The Darkest Knight (The KNIGHT Brothers Book 3)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  A dog jumped out and she held the German Shepherd’s leash close. She must have given a command because without hesitation, the dog sat down at the woman’s feet and held its ears up in expectation.

  She fumbled in her purse, or maybe it was an overnight bag. These days women believed size mattered in everything. The bag was large enough to carry a small arsenal of weapons. He couldn’t trust anyone.

  She brought out a few bills and handed them over to the driver.

  His curiosity piqued. What was she doing?

  On occasion, he did know people who needed a place to recoup, or just wanted to get away for a bit, and they stayed in one of the cabins…the only one that was livable besides his. At times, he even had strangers showing up because his buddies had passed the word along that Seth welcomed veterans. But none of the visitors had ever looked this good, and most importantly, she didn’t seem the type to want to be stuck out in the boonies, especially with a tough, bearded man who had enough rough edges to piss anyone off. The guest cabin was far from luxurious. It did have a kitchen and bathroom, and sometimes that was all people needed.

  She rounded the back of the cab and retrieved another bag. That solidified his earlier thought. She was here to grab a few nights in the cabin. He wasn’t sure he liked this much.

  The soft knock sounded and he counted to ten before finally walking to the door. He fiddled through his mind, trying to form an excuse why she couldn’t stay. He could say the cabin wasn’t available. Wouldn’t work though. He couldn’t seem to come up with one plausible reason. And when he opened the door and she looked up, her eyes wide and her mouth open slightly, he believed maybe he wouldn’t need to come up with a reason for her to leave.

  Seth knew that his appearance was a bit offsetting and terrifying. He was the tallest of his brothers at six foot three, and he managed to work out daily, usually on the property building fences, chopping wood, and taking care of the animals. When he needed more to beat stress, he had an entire gym in the garage that he used. Here lately he’d spent so much time building a new barn, he hadn’t hit the weights, not like he did back when he was in special forces that required him to be at his fittest.

  Did her nose wrinkle? He was certain his scraggly hair and beard only made him appear fiercer.

  Her eyes were blue, he could see that now as they skimmed his tattoo that covered from one shoulder to elbow on his left arm and then the bright blues scooted to the ghastly scars on his chest. He hadn’t thought about pulling on a shirt and now regretted it. Her gaze lingered a little longer at his side, at his other tattoo. He’d gotten it when he was a kid, thinking he was cool, but after a few years as a Ranger, he’d had the childhood screw-up covered with a tatt that meant something. He and his unit had gotten similar designs of a cross and Ranger crest, and the saying, “Death is certain. Life is not.” He had another larger ink design on his back.

  Her frown deepened. What was she expecting?

  If she was hoping to find one of the Knights she saw in the tabloids, she would be highly disappointed.

  He always found it entertaining when he came across someone who knew him as one of the Knight brothers, expecting Seth to be like the others. Declan and Victor, who were often in the public eye, were stylish and sophisticated. Quentin and Christian were popular in their own right. All of them were intelligent and business savvy, having attended the best schools and colleges, with Theodore’s money making abilities in their blood. When it came to Seth, people were taken back by his rugged appearance. He’d even once been asked by a woman if he was a teddy bear underneath all the rough edges, but he’d made it clear that the only thing soft and furry on him was the thick mass of hair on his head and jaw. The rest was raw and worn. Riddled with scars and shrapnel still buried in his muscles. He had enough sharp points that he tended to cut people, not that it was his intention. People found him intimidating, but when the woman on his porch blinked and her cheeks flushed, he felt bad that he was so large and daunting. So, as he did when he wanted to make a good impression, he smiled. He’d been told that he had a nice, dimpled smile.

  She just stood there and stared. Even her dog was staring.

  “You must be here about the cabin?” The cab backed out and headed down the lane, kicking up dust. He blinked. “You sure you don’t want the cab to wait?”

  This was a bit presumptuous of her.

