by Jane Jamison
He paused far too long for her comfort. Did he want her gone now that she was involved in a murder? Possibly two murders?
“Of course I do.” He put his hand on her arm. “You’ll always have a place here.”
Relief swamped her now that she wouldn’t have to go job hunting. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
“So do those three men have anything to do with it? The murder, I mean.”
At least he’d lowered his voice. “They’re my bodyguards.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, even if she wasn’t paying them for that service.
“I see.” He studied the men again. “Still, I don’t want them in the waiting area. Have them stay outside. You can phone them and give them a head’s up when you’re about to leave.”
She nibbled at her lower lip. Until now, she hadn’t realized how much having them close by had made her feel safe. The thought of not having them within sight made her jumpy, but she couldn’t turn her boss down. Not after he’d given her back her job. “Okay. I’ll tell them.”
“Good. And let Marsha know that you’re leaving so she can reschedule your appointments.” He frowned at the men then pivoted around and disappeared, headed back to his patients.
She did as he’d asked, knowing that the usually surly Marsha wouldn’t like having the extra work, then strode toward the waiting area. The envious glances of the women waiting weren’t lost on her.
“Guys, can I talk to you please?” She motioned for them to come toward the front of the building and the window that looked out at the parking lot.
They gathered around her. At once, her breath was taken away as the heat from their bodies enveloped her. It was like getting caught in the middle of a wall of testosterone. Given any other situation, she might have flirted with them. Still, she took a moment to let her gaze slide over each man.
“What’s up, darlin’?”
When had they started using terms of endearment? It’s not as though they had a relationship, other than the real friendship that had grown so fast.
Coltrane probably calls every girl darlin’.
“Yeah, sugar-pie, is everything all right? We saw your boss talking to you. He didn’t look happy.” Pike glanced at the office area, but thankfully, the dentist was long gone.
Sugar-pie. Mmm.
She might’ve asked Pike about the nickname if she hadn’t enjoyed the envious look of a nearby woman.
“He’s not giving you a hard time, is he?” asked Roth. “Say the word and we’ll have a talk with him.”
Was “have a talk with him” code for whoop his ass? She wasn’t sure Roth wouldn’t talk more with his fists than his mouth. “No, no. He’s good. He’s letting me stay on, even though I already gave him my notice. And he’s okay with me leaving early. In fact, we should be leaving anytime now.”
A loud bang blasted the air. Glass shattered.
Before she could react, Pike grabbed her and pulled her against his body. Screams mixed with hers as Coltrane blocked the woman closest to them. Roth was already running outside by the time she realized what had happened.
She straightened up, shudders raging through her as she stared at the gaping hole in the broken window. Disbelief set in, refusing to let her mind accept the reality. The patients and staff were talking all at once, but the sound dimmed into the background.
Even Pike’s body against hers didn’t make her feel secure.
“Are you okay? Are you hit?”
Hit?
She stood stock-still as Pike held her by the arms and ran his gaze from her head to her toes and back up.
Coltrane settled the frightened woman in a chair farther away from the glass-covered ones near the window. One look at Pike and he darted out the door.
“What happened?” she whispered.
His face was stern, anger seething under a calm exterior. His eyes blazed with bits of red. “Someone tried to shoot you.”
“What?” Her mind refused to believe it.
“Damn it. Answer me, Harper. Are you hurt?”
At last, the noise grew louder around her. Dr. Lambert stormed over to her, his expression furious. Still, she saw the fear underlying the anger. She couldn’t hear what he was saying. Instead, she focused her full attention on Pike. “Someone shot at me?”
Pike turned his attention to the dentist. “Take control of your patients and staff now. Tell your receptionist to call the police.” He checked outside and nodded at Coltrane and Roth, who were signaling that they were safe to leave.
“Let’s go, Harper. Stay close.” Taking her under his arm, he herded her through the door and onto their pickup. Coltrane waited behind the wheel while Roth held the door open for her.
