Private Eye Protector

by Shirlee McCoy

  “Chance—”

  “I need to go. Stay in the room, okay? The guard will be right outside.” He pulled a blanket from the closet, dropped it around her shoulders.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To get some fresh air.”

  “It’s freezing outside.”

  “And it’s a little too hot in here. Hopefully, somewhere along the way, I’ll find a happy medium.”

  “You don’t have to leave.”

  “You’re wrong. I do. You’re too important for me to risk what we could have for what I want right at this moment.”

  “Rayne?” Someone called through the closed door and she tensed, her brow furrowing.

  “Rayne? Are you in there?” A quick sharp rap followed the second call, and Chance frowned.

  He knew the voice.

  Knew the impatience.

  Knew exactly who was going to walk through the door when it opened.

  “Rayne?” Another sharp rap and the door opened.

  Fit.

  Tall.

  Ash-blond hair and blue eyes.

  Spotless suit and fussy dress shoes.

  Michael.

  It had to be.

  So much for fresh air.

  No way was Chance going anywhere.

  “Michael, what are you doing here?” Rayne frowned as Michael walked toward her.

  “I was already on my way to Spokane when I called you last night. After our conversation, I thought about turning around and going home, but we need closure, so I’m here. I came straight from the airport. I planned to get here a few hours ago, but my flight was delayed. Fortunately, the nurse was willing to let me visit once I explained that I’m a psychiatrist. She said you’d just been through a trauma and might need someone to talk to. What happened?”

  “Nothing that concerns you,” Rayne responded, her eyes flashing with irritation.

  “There’s no need to be short-tempered, Rayne. I came for closure, but that doesn’t mean I can’t also help you get through a tough time.” He smiled the oily, slimy kind of smile that always set Chance’s teeth on edge.

  “I don’t need your help getting through anything, and we had closure. I can’t see that we need anything more.”

  “Maybe you’re right, but after I got the call about your accident, I couldn’t stop thinking about all the good times we had together. We had a lot of plans, Rayne. It’s a shame none of them came true. I’m sure you feel the same way.”

  “Actually, I don’t.”

  Michael frowned, his gaze jumping from Rayne to Chance. “You must be Chance Richardson.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Michael Rathdrum.” He offered a hand, and Chance shook it. The doctor’s grip was firm. Not too tight. Well practiced.

  No doubt, he had taken classes on how to make the right first impression.

  “It’s good to meet you in person. I know we got off to a shaky start on the phone. I guess stress got the better of both of us.”

  “Right.”

  “I hate to inconvenience you, but would you mind if Rayne and I had a few minutes to talk to each other alone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Thank yo… Pardon?”

  “I said ‘yes.’ I would mind if you and Rayne had a few minutes alone.”

  “Then maybe I should ask her what she wants.” Michael frowned, turning his attention to Rayne.

  “There’s no need to ask, Michael. I don’t think we need time to talk any more than I think you should have flown out here to see me.”

  “After all that we’ve shared, I thought I should be here to help out while you and Emma recovered.”

  “There are plenty of people here who are willing to help, and if I really needed someone else, I’d call my parents or my brother, or a friend, or even the old college roommate I haven’t spoken to in five years. I would not call you.”

  “I’m sorry you feel that way.” But it didn’t seem to make him want to leave. He settled in a chair, brushing invisible lint from his dark slacks.

  Chance was tempted to pick him up by his silk tie and drag him out of the room, but he’d let Rayne decide when it was time for the doctor to leave. For now, Chance would sit back and watch the show.

  He had a feeling Rayne was going to make it an interesting one.

  SEVENTEEN

  Michael was there.

  In Emma’s hospital room.

  Sitting in a chair.

  Acting like he belonged there.

  Could the morning get any worse?

  Rayne’s arm throbbed, her head ached and she did not want to deal with her ex.

  She also didn’t want to deal with Chance and his sweet kisses and sweeter words, or the way she’d felt when he’d said that he wanted more than just kisses in the moonlight. He wanted all of her. Dreams. Joys. Sorrows.