  *****

  Reese Shane stood outside the door staring at the giant of a man who filled the doorway with his broad, intimidating physique. Her knees wobbled. Although she’d heard a lot about Seth Knight, she hadn’t seen any pictures of him and had no clue who she’d be facing today. If she’d known he would be so…well, intimidating, she probably would have second-guessed showing up uninvited with her dog and suitcase. Yet Reese never was one to back down from anything that meant something to her, so even being here now, surrounded by awkwardness and faced with a scowling man, she was glad she’d come.

  Even his dog was a bit scary.

  She lowered her gaze to the man’s bare upper body and swallowed. He was a soldier so the tattoos weren’t a surprise, not really. But the coiled muscles, marked skin, and caveman appearance certainly was. What she knew, Seth had been quite a recluse since the incident in Syria a year ago that had left his unit dead. Later, he’d received the medal of honor because he’d taken down his target single handily while bleeding and barely conscious. He’d sort of disappeared off the face of the earth after he’d come home.

  She recognized some of the black ink designs as tribute to his unit. Beyond the scars, his chest was smooth except for a fist-sized patch of black, wiry hair. Dipping her gaze lower to his twelve-pack, she guessed he didn’t have an ounce of fat anywhere on his body. She worked her way to the low waist of his jeans and the prominent dip of his obliques. It would only be rude of her to stare any longer.

  Reese brought her gaze back to his face and the scowl had been replaced with a smile—a nice smile. He was a handsome man which caused her mind to work harder. His eyes were beautiful and the sunlight seemed to dance in the pools of azure. The thick silver-peppered beard covered half of his face, adding to his prominent, almost medieval, features. His high cheekbones would be the envy of a plastic surgeon. When his lips dipped, smile fading, she realized she had to move quickly. She needed Seth Knight, and soon he’d see that he needed her too. All she had to do was convince him.

  Inhaling a reassuring breath, she placed her suitcase next to her feet and smoothed her clammy palms down her thighs. “I’m not here about the cabin.”

  His frown grew and her stomach flipped. “Yeah? Then you’re at the wrong place.”

  “I’m Reese Shane.” She bravely held out her hand, hoping he didn’t see it trembling.

  He stared at her hand a good three long seconds before he brought his gaze back up, all sliver of friendliness gone, exchanged for one of suspicion and irritation that made him look far more dangerous. She had a vision of all the enemies he’d chased away with one look. “What the fuck?”

  She swallowed the cotton ball feeling in her throat. Stay strong, Reese. “You left me no other choice but to show up here, I’m afraid. You wouldn’t take any of my calls or respond to my messages. This was the only way.”

  “Lady, there’s a reason why I didn’t respond. Not my fault you can’t take a hint.” He started to close the door, but she stepped forward. Probably not the best idea, but this was her last chance for her project, Step for Light. He growled and narrowed his gaze.

  “I’m sorry. I know this was a risky decision, but I was under the impression after speaking with Angelina that you would see me and give me a chance to plead my case.”

  The wrinkles around his eyes deepened. “When did you speak to her?”

  “A year ago.”

  “Well then, you should know that she passed three months ago.”

  Her chest constricted. Unfortunately, if Angelina was still alive Reese wouldn’t be here, reaching for slim chances with a ma
n who looked like he was ready to crawl back into his cave. “I’m sorry. I heard. I-I…well, she was such an amazing woman.” She looked down at her shoes. Doubt spiraled through her that she’d ever see her efforts to help veterans with head injuries come to fruition. Gripping her purse tightly at her side, she felt disappointment rising, but forced it back down. She had nothing to lose at this point.

  “She didn’t mention your name to me. Why did it take so long for you to contact me?”

  “Angelina asked me to contact her once I was ready to move forward with Step for Light. When I first spoke with her, I had only just received Abby.” She petted the German Shepherd’s head. “Angelina wanted to see this project take shape also. I wouldn’t lie to you about her interest, or that she felt you would be too.”

  He dropped his gaze to the dog, then shrugged. “Angelina gave you false hope. I’m not interested.” He started to close the door again, but she put a hand up.

