Protective Instincts

by Mary Marvella

  "What about staying with my folks. At least there would be two men to guard you when I can't."

  "We can't put your folks at risk, too. I don't think so."

  "At least let me take you to dinner."

  "Sam, I told you this would be a busy week." She poured cola over the ice in her glass." I don't have time to go out or have company. I have papers to grade. We let Sean leave early, but Spring break doesn't start for me for another couple of days. "

  "Come on, hon, you have to eat. I'll just bring over take-out and leave as soon as we have eaten."

  "I'll have a sandwich and keep working. I don't have time for more," Brit muttered to the dial tone. The man hung up on me. "I won't let him in!" She took a long swallow of her drink.

  Thirty minutes later Brit sat on the floor in her living room, surrounded by stacks of folders. There was too much to do and too little time. Monster lay on the carpet with his chin on a stack of reports. At least she hadn't heard from the stalker lately. No nasty notes, no garbage on her porch or in her yard and no threatening phone message. She had been careful to let her machine screen her calls before she answered them.

  So far, her attacker hadn't graduated to using her e-mail yet. How long would it take for him to start that? Could he get her on line address at home or at school?

  Sam's visits to school didn't help her sanity, nor did his nightly phone call. Even after he was gone, his image was not. The teachers' lounge buzzed every time he or his offerings appeared at school. The roses he had delivered at school caused a stir. A handsome man like Sam visiting her on campus and bringing candy caused an even bigger stir. He was watching out for her, making sure she was safe. Memories of their time together kept her mind in turmoil and her hormones near the surface. She needed some measure of control over her life.

  Monster raised his chin off the reports then bounded toward the door. "Damn!" Brit said as the doorbell rang. "I'll ignore him. I told him not to come. Now he's banging on the front door." She lifted folders from her lap, scrambled to her feet.

  "Ohhh!" she moaned when her stiff muscles resisted her attempts to make them move smoothly. "I'll shoot him!"

  A peek through the peephole told her what she already suspected. Opening her front door, she faced the long body leaning against the doorframe. The lazy grin on his face would've warmed Brit's heart, if it hadn't already stirred her blood. God, whatever is in those bags smells better than any sandwich I could make. The man does not play fair.

  Monster did his begging doggy act, welcoming Sam with generous slurps.

  Sam waved a sack in front of her nose. He extracted a ham bone from another sack and tossed it toward the kitchen. Monster caught it in midair. Opening the food bag Sam peeked inside, then gave an appreciative whiff. "Well, if you're not hungry, maybe I should take this delicious smelling food home. I could save or throw away whatever I can't eat."

  "You don't need to go that far," Brit paused. "We can eat in the kitchen, but you promised to eat and leave and I plan to hold you to your word."

  Brit marched from the room. Her ponytail swished with the determination of a soldier, whipping against her neck. She turned and almost got a nose full of paper bag.

  "They gave me utensils at the restaurant. I knew you were too busy to wash dishes. Sit while I get everything ready."

  Sam laughed when her growling stomach announced how hungry she was.

  She opened the refrigerator and withdrew two store brand colas.

  They sat down to the feast in boxes he had spread out on the table.

  "Caffeine and sugar to keep me awake." She shrugged.

  Sam sat in the chair beside her and opened the container of Hot and Sour Soup. Stopping her hand from reaching for a spoon, Sam dipped the one he held and filled it with the delicacy before heading it toward Brit's mouth.

  She opened her mouth. When her plump lips caressed the spoon, his cock jumped to attention.

  The jolt Sam felt at the sensual contact made him swallow, almost convulsively, as his eyes met hers. The deep amethyst he saw pooled there, told him she had felt the same desire he had. As he opened his mouth, her lips parted to welcome his kiss. His promise to let her work made him end the kiss. Of course, if she begged him to stay, well ….

  She wiped her mouth and met his heated stare. "Good soup!"

  "Best I ever tasted!" Sam drawled, arching an eyebrow. "I haven't tasted the soup by itself."

