by Alana Terry
In his calculated fashion, he’d already begun laying the groundwork. He had chatted up the oldest sister, Molly, at The Greenbrier Resort where she worked. Not only did she look like a model, she had been extremely receptive to his overtures.
And today he’d tracked down Katie McClure at the Hemlock Creek Library. She was taller than he expected—maybe 5’11. She had long red hair, just as described. What his boss hadn’t mentioned was her liberally freckled skin, her button nose, and her grape-green eyes that peeked out from under straight red bangs and followed his every move.
In fact, she was a little more than he bargained for, with her hawk-like observational skills. Although she projected an innocent vibe, she had to be equal parts savvy, given how quickly she had raised the alarm for the masked men. And she hadn’t mentioned his concealed Sig to that cop, even though she was aware of it.
One thing was certain: Katie McClure, wobbly as she was on her legs, was no pushover.
IN A TRADITION THEY had maintained since Dad’s death, Katie, her mom, and Molly gathered for a family dinner. Katie’s brother, Brandon, had moved to Arizona before Dad died, while she was only in high school.
While Katie had always admired her dad’s dedication to the FBI, Brandon had loathed it and resented Dad for all the hours he’d spent at work. The McClure women knew he had never forgiven his father, but they didn’t know how to broach the topic when he visited every Christmas.
Katie was working on a salad when Molly burst through the front door, making her expected late entrance. Katie suspected her sister’s alleged “overtime” consisted of chatting up wealthy old men.
Dropping her oversized purse and elegant trench haphazardly on the couch, Molly balanced precariously first on one leg, then the other, removing her strappy gold heels. Then she unbuttoned her blouse, stripping down to a fitted Pima tank top. Finally, she padded into the kitchen, her red toenails sparkling with each step. Molly McClure knew how to make an entrance.
Katie glanced down at her own clothing ensemble—Dad’s oversized oxford shirt and her favorite beat-up jeans. Well, it had been a long day.
“Katie!” Molly dropped kisses on her sister’s cheeks in an affected European fashion. “Mom told me what happened! Heavens to Betsy, are you all right?”
Katie nodded. No use going into details with Molly the Melodramatic, who would make the entire event seem like some kind of personal attack.
But wasn’t it? They had known her name.
Lost in thought, Katie carried the salad to the table, while Molly busied herself cutting garlic bread. When the oven timer buzzed, Mom rushed in, gave Molly a peck, and set her bubbling veggie lasagna in the center of the table.
After they settled into their seats, Mom said the blessing and Molly launched into colorful descriptions of guests at The Greenbrier. Katie finally tuned in when she heard the words “New York City.”
“...And this suave, smiling man from New York City came right up to the desk and produced this platinum card. Jessica flirted with him relentlessly, but I’m telling you, those Yankee men have that air of...je ne sais quoi. Longish black hair, arctic blue eyes, big muscles...dreamy.”
Molly had to be talking about the mysterious Ace Calhoun she had met at the library—able to impress the female staff at The Greenbrier with a single smile. Being a bodyguard must be a lucrative profession, if he was able to afford such a high-class resort.
Molly shot her a look. “I’m telling you, sis, he was perfect. Come to think of it, he’s your type.”
Her type? Since when did burly Yankee bodyguards constitute her type? Molly was only looking on the outward appearance, which—granted—was very pleasing. Katie wondered what Mr. Ace Calhoun’s heart looked like, which was the only thing that mattered. Still, she had to concede she’d been impressed with his noble attempt to keep her out of harm’s way.
“I’ve met him,” she said shortly.
Molly’s gold-flecked eyes widened. “You’re kidding me! How?”
Katie calmly forked up a bite of Ranch-drenched salad and took her time chewing it. This was too fun, keeping Molly in suspense. Instead of playing her usual role as homebody sister, she was now a woman of the world. In the know.
“We met at the library.”
“At the library?”
Katie tried to ignore Molly’s tone, which was loaded with sarcasm. “Yes. Occasionally people do come and go from the library, and sometimes—though rarely—those people are from out-of-state. Just passing through.”
