by Sheila Kell
Leaning over the sink to watch the birds in the front yard on the bird feeder, she smiled when she felt the presence of someone else. Somehow she’d known that Matt wouldn’t sleep long enough for her to finish the breakfast to surprise him.
When he got close, she almost turned, but liked when he held her with her back to his front, so she remained still, anticipating his touch. An arm slipped across her belly, and she knew something was wrong before a hand covered her mouth. Her pulse rate soared with fear laced in it. She began to buck and fight against the tight hold. She’d been pulled back from any weapon she could’ve found on the counter. Why was this happening to her? Not again.
“Keep quiet.” Tate! Tate Hart was attacking her. Why? She couldn’t speak to ask the question out loud.
She couldn’t tell if he had a weapon. He did, however, have her arms pinned to her sides under his tight hold.
Her stomach roiled with a sense of dread that she could be a victim again. Being raped once in a lifetime is one time too many, so she kept up the wiggling and trying to kick back with her bare feet—the only weapon she had available to her. As frightened as she was, she wouldn’t be docile as a lamb to the slaughter. If she could get his hand free of her mouth, she could call out to Matt. Tate’s grip was too tight. On one attempt to break the hold, her foot landed squarely on his knee. He grunted and his hold around her waist loosened, and while she couldn’t wrench free, her arms were no longer plastered to her side. She clawed at the hand on her mouth, but it held tight.
THE incessant buzzing of his cell phone woke Matt from a heavy sleep. Before opening his eyes, he knew he was alone in bed. He felt the loss of her body heat. Last night he’d been able to explore the desire between him and Caitlyn to his heart’s content.
She’d recovered well enough after Hart—or whatever his name was—basically attacked her. While it’d only been a kiss he’d tried to press upon her, Matt knew he’d also just gotten started. He knew the asshole would’ve taken it further. The idiot was besotted with Caitlyn.
They’d ousted him as a fake millionaire, so that should embarrass him enough not to show his face ever again.
Matt took a long, languid stretch with muscles he and Caitlyn had worked hard. It was like old days, making every second count. He chuckled to himself. Plus, having enough condoms to meet their explosive need was a bonus.
He couldn’t wait to tell her that Devon was going to set him up here. Christ, he’d best ask instead of just assuming, but she couldn’t fake her feelings for him. They still loved each other.
The phone began buzzing again signaling a call and not the expected ping of a voice mail. His senses perked up. Someone was intent on getting his attention. Rolling over, he picked up the phone and pulled it to his ear while he wiped a hand down his face to wake himself up fully.
He didn’t even look at the caller ID. He just accepted the call and greeted whoever was on the other end with, “What?” It might’ve come out shorter than he’d meant, but he wouldn’t worry about that. If it were one of his brothers, they’d understand and then get their ass kicked for bothering him so damn early.
Without acknowledging his attitude, Devon pressed forward. “You’ve got a problem.”
At those words, Matt sat up and looked around. Where was she? He had to find Caitlyn. “What’s the problem?”
“Tate Hart.”
That fucker. He’d kill him if he got his hands on him again. “I thought you said he didn’t exist.”
“He doesn’t, but a James Tate Ripley does. J.T. Ripley. We knew his first name was James, but his middle name never came up in conversation.”
Oh, holy fuck. His heart rate spiked, and he stripped the covers off him and swung his legs over the edge of the bed to attach his prosthetic. Where had Caitlyn fucking gone?
“But he’d checked in with his probation officer. Fuck!” He wanted to slap himself for being so stupid. “Hart only came up here on occasion. He could’ve checked in and still come back here.” If Devon’s news was true—and it always was—then Caitlyn needed to know who the man really was so she wouldn’t be fooled if he came sniffing back around begging for forgiveness.
“Since you were insistent something wasn’t right about him, I did more digging. At three o’clock in the morning, the thought of Ripley’s son hit me. Brad looked at his photo and confirms he saw him speaking with you and Caitlyn one day about her organization.”
