Reaching For Risks

by Jemi Fraser

  He pounded harder. “Darby. Open up.”

  Shit.

  After a long moment, he knocked again. “Darby, open up or I’m knocking it down.” Maybe he was overreacting, he didn’t even have proof she was in there. Except his gut. And his gut said she needed him. Now.

  He was about to pound again when she spoke. “I’m trying to catch a nap, Quinn.”

  She sounded like a robot. Something was definitely wrong. “I need to see you, honey. Open up.”

  “I’ll see you in a bit.”

  “Not happening. Open the door.”

  A long pause. Nothing. His pulse ratcheted up but he forced his voice to stay calm. “I’m serious, Darby, if you don’t open up, I’m knocking it down.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  If he hadn’t been worried, he might have smiled at the pout in her voice. “You can bet that very fine ass of yours that I would. And I will. So unless you want to add a new door installation to your Reno List, open the damn door.”

  Another pause. “I can’t.” Her voice wobbled and Quinn curled his fists. He needed to see her, hold her, figure out what the hell was wrong so he could fix it.

  “Darby, I’m not leaving. You can’t push me away or out-stubborn me. I need to see your face. Open the door.”

  When he heard the sigh, he knew he’d won. As soon as he heard the lock click he turned the knob and eased the door open. She turned quickly and tried to walk away. He took her arm and gently tugged her back.

  She flinched at the contact but didn’t resist. Didn’t look at him either. When he had her in front of him, he lifted her hand to study her palm. Ripped and torn. Pushing down the fear, he lifted the other to find it in the same condition.

  She was hurt. How?

  Darby still hadn’t looked at him so he cupped her face and tilted it toward him. No eye contact. Pale with two high spots of color on her cheeks. Her hair was damp from either the shower he’d been imagining or the rain. She was bundled in her robe so he’d bet the shower. “What happened?”

  Eyes still downcast, she shook her head, lips folded in on each other.

  He ran his thumbs over her cheeks, felt her lean involuntarily toward him.

  “Darby, talk to me. Tell me what happened.”

  “It’s fine.”

  Her whisper barely reached his ears and didn’t fool him for a second. Added to that she’d said it’s. It’s fine, not I’m fine. “Are you hurt anywhere else?” He had to push the question past the panic lodged like a softball in his throat.

  “It’s nothing.”

  Shit. She always gave non-answers when she didn’t want to lie but wasn’t planning on telling the truth. “Look at me, honey.”

  A quick glance and away. Pupils wide. Someone had scared her. Hurt her. Like a feral creature, his pulse jumped in his veins and if he’d owned claws, they’d have unsheathed themselves. He was going to rip someone in half. And he was going to enjoy it.

  Quinn clamped his teeth together and counted off to ten. Then twenty. When he had the adrenaline under control, he moved right into her space and wrapped himself around her. He held her tightly, telling himself over and over again that she was okay. Not perfectly okay but no major injuries. He’d get her to talk. They’d figure out how to fix it.

  At first, Darby held herself stiff as a mannequin against him but he kept one hand moving, running over her softly, while the other held her tightly to him. It didn’t take long before she relaxed into him and buried her face into his chest, snuggling in tightly. Relief swamped him.

  He held her that way for long minutes then swung her up into arms and headed to the overstuffed chair that sat by the window. She let him arrange her in his lap and she cuddled in close to him, tucking herself up into a tiny space.

  For a while, they just sat while he listened to her breathe. Through the gap in her robe, he saw her knees were both torn up as well but he managed to control his reaction knowing right now she needed him to be calm.

  Later he’d unleash it all on whoever the hell deserved it.

  The scent of her shampoo and soap told him she’d indeed showered recently. The scrapes told him it was to do more than warm up. Tension tightened his body and when she stiffened, he forced himself to take more calming breaths.

  “Who attacked you, Darby? Did you call the police? What the hell happened?” Why didn’t you call me? but he managed to keep the last question inside.

  Her breathing sharpened but she didn’t answer other than a small shake of her head. He was probably amping her up. He had to stay calm but that wasn’t possible.

