by Cate Beauman
The only place she and Stone were able to escape the constant scrutiny was here on the cliffs, where no trespassing signs were posted throughout his property. He’d borrowed Bear and Reece from Ethan Sunday afternoon and had no qualms about calling the cops and pressing charges against the first reporter who’d been foolish enough to knock on his front door. They hadn’t had problems since—at least here. Stone’s home had quickly become their oasis from the chaos of scandal.
The tabloid and entertainment rags had been relentless, posting daily speculations as to whether the talented, generous artist from the quaint New England town could possibly have abused UConn’s former basketball superstar-turned-jewelry designer. More than one article had compared side-by-side pictures of her and Eric posing at his gallery events in stuffy, elegant clothing to present-day photos of her and Stone walking to his Mustang among the swarm of paparazzi, their arms wrapped around each other’s waists with Stone in jeans, a polo, and sunglasses while she wore the trendy attire she’d grown accustomed to. The stark difference between Eric’s snooty suits and ties and Stone’s casual bad-boy looks fueled the flames of controversy higher.
More than one journalist had dug into Stone’s past, shining a light on his troubled childhood and time in the Middle East. They vilified him as the selfish mercenary who’d cashed in on the war, suggesting that he was a harmful influence on Lily Brand’s talented new darling, leading her down the wrong path to false accusations. Somehow Stone was getting more bad press than Eric, and Stone was the one who’d helped her.
She plopped garlic mashed potatoes into a serving dish, feeling a sudden rush of anger. Why did Eric constantly get away with everything? He’d had someone tamper with her brakes, and she was being cast as some irresponsible ditz who’d nearly caused a fatal accident. Was she not the one with the broken arm and bruised ribs?
She slapped the platter on the table and twisted at the waist for the side dishes, wincing with the sharp pain. “Damn,” she muttered, turning carefully, her eyes welling with frustrated tears as she glanced at the new shade blocking her view of the water beyond. Every window had been covered, preventing anyone from seeing in or she and Stone from looking out. Video equipment had been brought in, filling every available inch of free space with monitors and cables running across the floors so Stone and Shane could keep a lookout for the mystery man who still might be trying to kill her.
She closed her eyes, gripping the cool granite countertop, trying her best to pull herself together. The new life she’d built had quickly turned into the nightmare she thought she’d left behind. No matter the steps she’d taken to escape, Eric was still in charge. She was as afraid now as she had been the night she ran away, if not more. The constant need to look over her shoulder plagued her as much as it had months ago. She’d been gone several weeks, yet she walked on eggshells and was as alert to danger as if she turned her back on Bangor yesterday.
Taking a steadying breath, she faced the table and the cooling dinner she’d prepared, wanting to focus on what she had right this moment. She was safe for the time being. There was food on the table and a hungry man in the living room waiting to be called. “Time to eat.”
She heard Stone’s grunt of response and peeked in at him fiddling with one of the dozens of wires attached to the flat screen as she sat down, pretending she had an appetite for the meal she’d cooked.
~~~~
“Smells good,” Stone said as he walked into the kitchen, checking out the spread Sophie had prepared. “Looks even better.” He took his seat across from her.
“Thank you,” she replied, sending him a small smile. “How about some mashed potatoes?” She reached for his plate and cringed as she stretched forward.
“How about I give you a hand instead.” He grabbed her plate, putting sliced pork, mashed potatoes, and green beans on her dish.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He helped himself to huge portions, eagerly anticipating Sophie’s latest meal. He’d eaten very well since she declared herself more than capable of cooking a few simple dinners. Taking a bite, he groaned, savoring the melt-in-your-mouth meat with a sensational rosemary and thyme flavor. “God, this is amazing, Soph.” He cut another piece, scooping up fluffy potatoes to sample as well, pausing with the fork at his lips when he realized she had yet to start eating. “You gonna have some?”
“Sure.” She picked up her silverware, stabbed a green bean, and put it in her mouth as she glanced at him with miserable eyes.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing.”
He raised his brow. They both knew that was bullshit.
She huffed out a breath. “I guess I’m just getting tired of everything that’s going on.”
She’d been a champ putting up with the assholes who’d followed them around constantly. Despite the smear campaign and backlash to her business, she went into work every day, and she had yet to complain about the equipment crowding their house. All in all she was handling the press and potential threat to her life incredibly well, but as he studied her closely, he realized the stress was starting to eat at her. “It sucks, but you’re hanging in there.”
“I just hate—I hate that the media has dragged you into this.”
He shrugged. If he was taking some of the heat, they were leaving her alone.
“It’s a big deal, Stone,” she said, her voice riddled with frustration, pushing away from the table. “Eric’s the bad guy here, and they’ve made you look like the problem.”
He hooked his legs around the feet of her chair, pulling her back in. “I’m not ashamed of anything I did overseas. I had a job to do, did it well, and was paid accordingly. I know who I am. I don’t give two shits about what they write or say about me.”
“You saved me.”
“And I’d do it again.” He held her gaze, making sure she understood he meant it.
