by Iris Abbott
Rose sniffed. “I live for my job. It means everything to me.” She laughed. “I always get along with animals better than most humans anyway.” She shrugged. “Besides, you just said you didn’t want me to leave the area.”
Detective Aquila confirmed her statement with a slight nod of his head. “I’ve called in a local security company,” he told her. “They’re very good at their job. Their fees are outrageous, but they help out the police department occasionally. Someone should be here any minute to meet with you.” He gave her a hard stare to convey his seriousness. “I suggest you snap up their help. They just might be the one thing standing between you and death.”
Rose waved a hand. “I’m not worried about money.” No, money was the least of her worries. “I’ll pay their fee whatever it is.” She stiffened her spine and sat up just a little bit straighter. The car bomb addled her. Confusion over why this happened made her body numb and her mind foggy. But one thing was clear. She wasn’t ready to join her parents in the cold and permanent grip of death.
****
A tight knot formed in Justin’s gut, and it got harder the closer he got to Detective Aquila’s desk. His magic fingers danced across the keyboard, and he knew just about everything there was to know about Rose Banks, except for who it was that wanted her dead. When Mitch assigned him to be Rose’s personal bodyguard, Justin balked. Being that close to her day in and day out was asking for trouble the way his body responded to hers.
Mitch’s reasoning made Justin see sense even if he didn’t want to. The woman was in danger, and he and Mitch were in the security business. It gave him a legitimate reason to watch her every move. And he would need to keep a close eye on her and her work to make sure the wolf sightings she was sent to investigate were in no way linked to the Enigma pack, or the existence of wolf shifters.
Plus Aquila requested their help with the car bomb situation. Craig Aquila was the council’s contact inside the police department. Justin and Mitch always cooperated and worked closely with the guardians of the council. It was the most effective way to keep everyone safe. And that’s how Justin found himself walking into the Enigma Police Department and toward Rose Banks when common sense told him he should run in the opposite direction as fast as he could.
****
“I hate to harp on this, but you said a man knocked you to the ground and shielded you from most of the explosion. I really need to talk to that man. He may have seen something that you didn’t.”
Rose wanted to talk to him too. She felt bereft since he’d disappeared into the dark of night. She looked at the detective and shrugged. “We didn’t exchange names or numbers.” Much to her disappointment, because she felt safe when she was in his arms.
Aquila slammed his hands down on the desk in front of him. Rose jumped. “The stranger could hold the key to solving this crime. And I’ve got the EPD breathing down my neck to get to the bottom of the car bomb. Not to mention other more important people demanding updates,” he muttered.
Rose raised a brow at the last statement but didn’t dare question the man.
“Anything you can tell me about the man would be helpful.”
She clenched her fists together and allowed herself a moment of pique before she once again donned a mask of rational calm. “I told you everything I remember about him,” she bit out through gritted teeth. “I don’t know who he is, and believe me I want to find him just as much as you do.”
“And why is that?”
She arched a brow and gave him a look cold enough to match the wintery weather of Maine. “That, detective is none of your business.”
“Everything about this case is my business,” he reminded her with a stern look.
Just then, there was a subtle shift in the atmosphere of the station. The air around Rose became charged. Tiny zings similar to static electricity moved across her skin. Her gaze darted around the station, and she saw six feet of tall, dark and handsome walking toward her. It was her dark angel. He found her.
She abruptly stood. “My dark angel is here!” A hand flew to her mouth to cover her gasp of amazement. A gentle buzzing started in her ears and quickly graduated to a loud roar. She swayed, and her vision tunneled until it was completely black. She felt herself falling, and then nothing.
****
Justin barely had time to rush forward and catch Rose before she hit the hard and unforgiving floor of police headquarters. He leaped forward and planted his feet right as the soft bundle of womanly curves landed in his arms. He cradled her into the protective bend of his body and made sure her face was gently resting against his chest. Then he held on for dear life.
Craig Aquila stepped from behind his desk and made an effort to take Rose. Justin barred his teeth and actually growled right there in front of everyone. He wasn’t relinquishing his hold on the woman in his arms, not for anybody. And all the while, he told himself it was because she was a client. She was his responsibility to protect. He sure hoped everyone else bought that excuse because deep down he knew better. And wasn’t that exactly what he was afraid of when he agreed to take the assignment.
He breathed in the scent of the warm body nestled against him as if he were trying to memorize it. And maybe he was. A wolf shifter’s intense passion evoked all of his enhanced senses including smell. The lingering light floral scent greatly pleased him, as did everything else about his woman. He tightened his embrace and then sat down in the chair across from the detective’s desk.
He looked past the woman in his arms and into the smirking face of Craig Aquila. He gave him a narrow-eyed stare from one shifter to another. True to the detective’s ice-cold reputation, he didn’t flinch and met Justin stare for stare. Justin didn’t back down. He only had one alpha, and that was Mitch. He wanted to make sure the detective knew he meant business. He wasn’t going to be pushed around when it came to Rose.
“We will save the conversation on why you’re still grilling a traumatized and exhausted victim several hours after an attempt on her life for another time,” Justin barely managed to get out in a civilized tone of voice.