  "You should try it."

  Sam waggled both brows.

  "The soup, you idiot." Brit laughed, then grabbing an egg roll. She bit off a hunk and began to chew.

  "Have some Cashew Chicken and rice." Watching the woman eat made Sam think of other things. His promise was hard to keep but he really intended to let her work in a while. How could eating egg rolls look so sexy?

  Her blush was a dead give-away he was making her hot.

  "Sam, were you hungry when you ordered all this food or were you planning to feed an army?" Brit leaned back.

  The hand that rubbed her tummy did not go unnoticed. Oh, dear, green eyes stared at that area. Why did I do that? Why do I care that he's staring at my stomach? He can't be hungry after all he ate, not even for sex. I know I don't have the energy for that kind of activity. Liar! Go home, Sam! Please!

  "You must've been hungry, Teach. You ate your share. Of course we'll probably be hungry again in a couple of hours."

  "Thanks for supper, Sam." She stirred. "Now you really must go so I can get back to work. I'll be up for most of the night finishing these papers." Grabbing his arm with both hands, she tried to steer him toward the hall.

  He followed her into the dimly lit hall only to stop suddenly and pull her into his arms. His sudden move caught her off balance and gave him an edge.

  Her mouth opened in surprise and Sam came right in.

  Even if he had intended to ravish her in the hall, the feel of his muscular arm beneath her hand was torture, after the meal they had spent watching each other. His hands seemed hungry for the feel of her. They were touching to their fill. His mouth devoured, as his tongue ravished her.

  Brit meant to push him away, but a chemical reaction closed off the passages needed for her body to respond to the messages from her brain. It had to be a chemical reaction or lack of oxygen. Her body refused to listen. Her hands explored while she clung to the wall of heated flesh and bone and muscle.

  The loud ringing of her phone finally pulled her back to reality.

  Monster pushed at Brit and Sam. He ran to the phone, then back to Brit. She was still slowed by a cloud of desire. Breathing so hard she had trouble answering.

  "Hello," Brit was barely lucid. "Julie?"

  Julie's voice was strained. "Is something wrong? I'm coming over right now!"

  "No, nothing's wrong."

  "Well, you sound funny."

  "I was getting something from my car. I ran in from the garage when I heard the phone." Watching the way Sam leaned back against the wall distracted her. He raised his brows and batted long, thick, black eyelashes.

  "I was wondering if I left my red sandals at your house. I can't find them here."

  Brit wanted to smack Sam as he held a hand to his ear while gesturing with the other hand. "Your red shoes? I don't know. I'll look and bring 'em with me tomorrow if I find them."

  "You'll let me know if they aren't there?"

  "Yes, yes, I will."

  "You'd let me know if something were wrong, wouldn't you?"

  "Sure thing, pal. Bye."

  Brit's eyes still felt heavy, like a woman ready to make love, but her resolve returned. The pesky man grinned when she tried to swat him.

  He took both of her small hands into his large callused ones. He turned both palms up and placed a kiss in each. Then he began to nibble on a finger.

  "I know. I'm sorry, sweetheart. I don't know what came over me. My horny body took over. Couldn't help myself. You shouldn't be such a sexy eater. Your tongue kept inviting me to taste and my hormones egged me o
n."

  Putting both hands in the air, with palms toward Brit, Sam signaled surrender. "I'll go peaceably." Sam had backed to the door and placed his hand on the knob.

  Brit held her mouth straight and used her best teacher frown to show the man she meant business. She just hoped it worked as well on Sam as it did on her students. If it didn't she was in trouble. Her resistance was definitely low.

  "Bye, Sam." She pushed him out the door. "Thanks for supper and dessert. Monster, tell the nice man 'bye'."

  She leaned against the doorframe, watching him walk backwards to his car. Her arms were crossed as she hugged herself to keep from feeling the loss of his warmth. It didn't help much, but she let him go and turned back into her house to watch his car pull away. From inside the screen door, she watched the red glow from his tail lights disappear.

