by Unknown
“Someone is out there. I want you to back up to the front door. I’ll stay in front of you.”
“But—”
“Now, Cath. Move.”
Gripping the back of Luke’s coat, she did as he asked. She knew it wouldn’t do any good to argue. With each step she prayed they’d reach safety before whatever it was that Luke sensed came after them.
Halfway across the porch, she reached back, her fingertips touching the doorknob. Just a little bit closer. She took another step backward and . . .
“Aahhhhhh!” She went down, inadvertently jerking on Luke’s coat as she did.
“Catherine!” Her name ripped from his lips in a cry of fury and fear as he tried to keep from falling on her and catch her before she fell. He landed solidly on the hard log porch. Catherine was half on, half off him. Pulling her into the protective circle of his arms, he rammed his key in the lock and hauled her inside and closed the door.
For the first time cursing all the windows, he picked her up and went to his office. Hitting the light switch, he set her from him, almost afraid of what he would see. His eyes ran over her the same time as his hands. “What happened? Are you hurt?”
“I-I slipped on something.”
“Slipped?” Relief coursed through him until he recalled the cases of people being unaware of being injured due to shock. His hand continued their inspection, then he touched something moist on her back. Looking down at his fingers, he saw the red smears.
His hand clenched to still the trembling. “I need to take your dress off, honey.”
She frowned. “Luke, don’t you think we need to find out who is out there before we make love?”
“We will, as soon as I take care of this.” His hands were already at the side zipper.
Catherine gazed up at him curiously, but allowed the dress to be pulled over her head. She stood before him in a red lacy demi-bra, high-cut panties and thigh-high flesh-toned sheers.
Luke’s breath trembled out over his lips at what he had to do next. Although his voice shook, it was gentle. “I’m going to turn you around.”
Her hand touched his cheek. “Luke, are you all right? You didn’t bump your head when you fell, did you?”
“No, honey.” Swallowing the fear and the lump in his throat, he slowly turned her and saw the smooth, unblemished slope of her back, the unmarred curve of her shoulder. Relief rushed through him. “Not yours. Not yours.”
Concerned, she turned to face him, and only had a moment to glimpse the strange look on his face, hear the hoarse whisper of her name on his lips before his mouth came down on hers.
She tasted desperation on his lips mixed with searing passion. Something was wrong, but she didn’t hesitate to match the urgency of the kiss. Luke needed her, that was all that mattered.
She sank into the heat, the passion, her arms around his neck, her hand deep into his long hair, staking her own claim. I’m here, her mouth and body cried. Take from me what you will. The kiss deepened and for a space of time, the world ceased to exist around them as they lost themselves in each other.
Finally he lifted his head, picked her up in his arms, and sat in the oyster-colored love seat across from his desk. “Catherine.”
Slim hands palmed his face. “I’m here, Luke. Please tell me what’s the matter.”
For a moment his eyes closed, his grip tightening before he could force the words out. “I thought you had been shot.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “What? But . . . but why? There wasn’t a gunshot.”
“Silencer,” he said succinctly.
The confusion didn’t clear from her face. “I know you thought someone was out there, but what made you think whoever it was had used a silencer?”
Curving his arm around her waist so she wouldn’t fall, he leaned over and picked up her dress. “There was blood on the back of your dress.”
“What?” Taking the dress, she turned it until she saw the darkened area on the back. Her hands began to tremble. “But how did it get there?”
“That’s what I’m going to find out.” Standing up with her in his arms, he set her to her feet, then pulled off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders. “Stay here until I can close all the shutters and draw the curtains.”
She stared up at him with worried eyes. “I don’t suppose it would do any good to ask you to wait until Officer Wesley or some other policeman can come out.”
He adjusted the coat on her shoulders. “This part of the county is patrolled by the state police. There may be less than four men on duty to patrol thirty square miles of some of the most rugged terrain in the state. I have no idea how long it would take a patrolman to get here, and when he did, he’d come alone.”
“And you wouldn’t want to put someone else in danger,” she said, sure of the answer.
“I’ll be careful.”
Her voice shook despite her smile. “One scratch and you answer to me, remember?”
“I remember.” Going to his desk, he unlocked a drawer. The gun he pulled out was as lethal as it looked. He crossed to her and handed the weapon to her. “The safety is off.”
Catherine swallowed. “What about you?”
“I have one in my bedroom.” Black eyes blazed. “I’ll let you know when I’m coming back. If anyone else shows their face, shoot.”
“I . . .”
“Shoot,” he interrupted, the sharpness of his voice leaving no room for argument. “The no-scratch rule also goes for you.”
She nodded. “Be careful and hurry back.”
Kissing her brief and hard, he walked from the room. His first stop was his bedroom to get his 9mm. After closing the shutters, he activated the outside shutters of the great room, then closed the others by hand. Finished, he went to Catherine’s closet and got her robe and house shoes. He didn’t think she had realized the reason she had slipped was that she had stepped in blood.
On the way back to his office he placed a call to the state police department. He wasn’t waiting, but he didn’t want Catherine alone if things went sour outside. The blood could be another attempt to rattle her, or it could mean whoever it was was upping the stakes.