Fuck. Fuck. And double fuck. “But he was here when we arrived from Mississippi. Luke hadn’t learned her location when I chased him away from Adam’s house.”
“Remember when you said how you felt like you’d suddenly been knocked senseless from behind?”
“Yeah. It was like—”
Devon finished his sentence since they’d all heard it enough times from Matt, then asked a question. “Someone else was there. What if his son found the information while his uncle tortured Adam and tried to move in to help his uncle grab her by pretending to be a donor and get close to her without anyone thinking anything was untoward? But, then you came into the picture.”
“Let me put you on speaker so I can get dressed. I don’t know where Caitlyn is and I have to find her.” He selected the speaker function and laid the phone on the bed beside him. He went to work getting the prosthetic bed-to-bath feature on. He could pull on the compression sock and such later. Right now, he needed to see Caitlyn to ensure she was all right.
While he collected himself, he spoke to Devon. “The asshole tried to molest her last night. I’m guessing that cruelty runs in the fucking family.”
Standing, Matt gathered his balance and ended the call with his brother. After reaching in the bedside drawer, he pulled out his Glock and went in search of the woman he loved, praying he wouldn’t need the weapon he gripped tightly.
Hearing scuffling in the kitchen, his heart skipped a beat, and he moved straight in that direction. Peeking around the corner, he witnessed J.T. Ripley working to retain a struggling Caitlyn. His blood boiled, but he leveled it with the calmness he needed in this situation. If Ripley would take his hand from her mouth, it’d be easier, but she’d also be able to call out.
Pointing his Glock at Ripley, Matt entered the room, but unfortunately, Caitlyn blocked any clean shot he could have. “Hey, Ripley. Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?” It was a stupid cliché, but it seemed appropriate to this situation.
Caitlyn’s wide fear-filled eyes ate at Matt’s heart. He just wanted to gather her and whisk her to safety. She didn’t deserve to deal with this… again. Twice now he’d allowed this maniac near her without protection… like he had the father.
“Took you long enough to figure it out,” Ripley sneered. He dropped his hand from Caitlyn’s mouth and grabbed her by the neck, pulling her closer with her back to his front.
“Let her go,” Matt demanded, moving slowly around the room, hoping to get a better line of sight to Tate fucking Ripley. He bit back hard, wanting to punish the son for the father’s offenses to Caitlyn, but he knew he couldn’t. The asshole had his own offenses, which included putting his fucking hands on her.
How the hell was he going to extricate her safely? The HIS teams were gone, and Rick and Tonya had the day off. Not that they’d necessarily come to the house looking for them. Then an idea hit him. It was risky, but so was their current standoff. Ripley didn’t appear to have a weapon so he was willing to give it a try.
“Caitlyn, do you remember how to sing?” He knew it sounded like an odd question, but Caitlyn had told him after the rape, she’d taken self-defense courses, but feared she’d forget them when the time came. Except one. She’d watched Miss Congeniality many times, and he knew just jogging her memory would help her realize she could take the upper hand. Hell, he definitely couldn’t shoot, because Ripley used her as a shield and he couldn’t risk hitting her by mistake.
Of course, if Ripley’d had a weapon, he’d never ask her to do something so risky. He just needed some space to s
ubdue the man before he could abscond with Caitlyn.
His question seemed to transform her from the frightened woman in an attacker’s arms to a confident woman who wouldn’t allow some jerk to abuse her.
With a slow nod of confidence to her, she focused while Matt kept his weapon ready if she failed. But he knew she could get away from him long enough for Matt to take control.
“Solar plexus,” she said and elbowed Ripley hard with her free arm.
Ripley grunted at the contact she made but didn’t release his grip.
“Instep,” she said as she stomped on his instep. Granted her bare feet weren’t bringing the full pain that step could’ve done, but Ripley grunted again and listed to the side where she’d begun her torture. She hobbled a bit, which showed she’d hit him hard enough to impact her own foot.