  She locked the door and punched the security code. Back inside, she returned to her place on the floor where she had left the papers. Now, if I can get my mind back on my work ….

  * * * *

  Douglas had a plan. He'd complained about stomach pains all day. He just had to convince the guards and the doctors in the infirmary he was sick and helpless. He'd need help to get away, but he could do it. He'd thought about enlisting the help of one of the inmates, but they were all too stupid. Any one of them would screw up and get them caught.

  The men who'd paid him to kill the teacher were not pleased. It didn't matter that this was his first problem hit. They were in trouble themselves. He'd had a visitor today. His employer had threatened to hire another killer to off the teacher. That killer would also tie up any loose ends.

  Soon they'd begin to sound like his bitch of a mother.

  "You're just too stupid, Douglas," his mother had said so often. "You're just like your stupid father."

  No, he wasn't like his father. Or at least he wasn't like the man his mother had said was his father. She probably didn't even know who his father was. The man who'd deserted him had been weak and stupid and had left them. He shoulda planted his fists in her loud, lying, filthy mouth.

  Heart pounding, Douglas leaned over the open toilet in his cell and wretched and cried.

  * * * *

  Thursday evening, Sam gripped his phone so hard his fingers ached. "Okay, Drew, I'll calm down." Sam took a deep breath but he still wanted to tear someone apart. "Look, I can't spring something like this on her over the phone. I'll pick her up after school. We'll have a nice dinner out. Then I'll sit down with her and tell her what you and I discussed. If she's as upset about this as I am, we'll need to sort things out calmly."

  Sam stopped pacing and sat in his desk chair. He let out a long slow sigh. "I'll have ten days to find out what she knows."

  "Maybe she has information she doesn't know she has?" Drew had always been the voice of reason, even as a kid.

  "Yeah, I'll ask her if she still has any personal notes of her husband's packed away."

  "If she has anything, and I do mean anything, let me know immediately, Sam. Don't tell anyone else, even the local law."

  "I'll have her call you."

  "Anytime, day or night."

  "Thanks brother, I owe you one." Sam sat staring from his office window. He didn't expect to sleep well tonight.

  Seeing Sean and Adrienne off to Hawaii for the week of Spring break made him feel better. At least Sean would have a good time, instead of worrying about his teacher and getting in the way trying to help. On the drive to Atlanta to Hartsfield Jackson Airport Sean had been beside himself with excitement. Adrienne had booked them first class tickets. Sean had taken his exams early, so he could leave two days before Spring break.

  Sean and Adrienne had promised to let him know when they arrived in Honolulu and then at her parents' house.

  Should he worry about his son's safety when he was so far away? No one knew much about the people who wanted Brit dead. He and Sean had seen the attacker. Though he was in jail, God only knew about the scope of his employers' influence.

  * * * *

  Friday afternoon had finally set students and teachers free of school and each other, for a whole week. Brit didn't think she could have stood one more day of pressure.

  "Let's go, Brit." Julie slapped her steering wheel. "I'm ready to hit the road and blow this burg! You have everything out of your car and it'll be fine in the garage 'til you get back. Monster's in my back seat on his bed and ready for a ride. Mom's expecting me for supper and yours will be waiting at the door for you."

  Brit locked her Mustang and patted it good-bye. Opening the door of Julie's red T-Bird, she slid into the seat, trying to act excited. "Well, what're you waiting for? Let's go."

  Julie backed from Brit's drive into the street. "Well, girl, what did Sam have to say when you told him you were coming home with me this week? Bet he was disappointed you'd be gone."

  "I didn't tell him." Brit shrugged.

  "Bri-i-t, I can't believe you. Sam was so excited about having time alone with you. The man has been driving everyone crazy and you didn't have the guts to be truthful with him?"

  "I know! I'm chicken. Part of me says he's just another man and I can enjoy his company, but the other part is afraid he'll charm me into a relationship I can't handle. I dream about him. I think about him when I'm awake. He's too potent. If I could bottle his essence of virile male, I could make a fortune."

