Crashing Into Jake

by Sara Blackard

  Four

  Jake glanced out the sliding glass door at Chloe and Rafe on the back porch. Piper had excused herself into the kitchen where she chopped vegetables with a vengeance after the whole bonfire incident, while Chloe sat staring at the small flames that devoured the last of the burnt offering. Rafe chatted with her, probably making some kind of joke. Chloe tipped her head back and laughed. Her pixie form was contrary to the hearty sound that flipped his stomach. He scowled and continued watching the security footage the rental company had sent over.

  He didn’t need his stomach acting like he hadn’t moved past high school. He definitely didn’t need to focus on the way her dark blue eyes had appeared almost violet as they’d looked up at him in surprise.

  The moment she’d opened the door, looking like a beautiful fairy princess, he’d known she’d cause issues. No one could look like a gorgeous version of Tinkerbell and not be trouble with a capital T. Everyone knew fairies created nothing but mischief.

  Jake clenched his jaw as another laugh floated into the living room and focused on the screen before him. Case in point, she sat outside with no regard to her safety while her cousin worked hard in the kitchen. Chloe about lit the porch on fire with her ridiculous bonfire of toxic flammables. She also hadn’t flinched, pulled away, or cowered when she had met him. He scoffed. He shouldn’t list that last one on the negative side, but he couldn’t help it. Seeing her reaction as anything but negative would only keep his twisting gut in nervous knots he couldn’t afford to have. Not while on a case. Maybe never.

  He leaned closer to the screen as a figure strolled along the sidewalk and turned into the driveway. Darn it. He hoped the man had driven so they could know what vehicle to look for. The guy wore a black North Face coat with the hood pulled over his head. The bill of a ball cap stuck out of the hood, completely throwing his face in shadow. Jake had nothing but a build and a black jacket hundreds of others in this town probably had.

  He switched over to the other feed that shot from a different angle across the street and cued it to the correct time. He scrutinized the video as the man walked up to the door. When the stalker turned to scan the houses, something caught Jake’s attention. He rewound the feed and slowed it down. His hands and foot tingled with the additional level of threat. He rubbed his leg below the knee, where the prosthetic connected, and whistled. Rafe’s head snapped to Jake. With a single nod, Jake had Rafe and Chloe in the living room.

  “What’d you find?” Rafe slid and locked the patio door.

  “A stalker.”

  Jake tried to ignore how the crease in Chloe’s forehead made him want to smooth it away with promises of safety. Maybe a kiss or two on her plump lips—Jake shook his head to clear it of stupidity. He’d never had a problem staying on track, and he didn’t want it off track with a pampered country star used to getting everything she wanted.

  Jake frowned at the screen, the unfair assessment poking his conscience. She had done nothing to get such judgement from him, not really. In fact, he admired how she drew their attention from the pile of Piper’s clothes to herself to relieve some embarrassment that had splashed across her poor cousin’s face. Her off-hand comment of lacy underwear and her lack of fright over him screwed with his brain, making him wonder things he shouldn’t.

  She sat next to him on his scarred side, the couch barely dipping with her slight frame. He wished he hadn’t pulled his hair back off his face. Now she’d get a good look at his scar, and her friendly demeanor would fade.

  “You found him?” She leaned forward and squinted at the screen.

  “Yeah, though the video doesn’t show much.” He clicked the button to play, trying to ignore that she smelled like some jungle flower.

  Chloe leaned forward a little more toward the screen like she tried to get a better look, then shook her head as she crossed her arms and flopped back against the couch. Her arm brushed his as she shifted to curl her feet up onto the cushion. The contact spread warmth to his shoulder. What in the world? He cleared his throat and forced himself not to move away.

  “If I zoom in, we can kind of see his face in the shadows. Recognize him?” He turned to Chloe, who had pulled her knees up to her chest.

  She stared at the screen, her eyes wide in her delicate face. Her laughter and spirit seemed to drain with the little color she had left in her pale face. She shivered, pulled her knees closer to her, and shook her head.