Keep it up, Caitlyn. He’s weakening.
“Nose.” Only hearing the word should’ve alerted Ripley that she was about to bring her fist up and connect with his nose.
Ripley dropped his hands off her to grab his bloody nose. Caitlyn didn’t have a lot of strength behind it, but it still was a touchy spot when hit.
She turned and raised her knee. “Groin.” Matt winced and almost grabbed his package at the ferocity of her attack to Ripley’s groin.
Opening his free arm, Matt grabbed her tight against him when she raced into it. His other held his weapon and remained steadily trained on Ripley. “Are you okay?” he asked her while holding her tightly.
“Yes. I did it,” she said excitedly. “I saved myself.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you. I wouldn’t have thought of the SING method. I was too frightened.”
With Ripley on his knees, one hand holding his package and the other his bloody nose, Matt looked down at her and smiled. “I knew you could do it. Now, I need to subdue him before he can walk again. Do you have something we can tie him up with until the sheriff’s department can arrive?” Releasing Caitlyn, he closed in on Tate and issued an order. “Down on the ground.”
Tate looked like he was ready to bolt or fight—who knew with that lunatic—when he noticed Matt still pointed his weapon at him.
“Hands behind your back,” Matt instructed. As he accepted a long zip tie from Caitlyn, he raised an eyebrow.
“For the computer cables. I’ve heard they can be used to cuff someone also.”
He didn’t have the heart to tell her they were so thin, they might not work. But she was so damn proud of herself for helping. “They can, but those are too short for someone of this size. But, if you zip three together, I can use that since it’s only temporary.”
As Caitlyn worked, Ripley became belligerent. “That bitch can’t keep my dad in jail.”
“So, what? You were bringing her to your father?”
“No,” Ripley spat. “I was going to kidnap her so she wouldn’t testify at my dad’s next parole hearing. Without her, they’ll let him out. My uncle and I weren’t sure exactly what we were going to do to her after that. Maybe give her to my dad as a ‘Get out of jail’ present.”
Caitlyn covered her mouth over a gasp. Matt noticed the slight tremble in her body, and he wanted to engulf her in his arms and make her feel safe.
Matt couldn’t stop what spewed from this fucker’s mouth without knocking him senseless, which he might’ve done before he cuffed him, but not after.
With the flimsy zip ties secured, Matt opened his arms to Caitlyn and held her with all the strength he could muster. He probably held her too tight, but she didn’t complain. She just snuggled in closer.
Dropping his head beside her ear, he whispered, “We need to call the sheriff’s department.”
She released a heavy sigh. “Do we have to do it now? You feel so good.”
A smile split his face. “The sooner they’re here, the sooner he’s out of here and you can finish making me breakfast.”
If he hadn’t known better, he’d have thought she’d been ripped from his arms she moved so quickly to pick up a phone. He chuckled. That was the woman he loved with all his heart and soul.
“HOW ARE YOU feeling?” Matt asked Caitlyn as she walked into her living room. After dealing with the sheriff’s department and Caitlyn having a good cry, Matt had held her until she’d fallen asleep. Once the reality of what had happened hit her, it’d been too much for her to handle. It had evoked those memories he’d wanted to replace. There was still time for him to give her new ones that would hopefully wipe her horrors from her mind as much as possible.
His heart pounded hard in equal parts fear and relief. If Devon hadn’t woken him this morning, Ripley could’ve gotten away with kidnapping her. He worried once Ripley was free, he might try again. The man had been screwed up, probably from growing up with a screwed-up father. But he wouldn’t tell Caitlyn of his fear. He’d be here to protect her whether she agreed or not. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. She’d agree. She’d just have to understand how his job could take him away sometimes. Until Ripley was put back in jail for violating parole, he wouldn’t leave her side, but after… he liked what he did for a living. If it hadn’t been for his brothers, he might not have been accepted with only one good leg. Most people assumed a disability as a weakness. Not his family. He’d sure miss seeing them almost daily.