  "Why don't you relax and let things take their course? Let it happen if it's going to. You can't fight fate, you know."

  "I don't believe in fate. If I did, I wouldn't stand in front of a speeding car and tempt fate to step in. You wouldn't give in to fate, even if you knew you'd die tomorrow. You'd fight it all the way and I am fighting for my life!"

  "Brit, you ninny, we're not talking about death, or a fate worse than death. We're talking about being loved by a wonderful man, a chance at lifelong happiness, at the most, or at the least, an incredible affair with a sexy man. How can you lose?"

  "You don't understand. I had a 'til death do us part love and death did us part. I can't take another one. Besides, Sam's so good with kids ... What if he wants marriage and more family?"

  "Don't jump to conclusions. He has Sean. What if the problem was with Tommy? What if you can have children?"

  "What if I can't?"

  "You can't hide from life just because the worst could happen. You could miss the best that could happen."

  "Could we talk about something else? I slipped off to get away from Sam. I need breathing room." Brit turned so she could watch her friend's expression. She neglected to mention that she'd had a threatening call this morning and a note slipped into her house, one straw too many. "I've been thinking …. "

  "Terrific." Julie grinned. Brit's serious expression chased the grin away. "What is it, girl?"

  "Tommy's home office and personal papers are packed in boxes at Mama's house. Matt packed his computer. I hadn't the heart to use it." Brit took in a long breath. She held it so long, her lungs hurt by the time she let it out. She hadn't come close to crying this time. Was Sam the reason?

  "You have been thinking." Julie glanced at her a second.

  "It's time for me to spend some time going through the papers. I can probably throw away a lot of stuff, but there are special things I'll keep. I think I'm ready to sort things out." Her eyes were pleading as she chewed her lower lip.

  "You want me to help?" Julie offered.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Sam fumed. He'd called Brit from his car phone when a trip around the school parking lot hadn't revealed her car. When he called her home, he got her answering machine. She hadn't answered her cell phone. What good would it do her if she didn't leave it on? Anxious, he drove to her house to wait. She should've been home long before now. He'd been waiting for over an hour.

  "Where in the Hell is she? She's not at school or here. Her car's still in the garage, but no one seems to be home."

  He went to his car to phone Julie's house. Maybe the girls are together. "Please, Lord, let
them be together."

  He dialed Julie's house and got her answering machine. He slammed his hand against the dash as he waited through the message. She hadn't said she'd be unavailable for a while.

  "Didn't Brit realize I'd worry about her after the attacks and the yard mess-up?" he muttered to the phone he held.

  So what if the SOB was in jail? He'd never told Brit about the fears keeping him awake long after he was in bed every night. If Drew was right, someone had hired Douglas Drake to kill Brit. What if they hired a replacement for him? What if they decided to kill off their hired killer, the one who had failed, before he could trade information to implicate them?

  The woman he loved could be in danger and he didn't know where she was. I do love her. I really do love her. That wasn't so hard to think but could he say the words to her? He hadn't expected it but he felt good. In love. Yeah.

  There was no sign of Monster in the yard or peeking through a window at him. He could usually hear the dog before he knocked on the door. He'd have to get Brit's mother's number from his house. Damn! The alarm system light was visible from the window in her door and it was on, he couldn't break in to check things out, without going to the office for master codes to the alarm system. This time she'd remembered. Where the Hell was she?

  * * * *

  The ride down I-75 raced by. Julie put the pedal to the metal, waving at the trucks she passed. The truckers hit their horns and waved back. Free spirit Julie did some strange things; she never bored Brit. Brit worried enough for both of them.

  They'd only stopped once for a walk around a rest area with

  Monster. He covered a good portion of the back seat of Julie's car. With his blanket and favorite toy on the seat, he settled.

  Leaving the busy expressway had put them only fifteen minutes from New Britain, a town as picturesque as any in the state of Georgia. It was like a town time had forgotten, a one-horse town, but there were no horses on the street.