by Ginger Ring
A breeze gently blew the branches of the trees. It was said that the original owner planted a ton of different kinds of elms. Flowers were everywhere and their fragrance and colors attracted singing birds and buzzing bees. She glanced at the lake. The view was breathtaking. Lake Genoa was truly home now and there was no way she wanted to leave. She was tired of looking over her shoulder and living in fear.
Stephanie tapped the concrete fountain base with her running shoes. Memories floated back from April. She had just closed up the bridal store when the man she’d hit with her car, Handlebar, showed up. He was going to give her up. Stephanie fought for her life and would have died if Dominic hadn’t shown up. With the guy struggling in his hold, Dom asked her if she wanted the man dead. She didn’t think twice about it then and would do it again now. Her answer was yes. She was in survival mode at the time but it’d given her nightmares ever since.
After Dom saved her and made the mess go away, he’d returned to make sure she was all right. She owed him for what he did and he said he would collect. That had made her heart drop. No one wanted to be indebted to the mob, but this was something different. This was worse. Dominic had gone against Roman’s orders by killing the man. Roman hadn’t known that the biker had returned and threatened to expose her. He’d gone against his boss to protect her.
The man should have been furious with her, but instead of blaming her, something else happened—the kiss of a lifetime. A kiss that sent her soaring to the heavens and had her going to sleep with a smile on her face every night since. That was the last thing she expected from him. Not that he wouldn’t be a great kisser, the man was sexy as hell. She just didn’t think he would ever turn his attention to her. It was the best kiss of her life.
But what did he really mean by saying she owed him and that he would be collecting? So far, he’d asked for nothing, giving her many sleepless nights. He’d followed her up the stairs. She took a peek behind her, in his direction. Did he want money? Companionship? Sex? A new toy to play with and then toss aside? It was anyone’s guess as he’d never come to collect. It’d been in the back of her mind ever since that he would show up at her door some night demanding payment, but he never did. He’d kept his distance. Until now.
Dominic had killed for her. Protected her even now. It was time that she stood up for herself and stopped running. If they came here, she would be ready. It was time to fight back and he was going to help her. She’d left one home and family already. There was no way she’d lose another.
She stretched and arched her back. It was hard not to notice when his gaze dropped to her breasts. The man wanted her but would probably never admit it. There was no other reason for him to be looking out for her. He would never ask her out, that was for sure. Dominic was not a dating kind of guy and she was not interested in a casual relationship.
She crossed her arms in front of her chest. Peeking over her shoulder, she saw that he now sat on the front steps of the historic house. His elbows rested on his knees. He hadn’t deserted her but kept his distance.
Entwining her fingers behind her back, she walked along the brick sidewalk until she stood in front of the porch where he sat.
“I’m sorry for being a bitch. I know you’re just trying to help.”
He just sat and stared at the lake.
“I have no clue why you are helping me and looking out for me, but I really appreciate it.” She took a seat beside him on the stairs. “I was thinking I could use a few more learning moments.” That seemed to get a rise out of him and he turned to look her in the face. “Would you teach me how to fight? How to save myself if you aren’t around to do it for me?”
He groaned and swore under his breath. This was serious even if she didn’t want it to be so. “Yes, I can’t always be there.”
“I don’t expect you to be.” She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them.
“You’re going to have to do what I say whether you like it or not.”
“Yeah, sure.” They offered self-defense classes at the police department. This would probably be something similar, only mafia-style. What did she have to lose but her life?
Dominic rose. “How far do you usually run?”
“Couple miles. I usually walk a half mile, run some, and then walk the rest back. I’m not a long-distance runner. I just do it so I can keep eating chocolate and drinking those French vanilla cappuccinos without gaining too much weight.” He didn’t need to know she did it to outrun anyone who might be chasing her. His gaze dropped to her feet and then slowly lingered on her frame as he took his time getting back to her face. Her skin tingled with the appraisal.
“You’re perfect the way you are.” His face flushed after he said it. Was he blushing? “But today you run three miles.” He turned and took off down the stairs.
“What?” She rushed after him. “What did you say?”
“You heard me.” He stopped and she plowed into this back. It was like hitting a warm, hard wall. “Do you know what the best way to keep from getting caught is?” Dom put his hands on his waist. He was a step below and still had to look down at her. Those stunning eyes of his sparkled with mischief.
“Huh?” What was he talking about? It was so easy to get distracted when he was around.
“The best way to keep from getting caught is to run faster and farther than the one chasing you.” He took another step down. “You need to up your game, sunshine.” She couldn’t agree with him more on that but she was exhausted.
“I was up all night and I already ran a mile. Can we start this another time?” She was whining but knew it needed to be done. That was the reason she punished herself.
“Nope.” He paused and rested his hand on the white wood railing. “Let’s go.”
“And if I don’t?” Stephanie stood her ground. Her legs were still tired from the run and all the stairs.
“Then I throw you in the lake. Head first.” He smiled and kept on going.
