Kieran and Wendy ate in silence. A lone guitar player sat on a stool in the corner strumming and singing James Taylor songs. The atmosphere was perfect for a date, Kieran thought absently. What the hell?
Wendy smiled when he glowered at the guitar player. “Do you play any type of instrument?”
He drank deeply from his beer, signaling the waitress for a check. “Nope.”
Wendy was grateful when they finally pulled off the paved road onto a bumpy dirt road that led to a lone house in the center of a clearing. Kieran’s home did not surprise her in the least. The sizeable graying farmhouse, surrounded by acres of wooded land, stood proud despite its lack of repair.
He drove around to the back and parked in the separate garage.
Wendy got out of the Jeep, curious to look around. The area was quiet and secluded, yet she liked it. The only sign of life was a large black dog that barreled from the side of the home to greet them. That did surprise her.
The normally emotionless man squatted down to scratch the dog behind the ears and whisper to him. Finally content with the attention that he had received from Kieran, the dog turned to Wendy and began wagging his tail wildly. Wendy laughed and patted his huge head.
“What is your name, doggie?” She scratched the happy dog behind the ears. She looked up at Kieran, but he didn’t reply. The dog just licked her hand. “Please don’t tell me you haven’t named your dog?” she asked Kieran, incredulous.
“Seriously, you have a nameless dog?”
Kieran just gave her a droll look and then turned and pulled their bags out of the backseat. “He’s not really my dog. He just hangs around here a lot.”
Wendy eyed the food and water dispensers in the corner of the garage. “Uh-huh.” She leaned back over to the dog. “Don’t worry, sweetie. We’ll find you a name. A good name, befitting a handsome boy like you.”
Not comfortable with the dark surroundings, she hurried behind Kieran toward the house, the happy dog trotting beside her.
At the rear of the home, there was a large screened-in porch with a door that clung desperately on its hinges. Kieran pulled the pitiful thing open, going to the back door of the house before putting their bags down. He turned to check on her progress and then opened the lid to a small box on the wall to show an alarm panel. He pushed several buttons and placed his index finger on a scanner. The back door unlocked with a series of clicks, followed by a couple of loud beeps.
He picked up their bags and went inside, leaving the door open for her. Wendy hesitated at the doorway, giving the alarm system a once-over before entering. She smiled, noting that the dog waited for her to enter before following behind.
The interior of Kieran’s house was a direct contrast to the outside. A kitchen worthy enough to grace the pages of Metropolitan Home magazine was the first room she entered. Stainless steel appliances, marble countertops, and top-of-the-line oak cabinets surrounded a large matching dining room table. Chocolate leather executive-type chairs flanked both sides of the table.
She followed Kieran’s retreating back, noticing that the lights were on in most of the rooms now. She guessed it was an automatic lighting system. From the short hallway, she could see stairs leading to a second floor and caught a glimpse of a modernly decorated living room space.
“Come. I’ll show you the guest room,” Kieran called and she followed him out of the kitchen, down a short hallway. “You can stay in this room. It’s right across from mine, so I can be here fast if you need me.” Kieran dropped her bag on a queen size bed. “Get some rest.”
“Don’t you want to look at the jewelry to see if one of them is what the demons are looking for?” Wendy stalled him. She wasn’t sure she wanted to be alone. Not yet. “I mean, I’m not really that tired.”
Kieran frowned, seeming to consider her words. “I wouldn’t know what to look for. But we can look at them if you want, I’ll be in the kitchen when you are ready. I’ll show you around the rest of the house.” He turned and walked out.
What happened to the guy that was just about to do me in the water-heater closet?
Now he acted as if he couldn’t put enough distance between them. She blew her bangs out of her eyes and decided to explore the adjoining bathroom. A yawn escaped her. Maybe she was a little tired.
Kieran shook his head. What had possessed him? He was losing control—the one thing he prided himself in. Not once or twice but three times in the last few hours. First, to insist she come and stay with him and then in the water-heater closet. He’d meant to distract her, not to let things get out of hand as they had. He’d almost cum in his pants. Lastly, why had he offered to give her a tour of the house? What was next, would he offer to escort her to a fucking ball?
