by Leah Brooke
Serena pouted, something that she did very rarely, and that he found incredibly adorable. “I can’t find it, and my head’ll fall off if I bend down to look for it. I’m fine, Alastair. Those damned hard shoes of his got me good, though. I should have worn combat boots instead of sandals. He’d already kicked my ankle, and the clod didn’t even notice.”
Cursing, he concentrated on his driving. “We’ll be home in a few minutes. I wonder how DuBois plans to get into our house.”
“He plans to cut the security. He’s actually pretty good at it.”
“And the dogs?”
Serena gave him a genuine smile for the first time since they’d left the party. “Yeah, well, he’s not very well informed. He doesn’t know about the babies.”
* * * *
Concern for Serena had Ian racing out of the house to the driveway, reaching for the door handle before Alastair shifted to park. Unsurprised that the dogs came running, he flung the door open and reached for her, his stomach clenching at her paleness. Stricken by the sight of her leaning weakly back against the headrest, her eyes narrowed to slits against the pain, he leaned over her and undid her seat belt before gathering her against him. “Come on, baby. I swear I can’t let you out of my sight for a minute. Shh. Don’t talk. I know it hurts your head. I’ve got a cool cloth waiting for your head and an ice pack for your foot. Damn. It’s swollen. He stepped hard, didn’t he? I felt it as I was coming down the stairs, and I know that it’s only a fraction of what you feel. You know, feeling what you feel sucks sometimes.”
Serena smiled weakly and leaned into him, putting out a hand for the dogs, who each nudged her hand once as they followed Ian to the front door.
When all three sat outside the front door and whined, Ian smiled down at Serena. “They know you’re hurting, don’t they?”
“Yes. They’re worried. I told them that I’m all right.” Her voice, barely above a whisper sounded even weaker, tightening the knots in his stomach.
To please Serena, Ian paused and eyed the dogs. “Your mistress doesn’t feel well, but I’ll take care of her.” He kissed her hair. “Poor baby. You did so well. Once we get you settled, Alastair will make you a cup of that tea you like so much.”
Serena didn’t object to his fussing, which told him that she was in a hell of a lot more pain than she let on.
Gripping the front of his shirt, she shook her head, closing her eyes again with a moan. “I need to tell you what happened.”
Carrying her inside, Ian moved slowly, careful not to jostle her. “Alastair already let me listen to everything. Just rest, baby.”
The fact that she hadn’t realized that he and Alastair wouldn’t have been communicating with each other told him what kind of shape she was in. Bypassing the living room, he carried her straight to the bedroom they shared with her, trying not to jostle her. Lowering her to the bed, he shot a look at his brother. “How the hell could you let this happen? I thought you were blocking out everything else. You know she has to be shielded when she’s out in public. She’s not ready to go it alone.”
Alastair had already begun undressing her, his eyes filled with concern, and to his surprise—regret. “She insisted. She’s a grown woman, and it meant a lot to her to help us. I had already blocked her too much when he hurt her, and it was smothering her.” Tossing her clothes aside, he went to the dresser drawer where she kept her nightgowns, pulling out one of the soft cotton ones she loved so much. “I hurt her without meaning to so when she asked me to lift the shield, I did.” Scrubbing a hand over his face, he looked at Ian, his eyes bleak. “I was smothering her.”
Serena gripped Ian’s arm, opening her eyes to slits again. “Please don’t blame Alastair. He was trying to protect me. Neither one of us realized that he’s learned how to build such a strong shield.” She turned her head to smile at Alastair, reaching out a hand to him, a hand he took immediately. “It feels good to help. You know what happened. It was an accident. He was blocking me so much I got claustrophobic, and I made him stop. He lifted the shield because he knew I needed it.” Sitting up, she hissed when Ian placed the ice pack on her foot. “I got more information in ten seconds than you could have gotten in a month.”
Alastair helped her into her gown and leaned over her. Smiling down at her, he settled her back against the pillow, his smile tight. “You’re right, darling. You’re a natural. We never could have gotten that information without your help.”