“It’s me,” he said before entering his office. She was in his arms the moment he appeared in the doorway.
“I don’t like this.”
“It’ll be over soon. Here, put this on.” Removing his jacket, he helped her into her robe. “Sit down.”
Reluctantly, she did. “You closed everything up.”
“Yes.” He put her gray slippers on her feet. “The house is impenetrable.”
“Then we’re safe. You don’t have to go out.”
“Catherine, if someone is out there, I can catch them and put an end to this.”
“You can also get yourself shot,” she cried.
“No one is getting shot.” He took her trembling hands in his. “I’m going out the back door and I want you to lock it. I’ll circle behind whoever it is.”
“It’s dark out there. How do you expect to find him?”
“The moon is full and I have excellent night vision.” Releasing her hands, he began unbuttoning his white shirt, then pulled it out of his slacks and tossed it on the love seat behind her. “He won’t know I’m there until it’s too late.”
Catherine watched the transformation from hunted to hunter. Lustrous black hair framed his chiseled features. The eyes that looked back at her were fierce. His heavily muscled chest gleamed in the light. Power and strength emanated from him. Warrior. The word leaped into her brain, her senses.
Suddenly she realized something: she loved him with a fierceness that shook her. “I plan on inspecting every inch of you when you get back.”
A smile took the harshness from his face. “As long as I have the same privilege. Once I’m gone, come back in here and wait.” Without another word, he left the room.
Luke had left a minimum of light on. Unlocking the back door, he opened it only wide enough to slip through sideways. Before she had tim
e to touch him, the door closed soundlessly. He was gone.
HE VAULTED OFF THE PATIO AND LANDED SILENTLY, then he was running for the covering of the woods. Circling the house he found nothing. A couple of times he thought he heard something, but each time he stopped, there was only silence.
He was about to give up and go back into the house when he saw the distinctive bar lights on top of the approaching vehicle. Shoving the gun into the waistband of his slacks, he left the woods and walked toward the car.
Opening the door, Patrolman Wesley got out. “Luke, I heard you had trouble.”
“Ye—”
The low, ominous growl stopped his flow of words. “Johnny, get back in the car. Now!” shouted Luke, running toward him.
Eyes wide, the patrolman jumped back in the car, closing the door. A heavy weight hit the car a split second later. Through the window he saw the bared fangs of a wolf.
“Damn,” the young man hissed.
“It’s all right. He’s a friend,” Luke said, taking a step closer to the animal. Now he knew who had been watching. The source of the blood was another matter, but if he was right, Catherine’s pet was in a lot of trouble.
“It’s all right.” Luke’s hand touched the raised hair on the animal’s neck. The hybrid looked around and the growling ceased. “That’s it, just keep looking at me. Just keep looking at me.”
Luke lost track of time, but finally the hybrid got down from the car. “Johnny, you better go.”
The patrolman cracked the window. “Your report said something about blood on your porch.”
“He probably brought his kill up here. We just brought him from Richard’s clinic today,” Luke informed him.
“Would the other part of that ‘we’ happen to be Dr. Stewart?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“I’d heard that she was still in town. Thought about driving back up here to see if she was here.” He glanced at the house. “I would have wasted my time, wouldn’t I?”
“Yes,” the answer was simple.
“Should have guessed.”
“Sorry for the call,” Luke said.
The patrolman switched his attention to the placid animal standing next to Luke, then to Luke without his shirt, a 9mm in the waistband of his pants. Luke wasn’t the type of man to overreact. “You know, if he had bitten someone I’d have to take him in to be quarantined. There’s no proof that the rabies vaccine is effective in wolf hybrids.”
They both knew it wouldn’t stop at being quarantined. The animal would have to be euthanized, his brain then shipped off to a laboratory for testing. Despite no positive results having ever been found in the animals killed, the barbaric and cruel practice continued. “There’s also no proof they’re carriers either.”
“No, there isn’t.” The motor started. “I guess it’s lucky for everyone concerned that the blood on your porch is from a kill.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Now that that’s settled, is there anything else I can do for you?” He rubbed his hands across his eyes. “Sometimes these eyes get so tired, I can’t tell a dog from a wolf.”
Luke didn’t hesitate. “You might want to put out a bulletin to surrounding emergency rooms to report any animal bites to the authorities.”
“Sure thing. I patrol a lot of miles. Never can tell when a dog might catch a thief breaking and entering.” He shoved the car into gear.
“Thanks, Johnny. I’ll be at the La Fonda with Catherine at her psychology conference if you find out anything.”
“Anytime. I would have never lived it down if he had gotten me in the rear. Good night.”
“Good night,” Luke said, then glanced down at the wolf hybrid. “Now, what am I going to do with you?” The animal stared up at him. “Come on.”
On the porch he inspected the bloody smears. “I bet you surprised the hell out of whoever it was.” Opening the door, he started to yell for Catherine, but she was already there. Hero barked.
“Hero.” Laughing, Catherine kneeled and patted him on the head. “I should be upset at you for what you did.”
Luke lifted a heavy brow. “That being?”