  “And yet you suffered injuries while in the service too. I’m puzzled as to why you have such unwillingness to help, or even to just listen.”

  He sighed and brought the door wide again. “I have my reasons, none I’d like to share with you.”

  “You can’t give me five minutes?” She wasn’t too proud to plead. Over the last few years, she’d witnessed hundreds of men and women who were diagnosed with epilepsy. She’d been lucky enough herself to have a service dog. Abby warned her when a seizure was coming so Reese could find a safe place.

  “I don’t have five minutes to spare.”

  “It looks like you’re real busy out here in the middle of nowhere.” She looked around the quiet property, scanning the mountains in the distance. “As Angelina had mentioned, this property is the perfect place for healing.”

  “I have my shoes to polish. You have about three hours before nightfall. If you start walking now you might make it into town by then.” And with that the door slammed shut.

  A part of her wanted to beat on the door. Beat it down if necessary, until he took the time to hear her out, but what good would it do? He seemed to already slam the door closed on helping and she could probably talk until she was blue in the face with no further achievement. She had better things to do too, but she couldn’t quite find anything else on her ‘to do list’ outside of finding an investor for her project.

  Dropping her shoulders in defeat, she looked down at Abby. “What a jerk, huh Abs?” Grabbing up her suitcase, she stepped off the porch with the dog following close. She looked up at the sky and cringed. Dark clouds were moving in fast. Just her luck. Reaching into her purse, she dug for her phone and pulled it out. No service. No way to call for a cab. Looking back over her shoulder to the cabin, she knew there was no way she’d ask Dark Knight to use his phone. She’d rather swim her way back to town.

  Walking a little further down the lane, she held her phone high, low, and upside down, hoping she’d get a bar or two of service eventually. Nothing.

  Pelted in the face by rain drops with Abby whimpering, Reese sighed.

  “Well, I guess there’s no way things could get worse at this point,” she mumbled.

  A bolt of lightning struck the sky and she jumped. Abby took several paces back and whined.

  “I guess I spoke too soon.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Seth could practically see the defeat in the woman from where he watched her at the window. She sat uncomfortably under the safety of a large tree with her dog laying at her feet. He’d never seen something so pathetic in his life, and he’d never felt such a strong knot of guilt in his chest. He didn’t like behaving like a prick, but at the same time, if people only understood how many funding requests he received, they’d know why he was wary. And if what this Reese woman said was true, why didn’t Angelina mention it to him? Although, his sister had been pretty sick before she died.

  The rain assaulted the roof harder and, although she’d taken shelter, it couldn’t be pleasant standing outside with it pouring—a boom of thunder shook the sky—and now storming.

  “Shit!”

  He looked down at Spike who was eyeing Seth guiltily. “I didn’t ask her to come here. She seems complicated. I don’t like complicated.”

  Spike whimpered.

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Can’t have a woman, uninvited or not, catching her death on our front lawn.”

  Grabbing his T-shirt from the arm of the chair, he dragged it on, slipped on his dusty boots and darted outside. Once he stepped off the porch the rain pelted him. He looked back to see that Spike wasn’t moving from the shelter. “Yeah, I see how you are.” Seth shook his head. He dashed across the wet grass to where the woman and her dog were soaked.

  She just stared at him, her bottom lip quivering and the poor dog looking miserable.

  Without a word, Seth grabbed the suitcase and turned back toward the cabin.

  “Hey, where are you going with my things?” She grabbed his arm.

  He looked down at her slender fingers pressing into his skin, seeing that she wasn’t wearing a wedding ring. Her hand looked remarkably pale against his tanned arm, not to mention, an eruption of unwanted prickles warmed his muscles. That made him angrier. “I’m helping you inside, unless you’d rather stay out here in the rain? You’re asking for trouble sitting under this tree with all of this lightning.”

  She looked down at her dog and back at him. “If I wasn’t worried about Abby, I’d definitely choose the rain,” she snapped, called for Abby to follow, and she took off for the cabin.