Ian felt like a heel.
Placing the cool cloth over her forehead, Ian leaned down to touch his lips to hers. “Yes, you were a big help, but I can’t stand to see you in pain. I never, and I mean never, want you to put yourself in this position again.”
Serena frowned up at him, her violet eyes flashing. “That’s ridiculous. I’m not going to let you make me feel useless.” She snuggled into the covers Alastair pulled over her, moaning when he lifted her foot onto a pillow. “We just have a few kinks to work out.”
Alastair frowned down at her foot, turning it gently to study it. “It looks like the swelling’s going down a little but keep it on the pillow with the ice.”
“It’s freezing.”
Alastair grinned. “I’ll go get your tea to warm you up.”
Ian stared down at her as Alastair left the room, feeling left out. “You’re not useless, damn it. You have a job, remember? Painting. You have several paintings to get ready for your next showing. You’re busy enough, and I don’t want you hurting yourself by helping us.” Stretching out next to her, he took her in his arms, keeping his voice low in deference to her headache. “The last thing you are is useless. Christ, you make me crazy. I’m very much afraid I’d be lost without you, and when you’re hurting, it ties me up in knots.”
Bracing himself on his elbow, he leaned over her, gently pushing her hair back from her forehead. “Which is why I don’t want you getting involved with our assignments anymore.” Lifting his gaze, he glared at Alastair, who walked into the room with her tea.
Alastair laughed softly. “In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve fallen in love with a mind reader, one who’s reveling in her newfound freedom.” Running his hand over her hair, he sighed, his gaze holding Ian’s.
She really is good at this. She needs to feel needed. She likes being part of this, and I want to tie her to us every way we can. Don’t you think she deserves a little adventure? At least we can watch her.
Ian looked up at the sound of the dogs coming up the hardwood stairs. It looks like we’re not the only ones determined to watch over her.
Ian turned to see Serena smiling and struggling to sit up, her eyes a little clearer. “You do realize that King, Zeus, and Rip are trained—highly expensively trained—guard dogs? You’re spoiling them.”
Serena smiled and leaned into him, sipping her tea. “You’re the one who agreed to put in the dog door so they could come in and out of the house whenever they want.”
Ian sighed and smiled, kissing her temple. “That’s because I seem to be spoiling you.”
She stared at the dogs, who sat watching her attentively, cocking their heads in unison.
Intrigued by her relationship with them, Ian cuddled her against him, fighting back his body’s instinctive response to her nearness. “What did you say to them?”
“I told them that I would be okay, and to watch out for the bad man who wants to sneak in.”
“Did they answer you?”
“Of course.”
Straightening, Ian stared down at her. “You’re kidding.”
Serena sat up again and took another sip of her tea. “No. They’ll be on guard for the bad man, and as soon as you both leave the room, they plan to jump on the bed with me.”
Ian turned to the dogs, his eyes narrowed. “No. You’re not.”
Serena stiffened next to him, her hand going to the necklace she still wore. “I forgot about the necklace. Can you take it off? Return it to the store before he can break in and steal it.”
Ian frowned. “Why would we return your necklace?”
“You can’t give me a necklace like that. It had to have cost a fortune.”
Alastair chuckled and shook his head. “It’s yours. Stop arguing about it. I like seeing you wear it. For now, though, you need to rest.”
Ian unclasped it. “I have to go meet Jonathan and give him what I took from DuBois’s safe. DuBois is going to be very desperate now. He doesn’t have that jewelry to sell.”
Serena lifted her head, moving a little more easily. “He was going to meet with someone tomorrow to sell it.”
Alastair grinned. “He’s going to be desperate for money. I wonder when he plans to break in here.”
Shaking her head, Serena sighed. “I can’t believe that someone from the FBI or CIA or some other department isn’t working on this.”