What was it about Wendy?
Pouring water into the coffee maker, he sighed. It was nice to be home. Although the home’s interior had been completely redone by an army of construction workers, electricians, and decorators sent by Julian, it was still his domain.
Julian stayed with him when he was in town and insisted on the best of everything. Kieran almost smiled, wondering how Julian would feel about Wendy sleeping in the room normally reserved for him.
There was another bedroom across the hall, but this one had an adjoining hidden doorway, which gave him two ways to reach Wendy in case of an emergency. It was safer that way—it was also very dangerous.
“Your house is amazing,” Wendy said, jerking him from his thoughts. He noted that she looked somewhat refreshed.
Her eyes scanned the room. “What I can’t figure out is why you spent so much money on the interior, but the outside is, well, it’s not as well maintained.” She gave him an apologetic look.
“The interior was mostly redone by Julian.” Kieran leaned on the counter and stared at the coffeemaker. “I prefer a more rustic look for my home.”
“Ah. So you are leaving the outside alone to make a point to Julian.”
He started to argue but took a look at her and forgot what he meant to say.
Her elbows on the table, Wendy smiled at him resting her chin on her hands. She’d put some sort of shiny stuff on her lips, and he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
The gurgle of the coffeemaker helped him regain his focus. “I’m not making any kind of point. But if the exterior of my house bothers Julian, he can stay somewhere else when he comes into town. Fallon’s mausoleum, for instance.” Pouring his coffee, he took a sip and moved to his computer, which was also on the counter.
“I like Fallon’s house. Even though it’s very fancy, it’s not over the top. I think he has very good taste. Although I am not sure I’d want to live there.” Wendy’s defense of Fallon made his shoulders tense. Deciding it was best to remain quiet, he began to read his email.
“I thought you were giving me a tour of the house?”
“Right.” Not sure he could control himself near her, he took the precaution of picking up his coffee cup. He motioned to the doorway into the living room.
After Kieran showed Wendy the first floor, which consisted of three bedrooms, a small laundry room, the living room, and the large kitchen, they made their way upstairs. He showed her both upstairs bedrooms and their adjoining bathroom. He liked how she took in every detail and told him what she saw in each room that reminded her of him.
He hadn’t noticed before that Julian had ensured that the house remained true to its owner by leaving subtle reminders. Items from his home country of Scotland were scattered here and there. Going down the stairs, Kieran took Wendy’s elbow to make she didn’t fall with her still-injured foot. Just touching her brought back the sensation of how she felt in his arms earlier. He released her elbow as soon as her foot touched the ground floor and followed her back into the kitchen.
“Can I get you some coffee?”
Wendy studied him for a few moments. “No, thank you. I won’t sleep a wink if I have coffee this late.”
At the sound of a car driving up to the house, both of them looked at
each other, puzzled. The headlights were visible through the window as whoever it was drove around to the back. Kieran picked up his sword and checked the middle of his back for his gun.
“Go to your bedroom and lock the door.” When she didn’t move, he yelled at her. “Now!”
She gave him an annoyed look but got up and left the room.
What the hell was taking the person so long? It was obvious he or she didn’t plan to surprise him.
“Kieran?” It was a male’s voice outside. “Did you get Cyn’s message about me coming? It’s Jake.” Without responding, he reached for his cell phone and pushed the message button. Cyn left a message to tell him Jake was coming to guard Wendy so that when Kieran left for work, she would be protected.
Before he could get the door open, Wendy was already peeking around the door jamb. He scowled at her, but she just grinned back.
The human guard walked in, a large duffel slung across his back and his sword in his left hand. He held his right hand out to Kieran. Kieran had met Jake a few times before, since Jake usually guarded Emma. He wondered who would be with Emma now.
Wendy came around him and smiled broadly at Jake. “Hey Guido!”