  What did a woman say to that?

  What could a woman say?

  Except maybe “yes”?

  And she’d been so close to saying it.

  So close to something way worse than breaking her rules. Way worse than falling for someone.

  She’d been this close to wanting everything from Chance that he’d said he wanted from her. Dreams. Joys. Sorrows.

  “You’re flushed, Rayne. Are you getting sick, too?” Michael stood and pressed his hand to her forehead, the cool clammy feel of his palm making her flesh crawl.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Your arm is bandaged.”

  “Someone tried to take Emma. We fought and he took a slice out of my arm,” Rayne explained, knowing what would happen next. Michael would ask a few polite questions, he’d take a few polite jabs at her ability to handle things on her own, and then he’d insist that she board the next plane back to Arizona.

  “Are you okay?”

  Polite question number one.

  “Aside from thirty stitches, I’m fine.”

  “And the suspect? Where is he?”

  Polite question number two.

  “In police custody.”

  “That’s a relief. Of course, if you’d stayed in Phoenix as I suggested a month ago, there’s a good chance none of this would have happened.”

  Polite jab number one.

  Rayne almost laughed at Michael’s predictability. Only it wasn’t funny, because she’d put up with it and him for nearly three years.

  “Why do you say that?” Chance asked, and Michael looked confused.

  Of course he’d be confused.

  He was used to leading the conversation in the direction he wanted it to go. Maybe it was a good quality in a psychiatrist, but it wasn’t all that pleasant in a boyfriend.

  “She has family in Phoenix, Chance. I’m sure you understand how important that is.”

  “And I’m sure you know that having family around doesn’t prevent tragedies or troubles from happening.”

  “It’s not about prevention. It’s about support. We all need that when we’re going through tough times, as Rayne is.”

  “So is Emma,” Rayne muttered, but neither man seemed to hear, they were staring each other down. Brunette squaring off against ash-blond. Tan skin against pale. Strong against…weak?

  She’d never thought of Michael that way, but he certainly wasn’t strong the way Chance was. Wasn’t physically or emotionally capable of protecting the people he loved.

  “Why don’t we ask Rayne how she feels about it?” Michael said, his words pulling Rayne from her thoughts.

  “How I feel about what?”

  “Going home,” Michael responded, his smile as fake as his love for her had been. A good show, a proper one, but not the real thing. Why had it taken her so long to realize it?

  “I’d love to, but the doctor hasn’t cleared Emma to leave the hospital yet.”

  “I can stay in town until he does. I’ve emptied my schedule for today and the weekend. I don’t have to fly back to Arizona until Monday morning.”

  “There’s no need for you to wait. I have people
here who can help me when Emma is released,” she responded, wishing she were more like her sister-in-law, Skylar. No-holds-barred. Take-no-prisoners. Say what you mean and mean what you say—that was Skylar’s philosophy. If Michael were her ex, she’d look him in the eye and tell him to get out and go home.

  Go ahead. Say it. Send the jerk packing.

  Rayne could hear Skylar’s words as clearly as if she were standing in the room with her.

  “Of course, I’ll wait. You can’t fly back to Phoenix alone,” Michael said, moving closer, as Chance’s arm tightened on Rayne’s waist.

  “Phoenix? I’m not going back to Arizona.”

  “You said you were ready to go home.”

  “Home to my apartment, Michael. Not home to Phoenix. Look…” She took a deep breath, ready to say what needed to be said. Determined to say it. “I don’t know what gave you the idea that I needed you here. I don’t.”

  “We’ve known each other for three years, Rayne. Loved each other for that long. That hasn’t just gone away because we disagreed about your becoming a mother.”

  “Actually, it has. We didn’t just break up because of Emma. We broke up because we have different visions for our lives, and because your idea of love isn’t the same as mine.” There. She’d said it. Straightforward. Blunt. No mistaking anything. They were through. Finished. Done.