  Reaching down to kiss her hair, he squeezed her in a hug. “Sorry, honey but I have to know. You’re scaring the hell out of me, here. Did someone rape you?”

  Her entire body jerked in his arms and he was halfway to a standing position when he realized she was shaking her head. “No. That didn’t happen. It’s nothing, Quinn.”

  Settling back, he shifted their positions again until he could see her face, even if she kept her eyes away from him. “Bullshit, Darby. Someone hurt you and I’m not letting up until you tell me exactly what happened.”

  “It doesn’t make any sense.”

  “I don’t care. Tell me. We’ll figure it out together.” And he’d decide if he wanted his buddy the police chief involved or if he’d take care of it himself.

  This time when he tilted her chin up, she looked at him. Relieved, he tried to unscramble the emotions he saw. Confusion. Fear. Anger. The last one helped. If she was angry she wasn’t defeated. No one had destroyed her.

  He kissed her lightly, hoping his love for her would somehow help. “Talk.”

  He saw the agreement in her eyes before she rolled them and muttered, “Caveman,” almost making him smile. Good. Attitude was good.

  Darby took a deep breath. “I had lunch with Myla at The Lucky then I stopped to pick up a few groceries.” He was watching closely enough to see something shift in her gaze. Something that wanted to smile. Then it was gone. “It was raining so I put up my umbrella.”

  Her eyes flicked away but when she tried to shrug off his hand, he held onto her chin. “No hiding from me. Ever. Tell me, Darby. Tell it all.”

  Those depthless brown eyes warmed enough to ease something inside him before she tried to close off the emotions. “Someone hauled me into an alley and shoved me to the ground.”

  Quinn ground his teeth together and forced his body to stay in the chair. He needed the facts. And the last thing she needed was him going off like a wolf on the hunt. Not yet, anyway.

  “I couldn’t see who it was. He pushed me down a couple of times.”

  Quinn stayed frozen, unwilling to interrupt or ask questions yet. Her voice was soft, hesitant, shaky and he didn’t want her to clam up.

  “After he shoved me, he walked away. By the time I got to my feet, he was gone. I’m not hurt. Just a few scratches. I’m being a wimp.”

  He hugged her tightly to his chest. “You’re nowhere near a wimp. You were attacked and injured. Did you call Dave?”

  A brief, hard shake of her head.

  She hadn’t told him all of it, there was more. “What did this bastard say to you? What did he want?”

  Her eyes zapped away. She didn’t want to tell him, which meant he needed to know. “Tell me, Darby. Did he threaten you?”

  “He was just a jerk.”

  A jerk who would find out what happened when someone messed with Darby. The need for vengeance coiled deep in his belly. “What did the jerk say?”

  “It didn’t make sense.”

  “Tell me anyway.”

  Another sigh that told him she was going to tell him. “Fine. ‘Tell him to do it.’ That’s all he said. It doesn’t make any sense. He probably thought I was someone else. It was raining and I had an umbrella so I could have been anyone.”

  Except it made perfect sense. Philip. The coward was sending Quinn a message through Darby. And he was going to pay for using her, for scaring her. For drag
ging her into something that didn’t involve her.

  Holy Hell, it was Quinn’s fault she’d been injured and scared.

  Forcing a fake calm, Quinn settled back in the chair and wrapped her in one arm. With the other, he pulled out his phone and holding it where she couldn’t see, sent a text to both Dave and Sawyer. “Need you at the B&B.”

  Then he sat and held her. And waited.

  And planned.

  Taking Care Of Business

  Darby sank into Quinn’s warmth and strength. The alley attack had thrown her off stride more than she wanted to admit. When she’d arrived home she’d fled to her room, locking doors behind her.

  She’d wanted to call Quinn but had been afraid. What if the message was for him? What if someone was threatening him? And she’d just told him what she’d decided not to. The man was relentless in going after what he wanted.

  Quinn had told her he had something going on in his life but she hadn’t asked, hadn’t wanted to press for details because she didn’t want to share any of her own. Big mistake. Now, she wanted to know everything.

  And she was ready to tell him everything.