Molly looked like she wanted to jump out of her seat. “Yes, but you said you’d met. You must have talked to him. What did he say?”
Not much, come to think of it. But she’d never admit that.
“Actually, he tried to protect me from those thugs. He got between me and their guns. Then afterward, he told me he was a bodyguard from Manhattan, attending a conference. I didn’t realize it was at The Greenbrier. Pretty swanky conference, if you ask me.”
Molly rolled her eyes. “Of course it is. I’m sure he’s a top-tier bodyguard.”
Katie snickered. Her sister was just making up that top-tier terminology, something she tended to do.
Molly’s eyes flashed. “What are you laughing about? I suppose you’re feeling special that he talked to you. He talked to me too, you know.”
That much was inevitable. Most men fell over themselves to get Molly’s attention. It was the way it had always been, even more so once guys noticed Katie’s limp. She was not the popular sister.
Mom intervened. “Girls, girls. Have either of you talked with Brandon lately?”
Molly poured herself a refill of sweet tea. “I called him last night. He said he’s been flying the helicopter more than guiding whitewater tours this month. I guess they have a new guy trained on the rafts.”
“I wish he’d just come home. It’s not like we don’t have whitewater in West Virginia.” Katie stabbed a piece of lasagna, sending veggies and noodles sliding on her plate.
Mom placed a hand on Katie’s. “I know you miss him. When it’s time, I believe God will bring him home to us.”
Molly nodded. “You should call him sometime, sis. He asks about you a lot.”
Katie knew she should. Besides, for once she had something interesting to talk about.
After cleaning up, they cozied onto the couch to watch their customary episode of Gilmore Girls, but Katie found herself yawning repeatedly. Even Lorelai’s clever one-liners weren’t making her laugh tonight. She finally stopped fighting the urge to conk out and stood up.
“I need to hit the sack. Reba wanted me to come in a little early tomorrow, just to regroup. I’m wiped out.”
Molly frowned. She stretched her legs before grabbing for Katie’s discarded blanket. “I don’t know why the library isn’t a crime scene or something. Why do you have to go to work after what you went through? You should take a sick day.”
The idea was tempting, but Katie was no longer the kind of girl who took sick days. She’d been confined to bed far too long in high school after her foot injury. It made her value each day she could be up and around.
After giving Mom and Molly a hug, she walked outside toward the back door of her garage apartment, following the solar lights along the connecting pathway. The automatic light came on, illuminating glints on the ground that made her look twice.
Glass had been carefully swept under a bush and her porch broom was askew. As her gaze trailed up, it became obvious a glass panel on her door had deliberately been broken. What if someone lurked inside, waiting for her?
Gathering her wits, she walked as quickly as she could back to the house. She went straight to Dad’s office, opened a drawer, and loaded the nine millimeter Sig he’d always carried. Mom’s eyes widened as Katie emerged, holding the gun by her side.
“Wha—?”
“Call the cops. Somebody might be out there.”
Molly gasped and slid onto the floor, cowering on the carpet. “Don’t you dare go out that door.”
Molly’s slow grin assured her she wouldn’t go into hysterics. You never knew what kind of drama Molly would bring to a situation.
“Thanks, John Wayne.”
It took the police nearly ten minutes to arrive. When Katie saw them pull up, she unloaded the Sig and replaced it in the case.
She met them at the door and led the older police officer to her apartment. He motioned to the other officer, turning on his flashlight. Guns at the ready, they proceeded to comb over the three rooms. After what seemed like thirty minutes, they finally turned on the light and gave the all-clear.
She hesitantly walked in. It quickly became apparent what had occurred.
Everything had been turned over or ripped apart. Drawers were emptied, their contents strewn about.
Katie righted her favorite wicker chair. What was this all about? Was this the work of the same gunmen from the library? What were they after?
The police asked her those very questions, but she had no answers to offer. By the time she trudged back to her old bedroom in Mom’s house, she could barely hold her eyes open. There was no way she’d sleep in her apartment tonight.
