by Karen Foley
The dark stain spread across the hardwood floor just inside the entryway and seeped into the edge of the Persian-style carpet. She had a sudden, vivid image of her father opening the door, only to be greeted by an explosive bullet to the chest. She envisioned him staggering back into the hallway and collapsing onto the floor as his assailant stood over him. The picture was so real, and so frightening, that for an instant, she couldn’t breathe. She heard a roaring in her ears, and black wings fluttered at the edge of her vision. She was only vaguely aware of strong arms coming around her as the floor rose up to meet her.
* * *
“PUT YOUR HEAD down and take some deep breaths.”
Even if Caroline had wanted to refuse, Jason’s hand was at the back of her neck, large and warm, urging her head down toward her knees. She was perched on the edge of the passenger’s seat, and he was crouched on the curb in front of her.
“I’m okay,” she protested weakly, although she wasn’t at all sure that was true. Her head still felt fuzzy, and there was the oddest flip-flopping sensation in her stomach that seemed to increase with the gentle pressure of Jason’s fingers against her nape.
“Just relax,” he insisted, his voice soothing her frayed nerves. All these years, and he’d never quite lost the distinctive accent of the inner city where he’d grown up. But Caroline liked the inflection. It was a reminder of where he’d come from and just how tough he was. She really believed that with Jason around, nobody was going to get near enough to hurt her.
She drew in a shaky breath and raised her head enough to look at him. He was so close that for a moment, she was disconcerted. His skin was burnished to a warm hue from the sun, but up close, she could still see faint traces of the scars he’d borne as a teenager, which had made him seem so dangerous and mysterious to her. There was one that bisected his left eyebrow and another along the chiseled rise of his cheekbone, as if he’d taken a blow that had split the skin.
But it was his eyes that made it difficult for her to catch her breath. They were clear and pure, caught somewhere between green and gray. In the late afternoon sunlight, they appeared bottomless, and Caroline had a sense that if she looked deeply enough, she might even see the secrets that he tried so hard to keep.
“Hey,” he said, peering up at her. “Sure you’re okay?”
She nodded and tried to pull herself together. “Yes, thanks. I’ve never actually keeled over before. Sorry about that.”
He lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “It’s not an uncommon reaction, although it could have easily been avoided.” He arched one eyebrow in a look that clearly said he’d warned her. “Once the investigators are finished, I’ll send out a team to clean up.”
“Hey, boss, everything okay?”
Still on his haunches, Jason turned to look at his deputy. “Yeah, we’re good. I’m going to take Ms. Banks to the hotel and get her something to eat.” He shifted his attention back to Caroline. “Are you feeling up to a drive?”
She didn’t think she’d ever eat again. The image of the bloodstained threshold haunted her. She stared at Jason with a growing sense of respect.
“How do you do this?”
He didn’t pretend to misunderstand, and his eyes softened fractionally. “By doing whatever it takes.”
Before Caroline could respond, Deputy Black stepped toward the car, his entire body on full alert. Immediately, Jason rose to his feet, pushing her into the car and closing the door, before planting himself directly outside her window.
One of the police officers quickly crossed the lawn toward them. “That’s Marisola Perez, the neighbor’s housekeeper. We’ve already cleared her.”
Caroline peered through the window to see a woman walking down the driveway that bordered her father’s property. She looked to be in her forties, and she wore a simple cotton dress with an apron that reminded her of the uniforms worn by hotel maids.
The woman clutched her purse and walked with her head down, clearly uncomfortable with the activity going on next door and the attention that was suddenly focused on her. When she reached the end of the driveway and turned onto the sidewalk, she cast one quick glance toward Jason and the car.
“Have a good evening, ma’am,” Deputy Black said.
She gave a jerky nod, and Caroline watched as Ms. Perez quickly crossed the road and climbed into an older model sedan, then drove away. Only when the car was out of sight did Jason and Deputy Black relax.
“Freaking rich people,” the police officer said in a disparaging tone. “Every house on the street has a gardener, a housekeeper, a cook and a personal assistant. I guess when you have money, you lose the ability to do anything for yourself.” He shook his head in disgust. “Christ, there’s more hired help on this street than there are actual residents. Just questioning them is going to take us days.”
There was an uncomfortable silence, and the officer suddenly became aware of Caroline sitting in the car, staring at him in astonishment through the open window.
“Beg your pardon, ma’am,” he mumbled, and twin splotches of color appeared high on his cheeks.
With an embarrassed glance at Jason, he turned and hurried back to the house. Jason and Deputy Black exchanged quiet words that Caroline couldn’t hear; then the deputy strode toward his own vehicle.
Troubled by the man’s words, she looked around her at the houses on the street. Many of the nearby residents had come to stand on their front porches or lawns, drawn by the excessive number of police officers and news reporters. She knew from experience that this was a quiet neighborhood. Nothing exciting ever happened in Sea Cliff, unless it was a black-tie dinner party and the governor was invited. To have a prominent and respected member of the community gunned down on his own front steps was beyond shocking.