“I’m fine,” Caitlyn said, breaking into his wayward thoughts.
“Come here.” He reached out from his position on the couch.
Without hesitation, she slipped onto his lap. “Is it finally over?” she asked into his shoulder.
Mindlessly rubbing her back, he thought for a moment and gave her his hope not reality. “Yes. Father and son are in jail and uncle isn’t a threat. You’re safe.” When the bastard was released, he’d learn he couldn’t mess with Caitlyn.
“What if he gets out?” she asked weakly.
He’d never been able to get anything past her. She was too damn smart. “If he does, I’ll be here to protect you.” Plus the entire Hamilton clan, he left off.
She looked up at him with her beautiful eyes. “You will?”
It was as good a time as any to get this conversation over with. Devon had confirmed everything would be ready for him to telecommute. It would still feel odd, but it gave him Caitlyn, so he’d take that oddity, because life with Caitlyn was a win.
Brushing his thumb lightly across her jaw, he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Yes, if you’ll have me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that I could live here—with you—and still work with HIS. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to learn how to train the dogs so I can be helpful here, but Dev is setting me up to work from afar. My brothers and I have always had our picks of the missions, so when you need me, I’ll be here.”
“Am I dreaming?”
Matt chuckled. “No, sweetheart, you’re not.” He cocked his head, a small sense of foreboding sitting with him. “Is that okay?” Christ, he’d thought they were on the same wavelength. He couldn’t stand it if she said no.
Relief soared through him as she threw her arms around him, banishing all his worried emotions. “Matt, I’ll take you any way I can get you. We have a lot of years to make up for. Years where I split us—”
Matt slid a finger over her lips, cutting off her words. “We’re past that. It’s our future and us. And, one day, I hope you’ll consider marrying me.” It wasn’t a romantic proposal like the first time when he’d been down on one knee, but he’d figure out something appropriate when the time came.
Pressing her lips to Matt’s, Caitlyn whispered, “I love you, Matt.”
His heart swelled with love at that simple statement. At one time, it’d been something he thought he’d never hear again from her lips. Now, he’d never hear it enough.
“I love you, too.” He’d never get tired of telling her those true words.
Done with the chaste kisses, Matt used one hand to hold her head, moving her lips in place while he laid his upon hers and began to show
her how much he loved her… how much he loved that she’d let him live here… how much he was glad she was truly on her way to recovery.
His tongue wanted to be inside her mouth, making love to it, so he nipped at her bottom lip, and when she gasped, he surged inside, tasting her while they dueled for domination of the kiss. She should’ve remembered he was always the stronger one in that foreplay and led the merry chase to the bedroom.
He froze for a moment. He wanted to take her to bed, but not right now. And if they kept kissing like they were, he’d end up tossing her over his shoulder and hauling her into the room, and beat his chest or something stupid like that.
Softening the kiss for a short time, he broke it and leaned his forehead to hers as they both gasped for air. “I want you, and if we don’t stop, I would carry you to the bedroom and have my way with you.”
Damn his forgetfulness around Caitlyn. He couldn’t get off track any longer.
Caitlyn laid her head on his shoulder and sighed in what he prayed was pleasure. “You really want to learn to train the dogs?” she questioned as she absently brushed her hand over his chest.
Turning the conversation back to Helping Paws reminded him of the unpleasant conversation he needed to have with her. Granted it was suspicion since Devon hadn’t got back to him on that topic, but that was where most problems began.
He cleared his throat. “I do, but we need to talk about something important.”
At that statement, her hand froze and she looked up at him, still cuddled in his lap. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s come to my attention that Rick might be embezzling from the foundation.”
Drawing her brow down, she responded, “What do you mean?”
There was no doubt that this would be hard for her to hear and believe, but he had to protect her. He’d almost confronted Rick himself, but he didn’t want to overstep any bounds they’d created. “Tonya noticed that when Rick took the donations to the bank that he’d filled out two deposit slips. She only glimpsed them, but she couldn’t be certain.”
