by Lori Foster
Sawyer rubbed his neck, trying to ease his growing tension. He didn’t like the idea much himself. If he had his way, he’d never let her get within shouting distance of the bastard. But he couldn’t take the pressure anymore, waiting for something to happen so they could act and put an end to it. And he couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her.
To get things settled, they had to force the issue, and calling her ex was the only way he could think of to do it.
He stared down at her and resisted the urge to hold her close. “Morgan and I discussed it. We both still think Alden is involved somehow. You said yourself that his behavior was strange. The only problem is finding the link. If you call him, we can listen in and maybe we’ll catch something you missed.”
Her expression turned mulish, so he quickly clarified. “I’m not suggesting we’re any better at this than you are. But at the time you left, you were upset. Now you’re calm, and we’re totally detached.” Only he wasn’t. He was in so far, he didn’t know if he’d ever see daylight again. He cleared his throat and forged on. “Between us we might pick up a small detail that will make sense. I know the waiting is hard on you.”
She nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving his face. “I was just telling Gabe that I think I should stop imposing on you all.”
His stomach knotted. “And no doubt Gabe told you that was nonsense.”
“Well, yes.”
Gabe put his arm around her shoulders. “Damn right I did. She’s not going anywhere until we know it’s safe.”
“And this is the best way to find out if it is or not,” Sawyer replied, trying to ignore the way Gabe held her and the hot jealousy he couldn’t deny. The only male who could touch her without setting off his possessive alarms was his son. And it was a good thing, since Casey seemed even more inclined than the rest to dote on her. Sawyer was almost certain Casey had his own agenda in mind, but unlike the others, Casey wasn’t as easy to figure out. He’d always been a mature kid, proud and too smart for his own good, but he’d never been overly demonstrative with anyone but the family. In fact, he was usually more closed off, keeping his thoughts and feelings private. The way he’d so openly accepted Honey was enough to raise a few brows.
“You plan to set some bait?” Gabe asked, pulling Honey even closer as if to shield her. From Sawyer.
He scowled and nudged Gabe away, looping his own arm around Honey and hauling her up possessively against him, regardless of her chagrined struggle. “Not exactly bait. You know I wouldn’t endanger her. But I want her to come right out and tell the bastard that she’s been followed, that she’s in hiding, that she damn well might go to the police despite her father’s absurd edict if she doesn’t get some answers. There’s a good chance Alden will slip up and give something away.”
Gabe gave a thoughtful nod. “It’s not a bad plan. If he’s innocent, we should be able to tell, don’t you think?”
“I would hope.”
Honey stepped away from both men. “Do I have any say-so in this?”
Sawyer looked at her warily. In the past two weeks he’d come to learn her moods well. Right now she was plenty peeved, and when Honey wasn’t happy, she had no qualms about letting them all know it. The fact that she was one small woman in a household of five large men didn’t appear to intimidate her one bit. “Uh…sure.”
“Then no. I’m not doing it. What if Alden is at the heart of it all? What if he traces the call? He’s certainly capable of doing that. Then the trouble could land right here at your own front door.”
“And you still don’t trust us to take care of you?” His temper started a slow boil; this was a constant bone of contention between them. “You think we’re all so helpless we’d let someone hurt you? That I’d let anyone hurt you?”
In a sudden burst of temper, she went on tiptoes and jutted her chin at Sawyer. “I’m not thinking of me, dammit! I’m thinking of you and your family!”
Gabe glanced at Sawyer, a comical look of disbelief on his face. “She’s trying to protect us?”
Sawyer crossed his arms over his chest and nodded, thoroughly bemused and annoyed. “Looks that way.”
Throwing her hands into the air, Honey shouted, “You’re not invincible!”
Sawyer rolled his eyes to the heavens. He wanted to shake her, and he wanted to take her back into the shed, slam the door on the world and make love to her again. Just that morning, right before dawn, he’d slipped into her bed and attempted to rouse her with gentle kisses and touches. But things always turned wild with Honey, no matter his resolve. When he’d left the room for his office shortly after seven o’clock, he’d been totally spent, and his legs had been shaking from the vigorous lovemaking they’d indulged in. Honey had gone soundly back to sleep. He’d never known a person who could sleep as hard and sound as she did. She’d be awake one moment, gone the next, especially after sex. A marching band could go through the room, and she wouldn’t stir so much as an eyelash.