As Caroline noted the residents who stood watching, she realized that what the police officer had said was true. She could easily spot the housekeepers and nannies who had come out to the street to watch, conspicuous because of their uniforms.
She’d never considered it odd to have hired help while she was growing up. As a child, they’d had a live-in cook and a woman who came to the house twice a week to clean. There was a man who took care of the landscaping and another who took care of their swimming pool. Her father had an assistant who spent most of his time at the house. Even when William had been at work, Caroline had never been alone.
But what must that kind of lifestyle look like to a guy whose career was in public service? Caroline didn’t blame the officer for what he’d said. From his perspective, it probably did appear that the residents of Sea Cliff were incapable of caring for themselves.
After a moment, Jason came around to the driver’s side. He’d taken off his sports coat at the hospital, and he made no effort to hide his gun, which he wore in a shoulder holster. She wondered if he was sending a deliberate message to anyone who might be watching the house, or her. She admitted to finding this new Jason a little intimidating. He’d always been the strong, silent type, but combined with a don’t-mess-with-me attitude and a firearm, he was positively forbidding.
He started the car and then turned in his seat to look at her. “I’m sorry about what that officer said. You shouldn’t have to listen to that. Everyone has the right to earn a living, and the people in this neighborhood provide good jobs and income for a lot of families. Sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. And he has a right to his opinion. That woman—” She stopped, feeling foolish.
Jason waited, expectant. “Yes?”
“Your men interviewed her?”
“Both the police and the FBI did, yes.”
“I see. I was wondering...have they already interviewed my father’s housekeeper? And gardener? I mean, they’d have opportunity. They know his schedule, right? They know when he’s home alone.”
“The police a
nd the FBI have spoken with his housekeeper. Her name is Consuela Garcia, and she’s about seventy years old. She’s worked for your father for almost five years, and she has a rock-solid alibi for last night. He also has a gardener, who happens to be Consuela’s husband.” He paused. “They’re good people, Caroline. You don’t have to worry. They’d do anything for your father, and they’re devastated by what happened to him.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry to sound so suspicious.” She flashed him an embarrassed smile. “I know this is what you do and that your men have everything under control. I guess I’m just feeling a little paranoid.”
“That’s good. That means you’re on alert and you’ll be more aware of your surroundings. Once we get to the hotel, we’ll go through some safety guidelines.”
* * *
THE HOTEL WAS only blocks from the hospital, and Caroline wasn’t surprised to discover that Jason had sent one of his men ahead to register and retrieve the room key. The Fairmont was one of the most exclusive hotels in San Francisco, and their room was located in one of the luxurious towers. If they hadn’t just come from the scene of her father’s shooting, she might have thought Jason was being a little dramatic in how he carefully surveyed their surroundings as they made their way to the room. She found herself reassured, both by his vigilance and his strong, steady presence.
Colton Black opened the door at Jason’s curt knock, and Caroline found herself ushered into the room. She looked around, more than a little surprised at the size of the suite. She’d expected a studio, with a small living area and kitchenette and an adjoining bedroom. The suite of rooms that Jason had reserved was enormous, with a spacious parlor area and two private bedrooms. There was a fireplace, flanked by deep bookshelves, and a wet bar. A telescope stood in front of the wraparound windows, and the furnishings were rich and lush. Caroline turned to stare wordlessly at Jason.
He shrugged and walked across the room to the closest bedroom. He set her small suitcase down just inside the door. “We need a space large enough to accommodate the two of us, without you feeling like I’m right on top of you.”
His tone was casual, but his words conjured up decadent images of the two of them, naked and tangled in her bedsheets. A peek inside the bedroom only ramped up her lustful imaginings. An enormous bed dominated the room, heaped high with pillows. Through a wide door, she could see a spectacular marble bathroom equipped with a whirlpool tub and a flat-screen television. Pushing aside her own inappropriate thoughts, she turned back to Jason.
“Who’s paying for this?” she asked. “And don’t try to tell me that the U.S. Marshals Service provides five-star hotels for their clients.”
Jason scowled. “Don’t worry about it, okay?”
“Is this coming out of your own pocket?” When he tried to move away, Caroline stepped in front of him. “Is it?”
He looked resigned as he unfastened his shoulder holster with practiced fingers and removed it, then set the harness and weapon down on a nearby table. “The only thing you should be concerned about is your father. Nothing else.”
“Jason—”
“I can afford it.” His voice clearly said the conversation was over.
“Seriously, he can.” This came from Colton Black, who stood near the door, watching the exchange with amusement. “Hey, boss, I’m going to set up outside.”
Jason nodded. “Let me know when you change shifts with Deputy Mitchell.”
“Will do.”
Colton stepped out of the room, closing the door firmly behind him and leaving Caroline alone with Jason. She watched as he locked the door, deliberately avoiding any eye contact with her.
“Where is Deputy Black going to sleep?”
“He and Deputy Mitchell have a room across the hall. They’ll take turns watching the corridor and the stairwell.”
“And you’ll stay here? With me?”
He turned to look at her. “You bet.”
“For how long?”
“However long it takes.”