“I need all the information I can get while it’s still fresh in her mind,” the detective stated in a clear and concise voice. “You of all people should know that, Gannon,” the detective reprimanded. “I’ve got the EPD and the council breathing down my neck to solve this one and fast. I don’t need Gannon Security added to the list too.”
“You might as well move me to the top of that list,” Justin informed the man across from him. “She is my number one priority until the attempted murderer is caught and dealt with preferably by the council.”
“Other than happening here in Enigma I don’t think this has much to do with the council. She’s not a paranormal being and doesn’t fall under their protection, so we’ll let EPD and our esteemed justice system take care of this unpleasant incident.”
“I claim her,” Justin boldly announced before he even realized what he was doing. The slack-jawed look he got from Aquila told him that the detective was shocked by the words. “She’s under my protection.” He narrowed his eyes and leaned closer to the detective. “That should be enough for you and the council.”
“I accept your claim, and I’ll pass it on to Lucian and the council.” He shrugged. “I still have to appear to investigate the car bomb or EPD will be all over me. Car bombs don’t exactly happen here on a regular basis. The police chief is livid that someone dared to disturb the peace of the town in such a manner.”
“Do what you have to do. You’re the expert at keeping human law enforcement separate from council business. I know you’ll figure this out too.”
He looked down at the woman in his arms who started to stir. “I’m going to take her to the hospital and make sure the paramedics didn’t miss anything. Whatever else you want to know from her will have to wait until she’s been released from the hospital.” He hesitated. “She’ll be staying with me at the main pack house.”
Aquila raised a bro
w but knew better than to question Justin’s statement. “I think I have everything I need, at least for now. I was trying to figure out the identity of the main witness she couldn’t identify and that turned out to be you. We’re going to need to talk in more detail, but that can wait until later. I know you won’t forget anything you saw or heard.”
Aquila shook his head. “It just doesn’t make any sense. Who tries to blow up a wildlife biologist? She assured me she’s never been married, and she doesn’t have any estranged boyfriends hanging around anywhere.”
Rose was trying to sit up now. Justin rubbed her back and whispered comforting words. She squirmed in his lap. The delicious feel of her warm body nestled into his along with the friction of said body pressed into his groin overloaded his senses. She would no doubt feel his erection when she was fully awake and mentally alert, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Justin stood and glanced at Aquila over his shoulder. “Her last name is Banks. I'd start there.”
“I already knew that,” Aquila told him. “It doesn’t ring any bells. There are no known criminal families or wanted fugitives with that name.”
“Try pharmaceuticals,” Justin dryly recommended. “She’s the one and only child of Howard and Maria Banks. When they died a couple of years ago in a lab explosion, she became the major stockholder and heir to Banks Pharmaceuticals. That alone makes her worth millions. Start there,” Justin ordered.
****
The steady and loud beat of a drum thrummed in Rose’s ear. Her mind was fuzzy and details sketchy. She couldn’t remember where she was supposed to be. And why did it feel like she was moving? She struggled to clear the fog from her mind and regain her senses. The constant thump, thump of the drum disappeared as soon as she lifted her head to look around. The sound, she suddenly realized belonged to a beating heart and not a drum.
She opened her eyes and looked at the massive chest in front of her. Her gaze rose higher until she stared into the blackest eyes she’d ever seen. She let out a big sigh of relief. It was her dark angel.
The noisy surroundings finally registered. She glanced away from the man who held her and saw the insides of a busy police department. The frightening memories of the car explosion crashed into the forefront of her thoughts. Her heart beat so hard it could have been trying to beat its way right out of her chest.
She must have let out a tiny whimper to betray her fearful state of mind because the arms around her tightened fractionally. A flowing black overcoat and the man holding her took over the thoughts in her mind. The lingering fear disappeared to be replaced by a feeling of warm comfort and safety. She didn’t even know the man, but he’d risked his life to help her when she needed it most. She closed her eyes, and for just a minute, she allowed the horrible images from the explosion to fade away until nothing was left in her world but the strong arms that cradled her close. She didn’t know why he was there, but she was grateful he had walked back into her life sooner rather than later.
“You fainted,” the deep voice informed her. “I’m taking you to the hospital for a checkup. And I don’t want any arguments. I know you’ve been through a trauma, but fainting isn’t normal.” He was firm, and the tone of his voice left no room for argument.
That didn’t stop the ever-practical Rose from stating her case. “What about Detective Aquila? Does he have any more questions for me to answer?” No one wanted to find the person who’d tried to kill her more than Rose did. She still had a lot to accomplish in her lifetime.
“I’m sure he does. Detective Aquila is very thorough. Any more questions will have to wait until we know why you fainted.” He walked while he talked and suddenly the brisk January air smacked her in the face.
“I’m fine,” Rose argued. “I don’t need a hospital or a doctor.” She gave him a shy look. “I’m afraid I drove straight through and didn’t stop to eat lunch today. Then the explosion happened, and I’ve been holed up at the police station for hours. My blood sugar probably dropped causing me to faint. Feed me, and I’ll be good as new,” she promised.
