“Excuse me,” said a deep voice from behind.
Andrew glanced up over Beth’s head at the newcomer, and his gaze narrowed.
Beth glanced back and saw a stranger standing directly behind her. She sensed he was staring daggers at Andrew, although it was hard to tell because of the man’s dark sunglasses. She guessed from his lean, muscular body and smooth face that he was about her age. He was taller than she was, but not as tall as Andrew, with short black hair and a warm brown complexion. He gave her the impression of a panther, poised and ready to pounce on Andrew.
He might have been a student at Kingston, but for some reason, Beth didn’t think so. He was dressed like a college student – blue jeans, a t-shirt, sneakers – but he wasn’t carrying a backpack, and that was a quintessential accessory for a college student. He was also wearing a black leather jacket, which she thought was odd given the warm weather.
“What the hell do you want?” Andrew said, glaring at the stranger.
“Is everything all right, ma’am?” the new guy said, transferring his gaze to her as he ostensibly dismissed Andrew.
“Um, yes,” Beth said, her voice shaking as she gazed up into the dark sunglasses. She really wished she could see his eyes. “I was just leaving.” When she tugged on her wrist this time, Andrew let her go.
“Thank you,” she whispered to her apparent rescuer.
Beth took advantage of her freedom and put some space between herself and Andrew. She headed off briskly toward home, and when she glanced back a couple of blocks later, she saw her presumed rescuer standing toe-to-toe with Andrew, his arms crossed over his chest. Even from this distance, she could see that Andrew was glowering at the guy.
Beth hefted her purse strap more securely over her shoulder and started walking as quickly as she could. She couldn’t help peering behind her every so often, as if she expected to see Andrew creeping up on her at any minute.
* * *
Shane arrived at Beth’s house at five-thirty. He rang the bell to make sure she wasn’t home yet, but when no one answered, he sat on the top step to await her arrival. He hadn’t even been there five minutes when a call came in from Miguel.
“Report,” Shane said. Miguel was on guard duty. He wouldn’t call unless it was pertinent to Beth.
“There was an incident as she was leaving work,” Miguel said. “I had to step in.”
That certainly got Shane’s attention. “What kind of incident?”
“She was accosted on the sidewalk outside the library by some kid, a student, I think. He tried to strong-arm her into going somewhere with him. I had to step in and break it up.”
“What exactly did he do?” Shane said.
“He grabbed her wrist and wouldn’t let go until I intervened. Once he let her go, I stayed with him to keep him from following her. Otherwise, he would have. This kid doesn’t know how to take ‘no’ for an answer.”
“Did Beth seem okay?”
“She was a little shaken, but otherwise all right. She should arrive at your location any minute now.”
“Were you able to ID this kid?”
“No. He eventually gave up and went inside one of the buildings.”
“Stay there and see if you can ID this guy,” Shane said. “I want a full background report. I’ll be with Beth for the rest of the evening and hopefully overnight. Let Miles know he’s not needed tonight.”
“Roger that.”
“Thanks.” Shane stowed his phone. Great. One more variable for him to worry about.
* * *
When Beth turned the corner onto her street, her eyes went right to the Jaguar parked in front of her house, and her anxiety over Andrew faded instantly.
She spotted Shane almost immediately sitting on the step outside her front door. He was dressed in a dark suit and white shirt, sans tie, the top button of his shirt undone. He looked relaxed and disreputably gorgeous sitting there, waiting for her. Her stomach did a little flip.
Shane stood when she reached the steps and met her halfway, taking her in his arms for a long, luscious kiss. When he finally ended the kiss, he held her at arms’ length and studied her.
“Are you okay?” he said, frowning.
“Sure,” she answered. “Why?”
His eyes narrowed. “You seem a little flustered. What happened?”
Chapter 27
“I’m fine, Shane. I’m just excited to see you.” Beth smiled as she went up on her toes and kissed him.
