good enough for that, yet.” An intense look of determination crossed her face.
Justin’s grip loosened, but he didn’t move away. “You were crying,” he accused in a harsh voice.
Rose mouth dropped open, and she frowned at him. “Oh, that,” she waved a hand. “No, I wasn’t crying. I was laughing at how easy it was for him to turn the tables and put me on the floor. He didn’t hurt me. I promise.”
Justin removed his arm, but he continued to scowl at the guard. The thought of the other man’s hands on any part of Rose’s body enraged his wolf. Justin took a deep breath to calm and center the inner beast. “Joe has duties he needs to attend to. The next time you want a sparring partner you better call me.”
Rose smoothed her hands down the front of the slinky black yoga pants she wore. “I thought you were busy, and this was the only time Brittany could get away this week. Her schedule is pretty full, and I didn’t think you wanted me to go to her studio.”
She glanced at Joe and then shifted her back to him. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”
Now that Justin stepped back, the guard stood up and smiled at Rose. “It’s not your fault. I should have let Mr. Gannon know where I was going and what I was doing.” He nodded at everyone in the room. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get back to work.” He rubbed his throat and exited the room in a hurry.
“I’m not going to apologize,” Justin told the three women who gave him speculative looks. “It’s my job to protect Rose. I thought she was in danger, and I did what had to be done. I’d do it again, in a heartbeat.”
He raised a brow and looked each woman straight in the eyes. “Maybe next time someone will see fit to let me, her bodyguard, know where she is and what’s going on.” He narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. He silently dared them to object. Of course, no one did.
He shook off the lingering fear and anger that enveloped him when he thought Rose was in danger. “How about you show me what you ladies are working on and I’ll see what I can do to help.”
Rose gave him a shy smile. “Thank you, Justin. I should have learned some basic self-defense moves a long time ago. Not that they would have done any good against a car bomb,” she said in a sad voice. It was a sober reminder to all of them that Rose was still very much in danger.
Everyone put the sobering thoughts aside and got to work. Brittany and Justin demonstrated four basic moves. The idea was for Rose to break free and incapacitate the attacker long enough for her to get away and find help. They practiced for almost two hours. No one was willing to call it quits until Rose was able to free herself from a larger and stronger Justin.
Finally, Justin went down, hitting the exercise mat with a resounding thud. If he’d been a real attacker, it would have been the perfect opportunity for her to make a run for it. Instead, Rose did a little happy dance to celebrate her success. It was her undoing. One second she was smiling down at him happily jumping up and down. The next Justin hooked his foot around her ankle. She lost her balance, and down she went. She landed flat on her back next to Justin. Thank goodness, the floor mats were thick and soft.
Scarlet and Brittany giggled.
“I think we’ll call it a day,” Brittany said still laughing. “This was fun, and we’ll have to do it again sometime. Bye now!” She waved and was gone in a flash.
“See you two later,” Scarlet was right behind Brittany. She only slowed down long enough to turn off the lights and shut the door.
Justin forgot they existed as soon as they walked out the door. He rolled so that he leaned over Rose. He rested his weight on his arms and knees. “The most important rule of self-defense is to run when you have the chance. Now the advantage is mine, and I plan to use it.” He slowly lowered his head until his lips were inches from Rose.
****
Rose’s suddenly heavy eyelids slowly lowered to cover her eyes. Justin was close but too far away. She strained to get nearer. Facial hair grazed the tender skin of her neck and jaw. She shivered from the added sensation.
Her body craved his from the very beginning. The more time they spent together, the more she wanted him. Her lips finally made contact with his. It was a light kiss made for exploration, but soon that wasn’t enough. She seemed to always want more when it came to Justin.
She tangled her fingers in his overlong hair and pulled him closer. Her body was soft and swollen, and she ached with need for the man who held her in his arms. She pressed into the hard-muscled planes of his body. The added pressure ignited little flames of pleasure that burned through her body.
The kiss seemed to go on and on with no end in sight. That is until the lights suddenly flickered on. The artificially bright light illuminated every corner of the gym.
Justin stiffened and in a lighting flash move that Rose could hardly believe, he went from leaning over her to an attack crouch between her and the door. A fierce growl pierced the air, and she frowned. The sound was almost inhuman, and it wasn’t the first time she’d heard it come from Justin.
“Stand down,” Mitch ordered. “I just came down for a workout. I didn’t realize the room was being used.” He gave his brother a sardonic grin. “It was dark,” he accused.
“It’s all yours, brother. I have work to do.” He stalked out without bothering to glance at Rose.
Rose let out a frustrated sigh and slapped the mat with the palm of her hand. Justin was sending her mixed signals. Again! His hot and cold routine was driving her crazy.
The newcomer lightly touched her on the shoulder. “My brother wouldn’t be so abrupt and dismissive if you didn’t get under his skin. It’s a defense mechanism for him.”
“Why?” She vigorously rubbed her face. “He’s so confusing. One second he’s hotter than an erupting volcano the next he’s colder than an iceberg. It’s enough to make a woman crazy, this woman anyway.”