Justin gave her one of his sexy grins. “Well, now, that’s the most unique dinner invitation I’ve ever received.”
Rose blushed. “I… I don’t want to impose on you any more than I already have. You’ve done more than enough for me, and I am extremely grateful,” she quickly added. “I was just explaining why I don’t need a hospital. I’m more than capable of feeding myself,” she informed him with a delicate little sniff.
“Besides I can’t leave. Detective Aquila said a security expert was coming to meet with me. I plan to hire a bodyguard until the maniac who tried to kill me is caught.”
“Well, this is your lucky day. We were never officially introduced.” He sat her down on her own two feet and then bowed at the waist. “Allow me to introduce myself. Justin Gannon, security expert extraordinaire, and now your bodyguard.”
Rose found that she wasn’t even a little surprised. It figured that her dark angel made a living protecting people. It explained why he was so quick to cover and protect her when the exploding world around them created massive havoc. She linked arms with Justin. Her sad and dark mood, suddenly much brighter.
“You threw yourself on top of me with no thought for your own safety. The least I can do is treat you to dinner before you drop me off at Enigma Inn.”
“Dinner yes, but the Enigma Inn, no way,” he was quick to spell out his terms. He wanted her in his domain where protecting her would be much easier.
She gave him a crestfallen look. “Why not? Detective Aquila told me not to leave the area. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
“Of course you do. My job is to protect you. That means we’re going to be together almost twenty-four/seven. You’re going to stay at my house. It’s the best option all the way around,” and he wasn’t backing down.
Rose delicately chewed her bottom lip. She wasn’t sure about moving in with a man she didn’t know. That being said, he did risk bodily harm to help her, he was her bodyguard, and was highly recommended by the detective. There was no way a girl could go wrong. “I don’t want to impose or cause any problems in your personal life.”
He raised a brow. “I live for my work. I don’t have a private life,” he informed her with a crooked grin. “I do share a house with my brother and sister-in-law, so you don’t have to worry about inappropriate gossip,” he reassured her.
“You’ll love Scarlet. She is friendly and outgoing. The two of you can keep each other company.”
“All right, but I need to go by the inn and pick up what’s left of my personal belongings. Also, you need to know what you’re agreeing to. I won’t be sitting around your house twiddling my thumbs day in and day out. I’m here to do a job, and this threat to my life isn’t going to stop me.”
Justin gave her a satisfied nod. “I’m glad you didn’t fight me on this. The Gannon house is well protected and whoever tried to kill you won’t be able to get to you there.”
Rose shivered. “What about work? I won’t ignore the professional side of my life, just because my personal life has become deadly. I’m here to check into several reported wolf sightings in and around Acadia. I’ll be spending a lot of time in the park looking for any signs that might verify the presence of a wolf or wolves. ”
“Ah, you’re in luck. I know Acadia National Park like the back of my hand. My brother and I have spent thousands of hours hiking, backpacking, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing in that area.”
“Really!” Rose brightened at the tidbit of information. The park ran on a skeleton staff this time of year, and she was thinking about hiring a local guide anyway. She gave him a devilish grin. “I can’t believe my luck. A good-looking bodyguard with a built-in instinct to protect, and an avid outdoorsman too, I just might be in heaven.”
She slapped her hand over her mouth as soon as the words popped out. Rose couldn’t believe she just shared the thoughts out loud. She was not a flirt by nature or design. She c
ouldn’t begin to imagine what Justin thought about the comment? She closed her eyes and refused to look at him. He was probably laughing at her anyway.
****
Justin sensed the discomfort that rolled off of Rose in waves. He had an overwhelming urge to pull her into his arms and hug her until she felt better. He stamped down the emotional need and focused on keeping them safe.
She’d already distracted him from doing his job. They’d been standing in the open outside the police station for several minutes. That made Rose a prime target for any sniper looking to take her down. He knew better.
“Let’s get out of here.” His voice was gruff from self-loathing at the amateur mistake. Rose made him lose his head. He knew from the second they met she could have such an effect on him. It was why he tried to fight Mitch on the assignment. Now he was glad he gave in because no way in hell would he trust anyone else to watch over Rose.
She looked little taken aback by the harshness of his voice. Her smile faltered, and her face fell. Better hurt feelings than a broken body. He’d make it up to her later.
He briskly walked almost ran to his vehicle. He knew she struggled to keep up, but he pushed forward. Justin didn’t relax until Rose was safely seated inside the large black SUV with its bulletproof glass and armor-plated sides. He let out a deep breath of relief that his momentary lapse of judgment hadn’t cost them anything.
He reached across Rose’s body to fasten the seat belt. He let out a little sigh of regret when she flinched away from him. He cupped her chin with both hands. “Look, Rose, I’m definitely attracted to you, and that’s a big problem.” A problem that was bigger than she could possibly imagine. But he definitely wasn’t ready to talk about past mistakes.
“I’m sorry. I’ll keep my flirting to myself. I didn’t mean to upset you or make you angry. It isn’t like me to flirt with men, especially strangers anyway.”