Now, it felt like months since he’d touched her. He turned away. “We’re not dealing with organized crime, sweetheart. Buckhorn is a small county without a lot of need for reinforcements. It’s natural for us to rely on ourselves to take care of problems whenever possible. But until we figure out exactly who is after you, we’re helpless. Getting more information is the only sensible thing to do.”
She looked ready to kick dirt at him, then she turned on her heel and stomped back to the shed. Gabe stared after her. She went to the back of the car and opened the trunk.
“I can’t keep messing with her car much longer. She’s starting to get suspicious. If I don’t fix it soon, she’ll figure it out, or else she’ll decide I’m an inept idiot. I don’t relish either prospect.”
Sawyer’s smile was grim. “Yeah, you must’ve changed everything that can be changed by now.”
“Just about. Changing a few parts that had to be ordered was a stroke of genius, if I say so myself.” Gabe shrugged. “I don’t think she knows it’s in better running order now than ever, but to be on the safe side, I took a few wires off in case she decides to give it a try. I’m still not willing to trust her to stay put.”
“We can’t keep her here forever.”
Gabe rubbed some grease off his thumb, trying to look indifferent. But Sawyer heard the calculating tone to his words. “I don’t see why not.”
Sawyer sighed. “Because this isn’t her home. She has a sister who’s dying to see her again, despite the reassurances Honey gave her over the phone.” Honey had called her sister, Misty, the morning she’d accepted the fact they wouldn’t let her leave while there was danger. Misty had been relieved that her sister was safe, and very curious about the men she was staying with. Sawyer had spoken a few words with her, trying to allay her concerns. Misty had a husky voice and a lot of loyalty. Sawyer had liked her instantly.
“She can call her sister again. That’s not a problem. Or better yet, her sister could visit her here.”
All the brothers were curious about Misty Malone, much to Honey’s amusement. Sawyer sighed. “She also has some issues she needs to resolve with her father.”
“Ha! I personally think she’d be better off never laying eyes on the man again.”
“If everything she’s told us is accurate, then I’d agree. But I’ve never met the man and I have no idea what motivates him.”
“You’re defending him?”
Sawyer understood Gabe’s disbelief. From what she’d said, Honey’s father wasn’t an easy man to like. “You’ve met Honey. You’ve gotten to know her in the last few weeks. Do you honestly believe any male could be so immune to her, but especially her father?”
Gabe seemed to chew that over. “I see what you mean. She’s such a sweetheart, she’s hard to resist. No, I can’t imagine a man, any man, not loving her on sight.”
Sawyer felt those words like a sucker punch in the solar plexis. It took his breath away. “I wasn’t talking about love, dammit.”
With a pitying look, Gabe
shook his head. “Be glad you staked a claim first, Sawyer, because just about anyone else would be more than glad to talk about love. Maybe you should remember that while you’re being so pigheaded.”
It took two steps for Sawyer to be chest to chest with his youngest brother. Through his teeth, he growled, “Just what the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Gabe didn’t back down, but then Sawyer would have been surprised if he had. Instead, he took a step closer so they almost touched, and his eyes narrowed. “It means, you stubborn ass, that she’s—”
Honey suddenly shoved herself between them. She had a large box in her hands, and her scowl was hotter than the blazing sunshine. “Don’t you two start! I’ve got enough to worry about right now without having to listen to you bicker!”
Flustered, Sawyer glared one more time at Gabe then forcefully took the box from Honey. “Men don’t bicker.”
“Ha! You were both muttering low and growling and acting like bulldogs facing off over a meaty bone. It’s absurd for brothers to carry on that way.”
Gabe blinked at her. “We were just…uh, discussing things.”
“Uh-huh. Like what?”
Sawyer stared at her, stymied for just a moment, then he hefted the box. “What the hell have you got in here?”