Mom hugged her, mentioning that Molly had finally returned to her own townhouse in Lewisburg so she could work in the morning. They both knew the real reason was that Molly would be scared out of her mind to stay here tonight.
Reloading the Sig and placing it under her pillow, Katie dropped fully-clothed into her white canopy bed. What little sleep she had was riddled with nightmares.
Chapter 2
ACE MUNCHED ON A FLAKY, buttery croissant and washed it down with pitch-black espresso. He planned to visit the McClures’ home later this morning.
Today he sported his turquoise polo shirt that always garnered female compliments, as well as several generous sprays of a newly-released cologne called Hedonist. A fragrance counter saleswoman had offered him the used sample bottle after he had sweet-talked her a bit. He hoped Katie McClure was so easy to tempt.
He had decided to focus on Katie. She seemed more level-headed than her sister. Chances were, Katie would be privy to any secrets the McClures hid. Anyway, he couldn’t very well pump both sisters for information under the guise of dating.
Thinking of Katie’s green eyes and serious demeanor, he found himself wishing he could make her laugh. If he could, maybe he could get close enough to accomplish what he was here for.
This whole job was utterly distasteful. What would his granny have thought? Granny was the one person who had believed he could make something good of himself. She took him to church and told him God made him for a special purpose. He used to believe that, until someone framed him and he wound up thrown into the slammer. When God let him go to prison, he’d decided it was better to trust in himself, not in some God he barely knew.
Luxuriating in the shiny charcoal Lexus he’d rented with his boss’ money, he couldn’t deny that crime did seem to pay. Leather seats, sunroof...this was living the life.
He shook his head, focusing on the task at hand. Today he would take the next step in winning Katie McClure over.
BREAKFAST WAS TENSE, the break-in still fresh in their minds. Mom had made Katie’s favorite—French toast—but they both took only a few bites. As Katie sipped her strong coffee, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it.” She figured it was the police with more questions, and she had nowhere to go. Reba had decided to close the library today.
Mom nodded and Katie slowly made her way to the door. Her foot was always stiffer early in the morning.
Opening the door just a crack, she was dumbfounded to find Ace Calhoun standing on their front porch.
She forgot her manners. “What are you doing here?”
Ace smiled, and the effect wasn’t lost on Katie. She had to admit he looked just as natural in jeans and a T-shirt as he did in his trendy outfit from yesterday. He actually looked like one of the local “good ol’ boys”.
“I wanted to check in with you before I left. Your sister gave me your address.”
She shook her head, tightening her lips. Of course Molly had been handing out her home address willy-nilly to good-looking guys. “Thanks. I’m home today because they closed the library.”
“That’s probably wise. I’m hoping the police have a lead on those guys?”
“Not yet.” She didn’t want to mention the break-in last night, since it was none of his business. “Are you flying out of Lewisburg?”
“Yes...in one of those tin-cans I flew here in, no doubt. But I need to get back to Manhattan. Bodyguarding waits for no one.” He laughed.
Mom walked up behind Katie and put her hands on her shoulders. “Excuse me, but did I hear you say you’re a bodyguard?”
Oh, no. Surely Mom wouldn’t...
Ace nodded earnestly and produced an I.D. that said Kern Personal Security. Mom flipped it over, pulled it out to examine the back, and seemed satisfied.
“And you two know each other...how?”
Katie sighed. This friendly chatter could mean only one thing. Mom was going to invite Ace in.
“He’s the guy from the library. The one who tried to protect me. He’s flying out today—”
Mom placed a hand on her heart and interrupted her. “You don’t say! Well, you just come right on in here and have some French toast, young man. It’s the least I can offer for your bravery.”
“I just ate, but I’d be happy to have a bite or two. Thank you.”
Katie refilled their coffee and Mom heated the French toast for Ace. When she set the plate down, he scanned the table.
“What do you need?” Mom asked.
“Maple syrup?”