Kieran didn’t care for the warm look Jake gave Wendy. “Hello Wendy.”
Both Wendy and Jake turned to look at Kieran. He wasn’t sure where to put Jake. Across the hall from Wendy was too close to her, in his opinion, and upstairs didn’t seem sensible since he would be gone at night, and Wendy would be asleep downstairs alone. Ignoring them, he went back to the coffeepot.
“Cyn says Kieran is severely addicted to coffee,” Wendy told Jake in a conspiratorial whisper.
“Where can I put my things?” Jake asked. Before Kieran could answer, Wendy did.
“Follow me, I’ll show you the room next to mine. Kieran’s is directly across the hall. Boy with you two in the house, I don’t have anything to worry about…” Wendy giggled as she continued chatting, with Jake following behind her. Kieran clenched his jaw. The man was a brick wall. Surely, Wendy did not find him attractive.
“What the hell does it matter?” he muttered, pissed off again at the direction of his thoughts.
Kieran began to read an email from Julian that contained all the reports of demon activity and forced himself to ignore the other two people in his house.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The sound of her cell phone’s ring broke Wendy’s concentration away from the game on the television screen, and she missed the tennis ball. “Dang it! I was making a comeback.” She ignored Jake’s look of disbelief, paused the Wii game, and went to answer her phone.
It was Emma.
“Hey, Wendy, how are you holding up?” Emma’s voice sounded relaxed.
“I’m fine, but if I don’t leave this house soon I’m going to scream. I’ve been stuck inside here for two days straight. I don’t know how I can make it a whole week or however long this whole thing is supposed to last.” She waited, knowing Emma didn’t have the answer she wanted to hear.
“Hang in there. Kieran should be showing up shortly. He slept here yesterday. Today, he told Cyn he was going home. They are all exhausted. Julian wants him to look at your jewelry and see if anything stands out as the key the demons might be looking for.”
Wendy pepped up. She wouldn’t admit it to Emma, but the main reason the confinement loomed even more torturous was that she hadn’t seen or heard from Kieran in two days. The last two nights had been long. She’d spent half of the night pacing and worrying about him. She didn’t know how Emma did it. Loving a Protector was hell.
After they spoke for a few moments, Emma disconnected, and Wendy went to the back door to let the dog out. She eyed the pooch as he plopped down on his haunches to wait for her to open the door. He was house-trained and well mannered, never jumping on the furniture, and even understood basic commands.
“Hmm, how about Einstein? You’re so smart. I think that would be a good name for you.” The dog leaned his head to the side, seeming to consider her suggestion. Wendy frowned. “You’re not wagging your tail, so I take that as a no. How about Albert?” The dog stood up and wagged his tale. “Albert it is!” Wendy opened the door for him. “Enjoy your day, Albert.”
Jake entered the kitchen and went to the refrigerator to get a soda. “How about another game?”
“How about you show me some more self-defense moves?” Wendy countered. “I need to be ready in case any demons attack us.”
“You’re on.”
He headed out to the screened-in back porch, and she followed, smiling. Hitting Jake would relieve some stress and help her forget about Kieran for a few moments.
In a ready stance, Wendy waited for Jake to grab her from behind. She elbowed him and pivoted from his grasp, enjoying how easily she avoided being captured. But the smile left her face immediately when she found herself pinned against him, his arm around her neck.
“What are you doing?” he asked her, his voice stern. “You’re supposed to be ready for a second attack, not gloating at how well you avoided the first strike. Let’s try it again from the beginning.”
“Crud,” Wendy mumbled, waiting for Jake to come at her from behind again.
As soon as Jake’s thick hand landed on her shoulder, she went through the evasive maneuvers again and remained ready for his second attempt.
A deep growl followed by Jake being slammed against the wall made her jump into action.
The demons!
Blindly, she jumped on the assailant’s back and pulled his hair. At the same time, Albert ran into the room, barking and wagging his tail.
Then, it dawned on her. It wasn’t an assailant. She was on Kieran’s back.