  “We’re still friends, Rayne.”

  “I don’t think we are.”

  Michael scowled.

  Chance gave her a thumbs-up.

  She walked to Emma’s crib, looking down at the baby so she didn’t have to look at either of the men.

  No way did she plan to go from one disappointing relationship to another.

  But, then, maybe a relationship with Chance wouldn’t be disappointing.

  “That’s cold, and not what I’d expect from you.”

  “You shouldn’t have come, Michael, and you need to go. We’re not engaged anymore, we’re not in love and, to be honest, you aren’t the kind of person I want to be friends with.” She looked up, saw fury flash in his eyes.

  There.

  Then gone.

  But something in her responded, her hand closing over Emma’s, her heart pounding.

  “I’m sorry you feel that way. I have a room at the Hyatt. If you change your mind about going back to Arizona, let me know. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll fly out tomorrow.” He dropped a business card on the table, offered Chance a curt nod and walked out of the room.

  “So that’s Michael,” Chance said, walking over to stand beside her, shoulder to shoulder, arm to arm. Barely touching, but even that was enough to bring back what she’d felt when he’d looked her in the eyes and told her he wanted everything.

  “Yes.” Emma whimpered, and Rayne lifted her, ignoring the twinge in her arm as she inhaled the sweet baby scent.

  “Are you okay?” Chance’s hands cupped her waist, and he turned her so they were face-to-face. Just inches apart. She could see the stubble on his chin, the flecks of gray in his eyes, and if she hadn’t been holding Emma, she would have touched his cheek, felt the warmth of his skin beneath her palm. Tried to imagine what it would be like to give him what he wanted. To take what she wanted.

  All those dreams.

  All those hopes and joys and sorrows.

  A lifetime shared together.

  “I don’t know.”

  “I do, and I know you are okay.”

  “How can you know what I don’t?”

  “I know because I know you.” He ran a knuckle along her jaw, and her breath caught, her heart jumping in response. “You’re tough and strong, a woman who trusts in God to lead her in the right direction. You’d never let a jerk like Michael Rathdrum tear you down or make you doubt what you know is right.”

  “Chance—”

  “Don’t let him steal your joy, Rayne. And I’m not talking about us and what we might have one day. I’m talking about you and Emma and the little family you’ve built. It’s good what you have, and you didn’t need Michael to make it that way. You just needed your faith and your love. That will be plenty. Here, let me take her before you rip your stitches out.” He took Emma, and the baby reached up, laid her palm against his cheek, stared into his face as if she were memorizing every line.

  “She loves you already, Chance.”

  “She’s got good taste, don’t you, kid?” He tickled Emma’s belly, and she giggled, the sight of the two of them together clogging Rayne’s throat.

  She turned away.

  “She might be hungry. They wouldn’t let her have anything last night.”

  “Want me to call the nurse and ask for some formula?”

  “It will be faster if I walk down to the nurses’ station.” She needed air, needed space, needed a little distance so she could think clearly.

  He grabbed her hand before she could walk out the door.

  “That’s not a good idea, Rayne. You’ve already been attacked once. Let’s not risk it happening again.”

  “I can hear people walking up and down the hall. Even if the guy who attacked me hadn’t been caught, I don’t think he’d risk coming after me with so many people around.”

  Someone tapped on the door, and a stone-faced man stepped into the room. “I’m Ryder Malone from Malone and Cullen Security. Kane Dougherty hired our firm.”

  “You have ID?” Chance stood, somehow managing to look tough and in charge despite the fact that he was holding Emma.

  “Right here.” Ryder handed over a photo ID, and Chance studied it for several seconds before handing it back.

  “You know what the situation is?”

  “I’ve been briefed. So have all my security officers. We’ll do whatever it takes to keep Ms. Sampson and her daughter safe. I’ll be outside the door for the next eight hours. After that, one of my men will pull shift.”

  “If you want to start by escorting Rayne to the nurses’ station, she needs formula for the baby.”