  For now, he seemed content to hold her and just be. In a while, she’d get up and face the world again but being wrapped in the arms of the man she loved was more than enough. With him beside her she could face anything.

  She’d tell him about Philip. And her worry that it had been him again.

  After she’d settled a bit more and she’d be able to tell it without breaking down. The incident was well in the past and it didn’t have a hold on her anymore. Once it was out, there wouldn’t be any secrets holding them apart and she could tell him the most important thing. That she loved him.

  And maybe they’d try out the whipped cream she’d salvaged.

  Quinn’s phone buzzed and he heaved out a sigh. “Okay, they’re here. We’ve got to head downstairs.”

  She shoved back from his chest to look at him. “Who’s here? What did you do?” But she knew.

  He didn’t look away, didn’t even look guilty. “Sawyer and Dave. Probably Myla.” Chin up he waited for her to argue.

  Good idea. “That was my call to make or to not make. You don’t get to make decisions for me.” Her voice was louder than she wanted it to be but it didn’t throw him off at all

  “Then you should have made it. You didn’t so I did. It had to be done, Darby. We’re not letting him get away with it.”

  “That’s not your choice.”

  Fury flashed in front of her. He was like a predator searching for prey. “That’s where you’re wrong. I’m not letting anything happen to you.” His voice was as hard as the mountains surrounding their town. “Especially if it’s connected to me. Now, are you going to come with me willingly or do I toss you over my shoulder?”

  Fed up with things being out of her control she rolled her eyes and shoved off his lap, headed for the door.

  Quinn caught her wrist, careful to avoid her tender palms. Even when he was pissed off, he was gentle. Some of her own anger ebbed. With a hand on the back of her neck, he tugged her hair until she was looking up at him. Yep. Definitely pissed off.

  Then his mouth crashed down onto hers in a bruising kiss that had her system firing in less than a second. When he pulled away, he studied her face carefully. Probably trying to figure out how ticked off she was. Or how scared. Schooling her face to neutral, she stared on back.

  A corner of his mouth kicked up and he kissed her again. Tenderly. When he pulled back, he still looked pissed but his features had softened. “You scare the hell out of me, Darby. Let’s go.”

  He tugged her out of the room and down the stairs, not pausing until they were in the kitchen. Sawyer strode across the room, pulled her from Quinn and swept her into a hug. “What’s wrong? What happened? Are you okay? Who do I have to kill?”

  Dave Belanger, chief of police, grunted. “Jesus, Sawyer. I’m a cop and standing right here. You can’t say that shit in front of me.”

  Darby knew her brother well enough to know he wouldn’t care. As a former SEAL, he could probably commit the perfect murder. He was the most honest, more straight forward, in-your-face man she knew. If he committed a murder, he wouldn’t hide it. He’d probably drag the corpse to the station with him.

  Which was why she’d never told him about the attack by Philip a decade ago.

  Why had Quinn told him? The man wouldn’t let it go anymore than Quinn.

  Darby shoved away from her brother and thumped down onto a stool. Myla moved to sit on the stool beside her and touched her arm. Darby tried to work up a smile for her but it didn’t work. “I’m fine. Quinn shouldn’t have texted any of you. It’s nothing.”

  Dave crossed the room to sit on the stool on the other side of Darby. Sawyer came to stand behind the police chief, arms crossed over his massive chest, glowering down at her. Quinn moved to the other side of the island where he could see everyone and watch her face. She felt surrounded, trapped and if she hadn’t been so ticked off, she might have felt protected.

  Dave pulled out a notebook and a phone. “Tell me what’s got Quinn so riled up, Darby.”

  “Why don’t you ask him? He’s the one who made the call.” She sent her own glower across the island but Quinn’s steady stare didn’t flinch at all.

  Dave sighed. “I’d rather have a first-hand account, Darby. If Quinn called us in, it’s a serious matter.” Normally one of her favorite people, Dave’s calm manner only irritated her more. She didn’t spill her private life to anyone. Now she had four people staring at her, waiting for her to talk. To tell them she’d been an idiot, hadn’t fought back, hadn’t reacted at all like she should.