Chapter Eight
Dominic
“Why the hell did I suggest this?” Stephanie gave a big sigh from behind him before she went shuffling by. She seemed to thrive on dares and competition.
“Because you want to live,” he reminded her. She’d already run a mile but still smelled fresh and clean. What was it about the perfumes that women used that made men want to follow them like wolves on the scent of prey?
There still was no clue to her story or why anyone would want to harm a hair on that beautiful head. It was serious, though, and she needed to be reminded of that every day. He knew all about letting your guard down. That was the moment your enemies swooped in and crushed you. That was the last thing he wanted to see happen to her.
As soon as she hit the bottom stairs, she was off in a flash. He had no doubt the woman had another mile or two left in her but he’d watch for signs of fatigue or if her steps faltered. The last thing he wanted to do was push too hard. Those long, tanned legs of hers were almost out of view when he strolled down the last flight of stairs. Never did he think he would be spending the day chasing after Stephanie Barclay when he’d done his best to run away from her.
Dominic was used to being in the company of gorgeous women. Roman trusted him to guard his wife and his sister. It was a position of honor. Both women were smart and it was a great change from being around morons like Jasper and other young guns trying to move up the ladder fast. Well, maybe Jasper wasn’t a total idiot but he was annoying at times. If it wasn’t for him, Dom wouldn’t have had the chance to dance with Steph. Well, actually, they didn’t really dance—dancing was for pussies, he tried to convince himself.
He started jogging slowly, no need to be breathing down Stephanie’s neck. She probably needed time to herself. He could tell she liked her privacy just as much as he did. Hell, he should be back at his cabin sharpening knives and working on swords. He’d spent enough time in the company of others in the past twenty-four hours to last him for months.
Dominic covered his m
outh as he yawned. Sleep had been pretty much non-existent last night and yesterday had been a long day. He’d had a clean-up with a novice, a wedding, and a young lady to watch over. When had his life gotten so crazy? Crazy might not be the right word. Complicated? Messed up? How about invaded by a blonde, green-eyed little bridal consultant who wrote romance novels on the side?
He shook his head just thinking about it. When he’d heard from Madison that Steph liked to write, he thought maybe poetry or mysteries. The last thing he ever thought of was romance. Steph wasn’t exactly someone who was out buying flowers, dating online, or talking about marriage from what he’d heard. It was the opposite. She hid from people and hated any kind of attention. The threat from her past made it clear why she’d been trying to slip under the radar and go through life unnoticed.
Maybe her stories were her way of living out her life the way she wished it could be instead of the way it was. Her eyes were often on the lake, not focusing on where she was going. That was one of the things he would caution her on when they stopped. Her stride had picked up speed and her shoes were now on the paved part of the walking path. They’d gone a quarter mile in no time flat.
His cell buzzed and he stopped to answer. It was the tech guys getting back to him. Dominic had no clue who they were. Everyone just referred to them that way. In this business, no one really wanted to draw attention to what they did. No one was supposed to know he was the cleaner but those closest to the family.
“What have you got?” Dominic answered and turned his back to Stephanie as if shielding her from the call would protect her from harm.
“Sorry it took so long, but with the wedding and everything, we were working overtime checking the guest list.” The wedding had kept everyone working overtime. At least it was a small one, but still every vendor, florist, and guest had to be checked and double checked before they could enter the Caponelli home or Firenza.
“Did you find anything?”
“I ran the plates you gave me and then scanned the cameras around town for any additional bikes matching that description. The bike is from California, but that’s because the owner purchased it there and had it shipped.” The guy gave Dom the owner’s name. It was the lead singer of a major rock band who had a house on the lake. Famous people from all over the world had homes there. It was low crime, low profile, and a great place to live the high life out of the view of the press. Heck, the Playboy club used to be on the lake.
“So why did I see it parked in the lot behind an apartment building?”
“Looks like a guy who lives there picked it up for him at the shipping company and then drove it here. Probably just wanted to drive it around a bit to show off before dropping it off with the new owner.”
“So, no threat.” That was a relief.
“None that I can see as far as the bikes go. Roman has me on another project but I will keep an eye out for anything odd going on. It’s tourist season so a lot of new people in town.”
“Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it.” Dom ended the call and stuck the phone in his pocket.
He turned to see how far Steph had gone. She was at least a half mile ahead.
Stephanie glanced back at him and when she saw he was almost out of sight, it seemed to spur her to go faster. For a while, she sprinted. Her arms pumping. Her light hair bouncing back and forth as she ran. At least she was in the wide-open spot of the trail and there were houses nearby.
Up ahead, two guys were jogging their way. They were locals, a couple of rich trust fund babies who lived at the lake during the summer. When she caught sight of them, he noticed her steps slow and she detoured toward a public dock. One of the playboys elbowed the other and pointed in her direction. She was a very attractive woman, and as much as she tried to hide, it made her a mark to any red-blooded male, including himself. Dominic watched as they followed her.
The only way off the dock was to go in the water. Another thing he needed to warn her about. Know all possible exits and have a plan of escape no matter the location. When the guys followed her onto the dock, he could see her body stiffen.