  “Piper, do you recognize this guy?” Rafe motioned Piper over from the dining room table where she’d just placed a steaming dish.

  Jake leaned back against the couch, debating if he should move or not. Chloe had sat so close that mere inches separated them. He didn’t want her uncomfortable with his presence. She leaned into him, and her shoulders relaxed. The slight motion unfurled something in his gut.

  Rafe spun the computer so Piper could get a look. A vertical line creased her forehead as she leaned toward the computer. She pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth and tipped her head to the side. Jake hid his smirk as he watched Rafe stare at her lips and swallow. Oh man, Davis would flip if he knew his best friend had found a new appreciation for his baby sister.

  “It’s so dark, I can’t really tell. There’s just too much of his face covered.” She sighed and straightened. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry, Pipster.” Rafe stepped to her, gave her a one-armed hug across the shoulders, then practically jumped away and crossed his arms. “I don’t think I could recognize my mother in that instance.”

  Piper smiled up at him before ducking her head and pulling her hair behind her ear. “I better finish getting dinner on the table.”

  “I’ll help.” Rafe followed her to the kitchen.

  A giggle pulled Jake’s gaze to Chloe. The pink had returned to her cheeks. Her eyes sparkled with laughter.

  “What?”

  She pointed her chin toward the kitchen. “Rafe doesn’t stand a chance.”

  He stared back into the kitchen where Rafe’s full attention stayed glued on Piper. “Might be right about that.”

  “Hopefully.”

  She sighed next to him. A comfortable silence settled around them. Jake couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so at ease next to a woman. He hadn’t, not since that messed up mission.

  “Jake?” Her soft whisper pulled his gaze to her.

  She peered up at him. A firmness had replaced the fear. She leaned forward, her expression intent. He swallowed the anxious lump in his throat.

  “That man had a gun holstered to his side, didn’t he?” Her tone warned him not to lie. Not that he would.

  “Yeah.”

  Her gaze darted into the kitchen before she leaned even closer and pitched her voice lower. “Don’t tell Piper. She already worries too much. This would throw her over the edge.”

  “You want me to lie?”

  “No. Just … if she didn’t notice it herself, she doesn’t need to know. It changes nothing.” Chloe laid her hand on his arm, spreading that warmth back up his shoulder. “Ever since her parents died, she’s anxious about those she loves leaving her. Davis going off to play hero gives her enough stress for three people. Then you add me into the mix, and she’s wound so tight with nerves, I’m surprised she can function. I don’t want to cause her more worry than I already have.”

  How could she be more concerned for her cousin’s emotions when the guy after her carried around a gun? It blew his perception of her right out the window.

  He nodded. “Okay, I’ll let Rafe know not to tell her … for now.”

  Her smile almost blinded him. “I’m glad Dictator Davis called you. Thanks for being here.”

  She leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on his scarred cheek before hopping up and rushing into the kitchen. He balled his hand into a fist to keep from rubbing the rippled skin that tingled from her touch. She rubbed Rafe’s hair, messing up his perfect style with a burst of laughter. She was trouble, all right. If he didn’t watch himself, he�
�d end up like Rafe, without a chance in the world to keep his thoughts where they should stay. As much as he longed to find someone that lit the fuse to his heart, he couldn’t afford that kind of distraction. Not until he could control the beast that emerged each night in his nightmares.

  Five

  “Can you believe Jake’s making us move? Ugh. He’s an absolute beast.” Chloe tossed more clothes into her suitcase as she exited her closet.

  “No, he’s not, and you know it.” Piper grabbed the pile of clothes off the suitcase and began folding the items.

  Chloe spun and stomped back into the closet. She hated that Piper told the truth. Jake wasn’t a beast at all, even though he said little and scowled too much. Her fear of the situation had her lashing out at the person running the Let’s Protect Chloe show. She hated the ice that had settled in her gut since seeing that gun strapped to the creep’s waist. She huffed and threw the last of her clothes in the suitcase, snagging the stuff Piper wanted to fold and zipping the mess closed.