She blinked back tears as she took his hand and pressed his palm to her cheek. “I’m so lucky I have you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” Her eyes widened as she stared at him, immediately releasing him from her grip.
He swallowed, relieved by her clearly unintended confession, debating whether he should press his advantage. He picked up his fork instead and took another bite, now one hundred percent certain Sophie had left him because she thought he wanted Amber. When he fixed things between them once and for all she wouldn’t be thinking of Eric or the media. He had every intention of reminding her she was the only woman he needed in his life. By the time he finished she would no longer doubt that they belonged together. “Eat, Soph. This is too good to throw away.”
She picked up her fork, darting him a glance as she took a decent bite of pork and potatoes. Swallowing, she cleared her throat in the tense silence. “Is Shane coming over tonight?”
“Yeah. He should be here pretty soon.”
She sipped her water. “We can’t keep asking him to stay over.”
“I’ll ask for whatever I have to until we know for sure you’re safe.”
“That could take longer than a few nights, right? If there actually is someone trying to hurt me, he might be waiting for you to let your guard down.”
He’d driven himself crazy with the same thoughts, so he decided to focus on each day as it came instead. “The cops are working on it.”
“What about your job? You can’t stay by my side forever. Ethan needs you.”
“And so do you.” He took another bite and swallowed. “We’re going to wait and see what the police come up with. They’re watching Eric in Bangor, and Owens is doing what he can on this end.”
She pressed her lips together, releasing a long breath through her nose. “It doesn’t seem like enough.”
It sure as hell didn’t. “But it’s what we’ve got for now.” He brushed the tips of her fingers with his, doing what he could to reassure her. “This is what I do for a living, Soph. You’ve gotta trust that me and the guys know how to keep you safe.”
>
“I do.”
“Good—” He stopped as the sensor started beeping on the central panel, alerting him to a breech on the property. Rushing to his feet, he hurried into the living room and activated the main switch on the keypad, immediately flooding the majority of his land with bright light from the fixtures Jackson and Collin had installed. He checked for any movements on the dozens of images filling the monitor.
“What is it?” Sophie followed. “What does the red light mean?”
“One of the motion sensors activated back by the canyons.” He scrutinized the footage, backing up the pictures from the last five minutes. He spotted the hint of shadow at the edge of the screen. Someone was here, or had been. He glanced at his watch and grabbed his phone, dialing Owens when he realized Shane wasn’t due for another twenty minutes.
“Detective Owens.”
“Owens, it’s Stone McCabe. I need a car out here to the house.”
“What’s going on?”
“We have potential activity along the back perimeter of my property by the canyons. The motion sensors activated, and I’ve picked up a shadow on the cameras.”
Owens muttered something. “There’s a patrol car in the area. They’ll be right over.”
“Thanks.” He hung up and rewound the footage again, catching the quick, dark spot that vanished as soon as the lights glowed bright.
“Is he here?”
“There’s an officer on the way,” he muttered, sitting down. He focused on his job, zooming in on the movement.
“So he is?”
He glanced up, realizing Sophie stood at his side, pale, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “Hey.” He pulled her into his lap, brushing his fingers through her hair. “It’s probably nothing. For all I know there’s a wild animal running around, or some dumbass reporter trying to be sneaky. We’re just checking to be on the safe side.”
She nodded as his phone rang.
“Yeah.”
“It’s Shane. I’m turning up your road. Why am I following a cruiser?”
“One of the sensors activated.”
“I’ll go out with the officer and see what’s up.”
“I appreciate it.” He hung up, relieved to know he had backup for the night. “That was Shane. The cops are pulling in, and so is he. We’ve got this, Soph. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
She held herself tense. “I know.”
His phone rang again as he pulled her closer against his chest, staying mindful of her still-tender body. “Yeah.”
“It’s Shane. We found a few footprints.”
He clenched his jaw instead of swearing, not wanting to frighten Sophie. “Okay.”
“We’re going to look around and follow the tracks.”
“Let me know when you start heading back.”
“I will.”
He stared at the monitor watching Shane and the officer disappear down into the canyons beyond his property. It would be interesting to see what they found. He’d told Sophie it was probably just a reporter, but what would someone searching for the next Sophie McCabe story be doing all the way out there?
Chapter Thirty-six
Sophie sent the final screw into the closet wall, securing the last of the shelves in place. She stepped back, examining her work with a critical eye, and nodded. “Not bad,” she muttered to herself as she turned to Stone. “Okay. I’m finished.”
Stone glanced over his shoulder from his perch on the stepladder, twisting the bulb into the pretty new fixture he’d installed. “Looks good.”
“Thanks. This was fun.”
“I’m glad you think so. Maybe I can get you to help me plan the gardens for the patio I’m going to put in off the master bedroom.”
The idea of another creative challenge was very appealing. Somehow Stone had known she needed a distraction from the monotony of another night stuck behind drawn shades and locked doors. After dinner he’d taken her hand and pulled her down the hall to the guestroom, announcing that they had a project to take care of. He could have easily completed the job within minutes, but he’d let her help, patiently teaching her how to drill pilot holes and insert toggle bolts to mount the shelves. “I could do that.”