She was shoved inside then sat between Roth and Pike on the rear seat. Her gaze darted around the parking lot, searching for a small blonde woman.
“Get moving, man,” ordered Roth. The truck lurched forward, racing out of the parking lot and onto the road.
“It’ll be okay, baby,” assured Roth.
Would it? Would her life ever be normal again? Suddenly, she missed the humdrum routine of her life, going to work, socializing with friends. As she studied the men who were so intent on helping her, she wondered if she’d lost her old life in favor of a new one. She hadn’t been at the ranch long, yet she already felt as though it was home. A new home, for certain, but a safe and welcoming one, nonetheless.
“Hang in there, darlin’.” Coltrane glanced over his shoulder once then turned back to concentrate on the road.
Hang in there? Until what? Until the killer tried again?
“Someone wants to kill me. And they damn near did.” Maybe if she spoke the words out loud, she’d truly believe them.
“But they didn’t.” Pike squeezed her hand. “And they won’t get another chance. I swear they won’t. You’ve got to trust us.”
She sought refuge in his green eyes. Could she believe him? What if he was wrong? But what else did she have to believe in? “Okay. I do. I trust you. All of you.”
“We won’t let anything happen to you, baby.” Roth was so sincere, so earnest.
“Darlin’, you’re safe with us,” added Coltrane.
She nodded, feeling like a damsel in distress. Had her three heroes come to her rescue? Or would this fairy tale have an unhappy ending?
Chapter Six
Megan brought her into a tight bear hug. “I’m so glad to see you.” Turning her loose, Megan hauled back and then punched her on the arm.
“Ow. What was that for?” Harper had rushed up the steps of the police station, eager to see her friend. Pike and Coltrane had followed her while Roth parked the pickup after letting them out at the curb.
“Don’t you ever disappear like that again. Got it? You’re going to give me gray hairs.” Anger and worry etched lines into her smooth features.
“So? You already dye your hair.”
“Then you’ll pay to have it done.” Megan punched her again, but at least it wasn’t as hard this time. Her friend’s eyes widened then slipped to the side to take a good, long look at Pike and Coltrane. “So are these the friends you’re staying with?” Lowering her voice, she whispered, “Why didn’t you tell me you were with two hot guys?”
“Actually, it’s three hot guys.” Pike grinned then nodded toward Roth storming up the steps toward them. “I’m Pike Killian, and this is Coltrane Kinsburg. That’s his brother, Roth Kinsburg, barreling toward us. You must be Harper’s friend Megan.”
Megan recovered from her surprise quickly enough and stuck out her hand. “It’s Megan Ettles.” When Pike’s hand closed around hers, her smile grew bigger. The look she gave Harper, one of “daaaamn,” wasn’t missed by any of them.
“Are we ready to go inside?” Roth put out his hand as he joined them. “Hi, I’m—”
“Never mind, man. We’ve already gone through the intros. Let’s get inside.” Coltrane scanned the area around them.
For a wonderful moment, Harper had managed to forget th
e danger they were in. Coltrane was right. The sooner they got inside the station, the safer they’d be. Taking hold of Megan’s arm, Harper led the way into the building. Once they were past the security scanners, she asked another policeman where to find Detective Garnan.
“Do you know what you’re going to tell them, Harper?”
Why had Pike asked her like that? “I’m going to tell them what I know.” She’d tell them about seeing Dr. Rump murdered, but what about the rest of it? Had she really seen a dragon? It was crazy to think she actually had. She’d been hallucinating, off her rocker with too much alcohol. Yet it had seemed so real.
She couldn’t tell anyone what she thought she’d seen. Not only would they think she was crazy, they’d end up doubting her about the murder.
It was a dream, a hallucination. Dragons don’t exist. They just don’t.
“Harper, are you changing your mind?” asked Roth.
“No. I need to do this.” She had to do whatever she could to bring the killer to justice. Even if that meant not telling them everything she’d seen so they’d believe her about the murder.