Shane hid his disappointment that she didn’t tell him about the male who’d accosted her on her way home from work. He wanted her to come to him with stuff like this. He wanted her to rely on him.
When they broke apart a few moments later, he said, “Are you ready to go? I’m starving.”
“Give me a few minutes to clean up first.” She headed for the front door. “Come inside and have a seat. I won’t be long.”
* * *
Shane waited upstairs in Beth’s bedroom as she freshened up in the hallway bathroom. He paced as he read Miguel’s follow-up text.
No sign of the perp. I’ll keep looking.
It hadn’t been a good day for Shane. First, the news that Kline had purchased a handgun illegally, and now this. Beth had been practically assaulted on the sidewalk outside her workplace.
He knew what needed to be done to protect Beth. He needed her out of this townhouse and into his custody, 24/7. He could install her in the Lake Shore Drive apartment, but he’d prefer she go to his house in Kenilworth, just a half hour north of the city. She’d be safe there. No one could get onto the Kenilworth property uninvited. First, though, he’d have to deal with Tyler.
Beth swept into the bedroom, looking refreshed and energized. She’d put her hair back, and a few blond strands cascaded over her shoulders. She’d also put on a little bit of pink lip gloss which made it even harder to stop looking at her mouth. She’d done something with her eyes, too, because her lashes seemed a tad darker and longer. Shane grinned at the efforts she’d made, knowing she’d done it for him. But she didn’t need make-up. She was stunning without it.
“Just one more minute!” she said, disappearing into her tiny walk-in closet. She closed the door, and he heard the rustling of clothes.
A moment later, she hobbled out of her closet as she slipped on her sandals. She’d changed from the skirt and blouse she’d been wearing into a sleeveless dress and a thin white sweater.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” she said, coming to a standstill. Her face was flushed, and she was slightly breathless. “I’m ready.”
Shane reached out and took her by the waist, drawing her to him. Her breasts pressed against his chest as he pulled her close. For just a moment, he wondered if they could skip dinner altogether and make good use of her bed instead. But no. She needed to eat.
“You look beautiful,” he said, and then he leaned down to plant a soft kiss on her glossy pink lips. One of his hands snaked up between their bodies to cover her breast through her dress, giving it a light squeeze. Pulling back from the kiss, he smacked his lips and tasted the residue of her lip gloss. “Mmm, strawberry. I approve.”
They left Beth’s townhouse and walked hand-in-hand to the market district just a few blocks away. The area was bustling with early evening foot traffic as shoppers patronized a small organic grocery store, a used bookstore, and a florist shop.
“How was your day?” he asked as they strolled down the busy sidewalk. He wanted to know who had accosted her after work.
“It was fine,” she answered, smiling at him. She seemed genuinely happy.
“You seemed a little flustered when you got home.”
“Oh, it was nothing. I had a slight run-in with a student as I was leaving work. He can be a real pest sometimes.”
So it wasn’t the first time this kid had bothered Beth. Shane tucked that little bit of information away. “You know him? What’s his name?”
Beth squeezed his hand. “It’s nothing, Shane, really. Pleas
e don’t worry about it.”
“But you do know his name?” Shane persisted, frustrated by the fact that she was downplaying what had happened. It wasn’t nothing.
“Well, yes,” she admitted. “I know him. But I don’t want to get him in trouble. He’s harmless.”
A shadow passed over Beth’s eyes when she said this, and Shane knew he’d be having a private conversation with this kid soon, once they’d identified him. Shane didn’t mind one bit getting the kid in trouble.
They passed a jewelry boutique, a Chinese buffet, and a small Italian bistro before Beth stopped in front of another restaurant. The sign above the door said Hal’s Bar-B-Q.
“It’s not fancy,” Beth said. “But the barbecue is really good. I think you’ll like it. And they play blues.”
Shane felt an odd sensation in his chest when he realized she’d picked this place because she thought he’d like it. He opened the old wooden door for her, and they were greeted with a blast of blues music, along with the aroma of sizzling barbecue.