Whereas Valentina was all out there with her tight clothes and high heels, Stephanie was more modest and sweeter. For the first time in a long time, Dominic surprised himself. He was a killer who had no business even being in the same room with someone as nice as Steph and yet he was thinking about her in sweet and romantic terms. Women made a man weak and became potential targets. She was way out of his league, but that didn’t mean he was going to let some lowlife have her either.
The two men in designer sunglasses that probably cost more than most people made in a month approached Stephanie as she stood at the end of the pier, gazing at the water and stretching. One man was on each side of her and Dom’s fists clenched. He shouldn’t have let her get so far ahead, but he also wanted to see how she handled herself. He slowed his pace but was ready to jump into action anytime he was needed.
The first dickwad tried to distract her while the other stood behind her, making some obscene gesture toward her ass. Dominic ground his teeth as he waited to see how this played out. At least he was now close enough to hear what they said.
“Yes, we live in the house over there. The really big one. You should stop by for a drink. I bet you’re thirsty after running.” Polo shirt jerk pointed to their mansion.
“Thanks, but no. I have to get going.” She turned and the other guy took her arm.
“What’s your hurry, doll?”
“No hurry. Just not interested.” Stephanie tried to brush them off but they weren’t taking no for an answer. “Let go of my arm.”
A twinge of guilt hit Dom after grabbing her leg not too long ago. She’d been manhandled enough for one day and if she didn’t do something soon, he would have to step in.
“Or you’ll do what?” the jerk who wouldn’t let go mocked.
“This.” With her free hand, she slugged him in the throat with her fist. While the other man stood there in shock, she kicked out with her foot and nailed him right in the chest. The man landed in the cold lake and the other dropped his hold on her as if she was a hot coal. He fell to his knees, his hand to his neck, and gasped for air.
With her head high, Stephanie walked toward him. Dominic’s admiration for her was at a new high, but she looked pissed.
“Did you put them up to that?” She motioned over to where one was struggling to get to his feet while the other flapped around in the water.
He frowned. “Do I look like the kind of person who would hang out with a couple of pricks like that?” That seemed to calm her a bit. “I had no idea you were even going to be here. Remember?”
One of the men yelled at her and waved a fist.
“Let’s get the hell out of here.” Dominic placed a hand on her lower back. If they bothered her again, they’d have to deal with him. From the dejected looks on their faces, he doubted they would see either one of them again. The one man coughed and still fought to get air. The other finally dragged himself out of the lake.
“I maybe overreacted a bit.” Stephanie bit her lip. “Do you suppose we should go help them?”
“Hell, no.” He started to jog in the hopes she would follow suit. It worked and she was soon beside him.
“I didn’t mean to hurt them. Do you think I broke anything?” Her chin jutted out.
“That’s the problem with you women. You don’t fight back because you’re all too afraid of hurting others. Do you think these bastards would have cared if you scrapped a knee as they dragged you into the bushes?” It was doubtful they were going to do that in broad daylight but one never knew.
She stopped in her tracks. “I think they were just some rich kids looking for company and I overreacted. I’m so embarrassed. I should go back.”
“Absolutely not.” Dominic faced her and placed a hand on each of her shoulders. “Don’t overthink it. Like I said, do you know how many women have been kidnapped without even saying a word?” He choked. “You can’t be
too careful. Never apologize for being safe.”
Her lower lip quivered but she nodded. “Okay.”
“You did good and listened to what I told you. You walked away, and that is the most important thing.”
She glanced into the distance and then back toward him. “I’ve had enough for the day. I want to go home.” The poor woman did appear tired. Her face had paled and her shoulders were limp.
“Let’s jog to Black Point and then we’ll walk the rest of the way. Can you make it?” An older couple had stopped to see if the college kids needed help so it was time to get out of their line of sight and fast.
“Yes, I’m fine.” She sprinted off, leaving him in the dust again.
He stood there and admired her lean legs and tight ass. Damn, he was as bad as the creeps who just tried to hustle her. Reaching down, he picked up a rock that was lying in the middle of the path. No, he was better than them. He would never lay a hand on any woman against their will. If he touched Stephanie, it was to prove a point or teach her how to get out of a hold. With more force than he intended, Dom vaulted the rock into the lake. Its impact making a loud plunk.
Dominic started running again. The problem was he did want to touch her. Her soft skin drew him like a magnet. Her scent was pure and clean. He was the one who was beneath her and would never be good enough for her. They’d only run a total of maybe two miles but his legs ached. He needed the exercise as much as she did. Up ahead, she stood waiting by the stairs of Black Point. A few older tour guides had started down to wait for the boatload of tourists to arrive.
There was one talking to Stephanie and he recognized her as one of the crafters from the art center. The woman turned her back toward him. It was slight but he’d seen it. The others paid him no mind and just went about their duties. Not wanting to draw attention to himself or her, he kept going. He’d wait up ahead for her. After cresting the hill, he slowed and bent over at the waist. Just a few short minutes later, Stephanie walked toward him.