By the time they’d made it past several more police officers to a door with the detective’s name on the front, Harper’s nerves were jumpy. She drew in a long breath.
“You’re going to do great. Just tell them what you know.”
Had Pike put an emphasis on the word know? As though he thought she really didn’t know everything? Or was it that he believed she didn’t know for certain? She frowned then listened to the detective tell them to enter after Roth knocked on the door.
It’s too late to turn back now.
The detective waved her to one of the three chairs in front of his desk. “I guess a couple of you will have to stand.”
Coltrane motioned to Pike to stand back with him.
The detective’s hard eyes settled on Megan. “And who are you?”
Megan clasped her hands in her lap. “I’m Megan Ettles.” She glanced at Harper, looking for encouragement to continue. “I think I killed Carly Franklin.”
“You’re here to confess?” asked Detective Garnan.
“No she didn’t.” Harper’s anxiety faded as she tried to soothe her friend’s nerves. “She may have told the killer where I lived, that’s all.” She squeezed Megan’s arm. “Stop feeling guilty.”
If only I could stop feeling guilty, too.
“Tell me what you know, Miss Ettles.” The detective leaned forward, eager to listen.
Megan told him everything, pausing often to answer a question. The detective took copious notes then leaned back once she’d finished.
“Do you think the woman I spoke to was the murderer?” asked Megan.
“I can’t say for sure until we do some investigation, but it’s a good lead. You were right to come in.”
Harper glanced at the men, who had remained silent the entire time. “I have to ask this. Do you think Megan’s in any danger?”
Her friend tensed. “Me? Why?”
“Because you may have seen the killer.” She hated to see the fear in Megan’s eyes, but they couldn’t ignore what might happen. Shifting back toward the detective, she knew now was the time to tell him what had happened earlier that morning. “Detective, something happened this morning.”
“What?” asked Megan. “What’s going on?”
“I’ve already gotten a preliminary report about the gunshot, Miss Hanley. If you hadn’t already been on your way to the station, I would’ve sent a patrol car for you.” He rested on his elbow again, his expression intense. “You need to accept the protective custody I offered you.”
“She already has us watching out for her.”
“And you’re doing a bang-up job from the looks of it.”
Coltrane moved with lightning quickness. He was beside the detective before Harper realized what was going on. Coltrane leaned toward the detective, putting his face mere inches from the man’s. “Watch what you say, Detective. She’s alive and safe. What have you done so far to help her?”
She had to give it to the officer. Having Coltrane’s angry face that close to him must have unnerved him, yet he remained steadfast and calm.
“We have leads we’re checking.” Detective Garnan slowly rose, forcing Coltrane to ease back. “Get out of my face, or I’ll throw your ass in jail.”
“Coltrane, man, back off. You’re not helping Harper.” Pike’s voice was low, but firm.
He didn’t want to back off. That much was easy to see from his expression. Finally, however, he did. With a snarl that was reminiscent of a growl, Coltrane went to the far wall and leaned against it.
The detective pulled at the end of his sleeves. To show how calm he was? Or to do something to try and ease his nerves? “I’d like to get Miss Hanley’s formal statement done now. Miss Ettles, I’ll have another officer take yours. Until then”—his gaze slid to each man, one at a time—“the rest of you can wait in the lobby.”
“Not a chance.” Coltrane pushed away from the wall.
Pike, however, nodded at the detective then motioned for Coltrane and Roth to let it go. “It’s fine.” He placed his hand on Harper’s. “We’ll be waiting for you. If you need us, then give me a call. I put my number in your phone last night.”
“Okay. Thanks.” Did she have to worry? She was safe at the precinct, but was Pike talking about something else? She didn’t have anything to fear from telling the truth, did she? “I’ll be all right.”
“I’m sure you will.” Yet the hard way Pike looked at the detective wasn’t so reassuring.