  Darby gripped her hands together and resisted the urge to run back up to her room. They’d only follow her there. And she’d look like a wimp as well as an idiot.

  She shot another glare at Quinn, who now mimicked Sawyer’s stance. Men.

  “Fine. Someone grabbed my arm, dragged me into an alley along Boardwalk Avenue, shoved me down and left.”

  Myla gasped, Sawyer growled but Dave didn’t even blink. Instead, he gave her a soft smile, easing some of the knots in her stomach. “Slow it down, Darby, I know it’s hard and invasive but I need the details. Take your time, we’ll walk it through together. He’s not going to hurt you.”

  “Damn right.” Quinn’s mutter matched Sawyer’s curse as her brother’s hand reached down to squeeze her shoulder and it stayed there. He was probably trying to offer comfort but it only made her feel more stupid. He’d never have been taken by surprise.

  Darby huffed out a breath but managed to repeat the story. It was easier when she watched her hands and pretended she and Dave were alone. His easy manner and soft questions prodded her memory and helped her push down the panic of the retell. If she made it like a story, she could almost pretend it wasn’t real or that it had happened to someone else.

  “Do you have the clothes you were wearing? We might be able to get some evidence off them.”

  “I’ll get them.” Quinn thumped out of the room, leaving her feeling alone, even with her brother and two friends right there beside her. He’d probably needed to get away from her after hearing how cowardly she’d been.

  “You don’t have any idea who he was? The voice didn’t sound familiar?”

  Darby shook her head. “No. He didn’t say much and he kind of whispered it so it was hard to recognize. I’m sorry.”

  The chief patted her hand. “Nothing to be sorry about, Darby. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  But she hadn’t done anything right, either. She didn’t know who he was, she hadn’t been able to protect herself and she hadn’t been able to keep it from Quinn.

  Was it about him?

  Maybe it was a random, crazy man who’d mistaken her for someone else. There wasn’t a whole lot of random crime in Bloo Moose. Tourists created some chaos and that crazy woman and her brother had tried to hurt Sawyer a while back but it was usually a safe to
wn.

  She must have been the target which meant Quinn was one, too. Or Sawyer. They were the only two men close to her. The creep had to have meant one of them.

  Breathing slowly, Darby swallowed the urge to vomit. Had she somehow put either of the two people she loved most in the world in danger? All she’d needed to do was turn her head and catch a glimpse of his face but she hadn’t even managed that.

  Totally useless.

  “He stepped on you and kicked you? You forget to mention that, Darby?” Quinn stomped through the swinging door, slamming it against the wall. He held her sweater in his hands, a footprint visible on the back of it. She shuddered at the memory.

  Quinn shoved right past Sawyer and Dave, got right up in her face. “What else didn’t you tell us? What the hell else happened, Darby? Let me see if he hurt you.”

  She batted away his hands as he tried to open her robe and lift the t-shirt of his that she wore beneath. Before it could turn into a wrestling match, Sawyer and Dave stepped between them. Dave put a hand on Quinn’s chest. “Relax, Charters.”

  Quinn whirled on the chief. “Relax? You’re kidding, right? She got herself beat up but she only tells half of it.” Over Dave’s shoulder, he pinned her with another glare. “Tell me everything, Darby. Now.”

  Weariness made her want to sink into Quinn or to bury her head on her arms on the kitchen island. Instead, she faced him, tired of being a coward. “That’s it. There’s nothing else.”

  Quinn snorted and turned away to pace the kitchen, running his hands through his hair. She was so tuned into Quinn, she nearly jumped a mile when Sawyer moved and squatted beside her, laid a hand on her thigh. He stared into her eyes as serious as she’d ever seen him. And as the man who’d taken care of her when their parents had died. All of his SEAL training went into his stare and his concern. “Have you told us everything, Darby? You don’t have to hide anything. We’re here to help you. You know that right?”

  “There’s nothing else. That’s it.”

  He continued to search her eyes until he finally nodded then he stood and pulled her into a hug. She felt him nod again as he held her and seconds later, she heard the back door slam.