The restaurant was just a hole in the wall, sporting a collection of randomly placed tables covered with red-and-white checkered tablecloths and misfit wooden chairs. The wood floors were scarred and warped. Along one side of the restaurant was a long counter with barstools, and behind the counter was a full-service bar. Classic Mississippi Delta blues was pouring out of the juke box.
“I like it already,” Shane said, squeezing her hand.
A middle-aged woman with her hands full of empty plates buzzed past them. “Sit wherever you like, folks” she said breathlessly. “I’ll be with you in a minute.”
They sat down at one of the few available tables and picked up their menus.
The woman who’d greeted them at the door arrived at their table with two glasses of ice water. “I’m Cheryl,” she said as she set the glasses on the table. “Welcome to Hal’s. Do you know what you want?”
Shane ordered a brisket platter and a bottle of local beer. Beth ordered a grilled barbecue chicken breast and a Root Beer float.
Beth glanced at the door when a young couple with a baby in a stroller walked in. The couple sat at a table near them, and the father bounced the baby on his leg, entertaining him with silly faces while the mother looked on with a satisfied smile on her face.
As she watched them, Beth felt a small, secret thrill. She knew the odds were against it, but still the idea was somewhat tantalizing. She wasn’t ready to be a parent. She was only twenty-four; surely that was too young for her biological clock to start ticking. Still, she found the little family an appealing picture. She glanced at Shane, who was perusing the beer menu, and pictured him with a baby in his arms. It wasn’t hard to do. She knew he’d take as good care of their baby as he did of her.
Their food arrived, and she shoved away her fanciful thoughts. As they ate and chatted, Beth’s eyes kept wandering to the young couple with the baby. The baby had since gotten cranky, and now the mother was cradling him, trying to get him to nurse beneath a strategically placed blanket. Get a grip and quit staring.
When their server brought Shane the bill, he handed over his credit card. “This was a great idea, Beth,” he said. “Thank you.”
They walked back to Beth’s house holding hands. The neighborhood had started settling down for the evening. There were still some people out on foot, but the neighborhood had more of a small-town, relaxed vibe to it, far different from the frenetic energy of downtown.
When they reached her house, Shane pulled Beth into his arms and kissed her. “Can I spend the night?”
Her face lit up at his unexpected request. “Sure.”
Shane smiled. “It just so happens I have my overnight bag in the car,” he said. “I brought it, just in case.”
She grinned at him. “Just in case?”
“Well, I am an optimist.”
Shane grabbed his overnight bag from his car and followed Beth inside.
It was only eight-thirty, and since Gabrielle was at work, they had the house to themselves for the rest of the evening. Shane took Beth’s hand and led her upstairs to her bedroom, flipping on the light switch as they entered her room. He dropped his overnight bag on the floor of her closet.
Beth stood at the foot of the bed, smiling shyly at him, excited to have him in her bedroom again. The first time he’d been here, she’d felt so shy with him. Now she was a little more relaxed, and the idea of making love with him in her own bed made her stomach flutter. She sure hoped he had brought condoms with him this time, because she hadn’t thought to buy any.
“We’re having a sleepover, on a school night,” she said, grinning like a co-ed who’d just sneaked a boy into her dorm room.
Shane smiled at her, touched by her light-hearted enthusiasm. “So we are.”
“It’s early yet,” she said. “What do you want to do?”
“You’re asking me?” he said, as he slowly stalked toward her.
She took a few steps back as he neared, but he reached out and snagged her around the waist, pulling her close. His mouth closed over hers, his lips coaxing hers to open. His tongue slipped inside and found hers, stroking her. Her hands came up to grasp the lapels of his jacket.
“I know what I want,” he said against her lips. “I want dessert.”
“I’m sure we have some ice cream,” she said, chuckling.
“That’s not the kind of sugar I had in mind.” Shane took a couple steps backward, drawing Beth with him. When the backs of his legs hit the mattress, he sat at the foot of the bed, pulling her between his legs. “Gabrielle’s at work?”