Ian adjusted the pillows behind her back, propping her up so she could rest comfortably. “They are. They have been for over two years. Now we know why they haven’t been able to get anything. It’s one of their own giving out information, and I’m sure he’s telling things about the operation, just enough to keep DuBois from getting caught. If anything comes out, Garner knows he’ll be in a hell of a lot of trouble, and I’m sure he doesn’t know about DuBois selling the information. He thinks it’s Rita, and he’s protecting her.”
Alastair bent to kiss her, taking her empty cup and setting it aside. “I have a plan in mind. Garner won’t be expecting us, and he certainly won’t be expecting you.”
Serena grinned. “And we can be there when he’s arrested?”
Ian chuckled, relieved that Serena appeared to be recovering. After a night of pampering, she should feel a lot better. “No. We can’t. We have to pretend to be just as surprised as the others.” He shot a glance at Alastair. “I’m going to go over the plan with Alastair and alter it so it doesn’t involve you.”
“But, Ian—”
Lifting her chin, he studied her features. “You’re feeling a little better, but tonight wore you out. I want you to rest.”
He worried about her headaches and took the responsibility of shielding her from the thoughts of others very seriously.
“I’m fine.” Serena pouted, her full lips begging to be kissed. “That’s not fair. I want to help, and I want to see him arrested.”
After kissing her shoulder, Ian rose, finding it harder and harder to leave her side. “Staying in the background helps protect our identity and makes us more effective. I’m going to go see Jonathan and then watch DuBois. I want to see what he does when he discovers that the jewels are missing.”
Serena started to get up, but Alastair settled in the bed beside her, preventing it by wrapping his arm around her and lying back. “I’ll come with you.”
Shaking his head, Ian slipped on his rubber-soled boots. “No. You won’t. You’ll lie there and get rid of the rest of that headache and rest.” He took the ice from her foot, pausing to inspect her toes. Pleased that they looked better, he tossed the ice pack aside. “Alastair will put it back on in a little while. Wiggle your toes.”
He ran his fingers over them, pressing slightly. Relieved that the pain seemed to be easing and that nothing seemed to be broken, he covered her foot again. “Good. Now behave. Stay off that foot tonight and rest.”
He pulled his hair back, secured it to keep it out of his way, and grabbed the small black bag always kept ready with supplies he might need while watching a suspect. Packed with binoculars, a listening device, gloves, a black ski mask, burner phone and flashlight, he had water and several protein bars. “Take care of her.”
“Of course.” Alastair stretched out next to her. “I’ll relieve you in a couple of hours.”
Ian snapped his fingers for the dogs to follow him, resisting the urge to look back.
Pride in her growing confidence continuously fought a battle with his fear at her growing independence.
He hated needy, clingy women. He always had.
Trust fate to make him fall in love with such a stubborn woman.
Her gift still astounded him, and he struggled to keep up with the changes in it, and in her.
He wanted her to be free of the torture it caused her but also worried that she’d find she no longer needed him.
He loved her so damned much that it made him crazy.
She fascinated him on so many levels that he knew he could spend a lifetime getting to know her.
She’d been so brave, determined to go to her cousin’s wedding no matter the emotional cost to herself, only to find that her cousin wasn’t interested in being family at all.
She had no one now, except them.
She grew braver and more self-assured every day, filling him with pride.
As she spread her wings and experienced things she never had before—never could before—Ian grew more determined to keep her from flying away.
Chapter Five
The feel of someone moving beside her woke Serena from a deep sleep. Moaning softly in regret at the loss of warmth, she turned toward where Alastair had been sleeping beside her and struggled to open her eyes. “Are my eyes open? Where the hell are you?”
Chuckling softly, he turned on the light next to the bed and bent to kiss her hair, blocking the light. “I was trying not to wake you, but it never works.” Sliding a hand down her body, he brushed his lips over hers. “How do you feel?”
Snuggling into his touch, she reached for him, smiling at the feel of warm, hard muscle beneath her fingers. “Better. What time is it?”