The men left, albeit slowly. When she turned around, Detective Garnan was on the phone, summoning another officer to take Megan’s statement. Once he finished, he gave her a wan smile. “Let’s get started.”
She tried to smile back, but failed.
* * * *
After what seemed like hours, Harper finally left the room and headed back to the lobby. Halfway there, she ran into Megan.
“How’d it go?” Harper fell in step with her friend.
“Okay, I guess. I really didn’t have a lot to tell them, but they sure went over it a lot of times.”
“Did you just finish?”
“Nope. They let me wait for you here instead of in the lobby.” Megan, looking relieved, hooked her arm in Harper’s. “I guess I should’ve gone to the lobby and waited with your men.”
“They aren’t my men,” insisted Harper, even as the glow from her statement washed through her.
“They sure would like to be.”
“Don’t, Megan. They’re three nice guys who are helping a woman in trouble.”
“Oh, sure. Like every nice guy out there would do the same thing. Uh-uh. I saw how they looked at you.”
“What are you talking about?” Not that she would’ve admitted that she’d noticed the same thing. She’d chalked it up to her imagination, but now that Megan had noticed, it had to be real.
“Don’t act all innocent. I saw the way they looked at you, and I saw the way you looked at them. But I don’t blame you one bit. They’re hotter than hot.”
She tried to argue, unwilling to let herself hope that the men found her attractive, too, but couldn’t. “Do you really think they’re interested?”
“Are you serious? They’re putting their lives on the line for you. If that doesn’t say ‘interested,’ then I don’t know what does.” Megan hurried down the stairs leading to the lobby. “If you don’t want one or any of them, you let me know. I’d be more than willing to let them guard my body. In fact, they can do anything they want to my body. I don’t get what’s holding you up. If I were you, I’d already have them in bed.”
Harper stalled, surprised at her friend. “I’ve kind of been busy, you know. Seeing a murder and finding a friend who was killed. Then getting shot at. It’s not like those things lead to romance.”
Megan winced. “Shit. I’m an idiot. It’s like I forgot all about—” Tears sprang to her eyes. “I’m the worst
of the worst.”
“No, you’re not. You just get carried away sometimes.” She checked around them. “I’ll bet the guys wouldn’t mind if you came back to their ranch.”
“Ooh, a ranch. With sexy cowboys, no less.” Megan’s spirit was indomitable. “Thanks, but no. I’m taking the detective up on his offer of police protection.”
“It’s probably a good choice. After all, being close to me is dangerous.” Harper shivered.
“You’re going to be all right, aren’t you? I mean, they’re great guys and all, but can they really protect you?”
She’d ask herself the same question every time the detective tried to get her to take a police guard instead of the men. Not understanding exactly why, she couldn’t shake the impression that she would be a lot safer with the men. They exuded a power and confidence she trusted. “If anyone can keep me safe, it’s them.”
If she had any doubt, it was gone in the next moment when she found them watching her descend the stairs. They stood out from the rest of the crowd, ancient warriors who could lay siege to her castle whenever they wanted.
* * * *
“But, Dr. Lambert, you said I could stay on in my job.” Harper gripped her phone hard. She’d already eaten a quick breakfast, gotten dressed, and ready for work by the time she’d noticed the blinking light on her phone, telling her she had a text message. Her stomach had done a sickening flip-flop when she’d read the message.
“I’m sorry, Harper, but after yesterday, there’s no way I can keep you on. I can’t endanger my other employees or my clients.”
Or yourself.
“But I didn’t do anything wrong.” She hadn’t asked to witness a murder, much less have someone shoot at her.
“Harper, be reasonable. I have to do what’s right for the practice and my patients.”
She hated what he was doing, but how could she blame him? Even if he didn’t have grounds to fire her, she didn’t have the right to put anyone else in harm’s way. Acceptance, even though bitter, set in.
“I understand. But I don’t know what I’m going to do.” How was she supposed to pay the bills? If word got around—and no doubt it would in the close dental community—no one would ever hire her. Her career was over.