  Ryder nodded, his expression never changing as he held open the door, motioned for Rayne to walk through.

  Finally free from Chance and his undeniable pull, and now she was stuck with a granite-faced muscleman who looked like he’d rather be anywhere else.

  Wonderful.

  Even more wonderful, Ryder stood out like a sore thumb. Several inches over six feet, huge biceps, dark eyes that seemed to see everything and nothing. Did he realize that everyone they passed was staring at him?

  “So have you been a bodygua—”

  “We’re a security firm, ma’am. We secure people, places and things.”

  “Oh.” So much for trying to make polite conversation.

  Rayne hurried the last few feet to the nurses’ station, made her request and waited while the nurse checked Emma’s records. It seemed to take forever, but the nurse finally handed her a disposable bottle filled with formula.

  “Thanks. Will the doctor be in to see Emma soon? I’m hoping she’ll be able to leave today.”

  “He’ll be in within the hour. He’s doing his rounds now.”

  “Great. Thanks again.”

  The walk back to the room was silent, Ryder not even offering a half smile as Rayne said goodbye and left him in the hall.

  Definitely not the life of a party.

  And definitely not the kind of person she’d want to meet in a dark alley.

  She had to admit, though, she didn’t mind having him standing outside the door to Emma’s room. It would take a criminal with a lot of guts or very little brains to try to get past him.

  “Here we are, sweetie. Food!” she said, and Emma shifted in Chance’s lap, saw Rayne and the bottle and started to cry in earnest.

  “Poor kid. You’d think a hospital would know better than to let a tiny baby go without food for twelve hours,” Chance said, scowling.

  “She’s not that tiny.”

  “She’s tiny enough that she doesn’t understand what’s going on. People are sticking her with needles, refusing
to feed her, poking and prodding her. She’s an amazing kid to have done so well for so long.”

  No doubt about it.

  He cared about Emma. No gimmick. No act. No pretending. Just concern and affection, and that mattered more to Rayne than a hundred promises, a thousand dinner dates, a million days spent together.

  But was it enough?

  He stood, waited while Rayne settled into a chair and then placed Emma in her lap. “There you go, kid. Eat up.”

  “Thanks.” Rayne settled back, Emma sighing contentedly as she started eating.

  Chance’s cell phone rang as he sat in the chair next to them, and he frowned, pulling it from his pocket. “Hello? When? I can’t leave the hospital. Can we bring him here?”

  “You can leave,” she said.

  He ignored her.

  “Yeah. I know it’s not a possibility, but I thought I’d try. All right. Thanks.” He hung up, and Rayne waited for him to speak.

  And waited.

  And waited some more.

  “Well?”

  “Well what?”

  “What was that about?”

  “A witness came forward this morning. A homeless guy who saw Leon go into his motel room with another man the afternoon of his death. Kai offered to let me sit in on the interview.”

  “So why don’t you go?”

  “Because I’m not going to leave you here alone. Last time I did that, you nearly died.”

  “Yeah, well, last time, I didn’t have the Man of Steel outside my room.”

  “I’m not going.”

  “You can’t spend the rest of your life standing guard over me and Emma. You’re an investigator, so go investigate. Find answers. That way, when Emma is released, we can go home.”

  “Actually, I think I can spend the rest of my life standing guard over you and Emma.” He crossed his legs at the ankles, leaned back in his chair.

  “You’re the most exasperating man I’ve ever met, Chance Richardson. Do you know that?”

  “Yeah. You told me that right around the time you told me what rule number three was and let me know that you’ve broken all three rules because of me.”

  That’s right.

  She had.

  She blushed, but she wasn’t going to back down.

  “I was out of my head from blood loss. I can be forgiven a lapse of judgment. Besides, that has nothing to do with what we’re talking about. You need to go. You’re better off out searching for answers than sitting around here.” And she was better off alone with Emma. She needed space and time to think, needed to clear her head, try to focus her thinking.