Sidetracked, she said, “My stereo stuff. It’s been in the trunk. Thank goodness nothing got wet when I went in the lake. Since I’ve had no reason to listen to music lately, I’d almost forgotten about it—until Casey and I decided to dance.”
Gabe muffled a startled laugh. “You’re going to what?”
She sniffed in disdain at his attitude. “Dance. To my music. What you men listen to is appalling.”
Gabe trotted along beside them as Sawyer started toward the house with the box. “It’s called country and it’s damn good.”
She made a face. “Yes, well, I prefer rock and roll.”
“This oughta be good.”
Her gaze turned to Gabe. “You plan to watch?”
“Hell, yes.”
“If you do,” she warned, as if she could make him reconsider, “you’ll have to dance, too.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
Sawyer marched through the back door, through the kitchen, down the hall and into the family room. The stereo was on a built-in shelf beside the huge stone fireplace centered on the outside wall. The speakers hung from the pine walls in four locations beneath the cathedral ceiling. This room wasn’t carpeted, but instead had a large area rug in a Native American motif that covered the middle of the polished wood floor. Facing the front of the house, it had a wall of windows reaching to the ceiling, shaded by the enormous elms out front. Two comfortable couches, a variety of padded armchairs and some eclectic tables hand-made from area denizens filled the room.
The first time they’d all gotten together and played music and chess and arm wrestled, in general goofing off and relaxing, Honey had looked agog at all the noise. Their boisterous arguments over the chess match, more intense than those over the wrestling, almost drowned out the country songs, and she had winced as if in pain. After half an hour she’d claimed a headache and said she was going down by the lake to sit on the dock and enjoy the evening air and quiet.
Sawyer had promptly followed her, ignoring the gibes of his brothers and Casey’s ear-to-ear grin. Knowing he wouldn’t be interrupted, not when they all worked so hard at conniving just such a situation for him, he’d made love to her under the stars. Dew from the lake had dampened their heated bodies, and Honey’s soft moans were enhanced by the sounds of gentle waves lapping at the shore. Now, looking at her face, he could tell she was remembering, too.
He dropped the box and took a step toward her. Her eyes suddenly looked heavy, the pulse in her throat raced, her skin flushed. Damn, he was getting hard.
Casey hit him in the back. “Snap out of it, Dad. I’m too young to see this, and Uncle Gabe is about to fall down laughing.”
Sawyer scowled at Gabe, who lifted his hands innocently even though his shoulders were shaking with mirth, then he turned to Casey and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Where did you come from?”
“Well, according to you and that talk we had when I was seven—”
Sawyer put him a headlock and mussed his hair. “Smart ass. You know that wasn’t what I meant.”
The second Casey twisted free, laughing, Honey stepped forward and smoothed his hair back down. And he let her, grinning the whole time. Casey was a good head and a half taller than Honey, with shoulders almost twice as wide. Yet he let her mother on him. And every damn time she did, something inside Sawyer softened to the point of pain. He loved Casey so much, had loved him from the first second he’d held him as a squalling, red-faced infant, regardless of all the issues present, that anyone else who loved him automatically earned a place in his heart.
She finished with Casey’s hair and gave him a hug of greeting. Sawyer felt ridiculously charmed once again—and he hated it.
“I brought in my music,” she told Casey, as if any reprieve from country music was the equivalent of being spared the gallows. Casey hadn’t yet told her he actually liked country. “You want to take a look, see if anything interests you?”
“That’d be great. I’ll check them out as soon as I’ve washed up.”
Gabe stood to stretch. “You get everything taken care of, Case?”
He nodded, then turned to Sawyer. “When Mrs. Hartley left here today, I saw she was limping.”
Sawyer pulled his thoughts away from Honey with an effort. “She twisted her ankle the other day rushing in from her car when it was raining.”
“She told me. So I followed her over there to help her out. I got her grass cut and did some weeding, then went to the grocery for her.” To Honey, he said, “Mrs. Hartley is close to seventy, and she’s real sweet. She’s the librarian in town, and she orders in the books I like.”