“Mm hmm,” Beth replied.
Since he was seated, she stood a head above him. She leaned down and kissed him. It was still sinking in that he was hers, and she had the right to kiss him, touch him, any time she wanted. He was hers. The notion gave her an unfamiliar sense of empowerment. She ran her fingernails lightly along his scalp, ruffling his thick hair.
Shane groaned, closing his eyes as he leaned into her touch. “What time does she get home?” he asked, sounding a little distracted as Beth stroked his hair.
“Midnight.” She pressed her lips against his warm temple, her tongue darting out to taste his warm, slightly salty skin.
Shane made a sound low in his throat and leaned into her chest, pressing his face against her breasts. His hands came around to grasp the backs of her thighs through her dress, squeezing her gently. “So we have the house to ourselves all evening.”
“We do.” Beth felt her face heat. She had a pretty good idea where this was heading, and the idea of making love to him here, in her own bed, made her body tingle from head to toe.
“Perfect,” Shane said, pushing her back gently and rising to his feet. “Do you have any wine? Or perhaps something stronger?”
Beth blinked, thrown off guard by the swift change in topic. “Um, yes. Gabrielle has a well-stocked wine chiller in the kitchen, and my brother keeps a few bottles of liquor in a cabinet in the parlor.”
Shane pulled Beth out the bedroom door and down the hallway. “Let’s check out the liquor cabinet. We’re going to need a little liquid courage.”
“We are?” she said, following him down the stairs. “For what?”
“You’ll see,” he said.
* * *
Shane opened the door to the liquor cabinet and made a dismissive sound as he surveyed its limited contents. “Your brother’s taste in liquor leaves a lot to be desired. Bit of a cheapskate, isn’t he?”
Beth chuckled, thinking that was an apt description of her beloved brother. “You could say that.”
Shane selected the sole bottle of whiskey in the cabinet and two tumblers. It was bottom shelf stuff, but it would have to do. He made a mental note to bring a decent bottle with him the next time.
“Kitchen,” he said, motioning for Beth to lead the way. He followed her to the kitchen and set the bottle of whiskey and the two glasses on the island counter. Then he headed for the fridge, where he located so
me Coke.
Beth watched as Shane poured whiskey in both of the tumblers. He added a generous amount of Coke to one of the glasses.
“Drink up,” Shane said, handing Beth her glass.
She looked at the contents. “Are you plying me with alcohol again?”
“Yes. Drink,” he said, and then he took a sip of his own neat whiskey, frowning at the less than satisfactory taste. “Your brother has absolutely no taste in liquor.”
Beth chuckled at Shane’s expression. Then she took a sip of her altered drink and made a face of her own. Even tempered with the sugary sweet soft drink, she could still taste the alcohol. “This is awful,” she said. “Even for whiskey.”
Shane knocked back the rest of his whiskey in one swallow, grimacing. “How can your brother drink that stuff? He obviously doesn’t come from good Scottish stock. No self-respecting Scot would ever touch this garbage.”
Beth laughed. “Our mom’s Swedish, and our dad was American, of English descent, I think,” she said.
“Well, that explains it then. Drink,” he said, pointing at her glass.
Beth took another sip. “Ugh. Honestly, Shane. How can you stand to drink this stuff?”
“Amateur.” Shane leaned down and kissed her.
She looked at him expectantly. “So, why do you think I need liquid courage? Because I know this isn’t for your sake.”
“Do you remember the night we met?”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember what you were reading?”
Oh, my God. Spanking stories. Her face flamed. “Yes.”
He grinned at her. “We have the house to ourselves for almost four hours,” he said. “That’s plenty long enough for what I have in mind.”
“Which is?” As if she didn’t know.
“We’ll christen your bed properly tonight,” he said. “But first, somebody’s going to get a spanking.”
Vulnerable: (McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series - Book 1) Page 24