“You’re sacrificing a lot, coming up to San Francisco to babysit me.” She picked up a small decorative bowl from an end table and turned it over in her hands, pretending to study it. “Doesn’t your girlfriend object?”
A ghost of a smile touched his lips, and Caroline knew her pathetic attempt to find out about his personal life had been completely transparent.
When he didn’t answer, Caroline put the bowl back and sank down onto the nearest sofa with a weary sigh. She didn’t know how she was going to bear Jason Cooper’s company for the next few days, or for however long it might take for authorities to catch the shooter. She only knew that the years had done nothing to diminish her attraction to him. If anything, she found him even more sexy and appealing than she had as a teenager.
Part of her was appalled by her reaction to him. She should be thinking about her father and what she could do to help him, not what she could do to get Jason into her bed. Especially when he’d made it abundantly clear that he didn’t hold her in very high esteem. She knew how close he was with her father, and although he hadn’t said anything, she suspected he was all too aware of how seldom she’d returned to the bay area to visit. How would he react if he knew that one of the reasons she hadn’t returned to San Francisco was because she didn’t want to risk an encounter with him? She needed to maintain her distance from him, but she doubted her ability to hide her feelings from Jason, especially if they were going to be living together. But there was no way she’d ever give him the opportunity to reject her again.
Realistically, she knew she should be grateful to Jason for volunteering to protect her. He had an important job as a U.S. marshal in San Diego, and it couldn’t have been easy for him to leave his district and travel to San Francisco to watch over her.
“I’m sorry,” she finally said, raising her head. Jason had come to stand at the end of the sofa. The windows were behind him, and, although it was growing dark outside, they hadn’t turned on any interior lights and she couldn’t read his expression. “I’m sure this is hard for you, too.”
“You have no idea.”
His wry tone caused Caroline to look sharply at him, unable to tell if he was joking or not. Before she could ask him what he meant, he turned away.
“I asked Deputy Black to order room service for us. Nothing fancy—a couple of steak sandwiches and salads.”
Caroline wasn’t hungry, but knew she should eat something. “Thanks. A salad is fine.”
Jason arched an eyebrow and swept his gaze over her in one all-encompassing look that missed nothing. His cell phone rang, and he gave a grunt before turning away to speak quietly into the phone. Caroline sighed and pushed herself to her feet, then wandered to the tall bank of windows. Below she could see the city streets and beyond that the shimmering water of San Francisco Bay beneath the setting sun.
A few moments later, Jason came to stand beside her. “I said earlier that there were some safety rules we should go over, and one of the most important is to stay away from windows. You make yourself an easy target for anyone outside, especially at night.”
“You think there’s someone standing down there, watching the hotel?” she asked in disbelief.
“No,” he admitted. “Not here, but while we’re at the hospital, I think it’s better you not go near the windows. Until we know what we’re dealing with, I’m not taking any chances. Second rule, don’t answer the phone or the door. I’ll do that. Third, you don’t go anywhere without me. If we’re at the hospital, you don’t even go to the restroom unless I’m with you. Got it?”
Caroline hugged herself around the middle, feeling a chill wash over her. “You’re scaring me, Jason.”
To her surprise, he took her by the shoulders and turned her toward him, dipping his head to look directly into her eyes. “I’m not going to let anything happen to
you, okay? As long as I’m with you, you’re safe.”
Before she could respond, he pulled her against him, enfolding her in his arms. He felt so solid and strong that Caroline instinctively hugged him back. His woodsy scent transported her back to being sixteen years old. Desire hit her like a sledgehammer, and she drew in a ragged breath, intensifying her hold on him. Beneath the crisp fabric of his shirt, she felt his muscles bunch and tighten.
“Caroline...” His voice was a husky rasp against her ear.
Lifting her face, she met his gaze. For just an instant, she saw the raw hunger in his eyes, and his expression gave her courage. She couldn’t deny that she’d thought about kissing Jason far more than she should have since he’d first walked through the door of her law firm. Fixing her attention on his mouth, she told herself she would give him one kiss, just to thank him for everything he’d done. There was no harm in a simple gesture of gratitude, was there?
Slowly, she reached up and pressed a light kiss against the corner of his mouth. He made a strangled sound in his throat but didn’t release her. Emboldened, she brushed her lips gently against his. For a brief instant, there was no response, and then he gave a groan of defeat and his arms tightened around her. His hand slid up between her shoulder blades to pull her closer, and he slanted his mouth hard over hers.
The kiss was so deep and so carnal that Caroline’s legs went a little weak. She melted into him, welcoming the hot, slick slide of his tongue against hers. He reached up, released her hair clip and dropped it onto the floor, then fisted his hand in her hair and tugged her head to one side. Pulling his mouth away, he trailed his lips along the line of her jaw, to the tender spot just beneath her ear. Caroline took in big gulps of air and shivered with pleasure. When he skated his mouth along the length of her neck, she gave a faint moan and clutched him closer, her fingers digging into the firm muscles of his back.
As he bent her slightly back over his arm and feasted on the sensitive skin of her throat, Caroline forgot almost everything except the way he made her feel. In that moment, she realized that her life wasn’t the only thing at risk.