Honey laced her fingers together at her waist and beamed at Casey. “What a thoughtful thing to do! I’m so proud of you.”
Casey actually blushed. “Uh, it was no big deal. Anyone would have done the same.”
“That’s not true.” Honey’s smile was gentle, warm. “The world is filled with selfish people who never think of others.”
The men exchanged glances. They really didn’t think too much of helping out, since it was second nature to them. But Sawyer supposed to Honey it did seem generous, given the men she’d known.
Gabe saved Casey from further embarrassment by throwing an arm around him and hustling him along. “Go get washed so we can put the music on. I’m getting anxious.” He winked at Honey, and then they were gone.
The family room had open archways rather than doors that could be closed, so they weren’t afforded any real privacy, but already Sawyer felt the strain of being alone with her. He looked at her with hot eyes and saw she was studying some of the framed photos on the wall. There were pictures of all of them, but the majority were of Casey at every age.
Sawyer came up behind her and kissed her nape. He felt desperate to hold her, to stave off time, and he looped his arms around her. “Mmm. You smell good.”
He could feel her smile, hear it in her response. “You always say that.”
“Because you always smell so damn good.” He nipped her ear. “It makes me crazy.”
She leaned against him, and her tone turned solemn. “You’ve done an excellent job with Casey. I don’t think I’ve ever known a more giving, understanding or mature kid. He’s serious, but still fun-loving, sort of a mix of all of you. He’s incredible.” She leaned her head back to smile up at Sawyer. “But then, he inherited some pretty incredible genes, being your son.”
Sawyer’s arms tightened for the briefest moment, making her gasp, then he released her. He shoved his hands into his back pockets and paced away. Maybe, considering he had insisted she call her fiancé tonight, he should at least explain a few things.
Honey touched his arm. “What is it?”
�
��Casey’s not really mine.” He no sooner said it than he shook his head. “That is, he’s mine in every way that counts. But I didn’t father him. I don’t know who his father is—and neither did his mother.”
CHAPTER 10
“WHAT DID YOU SAY?”
Sawyer laughed at himself. He made no sense, so her confusion was expected. “My wife cheated. Alot. She didn’t like my long hours studying, or my distraction with school in general. By the time Casey was born, I’d already filed for a divorce. It wasn’t easy for her. She had no family, and she wasn’t happy about the divorce. In fact, she was crushed by it. She pleaded with me not to leave her, but she…well, once I knew she’d been with other men, I couldn’t forgive her. I understood it, but I couldn’t forgive.”
Honey wrapped her arms around him from behind, leaning her head on his back. She didn’t say anything, just held onto him.
“I’d been sort of taking care of her for a long time, since high school even. Her parents died when she was seventeen, and an aunt took her in, but then she died, too, when Ashley was nineteen. She never had a job, and the idea of getting one horrified her. I just…I dunno. It seemed logical to marry her, to take care of her. We’d been dating forever, and I felt sorry for her, and there was no one else I wanted.”
Honey kissed his back, showing her understanding. “Why did she cheat?”
Sawyer shrugged. “Hell, I don’t know. She seemed plenty satisfied with…” He stalled, casting her a quick look.
“She seemed satisfied with you sexually? Of course she did. You’re an incredible man, Sawyer.” Her small hands were flat on his abdomen, making him catch his breath as she idly stroked him, meaning to offer comfort, but arousing him instead. All she had to do was breathe to turn him on; her touch made him nearly incoherent with lust.
“You’re also an incredible lover,” she added huskily, making his muscles twitch. “No woman would have complaints.”
He looked away again. When she said things like that, it made him want to toss her on the couch and strip her clothes off. He reacted like an uncivilized barbarian, ready to conquer. Feeling a tad uncomfortable with that analogy, he rushed through the rest of his explanation. “She told me she felt neglected, so she cheated. And then she couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t forgive her, because in her mind, it was my fault. I filed for divorce, but then I found out she was several months pregnant. She was angry and taunted me with the fact it wasn’t mine. But by then, I hardly cared. It was an embarrassment, but little else.”