Katie pointed to the bottle of Mrs. Butterworth’s. “Don’t you see that?”
He hesitated, then reached for the bottle. “Oh, sure. I’m just used to real maple syrup.”
She snickered, but Mom shot her a look.
“So, you’re a bodyguard in New York,” Mom probed. “I guess you’ve run into plenty of scoundrels.”
Ace nearly choked on his bite. He took a big swig of milk. “Yes, more than I ever wanted to.”
Her stomach sank. She knew exactly what was coming next.
“Ace, I tell you what,” Mom continued. “We have a little problem here and I don’t know what to do. Katie’s apartment next door was ransacked last night. The police are looking into it, but I know we’d feel a whole lot better with an armed guard around. Now, I can’t offer you much money, but I have some left in our retirement nest egg and I’m sure the whole family will go in on this.”
Surely he’d say no. Manhattan would pay a lot better than small-town folks ever could. She held her breath.
Ace glanced at her, then back at Mom. His gaze intensified. “I hate to hear that. And while I do have other work pending, I can have them call someone else in.” He extended a hand. “Ace Calhoun, at your service.”
She couldn’t believe this city-slicker was willing to hang around Hemlock Creek. Yes, he knew how to carry a gun, but did he know how to deal with heavily-armed thugs like those library invaders? Something in his suave smile threw her off-guard, and she couldn’t quite bring herself to trust Mr. Ace Calhoun.
ACE COULDN’T BELIEVE how easily he’d tricked Mrs. McClure. Yes, she had excused herself to call Kern Security for verification, but his boss had made sure his story checked out.
Katie was a different story. Those green eyes tucked under a fringe of red lashes were definitely more piercing than trusting today. As she stalked out of the kitchen, he noticed her limp was more pronounced than it was yesterday.
Ace followed her, easily overtaking her stride. “Did you injure yourself somehow?” He motioned to her foot.
The glare became more serious, hostile even. “No. I have a permanent limp.”
She said it almost like a dare.
Before he could respond, the f
ront door opened and Molly whisked in. “Hey Katie, how’s—” She nearly dropped the purse dangling at her elbow when she caught sight of Ace.
“Well, hello.” She grabbed his hand, her smile brightening. “Nice to see you around.”
“Thank you. I’m going to be in town a while longer. Your Mom actually hired me to protect your home until the police catch these guys.”
“Oh, mercy.” Molly fanned herself and winked at Katie. “Maybe I need to move back in.”
He caught a barely-perceptible flash in Katie’s eyes. Did she feel possessive of him? That was a good thing. But her words fell flat.
“He won’t be staying here, I imagine. Maybe down at the Kingsbury Hotel.”
“Is that the one I saw near the gas station? I’d be happy to move over there.” Anything to stay close.
“With that Lexus and your...Manhattan job, I would think you could afford The Greenbrier a few more days,” Katie mumbled.
“Katie!” Molly looked appalled. She shot Ace an apologetic look. “She’s a librarian, you know. They spend too much time buried in books and not enough time practicing politeness.”
Katie shrugged, walking up the hallway. Molly wasted no time, her warm eyes focused on Ace’s.
“So. How do you like West Virginia? You know, I’ve heard West Virginia girls are the prettiest in the United States.” She smiled widely.
He stayed noncommittal, ignoring her brazen overtures, even though her looks were definitely hard to ignore. “I’m sure that’s true.”
Katie returned, awkwardly balancing a bucket, broom, and cleaning supplies.
He grabbed the wobbling bucket before she could protest. “Where are we going?”
She glared. “You’re not going anywhere. I’m going over to clean up my apartment.”
Molly gasped. “You’re not moving back out there, are you, with some home invader running loose?”
“I don’t know. But I’m not leaving my things flung around like that.”
“Let me help,” he said. “It’s the least I can do, and if those men come back...”
Conflicting emotions played on Katie’s face. She finally gave in. “Okay, I could probably use an extra set of hands. Cleanup isn’t Molly’s thing.”