  Seth stayed back a few paces, watching her stomp up on to the porch, attempting not to admire the feminine sway of her hips, but it was impossible. He smiled. He’d pissed her off. Well, then that makes two of them, although the nice soft curve of her hips certainly did ease his irritation a bit. Even though he hadn’t been with a woman in a long time didn’t mean he no longer craved it.

  Once inside, he placed her suitcase next to the wall and closed the door. Spike was sniffing Abby in curiosity. Same for Spike. He didn’t meet many female dogs.

  “Is he safe?” Reese pointed at Spike.

  “Don’t let his snarled, pugged-nose appearance fool you. He’s a baby covered in fur. Behave yourself, Spike,” Seth commanded. The dog obeyed immediately, going back to the rug in front of the fireplace.

  “Wow, a dog that actually has better manners than his owner.” She lifted her chin, nailing him with an accusatory glare that only humored him. She jerked her purse strap higher up on her shoulder.

  Not that he could see, but he felt the lasers on his back as he strolled across the room to grab the cell from the table. She was probably sizing him up, curious how she could maneuver around his invisible wall to get him to listen. He expected her pleading any second, but shockingly it didn’t come. “We need that cab back.”

  “My cell isn’t working so I can’t call for cab service.”

  “We have sketchy service out here, but this should work.” He handed over the phone.

  She hesitated before taking the offering. “Thank you.”

  From the tone of her voice, he didn’t quite believe she meant her words. She stood there without making a move. He raised a brow.

  “Do you have the number to the cab company?”

  He nodded, went into the adjoining kitchen to his laptop and clicked on Google to search for the number. He gave it to her and sat down, his curiosity growing. Pulling up his emails, he typed ‘Angelina’ in the search bar and a handful of emails popped up. He scrolled down the list and found one with the description ‘Step for Light’.

  While his guest spoke to the cab company, he opened Angelina’s email sent eleven months ago. He’d never been the best at checking his mail.

  “How’s my sweet brother doing? Why didn’t you come and see me as you promised? Don’t make me come there. I met someone at a charity event who I want you to make contact with. You said you didn’t know what you wanted to do with all that space? I have an idea. By the way, her name is Ree
se Shane and she was in the military too. Not only is she adorable, but she has a project, Step for Light, I think we could help with. I truly believe this would be good for you in joining her, and hopefully finding something you love to do again. It’s not good to be so alone out there in nowhere land. Smooches and hugs. Call me soon.”

  He lifted his chin and looked over the screen. Reese still held the phone to her ear, but her gaze was on him. She could cut him in two simply with her eyes. Yeah, ‘adorable’ alright.

  So, Angelina did indeed send him an email. This changed things a bit.

  Reese bent over to pet Spike. He caught another glance at the soaked woman and his gut pinged. Most of her hair had fallen from her bun and clung to her neck. Her face was scattered with moisture, and her clothes, a simple top and skinny jeans, were plastered against her body. The ever-present dog still stood loyally at her side. There was a story with the dog, Seth guaranteed it.

  Not sold on the project or the woman leaving a puddle on his nicely polished wood floor, he lost a bit of his frustration knowing this was something his sister believed in enough to contact him. The least he could do was give Reese a little time.

  He closed the laptop as she clicked off the phone.

  “It’s going to take a bit I’m afraid.” She placed the cell on the coffee table. “Abby and I can wait on the porch.”

  “No, you shouldn’t do that.”

  She brought her chin up, meeting his gaze in curiosity. “I don’t want to impose.”

  “The hell you don’t. You didn’t have a worry when you showed up here uninvited.”

  “Big mistake, I know. Goodbye.” She started for the door.

  “Wait. It’s chilly out there.” He stepped to the hallway closet and grabbed two towels. He came back and handed them over. “One for you and one for…what did you say her name is?”

  “Abby.”

  “I can’t stand to see a poor animal cold.”

  “Hmph, but you don’t have a problem seeing a human wet and cold?”