“I’m going to tell you a story that hasn’t been spoken of in years. If Justin knew I told you, he’d be pretty upset with me.” He gave her a searching look. “But I think you need to know, so I’m going to tell you.”
Rose nodded and sat up on the mat. She pulled her knees in front of her and used them as a prop for her chin. “Okay, I’m ready. I’m open to anything that might help me better understand Justin and his abrupt mood swings.”
She flushed. “I’m not criticizing your brother. It’s just that I like him, a lot. And sometimes I think he feels the same way, but then he freezes up.”
“There’s a reason for that,” Mitch insisted. “About ten years ago right before we took over the family business, Justin was fresh out of college and still a little green. He was good at the job, but he wasn’t as focused as he is now. He became involved with a client. Long story short, she ended up dying, and Justin blamed himself even though he wasn’t on duty when it happened. The other bodyguard was corrupt and opted for a big payday.
Rose’s hands flew to her mouth. She covered the gasp of surprise that escaped. “Oh, no, that’s horrible! But it wasn’t Justin’s fault. You said he wasn’t even on duty.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Mitch shrugged. “He thought he should have been able to see that the other guard was on the take. He blamed himself. He’s been hands off with clients ever since and for good reason,” Mitch added. “Distractions can kill.”
“The fact that you test his resolve means that you’re more than just a job to him. He wants you, Ros
e. Don’t ever doubt it. If you want a chance with him when the person trying to kill you is caught, my advice is for you to reach out with both hands and grab hold.” He gave her a serious look. “And don’t let go. No matter what my stubborn brother does or says.”
Rose slowly stood. She had a lot to think about. “Thank you, Mitch. You haven’t been overly friendly to me since I arrived. I was beginning to think you didn’t like me for some reason, so I’m grateful you shared his story with me.”
Mitch grunted. “It’s nothing personal, Rose. Maybe one day you’ll understand my reticence.”
Rose nodded her understanding. The Gannon men it seemed were complicated. “I’ll leave you to your workout.” She walked back to the guest room, her mind deep in thought. Mitch’s story explained so much about Justin’s behavior. It also gave her a glimpse of his vulnerable side. It made her want him even more.
SIX
Justin stomped his foot and blew cold breath into his gloved hands. He thought he should at least try to look cold for Rose’s benefit. The wolf in him loved cold weather, and it was only thirty-three degrees outside. He’d give just about anything to be able to shift into his fur and have a nice long run in the snow. That wasn’t going to be happening anytime soon, not when he had to shadow Rose’s every move.
At least it was above freezing, barely. He kept a close watch on Rose and how she fared in the chilly weather. Blue-tinged lips, chattering teeth, anything at all to indicate the onset of hypothermia, and they were out of there. Her job and determination to complete it didn’t matter to Justin, not when her health was at stake. Her single-minded determination when it came to her work was just one of the many things he admired about the woman next to him. The list grew daily.
This was their fifth day in a row exploring Acadia National Park. They rode a snowmobile, did some cross-country skiing, and now they hiked using snowshoes. They’d been over most of the park that was accessible this time of year. Still no signs of wolves of any kind. At least the pack heeded the warnings to be extra vigilant. They were doing a good job of staying hidden from Rose.
Rose’s delighted laugh broke the peaceful silence. “I’m finally getting the hang of this. I haven’t had a chance to go snowshoeing in a couple of years,” she explained to Justin. “The past two winters I worked in the Everglades. Sure didn’t need any snowshoes down there.” She shivered.
“Guess not,” Justin agreed. He saw her body shake. “If you’re getting too cold we should go back,” he told her in a voice that broached no argument. “There will be no hypothermia on my watch.”
“No, I’m not too cold yet.” She was quick to reassure him. “I was thinking about the reason I’ve been working in the Everglades so much lately.” She narrowed her eyes and protectively hugged herself. “Snake problems and big ones at that,” she pointed out.
“There are too many people turning loose unwanted pythons in southern Florida. Cute little baby snakes grow into fifteen foot long beasts, and suddenly they’re no longer desirable as a family pet. I may be a wildlife biologist, but snakes are not my friend. Well, except for king snakes maybe. King snakes rule!” She laughed. “Sorry, couldn’t help the pun.”
Justin laughed. He didn’t know of any snake shifters, but if they were ever discovered, he’d make sure to keep them far away from Rose. “I thought you were a wolf expert,” he teased and had to bite back a snicker.
Rose shrugged. “I am, but I don’t work exclusively with wolves. I go wherever the park system sends me.” She stumbled and quickly caught herself after her right snowshoe caught on something hidden by the white blanket of snow.
Justin grabbed her elbow to help steady her, and she leaned into his protective stance. “Thanks for that,” she offered him a grateful smile. “Guess I’m still finding my snow legs after all,” she joked.
“Let’s take a short break,” Justin offered.
****
Rose thankfully slowed down her pace and came to a stop. She took the time to look around and soaked up the beauty of the surrounding area. Craggy red cliffs plunged toward the blue ocean water. The cliffs themselves, as well as a few evergreen trees, were dusted with snow on top. The contrast of color was breathtaking. The snow-packed trail stretched far ahead of them and cut through the scene like an inviting white ribbon.