Straightening, he moved to the foot of the bed and lifted the blanket to run his fingertips lightly over her toes. “Almost four. I need to go relieve Ian. He’ll be home soon, and you can cuddle with him and go back to sleep. The swelling’s down. Try to stay off of it.”
Pushing the covers aside, she got up gingerly, pleased to see that Alastair was right. Her foot no longer hurt. “Ian’ll be hungry and want a shower.” Reaching for her robe, she turned, taking the time to admire Alastair’s gorgeous body as he dressed all in black. “And then he’s going to want more than a cuddle.”
Alastair stilled, turning to search her features. “Can you read his mind?”
Shaking her head, she finished tying her robe. “No. That’s what I was dreaming about before you woke me up. He’s drenched and not happy.” Sitting on the edge of the bed, she watched him finish dressing, struck once again that he belonged to her, at least until she was able to read his thoughts. “I wanted to go on one of your stakeouts.”
A flash of lightning following by the crack of thunder accompanied the pelt of rain against the window.
Alastair raised a brow. “Now?”
Serena went to his closet and retrieved a black waterproof jacket. Handing it to him, she winced at another crack of thunder. “Ian’s soaked. Hmm. Cold, rainy night or staying in bed with Ian. Tough choice.”
“Brat.” He frowned when her stomach rumbled. “Sounds like you’re hungry. You didn’t eat a thing at the party.”
“Neither did you. Then again, we didn’t stay very long.” She closed the distance between them, running her hands over his chest and reveling at the feel of hard muscle and the soft black turtleneck that covered it. “You look sexy in black. Are you hungry?”
Sliding his hands inside her robe and to her lower back, he pulled her close. “I think I like when you fuss.”
“I’m not fussing.” Embarrassed that she’d sounded like a wife, she tried to pull away, slapping at him when he chuckled softly and pulled her even closer.
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch. I like when you act wifely.”
Not about to respond to that, Serena flattened her hands on his chest and avoided his gaze. “I’ll fix one of the casseroles Mrs. Shea keeps in the freezer. Aren’t you glad you hired her?”
Turning away so he wouldn’t see her burning face, she straightened the bed, even though she knew it would be a mess after she and Ian made love.
She’d dreamed of it, been
a part of it, and knew he would be wilder than usual.
He had a primitive side to him that took her off guard sometimes, the desperation in his lovemaking overwhelming her.
Anticipation of what lay ahead had the beginnings of arousal simmering just beneath the surface.
Alastair’s solid body pressed against her back, adding to her arousal. “Yes. We wouldn’t have hired her if you hadn’t read her mind and told us she was trustworthy. I’m just glad she’s only here during the daytime. It’s a pain in the ass for one of us to hide in the panic room while she’s here.”
Serena smiled, turning in his arms and wrapping her arms around his waist. “You’ve got everything you want in there. A bed so you can sleep. A small kitchen, a bathroom, and a bunch of computer equipment. What else could you need?”
With a smile, he bent to nuzzle the spot on her neck that drove her wild. “You. I’m glad she’s only here three days a week and that Ian and I take turns in the panic room.”
Loving the feel of being in his arms, she leaned back to stare up at him. “And yet you pay her for being here daily.”
“We don’t need her here every day.” Turning her in his arms, he slapped her bottom. “Besides, we need our privacy, Serena. You know that better than anyone. Can you imagine what would happen if others found out there are two of us?” Rubbing the spot he’d slapped, he kissed the top of her head. “You’re the only one who knows.”
“How the hell have you managed to keep it a secret all these years?”
Alastair grinned. “When my mother brought us to this country, she couldn’t afford to pay for three passages. We were both infants, so she hid one of us in her bag and carried the other in her arms. When we got to Ellis Island, I was the one in her arms, so she used my name. Ian doesn’t exist.”
She smiled at the memory of her first meeting with Ian and his reaction when she’d told him that he was Ian, Alastair’s brother. “And Ian kidnapped me so I wouldn’t tell anyone. That’s why everyone calls you both Wyn, but they all know that your real name is Alastair.”