“You want to explain what you’re doing?” Kieran’s voice vibrated, deep and menacing.
“You want to move that sword,” Jake replied, eyeing the blade at his throat.
“Oh, for chrissakes,” Wendy said, sliding off his back to her feet. “Jake’s teaching me self-defense. Don’t hurt him!”
Kieran’s eyes narrowed for a moment before he slowly moved away from Jake. The men stared at each other; neither spoke a word.
“Apologize to Jake,” Wendy said, tapping on Kieran’s arm with her forefinger. “You could’ve given him a concussion as hard as you slammed him against the wall.”
Jake rolled his eyes, obviously not liking Wendy pointing out how hard he’d been hit. Kieran seemed to ignore her, but then he turned and looked at her. There were lines of exhaustion around his mouth and eyes. She spotted soft purple bruising on his jaw. Sweeping her gaze down to his shirt, she noted several bloodstains and gasped.
“Are you alright?” Wendy asked, reaching to touch him, only to pull back when he leaned away from her touch.
“Sorry,” Kieran grumbled toward Jake before going inside. Albert followed the Protector, his tail wagging furiously.
“Traitor,” Wendy called after the dog.
When she and Jake followed Kieran inside, he was not in the kitchen. He’d gone to his room, the slamming door a clear indication that he didn’t wish to be bothered.
Wendy sat in a dining room chair and tried to decide what to do next.
“I’m going home. I’ll be back later,” Jake said, pulling his duffel over his shoulder. He activated the alarms and left.
She sat in the quiet house for a few minutes, contemplating what to spend the day doing. Kieran needed at least eight good hours of sleep. Maybe she could try to catch him before he fell asleep and ask him if he needed her to do anything.
Liking the idea, she made her way to his bedroom. She knocked softly but heard no answer. Rather than knock again, she opened the door slowly and peeked in. The room was dark. The sun-blocking blinds worked well.
“Kieran?” she whispered, barely able to see. A soft snore gave away his location. After allowing her eyes to adjust, she saw he was already asleep.
“Wow.” She inhaled sharply. With his hair still damp from a shower and a white towel aroun
d his waist, he lay sprawled on his stomach, across the bed. A shiver went through her. How would it feel to crawl into bed and snuggle against that?
Recalling how he’d slammed Jake against the wall, she figured it wouldn’t be a good idea to catch him by surprise. Instead, she picked up a blanket that lay across the foot of the bed and covered him with it.
Motioning for Albert to follow her out, she left him to get some sleep.
The smell of coffee was the first thing he recognized, the nearby panting of a dog the second. Kieran opened his eyes slowly and stretched, only to stiffen when a blanket slipped down from his back. Where had the blanket come from? When he rolled over, the dog immediately jumped on the bed and licked his jaw, his heavy tail thumping loudly on the bed.
A steaming cup of coffee beckoned him from the nightstand, and he reached for it. Wendy.
Obviously, she’d been in to bring him coffee. She must have been the one that covered him up, too. So that meant that she was probably no longer upset over the Jake incident.
He took a deep swallow of the black liquid and woke up a bit more. Kieran put the coffee cup back down after a second swig.
What had possessed him to attack the bodyguard? Looking back, it was obvious he wasn’t out to hurt Wendy. If he were to be honest, it was seeing the man’s hands on her that had set him off. He really needed to get away from her. Send her to Fallon’s or Cyn’s. Whatever was happening between them wasn’t good. With her near, he lost the ability to think clearly.
He moaned and fell back on the bed, pushing the heels of his hands into his eyes.
Wendy had to go. The thought didn’t make him feel better. He moaned again and blew air out. What should he do?
Seeming to think he needed comfort, the dog whined and nuzzled his side.
“Okay, dog, off the bed with you,” Kieran admonished the large beast, who ignored him and instead studied him closely.
“His name is Albert,” Wendy called from the doorway. “It’s almost six. I wasn’t sure if you had an alarm or not, so I wanted to make sure you were up for work.”
Surrender: Immortal Protectors, Book 2 Page 8