He smiled as he secured the last of the three bulbs in place. “I have some rough sketches drawn up.”
“You’ll have to show me.” She glanced toward the covered window, ignoring the claustrophobic sensation of late. Outside the stars twinkled and the quarter-moon shined bright, but she wasn’t able to see it. The lack of fresh air and freedom to come and go as she pleased was starting to make her edgy. Ever since the light activated on the panel two nights ago, she’d been tense. Both Stone and Shane had assured her there was nothing to worry about, but she’d heard them muttering quietly on several occasions, and she couldn’t help but notice that Stone wore his gun at all times—not just when they were out in public.
“There’s one last thing to do,” he said as he got down.
Frowning, she turned to the closet. “What’s that?”
He grabbed the level and came up behind her, his chest bumping her back as he set the large piece of metal on the shelf and bent at the knees into a slight crouch. The green liquid in the center of the level stayed even between the two black lines. “Way to go, Soph,” he said close to her ear, his warm breath tickling her skin, making her shiver.
“Thanks.”
“It looks like we have a bonafide handywoman in the house.” He stepped back.
“That’s Ms. Fixit to you.” She smiled as she turned, crashing into him. “Sorry.”
He brushed his fingers down her bare arms, holding her gaze. “No problem.”
She swallowed as heat rushed along the path his hands had taken. “Thanks again for letting me help.” She smiled, trying to keep things casual. Stone’s gentle touches and long stares were becoming harder to resist.
He slid his thumb along her knuckles. “It’s nice having the company.”
Her heart fluttered every time he did that. “I should probably…”
He lifted her hands, pressing his lips to her fingers. “You don’t want to help with the cover plates?”
Her thoughts of escape disintegrated. “Uh, the what?”
He nuzzled her uncasted wrist, tickling sensitive skin with the scruff along his jaw as he held her other arm, nipping at the pads of her fingers with his teeth. “The cover plates for the light switches.”
She exhaled a shaky breath, shuddering from his relentless assault.
“Soph.” He closed the distance between them, touching his mouth to hers in a fleeting whisper, snagging her bottom lip, tugging.
She whimpered as he moved in for more, rubbing, teasing, coaxing her mouth into following his as he clutched at her hair. Her breathing grew ragged as she trailed her palms up the sides of his waist, waiting for him to finally take her under. For weeks she’d yearned for this, to be in his arms again...but this was wrong. This couldn’t happen. “Stop.” She stepped back. “I’m going to—I’m just—I need to...” She started toward the door.
“Wait.” He snagged her by the elbow.
“I can’t.” She pulled free of his hold and hurried across the hall, closing herself in the bedroom, leaning against the door. This was crazy. All of this was too much—hit men, sensor panels, bodyguards, the media…Stone. She was weakening, caving into her wants at a time when she needed to stay strong. Spending every waking moment with him wasn’t helping, nor did the fact that they shared a bed each night so Shane could have the couch.
But none of that mattered. Awkward sleeping arrangements and hours in Stone’s presence didn’t change the facts. They were divorced. Their marriage had ended because that made the most sense. If she hadn’t been in an accident they wouldn’t even be together right now. They lived separate lives—or typically did, and would again. She huffed out a breath as she paced the room, nibbling her nail, worrying that no matter how many times she reminded herself of their reali
ty, she couldn’t stop wanting him.
She glanced toward the window, craving a long walk on the beach, desperate to clear her crowded mind. Just ten minutes alone with her feet in the warm sand… But that wouldn’t be happening anytime soon.
“Soph?” Stone called through the door, giving a quick knock before he walked in.
Whirling, she faced him. “I can’t do this right now.”
He shut the door behind him. “Soph—”
“Not right now, Stone,” she said with a hint of panic, already knowing she had little resistance left against his searing looks and mind-numbing kisses. “I need a few minutes.”
Clenching his jaw, he held her gaze. “Tell me you don’t want this.”
“I—I don’t want this,” she whispered, trying to convince herself as much as him.
“Tell me you don’t want me.”
She swallowed. “I don’t want you.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
She turned away. “I don’t know.”
He came up behind her, sliding his fingers through her hair. “I want this, Soph.” He kissed the back of her neck. “I want you.” He pressed his lips to her skin again as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
She clutched at his forearms. “We can’t do this.”
“Why?” He started on the bottom buttons of her pale-green shark-bite tank.
“Because Shane’s just down the hall.”
“He’s watching TV.”
“I’ll be leaving when all of this is over.” Even as she spoke, she settled her head against his chest, her body a traitor to what she knew shouldn’t be happening. “We’ll both go back to our own lives.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way.” He traced the lobe of her ear with his tongue while he parted her shirt, sliding teasing palms over her bra.
Trembling, she turned, staring into his deceptively lazy eyes. “This doesn’t work. We don’t work, Stone.”
“We both know that’s not true.” His lips cruised over her temple and along her forehead. “God, Soph, I need you.”