  “You’re right. He’s not a beast.” Chloe flopped on the bed.

  “Of course, I’m right.” Piper flipped her hair over her shoulder and winked. “Maybe your panties are in a wad because he’s smoking hot.”

  Chloe’s heart rate picked up, and she stifled a smile. “He’s okay.”

  Piper snorted, tossing a shirt Chloe had missed in her stuffing. “Whatever. I can see right through you, dear cousin.”

  “Fine, he’s gorgeous, and his voice makes my toes curl.” Chloe threw her arm over her eyes. “But it doesn’t matter what I think of him, Piper. You know that. I have too many problems for any sane man to sign on to.”

  “You’re delusional. Any guy would be lucky to have you.” Piper came around the bed and flopped next to her.

  “No, Piper, I’m realistic. Who would ever want to get involved with a china doll? I can’t think of anyone who’d want that headache.”

  “It’s not that bad. You have your celiac under control now.”

  “Think about it. He takes a drink of a beer or eats a sandwich, then gives me a kiss and—wham—I’m out for three days. And what about the possibility that I may never have kids? No man will ever want to mess with that.” She sat up as all her old insecurities rose to strangle her. “Men want strength, not frailty. They want to see their woman plump with child so they can beat their chest and grunt in satisfaction, not have to curl up each night to someone who can hardly keep any weight on their scrawny bones.”

  “You don’t give yourself enough credit.” Piper grabbed Chloe’s hand and squeezed. “You have more strength than anyone I know. I would’ve given up in that hospital after fighting as long as you did. But you, you barged through it with sunshine and determination. If you can’t get pregnant, who cares? Think of all the children you could adopt.”

  Chloe shook her head and tried to stand.

  Piper tightened her grip and shook her arm. “Get out of your head, Chloe Rose Fields. Any man who wouldn’t see you as the gift you are is an idiot.”

  Chloe rolled her eyes and kissed Piper on the cheek. She laid her head on Piper’s shoulder, digging up the kernel of hope her cousin’s words planted. Chloe had no room for silly dreams in her heart. If her own parents could see nothing but her illness when they now looked at her, no one would ever see more either. They’d be foolish to. No, Chloe couldn’t let hope take root, no matter how dangerously gorgeous Jake looked or how when she had sat next to him her nerves had settled into a peaceful harmony.

  A knock on the doorjamb pulled both their heads around. Jake shifted on his feet and cleared his throat. Had he heard her little whinefest? She sure hoped not. He didn’t need another reason to think her crazy. She pressed her lips together to stifle the smile the image of the underwear burning caused.

  “We got us a place that’s more secure. We’ll be leaving in ten if you think you’ll be ready.” Jake’s deep voice made the hair on her neck stand up.

  He stared straight at her with a look that pooled white-hot lava in her belly. Dang, it should be illegal to have such an effect on her. If Kevin Costner would’ve had half of Jake’s looks, Whitney would’ve been putty in his hands, not a spoiled brat.

  “Yeah, sure.” Was that her voice? Hopefully, he didn’t hear the pathetic way it’d gone all husky.

  He nodded, then turned down the hall, his footsteps fading as he left. How could she keep the bodyguard at arms’ length when his stares made her want to agree to whatever he said? Want us to hide in a bunker until the show? Sure, thing. It sounds romantic. Can I bring candles? Want to fly me away and lock me in a tower? Absolutely, where’s the plane? She shook her head.

  Piper whistled. “Was that tension or was that tension? Did you see the way he looked at you? I got all hot and bothered, and he didn’t even gaze at me as if he’d like to eat me up.”

  “That was nothing more than a do-what-I-tell-you look.” Chloe pushed on Piper’s shoulder and stood, though the memory of his look was kind of steamy.

  “Yeah, right. If you really believe that, you should get out more. Even I, who has dated no one, knows what that look was.”