“My eyes could look at this all day. It’s too bad my body can’t take the cold even dressed in several layers and bundled up tight.”
“Agreed! I’ve done a lot of traveling, but nothing speaks to me like home. The wilds of Maine are positively addicting, and they’re the most beautiful sight on Earth.
“I’m beginning to agree with you,” Rose confessed. She could definitely see why Justin loved his home so much.
“Acadia is pretty in the summer. But in winter, especially after the first snowfall, nothing is prettier, except maybe you.”
Rose’s cheeks bloomed with color, and it wasn’t from the stinging cold either. Flattery like that could warm a person on the coldest Maine winter day. “You’re such a flatterer, Justin.”
“On the contrary, I mean every word I say.”
The warm feelings inside Rose intensified, but she still felt the effects of the cold. She took a deep breath and turned in a slow circle trying to memorize the view. “We’ve been out for almost three hours today. There are no tracks, scat, or fresh kills that might indicate the presence of a wolf.”
She held up the directional antenna and checked the radio receiver one more time. “Nothing,” she said with a weary sigh. “If there’re wolves out here, they haven’t been collared. Let’s head back to headquarters, check in with the on-duty rangers, and call it quits for the day.”
****
Justin already knew that none of the collared wolves in northeastern North America wearing a GPS collar had wandered into the Enigma or Acadia area. He hoped they would find some signs of a wolf on this trip, anything to take the heat off of shifters and the pack. He could still try to convince Rose that the sightings were a case of mistaken identity, coyote not wolf. He’d try out the strategy later.
The engine of a snowmobile roared in the distance. Justin and Rose both frowned. Snowmobiles were only allowed in certain parts of the park and on selected trails. This wasn’t one of them. “We should redirect them.” Rose wasn’t a park ranger, but she did work for the park service, so she had some authority.
The machine came into sight and seemed to pick up speed instead of slowing down when it saw the pedestrians. The hair on the nape of Justin’s neck stood straight up. It might be an irresponsible idiot with no regard for safety, personal or otherwise. Somehow, Justin didn’t think that was the case. His wolf jumped to the surface, and Justin fought hard not to shift. It was too soon.
“Let’s move. I don’t like the looks of this.” He grabbed her arm, and they left the path and moved into the drifts on the side of the trail.
The snowmobile approached fast. Justin’s keen eyesight caught the glint of metal in the driver’s hand. Instinctively he knew what it was. He shoved Rose down into the snow. “Gun! Take cover in the snow now. The gunman will have a harder time shooting you if he can’t see you.”
Thank goodness Rose didn’t argue or hesitate. She frantically dived into the cold, wet snow, completely disappearing from sight.
The driver didn’t fire shots yet, and Justin figured the killer needed to be closer to make sure he got the job done. It gave Justin the time he needed. He flung off clothes and shifted as fast as he could. It didn’t matter what the gunman saw, because he wouldn’t leave the park alive. He wouldn’t expose Justin, the pack, or anyone else.
The sound of the snowmobile’s engine was deafening now, but it wasn’t loud enough to drown out the sound of gunfire. Justin used the speed and agility of his wolf to dodge bullets. Suddenly he was only five feet from the man with the gun. He leaned into his back haunches until all the muscles in his body coiled tightly. Quicker than the blink of an eye, he sprang. His compact and muscul
ar wolf body glided through the air, rapidly closing the distance between him and the would-be killer.
The man let out a terrified shriek just before the fiercely growling wolf made impact. The heavy flying projectile of muscle, bone, and fur carried enough momentum to send both man and wolf sprawling into the snow. The snowmobile flipped over and came to a stop a few feet down the trail. The engine idled.
The need to protect was so heavily ingrained inside the wolf that it didn’t hesitate to go for the kill. Wickedly sharp claws cut through layers of clothing, shredding the thick cotton as if it were paper. The killer’s gun was knocked loose during initial impact. There was nothing to stop the wolf. He bared his teeth, and with one final lunge, the wolf’s knife-like teeth ripped through flesh, tearing as they went.
****
Agonizing screams of pain pierced the air. Rose held her breath. She was more scared than she’d ever been in her life and not just for herself either. She was afraid for Justin too. He was the one out there facing down whoever was trying to kill her.
The screaming stopped almost as suddenly as it began. Rose shivered at the implication of the silence. Rose had to know what was going on.
She used her gloved hands to tunnel out of the thin layer of snow that covered her. Bright crimson stained the white snow adding a macabre flash of color to what had been a mostly white winter wonderland. The blood came from someone wearing a white jacket, and Rose couldn’t help the sigh of relief that escaped from her lips. Justin wore black as he did most often. It wasn’t his lifeless body lying in the snow and covered with blood.
She furtively glanced around. A lone wolf stood, watching her from the shadows. She let out a nervous giggle. Days and hours spent looking for any sign of wolves, and now one stared her down.
She didn’t have the wit to do anything about it. Rose stood frozen to the spot. Her eyes connected with the dark eyes of the noble beast. The creature slowly started walking toward her. Her breath caught her throat only to leave her body in a rush. She frantically sucked in more air.