“You know what you said about the small animals.” She gazed at the hybrid in slight disappointment. “I guess he didn’t like the other food.”
“I guess not.” Luke opened the door again.
“You aren’t going to put him outside, are you?”
“He needs a bath. I came in to tell you so you wouldn’t worry.”
“I’ll get some shampoo and towels.” She was up and running.
Luke gazed down at the animal. “For making Catherine laugh and protecting the house, you can stay the night. But in the morning, you’re gone.”
IN THE MORNING HERO GULPED DOWN THE OTHER half of the loaf of wheat bread, a pound of medium-well-done chuck, a can of cubed chicken, and five biscuits. Catherine couldn’t have been happier that her pet was eating. Luke watched the antics of the two at the breakfast table and kept his opinions to himself.
Early that morning, he had slipped from beside a sleeping Catherine and gone to the porch. After scraping some of the blood-stained wood shavings into a glass tube, he had washed off the porch.
He had already followed the spots to the edge of the walk. Whoever it was had been brazen enough to drive up to the house. Since the gate had been locked when Luke arrived, he or she must have a duplicate key and probably one to the house as well. That wouldn’t happen again.
Luke had already made arrangements for someone to watch the house while they were gone. He didn’t think whoever it was last night would come back, but he wasn’t taking any chances.
He just wished he knew what they were planning next. Why had they been trying to get into the house?
“Luke, are you ready to go?”
He came out of his musing to see Catherine staring down at him, her hand on his shoulder. She was a beautiful woman, a generous lover, a caring friend. It tore him up inside that someone wanted to cause her harm and he couldn’t stop them.
“Luke, what’s the matter?”
Not wanting her to worry, he reached for her hand, then kissed her palm. “I was just thinking how beautiful you are and how beautiful you looked first thing this morning.”
Catherine blushed. She had awakened on the couch with Luke sitting beside her. With his gaze locked on her, he had slowly pulled the comforter away from her naked body. The heat of his gaze, more than the heat of the sun coming through the wall of glass, seared her. Then his lips and hands had followed until she was a quivering mass of need and desire. She had been mad for him to make love to her, and she had delightfully driven him to the same frenzied need.
“Not half as beautiful as you,” she finally said, her heart full of love that she could never tell him of.
One side of his mouth curved upward, he stood. “Your eyes need examining. Come on, Shelby should be here by now, and I want to introduce him to your pet.”
Sadness crossed her expressive face. “I’m sorry I brought this to Daniel’s and your home.”
His arms circled her waist. Intently he stared down at her. “Are you sorry we met?”
“Never,” she said without hesitation, her gaze steady.
“Neither am I. This is how it was meant to be. The fault is not yours, but belongs to whoever is doing this.” His large hands lifted to palm her face. “Soon this will be over and we can get on with our lives.”
Her sadness deepened. Getting on with her life no longer had any comfort, because eventually it would be without Luke.
“You believe me, don’t you?”
Because she loved him, there was only one answer. “Yes.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
NAOMI SAW NOTHING WRONG IN PUTTING ON THE peach-colored dress that morning. The uniform she had washed was dry, but she hadn’t had time to ask room service for the iron and ironing board again. She and Kayla had leisurely eaten their breakfast without Naomi having to worry and feel guilty about sneaking fo
od into her canvas bag.
Last night she had thrown out the food taken from her previous two mornings at the buffet, and placed the napkins she had hidden the food in on the sink where the maid could see them. Thanks to Richard paying her every day, she no longer felt so desperate.
After checking her lipstick and light makeup, she left the bathroom. With each step of her new taupe flats, she thanked her benefactors again and again. Their thoughtfulness had extended beyond the necessities to a few luxuries that caused her to feel as if her life was finally turning around for the better.
A knock sounded on the door.
“It’s Dr. Richard. Can I get it?” Kayla asked, her eyes full of excitement. Naomi smiled and silently thanked the women again. She wasn’t the only one who was excited about her clothes.
“Let me be sure,” she said. “Dr. Youngblood?”
No answer.
Frowning, wishing again for a peephole, she took another step closer. “Dr. Youngblood, is that you?”
“Maybe it’s the ladies again?” Kayla offered.
Unconsciously, Naomi’s hand settled on her daughter’s shoulders. Neither Richard nor the women had hesitated in announcing themselves. Then she saw the doorknob turn. She lunged to put the safety chain on, but never made it.
The door swung upon and in stepped the man she hated and feared, and prayed nightly never to see again. “Hi, honey. I’m home.”
“Mama,” Kayla whimpered, her small arms trying with all their might to encompass her mother.
Desperately Naomi wanted to pick her up and reassure her, but fear for her daughter held her immobile. Keep his attention on her, she told herself. Not on Kayla. “What-what do you want, Gordon?”
Pushing the door closed, he stepped closer, towering menacingly over her. “I give you one guess.”
Naomi stared at him. In another foolish lifetime she had been proud of his good looks, and muscular build; proud of the way people looked at him with respect. That was before she discovered the true darkness lurking in his heart.
“I’m not coming back.”
His grating laughter mocked her. “Oh, yes you are, and this time you’re staying. You’re not going to embarrass me in front of my friends and family again.”