  “Hey, just because the love of your life suddenly sauntered in and can’t seem to keep his eyes off you, doesn’t mean that we’ll all get our happily ever after.” Chloe probably shouldn’t dig, but she had to know what Piper thought.

  “Now who’s seeing things? Rafe hasn’t looked at me any different from how he always did. Besides, he’s still just a big kid.” Piper shoved the shirt in the front zipper and lifted the suitcase off the bed. “I probably shouldn’t hold my breath for him. I’ll just end up passing out.”

  Piper rolled the suitcase out into the hall, her shoulders slumped. Men sucked. Why did she and Piper let themselves get all twisted up over their lack of relationships? The afternoon had gone so great with Piper turning a corner on the road to increased self-esteem. Now, she’d slammed into reverse with her inability to see Rafe’s attraction. Chloe would just have to do something about that. She wouldn’t let Piper think wrongly about herself any longer. She smiled as she surveyed the room once more to make sure she didn’t forget anything.

  Piper was right about one thing. Chloe had survived almost dying. She may not be strong in body, but she was strong in spirit. She hadn’t cowered away from her disease, and she sure as shooting wouldn’t cower from this creep. Their bodyguards would just have to stay on their toes, because she wouldn’t be bullied into hiding. She didn’t fight her way through the valley of death to not live fully in the land of the living.

  Six

  Jake followed closely behind Rafe in the other vehicle to their new location. Relief had loosened his limbs when Zeke had found the place away from the mainstream. While the homes were beautiful and convenient at the base of the ski slope, they also had built them with small yards. The tight neighborhood had made his skin crawl with their limited field of sight. This new place not only had an impressive security system, but the houses were spaced apart. He hoped the move shook the stalker off until the concert. If he couldn’t find them, he wouldn’t pose an immediate problem.

  Jake squeezed the steering wheel as he watched their six through the side mirror. When he still saw no one following, he released his grip. He could feel Chloe’s gaze on him as they stopped at a red light.

  “So, Jake, how long have you known Rafe?” Her cheerful voice tinkled over him like lyrical notes.

  She must be an incredible singer with the way her voice slid right through him. Since he’d overheard her talking to Piper, it seemed his nerves couldn’t stop firing. He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. He’d just paused outside in the hall to get the disappointment from her calling him a beast pressed down so he wouldn’t growl. After hearing his voice made her toes curl, his throat had dried right up, afraid to break whatever strange spell had been cast on her. Women didn’t find him gorgeous, not anymore, and his voice would make her toes curl for an entirely different reason if she heard him shouting at nigh
t from his dreams.

  “I met Rafe my third year in. We were both in the training program for the team together.”

  He hadn’t gotten rid of the lug yet. Not that he would want to. Rafe and the others had become his brothers he’d never had.

  “So you were on the Special Ops team too?” Her big eyes widened even more. “That’s impressive.”

  He shrugged. Impressive would be walking away whole. Though he doubted any of them had.

  “How long were you enlisted?”

  “I joined up when I turned eighteen and served for nine years.”

  “Wow, that young?” Chloe leaned her back against her door to watch him, making him feel like a bug under a magnifying glass.

  “Family tradition.” Did his voice sound odd, or was he just paranoid?

  “That’s cool. Your dad was in the Army then?” Her question held a cheerful tone.

  “Dad, grandpa, great-grandpa. As far back as the Revolution, my family can trace our military life.” Shoot. Don’t get all sentimental, Silva.

  “Why’d you get out?” Her words crashed his sentimentality to the floorboard.

  “I was injured.”

  “Oh.” She cleared her throat. “You look fine now, better than fine.”

  In his peripheral, he saw her grimace and roll her eyes. Her unease made his mouth tweak until he remembered where the conversation had led. He clenched his jaw.

  “Yeah, well, the Army doesn’t have much use for a one-legged man.” He glanced into his side mirror so he wouldn’t have to see her reaction.

  “That’s a load of horse dung. With prosthetics these days, you can do anything you did before.” She crossed her arms. The force of her objection had his limbs tingling.